The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-06-17
STANDS FOR open SHOP"
Chamber of Commerce Slaps Striking
Machinists While Side-Stepping
Real Issue.
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ignore the demands Of the machinists,
and did not even reply to the communi-
cation.
Members were discharged without
any cause whatever in many Of the shops
in the different cities Of the North
woat, and every possible effort was
made to disorganize, to intimidate and
discourage them, in a vain effort to
discourage the steadily increasing de-
mand for an eighthour day. Failing
to secure any satisfaction from the
officers Of the United Metal Trades
Association, they presented their de-
mands to individual shop owners, hop
ing to establish the eight hour day
without resorting to strike. A large
number Of the shop owners signified
their willingness to sign up, some did
sign up; but others who intended to
sign up were approached by agents Of
the manufacturers, and powerful in
fluences were brought to bear upon
them to prevent their signing
On the first day Of June the ma
ehinists from Los Angeles north to
Vancouver, struck. Ninety per cent of
the machinists on the coast needed the
call and went out San Francisco-the
city which local manufacturers shed
zr,nh 600 ldipr, taora rr..r +bo ~ ,r,t l. T.
was being ruined by the eight hour
policy-signed up with the machinists
for the eight-hour day without a fight
In Seattle nineteen shops have signed
the agreement; six in Portland; six
in Tacoma, including the shop of Nick
erson & Mcfarland. All up and down
the coast the boys are standing firm
az rock and are coming out in more
shops every day. An encouraging sign
of the strike is the large number Of
men who have not hitherto been affili-
ated with the organization who are com
ing out. One shop in particular an
entire crew Of non-union men walked
ont for the eight hour day A feeling
OF inter dependence and brotherhood is
growing az never before and the spirit
Of organization is spreading. If the
truth were told the manufacturers do
not fear the shorter workiay half so
much az they do the spirit of unionism
that prevails.
Locally the situation hinges on the
Sumner Iron Works. Thirty men-or
practically the working force of skilled
machnists-are out. The Puget Sound
Iron Works have signed the eight hour
schedule. Other smaller concerns in the
city have signified their willingness to
sign the new schedule if the Sumner
Iron Works accedes The Sumner Iron
Works must bear the blame If there be
a protracted struggle in this city. No
one but a manufacturer who is wiling
to brook no interference whatever in
the working conditions of his plant
who viii not concede that he has not
the right to run his plant sixteen hours
day if he wants to-will say that
the men are wrong in their demand
for a shorter workday. The Chamber
Of Commerce itself when it passed its
open shop" resolution did not dare to
pass a resolution condemning the eight
hour day except by yelled inference 1t
bid behind the "open shop" DOGGY to
throw sop to the manufacturers and
slap the union men in the face.
Industrial plants in the East are alb
sorbing all idle machinists. Automo-
bile factories and railroads are taking
all the machinists they can get and are