Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-09-22

pending a dispute.
tcD That the EMPLOYERS should sub
init a properly vouched for statement
OF the financial condition Of the com
pany 70 the men. or to their represent
atiyes.
I'D That there shall be no dispute
or any award, under heavy penalties.
te) That there shall be no discrimi-
nation against members Of the unions.
Iii anything, they are favoredD
IL. The employers have established
ta) That there shall be 4 limit to
the amount Of arise in wages and
limit to the interval between demands
for rise.
tb) That there shall be no inter-
ference in the management OF the
works, but that owners shall be free,
both as 10 apprentices and as to dis
cipline
CdD That no award shall be dis
puted.
III. The following principles guide
the arbitration boards in their actions
i being first understood that private
settlement is always preferable to
bringing a dispute before the board.
taD Both sides are equal in repre-
scntation, in responsibility, in bearing
expense. If al any meeting the rep
resentation is unequal. all have tho
right to speak. but the party prepun
derating reduces its numbers by lot be-
fore voting.
CD A majority vote decides. If the
vote is even. the chairman. an outsid-
er acceptable To both, is the final ar
bitter, and in many cases he is not al
lowed TO split the difference. The ma
j,r.Cy Of disputes are settled without
the necessity for an appeal to this UNI
pire.
tcD Both sides have funds. This in
sures the payment Of penalties and is
a safeguard against ill-advised action
tdD All awards are strictly enforced
with penalties.
tcD The men on both sides are very
carefully selected. as il is found that
the best results are obtained when
these men have the fun confidence and
respect Of their constituents.
The above is based IN the report OF
Mr. Wright's department on "ArbitrI-
ton in Great Britain. in reading
which one is especially struck by the
spirit Of fair play which pervade@ all
even the bitterest Of disputes. and tho
~ adineSS with which awards are up
held by both sides The NOrthumb-r-
land Coal trade. after enjoying peace
under an arbitration board for some
twenty years, was drawn into the strike
" 1873. but when it was over the pres!-
drnt Of the mems association said that
...r B., - I.f ~.
ers association displaying the charac-
teristics q q true gentleman, full ~
sympathy. d lover III fair play Il
friend Of the workman'-a pretty good
description. by the way. OF what q true
gentleman IS Or again. when Tho um-
pire fined union $500 for refusing ~
submit 10 arbitration the organ of the
labor unions remarked eiiJorially
The fine w $500 imposed on the UNI
j IN Tor the breach by our London mem
beers We hope will be warning 70 *
ecutives not "a break away from rules
and agreements
AS a contrast To this system OF mu-
tual trust and mutual respect. Of re-
gard for the freedom Nj the individual
and the responsibility Of the organIza-
ton. one may consider the conditions
in st. Louis during the strikes among
the street railway hands. In the paper
which they presented for the com
Dany's signature on May they de- |
that the company's employees |
should b. compelled to belong to their |
union (sections and -, and if tn I'M |
ion saw fiji to dispel a man. the COM !
pany must dismiss him tsecjion ~. The |
"a
without reporting it to the union ,Sec-
ton y, nor could they even change
their time table without forty-eIght |
hours notice 10 the union tsectiOn 2o). |
Here are examples IF unjustitiable |
with the liberty of the men |
on the one hand, and with the business |
OF the company on the other. a system |
of arbitration was provided for similar |
10 that found in building agreements,
" here each party selects one arbitrator |
and the two select a third. Anyone |
who is familiar with this form Of ar
bitration is aware how unsatisfactory
il ~. one side is beaten and goes away |
agsrieved-hot and sore-ready 10 try
to get even. An agreement reached |
by the parties themselves without out
siders is very different affair. In
such cases a mutual understanding is
arrived at and mutual concessions
made which leave both sides satisfied
with the result. II is little wonder
that the company refused to sign such
a paper and that in the agreement OF
July these Objectionable features
were entirely removed. The agreement
thus reached was distinct defeat for
the men. They gained nothing what
SoeVer and the only result Of their ac-
ton was the long strike with its waste
ful expenditure and bitter feelings,
strife and bloOdshed; and this simply
because the men We're misguided. I'm
dOubtedly they had real grievances, |
and one cannot but feel that if mas
tiers and men had been wen organized
and represented by u board Of concilia-
ton such as those outlined above. the
strike. ill-feeling and bloodshed would
have been avoided and a decision
reached which would have been fair 10
both parties.
The strike was on lines which are
against all the best principles Of labor
unions. and as such deserved 70 fail.
When our labor unions set a high J.
standard Of workmanship and Of NOR
ais they will command the respect Of
all thoughtful people-mOre. they will
pain SaIf -r.-SueCt Then there Will be |