50 Years Ago (We have heard it all before)
Fifty years ago The Times published articles urging the adoption of a five point “New Industrial Charter” as a means of securing industrial peace, increased production and increased profit.
“The government shall undertake to prevent the occurrence of unemployment in the same sense that it prevents the occurrence of cholera”.
“This can be done, as soon as the government chooses, by nothing more recondite than a systematic rearrangement of the necessary works and orders of the government departments and local authorities over each decade as will maintain approximately level from year to year . . . the aggregate wage-total of the kingdom”.
“The standard rate, it must be remembered is never anything but a minimum. No employer is prevented from paying more and. in fact, there are always some who do pay more, whilst no workmen is prevented from asking for more”.
“The third clause of the Charter . . . suggests details of a Constitution ranging from the appointment of a Shop Steward, to a National Council for the whole Industry, the latter body to consider . . . such matters as Technical Training and Apprenticeship and Publicity”.
“What is most vital to National efficiency, as it is to the employers’ hope of profit, is to get rid fully and permanently, of the workmen’s tendency silently to restrict his output …”
“Once unemployment is prevented, and an effective guarantee for the maintenance of the standard rate is conceded . . . The government may fairly ask from the trade unions complete freedom for the employer for engaging any person whatever, for any sort of work; complete freedom for any person to do any task or carry out any process; and complete freedom for the introduction of any machinery or process”.
From the SOCIALIST STANDARD, May 1917.