Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-02-14
The UNION BADGE.
Right to Wear II Upheld by Aus.
tralian Judge.
AN EMBLEM OF FIDELITY
Action Of Employers In Forbiddins the
Button Was Merely q Part of the
Policy Of the Bosses to Suppress
Unionisnn, Says the Jurist.

world was gained when Judge Hig-
gins of the Australian high court and
president of the commonwealth court
OF Cancellation and arbitration decid-
ed that workers had right to weax
the union button. Writing from Mel
bourne TO the Chicago Tribune, George
A. Dorsey says:
The Brisbane strike hinged about the
right of street car employees to wear
q union badge. The strike was blum
der. because the badge question was
already up before the federal arbitra-
ton court and would have been set
tied within few days by Industrial
machinery
Judge Higgins decision In the case
of the Australian tramway employees
versus tie tramway trust is the latest
and perhaps the most important CON
tribution to the complex subject of in
dnstrial legislation. Judge Higgins
said:
THE employees are proud Of the
badge as IN emblem of fidelity to their
comrades and their common interest,
and when they chat upon any oppor-
tunity they like to know whether they
may talk freely on matters relating to
their union to or In the presence Of
particular men. The badge is, in fact,
danger signal where both men are
not wearing 1t. and line clear when
both or either wears II. 1t is a ticket
of admission to meetings and serves to
introduce members on visit from an
other state.
THE objection to wearing the badge
is put best and most strongly In Mr..
Goodman's statement. He says. The
evidence shows clearly that the wear
ing of the badge subjects persons who
do not wear 1t to insults and opprobri-
um from unionists and from members
Of the public who sympathize with the
unionists,' ! say without hesitation
that the evidence points to the oppo-
site conclusion.
II find that the forbidding Of the
badge is, in the case Of Melbourne and
OF Brisbane. merely part Of the policy
OF the companies to suppress union
ism. 1t is the old device-first keep
away unionism as long MS you can
and then. when 1t must come. create
dependent union and attract the men
to II by favors-
This creating and fostering of q
rival union. this encouragement Of its
members and encouragement OF the
members of the other union. is the root
M fhar 10. "a no,
companies could easily get rid Of the
bitterness by ceasing to bestow excep-
tional favors on the company's union.
my award is, therefore. distinctly
against the attempts to forbid the un-
ion badge.
There is dispute between tram
way employees and their employers
in Brisbane. Melbourne and Adelaide.
The dispute has reached an acute stage
In Brisbane and may become acute ut
any moment In Melbourne and AIDE
laide. BY resolution OF the federal
council on Feb. II the executive OF
the Australian Tramway Employees
association was empowered to take
steps to secure union badge Of men,
bership. The badges were made and
distributed. but In the meantime In
Brisbane and Melbourne certain steps
were taken by the employers against
the wearing Of them.
I'm Brisbane on Jau. 10 the men be-
gan to wear them. The manager. Mr..
Badger. gave the men distinctly to I'M
derstnnd that they were to choose be-
tween their billets and their badges.
1t Is idle to affect that this was not
dismissal for wearing the badge. The
men We're willing to go on working
and were deprived OF their work and
pay. What more Is necessary to con-
stitute dismissal? 1t Is absurd to
call such a dismissal a strike what
ever name may be given to the con-
duct of other unions.
1T is unfortunately incident to our
constitution that in place of giving all
the energy | have to consideration
of what is right and expedient to be
done in an industrial struggle ! have
in every case to puzzle out as best
can what is constitutional In this
case override all the technical OBJ
jections and find the facts. so far as
they affect the objections. In favor OF
the association.
lis 1t reasonable that the employer
should order his employee not to wear
the badgeg Mr.. Badger has quaint
theory that he has a common law right
to tell his employees what they should
wear. know OF no such common law
right. A servant has to obey lawful
commands. not all commands. lie does
not commit a breach OF duty in attend
ing a particular church or In wearing