22. What Is British Labor Driving At?
The Scarboro Congress passed numerous resolutions dealing with the regulation of hours and working conditions. There were important resolutions on unemployment, workmens' compensation, and public health. The aim behind the whole movement was stated in one resolution presented by the Tailors and Garment Workers. The resolution read:
"This Congress declares that the Trade Union Movement must organize to prepare the Trade Unions in conjunction with the party of the workers to struggle for the overthrow of capitalism.
"At the same time Congress warns the workers against all attempts to introduce capitalist schemes of co-partnership which in the past have failed to give the workers any positive rights, but instead have usually served as fetters retarding their forward movements.
"Congress further considers that strong, well organized shop committees are indispensable weapons in the struggle to force the capitalists to relinquish their grip on industry, and, therefore, pledges itself to do all in its power to develop and strengthen work-shop organisations."
Again, the coal crisis of July, 1925, was an obviously determining factor in shaping trade union policy. The failure to effect a permanent settlement involved the necessity for some definite plan of action for May, 1926. The resolution was supported by the Garment Workers on the ground that it was a revolutionary step. The Compositors defended it because of their eighty years of experience with shop committees. Pollitt (Boilermakers) supported the resolution on the ground that the shop committees would train the workers to handle their own industries. Several delegates opposed the resolution because they feared that it was Communist propaganda. F. Lemaire (Compositors) answered that he did not care whether it was Communist propaganda or not. "If any method promises advantage to the Trade Union Movement, the movement should take advantage of it." On a card vote the resolution was carried: 2,466,000 for and 1,218,000 against.
23. British Way or Russian Way?
Americans take it for granted that the Labor Movement in the United States and Canada will follow the lead of the British Labor Movement. They also assume that the British Labor Movement is pursuing an "evolutionary" policy. "By orderly process," so the argument runs, "the present society will be transformed into a Socialist state."
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