The Daily Worker Newspaper, August 22, 1925, Page 10

RUSSIA TODAY: Official Report of British Trade (Continued from Y esterday’s Daily Worker ) | SYNOPSIS.—The official report of the British trade union delegation to Soviet Russia described the workings of foreign trade, transportation, industry, finance and agriculture in the Soviet Union. The trade union leaders concluded that foreign trade Is increasing, and that In agriculture and industry the levei of production Is being raised. The finances have been placed on a sound basis, the report showed. Harm Is being done to Eng- Jand by the absence of full diplomatic relations, the union leaders stated. Schools and universities, and literature, music and opera and the theatre were then discussed. ‘Art collections, censorship, newspapers, wall news- Papers, and freedom of the press were explained, with the conclusion that “the results of education are astounding.” The report then took up hospitals, welfdre work, sanitation, birth control, abortion, cleanliness and housing, rent ‘regulations, family life, and prisons. “The Soviet government is achieving most remarkable results in respect to public health, housing, and the prison system,” says the report. Regarding the trade unions and labor conditions, the report states, “The Delegation were much impressed by the position and activities of Trade Unions under the Soviet system.” As to the Govrenment’s attitude towards the problem, an interesting light is thrown by the last report to. the Congress of Trade Unions (page 255): “In the conditions of economic or- ganization established here and in view of the concentration of the fundamental industries in the hands of the Government, public works are not a sound system for dealing with unemploy- ment. Efforts should rather be directed to the extension of in- dustry.” Unemployment caused an outcrop of small informal Co-op- erative Craft Societies (artel). Many of these enterprises, such as the very common one of a bakers’ artel, were broken up by the Trade Unions. Others again, such as those of tailors and tanners, made good. Of the 73 tailor artels started, most were successful, and some have been taken in to the national indus- trial organizations. On the whole, however, such artels, when managed solely by the unemployed, failed; and-only succeeded when advised and assisted by the Labor Exchanges and the unions. About 5 per cent of the unemployed have found relief in this manner. Owing to the financial failure of the contributory system of social insurance, it has been very difficult to keep the unemploy- ed in benefit, and only 15 per cent. to 20 per cent. are in regular receipt of this relief. Unemployment has caused some official inclination towards restricting overtime,but this has found no encouragement from the ainions, and-overtime- is anyhow on the decrease, The aver- age day worked in factories divides out at seven to nine hours, but this does not take into acount the six to seven hours to which dangerous trades are restricted, the five hours of those receiving special education, the time off allowed for public dut- ies, the four to,six hours of young persons, and the seven hours night shift. The average overtime per month of a worker (oth- er than transport and Don coal) fell from 29.6 hours in 1922 to 25.1 in 1923, and for railway workers from 52 to 22. That the causes of unemployment in Russia are of a differ- ent character from those creating it elsewhere is evident from that fact that the increase of unemployment has been accom- panied by an increase of employment. If the total of unemploy- ment is equivalent to a fifth of the industrial population, the total of employed workers is increased by a fifth between August 1st; 1923, and August 1st, 1924. That is to say, the develop- ment of industry would have provided employment already for all were it not that a large proportion of the unemployed are unemployable under present conditions and that the improve- ment in wages and welfare of the town workers has drawn labor from the countryside. Insurance One of the first acts of the Revolution was an act for indus- trial insurance at the cost of the employers,. but this was, of course, put an end to by War Communism; for under War Com- ‘munism workers drew full wages whether the factory worked or not. The whole system was, indeed, based on the State sup- porting the population, and getting such service as it could in return. . Expenditure in public relief and social insurance on a scale such as this soon reached an extravagance that was ruin- ing the State, while the individual was not receiving as much as under the old system. “A noble inspiration, but quite hopeless,” is the epitaph pronounced on this policy by a publication of the Commissariat of Social Welfare (Miliutine, 1921). _ The New Economic Policy restored social insurance on the usual lines arranged to suit the new needs of time and place. The system at present is:— (a) Voluntary rural relief committees, with power to raise a rate. (The State does not contribute, though to some extent controls.) ; (b) Compulsory contributory insurance for all wage-earn- ers. (c) State relief for the remainder, together with pensions. Social Insurance The system of social insurance will be found in the Labor Code. It covers the usual benefits, including grants, on birth and death, and for “notable service in the Revolution.” details see Visit to Moscow Insurance Department, page 203.) ‘The minimum unemployment benefit is one-sixth of the average wage, the normal being one-third, and its me oom Unemployment riod must not be less than six months. (For . cludes the free use of publie services, lighting, heating, water, meals at half cost, one month’s rent, and no taxes. It was intended that the scheme should be financed by con- tributions from enterprises and employers on scales officially assessed, but these contributions were soon, and still are, hopo- lessly in arrears. In 1922 only about one-third was paid, and this involved a corresponding reduction of benefits. In 1922 the rate of contributions was reduced from 16, per cent. to 14 per cent. of the sum total of wages, and in 1924 80 per cent. of the contributions on this reduced scale were coming in. The bene- fits were then improved,.in. some cases up to par. But even now insurance contributions are still on the whole heavily in arrears, the private enterprises paying best, the Co-operative and leased business next, and the State undertakings least; the latter owing in December, 1924, as much-as over two millions. So this sick benefit fund and the medical benefit fund have been in difficulties and borrowing from the other funds, and on an average unemployment benefit is still only 60 per cent of the minimum budget, which is itself 50 per cent. below average real wages. Sick benefit has lately been raised to 100 per cent. of wages, but chronic invalids only get half-benefits. Malingering is much complained of. The total number of insured workers was in 1923 5;250,000, and in 1924 over 5,500,000, organized under 870 funds. Fund Committees are elected by conferences of fac- tory delegates. ‘ } The Central Insurance Department controls 6,200 beds and numerous sanatoria, which in 1923 took in 30,000 cases. One of the best features of social welfare in Russia is that of the rest houses, or hotels for workers’ holidays. Over 85,000 were so accommodated by the Central Committee in 1923, and the pro- vincial committees have their own as well. Collective agree- ments now in many cases require the employer, as in Germany, to provide such holiday homes. The Trade Unions have their Own unemployment insurance, with very varying rates and reg- ulations. Labor Inspection The most unusual feature in Russian labor inspection is the staff of inspectors appointed by the Inter-Trade Union Councils, who work in connection with the Communist “nuclei” for the education of the worker. Besides these elected inspectors, there are technical inspectors and sanitary inspectors, appointed as elsewhere, by the Administration. It seems likely that the “elected” inspectors will in time be replaced by officials, as has already been the case with the inspectors for the protection of children at first orgamized by the Young Communists... But as _ yet the more important work is done by the Trade Union in-. spectors. The number of elected inspectors was so high at one time as to suggest that their functions were political as well as in- dustrial. This impression is strengthened by the large propor- tion of Communists and of workers, the former as high as 77.8 per cent. in 1919, and the latter 75 per cent. But during 1922 the number has been reduced from 1,150 to 808, and higher qualifications required; while the proportion of Communists fell to 63.3 per cent. and non-partisans rose from 11 per cent. to 34.8 per cent. Of the technical inspectors 70 per cent. have a higher technical education and considerable experience. The results of this inspection were 6.3 prosecutions per 100 inspections in the last quarter of 1923 in Government factories, 6.5 in Co-operatives, and 42.3 in private. These figures suggest that inspection has concerned itself so far more particularly with private enterprises. During the same period they investi- gated 171,095 offenses as to overtime and 3,018 as to under age. The demands of the technical inspector as to improvements and so forth were carried out in proportion of 67 per cent. But their reports show that on the technical side the equipment for safe- guarding machinery leaves much to be desired. From a sani- tary point of view, energetic education of the workers has pro- duced a remarkable improvement. General Conclusion The Delegation find that labor regulation in the U. S. S. It. is a practical compromise presenting features that are interest- ing and instructive. Evils, such as unemployment, strikes, etc., though they exist in Russia, are not there, as elsewhere, essen- tial to the system of employment. CHAPTER’ III Wages Wages Under Communism As the nationalization of industry developed, wages came to be regulated by decree at first through the Conimissariat of Labor, then under decree of June 8th, 1920, through the All- Russian Central Council of Trade Unions. At this period, the height of Communism, the Trade Union organization was an Ex- ecutive Department of the Government. The wage scales were fixed without regard to the value of the labor, and were paid up to 80 per cent. in kind. The money was paid by the indus- try; food, clothing, and so forth by the government department; housing, fuel, and so forth by the municipal department; and as these could only pay when they had supplies the real rate of wages was never realized. The food ration was regulated for heavy workers, light workers, and non-workers in the propor- tion of 4 : 3 : 2, though the latter for the most part got nothing. There were also attempts to reward extra exertion with extra rations; but these were discouraged. And supplies being defi- cient, these wages, or rather rations, were always ular and ‘Who Is British Del HERBERT SMITH, years president Yorks) deration. President, ) tion of Great Britain s president, 1907, Serv royal commissions.: F national Miners’ ‘Com: of school board, West county council and oth for many years. Mem ary committee, trades 1913-16, and general « Appointed J. P. in 191: tra) committee, mine: central committee, mi board, J eness BEN TILLETT, \\ge of trade unions si of Dockers’ Union] w from the Tea Coope Laborers’ Union esta A ‘pioneer of trade u ‘nationally... Contested mentary elections. E] Remained dockers’ g: until amalgamation tc General Workers’ Uni ary of Pulitiecal and I partment of Amalg Member of trades uni eral council since 19 parliamentary com union congress, 1892-0 e*¢ | JOHN TURNER, socialist organizations timate with founders socialist thought, su Morris, Belfort Bax, neers. Closely associ: Kropotkin from 1886 to Russia in 1917. A hours legislation and Assistants’ Union. union from 1888 unt 1921; re-elected by co: to 1924 for period to * ¢ JOHN BROMLEY, of railway trade uni many positions of tr pointment as branch sociated Society of Li eers and Fireman, 1 ganizing secretary of Secretary also of cor Elected general secret 1914. Elected membe executive, 1920 and member of trades «ni eral council, 192224. bor party delegati fn i times candidate “br 1924, Prominently as bor and socialist prop years. .’. ALAN A. H. FIND United Patternmak« since 1893. Branch other offices. Electe eral secretary, execu 1913. Elected generz, Formerly treasurer, Shipbuilding Trades three years, subseq: president, at presen’ position. Elected to | gress general counci! each year until 1924, September, 1925; A. A. PURC « gation). Member r Union since 18913 M mocratic federation n ber, Salford Borougt years. - Sectional s — quently organizer, fi Parliamentary candi ford, 1910. Contestec 24, Elected 1923, Si tor in co-operative ar Elected to general union congress, 1919 year. Elected by tra: tional conference, \ president. President umion congress. Vic eral council. Appoii American labor conv companied the deleg: 1920