The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-08-15

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One Of the several progressive
measures provided for action Of the.
American Federation Of Labor at it's
convention last NoVenb Der In Seattle
was the following resolution by the
Central Labor Council Of Seattle and
vicinity: !. :tss i, y. syS :j
RESOLVED. That this convention
provide for the selection Of COM
nittee to devise ways and means for,
better cooperation between its affili-
ated unions on occasion of strikes
and lockouts, with Instructions to re-
port at the American Federation Of
Labor convention next year. e
Study Labor's Need.
This committee shall study the
needs of organized labor in its work
Of: defending against lockouts, and
Tits aggressive work to advance the
interests of I Labor wherever strikes
or: lockouts may be involved. Espec-
ally, 1t shall consider, devise and re-
port back a plan whereby power may
be. placed In the hands Of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor to levy, col
:lect and disburse, in accordance with
rules to &be provided, a tax upon each:
member directly under the. jurisdic-
ton Of the American Federation of
Labor, and Of any national or: inter-
national unions affiliated with it, for
the purpose Of meeting the expenses
Of any strike or lockout of national
character. or in cases involving the
general interests Of the labor move
ant r. ho q 1af f14 .1.,%@ !; =. =
committee, in. furtherance of the
above: work, to-. enter into correspond
ence with the executive officers and
directing councils of all national and
international unions and seek their
cooperation. -.
|, The expenses Of this committee to
be paid from the treasury of the
American. Federation Of Labor"
An Issue.
=. The above resolution was referred
to the Executive committee Of the
Federation. thus making it the duty
of that committee to bring the ques-
ton before the convention in concrete
form at it's next session; and this
makes it an issue before the entire
membership of organized labor in
the intervening. year. ..M...-. ..
"A resume of an article in support
of the resolution, which appeared in
The Seattle Union Record convention
week will probably be the best intro
duction to this series of papers on
the Systematic Financing Of Labor
Conflicts. -. !.
The American federated labor un-
ion movement in it's presents form
only began to assume noticeable pro-
portions about thirty years ago., and
in that period of time has attained
a membership of over two millions,
composed almost entirely Of workers
at what are termed skilled trades
But this number is less than one
tenth of the great body of workers of
the country Qeaving out Of consider
alton women and children, many OF
| whom are entering the field Of in.
dustrial competition). Pr s:
! During this same period the pro.
! cesses Of production in most indus
tries have entirely or very consider
ably changed. Complicated. highly
| skilled hand processes have been re.
solved into series of mechanical oper.
atoms and machines provided to dc
them. Corporations and trusts have
| taken the place of the small factory
and along with consolidated manage.
! nnent have become more arbitrary II
the demands upon their employees
and in many cases the craft -unioni
| involved have become but little more
than a name: Some Of the morl
highly skilled trades have succeeded
better, but all Of them have beer
more or less led away by the idet
that collective bargaining, contract
and arbitration will secure just re
gard by the employer and max,
strikes unnecessary. These mean.
have reduced strikes, but it is unde
niable that they have also been use,
to defeat Justice and defraud th
! workmen, and to set in action force
which tend to disintegrate the union
and destroy their power. ,s
But we still have the strike witt
us; more often it is the lockout An,
generally they come at the time whel
the employer wants them-and re
suit as he wants them. When it i
easier to .arbitrate and win than I
lock out and win he arbitrates-
the same result. - f<2 Z
!; " Must Organize Better. ::
II collective bargaining, labor con
tracts and arbitration are to hav
any value to the membership Of labo
unions, there must be something i
their hands more substantial than
paper filled with confusing mas
of legal :verbiage and a plentiful SUP
ply Of confidence in '.'the good boss.
They must have the power to ,enforc
that contract; and the fact must h
SO badly evident to the boss that h
will not dare to attack them by ope
fight or underhand evasior1s.
The power to enforce just cond