A 16 International Union of Woodworkers Report on the Activities during the Years 1922-1925 ERN TRANSPORTARBEIDERS BIBLIOTHEEK AMSTERDAM FED 1925 Report of the idrordinary international WoodWorkers' Congress, Brussels, July, 1925 Reports Submitted and Appendix 1899 International Union of Woodworkers Report on the Activities during the Years 1922-1925 Report of the Vlth Ordinary International Woodworkers' Congress, Brussels, July, 1925 Reports Submitted and Appendix NTERN TRANSPORTARBEIDERS BIBLIOTHEEK AMSTERDAM FED 1925 1839 Ebert- S Friedrich* Bonn -Stiftung Bibliothek X 9692 Contents. Historical Survey of the Development of the International Union of Woodworkers Page 7 Report on the Activities during the Years 1922-1925 17 Financial Report 40** Report on the Proceedings of the VIth Ordinary International Woodworkers' Congress, Brussels, July, 1925.. 41 List of Delegates 43 Agenda and Proposals Received 44 Report on Proceedings 47 Index of Orators 77 Report on" The Functions and Organisation of the International Trade Union Movement" 81 Report on the Question of Amalgamation 103 Appendix: Rules of the International Union of Woodworkers.. 107 Decisions taken by the VIth International Woodworkers' Congress, Brussels, July, 1925 ... 113 List of Names and Addresses of Woodworkers' Organisations ... 115 Historical Survey of the Development of the International Union of Woodworkers, from 1891 to January 1st, 1922 The early attempts to form an international organisation of Woodworkers were not attended with immediate success. Although there seemed to be a sufficiently strong desire for international co- operation, it was, however, at first impossible to establish lasting international relations owing to the fact that the organisations in the various countries were not yet sufficiently consolidated. First International Congress, In June 1891 the Belgian Woodworkers' Union issued an appeal to the woodworkers' organisations of all countries requesting them to send delegates to an International Congress Brussels 1891. of Woodworkers which was to be held at Brussels on August 15-17, 1891. of an InterIntelligence Service This Congress, which was attended by 25 delegates from Establishment 10 countries, may be regarded as the first international congress of woodworkers. In addition to setting up an international national intelligence service for the purpose of collecting and distributing information concerning strikes, wages and working conditions, this congress also decided that a second congress should be held at Zürich in 1893. François Sas of Brussels was appointed International Secretary. Second There is no outstanding feature worthy of note between 1891 and 1893. The Congress at Zürich was attended by 33 deleg- International ates representing 8 countries. The decisions taken at Brussels Congress, were reaffirmed. The Secretariat was transferred to Stuttgart, Zürich 1893 Karl Kloss being appointed Secretary. With a view to the further development of the International a number of new decisions were taken. The new Secretary made strenuous efforts to form a really effective international organisation. Interest. The co- operation of the various countries, however, left very Slackening much to be desired; and as only organisations from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Holland and Austria intimated their desire to attend the proposed international congress at Amsterdam in 1896, Kloss was obliged to abandon the idea of holding that Congress. In its place an International Conference of Woodworkers was held simultaneously with the International Labour Congress in London in 1896. This Conference, however, was only attended by delegates from England, Germany, France and Holland. At this Conference another effort was made to enable the International to carry on at least its ordinary routine business. pending the time when perhaps it might be possible to hold a successful International Congress. Nevertheless Kloss was obliged to discontinue his activities owing to the fact that the Unions in the various countries failed to send him any more letters and reports. 7 New International From 1899 on, however, new international relations began Relations. to develop between Denmark, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In 1903 the Austrian Woodworkers' Union requested the Executive of the German Union to take the initiative with a view to convening an International Congress; this was done accordingly in September of that year. In the meantime the French and English Cabinet- makers had also got into touch with each other and had conceived the idea of convening an International Congress in London, 1904. The upshot of these two plans was that all the parties concerned decided to hold the Third International Woodworkers' Congress at Amsterdam in August, 1904. * *: dam 1904. Third InterAt that time( 1904) it seemed that at last conditions were national Con- ripe for the definite formation of a Woodworkers' International. gress, Amster- Our present" International Union" was then founded and since that time it has gone on increasing in strength and solidarity. Of inestimable value in this connection is the great activity of the man who was elected International Secretary in 1904, viz. Th. Leipart, now President of the General Federation of German Trade Unions. Establishment al Union. The Congress of 1904 was attended by 24 delegates from 11 countries, representing 17 organisations comprising about 150,000 members. The formation of the International Union was decided upon of Internation- unanimously. Draft Rules which had been drawn up by the Executive of the German Woodworkers' Union were adopted. The contributions were fixed at 1 franc per 100 members per year. The headquarters of the Union were again established at Stuttgart; Leipart was appointed Secretary. This Congress also dealt with the transfer and mutual aid of members travelling abroad and further with the conclusion of reciprocal agreements and with the question of suppressing black- legging during strikes. Following upon this Congress the organisations in the various countries joined the International Union in quick succession so that in June 1906 there were affiliated 23 organisations representing 12 countries and comprising 169,969 members, as follows: 1 Union comprising 15,776 members 8 Austria Belgium 1 " " Bulgaria 2 Denmark 27 2,000 120 " " 99 " 7 " " 6,152 99 France 1 " Germany 4 " 99 2,264 117,442 " 99 Great Britain 1 99 5,871 99 Hungary 1 " 99 5,208 " Italy " " 3,000 " Serbia 1 400 99 29 Sweden 1 99 " Switzerland 2 " " 7,436 4,300 " " Immediately after the Congress of 1904 Leipart began to The Bulletin. issue a printed journal. In addition to the official notices from the Secretary this publication contained reports on the general situation and on the activities of the affiliated unions, while now and again articles on the tactics, working conditions, hours and the internal organisation of the trade unions were also included. This journal appeared at first under the title of" The International Union", in English, French and German, and subsequently under the title of" Bulletin" in which, from August, 1909, Swedish was also included. * * * Fourth International Congress In 1907 the Fourth International Woodworkers' Congress was held at Stuttgart. In his report submitted to this Congress the Secretary reported that 26 unions from 16 countries were Stuttgart 1907. then affiliated. Since 1905 the following countries had also been admitted: Spain, Holland, Luxemburg and Roumania. The total membership of these 26 unions amounted to 256,044 on January 1, 1907; of this figure the German Woodworkers' Union alone accounted for 151,717, or almost 60%. At the opening of the congress at Stuttgart Leipart could say with justice: " While after the Brussels Conference of 1891 very little had remained of the work done, the present Congress, on the other hand, can be regarded as the General Meeting of a firmly established organisation." Among the features of this Congress was a sober, objective discussion of the tactics of the trade union movement. This discussion arose chiefly in connection with the situation of the French trade union movement and the general strike for the enforcement of the 8- hours day at Paris in 1906. There was also an animated discussion on the loose federal form of organisation favoured by the Unions in France, Belgium, and Holland. Partly in view of the weak financial position of the federal unions, the great majority of the delegates recognised and emphasized the desirability of strong centralisation, as in Germany, Austria and the Scandinavian countries. In order to enable the International Union to perform in a proper manner its ever increasing duties, it was decided to raise the affiliation fees to 2 francs per 100 members per year. An amendment to the Rules was adopted by which it was stipulated that the affiliated unions should mutually agree to admit members of foreign unions without payment of entrancefees, and to guarantee them equal rights with their own members. By January 1, 1908 the number of affiliated union had increased to 35 and the total membership to 285,692; 20 nationalities were then represented in the International Union. In addition to those already mentioned the following countries had now become affiliated to the Union: Bosnia- Herzegowina, Finland, Croatia- Slavonia and Norway. By January 1, 1909 the membership had fallen to 275,583, the decrease being due to the economic crisis. 9 • Fifth International ConOn January 1, 1910, when the International Union still consisted of 35 organisations representing 20 countries, the membership of 30 of these organisations( the figures for 5 unions, mostly small organisations, not being available) amounted to 271,229, of whom the German Woodworkers' Union alone accounted for 151,827. Between 1907 and 1910 the spirit of international solidarity spread more and more and the appreciation of the work of the International Union grew. In an ever increasing number of cases the co- operation of the International Union was invoked and its advice sollicited on all manner of questions. In 1910 the International Union held its 5th Congress at gress, Copen- Copenhagen. At this Congress it was urged that the small hagen 1910. Woodworkers' organisations which still existed in various countries should amalgamate into larger industrial unions; the Congress also dealt with the separation of the Czechs from the Austrian Union as well as with the differences which existed between the two woodworkers' unions in Bulgaria. Affiliation of the British Woodworkers' Society. Finally it was decided to send out questionnaires with a view to collecting information concerning the number of woodworkers, the position of the organisations, the wages and working hours, etc. in the various countries. The unceasing efforts of Leipart, the International Secretary, to induce the large Woodworkers' Society in Great Britain as well as the American Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners to join the International Union were successful only in so far as the British organisation was concerned. In 1914 this Union affiliated together with its branches in America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, comprising altogether more than 87,000 members. One of the smaller organisations of woodworkers in North- America(" The International Union of Timber Workers") also affiliated in 1914. Leipart also made unceasing efforts to further the amalgamation of the smaller organisations in the various countries into one great industrial union, in accordance with the decision of the Copenhagen Congress of 1910. * On the War. The Sixth Congress was to have been held at Vienna in Outbreak of August, 1914. All arrangements and preparations had been made not only for the Congress itself but also for the further extension of the activities of our International when the outbreak of the war upset all these plans. That this was to have been a very important Congress is proved by the following items which appeared on the Agenda:- Efforts towards shortening the Hours of Labour. International Aid during Strikes and Lock- Outs. Reciprocal Agreements concerning the Transfer and Aid of Members emigrated to other countries. 10 Introduction of a uniform International Membership Card. Enquiries into the Wages and Working Conditions of the Woodworkers in the various countries. The Financial Position of the International Union. The Future Administration of the International Union. The development of the International Union from 1904 to 1914 is shown in the following Table:- At the Congress of 1904 June 1905 December 31st 1906 2233 Number Number of countries of Unions Membership 10 17 150,000 169,969 16 26 256,044 1907 20 35 " 99 258,692 1908 " 99 20 37 275,583 1909 20 37 99 " 271,229 1910 20 38 " وو 287,326 1911 20 37 99 99 315,689 1912 20 41 " 99 397,548 1913 19 42 " 99 392,061 July 1914 25 47 500,000 O2122222222 On a few occasions, before the war already, the International Union rendered financial assistance in connection with disputes in certain countries, as follows:- In 1908 to Belgium Woodworkers about£ 125 Cabinet- Makers " 1909 1912 France " Holland " " 1912 Great Britain 99 1913 Finland " " 99 1913, Croatia " 1914, Finland 99 1914, Bulgaria 175 " " " 40 " " 39 400 " 99 Woodworkers 75 " " " 125 " " 250 " " " " 100 Sawyers Woodworkers For the resources necessary to render assistance in the three last cases the International Union was indebted to the German Woodworkers' Union. The International Union further gave 300 marks for propaganda among the woodworkers in Italy. * * ** War. The existence of the" Bulletin" was chiefly responsible for During the the fact that the International Union of Woodworkers did not cease to exist even during the war when the international bonds of the working- class movement were so hopelessly sundered. Throughout all the years of the war Leipart succeeded in publishing the" Bulletin", although not without serious difficulty. In 1914 there appeared 4 numbers during the months following upon the outbreak of war; in 1915 6 numbers; in 1916 8 numbers; in 1917 6 numbers and in 1918 9 numbers. This undoubtedly constituted a binding link the lack of which was keenly felt by most of the other International Trade Secretariats. On the occasion of the International Trade Union Congress First Meeting at Berne in 1917, there was a meeting of representatives of After the War, Woodworkers' Union from Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and Berne, 1917. Holland. The position of the International Union was then informally discussed, especially in connection with the bad state of the finances. When after the war the Trade Union International was re- established at the Amsterdam Congress, in July, 1919, measures were also discussed with a view to the complete restoration of the International Union of Woodworkers. The International Secretary, Leipart, requested the Executive Sixth Interof the Dutch Furnishing Trades' Union to undertake the task of organising an International Woodworkers' Conference. This 11 national Congress, Amsterdam 1919. request was complied with, and the Conference took place at Amsterdam in December, 1919. There were present 27 delegates from 11 countries representing 23 organisations with a total membership of 779,850. Although the number of organisations which were in a position to attend this Conference was not so large as the number of affiliated organisations before the war, the membership represented was, however, 300,000 more than that which was to have been represented at Vienna in 1914. All the delegates present were resolved that in a short time the International Union should be, morally as well as numerically, more powerful and more influential than it had been before the war. The countries represented were:- Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Great Britain, Holland, Luxemburg, Norway, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland; while, furthermore, after the Congress, organisations from Hungary, Finland, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria gave to understand that they still considered themselves members of the International Union. This meant that the work of international organisation could be re- commenced with about 800,000 members, representing 15 countries. Appointment The Amsterdam Congress of 1919 expressed its unanimous approval of the manner in which Leipart had performed his duties as International Secretary. The Congress then decided to transfer the headquarters of the International Union from Berlin to Amsterdam and at the same time appointed C. Woudenberg, Chairman of the Dutch Furnishing Trades' Union, as International Secretary. of New Secretary. The Provisional Executive Committee. Resolutions. The contributions were fixed at 15 guilders per 1,000 members per year. All these were temporary arrangements pending the final decision of the next Congress. A Commission of 5 members was appointed and entrusted with the task of drafting new Rules for the International Union. Great Britain, Germany, Belgium and Denmark appointed one member each to this Commission, the International Secretary being added as fifth member. Until the Vienna Congress of 1922 this Commission acted as the Provisional Executive Committee of the International Union. The prolongation of this temporary arrangement was due to the fact that it was necessary a couple of times to postpone the date fixed for the next congress. The following resolutions were also adopted at the Amsterdam Congress in 1919:- 1. Declaration of Principles. The International Conference, considers: that peace between the nations and entire emancipation of the international working classes can only be effected by complete understanding and serried unity of all nations. This unity shall have to be supported by an energetic action in all countries of all trade- unions against militarism and for abolishment of the armies. Only Capitalism is interested in the maintaining of armies and navies. The consequence hereof is that more than ever the working class all over the world shall have to use their utmost exertions to overthrow the Capitalist System and erect a society, wherein exploitation of man by man will have disappeared and where Labour shall be honoured and dominative. 12 Admitting this general consideration the conference states with great satisfaction that in the Woodworkers' Union the ancient brotherhood has been restored. The conference registers that between the woodworkers of those countries belonging to the Union, hostility nor distrust exist any more and calls upon the Woodworkers of all countries to join the international combination in order to fight upon a united front for the mutual interests. 2. Re Blockade of Russia. That the International Conference emphatically protests against the blockade of Russia and convokes the national sections to use their utmost exertions together with the other organisations in their countries so as to bring to bear influence upon the Governments of their countries, in order to immediately stop all intervention which is an attack on the right of self- determination of all nations, hails with delight those workers, who with a firm conviction attack the Capitalist citadel, with the aim to found the Socialist Democracy, declares that the woodworkers of all countries, by working for the socialisation of the trades and industries, will also contribute to the abolishment of the social contrasts so that peace between the nations will be attained and assured. 3. Re Prisoners of War. The International Conference, etc. considering that the members of all the organisations represented demand the release of the German and Austrian prisoners of war in France, protests against the fact that this release has not yet taken place. 4. Re Distress in Austria. The International Conference, etc. considering that the population of Austria is suffering very much, pronounces its great sympathy and feelings and calls on its members to support all measures, moral as well as financial, which can lead to save Austria from starvation. * * * Following upon the Congress of 1919 the International Union devoted its efforts to various fields of activities. Correspondence was carried on with the organisations in Italy, Spain, Roumania, Latvia, America, Argentine and Australia, with a view to getting these countries to affiliate to our Union. Our efforts were not successful in all cases. There has been a very lengthy correspondence on this subject between the Executive of the American Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and our International Union, without, however, arriving at the desired result. Efforts to Widen the I.U. In 1920 the Secretariat of the International Union succeeded Hungary. in collecting a sum of 7,000 guilders on behalf of the Hungarian Woodworkers' Union for the aid of the unemployed members of that union, for the families of those members who were shut up in prison or in internment camps, and for the legal assistance of those who were being persecuted. The Hungarian Union greatly appreciated this manifestation of international solidarity. 13 British Shipbuilding Dispute 1920. The International Union did very useful work for the woodworkers in the British Ship- Building Industry, who with a membership of 20,000 were on strike from December 4, 1920 till August 27, 1921 in order to resist a considerable reduction in wages. Owing to the untiring activity of the International Union and the solidarity of the workers concerned the efforts of the employers to have their work carried out by strike breakers in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Sweden and Norway were to a large extent frustrated. The International Union continued to issue its" Bulletin" regularly, although for financial reasons certain reductions in size had to be made. It must be remembered that of the 800,000 members only 260,000 belonged to countries with a national currency that had maintained more or less its pre- war level. It will therefore be readily understood that the financial position of the International Union was none too rosy. 14 Report on the Activities of the International Union of Woodworkers during the Years 1922-1925 The years 1922, 1923, and 1924 proved extremely difficult, General not only for our International Union of Woodworkers, but also Survey. for the Labour movement as a whole. The main cause of the difficulties encountered was the severe economic depression and the wide- spread unemployment, which made themselves sharply felt in all countries. Moreover, deep- rooted political dissensions entailed serious economic dislocation in all parts, which largely affected the woodworkers' organisations also. Misunderstanding and lack of intelligence, fostered by deliberately inspired hatred against other peoples, have hampered the reconstruction of a politically and economically distracted Europe, and have considerably prejudiced mutual confidence and cooperation between the nations. Disunion and even internal strife have weakened the ranks of Labour and, in several countries, have threatened the very existence of the Workers' Movement. Utter despair and loss of self- confidence have in many countries led the masses to adopt altogether wrong means and have thus enhanced the chances of the extremists both on the left and right wings. It is obvious that under such circumstances, Labour, although victorious in its fight against the threatened ruin and annihilation, has not left the lists unimpaired. True enough, it has hardly recovered from the terrible blows sustained. All organisations are still suffering from the effects of the acute depression in the economic, political and social domains. The political antagonisms have hardly abated, the economic depression is still raging, the fratricidal war in the national and international Labour movement has not yet ended. It would, however, appear that at least the worst part of our misery and struggle is now over. Despite ups and downs, a slight improvement may be recorded. Although we watch with fear and alarm the dreadful, warlike preparations with which, in several countries, ruthless imperialism is making ready for fresh and even more horrible mass slaughter, we yet have cause for rejoicing when we turn to the ever- growing, proletarian forces, who are waging a fierce fight against War and Militarism, in favour of World Peace and Disarmament. On observing the baneful consequences which the aftereffects of the war and especially the events of the period under review have had on the general development of the Labour movement, it will easily be understood that they have also greatly affected our International Union of Woodworkers. 17 The Secretariat. In the past three years, each of our affiliated organisations had to struggle with its own difficulties. The financial position of many Federations, already severely weakened by wide- spread and long- continued unemployment and also by the imperious necessity of opposing unremittingly the incessant attacks of employers, eventually broke down, under the strain of currency inflation, to utter financial collapse. On the other hand, we may state that the moral strength of our Organisations proved greater than the financial breakdown. By a mighty and strenous effort, the management of the affiliated organisations succeeded in weathering the storm. The organised woodworkers have thus managed to save their glorious organisations from the threatened destruction. They have succeeded in doing this because they never shrunk from making any sacrifice for the organisation. In spite of the prevailing disunion and disorder, the woodworkers have done their utmost to fight the concentrated attacks launched by employers. Especially with regard to the Eight- Hour Day, our colleagues have fought many a brave battle and have succeeded fairly well in keeping this glorious achievement unimpaired. The woodworkers' organisations, which enjoy excellent reputation in the annals of the Labour movement, have maintained their position as staunch champions of the proletarian army. But the struggle of the workers has not ended with the same success in all parts; not all affiliated Organisations have stood their ground equally well. We finally wish to draw special attention to the brisk international intercourse between our affiliated organisations. In this connection we stress the importance of the increased attendance of foreign fraternal delegates at National Congresses. * * * The foregoing remarks explain why the institutions and activities of the Secretariat of our International have not developed as fully as could have been desired. Financial Here, too, financial difficulties were decisive. Position. In consequence of currency inflation, the I. U. received only a fraction of its normal receipts. Owing, in the first place, to the German Woodworkers' Union, our Secretariat has been able to cope with its task at least to a certain degree. The said Union undertook the printing and part of the translating of our I. U.'s publications, without keeping too careful an account of the expense incurred. The small Dutch Union has also greatly facilitated the fulfilment of the Secretary's task by advancing the necessary moneys. There are a few other organisations to whom we like to express our sincere gratitude, as they had generously offered to pay extra amounts far beyond the statutory affiliation fees. As, however, our Executive Committee lived in the constant expectation that the general situation would soon improve, they were of opinion that these offers had better not be accepted' in order to avoid interfering with the proportionate distribution of the costs of the I. U. among the affiliated organisations. Needless to say, the regular publication of the international " Bulletin" was rendered impossible by the bad financial position 18 of the I. U. In spite of the disinterested cooperation of the German Woodworkers' Union, the cost of translating was often too high, so that only a limited number of Bulletins could be published. Donation of the German Union. At the end of 1923, and during the opening months of 1924, the" Bulletin" did not appear at all. Since July, 1924, however, the" Bulletin" has been published at fairly regular intervals and we may say that, in this respect, prospects are still better. In view of a very loyal donation of the German Woodworkers' Union, our Executive Committee was able to decide, Woodworkers' in its London session of October, 1924, to introduce an important improvement in the working order of the International Secretariat. The moneys collected at the end of 1923 by our affiliated organisations in favour of the German Woodworkers' Union, were refunded by the latter organisation to the International Secretariat, with the consent of the original donors. This very considerable sum will now be used for consolidating the financial basis of the I. U. and establishing a fund for defraying possible extraordinary expenses for administration purposes. As the debts of the I. U. have now been paid off, the interest of the fund may be regarded as ordinary receipts of the I. U., together with the affiliation fees. on In view of the above improvement in the financial position Appointment of the I. U., the International Secretary appointed, of Employee. January 1st, 1925, a special employee for the Secretariat of the I. U., who, besides doing the greater part of the translation also undertakes the rest of the clerical work. * * * Since the Vienna Congress, the Executive Committee of our I. U. has been composed as follows: Members: A. Gossip Great Britain: Scandinavia: France, Belgium etc.: E. Devlaemynck Germany: Substitutes: A. G. Cameron Nils Linde L. Chiron The Executive Committee. M. Petersen F. Tarnow Joh. Gross Woudenberg, International Secretary. * * The following list shows date and place of the meetings of the E. C. since the Vienna Congress: Amsterdam: On August, 31st, and September, 1st, 1922, on the occasion of the visit paid by a delegation of the" United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of Amerika". ( Cp. No. 5/6 of the" Bulletin" of November, 1922.) Cassel: On June 21st, 1923, on the occasion of the German Woodworkers' Congress.( Cp. No. 5/6 of the" Bulletin" of September, 1923.) London: On October, 13th, and 14th, 1924.( Cp. No. 5 of November, 1924," Bulletin".) The Management Commitee of our I. U., set up by clause 23 of our Rules, is composed of the International Secretary an Comrades J. Spaltman and N. Walop, the latter acting as treasurer. The Management Committee. * 19 Representation. July, 24-29, 1922 The I. U. has been represented at the following Congresses: Congress of the Swedish Woodworkers' Union, Stockholm Woudenberg August, 23-27, 1922 Congress of the Danish Woodworkers' Union, Copenhagen Tarnow October, 14-16, 1922 Congress of the German Woodworkers' Union in the Czechoslovakian Republic, Reichenberg December, 10-15, 1922 World Peace Congress May, 1923 June, 16-23, 1923 August, 20-23, 1923 August, 24-26, 1923 November, 9-10, 1923 of the I. F. T. U., The Hague Woodworkers' Congresses at Brod and Laibach ( Yugoslavia) Congress of the German Woodworkers' Union, Cassel Congress of the Norwegian Woodworkers' Union, Oslo Congress of the Norwegian Cabinetmakers' Union, Oslo Conference of the I.F.T.U. and the International Trade Secretariats, Amsterdam Woudenberg Woudenberg Woudenberg Woudenberg Tarnow and Woudenberg Woudenberg Spaltman, Tarnow and Woudenberg April, 22-26, 1924 Congress of the Finnish Woodworkers' Union, Helsingfors Tarnow May, 3, 1924, and Congress of the Austrian following days Woodworkers' Union, May, 31, June, 2, 1924 Conference of the I.F.T.U. - and the International Trade Secretariats, Vienna Vienna Woudenberg Tarnow and Woudenberg June, 2-6, 1924 Congress of the I.F.T. U., Vienna Tarnow and Woudenberg June, 27-29, 1924 Congress of the Swiss Woodworkers' Union, Zurich Woudenberg August, 14-17, 1924 Congress of the French Woodworkers' Union, Saint Claude Woudenberg December, 26-27, 1924 Congress of the Hungarian Woodworkers' Union. Budapest Woudenberg 20 Regarding the" Bulletin" we may inform our readers, bes- The ,, Bulletin". ides the general remarks made above, that in the year 1922 three double numbers, in 1923 also three double numbers, and in 1924 five single numbers of the" Bulletin" appeared. In the first half of the year 1925 a double number has been published for January/ February, a single one for each of the months March, April, and May, and a double one for June/ July, 1925. We regret having to point again that insufficient collaboration on the part of the Executive Committees of the affiliated organisations has exerted an unfavourable influence on our " Bulletin". We need, in the first place, concise and up- to- date communications. The Executive Committee of our affiliated Organisations should not be content to send in a detailed report once a year, but should undertake to keep the International Secretariat regulary informed of all important events which take place or are likely to take place in their organisations. We tried several times to compile comprehensive surveys of wages and working conditions for our comrades in the different countries. The incompleteness of the returns sent in has, however, greatly prejudiced the value of these statistics. In connection with the measures taken, in order to secure the adequate functioning of the International Secretariat, we hope to be able to increase the importance of our I. U. in this respect also. We shall then, however, need the frequent and regular collaboration of the Executive Committees of the affiliated organisations. Beside the Secretarial Notices and articles of general interest, the following number of reports was published concerning the different countries: Poland 2 Roumania 4 Finland 4 France 4 Russia 1 Great Britain 6 Spain 1 Sweden 6 Switzerland 3 Yugoslavia 5 America 3 Argentine 1 Australia 2 Germany 18 Austria 5 Balkans 1 Belgium 3 Holland 4 Hungary 6 Czechoslovakia 11 Italy 5 Denmark 2 Norway 4 Needless to say, the various difficulties have unfavourably Membership. influenced the membership of the affiliated Organisations and, consequently, the total membership of our I. U. In nearly all parts, the economic depression, which in a number of organisations, coincided with fierce internal strife, has caused a considerable decline of the membership figure. The appended list will serve to illustrate this fact. * * * Efforts to Widen the Union. The International Secretariat has made repeated efforts to extend the sphere of influence of the I. U. Although we have International not yet been able to obtain very positive results, we may be satisfied that there is good reason to anticipate that, in several cases, the present rapprochement will, in the near future, lead to definite affiliations. New In 1923, the Budapest Union of Sculptors and Carvers, a small Organisation which for reasons of constitutional law Affiliation. could not link up with our Hungarian Woodworkers' Federation, decided to affiliate with our I. U.. 21 America. Other Countries. In the period under review, further efforts have been made to induce the great" United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America" to link up with our I. U. Our efforts led, in August/ September 1922, to a most interesting conversation between our E. C. and a Delegation of the American Brotherhood. This conversation has not yet been followed by the affiliation of the Organisation. Our American colleagues have kept up the friendly relations already existing between our two bodies and have decided to send a Delegation to our forthcoming Congress at Brussels. We therefore still cherish the hope that our friedly relations will eventually turn into a definite organisational relationship. We have moreover repeatedly endeavoured to establish direct relations with our colleagues in Latvia, Roumania, Spain, Australia and Argentine. With the Woodworkers' Organisations in the Memel Territory, West Poland, Brazil, Cuba, Palestine, Sout Africa, and New Zealand we have likewise tried to inaugurate solid relations. In several of these countries, viz in Latvia, Roumania, Palestine, Spain, and in the Memel Territory, the competent National Trade Union Centre, affiliated with the Amsterdam I. F. T. U., is likewise working for a rapprochement of its woodworkers with our I. U. Our united efforts have not yet had the desired result. We shall carry on our activities in this domain with redoubled energy. Efforts to The E. C. of the I. U. finally endeavoured to bring about Unify National Unions. greater unity between our colleagues in Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Yugoslavia. In the separate reports on those countries. we shall have an opportunity of dealing at some length with these efforts, unless we can confine ourselves to referring to the communications on the subject, which have appeared in our" Bulletins". Finally, in several countries organisational changes and amalgamations have entailed alterations of the composition of the I. U. Organisational In Germany, the Federation of Shipjoiners withdrew from Changes. the I. U., having decided by referendum to amalgamate with the German Metalworkers' Union. In the same way, the German Glaziers' Union affiliated with the German Building Workers' Federation. The Belgian Union shows a considerable smaller membership figure, as part of the woodworkers, which formerly belonged to our I. U., have now been transferred to the Building Workers' Section of the Amalgamated Belgian Federation of Building Operatives and Woodworkers. In Norway, Sweden, and Finland the re- organisation of the woodworkers' union on the lines of Industrial Unionism, i. e., according to the woodworking industry and the building trades, has likewise brought about a considerable change in the membership figures. In France, the former organisations catering for separate crafts in the woodworking industry have amalgamated into one single French Woodworkers' Federation. In Switzerland the former Woodworkers' and Building Workers' Unions have amalgamated into one single Union. A section of this Union is affiliated with the I. U. * * 22 Attitude towards Communist It would doubtless have been possible to increase considerably the number of the affiliated Organisations and thus the total membership of our International Organisation, if such Organisations. efforts had not met with special difficulties. In the period under review, several organisations have applied for admission to the I. U., which had to be refused by our Executive Committee in virtue of the well- known Vienna resolution. This was particulary the case with Woodworkers' Organisations in Russia, Roumania, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and the so- called" unitair" Organisation of France. These Unions could not or would not comply with the conditions laid down in the Vienna resolution, so that the Executive Committee was not justified in admitting them. In view of its special importance, we print below the said resolution: Resolution Amsterdam- Moscow. " After a thorough discussion of the decision of the E. C., regarding the refusal of the application of the All Russian Woodworkers' Union for affiliation to the International Union of Woodworkers, and also the propaganda of the so- called Red Trade Union International, the Propaganda Committee of the Red Woodworkers' International of Moscow against the International Federation of Trade Unions and the I. U. of Amsterdam, this Congress declares unconditionally its support of the methods and tactics promoted and defended by the International Federation of Trade Unions of Amsterdam, which have been manifested in the resolutions and decisions of the International Congress of Amsterdam( 1919), London( 1920), and Rome( 1921). And in consideration of the method of combat, exercised by the followers of the Red Trade Union International of Moscow, against the I. F. T. U. of Amsterdam and its affiliated unions, as also the Propaganda Committee of the Red Woodworkers' International against the I. U. of Woodworkers; also the imputation that the I. U. is an institution in the service of the capitalist class, causes any organised connection between the Internationals of Amsterdam and Moscow to be imposible, therefore, this Congress resolves:-that unions can only affiliate with the I. U., which are under the jurisdiction of a National General Council affiliated to the I. F. T. U., and which are willing to declare against any support of the Red Trade Union International, the Propaganda Committee of the Red Woodworkers' International of Moscow, or any committee which may be later established for similar objects, nor shall they maintain relationship with any such committee or organisation. The Congress empowers the E. C. to decide upon the affiliation of unions with the I. U. of Woodworkers and, if necessary, the expulsion of any affiliated union which acts against this resolution, it being understood that the E. C. is responsible to the Congress. As soon as these unions suspend their hostile attitude, an attempt should be made to enter into a friendly relationship with them. The E. C. is also empowered to give a decision regarding application for admission from any union which does not come 23 under the jurisdiction of a National General Council affiliated with the I. F. T. U." Whereas the E. C. of our I. U. loyally and consistently carried out the decisions and instructions of our Vienna Congress, we regret to note that the same does not apply to the Executive Committees of a few individual organisations, which are affiliated with our I. U. We do not in the least intend to impute the action of these Committees to ill will, but still we must openly state here that the position and the influence of our I. U. cannot but have been severely prejudiced by the fact that our action has not always been homogeneous and united. The E. C. has refrained from insisting on the observance of the Vienna resolution by means of sharp coercive measures. It has, indeed, shown great indulgence to acts that were in flagrant contradiction to the Vienna decisions, which were adopted by an overwhelming majority of votes, and it has evinced special forbearance regarding the keeping up of relations with organisations which officially avow that they are the mortal enemies of our Trade Union Movement. When, by the order of Moscow, the Communists confined themselves to their policy of cell building, it was clear to all of us that their activities aimed at the destruction of our Trade Union Movement. Since this practice of cell building has been replaced by the slogan of the" United Front", without there being any change in the mentality of the Communists, several comrades have succumbed to this alluring but utterly false slogan. They do not or will not understand that the" United Front" is in no way different from cell- building and aimes just as much at destroying the so- called" reformist" trade union movement. Great confusion was spread by the action of Edo Fimmen, the one time secretary of the Amsterdam I. F. T. U., who irrespective of the decisions and instructions of the International Trade Union Congresses, inaugurated negotiations with representatives of Moscow and allowed himself to be used as a tool for Communist practices. In our I. U. the same confusion would have been caused by the action of our colleague Gossip, if the E. C. of our I. U. had not consistently taken up a vigorous and unequivocal attitude towards the tendency advocated by Gossip. Our colleague has, like Fimmen, always played the game of our adversaries and has, like Fimmen, allowed himself to be played off against our movement. Gossip will have to answer for his conduct before our Congress at Brussels, not because he held other opinions than the majority of our E. C., but because he has altogether failed to observe the decisions of the Vienna Congress. In its session in London in October, 1924, our E. C. had again to discuss this sterile question. In our" Bulletin" of November, 1924, it is reported on this question: " A proposal of Comrade Gossip to invite to the International Congress of 1925 all the woodworkers' unions not affiliated with the I. U., was rejected with 4 votes against one. A second proposal of Gossip, according to which the E. C. should put up as a special point on the agenda for the next congress:' The discussion of the relations between the International Federation of Trade Unions of Amsterdam and the Red Trade Union International of Moscow', was rejected with the same majority." 24 In this connection we wish to point out that the majority of our E. C. hold that decisions regarding the relations with the Communist organisations should not be taken, in the first instance, by the International Trade Secretariats. It is highly prejudicial to the homogeneity and prestige of our International Trade Union Movement, if the I. F. T. U. sets forth the views of our Trade Union movement as a whole, and yet the various Trade Internationals are at perfect liberty to take such decisions on this subject as they see fit, even if these are contrary to the I. F. T. U. decisions. The resolutions which the I. F. T. U. has adopted of late respecting the relations with the Red International of Labour Unions, or in any case with the Russian Trade Union Movement, do not quite satisfy us, and we certainly do not admire them. In the number of April, last, of our" Bulletin" we have described the attitude we take up in this respect. We still hold, however, that the guiding principles of our policy with regard to the Communists should be laid down by the I. F. T. U. There is no need to emphasize here the fact that every one of us would gladly hail the establishment of solid unity in the International Labour Movement. But we shall oppose unswerving resistance to the machinations of the emissaries of the" United Front", as we are firmly convinced that rank deception is going on here and that all these efforts merely serve to exploit the international trade union movement to ends which will be highly injurious to its future development. * * * the InternationalFederation of Trade Unions. Our I. U. has kept up very close relations with the I. F. T. U. Relations with and has participated with great interest in its work. At its Congresses the I. U. was duly represented, while we have also taken an active part in the joint Conferences of the I. F. T. U. and the International Trade Secretariats. Repeated discussions have been going on, for a considerable time now, on the question of the organisational relationship between the I. F. T. U. and these latter bodies. At the International Conferences this problem ranked foremost and in all probability it will hold the stage for a long time to come. In the discussions, our delegates have always advocated the idea that only a very modest place should be allotted to the International Trade Secretariats in solving general problems of a political and economic nature. On the strength of this opinion we have opposed the tendency to concede to the International Trade Secretariats a place and legislative powers in the governing bodies of the I. F. T. U. We have, however, cooperated in reaching a compromise uniting the extreme views regarding this problem. In our" Bulletin" we have kept our readers informed of all decisions concerning this question and Comrade Tarnow has, on more than one occasion evinced the great interest he takes in this problem and the extraordinary knowledge of the question which he possesses. At our forthcoming Congress, the question will be in the forefront of the deliberations as our Comrade Tarnow will read a paper on the subject. The very important action which the I. F. T. U. carries on in favour of the maintenance of World Peace by propagating 25 Relations with the Internatiopractical disarmament has been backed up by us in the measure of our modest ability. In October, 1924, we addressed to all affiliated organisations a manifesto regarding the war between Turkey and Greece, which was published in the greater part of our Trade Journals. Our I. U. was represented at the World Peace Congress of the I. F. T. U., which was held at The Hague, 1922. In other respects also, we have rendered assistance to the I. F. T. U. in its fight against War and Militarism to the best of our ability. * * * With the International Labour Office at Geneva we have nal Labour likewise kept up excellent relations. The Office has several times furnished us with valuable information on subjects closely related to our activity. Office. Intelligence Service. International Further activities of the I. U. have mainly dealt with the collecting and supply of information, as desired by the affiliated organisations. We have moreover informed our affiliated unions of great conflicts occurring in our industry and have given warning of and largely prevented the influx of foreign workers into the districts or countries concerned. We have finally compiled all the comparative material available on working conditions etc. and have acted as intermediary in exporting affairs, especially concerning Great Britain. Our I. U. repeatedly received applications for inaugurating Aid Actions. International Aid Actions. In several cases, we have not been able to comply with those requests. Difficulties with which organisations may have to cope, can, when they spring from conditions obtaining in the country itself, seldom be surmounted by external aid. The financial means of our International Organisation are far too small to warrant the granting of direct financial assistance. Nor can the International Secretariat be expected to circulate applications for financial help continually among the affiliated organisations. An exceptional case was the threatened collapse of our German Organisations, when by the end of 1923 the lowest point of the currency inflation was reached, and another was the gigantic struggle of our Danish comrades with their employers. Although the difficulties encountered by our German Woodworkers' Organisations had assumed such terrible proportions that the results of an international aid action would not have been sufficient, in themselves, to save the situation, we are glad to say that the action stands as a splendid demonstration of warm International Solidarity. In the action, the Danish and Swedish Organisations ranked foremost, but the almost universal participation in it furnished striking proof of the great sympathy with the German comrades and the keen sense of solidarity prevailing in our International Movement. Even Organisations, which were themselves struggling with financial difficulties, took part in the action. The German comrades are deeply impressed by and highly appreciate the evidence given of International Solidarity. In our" Bulletin" of July, 1924, we published an account of the moneys collected, which total about 34,000 Dutch guilders. The heroic fight of our Danish comrades also evoked deep sympathetic feelings in the Unions affiliated with our I. U. At 26 the time of writing, we are not yet able to make definite statements on the total amount of moneys received. In 1922 we informed the affiliated organisations of the struggle our Italian comrades were carrying on with their employers, and requested them to render adequate moral and financial aid. Moral aid by preventing the influx of blacklegs, was rendered by nearly all countries. Moreover, three Organisations placed at the disposal of the Italian Federation a total amount of 17,100 Lire. In that same year, the Swiss Woodworkers' Federation received 25,000 German marks and 500 Dutch guilders in support of its fight against Swiss employers. * * * The foregoing constitutes a brief outline of the activities Concluding of our I. U. during the past three years. This outline will Remarks. perhaps not satisfy everybody; indeed, we ourselves are none too satisfied. We have, however, in the full measure of our modest ability worked to promote the consolidation and extension of our International Organisation, and we think to have good reason to expect that the fruits of our activity will have ripened when we come to compile our next report. Then there will be a few colleagues who are absolutely dissatisfied with the work done, as they allot a considerably larger task to the International Trade Secretariats, than should be set them according to our views. Let these colleagues who feel justified in sparing no criticism remember that they themselves have done little or nothing to facilitate the fulfilment even of our present, limited task. We have already availed ourselves of a previous opportunity in this Report to intimate our opinion that the International Trade Secretariats should refrain from playing a large part in solving tactical questions concerning the general international Labour movement. The leadership in this question should remain with the I. F. T. U., and the practical application of its decisions should, in the first place, rest with the National Trade Union Federations. On the other hand, the International Trade Secretariats ought to remain what they are, i. e. important institutions for the promotion of international unity and intercourse between the colleagues in a certain industry or group of closely connected industries. We fully admit that this task should and can be fulfilled more effectively and on a larger scale than has hitherto been the case. We therefore end this Report by expressing our earnest wish and confidence that, in this spirit, the work of our International Trade Organisation may thrive and yield fine fruit in the near future. C. Woudenberg, Secretary. 27 Survey of the position and activities of the organisations affiliated with the I. U. BELGIUM. Centrale Générale du Bâtiment, de l'Ameublement et des Industries diverses. The information received from this Federation gives evidence of brisk activity and excellent achievements. Our Belgian comrades have to struggle with difficulties incidental upon currency inflation. Moreover, the Federation has had to oppose undefatigably violent reactionary attacks launched by employers. In this fight it has succeeded in obtaining very good results. Particularly in favour of the adjustment of the wage scale to currency devaluation and of the retention of the Eight- HourDay, our Belgian comrades are carrying on an unremitting fight. Happily, this struggle is not hampered by extensive unemployment, although in Belgium too ups and downs in the economic situation have made themselves strongly felt. Up to the present, the Federation has been successful in maintaining the strong position which it captured in 1919, after the close of hostilities. A serious danger is, however, imminent, inasmuch as the efforts to stabilize the franc by introducing the gold standard will, in the event of being successful, probably entail for the working class an incipient period of economic depression. The Organisation of our colleagues is aware of the danger and has already taken measures accordingly. Information on the subject of our Belgian Federation will be found in" Bulletin" numbers of January, 1923, September, 1923, and July, 1924. DENMARK. Dansk Træarbejder- Sekretariatet. The above- mentioned Danish Woodworkers' Secretariat is made up of eight different craft organisations. The information received strengthens our conviction that the Danish organisations are firmly consolidated trade unions which have their say in the respective industries. In the period under review, our Danish colleagues had to cope with tremendous and persistent unemployment, but have nevertheless been able to carry on an unflinching fight in order to safeguard the conditions and the position already obtained. At the moment of writing, our Danish colleagues are engaged in the great general conflict with employers. It is not yet possible to make definite statements as to its course and final outcome. In this 29 struggle also, the Danish Woodworkers' Organisations prove true champions of the proletarian cause. Besides the eight Organisations mentioned above, two other Woodworkers' Organisations( of Basketware Makers and of Ship Joiners) are affiliated with our I. U., but not with the Danish Secretariat. There are, moreover, a few other carpenters' organisations in Denmark, catering for some 7,000 workers, which are neither affiliated to the I. U. nor to the Danish Secretariat. The Danish Woodworkers' Secretariat forms a constituent part of the Scandinavian Woodworkers' Secretariat to which also the Woodworkers' Organisations in Norway and Sweden belong. Especially with regard to mutual assistance in case of important conflicts, this Secretariat does very valuable work. Information on Denmark is contained in" Bulletin" numbers of January, 1923, and October, 1924. GERMANY. Deutscher Holzarbeiter- Verband. The German Woodworkers' Union is the largest Union affiliated with our I. U., and stands both morally and financially not only as the nucleus but even as the chief pillar of our I. U. Without the German Woodworkers' Union, our I. U. would, indeed, be essentially less significant than is the case at present. a This great and vigorous Organisation has had to struggle, in the period which has elapsed, with exceptional difficulties of very diverse nature. The difficulties encountered were perhaps unprecedented throughout the history of the Labour movement and have threatened the very existence of our German Union. The confusion which has been so widespread in Germany in the political field has repeatedly caused economic disturbances. In the second half of the year 1923, currency inflation had even assumed such tremendous dimensions that the utter collapse of German economic life was imminent. For a considerable time, it seemed as if the glorious edifice of the German Trade Union Movement was doomed to be eventually smashed. While wage movements had to be carried on from day to day, without there being a possibility of keeping pace with the increasingly rapid devaluation of the mark, while tens of thousands of Union members were on strike and had to fight without receiving financial aid, while many social institutions of the Union had to be suspended and the administration machinery suffered serious curtailment, the German Woodworkers' Union was nevertheless victorious in maintaining its position. How firmly welded the structure of the Organisation must have been, which was able to keep up without sustaining lasting prejudice. It should moreover not be forgotten that the economic crisis was attended by fierce and fanatical attacks from two different sides. Whilst employers availed themselves of every possible opportunity to endeavour to smash the big influence which the Woodworkers' Federation exerted on economic life, ending the Eight- Hour- Day and sabotaging collective agreements, the Communists did all they possibly could in order to kindle internal strife and hatred in the ranks of the Union, thus rendering valuable assistance to the employers. 30 The united efforts of Communists and employers have, however, proved a dead failure. All attacks eventually broke down before the unswerving resistance of the organised woodworkers and the unflinching confidence of their management. At the present time our German Union is rapidly recovering from the losses sustained, and ere long, no trace will be left of the severe struggle it has had to fight. The" Bulletin" numbers of June, 1923, September, 1923, January/ February, 1925, March, 1925, and April, 1925, contain detailed information on the subject of the German Federation. Deutscher Sattler-, Tapezierer- und Portefeuiller- Verband. Little remains to be said of the above- mentioned Union after our previous statements concerning the German Woodworkers' Union, as all occurrences described above also apply to this Organisation. We note with great satisfaction that the Paper- hangers' and Upholsterers' Section of the Union is continually at arms for the sake of its members. Further information dealing with the German paper- hangers and upholsterers is furnished in" Bulletin" numbers for January, 1923, July, 1924, and June/ July, 1925. Verband der Böttcher, Weinküfer und Hilfsarbeiter Deutschlands. The German Coopers' Federation has also been largely affected by the conditions described above. It has likewise proved a mighty factor in protecting the interests of the German coopers. In the period under review, the Union suffered a serious loss in the death of its president Carl Winkelmann( cp." Bulletin" for November, 1924). Another communication on this Union will be found in " Bulletin" of November, 1922, and June/ July, 1925. FINLAND. Suomen Puuteollisuustyöväen Liitto. The Secretariat of our I. U. long remained doubtful as to the importance and activities of the Finnish Woodworkers' Organisations. We knew that the Communists had, for some time, exerted considerable influence, on the Finnish Trade Union Movement, whereas during this time the opponents of the Moscow dictates" sat on the fence", awaiting better times. The connection between the Finnish Woodworkers' Movement and the I. U. was a rather lax one, but we have endeavoured to remain in as close a contact as possible with the Organisation affiliated with our I. U. Several personal conversations with comrade Heiki Moisio threw some light on the conditions prevailing in Finland. The Finnish Sawyers, who in October, 1922, presumably at the instigation of the Communists, amalgamated with the Unions of Transport Workers and Factory Workers into one single, clumsy Federation, applied for information on conditions of admission to the I. U., but nevertheless did not affiliate with us, as they were probably neither able nor willing to subordinate themselves to the decisions of the Vienna Congress. After our chairman Tarnow had visited Finland, in 1924, as a representative of our I. U., it was possible for us to form a clear notion of the conditions obtaining in that country. 31 It would appear from several communications from Finland, which have been received of late, that the Finnish Trade Union Movement is gradually shaking off the yoke of Communist domination, so that we have good reason to hope that this development will also exercise a beneficial influence on the relations between our I. U. and the woodworkers of that country. In Finland, efforts are being made to achieve a solid concentration of the forces in the woodworkers' movement. We are, however, not yet able to make definite statements as to the results of those efforts. Further information on Finland is contained in" Bulletin" numbers of March, 1922, November, 1922, January, 1923, and August, 1924. FRANCE. Fédération des Travailleurs de l'Industrie du Bois. In no other country of Western Europe Communist cell building has had such dreadful disintegrating consequences as is the case in France. The three craft organisations which in this country originally belonged to our I. U. and which, in the year 1920, exercised considerable influence on conditions in their trade, have now shrunk into utterly powerless_little groups. These groups seceded from the National Trade Union Federation( C. G. T.), affiliated with the Amsterdam( I. F. T. U. and linked up with the Minority Movement( C. G. T. U.), which is subordinated to the Moscow Red International of Labour Unions. They have consequently been shut out from the I. U., whilst a newly constituted woodworkers' organisation, affiliated with the Amsterdam National Centre, was confirmed a member of the I. U. by the Vienna Congress of 1922. The new Union is, however, by no means a vigorous Organisation, able to defend and promote effectively the interests of its members. We attended in 1924 the Congress of the Union at Saint Cloude and have given a detailed account of our impressions in the" Bulletin" of January/ February, 1925. We therefore wish to content ourselves with referring to that report and merely repeat that in our opinion the French Woodworkers' Union is still in the initial stage of trade unionism. We have great confidence as to its future development but would not conceal from ourselves the tremendous difficulties which it will have to surmount on its way. Of late, the tendency has made itself felt in France to re- establish unity between the so- called" unitair" trade unionists ( C. G. T. U.) and the Asterdam National Federation( C. G. T.). If these efforts are really more than the ordinary, old strategics of the" United Front", we will of course whole- heartedly endorse such development. A development in this direction would not be altogether improbable. The grim lessons taught by the events of the past few years must sooner or later drive home to the Communists that their policy has proved a failure and will always prove so. If this expectation be true, we shall but have reason to be satisfied. Information on the subject of the French Union is to be found in" Bulletin" numbers of March, 1922, June, 1923, and January/ February, 1925. 32 GREAT BRITAIN. Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers. National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades" Association. When following the activities of the organisations of our fellow- craftsmen of Great Britain, we gain the impression that quiet trade union work resting on long years of experience, is carried on there. Still these Unions too have stirring times behind them. They have both had to struggle with extensive unemployment. Employers continually tried to solve the problem of international competition, which especially in Great Britain is a burning point of controversy, by cutting wages. It stands to reason that our British unions have opposed with might and main the assaults launched by employers. Regarding the Society of Woodworkers we make special mention of the fierce and tenacious conflicts in the British shipbuilding industry, in which a great deal of its members were involved. Especially in this branch of industry, international competition is the burning point at issue in every conflict. We consider as a serious loss for the A. S. W. the resignation of comrade Cameron from his post as General Secretary of the Society. We regret the forced decision of comrade Cameron also for the sake of the international interests of our fellow- craftsmen. Respecting the Furnishing Trades' Association we wish to draw special attention to the failure of the Guild Movement, which in the year 1919 sprang up in the Building Industry and was imitated in 1920 and 1921 in the Furnishing Trades. Generally speaking, Guild Socialism which caused such a stir in the British Labour Movement, has not come up to expectations. We finally wish to point out the vigorous efforts that the Communists are making to tighten their hold on the International Trade Union Movement through the channels of the British Labour movement. It need not be stressed that these efforts have also affected our affiliated British organisations. The results of the Communist action are still beyond our ken, and will, in any case, be primarily a matter of concern to the I. F. T. U. Our" Bulletins" of March, 1922, and September, 1923, contain information on the Furnishing Trades' Association. Communications on the Woodworkers' Society appeared in the " Bulletins" of September, 1923, and October, 1924. HOLLAND. Algemeene Nederlandsche Bond van Meubelmakers, Behangers en Aanverwante Vakgenooten. The past three years proved to this Union also, years of continual depression, in which unemployment of unprecedented proportions was raging in the ranks of our fellow- craftsmen. The Dutch working class had moreover to wage a fierce fight against ruthless reaction, which not only made itself felt in the general political field, but also with regard to the balance of power in the various industries. Taking into account the very unfavourable conditions it may be stated, however, that the Dutch Union has managed to maintain its position. True, considerable wage cuts had to be consented to, but they do not 33 outweigh the general decline in the cost of living. Especially with regard to working hours, the Union had to resist continual assaults launched by the employers. The latter were successful in enforcing with the help of the legislative authorities. the substitution of the legal 45- hour- week by the 48- hour- week, but their efforts to shatter the principle of the Eight- Hour- Day have been frustrated by the unswerving resistance of the workers. Although unemployment figures do not strengthen our hopes that the clouds of the economic depression will soon lift, we may state that our Dutch Union has now put a stop to further worsenings of working conditions, and that it has initiated an energetic campaign in order to wrest back from employers what has been temporarily lost to them, and moreover to gain new improvements in working conditions for our colleagues. The" Bulletins" of November, 1922, June, 1923, April, 1925, and June/ July, 1925, contain further information on the subject of the Dutch Union. ITALY. Federazione italiana lavoranti in legno. The Union of our Italian comrades has sustained very heavy blows in the past few years. Ruthless and criminal activities of the Fascists have nearly rendered impossible the fulfilment of the task of our Italian Woodworkers' Federation. It is perhaps open to argument, whether the Fascist reaction is not more or less a lamentable result of erroneous views of a section of the Italian leaders and thus of the kindling in the Italian proletariat of expectations which could not be fulfilled. At all events, even if this is so, it is by no means an excuse for the criminal enactments of the roving bands of Mussolini. The management of our Italian Federation was already before the Fascist coup d'état decisively influenced by Communist sympathies and belongs even today to the oppositional wing of the Italian Trade Union Movement. We must, however, readily admit that the Italian Woodworkers' Federation has energetically coped with the enormous difficulties which lay in its way and has endeavoured to the best of its ability to retain the largest influence possible on fixing working conditions for its members. The prevailing state of affairs naturally forbade the achievement of any very considerable results, but nevertheless, we have been able to record several times partial successes that have been carried. The latest communications received from the Italian Federation go to show that authorities are still persecuting the Federation with very sharp measures. We desire to express to our Italian comrades our confident hope that their unflinching resistance to these enactments will finally be crowned with success. Further information on the Italian Woodworkers' Federation is to be found in" Bulletin" numbers of November, 1922, January, 1923, August, 1924, January/ February, 1925, and March, 1925. YUGOSLAVIA. In 1924, four Woodworkers' Organisations in the new Yugoslavian State held a unity conference. Each of these Organisations represented the woodworkers in its former State 34 or part of a State. The Conference was attended by the Slovenian organisation with headquarters at Laibach, the Croatian and Slavonian organisation at Agram, the Bosnian and Herzegowina organisation with headquarters at Sarajewo, and the Serbian organisation with headquarters at Belgrade. In 1920, a similar conference had already agreed upon the different points concerning amalgamation, but a majority decision in favour of affiliation with Moscow has prevented the decision being put into execution. The best consolidated organisation is the Slovenian Union with headquarters at Laibach, which caters for woodworkers formerly belonging to the Austrian Woodworkers' Union. This Organisation was not prepared to subordinate itself to the dictates of the Moscow Centre and continued to exist as an independent Slovenian Organisation. The development of the national political conditions and the wrong policy advocated by the Communist agitators, who were backed up by Russian money, soon caused a considerable decline of the membership of the once so strong and capable organisations. In 1922, efforts were made to concentrate all woodworkers' organisations into one single apparently" Neutral" organisation. It soon transpired, however, that this pursuit was merely another pet stratagem of the Communists. The Laibach Union, which is affiliated with our I. U., took part in this alluring " Neutrality" movement, whereas the Agram Union, which adopted the Amsterdam platform, but was not yet affiliated with our I. U., was opposed to it. The Bosnian Union with headquarters at Sarajewo kept entirely aloof. The Communists solemnly declaring that the principle of neutrality aimed neither at affiliation with Amsterdam nor with Moscow, applied for admission into this International Union of Woodworkers. In 1923, we had an opportunity of getting a clear idea of the position in Yugoslavia, whilst attending the Congress of the" Neutrals" at Laibach and of the Agram Union at Brod. In our addresses we stood up for the principle laid down by the Vienna Congress of our International Organisation, that only such Organisations can be admitted into the I. U. which are affiliated with a National Trade Union Federation belonging to the Amsterdam I. F. T. U. At the Congress at Brod, at which representatives of the " Neutral" Federation were also present, it seemed as if some rapprochement of the various wings of the Yugoslavian Woodworkers' Movement was to be brought about. Soon, however, this rapprochement proved illusory. In our later correspondence with the Laibach Union, the International Secretary was even compelled to notify it, on behalf of the Executive Committee, that the maintenance of friendly relations with the Communists, who were obviously using Neutrality as a pretex for propaganda in favour of Moscow, was incompatible with the membership of our I. U. The policy of the Communists may now be considered as having failed. The Laibach Union has managed to maintain its independent position unimpaired. It has moreover broken off all relations with the" Neutral" Federation and is now aspiring after a rapprochement with the Agram Union, which is now also affiliated to our I. U. This 35 development of the position in Yugoslavia warrants us to expect that, in this country too, the unity between the Organisations adopting the Amsterdam platform will be realised within a comparatively short time. As a result of the secession of the Slovenian Union, the" Neutral" Federation has practically ceased to exist. It is regrettable that, at the time, our Agram Union did not have a capable management. To the management of the National Federation affiliated with the Amsterdam I. F. T. U. our best thanks are due for the way in which it has always collaborated with us in order to effect an amalgamation of the scattered forces in the woodworkers' movement. In view of the latest information available, we have good reason to await with confident hope the future development of the position in this country. In different parts of the country excellent nuclei already exist, which all adopt the Amsterdam platform. The amalgamation of these nuclei into one single capable and centralised organisation will smoothe the way towards an allembracing National Organisation of our fellow- craftsmen. In so far as we have been able to ascertain, there are such nuclei in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Voivodina. Information on Yugoslavia is to be found in the" Bulletins" of September, 1922, November, 1922, June, 1923, September, 1923, and June/ July, 1925. LUXEMBURG. Industrie- Verband der Bau- und Holzarbeiter des Grossherzogtums Luxemburg. Little is to be said on the subject of this small Organisation, which in this country is affiliated with our I. U. Our fellowcraftsmen of this little country have amalgamated with the building workers and do much valuable work for their members. They moreover take sufficient interest in international affairs. NORWAY. Influenced very largely by the conditions prevailing at that time in the Norwegian Labour Party, the general trade union movement made a move towards Moscow in the period after the war. In 1922, the Norwegian Trade Union Federation seceded from the I. F. T. U. but did not affiliate with the Moscow Red International of Labour Unions. The advantage of this ambiguous attitude is perhaps that a split in the national movement was thereby prevented. As recently, the majority of the political party is again turning away from Moscow, the pressure in favour of re- affiliation with the Amsterdam Trade Union International is becoming stronger and stronger. The three Norwegian Unions affiliated with our I. U. have been considered members of our International, irrespective of the fact that their National Centre had seceded from the I. F. T. U. Norsk Træindustriarbeiderforbundet. This Union was reorganised in 1923 into a Building Workers' Federation, in which the woodworkers in the building industry amalgamated with the other workers in this branch. A smaller section of the membership of the former Woodworkers' Union was transferred to the Cabinet- makers' Union. The Building Workers' Union is affiliated with our I. U., in so far as its woodworkers' section is concerned. 36 At the constituent Congress of this latter Union, which was held in 1923, we gained the impression that the Amsterdam and Moscow wings were at close quarters regarding representation on the management committee. The representative, who in 1922 attended our Vienna Congress was not re- elected on the Committee. He was particularly blamed for having voted in favour of the Vienna Resolution on the relations with Communist organisations. In his place the then vice- president of the Norwegian Trade Union Federation, who is known as a genuine Communist, was elected. Norsk Møbelindustriarbeiderforbundet. In consequence of the economic depression, the membership of the Cabinet- makers' Union suffered a considerable decline. The management proved very judicious and sensible in the fulfilment of its task, so that, in spite of the decline in membership, fairly good results could be obtained. The Management of the Union took up an unambiguous standpoint in the Amsterdam- Moscow question, but has never indulged in fanatic and unfair combating of the Amsterdam wing. It has always kept up very friendly relations with our I. U. Norsk Sag-, Tomt- og Høvleriarbeiderforbundet. In the period under review, the above Union was exposed to unremitting attacks by employers. We have gained the impression that the Sawyers' Union has adopted a" wait and see" policy with regard to the Amsterdam vs. Moscow question and we think to have good reason to assert that, in the long run, it has derived the greater benefit from it. Through the Scandinavian Woodworkers' Secretariat, our affiliated Norwegian organisations have cooperated in splendid comradeship with their Danish and Swedish brethren. In our" Bulletin" of June, 1923, a few communications appeared on the Cabinet- makers' Union and the former Woodworkers' Union%; in the number of September, 1923, another communication on the Woodworkers' Union was published, and in April, 1925, a general communication on the Norwegian Trade Union Movement was inserted. AUSTRIA. Verband der Holzarbeiter Österreichs. Owing to its splendid endurance and unshakeable confidence, the Austrian Woodworkers' Union has been able to recover, to some extent, from the very severe losses sustained in consequence of the cruhing depression of the period 1919-1922. In this period, and even at the present time, it was extremely difficult to repel the efforts of employers to charge the workers with the whole burden of economic dislocation. In this fight, our Union has stood its ground in spite of the tremendous difficulties that lie in its way. Still, our Austrian colleagues have not yet been able to wholly reconstruct the havock made by the terrible occurrences through which it has passed. The financial catastrophe of 1924 has been followed by a renewed economic collapse, from which chiefly the workers are suffering. Unemployment is raging again to a tremendous extent. Information on Austria will be found in our" Bulletin" numbers of January, 1923, August, 1924, January/ February, 1925, March, 1925, and June/ July, 1925. 37 POLAND. Zwiazek robotnikow przemyslu drzewnego w Polsce. We have no reason to complain of being bothered by too much information from our Polish colleagues. The only important event in this country we are aware of is the amalgamation of the small Communist organisation at Warsaw with the bona fide Union at Cracow, which is affiliated with our I. U. In this process of amalgamation a small Union of Jewish Woodworkers has also joined. As for the rest, we only know that the working classes of Poland are coping with almost insuperable difficulties springing from currency inflation. In western Poland, a General Federation of Free WestPolish Trade Unions exists, composed of organisations formerly belonging to the German Federation of Trade Unions. This General Federation also comprises a group of woodworkers, which, according to information received at our request, has not yet affiliated with the Polish Woodworkers' Union, because the deep differences in organisation hamper, as yet, the attainment of this final aim. In our" Bulletins" of June, 1923, and March, 1925, short communications on the subject of the Polish Union were published. SWEDEN. Svenska Träindustriarbetareförbundet. Svenska Byggnadsträarbetareförbundet. In accordance with a Congress resolution taken in 1922, the Swedish Woodworkers' Union split on January 1st, 1923. One fraction, composed of woodworkers in the building industry, constituted the" Svenska Byggnadsträärbetareförbundet", whereas the remaining section continued to exist as" Svenska Träindustriarbetareförbundet". Both organisations are affiliated with the I. U. No special remarks are to be made on their activities. They have both proved firmly- welded and capable organisations which are doing very valuable work in favour of their members. Svenska Sägverksarbetareförbundet. The Swedish Sawyers' Union caters for a very extensive field of action, so that the activities of the Union must be carried on under exceptionally heavy circumstances. This Union was almost continually involved in a fight with employers, in which it obtained very good results. Its sphere of activities has been greatly extended during the last few years. The Swedish Woodworkers' Organisations have taken a preponderant part in the Scandinavian Woodworkers' Secretariat and, moreover, take a lively interest in the affairs of the I. U. Our" Bulletins" of November, 1922, January 1923, June, 1924, September, 1924, October, 1924, and April, 1925, contain evidence of the remarkable achievements of the Swedish Organisations. SWITZERLAND. Schweizerischer Bau- und HolzarbeiterVerband. On January 1st, 1923, the Swiss Unions of Woodworkers and Building Workers amalgamated into the Federation of Woodworkers and Building Operatives. At the beginning, this 38 Federation proved somewhat clumsy, but to all appearances there has been a considerable change for the better in the sequel. The Swiss Federation has been extremely active and capable in the protection of the interests of its members. Extensive unemployment and social reaction have not been able to smash it. The period of wage cuts and other worsenings of working conditions has now been left behind and the counteroffensive for winning back the advantages lost has set in with redoubled energy. In its fight for the retention of the EightHour- Day, the Union has maintained its position fairly well. Regarding the conditions prevailing in the Union itself, we wish to direct special notice to the queer fact that, whereas the management of the Swiss Federation has continually taken sharp and unequivocal measures to counteract the inspired stratagems of Communist agitators, this very same management has repeatedly stood up, in the international field, as a zealous champion of the Communist cause. Of late, it has made a similar effort by trying to induce the affiliated organisations of our I. U. to act in favour of Moscow, contrary to the decisions of the Executive Committee. In our" Bulletins" of March, 1922, September, 1922, and September, 1924, communications on the Swiss Federation have been published. CZECHOSLOVAKIA. Verband der Holzarbeiter und Drechsler, Reichenberg. Unie Drevodelníku, Prague. In this country, the deep- rooted antagonism between nationalities have exerted considerable influence on the woodworkers' movement. The Federation of our German colleagues in the Czechoslovakian Republic has been affiliated with our I. U. since 1920. In view of this, the Czech Union originally refused to link up with the I. U. In 1922 the Communists managed to seize the reins of the Czech Union( headquarters at Prague). The minority, which adopted the Amsterdam platform, thereupon decided to found another Union. The Communist Federation made several efforts to obtain admission into the I. U., but was rejected by the Vienna Congress. Later on, the newly constituted Prague Union applied for admission. We have then tried to bring about some rapprochement with the Reichenberg( German) Union. The result of our activity in this direction led to the decision of the Executive Committee to admit the Prague Union. In the beginning, the cooperation between the two affiliated organisations in the Czechoslovakian Republic left much to be desired. This fact must be ascribed for the greater part to the dissensions obtaining for a considerable time between the two National Trade Union Federations, which, on their part, must be attributed to nationalist political influences and conditions. At the time when the Communist machinations, directed by the Moscow headquarters, threatened the Labour movement in Czechoslovakia with ruin, the two National Centres finally found the way to mutual cooperation. Under the guidance of the I. F. T. U., the unity movement seems to be getting ahead, and we are glad to state that the general movement has already exerted 39 excellent influence on our woodworkers' organisations. It is imperative that unity between the two movements, which adopt the same platform, be achieved as soon as possible. The Communists have already done too much harm to the Czechoslovakian Trade Union movement, whilst the prevailing disunion and strife has induced many workers to run nationalist and denominational camps. over to the Further information will be found in our" Bulletins" of March, 1922, January, 1923, June, 1923, September, 1923, November, 1924, January/ February, 1925, March, 1925, May, 1925, and June/ July, 1925. HUNGARY. Magyarországi Famunkazok Szövetsége. The above Organisation has had to carry on its activities under extremely bad conditions. Union expected to be drawing near the end of its misery and to Each and every time the be on the ascendant again, a new slump set in, doing way with all hopes of a change for the better. Moreover, public authorities planned ever new ways of persecuting the Labour movement, instead of endeavouring to render it adequate assistance in the fulfilment of its heavy and responsible social task. Currency inflation, increasing prices and raging unemployment have not only hampered the work of the Woodworkers' Organisation, but have placed insuperable difficulties in the way of the general Labour movement. In spite of all this, our Hungarian Federation has not been trodden under foot. Despite the distressing period through which it has passed, our Hungarian friends have not for one single moment lost their confidence in a better future. At the present moment, the position of our Hungarian Union has again be aggravated and it even fears that its social institutions will have to be suspended. We emphatically express our hope that for our Hungarian comrades, too, a lasting period of consolidating and strenghtening of its forces may soon dawn. * * The small Budapest Union of Sculptors and Carvers also has to cope with unprecedented and continuous unemployment. Its Executive Committee made several energetic attempts to find work for its unemployed members in other countries. As a result of the bad conditions prevailing in those countries, too, these efforts have met with but small success. On Hungary, further information will be found in" Bulletins" of March, 1922, January, 1923, June, 1923, September, 1923, October, 1924, and March, 1925. C. Woudenberg, International Secretary. 40 Membership and Number of Local Branches of the Organisations affiliated with our International Union of Woodworkers, on 1 January, 1922, and 31 December, 1922, 1923, and 1924. Membership Membership Membership Membership Country Name of the Organisation on ' 1 January 1922 Number of Branches on 31 December 1922 Number of Branches on 31 December 1923 Number of Branches on 31 December 1924 Remarks Belgium... Centrale Générale du Bâtiment, de l'Ameublement et Industries diverses( Woodworkers' Section)... des 41 2501) 110 ca.22 500 105 ca.20 000 98 20 1322) Denmark Bulgaria.... Bulgarischer Holzarbeiter- Verband Dansk Træarbejder- Sekretariatet: Snedkerforbundet Drejerforbundet. Børstenbinderforbundet. Bødkerforbundet Forgylderforbundet Træindustriarbejderforbundet Billedskærer- og Dekorationshuggerforbundet Karetmagerforbundet 150 ** 1501) ** 1501) ** 15 850 - Kurvemagernes Forening. 215* 1202200#| 15 219 15 411 - 90 8 908 14 251 370 769 8 193 79 3 578 21227 90 8 900 14 231 12 353 22 8 750 197 77 3 824 79 5 180 ** 970 ** 5* 189 967 1222280% 90 1) Including a large numiber of woodworkers in the building industry, which were transferred to the Building Workers' International. 2) 1. 11. 24. 1501) 1) Last- known January, 1922. 15 793 8.946 data of 243 380 740 205 4 056 5 ** 197 1026 142 - Dansk Skibstømrerforbundet. ** 31 750 31 123 644 - 107 31 750 Germany Deutscher Holzarbeiter- Verband. 388 463 1 376 434 843 1 372 377 025 1 280 284 742 Deutscher Sattler-, Tapeziererund Portefeuiller- Verband Verband der Böttcher, Weinküfer und Hilfsarbeiter Deutschlands Zentralverband der Schiffszimmerer Zentralverband der Glaser Suomen Puutyöntekiyäin Liitto Suomen 13 500* 244 15 833 226 ca. 13 000 200 ca.10 600 ** ** 13 500 5 048 3.962* Finland -1) -1) Puuteollisuustyöväen Liitto - France. Fération nationale de l'Ameublement Féation nationale de l'Industrie du Sciage etc.. 12 333* 11 000* ca. 4 000 Expelled in 1922 on account of its secession from the French C. G. T. Expelled in 1922 on account of its secession from the French C. G. T. ** Fédération des Travailleurs de l'Industrie du Bois 30 3 000 39 4 500 44 5.000 25 263 181 22 449 180 21 819 180 22 820 165 000 1 461 150 7381) 1 439 140 967 14 238 10 155 10 1551) 1) Membership on 31.12.23 Amalgamated with the German Metalworkers' Union on Dec. 1st, 1923. Amalgamated with the GermanBuilding Workers' Union on Dec. 1st, 1923. 4 249 ** - ** ** ** 1) Dissolved in April, 1924, in consequence of reorganisation on the lines of Industrial Unionism. The two Unions later on amalgamated into the French CommunistWoodworkers' Federation. ** in 1 200 109 7812) 1) Including 118 828 Great Britain and Ireland only. 2) The Overseas Sections autohaving become nomous in 1923, they are no longer affiliated with the I. U. The figure reca. 10 0003) presents the membership in Great Britain and Ireland only. 5.806 55 5 278 55 4 953 54 4 691 italiana lavoranti 20 000 ** ca.20 000 ** 3 740 ** 2 378 275* | 1 19 2 750 19 1 297 19 1 200 ** 568 ** 215 - 1 3) According to estimate of the Gen. Sec'y. of the Italian Confederation of Labour. Great Britain.|| National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades' Association. Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers... Holland... Algemeene Nederlandsche Bond Italy.... Yugoslavia. Luxemburg. van Meubelmakers, Behangers etc. Federazione in legno Osrednje drustvo lesnih delavcev in sorodnih strok na slovenskem ozemlju( Laibach). Verband der Holzarbeiter( Agram) Luxemburgischer Holzarbeiter- Verband Industrie- Verband der Bau- und Holzarbeiter des Großherzogtums Luxemburg( Woodworkers' Section). Norsk Sag-, Tomt- og Høvleriarbeiderforbundet. Norway... Norsk Møbelindustriarbeiderforbundet... Austria Poland. Sweden.. 12 350 8 300 6 150 4 184 56 3.849 ** 3 787 48 48 3 738 1 294 38 1 163 5 700 ** ** 38 _1) 1205 -1) 37 _1) 1 300 -1) 1883 23 396 1) Dissolved in October 1923, in consequence of reorganisation on the lines of Industrial Unionism. Træarbeiderforbundet i Norge Norsk Bygningsarbeiderforbundet ( Woodworkers' Section).... Verband der Holzarbeiter.... Zwiazek robotnikow przemyslu drzewnego w Polsce.. Svenska Sägverksarbetareforbundet Svenska Träarbetareforbundet - ** ** ** - 37 592 162 32 674 150 27 180 124 10 000 57 7 500 89 9 800 147 12 400 21 500 16.000 317 236 21481 14898 354 28 525 391 -1) -1) _1) 32 123 -1) Svenska Träindustriarbetareforbundet. 157 7.436 180 8920 - 105 8732 124 9000 237 6.804 _1) -1) -1) 11 212 _1) Svenska Byggnadsträarbetareforbundet. Switzerland.. Schweizerischer Holzarbeiter- Verband.. Schweizerischer Bau- und Holzarbeiter Verband workers' Section). ( WoodCzechoslovakia Verband der Holzarbeiter und Drechsler( Reichenberg) Unie Drevodelníků( Prague) Hungary.... Magyarországi Famunkazok Szövetsége. Budapesti Szobrászok Szakegylete ( Woodcarvers). * Membership on 1 January, 1921. ** No data available. 40* 1 - I 151 6.857 150 7082 9950 ** 44 94 7.037 5.000 ** 80 4130 5544 ** 112 4783 6104 ** 12 701* 13 547 67 11570 ** 10245 - 350 307 856 163 - 822 193 - 729 768|| - 623 779 1) Dissolved in November 1923, in consequence of reorganisation on the Industrial lines Unionism. 1) Affiliated on 1 Jan. 1923 with the Building Workers' Union. Financial Statement for the Period January 1st, 1922 to April 1st, 1925. Receipts( in Dutch guilders). Source Affiliation fees Contribution to Congress MiscellanTotal 1922 1923 1924 1925 1922 expenses eous Financial Statement for the Period January 1st, 1922 to April, 1st, 1925. Expenditure( in Dutch guilders). Specification Belgium: Centrale générale du Bâtiment, de l'Ameublement et des Industries diverses 343.41 159.40 - Bulgaria: Bulgarischer Holzarbeiter- Verband 4.50 - - Denmark: Dansk Træarbejder- Sekretariat 230.89 229.41 225.225.150.57 131.25 784.63 4.50 910.30 Translations Germany: Verband der Böttcher, Weinküfer und Hilfsarbeiter Deutschlands Subscription Fees Deficit per 1 January, 1922. Printing and Office requirements Travelling expenses etc. and Meetings of Executive Committee. Vienna Congress, 1922 Subsidy to Bulgarian Union, Vienna, 1922 Hfl. 3 197.885 99 4 664.81 190.33 " 3 936.14 " 1 087.92 • " 62.05 " Deutscher Holzarbeiter- Verband 3 105.53.17 3 158.17 *) Cp. Account of German Woodworkers' Union. Furniture bought.. Zentralverband der Schiffszimmerer 1.-| - L - || Postage and Telegrams. 1.Salaries Deutscher Sattler-, Tapezierer- und Portefeuiller- Verband Finland: Suomen Puuteollisuustyöväen Liitto - - - *) Cp. Account of German Woodwerkers' Union. 15.06 Losses on Rates of Exchange 15.06 - France: Fédération nationale des Travailleurs de l'Industrie du Bois. 32.33 51.50 75.75.Great Britain: National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades' Association. Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers Holland: Alg. Ned. Bond van Meubelmakers, Behangers en Aanverwante Vakgenooten.. 383.98 2 387.29 353.85 342.355.85 79.80 2 220.1 519.05 1 635.491.85 Expenditure. Receipts. Italy: Federazione Italiana Lavoranti in Legno. Yugoslavia: Osrednje drustvo lesnih delavcev in sorodnih 90.72.30 86.57 72.63 68.90 17.80 || - .... strok na slovenskem ozemlju( Laibach) Verband der Holzarbeiter( Agram) Luxemburg: Fédération d'Industrie des Travailleurs du Bâtiment et Bois du Gr.- Duché de Luxembourg. Norway: Norsk Sag-, Tomt- og Høvleriarbeiderforbund Norsk Møbelindustriarbeiderforbund. Norsk Træarbeiderforbund Norsk Bygningsarbeiderforbund. 70.35 58.74 12.99 19.90 18.21.20.2.230.30 17.67 4.85 47.50 45.- Austria: Verband der Holzarbeiter. 26.44 120.202.50 345.Poland: Zwiazek robotnikow przemyslu drzewnego w Polsce Czechoslovakia: Verband der Holzarbeiter und Drechsler Cp. Account of German 75.Woodworkers' Union ( Reichenberg) 344.90 - 243.31.Unie Drevodelníkù( Prag). 150.75.|| - Sweden: Svenska Träindustriarbetareförbund 240.225.120.135.49.74 Svenska Sägverksarbetareförbund. 314.90 345420.465.66.75 10.3.05 Svenska Byggnadsträarbetareförbund 135.169.Switzerland: Fédération des Ouvriers du Bois et Bâtiment de la Suisse. 124.90 81.65 93.75 96.20 27.94 Hungary: Magyarországi Famunkazok Szövetsége - Budapesti Szobraszok Szakegylete 2.50 4.— - 164.06 Interest. 40** Grand Total 4917.39 3 956.63 3 427.43 7 283.52 981.96 181.96 20 748.94 || || || 92.50 693.94 75.Invested in favour of the I. U. Cash Balance per April 1st, 1925 618.90 225.233.83 1 515.48 8 253.19 325.90 72.30 142.08 80.90 252.82 Miscellaneous Expenses. Allowances for Secretary and Treasurer. Compensation of Dutch Union. " 50.754.40 " 1 251.325 " 399.99 " 250.56 " 82.50 " 900.وو 6 000." Total Hfl. 22 827.91 Hfl. 22 827.91 20 748.94 " Deficit per 1st April, 1925. Hfl. 2 078,97 ... The German Woodworkers' Union has refunded to the I. U. the moneys collected in its favour in 1923. The amount repaid comes to The deficit of the I. U. was made good by a fraction of this amount. On April 1st, 1925, the deficit amounted to.. Moreover, the advances made by the Dutch Union for the 1919 Congress were repaid.. Hfl. 2 078.97 Hfl. 28 205.72 506.55 ". " 2 585.52 Assets in April 1st, 1925 Hfl. 25 620.20 Hfl. 22 536.03 3 084.17 " 25 620.20 " Printing cost of Bulletin 779.74 1 614.70 304.424.44 *) Account of German Woodworkers' Union. The amount received from the German Woodworkers' Union in 1925, is composed as follows: Affiliation fee of the GermanWoodworkers' Union for 1924 Mks. Affiliation fee of Polish Woodworkers' Union for 1924 Affiliation fee of German Paperhangers' Union for 1924 8 415." 42.291,80 " Total Mks. 8 748.80 Mks. - Translation cost " 6.50 164.06 Fustare etc. 2.143.220.176.80 " Traveling expenses of Chairman 945." Mks. 3 484.80 Mks. 5 264.( Hfl. 3 105. Report on the Proceedings of the VIth Ordinary International Woodworkers' Congress, Held at Brussels, from July 20-22, 1925, inclusive, in" Maison du Peuple" Austria Belgium Czechoslovakia List of Delegates. Verband der Holzarbeiter Centrale Générale du Bâtiment, de l'Ameublement et des Industries diverses de Belgique Verband der Holzarbeiter und Drechsler( Reichenberg) Unie Drevodelniku( Prag) Denmark Dansk TræarbejderSekretariatet J. Gross J. Mrkwicka W. Hauwaert J. van Santvoort P. Nees G. Blairvacq A. Tlapak W. Kronansky M. Petersen V. S. Petersen E. Olsen K. Jensen France Germany M. Arnsfeld Fédération des Travailleurs du L. Chiron Bois C. Loizel Delatour Deutscher Holzarbeiter- Verband F. Tarnow E. Lehmann Great Britain Holland Hungary Italy Norway Deutscher Sattler-, Tapeziererund Portefeuiller- Verband National Amalg. Furnishing Trades' Association K. Jahn E. Lenke H. Scheffler F. Gerhardt A. G. Tomkins A. Gossip Amalg. Society of Woodworkers T. Barron Alg. Nederl. Bond van Meubelmakers etc. Magyarországi Famunkazok Szövetsége Federazione Lavoranti in Legno Norsk Sag-, Tomt- og Høvleriarbeiderförbund Norsk Møbelindustriarbeiderforbund F. Wolstencroft J. Spaltman N. Walop G. Horowitz A. Propper A. Oberti H. Eriksen C. Systad Norsk Bygningsarbeiderforbund E. Volan Zwiazek robotnikow przemyslu drzewnego w Polsce Poland Sweden Sv. Sägverksarbetareförbundet Sv. Träindustriearbetareförbundet Sv. Byggnadsträarbetareförbundet J. Johansen B. Jaroszewski A. Svensson O. Karlén N. Linde 43 Switzerland Schw. Bau- und HolzarbeiterVerband F. Reichmann C. Woudenberg, International Secretary. The following fraternal delegates from Woodworkers' Unions took part in the Congress: America Belgium United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Centrale Générale du Bâtiment, de l'Ameublement et des Industries diverses de Belgique Wm.L.Hutcheson G. Lakey J. Gauld De Ryckere Thomas Demeyer Deman Marchand Vandevenne The following fraternal delegates are also present: J. W. Brown, Secretary, International Federation of Trade Unions. J. J. de Roode, International Labour Office. E. Devlaemynck, Secretary, Belgian Trade Union Federation; Member of the Executive Committee of the I. U. Are moreover present: Dr. A. Abas, Interpreter. A. Kocik, Interpreter. Fr. Wendel, Interpreter. H. Blaustein, Interpreter to the Polish delegation. Galiazo, Interpreter to the Italian delegation. J. Schuil, Employee, I. U. * * * Agenda: 1. Opening of the Congress. 2. Election of Standing Orders Committee. 3. Verification of Mandates. 4. Arrangement of Congress Business. 5. Discussion of Secretary's Report extending over the period from April, 1922- April, 1925, and of the Treasurer's Report. 6. Discussion of Paper by Comrade Tarnow on" The Functions and Organisation of the International Trade Union Movement". 7. Discussion of Proposals Received. 8. Designation of Headquarters of the International Union; Election of Secretary. 9. Election of Executive Committee. 10. Designation of place where the next Congress is to be held. 11. Miscellaneous. 44 Proposals Received: A. Concerning Admission of Non- affiliated Organisations. 1. Proposal presented by the National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades' Association: " That an invitation be sent out to all non- affiliated Unions of Woodworkers, to attend our Conference in Brussels in July, 1925." 2. Proposal presented by the Swiss" Bau- und HolzarbeiterVerband": " That in view of the recent fact that the All- Russian Woodworkers' Federation has again applied for admission to the International Union of Woodworkers, the said Federation be invited and allowed to attend the next International Congress at Brussels, 1925." ( Remark: It is obvious that the above proposals cannot be considered, as such, by the Congress. The Executive Committee of our International Union decided in its meeting in London in October, 1924, not to invite the Communist Woodworkers' Unions.) 3. Proposal presented by the National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades' Association: " That in view of the changed position and the importance of International Trade Union Unity in the fight against the combined Capitalists of the World, which has become the burning question of the day in all countries and is earnestly pushed forward by the British Trade Union Congress General Council, it is of supreme importance that the whole question of one united Woodworkers' International should again be discussed, and that the National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades' Association requests that this be placed on the Agenda with a view to admitting all Unions to membership who signify their intention to abide by the ordinary Rules of our International Union of Woodworkers." 4. Proposal presented by the Swiss" Bau- und HolzarbeiterVerband": " That the All- Russian Woodworkers' Federation be admitted to this International Union on exactly the same conditions as laid down for all other Unions." 5. Proposal presented by the Swiss" Bau- und HolzarbeiterVerband": " That in case the Congress again rejects the application of the All- Russian Woodworkers' Federation for admission to this I. U., the Executive Committee be requested to send a Delegation to the next Congress of the All- Russian Woodworkers' Federation, provided such invitation has been received from the said Federation." ( Remark: We received a detailed letter from the" Norsk Möbelindustriarbeiderforbund" setting forth that the 1923 Congress of this Union explicitly declared itself in favour of admission of the All- Russian Woodworkers' Federation into the I. U.) B. Concerning the Relations between the Woodworkers' and Building Workers' Organisations. 6. Proposal presented by the Swiss" Bau- und HolzarbeiterVerband": 45 " That in all countries in which conditions are the same as those prevailing in Switzerland, viz. that Woodworkers, Carpenters, Brick- layers etc. are employed on the same job, it is necessary, in order to promote an effective consolidation and enlargement of the Unions concerned, and also to secure homogeneous and satisfactory working conditions in the building and woodworking industries, to aspire after the amalgamation of Building Workers' and Woodworkers' Organisations." 7. Proposal presented by the Swedish" Byggnadsträarbetareförbund": " In consequence of the fact that in several countries the woodworkers in the building trade have joined the bricklayers and other building workers by forming one single Union, which is affiliated with the Building Workers' International, two International Trade Secretariats are now catering for woodworkers in the building trade. It is self- evident that this position proves very inconvenient especially with regard to the fact that free transfer from the Organisation of one country to the corresponding Organisation of another country is only possible if both Unions belong to the same Trade International. If we refrain from considering the possibility of bringing about an amalgamation of both Trade Internationals concerned, it would appear that the only alternative for a solution of the problem is the conclusion of a mutual agreement between the two Internationals concerned, so as to allow of the free transfer of one Organisation to another. In view of the foregoing considerations, the Swedish Union of Woodworkers in the Building Industry requests the Congress to decide, That the Executive Committee be saddled with the responsability for drawing up a proposal to that effect, and to inaugurate negotiations with the Building Workers' International on the subject of such agreement." 46 First Day. Monday, July 20th, 1925. Morning Session. Opening of Congress at 11 a. m. Mr. Woudenberg( International Secretary): On behalf of Opening the Executive Committee of the International Union of Wood- Address by the workers I bid a hearty welcome to all delegates and fraternal International delegates attending this International Woodworkers' Congress. On opening this meeting, I call to mind the year 1891 when the First International Woodworkers' Conference likewise met at Brussels. Now that woodworkers' representatives are again assembled on this historical soil, it is fitting that we should glance both at the past and the present, and should gauge the progress made by Organised Labour and the great task that lies still before it. We are happy to state that during this period the Labour Movement has been able to obtain an increasingly strong hold both in the political and economic fields, and that moreover the idea of Internationalism has struck deep roots in the minds of men. In the Report on Activities that I have submitted to your Congress I have surveyed the general position of our I. U. and of the Organisations affiliated with it. There is no need to add many details to this general account. Both the International Union and its affiliated organisations have had to toil under extremely difficult conditions since the time we last met, at Vienna, in June, 1922. In all countries, the Labour Movement has had to concentrate might and main on taking the defensive against economic and political reaction, whilst disruption raged in the ranks of Labour and weakened its strength and its position. The world- wide economic depression with its attendant phenomena, Unemployment and Currency Depreciation, has sorely afflicted the workers' homes and the workers' organisations. Moreover, even the hopes that the clouds of economic depression would soon lift have been dashed to the ground by the disastrous epidemic of protective tariffs which has affected the Governments of the individual countries. As a result of the circumstances described above, and in spite of tremendous efforts our trade unions have sustained very heavy losses in their memberships. The decline in the national field has naturally made itself felt in the membership of our International Union of Woodworkers. We, too, have experienced a considerable loss since our Vienna Congress in Secretary. 47 1922. However, it may be stated with legitimate pride that the fighting power and the fighting spirit of our organisations remain unabated. The numerous wage movements and strikes, and especially the unremitting struggle in favour of the EightHour Day which the woodworkers have been carrying on in the vanguard of the national trade union movements furnish excellent proof of our statement. The outcome of the great struggles in Denmark and, immediately afterwards, of that in Germany stand as splendid evidence of the fact that the organisations of our fellow- craftsmen have not been forced down, but, with only very few exceptions, are able to repel the incessant attacks launched by their employers. We regret that the international scope of our International Union of Woodworkers has not yet been widened by the affiliation of non- European countries. The efforts our International Secretariat has made in that direction have up till now proved abortive, this again being chiefly a consequence of the intricate political and economic conditions. But we have good reasons to anticipate that when we next come to report to our Congress, we shall be able to boast of considerable progress. At the first International Woodworkers' Congress, which was held at Brussels in 1891, a delegation from the American woodworkers took part in its discussions. We are happy to state that the" United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America" has now re- established its international relations by sending three fraternal delegates to this Congress. We extend a hearty and fraternal welcome to this deputation and reiterate our expressions of hope that the affiliation of our American fellow- craftsmen will be definitely effected in the near future. At our Vienna Congress in 1922 we spent a good deal of time on defining our attitude towards the organisation of our Russian colleagues. Since that time conditions have not changed to the extent of warranting your Executive Committee to establish closer relations with the Russian woodworkers or with any other adherents of Moscow tactics. Our belief in the healthy development of our International Organisation is unshaken. We are confident that it will be possible for us to strengthen and develop our International Union by working indefatigably for the consolidation and strengthening of the national movements, and by tightening the strong bonds that unite us. The rank and file of the workers are full of confidence in our Movement and we note with satisfaction that the confusion and despair which temporarily led astray a considerable proportion of the workers are rapidly vanishing away. We now meet here to judge the work our International has accomplished in the past three years, to make the most of our experiences and finally to determine the road on which our International is to move in the next three years. Our Agenda is not overburdened, so that we may take our decisions after having given calm and objective consideration to them. Reiterating my expressions of confident hope that this meeting will contribute effectively to the extensive and intensive consolidation of our International Union of Woodworkers I declare this Congress open for business. 48 I have to make a few announcements. The German Coopers' Union, the Building and Woodworkers' Union of Luxemburg, and the Carvers' Union of Budapest have informed us by letter that they are not in a position to attend the Congress. The firstnamed Union is prevented by the preliminary work connected with its forthcoming Congress, the two other Unions point to their bad financial position. We regret the absence of these colleagues, yet have to recognize their decision. In addition to Comrades Hutcheson, Lakey and Gauld, who attend our Congress as representatives of the" American Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners", Comrades Brown of the International Federation of Trade Unions, and de Roode of the International Labour Office at Geneva are in our midst. The Belgian Trade Union Federation is represented by Comrade Devlaemynck. * * * Bureau. Mr. Woudenberg( International Secretary): I would sug- Election of gest that, this time, only two comrades by elected to sit in the Chair. I propose Comrades Tarnow( Germany) and Hauwaert( Belgium).( Approved unanimously.) Mr. Tarnow( Chairman): I have to thank you most cordially for the honour conferred upon me, and I should like to express hopes that our discussions will be held in a spirit of complete cordiality and mutual goodwill. Although the deliberations at an International Congress present special difficulties yet this drawback is outweighed by the fact that we are assembled here as experienced trade- unionists, a feature which may be considered as a guarantee for the success of our discussions. Before proceeding to the various items on the Agenda, I have pleasure in calling upon the fraternal delegates wishing to address the Conference. Comrade Devlaemynck is the first to speak. Welcome. Mr. Devlaemynck( Belgian Trade Union Federation): I Addresses of deem it a great honour and pleasure to greet your Congress on behalf of the Belgian Trade Union Federation. Comrade Mertens is prevented from welcoming you personally and has therefore charged me with the fulfilment of this pleasant duty. I wish to lay special stress on the fact that Brussels has always been, and, in fact, still is, a favourite scene of International Labour Congresses. The venerated pioneers of the awakening Proletariat, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Victor Considérant, to name only a few, on being exiled from their own countries, found Brussels a refuge in which they could meet. This international atmosphere has been highly beneficial to our national movement, which after forty years of unremitting struggle and steady growth looks back upon substantial achievements. Politically, the Belgian proletariat now constitutes a formidable force, so that it is able to participate in the Government now in office. Our Cooperative Movement has likewise made considerable headway. The very building in which you are assembled belongs to the Belgian workers. Our Trade Union Movement has some 600,000 members. True, we too have experienced a decline of membership, yet the losses sustained are considerably less that those in other countries. The close collaboration between the various groups, political, cooperative and trade union, of the Belgian proletariat is responsible for this strong position. INTERN TRANSPORTARBEIDORS BIBLIOTHEEK FEO AMSTERDAM However, our trade union movement also has to fight indefatigably the employers' attacks. At this very moment, some 80,000 metal workers are out, whilst the printers have proclaimed a national strike. Despite all reactionary efforts we have excellent hopes for the future, inasmuch as the disruptive elements in our trade union movement form but an insignificant minority which cannot do much harm to it. I trust that this Congress will contribute to the furtherance and strengthening of real unity between the workers of all countries, and renew my expressions of cheer and greeting on behalf of the Belgian workers. Mr. Hauwaert( Belgium): On behalf of 20,000 woodworkers organised in our Belgian Federation, I wish to extend a hearty welcome to all those present. I shall be brief for your time is valuable. There is a lot of work to be dealt with in a very few days. Moreover, our Federation takes pleasure in preparing for its guests a litte surprise. We have asked Comrade Woudenberg to let us take care of you on Wednesday afternoon, and although Comrade Woudenberg has willingly complied with our request, he added that if need be the time lost will have to be made up. I join with the orators who have already spoken to you in wishing your Congress a complete success, and that it may contribute to tighten the bonds of unity and solidarity between our unions. Mr. Brown( Secretary, International Federation of Trade Unions): On behalf of the International Federation of Trade Unions, i. e. of 16½ millions of organised workers the world over, I offer my heartiest fraternal greetings to your Congress. As a Secretary of the International Federation of Trade Unions I have to pay a tribute to the expeditious working of the International Secretariat of Woodworkers, which has always willingly supplied us with any information we wished to obtain concerning its sphere of activity. An international meeting such as yours should prove an excellent opportunity for exchanging experiences and information. This exchange of knowledge is not always appreciated in the measure it deserves, and yet is it imperatively necessary that the workers of all countries should get into close and direct touch with one another in order to combat effectively their common enemy, Capitalism, which is operating on an increasingly international scale. In this connection I might point to the importance of the British Trade Union Delegation to Soviet Russia, and to the appointment of Labour attachés, mostly chosen from prominent men in the Labour Movement. To what extent Capitalism is working on international lines is proved by the various commercial agreements concluded between former adversaries, e. g. by the recently concluded agreement between France and Germany. We moreover see that in China foreign Capitalists are united in exploiting the down- trodden Chinese population. This events concern also the material interests of the workers both of the Old and New Worlds, as the coolie slavery of the peoples of the Far East will in the long run prove disastrously unfair competition with the workers of other countries. For it is clear that the better standards are bound to fall if undermined by the cheaper labour of the Far East. 50 The paper of Comrade Tarnow concerns the methods of attaining the final goal of giving freedom to the workers the world over. It is not my duty here to dwell on the matters treated in this report, yet I must urge that one thing can smash us, i. e. dissension, internal warfare. We should strive for Unity, not for Uniformity. Let us realize that there is only scope for fruitful collaboration between the workers of all countries if we are prepared to give full consideration to national differences. The Chairman: I have to express the cordial thanks of the Congress for the fraternal spirit of the speeches made. We convey our best thanks to the Belgian Federation for the splendid work it has achieved in preparing this Congress. I have pleasure in informing the delegates here that the Belgian Federation invites us to participate in a motor car drive in the neighbourhood of Brussels on Wednesday afternoon. Judging by your faces I think I am justified in prophesying a whole- hearted response to this kind invitation. We have learnt from Comrade Devlaemynck that a considerable proportion of the Belgian workers are involved in strikes. We recognize the international importance of these struggles, for what is going on in the national field to- day, reacts in the international field to- morrow. The economic disputes between Capital and Labour grow fiercer and wider. The recently ended struggles in Denmark and Germany, and the miners' strikes impending in Great Britain and America are proof of this. Each victory carried nationally is a victory for the international working class, whilst every defeat proves a defeat of the World's Labour Army. I request Comrade Devlaemynck to convey the best wishes of this Congress to the comrades involved in the issue. Mandates. We now come to the verification of the mandates. Each Verification of organisation has received exactly as many cards as correspond with the number of delegates it has communicated to send. Those who cannot produce a mandate card will have to satisfy the Credentials Committee by submitting all necessary documents made out by their organisation. I propose that the Credentials Committee shall be formed by three delegates, viz. one from Holland, one from Scandinavia, and one from France. If no objection is raised, Comrades Loizet( France), Spaltman ( Holland), and Linde( Sweden) are elected to sit on the Committee.( Approved unanimously.) We should try to bring matters to a close by to- morrow evening, or Wednesday afternoon at the latest. If necessary, an evening meeting will be held to- morrow. We will now adjourn till 2,30 p.m. Close of First Session at 12,30 a. m. 51 Report on Activities. Afternoon Session. Opening at 2,30 p.m. The Chairman: We shall now proceed to the discussions on the printed Report on Activities. Comrade Woudenberg will inaugurate your deliberations with a few words by way of introduction. Those wishing to speak on the Report are invited to inform the Chair by writing. I ask them to be as short as possible and to take into account that each speech has to be translated into three languages. Mr. Woudenberg( International Secretary): Little remains to be added to the Report on Activities that lies before you in printed form. I think that the report will suffice for a basis for the discussions. I shall therefore refrain from saying more than just a few words respecting the table of the membership figures. The considerable decline in the membership of our International Union of Woodworkers must be chiefly ascribed to the decrease suffered by the German Woodworkers' Union. Since our Vienna Congress this Organisation has lost not less than over 100.000 members. It is generally known that the German Woodworkers' Union has had to cope with tremendous difficulties but we are glad to state that it is now on the upgrade again. The membership again exceeds 300,000. On account of organisational changes in the Belgian Federation the woodworkers in the Belgian building industry are now catered for by the Building Workers' International. In France, the movement has sustained very heavy losses since 1922, and even now it has not yet recovered from the evil effects of Communist disruptive practices. In Italy the trade union movement generally has been severely injured by the Fascist domination, so, needless to say, our Italian Woodworkers" Federation finds itself confronted with frightful dangers. Great Britain also shows a decline in that the Oversea Sections of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers became autonomous and self- supporting in 1922. Our efforts to induce these bodies to re- affiliate with our International have not yet met with success, but we hope that it will be possible for us to include them ere long. Still, there is justification for the view that conditions are improving. The Secretariat of our International Union has been enlarged in consequence of the financial recuperation of the I. U. We have been able to engage an assistant of the International Secretary who is specially charged with the work of the I. U., so that we anticipate enhanced activity in the future. We also hope that it will now be possible for us to publish the International Bulletin regulary. A first proof of the greater possibilities is the printed Report on Working Conditions which is before you. Although only one small Organisation has linked up with us in the period that has elapsed, we may state that we keep up very friendly relations with several organisations, which before long may quite possibly lead to an organisational relationship. In the period under review, our Executive Committee has acted in full accord with the instructions laid down in the Vienna Resolution. We have perhaps made mistakes, but we have worked to the best of our ability. We are prepared to 52 submit to your criticism and shall lay it to heart, because we are convinced that we are united in striving for the well- being of our International Union of Woodworkers. Mr. Reichmann( Switzerland): The Report submitted by our International Secretary furnishes evidence of assiduous work. Comrade Woudenberg and the other members of our Executive Committee are well deserving of praise for in spite of the great difficulties they have worked indefatigably for the consolidation and strengthening of the I. U. If the International Union has not made headway in the measure we have all hoped for, this should certainly not be imputed to the Executive Committee but to conditions we all know perfectly well. There is, in the first place, the financial question. Despite the increased receipts there still remains a deficit of some 2,000 guilders. We are fully aware that the decline in the memberships and the economic conditions of the last few years have been prejudicial to the finances of the I. U. But even if the recent increase of receipts continues, the financial basis of our I. U. will remain weak, for the gift made by the German Woodworkers' Union cannot be considered as ordinary receipts. Yet would it doubtless be possible to finance the I. U. in such I regret that the Agenda does not contain a proposal from the E. C. for an increase of fees, inasmuch as the affiliated organisations would certainly be willing to pay higher rates. We do hope that the Report on Working Conditions will be published regularly, and, what is more, somewhat oftener than once every two years. We rejoice to see that America is represented at our Congress for the first time now. We do hope that the affiliation of our A merican fellow- craftsmen will be definitely effected before long, and we are convinced that the attitude of their delegation here will be of decisive influence in this question. But there remains another question to be settled. The blame laid on Comrade Gossip for his conduct respecting the Russians also affects the Swiss organisation. We are however, of the opinion that the national unions should have the right to hold other views than those of the majority of the Executive Committee. Our public intervention in favour of Unity cannot be branded as a crime. It cannot even be regarded as Communist propaganda, for not more than 5 per cent of the membership of the Russian Woodworkers' Union are affiliated with the Communist Party. Not even the Central Committee of that Union is Communist. I was in Moscow myself and had a long talk with people there. I reserve the right to speak again on the subject when the item re affiliation of non- affiliated organisation is to be dealt with. Mr. Gross( Austria): The Austrian Woodworkers' Union declares itself satisfied with the work achieved by the Secretary and the Executive Committee. We therefore gladly express our approval of the Report on Activities. We agree with Comrade Reichmann that considerable funds should be available if the work of the International Union of Woodworkers is to be properly done. Before the war it was the German Woodworkers' Union which had to fill in the gaps, and now 53 it is the Dutch Furnishing Federation which often has to make considerable disbursements. In Austria conditions have seriously worsened as a result of the injudicious acts of the League of Nation's agents. Unemployment has assumed unprecedented proportions, whilst even our hopes for better times have been smashed. During these last three months, our Union has had to pay not less than 40 per cent of its total receipts for unemployment benefit. We do not receive any State assistance in respect of the payment of these benefits as the Control Committee refuse to grant any credits on behalf of these ends. Needless to add, the employers are trying to make the most of the disadvantageous position in which our Union is placed, and to go back on the social achievements wrested from them in the past few years. In our country the Communists have never been able to do much harm to our trade union movement as we have managed to keep the Communist Party down. Yet the few experiences we have nevertheless made have taught us strictly to observe the Vienna Resolution. The aims of the Communists have not changed one bit, so it is not necessary for us to alter our attitude in respect of them. Mr. V. S. Petersen( Denmark): If a delegate from Denmark takes the floor in this meeting, you naturally expect him to convey the best thanks of his comrades for the splendid financial assistance rendered by your Organisations during the great struggle in Denmark. Comrade Martin Petersen has, however, undertaken to express our thanks for this fine example of International Labour Solidarity. The Scandinavian delegations regret that the Congress documents are not available in one of the Scandinavian languages. We do not know to what circumstances this fact must be ascribed. Should it result from lack of time, then we would venture to suggest that the number of official journeys to national congresses be restricted somewhat. Generally speaking, however, we approve the Report on Activities, especially the remarks regarding the attitude taken up by our Comrade Gossip. The criticism on his attitude does not mean a retrenchment of the right of free speech but simply that Gossip has acted in contravention of the decisions passed at our Vienna Congress. The Vienna Resolution does not allow relations to be kept up with Communist, i. e. adversary organisations. Democracy demands that each and everyone in our International Union shall abide by this decision, even if disagreeing with it. My Union is fully in favour of it and holds that there should be no change in our attitude towards Moscow. We will vote in favour of Gossip only provided that he explicitly declares that he is not going to continue his present conduct. I should moreover be very glad to be informed by our friend Reichmann where he picked up this very interesting piece of news that only 5 per cent of the membership of the Russian Woodworkers' Union are Communists. I really do fear that Reichmann has allowed himself to be sadly fooled. If his information were really true it would be inexplicable why the Russians have not yet come over to us. 54 I finally beg to be informed as to why and on whose authority Edo Fimmen, International Secretary of Transport Workers, is present in this hall. The Chairman: I admit that I do not know personally why Fimmen is here, as our comrade has not presented himself to the Chair. I take it, however, that Fimmen takes advantage of his stay at Brussels to profit by the discussions that are being held here. ( Comrade Fimmen declares that he is following the discussions as an interested auditor. He regrets that his presence should have given rise to this incident, particularly as he thought that international trade union congresses public. At his own Conference of Tramway Men delegates from the International of Public Services were present but nobody had dreamt of objecting to it.) were The Chairman: Comrade Petersen asks to speak again. I think, however, that no more time should be wasted on this matter. If Comrade Fimmen had duly presented himself to the Chair, he would probably have had a cordial welcome. Mr. Tomkins( British Furnishing Trades' Association): In the June/ July issue of the international" Bulletin" and in the Secretary's Report we find official attacks on our General Secretary Gossip. I ask on what authority attacks can be made on members of the Executive Committee. Gossip has done nothing in contravention of the Vienna decision, for our Furnishing Trades Association is not affiliated to the International Propaganda Committee nor to any other Communist organisation. There is not a single provision which forbids the affiliated organisations to attend Congresses of nonaffiliated sister- organisations or to make enquiries in Russia. Comrade Gossip has not been to any conference either on his own account or as a member of the Executive of the Woodworkers' International; he has attended conferences only on instructions from the Executive of our Furnishing Trades" Association. Our Association is working in favour of Unity. Is this a crime? It has instructed its General Secretary to accept all invitations of national sister- organisations. If this is treachery, we shall continue this treachery until Unity is achieved. Mr. M. Petersen( Denmark): On behalf of the Danish Woodworkers' Secretariat I have to convey to this Congress our heartiest and sincerest thanks for the marvellous assistance your Organisations rendered us during the gigantic dispute in Denmark. I request the delegates here to convey our best thanks also to their respective organisations. An exact statement of the moneys received has not yet been published, but I can inform you that the total sum received by the Danish Trade Union Federation amounts to some 4½ million Danish krones. From this sum the Danish woodworkers have received about half a million krones. Some 2 million krones were collected among the Danish comrades still at work. The struggle we had to carry on was essentially defensive. The financial and moral aid of our foreign comrades proved a substantial factor in the successful outcome of our fight. Their consciousness of the fact that their fight was being eagerly followed by the workers of all countries contributed to give the Danish workers strength to hold on. The 55 Report on Activities. assistance rendered stands as splendid evidence of the fact that Labour's Solidarity does not stop at the national boundaries. Mr. Hauwaert( Belgium): The Belgian delegation has pleasure in stating that it fully approves the Report presented by the International Secretary. It even wishes to pay a tribute to the work achieved by the International Secretary and the Executive Committee. It has been said here that the membership of the International Union might have been increased by admitting certain organisations still outside the I. U. Here in Belgium we hold, however, that such admissions would not strengthen, but would rather weaken the International Union. There is one little thing on which the Belgian delegation would like to receive some further information. In the Financial Report an amount of 6,000 guilders is earmarked for indemnifying the Dutch Union. On the other hand, special salaries are earmarked for the International Secretary and the Treasurer. Still, it has not been possible to grant financial aid in several instances owing to lack of funds. We must, however, readily admit that in other instances splendid work of assistance has been achieved. I may mention the relief action in favour of Germany in 1923, and quite recently that in favour of Denmark. The Belgian comrades have noted these movements with great satisfaction for they hold that in fighting present- day Capitalism the Trade Union Movement cannot content itself with exchanging expressions of mere feelings, however sincere these may be. On Sunday next the Belgian Trade Union Congress will be opened in this city. One of the items that will be brought up for consideration is the creation of a National Strike Fund. I should like to suggest that the Executive Committee of our Woodworkers' International take up the examination of the question of forming an International Strike Fund. I do not wish to bring the matter up for consideration at this Congress, or to move a resolution on the question, but just ask the E. C., to take it into consideration. The Chairman: I wish to explain without further delay why the Scandinavian Congress documents are not submitted to you. The International Secretariat cannot be made responsible for the delay. In view of special circumstances the translations had to be made at Copenhagen and owing to the great distance and the lack of direct touch a delay has been caused in the delivery of the documents. We will now adjourn until to- morrow morning 9 a. m. Close of Second Session at 6 a. m. Second day. Tuesday, July 21st, 1925. Morning Session. Opening at 9 a. m. Mr. Jahn( German Woodworkers' Union): The German delegation is in agreement with the Secretary's Report. Our ( Continuation) thanks is due to the Secretary for the way he has worked to maintain our connections, in spite of the difficult conditions. Our delegation is also of the opinion that more money should be placed at the disposal of the International. It is absolutely 56 imperative for the maintenance of international relations that the" Bulletin" shall be published monthly. It is with great regret that we have seen the way in which Comrade Gossip, member of the Executive Committee of the International Union, has acted in the matter of the Russian question. His procedure is a violation of the spirit and the letter of the Vienna decision. It was decided at the Vienna congress by an overwhelming majority, not to admit to membership of the I. U. any unions which maintained connections with the International Propaganda Committee of Revolutionary Woodworkers. It is merely quibbling to say that the Russians would have been prepared to recognise the Rules of our International. If they actually would have been willing to do so, they would also have had to recognise the decisions of our Congress. The Executive Committee was bound by the Vienna decision. But in spite of that Comrade Gossip has been maintaining close relations with adherents of the Red International of Labour Unions, although we know that it is the express purpose of that organisation, laid down in its Rules, to destroy the I. F. T. U. as it now exists, and to subordinate what was left of it to the Communist International. By the attitude he has taken up, Comrade Gossip has assisted the Communists in their work of splitting up, and destroying the discipline in our unions, and has thus done a great disservice to the I. U. One only needs to glance at the Communist press, to see how Gossip is being played with and used by the Communists against our movement. The German delegation trusts that this Congress will appoint an Executive Committee which will maintain in a body the decisions of the Congress, as the highest authority of our International organisation. We do not believe that the whole British delegation approves of Gossip's attitude, and the declarations of Tomkins. It is also with great regret that the German trade unions have seen how the British trade unions have maintained their connections with the Red International of Labour Unions, in spite of their membership of the International Federation of Trade Unions. In consequence hereof the R. I. L. U. is raised to a status which goes beyond its real significance. Comrade Reichmann has also appointed himself the champion of the Communist cause. We have been very surprised at the appeal which his union has sent out with regard to the invitation and admission of unaffiliated organisations. The point of view adepted by the International Secretary in his counter- circular that the matter would have to be dealt with at the Congress, has the full approval of the German delegation. We cannot allow that affiliated organisations shall attempt to take upon themselves or to anticipate upon the work allocated to the Executive Committee. None of us opposes the principle of freedom of opinion, but we cannot tolerate an unconstitutional procedure which runs contrary to trade union discipline and democracy. If one has not the majority, one should submit to the majority. If these fundamental principles of democracy are not recognised in an organisation, all organisational life is impossible. Reichmann's declaration, that only 5 per cent of the members of the Russian Woodworkers' Union are communists, 57 is simply absurd. We all know, and the Communist press confirms it every day, that the Russian trade union movement keeps in the very closest touch with the Communist Party. We also know that attempts are being made to carry through the national Russian policy in all other countries. It is well known that the German Communist Party has repeatedly instructed its adherents in the trade union movement, to further the political objects of the German Communist Party through the medium of the trade unions. In this way the Communists are attempting to distort the work of the trade unions to Communist politics, the division of the Labour movement into two sections, political and trade union, not being recognised by the Communists. The Vienna decision shows very clear the way which the Russians must go if they wish to be admitted to membership of the I. U. We make no distinctions for any Union. All have the same rights, and all likewise have the same obligations. We make recognition of our Rules and decisions the condition of admittance. The door of the I. U. stands wide open for all whose intentions are honourable. But that means that the work of wanton destruction must be abandoned; in other words, connections with the hostile Red International of Labour Unions must be cut off once and for all. * * * Mr. Volan( Norwegian Building Workers' Union): We all of us regret the split within the ranks of the Labour movement. We should guard ourselves, however, from laying all the blame on other people's shoulders. Always when there is a quarrel, both parties are to blame. The trade unions are not political institutions, and should include all the workers. It is understood, however, that the trade unions must be guided by the principles recognised by the majority of the members. In Russia, the Communists have the political power, and therefore the trade unions are also governed in accordance with Communist principles. It is possible, however, that, as Reichmann has said, only 5 per cent of the members actually belong to the Russian Communist Party, for it is well- known that very many personal sacrifices are bound up with membership of this party, and as a result the enthusiasm for membership is considerably cooled down. If the Vienna decision must really be interpreted so that the affiliated unions shall not be allowed to come into friendly contact with the unions affiliated to the R. I. L. U., then unity is unattainable for ever, and so the Vienna decision is a mistake. We Norwegians welcome the policy of the British. The Unions of Sawyers and Paperworkers, which Socialist leadership have nevertheless expressed themselves in are under favour of the British efforts to achieve unity. Woudenberg's standpoint is quite untenable, for according to his way we should never be in a position to bring about a real International. The demand for recognition of the decisions means that the Communists must renounce their principles and this cannot be expected from the Russians. I reserve to myself the right to refer to this matter again, when the Norwegian proposal with regard to this question comes up for discussion. 58 Finally, I want to protest against the way in which Gossip has been attacked, although he has done nothing he had not the right to do. Mr. Gossip( British Furnishing Trades' Association): I find myself here in a peculiar position. The International Secretary and also other colleagues have attacked me most vehemently and I intend to defend myself against those attacks. First of all, I should like to say a few words regarding Woudenberg's observations on Guild Socialism in Great Britain. I wish to emphasize that we never expected the Guild System to solve our Industrial Problem. But we regard it as valuable for the training of managerial and technical forces in the working class, so that they may some time be able to take over the reins of Industry. There are still two Guilds working in our branch of industry: a Piano Guild in London, having a weekly outpout of two or three pianos, and a Furniture Guild, also in London, which, however, does not employ more than two or three men. All these workers are Unionists and are boycotted by the Capitalists. Before I come on to speak of the criticisms levelled at myself, I should like to ask you to excuse me for inaccurate things I may say in the excitement of the moment, for I stand here as a criminal before his judges. I would ask you please to listen attentively and patiently. I have three times been sentenced by the judges in London; but that was because I acted against the interests of the Capitalists. But here the situation is different; here I am accused for having as it is asserted- been detrimental to the interests of the workers. But not a single member of the Executive Committee other than Woudenberg has ever uttered a word of condemnation against me. Woudenberg is therefore personally responsible for the abusive attack on me which appeared in the" Bulletin". Am I to ask Woudenberg's permission, before I can go to Paris or Moscow? I do not intend to do so for a minute. I have acted in accordance with instructions given me by my Executive Committee, that is to say in accordance with the wishes of the membership of my Union; and I am glad to have had the opportunity to get my information at first hand, on the spot. I protest therefore against the accusation that I have been disloyal to the I. U. Every man who has spoken so far has emphasized that he is out for Unity. Well, I do not want only unity, but I do work for the sake of bringing unity about. Is that a crime? We are not in organisational connection with any one of the bodies which are hostile to the I. F. T. U. Nor am I alone in my efforts. I can show numerous letters from the various branches of my Union which all entirely approve of my activities in the cause of unity. I made my journey to Moscow quite publicly. I wrote to Devlaemynck and Petersen, asking them to accompany me, and I called on Comrade Tarnow personally. On my return I had a long talk with Tarnow about my experiences; I kept nothing back. The article in the" Bulletin" said:-" Gossip has not even taken care to avoid declarations which might be interpreted to mean that we were the evildoers and traitors to the work59 ing class." But Woudenberg makes no mention of the fact that I sent a letter to the Russians, pointing out that, if we were to achieve unity, it was essential that there should be no more of these mutual recriminations and personal abuse. But the" Bulletin" too is full of abusive attacks on the Russian comrades. These attacks take up a great deal of valuable space in the" Bulletin"-space which might be much better utilised for information purposes. Unity is too great an object to allow Woudenberg to stand in its way. With reference to the French Union, Woudenberg said that the organisation has never taken any interest in the I. U. The Secretary of the Union in question has however assured me that he sends Woudenberg a copy of his organ regularly. Moreover the Union has again asked to be admitted to the International, but has been refused. Woudenberg has also said that I do not properly understand International affairs, and that I am used as a tool by the Russians. I should like to say that I have been working in the trade union movement as a convinced Socialist for 40 years now, and have done as much as anybody else, without ever allowing myself to be used as a tool. My Union has been a member of the International Union of Woodworkers ever since it was founded, and I myself was present at Amsterdam when the International was definitely established in 1904. I regret very deeply that Comrade Jahn, as spokesman for the German delegation here, should have criticised my work so vehemently. He must surely have forgotten that on the outbreak of war in 1914 it was we who declared that it was not the Germans who were our enemies, that our only enemy was International Capitalism. It is no easy thingbelieve me- to make such a declaration in war time. In 1915 that dangerous statement was repeated by our Union as a body; and in the whole of Great Britain we stood alone. My own son was a conscientious objector, and had to go to prison for his conviction. And so I very much regret that the German comrades should be attacking me now. When we say we want Unity, we mean it. In the International that we are working for there will be room for different opinions. The attacks made by Woudenberg and others against the Russians are just the same as we can read any day in the Capitalist Press. The Russians have declared their willingness to affiliate to the I. U. on the basis of our Rules. The International Propaganda Committee will be dissolved as soon as the Russians are admitted to membership. My Executive Committee cannot allow Comrade Woudenberg to be dictator in these matters. We expect a clear and distinct statement from him, as to which hostile body we are in his opinion, connected. The I. F. T. U. itself is now attempting to bring about relations with the Russians. The decision made by its Vienna congress in 1924 contains the following clause:" The Conference recommends the Bureau to continue consultations, in so far as this is compatible with the dignity of the International Federation of Trade Unions, with the object of 60 securing the inclusion of Russia in the international trade union movement through the necessary acceptance of the Federation Rules and conditions." We have therefore done nothing but what the I. F. T.U. itself has done. Moreover, we have done nothing that could have in any way prejudiced the I. U. of Woodworkers. We most emphatically refuse to retract one step. Petersen has said that Gossip may remain in the Executive Committee if he promises to be a good boy. I should like to ask why you shook hands when we met. You did it because you know that Gossip does what his conscience dictates. I do not know whether you are thinking of turning me or my Union out of the I. U. I hope that that is not your intention, because we are ready to work together with you. If, however, you want to dictate to us what we have to do and what we have to leave then we had better withdraw from the I. U. Mr. Barron( Amalg. Society of Woodworkers of Great Britain): I must protest that these personal matters should take up two days of our Conference. The discussions which have taken place show a lack of any sense of proportion and humour. The whole affair is simply a question of interpretation, and I should almost like to say- of language. For the differences of opinion between Gossip and Woudenberg would most surely very soon disappear it they both talked the good old Scottish tongue. It is extremely deplorable that so much time and feeling should have gone into this question, for it is not in keeping with the significance of this meeting. The workers in my Union would very much resent this position. We must keep in mind that our business is to deal first and foremost with purely trade union questions. From reading the" Bulletin", one might almost think that the I. U.'s aims were political. For goodness' sake let us get away from all this phraseology. The whole unity movement is swayed by phrases. One country is infected by the other, and we are all so proud of our beautiful phrases that we must always roll them on our tongues. But unity means that we shall be one in spirit and organisation. Unity can never be a mere machinery. Although there must always be a certain freedom of thought, the matter is not so simple that we can just say:" Come in; it's all the same to us." Fundamental and persistent differences of opinion between the leaders of a union may result in crippling the whole work of the organisation. Gossip would have done far better to withdraw from the Executive Committee. If he persists in his present attitude, the position is going to be very unpleasant for him. Woudenberg's somewhat impetuous article does not mean that he regards Gossip as a criminal, but simply that, in his opinion Gossip ought not to have gone to Moscow and Paris, because it is the duty of all the members of the Executive Committee to keep to the Rules and decisions of the International Union. Nor is Gossip quite correct in saying that he went to Russia. and France solely as the General Secretary of the" National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades' Association", for he allowed himself to be announced as member of the I. U. Executive Committee. 61 Report on Activities ( Continuation) But w we are not met here to solve political questions, but to see what we can do towards improving our economic situation. With regard to Comrade Gossip's position on the Executive Committee. I should like to point out that Gossip is not a suitable man for this post. My Union is five times as large as Gossip's union, and is also affiliated to the Labour Party and the Trades Union Congress. My members take a forward view in National and International affairs. not the only one that has international aspirations. But there Gossip's union is is a limit to Internationalism. Three years ago our Society had to de- internationalize itself by conceding autonomy to what had previously been its Overseas Sections in Canada, U.S. A., South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, so that national unity might be made possible in these countries. The same cannot be said however for the preachers of unity. These same people who preach unity on an international scale, are attempting to bring about a split in the British Trade union movement. Yet surely unity should begin at home. We are willing to admit the Russians on the same conditions as anybody else; but they will have to give us more than a mere promise. But the majority of the Executive Committee really take the matter much too seriously. The Russians still have a lot to learn from us, and they are really nothing special. Our own experiences go to prove that 5 per cent. at the most of the British Communists have any idea of what Communism really is. We should not overrate the Communists. The mistake that my British comrades make is that they want to push Communism into the foreground as something extraordinarily important. Close of Third Session at 1 p. m. Afternoon session. Opening at 2.30 p. m. The Chairman: I propose that speeches be limited to 5 minutes, so that we can get through the list of speakers within a reasonable time.( Adopted.) Mr. Horovitz( Hungary): Conditions in Hungary are every bit as bad a they are in Austria. About 50 per cent of the members of our Union are unemployed. A large proportion of the members have had to emigrate because of unemployment with the result of course that our membership has dropped down considerably. We have had some very sad experiences during the four months the Bolshevists were in power in our country. The Bolshevist experiment has ruined our Labour movement, not only by its own activities, but also through the White Terror that has sprung up as a reaction from it. In the Balkans too the Communists have wrecked the trade union movement. On the strength of these experiences, we want to emphasize the necessity of the strict observance of the Vienna decision and the Amsterdam tactics. Unity is necessary, but it must be on the basis of the Amsterdam platform. We must form an Executive Committee, the members of which will work together unitedly and carry out faithfully the Congress decisions. Comrade Gossip has made a great 62 mistake. If he is not prepared to submit to majority rule, then he cannot be a member of the Executive Committee. We should like to express our complete confidence in Comrade Woudenberg. Mr. Oberti( Italy): As a representative of the Italian Union of Woodworkers I convey to you the cordial greetings of my Union. Before giving you particulars about the difficult position in which we find ourselves in Italy, I should like to place on record that in my opinion the spirit prevailing at this Congress is much better than at the 1922 Congress. The Secretary's Report shows that progress has been made in the movement for unity. Whereas at Vienna in 1922 only the Italian delegation was in favour of unity, we now have the Swiss, British and Norwegian organisations advocating unity. Moreover there are various proposals in favour of unity on the agenda. We must look at this question of unity from the purely proletarian standpoint. One of our colleagues here has said that we must extend and organise the financial relief to be given to organisations engaged in conflict. We are in agreement with that, but we also think that, if we are to bring the fight against the employers to a successful issue, it is absolutely imperative to bring about an international organisation af all woodworkers. In the first place the Russians have a right to be admitted to our I. U., for they have made a great experiment against Reaction and Capitalism. We therefore expect that this Congress will adopt the proposal of the Swiss union. Our own union has during this last few years been passing through a very difficult time. The Fascist reaction, with its criminal acts, has made it almost impossible for our organisation to function; but in spite of all, it has not been able to force us to our knees. The position is improving again, and during the course of this year we have been able to win back again various achievements we had lost. In several towns our union has been able to conclude collective agreements again. The Terror which has recently started again has not been able to throw us back. With regard to the I. U., we have not always been able to fulfil our obligations, but we hope in the immediate future to do our duty fully. Mr. Chiron( France): The French delegation is of the same opinion as Barron: that too much time is spent on the Unity question. We are in entire agreement with the work done by Comrade Woudenberg and the Executive Committee. We have only to complain about a minor detail, and that is the late appearance of Tarnow's report. Various of the delegates confuse trade union work with Socialism and Communism. In France the trade unions confine their interests exclusively to economic matters, and do not mix up in any sort of political strife. It would be better to talk of Bolshevism, for what is called a communist to- day has nothing to do with Communism. As for the Communists' efforts for unity, their value can be seen from the French Communist" unitarian" woodworkers' union; after 3 days' discussions at its last Congress it split as a result from dissensions on policy, and there are now two wings, composed of 63 Communists and genuine trade unionists respectively, who are at close grips. Mr. Linde( Swedish Federation of Woodworkers in the building Trades): As I do not wish to take up your time, I merely want to say that I fully endorse Comrade Jahn's remarks. The truth of his words is clear from the fact that he has not been contradicted by anybody. Mr. Svensson( Swedish Sawyers' Union): Unlike V. S. Petersen, who thinks that the International Secretary should restrict somewhat his official journeys, I am of the opinion that such journeys are absolutely necessary. If there are not sufficient means for the purpose, then we should get more money. I maintain that the sending of a delegation to Moscow cannot be regarded as a violation of the interests of the I. U. I too have been to Moscow. It should be left open to the affiliated unions to send such delegations if they wish. I also think that the Secretariat should do more in the way of international relief actions. For the rest I am in agreement with Comrade Woudenberg's activities and I thank him for the work which he has done. Mr. Blairvacq( Belgium): Comrade Barron here has expressed the opinion that less time should be spent in discussing the unity question. The Belgian delegation, however, considers that the question must be cleared up. The Belgian delegation has great sympathy for Comrade Gossip as a man, but it cannot follow him along the way he has taken. It has been said that Gossip was authorised by his union to make his journey to Russia; but that does not alter the fact that the Russian press announced him as member of the Executive Committee of the I. U. The Vienna resolution emphasizes that no relations may be maintained with any organisation affiliated to the R. I. L. U. Gossip has therefore violated the Congress decisions. There can be no unity with the Communists yet, for they still go on working for the destruction of our movement. Chairman: We have now come to an end of the list of speakers. I call upon Comrade Woudenberg to reply. Winding- up Mr. Woudenberg( International Secretary): Reichmann, of Discussion and various other delegates, have said that the financial poon the Report on Activities. sition of the I. U. should be strengthened. I am in entire agreement with that opinion, although I should like to emphasize that generally speaking, the position has got no worse. I thank Reichmann for his appreciation with regard to our publication on working conditions; I may inform him that I intend to make these reports regularly. Hauwaert's proposal for the formation of an international strike fund at any rate calls for a thorough investigation. As for Comrade Jahn, I can assure him that as a result of arrangements now made in the office, the" Bulletin" will be published regularly. The other remarks which have been made here all relate to the question of the united front. In reply to the opinion expressed by Comrade Gossip that the remarks which have appeared in the Report on Activities and in the" Bulletin" have been exclusively personal remarks and attacks on the part of the International Secretary, I must most emphatically deny this. Gossip's assertion that no voice has ever been raised in the Executive committee in disapproval of his actions, is also 64 incorrect. The fact is that the Executive Committee has repeatedly discussed Gossip's activities, and the other members of the Committee have supported my own expressions of opinion. Gossip's proposals in regard to the Russian question have regularly been defeated by 4 votes to 1. A meeting was held last Sunday; it did not discuss the matter, however, as it was though better to discuss the whole affair publicly in the Congress. And the Congress has shown itself unequivocally opposed to Gossip's actions. Volan, Tomkins, Reichmann and Gossip have asked, if it was criminal to make a stand for unity. We should certainly not have spent two days at Vienna discussing the matter, if it had been simply a question of desirability. The matter is not quite so inoffensive. We all stand for unity, but the communists have other intentions, which are quite opposed to that ideal. The Communists did not in any respect change their attitude when they substituted their battle- cry of the" United Front" for their former watchword, Cell- formation. The object of both policies alike is simply the destruction of our movement for purposes alien to the trade union movement. Are we to change our attitude because Moscow has given out other instructions to deceive us? Gossip has complained because I said that he was a tool in the hands of Moscow. I believe that Gossip is entirely honourable in his intentions, and that he is honestly striving for a true unity among the workers. But only one of the two alternatives can be right: either he does not properly understand the true intentions of the Communists and is therefore a tool in their hands or he is au fait with their intentions, and in that case he must be reckoned as one of the" United Front" humbugs. Since the Vienna congress nothing has happened to justify a change in the policy of the Executive Committee. It is true, the Communists have changed their tactics, but their objects nevertheless remain exactly the same. The Rules of the Red International of Labour Unions, to which the Russian and the dissident woodworkers' unions belong, are still fully in force, i. e. the affiliated unions still pledge themselves to fight relentlessly our movement. The mentality of the Communists may be gauged from a letter published in the" International Woodworkers' Bulletin" of July 1924. The following sentence occours in that letter:- " Through our ranks too went the cry for an organisational separation from Amsterdam, our class enemies, for their mean betrayal, and their shameless despotism." And what has Gossip to say to the following observation which appeared in the August/ November number of 1924 of the same" Bulletin"? " Open and cynical betrayal is the distinctive mark of International Socialism, Berger, Noske, Macdonald and Kautsky are united in betraying the proletariat to the bourgeoisie." Does not this shameless slander of Ramsay Macdonald give Gossip food for thought? I do not wish to take up too much of your time with this vain question, but may I quote you a short passage just to show you how the Communists openly declare that they 65 do not want" marriage with the reformists" and unity. At the opening of the 3rd Congress of the Red International of Labour Unions in Moscow on July 8th, 1924, Bucharine, in the name of the V. Congress of the Communist International, said: " It is quite understandable that the trade union question should have been discussed at the recent congress of the Communist International, from the standpoint of conquering the masses, from the standpoint of the destruction of the influence of the Socialist and yellow elements, and the wreckage of the mighty power which this" yellow" trade union bureaucracy commands. In raging hatred of the" yellow" trade union leaders, we must bring virility, endurance and political calculation in order to overthrow the present" yellow" leaders and to conquer the trade unions, without shrinking from anything." The" Prawda" of 24th June 1924 published the following declaration of Sinoviev, President of the Communist International: " It has been shown that many" left" comrades are very strongly averse form the united front tactics. By way of consoling them, I can only say: For us, the tactics of the United Front and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat are simply a means to mobilise and organise the masses of the workers. This means does not please you? Very well, I will propose a compromise. As soon as you have won over the great majority of wage- earners in your country, we will release you immediately from the tactics of the united front. If you will have the majority of the proletariat on our side, you can afford to make yourselves somewhat less squeamish about these tactics. But in the most important countries, the position is still that the majority is not on our side. We must do all we can to approach the masses as they are, to win them to our side and put them on the Bolshevist track, and then we can also alter our tactics." From these compromising statements which lay bare the Communist mentality, and in which the words" tactics", " conquest" and" destruction" predominate- it is quite evident that the Communists would throw" unity" quite cheerfully overboard, once they got the majority. The resolution passed by the Communist International at its congress in June, 1924, and published in the" Prawda" on July 23rd, 1924, shows similar intentions: " The cry for the" united front" is simply a method of propaganda, a method of mobilising the masses for revolution, as a temporary expedient. All attempts to explain these tactics as political coalition with the counter- revolutionary Socialists are made in a spirit of opportunism, which is rejected by the. Communist International." " The tactics of the" united front" has been and still is a revolutionary- strategic manoeuvre which the Communist vanguard, finding itself hemmed in by enemies on all sides, has to make in its fight against the treacherous leaders of the counterrevolutionary Socialists; the united front does not in the least mean a coalition with these leaders." I think these quotations are enough to show that, if Gossip is an honourable man, he can only be a tool of the Communists. His great mistake when going to Paris and Moscow was in 66 allowing himself to be announced as member of the Executive Committee. How true this is, can be seen from an article in the paper of the French" unitarian" woodworkers' union: " We lay stress on the importance of the fact that Gossip, who is also member of the Executive Committee of the Amsterdam Woodworkers' International, will attend the meeting." It was a mistake too for Gossip to represent us as reactionaries because we refuse to work for unity according to his methods. I need only refer to a letter of Gossip to the French" Unitarian" Trade Union Federation, which appeared in the" Rote Fahne", in which letter he said that he hoped that they( i. e. the Unitarians) would leave no stone unturned to bring about Unity. He added that any worker who today is not prepared to make every effort to realise trade union unity is guilty of conduct which comes very near to a betrayal of the international working class. By such expressions, Gossip has created an opposition within our Executive Committee, which has done very great damage to the prestige of our International Union. Moreover, he is still a member of the Executive of the British section of the Workers' International Relief, though it has been most clearly proved that the W. I. R. is merely another instrument for furthering Communist political objects. * * * In spite of all this, there are still people in our International who think we ought to admit the Russians. But it seems advisable to me just to examine the experiences of those of the International Trade Secretariats which have not been quite so emphatic in declining negotiations with the Russians, or have even admitted them. The International Transportworkers' Federation, which has brought most persistence to bear in this matter, ever since the time when it first started negotiations with the Russians, has repeatedly had to complain against the way in which the Communist press slanders the I. T. F. Everyone will remember the Berlin incident when, contrary to the decision taken, the resolutions of the Berlin conference of the Transport Workers were published by the Communists. Only recently also the I. T. F. has had to make the following statement in its Press Report: " The journal of the French Communist railwaymen, of 1st April, contains an article taken from the" Bulletin" of the Red Transport Workers' International dealing with conditions in Czechoslovakia. This article strongly attacks the nationalist union" Jednota" which is described as belonging to the I. T. F. and holds the I. T. F. responsible for the statements made by this nationalist organisation, whereas in fact this union is being strongly attacked by unions affiliated to the I. T. F. and has repeatedly been the subject of our criticisms. We could quote many similar examples of misrepresentation." * * * The Leather- workers' International has also had some very painful experiences. In the Federation's Reports of April 1924 the International Secretary found himself obliged to reveal 67 falsification of date on the part of the Russians, and to write the following commentary: " For the rest, there is no point in going into this business again now that it is all over. One thing stands out clear from the extensive collection of documents and the wordy effusions sent to the Secretariat by Jusefovitch: If any negotiations take place, the Russians will get the best of it. For the comrades in Western Europe place too much value on frank and honest dealing, whereas the Russians are past- masters in the art of calumny and misrepresentation. They might have been to school with the Jesuits, for certainly with them the end justifies the means." And he adds: " One is tempted to put a big question- mark after all the news that emanates from Russia." I hear the call, but I lack faith." The Food and Drink Workers' International has even admitted the Russians. But for some time now the Executive has been forced to consider whether they can go on cooperating with the Russians. * * The Swiss Building and Woodworkers' Union, and Reichmann, the Secretary of that Union, has been propagating the " United Front". He has even brought in a proposal in favour of the admission of the Russians. In a leading article in the official organ of the union, however, Comrade Reichmann has written the following: " But the Russians also will have to realize that trade union organisation and the Communist International are two entirely different matters. If these questions are not kept distinct from one another, the Russians will remain alone, and the British will march on with the other countries." Let us first see what Losowsky, the great apostle of unity, has to say on this matter. In a speech made on 8th July, 1924, at the 3rd congress of the R. I. L. U. this gentleman said: " The strength of the revolutionary trade union movement consists in the fact that it is permeated through and through with the Communist spirit; it consists in the fact that the Red International of Labour Unions is closely welded up with the Communist International. It is strong because the Communist front, the Communist programme, their tactics and methods are ours." What has Reichmann to say to that categorical statement from the highest war- chief in the Moscow army? Circumstances are at present such that the Swiss union has decisively- and quite rightly- refused Communist action at home; but is supporting it at the same time with all its might internationally, and is indeed accusing us of being reactionary, because we are combating it. While therefore the Swiss are taking up the same attitude in their own country as we in the International, they abuse us in the regular " radical" and" revolutionary" fashion as" reformists" and " social patriots", and in so doing are playing into the hands of the Communists. The Swiss warn their members against Herzog and Vogt, the Communist leaders in Switzerland. We, induced by 68 exactly the same fully justified considerations, warn our members against Losowsky and Sinoviev, Bucharine and Tomsky, and finally also against Gossip and Reichmann. * * * I think these remarks are sufficient to throw light upon the intentions of the Communists. Anybody who cannot see now must be blind:" They have eyes but they see not". The Russians can come to us if they are prepared to march along with us as honourable friends and comrades. So long as they continue to come to us with the white flag of peace and good- will, while all the time they are creeping behind us to stab us in the back,-so long shall they, I hope and trust, find the door locked on them. The Chairman: I will now call upon Comrade Walop, Financial, Treasurer of the I. U., to make a few remarks on the printed Report. financial report which is before us. Mr. Walop( Treasurer): There seems to be a slight misunderstanding with regard to the item Allowances. I should therefore like to point out that the 1919 Congress decided to revert to its pre- war practice, and to grant a personal allowance of 400 and 100 goldmarks to the Secretary and the Treasurer respectively. The Dutch union also received an allowance of 2,000 guilders per year for various administrative expenses. As the I. U. has now appointed its own clerk, however, these allowances will of course no longer be made. I should like finally to point out that the deficit is much smaller than the last balance showed. Committee. Mr. Spaltman( Rapporteur): In the name of the Credentials Report of the Committee, I have to inform you that in all 42 delegates of Credentials affiliated unions are present. These delegates represent 21 organisations in all from 14 countries. Countries not represented without previous notification, are: Finland, Yugoslavia( Agram) and Bulgaria. Not represented, with notification, are: German Coopers' Union, Budapest Carvers' Union, Yugoslavia( Laibach) and Luxemburg. The following fraternal delegates are also present: International Federation of Trade Unions: J. W. Brown; International Labour Office: J. J. de Roode; American Woodworkers' Brotherhood: Hutcheson, Lakey and Gauld. A full list of those present will be submitted to the delegates to- morrow morning. The Chairman: We shall now proceed to take the vote. Vote on Report The first thing is to vote on the general section of the Report on Activities. on Activities. Then we shall vote on the second part regarding our attitude towards the Communists and at the same time it will be decided whether the Vienna Resolution is to be kept in force or not. The General Section of the Report was carried with only one dissident( Italy). Mr. Tomkins( British Furnishing Trades' Association): In the name of my Union's delegation, I must protest against the interpretation given by the Chairman to the second part of the voting. There is no question of voting on the Vienna decision here. The Chairman: There is obviously a misunderstanding here. No vote will be taken on the Vienna resolution, but on 69 Expression of sympathy with strikers in all countries. its application, and this is linked up with the report regarding the Executive Committee. We will now vote on the second part. The Second Section of the Report was carried by 39 votes to 15. Six delegates( Great Britain) abstained from voting. Mr. Barron( Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers): In the name of my delegation I have to inform you that we have abstained from voting because we could not agree to the way in which the voting has been arranged. In our opinion the voting should have taken place on the report as a whole. The Chairman: The result of the voting on both sections shows that the Congress gives its support to Comrade Woudenberg. In our movement we are used to fulfil our task to the best of our ability, but I believe I am speaking in the name of the Congress when I pass our best thanks to Comrade Woudenberg for the work done by him on behalf of our I. U. The Congress has expressed itself by a great majority against Gossip's attitude. We all agree that Gossip is an honourable man, and moreover a good trade unionist. The result of the voting does not in any way stain his personal character; it only indicates that his policy is not approved by the Congress. We can now deal with various other proposals. The British proposal seeks to invalidate the Vienna resolution. I consider that the Congress has already expressed itself with regard to this proposal, by voting for the maintenance of the Vienna decision in the voting on the second section of the Report on Activities. I therefore propose to settle this proposal without a vote. Mr. Tomkins( British Furnishing Trades' Association): I propose that a vote shall be taken. Mr. Volan( Norwegian Building Workers' Union): I second Tomkins' proposal. Mr. Barron( Amalg. Woodworkers' Society of Great Britain): We had intended to move an amendment, in which the Executive Committee is instructed to study the question for the next Congress and to take a decision in each individual case. ( After the Chairman had announced Barron's proposal, several delegates asked to speak. It then became clear that there was some uncertainty as to the significance of this proposal. After Comrade Barron had explained that an exact written proposal would be submitted in the morning, the meeting was adjourned until 8.30 a. m. the following day.) Close of Afternoon meeting at 7.30 p. m. Third Day. Wednesday, July 22nd, 1925. Opening at 8.30 a. m. The Chairman: The delegation from the British Furnishing Trades' Association wishes to formulate a message of sympathy with comrades on strike in all countries. The Bureau of the Congress proposes to agree to the following message: " This International Woodworkers' Congress, meeting at Brussels on July 20th- 22nd, 1925, inclusive, noting the great Labour conflicts that have broken out or threaten to break out in various countries, expresses its warmest sympathy with 70 all comrades involved in these fierce struggles, and records its sincere desire for a complete success." The Proposal was carried unanimously. The Chairman: The delegation of the British Society of Woodworkers has now submitted the exact text of a resolution, which reads as follows: " This International Woodworkers' Congress, meeting at Brussels on July 20th- 22nd, 1925, inclusive, Recommends the Executive Committee to continue efforts in order to secure the inclusion of all organisations being still out of the ranks of the International Union of Woodworkers and which are prepared to submit themselves to the Rules and conditions laid down for admission, without, however, forsaking the principles on which our own movement is founded." The Resolution was carried, with 5 dissentients. The Chairman: That settles the proposals of the British Furnishing Trades' Association and the Swiss Building and Woodworkers' Union. We now have to consider the proposal of the Swiss Building and Woodworkers' Union that a delegation should be sent to Russia. The Executive Committee is willing to accept this proposal, provided that the Executive Committee is allowed to decide the right moment to send such a delegation. I now call upon Reichmann to speak in support of his proposal. Mr. Reichmann( Switzerland): I am pleased to see that the cause of unity has some good progress to show since the Vienna congress. The Vienna resolution was adopted by 59 votes to 11; but the policy of the Executive Committee has this time only been approved by 39 votes to 15, with 6 abstentions. I am however prepared to let the matter of the acceptance of the Swiss proposal rest there with Tarnow's amendment- provided that the matter is not buried once for all, with the acceptance of this decision. I take it, however, that Comrade Tarnow has now seen that a delegation to Russia will not be to his detriment. I propose that Comrades Tarnow, Woudenberg and Jahn, who are all well- known as AntiCommunists, shall be appointed on this delegation. firmly believe that such a journey of investigation will serve to slay many ghosts. And I The proposal as amended was adopted unanimously. The Chairman: We now come to the Swiss proposal for the amalgamation of the Building and Woodworkers' Internationals. I call upon Comrade Reichmann to speak. Mr. Reichmann( Switzerland): With regard to the Swiss proposal for the amalgamation of the two Internationals of Building workers and Woodworkers I have only a few words to say. In view of the result of the investigation made by Comrade Woudenberg, I have little hope that this proposal will be passed. I urge however for a recommendation on the part of the Congress. The Chairman: The Congress cannot possibly decide on the question of national amalgamation, because this matter is absolutely within the exclusive competence of the affiliated organisations. I propose that the resolution be left for the various affiliated organisations to go into. Proposal of the British Society of Woodworkers re question of admission. Delegationto Russia. Amalgamation question. 71 Mr. Reichmann( Switzerland): I am quite prepared to agree to Comrade Tarnow's proposal. I would however propose that the Executice Committee be instructed to draw up another report on the matter for the next congress, so that it can be seen whether it is going forwards or backwards. I therefore propose to add the following amendment to Comrade Tarnow's proposal: " And charges the Executive Committee with the preparation of a new enquiry among the affiliated Organisations in order that the next International Congress may obtain a clear idea of any progress there may be in the direction of amalgamation." The resolution as amended was carried unanimously. The Chairman: We now have to vote on a resolution Building wor- moved by the Swedish Union of Woodworkers in the Building kers' Inter- Industry that a mutual agreement be concluded with the Building Workers' International. The Executive Committee proposes that this resolution be adopted. Mutual agreement with the national. Report on the ,, Functions and national Trade Union The proposal was carried unanimously. Comrade Hauwaert now took the Chair. The Chairman: Comrade Tarnow will now say a few Organisation words to introduce his printed report on" The Functions and of the Inter- Organisation of the International Trade Union Movement". Mr. Tarnow( German Woodworkers' Union): It is not my Movement." intention that we shall have an exhaustive discussion on the report, as there is not enough time at our disposal, as the work of translation makes everything three times as long as at a national congress. I regret that the report has appeared rather late. I hope however that everyone has read and understood it. It deals with the form of organisation of the International Federation of Trade Unions. Woudenberg and myself took part at the Vienna Congress of the I. F. T. U. in 1924, as delegates from the International Union of Woodworkers, and there set forth the views laid down in this report. We ask the Congress for its approval of the standpoint expressed in this report. Up to that time the composition of the I. F. T. U., built up on the various National Trade Union Centres, was perfectly logical. As you know, however, a new tendency has developed, which we have combated. Woudenberg and myself, a representatives of the I. U., were of the opinion that the I. F. T. U. should be composed exclusively of the National Centres and not of the International Trade Secretariats, nor of a mixture of the two kinds of organisations. Unfortunately we have not sufficient time left to discuss the matter fully at this meeting. However, I should very much like the Congress to express in any case its opinion, so that the Executive Committee may know what attitude it is to take up on this matter in the future. Mr. Volan( Norwegian Building workers' Union): Yesterday a new resolution with regard to the admittance of the Russians was refused on the ground that no new decision had been made by the I. F. T. U. Now we are attempting to prescribe a definite form of organisation to the I. F. T. U. That is scarcely logical. It is at any rate useful that the International Trade Secretariats can make their great influence felt on the whole movement, for strikes are often lost because they are carried 72 out exclusively from a national standpoint and on a national scale. In view of the increasing international concentration of Capitalism, it is necessary to lay weight on international cooperation amongst the workers too. I do not think however that it is necessary to reorganise the I. F. T. U. for that purpose. The development of the International Trade Secretariats would surely answer the same purpose. I shall vote against Tarnow's report, however, because I consider that the application of the opinions that he expresses in that report would mean a considerable set- back in the development of the workers' movement. M. Barron( British Society of Woodworkers): We place great value on the work done by Comrade Tarnow in his report. We do not think however that it is possible at this congress to make a decision on this matter. Speaking for ourselves, we may say that the report came too late to enable us to discuss it in our Executive Committee. Although we are personally fully in agreement with Tarnow's opinions, I should like to propose that the report be referred to the affiliated organisations for discussion. After it has then been thoroughly gone into by the various Executive Committees, the answers shall be transmitted to the Executive Committee of the I. U. in writing. Mr. Hauwaert( Belgium): The Belgian delegation is in full agreement with Barron's proposal. We also have unfortunately not had the opportunity to deal with this matter in committee. Mr. Tarnow( German Woodworkers' Union): I may say that I entirely agree with Comrade Barron's proposal and I should therefore like to propose the following: " This International Woodworkers' Congress, meeting at Brussels on July 20th- 22nd, 1925, inclusive, Recommends the paper presented by Comrade Tarnow for detailed examination by all affiliated organisations. If necessary, the Executive Committee shall take measures to facilitate a thorough discussion of the Report at the next International Woodworkers' Congress." The resolution was carried unanimously. Comrade Tarnow again took the Chair. The Chairman: We now come on to the election of the Election of International Secretary and the other members of the Executive International Committee. Mr. Barron( British Society of Woodworkers): In the name of my Union I wish to express to Comrade Woudenberg our hearty thanks for the strenuous work he has done in the interest of our Society. During the great and persistent conflict in the shipbuilding industry, he has given us his support with great willingness; and he has always let us have information about working conditions on the continent, which has been of the greatest importance to us in our work to obtain the prohibition of the handling of foreign joinery not manufactured under trade union conditions. I propose that Comrade Woudenberg shall be reelected to his post as International Secretary for another three years. Comrade Woudenberg was, amidst applause, re- elected as Secretary. Mr. Hauwaert( Belgium): The Belgian delegation welcomes with great pleasure Comrade Woudenberg's unanimous re- elec73 Secretary. Election of the Executive Committee. tion as International Secretary. That re- election has itself expressed to Comrade Woudenberg our warm thanks. I should like to propose however in the name of the Belgian delegation that a material token of our thanks be made to Comrade Woudenberg and also our diligent treasurer Comrade Walop, by at least doubling the remunerations of both comrades. The allowances which they have been receiving up til now were fixed on the pre- war level, so that a decent increase is thoroughly justified. I should like to suggest that this proposal be left in the hands of the Executive Committee. The Chairman: We understand this proposal to mean that it shall be left to the Executive Committee itself to decide whether the remunerations shall be increased, if the financial position of the I. U. allows it. The Chairman: I propose that the Executive Committee shall again be composed of one representative each of Scandinavian, German, French and English speaking countries. Comrade Martin Petersen( Denmark) has been nominated as member on behalf of the Scandinavian countries, with Comrade Nils Linde( Sweden) as substitute. as Comrades Petersen and Linde were re- elected nem. con. Comrade Hauwaert( Belgium) has been nominated representative of the French countries, with Comrade Chiron ( France) as substitute. Comrade Devlaemynck, who has previously filled this post, he, we regret to say, has declined to be nominated to sit on the Executive Committee of the I. U. this time, as his time is fully taken up with his duties as Secretary of the Belgian National Trade Union Centre. We very much regret his decision for we have learnt to know Comrade Devlaemynck as a hard- working and a most intelligent co- operator. We thank him most heartly for all the service he has rendered the I. U. Comrades Hauwaert and Chiron were unanimously elected. For the German speaking countries Comrade Tarnow ( Germany) and Comrade Gross( Austria) have been nominated. Comrades Tarnow and Gross were unanimously re- elected. Comrades Wolstencroft and Gossip have been nominated as representatives of the English speaking countries, but both for the position of member. We must therefore vote. The one who gets the lesser number of votes will by elected as substitute. On a card vote 33 voted in favour of Comrade Wolstencroft and 22 for Comrade Gossip. 3 abstained from voting. Composition The new Executive Committee is therefore composed as of newExecut- follows: ive Committee. the next ConGermany, etc. Scandinavia, etc. Great Britain, etc. France, etc. Member Fr. Tarnow M. Petersen F. Wolstencroft W. Hauwaert Deputy Joh. Gross Nils Linde Alex Gossip L. Chiron International Secretary: C. Woudenberg. Designation of With regard to the next item on the agenda it was unPlace in which animously decided to leave the designation of the place for the gress is to be next congress to the Executive Comittee. At the request of the Polish, Hungarian and Czecho- slowakian delegations, the Executive Committee promised to give Prague the first consideration. held. 74 After various communications from the Chairman concerning the excursion organised for the afternoon, Comrade Wm. L. Hutcheson, General President of the American Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners was asked to speak. American Mr. Hutcheson( America): We have received several let- Speech of ters from the International Union of Woodworkers with regard Delegate from to affiliation and also letters asking for information on work- Brotherhood. ing conditions etc., and the responsible bodies of our Union have thoroughly discussed the matter. Before we definitely take the step and affiliate, however, we should like to make our mutual relations somewhat more intimate. In 1922 we received an invitation to attend the Vienna Congress. As the A. F. of L. Convention was being held at that time, however, we were prevented from accepting the invitation. In August and September of the same year a delegation of our Union visited your Executive Committee, and we still hold the most pleasant memories of that visit. We made a report to the Executive Committee of our union at the time on our visit to Europe, and as a result the Executive Committee decided to send a delegation to the present Congress. We thank you for the warm reception, which you have given us. It is perhaps in the interests of a closer acquaintance if I tell you here something of the conditions prevailing in America. Our Union consists for the most part out of carpenters and joiners. We do however also cater for several other branches of the wood industry. The organisational conditions are quite different from those in Europe, for in America we organise people from all countries and of all languages. It follows, from the peculiarity of American conditions that we have other conceptions than you in Europe. We make no distinction between the working class and the other class. We do not regard every employer as a Capitalist, but only those who run counter to the interests of the workers. Various employers keep up excellent relations with our union, because they have risen from our own ranks. Such a condition of affairs does not exist in Europe. With regard to working conditions, I may inform you that employment, particularly in the building trade, is satisfactory. The average wage in the building industry is between$ 1 and 1.5 an hour, in the workshops at about$ 0.75. We work 44 hours a week, but are paid for 48 hours. Our union propagates the idea of" brotherhood" among all the comrades. All men are brothers, and should stand together. We are also international for we have members in the United States, in Canada and even in Mexico. The American woodworkers therefore have a proper understanding of Internationalism; and they are certainly prepared to affiliate to the International Union of Woodworkers if you are prepared to meet them on a few matters of minor importance in view of their peculiar situation. As I do not doubt that it will be possible to come to an understanding on these matters, I do not say " Goodbye", but" Au Revoir". The Chairman: In the name of the Congress I thank Comrade Hutcheson for the comradely words he has spoken. All who know something about the international relations of the working class are aware that there are some special difficulties in the way of the affiliation of America to the European wor75 kers' movement- but difficulties which can soon be overcome if both parties are of goodwill. As in this case there is all the goodwill on both sides, I do not doubt for a minute that the conditions for a speedy affiliation of our American brothers have been created. Comrade Hutcheson has spoken of the differences in structure and outlook of the American unions in comparison with European unions. Thes differences are a natural result of the special conditions prevailing in the two movements. They are not however by any means so big that they could make organisational cooperation impossible. We therefore want to further our relations with the American Brotherhood as much as we possibly can, convinced as we are that it will not be long before they will be members of our I. U. In this sense I appreciate Comrade Hutcheson's kind words when he said not" Goodbye", but" Au Revoir". Speech of Mr. de Roode( International Labour Office): When I delegate from International express my thanks to your Congress for the friendly invitation Labour Office. and the hearty reception, it is not a mere question of politeness. We always remember with gratitude that the Woodworkers' International was one of the first organisations to give help and cooperation to our Office. This help and cooperation from the workers are indispensable to the development of our Office, for our work and activity is entirely based upon the support given by the working class. The working conditions prevailing in the various countries vary very considerably. In some quarters the workers held that when favourable working conditions were achieved after the war, it meant a final victory that nothing could shake. So they thought that there was no need for the International Labour Office or the laying down by law of the better conditions acquired. When the world reaction set in these workers began to realise what help the International Labour Office could give to the working class, what support they could obtain from it in their activities for the maintenance of the Eight- Hours Day, that corner- stone of the New World they are striving for. We have now gone so far that France has recently decided to ratify the 8- hours convention, although only upon certain conditions. Germany is taking measures to do the same. If we have once brought about the ratification of the Convention in all the Parliaments of the world by the power of the working class, then we shall have laid the foundations of the New Society. As I have said, our work is based on the workers' movement. We must work hand in hand. If you grow stronger, then in just the same measure will our position be strengthened. Closing The Chairman: We have now come to the end of this ConAddress. gress. To speak plainly, I must say that we have once again spent too much time discussing a question which really should not have come up before our Congress again. It has been said that there has been an improvement in the tone of the debates. I agree, and I hope that at our next congress, this matter will not come up for discussion again. 76 In reporting to the bodies to whom they are responsible I trust that the delegates will not omit to point out the significance of our Congress, not only as a congress for discussion, but also as a means of bringing the delegates into closer touch with one another. In the last few years we have sustained several reverses in the trade union movement, as in the political Labour movement. But now I am glad to say the curve is moving upwards. The trade unions are the very bread of life to the workers. The equality of rights for all men is the ultimate goal of our endeavours. This goal cannot be reached in a few years, but we must march on to the New Day unswervingly, and shoulder to shoulder. In this closed line the woodworkers are marching in the vanguard. So let it remain. We must work to continually increase the strength of our Movement. In spite of all differences of opinion this Congress has been the expression of Unity and Comradeship. Long live the International Union of Woodworkers! The congress was then closed at 1 p. m. by a hearty three cheers from the delegates. Index of Orators: Barron .61, 70, 73 Petersen, M. 55 Blairvacq 64 Petersen, V. S. . 54 Brown 50 Reichmann .53, 71, 72 Chiron 63 De Roode 76 Devlaemynck 49 Spaltman 69 Gossip 59 Svensson ... 64 Gross 53 Tarnow 49, 51, 52, Hauwaert 50, 56, 73 Horovitz 62 55, 56, 62, 64, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 Hutcheson 75 Tomkins .55, 69, 70 Jahn 56 Volan .58, 70, 72 Linde 64 Walop 69 Oberti 63 Woudenberg .47, 52, 64 77 The Functions and Organisation of the International Trade Union Movement. Report by Mr. F. Tarnow. nollsainngro brs erfollon H JomovoM JM vd hogsЯ I. The Capitalist economic order produces, as a natural law of its being, a state of opposition between those who live by capital and those who live by the work of their hands. It is the natural tendency of capital to extract from the possession of the means of production not only profits but the highest profits obtainable. With this is inseparably associated the tendency to exploit the workers employed to the utmost limit. Even if the worker cannot understand the mechanism of the capitalist system, the natural instinct of selfpreservation drives him to resistance of this exploitation. This means the spontaneous uprising, in all countries with a capitalist economic system, at a certain stage, of organisations of the trade union type. The Trade Union Movement of to- day has, however, long ago outgrown the primitive state of resistance. It is no longer satisfied with arranging for the most satisfactory conditions of labour at the moment; it is permeated with a knowledge of economic and social relations and the laws of their development. It knows that the present economic and social order is neither unalterable nor permanent, and it is fully determined so to alter it that the workers shall enjoy the same economic and social rights with all other classes of society. Neither the extent of this knowledge nor the opinions held as to the means and methods by which the capitalistic system can be overcome are uniform in the various countries among the workers. That is only natural, for the economic structure and the political, social, and cultural levels vary in the different countries. From this result, however, not only differences in general conceptions, but also differences in methods of attack. It is extraordinarily important for international cooperation in the workers' movement to recognise these differences, so that we may not judge the movements in other countries from the point of view of our own. There is a general consensus of conviction that the final aim must be the destruction of the capitalist system, the abolition of private ownership of the means of production and the establishment of a Socialist Commonwealth, in which there is no profit- making and no exploitation of labour, nor any privileges based on property. Opinions are, however, divided as to the methods by which this goal can be reached and the speed attainable, and, in particular, the extent to which the possession of political power is a real factor. For this reason there are further variations in the relations between the trade union and political labour movements in the various countries. 81 The development mostly occurs in this way, that in the beginning of the labour movement, when the absolute domination, both economic and political, of the capitalist class is still unchallenged, the hopes of the workers are at first predominantly directed to political liberation. At this stage it appears as if the attainment of the ultimate aim were principally a function of the political movement, while the trade unions should confine themselves to striving for the most. favourable conditions of labour possible. The destruction of the capitalist economic system is regarded as a task which cannot possibly be taken in hand until political power has been seized, but which will not then present insuperable difficulties. The rise of the working- class to political power is unmistakeable. In the progressive countries the absolute domination of the capitalist classes in affairs of state is a thing of the past; the bases of their constitutions have become democratised, and the way is open for those classes which represent the majority of the populations, to take over the reins of government. If, in spite of this fact, the machinery of government is not yet penetrated by the ideas of the modern workers' movement, that is due to the lack of enlightenment of the mass of the workers, of whom a greater or smaller proportion still follow the lead of their class foes. There are, however, other countries where the representatives of the socialist point of view already exercise such a strong influence in the legislative assemblies that they have been able to take over the government of the country, either alone or in a coalition. However, in those instances where the political development is already so far advanced as this, it is plainly to be seen that the possession of political power does not mean for the workers economic liberation, and also that the capitalist economic system cannot be suddenly demolished and replaced by the socialist order. Hence comes the knowledge that the destruction of the capitalist system can be only a gradual process, in which, step by step, the influence of the workers on the control of the economic machine is increased. The possession of the tools of political power only means that the rapidity of the process can be accelerated. In the meantime, it must be realised that the possession of full political power is not a necessary prelude to the exercise of influence by the workers in economic matters. Rather, where they are strong enough, the Trade Unions are in a position, by means of a purposeful direction of their activities at every stage of political development, to exercise their influence in the economic field. The economic domination of capital expresses itself in the way in which it exercises sole and unlimited control over the means of production, owns the machinery of distribution, and ensures for itself a large share in the products of labour. If the trade unions could so carry on their wages campaigns that they resulted in the share of the workers in the products of their labour becoming not only actually but relatively higher than that received by the capitalists, and if they could further succeed in gaining a measure of workers' control in industry, then they would already have succeeded in weakening the domination of Capital. 82 From the above it is plain that the working- class in every country must exert all its powers to gain political power, but that is must not wait for this, nor confine its efforts to this sphere, but must take part in an unceasing struggle to diminish the power of Capital in the economic sphere. The duties of trade unions are not limited to negotiating from time to time working conditions which shall be as favourable as possible for the workers:-they must also help the political Labour Party to overthrow the capitalist economic system. In precisely the same way as the sole political domination of the bourgeoisie has been overthrown by the democratic system, so the introduction of the democratic system in economics will overthrow the economic domination of capitalists. The trade unions can make their power felt in this direction in many ways. The first of these is the acquisition of the workers' right to a voice in the control of the factory by means of the growth of collective bargaining on the one hand, and works' councils on the other. Trade unions must insist that the conduct of affairs is no mere private business of the capitalist class; it must be regarded as a matter for the community and subordinated to the politics of the state. The democratic parliamentarian form of government opens the way to the working class, and enables them to make their influences duly felt in the conduct of economic affairs. In certain advanced countries there are already the beginnings of a specific economic parliamentarism. All this is heralding the way to the democratisation of economics, the goal which all trade unions must set before themselves. In every land the relations of the trade union to the political Labour Movement is determined by the historical development of the Labour Movement as a whole, the form of government and economic conditions. In no two countries are these relations precisely similar: they are in every case determined by the existing conditions. This is a matter to be settled by each country for itself: it is not the business of the Internationals. But an International can facilitate the decision by enabling the working class of one country to profit by the experiences of another in the discovery of the best methods. II. Trade union forms of organisation are not uniform in all countries, but as a rule they are based on the same principles. Permanent trade union relations have arisen through temporary associations formed for the sake of common action at a given moment. Organisations which at first were local only have in course of time developed into national organisations:-small craft unions have amalgamated one with another until at last they have come to constitute great industrial unions. Sooner or later, individual unions have concentrated into national bodies, these being sometimes federations and sometimes merely committees. Concentration on a national scale has been followed by concentration on an international scale. Following the principles laid down by Karl Marx, the International Labour Association arose in 1864, as an attempt to amalgamate both the political and the trade union labour movements internationally. Chiefly through the weakness of the national 83 Labour movements, this organisation perished in less than a decade. In 1889 the Second International was founded as a second attempt in the same direction. During this and the following period the political movement was far more prominent than the relatively undeveloped trade union movement; the new International devoted itself pre- eminently to political questions and the organisation of the political Labour Movement. As the trade union movement strengthened, it felt an increasing need for international associations of its own, which first took the form of correspondence merely. In 1901 a preliminary conference was held at Copenhagen. This was followed in 1902 by an international conference at Stuttgart of the secretaries of national trade union centres, which decided to found a permanent international trade union secretariat. After that date the international conferences of secretaries were held every two years. The chief questions discussed were administrative:-questions of a general and theoretical kind being reserved for the Second International, unless they were of special interest to trade unions. The last international conference of national trade union secretaries which was held before the war resolved to set up an international secretariat and to give it the name of" International Federation of Trade Unions". The following table shows the numerical strength of the trade unions affiliated:- 1904 14 national centres with 2,378,975 members 1905 14 1906 14 99 " " " " 99 1907 16 " " " 2,849,680 3,706,425 4,079,805 " 9 " 1908 17 " " " 4,313,516 " 1909 20 " " " 5,859,257 " 1910 20 " " " 6,121,711 99 1911 19 وو " " 6,900,995 " 1912 19 " 99 " 7,394,461 " The outbreak of the world war put an end to the above form of organisation. The secretariat of the Federation, which had its seat in Germany, set up a branch office in Amsterdam, which managed to maintain a limited international correspondence. Several international conferences also took place during the war, but the representatives of the more important belligerent countries took no part in these. Soon after the close of the World War, in the year 1919, an international trade union conference was held at Amsterdam, at which the International was reconstituted. It was resolved that Amsterdam should continue to be the headquarters of the International Federation of Trade Unions, but that the Federation should be enlarged. Instead of the earlier conferences of secretaries of national centres, regular international trade union congresses were to be held henceforth. Since that time 3 such congresses have been held at London in 1920, at Rome in 1922, and at Vienna in 1924. According to its present Rules the International Federation of Trade Unions is composed of the national trade union centres of the various countries, provided that these recognise the principles and tactics of the International Federation of Trade Unions. At the end of 1923 the Federation comprised 23 national centres, with 15½ million trade union members. In 84 addition to this international association of the national trade union centres, there had even before the war been a concentration of the various trades and crafts. This second form of international trade union organisation now extends to almost every trade. At the end of 1923, therefore, there were 28 international trade secretariats, with 14,800,000 members in the affiliated unions. This number is somewhat lower than that for the International Federation of Trade Unions; the latter contains unions for which there is no trade secretariat. On the other hand the trade internationals also comprise unions which do not belong to the International Federation of Trade Unions because their national centre is outside it, examples of these being Norway and the United States. With these exceptions, the International Federation of Trade Unions and the international trade secretariats cater for the same trade unions. III. The International Trade Union Movement is therefore organised in two ways:-on one side, the National Trade Union Centres are concentrated in the International Federation of Trade Unions, and on the other, the individual trade unions are concentrated into International Trade Secretariats. An individual national union is therefore as a rule organised internationally in two ways:-it is linked up directly to its trade international, and indirectly, through its national centre, to the International Federation of Trade Unions. This fact causes no inconvenience to the individual union, but the question of the organisational relations between the International Federation of Trade Unions and the International Trade Secretariats has become a problem which has not yet been fully solved. The international organisation of the whole movement is possible in one or other of the following ways:- ( 1) The trade unions in every land concentrate to form a national centre. The national centres concentrate to form the International Federation of Trade Unions. Side by side with this organisation, the individual unions of the same trade combine to form international trade organisations. Each international trade secretariat forms an independent organisational system, without direct organisational connection with the International Federation of Trade Unions. ( 2) The individual national unions combine to form international trade organisations. These trade internationals combine to form an international trade union federation. In addition, the unions of each country combine to form a national trade union centre. The latter confines its attention to trade union questions affecting its own country, and has no organisational connection with the International Federation of Trade Unions. ( 3) The International Federation of Trade Unions is formed by combination of the National Centres and the International Trade Secretariats. The first form is that which existed until the Vienna Congress of 1924. At the time of its origin the international trade union federation was a combination of national centres only. The international trade associations did, it is true, morally belong to the international trade union movement as incorporated in the International Federation of Trade Unions, 85 but they had no special place in that system of organisation. Yet even before the war there were indications of the need for closer connections between the various International Trade Secretariats amongst themselves, and between these and the International Federation of Trade Unions. It was on account of this felt need that the International Trade Secretariats were invited to take part in the international conference of the national trade union secretaries held at Zurich in 1913. This conference was followed up by a special conference of the International Trade Secretariats, at which the subject of discussion was how these internationals could best fulfil their functions and base these functions on common principles. Attention was also given to relations with the Conferences of the national centres: but there were many differences of opinion as to whether the trade secretariats should or should not take part in such conferences. The general feeling was that this would be useful, but that it was inadvisable to lay down hard and fast lines. We shall not fully understand how it was that the question of the organisational participation of the trade secretariats seemed at that time so unimportant unless we first grasp the fact that international relations in general were very lax in those days. At first the German national centre was merely instructed to maintain international relations. In addition, the custom arose in 1901 of holding annual conferences of national centres, although later on the conferences were held once every two years instead of every year. In 1903 an international secretary was appointed, the post, an honorary one, being held until the war by Karl Legien, the president of the German national centre. At the conference of 1913, it was resolved to give the association the name of the" International Federation of Trade Unions", but that made no change in the actual position. The international secretary was now styled " president of the International Federation of Trade Unions", but he continued to incorporate in his own person the whole government of the International Federation of Trade Unions. The new name did not bring with it any Rules; only the resolutions passed, when necessary, at international conferences, were binding. No form of organisation was in existence_to fill up the gap between the president and the conferences. The resolutions passed at the conferences were of a general nature, and did not encroach upon the independent activities of the affiliated national centres. The participation of the International Trade Secretariats in these conferences was therefore of moral rather than of material significance. When it was reconstructed after the war, the International Federation of Trade Unions was given a more definite framework. Instead of conferences of national secretaries, international trade union congresses were provided for. Permanent relations in the periods between congresses were to be maintained no longer by a secretary only:-the Secretariat was enlarged, and it was supplemented by an Executive Committee and a General Council. The Executive consists of the president, 3 vice- presidents, and 3 managing secretaries. The General Council now consists of the members of the Executive, and 11 additional members elected at the congress according to different groups of countries. The countries are divided into 86 groups at the congress, the grouping determined upon being then incorporated in the Rules. Until Vienna, the International Trade Secretariats had no part in this construction. But the question inevitably arose whether it would in future be sufficient for the International Trade Secretariats to merely take part in the congresses of the International Federation of Trade Unions, or whether they ought not to have their part in the closer organisation of the international trade union movement. The matter was very fully discussed at a joint meeting at Amsterdam between the Executive of the International Federation of Trade Unions and representatives of the international trade secretariats in November, 1923, and later at a conference of the trade secretariats held at Vienna in June, 1924. The Amsterdam Conference passed the following provisional resolutions, which were to be submitted to the Congress of the International Federation of Trade Unions for ratification:- ( 1) The International Trade Secretaries shall participate in the International Trade Union Congresses; they may take part in the discussions in a consultative capacity. ( 2) Every two years the Bureau of the International Federation of Trade Unions shall hold a two days' Conference with the International Trade Secretaries. This Conference shall be held immediately before the biennial Congress of the International Federation of Trade Unions. The Conference will deal chiefly with the following questions:- ( a) The manner in which relations with the International Federation of Trade Unions can be strengthened, and the changes that should be made in regard to these relations in view of the industrial development in the various countries. ( b) The carrying out of the decisions of the International Trade Union Congresses. ( c) The manner in which the Press Service of the International Trade Secretariats can be developed and improved, with the cooperation or assistance of the International Federation of Trade Unions. Such difficulties as may arise in the periods between the Conferences shall be dealt with by the Management Committee of the International Federation of Trade Unions. ( 3) The Conference shall elect a Commission consisting of 3 representatives of the International Trade Secretariats, who shall represent the International Trade Secretariats on the Management Committee of the International Federation of Trade Unions, and shall take part both in the discussions and in the voting. ( 4) The International Secretariats pledge themselves not to take final decisions in regard to general questions which lie outside the domain of their respective trades, or in regard to special questions affecting the interest of the other trade union organisations, without first consulting with the Management Committee of the International Federation of Trade Unions, or at least with the Bureau of the International Federation of Trade Unions. 87 ( 5) It shall be a fundamental principle that only the following organisations may affiliate with an International Trade Secretariat:- ( a) Organisations which are affiliated with their respective National Trade Union Centres, which in turn are affiliated with the International Federation of Trade Unions. ( b) Organisations which are in no way associated with any other International( e. g. organisations belonging to the Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions which Federation is not affiliated with any of the existing Internationals). ( c) Organisations which belong to a non- affiliated National Trade Union Centre, which does not make propaganda against the International Federation of Trade Unions ( e. g. organisations belonging to the American Federation of Labor). ( d) Organisations not affiliated with their National Trade Union Centre, if this latter belongs to a Trade Union International which is opposed to the International Federation of Trade Unions." The Vienna Conference modified the position somewhat and passed the following resolution:- International Federation of Trade Unions and Trade Secretariats. This Conference of International Trade Secretariats of May 31st and June 1st declares that the International Federation of Trade Unions of Amsterdam is to be recognised as the only International organisation of trade unions. The resolutions of the Conference of the International Federation of Trade Unions and the International Trade Secretariats of 9 and 10 November, 1923, will be recognised as guiding principles. The Conference further decides that, should the International Trade Secretariats find themselves compelled to deviate from the rule, they are requested to refer beforehand to the Management Committee of the International Federation of Trade Unions or at least to a meeting of the Bureau with the addition of the three representatives of the international trade secretariats. The Congress of the International Federation of Trade Unions itself confirmed this resolution and noted the following declaration of the Trade Secretariats:- 88 The representatives of the International Trade Secretariats declare that they consider the collaboration with the International Federation of Trade Unions as necessary and that it is in the spirit of paragraph 4 of the guiding principles for the Trade Secretariats that they agree with the clause: Should the International Trade Secretariats find themselves compelled to deviate from the rule, they are requested to refer beforehand to the Management Committee of the International Federation of Trade Unions or at least to a meeting of the Bureau with the addition of the three representatives of the International Trade Secretariats. ( Paragraph 4 reads as follows: The International Trade Secretariats pledge themselves not to take final decisions in regard to general questions which lie outside the domain of their respective trades, or in regard to special questions affecting the interest of other trade union organisations, without first consulting with the Management Committee of the International Federation of Trade Unions, or at least with the Bureau of the International Federation of Trade Unions.) In accordance with these resolutions the Rules of the International Federation of Trade Unions were extended to admit of the inclusion in the General Council of 3 representatives of the International Secretariats. At Vienna the three representatives elected were those of the Miners' Federation, the Transportworkers' Federation, and the Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees. IV. It will readily be seen that this solution is a compromise, and this is still more evident if the debates on the subject have been followed. Two opposing views were there apparent. One of these would preserve the present position, the International Federation of Trade Unions continuing to be a centralised body, representing the national centres only. The second, although it is not explicitly so stated, would yet in reality completely put an end to this state of things, and reconstruct the International Federation of Trade Unions entirely on the basis of the Trade Internationals. If this could not be done forthwith, at least the principle of the equality of the national centres, and the trade internationals would be established. In the International Federation of Trade Unions the trade internationals obtain 3 seats out of 18. The principle that the International Federation of Trade Unions is to consist solely of national centres has, however, been broken down. The result is that neither side is satisfied, and it is unlikely that the present solution will be permanent. In order to understand rightly the ideas which underlie the demand for a change in the form of organisation, these ideas must be studied where the clearest expression is given to them. The person who does this best is undoubtedly Edo Fimmen, Secretary of the International Transportworkers' Federation who is the chief exponent of the views held by the section which demands the reconstruction of the International Federation of Trade Unions. In a book" The United States of Europe, or Europe Ltd.", published in 1924, he has explained the reasons for his point of view. In the first instance, the book is written to show that in world politics and world economics an enormous concentration of capital has gone forward, so that capitalists have to- day left their national antagonisms behind them and form an almost solid international block. But Labour organisations have not followed in this path. They are still clinging to organisation on national lines, their combats being fought almost exclusively within the framework of nationality. Fimmen makes the following remark on this point:- " I am not now for the first time declaring that the struggle conducted within national limits is becoming more and more inadequate, is tending more and more to dissipate our energies fruitlessly; that international direct action has become indispensable in the industrial field as well as in others; and that to this end the first aim of the workers 89 must be to unite under International Trade Secretariats, which for their part must be closely linked one with another." The transformation of local into national capitalism forced the trade unions, says Fimmen, to go forward from local to national organisation. The further development of capitalism, from national to international lines, which has already taken place, will likewise compel the trade unions to move from the national to the international form of organisation. Just as local unions are an outworn form of organisation, so will national trade unions also belong to the past before very long. This is so even today; witness the fact that the struggle of miners or metal workers on either side of the Franco- German frontier is no longer solely a matter for the workers of one of these two countries:- " Ultimately, it means that it will no longer be either the German Metalworkers' Union or the French Metalworkers' Union, no longer either the German Miners' Union or the French Miners' Union, which will decide whether the struggle is to assume an active form and will determine the way in which it is to be conducted. These decisions will be left to a supreme authority, the Metalworkers' International or the Miners' International. Therewith the International Trade Secretariats, which will have to conduct these international struggles. will acquire increasing importance as compared with the national centres. In the period when capitalism was expanding in the direction of national organisation, the conduct of the industrial struggle passed from the control of local trade unions to that of national trade unions. So now, in the period of struggle which has begun with the world war and its sequel, the leadership must pass from the national organisations to the International Trade Secretariats. Just as, during the former period, the importance of the concentration of local organisations( the trade councils) became small as compared with the importance of the national trade unions, so to- day the influence of the national centres as concentrations of the trade unions of a particular country will grow less than the influence of the International Trade Secretariats, and the task of the national centres will tend to become restricted to administrative( though national) duties similar to those administrative duties which are to- day performed by the trades councils." Fimmen, it is true, sees clearly that the International Trade Secretariats in their present form are far from being able to play the part proposed. Hence they must discard their present form and become international industrial organisations. The international development of capitalism will make this process inevitable. And when there are no national frontiers to trade unions, national trade union centres will lose their raison d'être so far as internationalism is concerned, for they will have only national business to deal with. The international industrial organisations will have to replace them as the basis of the International Federation of Trade Unions. " This implies that in the new time the International * Trade Secretariats must do internationally what the trade unions have done nationally by the formation of a joint ano national council- they must form an international trade90 union council. In other words, the existing international trade- union federations, formed out of the national unions of the separate trades and industries, must be superseded by an international of the International Trade Secretariats. From the organisational standpoint the present International Federation of Trade Unions is out of date." Fimmen knows that his plans will not materialise in the near future. Hence he would be content to compromise for the present." This presupposes", says he," that the International Trade Secretariats shall be placed on an equal footing with the national trade- union councils, and shall have equal rights." But he is already contemplating the possibility of leaving the International Federation of Trade Unions to its fate( instead of trying to reform it), and of establishing a new Trade Union International on the basis of the trade internationals. " For my own part, at this juncture, I am definitely opposed to anything of the kind. The creation of a third trade- union international side by side with the International Federation of Trade Unions and the Red International of Labour Unions( the religious and the anarchist- syndicalist trade- union internationals may be ignored) would only make confusion worse confounded. The question whether, soon or late, a more closely compacted and permanent fusion of the International Trade Secretariats will come into existence apart from the extant trade- union internationals, depends in large measure upon the attitude assumed by these two bodies. The last quotation is an open threat to the International Federation of Trade Unions, as characteristic as it is unreasonable. The simplest and most logical argument is the following:-Both International Federation of Trade Unions and Trade Internationals consist of the same unions; if the majority of these unions are in favour of reorganisation according to Fimmen's plan, they will effect it within the International Federation of Trade Unions; if they are against it, it will not be achieved by the trade internationals. At the outside, therefore, the plan could only lead to the splitting off of a minority from the International Federation of Trade Unions, to form a new International. But it is extremely improbable that there I would be a split in the International Federation of Trade Unions merely on a question of the form of organisation. Why the threat, then? We are not dealing with Fimmen's remarks in order to carry on a controversy with him personally, but merely to study the fundamental ideas underlying the organisational plans, as these are being advocated in certain sections of the International Federation of Trade Unions. What is the significance of the arguments for the reconstruction of the International Federation of Trade Unions? Nothing would be more ridiculous than to attempt to deny the growing concentration and internationalisation of capital. But in speaking of the common international interests of capital, we must beware of exaggeration. It is many years since Friedrich Engels poured out the vials of his scorn upon the ill- reasoned phrase" reactionary mass of the bourgeoisie", declaring that, in spite of their community of class, the bourgeoisie have many mutual 91 antagonisms. The same thing is true today of capitalists. Is it not the antagonism between capitalists of different nations which makes us go today in fear and trembling of a new war? Is imperialism anything but national capitalist interests, striving ruthlessly to" down" the capitalists of other nations? Complete harmony between the American and European, and between the English, German, French, etc. capitalists does not exist any more than there is complete unity of interest between the industrial, commercial and financial capital of any one country. Capitalist class solidarity ceases when the wish springs up in a capitalist's breast to send to hell his competitor( and class comrade)! This is the perennial wish of all capitalists at all times with regard to other capitalists. It may be objected that such antagonisms are present among capitalists, but that complete solidarity, both national and international, is always effected between them whenever it is a question of fighting the workers. But this is true only to a limited extent. Unity of interest does exist as a rule when general labour questions are at issue, as for instance, in cases of social legislation. But when the special working conditions of this or that group of workers come to be settled, there is by no means always community of interest in the whole of the employers' class. Community of interests may most readily be seen among the employers in the same country for each group knows that a victory of the workers in one branch of industry may lead to similar victories for workers of other industries. Internationally, however, things are often very different. If a group of employers in one country is involved in difficulties through trade union attack, their misfortunes are often very welcome to competing groups of employers in other countries. What in the world would induce British pianomakers, who suffer from German competition, to fly to the aid of these German competitors, if they were faced with a demand for higher wages? It is much more probable that the British manufacturers would send up heartfelt prayers to Heaven for its blessing on the efforts of the German workers. It is not long since British shipbuilders were roused to fierce wrath because the German shipyards snapped up an order under their very noses by quoting lower prices. Does anyone imagine that these British shipbuilders would declare their solidarity with their German competitors, if the German shipyard workers were to start a fight for higher wages? Reflections of this kind show the error of imagining that trade union conflicts must fail nationally, and can only be successful when conducted internationally. For most trade union conflicts it would affect the issue but little if the workers in similar trades abroad should start strikes for their sakes. If German building workers, or Swedish electricians or British printing operatives struck, it would not matter a jot to the employers if the workers of these trades were to start a sympathy strike extending over the whole world. There are of course cases in which such solidarity in foreign countries would be of use. But these cases are rarer than is generally supposed, and perhaps not so frequent as those in which the capitalist would only be relieved of the fear of losing his customers if he heard that his foreign competitors were suffering with him. 92 V. The arguments urged in support of the reconstruction of the Trade Union International are not applicable to trade union conflict as it is today. But it should be noted that Fimmen does not esteem this trade union work very highly. True, he does not consider it superfluous to fight for the improvement of working conditions, but still this is, in his opinion, of secondary importance compared to the larger aims for which trade union activities must be mobilised:- " The fight for higher wages and better working conditions is and will remain essential. We must see to it that the workers' standard of life is not depressed. But it would be a mistake to pay more attention and allot more energy to this feature of the struggle than is absolutely indispensable. One of the most important tasks of the International Federation of Trade Unions and the affiliated organisations is to bring home to the minds of the workers that fights for higher wages and better working conditions can never have anything more than a relative value in the contemporary capitalist regime. One of our most important tasks is to make the workers of all lands realise the truth that it is incumbent on them to devote their energies, their financial resources, their organisation, their industrial power, both nationally and internationally, to the great struggle against militarism, capitalism, and imperialism. But international organisation, the fight on an international front, is still more essential with a view to the loftier aims of the working class. I refer to the ultimate purpose of the contemporary trade- union movement- the destruction of capitalism, the world revolution, the inauguration of socialism." Behind the demand for the reconstruction of the Trade Union International, therefore, stands the proposal for world revolution through the trade unions. Whether the change of organisation is really necessary or expedient for this object is open to question. But before we can expect the trade unions affiliated to the International Federation of Trade Unions to make organisational preparations for world revolution, we had better ask ourselves whether they are in fact ready to take such action? We do not need any close enquiry to force us to the conclusion that the overwhelming majority of trade unions look upon the scheme of world revolution as fantastic nonsense! Not that they are inclined to leave anything undone which might seem calculated to achieve the speedy overthrow of the capitalist régime and the realisation of socialism. But they are of opinion that nothing is more dangerous to the progress of the Labour Movement and the serious fight against the capitalist order of society than the dissipation of strength by childishly playing with world revolution. It would be idle to dwell on this point; but even those who regard the organisation of world revolution as the way to the final emancipation of the working class will not be able to shut their eyes to the fact that the international working class must first be won over to this idea before they can be expected to approve a change of organisation intended for that purpose. The form of organisation must therefore be detached from this idea and 93 regarded solely from the point of view of those union tasks which are today actually recognised as such in the trade union movement. It has already been said that it is not necessary for trade union wage fights that conflict on national lines should be abandoned and substituted by conflict on international lines. How is it with regard to the possibilities of an international industrial union? It is true that in some countries the trend has been from local to national trade unions. Where there is a central union, the local branch loses its independence, and its whole activity is subordinated to the instructions and control of the national union. In most countries this development has been the occasion of fierce conflict between the advocates of the central, and those of the decentralised form of organisation. This conflict of opinion is by no means at an end everywhere:-in many countries, despite the central organisation, the local unions still have a large measure of independence. There can be little doubt, however, that the general trend of development is everywhere towards centralisation. Arguing from the rapidity of this process, it has been contended that the transition from national to international centralisation, that is, the creation of International industrial unions, must come with equal rapidity. When this process has been completed, the present national central union would stand in the same relation to the International central organisation as the local branch today stands to the centre of the national trade unions or the national federation. Anyone who has had some experience of practical trade unionism will be very sceptical as to this deduction. Even if we may assume that world economic unity will in a comparatively short space of time be as complete as national economic unity is at the present time in certain countries- an assumption which, to say the least, is today and will for some time to come be far in advance of the facts- we shall at once realise that for the trade union organisation the advance to international centralisation means something quite different from the same process in the national field. Where local unions have united to form a national union, they have been in the same country, have spoken the same language, belonged to the same national culture, been in the same stage of economic development, and lived under the same political constitution and legislation, etc. We need only recall how great are international differences in these respects, and in consequence, how wide are and must necessarily be the differences in trade union institutions and methods, to realise how enormous would be the obstacles to be overcome before any such international organisational unit could be brought into being. The international trade union movement is not yet sufficiently advanced to enable the trade union leaders of one country to form anything like adequate conceptions of the economic, social, political and trade union conditions in other countries. How grotesque, then, would be the situation of the international executive committee which had to manage, or even to supervise practical trade union work, tactics and administration for all lands? 94 If any such plan were actually to materialise, nothing could come of it but a mere pretence at international management, while in reality the various national sections would have complete autonomy. A conceivable alternative would be independence in respect of administration, propaganda and smaller conflicts, the functions of the international leaders being limited to the organising and leading of international actions, or national actions of larger scope. But, if that were desired, it would not need any fundamental change in the present system of organisation:-it would be sufficient to enlarge the trade international to the requisite degree and to make it compulsory for all the affiliated national organisations to pay a considerably higher affiliation fee to the International Trade Secretariat. We ourselves are not eager for any such extension of the field of action of the international trade secretariats, because we cannot see the need or even the usefulness of international trade union wages conflicts in general. We are more disposed to think that the general interests of international trade unionism are best served when the trade unions of every country do their duty to the best of their ability, taking on their own shoulders full financial and moral responsibility. We are convinced that our position is almost universally approved in our own trade international, but other internationals need not be influenced by it. If conditions in other industries are different, no one can blame these other industries for drawing different conclusions. National centralisation was not achieved simultaneously in all countries, and if international industrial unions did prove to be an inevitable development, it would not be necessary for these, either, to be formed simultaneously all along the line. If for instance the International Transportworkers' Federation, whose secretary Fimmen is, were to come to the conclusion that for their trade it would be a good thing to amalgamate into a single international union, let them unhesitatingly proceed to create one, and to found a central management and treasury. An example of the kind would, in fact, be useful for all trade unions, as practical experience is generally more valuable than abstract arguments. It certainly does not seem to us likely that even those trade unions which in the abstract express sympathy for the new form of organisation will make it a reality in the near future. It is safe to say that there is not the slightest probability of international industrial unions being formed in the near future. This fact is conclusive for the whole question, for it will be remembered that the fundamental idea of the proposed reform is that, instead of national centres, the International Federation of Trade Unions shall be based on the international industrial unions to be created. But, unlike the international industrial unions which are suggested, but have no tangible existence, the national centres are today concrete facts, and they have proved their value in the past as solid pillars of the edifice of the International Federation of Trade Unions. No one will be so foolish as to suggest the removal of the pillars before new ones have been constructed. For the further consideration of the matter, therefore, the trade internationals must be thought of as they actually are today, and not as bold flights of fancy would picture them to be in the dim future, beyond the ken of present- day history. 95 - We have still to enquire, then, how far the International Trade Secretariats in their present form are suited to become the foundations of the International Federation of Trade Unions, not instead of, but in addition to the national centres. The answer to this question will depend on the functions alloted to the various trade union bodies which are to be included in the International Federation of Trade Unions. In countries where national craft unions have established a general national federation of trade unions the distribution of the respective functions of the two bodies will raise no difficulty. The National Centres will take over all duties of a general nature: especially social and economic policy, influence in legislation and parliament, preparing for elections to social insurance bodies etc. Within the trade union movement certain sections of administration, such as propaganda, and the trade union educational system, can be subordinated to the national centre. The separate unions will retain the direct administration of their own organisation and special propaganda among the workers of their trade and all those functions which are associated with the direct regulation of working conditions. In the international field the International Federation of Trade Unions has precisely the same general functions as are fulfilled nationally by the national centres. It is obvious, on the other hand, that the International Trade Secretariats cannot undertake to fulfil the same functions as do the individual trade unions in the various countries, either in respect of administration or of wage conflicts. The relations of the International Trade Secretariats to the International Federation of Trade Unions cannot possibly therefore be placed on the same footing as those of the individual union to the national centre. The National Centres are the organic continuation and compilation of the individual unions. Together they form an absolutely complete national trade union system. The formation of the International Federation of Trade Unions out of the national centres is a natural continuation and extension to a complete international trade union system, fully organised from top to bottom. The individual member of a trade union is organisationally connected with the national union through his local branch, with the national centre through his national union, and with the International Federation of Trade Unions through his national centre. The organisational inclusion of the International Trade Secretariats in the International Federation of Trade Unions is for this reason no burning necessity for the purpose of filling up some gap in the organisation system. All that can reasonable be asked of it-" Is it advisable?" The point at issue here is not moral unity, which of course is requisite, but organisational incorporation. The single unions which are associated together in the International Trade Secretariat belong also to their national centres, and are represented in the International Federation of Trade Unions through these. In order to form connections between the individual unions and the international centre, there is no need for the inclusion of the International Trade Secretariat in the International Federation of Trade Unions. The utmost that can be urged in its favour is that the national centres represent in the International Federation of Trade Unions only general trade union interests, and that special trade interests 96 also need representation. But the safeguarding of these international trade interests is precisely the function of the International Trade Secretariats and not that of the International Federation of Trade Unions. If trade questions are at issue, there can be no higher international authority than the International Trade Secretariat. If, however, it is a case of international trade union questions which exceed the scope of special trade interests, the International Federation of Trade Unions is unquestionably competent. The above arguments show that it is not clear how the inclusion of the trade secretariats can be justified in any other way than on the ground of the desire to forge a strong moral link with the International Federation of Trade Unions. But no organisational incorporation is needed for this purpose, for community of moral interests arises automatically out of the fact that the individual units of the trade international already belong to the International Federation of Trade Unions through their National Centres. guidion end If the International Trade Secretariats are to obtain a permanent place in the International Federation of Trade Unions solely for the sake of information, investigation would have to be made as to whether the information service of the International Federation of Trade Unions could not be improved. But the demand made is not for information, but for co- operation and consultation of the trade secretariats with and by the authorities of the International Federation of Trade Unions. It seems neither necessary nor useful to grant this demand. 21010dalloo We must deny the utility, because for reasons of organisational technique it is almost impossible to give the trade secretariats permanent representation, for in practice they would scarcely be able to exercise such representative functions in the name of their affiliated unions. The democratic character of the Labour Movement demands that their delegates, if they make decisions in the name of the organisation, should not act on their own judgment, but should express the real will of those whom they represent. It is, of course, not always possible to ascertain this will beforehand, but the organisation must be so constructed that in important cases the representative of an organisation can discover the opinions of those he represents before he takes his decision. - When the governing bodies of the International Federation of Trade Unions consist of representatives of national centres, this possibility is provided in ideal fashion. The National Centres are bodies whose practice it is to hold meetings at short intervals, and they can meet, when necessary, at short notice. With them sit the representatives of the individual unions, who are in permanent touch with the wide masses of the membership. The work of the representative sent by the national centre to sit on the Executive of the International Federation of Trade Unions is subject to the permanent control of his national centre, which continually sends him instructions to guide his work. In this way there is close and uninterrupted contact between all grades of the international organisation, beginning with the member of the local branch and reaching up to the Executive of the International Federation of Trade Unions. 97 In the nature of things, no such close and permanent contact is possible in the case of the International Trade Secretariats. International trade congresses take place only at long intervals of several years, and on account of language difficulties there can be no such intensive discussion as is usual in national centres. A representative sent by a trade international to the Executive of the International Federation of Trade Unions would therefore as a rule be forced to act on his own responsibility. He would only represent his own ideas, not those of the organisations he has to represent. An International Federation of Trade Unions Executive consisting of representatives of trade secretariats would be like a roof hanging unsupported in the air. - Nor must the obvious fact be forgotten that for the fulfilment of the functions appertaining to the International Federation of Trade Unions, the national centre cannot but possess the requisite expert capacity in a greater degree than the trade secretariats can do. This has nothing to do with the personality of the delegates:- it is inherent in the tasks to be discharged. The caracteristic feature of the trade internationals is precisely the fact that they handle, not general trade union matters, but only the special questions that affect their trade. The national centres, on the other hand, do not deal with special trade questions, but with general trade union matters. But this is the very same function which devolves upon the International Federtion of Trade Unions in the international field: it is natural, therefore, that the national centres should be better advisers and collaborators for this purpose, and that they should be better fitted to act as pillars of the International Federation of Trade Unions than the International Trade Secretariats, since to impose upon these latter the discharge of general trade union functions would be to sidetrack them from their functions. We are driven to the conclusion, therefore, that there are no valid reasons for the substitution of the International Trade Secretariats for the national centres in the organisational system of the International Federation of Trade Unions, or even for_the former being placed on an equal footing with the latter. This is not to depreciate the trade internationals, nor does it in any way militate against our strong desire for complete solidarity between both the branches of the International Trade Union Movement. The International Trade Secretariats are independent and self- determining organisations for the special questions connected with their trades. But they are only executive, and not governing organisations for trade union questions of a general nature which pertain to the functions of the International Federation of Trade Unions: by their very nature they are not roots, but branches of the tree of the international trade union movement; not the foundation stones, but annexes of the common building. To try to change this relation would be to interfere with the symmetry, and to destroy the equilibrium of the International Trade Union Movement. The necessary moral and organisational relations between trade internationals and International Federation of Trade Unions are adequately safeguarded by the fact that the individual members of the trade internationals are, as members of their national centres, parts of the International Federation of Trade Unions. No further organ98 isational link is needed. The moral links should be drawn closer, but that is a matter which has nothing to do with the delegation by the trade internationals of representatives to the International Federation of Trade Unions, with full voting powers. We therefore consider the resolution of the Congress of the International Federation of Trade Unions of Vienna to be the right one, in so far as it refused to make any fundamental change in the system and declined to give the trade secretariats equal organisational representation with the national centres. In our opinion, it would have been even better if the resolution had been consistently adhered to, without making the concession of granting the International Trade Secretariats 3 representatives in the General Council of the International Federation of Trade Unions. It is very necessary that the organisational relations of the trade internationals to the International Federation of Trade Unions shall be clearly defined. Either the International Trade Secretariats are recognised as upholders of the roof of the International Federation of Trade Unions- and there seems no good reason why they should play so decisive a part in connection with the national centres- or the trade secretariats are recognised as playing the rôle in the whole movement which we have explained above- and then it would be a good thing to have that fact clearly defined. The fact that the General Council of the International Federation of Trade Unions has been enlarged by 3 representatives and that these 3 mandates have been bestowed upon representatives of the trade internationals is not in itself sufficiently important for us to waste many words upon it. The decisions made by the General Council of the International Federation of Trade Unions will assuredly not be altered by this change. But, taken in relation to the organisation of the whole trade union, the matter is a very serious one, and it seemed to us necessary to call attention to this relation and to the consequences which this deviation from the straight path may entail. The Vienna resolution gives cause for uneasiness, not only from the point of view of principle, but also from the practical point of view, for it has created two kinds of trade internationals, those which have a representative on the International Federation of Trade Unions, and those which have not. The resolution would appear to mean that the trade internationals, taken collectively, shall send three delegates to the General Council of the International Federation of Trade Unions. But this idea of the trade internationals as a whole is purely an abstract one: -in reality, there is no such name and no such body. The 28 trade internationals are each and all independent organisations, and there are no permanent relations between them. The fact that every two years they hold a conference on the occasion of the international congress of trade unions is obviously no substitute for a joint organisation such, for instance, as that of every national centre. We could only use the term" representation of the combined trade internationals" if the delegates sent could be regularly guided in their activities by the discussions and resolutions of the whole of the trade secretariats. We have already explained that this condition is not fulfilled even in respect of the individual trade internationals: much less for all 99 Friedrich* Ebert Bonn * Bibliothek of them taken collectively. In practice, therefore, the Vienna resolution can only be carried out by 3 of the 28 internationals being granted the right to be represented on the General Council of the International Federation of Trade Unions by one delegate each. These mandates can only be exercised by the holders acting on their own personal responsibility. Such a system of representation is by no means in harmony with what is to be expected from the supreme body of the international trade union organisation. loob bustie To this must be added the fact of a double representation of trade union members in the governing bodies of the International Federation of Trade Unions, which may lead to very curious results. Let us imagine that in some important question the voting representatives of the trade internationals are of a different opinion from the representatives of the national centres. Both must represent, not their own personal views, but those of the trade union members behind them: they must vote, not according to their own private views, but according to those of the trade union members from whom they have their mandates. But as in the long run they both have to represent the same members, it will be obvious that one of them is not exercising his mandate correctly. Each is of course honestly convinced that he is acting as the trade union members would wish him to act. How shall it be determined which is in the right? The probabilities are that the representatives of the national centres, which in their turn consist of representatives of the individual trade unions who are in permanent touch with the masses of the members, are better entitled to act in the name of the members than representatives of the trade internationals who have to act on their own responsibility. On both abstract and concrete grounds, therefore, we come to the conclusion that the Vienna resolution was a mistake, and that at the next congress it will be necessary to amend it according to the following principles:- d of bus nolisi alı ( 1) The form which in the present economic and political situation is most suitable for trade union organisation is that of epicentral craft or industrial organisations on national lines, els these unions being concentrated into a national centre, and the national centres being concentrated into the International Federation of Trade Unions. ( 2) In addition to the regional concentration of trade unions lion according to countries and into a single international body, sebit is not less necessary that the trade unions of the same craft or industry shall be concentrated internationally. ( 3) The International Federation of Trade Unions is the natural -ain culmination of the trade union movement in the regional form, and can be based only upon the national centres. It mol also includes the trade organisations, since the individual on craft and industrial unions are organised in the national 10 centres.onstant not One tollsaing10 Jniol ( 4) The sphere of activity of the International Trade Secretasariats is limited to the special matters concerning their trade, and comes to an end where general trade union questions ovs begin, these latter coming within the competence of the nl national centres nationally, and of the International Federsation of Trade Unions internationally. For general trade 100 union questions the trade internationals are not independent, but are subordinate to the International Federation of Trade Unions: they are not governing, but executive organisations. ( 5) It is neither necessary nor useful that the trade internationals shall be directly represented on the General Council of the International Federation of Trade Unions. For cooperation in the treatment of general trade union interests by the International Federation of Trade Unions each individual trade union is represented through its national centre. A system of duplicated representation is contrary to every principle of reasonable organisation. ( 6) The Vienna resolution shall be repealed, and the International Federation of Trade Unions rules amended in the sense that the national centres shall be the only governing authorities. 101 Report on Inquiry concerning Desirability and Possibility of effecting Amalgamation between the Woodworkers' and Building Workers' Internationals. The Belgian Federation of Building Operatives and Woodworkers( Centrale Générale du Bâtiment, de l'Ameublement et des Industries diverses) submitted the following proposal to our International Congress held at Vienna in July, 1922: " In consideration of the fact that the industrial concentration tends to bring the various trades of the woodworking and building industry gradually under the management of the same employers; and in consideration of the fact that this state of affairs must eventually bring about the amalgamation of those workers, who are employed in these trades, the Belgian delegation is of the opinion that the amalgamation of the two Internationals would further the international action of the two groups of workers; and express their desire that the Executive Committee of the International Union of Woodworkers will communicate with the Executive Committee of the Building Workers' International, in order to consider the possibility of an amalgamation of the two International unions." As from different sides objections were raised against the above proposal, the Congress finally decided that the Executive Committee of our I. U. should be charged with making an inquiry into the question of amalgamation and to submit the results of this inquiry to the next International Congress. In July, 1923, I put these instructions into execution by addressing a circular letter to all affiliated Organisations, requesting them to answer the five following questions: 1. Are measures being taken in your country, or have such measures already been taken, with a view to the fusion of Woodworkers and Building Trades Operatives? 2. In so far as such fusion has already taken place in your country, what has been your experience in regard to it? 3. If a fusion of Woodworkers and Building Trades Operatives has not already taken place in your country, is your Executive of the opinion that preparations for bringing about such a fusion are urgently necessary? 4. If your Executive is of the opinion that such fusion is not necessary, what attitude will you take up in regard to such efforts as might be made in this direction by your National Trade Union Centre? 103 5. What is in general the opinion of your Executive in regard to the possibility and desirability of a fusion between the Woodworkers' International and the Building Workers' International? I now beg to submit the following brief summary of the replies received: BELGIUM.( Centrale Générale du Bâtiment, de l'Ameublement et des Industries diverses.) Our Belgian Federation has already effected amalgamation nationally, and declares to be quite satisfied as to the results obtained. The Federation holds that the Industrial development necessitates a concentration of forces in the Trade Union movement so as to enhance its fighting power in the struggle with employers. The Federation is therefore of the opinion that amalgamation should also be brought about in the International field, as a fusion would allow of nominating a salaried full- time Secretary and thus greatly enhance the importance and achievements of the International. DENMARK.( Træindustriarbejderforbundet.) otrebno nollent On the strength of conditions prevailing in Denmark, the Danish Woodworkers' Federation is unable to conceive the possibility of amalgamation. It moreover informs me that also the Building Workers' Federation does in no respect consider amalgamation. GERMANY.( Deutscher Holzarbeiter- Verband.) The German Woodworkers' Union gives a negative reply to each of the questions 1 to 3. ob The Union moreover communicates that in Germany it is highly improbable that the National Trade Union Federation will take the initiative of reorganisation in the direction indicated by the Belgian proposal, and that in any case, such initiative would be of no consequence. Hoido 2 19191lib mo1 2A True, there is a wing in the German Trade Union movement which advocates reorganisation of the craft organisations on the lines of Industrial Unionism, but even these schemes do not comprise the amalgamation of the woodworkers' and building trades operatives' organisations. The German Building Workers' Federation, which is one of the most fervent advocates of Industrial Unionism, does not seriously consider catering for those woodworking entreprises that manufacture joinery for the building trades. wolv In view of its expectation that even in a remote future, amalgamation of both German Unions will be sheer impossibility, the German Woodworkers' Federation holds that amalgamation of the Internationals is not adequate. to ( Deutscher Sattler-, Tapezierer- und Portefeuiller- Verband.) The German Paper- hangers' Federation holds that in Germany the question of amalgamation is not yet mature for judgment. It is moreover of the opinion that amalgamation can only be effected in the International field if fusion has already been brought about within national limits, i. e. in the various countries. 104 GREAT BRITAIN.( National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades' botzspied of Association.) 92 daibuwa to moja.on Our British Furnishing Trades' Association has several times applied for and been refused affiliation to the Building Trades' Federation, which is made up of the various Organisations catering for the Building Industry. On principle, the Association stands up for complete amalgamation of all craft Unions into the" One Big Union" with dovetailed and largely autonomous sections.owboo In view of the fact, however, that amalgamation in its own country has made but very slight or no progress, the Association holds that time has not yet come to carry such reorganisation into effect. itizubal to: anil odi HOLLAND.( Nederlandsche Bond van Meubelmakers, Behangers en Aanverwante Vakgenooten.) The above Union declares to be opposed to amalgamation with the Building Workers' Organisations, be it in the National or in the International field. NORWAY.( Norsk Træarbeiderforbund.) In connection with a resolution taken by the Norwegian Trade Union Federation in which it was decided that an Industrial Union catering for the Building industry should be constituted, which was to comprise Carpenters, Joiners in the Building Trades, Operatives in Woodworking Factories etc., the above Union declares to be interested in inaugurating cooperation between the two Internationals. ( We direct notice to the fact that the said Union for the Building Trades has, in fact, been founded. Cabinet- makers are not affiliated to it.) isdt blod AUSTRIA.( Verband der Holzarbeiter Österreichs.) In Austria there is no indication whatsoever of any wish or effort to bring about amalgamation. The Austrian Union holds that amalgamation in the International field would not be adequate if not necessitated by corresponding developments in the various countries. bed lanoinnistal ans OW aniblin CZECHOSLOVAKIA.( Verband der Holzarbeiter und Drechsler; Headquarters at Reichenberg.) At the outset, the newly- constituted Union aimed at keeping up very narrow relations with the Building Workers' Union. For some time, the two Organisations published a joint trade journal, but practical experience eventually led to the decision to put a stop to this close cooperation and to issue separate trade journals. It therefore seems very likely that national amalgamation will not be effected, even in a remote future. The Union has serious doubts as to the advisability of bringing about such organisational relationship, as it does not think that this would prove to be for the best of the interests of the various craft groups. ( Unie Drevodelníkù; Headquarters at Prague.) In 1922, the foundation of one single united Union of Woodworkers and Building Operatives was rejected by our Prague Woodworkers' Union. On the strength of conditions prevailing in Czechoslovakia, the Union is not willing to cooperate in effecting amalgamation in the International field. 105 SWEDEN.( Sv. Sägverksarbetareförbundet.) The Union of Swedish Sawyers declares not to be interested at all in securing amalgamation nationally. ( Sv. Træarbetareförbundet.) In consequence of a Congress decision of the above Union, separate Unions have been founded in Sweden which cater for Woodworkers in the Building Trades, and for the other groups of other Woodworkers respectively. The other Building Trades' Operatives are likewise organised in separate Unions. The Swedish Trade Union movement is generally speaking organised more on the lines of organisation according to enterprise than on the lines of Industrial Unionism. The Union does not therefore back up any proposal of effecting amalgamation between the two International Trade Organisations. HUNGARY.( Budapesti Szobraszok Szakegylete.) According to information received from the Budapest Union of Carvers, no attempt is being made or likely to be made in Hungary in the direction of amalgamation. The Union stands, however, for unity between the two Internationals in order to strengthen and develop International Solidarity. * * * No reply has been received from the other Unions affiliated with our I. U. The data available have not led the Executive Committee of our I. U. to take other steps as the replies received clearly indicate that only a very small section of the affiliated Organisations hold that amalgamation is urgent and necessary. In any case, it would appear that time has not yet come to take a decision, if not strictly negative. In the meantime, the Congresses and Conferences of the Building Workers' International had likewise considered the question of amalgamation. The Executive Committee of the Building Workers' International had been instructed to inaugurate negotiations with our Executive Committee, which was, however, of the opinion that these negotiations had better not be held, as they would doubtless have had no results whatsoever. C. Woudenberg, Secretary. 106 Appendix I Rules of the International Union of Woodworkers. I. Name. The International Organisation of Woodworkers of all countries shall be called:- " The International Union of Woodworkers"( I. U.). II. Headquarters. The Headquarters of the Union shall be at Amsterdam. III. Objects. The objects of the I. U. are to combine the trade unions of woodworkers of all countries in a strong international federation, in order: ( a) to safeguard and promote the economic and social interests of all woodworkers; ( b) to support such joint national and international action as circumstances may warrant in the struggle against the exploitation of Labour and to maintain International Working Class Solidarity; ( c) to combat imperialism and militarism everywhere so as to abolish capitalism and pave the way for a world order where the interests of the whole community shall rank foremost. IV. The I. U. shall try to achieve the objects mentioned by:- ( a) establishing friendly relations between the trade unions of woodworkers of all countries; ( b) supporting and promoting the organizing of woodworkers in those countries, where they are not, or only partly organised; ( c) publishing a periodical in various languages; ( d) elaborating and circulating data and information about general social conditions, particularly about the wages and labour conditions of the woodworkers in the various countries; ( e) preventing the immigration of foreign workers in case of disputes; ( f) giving financial support whenever necessary and possible in case of great strikes or lock- outs; ( g) regulating mutually the transfer of members without entrance fees or other expenses and the support of members of the affiliated unions; 107 ( h) close co- operation between the woodworkers' unions in the various countries; ( i) maintaining close relations with the International Federation of Trade Unions and the various international trade secretariats. V. Affiliation. Woodworkers' Unions of all countries may affiliate to the I. U., especially the trade- unions of furniture makers, joiners, carpenters, ship- joiners, piano- makers, chairmakers, French polishers, stick- makers, turners, basketmakers, cork- cutters, brushmakers, carriage finishers, stone- and woodcarvers, coopers, upholsterers, plate glassworkers, etc. VI. From a country in which there is a National Trade Union Federation which is affiliated to the International Federation of Trade Unions only such organisations shall be admitted to the I. U. as are affiliated to that National Trade Union Federation. VII. Affiliation shall be effected through the Executive Committee after application in writing and after recognition of the rules and resolutions of the I. U. VIII. Should well- founded objections be raised to the affiliation of any organisation, the admittance of such organisation can be refused or revoked. alagrojni Isioz bms ofmon030 IX. Every organisation which has become a member of the I. U. shall retain its entire independence, with the exception of such obligations as are imposed upon it by these Rules, and by the resolutions of the international congress. X. of 26 02 919wyers mastiline mailsinsqmitedmos of( 0) obro blow 10 YEW Expulsion. mailstigs dailode Expulsion from the I. U. shall take place after a decision of the Executive Committee or the Congress and may be carried into effect when an organisation:- ( a) shall be 2 years in arrears of its contributions and fails to 10 pay same in spite of applications made, or deilds.jes ( b) acts against the Rules, the resolutions or the interests of 210 the I. U. to guixins210 ori gaifomong bins gnitioqquz( d) visq vino 10 JoodXI.odw2009 20 Appeals against decisions of the Executive Committee with reference to Articles V- IX of these Rules may be made at the next International Congress. niteluonis bus gnitsTodels( b) 2016 Juods lielo XII.angilibno s anoisy o ni 29ow Contributions. dsi bn's Contributions shall be paid by the affiliated organisations for defraying the expenses of the I. U. computed on the basis of the membership at at the end of the pre of the preceding year. alno- XIII. elite 12 to Jon The contributions shall be 15 guilders( Dutch currency) per 1,000 members per year, payable in advance every year in January, or after affiliation for the rest of that year. 108 Organisations belonging to countries with depreciated currencies may, by a decision of the Executive Committee, be permitted temporarily to regulate their contributions on another basis, having due regard to wage conditions as well as to the financial position of the union in question. The Executive Committee has the power to impose supplementary levies to meet any possible deficit. An annual statement of accounts shall be published indicating the receipts and expenditure. ad site XIV. Management. Juotetiib svit o The management of the I. U. shall be vested in:- oNT ( 1) The International Congress; ( 2) The Executive Committee; ( 3) The Management Committee. 2796ms 28 XV. The International Congress. tal of T The supreme control shall be exercised by the International Congress, which shall meet at least once every three years. XVI. M The Congress shall be convened by the Executive Committee, which shall prepare all Reports, draw up the Agenda and make all necessary arrangements. A congress must be convened when a proposal to this effect is supported by the majority of the affiliated organisations. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the I. U. to send out the invitations convening a Congress. XVII. The Agenda, the Reports and the Proposals shall be sent to the affiliated unions at least 3 months prior to the date of the Congress. saib 10. 19d XVIII. qidatedmem 101 The voting strength shall be in the following proportions to the memberships for which the unions affiliated paid their last contributions:-boh 1 vote for organisations with a membership of 5,000 and under, 2 votes for organisations with a membership over 5,000 but under 10,000, 3 votes for organisations with a membership over 10,000 but under 20,000, 4 votes for organisations with a membership over 20,000 but under 50,000, and further 1 vote for every 50,000 or fraction thereof. The number of delegates of each affiliated union at a Congress may not exceed the number of votes it is entitled to. The voting shall be according to membership when at least one- third of the votes represented at the Congress are in favour of a proposal to that effect. XIX. Ils to 219dmer T stus ei taomyolqmis 2n bab The expenses of the delegates to the International Congress shall be borne by the organisation they represent. 109 XX. It shall be the duty of the International Congress inter alia-: ( a) to discuss and consider the reports and the proposals submitted; ( b) to alter the Rules, if required; ( c) to elect the Executive Committee and the Secretary; ( d) to designate the town where the next International Congress shall be held. XXI. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of 5 members from five different countries, who shall be elected by the International Congress. The International Congress shall also elect 5 substitutes to replace these 5 members when necessary. XXII. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a year. They shall be vested with full executive authority between the International Congresses. They shall supervise the work of the Management Committee. XXIII. Management Committee. The Management Committee shall consist of the International Secretary and two members residing in the country where the I. U. has its headquarters. These members shall be appointed by the affiliated organisation( s) from that country. One of these two members shall act as Treasurer. XXIV. General Stipulations. Each Union shall, as soon as possible after the end of each year, send to the International Secretary particulars as to its membership, its receipts and expenditure, the number of disputes and the issue thereof. Special forms shall be issued for that purpose by the Secretary. The latter shall publish a summary of these various reports in the periodical of the I. U. XXV. The International Secretary shall be given notice, with the least possible delay, of important events in an organisation, especially of important disputes. XXVI. The publications of the I. U. shall appear in English, French, German and Swedish, which languages shall also be used in the discussions at the International Congresses. As far as possible the correspondence of the Secretary with the various unions shall also be carried on in these four languages. XXVII. The members of all affiliated organisations shall, as soon as employment is entered upon abroad, be admitted to the respective national organisation without entrance- fee, provided such transfer takes place within six weeks and provided such 110 member has discharged all his duties towards the organisation he previously belonged to. The grand total of contributions paid by such members to their former organisation shall be placed to the credit of their contribution account with the new organisation, with the proviso that, for the purpose of ascertaining the period of membership, the scale of contributions of the new organisation shall be taken as a basis in the event of the contributions of the former organisations being lower; in the event of the contributions being equal or higher, credit shall be given for the full number of weekly payments made. According to these stipulations, the rights of transferred members shall be equal to those of the members in the new organisations who have been members for a corresponding period. Special cases are to be settled by mutual agreement between the organisations concerned. A member travelling abroad before the transfer is effected, shall only be entitled to the same travelling- benefit granted by the organisation concerned to their own members and only in accordance with the Rules of the latter organisation. XXVIII. These Rules shall come into force from the date the International Congress has approved them. Any alteration in the Rules can only be effected by an International Congress. 111 noilgains 10 oilt abre wotestub air le bogiedoaib and jodman .or bagnoled vlauoivoiq ed of 215dmom doua vd. bieg auolludinimos to istoj busty ofT isill to libero off of bearly ed linda noi saingo of silt -inom To boisoq sill shinis110026 10 920quq on gol 1Allt- 621 lodz nolineinspo won si to anouudiinos to also ed).girlgod 101 oil 10 anolludimo sit to Toys brit mi- aland 26 model od Enbundinos or to ensvoted t; rowol qnied enoizing10 1910 isdon Hot Sb 101 novia od lede tibetasdaid to leups, 2015 obam alnomy.sql.o b9119120 10 eigin or anonsluge sasis of ambrosA won odi mi a15dmom or to 920d) of ups ad libre avoimem anibnoqa9110010119drom wood ove odw anoinainenio Boiroq -od nomosige detuvo boliisa.od of on brords anillova odmom A.bomson 200lisensoilt now! od of bolting ad vino sila boloots al 19tamento Toled bongono molisanego od vd bolning titoned- grillovs?) sm coluЯ sili di bi mi zino bis anodimom wo hibi or JIIVXX -10jul bdt stáb sill mot sooloi emos Ilie 2015 929T modt bevorque and Resign stolten syd bajosilo od vino ng susodini noile A 329120 lenolsunetul Appendix II Decisions taken by the International Woodworkers' Congress. Brussels, July, 1925. 1." This International Woodworkers' Congress, meeting at Brussels on July 20th- 22nd, 1925, inclusive, noting the great Labour conflicts that have broken out or threaten to break out in various countries, expresses its warmest sympathy with all comrades involved in these fierce struggles, and records its sincere desire for a complete success." * 2." This International Woodworkers' Congress, meeting at Brussels on July 20th- 22nd, 1925, inclusive, Recommends the paper presented by Comrade Tarnow for detailed examination by all affiliated organisations. If necessary, the Executive Committee shall take measures to facilitate a thorough discussion of the Report at the next International Woodworkers' Congress." 3." This International Woodworkers' Congress, meeting at Brussels on July 20th- 22nd, 1925, inclusive, Noting the report submitted by the International Secretariat on the question of amalgamation of the Building Operatives' and Woodworkers' Organisations, Resolves that the decision on this question shall be left entirely to the competence of the affiliated National Organisations, And charges the Executive Committee with the preparation of a new enquiry among the affiliated Organisations in order that the next International Congress may obtain a clear idea of any progress there may be in the direction of amalgamation." * 4." This International Woodworkers' Congress, meeting at Brussels on July 20th- 22nd, 1925, inclusive, Considering, that in consequence of differences in the structure of the national trade union movements there are two Trade Internationals catering for woodworkers in the building trades, Considering, that the only possibility of remedying the difficulties resulting from this state of affairs is the conclusion of a reciprocal agreement between the two Internationals concerned, so as to allow of the free transfer of members from one organisation to another. 113 Charges the Executive Committee with the responsability for drawing up a proposal to that effect, and for inaugurating negotiations with the Building Workers' International with a view to the conclusion of such agreement." * ** 5." This International Woodworkers' Congress, meeting at Brussels on July 20th- 22nd, 1925, inclusive, Recommends the Executive Committee to continue efforts in order to secure the inclusion of all organisations being still out of the ranks of the International Union of Woodworkers and which are prepared to submit themselves to the Rules and conditions laid down for admission, without, however, forsaking the principles on which our own movement is founded." * * * 6." This International Woodworkers' Congress, meeting at when the right moment shall have come to send a delegation to the All- Russian Woodworkers' Congress, provided an invitation to that effect has been received from the All- Russian Woodworkers' Union." 114 Appendix III List of Names and Addresses of Woodworkers' Organisations. ( The organisations marked with an asterisk are not affiliated to the I. U.) America. United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Carpenters' Building, 222, East Michigan Street, Indianopolis, Ind. * International Woodcarvers' Association, 8605-85th Street, Woodhaven, N. Y. Argentine. * Sindicato Obrero de la Industria del Mueble, Rioja 835, Buenos Aires. Australia. * Federated Furnishing Trade Society of Australasia, Federal Council, Trades' Hall, Melbourne( Victoria). * Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, Mr. A. L. Newberry, N. S. W. Trades' Hall, Sydney. Belgium. Centrale Générale du Bâtiment, de l'Ameublement et des Industries diverses( Algemeene Centrale van Bouw-, Ameublementwerkers en Gemengde Vakken), 8, Rue Joseph Stevens, Bruxelles. Bulgaria. Bulgarischer Holzarbeiter- Verband, Naroden Dom, Rue Nischka 15, Sophia. * Bulgarischer Schreiner- Verband, Sindikalen Dom, Kiril- en Metodenstr. 54, Sophia. Denmark. Dansk Træarbejder- Sekretariatet, Rømersgade 22, København K. Snedkerforbundet i Danmark, Rømersgade 22, København. Drejerforbundet i Danmark, Colbjørnsensgade 20 St København. Børstenindustriarbejderforbundet i Danmark, Ahornsgade 5 A, København. Bødkerforbundet i Danmark, Aabenraa 33, København L. Forgylderforbundet i Danmark, Arresøgade Nr. 27, III, København N. 115 Træindustriarbejderforbundet i Danmark, Rosenørnsalle 12-4, Kobenhavn V. Billedskærer og Dekorationsbilledhuggerforbundet i Danmark, Gyldenrisvej 6, København, Valby. Dansk Karetmagerforbundet, Thuresensgade 6, København. Kurvemagernes Forening, Sct. Hansgade 15, København. Dansk Skibstømrerforbundet, Dionningholmsvej 58, Svendborg. Germany. Deutscher Holzarbeiter- Verband, Am Köllnischen Park 2, Berlin SO 16. Deutscher Sattler-, Tapezierer- und Portefeuiller- Verband, Brückenstrasse 10 B, Berlin SO 16. Verband der Böttcher, Weinküfer und Hilfsarbeiter Deutschlands, An der Weide 21, Bremen. Finland. Suomen Puuteollisuustyöväen Liitto, Sirkuskatu 5, Helsingfors. France. Fédération des Travailleurs de l'Industrie du Bois, Bourse du Travail, 3, Rue du Château d'Eau, Paris Xe. * Fédération des Travailleurs du Tonneau, 102, Rue de Charenton, Paris XIIe. * Fédération Unitaire de l'Industrie du Bois et Similaires, 2, Rue Saint Bernard, Faubourg Saint- Antoine, Paris Xe. Great- Britain. National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades' Association, Bedford Row House, 58, Theobalds Road, London W. C. 1. Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers, 131, Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester. * Amalgamated Society of Coopers, 37, Outwoods Street, Burtonon- Trent. * National Association of Coopers, 31, Great Prescott Street, London E. 1. * National Union of Packing Case Makers, Box Makers, Sawyers and Mill Workers, Camperdown House, Half Moon Passage, Aldgate E. 1. * Amalgamated Society of Woodcutting Machinists, 32, Milton Street C. on M., Manchester. Holland. Algemeene Nederlandsche Bond van Meubelmakers, Behangers en Aanverwante Vakgenooten, Alb. Thijmstraat 30, Amsterdam. Italy. Federazione italiana lavoranti in legno, Via Manfredo Fanti 19, Milano. Jugo- Slavia. Osrednje drustvo lesnih delavcev in sorodnih strok na slovenskem ozemlju, Ilirska ul. 22, Laibach( Ljubljana). 116 Verband der Holzarbeiter, Ilica 55, Agram( Zagreb). Verband der Holzarbeiter Bosniens und der Herzegowina, Social. Radnicki Dom, Sarajewo. Cuba. Federación de Obreros del Ramo de la Madera, Estevez 79, Habana. Latvia. * Lettländischer Holzarbeiter- Verband, Dsirnawu eelâ 74 ds. 11. Riga. Luxembourg. Industrie- Verband der Bau- und Holzarbeiter des Grossherzogtums Luxemburg, Wiltheimstrasse, Luxemburg. Territory on the Memel. * Holzarbeiter- Verband des Memelgebiets, Hospitalstrasse 4 B, Memel. New Zealand. * Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, Mr. J. T. C. Smith, 171, Sutherland Road, Wellington( New Zealand). Norway. Norsk Sag-, Tomt- og Høvleriarbeiderforbund, Folkets Hus, Oslo. Norsk Møbelindustriarbeiderforbund, Folkets Hus, Oslo. Norsk Bygningsarbeiderforbund, Folkets Hus, Oslo. Austria. Verband der Holzarbeiter, Margaretenstrasse 112, Wien V. Poland. Zwiazek robotnikow przemyslu drzewnego w Polsce, ul. Dunajewskiego L 5, Krakau. Roumania. * Verband der Holz-, Säge- und Forstarbeiter Rumäniens, Arbeiterheim, Czernowitz. * Uniunea Lucratorilor si Mobila in Lemn din Romania, Piata Carolina 2, Cluj. * Allrussischer Holzarbeiter- Verband, Moskau. Russia. Sweden. Svenska Sägverksarbetareförbundet, Smedjegatan 28, Gävle. Svenska Träindustriarbetareförbundet, Upplandsgatan 2, Stockholm C. Svenska Byggnadsträarbetareförbundet, Barnhusgatan 16, Stockholm C. * Svenska Tunnbinderiarbetareförbundet, Kocksgatan 11, Stockholm Sö. Switzerland. Schweizerischer Bau- und Holzarbeiter- Verband, Stauffacherstrasse 60, Zürich. 117 South Africa. Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers, P. O. Box 1095, Johannesburg. * National Furniture Workers' Industrial Union, P. O. Box 2040, Johannesburg. Czechoslovakia. Verband der Holzarbeiter und Drechsler, Spitalgasse 35, Reichenberg. Unie Drevodelnikù, Hybernská ul. 7, Praha II. * Verband der Holzarbeiter in der Tschechoslowakischen Republik, Hálkova ul. 1, Praha II. Hungary. Magyarországi i Famunkazok Szövetsége, Luther Utca 1B, Emelet IV, Budapest 8. Budapesti Szobrászok Szakegylete, Nepszinház Utca 16, Budapest 8. 118 BD Position on 1st January, 1926. Centimetres Inches 2 Color chart 11 12 13. 14 15 16 17 Sachverständigen- Zubehör.de Blue Cyan Green Yellow Red Magenta White Grey Black # C9C9FF # 0000FF # C0E5FC # 009FFF # 759875 # 008800 # FFFFC7 # FFFF00 # FFC9C9 # FF0000 # FFC9FF # FF00FF #FFFFFF # 9D9E9E # D9DADA # 5B5B5B # 000000 2 Centimetres Inches 2 5 6 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Grayscale CY M Sachverständigen- Zubehör.de 9 10 11 12 13 14 10 11 18% 0% 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 100% 50% DHU Drudg Verlagsanstalt des Deutschen Holzarbelter- Verbandes GmbH. Berlin SO 16, Am Kölln. Park 2 X 96