The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-11-29

one which is causing untold discussion
with the best posted men and women
on the labor question as we'll as many
of our employers is, how to avoid
strikes? The proposition is Of vital i'm
portance to both employer and en-
ployee. While the Metal Worker be-
leves that no strike was ever lost by
labor, we are free to admit that many
victories have been bought dearly fos
both sides. Before presenting a rem
edy it is very important that the cese
be diagnosed, any by them who have
made a life study of labor and capital
and have watched for years it's strug-
giles in prosperity and advedsity, it is
conceded that the system under which
labor is handled is more or less respon-
sible for the strikes that occur in most
all cases.
We will try and be brief, but let us
see how labor is handled at the pres
emf time in nearly all industries. First
we find a business enterprise which
represents from one hundred thousand
dollars to ten million dollars, it mat
ters not which the case may be, the
same system is in vogue If the en-
ployees are of any great number. We
find that most of the employees work
days, weeks, yes, years, many times,
before they really know who is their
employer. They know the hired en-
ployee who gave them position; they
know the hired employee who keeps
their time; they know the hired en-
ployee who is the foreman; possibly
they may have the superintendent
pointed out to them, but nine.y-,,xn-
times out of hundred they never
know the real employer. 1t is a we'll
known fact that every man, no matter
what part he may play in making up
the great army of the producing force
in any industry, there is always that
feeling Of wishing to advance his in
dividual interests and to do this, he
must show the employer that he has
done something which would warrant
reward. The superintendent and fore
man have no way in which to demon
strate to the employer that they are
worthy of advancement, only through
those who may be under them. This
makes always an incentive for the SUI
perintendent or foreman to get little
more from those who may be under
them and in many instances rules and
shop conditions and often times prices
are regulated by the foreman or su-
perintendent, which brings about dis
content and unrest with the employee.
Oftentimes it becomes necessary to en-
y1,1o
who may grumble or complain, in hopes
that it will coerce the majority, to ac-
cept the conditions as made by the
foreman or superintendent. In many
cases, men are discharged for daring
to approach the superintendent or
foreman and requesting that conditions
may be changed. All of this goes on
and the real employer, who is tnr
f1nancler. is never aware Of the fact
that any discomfort exists with .,.e
employees Of his establishment Off,
en-, this goes on for weeks and months
until finally the burden becomes too
heavy and the employees go on strike
In order to obliterate the obnoxious
rules and force what is just and right
When this period is reached, the en-
ployer must be informed, as it has
reached crisis beyond the control of
the superintendent.
At this period, the superintendent
closets himself with the real employer
and makes report of the matter in
SUCH a way as to make it appear that
1t Is no fault of his, but he will always
make it his business to convince his
employer that the fault lies with one
or two agitators, as he will call them.
He will try to make light Of any move
that has been made by labor and bring
every pressure to bear in order. to pre-
JUDGE the employer that he may get
permission to make fight through his
1nsuring the firm that it will only last
two or three days, when all will report
Tor duty again, and then he will be I'M
able to refuse employment to those
whom he will claim are responsible for
the trouble, and oftimes we see strikes
which the superintendent has prophe-
sled would peter out in two or three
days last for weeks and months, until
finally the real employer. the man who
is interested financially begins to see
that the looked for surrender does not
--'~o~~- A~DAAA~
investigation, and many times to his
horror and surprise he finds that he
has lost thousands of dollars and his
employees have been out Of employ
ment for weeks-the result OF some
trifling matter, which, if he had known
personally to have existed, no strike
would have ever occurred. All of this
can be avefted and the Metal Worker
will hail the day when our great fac
tories and places Of employment will
have posted conspicuous signs in places
where all employees have access that
will be standing order and stating
plainly that the head of the firm will,
on such day of each week, at such an
hour, receive in their office any en-
ployee or committee of employees who
may be in their service, and hear any
grievances or receive any request tina,
the employees of such factories or
places of employment may desire the
firm to know.
The Metal Worker is confident il the
head Of each great firm will give one
hour to the hearing OF such employees
or committees of employees, ninety
n or 49,