0:01

[Music]

0:35

at Dunkirk in the summer of 1940 the war

0:40

really starts for the British people as

0:43

the British expeditionary Force returns

0:44

to England it leaves all its equipment

0:46

behind

0:51

in this time of carbon danger

0:54

Under Fire from German Guns Across the

0:57

channel under constant bombardment from

1:00

enemy planes the British people achieve

1:03

a Unity unknown in days of peace

1:07

every man not in essential work takes

1:10

his place in the armed forces

1:13

and over age train after work in civil

1:16

defense units in the wartime Parliament

1:18

a government is formed from all parties

1:21

labor leaders like Herbert Morrison and

1:24

Ernest Bevin enter the war cabinet

1:27

Trade union representatives are

1:29

appointed to many government boards and

1:30

committees

1:31

a nation puts forth its maximum effort

1:34

women are drafted into the factories

1:38

even women over 40 work part-time

1:40

alongside men past the retiring age and

1:44

boys just fresh from school

1:46

to meet the needs of war production they

1:49

choose not the slave labor of the Axis

1:51

countries but the Democratic way of

1:54

joint responsibility and Joint

1:56

participation

1:58

[Music]

2:00

the attack on Russia and the entry of

2:03

Russia into the war as an ally

2:04

strengthens their determination the

2:07

Russians stand firm against the Nazi

2:09

Invaders

2:11

the Soviet workers speed the making of

2:13

Munitions to defend their country

2:16

[Applause]

2:17

as they do so the workers of Britain get

2:19

a reassurance of Victory the knowledge

2:22

of a solid front against the axis

2:27

immobilize the complete resources of the

2:29

nation they realize they must extend

2:31

democracy to the factories use the

2:34

brains of the workers as well as their

2:36

strength

2:37

they believe that democracy is the most

2:39

efficient system the only answer to

2:42

Total War

2:43

in this Spirit they organize labor

2:45

management or joint production

2:47

committees to discuss such matters as

2:49

general production efficiency safety

2:52

absenteeism and transport conditions

2:55

by a joint consultation between

2:57

management and workers these committees

2:59

developed the combined initiative of

3:01

every section of Industry

3:03

so Stafford Crips minister of aircraft

3:05

production says of them this truly

3:07

Democratic partnership in our Industries

3:10

has brought the great fund of knowledge

3:13

amongst the workers to bear on the

3:15

problems of production

3:17

it’s helped us to reach and maintain in

3:19

our factories the vast output necessary

3:22

in water

3:24

it’s the first time that workers have

3:26

been consulted upon matters which were

3:29

once considered the care of management

3:31

alert

3:32

it’s the first time too that there has

3:35

been a recognized agreement

3:37

between workers in management by which

3:40

the cooperation of the elected

3:42

representatives of the workers is given

3:44

in production matters

3:46

these committees are a step towards a

3:49

new industrial democracy in the making

3:52

has there been a value to increase and

3:55

maintain production in time of War

3:57

so they will equally have to be used in

4:01

times of peace

4:02

with the well-being and standards of our

4:04

people are to be maintained even before

4:07

the war started forms of joint

4:09

production committees had been in

4:11

existence

4:13

for instance this Factory typical of

4:15

many in the engineering industry had a

4:18

Works Council which later turned into a

4:21

deduction committee following the

4:23

agreement of the trade unions and the

4:26

Empire’s Federation

4:27

before the war this factory made

4:30

high-powered automobiles now it makes

4:32

gun carriages header tanks for Spitfires

4:35

and engine accessories for all kinds of

4:37

aircraft

4:38

it’s a fairly large Factory with several

4:40

shops and departments

4:42

and each department elects a

4:43

subcommittee of its own

4:45

these departmental committees are in

4:47

effect miniature Labor Management

4:49

committees

4:51

on them two or three Representatives

4:52

elected by the workers in the shop with

4:55

the shop steward

4:56

meet nominees of the management usually

4:59

including the foreman

5:01

departmental committees are re-elected

5:03

at regular intervals and the method of

5:05

election is typical of elections of

5:07

Labor Management committees and

5:08

factories

5:10

first of all come nominations and

5:13

nomination forms are distributed by the

5:15

personnel office and the to those

5:17

workers who want to put forward

5:18

candidates for election

5:22

no one may stand for election unless he

5:25

or she is properly nominated and has the

5:27

necessary qualifications

5:29

a certain length of service in the

5:31

factory age over 21 and Trade union

5:34

membership

5:35

women are equally eligible with men

5:39

the candidates in this shop are Sam

5:41

Gordon engine fitter

5:44

bunny Dias Riveter

5:47

Ted Ellis aircraft fitter

5:51

and Bill wadham aircraft fitter

5:54

election is by secret ballot and

5:57

everyone in the factory over 18 may vote

5:59

a sealed Ballot Box is placed in the

6:01

shop and on payday each worker gets one

6:04

voting paper in his pay packet and one

6:07

only

6:08

two or three days are allowed for voting

6:11

and then the votes are counted

6:13

as in all Democratic elections both

6:15

sides are represented at the counting

6:18

at this election by the management

6:19

secretary and the workers secretary and

6:22

the factory Labor Management committee

6:25

the elected representatives of the

6:27

workers with those appointed by

6:29

management meet in committee once a week

6:31

their job is to deal with matters which

6:33

arise in their own Department

6:35

sometimes a problem affects two

6:37

departments and often this can be

6:39

settled by a meeting of the two chairmen

6:42

if a point comes up which the

6:44

departmental committee can’t settle they

6:46

refer it to the main Labor Management

6:47

Committee of the factory

6:49

the main committee again consists of

6:51

Representatives appointed by the

6:53

management including the general manager

6:55

and works manager

6:57

and representatives of the workers

6:58

chosen by vote of the whole Factory

7:02

if a piece of business calls for

7:03

technical information an employee with

7:06

special knowledge may be co-opted

7:09

well what’s it all about that

7:11

it’s these blessings these are from one

7:14

supplier whom we’ve been seeing for

7:16

about 12 months they’re okay

7:20

these are from another supplier made to

7:22

the same drawing and should be identical

7:24

but they’re not interchangeable you see

7:27

the profiles are different

7:28

and has been reported to committee

7:31

because of dislocated production for a

7:33

day or two well what have we done about

7:34

it are we still held up no we were

7:37

through the presence and altered them it

7:39

is fairly obvious that the Newfound got

7:42

a minister of concession to depart from

7:43

the drawings to suit their own plant yes

7:46

that frequently happens unfortunately

7:48

though the concession they obtained was

7:51

not notified to all manufacturers and so

7:53

the drawings weren’t altered well the

7:55

men in the shop think that this is quite

7:56

an important matter for all it may

7:58

happen to some other Factory that’s

8:00

right yes

8:01

why don’t we send a letter to the

8:03

regional board

8:05

and make sure it doesn’t happen again I

8:07

second that great great

8:09

um would you please say that a letter is

8:11

written to the regional board and

8:13

emphasized that we’re not complaining

8:15

because we were held at ourselves but

8:17

make the point that the variety of

8:19

concessions or the alteringer drawings

8:22

without everybody interested being

8:25

notified might easily cause a hold up in

8:28

any Factory whatever contract they’re on

8:31

the regional Boards of the ministry of

8:33

production to which committees can refer

8:35

matters they can’t settle themselves

8:36

continue the principle of joint

8:39

consultation

8:40

the chairman is the regional controller

8:42

of the ministry of production and the

8:44

board includes representatives of the

8:46

supply departments

8:48

in addition there are equal numbers of

8:50

members representing employers and trade

8:52

unions in the area

8:55

above the regional boards is the

8:56

national production advisory council

8:58

meeting in London under the chairmanship

9:00

of the minister of production Mr Oliver

9:03

Littleton

9:04

the council directs and coordinates

9:06

production throughout the country and

9:09

again both sides of Industry take part

9:11

in its discussions the national

9:13

production advisory Council

9:15

is in a way the highest expression of

9:18

the joint production committee idea

9:20

I preside Everett as minister of

9:22

production with the help of my

9:24

ministerial colleagues from the ministry

9:26

of labor

9:27

the admitted the minister of supplier

9:30

and the ministry of aircraft production

9:33

the members of the council

9:35

consist of the leaders of the employers

9:37

associations and the trade unions

9:39

and of a representative again drawn from

9:42

one or other side of Industry

9:44

from each of the 11 Regional production

9:47

Boards of Great Britain we held meetings

9:50

at regular intervals

9:51

we exchange views on General production

9:54

questions

9:55

including matters suggested by a

9:57

particular Regional boards

9:59

by this means there is an open Channel

10:01

Through Me to the wall cabinet itself

10:05

the council has always taken a special

10:07

interest in the joint production

10:09

committee movement

10:11

there are now over four thousands of

10:13

these committees in the engineering and

10:14

Allied Industries alone

10:16

Emma Rises steadily

10:19

their usefulness is undoubted and their

10:22

work has been most valuable

10:24

they have sprung spontaneously from the

10:26

efforts of employers and employed

10:29

the government warmly welcomes our

10:31

Advent and encourages their utmost

10:33

practicable extension

10:52

basic industry in Britain is called

10:56

on call all other Industries depend

11:00

Mills and factories

11:02

the Gas Works and power stations

11:06

the railways which are the backbone of

11:09

the country’s transport system all draw

11:12

their power from coal in the coal mines

11:15

faced with the task of providing more

11:16

coal than ever with fewer men

11:18

Labor Management committees have

11:20

introduced a new element of stability

11:23

minister of fuel and power responsible

11:26

for the efficiency of coal production is

11:28

Major grillam Lloyd Joy I personally

11:31

regard these committees

11:34

as one of the most important measures

11:37

taken to ensure the well-being of the

11:40

industry

11:43

they give the two sides of the industry

11:46

a great opportunity

11:49

to work out a new and better

11:52

relationship

11:54

and to turn

11:56

the attention to positive and

12:00

constructive issues changing conditions

12:02

in the mines continually raise questions

12:04

of adjustment often involving deep human

12:07

problems this pit committee for instance

12:09

is faced with a situation in which about

12:12

a hundred men will be thrown out of work

12:14

because of an intrusion which will cut

12:16

off one of the faces we could find room

12:18

for these men

12:20

if I can persuade you to

12:23

give up your old custom or each man

12:27

having six yards of face

12:30

suppose for example each man had four

12:33

and a half yards of space you can then

12:35

Place one extra man in every three and

12:39

if we undercut the cold for

12:40

proportionately greater deaths we could

12:43

ensure that each man had the same

12:45

tonnage to fill I know that this is a

12:48

new departure

12:49

but I should like to hear what you think

12:51

about it and I hope you’ll give it a

12:54

favorable reception Mr chairman you’re

12:57

asking us to forego an old custom

13:00

actually it’s a signed agreement between

13:02

management and man

13:04

secondly

13:06

purely the alteration in the method of

13:08

cutting

13:09

is going to entail more work for

13:11

everyone on the coal phase oh I don’t

13:14

think so I do not agree Mr chairman with

13:16

your proposals because ever since you’ve

13:19

been in the curry you have been trying

13:21

to break down this custom and we have

13:24

been able to resist it so far

13:27

is that your view then and yours

13:30

it looks as if we’ve reached a deadlock

13:32

okay the only thing we can do now is

13:35

refer the matter to the regional

13:36

controller

13:37

are you agreed that we do that

13:40

promise to secretary you might write a

13:42

letter to the regional controller

13:44

find out the position

13:47

that we fail to agree

13:49

that we should like his assistance

13:52

speedily

13:53

you might add that the main obstacle

13:57

is the man’s adherence to custom

14:00

they do raise subsidiary objections such

14:04

as possibility of additional timbering

14:07

possibility of the conveyors not being

14:09

adequate but the main thing is

14:13

custom

14:14

the regional controller of the ministry

14:16

of fuel and power discusses the letter

14:18

with the regional labor director a trade

14:21

Union official released by his Union for

14:22

the duration who is responsible to the

14:25

regional controller for all labor

14:27

matters in the area

14:28

they decide to attend the next meeting

14:30

of the pit committee

14:32

at this meeting it is the turn of one of

14:34

the miners to act as chairman

14:36

Mr chairman I have had an opportunity of

14:39

considering your letter and the minutes

14:42

of the last meeting of your committee

14:43

with the regional early the director and

14:48

we are very glad to have this

14:49

opportunity of taking counsel with you

14:52

and your colleagues the regional labor

14:56

director will outline his proposals to

15:00

you

15:00

Mr chairman Mr controller and gentlemen

15:05

there are two ways of dealing with the

15:07

movement

15:08

of the 98 men affected by this closure

15:12

the first is by transferring them

15:15

to other pits in the district

15:17

at distances from here varying from 8 to

15:21

25 miles and involving a fair amount of

15:25

transport

15:27

if this is done

15:29

I estimate the daily output of coal that

15:32

they would give at the pits to which

15:34

they’re transferred as 315 tons the

15:38

second proposal involves the acceptance

15:42

by the workmen of the blessing of these

15:44

men at this Collier

15:47

the committee will feel in a position to

15:51

recommend the workmen to accept them on

15:54

their existing faces

15:56

if this is done

15:59

I estimate that we should be able to

16:01

receive from these men the daily rate of

16:04

production a daily output of 450 tons

16:11

315 tons if we transfer them to other

16:15

calories

16:17

450 tons per day if we can retain them

16:21

at this collurate in this way we should

16:24

also be able to obviate the hardship of

16:27

transfer and transport gentlemen

16:31

we don’t want to be unhelpful

16:34

but we must satisfy our man

16:37

and we shall require further information

16:39

on this matter yes there’s a question of

16:42

conveying will the manager indicate how

16:45

he proposes conveying the additional 450

16:48

tons the stopping of this phase would

16:51

make it possible to transfer good

16:52

equipment onto the two faces where the

16:54

men will have to work

16:56

furthermore we can speed the belts up 50

16:59

if necessary and I have no doubt that we

17:02

should be well able to deal with the

17:03

extra output I beg to differ

17:06

even with our present load last week we

17:08

had to break down and I suggest that

17:11

something’s got to be done about this

17:13

from there otherwise I can see no point

17:15

in sending additional men on these faces

17:18

oh certainly and if we found the

17:20

conveyor was not adequate we should

17:22

obtain a larger one will the controller

17:24

give us the assurance that the custom

17:27

that is in operation of the present time

17:30

will be restored to us immediately it

17:33

becomes practicable yes just as I am

17:36

entitled to ask that no custom should be

17:39

allowed to interfere with output in

17:41

Wartime so I think equally you are

17:44

entitled to ask that if a custom is

17:46

abrogated during wartime that it shall

17:49

be restored to you when the emergency is

17:53

over and I have the Assurance of the

17:56

Kali reagent also that he will support

18:00

the restoration of the customer

18:02

put

18:06

and knowing that an emergency exists

18:09

also having the Assurance of the

18:11

controller that the customer will be

18:14

restored I’m prepared to recommend that

18:17

the men accept the proposed alterations

18:19

I agree yes I think it’s a right

18:23

decision

18:25

well gentlemen

18:27

we are prepared to recommend acceptance

18:30

and we’ll be glad if the labor director

18:32

will come and state the case to the men

18:34

the same as he has stated his case this

18:37

afternoon I will Mr chairman

18:46

on the day of the meeting the miners

18:49

Gather in the Trade union hall

18:51

to hear the regional labor director

18:52

explain his point of view

18:54

map went out gentlemen

18:57

one thing in this connection

19:03

we stood together in the days of the

19:06

slump in this Township

19:10

there were then too many men at the

19:12

Collier

19:13

and there was a proposal at that

19:16

particular time to this this missed men

19:19

from the pit

19:21

we discussed that question in this

19:24

Branch room

19:25

and we decided to fund the principle of

19:29

work sharing until more prosperous times

19:32

came along

19:33

none of us have need to regret the stand

19:36

and the decision that we took on that

19:39

occasion we have called upon to face a

19:42

similar issue today I’d like to give

19:45

this meeting this assurance

19:48

that when the Manpower of the nation

19:51

is is sufficiently secure

19:54

to enable development work to be

19:57

undertaken at this Collier

20:00

such development work shall be

20:02

undertaken and that the men who are now

20:05

being taken by you

20:07

on other faces

20:09

shall be allowed to go into this new

20:11

world I’m certain Mr chairman

20:14

and gentlemen

20:16

that the committee is infallibly right

20:19

in making this recommendation

20:22

I’m certain that it’s in the best

20:24

interest

20:25

of the men of this colliery

20:27

in the best interests of the industry

20:30

generally and certainly in the best

20:33

interests of the nation I hope you’ll

20:36

accept the fit production committee’s

20:38

recommendation Mr chairman the object to

20:42

that because I’m convinced on this if

20:44

ever we accept this we shall never get

20:46

disgusted back again

20:49

chairman gentlemen as a worker not

20:52

affected by these transference I’m going

20:54

to move the acceptance of the report

20:57

I realize I must work harder in the

20:59

future but think of the honorable

21:01

alternative

21:03

the social life of this Village will

21:05

collapse

21:06

through times of stress and strain we

21:08

have built up in this Village marvelous

21:12

social organizations amongst ourselves

21:14

the libraries but

21:18

the educational and recreational

21:19

facilities our Medical Aid and Hospital

21:23

services will all suffer as a

21:25

consequence of this and we’ve put too

21:27

much into it to let these things go down

21:30

but and remember this

21:33

this must be taken as no indication of

21:35

weakness

21:36

we demand the right that when these

21:39

three first returns to normality that we

21:41

shall again return to the previous

21:43

conditions I have much pleasure Mr

21:46

chairman in moving the acceptance of the

21:48

report

21:55

thank you Lou

21:57

now gentlemen after having heard the

22:00

report of the regional director of Labor

22:02

and the emotions so ably moved by Lou

22:06

Jones Ram now going to submit the motion

22:09

all in favor of the motion please show

22:14

there is no need to count that has been

22:17

unanimously carried well that’s Champion

22:20

Bob we shall be able to keep the men

22:22

here and we shall get the call thank you

22:24

very much gentlemen

22:31

another problem has been solved by joint

22:34

consultation

22:36

problem which might have led to reduced

22:38

production and affected the lives of

22:40

many minors and their families instead

22:42

no miners will have to be transferred

22:45

and output will be maintained

22:49

all over the country similar committees

22:52

are meeting in the factories morale is

22:54

high because the workers know that the

22:56

efficient running of the plant is up to

22:58

them as well as to management

23:00

in the government-owned Royal ordinance

23:03

factories first body to sign a national

23:05

agreement for Labor Management

23:06

committees with the trade unions

23:08

committees meet regularly

23:11

superintendent and managers

23:14

shop stewards and workmen pool their

23:16

knowledge and ideas to secure maximum

23:18

production efficiency

23:20

to make sure that the output of finished

23:22

guns and parts keeps Pace with the

23:25

constant stream of raw materials

23:27

reaching the plant

23:37

dozens of airfields are being built and

23:40

on them with their special short-term

23:42

problems Labor Management committees

23:44

find plenty to do

23:46

particularly important is that task of

23:48

establishing a real partnership between

23:51

the men who build the airfields and the

23:53

Airmen who use them

23:54

and so they invite Airmen to visit the

23:56

sites to tell how they are holding up

23:58

their end of the job and to present

24:01

trophies to The Gangs who are doing the

24:02

best work

24:05

in many factories there are special

24:07

publicity subcommittees of the Labor

24:09

Management committee

24:11

said with the vital task of keeping the

24:13

workers informed of the purpose of the

24:14

jobs they do

24:21

posters and charts to keep everyone in

24:25

touch with production progress so that

24:27

each man knows if the plant is

24:28

maintaining schedule

24:31

missions show them what happens to the

24:32

various parts they make

24:34

for it is the Democratic belief that

24:36

free people work best when they

24:38

understand the meaning of the things

24:40

they do

24:41

in the factories the more each worker

24:43

understands the function of his job the

24:45

better his work becomes

24:53

the Committees use wall newspapers to

24:56

broadcast production details

25:00

they mark up Target figures on notice

25:03

boards they display the minutes of their

25:06

meetings in the shops

25:09

and encourage senior workers to spread

25:11

information around the factory By Word

25:13

of Mouth

25:14

s are no longer meaningless work

25:16

acquires a new purpose and interest

25:20

in this Spirit of understanding and

25:22

responsibility workers Representatives

25:25

speak to their fellow workers throughout

25:26

the factory

25:28

the men of our fighting services and our

25:31

great allies have done and are doing a

25:34

magnificent job

25:36

the men and women of this Factory

25:38

by their work and effort over a long

25:40

period have played a vital part in

25:43

recent victories we

25:45

and the millions of workers in other

25:47

factories know that we can supply the

25:49

weapons to bring this war to a speedy

25:52

end

25:53

we all want to see this Grim business

25:55

over we all have a part to play

25:58

recent successes are only steps on the

26:01

road to final Victory we are pledged to

26:03

the invasion of the conference to

26:05

Stanford forever the horrors of Nazism

26:08

and fascism

26:09

this will mean sacrifices but any

26:12

sacrifices we make are small compared to

26:15

those made by the Russians and our lands

26:17

on the fighting fronts and it’s up to us

26:19

to smash all records so look to the men

26:22

who smashed the axes in Africa and are

26:25

smashing it in Europe

26:26

salute too to the millions of men and

26:29

women workers and managers alike who are

26:32

cooperating to ensure that the men who

26:34

are smashing the axis shall have the

26:37

weapons to do it

26:39

or in Britain and in Canada and the

26:43

United States too Labor Management

26:45

committees are using the Democratic

26:46

method of joint consultation to keep the

26:49

efficiency of war production at its peak

26:51

from their joint effort comes a great

26:54

flood of Munitions of War of all the

26:57

products needed by the fighting forces

26:58

and by the people on the home front from

27:01

their cooperation from their sense of

27:04

joint responsibility

27:06

comes a new Democratic partnership in

27:08

production providing the weapons of

27:11

Victory and laying a sure foundation for

27:14

social progress after the war

27:30

[Applause]

27:32

foreign

27:35

[Music]

No results found