Evening star., 1938-06-12
British Labor Laws Reflect
Deeper Thought Than in us.
Rights and Responsibilities More Precisely Defined
Bargaining and Mediation Are
Uniformly Favored. ..

general strike paralyzed England In 1926
Bitter controversy arose over whether
unions other than the miners were engaging
In legal trade dispute since they were
striking for an issue beyond their own
wages hours or conditions Of employment.
The controversy was resolved in 1927 by
passage of the act so often misinterpreted
that President Roosevelt is sending q COM
mission to England for educational pur-
poses"
Limits Right to Strike.
without question the 1927 enactment
limits the rights Of workers to strike, or of
employers to lock them out, by prescribing
tnat such actions are illegal If they have
any object other than the furtherance Of
a trade dispute in the industry involved, or
II they are designed to coerce the govern
ment by inflicting hardship on the COM
munity. 1t Is further provided that it Is
illegal to support such strike or lockout.
quite evidently, these limitations OF
legality would make illegal a general strike
and most sympathetic strikes.
The act also imposes liability on indi-
viduals, including union ofacials, for de-
claring or inciting illegal strikes and speci.
f1es punishment by fine or imprisonment.
Further, it makes unions liable for damages
suffered by employers in illegal strikes.
A drastic provision of the act is that
stating that refusal of persons to participate
In illegal strikes or lockouts shall not leave
them liable to expulsion from trade unions
mis-
contrary In the rules of trade union or
society Notwithstanding" In case of such
expulsion, the individual may be awarded
compensation by the courts out of funds
OF the union or society.
Mass Picketing Forbidden,
Picketing, termed watching and beset-
ting" Is prohibited in such numbers as to
intimidate workers, or to obstruct their way.
or to lead to breach Of the peace In other
words, mass picketing is forbidden at scenes
OF strikes; individual picketing likewise is
prohibited at homes of workers
Political contributions may be made
from special fund only and an expression
OF Willingness to contribute to such fund
must be received from all individuals who
are to be assessed The act of 1918 required
such expression from those unwilling to
contribute
Members of the civil service are forbid
den to join any trade union not restricted
to civil servants. any union having political
oojectives, or any union afiliated with OUT
side industrial or political organizations
individuals are made liable to criminal
proceedings If grave Inconvenience to the
community is likely to result" from break
ing contract of service.
Registration remains purely voluntary
and, IN any case, does not approach 4 con-
dition of incorporation as has enormously
been claimed by some who favor compul.
sorry incorporation Of American unions.
In return for allowing regular auditing
OF their books and meeting certain other
requirements, registered unions receive GER
nncates OF registration specifying that they
are conforming to laws pertaining to trade
unions. In addition, they are accorded a
preferred legal position in that they are
empowered to 60 to court to collect fines
or dues and recover stolen funds.
IL would be mistake in considering the
comparative desirability of the British law
as opposed to the Wagner Labor Relations
Act to proceed on the assumption that the
former act has ended or even curtailed the
number Of strikes, or that 1t is designed to
Initiate slow death for the British labor
unions.
S0S Strikes in 1886.
For instance
Great Britain over a period of years fol-
lows: 1925, sos; 1926, 1923; 1927, 3os: 1929.
3o2; 1929, 43l; 1880, 422; 1881, 40; 1892.
3Ss; 1888, 357; 1884, All; 1885, $50; 1895.
808.
Further. British labor unions still boast
membership of more than $500 ooo
workers and exert powerful influence in
British politics. And with the British
labor market stabilized by virtue Of COL
lective agreements affecting 10 per cent
OF the nations workers, there is consider
able doubt as to whether British industry
would desire to cripple the trade union
movement seriously.
careful and penetrating analysis of the
course Of British labor relations will be Of
value to America, not only to "columnists
and editorial writer's but to lawmakers and
presidents. There are few, If any, however.
who are qualified to say today that the
British Trade Disputes and Trade Unions
Act OF 1927 should be grated forthwith
into the labor relations law Of the United
States.
Observers Conclusions Cited.
Certainly any thought of such substitu-
ton might well concern itself with the fol-
lowing conclusions regarding labor rela-
tions IN Britain, written by Dorothy Sells.
member OF the stan Of Brookings Institu-
ton and former research assistant Of the
Information Labor ONCE: .-.
Economic democracy operating from
the bottom up through collective bargain.
ing rather than from the top down through
government fat has in recognition of these
humane facts been established Is the kew
to industrial peace. Preventive measures
are regarded as more important than rene-
dial; voluntary action has been chosen in
preference to compulsory; conciliation
takes precedence over arbitration: develop
meht Of spontaneously responsible
unionism is found safer than compulsory
registration or suppression Of workers or
ganizations, and a flexible hodgepodge Of
committees, boards, tribunals and laws
suited to the special conditions existing in
individual industries provide q more salts