The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-04-28
PRINTERS UNION HAS
WON GREAT STRIKE
Eight Hour Day Granted In 500
American Cities To
Printers,
Union Comes Out of Fight
With Colors Flying and
Credit To Members. !.

news which is being received daily
from headquarters. Early last year an
order was issued from the executive
council of the International Typogra-
phical union instructing the members
of all subordinate unions to cease work
on January i, 1906, where the eight
hour day was not conceded by the en-
ployers. This order was obeyed to the
letter and the members Of the I. r. U.
in all cities Of the United States and
Canada, where existing contracts did
not Interfere, ceased work. In nearly
500 cities has the eight hour day been
granted and the employers who have
signed up with the unions are doing
good profitable business. This dis
poses of the argument so often heard
at the starting Of the contest between
the employers and the unions. that the
one hour a day off would increase the
cost Of the work an enormous per
centage which the employers could not
stand and they were positive the pub
lie would not. In the city Of st. Louis
1t amounts to q difference Of 40 cents
per man per week for the same number
of hours worked in the union offices
and the so-called open shops. Where
are the big percentages Of increase
that the employers tried to show to
the public the granting Of the eight
hour day would mean? AS soon as
exposed to the sunlight Of truth they
vanished. They could not stand it.
Boss Printers Lose.
The employers at a very heavy ex-
pense to themselves, have tried in vain
to defeat the efforts of the various un-
ions in securing the shorter workday.
They have signally failed as shown by
the returns coming in from the head
quarters Of the International Typogra-
ph1cal union. Many have been COM
PEELED to accede to the demand for the
shorter workday after a heavy loss in
money and business. They would have
been practically ahead in money and
business if they had at first granted
the eight hour day. When work is TAX
en- away from any office the proprie-
tor well knows that it is always a DIFF
ffcult matter to get it back again. So
1t has been the case in, Duluth as in 4
other cities, throughout the country.
ss It can be said with honor sto.t the of
meE and local
officers of tn 3 III lEeEs III ae
different cities where the contest has
been IN, that It has been one OF the
most orderly and peaceful strikes ever
carried on No violence Of any kind
has beenu sed and the officers would
not countenance anything Of that nat
ure in its conduct. It has been pro-
crossing in a systematic and business
way, strictly legitimate, and the en-
ployers themselves will testify tt this
fact. It is for this reason that the
are winning out on the shorter work.
day. tt is not a question Of wages
but a question Of eight hours work
per day.
Local Situation Good.
Duluth Typographical union No. 1876
has been engaged in the struggle since
October last. A number of the job
printing shops of this city have the
eight hour day and are working more
mon now than they did previous to
the strike, while a number who have
not signed the eight hour agreement
are working less men than they did
last October. The eight hour day is
the logical workday, and Of all busi-.s
ness the printing industry Is one that
can be most easily regulated to those
conditions.
The persistent campaign for the
union label has been powerful fac
tor in bringing about such excellent re-
suits. Boom the label and it Is the
duty of every union man to see to It
that his merchant with whom he
trades has the union label on his print
ing. You are helping yourself when
you help the printers. Remember the
first principle of unionism is to help
your union fellowman when he is in
trouble. United we stand. Divided
we fall. ..-- ..s%EsI
. The officers fthe United Typo
thetae Of America have issued a spec
ial bulletin calling attention to the gem
eral label campaign and urging un-
fair employers to do everything pos
sible to minimize the effect Of the label
agitation. Now, if any one of our
methods excites apprehension from the
oposition, do you not think 1t a good
idea to redouble our effort for that
particulars method? Then boom, ad-
vertise, agitate, educate, work and
play-for the label.
TuE 0pEN cuAD