The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-08-10
Economic Cooperation Administration

British trade unions should CO
operate with industry to achieve
higher productivity. =. Where
arrangements are not sufficiently
enterprising and progressive, are
unwilling to step up efficiency OF
extend markets through lower
prices, then unions must press
them to do So"
The view was expressed by q
team of 10 British trade union
leaders, who took a brief but in
tensive lock at the American scene
late last year, finding much tc
praise-and even something to
learn.
The team cautioned unions
against resisting" new develop
ment but at the same time urged
them to see that "abuses are elm
mated" and that the inaccuracies
of scientific management are not
exploited at the expense of work
people"
The group, travelling and study
ing under auspices of the Economic
Cooperation Administration, came
here last October for six weeks.
Their objective was to study the
part played by American trade
unions in achieving and maintain
ing high industrial productivity
and to consider eff or to what ex-
tent similar methods &. could be
applied or introduced in British
industry by British trade unions"
An 80-page report of their find
ings published by the British
Trades Union Congress was made
public today.
1t shows that all ten of the
visitors, who ranged from repre-
sentatives of miners unions to
officials of municipal workers
unions, left the U. S. convinced"
that at least some American unions
are making a valuable contribu-
tion to increasing productivity ,
And they suggested that the Bri-
tish labor movement take into ser
ious consideration the equally
valuable contribution"
In America, the team found,
unions "press for increased wages
to make labor dear; they expect
the forces of competition to COM
pei vigorous, enterprising and ag-
gressive employers to reduce total
labor costs through the use of more
machinery and improved produc-
tion tecpiques. If, therefore, en-
ployers wish to maintain or in
crease profits, they are obliged to
find ways of increasing producti-
witty to reduce unit costs of pro-
duction."
The Britishers discovered that in
many factories Operatives pride
in using modern machinery was
very noticeable"
The team, in it's recommendations
at the close of the report, suggest
ed that where managements are
progressive and seeking to use
scientific management techniques
in a reasonable manner to step up
production, unions should be pre-
pared to cooperate =. Where man
agements are not sufficiently en-
terprising and progressive, are un-
willing to step up efficiency or ex-
tend markets through lower prices,
then unions must press them to do
so.
The report emphasized that a
rising standard of living can only
be achieved by increasing produc-
tivity obtained from labor-saving
machinery and technical processes
and working skill :"
Other highlights of the groups
findings:
l. g. Larger unions and fed
erations should establish produc-
ton engineering departments and
train production engineers for their
national or district offices to pro-
tect and further the widest inter
ests of their members.
2. "In initiating or participating
in the introduction of incentive|
schemes, unions should, where prac-
seek to increase produc-
tion afficiapcy tbro,1oh a oraatar