The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-12-12
Strike Of owosso Printers.

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the assistance of those of its formel
force who were members of Owosso ant
Corunna Typographical Union No. 400
The employees of the Evening Argus
acknowledging the force of their agree
ment made with their employer before
joining the union, that they would not
leave without giving at least two weeks
notice, refused to go out when ordered
to do so Tuesday evening by w. b. Will
son, of Grand Rapids, representing the
International Typographical Union, and
are still at work Two of the Argus
force have purchased the ST. Johns In
dependent and will not be with the Ar
gus more than one and three weeks re-
spectively before going to their new
location. The Argus foreman, Mr..
Frank House, remained with his en-
ployer All of the male printers of the
Press-American and THE TIMES Offices
left. The ladies on the three papers
remained with the papers.
none of the printers are making any ex-
tended claims. A nine hour day was
demanded instead of a ten hour day as
at present and q minimum scale of ten
dollars per week was demanded. OF the
printers who are out there are not more
than two, who have worked at the trade
long enough to be unquestionably en-
titled to be considered journeymen
printers. who were receiving less than
the rate demanded. The ladies, who
would have also been entitled to the
same pay of ten dollars a week. are
evidently satisfied with the present pay
and prospects before them since they
choose to remain. Another demand of
the union and one of the most import
ant of all was the adoption of the rule
that there should be not more than one
apprentice for every five journeymen
printers in any Office. AS to personal
grievances it is evident that the Argus
employees had none, and the statement
has not been denied so far as is known
TO THE TIMES, that any of the striking
printers of the Press American Office
ever asked for an advance in wages over
those being paid when the strike was
ordered, while THE TIMES can assure
its readers that not one of the men who
left its employ had said at any time that
he was dissatisfied with the wages paid
orthe hours employed. The ultimatum,
if such it might be called, was left on
the editor 8 desk Tuesday afternoon with
the orders to "Sign that before eight
o'clock tonight" What would occur If
the paper, containing the unions ideas
Of what should be paid and how, were
not signed was not stated. No intima-
ton was given that strike, if ordered,
would go into effect at once. The edi-
tor of THE TIMES like some other peo-
pie who have worked hard to build up
q business has not been in the habit of
taking other peoples orders in the con-
duct of his business and the scale was
left where it was laid by the walking
delegate, on the desk, unsigned at eight
o'clock. 1t is still there unsigned.
The TIMES has no boasts to make.
The editor has always tried to use his
employees with every possible consider
alton and the fact that two of the men
who went out have been in its employ
for nearly fourteen years, during which
time they have had more than one adj
vance in salary until one of them, at
least, received much more than the pro-
posed union scale would not seem to
argue very great grievance on their
part. When, however, he is told that
he can employ but one person in his
Office at time who receives less than
ten dollars a week or a practical equiv
alent of this in piece work, he feels
that he is being asked to do something
which the condition of the printing bust
ness in Owosso will not warrant, and a
thing which not only is unreasonable
under the circumstances but practically
impossible. The policy of the paper has
never been antagonistic to unions but it
simply finds itself in the dilemma of
feeling compelled to decline to attempt
to carry on its work under the condi-
tons imposed by the union. Had the
kerms offered by the union been such
that the editor of THE TIMES could
have seen a practicable way of carrying
them out he would have been glad to
assist his employees by any accommoda-
ton possible in this matter as he has in
times past assisted more than one of
them in the conduct of lodge and other
matters which took time from their
work and detracted from their efficiency
10 the Office When, however, to con-
tinue to carry on that policy means to
allow union of which the papers en-
ployees are but a part to dictate course
which appears to the editor impractical
BILE, if not, as he believes, impossible, he
cannot in justice to himself, his fellow
publishers, or in the long run, to his EN-
ploYees themselves consent to allow the
union to dictate the terms on which he
must do business.