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PERTH, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1944.
NO. 3,139.
SEVENTY-FIRST YEAR.
Interesting Study of the Working of Labour Management Committees . . . Australian Official Investigates Experiments in Industrial Democracy Initial Steps Towards the -
than 150 workers, there were more than In industries other committees. than munitions there were more than In coru200 such bodies at work. ary, the Minister of Production announced some interesting figures in ParCompared with the whole liament. of the industry concerned, the number of firms in which committees have been set up was, in the London and South-eastern region, 67 per cent.; in the Northern region, 67 per cent; in the Welsh region, 71 per cent.; in the Eastern region, 54 per cent.; in the
600
Midlands, 31 per cent.; and in Scotland,
Industrial Councils
28 per cent.
*Suspicions of Unions and Capital Unfounded
Beet Analysis. The best analysis of the results, howthat made by the Amalstill is ever, gamated Engineering Union, although the Seventh Canadian-United States I.L.O. meeting of November, 1942, had before it a tentative report, "Labour Management Plant Committees in Great Britain." Joint Production Committees were established in Great Britain early in 1942 as a result of an agreement between the Employers' Federation and the unions concerned, mainly the Amalgamated Engineering Union. This method of estabishment has had the result both of providing an incentive to the A.E.U. to make the scheme work, and of limiting the scope of the experiment mainly to skilled employees. In the National Agreement provision was made that: "Their function shall be to consult and advise on matters relating to production and increased efficiency for this purpose, in order that maximum output may be obtained from the factory." The main conclusion of the A.E.U. survey was that the claim that "the committees have fully justified their existence and have proved themselves of incalculable value in war effort."
ed as typical of the present trade union view: "it cannot he denied that the whole system of J.P.C. has definitely contributed to industrial efficiency. More and more these committees grow into real constructive bodies for technical and organisational improvement. In spite of all critics, the outstanding success achieved by them makes it obvious that they cannot be a mere warWith certain alterations time 'device. and the continuation of proper protection for the workers' representatives they will and must play a major role in establishing future industrial democracy. Much reluctance and even resistance from the employers' side will have to be overcome. That is clearly shown by the fact that there is still suspicion as to the meaning of the J.P.C. They have nothing to do with interference from outside, neither State control nor Socialism. If democracy is worth fighting for, it must also be worth fighting with, and any extension or strengthening of this principle will not only be a reinforcement but an advantage in war and peace- The J.P.C. are no obstacle to management and production. On the contrary, they will enable the nation to make fuller and better use of manpower by enlisting all the intelligence and experience. The hands and the brains of the workers are the greatest wealth of mankind. Not to waste them may be even more essential after the war than to -day."
Dr. Lloyd Ross, Director 01 Public Programme of the Utilisation of the Relations, Ministry of Post -War Re- Automobile Industry for Mass Producconstruction, who recently made a tion of Defence 'Planes." tour of Britain and the U.S.A., contriProduction. butes a very readable and enlightening The committee must not concern article ,entitled "War -time Industrial themselves with grievances or discusImpressions," to the June number of sions about wages, hours or working the "Australian Quarterly." Dr. Ross conditions-a limitation that was gave careful study to the working of stressed as important to employers, His Labour Management Committees. union representatives and Government observations should be of interest to officials, and that does not seem to "Have the Labour Management ComCatholic social students, who look to have been realised in Australian dismittees a lesson for post-war relations," "Industrial Councils" as a means to so- cussions. The only aim of the commitDr. Ross, in conclusion, "so that asks cial reconstruction. tees is to increase production by orthey can be extended to provide the ganising suggestions, schemes, eliminatSuspicious. new incentives necessary to take the "Frankly, I was suspicious of the ing accidents and absenteeism, and, in It is not the place of unemployment? Committees," short, by adding the experience of the Labour Management purpose of this article to examine writes Dr. Ross. "In 1930-31, I had worker to the power of the managethese. examined the decay of Whitley Coun- ment. "I believe that war -time experiences The general procedure followed is cils in Great Britain, and had read indicate the strength of new incentives, appoint many accounts of the use being made fairly simple. Managements the hope in workers' participation, the to weaken the unions by partnership their representatives; the unions elect importance of 'industrial democracy,' schemes in the United States. I had theirs; a chairman is selected-generbut warn us also that much detailed seen worthwhile schemes collapse in the ally the head of the company, with the examination must be made into indusvice-president; as When, therefore, I union representative 1929-31 depression. trial relations before we can adapt our the secretary is often a union man; was invited to inspect Labour Manwar-time experiences to peace -time agement Committees in American war meetings are held regularly in the complanning." gets plants, I expected to hear such high pany's time-and the committee reTrade Union View. pressure sales talking to meet dumb down to business. A summary of The following expression of opinion GOOD NEWS.-Latest Enamel Gas workers' representatives, to see at- sults, given by a member of the LabBritish and Wood Stoves, new and second-hand, tempts being made to build up alter- our Production Division of the War by the official journal of the follows: as is Trade Union Congress may be regard- W.A. Stove Co., Wellington St. B6307. natives to collective bargaining, and to Production Board, "Especially where the major leaderfind unionism weak and being weakenship has been provided by the manageed by a new form of co-partnership. there has been a strong tendency "I was wrong. The workers did the ment, to concentrate the committee's activitalking; the only opposition and most ties on morale materials intended to of the apathy came from the employ- sharpen the worker's realisation of his grrrTALTSF, TN ers; the workers' representatives, fresh part in the war programme. On the from their benches, argued freely with other hand, where the committees have LOCAL TIMBERS the management on the results of the been a truly joint effort on the part experiment-and especially did I find of labour and management, labour's PRESSED BRICKS STATE initiathe taking the powerful unions tendency has usually been to stress -km) development the encouraging in tive programmes designed to increase plant The unions were furof the scheme. and cut down quality improve output, Managethering the idea of Labour waste." ment Committees by issuing such pamInteresting Figures. phlets as "The Facts; Victory Through In February 1943, there were 2,096 Equality of Sacrifice. A Programme \isn at Country and 'Metropolitan Yards. For in the factories.. Victory committees -V Triple for the Nation," "V -V fewer employing undertakings, smaller Day-a a 'Planes "500 Programme,"
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