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Since
the early months of 1941 special Orders have been applied to particular
industries, such as shipbuilding and repairing, building and civil
engineering, mining, dock labour, the iron and steel trades, the
Merchant Navy and the railways. Here is the story of Jack Smith, which
shows what has happened to him under these Orders.
Before the war Jack Smith had been a docker for many years. The nature
of his employment complete him to be one of the army of “casual
workers,” for the arrival of ships must always be irregular and when
work did present itself there were thousands of other men clamouring for
a share of it. So, in the course of time, Jack became accustomed to a
life of under-employment, averaging perhaps three days a week, and
supplementing his earnings for those days by Unemployment Benefit. With
the outbreak of war, circumstances changed.
It
was evident that the quick turn round of ships must be a primary
consideration if the lifeline of the country was to be maintained, and
that provision must be made for the transfer of dock labour from ports
that might be temporarily idle to those that were faced with a sudden
rush of work. So, for the first time in his life, Jack found himself
given the opportunity of accepting work away from his homeport. He was
still a “casual” worker, but while on transfer he was guaranteed a
minimum wage of 10s. a day, together with a lodging allowance of 5s.
nightly, and his return fare was paid by the Government.
As the war progressed, many of the
younger dockers in the county were called to the Forces, while others
took ever-growing opportunities of accepting more regular work.
Accordingly, in 1941, the Government decided that Jack, on whom so much
depend, could no longer be left as a casual worker, but must take his
proper place in the organised industrial force of the country.
The
Essential Work [Dock Labour] Order was made and, under it, Dock Labour
Schemes were established in practically all the ports in the country.
Jack
is now an employee of the National Dock Labour Corporation, which has
been set up by the National Joint Council for Dock Labour – a body
consisting of representatives of employers and workers – to administer
those schemes. He no longer looks to Unemployment Benefit to supplement
his earnings, but is assured of a minimum weekly wage, in return for
which he must stick to his employment, put in regular appearances, and
be prepared to accept all reasonable work in his home port or in any
other port in which his services may be needed.
Even
in the unlikely event of his not getting any actual work during the
week, he can be confident of receiving £3 6s as wages, and, because
piece-work has largely introduced into his industry with the
establishment of these Dock Labour Schemes, he has good prospects of
earning a considerably higher minimum wage.
To-day,
when on transfer to another port, his guaranteed minimum wage is
increased during the first 13 weeks to a full week’s pay at the
appropriate time rate, amounting in practically every case to £4 2s 6d
a week. He has retained the benefits of a 5s nightly lodging allowance
and free travel.
The
financial advantages are, however, only one side of the picture. They
are reflected in his home life, where for the first time there is a
sense of security, and ability to plan ahead. This leads to increased
self-respect, as does the nature of his work.
The
days when Jack had no particular responsibility to any one employer,
when he knew that for a great deal of his time, there could be no object
in his seeking work, are gone. Almost overnight, he has had to adjust
his mental outlook – not an easy task for one whom years of hard
experience have made “casual- minded”. To-day Jack must always be
ready to take work, perhaps in the docks of his home port, perhaps in
some distant port, or perhaps in exceptional circumstances not on the
docks at all. After years of being “No-bobby’s child”, he is the
regular employee of a public Corporation and has come to feel that
to-day he is one of a national labor force pledged to a task whose
successful fulfillment is vital to the nation’s existence and victory.
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