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The Trade Unions in a Changing World

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2024

J. M. Jackson
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During recent decades the power and prestige of the trade union movement have been greatly increased. In the years between the two wars, the trade unions enjoyed full legal recognition, and even a privileged position at law. (They could induce workmen to break their contracts of employment, for example, without being liable to be sued for damages by the employers, and this meant that in no circumstances could the union be prevented from striking, however unreasonably, by any threat to its funds.) The achievement of full employment during and since the war has naturally increased their bargaining power. Many employers now welcome the co-operation of an organized body representing their workmen where previously they had only grudgingly accepted the existence of the trade unions. The consultations between the Government and trade unions on certain matters of economic policy have continued in the post-war period, though it would not be true to say that there has always been real co-operation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Blackfriars , Volume 39 , Issue 454 , January 1958 , pp. 22 - 31
Copyright
Copyright © 1958 Provincial Council of the English Province of the Order of Preachers

References

1 A union would have a good chance of success in such circumstances if it could secure the support of some more highly organized group. Transport workers who boycotteda factory, thereby stopping goods coming out or raw materials going in, could enable badly organized workers in the factory to bring about a closed shop. Such sympathetic action would be fully justified.

2 It is interesting to note that while certain Labour spokesmen were very forthright in their condemnation of the action of trade courts in depriving certain cut-price retailers of their living, they have refused to recognize that any problem arises from giving the trade unions similar jurisdiction over their members.

3 Demarcation rules may, for example, lead to delays when one craft is fully employed at a certain time and the employer is unable to employ other craftsmen on the job, although they would be equally capable of doing it.

4 Unemployment benefit should be much more generous than at present, and should be related to normal earnings. No great hardship would then be involved. With the present rates of benefit, even a short period of unemployment may involve serious hardship.

5 See statistics of the International Monetary Fund quoted on The Times city page on October 9 1957.

6 It is not suggested that the introduction of a national wages policy would be easy. It is necessary to keep in mind the essential economic function of wages in allocating labour between occupations. Wages will be high in those industries where the demand for the product is increasing and vice versa. Wages must continue to fulfil this function if there is not to be direction of labour.