Trades Union Congress

COMMONWEALTH (British Commonwealth of Nations')

At Hull, Yorkshire, was held this year's Trades Union Congress.* Some 700 delegates, representing more than 5 million workers, attended. Fraternal delegates present were Peter J. Brady and Edward J. Gainer of the American Federation of Labor; J. A. McClelland of the Canadian Trades and Labor Congress; J. Ondegeest of the Amsterdam Trades Union Internationale; five representatives from the All-Russian Council of Trade under the chairmanship of M. Michael Pavlovitch Tomsky.

The agenda:

1) Nationalization of land, mines, minerals and railways.

2) Legal minimum wage for each industry.

3) Extension of State and Municipal reforms.

4) Legal maximum working week of 44 hours to be made applicable to all trades.

As in Congresses of recent years, much interest was taken in the question of Communism. M. Tomsky made a veiled speech which was regarded as the subtlest Bolshevik propaganda. One H. Pollitt advocated an international conference of all trades union movements, including the Amsterdam and Moscow Internationales, with the object of bringing the "organized workers of the world under international fighting leadership."

A. A. Purcell, Chairman of the Congress, said in answer that the Council of the Congress had already decided to ask the Amsterdam Internationale to issue invitations to call such a conference at which Russians could be present. This was taken to mean that Brit ish trades unionism would cooperate with Russians upon an equal basis but would not permit the latter to dominate or dictate.

It was clear, however, that the Congress would not go on record in favor of any policy either directly or indirectly favoring Communism, although a strong sentiment existed in favor of combating the growth of international Capitalism. After this, discussion of policy at the proposed Conference was ruled out.

An important decision was made when the Congress agreed to give the Council (a permanent body) greater power to intervene in industrial disputes. Hitherto, the power of the Council has been limited to mediation when mediation was wanted, but under its new powers it is to try to prevent industrial disputes or to marshal all the forces of the unions in aid of any union which it supports. Thus, if a union declines to accept the ruling of the Council, it is to be reported to the next Congress and deprived of support from the rest oi the unions. On the other hand, if the Council gives advice which is followed and a strike cannot be avoided, then a general strike is to be called to help the striking trade.

This move was taken as a direct slap in the face to the Communists who have in the past succeeded in bringing much disrepute upon the trades union movement by advocating hasty action. Thus, it was believed that the number of industrial conflicts will be reduced, but when they become inevitable, it seems that under the new ruling more strenu ous struggles will result.

Other resolutions adopted were:

1) Abolition of cheap Asiatic labor aboard British ships.

2) Convocation of a special Congress to discuss what industrial action can be taken when war is threatened.

3) Maximum 48-hour week, with temporary 44-hour week while unem ployment is acute.

4) Telegram of support to Premier Ramsay MacDonald on his stand at Geneva (see Page 6).

5) Approval of the Anglo-Soviet Treaty (TIME, Aug. 18).

*A trade union is an organized association of workmen of a trade, formed for the protection and promotion of common interests. At first, trades unions were not intended as political bodies, but, due to Keir Hardie (1856-1915) they came to exercise considerable political power.