INTERN. FEDERATION OF COMMERCIAL, CLERICAL AND TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES
REPORT
ON ACTIVITIES AND FINANCIAL REPORT
FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 JULY, 1925 TO 1 JULY, 1928
1928
P. C. HOOFTSTRAAT 179- AMSTERDAM- Z.
X 8453

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF COMMERCIAL, CLERICAL AND TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES
REPORT
ON ACTIVITIES AND FINANCIAL REPORT
FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 JULY, 1925 TO
1 JULY, 1928.
1
1928
P. C. HOOFTSTRAAT 179- AMSTERDAM- Z.

X 8453
Friedrich
*
Ebert
Stiftung
Bonn
Bibliothek
*

REPORT ON ACTIVITIES
OF THE INTERNATIONAL
SECRETARY.
FOR THE PERIOD 1 JULY 1925 TO 1 JULY 1928.
INTRODUCTION.
Although, generally speaking, the trade union organization of salaried employees is of more recent date than the labour movement generally, there is anything but uniformity in the form of organization adopted. There are general unions which organize salaried employees in all branches of trade and industry. Side by side with unions of technical employees and foremen there are unions which take in these groups and also office employees in the industries concerned. In addition there are unions embracing employees in commercial undertakings and commercial and technical employees in industrial undertakings. Finally, there are unions which admit both salaried employees and manual workers.
The question of the form of organization was a subject of discussion at the Copenhagen Congress of our International, and it was decided that it should be dealt with in the light of historical development.
Opinion in regard to social legislation and social insurance differs widely. Should we endeavour to bring the salaried employees under the legislation which is in force for the manual workers, or should we press for separate legislation? In this respect the Copenhagen Congress also did valuable work; it being agreed that it is not the form but rather the contents of the regulations what matters. In all countries endeavours should be made to secure the most favourable social legislation possible.
Countries with progressive social legislation have good grounds for complaining that countries which are backward in this respect are, or at any rate may become, a danger to more favourable legislation. During the period covered by this Report we have tried to achieve uniformity in our activities in the different countries, as we think this is in the interests of the salaried employees in all countries.
In regard to the constitution of special sections, and, more generally, the most expedient means of organizing special conferences for the different groups, there is still divergency of opinion. The three years that lie behind us have taught us something, however, in that we have the experience of various international conferences to go upon.
It is satisfactory to report that thanks to the activities of the Secretariat there has been on the whole a greater degree of agreement between the different countries, in regard to aims, spirit and methods. The informative articles in our monthly periodical and the reports on different subjects which we published from time to time contributed towards this. Information on a large number of subjects was given in

4
our monthly journal, and also through occasional reports, in the course of correspondence, and last but not least, at the different international
conferences.
We have constantly striven to improve the information service, but if we are to do better than we have done we shall have to be furnished with the wherewithal. When it is considered that all the work has to be done by one international secretary who has only half of his time available( as he is also President of the Dutch General Union of Commercial and Office Employees), with the aid of one assistant, we are justified in viewing with satisfaction what has been achieved. The limits of our resources have been reached, however, and the engagement of additional staff is urgently necessary.
The concentration of capital- trustification and cartellization- continues unabated, and it is only a question of time before the bodies thus formed turn from price fixing and market sharing and try to dictate working conditions in the different countries, and as a matter of fact they have already done so to a certain extent. It is therefore becoming increasingly necessary to open the eyes of the salaried employees to the international character of the forces pitted against them, and our International should be equipped accordingly, so that it may acquit itself of this task in a fitting manner.
During the period under review the International Secretariat performed a great deal of work, evidence of which is given in the pages which follow.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
At the Copenhagen Congress( 1925) it was decided to enlarge the Executive Committee by two members, the comrades chosen being H. Buschmann( Düsseldorf) and K. Pick( Vienna). The old members of the Committee were all re- elected. Changes not having taken place since, the present composition of the Executive Committee is as follows: O. Urban, Berlin; President.
G. Buisson, Paris; Vice- president. H. Buschmann, Düsseldorf.
J. Hallsworth, Manchester.
J. Johansen, Copenhagen.
sd R. Klein, Prague.
K. Pick, Vienna.
O. Schweitzer, Berlin; President of the Technical Employees' and Foremen's Section.
H. Allina, Vienna; President of the Bank Employees' Section. G. J. A. Smit Jr., Amsterdam; General Secretary.
THE SECRETARIAT.
The Secretariat remained at 179 P. C. Hooftstraat, Amsterdam( Z.), and comrade W. G. Spiekman retained his post there.
In addition to the production of our monthly News Letter, occasional

5
reports, and other literature, the following correspondence was handled by the Secretariat during the three years under review:
Letters Received Letters Sent Out
1925 1926
1927
755 792 700
329
454
429
DECISIONS OF THE COPENHAGEN CONGRESS.
( 27 to 30 September 1925).
At this Congress the following resolution was adopted in regard to relations with the All- Russian Union of Soviet and Commercial Employees:
" The Congress is of opinion that an organization cannot belong simultaneously to two antagonistic trade union Internationals. Our International adopts the I.F.T.U. platform. Unions adhering to another International( Moscow, neutral, Christian or Fascist) are for this reason unable to join our International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees. The Congress considers, however, that unity in the movement of the commercial, clerical and technical employees is eminently necessary in the struggle to better our position and to liberate mankind. The Congress therefore hails with satisfaction the attempts to induce the All- Russian Trade Union Council to affiliate to the I.F.T.U. and expresses the wish that these attempts may soon succeed, so that our Russian comrades may be included in the I.F.T.U., not as antagonists or sowers of dissension, but as brothers and real colleagues. As soon as this has happened the Russian organizations of commercial, clerical and technical employees will, in accordance with the Rules and resolutions, be admitted to our International."
The Dutch salaried employees' union" Mercurius" was expelled from our International for refusing to amalgamate with the Dutch General Union of Commercial and Office Employees.
It was also decided that our Section for Technical Employees should in future be called the" Section for Technical Employees and Foremen".
The Congress further adopted regulations for the organization of special conferences, and a resolution regarding the enforcement of social legislation.
The following resolution was adopted in regard to the eight- our day: " That this Congress, representing 800,000 organized commercial, clerical and technical employees, demands that legislation in the various countries on the subject of the 8- hour day and 48- hour week shall be applicable to all non- manual as well as manual workers. The Congress therefore declares that not only should the Washington Hours Convention be honoured by every Government which participated in the Washington Conference, 1919, but that at the same time legislation should be enacted to give to all classes of commercial, clerical and technical employees a working day not exceeding 8 hours and a working

6
week not exceeding 48 hours; and in those countries where the working day and week for employees are less than 8 and 48 respectively by agreement or practice, such lesser working day and week shall be legalized as the maxima in those countries."
The Congress also defined its attitude towards organization by industry, expressing the view that salaried employees should not be compelled to join these organizations against their will, and that the interests of the salaried employees could be safeguarded most effectively by separate organizations.
Finally, detailed resolutions were adopted on unemployment and equality of treatment for national and foreign employees.
RELATIONS WITH AFFILATED AND UNAFFILIATED UNIONS. The Secretariat vigorously carried on propaganda with a view to new affiliations. We are in friendly relations with a large number of unaffiliated unions, and the Secretariat is constantly striving to induce these to join. General Secretary Smit attended the Balkan Conference of the International Federation of Trade Unions with a view to promoting personal contact with the unions of salaried employees in these countries. Plans are under consideration for holding a conference of technical employees and foremen of Scandinavian countries, and a conference of salaried employees in Baltic countries. We are looking forward to an early realization of these plans.
In regard to propaganda of this kind a distinction must be made between two kinds of organization.
In the first place there are the organizations affiliated to a trade union centre which is affiliated to the International Federation of Trade Unions.
It is difficult to understand why these unions do not affiliate to our Federation, and at our request the I.F.T.U. has pointed this incongruity out to the trade union centres concerned. We on our part have once more invited these organizations to affiliate. The Copenhagen Congress reduced annual affiliation fees to twenty- five Dutch guilders per thousand members, so the financial question can no longer be an obstacle.
Though our efforts have not been unsuccessful, there are still a number of unions which remain aloof. The most important of these are various unions of Great Britain and some of those in France, Spain, Denmark and Sweden. We hope that these unions will not delay their affiliation much longer.
In the second place, there are the organizations not affiliated to a trade union centre belonging to the I.F.T.U.
The principal of these are the All- Russian Union of Soviet and Commercial Employees, the Swiss Salaried Employees' Federation, the American Salaried Employees' Unions, and the National Federation of

7
Professional Workers in Great Britain( some of whose component unions are affiliated to the British T.U.C., while others are not).
In regard to the All- Russian Union of Soviet and Commercial Employees, the Copenhagen Congress expressed the view that first of all understanding should be reached between the All- Russian Council of Trade Unions and the International Federation of Trade Unions.
We do not deem it necessary here to enlarge on the causes of the failure of the negotiations between these two bodies. The line of conduct advocated by General Secretary Smit, as formulated in the resolution drafted by him in conjunction with Stenhuis, and adopted by the General Council of the I.F.T.U., will be generally known. This resolution instructs the I.F.T.U. to inform the All- Russian Council of Trade Unions that if they wish to affiliate they should intimate their desire to this effect, after which the I.F.T.U. would be willing to discuss any difficulties that might be in the way. A special committee was set up for the purpose of such discussions, and it is a matter of regret to us that the Russians have not acted on this proposal, placing them as it does on a footing of equality with the other national trade union centres.
Having regard to the decision of the Copenhagen Congress, affiliated unions were recommended not to accept the invitation of the All- Russian Union to send fraternal representatives to their Congress in May 1927. The Belgian union and the British National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers, however, did not act on this recommendation and appointed fraternal representatives who attended the Congress of the Russians.
During the period covered by this Report there was no personal contact with the All- Russian Union, except on the occasion of the Congress of the Belgian union, when General Secretary Smit met comrades Figatner and Podosionoff, respectively General President and Moscow Branch President of the Russian Union, who were also attending the Congress. We have, however, regularly exchanged publications, etc.
It proved impossible to come to an understanding with the Swiss Salaried Employees' Federation. The annual meeting in Montreux of the International Association for Social Progress, where we had occasion in several sessions to work in conjunction with the Federation's representatives, also failed to lead to any improvement of relations. The Federation cooperates regularly with the Swiss Trade Union Federation, and in consequence these two bodies have agreed alternately to appoint a delegate to the sessions of the International Labour Conferences. The leaders of the Swiss Salaried Employees' Federation, who are members of the Social Democratic Party, are manifestly endeavouring to convert this centre to a neutral policy, and it does not seem to worry them that this is detrimental to the international interests of the salaried employees.
In America the trade union movement among salaried employees has not yet attained any real significance. New organizations are continually springing up, but their influence is small. In so far as we are acquainted

8
with their names and addresses, we regularly send them our publications and other matter.
The National Federation of Professional Workers in Great Britain is a Federation of salaried employees' unions, some of which are affiliated to the British Trades Union Congress, a special joint committee having been set up to maintain relations between the latter body and the Federation.
Three of the component unions of this Federation are affiliated to our International, while others( such as the Railway Clerks' Association) belong to other International Trade Secretariats. It still has members, however, which are not yet so affiliated. Our relations with the Executive Committee of this Federation are very friendly, and in general its work is deserving of praise. In the circumstances we were exceedingly astonished when it affiliated to the International of Intellectual Workers in Paris( C.I.T.I.). What its motives can be in joining this International, which as a matter of fact organizes even employers, persons working on their own account, and groups which cherish little sympathy with our aims, we fail to see. The proper International for their members can be no other than our own, and we cannot help feeling that their affiliation to the C.I.T.I. must be regarded as a mistake.
MEMBERSHIP.
At present 47 unions in 19 countries, with an aggregate membership of 701,343, of whom 152,165 are women are affiliated to our Federation. At the end of this Report a table( Annex A) is given, showing affiliated unions with membership on 1 January 1926, 1927 and 1928.
TRANSFER OF MEMBERS.
In 1922 in Copenhagen our International adopted regulations governing the transfer of members from one affiliated union to another. Unions marked with an asterisk in the table above- mentioned have subscribed to this Report( Annex B).
MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
( Full reports of the meetings of the Executive Committee held during the three years under review have been regularly published in our News Letter, so that we confine ourselves here to a review of the principal decisions.)
1. Amsterdam, 5 to 7 May 1926.
Apart from the Reports, this meeting dealt with the carrying out of the decisions of the Copenhagen Congress. It was decided to hold a number of special conferences and to press for equal wages for male and female employees. Finally, consideration was given to our position in the International Federation of Trade Unions and the position of affiliated unions in Italy and Catalonia.
2. Berlin, 2 to 4 June 1927.
In addition to the Reports, this meeting of the Executive Committee dealt with what is known as the" Programme of Montreux", the agenda

9
for the I.F.T.U. Congress in Paris, propaganda, the attitude to be adopted towards the Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers attached to the International Labour Office in Geneva, the organization of young workers, wages of women employees, the effects of trustification and cartellization in industry and equality of treatment for foreign employees.
3. Vienna, 30 November to 1 December 1927.
The Reports of the International Secretary were dealt with, and in addition propaganda and new affiliations. The attitude towards employees of social insurance institutions was defined and a restatement given of the categories which it was considered should belong to our Federation. Further, the decisions of the I.F.T.U. Paris Congress were discussed, as well as our attitude towards the Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers at the I.L.O. and the organization of young workers. Agendas were drawn up for our Triennial Congress to be held in Dresden in 1928 and for the different special conferences.
SPECIAL CONFERENCES.
In view of the fact that material for the memoranda submitted had to be furnished by the Secretariat, these conferences involved a great deal of work.
1. Conference of Commercial Travellers, at Prague, 29 and 30 October 1926.
This Conference was a great success, as regards attendance, the questions discussed, and the character of the debates, and several countries benefited as a result. G. J. A. Smit Jr. read a paper on the organization of commercial travellers, which led to the adoption of the following conclusions:
I." The fact that in all the countries without exception there are associations counting among their membership commercial travellers upon whom our movement is unable to exert any influence whatever and who in some cases even sympathise with the employers and are antagonistic to our movement is proof that we have not yet hit on the proper method of organizing commercial travellers. It is not sufficient for our unions to safeguard the interests of commercial travellers as employees against their employers and to conclude collective agreements regulating these interests together with those of other classes of salaried workers, but we must pay attention to such matters as travel facilities, and hotel accommodation- matters with which commercial travellers are daily concerned. We must help them out of their difficulties in regard to international travelling( passport, visas, luggage, samples, etc.) and in addition we must lay down guiding principles in respect of their remuneration.( Commission, prevention of unfair competition and " poaching", allocation of districts to be covered etc.)
So far, we have been apt to leave the matters last mentioned to the bourgeois associations, with the result that they have been able to win over more commercial travellers than they need have done.

10
If our unions are to attend to these questions their structure must be adjusted for the purpose. The formation of special sections for the commercial travellers would appear to be the likeliest solution. Needless to say due precaution must be observed in resorting to such a course.
To start with, local sections of commercial travellers must be created in the local branches, and once membership has assumed sufficiently large dimensions a linking up of the local sections into one national section can be effected. Pending the formation of a national section it is perhaps desirable to appoint a committee for the purpose of advising the Executive bodies on all matters affecting commercial travellers.
Finally, it is indisputable that in the very countries where the unions have set about rallying the commercial travellers to the Union all along the line and have proceeded to the formation of a special section for them, the number of commercial travellers joining the union is comparatively larger than elsewhere."
II." The International Conference of Commercial Travellers, meeting in Prague on 29 and 30 October 1926, confirms the resolution passed at the International Congress of the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees in September 1925( Copenhagen), and urges all affiliated unions organizing commercial travellers to set up with the least possible delay special sections which shall have the task of safeguarding, within the framework of the union, the occupational interests of this class of salaried worker.
The Conference, desirous of upholding the principles of the free trade union movement, decides that the sections of commercial travellers shall not be accessible to those employees whose rights and duties bear the character of employers."
R. Klein, M. P. read a paper on the economic and social conditions of commercial travellers and agents in different countries, the following resolution being adopted:
" The Conference of Commercial Travellers and Agents, held in Prague on 29 and 30 October 1926, asks all the unions affiliated to the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees, to conform to the resolution, passed at its International Congress held in Copenhagen in September 1925, urging the need of organizing commercial travellers and agents and of giving, within the framework of the general union, attention to the special interests of this class of employees, both as regards structure and through the trade union press. In particular it recommends the extension of the legal advice departments.
The Conference requests the International Federation to continue inquiry into the economic and social status of commercial travellers, and to publish the results, together with other information affecting this class of employees, in its News Letter.
The Conference calls attention to the claims voiced by the commercial, clerical and technical workers in all countries, demanding that their representatives be allowed to participate on terms of equality in all transactions of an economic character. As a group actively engaged in the distribution processes we claim a voice in national as well as

11
international economic policy, for we are the first to suffer from the effects of mistaken policy, though an opportunity to have a say in its formulation is withheld. What we want is not merely representation on the national economic bodies- economic parliaments, advisory bodiesbut also adequate representation at all international conferences, especially at the International Economic Congress to be held under the auspices of the League of Nations. As champions of peace and the fraternization of the nations we regard economic peace as the primary condition for a lasting World Peace, and we are prepared to bend all our forces to the realization of this ideal. Proceeding from the principle of Free Trade, we demand the uninterrupted maintenance of international commercial relations and the conclusion of commercial treaties between all countries. We wish to take part in all negotiations for such a purpose, for our rich fund of technical and practical knowledge will tend to add to the value of the provisions of such treaties, which should make due allowance for existing economic conditions.
In addition, the Conference urges the different organizations to press for the embodiment of the following clause in their national legislation: That commercial travellers and agents working in the name and for account of one or more firms, irrespective of whether the remuneration consists of a fixed wage, a fixed wage plus a commission or exclusively of commission, shall rank as employees, provided that their rights and duties are not identifiable with those of an employer.
It is considered that a fixed wage ensuring a decent standard of living must be the basic form of remuneration. In addition, attempts should be made to secure the introduction of a uniform type of contract fully regulating the conditions of employment. The International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees is therefore instructed to prepare a draft contract on the basis of information to be specially collected for the purpose.
The Conference further calls attention to the resolution adopted in Copenhagen with regard to the ninth item on the agenda, instructing the International Secretariat to undertake the preliminary work for setting up an international employment agency for commercial, clerical and technical employees, and declares that the corner- stone of such an institution can be laid by speeding up the organization of national employment agencies for commercial travellers.
The Conference regards it as the duty of all Governments to afford commercial travellers and agents engaged in export trade all necessary facilities, not only in regard to travelling, but also by setting up central intelligence officies in conjunction with the trade unions, and with the aid of commercial attachés at the different consulates in foreign countries. These functions shall also be entrusted to salaried employees in commercial and industrial undertakings."
K. Pacovsky read a paper on passports and visas, unhampered passage to and equality of treatment in all countries for commercial travellers, international hotel accommodation, etc. The following resolution was adopted:
" The International Conference of Commercial Travellers, held in

12
Prague on 29 and 30 October, 1926, re- affirms the demands formulated by the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees in regard to passports and visas and in particular associates itself with the resolution passed at the International Congress in Copenhagen.
The Conference urges the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees, as well as all its affiliated organizations, to make urgent representations to their national governments, the International Federation of Trade Unions, the League of Nations and the International Labour Office, with a view to materializing the above demands, and to seize all opportunities during the passage of measures through the parliaments to propose, through the representatives of the labour movement, amendments calculated to ensure complete liberty of movement for commercial travellers and in particular to urge their governments to ratify the guiding principles laid down at the passport conference held in Geneva under the auspices of the League of Nations. The Conference demands the introduction of privileges and facilities for commercial travellers, free passage of samples on production of an international sample passport and abolition of all taxation charges in countries where such charges have been introduced. The Conference protests against the practice adopted in almost all countries of balancing the national budget by systematically increasing the railway fares; demands that such railway managements as have not yet done so shall introduce season tickets and that similar facilities shall be granted to commercial travellers. The component unions of the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees are urged to make the necessary representations to the appropriate authorities, as it would appear that there is a danger of commercial travellers being robbed of the advantages of season tickets in the countries where such have been introduced. At the same time the introduction shall be called for of special freight rates for consignments of samples in all countries, while representations should be made to make such rates also available for commercial travellers of foreign nationality on producing the international passport afore- mentioned or some other identification paper. The Conference calls on the authorities to exercise their powers with a view to ensuring a strict enforcement of the sanitation measures in hotels and railway carriages; standardization of the registration cards which have to be filled in at the hotels and the text of which shall be in the principal languages; official placarding of hotel prices; the uniform and efficient regulation of the provisions of the Liability Acts in respects of hotelowners, and the extension to colleagues of foreign nationality of all facilities which the national commercial travellers enjoy in regard to hotel accommodation.
All affiliated sectional groups of commercial travellers are urged immediately to get into touch with the hotel- owners' associations in regard to facilities and price reductions for commercial travellers; with a view to extending such facilities to foreign travellers and notifying the International Secretariat of the outcome of their representations. In addition they should see that organized commercial travellers are informed of these advantages through suitable notices in hotels.

13
Finally the Conference recommends the introduction of international letters of credit and urges the issue of manuals for foreign travellers containing the legal provisions relating to commercial travellers in the different countries. These provisions should be standardized with the least possible delay."
Conference of Insurance Employees, in Prague, 20 and 21 March 1928. This Conference was also a success, both as regards attendance and the character of the debates. As a result of this Conference the insurance employees in all countries will in future join forces in the fight against insurance capital. The memoranda prepared by comrades Smit and Brillke were submitted to the Conference in print, and a report of the proceedings was published in the May number of the News Letter. The agenda included, among other questions, the organization of insurance employees; Comrade Smit had prepared a memorandum on the question and the Conference unanimously expressed the wish that a separate section should be constituted for insurance employees. Municipal Councillor A. Broczyner, of Vienna, lectured on fighting methods for insurance employees. This lecture and the discussions to which it gave rise were rich in information. Comrade E. Brillke, of Berlin, read a paper on the social and economic position of insurance employees in different countries. With a view to bridging the existing differences of opinion and bringing about concerted action by the insurance employees, the following resolution was adopted:
" In the light of the information given about the social and economic conditions of insurance employees in different countries, the first International Conference of Insurance Employees in Prague recommends the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees to entrust either a special section for insurance employees, or a special committee to be set up for the purpose with the drafting of a programme aiming at the early betterment of the conditions of the insurance employees in different countries. A temporary committee of one representative each from Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia respectively shall lay down what points are to be covered by such
programme.
Mining Employees.
The Secretariat went to a good deal of trouble to organize an international conference of mining employees. A memorandum on the social and economic conditions of mining employees in different countries was prepared by comrade O. Peters, of Berlin, and published in print. It proved impossible, however, to induce the Belgian and French mining employees who in these countries have no organization of their ownor those of Great Britain- where there are a large number of weak unions to take part in this Conference, and when it became clear that only the unions of Central Europe would be represented, it was decided to postpone it until such time as the other unions could also be persuaded to send representatives. Thus the absence in these countries of one powerful national organization avenges itself.

14
Bank Employees.
The International Executive Committee also intended to hold a special conference of bank and insurance employees, which was to have dealt with the growing tendency to replace employees by machines, and to have been immediately followed by a separate conference of bank employees to deal with the question of superannuation. The unions concerned apparently found it very difficult to answer the questionnaires on these two important questions, and at the finish the comrade who was entrusted with the preparation of the memorandum on the question of mechanicalization decided that the information at his disposal was insufficient to permit of any conclusions being drawn, and in consequence, after several postponements, it was finally decided to go ahead with the insurance employees conference, and to postpone the bank employees' conference until September 1928 in Dresden.
Miscellaneous.
It was not found possible to hold a conference for the employees of the electric bulb industry, and in the absence of sufficient information about conditions of engagement and work of employees of wireless broadcasting stations the idea of a conference for these employees also had to be abandoned.
On many occasions the Secretariat furnished information regarding the social, economic and legal situation of certain categories of salaried employees in different countries.
SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS.
In the interests of the special conferences above- mentioned, the Secretariat published several reports and memoranda. We would draw particular attention to the following:
Shop Closing in Different Countries.
This booklet, which was published in May 1926, contains the principal provisions regarding shop closing in different countries, and it proved very helpful to the unions in promoting their action in different countries. Wages of Women Employees.
The Secretariat prepared a survey, for the use of affiliated unions, of the wages of women employees in different countries, expressed in percentages of the corresponding wages of male employees and in actual figures. This information was sent to affiliated unions in December 1927. Trade Unionism and Young Employees.
The International Secretariat has collected information about methods of organization among young salaried employees in different countries. This information was published in the News Letter for March 1928.
The Salaried Employees' Movement in the Balkans.
In connection with the Secretary's attendance at the Conference held in the Balkans under the auspices of the I.F.T.U., we published in the April 1926 number of our News Letter a report on the salaried employees' trade union movement in these countries.

15
Railway Fares.
In the March 1926 number of our News Letter we published a survey of the railway fares in force in different countries, expressed in gold
marks.
THE NEWS LETTER.
The News Letter was published monthly in German, French and English. It is stencilled at the offices of the Secretariat and has a total circulation of 550, while affiliated unions can on application obtain additional copies. The News Letter regularly contains reports on movements, conflicts, social legislation and social insurances in the different
countries.
CONTACT WITH AFFILIATED UNIONS.
Endeavours have been made to encourage personal contact with affiliated unions. The best opportunities for this occurred, of course, on the occasion of meetings of the Executive Committee or visits of the General Secretary to other countries; in addition, arrangements were made for the representation of our International at the national congresses of affiliated unions.
During the three years General Secretary Smit attended national congresses in the following countries:
Country.
2 A10 Date. July 1925 and December
Belgium
Denmark.
Sweden
September 1925. May 1926.
1927.
Germany( Technical Employees and Offi- September 1926 and June
cials)
Czechoslovakia( insurance employees)
.
October 1926.
March 1927.
Austria( bank clerks)
Holland( technical workers and foremen) April 1927.
Austria( industrial employees)
Germany( foremen).
April 1928.
June 1928.
1928.
Comrade Smit also represented our International at the AustroGerman Conference held in Berlin in May 1927.
In addition to these official congresses, the General Secretary on other occasions met representatives of affiliated organizations in Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany and France.
Our International was also represented by other comrades at the following national congresses:
Norway
Country.
Czechoslovakia( industrial
employees)
Czechoslovakia( bank employees)
Czechoslovakia( salaried employees
in general)
Finland
Date.
July 1925
Representative. J. Johansen.
September 1925 O. Urban.
November 1926 H. Allina.
May 1927
O. Urban.
May 1927
J. Hansen.

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OUR SPECIAL SECTIONS.
During the three years covered by this Report no conferences were held for our official sections.
The Committee of the Technical Workers' and Foremen's Section met in Berlin on 1 June 1926, on the day preceding the meeting of the Executive Committee in the same city. A further special meeting of the Committee of this Section was held on 18 April 1928, also in Berlin, chiefly for the purpose of discussing the situation created by the setting up to the Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers at the International Labour Office in Geneva.
Contact between the two sections was kept up by their presidents, comrade H. Allina for the Bank Employees and O. Schweitzer for the Technical Employees and Foremen, both of whom are members of the Executive Committee.
The composition of the Committees of these Sections is as follows: Bank Employees.
H. Allina, President, Vienna.
P. Kollin, Prague.
B. Marx, Berlin.
Th. vande Plas, Brussels.
G. J. A. Smit Jr., Secretary, Amsterdam.
Technical Employees and Foremen.
O. Schweitzer, Engineer, President, Berlin.
Fl. Bergmann, Reichenberg.
H. Buschmann, Düsseldorf.
R. Seidel, Engineer, Vienna.
G. J. A. Smit Jr., Secretary, Amsterdam.
reer
( assyolam
Membership on January 1st.
Bank Employees' Section
1926 1927 1928 50,898 39,366 39,837
Technical Employees' and Foremen's Section 235,174 235,469 236,047
ACTIONS OF A GENERAL CHARACTER.
a
It is obvious that in an international organization like ours it must be the affiliated unions which take action of an effective kind, while the International itself must be content with giving information, advice and encouragement. The scene of activities is in the nature of things in the individual countries, and the International only takes direct part when there is reason to believe that influence can be brought to bear internationally upon governments or through the International Labour Office or International Federation of Trade Unions. For this reason we have deemed it desirable to ask the affiliated unions to let us have short reports on activities for their respective countries. Such reports as have been received will be found at the end of this Report. These Reports show that thanks to international organization important questions are now receiving attention in many countries. Among the most important of these are the questions of the legal eight- hour day, with

17
which are connected the questions of shop closing and Sunday rest; the position of older salaried employees; unemployment insurance; training for other professions; apprenticeship; annual holidays, superannuation and invalidity pensions; legal status of salaried employees; holiday homes etc. Affiliated unions have constantly given consideration to these questions, and progress has been made in several directions. Strikes.
Whenever important strikes take place, the International Secretariat, at the request of the union concerned, issues a warning against the engagement of blacklegs and if necessary also issues an appeal for financial help on behalf of the strikers. That good results may be obtained in this way was shown by the satisfactory response that was given to the appeal issued on behalf of the strike of bank employees in France. In the case of local conflicts, neither moral nor financial help is as a rule needed. Instances of such local conflicts are:
The strike of employees in the Berlin sanitary industry; the strike in the Saar district in which mainly technical workers were involved; the strike of bank clerks at the Warsaw Bank; the foremen's strike in the Kiel shipyards and the strike of commercial travellers at the vacuum cleaners manufacturing firm" Electrolux" in Holland.
Passport Visas.
Considerable progress has been made in the way of securing the abolition of passport visas and customs formalities; numerous countries having mutually agreed to do away with visas, which are now only required by a few countries in East and South Europe, while formalities at the customs offices have also been considerably simplified. In addition it has been possible to remove many difficulties which commercial travellers visiting foreign countries formerly had to contend with.
Holiday Homes.
Affiliated organizations are to a growing extent establishing holiday homes, where members and their families can spend their holidays at a moderate charge. Members also have opportunities of visiting holiday homes in other countries, opportunities which have on many occasions been advertized in our News Letter. Several applications for facilities of this kind have been received, which shows that members are interested.
bae Reductions of Hotel Prices for Commercial Travellers.
In a number of countries affiliated unions are demanding reductions on hotel prices for their commercial- traveller members. Opinions still differ, however, as to the expediency of these demands. In the case of Austria, agreements have been concluded with many hotels under which the reductions of prices are also enjoyed by foreign commercial travellers belonging to unions affiliated to our International. In Czechoslovakia the union on applying for an agreement of this kind was told that it should approach the International Association of Hotel Proprietors in Paris with a view to the conclusion of an international agreement on the subject.

18
THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS
As far as the activities of the I.F.T.U. are concerned, we would refer our members to the Report on Activities submitted to its International Congress held in Paris in August last year. Here we confine ourselves to a review of the relations between our own International and the I.F.T.U.
At the Vienna Congress of the I.F.T.U. held in June 1924 it was decided that the International Trade Secretariats should be represented on the General Council of the I.F.T.U. by three members. Smit was chosen as one of these representatives. This representation did not satisfy the International Trade Secretariats, however, as all contact between them and these three representatives was lacking.
At the meeting of the International Trade Secretariats held in Amsterdam on 9 and 10 October 1925, a committee of four members was appointed for the purpose of drafting, in conjunction with the Executive Committee of the I.F.T.U., proposals on relations between the I.F.T.U. and the International Trade Secretariats; comrade Smit being one of the members chosen.
The proposals submitted by this committee to the conference of the International Trade Secretariats held in Paris in August 1927 did not meet with approval, however; the time not being considered opportune for coming to clearly- cut organizational relations between the I.F.T.U. and the I.T.S. The Austrian delegates to this conference proposed that the governing bodies of the I.F.T.U. should consist of equal numbers of representatives of the national trade union centres and the International Trade Secretariats, but this proposal also was rejected. The German representatives thereupon proposed that in future joint meetings should be held annually between members of the I.F.T.U. General Council and representatives of all International Trade Secretariats, at which the Report on Activities of the I.F.T.U. and its programme of action for the coming year should be discussed. This proposal was adopted. In addition, it was proposed that the General Council of the I.F.T.U. should be enlarged so as to include two representatives from each country, so that members representative of salaried employees and officials might also be appointed. This proposal was amended in the committee which had to deal with it, in the sense that one regular member and a substitute was proposed instead of two members from each country. It was suggested that the substitute members should be representative of the salaried employees and officials. Only a few countries have acted on this suggestion, however, so that our representation in the General Council is still very inadequate.
The Secretariat has repeatedly pointed out that in consequence of this inadequate representation on the governing bodies of the I.F.T.U. and at the International Labour Office in Geneva, too little consideration is given to the special interests of our members. In consideration of the objections we had voiced in this connection, comrades Oudegeest and

19
Smit were asked to prepare a report dealing with non- manual workers, civil servants and professional workers in the trade union movement, for submission to the Paris Congress of the I.F.T.U. These two comrades acted accordingly, and in their reports they emphasized the relatively more rapid growth of the salaried employees' group and the special character of their interest in the principal problems of our time. The committee appointed in Paris to consider this question practically unanimously approved the conclusions drawn by comrade Smit, and the following resolution was adopted:
1. In view of the growing antagonism between the classes and the increasing importance of the non- manual workers and civil servants in economic and political life, it is important to win over these sections of the working people for the Trade Union International, and to place them in a position to cooperate closely with the manual workers. For this reason the Free Trade Union Movement of all lands should strive to induce non- manual workers' and civil servants' unions to affiliate and encourage the formation of such unions.
2. In organizing non- manual workers and civil servants account should be taken of their special position, their conditions of work, their social position and their mentality.
3. The non- manual workers' and civil servants' organizations have their down demands and requirements, and it is therefore impossible to lay down model rules of action for all trade unions.
4. Non- manual workers and civil servants should not be incorporated into manual workers' organizations against their will. Wherever joint organizations of manual and non- manual workers have already been formed and have proved their worth, this cooperation should be encouraged.
5. The national centres should consider the granting of concessions to the non- manual workers and civil servants' organizations by, for instance, establishing special sections and creating special secretariats for them, giving their leaders seats on their executive committees, taking them into consideration when issuing various publications etc. By those means the national centres will, externally as well as internally, acquire the characteristics of centres representing both manual and non- manual workers.
6. The governments and the national trade union centres, in the appointment of delegations to national and international congresses or conferences, and to similar institutions in the country itself, shall be invited to take into consideration the nominations made by trade unions of non- manual workers.
7. The Congress recommends that national trade union centres, if electing two representatives of the General Council of the I.F.T.U., shall, if possible, consider the appointment of a representative of the non- manual workers and civil servants.
8. If and when assistance or cooperation is desired by organizations of professional workers, such assistance or cooperation may be rendered, provided that the class character of our movement and the interests of the manual and non- manual workers and civil servants be not com

20
promised thereby, and that, in case of need, a request may be made to organizations of professional workers for assistance or cooperation. Professional workers who are in the position of permanent employees shall be organized in non- manual workers' unions.
⭑ *
*
The Congress decided that the following recommendation, which formed part of the original resolution as proposed by the competent commission, shall be referred to the General Council:
" The International Trade Union Movement should also take this standpoint, electing representatives of non- manual workers and civil servants on all their governing bodies, and thereby enabling the I.F.T.U. also to acquire the characteristics of an organization representing both manual and non- manual workers."
At the meeting of the General Council of the I.F.T.U. held in Berlin in January this year this question was once more deferred until the next meeting. At Smit's suggestion, the I.F.T.U. Secretariat is to prepare a provisional memorandum on this question for submission to the next meeting of the General Council.
It is of the highest importance that the salaried employees should be adequately represented on the governing bodies of the I.F.T.U. and the I.L.O., representation. This is the more necessary in view of the attitude originally adopted towards the Committee on Intellectual Workers ( previously referred to) and in connection with the inquiry into working conditions in the mining industry and the latest inquiries undertaken by the I.F.T.U. into working hours in different branches of industry, ( which is being confined to manual workers to the exclusion of salaried employees): the question of the eight- hour day, and our legal status programme. That the I.F.T.U. is the international organization of both manual and non- manual workers should find expression in the composition of its governing bodies.

21
THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE, GENEVA. Without attributing too much importance to the work of the International Labour Office, it may nevertheless be said that it is able to, and actually does perform excellent research and intelligence work. At the sessions of the International Labour Conference the respective countries are entitled to appoint two government delegates and one representative each of employers and workers. Representation on the Governing Body of the I.L.O. is on the same basis. It follows that whether or not the workers are to obtain favourable results at the International Labour Conferences depends upon the extent to which they are able to influence the different governments, and upon this influence also depends whether they are able to prevail upon the governments to ratify the international conventions and recommendations adopted at the Conferences.
Until recent years the International Labour Office paid but scant attention to the salaried employees. Instances of this were the definite refusal to include the mining employees in the inquiries into working conditions in the mining industry and into the working conditions of certificated engineers in private industry. Needless to say, we did not lend our cooperation in the latter inquiry.
In September 1926 the annual meeting of the International Association for Social Progress was held, at Montreux, to discuss the legal, social and economic position of private salaried employees in the light of a memorandum on the subject by comrade Fr. Horand, of the Swiss Federation of Salaried Employees' Unions. We on our part, in conjunction with the German A.F.A. Federation, also prepared a report and a programme of demands for the occasion. These demands were discussed with the delegates from the unions affiliated to our International attending in Montreux, and subsequently with the other salaried employees' delegates present. The following resolution was adopted by the meeting of the International Association for Social Progress:
Salaried Employees.
The first General Meeting of the International Association for Social Progress, meeting in Montreux, welcomes the decision of the Inter-. national Association for Labour Legislation in 1922 to carry out an enquiry into the situation of salaried employees. The situation of salaried employees from the social point of view requires( and this is proved by the results of the enquiry) that protection by law should be granted to employees to a greater extent than has been the case hitherto. Consequently, this General Meeting decides in favour of the following demands:
Demands with reference to existing International Conventions and Recommendations.
National legislation which is passed in order to apply the provisions of Conventions and Recommendations of the International Labour Conference should include the whole body of salaried employees within their scope, unless it is expressly and on account of its object applicable only to specific branches of industry in which no salaried employees are em

22
ployed. The Conventions and Recommendations which have already been adopted, and those which may be adopted in the future, should be extended to all employees in private and public service, account being taken of the special conditions of the service of salaried employees. It is the duty of the International Labour Office to see that the Conventions and Recommendations are thus amplified.
Working Hours.
The maximum working hours should be eight per working day. Saturday half holiday, or another half day during the week, should be guaranteed. If for imperative reasons in the public interest Sunday work is necessary, this should be included in the working week. In trade measures should be taken to close shops at seven o'clock; the authorities can insist that either in all or in certain specific branches of trade shops shall be closed at six o'clock. They should be compelled to adopt measures for the closing of shops at six o'clock when collective agreements to this effect are in force or if the majority of the salaried employees and the employers concerned are in favour of such a measure.
Weekly Rest Day.
Complete Sunday rest should be guaranteed; within a period of seven days a rest period of at least 40 consecutive hours should be guaranteed. Protection of Women.
Women employees should not be dismissed in consequence of inability to work consequent on pregnancy or confinement. If the employer gives notice within six weeks before or after confinement, it should under no circumstances terminate less than 8 weeks after the confinement. The Washington Convention should be amended to take account of this.
Demands with reference to further national and international regulations.
Non- competition Clause.
A non- competition clause, prohibiting an employee to compete with an employer, under which an employee is forbidden, after the termination of his service, to accept another position in another establishment, should be declared null and void.
So- called secret competion clauses( black lists), i.e. agreements among employers not to employ particular employees, should be punishable.
Holidays.
All salaried employees and apprentices should have a legal right to holidays with pay, the length of which should vary with the length of
service.
Payment of Salary.
If an employee is prevented from doing his work through no fault of his own or as a result of military service he should be entitled to receive his pay for at least six weeks. This period should increase as the length of service increases. Notice of dismissal on the part of the employer during this period should be considered as null and void.

23
In the event of death the above- mentioned amounts should be paid to the dependants.
If the employee is prevented from doing his work as a result of public duties he should not forfeit his right to payment.
Notice of Dismissal.
An employer may dismiss an employee only if he gives six weeks' notice terminating at the end of a quarter. This period should increase as the period of service increases.
If an employee leaves an employer he should give at least four weeks' notice terminating at the end of a month.
Indemnity.
On the termination of service through no fault of the employee, the latter should be entitled to an indemnity, provided the period of service is at least two years; the amount should increase as the period of service
increases.
Protection of Inventors.
In all countries agreed provisions should be adopted concerning the rights of employees as inventors, and their privileges should be guaranteed.
More Favourable Conditions of Service.
In so far as more favourable conditions prevail in any country, whether by law, agreement or custom, these conditions shall not be prejudiced by the adoption of the above demands.
Activity of the National Sections.
The General Meeting again urges the national sections to use all the means at their disposal to obtain the application of the above programme from their Governments.
Enquiries.
In furtherance of the enquiries undertaken in 1922, the following questions should be investigated:
1. Means of fighting unemployment among employees( unemployment relief, employment exchange activity, training with a view to a change of occupation, protection of the older employees, emigration, etc.) 2. Protection of apprentices and vocational training.
3. Protection of employees as inventors.
4. Priority for employees in claims in bankruptcy cases.
5. Inspection of offices( supervision to ensure that measures for the protection of employees are carried out).
Co- operation with the International Labour Office.
The Bureau of the International Association for Social Progress is

24
asked to get into touch with the International Labour Office in order to examine the best means of carrying out the above resolution.
On the occasion of the meeting in Montreux a conversation took place with representatives of the I.L.O., and we took this opportunity to urge the setting up of a special department to look after the interests of the salaried employees.
At the invitation of the Director of the I.L.O., M. Albert Thomas, an unofficial meeting took place in Geneva in December 1926 of representatives of the salaried employees of various tendencies; our movement being represented by Messrs. S. Aufhäuser( Berlin), J. Hallsworth ( Manchester), R. Klein( Prague) and G. J. A. Smit Jr.( Amsterdam). At this meeting the announcement was made that a special department for salaried employees had been established at the I.L.O. under the leadership of M. Boisnier; and further the following programme was agreed upon: I. For the next International Labour Conference the worker's section shall be requested to put forward a resolution, in which the Governments are requested:
a.
to recognize the benefits contained in the provisions of the Washington Hours Convention for all categories of workers which can be covered by the terms of this Convention;
b. to extend, by national legislation, the application of the provisions of the Washington Hours Convention to all salaried workers not embraced by the Convention;
c. to ask the Governing Body of the I.L.O. to examine the possibility of including in the agenda of a future session of the International Labour Conference the question of the international regulation of the hours of labour for salaried employees who do not yet benefit by the provisions of the Washington Hours Convention.
II. The Director of the International Labour Office will make the proposal, in the next session of the Governing Body, to place on the agenda of the International Labour Conference 1928 the question Js of the labour contract of salaried workers, especially in respect of: a. the guarantee of payment of salary where there is an involuntary interruption of service;
b. dismissal;
c. indemnities payable on termination of engagement.
III. a. An inquiry will be made into the regulations existing in the various countries regarding the closing of shops, in order to supplement the booklet published by our International Federation; b. An inquiry will also be made into the protection of inventors. We have asked the affiliated organizations to press for the realization

25
of this programme in their respective countries, with a view to the adoption of uniform regulations.
The department of the I.L.O. for salaried employees' affairs is functioning in an excellent manner. So far memoranda on the following questions have been published: the non- competition clause; shop closing; protection of salaried- employee inventors working hours legislation for salaried employees in Europe; legislative provisions regarding notice of dismissal of salaried employees.
This part of the work done by the I.L.O. may be regarded as satisfactory. We are less pleased, however, with the institution of the
Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers,
which we consider to be detrimental to the interests of salaried employees.
The" International Federation of Intellectual Workers", which has its headquarters in Paris, is composed of intellectual employers, intellectual salaried employees and intellectual independents. The membership figures published by this organization are purely fictitious.
Though the International Labour Office and International Labour Conferences were conceived solely for the purpose of safeguarding the interests of labour, the International Federation in question is constantly seeking representation at the I.L.O. and at the International Labour Conferences. A request it made to this effect met with a rebuff in January 1926, when it was recommended to try and prevail upon the governments to appoint some of its representatives as technical advisers to the official delegates to these Conferences.
In January 1927 it was announced that the Governing Body of the I.L.O. had, with the assent of the labour members, decided to set up an Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers. This cooperation on the part of the labour delegates, representing as they do the I.F.T.U., was the more surprising as we had voiced our objections at meetings held beforehand; objections which have since proved to be justified.
It was expressly stated that this Committee would not handle the interests of salaried employees, though technical workers would possibly be covered. In this connection it was suggested that we might appoint a member on this Committee, if we were willing to state how many and what categories of technical workers belonged to our International. We repeatedly protested, both to the I.F.T.U. and the I.L.O., against the setting up of this Committee. The nature of our objections was set forth in the following letter, which was sent to the I.L.O. in August last year:
" The International Labour Office was founded with the object of looking after the interests of all categories of wage- earners.
Up to the end of 1926 the I.L.O. gave almost its whole attention to the interests of the manual workers, and it paid hardly any to the interests of the non- manual workers.
Owing to our repeated protests, this state of affairs was altered at the end of the year 1926. A special service was created for the salaried

26
workers and a conference of salaried employees' representatives has been held under the auspices of the I.L.O. It may be expected that the I.L.O. will continue to pay sufficient attention to the salaried employees.
At its meeting of March 30th, 1927, the Governing Body of the I.L.O. resolved to propose in the budget for 1928 a credit for the institution of a special advisory committee on intellectual workers.
Our International Federation considers the institution of such a committee to be not only a mistake, but also detrimental to the interests of the salaried employees.
What is the position?
It is of course understood that the intellectual workers have common intellectual interests. These interests are the same for the intellectual workers, for the intellectual employers and for independent intellectual workers. For this reason we consider it correct that a Committee for intellectual cooperation has been instituted by the League of Nations.
As soon as conditions of employment require to be regulated, however, the interests of the intellectuals come into collision.
Fundamental differences exist between the interests of the intellectual salaried workers( e.g. engineers, physicians, artists) and the interests of intellectual employers.
As soon as the interests of the intellectual salaried workers are brought on the carpet, the interests of this category are in conflict with those of the intellectual employers and coincide with the interests of all other categories of salaried employees.
The interests of the various groups of technical employees- the non- manual workers in commercial enterprises etc.- coincide to such an extent, that these groups are or should be- organized in one and the same trade union.
The institution of a special advisory committee on intellectual workers by the International Labour Office would, therefore, be a fundamental mistake and, in view of the fact that such a committee might be the cause of discord among the various groups of salaried employees, the institution of the committee in question would be directly prejudical to the interests of the salaried employees.
Our International Federation therefore maintains its protests against the institution by the International Labour Office of a special advisory committee for intellectual workers. We on our part do not think of appointing a member on this committee, not even for the technical employees and we voice here the opinion of our trade group for technical employees, especially that of the BUTAB( Berlin), which organises thousands of engineers.
Apart from these fundamental objections to the institution of the committee in question, we beg to draw your attention to our practical objections:
It is true that the members of the committee have not yet been nominated, but according to reports in the papers, the committee will be composed as follows:
3 members of the Governing Body of the I.L.O.;
2 members of the Committee for Intellectual Cooperation instituted by the League of Nations;

27
3 members of the International Federation of Intellectual Workers and 1 member of the International Federation of Journalists.
How is the International Federation of Intellectual Workers composed?
Apart from the questionable membership figures of the affiliated national associations, we beg to draw your attention to the fact that the " National Federation of Professional Workers", with headquarters in London, and the" Verbond van Vakorganisaties van Hoofdarbeiders", with headquarters in Rotterdam, are affiliated to the International Federation of Intellectual Workers. Both national associations organize clerks, foremen and technicians, among others. The admittance of this International Federation would mean, therefore, that only the bourgeois or neutral tendency would be represented in the committee and yet this Committee would have to look after the interests of all categories of salaried employees, in so far as there can be any question of" looking after interests" by the associations in question.
The admittance of only one member of our International Federationthis member could represent the technical employees, for instance, would afford us only an exceedingly small minority in the committee, and this would not be at all in accordance with the position of our International Federation, nor with that of the free trade union movement in general.
Quite apart from our fundamental objections, we should not thinkfor practical reasons- of taking part in the work of the Committee. We maintain our protests against the institution of the Committee which would be in contradiction with the character of the I.L.O. and would be prejudical to the interests of the salaried employees."
Our protests were fruitless, however. A preparatory meeting of the Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers, held in Brussels in December 1927, decided that the Governing Body of the I.L.O. should be asked to place the following items on the agenda for the first plenary meeting: 1. Termination of employment of journalists in the event of a change occurring in the policy of their newspaper.
2. Stipulation concerning the acceptance of other employment in the case of engineers and technical staff leaving an establishment.
3. Finding of employment for theatrical artists.
4. Inventions by employees.
It was plain, therefore, that the Committee was to deal with questions of great interest to salaried employees, and for this reason Oudegeest voted against this agenda. The Governing Body, however, gave the seal of its approval, and decided that the Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers should be composed as follows:
A. Executive Committee.
Five permanent officers, three representing the Governing Body of the International Labour Office and two representing the League of Nations International Committee on Intellectual Co- operation.
B. Members.
dup International Federation of Intellectual Workers( 4 members);

28
International Federation of Journalists( 1 member);
German organizations of intellectual workers( 1 member); Italian organization of intellectual workers( 1 member); Intellectual Workers of extra- European countries( 2 members); International Employers' Organizations( 2 members).
Our Executive Committee, at its meeting in Vienna in December last, once more discussed the whole matter, and decided to persist in our opposition and to ask the I.L.O. to set up a special Committee for Salaried Employees.
The Committee of our Section for Technical Workers and Foremen, which is chiefly affected by this question, at its meeting in Berlin in April last, expressed its complete agreement with this attitude.
The following letter was thereupon sent to the Governing Body of the I.L.O.:
" Permit us to express our thanks to you for having taken no definite decision regarding the Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers at the January Session of the Governing Body, and for postponing this decision until the April Session, partly on account of objections raised, among others, by the" Bund der Technischen Angestellten und Beamten" ( Berlin), by the" Bund der Industrieangestellten Oesterreichs" and by the" Allgemeiner Industrieangestellten- Verband Reichenberg".
At the meeting of the Executive Committee of our Trade Group of Technical Employees, held on April 18th, in Berlin, the views of our International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees were confirmed without reserve after the whole question had once more been considered, in consequence of various letters which had come to hand. We, therefore, beg to bring the following to your notice: 1. We maintain our opinion that by virtue of the Peace Treaty there is no room for an Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers, whose chief work would be to attend to the interests of the so- called free professions.
The intellectual interests are already attended to by the International Commission for Intellectual Cooperation at the League of Nations. We consider that there is no reason to institute a similar Committee at the International Labour Office.
2. Should this Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers be definitely decided on, however, our International, on behalf of 236,000 Technical Employees, strongly protests against this Committee dealing with the affairs of salaried employees.
According to the proposals made by the preparatory meeting at Brussels on December 19th and 20th, 1927, it is really intended to treat also purely salaried employees' affairs.
We would once more emphatically point out that if a person belonging to the free professions takes a a post, he becomes a salaried employee, and the legal stipulations applied to salaried employees in the different countries are also applicable in his case. To divide salaried employees into two groups, with and without

29
university training is, in our opinion, tantamount to causing a split among salaried employees and their organization.
Consequently, the Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers should at all events refrain from dealing with the affairs of salaried employees.
A proposal to the effect that this Committee should first confer with representatives of the salaried employees before treating salaried employees' affairs, and afterwards come to decisions, independently of these representatives, we should refuse to consider. We consider that salaried employees should themselves deal with their affairs and make their own decisions.
3. It is true that the salaried employees, as far as those participating in the labour movement are concerned- and this is the case with the great majority of trade unionists- are represented at the I.L.O. by labour representatives, but it will not be denied that they have special interests. You yourselves have admitted this by instituting a special Service for Salaried Employees.
We still maintain that if the I.L.O. is properly to attend to the affairs of the large group of salaried employees it should institute a special Committee for Salaried Employees. We therefore repeat our proposal, made to the Director of the I.L.O. as far back as December 1927, that a Committee for Salaried Employees should be set up.
In order to avoid all possible conflicts in connexion with the activities of the Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers, it would, in our opinion, be essential to call this Committee into being simultaneously with the Committee for Salaried Employees.
We would add that we should raise no objection to the International Federation of Intellectual Workers( Headquarters at Paris) also being represented on this Committee on behalf of the salaried employees among its members.
We solicit the favour of your kind attention to the interests of the salaried employees, and venture to hope that you will see your way clear to share our view."
Notwithstanding these protests, and notwithstanding the fact that the Workers' Delegates now fully share our objections, this Committee is to be maintained. We reckon on the fullest possible support from the Workers' Delegates in our endeavours to counteract the unfavourable influence which this Committee is bound to try and exercise on the position of the salaried employees.
We have asked the I.L.O. Governing Body to include a few questions of interest to salaried employees in the agenda of one of the sessions of the International Labour Conference. For 1928 we failed to secure this, but we shall fare better at the 1929 session when the eight- hour day for salaried employees will be discussed by virtue of the following resolution, which was put forward by the Workers' Delegate Schürch:
" Whereas the Treaty of Peace has provided that the hours of work of all workers should be regulated; whereas the Washington Convention has regulated the hours of work for all industrial workers; whereas, moreover, in some countries the hours of work of workers other than

30
industrial workers( commercial employees) are regulated by law; the Conference requests the Governing Body of the International Labour Office to consider the possibility of placing on the agenda of an early session of the Conference the question of the International regulation of the hours of work of all workers other than industrial workers( commercial employees)."
In the meantime the British Government has put forward a proposal for the amendment of the Washington Eight Hours Convention. In consideration of the fact that hitherto no regulation whatsoever has been introduced for the groups we represent, we registered our protest against this with the I.L.O.

31
MATTERS FINANCIAL.
At the Copenhagen Congress the annual rate of contribution was reduced to 25 guilders per thousand members, so that our International is now among those charging the lowest rates of contribution.
Thanks to the rigid economy which we practised, and the advances we were able to obtain from the Dutch union, we have managed to make ends meet. We have every year published detailed financial accounts in the News Letter, and we confine ourselves here to a statement of Income and Expenditure for the years 1925, 1926 and 1927.( See annexes C., D. and E.)
AUDITORS' CERTIFICATE
The undersigned, Th. Van de Plas, General Secretary of the General Union of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees, Warehousemen, and Commercial Travellers of Belgium, and C. W. Jacobsen Treasurer of the General Dutch Union of Commercial and Clerical Employees, have examined the books and documents, together with the Bankers' Certificates, and to the best of their belief the statements shown are a correct and true record of the financial transactions for the period 1 October 1920 to 31 December 1926, of the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees.
AMSTERDAM, 24 February 1927.
C. W. JACOBSEN. TH. VAN DE PLAS.

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CONCLUSION.
On the whole our International may look back with satisfaction upon the three years which lie behind us. Much remains to be done: The affiliation of comrades in as many countries as possible must continue to be our constant aim. Relations between the salaried employees in all countries must be tightened up, so that they may feel themselves members of one big international family. Constant efforts must be made to extend our influence and activities, both national and international. We think we may say that in these respects considerable progress has been made: There is a better understanding than there used to be, and a growing recognition that in coordinated action in all countries lies the solution of our problems and the attainment of our ideals. The hand of brotherhood is stretched across frontiers, and all realize that the wage- earners in all countries are brothers and not adversaries, and that capitalism, both in its national and international aspects, is the common enemy.
Our International has won recognition, both by those we seek to organize and elsewhere, as an organization that counts. Let this be an encouragement to us to pursue the course we have taken, keeping in sight as our immediate object the improvement of the material and cultural position of the salaried employees, and as our ultimate object the emancipation of the working classes from the yoke of capitalism. LONG LIVE OUR INTERNATIONAL!
Ив ГАЛЯ НА MAY
G. J. A. SMIT Jr.
General Secretary.

BEILAGE ANNEXE
ANNEX
A
Nummer
Numéro Number
LAND PAYS COUNTRY
NAMEN DER ANGESCHLOSSENEN VERBÄNDE NOMS DES SYNDICATS AFFILIÉS NAMES OF THE AFFILIATED UNIONS
I. X
Belgien
Belgique
Belgium.
. X
Dänemark Danemark.
Denmark
3. X
Deutschland
4. X
5.
Allemagne Germany
6.
7.
8.
Finnland.
Finlande
Finland.
9.
Frankreich
IO.
France
_I.
Griechenland.
Grèce. Greece.
Grossbritannien.. Grande Bretagne Great Britain....
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Irland..
Irlande
Ireland
17.
Syndicat Général des Employés, Techniciens, Magasiniers et Voyageurs de Commerce de Belgique.
Dansk Handels- og Kontormedhjaelperforbund..
Zentralverband der Angestellten..
Bund der Technischen Angestellten und Beamten Allgemeiner Verband der Deutschen Bankangestellten Deutscher Werkmeister- Verband...
Polier-, Werk- und Schachtmeisterbund für das Baugewerbe Deutschlands....
Suomen Liiketyöntekijäin Liitto r.y.
Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d'Employés
Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d'Employés de la Finance Fédération des Employés Privés de la Grèce...
National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers ADMINISTRATIVE, CLERICAL AND SUPERVISORY GROUP of the Transport& General Workers' Union Association of Women Clerks and Secretaries... National Union of Clerks& Administrative Workers Irish Union of Distributive Workers and Clerks...
18.
19.
20. X
21.
22.
23. X 24. X
25. X
26.
27.
28.
Jugoslawien
Yougo- Slavie.
Yougo- Slavia.
Lettland.
Lettonie.
Latvia
Niederlande Pays- Bas Netherlands
Norwegen Norvège Norway
Oesterreich Autriche Austria
Savez Privatnih Namjestenika Jugoslavije
Vispareja darbinieku Biedriba
Latvijas Komivojazeru Biedriba
Algemeene Nederlandsche Bond van Handels- en Kantoorbedienden
Algemeene Bond van Technisch- en Opzichthoudend Personeel Norges Handels- og Kontorfunksjonaerers Forbund...
Zentralverein der Kaufmännischen Angestellten Oesterreischs Bund der Industrieangestellten Oesterreischs... Reichsverein der Bank- und Sparkassenbeamten Oesterreichs Bund der Bank- und Sparkassengehilfen der Republik Oesterreich
Verein der Versicherungsangestellten Oesterreichs
Reichsverband der Rechtsanwalts- und Notarsangestellten Oesterreichs.
Reichsverein der Zeitungsbeamten Oesterreichs

ADRESSEN
ADRESSES
ADDRESSES
A
30AJ 88 LEVIMA
XIKMA
Mitgliederzahlen am 1. Januar: Effectifs au 1er Janvier:
Membership figures on January 1st:
1926
1927
1928
Maison Syndicale 17, Rue du Poinçon, BRUXELLES
6.000
6.000
6.720
Gl. Kongevej 6,
KOPENHAGEN V.
13.000
13.000
13.000
Oranienstrasse 40-41,
BERLIN SO.36.
152.890
149.259
152.230
Werftstrasse 7,
BERLIN NW. 40.
58.053
51.032
51 113
Französischestrasse 21 ,.
BERLIN W.8.
10.889
10.000
12.771
Stromstrasse 8,
DÜSSELDORF.
139.723
132.500
129.276
Schleinitzstrasse 24 ,.
BRAUNSCHWEIG.
-
13.058
13.340
Sirkuskatu 5 ,.
HELSINKI.
2.203
2.345
2.629
3, Rue du Château d'Eau ,.
PARIS Xe.
12.000
12.000
12.000
3, Rue du Château d'Eau ,.
PARIS Xe.
3.431
2.500
I.200
ATHENES.
4.000
,, Oakley", 122 Wilmslow R., Fallowfield, MANCHESTER.
Transport House, Smith Square, Westm., LONDON, S.W.1. 1-3, Churton Street, Vauxhall Bridge R., LONDON, S.W.1. 17-20, Holborn Hall, Gray's Inn Road, LONDON, W.C.1. Cavendish House
DUBLIN.
93.468
91.488
95.356
6.000
6.000
6.000
2.000
7.000
6.000
6.010
Palaca Sredisnjeg ureda z.o.r.
Produljena Haulikova....
ZAGREB
4.500
4.500
4.880
Marstalu iela 21, dz. 3
M. Jauniela no. 4,
RIGA. RIGA.
500 106
P.C. Hooftstraat 179, Twintighuizen 30rood, Arbeidergaten 2...
Werdertorgasse 9,..
Biberstrasse 2,
Löwelstrasse 18,
Singerstrasse 6,
Deutschmeisterplatz 2 ,.
Berggasse 39, Zieglergasse 25 ,.
AMSTERDAM- Zuid.
7.376
7.796
8.445
DORDRECHT.
400
45°
OSLO.
8.000
6.000
5.000
WIEN I.
30.610
30.610
27.949
WIEN I.
34.917
32.838
33.458
IWIEN I.
10.995
9.310
8.439
IWIEN I.
6.633
3.537
3.109
.. WIEN I.
4.196
4.100
4.058
WIEN IX.
I.339
I.329
I.I20
. WIEN VII.
600
663
663

BEILAGE
ANNEXE
ANNEX
A
( CONT.)
Nummer
Numéro Number
LAND PAYS COUNTRY
NAMEN DER ANGESCHLOSSENEN VERBÄNDE NOMS DES SYNDICATS AFFILIÉS
NAMES OF THE AFFILIATED UNIONS
30.
Polen.
31.
Pologne Poland
32.
33.
34.
35.
Rumänien Roumanie Roumania
Schweden
Zwiazek Zawodowy Pracowników Zatrudnionych w Handlu i Biurowosci w Polsce
Allgemeiner freier Angestelltenbund Polnisch- Oberschlesien.. Zwiazek Zawodowy Pracowników Bankowych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej...
Zwiazek Zawodowy Agentow i Wojazerow
Societatea Centrala a Functionarilor de Comert si Birou din Bucovina
Uniunea Functionarilor de Banca si a Caselor de Economii din Bucovina
Svenska Handelsarbetareförbundet
36. X
Suède.
Sweden
37.
Spanien Espagne Spain
·
Federació de Dependents de Catalunya.
38.
39. X
40.
41.
42.
43. X
Tschechoslowakei Einheitsverband der Privat- und Oeffentlichen Angestellten
Tchécoslovaquie Czechoslovakia..
44. X
45. X 46. 47.
Ungarn Hongrie Hungary
in der Czechoslovakischen Republik
Odborová organisace ceskoslovenského advokátniho a notárského úrednictva
Zentralverband der Versicherungsangestellten in der Czechoslovakischen Republik
Verband der Bank- und Sparkassenbeamten in der Czechoslowakischen Republik
Allgemeiner Industrieangestellten- Verband Reichenberg Zentralverband der Angestellten in Industrie, Handel und Verkehr...
Reichsverband der Bergbau- und Hüttenangestellten
Magyarországi Magántisztviselök Szövetsége. Kereskedelmi Alkalmazottak Országos Szövetsége Pénzintézeti Tisztviselök Országos Egyesülete
Die mit dem Zeichen X versehenen Organisationen sind der KOPENHAGENER REGELUNG betr. den Uebertritt von Mitgliedern beigetreten.
Le signe X signifie que l'organisation en question a adopté le RÉGLEMENT DE COPENHAGUE pour le
transfert des membres.
X in front of the name of an organisation means that this organisation has adopted the COPENHAGEN RULES for the transfer of members.

ADRESSEN
ADRESSES
ADDRESSES
Mitgliederzahlen am 1. Januar:
Effectifs au 1er Janvier:
Membership figures on January 1st:
1926
1927
1928
Zielna 25,...
WARSZAWA.
8.000
7.000
7.000
ul. Mickiewicza 8 II.
KATOWICE.
2.816
2.837
2.797
Królewska 35,...
WARSZAWA.
4.500
I.000
I.000
S- to Krzyska 15,...
WARSZAWA.
I.020
str. Avram Iancu 7,
Strada Carolinei 7,...
Spangatan 20 b...
CERNAUTI.
550
550
550
CERNAUTI.
500
500
500
MALMÖ. 8.206
9.027
10.422
Hleda
Nueva de S. Francisco, 2, I,....
BARCELONA.
9.820
2.500
2.500
Jungmannova 29.
Brandlova 23,
ildo
PRAG II.
27.500
27.840
27.887
PRAG- Weinberge.
414
242
250
Lützowova ul. 45 n.
Perstyn II, I. Stock ,. Schloszgasse I,
Seilerstrasse I,.....
Rottenbiller- utca 13,
Erzsébet körut 13,
Akadémia- utca 6,
PRAG II.
4.140
4.100
3.001
PRAG I.
5.000
5.773
5.808
REICHENBERG.
12.085
12.036
12.419
TEPLITZ- SCHÖNAU.
7.000
6.000
3.771
Schlangenbadstrasse 34,...
. TEPLITZ- SCHÖNAU.
4.921
4.900
4.900
BUDAPEST VII.
5.818
5.800
5.800
BUDAPEST VII.
4.010
4.000
2.896
BUDAPEST V.
3.000
3.000
3.000
Y
Z
X72
3.000 X
I.000
4.000 Y 3.000
2.000
725.103
696.370
708.343
30 bot
hat
X: Italien
Italie Italy
Federazione Italiana Dipendenti Aziende Private.
Y: Portugal: Federaçao Portuguesa dos Empregados no Comercio.
Z: Tschechoslowakei
Tchécoslovaquie
101 Czechoslovakia
Ceskoslovensky Svaz Vseurednicky v Praze.
bhow laned dold
hods avab lo

38
Annex B.
Rules concerning the transfer of members belonging to unions affiliated with the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical
Employees.
Para. 1. Any member of a union affiliated with the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees shall be admitted to membership of an affiliated union in another country without payment of entrance fees immediately on changing his/ her abode from one country to another on furnishing proof that he/ she has been a member of the union in that country from which he/ she has proceeded. Transferred members shall be entitled to the same rights as a native member of the organization in question.( See also Para. 5.) Application must be made within six weeks after arrival, and the member in question must conform to the conditions of admission prescribed by the organization to which he/ she intends transferring.
Para. 2. Proof of membership of a former organization shall be the membership book or card duly endorsed for transfer by the organization of which he/ she has been a member hitherto. The membership book or card shall be deposited with the new union for the purpose of controlling and registration. A transfer can only be effected provided the affiliated member has conformed to all membership obligations of the organization from which he/ she intends to transfer, and also is not in arrears in payment of contributions; otherwise the new organization shall decline to admit him/ her as member.
Para. 3. Transferred members shall also become members of the Unemployment Fund of the country in question in accordance with the conditions of membership of such fund, and in so far as the fund is connected with the organization. On being admitted to the Unemployment Fund the member shall enjoy the seniority attained by him/ her in his/ her previous organization.
Para. 4. Benefits shall be payable in accordance with the provisions obtaining in the country to which a member has transferred, but in any case not until one month has expired after the date of transfer to the organization of a country proceeded to; moreover the member in question must have been employed uninterruptedly for a period of two months inside the territorial zone of the country proceeded to. Affiliated members returning to the country where they were formerly members are eligible to benefits in accordance with the rules governing same. Such members shall also be reinstated in all former rights as these are to be regarded as retained in view of his/ her uninterrupted membership of a foreign organization coming within the scope of this reciprocal agreement.
Para. 5. Benefits shall not be payable, under any circumstance, for a greater number of days than the number for which benefits would

39
have been payable by the organization in his/ her own country for the last full year of membership. A member transferred to an organization abroad shall only receive the balance of the number of days benefit. which he/ she would be entitled to receive from the Unemployment Fund in his/ her own country for that year.
Para. 6. These stipulations apply only in those cases where a transferred member is not yet entitled the full rights of the new organization.
Para. 7. These rules shall come into force subject to the approval of those public authorities responsible for the supervision of the Unemployment Funds in the various countries.
32039

ANNEX C.
Balance on Jan. 1st.'25
Affiliation Fees
"
Receipts.
( extra payments)
"
+
Congress Copenhagen:
( Reports sent to non- affiliated unions)
Interest.
Twentsche Bank
For Bank Employees in France
FINANCIAL REPORT 1925.
Expenditure.
f
""
85.07 11.617.32 5.496.60
Copenhagen Congress
f 4.621.1912
Meeting Exec. Comm. Zürich'24.
801.35
"
Delegations
557.77
"
Subscriptions to newspapers
20."
69.87
Rent
400."
"
2.95
Furniture
146.70
°
°
27
12.203.18
·
"
Printing
158.30
250." News Letters'
"
129.50
19
"
Postage etc.
+9
Office requirements
479.3312 34.50
3.173.f 29.724.99
General Secretary.
Clerk.
De Twentsche Bank
Loan repaid to the" General Dutch Union"
Loan
Bank Employees in France.
.
"
2.853.84
"
,, 12.831.29
2.946.07
"
36.60
$
250."
Balance on December 31st, 1925
285.54
99
f 29.724.99
BALANCE- ACCOUNT.
Outstanding debts:
Danish Federation
285.54
今 9
Hotel and travelling expenses
628.94
""
Miscellaneous
1.435.52
$ 5
f 4.100.Outstanding affiliation fees
Cash- balance
Twentsche Bank
Deficit
f 1.750.f 2.000.1.500.""
600.f 4.100.

ANNEX D.
Balance on Jan. 1st'26 Affiliation fees
Publications
Interest
Loan repaid
De Twentsche Bank
Outstanding Affil. Fees
Cash- Balance
De Twentsche Bank.
FINANCIAL REPORT 1926.
Receipts.
.
f
285.54 17.655.59
99
1.75
"
14.73
22
Expenditure.
Intern. Congress Copenh. Meeting Exec. Comm. Zürich. Meeting Exec. Comm. A'dam
Delegations
•
f 4.705.51
257.63
29
1.250.04
"
2.359.91
رو
36.60
Intern. Conf. Comm. Trav. Prague
738.95
"
"
13.741.33
Rent
400."
A
Furniture
Printed Matter
" News Letter", Circulars etc.
Postage, etc.
Office Requirements
Extra charges: Translations:
Reports, etc.
Subscr. to newspapers, books
タラ
14.10
**
12.85
519.45
362.51
"
39.25
99
637.04
68.50
f 31.735.54
Brochure: Shop Hours in various countries
616.20
"
General Secretary: Allowance
Clerk: Salary, Bonus, Assur.
Administrative Assistance. De Twentsche Bank
.
Balance on Dec. 31st, 1926
3.173."
3.166.10
"
127.68
"
13.214.28
"
73.54
"
BALANCE- ACCOUNT.
f 200.Outstanding Debts Capital
3
"
2073.54
101.89
99
f
375.43
AVCIVE BEBOKAL TOS
f 31.735.54
f
250.125.43
•
クラ
f 375.43

ANNEX E.
Receipts.
Balance on January 1st'27 Affiliation Fees
Publications
Interest
Loan repaid
De Twentsche Bank
Outstanding Affil. Fees Cash- Balance
•
De Twentsche Bank
°
°
FINANCIAL REPORT 1927.
Expenditure.
312/43
f
73.54 16.019.20
Meeting Exec. Committee Berlin
Vienna
"
"
Delegations.
2.21
99
76.24
"
"
タナ
811.46
12.344.52
f 29.327.17
Conference of Commercial Travellers
( Prague) Reports
Conference of Salaried Employees in the Mining Industry( Reports)
Rent
Printed Matter
1.590.40
"
1.611.54
39
783.05
472.85
335.71
"
400.117.45
$ 9
380.34
99
161."
27.65
537.94
"
36.25
9
"
79.50
79
دو
3.173.Postage, Telegrams etc. Circulars," Newsletter" Office Requirements. Extra charges: Translations Subscr. to newspapers; books Costs Control, Assurance. General- Secretary: Allowance Clerk: Salary, Bonus, Assur.. Administrative Assistance. Interest
Loan.
De Twentsche Bank
Balance on December 31st, 1927
BALANCE- ACCOUNT.
f
150.29.33
99
19
3.089.09
f 3.268.42
Outstanding Debts
Balance.
Reserve Intern. Congress'28
Capital 60
"
タラ
3.395.25
51.60
1.13
811.46
15.331.72
29.33
f 29.327.17
"
"
f
ナラ
250.2.000.1.018.42
f 3.268.42

REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES
OF
AFFILIATED UNIONS.

ЗНITIVITOА ИО ТОЧНЯ

AUSTRIA.
45
Zentralverein der kaufmännischen Angestellten Oesterreichs.
( Commercial Employees).
The period covered by this report was for Austria still one of industrial depression. The process of adapting the country's economic life to the home consumption made it difficult to reduce unemployment, there being, on the contrary, a constant increase in the number of out- of- work in our profession. The official unemployment returns give one figure for all categories of salaried employees. At present 15,500 salaried employees are on the registers of the Vienna labour exchanges alone, of whom 3,200 have already exhausted their claim to unemployment relief. This figure includes employees of banks, insurance institutions, industrial undertakings, art and music institutions, hotels and commercial undertakings. Our union has at present about 1,900 unemployed members on its books. Prospects of a diminution of unemployment in our profession within the not too distant future are scant.
In these circumstances it proved out of the question to secure a satisfactory wage regulation in the course of the frequent negotiations which have taken place during the past three years. The union did succeed, however, in improving the terms of many of the collective agreements and in some cases in increasing the minimum wage rates.
When the last agreement was concluded in 1924 with the Wiener Kaufmannschaft, it provided that all the members of our union should have their working conditions regulated by collective agreement. In addition to this general agreement, our union is also party to 32 agreements for different branches of commerce and industry. These agreements, which cover some 16,000 organized employees, provide for higher rates of wages and higher minima than the general agreement. In addition 27 collective agreements, covering 5,500 salaried employees, are in force in the other provinces and cities of our Republic. During the years 1925 to 1927 our union further concluded about 200 agreements, covering 1,100 employees, with about 200 individual firms outside Vienna.
In so far as social legislation is concerned, the period under review saw the consummation of the Employees' Insurance Act. This Act, which became operative on 1 January 1927, with the exception of the Health Insurance Clauses thereunder, which were postponed until 1 July, provides for the uniform regulation of all branches of social insurance. Within a few weeks of its coming into force, however, a number of its provisions proved inadequate. In consequence our union is pressing, in conjunction with the other free trade unions, for the adoption of a supplementary law. In spite of the industrial crisis, membership latterly shows a tendency to improve. To the membership of 27,986 must be added approximately 1,200 lawyers' and solicitors' clerks, who on the occasion of their last annual delegate meeting decided to wind up their organization and affiliate en bloc to the Central Union of Commercial Employees.
The campaign launched three years ago by our union among young men and women entering the profession as apprentices has been exceed

46
ingly successful. Since 1 January 1927, the membership of the Apprentices) Section of the union has increased from 1,100 to 2,500, a figure which is not included in the membership given above.
The Section for Commercial Travellers reconstituted in 1925 is also pulling its weight in the endeavour to increase membership: already it has over 800 members.
Of recent years a big movement for sport for workers has been in progress throughout Austria, and more particularly in Vienna, and the union has taken part in this movement as a means of propaganda. The Sport Section set up within the Central Union of Commercial Employees enables our members, and particularly the younger ones, to avoid the bourgeois clubs in their pursuit of sport. The purchase of one of the biggest sporting grounds justifies the hope that the union will be able to provide for the physical culture of its members.
By systematically training our members and drawing them more and more into taking an active part in trade union work we are sowing the seeds for the continued growth of our union in the future.
T
Iliau benoizo
001.
el nonalar
Isos es ist
dad, qu briw of bobisb
mow bas nest

AUSTRIA.
47
Bund der Industrieangestellten Oesterreichs. ( Industrial Employees.)
During the three years under review, the trade union work of the Federation was greatly affected by the persistent economic depression of Austria, with all its disastrous effects on the economic and social position of salaried employees. Quite apart from seasonal fluctuations of staff, the unemployment steadily increased up to the end of 1927, and during the whole period the Federation never had less than 5000 unemployed members. Not till the second half of 1927 was there some improvement in the economic situation of many branches of industry.
In the autumn of 1925, the Vienna Conciliation Board fixed the subsistence minimum for a single male adult salaried employee at 200 Schillings per month: the Federation had estimated this minimum at 223.80 Schillings.
In Vienna, where some 40,000 industrial salaried employees are employed, the income per month of 12,000 male industrial employees is under 300 Schillings, and that of 7,000 is under 230 Schillings. Of the ( approximately) 10,000 women salaried employees working in Vienna, 6500 earn under 230 Schillings per month.
Membership.
Membership was as follows during the three years in question:
December 31, 1925
1926
1927
"
34,917
32.838
30.528
The corresponding figures for the three years for members who had not yet acquired full rights were respectively 505, 620 and 1025.
Financial Position.
The net assets of the Union were as follows:
December 31, 1925
クラ
1926
1927
asgr
S. 496,343,40
ナナ
625,560,57
754,516,84

48
Benefits Paid Out by the Union during the Period 1925-1927.
1925
1926
1927
in Schillings
Total
Ordinary Unemployment Benefit Extended Unemployment Benefit Strike and Victimisation Benefit.....
222.917.42 259.941.04 230.859.43
967.363.77
58.542.65 86.515.29 67.179.61
277.852.01
72.488.15
38.491.08 38.574.35
249.237.37
Financial Distress
Benefit
Death Benefit
453.36 12.468.60
679.60 14.077.25
1.166.45
2.661.91
14.023.27
49.784.85
Total
366.870.18 399.704.26 351.803.11
1.546.899.91
Percentage of Contri- sm 000,
butions paid out in O
benefits
31.59%
35.51%
32.97%
31.75%
Legal Aid Department.
The work of the legal aid department during the last 3 years may be summed up as follows:
Year 08
No. of Cases
Costs etc.
granted by courts
Expenditure of the Federation for Legal Aid( lawyers' fees, stamp duties etc.)
in Schillingssupost on
1925
325
435,200
32,625
1926
411
521,000
47.858
1927
486
662.000
49.731
Totals
1222
1,618,200 ser
130,214
TSPE

49
List of Collective Agreements concluded by the Federation. Some of these are territorial agreements, others cover a specific branch of industry or trade.)
Agreement
Number Firms of Employees
"
ナナ
"
Building and Furniture Carpenters, Vienna Inland navigation, Vienna ¹)
Brewing trade, Vienna and Lower Austria
"
( warehouse managers) Vienna
* Industry union, Vienna Neustadt
34
450
1 2000
17
462
7
220
Upper Austria and Salzburg
7
180
29
1540
クラ
Upper Austria and Salzburg
21
975
クラ
クラ
Styria
24
834
Leather Industry, Vienna and Lower Austria
18
200
N. Oe. Textile Industry, Vienna
87
1544
Upper Styrian Steel Works Union, Styria
9
546
Paper- making Industry, Vienna
33
732
Chocolate and Confectionery Industry, Vienna
11
345
Boot and Shoe Factories, Vienna and Lower Austria
29
480
Alpine Breweries, Styrian
17
462
Printing and Allied Trades, Austria
350
768
Dairy Industry( branches) Vienna 2)
3
315
wall
1) In force in Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Roumania.
*) This is an employers' association.
2) 315 branches.
000.208 000£ 88
000.987
$ 16 000
03$ 1
ISPL
ses does ni banim
T

50
AUSTRIA.
Reichsverein der Bank- und Sparkassenbeamten Oesterreichs.
( Bank officials).
The following figures show the movement of membership since 31 December 1924; and at the same time reflect the trend of Austrian banking business, from the time of the banking depression, bank failures and bank amalgamations to the time of comparative stabilization:
Year
Beginning of 1924
End
1924
99
1925
1926
"
1927
99
99
Membership
24.000
16.000
11,200
9,310
8.439
The biggest staff reductions took place in 1924 and 1925, when 33% and 30% respectively of the staff was turned off.
In 1926 and 1927 under the influence of the bank amalgamations, there were further reductions, of 17% and 9% respectively. In 1926 the Anglobank merged with the Credit- Anstalt, and in 1927 the amalgamation of the Verkehrsbank, Union- Bank and the Boden- Credit- Anstalt took place.
The above decline in membership was accompanied by a similar reduction in the amount of unemployment benefit paid by the union, the aggregates for the past three years being as follows:
Austrian Schillings.
Year
1925
1926
1927
445,620
250,400
108,900
The amount of the benefit depends on period of membership and whether the member concerned is married or single. A married out- ofwork member with ten years' membership receives 15 schillings a week for a period of nine months.
The union also comes to the assistance of members who have work, in case of acute poverty, illness etc.( especially tuberculosis) special funds having been created for the purpose, and the amount being determined in each case on its merits.
The decline in membership is also reflected in the figures of income:
Year
1925
1926
1927
Income in Schillings
865,000
682,000
589,000
These figures of income do not include the unions' fighting fund. Of the membership of 8,439, approximately 8,000 are covered by a collective agreement.

51
Owing to the unfavourable economic conditions, serious conflicts did not occur during the period under review. An attack made early in 1925 on rights laid down in the Employees' Charter was repulsed. In 1926 the pensions reform introduced in 1924 was renewed without any serious impairment. With the coming into force in 1927 of the Salaried Employees' Insurance Act- the principal measure of social legislation obtained during the period under review- the pensions formerly provided by collective agreement were for the most part guaranteed by law. For the pensions not so guaranteed, which are in the nature of supplementary pensions, an agreement of indefinite duration was concluded.
Such trade union movements as were undertaken in 1927 could also be settled by peaceful means.

52
AUSTRIA.
Bund der Bank- und Sparkassengehilfen in der Republik Oesterreich.
( Auxiliary bank employees).
Membership
1925
5,282
Net Assets( according to balance sheet) Sch. 164.392.30
Membership covered by collective
agreement
Conflicts and amendments of collective
agreements
Benefits.
unemployment
extended unemployment
death
travel
Total
1926
4,871 158,415.33
65 conflicts
3 amendments
5,282
4,871
10 conflicts
1 amendment
Sch. 46 701
31,657
4,716
4,849
"
125
150
19
133
541
"
37,197
Sch. 51,675
During the years 1925 and 1926 there were no alternations of legislation concerning salaried employees. In 1926 discussions in connection with the Employees' Insurance Act took place. This Act was carried into effect in three stages, on 1 January, 1 February and 1 July 1927 respectively.
The amalgamation of the Anglobank with the Creditanstalt, and the closing down of a number of smaller banks, gave rise to numerous conflicts in connection with the observance of the pension clauses of the collective agreement and the Employees' Insurance Act. Many were the cases which had to be taken to the courts before justice could be secured for the bank employees.
The Pensions Agreement regulating the pension rights of the auxiliary employees of the banks, and known as the Pensions Reform, was renewed after a hard struggle.( The pension funds run by the individual banks were in the nature of substitutes for the State pension insurance.) The new agreement provided for both improvements and impairments of the old conditions; the union having to agree to a 5% reduction of the pension rates fixed under the collective agreements.

AUSTRIA.
53
god Verein der Versicherungsangestellten o Oesterreichs.
( Insurance workers).
After the stabilization of the currency in Austria it was found that those insurance institutions which had suffered most from the currency depreciation, namely, the life insurance companies, were the quickest to recover and to resume in an enhanced measure their social function of accumulating saved capital, while those institutions dealing in property risks( fire, burglary, transport insurances), which at the time of the inflation seemed to be doing a flourishing business, became involved in ever- increasing difficulties, due, in the first place, to the depreciation in the value of the property insured, and in the second place, to the heavy calls on capital resulting from the uncommonly high frequency of property losses. In consequence, these institutions have during the past three years felt a growing need to strengthen their capital resources and reduce overhead expenses by means of amalgamation. These two tendencies in Austrian insurance business also find expression in the membership curve of our union: From 1924 to 1925 we lost 127 members, in 1926 we gained 90 members, and in 1927 there was another falling- off of 230 members.
The decline of the institutions insuring property risks is also responsible for the fact that at the end of 1925 these employers gave notice of termination of the collective agreement with our union. The obvious purpose of this step was to effect the amalgamations on the most favourable terms possible to the employers, at the expense of the employees. As an employees' charter, providing for security of tenure after two years' employment, had been in force ever since 1921 for almost the whole of the insurance institutions, and the majority of the employees were already enjoying security of tenure, the employers had been unable to resort to staff reductions as a means of economizing, and they hoped, by giving notice, to free themselves from these engagements. It need hardly be said that the years 1926 and 1927 were a time of bitter industrial strife, for the union was determined to defend the interests of its members tooth and nail, while the employers left no stone unturned to achieve their ends. In the autumn of 1927 the employers made a fresh endeavour to cancel out the gains secured by the union in the meantime, by taking advantage of the incidents occurring in Vienna on 15 July 1927- when the police fired on a mass demonstration, killing 80 and woulding over 400- to launch a campaign to discredit the union. They hoped in this way to estrange the more conservative- minded of the members from the others, and thus to cripple the union. Their hopes were disappointed, however. The attack of the employers was answered by a vigorous counter- attack on the part of the employees, with the result that a number of the big undertakings were completely paralyzed, without the employees having to come out on strike. The position of the employers became daily more critical, until finally they had to appeal to government with a view to negotiations with the union. The ensuing negotiations led to the adoption of a new employees' agreement( Dienstpragmatik) and

54
wages scale. Security of tenure is maintained, and increases of 71% to 12% over the 1926 wage rates have been secured.
In addition to this agreement, which is to run for five years, the union has concluded another concerning staff reductions, under which, subject to agreement with the staff councils and provided that the state of business so demands, a meximum of 20% of the staff may be excluded from the security of tenure. It goes without saying that even under the former agreements dismissal was permitted when amalgamations took place, and experience has shown that such amalgamations always involve a reduction of the staff by at least one third.
In consequence of this policy there are at present in Austria altogether no more than 102 unemployed insurance employees, a figure which, notwithstanding the unfavourable economic conditions, is considerably less even than the pre- war figure.
ST
sd to ming sit no

BELGIUM.
55
21.88.PE
00.00
00.051.8
Syndicat Général des Employés, Techniciens, Magasiniers et Voyageurs de Commerce de Belgique. ( Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees.)
21.0
Membership. Despite the great difficulties we have encountered, our membership has remained stable since 1925, i.e.
Year.
1925
1926
1927
Registered members.
6532
6778
6770
Financial Position. Our union was only founded in 1921 and has not yet been able to improve its financial situation to any great extent. Periods of unemployment, conflicts and the instability of the currency have prevented us from raising our contributions as we should normally have done. The salaries of salaried employees have themselves been below the 1914 level. In 1926, our hopes of placing our finances on a sound basis were again dashed by a fresh fall of the franc and by the increase in the cost of living. To- day, we can say that there is a considerable improvement in our position, conditions being definitively stabilised. The balance in hand of the union on December 31st, 1927, was Frs. 158.238.16, apart from the funds of the district branches.
Collective agreements. We have no collective agreements fixing conditions for employees, but merely individual contracts.
Conflicts. In the period 1925/1927 we had a certain number of conflicts, but they did not involve any very large number of strikers. Either through these conflicts, or without a stoppage of work, improvements have been granted to employees, although there has been no collective agreement, in the strict sense of the term.
Legislation. On January 1st, 1926, the Pensions Act of March 10th, 1925, came into force. But in view of protests from all quarters, the only provisions of the Act applied were those respecting payments, the other provisions being suspended. There has already been one Revision Commission, in which our union was represented: a second commission has been instructed to make an enquiry among the employees, in order to ascertain their wishes. Our chief objection to the Act is that it permits the intervention of insurance companies.
The Eight Hours Act has been made applicable to the employees of commercial enterprises, but not yet to those of wholesale houses.

56
Benefits. During the years 1925, 1926 and 1927 we have expended the following sums:
Unemployment
Death
Strike
Fund
Fund
Fund
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
1925
57.039.25
6.490.00
34.488.15
1926
54.919.15
3.120.00
11.528.50
1927
56.829.85
3.865.00
28.436.50
top and bas
-поз
Indemnities paid to Soldiers in the Army.
1925
14.156.25 frs.
1926
SPED 1.520.00
1927
8 1.886.00
99
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103

57
55
CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
Einheitsverband der Privat- und Oeffentlichen Angestellten in der CSR.
Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees.
Membership.
Year 1925.. 1926..
1927
27.500
27.840
27.887
During the three years under review the idea of one big union of salaried employees has taken root in Czechoslovakia. The private employees in the General Union of Officials have all transferred to our Amalgamated Union. Most of these were industrial employees. The Union of Employees in the Malt Industry, with head quarters in Olmütz, which also belonged to the General Union of Officials, has also transferred to our Union, and our" Industrial Employees' Section" has been considerably strengthened in consequence.
Negotations have also taken place with the unions organizing employees in the glass industry. At its last congress this union unanimously decided to merge with the Amalgamated Union. As a result of the affiliation of this group, for which a new section, with headquarters in Teplitz- Schönau, has been set up, we are now fairly strongly represented in the glass industry.
A special section, with a journal of its own, was set up for the employees of social insurance institutions. The economic and political conditions prevailing in Czechoslovakia have convinced the salaried employees in Czechoslovakia of the necessity of international concentration, as shown by the fact that all seven nationalities constituting the Republic are now represented in our Amalgamated Union.
Year 1925
1926
1927
Financial Position.
Net Assets. Kc. 1,512,625.15
99
2,211,610.10 2,545,453.28
"
The various economic institutions of the union are under separate management, and are therefore not included in these amounts.
Collective Agreements.
There are at present 64 collective agreements in force, covering approximately 35,000 employees.
Of late the union has trying to secure new collective agreements, and to improve the provisions of existing ones.

58
Young Workers..
The Amalgamated Union is particularly interested in the youth movement. It believes that by leaving them to manage their own affairs within certain limits, their interest in trade union life cannot but be stimulated. The Youth Section of the Union has two journals, which are largely edited by themselves.
The Union also does everything possible to satisfy the cultural needs of its members, particularly by organizing language and other educational courses, lectures, excursions, etc.
Benefit and Other Institutions.
The Union gives financial help in case of unemployment, illness, convalescence, financial distress, military service, strike or lockout, and victimization.
The union paid out in unemployment benefit the following amounts: Kc. 261,489.50
1925 1926
palain 1927
タナ
285,662.29
522,929.46
99
Unemployment Benefit under the Ghent System.
Amount of Benefit
Years of
Class
for single for married Member- members members
for single members
for married members
ship
per month
3 months 4 months 3 months 4 months
A
2-3
200
600
800
1-3
200
250
600
800
750
1000
3-5
240
300
720
960
900
1200
5-10
350
350
1050
C
1400
1050
1400
10-15
450
450
1350
1800
1350
1800
15-20
550
550
1550
2200
1650
2200
over 20
630
630
1890
2520
1890
2520
1-3
260
325
780
1040
975
1300
3-5
320
400
960
1280
1200
1600
5-10
460
D
460
1380
1840
1380
1840
10-15
560
560
1680
2240
1680
2240
15-20
650
650
1950
2600
1950
2600
over 20
710
710
2130
2840
2130
2840
1-3
480
600
1440
1920
1800
2400
E
3-5
600
660
1800
2400
1980
2640
and
5-10
720
720
2160
2880
2160
2880
10-15
810
810
2430
F
2340
2340
3240
15-20
920
920
2760
3680
2760
3680
over 20
1060
1060
3180
4240
3180
4240

59
Contribution Class" F"
which, together with the current benefits, also renders the member eligible for the following death benefits:
After 3 years' membership
5 10
99
15
"
99.
99
99
タラ
20
25
30
35
40
クラ
99
د"
クラ
99
99
Kc. 750
1300
99
2100
"
2900
99
3700
99
4500
5300
6100
7000
99
Accident Benefit in the Classes D, E and F. Amount of compensation paid.
In cases of temporary invalidity:
In case of death is a result of accident, or if such accident causes permanent
invalidity:
DE- F addgods and
3,000 4,000.Membership Class
D
E
sser p. day
p. day
under 5 years' membership
6.7.from 5 to 10 years' membership
7.- 8.4,000.5,000.from 10 to 15 years' membership
8.9.5,000.- 6,000.15 years' membership and
upwards
9.10.6,000.7,000.casa aspal
adt et
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lamen ads to themb
W Babivore

60
CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
Verband der Bank- und Sparkassenbeamten in der Tschechoslovakischen Republik.
( Bank- officials.)
Membership during the last 3 years has been adversely affected by dismissals of employees, increased mechanisation and rationalisation. The figures are as follows:
1924 5609
1925 5684
1926 5645
1927
5730
For almost all our members, wages and working conditions are fixed, with our cooperation, by means of collective agreements. The chief examples are the" Banks' Agreement", the" Banks' Collective Agreement the" Savings' Banks' Agreement", and the" Covering Agreement", the latter fixing the methods of payment of savings' bank clerks. The Czechoslovakian Banks' Union gave notice on December 31, 1926, terminating both the" Banks' Agreement" and the" Banks' Collective Agreement": up to the time of writing the present Report, no understanding has been reached as to the renewal of these agreements.
Despite the fact that there is no actual agreement, however, the terms of the former collective agreement have been in practice applied in the large banks throughout 1927. It was not till 1928 that, in consequence of the Fiscal Reform of that year, technical changes were made in the method of paying our so- called" net" salaries. The reason why it is so difficult to reach agreement in concluding the new collective agreement is because our bank clerks' union is demanding an improvement in the method of paying salaries( known as the Stabilisation of Salaries), a system which it has already been found possible to introduce in various other financial institutions and in savingsbanks( although not in the large banks).
Old Age Insurance Bill.
The importance of this bill for our section consists in the fact that before the War our members were enjoying much larger pensions than those provided under the proposed legislation, since they had and still have old age pension agreements providing for pensions exceeding in amount those of the bill. If therefore some compensation is made for the former insurance premiums, and the rates of the pensions provided under the new insurance system are raised, our union too will have to make new agreements, in order to raise the amount of the pensions fixed by agreement, taking into account the benefits provided by the new legislation.
Other legislation of special interest to us is the projected Separate Sickness Insurance Bill for Private Salaried Employees, the bill for the Protection of the Labour Market( under discussion at the present moment), and the scheme for an amendment of the Unemployment Benefit Act( state contribution under the Ghent System).
The statistics of the unemployment benefit paid out by our union are as follows:

( 1924) Kc.
1925
1926
1927
Kc.
Kc.
Kc.
1. Unemployment Benefit
a. Extended
( 68.810.-) 20.692.- 13.409.6.125.b. Under
the Ghent
System
41.958.72.343.- 14.583.2. Sickness benefit
3. Legal aid
4. Other benefits
( 42.060.-) 68.700.58.730.48.760.( 12.980.) 23.577.18.700.- 12.120.( 14.720.-) 15.217.15.217.15.217.100 E
61
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62
CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
Zentralverband der Versicherungsangestellten in der CSR.
( Insurance Employees.)
Membership.
Year
1925
1926
1927
Membership
2.982
2,991
3,001
Financial Position.
Year
Net Assets
1925..
Kc. 1,134,009
1926..
1,394,344
ナラ
1927...
1,547,246
Membership Covered by Collective Agreement.
3,001 members.
Conflicts, etc.
During the years 1925, 1926 and 1927 no conflicts arose in connection with the conclusion of collective agreements. Supplementary Bills to the Commercial Employees' Act, Pensions Insurance Act and Sickness Insurance Act, have been in course of preparation during the past three years, but up to 1927 nothing tangible had resulted from the parliamentary preparatory work.
Benefit and Other Institutions.
The union runs the following funds:
a. An unemployment benefit fund, with assets totalling Kc. 71,816. b. Friedrich Baumer Fund, founded on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the union for the purpose helping members in case of acute distress, with assets totalling
c. A holiday home fund founded for the purpose of raising funds to run a holiday home for members of the union, with assets totalling
26,705.
251,479.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
63
Verband der Advokaturs- und Notariatsbeamten in der CSR.
( Lawyers' and notaries' officials.)
Throughout the three years 1925, 1926 and 1927 the average membership was 302.
Net assets were as follows during these years:
1925... 1926 1927
Kc. 51,042.58
58,145.99
59.503.75
The average net assets per member attains the amount, unusual in the International, of Kc. 186.20.
Conditions for members are for the most part regulated in accordance with former agreements, but there are no genuine collective agreements fixing working conditions. Salaries, on the other hand, were in 1927 fixed by means of 291 contracts, which regulated the payment of taxes, and sickness and old age insurance.
Our influence has made itself felt in this respect, that experience in lawyers' and notaries' offices is now accepted as qualifying for admission to certain avocations. Many laws dealing with the judicial and administrative services affect our members far more than they do other salaried employees.
Our union has not made any attempt to obtain the State grant for insurance under the Ghent system. We have raised our benefit rates, but our benefit system continues to be on a restricted scale.

64
CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
Allgemeiner Industrieangestelltenverband, Reichenberg.
( Industrial Employees.)
Membership of our union was 15,355 on 31 December 1927, compared with 15,716; 15,953 and 15,434 on the corresponding dates of the years 1926, 1925 and 1924 respectively.
Year
1924
1925
1926
1927
Financial Position.
Net assets at 31 December:
Kc. 5,854.304.08
6,973.071.26
カラ
7,467.955.94
"
8,126.766.19
The figure for 1927 was made up as follows: General Fund Kc. 466,393.28; Resistance Fund Kc. 2,537,164.24, the remainder being for account of the different benefit funds.
Collective Agreements.
For their legal status the members of our Union are subject to the Handlungsgehilfengesetz, which deals with the employment contract of commercial employees and similar groups of wage- earners. This Act is identical with the Act dated 16 January 1910 under the old Austrian Monarchy. It deals with the rights and obligations of these employees in relation to claims connected with inability to work, commissions, profitsharing, annual leave, compulsory insurance, notice of dismissal, bankruptcy, death of employee, non- competition clause, testimonials, etc. Wage rates and other kindred matters are, in amplification of Article 6 of the Act concerning Employment Contracts, regulated by collective agreement. The union is now party to agreements covering about 80% of its membership in all branches of industry.
Conflicts Connected with Collective Agreements.
Strikes or other conflicts during the past three years were confined to a few isolated cases. Such conflicts as have occurred were undertaken merely for the purpose of enforcing collective agreements or one or more provisions thereof. They were confined to individual firms, and in all cases ended in a victory for the union.
Benefit and Other Institutions.
In addition to the institutions which are common to all trade unions viz., legal aid department, inquiry department, vocational guidance, educational courses, etc., the union provides for:
1. Financial help in case of sympathetic movements or victimization, varying according to membership( minimum six months) up to Kc. 700.

65
a month for single members, 1,000 for married members and 1,200 for married members with family.
2. Financial help in case of strike, lockout or other collective stoppages of work, amounting, according to length of membership and number of dependants, to 4, 6, 8 and 12 Kc.
3. Financial help in case of involuntary unemployment. This benefit ( inclusive of the State grant) amounts to Kc. 600 a month for three months, and in case of recurring unemployment, a similar sum for four months. On exhaustion of these benefits, the union pays for one or two months, according to membership, a benefit of Kc. 8 a day, or of 240 or 480 Kc. a month and this is followed by a benefit, payable for six or seven months, from the General Pension Institute at Prague. The latter is only paid, however, to persons having received the union benefit, and it amounts to Kc. 200 a month for insured members, 100 for wife and Kc. 50 for each child.
4. Financial help in case of special need, e.g. illness or death of relatives, etc., varying from Kc. 100 to 300, according to membership. 5. After twelve months' membership members are entitled to a funeral allowance of Kc. 250, rising to a maximum of Kc. 1,250.
6. In case of invalidity an annual pension of from Kc. 300 to 700 is given.
7. Christmas gratuity for widows and orphans of deceased members. ( The annual product of contributions plus interest is distributed among applicants.)
8. The Union also owns a health resort Stadt Berlin in Karlsbad. Finally the Union has an Insurance and Economic Section and a Banking, Savings and Credit Institution in Reichenberg( founded as recently as 1923) which has savings deposits totalling about Kc. 3,000.000.

66
CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
000.1
Zentralverband der Angestellten in Industrie, Handel und Verkehr.
Salaried Employees in Commercial, Industrial and Transport Undertakings.
Membership on 31 December.
Year
Men
Women
Total
1925
14,394
1,870
6,264
1926
3,580
1.629
5.209
1927
2,650
1.121
3.771
Financial Position.
Year
1925
Net Assets on 31 December Kc. 212,384.87
1926
300,928.33
99
1927
273,223.79
دو
Collective Agreements.
During the period covered by this report new agreements were concluded, and old ones maintained or renewed, in commercial enterprises, in cooperative and allied undertakings, in glass, textile, metal and lighting industries and in a few other small groups. These agreements were either covering agreements, or they were wage agreements for certain areas or for specific groups.
Conflicts Connected with Collective Agreements.
Serious conflicts, involving strike, lockout or similar action on the part of our members, did not occur during the three years under review. Individual disputes between employers and employees were very frequent and kept the union very busy.
Benefits and Other Assistance.
The principal relief work of the union came under the head of unemployment. Unemployment relief is dispensed under what is known as the Ghent system, i.e. legislation is in force under which the State also contributes a quota. The following aggregate sums have been paid
out:
Year
1925
1926
1927
Union Benefit
Kc. 28,187.99
50,552.20 60,800.30
State Grant
Kc. 8,380.56,974.47
"
68,459.80
"
Total Union Benefit and State Grant: Kc. 129,260.10.
The union also affords financial assistance to cover members' expenses in convalescent homes etc., and in case of death, strike, lockout and victimization. This assistance accounted for a total expenditure of
Kc. 10,338 7,843.20 6.823
in 1925.
1926.
92
1927.
99

CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
67
Social Legislation
( for all the Czechoslovakian unions.)
Attention is being given not only by the unions, but also by the competent authorities to the question of the taxation of salaried employees.
After protracted efforts the unions succeeded in securing a declaration from the Minister, to the effect that up to 1926 4% should be deducted for taxes from the salaries of salaried employees if the employee's income were under Kc. 1500 per month, and 5% if it were under Kc. 2000, the basis of taxation being the income actually received on April 1st, 1926. This reduced taxation system remained in force for 8 months, many employees being relieved of considerable burdens thereby.
On January 1st, 1927, the new Taxation Act came into force, with new taxation rates for salaried employees.
The subsistence minimum, previously a net income of Kc. 6000 per year, is now fixed at Kc. 10,000 per year, gross income. The taxation rates are fixed as follows: Kc. 1.10 on an income of Kc. 837 per month, rising according to a graduated scale to Kc. 45.50 for a maximum monthly income of Kc. 1963. Incomes above Kc. 1963 per month are taxed according to the normal rates, the subsistence minimum being in such cases fixed at Kc. 7000 net.
No deductions are to be made for taxation if the salary does not exceed Kc. 885 per lunar month( 28 days) or Kc. 959 per calendar month and if the salaried employee has 3 members of his family to support in addition to a wife or husband. Furthermore, no deduction is to be made for taxation if the salary for 28 days is Kc. 982( Kc. 1063 per month) provided that the salaried employee has 4 members of his family to support: nor if the salary is under Kc. 1154 for 28 days,( or Kc. 1250 per month) and the salaried employee has 5 members of his family to support. For widowers or widows the number of dependant members of the family rendering eligible for freedom from taxation is reduced by one.
The new Taxation Act intervenes in the relations between employers and employees by prohibiting the payment by the employer of the taxes, dues or social insurance contributions for which the employee is liable. Among our various fiscal activities, we are renewing our efforts to obtain the abolition of the 14% which has to be paid in a lump sum. This is nothing but another form of taxation.
The law forbidding the dismissal of salaried employees within a specific period before and after military training is the result of previous action to protect the salaried employee. This Act does not relate to the period of active military service( 18 months) but only to the three or four weeks of military exercises in the use of weapons. It forbids the employer to give the employee notice within a period of one month before the beginning of the exercises and seven days after their conclusion.
The Holidays Act for manual workers and apprentices( which like the last- named Act was passed in 1925) is valid also for commercial apprentices: after six months of consecutive service with the last employer

68
the apprentice is entitled to a week's holiday. Clerks whose training period has not expired were brought under the scope of the Commercial Clerks' Act in 1910: the minimum holiday under this Act being 10 days after six months with the same employer.
On April 1st, 1925, the Ghent System of unemployment benefit came into force, unorganised salaried employees being on this date rendered ineligible for any form of benefit.
Modifications of the system occur in the case of married persons, and those single persons who support members of their family etc. The minimum state contribution is Kc. 1.50 per day, and the maximum Kc. 12 per day. Certain difficulties have arisen out of this system, inasmuch as the state contribution is only guaranteed for a period of 3 months or, if there has been an intervening period in which the employee pays contributions, for 4 months. But the great advantage of this system is the compulsion it puts on the employees to organise.o
On July 1st, 1926, the Social Insurance Act for manual workers came into force. Up to that date there had been a uniform system of sickness insurance for all workers without distinction. But now, it became necessary to make special regulations for salaried employees, since there had been certain changes for the worse in view of the introduction of invalidity and old age insurance for manual workers. Salaried employees had been in enjoyment of old age insurance since 1909, so that the argument brought forward by employers in connection with the manual workers' insurance was quite inapplicable to salaried employees, for which reason Klein, a Labour member of parliament, introduced into parliament a motion dealing with the sickness insurance of private salaried employees which was passed unanimously by both houses. Salaried employees were thus safeguarded against certain eventualities. Our attitude towards the Act for the Protection of the National Labour Market, which was not put into force till July, 1928, has always been one of opposition, for we have adhered to the resolution passed at Copenhagen for the protection of foreign salaried employees.
We have also done all we could to promote the speedy abolition of visas in connection with the new Passport Act. Visas as between Austria and Germany have meanwhile been abolished.
The Czechoslovakian Eight Hours' Day Act applies to all salaried employees: only managers and responsible salaried employees have been removed from the scope of the Act by a decision of the Supreme Court.
The old Austrian Act of 1895, amended in 1905, guarantees this both for commercial and clerical employees. As clauses in this Act permit special regulations to be issued by various authorities, very unequal conditions have arisen in the course of time. Our Labour members of parliament have however used their influence to establish Sunday rest in all the larger towns by means of local bye- laws.
поэ
edil bidw) aspitesigns base
simmoɔ 10 cals bilay at( 201
1939 odt to painagsa
A eysblloH T asw. A bas- jest od)
avolama tesloch dai soivase se lo adenom kis la soltesiggs
192

69
DENMARK.
bos
evinu tenisps diawled a sed ever seen asm
dw.coinu
Dansk Handels- og Kontormedhjaelperforbund.
( Commercial and Clerical Employees.)
Denmark has suffered very much during the last 3 years from the deflation slump. This bad state of things is also manifested clearly in the fall in the cost of living: the index figure was 221 in January, 1925, but had fallen to 176 by January, 1927. On January 1st, 1927, bank notes could again be exchanged for gold, and the fall in prices now seems to have come to a standstill. o cult yd sba w no
Deflation was effected with the help of severe economic measures, such as the restriction of loans and credit, and the diminution of public expenditure by ruthless dismissals of civil servants, and brutal changes for the worse in social legislation. Many enterprises closed their doors, and unemployment has therefore become both extensive and permanent. The number of unemployed is seen from the following table:
1925
1926
1927
Total
Ispal
workers
Total number Salaried number Salaried number Salaried as of employees of employees workers
Total
of employees
workers
1st January..
41 364
845
84,595
1080
93,147
1624
1st April
40,751
1107
60,655
1386
77,721
1788
1st July
23,697
998
46,177
1246
53,538
1539
1st October....
28,412
957
47,561
1325
45,328
1336
0088
On January 1st, 1928, the number of unemployed was 92,389, of whom 1453 were non- manual workers. These numbers include, however, only those who registered their names at the public Labour Exchanges. It is therefore estimated that there are from 5000 to 6000 unemployed unorganised salaried employees.
Our Unemployment Fund has had to pay out large sums in benefit during these years. Furthermore, members who have not been long enough in the union to be eligible for benefit or who have exhausted their right to benefit have received aid from public funds.
Our members have received the following amounts in Kronen as unemployment benefit:
ads of noiudizio
Ordinary Benefit
d
1 T 1924-'25 1925-26 1926-'27 brid 208,103.50 254,508.- 317,310.70 85,000 180,000.- 215,000.293,103.50 434,508.- 532,310.70
Extended babit.
Total.........
arsholanser ytbilsval of being to The free Assistance Fund of the Union, which grants additional benefit besides the usual amounts, paid out 15,245.50 Kronen during this period. Under present circumstances there have been great reductions of wages. In the case of salaried employees the decline of salaries has been absolutely terrible. In cases where the union had concluded collective

70
agreements, these have been a bulwark against unjustifiable reductions of salary, but on the other hand the many unorganised salaried employees have had much to suffer from the economic depression, and have at the same time been a great obstacle to the union, when the latter was trying to improve salaries.
The union has on hand now about 115 collective agreements, covering in all about 4500 members. Only in a few isolated cases has it been necessary to strike to obtain the demands presented.
In September, 1925, the 25th anniversary of the founding of the union was celebrated on the occasion of the ordinary congress. Wide changes in administration were made by this congress. It was decided that all the local branches should pay uniform contributions and should come under uniform rules. It was also decided to increase the number of travelling secretaries to 6.
The financial position of the union and of the Unemployment Fund is satisfactory. On the 1st April, 1927, the balance in hand of the union funds was equal to Kr. 50.25 per member, while that of the Unemployment Fund was Kr. 31 per member. The total assets of the union on 1st January, 1928, was 1.1 million Kronen.
The Union provides every member with legal advice free of charge. During the period 1924/27 61,000 Kronen were recovered by legal means. Apprentices who are illegally treated by their masters or whose apprenticeship conditions are not in accordance with those laid down in the Apprenticeship Act can rely upon the help of the Union. Such disputes are remitted to a Conciliation Committee, and in the years 1925/27 the masters of apprentices had to pay some 20,000 Kronen in damages.
The membership of the union has changed very little. On January 1st, 1928, it was 13,000, namely, 9200 male members, and 3800 female.
Since the accession of our present Government, in which the power is in the hands of the Agrarian Party, the following changes for the worse have been made in legislation:
Unemployment Insurance Act. The state grants to the Funds have been reduced, and are now reckoned on the basis of the average annual income of the particular trade in question. The reduction of the grants made to these ranges from 15 to 20%. The conditions of eligibility have been tightened up, and extended benefit has been abolished altogether.
Sickness Insurance Act. The state grant has been reduced by onethird and the grants made to the various centres to cover the costs of medicine have been stopped altogether. The state contribution to the doctors' fees has been reduced by about one- third. The conditions for the admission of members have been made more drastic, and the maximum salary limits of members reduced.
Invalidity Insurance Act. The benefit granted to invalidity pensioners has been reduced from 800 to 540 Kronen per year. The conditions of eligibility for invalidity pensions have been tightened up.
Accident Insurance Act. The compensation paid to the victims of accident has been reduced by about 25%.

71
Old Age Pension Insurance Act. The amounts paid for pensions have been re- classified, with the effect that there has been an average reduction in the pensions, although in a few cases the pensions have been raised. The regulations for the reduction of pensions when the pensioner has other sources of income have been tightened up.
It is estimated that these changes for the worse in social legislation mean an economy of some 20 millions of Kronen.
The Government has also proposed a so- called" Penal Settlement Act", which, if it passes, will greatly restrict the freedom of action of trade unions. Breaches of the law are to be punishable by fines up to 100,000 Kronen and by imprisonment.
There are also plans to botch the Apprenticeship Act, and a proposal in that direction has already been worked out.
At the suggestion of the employers' organisations, the Government appointed a Committee some years ago, which was to study the question of special legislation for employees. In this Committee there are 2 representatives of our Union, who in principle take the standpoint that we must give no support to special social legislation for salaried employees, as in our opinion non- manual workers should come under the same social legislation as manual workers.
The Union is again considering the question of affiliation with the Danish national trade union centre, and a proposal to that effect will be submitted to our congress, which will meet in July, 1928.

72
FINLAND. ol bisq ainuoms T
esd s15d
sed est
A sonsuza moins spA blo Suomen Liiketyöntekyäin Liitto. ( Commercial and Clerical Employees.)
The congress held at the end of 1924 decided that the union should comprise only shop assistants, clerks and warehouse employees and allied categories. The domestic workers and restaurant workers who were formerly members of the union have now been transferred to other unions. 500 members left the union through this decision during the period under review.
The membership at different periods may be seen from the following table:
Year
1925
1926
1927
bas
T
Male employees ow Female employees ibis Total
1078 1207
1289
112508 asgue 2203 1138 Os bs 2345 1340 slips intos 2629
The financial position will be seen from the following figures( in
Finnish marks):
1925
1926
Union funds
49.241
61.509
1927 28.826 T
Travelling Fund
6.074
51.268
45.870
Unemployment Fund 57.161
57.291
62.158
idua
Total 112.476
170.068
136.854
The following collective agreements concluded by the Union were in force in the three years under review:
Number of
salaried employees
Number of trade unionists
Number of
Year
collective
agreements
covered
among these
1925
21
1400
950
1926
29
1400
1200
1927
24
1700
1400
During the period under review several labour conflicts took place, which were however all settled without a strike. In three cases the state conciliation official intervened: in four there was danger of a strike. By means of these movements salaries were raised on an average from 5 to 10%.
In respect of social legislation for employees the following may be stated. In 1925 an Act concerning the Conclusion of Collective Agreements came into force. The Act empowered the inflicting of a fine up to 100,000 Finnish marks for breaches of agreement. The agreements may however include clauses reducing these fines, or even abolishing them altogether.
In 1926 a universal Workmen's Compensation Insurance system came into force. In case of accident the worker receives a daily benefit which, should he be totally incapacitated, becomes a pension for life. The amount

73
of benefit paid for accidents is two- thirds of the wage of the worker concerned, but it must not exceed 30 Finnish marks per day. The Insurance Council has extended the application of this Act to shop assistants, but not to clerks. In 1927 other Acts came into force dealing with factory inspection and employment exchanges. lo bons
woll
Since 1919 a law has been in force regulating working conditions in shops and offices, under which these must close at 6 on the first five days of the week, and at 5 on Saturdays. Only foodshops may remain open for some hours on Sundays. The Act contains other provisions dealing with holidays and the continuance of wages in case of sickness. The union has paid out the following benefits:
aas eff
08S.SEF
Unemployment
of inst benefitsvitasllo
M
1925 aser 1926
1927
( In Finnish marks)
Ho
los 4.591 sd
7.0653.040
3.040
T
Travelling benefits
4.000
2.000 25 22.550
dw
Victimization
1.274
2015
msM
1.000
Other Benefits
900
4.703
5.100
aser
088
Total 10.765
14.768
ase 30.690
188
We may mention in respect of other activities that the Scandinavian commercial course was held at Helsingfors in 1927 under the management of our union. The course was attended by 195 salaried employees, of whom 37 were from Denmark, 33 from Sweden, 5 from Norway and the rest members of the Finnish union.
( exism) FITICE.C
180,0TEA
ST8IPOP
820.188.
aser TSE
awollot es 915 8169 di sesdi io 19dmsos 18 no, etages is
Isto T ( exism)
19dmaM 199
( 2: 16m)
Fea
81.2
05.188
00.0
A
$ 18.80€
169Y
Eser
eser
TSQI
volamsal aesmib2.S
dies C dissCA
21sdms M asmoW rol sonswollA pribbsW
nollsugns
suivi bsubotni ssd visa vino syard ilgnad stel own
bas set ysM at sagolo
8201 suns 1 mol as toslis otat bein

74
GERMANY.
Zentralverband der Angestellten. ( Salaried Employees).
The apathy which seized the greater part of the salaried employees following the period of currency inflation in Germany has been superseded by a period of growing interest in the activities of the Union. Evidence of this is found not only in the recovery of membership in 1927, but also in the intense activity displayed in the different branchesactivity which augurs well for the future. The trend of membership during the past three years was as follows: Membership at 31 December 1925
99
Collective Agreements..
1926 1927
152,868
149,266
152,230
The following figures show the number of collective agreements to which the Union was party at the end of the past three years:
31 December 1925
1926..
ナナ
クラ
1927
77
Members Covered Number of Agreements
146,130
788
146,856
869
149,880
881
""
Financial Position.
The balance- sheet also shows a satisfactory improvement in the financial position of the Union, income and expenditure during the three years being as follows:
Year
1925
1926
1927
Income
( marks)
4,041,872
4,178,750
4,881,063
Expenditure
( marks)
3,531,711
4,226,302
4,370,981
Net assests on 31 December of these three years were as follows:
Per Member
Year
1925
1926
1927
Benefits.
Total
( marks)
908,812
861,260
1.371.344
( marks)
5.94
5.78
9.00
The following benefit funds are run by the Union:
1. Unemployment;
2. Sickness;
3. Strike;
4. Death;
5. Wedding Allowance for Women Members;
6. Superannuation.
The two latter benefits have only recently been introduced, in virtue of decisions taken at our Congress in Cologne in May 1927, and carried into effect as from 1 January 1928.

75
The following aggregate amounts( included in the figures of expenditure above) were paid out in benefits during the three years under
review:
Year Unemployment Sickness
Strike
Others
Total
( marks)
( marks)
( marks)
( marks)
( marks)
1925
213.466
60,863
5,643
31,306
311,278
1926
569,718
78,613
1,459
37,121
686,911
1927
266,821
93,463
1,777
49,735
411,796
Total
1,050,005
232,939
8,879
118,162
1,409,985
We give below a survey of the position in different branches of trade and industry in regard to collective bargaining.
Mining.
In the mining industry the working conditions of salaried employees are regulated by collective agreement according to districts. In the single case of potash mining there is a national agreement. There have been no lockouts or strikes of mining employees during the three years under review, but on the other hand efforts to secure improvement of wages and working conditions by negotiation with the employers met with scant success, and more often than not the powers of the arbitration authorities had to be brought to bear to make them toe the line. In all cases it was the trade union concerned that gave notice of termination of the agreement.
The revision in 1927 of working hours legislation necessitated the adjustment of all the agreements on overtime concluded in the different mining districts in the years 1924 and 1925. In the negotiations to this end the employers once more adopted an extremely uncompromising attitude, and in consequence the arbitration authorities had to be called upon before new agreements coud be made.
Insurance.
The working conditions of the employees of private insurance institutions are fixed by a national collective agreement, which has been declared universally binding. In the years 1925 to 1927 no conflicts occurred leading to a strike or lockout.
Federal, State and Municipal Administrations.
The Federal, State and Municipal Administrations of the German Reich employ, in addition to civil servants, a considerable number of salaried employees. The working conditions and status of the former are governed by public law, while in the case of the latter the principles of private law apply. The regulation of the working conditions of these employees is nowadays not effected by individual contracts, but through collective agreements concluded with the appropriate trade union organization. In negotiating such agreements for the employees of state administrative bodies, that concluded with the Federal Government, dated 2 May 1924, is taken as model. The provincial governments and municipalities have also adopted the employment contract of their

76
employees, about 200,000 in number, to this agreement. Following the period of inflation, the wages of employees were fixed anew, and their amounts were very small, though in 1924 there was some improvement. In the years 1925 to 1927 a number of negligible increases were granted. On 16 December 1927 a new Civil Servants' Salaries Act was passed, retroactive to 1 October of the same year. By virtue of the collective agreement concluded with the Federal Government, the conditions of the salaried employees of public administrations will have to be revised in accordance with the modifications arising from the application of this Act. 280 COP. I SES
Commerce and Industry.
200.020
The employers' organizations were particularly obstructive in the efforts to secure collective agreements for the salaried employees in commercial and industrial undertakings. In their opposition to the system of collective bargaining they even went to the length of amending their rules to suit the occasion, and then declaring that the conclusion of collective agreements was beyond their competence. In consequence many a bitter fight had to be waged before the employers could be prevailed upon to sign a collective agreement. Instances of struggles of this kind are given below. on yd en
volg
Berlin Newspaper Industry.
od) on nedt motto
bas
it sm of dos adpuod ad of bed The employers' organization representing the Berlin newspaper industry is on principle opposed to collective bargaining for salaried employees. A collective agreement was in force until 30 June 1924, but in spite of the efforts of the Salaried Employees' Union it has not been possible to renew it since. This employers' organization has announced that it would, regardless of the contents, reject any arbitral award fixing working conditions. The negotiations with the arbitration authorities for the renewal of the collective agreement are still pending. on 10led noqu
Berlin Cigarette Industry.
Since a strike of salaried employees in the Berlin cigarette industry failed a few years ago, it has not been possible to secure a new collective agreement. The employers' organization, though claiming not to be hostile to a collective agreement, insists upon financial conditions which cannot be accepted by the employees. In addition the employers' organization has tried, in spite of the Working Hours Emergency Act of 14 April 1927, under which extra payment must be given for all hours worked in excess of 48 a week, to extend working hours to 52 without being required to pay for the additional hours.
Shipyards.
olduq yd bamsvo semiol Tyiqqs wsi sisving to selqiang yd batoslls 100 aysbswon ai essvolams seeds to The owners of the German shipyards must also be regarded as opposed on principle to collective bargaining. Following protracted negotiations, a collective agreement was secured some years ago by the salaried employees working in these undertakings, and to renew it a strike had to be resorted to. During the years 1924 and 1925 the ship

77
yard employees were up against particularly great difficulties. Partly owing to the lack of employment at the ship yards, a skeleton agreement without wage clauses had to be agreed to, and unfortunately it still continues in force today. Shortly before the end of 1927 the Federal Ministry of Labour issued an arbitral award providing for a wage agreement with scale of wages. As the employers rejected this award, the Ministry of Labour was asked to declare it binding. The Ministry has not yet taken this course, however, but has put forward new proposals, with a view to reaching by negotiation wages and working conditions acceptable to both parties. At the time of writing the issue is still in suspense.
Building.
de
The negotiations for a collective agreement which took place in the building industry early in 1925 made but slow headway. The employers insisted upon the following demands:
Recognition of the principle of payment according to output; Drastic reduction of annual holidays;
Lengthening of working hours.
In spite of all efforts we have been unable, owing to the adamant attitude of the employers, to bring these negotiations to a favourable close. The arbitrator appointed at our request- by the Minister of Labour, also made numerous endeavours to settle the issue on terms satisfactory to both parties, but without success. In 1927 the Minister of Labour appointed a second arbitrator whose award, though not meeting all our demands, we accepted. The employers, however, once more refused to follow our example, and as the award has not been declared binding by the Minister, there is at present little prospect of securing a collective agreement in the building industry within the immediate future. We have now for some time past been trying to secure district agreements, but have so far also failed to obtain any results in this direction. Berlin Metal Industry.
The metal- working industry plays a not unimportant part in the industrial life of Berlin, employing as it does approximately 50,000 salaried employees. The Berlin Association of Metal Employers is a very powerful organization, and in consequence the negotiations for a collective agreement have been especially difficult. The wages scale introduced in 1924 had to be revised in 1925, owing to the changes in economic conditions. The inadequate wages required adjusting to the increased cost of living. In virtue of an arbitral award, which was declared binding, a wage increase of 5 per cent was secured. The Berlin Metal Employers' Association is urging its members to sabotage this award.
Berlin Central Heating Industry.
The employers' organization in the Berlin sanitary industry, wishing to introduce the principle of payment according to output into the collective agreement, gave notice to terminate the existing wages agreement. In spite of the fact that a wage reduction had been effected in May 1926,

78
the arbitrator in his award went a long way to meet the demands of the employees concerned, and recommended their members to reject this award and to come out on strike. The eight- day strike which followed ended in a signal victory. The employers' organizations had to agree to a number of concessions before the arbitrator, and the terms obtained were so favourable that the strike was called off. This success shows that even in times of economic distress good results may attend industrial conflicts, provided there is a spirit of unity among the employees. In this case unity was achieved in consequence of the fact that the employees in hostile unions, heedless of the utterances of their respective leaders, stood shoulder to shoulder with our members in the strike.

GERMANY.
12
79
Bund der Technischen Angestellten und Beamten. ( Technical Employees and Officials.)
I. Membership.
The following table shows the membership of our Union during the years 1925 to 1927:
Date
Full Members
Juniors
Total
Women members
1 January 1925
57.801
not yet counted
872
1 January 1926
58.0438
dito
946
1 January 1927
31 December 1927
51.032 51.113
284
968
289
979
The setback in 1926 was chiefly caused by the economic crisis through which Germany passed in that year. 1927 saw a turn for the better.
II. Finances.
The following table shows income, expenditure and net assets during the three years under review:
Income.
Contributions
Other Income
Expenditure.
1925 ( marks)
1926
1927
( marks)
( marks)
2,014,314
2,422,489
2,425,275
109,554
359.231 165,611
Total 2,373,545 2,588,100 2,534,829
Benefits of all kinds( including costs
of legal aid department and employment agency)....
Trade union journal
Propaganda and movements
Library and education
Congress
Administration
411,541
928,578 461,705
59.304
114.715 192,871
232,964
574,826
616,568
11,150
30,059
37,438
1,194.116
767,381
762,145
Miscellaneous
425,854 202,625
137,914
Total.........
2,334,929 2,653,799 2,208,641
Net Assets on 1 January.
Total
Per member
1926 ( marks). 798,590 13.75
1927 ( marks)
1928
( marks)
744,759 14.60
1,029,950
20.15
III. Collective Agreements.
After the war our Union concluded with the employers' organizations, as well as with State and municipal authorities, a large number of collective agreements regulating the wages and working conditions of the technical employees. The following table shows the number of collective

80
agreements in force, and the membership covered, at the end of the years 1925, 1926 and 1927:
Number of Agreements in force
Aggregate Membership Covered...
1925
1926
1927
281
283
305
43,162
43,378
43,054
IV. Movements undertaken in connection with the conclusion or amendment of collective agreements.
1925
1926 ( crisis year)
1927
Total number of movements undertaken...... 442 Movements for the conclusion or renewal of
163
485
collective agreements.....
58
75
63
Movements for the amendment of existing
agreements
26
15
146
Movements for the conclusion of a new or amendment of an existing collective wages agreement
358
73
276
In 1926 a strike was embarked upon with success on two occasions, namely in the Berlin sanitary industry and the finishing industry in the Saar district. In the former case improved collective wage and working conditions were secured, while in the latter a collective agreement providing a revision of wage rates was obtained.
In the remainder of the movements undertaken in the years 1925 to 1927 settlement was reached, in some cases after appeal to the arbitrator, without resorting to extreme measures. While the movements undertaken in 1925 and 1927 resulted mostly in improvements of the wages and working conditions of our members, in 1926 we had to engage in defensive movements against the attacks of the employers, who, taking advantage of the economic situation, wished not only to lengthen working hours, but also to reduce wages and annual holidays and to worsen working conditions generally. It is satisfactory to report that our Union has succeeded, with the aid of the other free unions of salaried employees, in frustrating the intentions of the employers and wrecking almost all their attacks.
The collective agreements provide for annual holidays varying, according to length of service and the position occupied by the employee, from six to eighteen working days, and in some cases 24 days a year.
The end of the crisis period and the gradual return to prosperity roundabout the end of 1926 was the signal for launching, in the spring of the following year, a series of movements for the improvement of the position of the salaried employees. These movements yielded substantial advantages, in which the technical employees also shared. Later in the year all the trade unions launched a simultaneous campaign for the clearing up of the working hours question. It was possible to prevail upon Parliament to pass an Emergency Act, which was also utilised for making clear the position of the salaried employees in regard to working hours. The new collective agreements concluded under this Emergency Act provided for the eight- hour day for salaried employees, who could no longer be required to put in unpaid overtime.

81
In the autumn of 1927 it was possible in thirty cases to secure further wage improvements for technical employees. Soyolams spiadost. balls 2 The following tables of average monthly wages of unmarried technical employees engaged in industry, building and mining, show the trend of wages, as fixed by collective agreement, during the years 1925 to 1927. The averages given are the mean between the maximum and minimum rates, fixed in the agreements according to age and length of service, for a number of important branches of industry. In addition it should be noted that the rates given in these tables are to be regarded as minima, to which may be added by individual agreement between employee and employer extra allowances in consideration of extra output.
Industrial Employees.
Group I.
8.221 62.28
25.01.
$ 2.801 2.AVI 20. End of End of 1924 1925 ( marks)( marks)
Technical employees chiefly on routine work
110.19 128.17 06.per.d
Group II. 8.As sears seats Technical employees carrying out simple jobs with the aid of instructions and examples to guide them
quote
is mar
Middle of
End of
Increase 1927
1927
1927
over
( marks)
( marks)
1924
stigpil) nssiopis 126.23 138.48 25%
III quoiD
# 19
( 1505) 19wsH namsio
... 153.50 177.18 173.08 191.73 25%
Group III. 8 02:02 02.02s or ass d Technical employees carrying
out more difficult jobs partly on their own responsibility
Group IV.
20.
Technical employees working independently and on their own responsibility
Building Employees.*) Group I.
VI quor
26%
539( 1800) 199 201.10 233.56 229.76 253.92
lots sdt 916 s tenisps astupil odT os seods slidw
osllos.
261.45 305.03 300.70 331.93 27% .assyolqis
basedT V
Draughtsmen and technical assistants chiefly on routine
work.
Group II.
osV bas atilsas
sasmvolqmonUs
ono sldstuovalau sdt lo luest s 2A 122.45 138.00 111.10 123.30 0.7%
paiwollol sdT.noial sdi to anoitutitani tisasd sdt no
Technical employees and assistants etc. in surface, underground and concrete workings
bisq etilensd sd to ats!
166.30 189.10 189.10 187.30 202.20 2.1% sjuqa bas on
*) The low figures for the middle of 1926 are due to the transfer from a fixed scale of wages to payment by output, whereby a minimum only was provided for each group. In 1927 there was a recovery, and in some cases the rates in excess of those in force at the end of 1925 were obtained. 2 patub ewollol es asw sdt

82
Group III.
Skilled technical employees
who have generally belonged
to Group II for three years 245.00 280.70 266.30 286.80 16.5%
Group IV.
Independent Technical Workers,
Superintendents of Building Operations, Engineers
Mining Employees. Group I.
Draughtsmen etc.......
Group II.
Ganger( coal mining) etc. Foreman( lignite mining)
Group III.
Foreman Hewer( coal) etc., Pit Overseer ( lignite)
Group IV.
Pit Overseer( coal) etc., Manager( lignite)
323.68 369.30 355.00 380.00 17.2%
a. 139.25 155.56 155.56 177.25 27.3% b. 156.00 174.25 174.25 198.52
a. 173.75 193.68 193.68 219.50 26.33% b. 194.60 216.92 216.92 245.84
a. 201.50 223.68 223.68 253.37 25.8% b. 225.70 250.50 250.50 283.77
a. 239.00 267.06 267.06 302.88 26.7% b. 267.70 299.10 299.10 339.23
The figures against a are the actual wage rates as provided by the collective agreements, while those against b represent the a rates plus 12%, or the value of an allowance in kind which is made to these employees.
V. The Benefit Funds.
a. Unemployment Benefits and Vacancy- filling, etc.
As a result of the unfavourable economic conditions prevalent in the years 1925 to 1927, and more particularly in 1926, a great strain was put on the benefit institutions of the Union. The following tables give partilars of the benefits paid:
1927
1925 1926 ( marks)( marks)( marks)
Unemployment
Victimization and Dispute
Others
Total Total........
166,712 635,177 168,185
35.888 26.716
6,040
90,655
83.205 105.780
293,255
745,098 280,005
The number of vacancies filled through the intermediary of the Union
was as follows during the three years:

83
Year
Permanent Jobs
Temporary Jobs
Total
1925
650
70
720
1926
1927
398 912
64
462
132
1,044
In addition the inquiry department of the Union supplied information about firms and living conditions: on 2,609 occasions in 1925, 1,405 occasions in 1926 and 2,387 occasions in 1927, and about firms in other countries on 133 occasions in 1925, 102 in 1926 and 141 in 1927.
b. Legal Aid and Advice Department.
In the way of legal aid and advice many calls were made on the Union during the past three years. In 1925 the after- effects of inflation- as expressed in the general decline in business morals, and especially in a lack of respect for the legal force of labour contracts- were still making themselves felt. The record- breaking frequency of bankruptcies, firms working under supervision and firms ceasing operations, and the harsh and inequitable manner in which even the authorities carried out staff reductions, were naturally a prolific source of conflicts. In addition to numerous cases of arbitrary dismissal, nonpayment of trade union wages, victimization of members of works and staff councils, collective disputes arose owing to the growing opposition of the employers and their organizations to the conclusion of agreements for salaried employees, amounting in some cases to open sabotage of contractual law and flouting of the official arbitration authorities. Even the most cursory formulation of decrees and bills relating to jurisprudence in labour and social affairs led to an unprecedented number of lawsuits.
Number of Law Cases Handled.
Nature of Settlement.
Continued from New
Year
Previous Year
Cases
Verdict or Case Case Compromise Dismissed Withdrawn
Total
1925
581
414
246
78
53
377
1926
618
650
450
121
1927
626
519
362
108
80
71
642
80
550
Results Obtained.
Compensation
Year
Salaries, Gratuities Bonuses, Commissions Awarded
in virtue of
Settlements
Patent Rights,
Other CompensaOutside Courts
Total
tion Payments
1927
( marks) 595,619,60
( marks)
( marks)
( marks)
94,552,-
94.484.83
784,656,43
1925
164,861,39
73,168,79
39,478,11
277,508,29
1926
329,322,59
23,827,38
84,509,25
Year
437,659,22
Replies to Inquiries Connected with Legal and Patent Questions.
Re Legal Questions
Re Patent Rights
In writing
boral
1925
1,813
3,204
117
1926
2,646
3,984
267
dig
nad 1927
2,178
d: 3,686
182

84
GERMANY.
OST
SOP
no
+10.
adol insnsmis
adol visioqmsT Allgemeiner Verband der deutschen Bankangestellten. ( Bank Officials.)
SEI
808
Sie
During the years 1925, 1926 and 1927 the Union succeeded in improving the rates of wages provided in the national collective agreement. In April 1925 an 11% increase of salaries was secured. In January 1926 they were again increased by 4%, and the following month by another 1%. In March 1927 a further increase of 72% was secured. In addition bank employees received, in 1926 and 1927, a gratuity at Christmas- time, amounting to half a month's wages, though it has not been possible to stipulate the payment of this gratuity in the collective agreement. During the inflation period the payment of this gratuity was stopped. Formerly a similar gratuity was also paid at the time of striking the balance. For the past two years the Bankers' Association has recommended its members to pay the Christmas gratuity, a recommendation which the five principal banks- in pledging themselves on renewing their agreements to payment of this gratuity- have acted upon. On 31 March, 1928, finally, an arbitral award was issued providing for a further 8% increase in wages.
In spite of all these increases wages are still inadequate; as there was at the same time a rise in the cost of living and house rents, while in addition wages are still based on the very low rates fixed at the time of the currency stabilization, so that today the real wages of German bank employees are below the pre- war standard, which itself was anything quodsi mi sonsu but satisfactory.s
The working hours clauses of the national agreement, and more particularly those relating to overtime payment, are also still unsatisfactory. Whereas before the war a 42- hour working week was customary in German banking business, the latest arbitral award stipulates that payment for overtime shall only start after 96 hours have been worked in two consecutive weeks.
aps
AIA
182
Owing to the dread of staff reductions, the past three years witnessed no conflicts of any great importance with banking capital. Some of the bigger banks have since the stabilization of the currency reduced their staffs by as much as 80%. This policy of staff reduction was in 1927 further pursued by a number of banking firms, but on the other hand a few banks who had been rather too drastic in this respect had to resort to a certain measure of re- staffing.
In November 1927 there was an encounter with the Deutsche Bank, provoked by the sharp attacks, pictorially and in language, which were made on its staff reduction policy in our union journal. In spite of the fact that the agreement expressly provides for the distribution of this journal on the bank premises, the Deutsche Bank unlawfully seized one of its issues; but subsequently had to restitute it.
asilgs
Just before this year's negotiations for the renewal of the collective agreement were due to start, this conflict with the Deutsche Bank developed into a conflict with the whole Bankers' Association. A poem published on the front page of our fourth issue of this year occasioned the Bankers' Association to forbid the distribution of the journal in any bank

85
building. In the recent negotiations the Bankers' Association, which for the period up to the expiry of the agreement had been authorized by the appropriate government department to issue this prohibition, succeeded in perpetuating it, in that the clause permitting of the distribution of the journal during working hours, was not included in the new agreement. The Union attributes to this fact the increased demand for the paper, which is now also in demand in localities hitherto aloof from the free trade union movement.M
169
Mention may also be made of the amalgamation which took place in February 1925 with the German National Union of Bank Employees.
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86
GERMANY.
Deutscher Werkmeister- Verband. ( Foremen).
Membership.
The following figures show membership on 31 December of the past three years:
Year
1925
1926
1927
Membership
140,000
132,500
129,300
Financial Position.
The following figures show net assets at the end of the same three
years:
Year
1925
1926
1927
Net Assets
( marks)
2,024,000
1,917,000
3,368,000
Number of Members whose Working Conditions are regulated by
Collective Agreement.
At present we are party to about 600 collective agreements, covering approximately 120,000 foremen.
Conflicts Connected with the Conclusion or Amendment of Collective Agreements.
One strike involving the members in our Union, who responded to the strike call to a man, took place at the Tecklenburg shipyard, Bremerhafen. The strike ended in a complete victory.
Benefits and other Assistance.
1925
1926
1927
( marks)
( marks)
( marks)
Unemployment and Strike...
758,863.
2,382,447.796,404.Distress
221,262.398,834.338,971.Legal Aid
86,130.85,292.79,184.Funeral
5.841.Invalidity
156,340.183,233.383,800.Widows and Orphans
283,202.269,740.262,190.Death Benefit Fund.
Total Paid Out
Fire Insurance Fund.
1,511,638. 3,319,546.- 1,860,549.17,150.- 218,850.287,300.17,647.35,824.21.374.Total Paid Out
Sick Fund.
Total Paid Out
847.130.1,138,497.- 2,027,058.In addition a total of 1,800,000.-- marks was secured in compensation
settlements in 1926 and 1927.

87
GERMANY.
Polier, Werk- und Schachtmeisterbund für das Baugewerbe Deutschlands.
510
( Technical Employees and Foremen in building trades.)
Membership.
Year
Membership
1925
13,819
1926
13,085
1927
13,340
Financial Position.
Year
Net Assets
( marks)
1925
237,718.55
1926
287,666.71
1927
507,772.33
Membership Covered by Collective Agreements.
The wages and working conditions of all the members are fixed by collective agreement.
Conflicts etc.
1925 1926
126
14
1927
15
Benefits and Other Assistance.
Legal aid and advice was given in case of conflicts with employers, insurance authorities and accidents in building in which technical employees and foremen were called upon to defend themselves or give
evidence.
In addition the following benefits were paid: strike pay, unemployment pay, sick pay( supplementary allowance), victimization pay( in case of dismissal for reasons connected with membership of the Union), pensions in case of permanent incapacitation for work owing to old age or invalidity, death benefit, distress benefit.
The following figures of number of cases of, and total amount paid in benefits in 1926 and 1927, will show the importance of these funds:
Percentage of
Total
BENEFIT
1925 ( marks)
1926 ( marks)
1927 ( marks)
Per Member 1926 1927 ( marks)( marks)
income
1926 1927
Strike..
51,610.15
1,341.83
655.12
0.10
Victimization
72.90 731.25
81.0.06
0.05 0,24 0,13
0,11
Unemployment
47,687.50 201,991.- 63,889.15.44
4.79 36, 10,92
-
Sick
70,749.95 83,863.15 60,896.05
6.41
Distress
1,050.- 3.100.- 2,690.0.24
4.56 15,10,40 0.20 0,55 0,46
Invalidity
8,618.05 24,789.20 37,882 05
1.89
2.84 4,42 6,47
Death.
15,295.
21,556.25,982.1.65
1.94 3,84 4,43
Legal Aid
8,830.60 11.496.44 15,013.10
0 88
1.13 2,05 2,56
Total..
203,914,15 348.868,87 207,034.32
26.67
15.51 62,23 35,35

88
GERMANY.
ХИАМИНО
swap bir bandasteism dad Social Legislation ( for all the German unions.)
Salaried Employees' Old Age and Invalidity Insurance.
The pensions and contributions payable under the Old Age and Invalidity Insurance Act have been increased in virtue of a supplementary Act dated 28 July 1925. The pensions consist of a basic sum and a supplementary sum. The former, which is the same for all persons insured, has been increased from 360 to 480 marks a year. With effect from 1 July 1925, the supplementary allowances payable in respect of contributions paid since 1 January 1924 are to be increased to 15% ( formerly it was 10%). This means that persons qualifying for a pension on or after 1 July 1925 are entitled to an annual supplementary allowance equal to 15% of the aggregate contribution paid since 1 January 1924. In addition, persons having paid contributions in wage classes F to I ( which correspond to the higher salary scales) during the period 1 January 1913 to 31 July 1921, are entitled, when eligible for a pension, to an additional supplementary allowance amounting to one, two, three and four marks a year in salary classes F, G, H and I respectively for every valid contribution paid. This additional supplementary allowance was to be regarded as a kind of compensation for the decreased purchasing power of the currency; the lower- paid groups being excluded from this additional supplementary allowance on the ground that they had already been privileged by the increase of the basic sum.
Contributions have been increased by approximately one third, present rates being as follows: to sano ni navig sw oplybs bus bis Isgel ms ispindest bidwal pribliud af aansipp Monthly Contribution ovie zo On a Monthly Income oqu bollo 919w nomin Marks volq Up to 50 2 950sbivs nomyolqmsover 50, 100 sq sew aloned paiwollol sdi 4 tibbs al 100, 200( sonswolls vistasmslqquz) 8 biz ysq 2001, 300 sdmem diw betos 1201 Isezimaib 300, 400 zol, nosliɔsq16 lo ses mi Jioned 2291zibiloned de 20 bilsval
lo strɔ ni) x anoiansq.( noin 10 ps blo,
bis
"
400 marks
Formerly two further classes, with contributions of 25 and 30 marks a month, were provided for the optional insurance of larger incomes. Under a supplementary law dated 22 December 1927 two classes, with contributions of 40 and 50 marks, have been added to these.
Tsel aset Jem National Miners' Insurance Act.
ТЯЧИНА
Under the National Miners' Insurance Act manual and non- manual workers engaged in the mining industry are insured against the risks of sickness, invalidity and old age. Though the supplementary law of of 25 June 1926 provided for uniform conditions of insurance for manual and non- manual employees, separate arrangements have been made for the non- manual classes. The supplementary law of 25 June 1926 further made it compulsory to insure for medical attendance to family. The administration of the insurance fund has been able to introduce optional insurance against sickness for employees for whom insurance is not

89
compulsory, up to a maximum annual income of 6.000 marks( since 1 October 1927 sickness insurance is compulsory up to an income limit of 3,600 marks, prior to that date the limit was 2,700 marks). An impairment was introduced in respect of the age at which insured persons are eligible for the old age pension. On the other hand, an important advance was made as regards the composition of the administration; the ratio of employers' representatives to employees' representatives being reduced to 2: 3. 18m apnibss
of
basupplies of olds Notice of Dismissal of Employees.bi qatz
On 9 July 1926 an Act concerning periods of notice for dismissal of salaried employees was passed. It is provided that an employer who generally employs more than two employees, apart from apprentices, must give at least three months' notice of dismissal, expiring at the end of a calendar quarter, to employees who have been at least five years in his service after completion of 25 years of age. This period is increased to four months after eight years' service, five months after ten years' service and six months after twelve years' service, all expiring at the end of a calendar quarter. aspadoxe fodal
bits sonsbing isnot Working Hours Emergency Act.
bsiqobs
A
162
The common action undertaken by the free unions of manual and non- manual workers for the legal reintroduction of the eight- hour day have produced a temporary result in the Working Hours Emergency Act of 14 April 1927. This Act brought an important improvement in the shape of a legal claim to overtime payment for work in excess of eight hours a day or forty- eight a week, in so far as these limits are laid down by collective agreement or local by- laws. In so far as no other rate has been agreed upon, or circumstances do not warrant the fixing of another rate, such overtime is to be paid for at 25% extra. After a heated discussion this legal claim to overtime payment was in principle also extended to salaried employees. By making it compulsory to pay extra for overtime it was hoped to achieve a limitation of working hours, but owing to unfavourable interpretation, especially in the case of salaried employees, these hopes have in practice been disappointed to a very great extent. stadeildsta di zol esbivanq oels 10A dT din od
llib
The Labour Courts Act.
zods! bstalas 916 23 bal bas sommo lo to A law known as the Labour Courts Act was passed on 23 December 1926 and became fully effective as from 1 July 1927. The labour courts set up under this Act are competent to deal with all labour disputes, regardless of the value involved, to the elimination of the ordinary law courts. In addition to the local labour courts there are the provincial labour courts, of higher competence, and finally the Federal Labour Court, which is the supreme court in labour affairs. There are 527 labour courts, 80 provincial labour courts and one Federal Labour Court. The Act provides that separate chambers shall be established for disputes affecting salaried employees, and that a further sub- division by trade is also permissible. Assessors of equal status, representative of employers and manual and non- manual workers, and officially known as labour

90
judges, provincial labour judges or federal labour judges, as the case may be, sit in these courts. Equal numbers of these lay- judges must represent employers and wage- earners. The appointments are made on the basis of nomination lists submitted by organizations, competent to be parties to collective agreements, of employers and wage- earners. The free employees' unions are represented on all the labour courts.
The recognition by law of the competence of industrial organizations to be a party to proceedings before the labour courts, marks a important step forward, inasmuch as the trade unions are thus able to safeguard in the courts their own interests and those of their members. Lawyers and other persons practising law as a profession, may not act as representatives of parties to a case before the ordinary labour courts, but in the provincial and Federal labour courts the engagement of counsel is obligatory, with the proviso that trade unions may, as in the case of the ordinary labour courts, appoint a union official or a member to represent the interests of the union or its members.
Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance.
An Act relating to labour exchanges and unemployment insurance was adopted on 16 July 1927, and came into force on 1 October the same year. For purposes of labour exchanges, vocational guidance and unemployment insurance, a national bureau was established, with jurisdiction over the whole country and consisting of a central labour bureau, provincial labour bureaus and local bureaus. The managing bodies of these bureaux always consist of equal numbers of representatives of employers, wage- earners and public bodies. The Act makes it compulsory to include among the workers' representatives on the managing boards of the local labour bureaux and provincial bureaux at least one salaried employee, on the managing body of the Federal Labour Bureau at least two salaried employees and on the Committee of the latter, which acts as its legal representative, at least one salaried employee. In so far as these bureaus have already been established, representatives of the free salaried employees' unions have been chosen in all cases, so that the latter are represented on the Committee and Managing Body of the Federal Labour Bureau.
The Act also provides for the establishment at the salaried employees' labour bureaux of special departments representing different branches of commerce and industry. These special departments are assisted by committees of technical advisers, which are representative of employers and salaried employees, under the chairmanship of the President of the Federal or Provincial Labour Bureau.
The Act also provides for the establishment at the salaried employees' Liable to unemployment insurance are all employees up to an income limit of 6,000 marks a year. For incomes exceeding this sum optional insurances is provided. To qualify for unemployed relief one must be out of work through no fault of one's own, be willing to accept work and have contributed for 26 weeks. The unemployment relief is normally paid for a period of 26 weeks, but if the labour market is especially unfavourable the Managing Body of the Federal Labour Bureau may extend it to 39 weeks.

91
To the normal unemployment relief are added family allowances for dependants. The amount of the unemployment relief varies according to earnings, eleven salary classes being provided for.
The costs of unemployment insurance are met by contributions from employers and wage- earners, in the form of percentages on the contribution for health insurance. The contribution is the same for employer and wage- earner, and it may not exceed 3% of the basic wage on which contributions for health insurance are paid. The maximum contribution must be levied until a reserve has been built up sufficient to maintain 600,000 unemployed for a period of three months.
In addition to the normal and extended unemployment relief described above, it is incumbent upon the Federal Minister of Labour, in times of a prolonged crisis on the labour market, to introduce emergency relief. This has actually happened. The emergency relief is paid to unemployed persons with only 13 weeks' employment liable to unemployment insurance to their credit, and to those who have exhausted their claim to normal and extended unemployment relief. Another condition for payment is that there must be a need for it. This emergency relief is paid for a period not exceeding 26 weeks, and its amount is equal to the normal unemployment relief, except that the rate is lower in the higher wage classes.
bst

92
Financial Position.
Dist
( Year ended) qualiu
GREAT BRITAIN. sbbs 915 Isils inmyalamsmu 16zon
by National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers. aol bobivoaq prisd asazalo yisisa novels
Membership.
( Year ended) 31 December 1925 31 December 1926 31 December 1927
93.46801 21 no dlo& boo
91.488
95.356
31 Dec. 1925 31 Dec. 1926 31 Dec. 1927
bsdipesb oils ansmy
Gross Contributions
silst ansmyolqmenu be ...
on£
164.893
176.944
£ al 174.525
Branch Allowance..
22.526
23.755
23.921
Net Contribution to Centr. Funds
142.367
153.189
150.604
yolqm
hedt betaus Benefits: orlw saodt pt. Is jibs
Unemployment
Sickness
Funeral..
Dispute and Victimisation.... Disablement and Distress
Total
men7.617
x 15.643
on 07.461
21.875
21.659
24.252
SW 2.585
2.441
2.960
13.162
22.995
6.213
1.192
1.781
1.799
46.430
64.519
42.685
( Year ended)
31 Dec. 1925 31 Dec. 1926 31 Dec. 1927
Other Expenses( net):
Result of Year's Work on Central Funds
Result of Year's Work on Branch Funds
Result in the Aggregate
£
£
£
80.274
96.302
87.691
15.663( gain) 7.632( loss) 20.228( gain)
1.534( gain) 17.197( gain)
652( loss) 1.182( gain) 8.284( loss) 21.410( gain)
Working Conditions regulated by Collective Agreement.
At the end of the year 1927 we had 68,092 members who were under collective area agreements made by the retail Co- operative movement of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with this Union. It may be stated also that almost the whole of the remainder are receiving rates which have been negotiated for them either through the medium of a number of firms of a similar class, or with the individual firm itself. We have, for instance, a number of Co- operative laundry workers whose wages and conditions are in accordance with an agreement with the Union, while there are also the workers of the Co- operative Wholesale Society's flour mills, who are likewise in receipt of the rates and conditions laid down by the Flour Milling Joint Industrial Council, upon which we are represented.

93
Conflits.
МІАТІЯЯ ТАЯЯЭ
In the year 1925, except for one case of outstanding note there were no serious disputes between ourselves and private employers: that case was a stoppage of work to enforce an agreement with a firm in Hull, the result being an entirely satisfactory one for the N.U.D.A.W. In Cooperative service in the year 1925, a very serious dispute arose between ourselves and the North- Western section of the societies' Union. On the handing in of notices to enforce negotiations, a large number of Co- operative societies in the North- Western area of the Co- operative movement tendered lock- out notices to our membership. This dispute cost the Union£ 7067.10.6 in defence of our membership. In the year 1925 a new body, entitled the National Co- operative Conciliation Board, was established for the settlement of disputes in the Co- operative movement. In 1926 a lockout to impose wage reductions was defeated, and recognition of the Union secured. Another dispute of outstanding note was the 23 weeks' struggle at Messrs. Williams and Williams of Chester. The operation of the machinery established in the previous year, i.e., the National Co- operative Conciliation Board, did much to lessen the possibility of disputes between Co- operative societies' management committees and their employees. The year 1926 saw the beginning and termination of the national strike, in the carrying on of which the N.U.D.A.W. took a prominent share. Expenditure by the Union on dispute benefit, victimisation benefit, and grants to the Trades Union Congress to carry on the fight, totalled£ 56416.2.102. Approximately 7,000 of our membership were involved and directly connected with the national dispute. 1927 has been a comparatively peaceful year, no important stoppage of work either by lockout or strike having taken place. At the close of the year 1927, notice was given by the employers concerned with the Scottish Co- operative Retail wages agreement to terminate that agreement, which covers some 9,000 members, and secure certain reductions. Negotiations were entered upon and still proceed. bas soqeasiT adi lo esonsmil slodw s
Laws affecting Salaried Workers.
During the period under review, there has been no legislation effected which affects particularly salaried employees: unless one can place the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act of 1927 in this category. A Government Committee of Inquiry into the working of the Shops( Early Closing) Acts 1920-21, was appointed during the year, and evidence was tendered by our organisation. A report of the findings of this committee, with a minority report submitted by the two Labour representatives thereon, was issued towards the close of the year. It is understood that the Shop Hours Bill which was to be the result of the Committee's deliberations has been dropped out of the Parliamentary programme for the forthcoming session. lo noleivong at Tol gottsleipol Isloo lo vigo assolgars volgars belasise of astloqs etdT čo s 20sq sps blo bas & d) zasl ei visise nisdt
amenU lo surt al oefs elds
assy eidi nixps babasms sad and doidw rol made
wollol as si quot at yd babivorq etilsmed adT

94
GREAT BRITAIN.
Transport and General Workers' Union. ( Administrative, Clerical and Supervisory Group.)
The outstanding event of the past three years in the trade union. movement in this country was the big national strike organised by the General Council of the Trade Union Congress in support of the Miners. The Transport Union was called upon to bring out on strike all its members engaged in transport, and a very large number of workers in the other industries and trades covered by the Union. The strike was memorable, particularly because of the participation in the struggle by the non- manual workers. The Transport clerical and supervisory staffs everywhere gave their support, and incurred great risks. In the case of London, clerical and administrative staffs were also involved. There were" casualties" in different parts of the country, for after the strike, many employers pursued a policy of driving sections of the supervisory staffs out of the Union and of discouraging the administrative staffs from continuing in membership.
" Shop" Associations were sometimes formed, and every encouragement was given by interested parties in the work of disruption. The Union membership was, of course, shaken, but in the main held firm. The Union has now weathered the storm, and is rapidly recovering its financial strength and membership. In nearly all cases amongst the clerks and foremen those participating in the strike were restored to their previous positions without loss of rights. The Group has steadily regained the confidence of the members, and there are signs of a renewed interest in Union work.
It is difficult to give the financial position of the Group because the finances of the Transport and General Workers' Union are treated as a whole.
In nearly all cases full recognition is given to the Union in negotiations, and the vast majority of our members work under conditions of wage or salary rates which have been regulated by negotiation between the Union and the employers concerned.
During the past few years there have been no big conflicts involving strike action connected with the conclusion or alteration of existing agreements.
The only legislation which affects salaried employees is the new piece of social legislation for the provision of pensions to widows, orphans and old age persons at 65. This applies to salaried employees only if their salary is less than£ 250 per year. This also is true of Unemployment Insurance, the scheme for which has been amended again this year.
The benefits provided by the Group are as follows:

Accident Pay:
Funeral Benefit:
Men
8 weeks at 8/-
Women& Youths
95
Girls
8 weeks at 4/- 8 weeks at 2/8
8
99
19
5/-
8
99
"
£ 3 to
2/6 8 5
£ 3
£ 5 to 10
Dispute, Lockout 20/- per week and and Victimisation 2/- per week each Pay: child under 14 years.
"
1/8
12/- per week. 8/- per week.
Legal Benefit: All members are entitled to Legal Assistance and Advice on matters arising out of employment.
As before stated, we do not keep separate benefit funds, nor are separate accounts kept for the Group in the matter of benefit payments.

96
HOLLAND.
8.Sassw 8
adtuo Y 3 asmoW
is adssw 8-18
8 as...
8
23 01 8 3
as M
Algemeene Nederlandsche Bond van Handels- en Kantoorbedienden. ( Commercial and Clerical Employees.)
Membership. w 19q- SI bas sow sq- 100 sew
Of recent years there has been a constant increase in membership, the figure rising from 6,635 on 1 January 1925 to 7,376 on 1 January 1926, 7,796 on 1 January 1927 and 8,445 on 1 January 1928. Our Union now accounts for 39% of the total organized salaried employees, there being in addition to our own neutral, Catholic and Christian organabul ilsnsd siszsasa qsed to ob ew biste o
izations.
ayeq tilaasd 30 19
d
Financial Position. Income during the three years under review was as follows:
1925 204,166.91 guilders.
1926 221,253.88
99
1927 248,305.47
The following sums were spent in benefits:
1925
Unemployment 64.466.24
ནཱ
Strike Education
Sickness
1926
1927
71.379.21 61.681.27
1.396.56
58.026.68
3.239.28
385.74
1.053.25
769.14
10.541.32 9.698.86
9.513.84
Resistance fund: f 61.920.13.( January 1, 1928.)
On 1 January of the current year the Union was party to sixty collective agreements covering some 900 persons.
I. Conflicts.
During the three years under review the Union was involved in one important conflict, with the vacuum manufacturing firm Electrolux Ltd.; a strike of the out- door staff at Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague being declared on 1 April 1926. Of the 107 employees concerned 100 responded to the call. The strike lasted until 8 November, or over seven months, when a settlement was reached between our Union and the firm, following the dismissal of the manager. This strike was financed from the Union's own funds, and cost approximately 56,000 guilders.
In addition, the Union was able, in the course of negotiations with employers, to secure improvements of various kinds for members. We also succeeded in numerous cases in securing cancellation of dismissals, and the payment of compensation. The Union has further engaged the services of a legal adviser, while several compensation settlements were secured through the Bureaux for Labour Law.
As a result of the Union's activities in different spheres the confidence of salaried employees in it has been considerably strengthened.

97
The Union has also established a special fund for members suffering from tuberculosis or nervous disorders. This fund, the money for which was raised by a special effort by members and ex- members on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the Union, and which also assists the families of members, supplies an urgent need. Many patients have already been helped on the road to health, while financial aid has been given to the dependants of deceased members.
In Amsterdam and a few other places, the Union is running evening classes, where employees can qualify for a certificate for correspondence or book- keeping.
Social Legislation. Though the Eight Hour Day Act is also applicable to office and shop employees, it has not yet been introduced for them. A large congress was held, and the Government has since put forward a Bill concerning shop closing. In many localities there are already local orders providing for eight- o'clock closing on weekdays, ten o'clock on Saturdays and a free day on Sunday. The Labour Act is now also to be carried into effect for shop employees, and it will probably provide for a fifty- hour working week.
In furtherance of what is known as the Programme of Montreux, our Union held an exceedingly successful congress to discuss the question of the legal status of salaried employees. Among the speakers at this congress was comrade S. Aufhäuser, of Berlin.
Throughout the period under review the Union has strained every nerve to promote the legal protection of commercial travellers working on a commission basis.
Commercial education is now the object of State attention. To achieve this end a strong campaign was organized by our Union, in conjunction with the others.
An Act concerning relief in case of sickness is due to be carried into effect in the immediate future.
The Accident Insurance Act has now been extended to all salaried employees regardless of their income. The allowances payable are subject to certain limits, however.

98
HUNGARY.
Magyarországi Magántisztviselők Szövetsége.
( Salaried Employees in private undertakings.)
The period under review coincides with the terrible economic depression which was caused by the stabilisation of the Hungarian currency. In the spring of 1924, the salaried employees, under the leadership of our union, petitioned the national parliament to effect stabilisation with the utmost caution, and to provide the necessary social legislation for the protection of the workers. Our special demands were:( 1) the establishment of minimum wages:( 2) the immediate introduction of unemployment insurance:( 3) the lengthening of the period of notice and the increase of the bonus granted on dismissal: and( 4) the establishment of Conciliation Boards. These demands were disregarded, and Hungarian salaried employees had to get through these terrible years of economic depression as best they could, without the aid of any state unemployment benefit. No wonder the disstress of our unemployed colleagues was absolutely unprecedented, especially as most of them were unorganised and therefore ineligible for trade union assistance.
Membership.
Our membership throughout the period has been as follows:
December 31, 1925
"
1926 1927
5874
5225
5273
Some 12% of our members live in the provinces, where there are special difficulties in forming local branches. Two- thirds of our members are males, and one- third females.
Working Conditions.
T
During the period we have done all we possibly could to improve working conditions for our colleagues. Under present conditions it is of course absolutely impossible to conclude collective conditions: there is indeed not a single collective agreement for any Hungarian salaried employee. We have often pointed out very strongly in the press the prejudice done to the nation by keeping wages and salaried so low, explaining that this policy only serves to reduce the purchasing power of the masses and to prolong and intensify the depression. Over and over again we have remonstrated with the employers' organisation and with individual firms for changes for the worse in working conditions, and on the questions of working hours and Sunday rest.
Financial Position.
The stabilisation of the currency, although it brought much suffering to individuals, yet did stabilise our income and enable us to accumulate capital and improve our benefit system. We give below the amounts paid out in benefit of various kinds( converted into Dutch guilders):

99
1925
1926
1927
No.
receiving benefit
Amount in guilders
No.
Amount
receiving benefit
in
guilders
No. receiving benefit
Amount in
guilders
Unemployment benefit
676
6665.70
338
6694.05
245
5996 60
Extended unemployment
benefit
Sickness benefit
Maternity benefit
Marriage benefit...
2211
1900.60
186
1337.20
226
28
358.30
39
423.40
-
2822
1690.90
50
1119.20
39
608.86
25
821.62
Widows' and orphans
benefit
35
2781.20
47
7049.50
74
7874.90
Totals
926 11705.80
610
15504.15
659
18111.98
We should like to point out that during this period we also managed ( by straining every nerve) to secure union offices of our own, the value of which is now about 100,000 Dutch guilders.
Employment Office.
Our union has a well- equipped employment office, which filled the following vacancies during the period under review:
1925 1926 1927
481
781
989
Legal Aid.
The large dismissals of employees brought in its wake many lawsuits, and our solicitor had plenty to do in the period under review. The number of lawsuits were as follows:
1925 310
1926 120
1927 70
and the amounts awarded by the courts as costs etc. were( in Dutch guilders):
1925 f 55,000
1926 f 21,000
1927
f 14,000
Social Legislation.
In the sphere of social legislation, the period under review was not without its successes. The depreciation of the Hungarian Krone made it necessary to revise the salaried employees' old age pensions system. The bill dealing with the subject would, if passed in its original form, have meant serious prejudice to the interests of employees: we therefore waged an energetic campaign against it, which was by no means entirely unsuccesful, although we could not secure all our important demands. Towards the end of 1925, the Hungarian Board of Trade drafted a bill regulating working and service conditions for the salaried employees of private concerns, and submitted it to the parties concerned. The bi
Bibliothek
*
Bonn
Fried
Bunns

100
contained certain improvements( for instance, it provided for annual holidays) but in two important points it would have made very prejudicial changes, i.e., it would have curtailed the period of compulsory notice, and abolished the system of bonuses on dismissal. Our union therefore organised demonstrations against it throughout the country: and thousands of our colleagues signed the petition of protest which was sent in to the Board. We succeeded in wrecking the bill.
In 1927, the Minister of Labour and Welfare introduced into parliament a bill dealing with sickness insurance, which raised somewhat the salary limit of compulsory insurance, but disregarded our demand for the abolition of all restrictions on compulsory insurance. The new Act has made sickness insurance a state system, and has reduced to a mere shadow the influence on the system of the persons insured.
Propaganda and Educational Work.
Of special note was our propaganda campaign in the spring of 1927 by means of posters and meetings, and our issue towards the end of the previous year of 15,000 illustrated leaflets. The 11 trade sections of the union hold regular business meetings, organise public meetings, and arrange for lectures and social gatherings among themselves. In our reading- room our colleagues find all the foreign technical and scientific literature dealing with the Socialist Movement. The cause of education is still further served by our library, which comprises some 20,000 volumes: in this field we hold the first place in the whole of the Hungarian trade union movement.

HUNGARY.
101
Kereskedelmi Alkalmazottak Országos Szövetsége.
( Commercial Employees.)
1925.
The employers endeavour to compensate themselves for bad trade by lengthening working hours and cutting wages. Above all, they want to abolish the six o'clock closing time. But these plans were frustrated by the resistance of the employees, who succeeded in concluding an agreement with the Employers' Association on the basis of the six o'clock closing, which agreement was put into force by means of a decree issued by the Minister of Commerce. We have had no success as yet in connection with the closing of food businesses at seven o'clock,
As to the regulation of legal conditions, a bill was introduced into parliament which would have affected these for the worse, but we succeeded in getting this bill removed from the agenda.
Our Executive has purchased in the most beautiful part of the country, at Visegrad, a splendid Holiday Home, where salaried employees will be able to obtain free lodging and cheap board.
We have founded a Life Insurance Centre which, in case of the death of a member, will furnish his surviving dependants with a considerable sum of money, in addition to the usual death benefit.
1926.
The Budapest Chamber of Trade and Industry began an action to abolish the payment of compensation to an employee when dismissed, and to shorten the period of notice. Our colleagues had a hard fight to repel this attack. They succeeded in doing so, however, as the Minister of Commerce took their standpoint, and has issued another decree dealing with compensation for dismissal and the period of notice.
On the subject of the full Sunday rest we made an agreement with the employers' association( the National Union of Grocers), under which the food business in Budapest and its environs will be closed on Sundays. This agreement has been submitted to the Minister of Commerce for his
sanction.
In March, 1926, our union celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding.
The expenditure for benefit was:
In 1925: Kr. 256,416,000.
In 1926: Kr. 251,776,000.
In the year 1925 we had in our library 3139 volumes, and in 1926 3232.
1927.
Conditions in the commercial world grow worse from year to year. The economic depression still continues, the road is strewn with ruined lives. Bankruptcies are the characteristics of this frightful struggle. Many firms have reduced the salaries of their salaried employees, although these salaries were already very low in comparison with pre- war times. In the hope of improving salaries, we have been recently holding

102
branch meetings and conferences and, in places where our organisation has a little more strength, we have not only prevented salary cuts, but have even secured increases.
We worked untiringly to prevent the lengthening of working hours. Many employers have been trying to violate the legal working day. We have collected all the complaints sent in, and strenthened by the possession of this information, we have besought the competent authorities to see that the statutory hours are adhered to. Our Budapest branch organised propaganda on a large scale, the result of which was that we have two more branches in this city. There are in all 10 branches in Budapest, which have chess- playing and gymnastic clubs and a band.
Membership on January 1st, 1927, was 3289: at the end of the year it was 2896. The Rules for the Holiday Home Union were approved by the Home Secretary, so that throughout 1928 this Union has been working independently.
We organised four study excursions, and maintained classes in German and Esperanto. At the end of 1927 we had 3467 volumes in our library. Our Employment Office filled 269 vacancies during the year. The income of our Life Insurance Office was 2229.69 P. and its expenditure 1810. Our income as derived from entry fees and members' contributions was P. 61,492.60, and we paid out P. 14,390.59 in benefits and legal defence.
Our union life was intensive in 1927. Our leaders were very energetic in promoting social intercourse, for which purpose we have furnished our new premises, which were duly opened on March 13th, and have been utilised for lectures and evening entertainments.
Some of our provincial branches have been very successful in securing Sunday rest and getting shops and business houses closed earlier. Our Kaposvar group started action for the apprenticeship question. Official interference with our work at Debrecen, Miskolc, Csongrad and Szigetvar has stopped.
The year 1927 was a very difficult one, but we hope the worst is now over. Our leaders have done all that they possibly could and have been very careful to see that there were no disturbances. The union is strong because it is united. This unity and the systematic work done is a guarantee for a better future.
Ese aset b
phiblod
ow word.
al bed ow PSRT

103
IRELAND.
The Irish Union of Distributive Workers and Clerks.
Trend of Membership.
dal
Commencing in 1924 the membership of this Union showed a slight decline, which had not been arrested by the end of 1927. We must face the fact that there are fewer people employed in commercial and clerical life than in the boom years. In almost all large firms the Union has 100 per cent membership.
Financial Position.
As a result of a number of protracted strikes in 1923 and 1924 the Unions' funds in 1925 were at a low ebb. Again in 1925 and 1926 the expenditure exceeded the income but the margin was narrowed down considerably. Throughout 1927 there was a marked improvement, the expenditure on Unemployment and Sickness benefit was lower and the expenditure on disputes was kept within manageable dimensions. The financial position was therefore, at the end of 1927 in a rather healthy condition.
Collective Agreements.
About 5,000 members have their conditions of employment regulated by collective agreements. However, the position in regard to collective agreements is not wholly satisfactory in this country. At law any combination whose objects are in restraint of trade is ousted from the protection of the Courts when it comes to enforcing agreements and, therefore, individual traders when they find it convenient are at liberty. so far as the law is concerned, to ignore the agreement.
Disputes.
The Union has been engaged during the three years under review in a number of disputes with employers. Some of these disputes were protracted. For instance, in one town in the West of Ireland a dispute involving 90 per cent of the commercial and clerical employees in the town continued from January to September, 1926. During the three years 1925-1927 the Union fought almost one hundred strikes on behalf of its members. In 75 per cent of these cases a proposal of the employers to alter Collective Agreements to the detriment of the employees gave rise to the dispute. The pressure had, however, diminished in 1927. In that year only four strikes took place. In each case the attempt of employers to set aside the Collective Agreement gave rise to the dispute. Legislation.
In 1926 an important act went through both Houses of the Oireachtas ( Parliament). Hitherto the closing hour for shops was fixed in each district by the Local Authority. The Local Authority was empowered by law to fix the time of closing for retail shops only with the consent of two- thirds of the occupiers of such shops at any time so approved provided that the hour so fixed was not earlier than 7 o'clock p.m. In

104
no case did the Local Authority succeed in fixing the closing hour for any night except Saturday night, and the closing hour fixed for Saturday night was, usually, ten o'clock. The Act of 1926, which, however, only applies to Dublin( the Capital) and seven Urban Areas peremptorily fixed the closing hour on the four first nights of the week at 6 o'clock, on Friday nigth at 6.30 and on Saturday night at 8.30. That was an important and valuable innovation. Several other Local Authorities have since then made Closing Orders for their respective areas fixing the Closing Hour on Saturday night at 8 o'clock and in some cases 7.30. Generally collective agreements have settled the closing hour at 6 o'clock for all week nights other than Saturday. On one day in each week shops are required to close at 1 o'clock in the afternoon( the half- holiday) and commercial offices invariably close down on Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock. Provident Benefits.
The Union provides Sickness, Unemployment and Death benefits for its members and in the three years under review the benefits paid out average 23/3( twenty- three shilling and three pence) per head per annum. The average benefit paid works out at about 15/- per week for members while on the funds, up to a maximum of 26 weeks in one year. About 50 per cent of the membership do not contribute for provident benefits.
State Benefits.
The Union also administers the State Insurance Benefit Scheme for its members, and under this head expends about£ 10,000 per annum. It is very successful in the administration of these benefits and has been in a position to provide out of its accumulated surplus reserves, dental treatment, hospital benefit, optical benefit and medical and surgical appliances. Dental benefit is very popular and the Union's expenditure in providing it amounts to about£ 2,000 per annum for 1926 and 1927. In 1926 steps were taken to enable members to build their own houses. Land was purchased, and houses erected which are now occupied by upwards of 100 members.
bod

NORWAY.
105
Norges Handels- og og Kontorfunksjonaerers Forbund.
( Commercial and Clerical Employees.)
During the three years 1925/1927, the membership of the union has declined steadily: at the end of last year, the Union had 40 local branches and a membership of about 5,000.
Unemployment continues to be very large: since 1920 unemployment benefit to the amount of Kr. 550,000 in all has been paid out to 3,000 members.
Collective agreements concluded with the employers cover over 2000 members. Most of them fix working conditions for Oslo and the neighbourhood.
The union has had 2 serious and long- continued conflicts, one of which, at Oslo, lasted from the autumn of 1924 to May 1925 and ended in a settlement, while the second, in Bergen, lasted 14 months, and was unsuccessful.
In all other cases the collective agreements were renewed, or new agreements were made without a stoppage of work after negotiations or by conciliation proceedings.
During these three years there has been no progress in social legislation, but on the contrary, there has been retrogression in certain respects. The cause of this stagnation is the result of the elections of 1924, which placed the Conservative parties in power with a meagre majority. One of the acts passed was in protection of strike- breakers: the trade union movement has started a vigorous campaign to repeal this law. Furthermore, the Minimum Wage Act has been repealed since October 1st, 1925. The Union has 2 benefit funds:( 1) the Unemployment Fund, which pays benefits of Kr. 1.50 and Kr. 3 for Classes 1 and 2 respectively, in each case for 90 days( this fund is recognised by the state, which refunds to it half the benefits paid out, if they are approved) and( 2) the Reserve Fund which provides strike pay in case of need, and also special Unemployment benefit for either 30 of 60 days, respectively for members who have had either 5 or 10 years of unbroken membership of the union. During the period two congresses were held, in 1925 and 1927. At both the relations of the union to the national trade union centre ( Arbeidernes Faglige Landsorganisation) were discussed, and at the second, it was decided that in principle the union should affiliate with the centre, but that the question should be referred to a referendum in 1930. Although the labour conditions and the economic position of the country are still bad, there seems to be some improvement lately, and the propaganda which has been carried on by our union since last congress has been so successful that it has brought the decline in the membership to a standstill.
tem noibheith aids

106
POLAND.
Allgemeiner freier Angestelltenbund Polnisch Oberschlesien.
( Salaried employees in Polish- Upper Silesia).
Owing to the peculiar political conditions existing in Upper Silesia, the free union of salaried employees in this country, the Allgemeiner freier Angestelltenbund( AfA- Federation), with headquarters in Kattovitz, occupies a position apart from the organizations in other countries. In virtue of the German- Polish Agreement signed in Geneva on 15 May 1922 this union, like the other unions of German- speaking workers in Upper Silesia, is guaranteed membership of the German mother organization for the period of duration of the agreement, i.e. up to 1937. Hence it is a member of the AFA- Federation in Berlin. Though the German element is predominant, this organization, being international in policy, is on a most friendly footing with the Polish free unions. As in Poland the salaried employees' movement particularly is still in its infancy, the Rada Generalna Klasowych Zwiazkow Zawodowych ( Ragen) was set up( at the initiative of the AFA- Bund), which aspires to develop into the federal organization of all the free salaried employees' unions in Poland. Owing to the special conditions obtaining in Poland, this new organization has unfortunately not yet produced any tangible results. For this reason the Polish AFA- Bund considered it expedient to strengthen its relations with the Polish unions of manual workers, who are better organized, and, though it already belonged to the AFA- Bund in Berlin, to affiliate with the Komisja Centralna( national trade union centre) in Warsaw.
The industrial area of Upper Silesia has also experienced the different phases of the European economic crises. The ravages wrought by the depreciation of the Polish mark were followed by stabilization. Owing to the effects of the economic crisis, when salaries were re- assessed in 1924 in terms of zloty, reductions, which in the case of some groups of salaried employees were considerable, were unavoidable. Years of unremitting effort were required before the union succeeded in increasing wages by 50 to 70%. As in Germany, the wage reductions went hand in hand with the abolition of the eight- hour day for the salaried employees in the foundries. It has only recently been possible to secure the re- introduction of the eight- hour day for a number of foremen grades. The economic crisis in Upper Silesia was further intensified by the outbreak of the German- Polish commercial war in the middle of 1925. At this juncture the lowest ebb of the economic tide was reached. What also aggravated the situation was the recurrence of inflation, whereby the zloty temporarily dropped to one- half its gold parity.
Thousands upon thousands of employees, and ten times as many workers, with sometimes decades of service with public administrations, were ruthlessly turned on to the streets, and the AFA- Bund had to strain every nerve to come to the succour of these victims of the crisis. The legal aid department of the union had to be set in motion to secure for the dismissed comrades the rights to which they were entitled by law, and in this direction many notable successes were recorded. Un

107 stinted financial aid was also given, unemployment benefit being paid far beyond the limits provided by the rules of the union. In spite of this generosity we were able to relieve but a small part of the indescribable distress. Thousands upon thousands of employees, who owing to the political situation had no prospects of finding employment in Upper Silesia, had to emigrate to Germany. The membership of the union naturally suffered in consequence, but thanks to the high esteem in which it was held by the salaried employees, it has always been able to fill the breaches, so that the figure remained more or less stationary about 3,500. An improvement only set in in the middle of 1926, after the outbreak of the general strike in Great Britain. It must be added, however, that this improvement was not so pronounced as in the case of the manual workers.
Also worthy of mention is the fact that an important group of wageearners, viz, the winding engineers, were brought within the employees' collective agreement. In addition, in virtue of a Decree of the Warsaw Government a new Employees' Insurance Act came into force, through the exertions of the unions' of salaried employees in Upper Silesia, which provides for many improvements.
Of interest also are the special institutions established by our union. The beneficial activities of the legal aid department have already been mentioned. The union also runs a holiday home at Wapinicka( Beskiden) as well as a death benefit fund. It also has an influence in the Bundeshaus- Genossenschaft, a trade union cooperative, which with the aid of loans from the Employees' Insurance Institution, has built houses for homeless employees. In addition, the union encourages thrift among employees by running a savings bank at a favourable rate of interest, and finally it has a flourishing Youth Section.
doqu
best pablom x
bas
sd
rig of al
Isids O

108
SPAIN.
Federació de Dependents de Catalunya. ( Commercial and Clerical Employees.)
The chief source of the strength of our Federation is to be found in our affiliated union, the" Centre Autonomista de Dependents del Comerç y de la Industria"( Independent Centre of Commercial and Industrial Clerks) of Barcelona, whose energy and large membership was so admirable that the public authorities came to the conclusion that it must at any cost be annihiliated, the methods adopted to attain this end being adopted by the authorities, on no other principle than the achievement of their purpose.
As soon as the present political system was adopted in Spain, the activities of several of our affiliated unions were at once prohibited, ( among these being the" Centre Autonomista de Dependents del Comerç y de la Industria), so that the" Federació de Dependents de Catalunya' was obliged to exercise great caution and to restrict its work, if it wished to remain in the field. We have to be satisfied to keep going and to retain our affiliation with the Salaried Employees' Unions of Catalonia, who have managed to keep within the law while waiting for an opportunity of doing real trade union and class conflict work.
Hence there has been no change in our membership since 1926. Our financial position is precisely the same as at the end of that year. The only factor which might prejudice it is the expense arising out of our lawsuit against the union formerly affiliated with us, the" Centre Autonomista de Dependents del Comerç y de la Industria"( The Independent Centre of Commercial and Industrial Clerks). The present leaders of this union have been nominated by the Government, and are in the service of the yellow organisation which calls itself a" free" trade union: hence they unlawfully refuse to return to us the safes, furniture and other equipment of the Secretariat, which are our property.
Collective agreements fixing working conditions are almost unknown in Spain.
The system of regulating the relations between employers and workers by means of Joint Committees consisting of an equal number of representatives of both parties is rapidly making headway in Catalonia: these Committees lay down general rules which are strictly observed, the result being that there are very few disputes from these causes.
Our chief duty is to give aid in forming the above- mentioned Committees, taking care that the working class has due representation upon them. Unfortunately, however, continual arbitrary interference by the autocratic government is gradually converting them more and more into mere tools of bureaucracy, of no value from the social point of view.
Amongst the spheres of activity in which our union has worked with a certain measure of success we may point to the opposition made by it to the concessions granted in respect of certain traditional Sunday markets which are permitted by the Spanish Sunday Rest Act in accordance with specific principles. The employers lost no time in taking advantage of this clause for the legal protection of breaches of the Sunday Rest Act in connection with salaried employees. Thanks to the

109 intervention of our Union, however, the concessions claimed by the employers for the markets in question have almost invariably been refused.
One of the most important changes of recent times concerns the recent revision of the Sunday Rest Act, which deprives salaried employees of the food and drink trades of their full Sunday rest. Another point which deserves mention is the revision of the scales of the Utilities Tax which has been in force since January 1st, 1928: these scales are reduced somewhat for salaried employees, this tax having been modified so as to bring within its scope skilled workers, artists, musicians etc., and professional workers.
Our organisation has not established any benefit system of its own for its members, but nearly all its component unions have benefit funds and receive contributions for these of varying amounts. In this connection we must call special attention to the exceptional importance which had been attained by the institutions for social welfare and mutual benefit which had been set up by our former affiliated union, the" Centre Autonomista de Dependents del Comerç y de la Industria"( Independent Centre of Commercial and Industrial Clerks) before Government tyranny imposed upon it its present rules and leaders.

110
SWEDEN.
Svenska Handelsarbetareförbundet. ( Commercial Employees).
The membership of our Union rose from 9,027 at the beginning of 1927 to 10,442 at the end of the year, or an increase of 1,395. In the same period net assets rose from 244,688.96 to 308,285.88 Swedish crowns.
389 collective agreements affecting 9,179 members were in force, roundabout the end of 1927. In the course of 1927 agreements were concluded with 83 employers with whom previously no agreement had existed. Altogether the union signed 117 agreements during 1927. Some of these agreements, however, were signed by more than one, and in some cases by as many as 200 employers, so that the total number of employers with whom the union had contractual relations exceeded one thousand.
Since 1925 no important conflicts have taken place, as all the agreements concluded since that year could be negotiated by peaceful means. In two cases, however, a threat of a strike had to be resorted to, but these were of minor importance, only about 30 members being affected.
Of late years no legislation of special importance for commercial employees has been introduced, but quite recently the Government has put forward in Parliament two Bills concerning collective bargaining and labour courts. The first Bill seeks to establish collective bargaining as a legal system and to introduce a legal prohibition of labour conflicts arising from the interpretation of existing agreements. The second Bill proposes to establish a labour court to adjudicate on cases arising out of the first Bill.
The Union runs an unemployment fund of its own, from which in case of involuntary unemployment relief is given for not more than fifty days' unemployment in twelve consecutive months. In addition all members are insured by the Union against all accidents occurring outside working hours. The contribution for this insurance is included in the ordinary union contribution, which at present amounts to one crown a week for full members and 50 öre for others.
During the past two years the Union paid out an aggregate of approximately 80,000 crowns in unemployment benefit.

CONTENTS.
Part I.
Report on activities of the International Secretary for the period from 1 July, 1925 to 1 July, 1928.
Introduction
111
The Executive Committee
The Secretariat
344
4
4
Membership
Decisions of the Copenhagen Congress( 27 to 30 September 1925) Relations with affiliated and unaffiliated Unions
Transfer of Members
Meetings of the Executive Committee
Special Conferences
Special Publications
The News Letter
Contact with affiliated Unions
Our special Sections
5
6
8
8
8
9
14
15
15
16
Actions of a general character
16
The International Federation of Trade Unions
18
The International Labour Office, Geneva
21
The so- called Programme of Montreux for salaried employees The Advisory Committee on Intellectual Workers( I.L.O.) Matters Financial
21
3335
25
Conclusion
Annexes:
A. Names, addresses and membership- figures of the affiliated Unions
B. Rules concerning the transfer of members belonging to Unions affiliated with the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees
C. Financial Report 1925
D. Financial Report 1926
34
41
3442
38
40
42
E. Financial Report 1927
Part II.
Austria:
Reports on activities of affiliated Unions.
Zentralverein der kaufmännischen Angestellten Oesterreichs... 45 Bund der Industrieangestellten Oesterreichs
478 28
Reichsverein der Bank- und Sparkassenbeamten Oesterreichs Bund der Bank- und Sparkassen gehilfen in der Republik Oesterreich
50
52
Verein der Versicherungangestellten Oesterreichs
53
Belgium:
Syndicat Général des Employés, Techniciens, Magasiniers et Voyageurs de Commerce de Belgique
55

112
Czechoslovakia:
Einheitsverband der Privat- und Oeffentlichen Angestellten in der Cechoslovakischen Republik
Verband der Bank- und Sparkassenbeamten in der Tschechosl. Republik
57
60
....
62
63
Zentralverband der Versicherungsangestellten in der CSR. Verband der Advokaturs- und Notariatsbeamten in der CSR. Allgemeiner Industrieangestellten- Verband, Reichenberg Zentralverband der Angestellten in Industrie, Handel und Verkehr......
Social legislation( For all the unions in the czechoslovakian republic)
Denmark:
Dansk Handels- og Kontormedhjaelperforbund
Finland:
Suomen Liiketyöntekyäin Liito r. y.
Germany:
64
66
522
67
69
72
Zentralverband der Angestellten
Bund der Technischen Angestellten und Beamten
79
Allgemeiner Verband der Deutschen Bankangestellten
Deutscher Werkmeister- Verband
Polier- Werk- und Schachtmeisterbund für das Baugewerbe Deutschlands
87
Social legislation( For all the german Unions)
88
NO 18
74
84
86
Great Britain:
National Union of Distributive& Allied Workers
92
Transport& General Workers' Union( Administrative, Clerical and Supervisory Group)
94
Holland:
Algemeene Nederlandsche Bond van Handels- en Kantoorbedienden
96
Hungary:
Magyarországi Magantisztviselök Szövetsége... Kereskedelmi Alkalmazottak Országos Szövetsége
98
101
Ireland:
The Irish Union of Distributive Workers and Clerks.........
103
Norway:
Norges Handels- og Kontorfunksjonaerers Forbund
105
Poland:
Allgemeiner freier Angestelltenbund Polnisch- Oberschlesien... 106
Spain:
Federació de Dependents de Catalunya
108
Sweden:
Svenska Handelsarbetareförbundet
110

N.V. Vereenigde
Drukkerij Dico Amsterdam.
X 84