CAPITAL AND LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 84, 6 October 1938, Page 14

CAPITAL AND LABOUR

SURVEY OF BRITAIN

U.S. COMMISSION

MFf. ROOSEVELT IMPRESSED

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

NEW YORK, September 14.

A striking commentary on relations between capital and labour in the United States has been furnished by the special commission of inine members sent by President Roosevelt to study the industrial atmosphere in Great Britain. Commending the British plan of settlement of industrial disputes, without the violence jassocijated with strikes in the United States,/ the commission presented a 15,000-wctrd report, which moved the President^.to say: "To me, the most salient feature of the report is the co-operative spirit, coupled with restraint, which is shown by those who represent employers and employees in Great Bfcritain." From his comment, it is deduced that, as far as practicable, he. will apply British procedure to industrial relations in the United States.

While, at the moment of writing, all! the warehouses and department stores! in San Francisco aire'closed, and pickets prevent any workers entering them, it is heartening t<_ read that section of the Commission's report, which says: "Violence on the part of workers and provocative tactics on the part of employers have not fbr a long time played any significant part in industrial disturbances. The chief reliance for the maintenance of industrial peace is placed on the <?>ettlement of all issues and differences, by voluntary collective bargaining methods." By inference, it stated that, were the British definition of "intimidation" in the law of 1927 applied to th/e United States, there would have 'been an absence of the intensive violence, ranging from minor assault to murder, that has characterised industrial disputes for the past eleven year/.. FUNCTIONS OF UNIONS. The Conjcmission, while praising the co-operative spirit of British industry and labojur, revealed by detailed analysis - jjtlie presence in British economy jcf a large number of factors which hstve not been developed to the same extent in the United States. Among; jthem is the fact that British labour is represented by strong labour unions which co-operate fully with each other, whether they be craft, industrial, or general, and the fact also that errfployeris are almost as completely organise^ for the purpose of making arrangeinerits with labour. The protractejd rift between the two great uniorfc in the United States and the fact Chat there is no organisation which woulid compare with the employers' association, left the Commission moved by tihe need of such a peaceful set-up in tfee United States. Inj its section devoted to the organisations of labour unions, the Commission endorsed the British system, umjjer which administrative officers of unions often are appointed for indefinite terms, thereby gaining experience, unbroken by the need of running fo* re-election at stated intervals. It alao found that these officers have developed a high degree of responsibility, due to the fact that many labour ittiions have extensive activities, such an special benefits, pensions, and insurance. It was surprised to note the Absence of politics in the supervision pf union funds. SOCIAL BENEFITS. British social legislation deeply im■pressed the Commission, which hinted 'that, in this regard, Great Britain was twenty-five years ahead of the United States. It pointed with pride to unemployment insurance, begun in 1911, now covering 13,000,000 workers; health insurance, with medical aid, in effect for many years; and old age pensions, on a basis of equal contribution from worker and employer, supplemented by grants from the Government. It referred to the superior housing pro!gramme,in the Old Country, which is the subject of a report by a special commission sent to England by the President The commission was greatly impressed by the co-operative movement as a factor in decreasing the cost |of the necessaries of life, especially to workers, with 8,000,000 members of retail co-operative societies, with sales of over £200,000,000 a year.

The commission is continuing its investigation on the Continent.