The Minneapolis journal., 1904-05-21
OPEN SHOP IS
NOT THE ISSUE
CONTRACTORS MAKING FIGHT ON
SYMPATHETIC STRIKE.
Position Involves Direct Opposition to
the Building Trades Council Which
Directs the Calls for Such Strikes -
Letter from Builders Exchange to
Twelve OF the Unions.

Some misunderstanding has arisen
from resolution adopted by the
Builders and. Traders Exchange at its
last meeting. The wording seemed to
indicate that the contractors were
strenuously in favor of the "open
shop" Investigation to-day shows
that the exchange merely wished each
union to stand on it's own feet.
Following is the letter sent to the
twelve uabor unions connected with
the building trades:
In the matter of the strike on Mr.. Hag-
Inns work and in view Of the facts as they
have been presented to us. 1t appears that
five carpenters are being Disseminated
against In a matter in which employers
have no concern or interest and out Of this
difference sympathetic strike has been
inaugurated against one contractor.
We contend for the principle that as long
as a man receives the wages and hours es-
tablished by his union he has no right to
dictate as to who the other workmen shall
be.
And to place this matter before you in
a way so that you may know what we
mean, we wish to notify you that at our
last meeting a. resolution was adopted
which reads as follows:
"That so long as your union Is recog-
nized and the wages and hours asked for
are granted you will be required to work
on any job where asked to, regardless Of
who the other workment may be-
"If under the above conditions, you
wish to stay in our service, all well and
good. IF not, we shall be forced to en-
ploy such help as will.
1--WE deplore the necessity Of having to
take this step, but we canont any longer
tolerate such arbitrary interference in the
management of our business.
- Yours truly,
Builders and Traders Exchange,
4 George W. Higgins, President,
w. A. Strome, Secretary.
Mr.. Stromme adds:
"'The Bidders and Traders Exchange
Is willing to employ union men at
union wages, but they are absolutely
opposed to interference from the
Building Trades Council"
Briefly, altho the contractors favor
unionism, they will not, after May Is,
| countenance sympathetic strikes.
That is, other unions must rot be in
volved thru sympathy in any contra-
versy between contractor and in,divid-.
ual union. The contractors ~ not
stand for the "open shop" but if a
! sub b-contractor should find it neces-
sary, because of the application of
union rules, to complete his work with
nonunion men, other unions must not
take up the quarrel.
This action of the builders and
| traders seems direct blOW at the
Building Trades Council, whose exec
utive body direct the calk for sympa-
thetic strikes. The abolition of the
council would place Minneapolis or
the st. Paul basis, where union and
nonunion men may work on the same
job.
Unions which have met since re.
ceipt of the above letter have not Il
is reported at headquarters, taken &C
ton.
/ Everything is still quiet and Off.
4 cials at the council office do not seen
agitated or unfriendly toward the
builders. A. G. Bainbridge of the
press committee said to-day:
"The public must not be in the leas
alarmed about this. If it wants worl
! done, it can always get it done. l.
the contractors don't want work done
the council will do it. sThis does no
ned to interfere with building opera
tions at all. The council is always
ready to furnish men to builders anc
they can save from 20 to 80 per cen
doing the work that way. If tn.
contractors want to close down work
We'll furnish men at any time" p Z.