*THE
WORKER*
BRISBANE,
AUGUST 24, 1895.
The
Editorial Mill.
Our Motto:
“Socialism in our time.”
After
a determined struggle, the members of the Boot Trade Union called off
the strike last Monday, and the statement of wages drawn up by the
“masters,” coupled with freedom of contract, are the terms under
which the men are the compelled to return to work. However painful
the acknowledgement of defeat may be, the operative bootmakers are to
be congratulated for retaining their solidarity throughout the
fight. The union square remains unbroken to the very end. The causes
of defeat were such as to leave no stain of dishonour upon the flag
of unionism round which the Brisbane bootmakers have stood so
unitedly for the past fourteen weeks. They were defeated because of
many things. More than three hundred men banded together in a
righteous cause, battling for the right to lead human lives on the
part of themselves and of their families, were defeated by other men
fighting against them for what can only be characterised as merciless
greed. They were defeated because the employers had ransacked
Australia from end to end and gathered in the (sin of it, the shame
of it) men mean enough to help them in their ungodly strife. They
were defeated because every expedient that cunning and money could
procure was resorted to and arrayed against them. They were defeated
because poverty is a hard taskmaster. And the members of the
manufacturers' association no doubt feel highly elated at their
victory, which has been accomplished in such a way as to make the
more humane among them regret in their hearts having forced men to
admit to unjust demands by the hellish weapon of starvation.
*
* *
The
conduct of the unionists throughout the dispute has won for them the
admiration of all right thinking persons who have taken any interest
in it. And many will regret even a temporary surrender on the part of
the men to the harsh terms of the “masters.” Everything possible
was done by the union to avoid the dispute before the downing of
tools on the 15th of May last, and no blame can be
attached to it for leaving anything undone to settle the dispute
amicably. But as assertions have been made that the men should have
continued working, it is as well to again point out that the 15th
of May was the date fixed by the manufacturers for their new
statement to come into force, therefore there was no alternative left
to the men but to cease work on that date as a protest against it.
This first statement of the manufacturers was withdrawn by them
three days after the men went out. It has been said also by several
of the employers that they never intended to enforce the first
statement but for all that the attempt was made. Then came the
statement drawn up by the “masters” and submitted to the union on
the 18th of May, and the request from the latter for a
conference to discuss it, who at the same time expressed a
willingness to allow disputed points to be settled by arbitration,
but which the “masters” refused. Attempts were then made by the
Board of Conciliation to bring both parties to the dispute together.
The offer was willingly agreed to by the operatives' union, but
contemptuously and arrogantly rejected by the “masters,” who said
it came too late. Then followed the secret ballot among the
operatives, who, smarting under the harsh repulses of the “masters,”
voted by an overwhelming majority of 319 votes to 7 to still continue
the fight. And even now the strike would still be continued but for
the desire to prevent further distress in the homes of the married
members of the union, which was the chief cause of the reversion of
the decision arrived at through the ballot box a fortnight ago.
*
* *
There
have been few strikes in Australia carried on under such adverse
circumstances and in which such a spirit of loyalty has been shown to
unionism as in this boot trade strike. Without funds the unionists
left their work as one man to fight for the right of having a voice
in the agreement under which they are compelled to work. Without
strike pay for fourteen weeks they have man-fully resisted all
attempts of the “masters” to break their ranks. The heartless
boast of “starving them into submission” was the means of causing
subscriptions to flow in from all classes. This enabled the executive
of the union to relieve much suffering and keep the wolf of hunger
from the door of families whose breadwinners were struggling to
obtain a living wage from the local Shylocks of the leather industry.
If ever there was an industrial conflict between “masters” and
workmen in which the latter were justified in striking against the
arbitrary conduct of the former it was here. If ever there was an
industrial conflict that put to the test the courage of the strikers
it was this one.
*
* *
What
will be the result of the men returning to work under a statement
which the “masters” themselves admit is incomplete? The result
must be disastrous to both parties. A uniform rate of wages paid to
workmen protects employers to a great extent from the unfair
competition of the sweater, and the omission from the statement of
many lines in the boot trade leaves it open for unscrupulous
employers to pay what they like, and the workmen to get only - what
they can. The next few months will see the boot manufacturers – in
fact it is started already – cutting each other's throats, as it
were, by unholy trade competition, and they will shortly feel the
effects of freedom of contract in a manner they will not care for. As
for the workers themselves, this strike, like others, has taught them
bitter lessons. It has again shown them the dreadful power of
combined capitalism backed up by a Government which has no real
sympathy with the toiling masses. It has shown to them a Parliament,
asked by their own representatives to protect the weak against the
strong, rejecting honest efforts towards industrial conciliation.
They thoroughly understand now that they will receive abuse for using
the only industrial weapon they have to protect themselves with –
the strike. And they also understand that they will be abused for
seeking representation in Parliament as a means of alleviating the
conditions under which they have to work. In any case they may make
up their minds that they will be abused by all the many forces at the
disposal of capitalism. Consequently their only reliance must be in
themselves.
*
* *
Whilst
industry lasts as it is industrial unions and strikes will remain
with us. Of that we may be sure. Wage-earners cannot be discouraged
if they would, for the unfair conditions which employers will attempt
to force on them will prevent them being so for any length of time.
Beaten at one point to-day adversity will touch them how to more
effectively attack and defend themselves at some other point
to-morrow. And if governments have not common sense enough to enact
conciliatory measures to meet the hour and the times, then
governments become responsible for the industrial troubles which all
suffer from. In the future, as in the past, those who have to work as
wage-earners must keep on working with each other, for their interest
is a common one. They must keep on educating themselves so that they
can truly understand their positions. And they must keep on agitating
for their cause, which after all is said and done, is Humanity's
cause. For it is through these means, and these means only, that they
will ever permanently secure justice.
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