The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-05-13
Ldbor News From Britain

London.-The new spirit governing
industrial relations in war time Brl-
tain, has produced the most remark
able agreement in industrial history
a complete scheme of conciliation FOR
the mining industry.
Few disputes have occurred in the
cOalfields during the war. This is part
ly the result of the system of control
now operating which is based upon the
principle of minimum wage for ali
mine workers, and partly the outcome
of an agreement, fostered and guar
anteed by the Government, that wages
and conditions in the industry shall be
determined on national basis.
10 the principle of the minimum
wage and the principle of national
negotiations has now been added the
principle of compulsory arbitration
through the operation of a National
Conciliat ton Board for the Mining In
dustry.
The scheme has been framed by the
Board of Investigation set up in mid
1912 under the craftsmanship of Lord
Greene a distinguished lawyer, who
was for some years Lord Justice
of Appeal. The Board over which he
presided included representatives OF
the Trade Unions and the MineoWnerS,
and the conciliation scheme 1T has
framed was discussed fully with botn
the Mineworkers' Federation and the
Mineowners' Association. On behalf of
| their constituent bodies both the Fed
GRAFTON and the Association have ac-
cepted the scheme, and after CONSUL
tatiOn with their constituents have
unanimously declared that they are
ready to sign the agreement and give
it binding effect.
Designed TO Last
1t is in no sense an emergency pro-
vision arising from wartime condi-
tions 1t is designed to be Il permanent
| instrument. 1t gives effect to the Gov
ernment's pledge made last year TO
examine the possibility of establishing
Il definite procedure and permanent
machinery for dealing on a national
basis with questions of wages and CON
ditions of employment in the industry.
Cancellation machinery is not, of
course, new feature in British indus
try. But the scheme now to be eStab-
lished in the mining industry is unique,
for it provides that settlements.
awards and decisions made by the Ma
! tiOnal Cancellation Board which il
brings into existence, are to be binding
Chat is, the Mineowners and Mine
workers national OrganiZatiOns) and
the several district associations and
their members on both sides. Both
will therefore use their best endeavOls
TO ensure that the terms of any settle
ment shall be observed by all EN-
ployers and all workers within the in
dustry, whether or not they are mem
bers of any of the owners or mine
workers associations.
1t thus embOdies the principle OF
compulsory arbitration under safe
guards inherent in the constitution OF
the National Cancellation Board and
the Joint National Negotiating Com
mittee and National Tribunal.
The National Cancellation Board
which the scheme brings into exist
ence, is really composite body com
prising a Joint National Negotiating
Committee and National Tribunal
The Negotiating Committee is to con
sist of % members One half, the EN-,
ployers' side, will be nominated by the
Mining Association of Great Britain
| and the other, the workers side
nominated by the MinewOrkers' FEEDER
ation-the period of office to be de-
termined by each of the nominating
bodies in the case of its own nominees:
The Committee will have two chair
men and two joint secretaries, one of
each appointed by the employers side
and the workers side respectively. De
ciSionS of the Committee will be by
agreement, each side acting by SIM
pie ma ajority of the members of that
side present, with Il casting vote for
the chairman on each side in case OF
need.
The National Tribunal is to be COM