July 1, 1919.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



587 



WORKS COMMITTEES. 



Objects, Functions and Constitution of Works Committees, as adopted by the National Council at a Meeting Held at 16 



Deansgate, Manchester, on November 27, 1918. 



THE COMPANY, LIMITED. 



OBJECTS, FUNCTIONS AND CONSTITUTION OF WORKS 

 COMMITTEES. 



OBJECTS. 



(b) To 



by the 



r any matters that may be referred to it either 

 anagement or by the employes of the works. 

 (c) To present to the firm through the Committee any sugges- 

 tion which, after full consideration, it is decided should 

 be put forward. 



nTNCTIONS. 



2. The functions of the Conimit-tee shall be purely advisory or con- 

 sultative, the intention being that by discussion of matters between 

 employes and the management a mutually satisfactory conclusion may be 

 reached in respect of questions discussed. 



Amongst other suitable matters for discussion may be quoted the fol- 



1. Welfare and social subjects. 



2. Suggestions. 



3. Working hours. 



4. Regularity of employment. 



5. Output. 



6. Improvements in methods and machinery. 



7. Discipline. 



8. Griev.-mces. 



9. Disputes. 



CONSTITUTION. 



3. The committee shall be a joint committee consisting of not more 

 than twelve representatives of the management and, unless otherwise agreed 

 by the parties, not more than twelve representatives of the employes en- 

 gaged in one or other of the manufacturing operations of the india rubber 

 trade. The employes* side of the Committee shall be elected by ballot 

 by constituencies into which the works are divided as shown ^ in the 

 particulars contained in Part II, and according to the rules therein men- 

 tioned. The lepresentation shall be based on the principle that all de- 

 partments shall be directly represented according to their importance, 

 the smaller departments being grouped in such a way that their interests 

 can be properly looked after by one representative. 



4. No one shall be eligible for membership of the Committee who is 

 under 21 years of age and who is not actually working in the factory 

 and who lias not a service qualification of one year with the firm and 

 three years in the industry, unless with the consent of the management. 



5. The representati 

 appointed by the fi-rm 



6. The period for 

 twelve months, ending 

 poir.tment and period 

 discretion of the firm. 



office of 



t members shall be at the 

 the Committee as provided 



8. In cases where a member of the Committee leaves the employment 

 of the firm, such member shall thereupon cease to be a member of the 

 Casual vacancies may be filled either by ballot or otherwise 



9. The ofl 

 by the firm, 

 the other by 



f a chairman, who shall be nominated 

 one appointed by the management, and 

 members of the Committee. 



MEETINGS. 



month, at a date and time to 

 extra meetings may be held when necessary on 

 lembers, who shall state the special object for 

 held. 



11. The employe members shall be paid for the til 

 ings on the basis of the sura lost by them through theii 



12. Meetings shall take place at the works, and may be summoned 

 informally by verbal notice to the members. 



13. The presence of one half of the members from each side of the 

 Committee shall be necessary to form a quorum. 



14. An agendum shall be prepared by the secretaries for all meetings, 

 and items may be included by either or both sides of the Committee. 



15. No delegate shall bring forward a complaint at a meeting unless 

 it has first been ascertained that the same has been referred for settlement 

 through the ordinary channels. 



16. Any matter which it is desired to bring forward for discussion at 

 the regular monthly meeting should be notified to the Secretaries at least 

 three days before the date of the meeting. 



17. No recommendation shall be regarded as made, or resolution passed, 

 unless it is approved by a majority on each side of the Committee. 



18. Regular minutes shall be kept of the proceedings at meetings of 

 the Committee. 



CONNECTION WITH DISTRICT AND NATIONAL COUNCILS. 



19. The Works Committee may by resolution decide what matters shall 

 be referred to the District Council for decision. 



20. The Works Committee may not deal with wages questions or other 

 matters which would affect the district as a whole unless with the consent 

 of the District Council. 



21. The Works Committee shall respect any decisions of the National 

 Joint Industrial Council of the Rubber Manufacturing Industry and the 

 District Council thereof as to the functions and work which may be 

 properly undertaken by the Works Committee. 



FINANCE. 



22. The expenses of the Committee shall be borne by the Firm. 



REGULATIONS REGARDING BALLOTING FOR OPERATIVES' 

 REPRESENTATIVES. 



1. Elections of operatives' representatives on the Committee shall be 

 held in the month of in each year. 



2. Any employe in a department fulfilling the service qualification may 

 be nominated for election, provided a nomination form signed by three 

 employes entitled to vote is lodged with the returning officer not later 

 than 14 clear days before the date fixed for the election. 



3. A serving member of the Committee shall be eligible for reelection. 



4. The form of nomination shall be as follows: 



To the Returning Officer for Election of Works Committee. 



We, the undersigned employes in the department, and 



entitled to vote, hereby nominate for election to the 



Works Committee as representative of No. constituency. 



5. The returning officer and counters shall be appointed by the man- 

 agement for the first election, and thereafter by the Works Committee. 



6. A register of operatives, having at least one month's service with 

 the firm as the period entitling them to vote, shall be settled as soon as 

 possible, and at least one month before the first committee is appointed, 

 and may be amended from time to time by the inclusion of new employes 

 and the deletion of names of operatives left or deceased. 



7. The ballot shall be secret, and numbered balloting papers, giving 

 the names of those nominated, shall be issued to voting operatives. 



8. No canvassing shall be allowed in the works, and balloting papers 

 will be collected in the departments by the returning officer or his assist- 



9. The certificate of the returning ofEcer i 

 be final. 



10. The regulations contained in this se. 

 rangement of constituencies and balloting n 

 3f the committee, subject to the approval 



Cou 



;ils. 



3f the management on the Committee shall be will dr; 



the 



DIVISION OF WOHKS INTO CONSTITUENI 



elected shall 



These councils and committees of the rubber and allied indus- 

 tries aim to solve the problems of industry by agreement. They 

 plan to adjust the hours of work instead of striking or resorting 

 to Parliamentary legislation; they specify wage rates instead of 

 fighting for them ; they standardize products, eliminating waste- 

 ful competition, cooperating in selling, and helping to link 

 together all the industries of the country into a great national 

 business for the common good. 



This new democracy of British business is laying the founda- 

 tion for an industrial nation far greater than Germany could 

 ever hope to build up througli government subsidies, for the 

 coming power of British industry lies in the cordial relations 

 developing between capital and labor. As Arthur Henderson, 

 secretary of the British Labor Party, aptly puts it, labor and 

 capital in England have recognized themselves as the "trustees 

 of industry." 



