The workingman's advocate., 1869-05-22
MA ORITY REPORT
% THs
WORKINGS OF TRADES UNIONS
OBJECTS OF TRADES UNIONS, AND
METHOD OF ATTAINMENT. I


ROYAL COMMISSIONERS.
4 OBJECTS OF TRADES UNIONS. AND
! METHOD OF ATTAINMENT.
coSTlSUED.l
I ASSOCIATIONS oP EMPLOYERS
1ssocis.i- - Of Eapi9yers-Ha Principle the
4 same nth Unions Of Worknea-hode Of
I Procedure
/ (43.) The associations Of employers, TO
which our attention il directed BY your Ma
aesty's Commission, are, though different in
Ftharacter, in principle the same with the as
-sociatIons of workingmen hitherto referred
to. They are. however, comparatively very
few in number, aud have, in general been
formed for the ordinary regulation OF their
respective trades, for the purpose Of obtain.
ing labor on the most favorable terms, and
for sef-defence against the proceedings Of
the trades unions. The employers cannot
fail to see the advantage which the trades
unions, in the conduct Of strikes, may have
in attacking the emr loyers IN detail The
strike is with this view directed against a
I single employer, or against the employers in
single district, the woTkmen on strike be-
ing supported by those still in the employ
ment Of otter masters the intention being,
on tbs success Of the first strike, to take
other masters in succession. To defeat this
policy tue employers resort TO such expedi-
ents as they deem best for their own pro-
tectiun. The ordinary course IL to form az
association OF their own, ia which they
agree IN the event OF strike against any
member Of The association, TO close the
workshops Of all Commonly called s'lock-
ou") and, in some cases, by rateabie sub
scriptioD among themselves, TO give pecunI-
ary assistance TO the employer against whom
the strike is directed. These associ ations
are described as being frequently Of a tenn
porary character, and are dissolved as soon
as the contest with the workmsn, which has
gwen rise 70 the associason, has come to sn
end.
THEIR VOLUNTARY CHARACrKR.
"a The associations Of employers ar-
pear 90 be go Ear Of voluntary character
that no ins.. has been brought under
our notice ln "i \ any attempt has been
made TO coeroe any employer not desiring
to Join such an association.
EFFECTS OF TRADES UNIONS on THE
CHARACTER OF WORKlNGMEN, AND
on THEIR RELATIONS WITH THEIR
EMPLOYERS,
CERTAIN INJURIOUS EFFECTS OF USIaNs INDrsPu-
TABLE,.
(45.) That trades unions have had Ger
tain Injurious effects on the character Of the
workingmen, as well as on the relations be-
tween them and their employers, seems not
10 admit Of doubt. Thus much the evidence
We have collie eted appears 20 us to establish
Rt~s II fu tha Drauta1 ,ba ..fa
exten, of those effects, there Il, as might be
expected, great discrepancy between the
witnesses. The employers complain that
trades unions have fostered spirit OF an
tagonism between themselves and their
workmen which did not formerly exist
There is no longer, they say, the cordia
and friendly feeling which used to be COM
mon between the two classes. The work
men, locking rather to the approval OF their
unions than 10 that Of their employers, are
sess anxions than Of yore to stand well with
the latter, aud the emT loyers on their part
no longer feel under the same obligation to
look after The interest Of their workmen
and to assist tbem in periods Of difficulty.
Misunderstanding, which often would be
readily settled if there were free and friend
iy Intercourse between them, are exaspera-
tod and prolonged. Such are the allegations
Of the employers. Nor can il be said that
they are materially shaken, or even strongly
denied, on the part Of the unionists These,
IN general, seem rather to regard those sen
timents, Of which the employers regret the
decline, as founded on mistaken notions Of
inferioritT on the one hand and patronage
on the other
ALLEGED DETERIORATION OF woRKMEN.
(46.) But many statements will be found
in the evidence Implying a deterioration in
the charac;es Of the wOrkmen in more ma
terlal respects than these. Ii is said that
the better class among them are losing, un
der the influence OF the trades unions, the
character Of self-reli4nce and independence
BY which they used TO be distinguished
The desire Of the workman to excel, to do
the beet IN bis power to give satisfaction to
his employer, to improve himself, and ii
possible to rise in the world, is damped by
the tbraldom in which be is held to the
rules of his union,, and by the systematic
dIsspproval on the part of his fellow union
ISIS Of all efforts to 90 beyond that average
level of exertion which it is the aim Of the
unions to maintain.
UNIONIsrs DISPUTE THIS.
(H) To this il is replied on the part Of
the unions, that their real tendency. consid-
cred in a wider and more equitable view, is
to raise, not depress, the character OF the
workman, by making him feel that he is
not an insulutcd agent, subject to oppres-
sion, or at ali events to accidents over which
be can exercise no control, but member
Of strong, united body, capable az once Of
defending his rights and Of ensuriDg him
resource in case Of temporary need. IL 10
maintained also that the practice OF having
code of working rules agreed 20 between
employers and workmen, such as the better
unions seek 10 establish, embracing booE
or wages, of la Fs and trade rifles, is attend
cd with the best results that it tends TO di-
mirish and usually to extInguish the occur
renee of strikes, and to establish o spirit
Ut cooperation between masters and work
men.
GENERAL VIEW AFFORDED BIT THE EVIDENCE.
(45.) 1t Is no necessary part Of our du-
" TO pronounce aatheritauvely between
these conflicting assertions. We can only
hope tnat the body Of evidence which we
have collected will be OF service to those
who may wish 10 study for themselves some
of the most difficult and momentous ones
tions with which society has now to deal
/ fhus much only we will intimate as the sp-
parent result Of our inq vi, les that, wheth-
or the circumstance is TO be regretted or
not, the habItual code Of sentiment which
, prevailed between employers aud workmen
/ IN the times when the former were regarded
I by botl law and usage as the governing class
| Is COW greatly relaxed, and cannot De re-
vived. A substitute has now TO be found
for it arising from tas feelings Of equity,
and enlightened self-interest, end mutual
fOrbesrance, which should exist between
contracting parties who can best promote
their several chances Of advantage BY aiding
and acco Dmodating each other.
UsIuSTsTs AND NON UsIvNIsTs.
(49.J With regard to the coercion occs-
sionally practiced by the majority over the
minority 10 unions, and 70 themore habitu-
i al coercion which they are apt - exercise,