The Road to the Future: A Trade-Union Commission for Self-Analysis

Abstract

The common conviction throughout current debate on the American trade-union movement is that the need is serious for self-analysis and appraisal of union policies, struc tures, operations, and personnel. Examination by an internal body is necessary. There is agreement within the trade-union movement that the need is great for vigorous propagation of unionism among the unorganized—as well as for organizing the organized. In the area of collective bargaining, the unions must develop a rounded program for dealing with changing economic tides affecting the general economy and the indi vidual bargaining units and must work out methods of aiding workers in gaining income security and access to facilities for job and personal adjustment. In recent times, the union posi tion has been defensive rather than aggressive. At the same time that the trade-union movement seeks to enhance the posi tion of its members, it must respond to the call to adjust its collective-bargaining demands and strategy to the national and public interests and to participate responsibly in defining their meaning. Examination and adjustment of relations be tween the rank-and-file membership and the union leadership are a challenge to the movement. Also, structural adjustments at federation and union levels are indicated in view of changes in the general economy, job structures, business organizations, and political policy. The burden for action is on the official union leadership. A trade-union commission established to conduct a full-dress self-examination of the movement would be a salutary method of beginning the revitalization.—Ed.