The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-09

Trained from using soldiers, naval
ratings, blacklegs or force of any
kind. But they are being driven up
against it, and soon will have to take
the choice of exercising their powers
or going out of office. That was the
choice and there is no need to beat
about the bush. We discussed the
position with the Government l
want you to see the influence on our
judgement in the course Of the de-
velopments that have gone on"
Three days later Bevin had won.
The Labor Government had won and
the transport workers believed they
had won lot. And so they had.
Following upon the Locomotivemen's
modification of the reductions which
were being imposed upon them they
had by direct action won back nearly
to the position of 1922 when their
wages were IL shillings per day with
the cost of living 1870 higher than
1914. Now they were IL shillings
per day with the cost of living at the
same figure. BY the time they get
the next l shilling there is every
probability that the cost OF living will
have risen at least another five points
and nullified the second shilling as a
gain. Nevertheless they have broken
the back of the offensive on wages
and given an impetus to all other
workers to be up and doing. And the
demands for increases in wages are
rolling in from all directions.
But let US look more closely at the
terms of settlement. The first six
clauses deal with the wages questions
and the adjustment of piece work
prices, overtime rates etc. thereto.
Terms of Settlement.
7. Local Joint Committees. Local
Joint Committees shall on the request
of either side, consider, with view
to arriving at local settlements, the
following matters: al Time workers
differentials when working to or from
pieceworkers. b. The adjustment of
piecework rates which are deemed too
high or unduly low. q Adjustment
exceptional working conditions, pro-
viding that the decisions and minutes
issued by the National Joint Council
shall not be displaced locally. d)
Questions of safety working and gen
eral conditions affecting health.
8. Local Joint Committees shall
meet within seven days of written re-
quest by either side to consider etc.,
etc. Failing agreement within one
month from such request or other
time mutually agreed upon matters
shall be deemed to have been referred
to National Joint Council and its find
ings shall be deemed final and bind
ing on all parties.
8. Decentralization. The parties to
this agreement shall agree to appoint
q subcommittee, the Minister of
Labor to appoint an independent
chairman to examine the pro-
posal for a guaranteed week with a
view to arriving at an agreement to
give effect to the Shaw report.
10. Either party to this agreement
desiring to amend or end the agree
ment shall give one months notice.
Upon such notice being given the par.
ties shall meet forthwith to discuss
the position. Failing agreement at
the end of one month from such notice
the parties may extend by agreement
or either party may give fourteen
days to terminate the agreement.
| IL. This agreement shall be con-
/ sidered as modification Of the ma
tional agreement Of May 9Th, 1920
and subsequent conditions attached
Hereunder.
With the concessions on wages and
the promised inquiry into the de-
casualisation question the leaders
have won the confidence of the men.
With the creation of the above ma
chinery and the popularization of the
Industrial Court, the leaders and the
Labor Government have now got their
! grip upon the transport workers for