United labor bulletin., 1912-05-23
THE PREFERENTIAL
UNION SHOP
How II Works in the Cloak, Suit
and Shirt lndGstry--Machinery
for Settling Npisputes--Im-
proving Sanitary
Conditions.

C0n01tb0uS.
The working of the agreement which
ended the strike in the cloak, suit, and
skirt industry in New York City, with
the agencies which IL estaHlished-the
preferential union shop, the machinery
for settling disputes, and the board for
improving sanitary conditions In tpe In
dustry-forms the subject OF a report by
Charles II. Winslow in Bulletin No. sS
of the Bureau OF Labor, Department OF
Commerce and Labor. soon to be issued.
The establishment and successful
working OF these agencies depended on
the fact that both parties to the strike
and to the protocol were organized, the
employers in the Manufacturers Protec
tive association and the employees in va
rious unions working together through a
joint board. At the close of the strike,
September 2. 1910. the Manufacturers
association included 123 firms employing
some $1,000 workers. while the unions
had a membership of about 10000.
Preferential Union shop.
The preferential union shop was de-
signed to meet the impasse arising from
the insistence OF the manufacturers
upon an open and OF the unions upon
closed shop. Under this arrangement
the manufacturers bound themselves to
wages. etc. and to give the preference
IL union members In employing and re-
tanning workers. On their side the unions
bound themselves to admit on reason
able terms all workers who should ap-
ply for membership. to enforce the dis
cipline OF the shop among their men,
bers. to restrain them from unauthor.
lied strikes. and generally to see that
they lived up to the terms of the proto-
col In other words. in return for the
preference shown them the unions as
sp.ned the whole responsibility for the
conduct of their members.
The number OF employers adopting the
Gferential union shop increased until
by February. 1912. the plan was in force
In 46G shops. which employed 10000
workers. Nineteen thousand more work
ers were employed In closed shops. and
there were about 1000 working in open
shops.
Settlement Of Disputes.
The machinery for settling disputes
consists of n board of grievances and n
board of arbitration. The board Of griev.
ances consists of five members and
clerk appointed by the Manufacturers
Protective association and Eve members
and a clerk appointed by the joint board
Of the unions. Each side may appoint as
nnany deputy clerks as seem necessary
u carry on Investigations and make the
irst effort to adjust disputes The board
meets regularly once week. and special
meetings may be called when needed.
Each side elects a chairman. and these
Isl'' e. alternately for two weeks at
The board Of arbitration consists OF
three members, one representing the
manufacturers. one the unions. and one
the general public. II meets only when
called upon TO settle difficulties the
board OF grievances is unable to adjust.
When n dispute occurs between EN-
ployer and employe which they are not
themselves able 10 settle. the aggrieved
party presents a complaint through his
own organization: that is, the manufae-
turers' association or the union. accord
ing as he is employer or employe. TO the
board of grievances. whereupon two
deputy clerks, one representing each
side, are at once sent to investigate the
difficulty. II possible. the clerks induce
the parties to come to friendly agree
ment but II this can not be done they
render n decision on the basis OF the
facts as disclosed by their Investigation.
Either party, II dissatisfied. has the right
to appeal to the board of grievances, and
II its decision Is not acceptable to carry
the matter up to the board OF arbitra-
ton. In practice. in the case of disputes
between individuals. the appeal to the
board OF grievances is seldom taken.
while the appeal to the board OF arbitra
ton is scarcely known. II being reserved
for the settlement of collective disputes
between the manufacturers and the
unions.
During the year ending December IL.
1911. this machinery had been utilized
for the settlement of l.iis grievances,
of which i.2s3 were brought before II by
the unions and 1856 by the manufacturers.
OF these, 4e5 were dropped or withdrawn
Mt an early stage, All were concilated,
go were decided In favor OF the unions.
and sO9 against them: 70 were still un-
settled. and the disposition OF A is left
uncertain. In 1.105 cases the disagree
ments were settled by the deputy clerks
without even coming before the board
of grievances, and only nve were re
ferrcd to the board of arbitration. Three
hundred and twenty-five OF the griev-
ances were connected with the wage
scale. 239 were caused by alleged dis
elimination In the distribution Of work.
and 216 were complaints of discharge
without cause. Only 40 dealt with hours
OF labor and overtime.
Board Of sapItary Control.
The work OF improving sanitary condi-
tions In the trade was placed in the
hands of joint board of sanitary con-
troll, consisting OF representatives of the
manufacturers, the unions, and the gen
eral public. This board, makes semi-an-
nual inspections OF all shops In the In
dustry. with special reference to sanitary
conditions. fire protection. ETC., makes
special Investigations upon receipt OF
complaints of unsatisfactory conditions.
endeavors by persuasion, instruction.
and. II necessary. by legal measures or
sanitary strike to bring every establish.
ment up to a minimum standard OF
healthfuness and safety which has been
decided on after careful discussion. and
(ca.ries on a campaign OF education In
sanitary matters among workers and
employers alike by means OF lectures.
hullatins etc