Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-09
EMPLOYER AND EMPLoYE.
X Trade Unionist Makes Some Sugges-
 tions for Benefit of Both.

tions for Benefit of Both.
 Trades unions to-day are just as much of necessity to the working man under ouR present industrial com petitive system as the doctor, lawyer or any organized profession is for the benefit of mankind. We claim that without trades unions wages would decrease to such an extent that the results would be appalling If trades unions were to voluntarily go out of existence, the employees of labor of all crafts and callings would immediately take advantage of the fact by reduc- ing wages. Trades unions do not blame employers for this method as they, themselves, suffer through the acts of other interruptions competitors, but as rule members of unions know just what wages are paid to all mem- bers of their craft in all places where they have unions, but we as trade un. lonists, fail to see why employers ob- ject to paying as high wages as are l paid in other cities where they do not 1 own their own buildings. They may offer the stereotyped excuse that tax 1 es are so high that if they continue at the present rate they will have to move | out of the city. Now if reducing wages continuously is the cure for the evil, let us go into consultation with the manufacturers and see if we can't affaEge- 1t with the city fathers to re | ducc their taxes, so we can raise the ! enployeeS wages, so they can pay l thelrs. l don't want to be harsh or to 1 De considered peSsimistic, but in my eNperlence more than one manufac- turer told me that his interests and
 those of the employees were identical and the same. If that be so. why not take committee of union men, or any other, into the office, let them see what price is being paid for q certain article,
 for instance, one on which there has
 been dispute about in regard to
 the price, and as I know nearly all
 WorkinSmen are fair, if the price asked from the manufacturer is unfair show
 the men your books and convince them
 that both interests are identical and
 alike. The trouble in the past in sev-
 eral instances with manufacturers,
 sifted down to incompetent foremen,
 of which there are several, and if
 faifer judgment was exercised on the
 part of the manufacturers this thing | would be remedied.
 l will cite a case of unfairneSS, but
 it is only one; there are several. The
 manufacturer has q chance to manu-
 facture certain article. He gives it
 to the estimator, who knows practical
 ly nothing about the labor of certain
 parts. He depends on the foreman oi
 the different departments to give him
 estimates. After all estimates are to-
 tailed, the manufacturer sends in his
 bid and secures the contract. Now
 he has the contract. With all justice to the manufacturer, I would state that he indirectly secured this con tract by unfair methods. Now I vii explain why. When the foreman gave the estimation his price, he neve, gave the work l fair trial. therefore if the men under control of said fore 3 man protest, it is useless in the eyes o the foreman Then the men carr. their grievance to the office, but tn , manufacturer will never admit tha
 the foreman is to blame. Now, m. object in writing this letter is to pro
 pose a scheme whereby the manufac : turer will become acquainted with tn . general dissatisfaction that exists il nearly every shop in the city. Plac :, in each department small box wit a q slot in it and let nobody open 1t bu U the general manager. superintendent ' or anyone empowered by the officials | Then let every employe write out hi 8 grievance. or what they think will b : of interest to the firm, without signin C their names. l fully realize that som ?: people have petty grievances tha |. would find their way to said box ever e day. but when the protests are comin t in from all but q favored few. frol t, the boss. there must be some discol If tent I would favor the signing of a .s notes, only know of a few people wll
 have been blacklisted in this cit :, through agitating q cause they b . lieved just and honest. I would chee T fully sign mine. only for what littl Il chance I have of securing employme1 !. would be lessened. HoDing that tn letter may start somebody thinking. = remain
 A TRADE UNIONlST.