Wantf-d : Sane Trade Unionism 



43 



scntatives of each class of the members, and the agree- 

 ments were sifincd only after every comma had been 

 approved by the union. This is sane striking, and 

 indicates more than .sanity in those responsible for it. 

 What, then, did Father Hopkins and his trade union 

 do this year ? 



THIS UNION IN 191I AND IC)I2. 



In iQii. in their strike manifesto, they said :^ 



'■ We therefore appeal to all Christians, humani- 

 tarians, friends of human freedom everywhere, and 

 to all lovers of the men of the sea, and those who 

 desire to see Great Britain still mistress of the seas 

 by maintaining an efficient body of seamen within 

 the Empire." 



In 191 2, when the strike had been precipitated, it 

 was announced that : — 



" .So far as the Sailors and Firemen are concerned, 



there will be no national strike without a ballot of 



the members decided upon by our own Executi\e." 



Nor was this all. The leaders of the strike decided 



/o issue a manifesto which might easily have been 



read by workers as an order to " down tools." The 



•ane union at once took measures to meet the crisis. 



A SANE MANIFESTO. 



On June loth there was issued a manifesto from the 



officials of the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union 

 of Great Britain and Ireland to all its members, whic!' 

 stated in a nutshell the foundation of what 's un- 

 doubtedly sane trade unionism : — 



" Be it known that no member of the above Union 

 is authorised to comply with the manifesto of tho 

 National Transport Workers' Federation, calling ;i 

 General or National Strike, until Rule 13 of the 

 National Sailors' and Firemen's Union has been 

 carried into effect." 



By this rule the E.xeculive has : — 



(a) To state the circumstances of the dispute to th? 



branches of the union. 

 (h) Take the vote of all the members at liomc and 



willing to vote. 

 (<-) The voting must be by ballot, and be open fo.- 



four successive days. 

 (d) The votes must be sent up to the Executive 



Council. 

 " Without the consent of a majority of member; 

 ashore at the time no General Strike shall he pro- 

 claimed. (Rule 13, section 2.)." 

 The ballot resulted in a majority against the strike 

 in the proportion of thirty-nine to eight ; and yet 

 but for the action of the Executive it is probable tha; 



/■/..•(•.■ 



The Men who were not Consulted:— Strikers' Meeting on Tower Hill. 



