REAPING THE WHIRLWIND

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 42, 3 July 1909, Page 3

REAPING THE WHIRLWIND

The Fallacy of Trades Unionism

IT is the common boast of allegedly philanthropic labour agitators that the well-being and prosperity of the workers is commensurate with the growth of the trades union "movement. According to the agitator jitration Awards are a panacea for all industrial evils. Such a theory is, of course, likely to prove highly attractive to the average worker, whose sole aim in life appears to be to receive a maximum wage, and to give, in return, a mimiimmi amount of work. It has frequently been foretold, however, that the only true test ot the value of the Arbitration system would synchronise with the arrival of times of industrial depression. As it was prophesied, so it has come to pass. On all sides, the wail of the unemployed is heard. Of course, this doesn't affect the labour agitator. That individual is generally the secretary of one or more trades unions, and can rely upon receiving his salary. But it does affect the bona fide worker.

The fixing of the minimum wage and the power that has been placed most unjustifiably in the hands of trades union secretaries are the two chief factors that militate against the well-being of the workers. As an example of this, take a statement that recently appeared in the daily papers to the effect that about fifty members of the local Painters' Union are out of employment. Investigation woiild probably prove that in many of these cases — if not in the majority — the unemployed arc -not competent enough to earn the minimum wage as laid down in the Arbitration Award. We have it on the authority of a master paintter of many years' standing that really competent all-round painters need never lack work. These men are worth the wages paid to them. It is asserted that the out-of-works consist, for the most part, of what may be described as "rough painters"- — those who usually engage in ship's work, and other branches of the trade where exhaustive knowledge is not essential. The Award decrees a minimum wage. The masters do not see their way clear to pay that wage, and they know that if they paid less, they would promptly be haled before the Arbitration Court ' on a charge of infringing the Award. Consequently, the worker who is not highly skilled finds himself out of employment.

It may be argued that exemption from adhering to the terms of the Award may be obtained under certain circumstances. That is true. But, on the other hand, who is the judge of the circiimstances ? The sole arbiter is the secretary of the trade union to which the particular worker belongs. Indeed, to such a pass has the industrial legislation of the Dominion arrived that, in many cases, the employer' dare not

engage a man, even though, lie intende to pay that man a minimum wage, without humbly seeking the permision of the union secretary to employ him. It would be hard to conceive aaiything more despotic, or more undemocratic in principle. In reality, such a system opens the way to autocracy and patronage of • a most undesirable nature. Should the secretary have any personal spite against the worker, he can prevent him from obtaining employment ; and his word is law. We do not allege that any trades union secretary has taken advantage of his position in this manner ; but we say emphatically that an unscrupulous person could easily do so, and that such a system is altogether wrong in principle, and opposed to all the ethics of true industrial freedom.

The workers, through the Arbitration system, sowed the wind. They are now reaping the whirlwind. The time of stress has come, and the

ed in tTi©' v -p&i^] % 'pf'Tjp]poS^w^t'y^S^ia^ proved to be moor© offensive tli^afS^, fensive to the workers^ > All V: fthel glib platitudes and empty , arguments of highly paid .labour agitators cannot controvert that' obvious fact. The dazzling edifices that they erected in the air to tempt the genuine workers burst like bubbles when touched by the breath of depression. The only true test has been applied to the system, and the latter has lamentably and ingloriously failed to make good the fulsome praise of the agitator and other adulators. If the workers are not blind to their own interests, they will give the agitator short shrift. If he was not the cause of their present troubles, at least he has contributed largely to them. The present depression contains an obvious lesson to the workers. If they can only perceive it, the bad times will ultimately prove a blessing rather than a curse.