LABOUR IN AMERICA

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 40, 10 May 1927, Page 14

LABOUR IN AMERICA

OBJECTIVES OUTLINED

FEDERATION LEADER’S VIEW By Cable.—Press Association.-—Copyright NEW YORK, Sunday. Mr. William Green, who succeeded the late Mr. Samuel Gompers as president of the American Federation of Labour, was interviewed to-day. Dealing with the questions of a 44hours week and piece-work, he said he thought when hours were shortened it made it necessary to consider means of providing au incentive for harder work within those shorter hours. The two went hand in hand. In America Labour was not opposed to the principle of' piece-work. He thought it was a fair and reasonable means of providing an incentive. If he were a union leader in Australia, he would not be afraid to recommend piece-work to organised workers, but it must be operated under such conditions that the workers would have a say in determining the rates to be paid for piece-work. Piece-work could not be applied always, but where it could be applied and where workers were organised it was a fair and necessary part of a prosperous and efficient industrial system.

NO COMPULSORY ARBITRATION Questioned about the antagonism of organised Labour in America toward the Australian system of compulsory arbitration, Mr. Green said voluntary arbitration was quite common in America, and was encouraged by his federation. But they did not approve of compulsory arbitration because they held that a man’s labour was his personal and individual possession, which no law should be allowed to take from him against his will. When he was informed that in Australia there are strikes even after arbitration, Mr. Green said emphatically that he could not understand that. If they agreed to compulsory arbitration, they would be in honour bound to abide by its decisions. They would have surrendered absolutely their right to strike, and because they dared not give up that right they would not accept the Australian arbitration laws. i

American Labour would not expect to have it both ways. Asked why his federation had failed to organise a larger proportion of American Labour, he said the greatest obstacle to Labour organisation in America had been unrestricted immigration. They simply could not get among these millions of foreign workers who did not speak their language, and who did not comprehend American ideals. AMERICAN LABOUR UNIONISED The youngtir generation of Labour leaders regarded Mr. Gomper’s federation as the only foundation-stone. Immigration restrictions meant everything to them, as they gave them a great chance. Large employers were fighting to have these restrictions removed, but they never would be removed. On the contrary, they would be tightened. They were going to unionise the whole of American Labour. That meant there was going to be plenty of trouble in the next 20 years. All their plans were laid for the fight. Another aim of American unions was to do away with the conditions which existed under mass production. These industries must adjust themselves to more humane conditions. They were making huge profits for the stockholders, but at a cost to the workers which was a national loss. —-A. and N.Z.