AMERICAN LABOR

Evening Star, Issue 19552, 10 May 1927, Page 5

AMERICAN LABOR

PIECEWORK SUPPORTED VIEWS OF FEDERATION PRESIDENT TROUBLE AHEAD. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, May 8. A ‘ Sun ’ representative interviewed Mr William Green, the successor to Mr Samuel Gompers as president of the American Federation of Labor.

Dealing with the questions of a 44hour week and piecework, Mr Green said: —“ I think that when you shorten hours you are forced to consider means of providing for an incentive for harder work within those shorter hours. The two go hand in hand. We in America are not opposed to the principle of piecework. I think it is a fair and reasonable means of providing an incentive. If I were a union leader in Australia I wmuld not be afraid to recommend piecework to the organised workers, but it must bo operated under the conditions that the w'orkers have a say in determining tho rates of piecework. Piecework is not applicable always, but where it can be applied and where tho workers are organised .1 think it is a fair and necessary part of a prosperous and efficient industrial system.” When questioned regarding the antagonism of organised labor in America towards the Australian system of compulsory arbitration, Mr Green said: — “ Voluntary arbitration is quite common in America, and is encouraged by the Federation of Labor; but wq do not approve of compulsory arbitration, because we hold that a man’s labor is his personal and individual possession, which no law should be nllow'ed to take from him against his wall.’' When informed that in Australia there were strikes, even after arbitration, Mr Green said emphatically:— “I ramiot umlorstana that. If we agreed to compulsory arbitration wo would bo in honor bound to abide by its decisions. Wo would have surrendered absolutely our right to strike and because wo dare not give up that right we do not accept your arbitration laws. Wo would not expect to have it both ways.” When asked why the federation had failed to organise a larger proportion ef American labor, Mr Green said: — “ The_ biggest obstacle to labor organisation in America has been unrestricted immigration. We simply cannot get amongst those millions ot foreign workers, who do not speak our language and do not comprehend our ideals. The younger generation of labor leaders regard the federation ns only a foundation stone. Immigration restriction means everything to them, as they give them a, big chance. The largo employers are fighting to have these restrictions removed; but they never will bo. On tho contrary, they will he tightened. We are going to unionise the whole of American labor, and that moans there is going to be plenty of trouble in the next twenty years. All our plans are laid for a fight. Another aim of American unionism is to do away with tho conditions existing under mass production. These industries must adjust themselves to more humane conditions. They are making huge profits for the stockholders, but at a cost to the workers, which is a national loss.”—Sydney ‘ Sun ’ Cable. ,