The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-02-13
LABOR news
FROM BRITAIN
. THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM
. TAKES ACTION
. A LABOR FORCE
. FOR REFUGEE WORKERS


tives of industry are now reviewing
the operations of the National Arbi-
tration Tribunal.
1t was agreed when the Tribunal
was set up, in July, 1910, for the pur-
pose of preventing Interruptions Of
work through trade disputes, that the
whole of the arrangements should be
reviewed at the end of the year to
determine whether changes of person
mel, methods or policy are necessary
to secure greater efficiency.
Since the Tribunal was set up, a
total of nearly 900 cases have been
reported to the Ministry under the
Conditions of Employment and Natl
onal Arbitration Order.
Only a small proportion of these
297 cases were referred to the Tri-
bunal. The actual number so referred
was 10; another cases were referred
to the Industrial Court, and other
cases went to arbitration by single
adjud.cator. Over a hundred of the
remaining cases were settled without
resort to these juridical methods-a
remarkable proof of the spirit of COM
promise animating both sides Of in
dustry and of their readiness to ac-
cept the conciliatory efforts Of the
Ministry's officials in order to avoid
stoppages Of war work.
Fifty awards have been made by the
Tribunal in respect Of the 70 cases re-
ferred to it. 80 of them were favor
able to the Unions and 18 adjudica-
tions went in favor Of the employers,
but four of these were really one
claim raising a single issue of prin-
ciple upon which, in effect, the Tri-
bunal declined to adjudicate.
x X X
Trade Unions have given the TUG
representatives taking part in this
survey their views of the Tribunals
usefulness. Some Unions emphasize
their opinion that the arbitration ma
chinery has helped them to secure
voluntary settlements with their en-
ployers while few others take an
exactly opposite view-that the pro-
visions Of the Order under which the
Tribunal functions encourage employ
ers to resist voluntary settlements.
Among the gains resulting from
arbitration by Tribunal, one fedora
ton of Unions reports that arrange
ments are being made by the en-
ployers and Unions concerned to pro-
vide for arbitration within the indus
try itself.
There is very little evidence, how
ever, that the Unions have been con-
verted to the principle of compulsory
arbitration. But it is significant that
no Union proposes that the Order
should be cancelled; that is to say,
nobody wants to see this machinery
scrapped.
Criticism directed against the Tri-
bunal from the Trade Union side does
not attack it's bona fides in any way,
or challenge the general principles
guiding it's adjudications. Several
Unions do suggest that the Tribunals
time has been taken up with too many
trivial and local disputes. On the other
hand, Union comments show that
many seemingly small and localized
disputes involve matters of principle:
quite number of them have raised
the question of employers observing
recognized terms and conditions" as
laid down in Union agreements.
In this connection several Unions
have suggested that regional tribunals
should be set up SO as to leave the
National Tribunal to deal only with
general issues.
On the whole, this preliminary sur
vey has more than justified the expert
ment of industrial arbitration. More
can be said about it when the review
has been completed.
X X X
With the hearty goodwill and
active help of the Trade Unions new
department of the Ministry of Labour
has got down to work.
To look after the interests Of a
quarter of a million friendly "aliens"
who sought refuge in this country
when war came, and to make use of
their services, the International La
bour Branch of the Ministry was
formed some months ago. It's first
step was to set up central agency
or bureau to place refugees over the
age of l6, Of both sexes in useful oc-
cupations. Most of the refugees are
of Polish, Czech, Norwegian, Belgian,
Dutch, and French nationality; but
there are 10000 Austrians and Ger
mans among them who are treated
likewise as victims of Hitler's tyranny.
The policy of the Min;stry's Inter-
national Branch is to work in the
closest collaboration with the Allied
Governments, with the Trade Unions
and the refugee organizations to which
the expatriated workers belong, and
with the British Trade Unions that
have extended their protection to
them.
The British Employers Confedera-
tion is also giving it's support to the
scheme. Under it, large number of
foreign workers have already been
placed in employment.
An essential feature of the scheme
is that the refugee workers shall have
the same wages as our own people