SIR,—Your reference to a prhuing industry lock-out in 1950 which
lasted for weeks is puzzling. I was chair- man of the local branch of my trade union at that time, and if there had been a general lock-out as your article implies I should most certainly have been con- cerned in it from my official position.
I am employed in a 'closed' shop, and most large printing works come into this capacity. The manage- ments of these firms are scrupulous in the imple- mentation of trade union agreements, and are equally rigid in their loyalty to their master printers' organisa- tion. It follows that my firm would not have hesitated to enforce a lock-out in 1950 had one been ordered by their organisation, Instead, such sanctions as we car- ried out were received with tolerance, and no bad feelings were engendered on either side for the short time before a settlement was arrived at, certainly not a matter of weeks as you state.
Regarding the present dispute, most large firms have bonus incentive schemes, whereby the worker is able to increase his basic by as much as a third, and some- times even more. These extras arc not passed on to the consumer but are paid out of profits, so that there is room for improvement in the basic rate in order that men working where bonus schemes are not in opera- tion shall benefit in the general -prosperity of the industry. With regard to the voting percentage, a 2s. 6d. fine is enforced for failure to vote in these more important issues, and very few union members would choose to pay this rather than vote. It should also be remem- bered that out of the total membership quite a sub- stantial number (apprentices, dilutees, honorary members, retired members, members temporarily working out of the industry, and sea-going members away at the time of voting) are debarred from so voting.—Yours faithfully, 58 Wilton Avenue, The Polygon, Southampton [The lock-out to which we were referring was in London; it would not have affected Mr. Penney's home town, but it certainly affected the printing of the Spectator. Why, if there was a good vote in the recent ballot, were the figures not published?—Editor, Spectator.]
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