The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-21
TRY ONE OF OWN.
Union Painters ana Paperhangers May
Start a shop.

It is likely that the union painters
Of the city, who are out on a strike.
viii establish new cooperative
union paint shop in the city for the
purpose of furnishing employment to
the strikers. Some of the striking
union men will take charge of the con-
tracing, and the others will do sae
painting.
Labor Commissioner W. L. A john
son has been. trying to get the strikers
and the master painters to agree upon
compromise, and the painters sub
mitted a plan recently which the
master painters rejected. The paint
ers were willing to waive their de-
mand for a CLOSED shop, which was
the chief point of controversy, and
also offered to compromise their de-
mand for an increase in pay for 81 X
cents per hour instead of 40 cents.
There are about sixty union painters
affected by the strike.
The following are the propositions
of compromise submitted to the en-
ployers by Labor Commissioner john
son.
''First-Agreement to remain in
effect until May 1. 1907.
Second-Schedule for paperhang-
ers to remain in effect until May /,
1907
''Third-Painters to receive s7k
cents per hour. except for work al
ready contracted for, which shall be
IS cents.
"Fourth=eight hours shall consti-
tute a days work.
''Fifth-All overtime to be paid for
as follows: Night work at the rate
of time and one-half Sundays and
holidays at the rate of double time.
''Sixth-Travenng expenses on work
outside Of the city shall be paid by
employer.
''seventh-On work outside of the
city the board of the workmen shall
be paid by the employer, unless other
wise agreed upon between employer
and employee.
"Eighth@In the employment of
painters it IS agreed. where ability
and efficiency are equal union paint
ers shall have the preference of en-
ployment where the same can be OBJ
tanned, and there shall be no discrim-
nation against any painter because of
his membership in the union
''Ninth=The discussion or agitation
OF union matters shall not be per-
mitted in the shop or on any job dur
clause shall be sufficient cause for dis
charge.
''Tenth-Any journeyman painter
found contracting for himself while
employed shall be required to turn
such contract over to the shop where
employed. or such painter, when con-
elusive proof is shown, may be dis
charged.
"Eleventh-In order that the inter
ests of the contractor may be pro-
to perform a reasonable and fair
days work for the compensation re-
ceived- To the end that harmonious
relations may exist between employer
and employees, it is expected that the
general interest of the employer
C1 he a6 Ia int OF Of
the emplOye.
''Twelfth=Any controversy arising
between a contractor and journey
man that cannot be mutually agreed
upon shall be submitted to a commit
/ tee of two from the contractors and
two from the journeyTnen. these four
I to select some disinterested party to
submit the question at issue for his
decision, which decision shall be final
/ and binding on all parties interested.
and there shall be no suspension of
work pending said arbitration
In statement prepared for the pub
/ lie. the union painters submit the fol-
4 lowing defense of their position
THE above schedule the bosses refus-
/ ed absolutely saying they had agreed
! to stand pat and make no change in
/ the schedule which has obtained for
over three years, and that if the men
wanted to return to work at the old
| schedule they could do So
! 1T will be noted by the above that
we conceded the making of a contract
with the painters union and asked only
for shop rules and regulations to be
adopted by the contracting painters in
/ which we might have some small voice
| as to the conditions of our employment.
| 1T will also be seen that there Is no
| change in the schedule for paperhang-
ers and in the schedule for painters we
reduced the demand from 40 cents per
| hour to BIZ cents per hour the same to
take effect after all work now contract
ed for was finished, or at a given time
as late as August l. and that the old rat
should obtain either until the old work
was finished or until August l. The
bosses had their choice of these two
propositions
For the protection of the interest of
the bosses we inserted a number of
clauses with a view of protecting their
interests as against certain abuses
which they charged existed in the past,
and we leave 1t to the fair minded pub
lie if we have not made every honest
effort possible to secure a settlement in
| which we as mechanics have some right
to say something about the terms of
our employment.
Our members are good fair mechan-
les and as a rule are residents and tax
payers in the city of Topeka. We do
not desire to go elsewhere for employ
ment but if no settlement can be had
! of this difficulty our men will be com
PEELED to either start cooperative
| shop or a part of them take up con-
tracing and employ the remainder
Kansas City, Kan. Church Dedicated
Kansas City, Kan, May 21-The
dedicated yesterday afternoon with APP
| 41rOOrfate services the Rev T)r Thorn