The old maxim of “divide and conquer” has been well illustrated by the turn of events in Irish Labour circles.
For some time certain reactionary elements in the Irish trade union movement have been attempting to disrupt this movement and in the past twelve months or so have succeeded to such an extent that those with a genuine understanding of the position fear that the death- knell of working-class agitation and organized trade unionism has been sounded.
Chief offender and instigator of this retrograde movement is one Mr. William O’Brien, Secretary, Irish Transport and General Workers Union, who has allowed personal ambition and private feuds to over-ride all considerations for the working-class in general and members of his own organisation in particular.
Twelve months ago he administered his “stab in the back” to the Irish Labour Party.
The reason for this secession, he stated, was because the Irish Labour Party was “communistic.”
Even in Ireland where the favourite trick of the enemies of the working class is to label any progressive line of thought, or action, as “anti-God,” “bolshevist,” or “communist,” this declaration of O’Brien’s was taken with the proverbial “grain of salt.”
Indeed it was well known that the real reason for O’Brien’s withdrawal was because of his failure to gain control of the Irish Labour Party.
His act of political sabotage being successful (the number of Labour members returned to the Dail dropped considerably at the next election), O’Brien’s next move was a step towards his dream of “one big union” and his dictatorship of the working class.
Thus at a conference held in Dublin during March the delegates of certain trade unions decided to break away from the Irish Trade Union Congress. The reason for this decision was given in a resolution which said that “the opinions and aspirations of Irish Labour cannot be expressed by the Irish Trade Union Congress, which is controlled by British trade unions, and that the Irish Unions affiliated to Congress occupy an intolerable and humiliating position.”
The lie has already been given to this sweeping statement in sections of the Irish Press, but for the benefit of readers unacquainted with the Irish trade union position I will endeavour to give a clear picture of the situation.
The Irish T.U.C. was the strongest all-Ireland working-class organisation. For it, the border was non-existent, and representatives of the workers of both Northern and Southern Ireland worked in a spirit of harmony and unity.
It had established fraternal contact with the workers of other countries and because of these facts it was able to put a strong challenge to any coercive measures attempted by the Eire Government.
That this was the principal reason for the action of the trade union “Quislings ” will be illustrated later on. As for the allegation that British Unions controlled the I.T.U.C. the plain fact of the matter was that the Irish Unions who represent 80,000 members had 115 delegates at the Congress while the British or Amalgamated Unions, with a membership of some 110,000 workers, were represented by 88 delegates. The charge that these unions are British can hardly be considered correct, for though their headquarters may be outside Eire they are affiliated to the I.T.U.C. in respect of their Irish Membership and are governed by councils elected by these members and receive no interference from their executives in Britain. In any case these so-called British Unions have always been to the forefront in the struggle waged by the Irish workers against their bosses.
The part played by the N.U.R. in the munitions strike in 1921 is only one of the numerous points in question.
And so we see that the I.T.U.C. was not controlled by the Amalgamated (or British) Unions but that rather the boot was on the other foot.
Another interesting point is that while these Eire Unions claimed that their quarrel was with the Amalgamated Unions yet it was they themselves, who were responsible for refusing to allow the affiliation to the I.T.U.C. of such prominent Irish Unions as the Workers Union of Ireland, the Grocers’ Assistants and the Irish Engineering and Foundry Workers Union.
The seceding group consists of ten Unions with a total membership of 55,000. The biggest and most powerful of these Unions is, of course, O’Brien’s I.T.G.W.U. with 36,000 members. The decision to break away from the I.T.U.C. was taken by their delegates without informing the rank and file of their unions and without their permission.
Here it will be noted the total disregard for trade union principles and the introduction of totalitarian methods. The “Council of Irish Unions” as this group has styled itself could not .have been formed at a more critical period of Irish Trade Unionism for Mr. O'Brien is nothing if not an opportunist.
What the Trade Union Act of 1941 of the De Valera Government—aimed at crippling the entire trade union organisation—failed to do, the action of this group, at the time when the proposed Vocational System of Legislature for Eire has shown what a struggle trade unionism will have for an existence in the future, has gone far to accomplishing, Mr. O’Brien makes no secret of his intentions.
In a letter inviting those unions to the conference, at which the decision to break away was taken, he referred to the report of the Commission of Vocational Organisation and its recommendation that British Unions should not be allowed to operate in Eire.
Mr. O’Brien was not perturbed at this. He, of course, welcomed it and outlined his proposals for his “One Big Union." To quote Mr. O'Brien :
"The changes likely to be made in the near future present a reason and an opportunity for putting our house in order."
Every trade unionist must wonder how far this group will progress. Not very far, one would say, were it not for the fact that it is modelled on lines which must be very pleasing to the Eire Government. ’This Government whose each succeeding act of legislation is a step towards totalitarianism has already expressed its welcome to such a body. Indeed it must be a very satisfying thought to them to have the working-class handed to them lock, stock and barrel in one group. All this trade union intrigue must leave the ordinary worker very confused.
One can hardly blame the Irish worker if he forms the opinion that trade unionism is a racket, and being a member of a trade union is just because ho requires a licence to work. In Ireland especially, where the red herring of nationalism has so frequently been drawn across the path of the working class, this latest diversion must be very distracting especially when one remembers that in Ireland industrial development is in its infancy and, consequently, the standard of economic and political education is very low. But to a socialist viewing the situation in retrospect the whole matter is simple.
Society to-day is based upon the ownership of the means of living by the capitalist class and the consequent enslavement of the working class, and, therefore, there is on antagonism of interest—manifesting itself as a class struggle. The trade union movement is one of the ways the class struggle makes itself felt. But trade unionism is an effect and not a cause of the struggle. The Socialist, while recognising the value of trade unions in the day-to-day struggle of the working class for better wages, conditions, etc., realises that no amount of bargaining with the capitalist class can free the working class from the yoke of wage-slavery. This can only be brought about by the complete emancipation of the working-class from the domination of the capitalist class and the establishment of a socialist system of society based upon the common ownership and democratic control of the means of production. But trade unions cannot bring this about.
So members of the working-class, be you from Ireland or elsewhere—for Socialism allows of no distinction of race —put not your trust in trade unions which split and confuse the working-class, but go on striving towards that goal which can only be brought about by your own efforts.
Let nothing deter yon in your fight for the emancipation of your class and the establishment of a society where the need for trade unions is non-existent.
Workers, unite for Socialism.
Mick Cullen, Dublin.
No comments:
Post a Comment