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ONE BIG UNION

TREND OF LABOUR ACTION IN NEW ZEALAND

RECENT EVIDENCE

The "New Zealand Employers'. Federation Industrial Bulletin" in arecent issue has the following comment, on the pre-sent-trend of trade unionism in tins Two reports published in a recent issue of the "Maoriland Worker" indicate the revival of the idea of one comprehensive labour organisation as it was planned prior to the strike of 1913. 'I he tion of Labour, into whose (are_ the control of industrial disputes of 11" t™ committed, has apparently cimie to uie decision that the present is en opportune time for making another attempt to establish a .labour dictatorship. The secretary of the Federation of Laoour is repoa-ted to have said that many of the statement? he had .recently read regarding the alleged trouble that ras brewing in the industrial world made his Wood boil. "These statements, believe me," said Mr. Hunter, "do: not come from Labour sources, and there u rot tne slightest foundation in' fact !cr them. The whole trend of the modern movement is to strengthen the position 01 Labour, particularly on the line yi pie--venting strikes. Those who hike a prcin? inenf part realise the'essential need of a strong and welklisciplined orgivmeahon and this tendency practically e.m-iLates the possibility of strikes." ■ ■ ~ Mr Hunta: continued that Ihis *ae the explanation "of their , desire to. get all labour organisations linked -pu.to one body. When this was ichiewd no-one could strike without involving f\™> other units, and it was obvious «)?' ™ 3 tended .to prevent many small disputes* developing into. something n«>» e £™£ as the matter wonld haveio be Aery wre fully considered bv all the organmuone involved. He. diet not know wHther those who had been so anxious to^nral e statements about, coming labonr hubles were really desirous of such things J,ap penhig, '.but many recent I»PP™»S» «' I tainly .inch-.» eonrtr™tionheinjr placed on their attitude. -Ai other ZJ of discontent was the »«r which the returned soldiers had teen treated by employers. . , , iThis is a very ingenious, mefliod 01 stating that it is hoped, that by _ tbe '•'centralisation", of the power to^cal 1, a general strike the threat of strikin prove sufficient: to attain ■«".{ ' which the controlling committee may - have in view.- Until such- time as that SrafeaWon'is attained ,*'[«» organisations are not desirous ol sectiona strikes being called. It will not be <»« the "Worker/ above reforred to, reads Federato of Labour has issued -a ■■,.ciwutar- • deaUn. with the attitude'of organised Labom to the Conciliation and Arbrtraturn Act. "The executive states that it hat, <iu y centered the matter, and, having in view on tlie one -hand the growing d£ the Arbitration Court.and the DepaU {is and , the urgent needs of industry, ami Us fa lure in these directions will which, the -.-executive thinks will meuta%Sort e executive cWot suggest ainenaments to the Act, Suso it is based on 'compulsion and tenusHo Pe rpetuat e ;thewages,sy S tem o iob employers- and; employed of' Übyrty of action; and to -organise ■« eaoh tin nks beet,' and' that what; is wrong ib iin ciple cannot be amended bo m to be ultimately Iseneficial in practice. the Uniti Kingdom, where mdustrj-hasfelt the effects of the war more severely than in New Zealand, and where the afte - effects can bo more; clearly seen, it . stated, employers and employees hate re-ioi-ted ail Voposalß for compulsorj' coniation an,l arbitration, and .t Beems desirable to the executive.thatimii.tiy in all parts of,the empire ehould > guided by the same rules. I*? executive suggests - a,..programm«l to suit tl o industrial requirements .in New ZealandThis includes nationalisation of .ndus tries, a national industries council, a(l ; visory councils, and worlsa cpinwutteeß. ■ V.The.leading idea conveyed.bv; li M circular is opposition to tlie present - -diistriol arbitration tsjtism nnd;«j esne i.for■ a,-reversion to-such conditions. as : fieldfor; S D« the support-,of all unions, both nujdeiateand militant. ;. . The mainstay of the whole scheme is I the-combination of militant ■unions represented by. .the -Transport Workei* Advisory Board, which has taken a. leading part in the attempt now.beinß made to bring: alioiit.a .-realisation of tho one bic • union" ideal. • :, , The.- following report is. ■ self:explnnai k-'AtV meetiW:Ainder the-auspices of the Transport' Workers' Advisory Board, in Christchurch, on January 17, railway ■men, watersiders, seamen, _dnv»rs, and tramivayinen were represented. - It was ■stated- by Mr.- Eoberts, of .thq hVate'rsiders' Federation, that.the objects of-th'e , boardß-were< , to ; or(mmsß all trans-potts-wor&K-.into 'one' fedcra ion, and ! use, that, organisation for the benefit of I each'unit to «et an adequato return tor fhis ;ldbdurY.also to improve the working conditions'and shorten the hoursi of .labour. v'Thov had. all sections with .them with the exception of the locomotive engineers and -firemen, and it was believed •hev 'woiild affiliate , within twelve mouths. :■ There would .have been;senous industrial disputes but for tho intervention of tho Transport Federation. It had--ken the means of getting, several ■inen'-'reinstated-after they had beeir ordered off tho wharves by tlie military authftfities. .:in..connection. with .the recent Dunedin tramway dispute, the local union was unable to effect'a.settlement, but on the question in- dispute■•■ being banded over to the Transport; Federation a settlement was arrived .at individually, Tho only people to-day'who appreciated the Arbitration Court were the empioyore. and the Transport Advisory Board had been set up by the workers to lake its place. No section of affiliated workers would be able to enter into a dispute without consulting the others. The Transport Advisory Board was out to stop tho formation , of -further craft .unions. Other sections of the industry were organised on' crnft lines, but .the board oakud them to croiip on industrial lines, in order that they might be ablo lo 1 form im efficient national labour organisation that could spent with no -uncertain voice for the whole organised Lnbniir in the country. The object.in view for , tho future was to own and control the industries. "Mr. ,T, Glover said that many forms of organisation hud been .adopted, and all had served their day. It was no use trying lo koep an organisation in existence when it no longer expressed the dcBires of the workers. They could, not act by sentiment-. One of thoir objects was to knock down the eighlwn affiliated unions and register one waterside workers' union, with a lionrd in each port, tlWeamo as the A.S.K.S. Tho Transport; Fwlcration elhmld be composed of all workers i" ihe particular industry— namely, waterside workers, railwaymon, seiime'n. triiniwaymcn, and drivers. I lie ' minora and Hie agricultural workers should link up with thorn ami form a National Council nf Labour."

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Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19190219.2.8

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 124, 19 February 1919, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,080

ONE BIG UNION Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 124, 19 February 1919, Page 3

ONE BIG UNION Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 124, 19 February 1919, Page 3

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