The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-03-16
COUNCIL Of LABOR Al } D +
TO SETTLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
:: WORKMEN AND EMPLOYERS.

l. p ID, I'd =.
TO SETTLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
/ WORE<MEN AND EMPLOYERS.
United States Consul at Marseilles,
/ Robert p. Skinner, in a Report to
the State Depa It nent at Washing
| ton, Comments. ON Step. Taken to
| Promote Harmony Between Capt
| tai and Labor in France.
BY virtue of the degree issued Sept
II by the president of the republic and
limited in it's application for the pres
ent to the city Of Marseilles, prelimi-
nary steps have been taken to organize
in this community council of labor,
| for which elections will soon be held.
While the practical effect Of the trans
actions of this council remains to be
seen, it may be said that the plan of
organization indicates feeling on the
part of capital and labor favorable to
harmony of work and purpose. No
doubt the recent serious of disastrous
| strikes in Marseilles has encouraged
this sentiment. In the past it has been
true in France, as elsewhere, that en-
ployers have not always looked with
! favor upon organizations of labor and
have discouraged many of the best of
their workmen from participating in
| movements which they believed to be
controlled by elements dangerous to
Isociety or at least inimical to their
own interests. .
AS an academic proposition it proba-
bly, would not be disputed that organ
izations of employers and employed,
| acting in all cases on the fundamental
| principle that their interests are not
| divergent, would be- more desira BILE
| than a state of complete disorganiza-
! ton, and the state seems to have adopt
ed this view by officially recognizing
| them as permanent factors in society.
To do SO it has now established in a
| tentative way at Marseilles the right
of organization of employers and en-
ployes to consider grievances of vari-
Gus sorts affecting the entire popula-
tion of employers or employees, or
groups thereof, through, council of
labor. The legislation has for the pre-
sent conferred upon the council merely
advisory powers, leaving: the right of
settlement to the established authori-
ties. The mission of the council of la
Dor will be to give advice upon all
questions bearing upon labor, to pre-
pare reports at the request of the min
lister Of commerce and Industry, to pub
lish the current and normal rate Of
wages, to determine the current and
normal length Of the workday, to seek
means Of preventing or terminating
strikes or lockouts, to prepare reports
upon the division of allowance made
by the public to institutions of patrons
and employees, to investigate and re-
port upon the execution, of laws, de-
crees and orders concerning labor, and
notifications which might prove bene-
fetal thereto. "gs s5 u u j vi
4 81 The council will be formed of three
il elem mployera, 2l 8 employed
less RED an lo1l
4 to- be understo tood by Amer can reaI Iers;
as no similar institution exists in the
I United States Of which u am aware
The, ''conseil des prud' hommes'' has
had an uninterrupted existence in this
city since the period of the Roman oc-
cupation. It was undisturbed by the
revolution and dispenses justice today
in very much the same way as during
the time of the Roman >emperors. The
| 'conseip is an institution essentially
municipal and has for it's object the
cOnciliatiOn of differences which arise
between employers and superintend-
ents, foremen, workmen and appren-
tices, pronouncing upon such differ
ences when conciliation proves inef-
| nj oil >1o;,
tive to contracts with apprentices and
in default of express stipulation regu-
lates the amount of indemnity due in
case Of rupture of such contracts.
Complaints relative to the accounts
of employers, trademarks and patents
are also considered by this court The
"cOnseiP' is composed of employers and
workingmen in equal numbers with
a president and president the
members thereof being elected by their
fellow employers and employees. The
parties to complaints presented to- the
"conseil des prud d'hommes" plead them
selves without the Intervention of at
torneys.> :..l...-.r ~ 49,.
In the council Of labor about to be
organized in this city there will be a.
very considerable representation from
I
the various boards of prud hommes,
but the preponderating majority will
be members elected from the .syndi--
Gates. The syndicate Of employers
must have at least ten members to cast
one vote and these syndicates elect en-
ploying councillors. Synd1cates Of en-
ployes must have at least rs members
to have one vote in selecting employe
councillors It follows that every
French. industry or commerce. desiring
to be represented in the council must
become syndicated under certain ac-
cepted regulations. '2s5
| The council will be divided in six
sections, for the construction Of mat.
ters coming under the following gem
eral heads: ',s,- T-,~~> - d II z%:>
First. Wholesale alimentatio, me-
chanical industries allied thereto Gn-
cluding seed crushing) and chemical in
dustries. t#<ls r, s4@1ry # -,. $#5s.s Z