The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-05-05
FASCIST UNIONS
FAIL IN ITALY,
SAYS HOOVER AID
Condition of Labor Is
Growing Worse
10y The Federated Press,


WASHINGTON, May 3. =. Fascist
Aabor unions, organized by Mussollni
10 replace the legitimate trade union
movement in Italy, have failed to gain
The confidence Of the workers, and
their influence ls Of no Importance,
says H. c. MacLean, American COM
merclal attsche at the embassy in
a special report on Labor, Wages and
Unemployment in Italy," published by
the federal department Of commerce.
This is the first official admission
by Secretary Hoover's organization
that fascist terror has been success
fully met by the Italian workers.
MacLean says that the Confedera-
Eione Generate del Lavoro, organized
in 1912, sis by far the most intiu-
ential' of the three national labor
declarations. Second in importance is
the catholic federation, whose strength
is almost wholly among the farm
taborers.
Can't Win Labor's Confidence.
I'm the fascist labor scheme" he
reports, "a elaborate organization Of
= syndicalist character was formed
which represents seven separate
groups representing industry and
commerce, agriculture, and the mer-
chant marine. The liberal professions,
clerical workers, the theatre and the
porst united themselves in a central
federation, Confederazione della Co.
operazioni Sindicali.
"A large membership is claimed for
the Cooperazini Sindicali, but it is
generally admitted that their success
has been decidedly limited and that
they have not succeeded in gaining the
confidence Of the workers.
'Thus, while the Confederazinone
del Lavoro has undoubtedly lost
ground, It may reasonably be consider
I'D as the leading representative of
organized labor. It's leaders still
claim approximately two-thirds Of all
the trade union members in Italy"
Noting the fact that the war acted
rs a strong stimulus to trade union
growth in Italy, and that this gain
has since been lost, MacLean observes
that the unions are still in a strong
position.
"The practical elimination of strikes
for the last two years." he con-
fesses, sis the result Of several fac
tors, and important among these was
the unqualified announcement Of the
government that it would not per-
NIT any interference with the normal
processes Of production"
Do Not Have a-Hour Day.
While Mussolini's regime has Of
ncially ratified the eight-hour day as
rule for Italian industry, this report
shows that there is wholesale viola
ton Of it's meaning. Overtime is per-
mitted in so many classes Of work,
and the rate Of pay for overtime is
so little above the regular rate, that
labor is generally dissatisfied with its
administration.
That the condition of the working
class in Italy is getting worse, instead
Of better, is shown by a comparison
Of the rise in cost of living, since 1913,
with the rise in wages. In the last
half Of 1922, when the fascist took
power, the cost of living was 49S and
wages were sos as against 100 and
100 in 1913. In the first six months of
1928 that cost of living stood at 493,
and wages dropped to 4S0. In the
first half of 1924 the cost OF living
rose to 517, while wages fell to 474.
In the last half of 1924 the cost of
living went up to 53S, and wages were
$50. In the month of December last
cost Of living was $50, and wages were
1856.
While these figures seem to dis
prove the fact that the Italian work
ers have a higher standard of living
than before the war, MacLean ex-
plains that their Improvement is due
TO working more days per week than
In 1928. He declares finally that at
is evident that considerable portion
Of the advantage which had been
gained in 1921 and 1922 has now been
lost and that renewed advances in
wage scales are necessary and reason
able" a