Grand Forks herald., 1916-09-01
LABOR UNIONS
AND STRIKES
NEW ALASKA

ment's Railroad Was the
Cause of All.
Seward. Alaska, Aug. 30.-Labor
unions and strikes by workinEmen
were unknown in Alaska a few years
! tween employer and employee were
| considered private affairs to be de-
cided only by those directly con-
| cerned. Wages were high and labor
conditions such as might be expected
when employer and employee are
personal friends or. at least, esteem
each other. But now, thanks to the
operations Of the United States gov'
ernment as the builder of a $35,00o.'
600 railroad scheme, Alaska has labol
organizations and has had strikes and
all that they imply.
With the advent of the government
as railroad builder and employer OF
labor new system was introduced in
which the workman was employed BY
subordinates and had no direct res
letions of any kind with the man ad
the top. Moreover, the scale Of wages
offered by the government was cons
siderably lower than had been paid
at any time or place in Alaska. Few
Alaskans would accept employment
ment except as an sxpedient to tide
over temporary idleness. But very
many laborers of foreign birth soon
appeared and were taken into the
service of the federal commissioners
in charge of the railroad work.
Unfortunately for Alaska workmen
the low wage policy introduced BY
ov~yny mt hol kH> "a
materially reducing wages in privata
enterprises. This circurasta nee, rathee
than the policy OF the government it4
self. was chiefly responsible for the
vast amount of unrest, fear and disa
satisfaction which now envelop labor
circles throughout the territory. whila
the government paid the lowest waS<
es. and tfe lowest obtainahle price fo1
supplies. on the other hand. it uni<
formly charged for it's services exor4
bitant prices. For example, the pas<
senger fare en- the governments rail<
roads is cents a mile and the freight
rate l cent per pound for each twen4
ty miles, Or. in other words. $50 ton.
The freight charge for greater or lesa
distances is proportioned on that ba4
sis
Government blamed for High Prices,
Following the example, private
merchants and dealers in supplies put
up prices, although the cost Of living
m Alaska was then about 50 per cent
higher than in the United States. Tho
uniform excuse for this rise was the
pretext that the governments policy
established business precedent in
any community.
To aggravate a situation already
painful the railroad commissioners
were particularly unfortunate in tha
selection of many Of their subordinate
engineers. superintendents, foremen
and other employees in positions Of
minor authority. These employees
appeared to be Indifferent to the wel-
fare of the workmen, were certainly
tactless at all times. and in some
cases were guilty Of actual brutality.
In one case at least, at Anchorage,
thirty-four men were forced to sleep
a committee appointed to ask for ina-
provement was summar1ly discharged
for their contumacy in making the
request.
About this time labor akitatora
from the states appeared and nature
ally found field ripe for their har-
vest. Within forty-eight hours unions
ard. and in the Naranuska districts.
The unions included nearly 80 per
cent of the employees. Demands for
relief were met with disdain and
strikes were Immediately called.
There was violence: blood was shed.
The railroad commissioners realized
that serious condition confronted
them and at once referred the guess
tion Of wages to the secretary of the
interior, omitting all references to the
other abuses of which the workmen
complained.
Strikers Resumed Work.
A commission of conciliation and
arbitration, Of three members, to fax
wage scale for the governments
railway employees was dispatched to
Alaska and arrived at Anchorage sew.
with the railway officers the striking
employees Immediately resumed work,
pending the decision of the newly
arrived commission, which was exc
pected within a few days at most.
Unfortunately the new commission
was unable to agree upon a wage
scale as quickly as the workmen de-
sired and expected. Weeks having
elapsed, committee from the labor
union waited upon the new commits.
sion and desired to be informed when
decision would be made. This
committee was informed that no
definite information could be given.
further would pass before the newt
commissions labors would be con-
cluded, and no decision could be ren~1
dered prior to that time.
Another Strike Called.
This report was considered by thu
union at a special meeting and an
immediate strike was called. Next
morning the strike became effective.9
so per cent of the men going out. On1
the following day the conciliationl
commission. plainly having decided
that several weeks additional conJ
sideration could be dispensed with.l
rendered the decision esta blishine thaI
following scale Of wages to obtain an
all points where applicable: Commonl
labor, 43 IL to ~ 1-2 cents an hour:]
longshoremen, Sc ga cents an hour:j
carpenters. machinists and otheE
skilled labor. 70 cents an hour; cooks.
$50 to $125 q month; teamsters. SsSi
month and board: an S-hour day,
to obtain on all work and board to ba
supplied by the government at 81 a
day. to be deducted from wages.
The scale fixed by the commission
agree substantially with the work.
mems demands. save that a minimum
OF 80 cents an hour for common La
Dor was not granted, and will not be
Objectionable generally to the people
OF Alaska. Tho former wage paid by
the government, Of which 81 1-2 cents
an hour was the maximum, aroused
much resentment. particularly as the
higher offlcere receive salaries OF
$4,000 year and all expenses, andl
high subordinates arc also we'll paid.
Before tho Introduction by the RovJ
ernment OF the low wage policy IS al