The report answers this question at paras 49 - 58. utilizing information obtained by two surveys carried out by Dr Fosh among employees and tabulated at Appendices B and C.
12.
The survey of blue collar factory workers revealed that income had been the biggest single factor in their job choice (para 51) but they regarded security and future prospects as a combination equally important. They did not regard the presence of a trade union organisation at their chosen workplace as an important consideration, though a clear majority thought union organisation was poor or unsatisfactory. A number of alternative benefits to higher wages were found to be important (para 52). Thus distinct majorities preferred greater security and more social benefits. They advocated collective action to remedy grievances but remained sceptical of trade unions. Over 60% preferred action through direct workers' representatives, and one-fifth through government legislation. Only one in the hundred factory workers considered trade union bargaining as a practicable method of improvement (page ix and Table 7 Appendix B).
13.
Other contradictions became apparent in the factory employees' attitudes. Thus they believed that employers should be paternalistic (para 53), but over half considered employers to be more concerned with their own profits. Similarly they split three ways in their general attitude to trade unions (para 53): almost equal numbers supporting them in principle, opposing them and professing ignorance or indifference. But confronted with a list of functions which unions might undertake, a greater number of workers than had supported trade unions in principle were in favour of the unions
undertaking most of the activities mentioned.
14. The results of the larger survey at Appendix C including white and blue collar workers confirmed many of the findings of the smaller survey (para 54). Welfare benefits closely rivalled
pay as the top priority for improvement and it is significant that although in this case at least a fifth of the sample must have been union members only 1% of them considered a stronger union organisation as of prime importance (page xxvi of Appendix C answer 1 to 218). Other types of benefits closely rivalled pay
/as the
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