The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-01-12

| The national convention of Austrian
manufacturers, which was held during
the month of November, had upon it's
program the reception of papers relat-
ing to and the discussion of the sub
| ject, Insurance Against Strikes" An
| association has recently been formed
to this end, not only in Austria, but in
Germany as we'll, and has for it's object
a plan to indemnify it's members for
all losses sustained by them from I'M
just strikes which may break out in
their respective establishments, wheth-
err voluntary, sympathetic, or forced.
1t is maintained by weekly premium
paid by it's members and which amount
equals from three to four per cent Of
the amount of his pay roll. In case of
a strike, the indemnity received shall,
as an experiment, be fifty per cent of
the wages paid to his employees for
the week next preceding the strike 1t
is purely speculative in this connection,
but it is thought that the premiums
paid will warrant the payment of this
indemnity during the continuance of
the strike, unless such strike should
become general in it's nature and ex-
tend beyond the time when the pre-
miums no longer secured such indem-
nifty. 1t is provided, however, that no
indemnity shall be paid if a committee
of confidential agents appointed by the
association shall, after full investiga-
ton of all the circumstances, find the
strike justifable one. From this fact
if "a hat
principle Of the business of strikes and
that the objects of the association are
based upon a principle that commends
itself as a business proposition. Just
what the practical result will be, for
the present, is a matter of conjecture,
that it seems to embody in it a plan
which affords ample protection to the
employer against unjust strikes, while
1t in no way assumes to protect it's
members in holding out against the
just demands Of labor.
1t is said that a, similar organization,
having for it's objects the same purpose
as that of the Austrian manufacturers,
has been organized in Leipsic, Ger
many. Thus the principle seems to be
gaining ground that labor is justified
under certain conditions to strike, and
that manufacturers recognize the ne
cessity of not only protecting them
selves against the influences of strikes
brought about un justly, but of COM
polling their members to concede the
just demands of the employe in every
instance. This is an important con-
cession to labor and will be watched
with much interest by American man.
utacturers. Notwithstanding the fact
the American is 10th to admit his will
ingness to adopt the progressive ideas
OF his European cousins, it will sooner
Or later find footing on American soil
and receive a trial under conditions
which surround American la Dor.
Let us try to conceive its effect upon
the wage Garner Of this country. We
can imagine that an associated body
OF manufacturers who have a sinking
fund created from premiums paid in
to indemnify it's members in case of
unwarranted strikes, will do much to-
ward discouraging such strikes, for the
reason that the plan itself requires in
quiry into the causes thereof by COM
mittee who shall decide the business
thereof, and if found to be unwar-
ranted, shall make public the facts con-
nected with the case and the manufac-
turer is sustained in his action and
paid an indemnity so long as the men
hold out. On the other hand, it de-
mands recognition on the part of it's
members in the just demands of the
wage Garner, and compels him, at the
sacrifice of indemnity and the protec-
ton of the association, to meet the de-
mands of such labor. This latter
clause forms an important concession
to labor that may initiate against it's
adoption in this country for some time
to come, yet as the right of labor to
demand it's rights becomes more and
more generally recognized we believe
that the spirit of progress will bring
about a measure of a corresponding
nature intended to protect both en-
ployer and employee in the adjustment
Of differences.