The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-10-08
ONLY REAL OPEN SHOP
IS TRADE UNION SHOP
Parry Open Shop Idea is a Dis
elimination Against Men,
bers of Unions.
E Result Would; Be Gradual Dis
.... b. {. /. nrltegration. Of the Labor s.
G! ons.
Judge Parker.

Philadelphia, Pa, Oct. 6.-Perhaps the
best defense of the union shop, and the
ablest exposition Of the open shop yet
written appears in a late issue Of the
Philadelphia Ledger. The writer says:
Il believe the honest advocates Of
the "open shop really hold to the view
that the name implies a shop running
under fair conditions, open to trades
union members and non-members
alike. In it's practical application moth
ing is further from the TRUTH. There
is constant discrimina ton against the
union man in the division of the work.
He is employed only because of his
superior workmanship and when nom
union men cannot be had, and when he
protests against unfair treatment or
talks unionism a little too insistently
he is discharged. An he is always dis
placed by a non-union man.
On the other hand, if he retains his
employment and is not very strenuous
of principle he soon discovers that he
can curry favor with the foreman or
boss by severing his allegiance to his
organization. He finds himself work.
ing alongside of men who do not con-
tribute their share toward the work of
an organization that has created the
fair conditions surrounding them, If
they are fair. and it not he fails to
see why he should remain member
of union that can do nothing for him
In both cases he first becomes luke
warm in his allegiance and then drops
1f ,,rinr Tho rQc,,1f fs IN
evitable 1t is the gradual disintegra-
! ton of the union.
| The, trades unionist contends. an6
with perfect justice, that the only
really "open sop" Is the union shop
There are no barriers in any trades.
union against the admission Of skilled
mechanics with clean moral records
There are restrictions on the score o.
apprentices and child labor, and they
are salutary ones. They young mar
who has finished his trade in tn,
country and coming to the city apple!
| to the for work in a union shop will
obtain it as readily as the union maj
from the city. He is simply advised t.
make application for membership il
! the union that has secured for him il
| duVdlCS LuS ld!I COIO1llOuS uAO0
which he finds work and is asked tt
pledge himself to stand by his fellows
in every legitimate effort to furthe,
the cause Of labor.
Another objection to the "open shop
is the impossibility Of union making
agreements with employers covering
wages, hours and arbitration of griev
ances. The union cannot make a con
tract that men over whom 1t has n.
control or authority will live up t.
the specifications of such agreements
/ A multitude Of petty grievances is th'
result where contracts are made whicl
recognize the open shop, while, on th
other hand, arbitration is seldom neces
sary under agreements providing TO
the union shop, because the sense o
fairness Of the organization prevents i
/ from recognizing and taking up an,
but serious cases for adjustment.
The ".open shop is sometimes con
tended for on the ground Of sound pub
! lie policy. Now, it IS generally admittet
that labor, organizations have beel
i instrumental in# raising the standard o