Discipline Of The Militant Worker

Chronicle (Levin), 2 September 1949, Page 5

Discipline Of The Militant Worker

lteceived 31hursday, 7 p.m. ■ LONDON, Sept. 1. The T.U.C. general council 's report on the British standard of living, shows that the T.U.C. has followed the Government more successfully than the unions have led their own followers, says the Einancial Times. The frequency of unofficial strikes has shown that union leaders are either out of toueh with tlieir followers or powerless to iufluence them, and the gap reeently seems~ to have widened ominouslv. The general council of the T.U.C. must be aware of this danger and the question is can the T.U.C. preserve and, where neeessary, restore its essential discipline. The report, after a year.'s investigation of Britain 's economic position, says it sees little hope of lower taxation in view of the cost of social services and food subsidies. The report gives little hope of price reductions. It warns unidns that any departure from the existing policy of moderation and restraint in making wage claiins would be disastrous. The report, which will be considered at the T.U.C. conference, opening on September 5, says: "The council have l'ound at every turn that they are confronted with a budgetary problem which itself arises out of the consistent and earnest eil'orts.of the Government to keep down the cost of living and increase social benefits. " The council says that the present policies and practiees are justilied by the diHienlties of the country and should be pucsued with even greater detenninatiou. The eouncil declares tlqit the Government 's pricos policy achieved a remarkable degree of stability and adds: "lt is true that prices have risen, partly in consequence of wage and salary iiu-reases, partly the nmioval of eertain Government subsidies, and a steadv rise in internatioual prices of priniary products, yet the interim index lias been very niuch steadier than in the preceding year." The council says British industry is still suffering from the fact that not enough was spent in re-equipment and developinent in inter-war years. The council, discussing the high rate of taxation on profits, says the State is taking between 50 and .60 per cent. of all profits. In the first 12 months of the di\idend limitation from April 1, 1948, to Marcii 31, 1949, 93.1 per cent. of industrial edihpanies, in terms of issued capital, "did not declare inereased dividends. The council says tlie dollar crisis cannot be fairlv attributed to the Government or to any slackening of effort by Ihe British people where a general im rease in money and wages could not bring- idle resources into production and wouid therefore fail to give a higher standard of living. A suhstantial increase in money ana wages wonltl intensify the external difficulties and there by adversely att'ect the general standard of living.