T.U.C. DISSENSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 September 1945, Page 6

T.U.C. DISSENSION

U.S.A. CRITICISM OF RUSSIA UNIONS’ FREEDOM DOUBTED LONDON, September 13. Mr; George Meany, fraternal delegate from the American Federation of Labour, caused a sensation at the Bittish Trade Union Congress at Blackpool yesterday by violently attacking the .Russian trade unions, declaring that they were “merely _ instruments of the State and actively supported lhe Soviet system of labour blacklists and deportations to compulsory labour camps,' resulting in virtual enslavement for millions of workers. Mr. Meany said: “We insist on recognising the so-called Russian trade union movement for what it is, namely, a Government-controlled and Gov-ernment-dominated Laboui’ Front, denying to the workers the basic human freedoms which American workers hold to be requisite to a free .trade union.”

Mr. Meany’s speech was loudly interrupted. There were also shouts of “Shame!” and “Withdraw!”, but the chairman declared that the conference must honour the British tradition of free speech. The Soviet fraternal delegate (Mr. Trasov), who was on the platform, protested to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress against Mr. Meany’s speech. The Labour correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says no action was taken by the council, but that there will certainly be international repercussions. SIR W. CITRINE’S PROTEST.

(Rec. 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 13. Addressing the Trades Union Congress at Blackpool, Sir W. Citrine outlined the unsuccessful attempt to form an Anglo-American-Soviet Trade Union. He complained that the American Federation of Labour leaders had publicly impugned his motives in calling in London a world congress. “We are not the kind of people who, when attacked in the Press, rush into print to defend ourselves at the cost of lifelong friendship, but there is such a thing as a limit of endurance. Let us all try to exercise a little restraint before we do something which may cause irreparable harm in the trade union movement. “It must be understood in the United States that the Trades Union Congress believes in international trade union unity,” he added. They regretted the absence of the American Federation of Labour from the world congress and hoped the Federation would think it worthwhile to try to establish international trade union unity. The Trades Union Congress had aiways known the Russian trade unions differed in structure from other unions. _ They had other problems to deal with. “I think it would be an excellent thing if the British Government were able’to plan the production, consumption and general economic lileol the country in the way it is done m Russia.” (Cheers).

MINISTER AND DEMOBILISATION

(Recd. Noon). LONDON, Sept. 13. The Minister of Labour (Mr. Isaacs) told the T.U.C. at Blackpool that demobilisation problems called not lor an alternative scheme but for the acceleration of releases under the Present scheme. The Government would adhere to the original Bevin scheme. Industry would need 5,000,000 additional workers to reach pre-war standards in industry, and making good the ravages of war would demand all possible "labour. There would be no loni? term unemployment. Mr Isaacs foreshadowed the eveniual withdrawal of all manpower controls. The Government is fully sympathetic with the spirit ol the I.U.C. resolution calling for speedier demobilisation. Arrangements announced would ensure that 1,400,000 men and women would be released long before the middle of 1946.