Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-05-06
ELEVEN GOOD RULES.
How to Avert Strikes, Lockouts and Sim
liar Labor Difficulties.


having since settled several strikes in
other trades and other States. They
were posted up in factories, and the
wOrkmen, by way of pleasantly, came
to call them The Eleven Command
ments.' They were furthermore made
| the basis of adjustment of serious
trouble in one of the largest institu-
| tions of learning in the country. These
rules, with notes on them by Mr.. Wash
| burne, are as follows:
| RULES ADOPTED By JOINT BOARD OF AR
| BITRATION IN PHILADELPHIA, JANU-
AIRY, 3, 1885.
Rule l. section l. The right of the manu-
! facturer to employ and discharge employees
| must be acknowledged.
NOTE: This rule means that the right
to employ and to discharge laborers be-
| longs to those who own the business
There could be no other rule No pru-
dent man would invest capital in bust
ness if he could not control it by en-
| plOying the laborers he thought neces-
| sary and proper for conducting it.
! This is the inseparable incident of cap
| ital.
i Sec. 3. But If a person discharged claims
member of the Knights OF Labor, by specify
ing his cause or causes of complaint, in writ
| ing, he may bring the matter directly before
the board of arbitration for n hearing.
NOTE: In this rule the word "he'' in
| cludes both sexes. Its object is to pre-
vent persons from being discharged
''because they are active members of the
Knights of Labor" But if an active
| member is discharged for any cause
other than because he is an active
member his case stands as that of any
other person. When the person dis
charged claims that the act was done
because he is an active member of the
Knights of Labor, by complying with
the direction of the rule, he may bring
the matter before the board for a hear
ing: and the board has the sole right to
hear it. The matter must be in writing,
i'll order that the board may see the eX-
act cause of complaint, and know just
what is to be heard and decided.
Rule ?. Each factory is to regulate its own
working hours, but in no case shall a days
work exceed ten hours, except, in two or
three departments, in order to fill orders on
time.
Note: Each factory shall say at what
time hands shall begin to work in the
morning, and when they shall stop. not
exceeding the time named in the rule.
When extra work is to be done, the
manufacturer shall direct it in order to
meet the engagement calling for it. But
for the extra labor done there shall be
extra pay. Business will decide the de-
partments.
Rule 3. shop meetings to be held only after
working hours.
Note: The purpose of this rule is that
there may be no interference with bus
mess.
Rule 4. Grievance committee of shops not
to meet oftener than once a week, except in
case of new employees.
Note: The committee need not meet
once a week unless it has business. But
for the purpose of ascertaining the con-
dition and standing of persons not hith-
erto employed in the shop, it may meet
as often as necessary.
Rule 5. Pending the discussion and de-
cision of any difference or dispute, there
shall be no lock out, strike, stoppage or ces
sation of work by either employer or en-
ploye.
Note: 1t is the object of this rule to
substitute reason and right instead of
violence in whatever form, by either en-
ployer or employee. And during no dis
pute or difference shall the work of any
shop or department of it be stopped or
interfered with. If the interests of par
ties can not be so adjusted and harmo-
nized that the parties can continue the
relations of employer and employee, then,
according to the real or supp osed inter-
ests of the parties, they must separate,
not in violence, but according to reason.
This rule implies that in no case is it
necessary to resort to lockouts, strikes
or violent means in any form; it being
the office of reason, acting according to
the golden rule, to adjust all human in
tcreStS.
Rule 6. The grievance committee of each
factory is recognized as the only mode of
communication between the employer and
local assemblies; but in the event an agree
ment can not be reached, the matter in dis
pute shall be submitted to the board of ar
duration.
Note: This rule is sufficiently plain
without explanation.
Rule !. There shall be no interference with
the employment or wages of hands hired by
the week, when the wages are satisfactory to
the employer and employe; so that compe-
tent workmen may be protected.
Note: Business requires that some
s'hands be hired by the week. and the
wages are paid to the skill of the hand.
1t is the object of the rule to protect
both the laborer and the manufacturer.
1t is to give to the manufacturer the adj
vantage of skilled labor. and to give to
skilled labor a Just remuneration OF
course the manufacturer may employ
inferior skill, and give it inferior re-
enumeration. This may be important at
some times and for some purposes. 1t
is the right of the manufacturer to
determine how his business shall be con-
Quoted. Capital and labor should each
receive its equitable reward. This rule
was very thoroughly discussed. and
unanim ously and heartily adopted. If
the wages are not satisfactory, the hand
NAV quit work; and if not satisfactory
to the employer, he may dismiss him.
With any other rule business could not
safely be carried on.
Rule s. The joint board of arbitration
shall consist of seven members from each
their successors are appointed or eIectea.
Five members from each side shall eonsti-
tute quorum. \ majority vote shall be
final in all cases.
Note: Seven manufacturers and seven
employees compose the board. These
are appointed by the respective associa-
tons. Five members from each side
can do business. When, by the sides,
there is a difference of opinion, the
same number of persons only on each
side shall cast vote. But when the
vote is not by sides, all at the meeting
may vote, and the majority decides the
question.
Rule 9. In case of a tie vote,each side shall
select disinterested person, and these two
shall select a third person, and their deciS-
ion shall be final.
Note: In warm contest both parties
light not agree on a third person., and