THE LABOR MOVEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 17880, 28 January 1922, Page 16

THE LABOR MOVEMENT

[By Veteran.] Brief contributions on matters with reference to the Labor Movement are invited. THE ARBITRATION BILL. t r ory few unions have been privileged to receive copies of this Bill, which the Minister of Labor (when they asked him what it contained) told members to wait and see. Now that wc have got to know something about the changes it proposes to make in the Act we are not surprised that the .Minister wanted to keep it quintas long ns possible. Some of the clauses in the Rill will not be seriously opposed, but there are others that will be strenuously objected to by all tbs unions in the Dominion. Last Wednesday a hurried meeting of union officials was called for that night to consider the Bill, which had only been received that morning. It was decided to send a delegate to Wellington to oppose the objectionable clauses. In clause, o, which provides for the addition to the principal Act of the words “ but in no case shall a union have more than three votes,'’ it was felt that as the Government was determined to bring about an alteration of the voting power of unions on the election of a representative on the Arbitration Court, it might just as well “go the whole hog,” and make it one union one vote, irrespective of membership, and this was carried. The deletion of the power to vote by the Railway Servants’ Association on the election of workers’ representative, as provided for in clause 6 of the Bill, was unanimously endorsed. One of the greatest blots in the Bill is that contained in clause 7, which, if passed by the House, will exempt not only all Govcnjpacnt departments, tut “any local authority or public body.” This would mem that city councils and harbor boards, who have become the largest employers of labor, will bo outside all awards, and able to employ labor in competition with private employers at rates to suit themselves. As Mr Bloodworth (himself a city councillor) stated, this exemption lias never been asked for by the local bodies themselves. Other chases, having for tneir object the practical extinction of the paid secretary, will be, very strongly opposed. One would think that the employers—who have in connection with their organisations very many much higher paid secretaries than any of the Labor organisations can afford to pay-—would seriously object to these clauses, unless employers’ unions and federations arc going to be exempt from their operation, whicii would be mostunfair indeed. Many Dunedin unions have had no chance of considering the Bill, but I understand that those who have heard anything about it and have had a chance have unanimously passed resolutions condemning the Bill on account of the very objectionable clauses it contains. Some e? the local organisations have written to the local members of Parliament urging them to strongly oppose the Bill. I believe the same course is being followed in other districts. '* » * -x NON-UNIONISTS. I have received through the post a copy of the Dunedin Printers' Machinists, Bookbinders, and Lithographers’ Union annual report. I suppose the object of the sender was to induce me to notice it in this column. I have much pleasure in doing so, especially the paragraphs dealing with the mm-iuiionists. The report says: ‘‘ Unfortunately, our trade is no exception to the moan spirit displayed by some workers in taking all the. increases iu wages and working privileges which the union obtains for them, while they refuse to contribute the. small sum weekly required To maintain the union and "light for existing conditions. Most workers value their good and honorable name amongst their fellow-workers at a higher price than the payment of just dues to maintain the union ; hut, to their disgrace be it said, some workers arc so afraid of parting with a .sixpence and so afraid that they might incur the displeasure of the "boss” that they are prepared to allow their names to be disparagingly referred to by everyone who knows that they arc too mean to belong to the union. This mean, crawling spirit has no place in the heart of the worker who is out to 1 pkiy the game ’ fairly and squarely, and no excuse has any weight with the unionist when he comes to judge the nonunionist, because he logically reasons the

matter out that, if each receives tho same bandits From the union's efforts, each should contribute equally for these benefits, and not to so contribute shows a mean, paltry spirit of ‘sponging’ on the payments and efforts of others. If tin; law could be altered that tho extra money received by tho non-unionist through the efforts of the union should bo paid into the union funds, it would he very certain there would be .no ‘ conscientious objectors’ to unionism. The present meanspirited individuals would lie the first to pay up lor fear they would lose these increases. But, as the law is at present, we have to tolerate them, although they cause a lot of adverse and hard comment amongst our members. The employers have unions of their own to uphold their side, and every effort is made by them to get everyone in their trade to belong lo their combination. _ They cannot therefore logically,, complain if our side does the same thing, and they should look—and probably do look—with as much contempt on the non-unionist on our side as they do to tho non-unionist on their side. But it in not policy for them to admit that. The non-unionist who thinks ho is currying favor with the ‘boss’ is in all probability living in a fools para-disc-he should bo if the ‘boss’ belongs to a union himself and is a man at all. * * «• * PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS. The above report also deals with the nrcferliice question which tho country members of Parliament, backed by some LcriMative Councillors, are anxious _ to abolish It says: “On three occasions during tho year wo have made workers join the union through threatening to put the preference clause of tho award into operation. To indicate what can be done under this clause, and as a warning to others, wo mention that we had two girß in Dunedin and one man in Invercargill who rather than lose their employment and * he displaced by a unionist, joined the union, although they had previously refused to do so. On every occasion where the necessity arises, wo wall have no qualms in making use of tins method ol using a little gentle pressure to make workers join. Tho Arbitration Court, by placing the clause in the award, recognises "the unfairness of tne non-umomst position, and we are more than justified in making use of the clause where wo can. The qualms of conscience are with the nun-unionist, not with us. ’ ■» *- o* * PUBLIC SERVICE RETRENCHMENT. Contrast the following pronouncement of New South Wales Labor Premier with tho statement by Mr Massey : Replying to a deputation representing tile New South Wales police officers and the lolicc Association, the Premier of New bourn Wales Mr Dooley) said that tho weapon of retrenchment would not bo applied to the Police Force or any other branch ot the New South Wales Public Service. “The policy of the Government, added Mr Doolev,is entirely opposed to reduction of salaries or retrenchment. 1 « Government did not intend to reduce the pav or allowances of tho Police T oice in unv way. Neither was there any truth in‘the rumor that a list of police promotions had been submitted to tho Premier and held up. Some appointments might Ir'vc been delayed, but the Premier said that he would ‘see that no injustice was done to any member of the Police Force. •Jf* # LABOR'S HEAVY LOSSES. The Australian Labor movement has sustained a. heavy loss through the death of Mr Frank Tudor, Leader of the Labor Party in the Federal Parliament, 1 had the privilege of meeting Mr Tudor over twenty years ago, and I then thought that ho was one of the best men in the movement in Australia, and I met a good many of their host men at that time. The ‘Australian Worker' says: “ There was no more popular member of the Australian Labor Party Hum Frank Tudor. Indeed, lie, was personally very popular among nil sections of the community. Ho had been a member of the Federal Parliament since the beginning of Federation, and a staunch advocate for Labor right through. While other members of tiie Labor movement deserted their principles during the Conscription fight, Frank Tudor, ever mindful of his duty to the workers of Australia, stood four-square under tho banner of Labor. Death has laid a heavy hand on the Labor movement daring the last twelve months. In quick succession such well-known stalwarts as Jim Page, T. J, Ryan, John Storey, and now Frank Tudor have been stricken down while in harness. Universal regret is expressed at the death of tho Federal Labor Leader.’ - * a ■» * MOST EXPENSIVE STRIKE ON RECORD. A strike of ten hours of the employees of the Berlin Electricify Works, which on the night of December 8 plunged the. city into darkness and closed down (he trams, tl.io local trains, and the theatres, ended by tho men’s terms being agreed to. It must he reckoned one of the most costly strikes on record, as it is estimated that it cost 6,000,000 marks (£500,000 at (ho normal rate of exchange). The increased wages granted moan a yearly expenditure of 250,000.000 marks (£12,800,000), and other increases just granted lo other municipal workers raise that sum to -100,000,000 (£20,000,000). Berlin has not got tho money lo cover this expenditure, being practically bankrupt, so the City Council intends to apply to the State for assistance.