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CHAPTER X,

aud representatives of the unions that gave evidence before us should do
much to improve the effectiveness of their organisations. There can be
no doubt that, within the last few years, the appointment of special
establishment and employment officers and other movements for the improvement
 of labour conditions on railways have been due in a large
measure tothe sustained pressure of trade union executives. The All-India
 Railwaymen’s Federation, in particular, though not a registered
body under the Trade Unions Act, has been taking an active part in collective
 bargaining with railway authorities. Having affiliated to it
trade unions of men working on all but two of the Class I railways and with
an alleged membership of 100,000, it has been able to exercise considerable
 influence, and arrangements have been made for half-yearly conferences
 with the Railway Board for the discussion of matters affecting
wages and conditions of service of railway employees as a whole. The
Federation “ desires that there should be frequent consultations between
employers’ and workers’ organisations in regard to staff matters to minimise
 misunderstanding and consequent unhappy relations. The railway
unions’ right to speak on behalf of their members must be recognised
irrespective of the fact whether the grievances discussed are general or
individual.” Since the inception of trade unionism on the railways,
the question of recognition has been a bone of contention between the
unions and the administrations. The Railways’ position is thus indicated
in the memorandum of the Railwav Board ——

“ Generally the attitude of the Railway Board is that unions conducted on sound
trade union principles ought to be encouraged and that the registration of a union
ander the Trade Unions Act should predispose a railway administration to recogaise
 a union, though the degree of such recognition must necessarily depend on
the extent to which such union is really representative of the class or classes of staff
which it is supposed to represent. The representation of individual grievances by
anions is not encouraged since it is considered that adequate machinery for dealing
with these already exists, individuals having the recognised official channels through
which they can seck redress. On the other hand no definite ban has been laid on
administrations in this respect, and there are many instances of individual grievances
 put up by a union being enquired into. There is at present little uniformity
with regard to the extent to which individual railways enter into relation with their
anions, nor is it possible or expedient that standardisation should be imposed until
some uniformity exists in the constitution and activities of tha varions Assncia-Hong
 ?

Generally speaking, there is ground for the complaint that at least
some of the administrations expect a higher standard of efficiency, responsibility
 and organisation from the trade unions than can reasonably be
expected at this stage in their development. We deal in another chapter
with the desirability of stimulating the growth of healthy trade unionism,
with the principles governing the recognition of unions and with what
is involved in recognition. = We believe that a more generous policy
in respect of recognition would be to the advantage of all
concerned in railway work, and we commend this matter to the
careful consideration of administrations and unions. These bodies
should also arrive at an understanding concerning the extent
of the facilities to be given to union officers and members actively
engaged in promoting organisation. In the past. assistance has