Evening star., 1938-09-04
As the British Do 1t.

Reduced to the very simplest terms the
voluminous survey and report made to
President Roosevelt on British labor
relations and the workings of the Brit
ish labor laws emphasize that collective
bargaining between employers and en-
ployes, accepted as general practice and
conducted in spirit of mutual trust,
has been beneficial in important degree
to Britain's economy.
1t is both interesting and deeply sig
nif1cant, in fact, that greater stress
seems to have been placed upon this
widespread acceptance and the attitude
OF all parties involved than upon the
actual differences between labor law
in Britain and in the United States. In
other words, the plain implication is
that the problem of labor relations is
principally human one, to be adjusted
through cooperative and willing efforts
rather than through the compulsion Of
rigid law.
In establishing foundation for the
British attitude, presumably In contrast
to its existence in much lesser degree in
America, the commission cites more as
effect than as cause the fact that
strikes have been rare and in a few
instances non-existent since the
very beginnings of collective bargaining
agreements" adding that such as have
occurred have been accompanied "by
relatively little violence or provocation."
The Presidents commission points out
certain important differences in English
law and practice as compared to American
conditions. Among these is the existence
in Britain of prescribed procedure for ad-
Indicating disputes in advance of strikes
or lockouts, prohibition against strikes
calculated to coerce the government, re-
striction against mass picketing, require
ment of members consent to use of union
funds for political activities and existence
OF \ system Of voluntary registration of
unions
This voluntary registration, incident
ally, carries certain benefits and certain
obligations, but the commission declares
pointedly that it lis a matter of no
interest to employers" Incorporation
Of unions, as has been suggested here,
is not permitted
One finding might well be noted with
particular reference to the present bitter
split in the ranks of American labor
namely, that the British unions maintain
effective machinery for settlement of
inter-union disputes, thus avoiding the
costly work stoppages 50 frequently ex-
perienced in America as rival unions
force each others members into inactiv-
tty while management and the public
stand by helplessly Such procedure
functions in Britain in jurisdictional
disputes OF the type which long have
plagued the American Federation of
Labor and in organizational disputes
such as now mark the fight between the
American Federation of Labor and the
Committee on Industrial Organization.
From these and other features Of the
commissions report lessons of value in
the improvement of Americas labor
relations should be learned. If these
lessons point toward revision of the
labor laws here then action should be in
itiated this winter. If, on the other
hand, they indicate the greater need to
be change of attitude and of policy
by one or both Of the parties involved
then educated public opinion should
exert its influence to force this end.