The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, APRIL 6, 1914. LABOR DISPUTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 89, 6 April 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, APRIL 6, 1914. LABOR DISPUTES.

Just as the session of 1913 was closing, tho “Labor Disputes Investigation Act, 1913,” was passed, and on April Ist, of this year the measure came into operation. The new Act is intended to render a legal strike,

without due notice being given, an utter impossibility to unions whether registered or unregistered. Notice of any dispute with employers must be given to the Minister for Labor by a society of workers. The Minister shall then either refer the matter to a Conciliation Commissioner, or refer the dispute to a Labor Dispute Committee, to be set up, consisting of not less than three nor more than seven members, as determined by the Minister. The members of the committee, other than the chairman shall be appointed respectively by the society or societies of workers party to tho dispute, an equal number be ing appointed to represent the workers and employers respectively. The members so appointed shall proceed to ele.pt some other person as chairman, but in tho event of failure to do so the Minister shall then appoint the chairman. After investigation the committee shall endeavor to ar rive at a settlement, and report accordingly. Tho recommendations of the committee are to he published a newspaper or newspapers circulating in the district. If a settlement is not arrived at within fourteen days of the first notice of the dispute being sent to the Minister a secret ballot of the union or unions of workers affected is to be taken under the supervision of the Registrar of Industrial Unions. The questions to be submitted to the ballot are—-(a) Where recommendations for the settlement of the dispute have not been made by a Labor Dispute Committee on the question whether a strike shall take place ; or (b) Where recommendations for tho settlement of the dispute have

been made on the question whether the said recommendations shall bo adopted. As soon as practicable the Registrar shall notify the result by notice published in the newspapers circulating iu the district. The above

is a summary of the principal provisions of this important measure, which should go a long way towards making less likely the unfortunate and exceedingly costly labor difficulties which beset the Dominion lust year.