49 



to make good use of it. If the employer fixed wage-rates below the 

 men's but above the old rates for women, it would be a difficult thing 

 for the woman who was dependent on her employment to refuse to 

 work for them. It was perfectly natural that men should see the danger 

 of women's competition in undercutting wages, but that danger had 

 been overcome in those unions which fixed the basis of payment as 

 4 equal pay for equal work.' She saw no reason why that principle 

 should not be extended throughout all industry, so that women would 

 come in only with an equality of economic standing. 



There was a point, constantly raised, over which there had been 

 many bitter quarrels in the past suitability which was going to be 

 raised again by one at least of the trade unions. It was claimed, 

 e.g., by the Vehicle Workers' Union, that 'bus and tram conducting was 

 unsuitable employment for women. She thought that a trade union 

 of which the vast majority were men should not be the sole judges 

 of a question of that sort : it was a matter upon which evidence could 

 be given the body to decide the question should .be representative 

 of men and women, not only of the particular trade concerned, but 

 also of men and women in general, doctors, and people with a 

 knowledge of industrial employment generally. 



The whole of the questions referred to in her paper required a change 

 of outlook as well as system ; and they had to look at the matter 

 from a different point of view : not to go on saying that women were 

 the people who undercut wages, but to give them a chance not to 

 undercut. And the facilities for women to enter trade unions must 

 be increased in every possible way, to assist in gathering in the unskilled 

 and semi-skilled women in larger numbers. This was one of the root 

 problems no scheme for adjusting relations between men and women 

 in industry would work unless both the men and the women were 

 strongly organised. If men and women worked together in this, 

 with the real intention of attaining unity, there would be more hope 

 in the future than ever before. 



QUESTIONS. 



Question : Does Dr. Phillips not think that, the war wastage has 

 been, and will be, so great that there will be room for a great many 

 more women in industry ? 



Answer : I do not think the war wastage will be so great as to 

 materially alter the number of men seeking employment. On the other 

 hand, certain women will not marry because the men they would have 

 married have been lost, and there will be, in addition, a large number 

 of widows. I think all will be needed in the first few years, but an 



