TRADE UNIONS

Evening Star, Issue 16626, 8 January 1918, Page 4

TRADE UNIONS

DECREASED MEMBERSHIP IN GERMANY. According to ‘ Engineering,’ the war has wrought many and great changes in the conditions of German labor, changes which will i;n doubt make themselves felt long after the restoration of peace. Its influence ban been felt in almost every direction—in the organisations, tho aspirations, and the, position generally of ihe employees. The emergencies of war have enhanced Urn value and importance of labor in Germany, as elsewhere, and although the labor organisations show a material reduction in their number of members, thsir standing and influence, on the other hand, have improved and increased during the last three years. Some, figures will illustrate the manner in which the war and its consequences have reduced tho ranks of the trade unions. Tha decrease in the number of members is in. many cases verv serious, duo to calfi; to the front and other reasons. Tl-e AI etal 'Yorkers’ Union, before the wa:,-, boasted considerably more than 500.008 members, but after a year and a-half Of conflict the number had receded to about 234,000, the reduction in the final aggregate being accounted for by the calls to the colors, which, in 1914, amounted to about 185,000 members, and during tho next year to 117,000. A large number of numbers, about 80,000, left the union for ti her _ causes during 1915, but this was more than made up for by the entrance of new members, of whom.’however, some ,:.9,000 were women, although the number of new female members bv no means, it is stated, has kept pace with the increase of female hands in the industry. The Building Trades Union have had a still (treater loss in their members, ami have probably suffered more than any other. In lir!4 the members of this union were about £35.000, belonging to 888 local branches; in 1915 the average figures had receded to r-espectivedy 101,000 and 847, and by the end of the year the number had further dwindled to about 83,000 members. The “Free” Trade Union in Berlin coinf’rised, at the beginning of 1914. 302,0(7.1 members, and at the end of the following year only about 144,000. No doubt tho cessation of war will mend this state of affairs to a very material extent.

On their return to their former work, the men frum the front will find the position of tiieir unions not a little altered, and that for the better as far as influence and ether conditions are concerned. Their legal looting is likely to be further improved, when the new era in Germany gins to materialise, and more liberal views are allowed to prevail. In the meantime the Government have on several occasions deigned to creept the good services of the trade unions in some more or less difficult questions, ;*“,.td tin's alone marks a new departure. The German labor organisations have hitherto been somewhat unfavorably situated in their actual position, and a reform of the right °of coalition in more liberal spirit lias also been called for in advanced sections. It has in thio connection 1 been remarked that, as m£tters stood, the freedom of coalition \y,t* legally acknowledged, but with the imjiortaut reservation that the agreements which ensue from it, in principle, lask any legal protection. The trade unions have been unable to register their nniorj, as they come under the exception! constituted by unions with political and social-political‘aims. As regards the Aitnre of trade unions arid other labor A’ganisations, much, of course, will depend upon the position taken up by the men themselves. Politically, there are serious -’.iivorgencies among the social democrats r* Germany, and should too radical or dßtreme views gain the upper hand and be expressed sufficiently openly, this might *mpede the concessions which the Government otherwise may be disposed or fin,* ; it expedient, or even necessary. to grarfl to mo're moderately-minded bodies.