Two Kinds of Unionism

Progress, Volume XIII, Issue 2, 1 October 1917, Page 39

Two Kinds of Unionism

Militant political trades unionism in Australia has had a fall, and its dreams of dominating the body politic by the use of extreme measures have turned out to be disturbing nightmares, with a bad effect upon the dreamers. The great Australian strike is practically all over and the strikers go back to work with lessened privileges. In New Zealand we frequently hear of the success of militancy, and a comparison of the pay and conditions made by the sword, so to speak, will sometimes make more constitutional trade union leaders wonder if the quiet policy is really best in the long run. When labour is scarce, the militant worker probably scores increases more quickly than the less aggressive man, but under normal conditions the latter is better off, for the industry in which he is employed is less disturbed and is consequently better able to develop and provide permanent employment. Though it is the custom in extreme unionistic circles to scoff at the Arbitration Court, it must not be forgotten that its minimum wage gives the worker some protection from the worst class of exploiting employer when times are bad. Public opinion, too, is a great factor in favour of the trades union which takes the constitutional course in securing redress of grievances. When the horse drivers of New Zealand secured an inadequate wage from the Arbitration Court a few months ago, they made their case public, applied reasonable means to impress their employers with their grievance, and although the latter were obdurate for a time, public opinion showed itself on the men’s side, the pressure of

public opinion was applied through the Government, and the men won. The industrial situation in New Zealand to-day is not altogether clear of clouds, but trades unionism on the whole .is disposed to trust its case to sound argument rather than the bigstrike, therefore it deserves well of the community.