Principles of the Central Labour Union of America.

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane, January 5, 1895.

Union Principles.

The following is the declaration of principles of the Central Labour Union of America:

We hold that Labour produces all the wealth. And, therefore, the labourer is in justice entitled to a full share of the value he labours to produce. But when wealth producers live in poverty and idlers roll in luxury it is very evident that the social and industrial system which causes such conditions must be wrong and immoral, and requires a thorough change. It is self evident that, as the power of capital combines and increases, the political freedom of the toiling masses becomes more and more a delusive farce. There can be no harmony between capital and labour under the present industrial system, for the simple reason that capital, in its modern character, consists very largely of rent, interest and profits, wrong fully extorted from the producers, who posses neither the land nor the means of production, and are, therefore, compelled to sell their labour and brains or both, to the possessor of the land and means of production, and at such prices as an uncertain and soeculative market may allow.

Organisation of trade and labour unions is one of the most effective means to check evil outgrowths of the prevailing system. But they must keep pace with the progress of the age and with the march of advanced ideas. While trade and labour unions hitherto have struggled for higher wages or shorter hours of labour they have practically protected themselves as producers, but not as consumers and citizens. The ruling moneyed class has mean while obtained legal sanction to wring from the workers all the benefit that strikes and resistance gained; and this has been done by high rents, costly transportation, gigantic corners in grain and provisions, and by monopolising the issue of money. The privileged classes have used the police, militia, and even the Federal troops against the workers when ever they felt their capitalistic interest in danger. And yet trades and labour unions went so far as to prohibit the discussion of such topics in their meetings, and on election day their members voted in favour of representatives of the very class that oppressed them all the year round.

The emancipation of the working classes must be achieved by the working classes themselves as no other class has any interest in improving their condition. The combined wage working class represents the great majority of people. In their hands rests the future of our free institutions, and it is their destiny to replace the present iniquitous social system by one based upon equity and the nobility of all useful labour. We regard it as the sacred duty of every honourable labouring man to sever his affiliation with all political parties of the capitalists, and to devote his energy and attention to the organisation of his trade and labour union, and the concentration of all unions into one solid body for the purpose of assisting each other in all struggles – political or industrial – to resist every attempt of the ruling classes directed against our liberties, and to extend our fraternal hand to the workers of our land and to all nations of the globe that struggle for the same independence.