DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 87, 8 November 1912, Page 8

DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR.

THE DIFFICULTY AND THE CURE. Watersido unions havo 'ong recognised the right to dictate the price and tho conditions under which their labor shall be exploited. But the question of the apportionment of the work amongst tho whole of the members of thermion has not yet been seriously discussed. And why not? Each member of the union pays the same subscription; his value is equal as a fighting force in troublous times; he has an. equal voice in tho control of his union; is equal in physique and average ability; yet by the peculiar fate of a casual industry, with unorganised distribution of labor, ono is gorged and the other starved. Nothing conduces more to an infamous system of crawling and sycophancy than this system of engaging labor. The abolition of it would bind all waterside unions stronger together and kill open competition. Why not carry the union right through to the job and demand equality of opportunity to toil. Now, this is not a bis; order. In Hamburg tho union has had this concession since 1907, when they struck work in order to demand an equal voice in the labor exchanges and the almlition of all work on Sunday and after 10 p.m. At this place all engaging of laboT is done from the one central bureau. Sufficient labor is keptf'available to supply tho wants of variable shipping, and in the general distribution the hourly rate is taken into consideration in order to allow a living wage to all receiving work from the exchange. The irony of so-called unionism on the N.Z. waterfront, where one unionist receives £6 and his mate 25 bob or |£2! j How could we alter it? A nontransferrence of labor clause was inserted' in the last Wellington agreement. Tin's was a rain attempt at a cure by lopping at the branches. It has proved useless, because the boss can dismiss a gang, send them back to the waiting-room, and re-engage them, while the extremely casual brother unionist wears his trousers thin at the seat waiting for a picking. We should get- down to the root of tho system. I I believe in the labor exchanges. I claim that there are sufficient wages naid on the wharves of New Zealand to keep sufficient men to work the shipping, were the labor properly distributed. No employer has the Tight to the services of a unionist unless compelled to give that man a living wage, and no union is doing its duty while it agitates only for an increase in the hourly rate to be -naid while it leaves the question of distribution severely alone. Establish your labor exchanges, controlled by harbor boards elected on a democratic franchise; abolish the present system of dues-payers' and shipowners' 'direct representatives; and through tho means of your representatives so nnnortion the omplovrnent to provide a living wage in reality.. No online is more worthy. Any means are justifiable in order to enforce the right of the whole people to control their hnrbors, which have all too long been tho cesspools for the driftwood of humanity. The harbor board and the labor exchange controlled by direct action by militant unions is the keystone 1 tr> the position, and tho only remedy j under capitalism.