Socialist Speaker Outlines Trade Union Organisation

Mr. Skilton first outlined the development of trades unions in England during the last 150 years. He related how from small and difficult beginnings the movement gradually grew, as industrialisation and mass production progressed, fighting a bitter struggle against Combination Acts and other repressive legislation, into the large and powerful organisations of the present day.

Today the trades unions are in the forefront of the struggle against reaction; active trades unionists are the "soldiers of the class struggle." It is only by close co-operation and sympathy with the TU movement in this and every country that students can host work in this struggle for progress. University-trained people will play an important part in the TU movement; one of the most promising working-class leaders NZ has produced was provided by VUC—Gordon Watson, later killed in Italy.

Today, the worst enemy of trades unionism comes not from without but from within—the malady known as Reformism, or "Gradualism." This disease, working under the solgan that "the concern of trades unions is economic, not political, affairs," has done enormous damage in the past, and is still at work today. "Reformism" was responsible for the collapse of the 2nd International in 1914; it was responsible for the success of Mussolini in 1922, of Hitler in 1933, of Franco in 1938, and of the Munich appeasers. Today, Reformism is responsible for the attempted splitting of the WFTU, and for the recent successes of those reactionary forces that plan another world war—for the recent loading in this country of wool for Franco Spain. From all these and many other examples, Mr. Skilton demonstrated the danger of "gradualism," and the impossibility of divorcing the economic from the political struggle. From many hard lessons, the working class has learned that there can be no social security without international security.

The most powerful weapon of the trades unions is organisation, and after that, the strike. The necessity for organisation has been demonstrated again and again. In this country, what is required is the organisation of unions on an industrial basis instead of on a craft or "trade" basis. The recent threatened maritime strike in USA was successful so quickly because of the amalgamation of seven large maritime unions and the co-operation of the WFTU.

Mr. Skilton described trades union under Socialism. In USSR, TU'S are "part and parcel of the Socialist State." They are the basis of Socialist action, and their first task is to raise the general living standards of the workers. As well, they are concerned with obtaining the greatest possible expansion of productive plant, working in harmony instead of in conflict with the State. The 26,000,000 TU members in USSR are democratically organised on an industrial basis.

After a lively discussion, during which were discussed the questions of Compulsory Unionism, Affiliation with the Federation of Labour, the necessity for co-operation between "white-collar" workers and manual workers, and the current WFTU boycott of Franco Spain, the meeting was closed, a hearty vote of thanks being accorded to Mr. Skilton for his instructive and inspiring address.