Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-07-17

gether, has received practically no
new orders since the war The effect
of this has naturally been felt by the
other branches dependent upon the
main industry. The result is that the
organizations have become weakened,
whilst the employers, in the meantime
have made theirs more powerful than
ever. bringing about a continuous in
crease of lockouts. The 1000 work
ers now struggling with the employ
ers in Turin in the motor car trade,
are now locked out on account of
small strike on the part of the work
ers, who demanded the observance of
the tariff agreement entered into last
year. AS this lockout did nott seem
to have the desired effect the employ
ers decided upon a general lockout lof
the End of June. On the day before
they were given to understand by the
government, that they must not count
upon the special assistance of the
police or military, in the case of
further lockouts. That was enough.
The lockouts never took place, and
the secretary and spiritual leader of
these sharpers resigned. At least
this shows all those concerned under
have the pluck to take up arms against
the workers. 1t is very probable that
that this struggle, which is being con-
Quoted by the Metal Workers Union,
will end ina victory for the workers,
especially as support is forthcoming
from abroad, and no strike breakers
have yet appeared upon the scene.
The same workers had to go through
with very bitter fight only last year.
The Metal Workers Union succeeded,
after a good deal of trouble, in con-
Guiding tariff agreement with the
employers which included numerous
improvements, among which was the
free Saturday afternoon.
This struck the syndicalists as be-
ing the identical point at which to
begin their work of demolition. They
called together a meeting of non-or-
ganized workers. rejecting the tariff
agreement of the Metal Workers I'm
ion. The employers answered same
Immediately with general lockout,
Which lasted two months. This quite
naturally weakened the position of the
Metal Workers Union. The position
of the Builders Workers Union is
not much better. their membership
having decreased from $4,000 to $4,000
In the past year. No renewal of tariff
agreements takes place without the
most fierce fighting. The syndicalists
now appear suddenly in Bologna call
an impromptu meeting, and give no,
tice of a tariff agreement which has
still year to run. The EMPLOYERS
resorted to a lockout involving all
the workers. This struggle lasting
three months, had ito be financed by
the Central Union. Scarcely was the
new agreement entered into than the
old games began again. Another lock-
out promptly followed. The syndical-
lists have begun their movement in
Milan among the non-organized metal
workers. When the fight was as good
as lost the tramWay men were called
upon to strike in sympathy with
them, also the gas workers and all
unskilled laborers. The situation in
Plombino was very similar The cen
tralists really pander to the interests
of the employers. At the present mo-
ment a great number of unavoidable
struggles are taking place in Italy, in
the building trade in Bologna, Ferrara
in the whole province of Reggie Emf
liza, and in the metal industry, etc.
Only young organizations are being
fought by the employers and syndical-
lists alike. Should these organiza-
tons not succeed in overcoming the
present crisis, then the development
of the modern trade union movement
viii be retarded for a matter of years.