LABOUR LEADERS FADS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1909, 18 November 1913, Page 9

LABOUR LEADERS FADS

TRADE UNION INDISCIPLINE.

TUB CAUSES.

Tim recent growth of indiscipline in our trado unions merits scriotts attention, says "A Labour Mail.," writing in tho "Daily Mail." Trado unionism is recognised in most quarters as a natural corolhry of mod" oru industrialism. With tho growth of tlio company system in ©nr. staple industries it may almost bo said tiist Goileetivo bargaining is a necessity. At any rate, trado unionism is very much in existence. It is an _ established institution, It is of vital importance, theieJoro, alike to ltihour, capital, and the community., that : our trade unions should be strongly organised, well drilled, and thoroughly disciplined. Tho Heed for Leaders. 1 In our unions we need leaders enjoSing the confidence of the rank and iiio —leadors with auThority. In the early days of trade unionism both leaders

ana lea nact more dmic'Ult tasks than tbey .have to-day, yet- ilicy .maintained their unions iit a high pitch o£ efficiency. Trade unionists had to meet fjerco opposition aiid storms of abuse in the early _ days. But the unions throve, and right down to a few years ago they managed to force wages up in advance of living costs and generally to improve labour conditions., the leaders tferqr .practical men, in the closest possible touch .with workshop conditions, able to dip into atl the technicalities of a dispute when negotiating with employers, and capable of making agreements that tho raii.lt and tile would observe, Trade unionism flourished. Effect of tho Labour Party. But now trade unionism, seems to be degenerating. Leaders are .often flouted. . Agreements are ofien broken. Indiscipline •is bringing trade union.. affairs to g, crisis, h has.'been said just lately' in cdnneetioii with the railwayWeil that unauthorised strikes are mainly duo to young or new members .tlnaecustomcd to trade union rules, But the miners and boilormakcis are not raw recruits to trado unionism.., .. and thov have been among the worst offenders these last lew years. What is the matter? Please, obsorvo that the mischief generally—the indiscipline,' tli.6 unprecedented growth of strikes, of national strikes over local disputes;, and the failure of tho unions to keep wages. n;ov>. i.iig up in. advance of living costs-- prac? tically tiio whole trouble has risen and spread concurrently with tiio rise and activities of the Labour Party. It seems that tho poiiticalisation of the trade unions is going to be their undoing. With trade unionism alone the labour movement progressed. With trade unionism plus a Labour Party tlwic is retrogression. . Members, who formerly .met- ill their branches for tho discussion of . tiiiioii. business now differ about polities and policies. Leaders who used to devote their whole time to the. immediate indus-; trial interests of the members are, now augagerl in State affld municipal affairs. Union business is left to. y.o'uiig, and j reckless members. The loaders loso their grip of the men's grievances. They en-i ter into negotiations and' make agree- : meats with employers without adequate.] knowledge of the ttorking conditions— the- itetf inventions and e.yei-.'c:ha'ngin£ procoss.e.s that are adopted. The rii.cii' Smart under such bargainSj- atwl,.often, break them. Trips Round the World. Again., tho spectacle of the leaders en-! raging in alt .manner of movements, that ire not- labour movements, raking trips round the world 011 fiscal missions uhije. iiio unemployed starve, and hob-nobbing vith middle-class fiuffragettes while ;rado union business is neglected, makes i deep impression on the minds of the verkers. These circumstances, coupled vith the acceptance of Government jobs vy tho leaders, inspire distrust. This 3 clearly reflected in the fact that the nihers Jiayp. even withdrrovn 'plenary lowers from their leaders and now jri- '■ list upon being consulted and balloted it every stage of negotiations with em/lovors. . Moreover,-upon. political as well as regions Questions workmen are sharply livided, and it seem.s that no matter rhat polioy the political labour leader lursnes lie is bound to give offence to OHIO of the members of his union. Tlio rado ii.ii.ion alliance with, tho Labour iarty sowed the seeds of discord and isloyalty. The policy oi! tile Labour arty ig creating, anarchy. Employers as Enemies. The old trade unionism mot the cmloytrs as business men on business !nos. The now trade unionism tiea'ts inployers as enemies to bo fought px! [10 whole capitalist- system as an evil 1} bo .got rid of. The. old trado union-. mi won respect and made the workers otter off. The'new trade'unionism rovokes opposition and makes tho arkors worse off. Tho old labour, lader who went ■to the employer as lie honest agent of the workmen did tisinoss—good business—for . labour, ho new labour leader is in an altoether false .aiid impossible position, Jjfo 'aims better conditions for labour.,, but :■ engaged in political movements and lpports financial measures that make more and more difficult for employ- . •s to better the conditions of labour, hese new labour leaders forget that the ell-being of labour depends upon tin* ' elfaro of industry, and that tho more ■ ; ley help to harass and tax industry, a'fing it more difficult to meet forgtl competition, tho inor<> they "flat and inn the workers. Unduly tax capital ul capital will undnl.y grind labour, ltpose excessive rates upon Shopkeeps and property owners to fmanco fail-; stie municipal enterprises and you \ iso tho worker's cost of living and wising. And the wliolo influence of . 10 now political trade unionism works. , the -direction of excessive taxes aiid tes. In a word, trade unionism is cutting ' [0 ground from Uhde.r its ewii feotv ■ is Workers, feeling the effects, but■fling to see the causes of tlio hewer • id harsher conditions, ar<> revolting— 1 i'oUiwg without sound leadership, with- ' it efficient organisation, and without J .owledse. Tho result w ill ho disaster. ■ :