The San Francisco call., 1908-12-09
ORGANIZED LABOR
AND SHORTER DAY
Reduction of Hours in Iron
Trades the Advance Agent
of Better Times
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TRA6Es 2Nl9s ~, lcc1acH /
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kIRAoEs Iss3t ss9t LccuEcEf the editorial page
"a ERENclsS of the Labor Clar-
ion, the official or
gan of the state federation of labor
and the San Francisco labor council
shows the feeling of organized labor
as to the shorter workday granted to
the men employed in the iron trades:
The So houf day went into effect In the
tron trade industry last Tuesday-the first
day of December. The agreement of last
year was lived up to In spirit. as well as in
deed Each succeeding six months will see Il
further reduction of 10 minutes in the
work day, until on June l. 1910 the hours
will be eight each day.
This agreement, though actually concern
ing the employers belonging TO the Califor-
mia metal trades associa tion and the unions
afhiltated with the iron trades council, will
establish the conditions in the industry AS
a consequence, thousands of men who are
unorganized will receive the benefits of
collective bargaining" This is nothing new.
1t is simply another. instance of history
repeating itself and shows that the re-
peated statements of unonists that the adj
vantages they gain benefit the entire com
mnnity, are true. There isn't a who
will ask permission to work nine hours be-
cause he doesn't believe in unions"
To get back to tne subject, the Inaugural
tion of the shorter work day on the sliding
scale basis is matter of congratulation
TO all directly and indirectly interested.
1t illustrates the value of the trade agree
ment. 1t is the advance agent of the day
There is a growing disposition on the part
Of both employers and employees in the iron
trades 10 cooperate for mutual benefit.
This is also matter of congratulaton.
Men so actuated viii do great deal more
for their own advancement, and the
munity viii lose nothing.
The labor people, particularly those
in the iron trades, are pleased with the
action of the board of public works in
awarding the contract for turbine en-
gines for the fireboatS and the auxiliary
water system, and look upon it as the
having all future municipal work done
by San Francisco firms. They look
upon it in the light of a great victory
for home products.
Barbers' union local No 14S, had
little business to transact at its meeting
last Monday night. The local decided to
affiliate with the Asiatfc exclusion
league and named J. V. Ducoign. Henry
Hilker and Oscar flinders as delegates
to that association. Two eligibles were
admitted to membership by initiation
and four applications We're presented.
The laundry workers at their last
drew a warrant for the pay
ment of 800 funeral benefit to the
benehciaries of the late Louis May
cts for a benefit entertainment being
by the bricklayers union tc
assist the widow of one of its late
members. Twenty candidates were
initiated.
After a short business meeting last
Monday night the members of the wait
resses' union We're pleasantly enter
tanned with vocal selections by Mr.
Della Griswold. a well known local vo-
calist. This union will nominate candi-
dates for Office for the next term at the
to be held December IA. The
election will be held on the last Monday
N fba month