The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-03-23
WHY Union PRINTERS
RESORTED TO STRIKE
Master Printers Refused to Treat
With Representatives Of
Labor.
United Typothetae Was Deter
mined to Crush Organization
of Employees.

Justice OF Cleveland, says: Eighteen
months have elapsed since the begin
ming Of the general strike of the men,
bers Of the International Typograph-
ical union for the eight-hour day.
This lengthy and costly strike, which
Is nearing it's end, could have been
avoided but for the naughty attitude
of handful Of delegates to the Buffalo
Of the United Typothetae
of America.
AS far back as 1900 the membership
of the International Typographical
union were discussing the possibility Of
shortening the working hours. At St.
Louis, in 1904, the l. T. U. convention
adopted a resolution fixing January l,
1906 as the date for the general inaugu-
ration Of the eight hour day, and the.
executive council were instructed to
open negotiations with the United Ty-
pothetae Of America, the only exist
ing organization Of master printers in
the commercial branch Of the trade,
looking to the making Of the desired
shortening Of the working time with
out friction and unaccOmpanied by fin
ancial loss to the employers.
Arbitrary From tho Start.
Every advance Of the union rep
resentatives was rebuffed by the exec
utive officers Of the Typothetae. They
would entertain no proposition which
meant a reduction in working hours.
AS the months flew by it became ap-
parent to the members Of the Typo
graphical union that the Typothetae
was preparing to resist all attempts to
reduce the hours, but the journeymen
printers We're still hoping that some
compromise might be arranged which
would prevent a strike. Their hopes
were rudely shattered when members
of the executive council Of the Typo
graphical union were refused permis-
sion to address the Buffalo convention
of the Typothetae, and in reply to re-
quest for a conference with its exec
utive board, they were told that the
employers had nothing to arbitrate."
After throwing down the gauntlet,
the Typothetae lost no time in be-
ginning the eight-hour battle. In or
der to confuse the public and hide the
real issue-the eighthour day-they
raised the open shop" cry.
Immediately following the conven-
tion several employers in Detroit and
Chicago posted open shop" notices In
their composing rooms; which up to-
that time were strictly union, and
placed non-unionists at work. This
was in August, 1905, FIVE months pre-
vious to the date set for the begin
ming of the eight-hour day.
Beginning of Strike.
The time for action had come. The
officers of the Detroit union were at
once instructed to obtain the signatures
of employing printers to union con-
tracts calling for the eight-hour day
on January 1, 1905, and in event Of
refusal to strike the shops. Chicago
followed suit, and soon several hum
dred men were out.
The plans of the Typothetae were
uncovered. 1t was evidently their in
tention to force the fight before the
time set by the union. They were in
hopes that by beginning the battle in
the middle Of summer, the dull sea-
son, they would be able to obtain
more men to take the places Of those
whom they locked out. 1t was also
evident that they were determined to
destroy the union If possible.
When the officers Of the Internation-
al Typogra phical union saw that the
members Of the Typothetae were de-
termined to force the fight at once,
they issued general orders instructing
every union not under contract to OBJ
tain eight-hour contracts at once or
call the men out. A large number Of
the union men were working under
contracts but, nevertheless, in the
course Of the next few weeks over
three thousand printers were on strike
Assessment Was Levied.
The treasury Of the I. T. U. was
rapidly exhausted, and an assessment
Of 80 cents per week on each member
was levied. The fight continued with
carrying success until January l. 1906,
when the eight-hour day became effec-
tive. On that date several thousand
more men were called out owing to the
refusal Of employers to reduce the
working time. The assessment was
raised to 10 per cent Of the members
earnings.
For ten long months the member
snip OF the l. T. U. gave up 10 per cent
OF their earnings to support their
craftsmen on strike. For ten long
months thet two forces waeed a hit-
ter Wharf.-The Typothetae determined
not to grant reduction Of hours: the
union determined not to permit it's
members to return to work for more
than eight hours day and in union
shops.
During these long months the ,,n,on
was making gradual progress: it was
winning an office here and one thero
Every time the union gained an eight
hour shop the Typothetae lost a men,
ber, and by the first of October the
smoke began to clear away. The union
found itself in position to reduce tho
assessment, and from then on tho
printers have been making steady
gains, until now the eight-hour hattie
Is practically won.
Cost Of tho Strike,
The unnecessary conflict has cost tho
members Of the I. T. U. over $4,000 ooo
What the Typothetae has spent will
perhaps, never be known, but the sum
must have been enormous. For all the
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