VEHICLE WORKERS' WAGES.
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Extracts from, Speeches Made at the Liverpool Meeting of M.T.E.F.
IT is a strange feet that whilst many employers are adepts at argil:aim, tion, they themselves in a great many cases lack the cohesion which–meld make them at least as powerful and united body as they say their motormen
and mates are.
We have frequently attended meetings Where big employers have instanebd combinations of men as an example to them.
The Motor Transport, Employers Federation, which is associated with the
Commercial MotorAssociation to participate in negoiations affecting rates of wages and conditions of labour of transport workers through the Joint Industrial Connell, held a meeting of members in the North-western Division at Liverpool a few days ago. The principal speaker was Major-General S. S. Long, (LB., chairman of the organization.
"Treday,"..said the chairman, " we are faced with the problem of Labour mining forward again with a fresh demand— probably most of us will agree it is a preposterous demand--first for standardization, -which would be on the highest paid area in the country; secondly for a considerable advance onthat standardization."
"How are we going to deal with it? If we deal with it by areas we are like a bundle of sticks, each likely to be broken in turn ; united, it is doubtful if much impression can he made upon us. Solar as I have been able to gauge the feeling at present, the opinion le that we have gone far enough, prices have reached their breaking point, and the reply should be, 'Nothing doing.'
"What is the beet line of action? It is a difficult matter for anyone to say. Is it better to organize ourselves as one united whole or is it better to act as separate little isolated bodies, each liable to be attacked individually—a . common farm of Labour tactics?
We must.he united against not only reasonable demands of labour, but. against its unreaeenabIe demands. Labour is getting into a stronger position, an:It:eking the commercial view it will have to be paid for £
you do not join up in the Motor Transport Employers' Federation,-' then for heaven's sake join up with some organization that is strong enough to deal satisfactorily with the wages question."
A discussion followed, and the principal points are enumerated below :—
"In some local centres there are horseowners' associations, and it has been the policy of some firms to belong to them to discuss local labour questions. It has been only during the last few years that people have felt the local horse-owners' associations Touch too small to legislate on such big questions. Many employers are therefore between the devil and the deep--the recognized local association, which hoe dealtwith this matter of wages and the Commercial Motor Lis-ere
Association. . "The time is not opportune for the affiliation of all merneere of the C.M.I.T.A. in the M.T.E.E., -until the . grading principle is applied tothe motor industry.
" There ace three classes of users to be catered for :—(1) People who make their livelihood with motors; (2) people to whom motor transport is a secondary consideration; (3) people who are ownersingers, arid are not governed by any wagee. scheme.
There are between 60 and 70 members in the Motor Transport Enaployers Federation in Liverpool, and in. artier that the feeling of members in the outlying districts might he tested, the meeting was adjeureted for a fortnight.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE I.A.E.
The Advantages which Accrue from Joining an Established Organization.
E ACH of the important breeches of engineering has its institution, and this applies equally to motor engineering. The Institution of AutomObile Engineers is an-association Which eie al.tha.greatest benefit, not only to its meinbers„'but to the whole of the Meter-engineering trade. It is endeavouring contenualikv to lift the status and to -raise the ideals of the motor engineer,whether he he engaged in thedmigni contruetion or repair of motor vehicles. It eneleaveurs—end With great success—to make him realize the need for more scientific and theoretical knowledge and leas of the rule-nd-thumb methods which prevailed to such a great extent during. the earlier year of the industry and which still 'prevail to rather too great an extent at the preeent time. By denianding -a very high standard from its members, the Institution has benefited both the trade and the public hy making them realize that e man who has a right to employ the lettens " M.I.A.E. ' or " A,M.I.A.E." after his name is a man whose past career has been subjected to strict scrutiny and who can be depended upon as having a proper knowledgeof his work. The qualifying examinations are becoming more and mere strict, but this should 'not deter engineers who ,are not members from applying for ad:nisei:on. MeittheashiP of the Institution affords many privileges. Not only is an opportunity afforded a member of directly and usefully contributing to the meivaneement of one of the most important intheatrics inin this country and, thus, to the general prosperity of the nation, but, by attending the meetings he ie able to Obtain the benefit of the . most up-to-date experience of other engineers. He is able to note the advice -and criticisms .of the leaders of the profession, and also receives the most valuable data contained in the .hound volume of proceedings.
Not least amongst the benefits conferred byrn.einbership is the facility for obtaining suitable;epositiens in the industry through the Inetittition's employment .bureau. • '13e,the yontrieer members of the industry who may not be .qualified to join the
higher ranks . the Institution, the graduates' centres in London, Birmingham and Coventry are of extreme value.
Particulass of the examinations and other infoirtiation on the subject can be obtained On application to the editorial offieee of this journal. Letters should he addressed to Member,-Inet.A.E.," care of the Editor.