The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-09-09
PUBLICITY IN PUBLIC
UTILITY LABOR DISPUTES
How Disinterested Investigation Helps Thirty Days
Notice of Strike Or Lockout Suggested Operation
- of ''Le1neux" Act in Canada
MARCUS Nj. MARKS
National Civic Federation

loss consequent to strikes and lock-
outs in express service, street rail-
way, gas electric light telephone,
telegraph. etc. There is need Of Off
States laws to deal with threatened
strikes In intra State utilities and Fed
eral laws to deal with threa tened
strikes in interstate utilities.
In Canada these problems have been
quite effectively solved by the lem
ieux" act which provides for 80 days
notice by either side as the case may
be, in advance Of strikes or lockouts
in mines and public utilities. This
notice gives time for thorough inves-
tigation, the education of the public
as to the causes of friction, and full
opportunity for mediation and concil-
iation, The operation of the Lemieux
act since it's passage in 1907 has avert
ed IS out of 81 threatened strikes and
lockouts in the Dominion of Canada
that came under its provisions. The
method is very simple. On request Of
either party to an industrial dispute
affecting public utility, an Investiga-
ton Board is organized by the appoints
ment of representative of each side
and one from the public. This is not
a fixed board, but one made up in
each case by men thoroughly expert
enced in the industry involved The
Minister Of Labor assists in the selec-
ton of the board, whenever necessary
The three members Of the Canadian
Board study the situation and try to
bring about order and peace. They u.s.
ually succeed. Their report need not
be accepted by either side, but almost
invariably it is. There is no arbitra-
ton, only voluntary acceptance or re-
fusal of the judgment of the board.
The publication Of the report edu-
Gates public opinion as to the rights
of both sides. In cases of Industrial
disputes outside of public utilities, no
investigation is made under the Lem
ieux act except upon the consent Of
both employer and employed In Sep
TENDER of last year I visited Toronto
Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec and
found the sentiment among representa-
tives Of employers and employees as
we'll as that Of judges and others rep
resenting the public, favorable to the
bill. Only one man seemed dissatis-
fed with the working of the act-a
railway president, who when asked
by me whether he would rather have
no bill, answered mo- He wanted
the bill to remain in force but desired
the judgment of the board to be ac-
copied as compulsory arbitration
In the United States the idea Of
arbitration is not viewed
with favor. Our people are ready to
be convinced but not to be forced. |
But whatever objections there NAV be |
to investigation in advance of strikes, !
I believe can be overcome. Some un- |
ion leaders here fear that the 80 days |
notice before strikes will bring them a |
That has not proven to |
be the case in Canada.
Another objection that may be raised |
to such a law affecting public utilities |
is that the 80 day delay cannot be en-
forced The experience in Canada |
shows that in at least rs out of 80 |
III -
we not expect that the people of the
United States will likewise have re-
spect for law Of this kind and not
await it's enforcement? 1t is the NOR
al effect of the law that tells, If,
however, we cannot agree on the Ca
madam system, let US try to adopt /
some substitute ito prevent as many
strikes as possible. Investigation and
publicity are certainly forces that
make for Justice