TO TRADE UNIONISTS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 25, 25 August 1911, Page 13

TO TRADE UNIONISTS.

The following circular has been issued art Ghristchureh :— -•» Fellow Workers, —Our Union is affiliated to tli© Trades and Labor Council. In-the .case of the General Laborers' TJiiiion. we pay £52 pea- year. What do we get in return ? The right to send delegates to the Council. But what return do we get for our £52 ? None, unless it be the privileges of voting •sums of money to the Labor Party. What weight has the Trades Councils' Federation in oompairisoai to the New Zealand Federation of Labor as registered ? The. officials of the Trades Councils' Federation claim a -membership of 50,000; the other has only oaiefiftli that number, yot when, the Trades Councils' Federation wants anything they pass a resolution and approach the Government, who tell our Federation (the Trades Councils') that the matter will be enquired into. Now, members of the Ministry in power have said that Labor will have to call a halt, that no more can be done for us; moreover, they are assisting immigrants out to further .weaken the power of organised labor. When, on the other hand,, the millers objected to some legislation that the Government tried to pass, that particular Bill was altered to suit the miners. Now, why this difference? It is because the N.Z.F.L. as : registered has not forfeited the right to strike. — the only weapon of which our masu*s are afraid. To put it PLAINLY, it is

power which decides whether the workers are entitled to any better oandiitions or not. The Trades Couixcils' Federation has practically, no pswer. They are bo bound tip with awards that they can;Jiot act unitedly. They have,forfeited ;the right to strike, wherein lies their power. „.,,,.'.'.• .],*. " . ' Now, feJlow wpa-kepSj what are we going to do'about Are we going to continue, to'pay £52 and get no reof which our masters take next to no Jof wihich our masters tako next to mo. notice? Wo as well bo on our own and save £52. But we would have a much greator chance of securing better conditions if we were affiliated witih and backed tip by an organisatiora like the> N.Z.F.L. as registered. Wo all know that the Arbitration Court is of no further use to us, and that we MUST get some better means for improving our ecrditions Industrial TJniioniism is what we want: aill in one big union. We must make ourselves conversant with Industrial Unionist methods, them. we will have those better means for improving oair conditions. Finally, we must join, hands with, our follow workers, who have proved that they have some power in their organisation.