Federalism in England

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 5, 1 June 1913, Page 3

Federalism in England

“ Naturally enough, as time went 011, the workers themselves, defeated by the blacklegging of union upon union, and seeing many other defects, attempted to remedy these evils by means of FEDERATIONS. But the method is wrong. When a society is only going to concern itself with its special craft interests, and follow them to the detriment of other trades, federations are going to fail. There are hundreds of unions, but, when the question of closer organisation has been brought up, it only results in some halfhearted federation. Noav, Ave are not opposed to the principles of federation, but A\ 7 e are opposed to the methods that have always been used. . . . Apart from the number of times they have blacklegged on each other, wdiat happens when they federate ? All these societies retain all their existing officials, branches, etc., thus keeping up the whole duplication of officials, salaries, rent and organising expenses, and then make some more jobs by having officials and their expenses for the federation.” —E. J. B. ALLEN in Revolutionary Unionism.