The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-02-09
"ClasS Peace"
BY FRED STEPHENS

tenants of labor, Woll and Green, al.
lied with the American Bar Associa.
ton are wildly crying: "Peacel
Peace!"
| l have re cently come from Aus
tralia, the classical home of Arbitra-
ton, and l want to give from my own
knowledge report of how it works.
l might mention that have held an
official position on two diff
ferent occasions in the Seamen's
Union in Australia; therefore feel
qualified to speak.
Arbitration was introduced in Aus
tralia when the unions were partic-
ularly busy improving their conditions
and increasing wages; at that par
tlcu4ar time the workers were in a
favorable position, there being la~e-
demand for labor with only limited.
supply; the. unions were strong and
able to enforce their demands by
strike. The employers, for the mo-
ment, were at a disadvantage.
Bosses Use Court Power.
SO an arbitration court was set up,
a judge appointed, arbitration was
established. The theory is that the
Judge will sit and listen to the argu-
ments put up by both the workers and
employers; that he will analyze the
evidence, and give fair decision:--
called, "The Award" which becomes
legally binding. That the different
lI1dpac would L,ffarox,4I,,
cording to their class bias, and give
awards" accordingly, did not in
terest the propagandists of "Arbitra-
tion." For the purpose of this
analysis, shall take few utterances
If Judge Higgins. A liberal minded
Individual; man who was supposed
20 be sympathetic to the workers, in
fact, in some circles he was designa-
ted radical" certainly an "ideal"
judge for arbitration.
What do we find?
To arrive at "basic wage" the
Judge caused thirteen women whose
husbands were wage earners" to give
evidence as to the cost of living; every
domestic item was exposed in the
court, even the women's underwear,
Shey were asked if they made their
own garments, and if not, why not;
only the cheapest materials were
considered, where high rent was men
5ioned a cheaper home was suggested.
1t never" occurred to his Honor that,
instead Of dragging the workers
wives before him and thus degrading
chem, the domestic expenses of his
own household might have provided
basis for arriving at a wage stan
dard.
How it is Done.
A "basic wage" was arrived at for
man his wife and two children; no
provision was made for third, or
more.
During the "Waterside workers"
dispute, Qongshoremen) this same
Judge said: "The men must remain
at work, or / cannot make an award.
Peace in industry, is the object Of
the court"
Only Bosses Profit.
When judge makes an award It is
binding for one, two or three years.
This scheme of things worked adj
nlirably for the employers during the
war years when prices rose sky high,
and wages had been fixed by the
court; some of the strong unions got
redress by strike, while the weaker
unions tried to argue, but could not
reach the ears of the judge; their
award had not expired. At the ex-
piration of awards the strong unions
may get some consideration; favor
able awards are never made to unions
who have no power to dislocate in
dustry, by their mass strength.
! think I have given sufficient
evidence to prove that arbitration does
not help the workers, I have taken
the actions of the most favorable
Judge; other judges of course, are
even more out-spokenly anti-working-
class.
l wish to say that our experience
proved:
That only through the instrument
OF strike can any advance be made;
nor can the workers hold such con-
iitions as they have without the
power to strike.
Also, arbitration is an expensive toy
Tor the workers, court costs are high;
lawyers fees have to be met, secre-
t-.ries getting data for evidence have
to be paid; in addition the judge can
fine the union heavily for small
breaches of the award. Arbitration
destroys the reliance of the workers
N their own powers. Arbitration does
not consider the values the workers
create, but bases it's awards on only
the lowest cost Of his keep.
What Happens.
To sum up: Arbitration wastes the
unions finances for courts, lawyers
md fines; rendering the union penna-
less.