The San Francisco call., 1908-03-24
PACKERS AGREE
WITH FISHERMEN
Strike Averted by Acceptance of
Last Years Scale With
Slight Revision

/<cuEoM ME1ps> The possibility of a
{IRAnE 81 pm4s ssas coUEcIb strike by the MEM
szES65NtJs bers of the Alaska
fishermen's protec-
tive union was precluded yesterday.
when committee representing the
Alaska Packers association in confer
ence with committee from the union
fixed the wage scale for this season
on the same basis as that of last year.
which was what the fishermen were
holding out for
There is slight revision Of the
wages for the fishermen who will work
at Fort Wrangell and Pyramid harbor.
Instead of the men being paid per-
centage for the number of fish caught.
they will be paid by the case.
The fleet of the Alaska packers In
due to leave shortly for the frozen
north. and several thousand men of
this city will gain employment during
the fishing season. The fleet numbers
between 80 and 40 vessels. The first
to sail will be the Star of France,
scheduled to leave this port next Fri
day.
The walters are up against It," was
the remark of one of the officers of
walters union. local No. 80, yesterday
When asked for an explanation, he
said:
The men Of this organization cannot compete
with the combination Of small restaurants and
coffee houses that are on the cooperative
plan. That is, the men who start the place. the
cooks. the helpers. the walters and everybody
else all go In as partners and they divide the
profits, so there is no salary list. Every man.
hours as he sees ft-s. 10, 12 and even II hours.
The unions cannot step In and say that they
wages. as they cannot control proprietors as to
the time they shall devote to their business
at low prices, but they get over that by combin-
Ing One house will wholesale all that is
CURED for the other houses in the combine. and
such Is distributed from the central point. In
that way they can get goods cheaper than IL
each house went TO market TO make purchase of
what is needed. 1t is by this cheap buying and
can make any prodt to divide among the pro-
prietors. From what have been able to ascer.
the men who are working for union rates. As
said. the walters up against Ii because
there is no opening for them in the houses that
are in the combine.
The trustees of the Hall association
of the San Francisco labor council have
examined the books and accounts of
the association and will send a state
ment to each union interested in a
few days. The directors say that
number OF the unions affiliated with the
council do not support the association
as Loyalty as they should in that they
hire outside halls when they could have
accommodation in the Fourteenth street
building.
Book binders union No. 81 will give
a ball in Cotillon hall on the night of
May 2, and has appointed a
to make the arrangements
This union is to send out to merchants
and others a novelty that will be a
reminder that the recipient
should see that the union label is on
all goods.
The committee on municipal bonds
Of the San Francisco labor council has
been authorized to appear before the
proper committee of the board of SUI
pervisors and urge the Importance OF
doing necessary street work, also sewer
work. under the most favorable condi-
tions to the city.
The directors of the Labor Clarion, |
official organ of the San Francisco
labor council. have examined the books
Of the concern and found them in good
condition and satisfactory. The report
of the board compliments J.. j. ONeill. |
the manager and editor. for his effi-
cheney.
The riggers' and stevedores' union
will meet next Thursday night to act
upon number of amendments to the