The Industrial World

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 600, 2 November 1932, Page 4

The Industrial World

CONDUCTED BY OBSERVER

This column is devoted to the I news of the industrial Labour movement as represented by the secretaries of the various unions whose headquarters are at the Trades Hall. Trade Union News and Views. Meetings for the coming week:— The Dressmakers’ Union, to-night 8 p.m. The Industrial Association of Workers, Thursday, November 3, 8 p.m. The Trades and Labour Council, Saturday, November 5, S p.m. The-Typographical Union (special meeting), Sunday, November 6, 2.15 p.m. The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, Monday, November 7, 8 p.m. The Painters’ Union, Monday, November 7, 8 p.m. The Relief Workers’ Union, Tuesday, November 8, 8 p.m. The Boilermakers’ Union, Tuesday, November 8, 8 p.m.

The recent failure to secure an industrial agreement for the engineering trades means that in the near future the economic life of this community will be faced with the dangers that arise from industrial instability. As the export season draws near there are disputes unsettled in the freezing trades, the shearing industry and now in the engineering trades. With low prices for exports, coupled with industrial unrest, the future for this country looks none too rosy. Wage Reductions.

In reading the newspaper reports of the engineering dispute one finds amazing arguments used by the employers for a reduction in wages. For instance, Mr Bishop made the following statement: “We have been able to carry on in the past because we have borrowed to make up the difference, but it does not seem to be practicable or possible to maintain a higher standard than the country to which we sell our products.” If such reasoning was correct, then the standard in England ought to be equal ‘to the standard in India, which country is one of the greatest purchasers of English goods, or the standard in America ought to be equal to Europe, where she sells most of her products, or to the standard of Asia, which now buys increasing quantities of American goods'. Such reasoning fails to observe that the standard is set mainly by the efficiency of the workers. This efficiency is again determined by natural resources, capital, goods, the organisation of industry, and the intelligence of the workers. Re-organfsation of Unions.

A circular letter has been sent to all unions throughout the country by the Auckland Joint Committee, urging the unions to apply the scheme of organisation as suggested by the conference

of trade unions last March. The circular states: “ The form of trade unionism which grew up in New Zealand under the Arbitration Act has proved itself to be totally inadequate to deal with the present situation between employers and employees, since the recent amendment to the Act, which practically abolished the Arbitration Court as a final Court of settlement in industrial disputes. The Auckland Joint Committee is, therefore, making an appeal to all trade unions to proceed with the fulfilment of the decisions arrived at in March last, in order that the standard of living of the workers may be, as far as possible, safeguarded in the precarious position we are faced with.' Arrangements are being made in each centre for a meeting of members of union executives in this connection, and we would urge your union to instruct its executive to attend in order to set up Joint Councils.” The part to be taken by trade unions in the economic activities of the country in the future was outlined in a report submitted to the Trade Union Congress held in September last in England. The report stressed the need of a National Industrial Council to be formed for the discussion of the general problems of industry. “In entire industries and services,” states the report, “ advisory committees would be set up which would include trade union representatives. In individual undertakings, the trade unions would assume more responsibility regarding labour questions, while work councils would be set up for consultation on all internal matters not coming within the scope of the ordinary negotiating machinery. The responsibility for technical, commercial and financial matters must be in the hands of the managers.” The report further states “ that if this development takes place, trade unions must realise that some re-adaptation of their forms of organisation will be necessary.” Stability or Instability. The problem of social unrest or industrial stoppages through strikes is of great concern to all those countries which have no machinery for the final settlement of disputes by compulsory measures. The recent strikes in the textile industries in Britain, and the strikes in the mining industry of America affect the economic life of these countries and retard production and development independent of the suffering endured by the population. The best illustration of this instability is shown in Switzerland, a small country with political democracy well organised. Last year there were 455 trade disputes involving fourteen trade unions and 72,000 workers. Of the total number of 455 disputes, 197 (43 per cent) came to a successful conclusion. Wage disputes took the foremost place in 1931, in many cases resulting in a rise of wages. No fewer than 154 disputes led to increase in wages, benefiting 10,000 workers. The decrease in hours worked totals 18,300 hours per week, which makes an average increase of four hours per week in the leisure time of each worker concerned.