TRADE UNIONISM ON THE CONTINENT.

Southland Times, Issue 1182, 25 June 1869, Page 2

TRADE UNIONISM ON THE CONTINENT.

" A Unionist " sends to the ' Times ' a communication on the progress of trade unionism on the continent. He says — By the agency of the International Working Men's Association the movement has Bpread quicker than it otherwise would have done, and by the same agency the working-class politicians, who have at lest a theoretical knowledge of English trade unionism, have become connected with it. But while the foremost among the working classes built their only hope of improving the condition of their class upon the maintenance and extension of their unions, the employers of labour, instead of taking Mr Mundell's view of the matter to acknowledge trade unions as an existing power, entitled as such to have a voice in the settlement of questions respecting the relations between labour and capital, fancy they may stem the torrent by victimising the leaders. It is about a twelvemonth since the master builders of Geneva tried to wean the operatives from unionism, but without avail. A present it is in the German, in the manufacturing part of Switzerland, where a trial of strength is going on between the employers and the employed. The ribbon weavers of Bale, who are said to be iv a deplorable condition, some time since established a union among themselves under the auspices of the International Association. Being dissatisfied with the manner in which business was conducted iv tlie factories, they drew up a set of rules for their regulation, which were adopted in a general meeting on the Bth of November last. They were to be submitted to the employers, and a mutual agreement was to be brought about by a meeting of delegates from both parties. The principal points insisted upon by the workpeople were : — I. A limitation of the hours of labour — viz., from six a.m. to seven p.m. during five days in the week, and five p.m. on Saturdays, with regular intervals for meals, and that the factories should be closed between the working hours. 2. No work to be done on Sundays under any circumstances. 3. That women be permitted to commence half an hour later, and leave off half an hour earlier than the prescribed time. 4. That no children under 14 years of age be admitted to work in the factories. 5. That the goods should be measured in the presence of workmen, 6. That female weavers be paid the same prices per piece as males. The rest of the rules had reference to the mode of payment, settlement of disputes, and fining men far keeping " blue Monday." The 9th of November led to an outbreak of hostilities. According to an old custom, the workpeople had half-holiday on the last day of tbe Autumn fair. The 9th of November being the last day of the said fair, one of tbe partners of Messrs Debary & Sons' ribbou factory announced that anyone who absented, himself on account of the fair should be discharged. This gave rise to angry feelings, and induced 104 of the workmen to go out, about 70 remaining at work. The men thought, at the very least, they were entitled to finish the unpaid work they

had in hand, independent of the required fortnight's notice to leave. The following morning they found t^e factory surrounded by gendarmes, who prevented them from returning to their work, upon which the 70 likewise refused to enter. The next step of Messrs Debary was to give notice to the workpeople to quit the houses they occupied, which belongs to the firm, and placards were posted warning the tradespeople of the neighbourhood not to give an/ credit. On the third day Messrs Debary consented to negotiate. They insisted on expelling about a dozen of the ringleaders ; the workmen insisted that all or none should return. The nrm Conceded the point, but soon found means to get rid of the obnoxious pers ms. On the 19th of November the proposed factory regulations were presented to the little Council of Bale, wi,th an address soliciting the aid of the Council to bring about ah understanding with the em* plojers. The Council handed the affair over to the Commercial College, under whose direction the intended delegate meeting was to be held. The delegates of the men were summoned to attend on the 19th of December, but no masters' delegates appeared. Four members of the Commercial College spoke on behalf of the employers, and the gist of the matter waa that the president, Mr Kachlin, advised the men severally to trust to the individual goodwill of their employers, because they would never consent to treat with union delegates. On the 13th a meeting of all the trade unions was held to heai* the result of the conference, which was calculated to give anything but satisfaction. On the 16th the silk dyers, of whom there were about 350, out of 500 in union, presented their bill of grievances to the employers, demanding, besides factory regulations, also a rise of wages. M. Cfavel, the largest employer in Bale, declared that he had but little to object to in what was asked, but that he would dismiss every one of his workmen who did not leave the International Union before next pay day. On the 26th of December the various (lying establishments assumed the appearance of holiday preparations ; everything was cleared up, and no new work commenced ; bo the men concluded that something was going to happen. They were not kept long in suspense. la the afternoon all who wetfe known to belong to the itnidn were discharged throughout the town, and, as a point of honor, those who did not belong to the union left in consequence of these proceedings, and joined the union. However, the employers found it impossible to obtain hands from any other place, and therefore came to terms. They conceded a rise of wages equal to 25 per cent, and work was resumed on the 4th of January. To preserve peace and order, which never seem to have been threatned, the Government, on the 16th of December, issued a proclamation dividing the town into nine military divisions ; but, instead of calling the national militia to arms, special constables were hired, at 2s a day, to defend the ; own. Unable to suppress the unions by one stroke, the employers have taken to proscribe the leaders and spokesmen of unionism, of whom there are about 300 at the present moment — ribbon weavers and silk dyers — who oan neither obtain work at Bale, nor at Zurich, the only two towns in Switzerland where their trade is carried on. In the meantime other trades have founded new unions.