New-York tribune., 1919-07-18
1000 900 Partners
English Trade Unions and Cooperative Societies
Form the Biggest Business Combination in History
BY Ralph Courtney

r oNDoN, July THE great trade
union movement in Britain, with it's
100000 members, has decided to join
forces with the Union Of British Coopera-
tive Societies, with a membership Of about
100000, in order to dominate production,
consumption and distribution in Britain.
This amalgamation will represent the
greatest business combination in history
1t will dwarf, in power if not in funds, the
gigantic Federation Of British Industries,
with its capital Of $4,000, 100000
The new combination is organized to fight
such organizations as the British Fedora
tion. In its international aspect the COM
bined trade union and cooperative move
ments will be the greatest enemy of "big
business" interests throughout the world
In Britain alone the combined unions
would include nearly three-duarters of the
inhabitants. If the organizers have their
way it will be invincible in the industrial
field.
1t is estimated that after allowing for
overlapping of membership the combined
movements control 100000 adult members.
Close on 100000 families would support
tHS LIuSC anu edCn CI CHcSc 1dm1lleS WOnlQ
include on an average two adults and three
children.
joint advisory council Of co0perators
and trade unions has been constituted to
draw up plan Of campaign for the new
organization.
U23cribing the purpose Of the amalgama-
t. a. Fred Bramley, secretary to the parlia-
lentary committee Of the trade union con-
gress, told The Tribune:
"The cooperative societies will be utilized
to control prices and the trade unions will
supply the cooperative society with a guar
anteed market.
Trade unions are to invest their funds
in the Cooperative Society, thus supply
ing it with capital for increased produc-
tion. AS the result of recent meetings. over
2oo unions have handed their funds, am count
ing to $10,oOo,0oo, to the cooperators.
"The banking side of the cooperative
movement, known as the 'Cooperative
Wholesale Bank will undertake all bank
ing business for the trade unions. Their
500 branches will be available for the
deposit and drawing accounts Of the local
unions.
1.-THE resolve Of trade unionists to ANAL
gamate with the cooperators is largely due
to our experience during the war. We found
time after time that any increase Of wages
we were able to obtain was Immediately
cancelled by increased cost of living. We
see now that we must also have an or
ganization to control prices.
UCCHporo%Crc ~
tical experience, are realizing that CO.
operatives control of distribution alone is
not sufficient for their purposes, and they
are now making elaborate arrangements
to control every commodity at it's source
They are, for instance. purchasing tea
gardens in various parts of the world, and
in this country they have already bought
about $4,000 acres of land. This policy
will be pursued as far as possible until
they control every article at its source and
distribute it direct to the consumer through
their own stores.
1--WE fully realize the danger pointed to
by c. A. McCurdy, M. P, Parliamentary
Secretary to the Ministry of Food, when
he warned the agricultural merchants
against the growth Of trusts and trade COM
binations which had taken place during
the war.
eve have watched, with particular inter-
est, the formation of the Federation of
British Industries, which now represents
some 10000 firms with a capital of 1000
millions sterling, (S2O,OOO, ,0OO,0 ,0O0), a COM
bination which will encourage the develop
ment of the danger to which Mr.. McCurdy
refers.
"The conflicts Of the future will, in our
opinion, be between huge business COM
binations.
much as we may regret the passing Of