Trade unions

IN RECENT YEARS the British trade union movement has been under fire. Widespread apathy on the part of members, unofficial strikes, go-slow movements, resistance to new methods of pro duction, demarcation disputes, cases of indiscipline, excessive demands for shorter hours and more pay, political controversies, the inhuman practice of sending men to Coventry, instances of violence when picketing strike-bound factories-these are some of the things that have taken their toll of public opinion and in no small measure have brought the trade unions into disrepute.

This is unfortunate because the most bitter critics appreciate that workers' organizations in industry are an essential part of the nation's economic life. It is doubly unfortunate that confidence in the unions should be lessened at a time when Britain, like other industrial countries, is entering a period of unprecedented oppor tunity.

Automatic processes allied to new, more potent forms of motive power are making it possible for goods and services to be made available to us all on a scale beyond the most optimistic fore casts of twenty years ago.

Technical and scientific advancement has been accelerated, and its results can even now be seen in every town, village and hamlet, and in every British home, from the so-called humble cottage to the stately mansion. The prospects are enormous.

Yet unwise action in industry could make this Britain's oppor tunity lost. Through the failure of human relations we could at best lag behind our full potential, and at worst halt progress through lack of ability to secure a continuous and sufficient supply of the raw materials upon which our future productive capacity must be based.