An important new step in the Labour movement was taken
on Thursday, when it was decided to try to form a working alliance between the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, the National Union of Railwaymen, and the Transport Workers' Federation. A scheme has been fully drafted—the original proposal was made at the annual Conference of the Miners' Federation last October —and will be submitted to a national Conference of the three Unions. The total membership of the three Unions is 1,350,000. The idea is to end the dissensions which have formerly weakened the action of the Unions. A Consultative Committee, composed of the President and General Secretary of each Union, would have powers to convene the Executive Committees whenever they considered that the joint action of the three Unions was desirable. In other trades there are similar movements towards large combinations of Unions whose interests are interlaced. At least it is assumed that they are interlaced, though it would be difficult to name any two Unions whose interests are not economically competitive in many respects.
Previous page
