Evening star., 1937-08-01
BR|TONS EXPLAIN
TRADE UNION ACT
Statute Held More Friendly
to Labor Than Gener-
ally Supposed.
ev the Associated Press

b. the Associated Press
NEW YORK, July 3l-The British
trade union act to which President
Roosevelt referred in his Tuesday press
conference on labor legislation is far
more friendly to unions than is gen.
orally supposed, British experts said
today.
mtsconception concerning the
stringency of its rules was laid by the
New York staff of the British Library
of Public Information to a misreading
Of the law.
chief argument of some propo-
States is that itswould stop "sympa-
thy strikes and general" strikes
which often result from them, but
this is not generally true.
Sympathy" Strike Ruling.
The English law only outlaws sym
pathy" strikes if they are designed
or calculated to coerce the govern
ment.'
The act only bans primary strikes
II they are designed or calculated to
strikes are not connected with disputes
over wages, hours or other conditions
OF employment.
How big those ifs are in England
Is shown by the fact that scores OF
strikes. sympathy" and primary, have
occurred since the law was passed in
1927. without that part of the act be-
Ing once invoked.
Even il the government acted under
the coercion" clause, there would be
no punishment for workers who mere
lv refused to work Only picketers,
violent agitators and union officials
could be fined or imprisoned.
Curb on Union Activity.
Nevertheless the British act does
provide a definite curb on certain
phases Of union activity. 1t:
l. Makes union funds liable to dam
age claims from employers as the re-
suit OF strikes.
2. Gives union members who are
expelled for failure to answer a strike
call the right to sue the union for
damages.
3. Prohibits unions from using their
funds for political purposes. such as
supporting candidates or parties.
4. Prohibits government employees
from joining any union not confined
to employees of the crown. and denies
that union the right to political OBJ
iectives or membership in larger un-
ions and political groups such as the
Labor party.
s. Gives the Attorney General the
power to interfere in union affairs
by seeking court action to restrain the
expenditure OF union funds in il
legal strikes.
Roosevelt Statement.
As President Roosevelt pointed out
IN his press conference, the trade
union act is not directed solely against
unions, but provides mutual respon-
sibility" for both employees and en-
plopers.
Just as workers are prohibited by
its provisions from striking to Co
cree the Government employers are
prohibited from locking out workers
Aol a Slllllldl puI pOSc.
Reference in the British act to "co-
ercing the government" has very
practical meaning In England. where
unions are strong and collective bar
gaining has long been the accepted
means OF settling industrial disputes
The British government has taken
an active hand in arbitration en-
ployer-union troubles since the early
l900s, acting generally through labor
boards set up for individual indus
tries. Although most cases are set
tied by voluntary agreement between
representatives Of employe and en-
plover unions Ohe employer unions
began springing up in 1896 to keep
pace with employe unions) the gov
eminent from time to time finds it
necessary to step in decisively.
Strike Of Coal Miners,
This happened in 1926, when Eng
lish coal miners struck for higher
pay. The employers did not supply
the wage increase at first. so the gov
ernment supplied the money to save
the industry from collapse during
deadlock in negotiations. Finally
royal commission recommended a paw
cut, and the general strike followed
as q protest.
Here was clear case OF CO.