Federation Convenes a Conference

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 90, 6 December 1912, Page 3

Federation Convenes a Conference

All Unions Asked to Attend next January

I Upon its official letter-heading the following circular has been issued by the $ew Zealand Federation of Labor: — CONFERENCE OF ALL TRADE UNIONS. To the Secretary and Members. Dear Comrades, —Industrial history in New Zealand dining 1912 has been so momentous as to demand the most serious attention from organised labor. Not in regard to the Federation of Labor alone, but in connection with trade unionism generally, the industrial unrest, Parliamentary bungling in respect to the same, employers' consolidation and activity and the remarkable purposes...to which the arbitration sys■terir has fceeri bt?'nf.,:"Kave made it imperative that Trades Unionism should speak with a collective and invited voice against the enemies on all sides. The Federation of Labor reels that it need not recite the facts in detail, nor need if enlarge upon the presence of a common and grave danger to all unionism, but it wishes to remind its fellowworkers that in several notable instances or test cases legitimate trades unions have been endangered by the formation of patently-"bogus"' unions, and that, this process seems to b*> capable of such extension as to smash any union engaged in trouble with the. em-

plovers. The Waihi strike in its origin, waging and final stages in itself full of lessons and problems for organised labor; hut at Huntly to-day the position is as serious. The union at Huntly having come into conflict with the mine-owners, first found its ex<»cntire victimised, next its statue and its conditions threatened by outside treachery operating on weaki. lirigs, and then its membership placed -under police surveillance:. Arbitration law has been a big factor in enabling infinitesimal minorities in unions to undo the will and work of big majorities, whilst the provision enabling a section numbering fifteen to secure registration under the Act end so practically determine the fate of the .union or industry has begotten blackleggery and may prove the greatest weapon of employerdom against unionism.

Apart from the Federation and its well-known antagonism to arbitration, there are an increasing number of unions who, though not of the Federation attitude, yet find themselves compelled to withdraw from under the Act; a,nd there are also many unions under the Act who are not satisfied with the constitution of the Arbitration Court and other features of the system. It would seem to be the most ordinary commonsense that all of these should act together for mutual interests. The Federation of Labor believes that all the trade unions, whether for arbitration or opposed to it, believe in tin maintenance of the right , to cancel registration and the right t>o strike, and that they also believe in majority rule and in solidarity during wage-wars— and therefore the Federation further believes the hour is ripe, and rotten ripe, for effective and strong industrial combination for trade union protection and power. In the earnest hope that combined action wil] result, and in the sincere conviction that not only itself but every union and every federation of unions is in dire peril through loopholes in la.ws nominally designed to benefit the workers —and through the present administration of the said laws —the Federation of Labor convenes a conference of trade union representatives for TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 next, at the offices of Thb Maohtland Worker, Wellington.

The chief business of the conference will be to consider the difficulties and dangers confronting trade unionism and to a,gre«\ if possible, upon a basis of combined action that will strengthen each and all, while making for the consolidation and emancipation of the grea.t working-class.

It is hoped that if the unions cannot agree on all points, they can agree to stand by each other in wage-ware and against laws opposed •in their application to fcbe traditionary industrial policy and principles of unionism Your union is cordially invited and urged to appoint from its members a delegate or delegates to be present at the conference, it being understood that decisions arrived at will be placed before the separate unions for their endorsement or otherwise.

The conference will be open to any appointed delegate from any bona fide union of workers, irrespective of present affiliations or non-affiliations.

Should your union approve of this conference and wish the relationship of unionism to arbitration and strikes to be expressed, will you please forward a reply with name of delegate or delegates as soon as poseible.—Fraternally yours,

For the Federation of Labor, J. CLOVER, Seoretary. Box-1-500, G.P.0.,. Wellington. ■