The Strike Clause.

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 9, 1 October 1913, Page 2

The Strike Clause.

Editor, “ Industrial Unionist,” Dear Sir, —

In reply to your editorial comment on my letter, I notice you first say I take too much space and then immediately afterwards blame me for not quoting more of the U.F.L. constitution.

However, the very best argument I can put forward is your own constitution, and I therefore ask you to reprint below this the following sections of Article 111. thereof.

Section 4, which gives the Executive absolute power on all matters, the only apepal being to a referendum of the membership at the expense of the organisation making the appeal (the U.F.L. provides for a referendum on application of 2,000 members). There is no provision which forbids the G.E.B. to “ call off” a strike. Sections 5 and 7, both of which recognise sectional strikes, and the latter recognises the principle of financial assistance to a section on strike up to as many as six times in one year. I mention this because I have heard a few I.W.W. members state on many occasions when condemning the Federation, that the I.W.W. does not believe in sectional strikes nor financial assistance/o unions on strike.

Please ur k • 1 that I do not criticise the boj ado >. ’ \y hen who uphold their ■•: oh.-titut:cn, but only those members v : .| , for the purpose of attackin'. an-TUr organisation, resort to misrepr .'.sor > bon >f their own constitution i - V.o bo so, a course of action whicl Requite indefensible, especially from th\.U whose aim should, be the unity oi the workers and not their division. I til ink we have quite enough misrepresentation to fight from employers and cowardly craft union officials all over the country. I should have liked to have gone more fully into what is, to my mind, the most important question which can be discussed, viz.., the unity of the workers on sound industrial lines; but in deference to your request I make ray letter as brief as possible, and therefore ask you not to accuse me again of omitting something vital. Yours fraternally, N. SHORTER. [We are not really much concerned about getting strikes called off; the problem for N.Z. rebels seems to be how to get a decent strike on. —Ed.]