Trade Unions Issues

It is generally known how collective agreements are reached. Before the collective agreement deadline, the trade union press usually publishes a few articles about proposals from members. It pretends to agree with them. The members are then of the opinion that something decent will come out of it this time. But, horror of horrors! Shortly before the collective bargaining discussions, it is usually time to retreat. After all, you shouldn't demand too much and be modest. The familiar warnings also emerge from the association bureaucracy. Everything is tense. A few days after the negotiations began, the trade union press published a few short notes telling the members how difficult it would be for the leadership to get anything out of them. How the union's proposals are opposed by the employers. And then, yes, once again there are long faces. A compromise has been reached and the workers see their hopes dashed.

The negotiations on the so-called cost-of-living allowances were similar. A part of the business community has shown a naivety that is astonishing. Proof of how little understanding they had of the plight of the workers during the war. Those who have enough money are still having a good time now. In order to finally put an end to the long back and forth, the capitalists have at best granted a few more marks than usual. But, of course, only for the duration of the war. And that is supposed to be compensation in these difficult times! Incidentally, the business community has been spared. It makes its products more expensive and still does business. And the association bureaucracy? They say they can't get any more out of it. So the members are faced with a fait accompli and all counter-arguments are in vain. And this is called democracy, the rule of the people!

What will it look like after the war? No one can say how things will turn out in economic life after the war. And that looks really bad. Unless ruthless state intervention against usury and the release of confiscated food and raw materials make the cost of living more bearable. A return to the old peaceful conditions is not to be expected. There are no preconditions for this. Years may pass before Germany returns to more or less tolerable conditions. The severity of the times, apart from the difficulties of finding work for those returning from the field, will be felt long after the war. And the necessary balance between inflation and inadequate wages threatens to lead to serious disputes. This is indicated by certain efforts on the part of the employers' associations, which have been greatly strengthened by material and non-material war profits. And how will the bureaucracy of the associations react to these facts? It will act as if it wants to remedy the situation. It will put the brakes on and make the members of the times pay the price. If you don't bend, you get thrown out.

That is why it is necessary to create a unitary organization. Any organization that consists of a division is detrimental to the true representation of workers' interests. Only united strength leads to the goal here as everywhere else!