Montana labor news., 1936-07-16
THE RIGHT TO JOIN A
UNION IS BROACHED.
TREATY SUBJECT.

The following article from Jimmy
Wilson at Geneva, Switzerland, deals
with the question Of the right of asso-
citation and the possibilities of a labor
treaty guaranteeing that right. 1t gives
the background Of the attempt to make
the principle part Of an International
agreement and shows what new steps
are being suggested for that purpose.
GENEVA-The adoption, on June
2, by the Governing Body OF the In
ternational Labor Organization of the
report OF its Committee on Freedom
OF Association marked a definite step
in the direction Of a Draft Conven-
ton, or International treaty, safeguard
ing the right Of association Of workers.
The next step-that Of deciding the
ACCESSIBILITY Of placing the question on
the agenda Of an early session OF the
International Labor conference-prob-
ably will be taken by the governing
body at its October meeting.
Despite efforts by the employers
group and by the governments Of Great
Britain and Italy to have the report
referred back to the committee, the
workers representatives. on the gov
erning body, with the support of the
United States and other governments,
succeeded in having it adopted by a
vote Of 10 to Z.
Hans c. Oersted of Denmark, chair
man of the employers group, led the
opposition. Mr.. Oersted argued that
freedom Of association meant not mere
" the right to form an association, but
the right to refrain from forming an
association; and citing a reference in
the report to "onus Of proof" he de-
clared that the employers could not
accept a ruling that placed the burden
Of proof or them.
Leon Jouhaux, French Workers rep
resentative on the governing body, took
issue with MI. Oersted, and was sup
ported by Emil REEVE, United States
Workers representative and William
Gorham Rice, jr, United States gov
eminent representative
Jouhaux asked that the question be
placed on the agenda Of the 1887 ses-
sion of the International Labor con
ference. He accused Mr.. Oersted OF
confusing the issue; and declared that
so long as the worker has to risk
his daily bread to exercise the right Of
freedom OF association, it could be held
that the right was fully recognized
Moreover, he pointed out that the right
of association was assured workers by
the Charter of the International Labor
organization; and urged that, after II
years, "the most important principle
in the charter be actually put in force
by the adoption Of an international
Labor convention"
MI. REEVE said the provision in the
charter guaranteeing workers the RICH.
to belong to a labor union Of theii
own choosing was n of the stronges'
reasons workers in the United State
had for favoring the affiliation OIL
their country with the LILO.
in my country, we too are concern.
ed with the right OF association anC
believe this question should be ap.
proved now by the governing body
without further delay"
Mr.. Rice said the United States wa.
quite DESTROYS hat this question
should be recommended for considera
ton by the International Labor con
ference"
The question Of Freedom OF Associa
ton came before the conference il
1885, when Mr.. Yagi, the Japanes
Workers representative, introduced
resolution asking that the question b
placed on the agenda OF an early ses
sion of the conference. The resolu
ton was adopted and referred to tn
Committee on Freedom of Association
Of the governing body. Mr.. Yoshisaka
Japenese government Representative
: on the governing body, is chairman o
the committee.
In its report, the committee ex
pressed conviction that a solution f
! the problem was to be found "only o,
! the ground Of industrial relations" !
recomm nded a formula for safe
t guarding workers rights to freedom O
e association, which provided for: A.
e engagement by the state to guarante
the individual freedom Of workers i
the exercise OF this right-an engage
: ment that, among other things, woul
h prohibit all practices on the part Of tn
r employer designed to bring pressure t
bear on the worker because of hi