The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-08-28
FOR UNION HONESTY
SHOE WORKERS TO DISCIPLINE CON.
TRACT BREAKERS.

4 stfAGt 6HEfNNEnCs
National 0rgxrfxatfon Takes strong
stand For Business Infegrfty-Re-
4 spect For Obligations VIII Aid
Cause of labor.
One of the most important questions
confronting the labor unions of the
country is the question Of strictly adj
herring to trade agreements after they
4 have been entered into with employers,
/ writes Luke Grant in Chicago Record
Herald The Boot and shoe Workers
| International union at its recent con-
4 venfion ia Milwaukee took what Ia con-
sidered as the most far reaching step
in this direction yet taken by any la
Dor organization Under the amended
constitution OF the Boot and Shoe
Workers union any member going oil
strike in violation Oh a contract must
pay a fine of $40. The fine is auto
matically imposed when the members
walk out and no appeal IL provided
for.
The boot and shoe workers organiza-
ton Is the first national union to pro
vide q penalty in Its constitution for a
violation OF contracts with employers
and its officers believe this to be the
most advanced step yet taken and one
that win do much toward the future
success of the international union.
| Within the last two or three years the
shoe workers have had as much expert
ence perhaps with broken agreements
as any class Of workers IN the country.
4 Strikes called In violation Of contracts
We're largely responsible for the lock-
out Of shoe workers in this city two
years ago and the loss TO the union OF
u a number Of the largest shops In the
\ city. The national officers were de-
rounced by the local members for be-
Ing too friendly with employers when
they attempted 10 discipline the unions
for permitting such strikes
The employers here declared that
they never could count on their plants
running a day without interruption. al
though they had stamp agreement
providing for the arbitration OF all dis
putes that might arise without cessa-
ton OF work In one instance one ~
the local unions Iii Chicago called a
strike Ia a factory because the mem
bers were dissatisfied with an arbitra-
ton award given BY an umpire OF their
own selection The manufacturers
finally determined TO cease dealing
with the union altogether, and no
agreements exist in number of the
larger factories.
John r. Tobin, president Of the Boot
and Shoe Workers International I'M
ion, in calling the attention Of the con-
vention to the necessity for better dis
cipllne declared he would no longer re-
main at the head OF the organization
unless steps were taken to insure the
inviolabllIty OF contracts.
Il am convinced. be said In his an
nual address, that the only practical
way to sustain our contracts is to pro-
vide In this convention for penalty.
fixing a fine to operate automatically
and at once when d strike occurs In
violation of our contracts. We believe
that legislation of this kind viii save
us large sums of money and maintain
for us high standard Of business in
tegrity because our contracts will not
be violated, and our friends as well
as our enemies viii appreciate our
ability to defeat any attempts made to
destroy the validity of our agreements.
Unless this convention can see it's
way TO amend our constitution TO pro-
vide for this contract insurance in no
uncertain way can see nothing in the
way Of further substantial progress for
our union, and certainly we can never
achieve that degree OF organization
aud standing In the shoe trade which
will make for the security OF employ
ment. higher wages and shorter hours.
while have unhounded faith In the
organization and plenty OF courage to
do my part In promoting its welfare,
have no desire TO undertake what
seerns to me TO be lmpossbiIIties, and
am prepared to set aside the respon-
sibIllties which have rested upon my
shoulders TO no small extent during the
past eleven years unless the all inn
portant discipline necessary TO the sue
cess OF any organization Is forthcoming
In practical way, 80 that by the prac-
tice Of this discipline In the admins
tratlon Of our constitution and the af-
fairs Of the organization we can build
up a loyalty to the organization, re-
spect for our obligations and a unity
OF purpose and action that VIII make
us practically inyincible."