ENG-1953 — Page 46

OCCUPATIONS, WAGES AND LABOUR ORGANIZATION

in the wages and conditions of service of the members of its affiliated unions, its main emphasis being on such welfare projects as medical and unemployment benefits and the provi- sion of schools. Recently some of its affiliated unions have made overtures to employers to provide cash grants from profits for union welfare schemes. Offers have also been made by such unions to their right-wing counterparts to register out of work members for unemployment relief.

The Labour Department continues to regard trade union education as the most important method of raising the level of local trade unionism and in the early part of the year a four-day accountancy class for trade unions was instituted under the direction of a local authorized auditor, one of the teachers from the Evening School for Higher Chinese Studies. More than fifty unions sent two or three officials each. Later in the year the staff of the trade union section of the depart- ment was increased and it was possible to devote greater attention to the problems encountered by union officials in the keeping of their accounts. It has been noticed that the annual accounts now being received are very much improved.

Towards the end of the year classes in the basic principles of trade unionism were introduced for the rank and file members of local unions and the services of five teachers, trained by the department, were made available. Over twenty unions availed themselves of the classes, which were all attended by from fifteen to thirty members.

For the second year running the Trades Union Council sent three representatives to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions' College, in Calcutta, for a three months' study course in trade unionism.

Plans are in hand for further classes in the Colony and it is hoped that more unions can be persuaded to make use of them and that properly planned studies can be arranged for both officials and rank and file members.

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