UNKNOWN

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 303, 20 December 1922, Page 14

UNKNOWN

•*t ~~ JtM That many women do not mere,**!|!K predate the things trade unionf , - Fiß] -done, for them is far more thl CSj of their fathers, liusbands, and\>, - JERj ers than theirs. . C* , ,$*M I How many men. take time to tell the I women of their family how union* I 1 have made life more worth while lor I them? ■ I It is not the fault of many women l that their knowledge of unions con- m ■'gists- of the fact that their tells them twice a month he is going M to the union meeting. They hope that \ is his destination. But they couldrf't '\ prove It from what they hear concern.- 1 ing the meeting from him. - 1 . In time of strikes the .women know s that the regular pay cheque has stop- 'd ped. They are not to; be• = blamed that \ they often find fault with their hus- \ bands for this, and imagine that there , T is something wrong with him that he I, ; permits this to happen. When the mea '. have not taken time to explain union- '■• ism to the women; .what else can be '. expected? - ; ' / Unions mean a lot to the women. U They mean that far less often in the |j days before the union the men come \ home injured and crippled from in- | dustry. It is the force of unionism I that has placed ./.©very safety, device I on machinery and improved, working jj conditions. - ■■# (Men have more time-to spend in th© I hoin© as the result of unionism. I; It is the power of unionism that has Ij brought the eight-hour -.\ day, and is \ contending for. a shorter work-day. '*m Women have the: unions to thank |j that their husbands leave'home for ■wopk later in the morning ana return * earlier at night. "•*.•■ ' ' ;• It is unions that have given them the;, pleasure of most of their mea " folks' time. x i What of pleasure and comfort j women in union families enjoy is the j result of unionism. It is the pay | cheque that determines what kind of a house they shall Jive in, its locality, j and tow often they shall have nei/r clothes. The size of the pay cheque | ts the reflection of the strength of the j •union. •■..■.■■,; ' * When organised -employers seek .jij to smash unions, they are striking di- <i| rectly at the welfare and comfort of | the unions. When workers go on •* strike" against this they are striking v on behalf of the welfare of the women and the children. Women cannot be.blamed for taking advantage of unionism as a matter of -• course, when men fail to take time to explain the struggle and strife that -have resulted in these ; benefits. When the worker on strike finds his wife, mother or sister urging him to go back to work,. of encouraging him to continue In the struggle, he is reaping the folly of his failure to have previously explained the value of unionism to them, r Tell the women ; and the children about the iinion. Make them understand what it raeans to them, and they will become partners in your unionIsm, staunch and , loyal and true to every px-inciple thai you advocate and respect. School, many of the churches, other organisations, and campaign newspapers and magazines are strenuously endeavouring to set your wives and children against unionism and ia opposition to their best interest. To offset this It Is .necessary for the Unionist to spend time to give his family a union education.. To explain to them that what these enemies are endeavouring to do is to strip them of all the benefits that unionism has brought them. This some unionists i have done, but vastly more have faiiefl to do it. ■'•■•-. , Unionism to be.victorious must have the undivided support of the women. * That support they will willingly give s if you will take the time to explain what the unions mean to them. There ; will be no sacrifice they will not make, no struggle they will not will- . ingly share, once they appreciate that ■ to them unionism means all that i* worth while in life.-—".Minneapolis Labour Review.'^