THE STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1181, 6 December 1913, Page 4

THE STRIKE.

EMPLOYERS’ MANIFESTO. OBJECT & AIM OF STRIKE, The following manifesto was issi.d by the Employers’, Farmers’ and Citizens’ Defence Committee on Wednesday. “The Employers’, Farmers’, and Citizens’ Defence Committee, having collectively and individually pledged itself to the elimination of the United Federation of Labour, its officers and representatives, from any future negotiations with unions of workers, and has done so for the following, among other, reasons The Committee emphatically states that there is now no point which led up to the existing strike upon which to treat. Fuither means have been provided by law tor the formation of unions under the Industrial and Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Such unions have been duly formed and registered, and members of the same are now employed effectively doing the work ot the ports, and in which waterside workers, drivers and other workers were engaged before the strike on the same terms as regards rates of pay and hours ot labour. The said unions are open to the men who struck to join, and they can obtain employment through them. The Defence Committee, being legally and morally pledged to such unions, can only meet workers through them. In these circumstances the Committee cannot recognise the Federation as having any right o! intervention.

In the case of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union, the employers did not insist upon registration under the Arbitration Act until every proposal made by them was rejected by the union through the Federation’s representatives. These proposals included the furnishing of a guarantee against strikes without reference first to a committee of representatives of employers and employees, and taking of a secret ballot under the supervision of a Government official.

“The proposal of the Prime Minister to refer the dispute to the arbitrament of Sir Joshua Williams was also definitely rejected by the said Waterside Workers’ Union, through the Federation, although it has now changed its mind, and wishes for such arbitrament.

“Even while negotiations for settlement of the strike were in progress, aud the representatives of employers aud the Federation were conferring, the Federation would uot give assurauce that au agreement would be kept, aud it made no sign of discouraging the public speeches of its members urging disorder, inti nidation, sabotage and violence, and the complete paralysis of the industries of the Dominiou.

“The Committee again points out that the strike was uot one for easier working conditious, for higher wages, or shorter hours. The strike of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union, fortified by the Federation, was but an expression of the intolerable arrogance shown to employers, and in complete harmony with the doctrines instilled into the minds of workers who have come under the control or influence, or both, of the Federation. “In this connection it should be borne in mini by the employees, as well as the employers, that the Federation and the Industrial Workers of the World, or 1.W.W., are identical in structure, functions, propoganda, and methods, and the only difference between them is oue of name. ■The preambles of the constitution of the I. WAV. aud the Federation are almost the same. Both open with the postulate, ‘the working class and the employing class have nothing iu common.’ Clause 3 of the preamble of the I.W.W. contains the following sentence: ‘Moreover, the trade unions aid the employing class to mislead the workers into the belief that the working class have interests in common with their