The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-07-17
MAI ORITY REP ORT
oF THz
WORKINGS OF TRADES UNIONS
ROYAL COMMISSIONERS.
PREPARATION OF TRADE AND BENE-
FIT FUNDS.
TRADE AND BESEFIU FUNDS or GNiONs NOT
KEPT DISTINCT.
ICONTfNuFD.

FIJI FUNDS.
TRADE AND BESEFIU FUNDS or UNIONS NOT
KEPT DISTINCT.
lcoNuNUED.
$50 Hitherto it has not been the prac-
/ tice uf trades unions, 50 fir a. they have
come under our notice, TO keep the funds
/ subscribed for proyident purposes distinct
\ from those subscribed for trade purposes
ane the former are necessarily placed il
\ jeopardy.
Y FINANCIAL POSITION OF CERTAIN UNIONS.
Y (66.) Certain Actuaries whom We have
I examined, have stated, as their opinion that
/ two Of the largest aud most important trade
/ societies 10 the kingdom, which are in gen
eIal looked on as models in constitution aud
/ managemsnt-the Amalgamated Society OF
VI Carpenters and Joiners, and the ANA zama-
ted Society Of Elgneers-are, as regards
Y their engagements a. benefit and friendly
v societies, already ID state Ol Insolvency
and that contEIance uf the present sys-
tenn of keeping their accounts and conduct
ing their affairs must necessarily end in their
being unable 70 keep faith with those mem
bers Of the union who have subscribed t0
| the funds in Coz deraton Of the superanau-
alton All burial allowances promised Co
1 them. But without reference to the particu-
I lar circumstances Of any given society, 10 Is
Z obvious that there can be no security tor
the solvency Of any society which mixes I'D
ne funds designed as provision f1r sickness
\ and Oh age, and burial-Ohjects i0r Wli.I
the expenditure may be calculated with Cer-
taiaty-.ith tne funds ior supporting
strikes, for w-Ieh the expenditure must ne-
cessarily be uncertain and incalculabie.
nv fr.-ru.-t-.-.
; (87) The answer OF the union officials to
the criticisms Of the aetusries IS, thai q u0ioa
Is not a trading association; it is a club OF
feilow-w0Tkmen formed for trade purposes
primarily, aud accustomed TO make up sps-
cial claims BY occasional fresh subscriptions
and levies. A very large proportion 1i ths
members are from time to time quitting tl.
union, their places being supplied by nev
subscribers, and their future claims merging
whilst large proportion " the member.
obtain other resources, aud continue to pas
their contributions without coming On th.
funds.
BENEFIT CONFERRED BY UNIONS.
(ss) We would here express our opinion
that trades unions have conferred great ben
efts on the working classes aud on tho
public generally, through their expenditure
for benefit purposes
PROVISION FOR SEPARATION OF Trade and
BENEFIT FUNDS.
(89 We should have thought III desirable
had il been practicable, that the two kinds
of uniOns-the unions for benefit purposes
ard the unions for trade poses-shOuld
be quite separate. But We have 70 deal with
the great class Of existing unions al over
the country, where the two objects are inva-
riably mixed up together and these are, if
possible, to be brought under the regulations
Of the proposed Act. The best practicable
course, therefore, il has appeared 90 u, II 10
/ make provision for the separation VI the
funds for the two distinct objects. Towards
the attainment Of this object We would suE-
gest lst. That any society which by its
rules keeps It's trade ard benefit funds sepa-
rate to the satisfaction Of the Registrar, ana
which renders its benefit funds inapDlcabIe
to trade purposes, shall be registered as a
s. First-class Trades Union Benefit Society"
2ad. That 1t Is a matter for consideration
whether ira ie societies thus rendered as
First-class Trades Union Benefit Societies
should not have the benefits ana liabilities
Of the Friendly Societies Act.
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS oF TRADE AND BEyEFrr
ExPESDTTURE.
(90) We farther propose that once IN the
course Of every year the secretary 1r other
authorised officer Of every association obtain
ing registration under the proposed Act,
shall forward to the Registrar a statement of
the receipts aud expenditure Of such associa-
ton for the preceding year, Distinguishing
the amounts expended in benefits from the
amount expended. ia relief Of members when
out Of work and that the Registrar shall
have power to call for detailed statements of
the accounts, and To Call for and examine all
books, accounts, ana other documents Of the
association.
PUBLICITY OF ACCOUNTS DESIRABLE.
(91.) We cannot doubt that Il il the duty
Of the Legislature, in giving special advau-
tages to societies OF this character, to pro-
vide as far as practicable that the members
of the society shall have the means Of SNOW
ing in detail N what manner their funds are
expended.
, WHETHER TRADES UNIONS ARE AID
VANTAGEOUS no WORKMEN.
EFFECT OF USIoSs As TO NETT EARNINGS oF
MEMBERS.
(93) We think that the legislation above
proposed is such as ought to be adopted
without reference to the question whether
the proceedings the trades unions as at pre-
sent conducted are in a pecuniary point Of
view advantageous to their members, or the
contrary. The question, however, is one
| which we think deserving the serious c0nsi-
deration Of the working s. Treating IL
az question OF wages only, We think X
doubtful whether the nett earnings 0f tile
workmen connected with unions have rot,
, on the whole, been diminished rather than
, increased through the agency Of the unious,
while it Is unquestionabie that IN many cases
large bodies Of unskilled laborers, in mum
bers often exceeding those Of the skilled
workmen, are rendered destitute by strikes
which they, being uncOnnected with the
unions, have no means Of preventing OF
controlling. The reasons which tend to this
conclusion are stated in Booths " "Draft
Report" paragraph l45 aud LAG As these
! reasons are, many Of them. Of q speculative
character, such as we have been unable II
acquIesce in with any degree Of unanimity,
We have agreed to refer simply to the discus
sion Of this question in that portion of Mr..
. Booths report, course which we have Al
ready taken with reference to the discussion
Of the policy aud effect of trades union rules
, and bYe-laws.
Il Iro sr CONTINUED.