Denver labor bulletin., 1915-04-17
WACES-BY-LAW
MAKE FAT FEES
Gompers Points Out Danger
of Regulating Schemes
New South Wales System Made Thesis
for Comprehensive Editorial in Cur
rentIssue American Federationist

In an article published in this months
American Federationalist, entitled "Aus-
,tralian Labor Regulating Schemes"
President Gompers makes public certain
features of Australian industrial laws
and their workings that are overlooked
by the faddists and well-meaning busy
bodies who will do everything for the
workers but urge them to help them
selves.
The article includes a historic sketch
of the various states comprising the com
monwealth of Australia, beginning with
the time that far-away country was
penal settlement for England's convicts
Especial attention is paid to New
South Wales, because it is the largest
industrial state of Australia, contains
the largest city, and because New South
Wales has labor attorney general
State Makes Award.
Summarized, the chief feature of Pres
ident Gompers' reference to New South
Wales follows:
Industrial arbitration legislation is in.
tended to regulate employers and en-
ploves. The state undertakes to police
and enforce all awards through probes
sional prosecuting officer and a staff of
industrial inspectors. Violations OF
awards are prosecuted. The whole sys-
TEN is under the supreme direction OF the
court of industrial arbitration, presided
over by Judge Heydon. To take advan.
tage OF the law, employees and employers
must register. The judge of the arbi-
tration court has absolute control over
registration, which he may cancel for
any reason which may appear to be
good" Cancellation, however, affords no
relief from existing awards and indus
trial agreements, except when the union
or its members have aided or instituted
a strike or lockout, and then upon con-
sent of all parties concerned.
Lawyers aGther Plums.
Under the industrial court are the
wages boards, representing various in
dustries, and consisting of a chairman
and two representatives each of employ
ers and employees. The chairman is aften
a lawyer OF the "briefless' type. These
boards may hold secret or public sessions
at their discretion. They receive fees,
which, it is charged, lead to dilatory
methods. Employers object to trade un-
ion officials acting on these boards, and
to overcome this objection, and at the
same time have skilled men represent
their fellows, trade union officials occa-
sionally resign their office and work at
their trades while serving as wages board
members. Where women workers are in
volved, and the court believes thefe is
none among their ranks fitted to repre-
sent them, outsiders are appointed
Wages boards are empowered TO not
only set wages, but they may determine
amy industrial matter" They may or
der preference given to unionists, but
this order may be cancelled by the court
OF arbitration ''if at any time such union
or any substantial number of its men,
bers takes part in n strike or instigates
or aids any other person in a strike"
Strikes Are Forbidden.
Since strikes and lockouts (thcse are
called "dislocations") are forbidden by
law, such illegal acts may be severely
punished, The court may fine unions a
sum not to exceed $1,000. Individuals
may be fined not more than $3.50. Wages
may be attached to pay such fines. The
courts may grant an injunction to re-
strain any person from continuing TO in.
stigate or to aid in strike or lockout.
Violations of this order are punishable
by six months imprisonment.
An employer who dismisses a worker
for trade union activity may be fined
800 for each worker dismissed. The
burden of proof rests upon the employe,
and no prosecution can be started ex-
cept by leave of the court.
The labor press is not exempt from
the power of the judge of the court Of in
dustrial arbitration. 1t is shown by
President Gompers that the registration
of the Co-Operator, official newspaper Of
the Amalgamated Railway and Tramway
Service association, was cancelled be-
cause it dared to voice its objections to
certain legal procedure.
Overlooks Industrial Freedom
In concluding this educational article,
which should be read by every trade un-
ionist, President Gompers says:
'The New South Wales system of reg
ulating industrial relations with all its
authority and power makes provision for
all industrial problems except Industrial
freedom. The judicial despotism which
rules over industry maintains many or
the principles and practices which the
workers of the United States OF Amer
lea have persistently denounced and op-
posed. Instead of being a workers par
adise, New South Wales is rather a par
adise for lawyers.
There is nothing in the system OF
governmental regulation of industry as
developed in New South Wales that Is
in conformity with the spirit or the gen.
| ius of tho papple of tho TTpifad C+ataa n