WHICH AGREEMENT SHALL WE BREAK?

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 55, 29 March 1912, Page 14

WHICH AGREEMENT SHALL WE BREAK?

Sir,—The discussion provoked by Mr. Mickey's article is to the average reader both interesting and instructive. However, a good deal of misunderstanding has been caused by what seems to mc a misstatement of the main proposition. This, in my opinion, should read: Which agreement shall we break—that entered into by us with members of our own class (which binds us in one Federation), or that entered into with the employing class? The very action of a union in joining the Federation implies aoi agreement between the members of that union and tho members of the other branches of the main organisation. An agreement, for what purposes? A brief glance at the Federation preamble effectually answers this question. Surely, before deciding to join the Federation, each union has carefully studied this preamble? Why, then, all fchia argument as to which it shall be if necessity arises: Loyalty to an agreement existing between members of our own class or loyalty to an agreement between us ami our employers? To any intelligent worker the answer must come prompt and decisive: Our own class first, now and always. To mc the place of any union deciding otherwise should be, not within the ranks of a progressive Federation, but back in the of stagnated sectional unionism, helping Capitalism to defeat the worker in time of trouble.—Yours, etc., E.R.G.