The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-08-08

1t will be recalled that in the midst of
the strike epidemic that involved the
material interests of the country year
ago, and indeed prior thereto and since,
employers and manufacturers who re-
fused to treat with walking delegates. so
called Mediation Committees and out
side agencies, relative to terms of settle
ment of strikes, and who insisted upon
being permitted to treat with tn cir en-
ployes in their individual capacity, were
holly and unsparingly denounced by
strike promoters.
It was then held by unions that en-
ployers must deal with them and that
no strikes would be ''called off" that were
settled by consultation between the men
striking. as individuals, and their en-
ployers. This was maintained with per-
sistency and with threats; whoever dared
to suggest that employers had right to
deal with their employees directly and
without the interference and dictation of
intermediary organizations, was an
athematized as the enemy of labor and
the foe of industry. 1t made no difference
that ia most cases that the would be in
termediaries were not of the trade or
employment involved. 1t was the COM
monest thing for the walking delegate
and the interposing organizations to be
ignorant of the trade or business in ques-
ton, and wholly unrelated to it by ex-
perience.
The right of employers to form associa-
tons was not and cannot be denied. The
basis of unions among employees is pre-
cisely the same for unions among en-
ployers. Now note how swiftly the
unions of workmen have been to change
their note the moment their own
doctrine is applied to the case of
the worker. In New York recently
the United Garment Workers went
on a strike. We are not informed
rs to the merits of the controversy. but as
that makes no SORT of difference, it may
be assumed that the workers had griev-
ances and suffered wrongs that should be
righted. The Contractors Association
stood forward in the matter as the repre-
sentative of the employers. and it was
sought to bring this association and the
Garment Workers Union together to
consider terms of settlement.
What happened was briefly told in the
dispatches: The Executive Committee re-
fused to deal with the Contractors Asso-
citation and declared that the Garment
Workers organization must deal with
the employers in their 'individuaW
capacity only. If this is not complete
reversal of the claim OF the strike policy;
if it is not on the part of trade unions q
are unwilling to grant to others; If it is
not complete flop and q most incon-
sistent position, then we are incapable of
understanding the simplest of PROPOSE
tions. 1t amounts to this, when en-
ployers wish to treat with their striking
employees as individuals the unions deny
the right, insist that there shall be settle
ment only through the Intermediates
put forward by unions. But when it
comes 70 the case of the employers pre-
senting their cause through the medium
ship of their own organization, the
workers Union insists that such organi-
cation shall not be recognized. and that
any treaty making shall be between the
union and the employers as indi-
viduals. This sing le instance is illustra-
tive of the most ludicrous of incon-
sistencies.