The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-08-25
cANADA'S STRIKE LAW. ,
An Account of Its Operation In the
Past Six Years.

We were forced to look condi-
lions in the face. We did it and
evolved an act TO meet those condi-
lions and similar ones which we fell
might arise in the future
The provisions of the act are very
simple. Whenever a strike or lock-
out is threatened in any one of these
industries, the parties, If unable TO
adjust their differences amicably,
must refer them to a board for seq
Element before such a strike or lock-
out can legally take place If the
men are going to strike, they must
serve notice on the government
that unless a board is appointed a
strike will take place. If the man
agement proposes a lockout. it must
serve a similar notice on the govern
ment.
When such notice has been sery-
ed in compliance with the terms of
the act, the minister of labor calls
on each of the parties 10 name a
member OF the board These two
members have the opportunity TO
name a third member. who shall be
the chairman. If they are unable to
agree within a reasonable time. the
minister of labor party fails to name
a member of the board. the minister
of labor appoints someone TO serve
on the board as the representative
of the party defaulting in making an
appointment.
The board has all the powers of
courL of record. II may compel the
production of documents; it may sub
poena witnesses; it may take evil
dence under oath.
After meeting, If a settlement can
be effected. the board simply reports
to the government the settlement OF
the difference. If no settlement is
effected, the board publishes a re-
port OF the dispute. This is given to
the press and public and sent broad
cast throughout the land. 1t sets out
the boards opinion of the real
trouble, and what, in its opinion,
ought to be done to prevent n strike
or a lockout.
There the function of the govern
ment ends. There is no compulsion
on either party to accept the finding
OF the board. There is no restraint
on the parties Once they have hat
this inquiry, they may do just as they
please about the strike or lockout.
1t has so often been thought by per
sens who are not familiar with its
provisions that this act is in sense
an act of compulsory arbitration.
that | am glad to take this oppor.
tunity of pointing out that there is
not the slightest compulsion placed
upon either labor or capital as a I.
suit of an investigation conducted
under its provisions.
This act has now been on the
statute books for more than six
years. A complete record of it's OPP
Grafton from the end OF March. 1907.
to the end of March. 1913, shows tha,
during that time there have been. al
together. 145 applications for boards.
OF these. 40 have had TO do with coal
mining, IL with metal mining. 81
with railroads. Is with street rail
ways. seven with shipping. two with
commercial telegraphers. two with
telephone workers. four with civic i
borers and five with industries other
than mines or public utilities. such
as the boot and shoe industry. which
may come under its provisions II the
parties acquiesce.
or the AS applications for boards
received during six years. strikes
we're averted OF ended in all cases
save is; that is TO say. in all cases
save. en- an average. three in ever
year. There have been isolated cas-
es where men have struck without
knowing that the act was on the
books. but in these cases the differ
enccs have been settled under the
law almost Immediately after its pro-
visions became known.-IHon. W. l..
Mackenzie King. Canadian commits
sioner Of labor in the last govern
meni. In the Worlds Work