The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-04-09
Strikers Offer
to Arbitrate


the settlement of the present strike
in the city have been submitted to
shing Each of these propo.
sitions made is that of arbitration.
One is through the state labor com.
missioner, another through the ma.
tional department of labor, while the
third is by a board of arbitration
composed of local men.
The strikers have submitted the
following communication to the man
ufacturers on the subject:
To the Everett Shingle Manufactur-
ers:
Gentlemen:
The present industrial dispute ex-
listing in this city between the origin
al underwriters and several shingle
manufacturers, is regrettable from
every standpoint. We as workers are
losing that which we can ill-afford to
back no matter what the outcome of
this trouble-weeks of lost pay You
as manufacturers are producing shin
giles at a monetary cost much great
er than before this trouble arose, or,
if your mills are closed, you are suf-
fering the loss and decoration of
plants that idleness enforces. The
general public is paying its part of
this struggle. Should it continue in
definitely, many business houses may
be forced to suspend business.
This is an intolerable situation
You have told the public that market
conditions forced you to reduce
wages Some of you have also de
clared that you would brook no fur
Their dictation from the union in the
conduct of your business. The public
controversy. If it is merely a matter
of reducing wages to a point where
it is possible to operate, let us know
it. If it is not merely a matter Of
wages, but includes a blow at our or
SANITATION, taking advantage of the
industrial depression to strike that
blow, let us know it. Employers, no
more than employees, have a right to
strike in the dark at the prosperity
of a community.
We refused the wage cut offered
us because of fundamental principles
of economics, viz: that a lowered
wage never permanently benefited in
dustry and directly reduced the earn
ing power of the wage Garner. If we
have to do it we are willing to tight
all summer in defense of this prin-
ciple. But we have no wish to pun
ish unnecessarily an entire commun-
ity which is dependent upon the basic
industry of timber for its prosperity.
We are perfectly willing to meet you
half way in an effort to settle this
trouble
We will make you three PROPOSE
tons looking toward settlement.
First We will agree to submit
our contentious to the state labor
commissioner of this state, you to do
likewise, in the hope that with that
official acting as an arbiter, an agree
ment may be reached.
Second; There has been created in
The national bureau of labor a depart
ment of mediation and Cancellation.
That department has been instru-
mental in avoiding several strikes and
lockouts in various sections of the
country that threatened widespread
disaster and has settled some large
controversies that had developed into
open break of relations between en-
ployers and employees. We will sub
NIT our case to that department, you
to do likewise, and will abide by the
decision given.
Third; If these former PROPOSE
tons do not suit you, We will submit
still another. We will agree to an
arbitration board of three or five 10.
cal men. We to select one or two,
as the case may be, you TO select a
like number, and they jointly to 81.
lect a third or fifth. We will agree
to abide by the decision of that ar
bitration board.
We make this proposition to you in
good faith We will lay our cards on
the table, face up, and let you look
at them. Will you do likewise?
Respectfully yours,
STRIKE COMMITTEE,