United labor bulletin., 1915-01-09
STOCKTON FIGHT
ENDS In VICTORY
Attempt to Crush Unions Lost
By Manufacturers
Employers Association Withdraws De-
mand for Open Shop; SIGN Agreement
to Adjust All Future Differences

q
the Retail Clerks Union and spread to
all the culinary crafts in June and re-
suited in lockout Of all the building
trades unions in July, when the Mer-
chants, Manufacturers and Employers
Association declared its purpose to make
Stockton an open shop town, came to
an end last week when an agreement
was reached whereby the employers
withdrew their threat of determination
and gave up the fight. 1t was clear
cut victory for the labor unions of Cal
ifornia and establishes their power to
resist strong combination bent on
crushing them.
Negotiations having as their purpose
the ending of the strife have been con-
Quoted during the past few weeks both
in San Francisco and i'll Stockton, dur
ing the course of which complete secre-
cy was maintained until last Monday
night. when great mass meeting of
both the unions and the employers was
called in the Slough City and the agree
ment reached by the two committees
submitted for ratification.
Employers Withdraw Demands.
Under the terms OF the agreement
wages and hours are to remain as they
We're previous to the lockout. 1t was
also agreed that the demands sent to
the Stockton Labor and Building Trades
Councils to the effect that no one with
union cards would be employed. and
that the union label and shop cards
would not be recognized. should be with
drawn officially by the Merchants, Man.
ufacturers and Employers Association.
On the part OF the unions it is agreed
that they are to cease picketing and
boyeotting members of the association.
The main feature of the settlement
reached is the paragraph which provides
for standing committee consisting OF
three members from the employers as
sociation and three from the unions. to
which shall be referred all disputes aris-
ing in the future between employers and
employees, and providing that no drastic
action shall be taken by either side
party to the dispute until the commit.
tee has considered the case and rem
dered decision. This paragraph is cal
culated to prevent u recurrence of trou-
BILE between the unions and employers,
and was insisted upon because OF the
disastrous effects of the fight Just
closed upon the business interests of
Stockton. All lines of business suffered
greatly as consequence of the strug-
gle, building operations having been al
ing contracts for future work falling
away to almost nothing.
Have Curiosity Gratifed.
The great victory for organized labor,
however. lies principally in the TACT that
the employers association in the begin
ming had intended to spread the fright
for the non-union shop throughout the
state and the unions put up such Wig
f.,l IN
that the union crushers found them
selves unable to induce employers of
other localities to engage in contest
with organized labor.
Now that the fight is ended and the
employers of Stockton have had their
curiosity gratified with regard TO. or
ganized labor's ability to defend itself
against attack, it is anticipated that
peace will reign in that city. and else
where in the state, for some little time.
The agreement ratified on Monday
night last reads as follows.
This agreement, made and entered
into this seventeenth day of December.
1914. by and between n committee of
three members representing the Mer-
chants, Manufacturers and Employers
Association. hereinafter called the asso-
citation, and similar committee of three
representing the Building Trades Coun-
ell OF San Joaquin County and the Cen
trail Labor Council of San Joaquin
County, hereinafter called the unions.
that in order to speedily ter
inmate the industrial struggle in the
city of Stockton, and to prevent a re-
currence of the same, it is hereby mu-
tually agreed rs follows:
Arbitration Agreed Upon.
First-That the unions agree to stop
all boycotting and all picketing, and
that notice to that effect be sent to
the parties boycotted in the same man
ner as the original notice of boycotting
was sent.
Second-That the association agrees
to withdraw the letter sent by them to
the Building Trades Council and to the
Central Labor Council. under date of
June 20. 1914, and notice TO that effect
be sent to them in the same manner rs
the original letter was sent.
Third-That wages and hours are to
the same as in force on July 8,
1914.
Fonrth-That committee of three
from each side be appointed, to which
shall be referred all questions affecting
wages and hours which may arise be-
tween the two parties, the decision OF
said committee to be binding on both
sides, it being definitely understood that
no drastic action shall be taken by
either side until after said committee
has considered the matter and rendered
a decision.
In witness whereof this agreement Is
signed in duplicate and delivered on the
date first above written W the confer
ence committee representing both
parties hereto, thereunto d,lly author
lied.
Robert Inglis, f. L. Gnrkow, +. J.
committee representing the
association.
J. 7. Woods, J. b. Dale, Joseph i.