& sound prices policye
here are a number of questions that now need to be asked. Will it be possible to enforce the law? Is it possible thot enforcenent will achieve nothing but an increase in Governnent expenditure? I an convinced that enforcenent will destroy the possibilities of a rational wages policy. How will it be decided whether a wages increase in a period of standstill is within the terns of a negotiated increase subject to the standstill, or awarded for other considerations? This is a question of attachnent and could open a wide field of confusion and friction. Fining trade unionists in these or other circuistances on swuiary convicte ion or indictment will open the door for other repressive legislations If the Act is used there is the possibility tht trade unionists will be forced back to a forn of tacit understanding that characterised the activities of worknen's conbinations before the passing of the 1824 Trade Union Acte Large numbers of workers might conbine in an endeavour to cover themselves as individuals. This night pronote unofficial strikes. Legislation would favour the worst type of employer against the decent and the better. The antietrade union employer would have a prete t for avoiding legitimate wages and other adjustments, This in itself would increase and not . reduce unofficial strikess Whatever legal advantage trade unions have, there are other disadvantages where there is no legal recognitione The struggle to nodify the intoler~ able doctrine of "in restraint of trade" was carried on for yeers with the threats of crininal conviction hanging over the heads of trade unionistse The Bill on Prices and Incones is no small step back to that era. I tremble to think -of what will happen in the future if the mnonentun in this direction is naintained, Totalitarianism is a strong word, but it is not yet obsolete, + The Generel Secretary of the National Union of Tailors and Garnent Workers, the article is reprinted from his union's official journal,