A UNITED FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23004, 6 October 1936, Page 10

A UNITED FRONT

AGAINST WAR AND FASCISM A United Front Against War and Fascism and active resistance to military or industrial conscription will be called for (says the London Daily Telegraph) at the sixty-eighth annual Trades Union Congress in the Plymouth Guildhall. An emergency resolution on the in ternationaJ situation, drafted in conjunction with the Socialist Party, will be submitted by the General Council Five Unions have tabled resolutions on working-class opposition to war. The distributive and allied workers, "seriously alarmed at the war developments in Europe." call upon the congress to co-operate with the Labour Party in a powerful national peace campaign. The campaign, it is suggested, should emphasise that the collective peace system is the only effective defence ol this country, and that the armament industry should be nationalised, Furnishing trade workers want a declaration affirming emphatically " that on no account whatever shall the trade union movement assist the Government in its desire for conscription."

The same union insists, in . another resolution, that a united front of all people sincerely opposed to war and Fascism should at once be inaugurated. These workers are joined by the coal trimmers in resolutions for a united front against capitalism, which is described as " a strong and unscrupulous enemy." •

Sixty resolutions appear on the agenda. They ask the conference among other things, torAppoint a committee to remodel trade union organisation—a " desperate need."

Urge a boycott of anti-trade union employers. Ask the Government to reorganise the cotton industry, and accept responsibility for the problem of rural water supplies. Press for an increase of factory inspectors and urge amendments to the law on workmen's compensation.

Agitate for a 40-hour week, paid holidays for all workers, pensions at 60, and compensation for loss of employment. Safeguard the payment of wages if Coronation Day is proclaimed a national holiday. The National Union of General and Municipal Workers desires a statement that "untold misery and suffering to vast sections of the community" is being caused by the Government's " inertia " respecting the special areas and demanding an immediate programme of utility services and public works, whose cost should be a direct charge on the national exchequer. Negotiations with the Russian trade union movement are proposed by the National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers, with a view to the development of international unity The clerks join with the engineers in urging a delegation to Russia.