The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1910-09-02

meaning of the terms 'Eopen shop
tainty of being understood may be as
sured if we explain what the terms
mean. Their origin is unimportant.
The thing to know is what they mean
now.
"Closed shop then, is the term for
a shop, factory, store, or other indus
trial place where workmen cannot OBJ
tain employment without being mem
bers in good standing of the labor
union of their trade. This is demanded
by the unions. Directing to working
in cooperation with s'scabs, - Gratis, -
"strike breakers, or other non-union
workmen, they insist that the shop
shall be closed against all employees
who, not already belonging to the
union of their trade, refuse to join it..
If the union is able to coerce the en-
ployer, or he is friendly enough to yield
without coercion, this demand is grant
ed and that establishment is conse-
quently "closed shop
But if the employer will not yield
without coercion, and the union is I'M
able to coerce him, then non -unionists
as well as unionists may obtain en-
ployment there and the establishment
is consequently known as an "open
shop
No term has come into vogue for
establishments which exclude unionists
from employment. The reason probably
is that few employers make this ex-
cusion. The issue usually raised is
between the "closed shop which en-
ploys only unionists, and the "open
shop which employs unionists and
non unionsts without discrimination
And the reason why employers, how
ever inimical to labor organizations any
of them may be, seldom insist upon
excluding unionists for being unionists
is because freedom to employ non
unionists is, in present conditions. suf
ficiently destructive of unionism.
Both sides of the labor controversy
realize that the issue of ''closed shop
versus "open shop practically in
wolves the issue of union or no union
Consequently "open shop or "closed
shop has become the issue over which
workingmen S unions and employers
unions are struggling.
Without taking the space at thi:
time to discuss the question of mora
right or wrong, of freedom or coercion
of liberty or autocracy, which the is
sue of "open shop versus "closet
shop involves, we invite an impartia
comparison simply of the probable in
dustrial results of either policy.
Much that is being said and writ
ten about the inherent right to work il
for the most part pure hypocrisy, whel
not Grass ignorance. Those who say
it and write it are usually not wortl
arguing with, because in their heart
and heads they don t mean it. Wha
they do mean is that non-unionists hav'
an inherent natural right to work
|
break strikes.
This idea of the right to work i
true enough as far as it goes. We d.
not deny it. But the broader one, tina
all men-not merely strike breakers il
strike times, but all men at all times
have an inherent natural right to work
is still more true, because more com
prehensive; and this doctrine is de
MED by the same speakers and writers
whenever its assertion seems hostile t.
the interests for which they speak an,
write.
Let us, then, confne this discussion
strictly to the question Of industrial re
suits. What would be the effect of tn
"Closed shop and what the effect o
the 'open shop on both working
men and employers9
To avoid prejudice and the play o
selfish impulses either way, we shall
find it advantageous, in an inquir.
involving so much feeling, sordid an
otherwise, to be as abstract as the con
crete nature of the question permit,
For this purpose, then let us resolv
industrial society into employers wit
jobs to give, workingmen with a lif
and death necessity for getting jobs
and a dragon to consume Fsurplus
products. And for simplicity and tran
sparency of discussion let us suppos
that the ratio of workingmen to job
is as 10 to 8, and that of the work
ingmen are unionists.
The figures are important only fo
comparison of greater with less; an
the dragon may be ignored for the pre-
sent.
Now, in those circumstances, what
in the first place, would be the in