Denver labor bulletin., 1916-03-18
Union Men Quit Work at
CO0rS' Golden Plant
Reduction Of Wages Ranging From
Is Cents to Sl.25 Per Day Is
Reason for Walkout; As
sembly Uphold Men

It's one OF the analogous conditions of
this year OF wars that the first Legal
strike under the new Colorado Industrial
law should be called BY the Brewery
Workers Union in dry" state. Such,
however, is a fact. Tuesday noon all
the union brewers employed at the Coors
plant in Golden and the men in the
shipping department in Denver, number
ing twenty-five in all, walked out in re-
sponse to an official vote OF the union
in resisting a reduction of wages rang
ing from 25 cents to 81 per day.
The union had complied in every way
with the new state labor law covering
labor disputes and did not order strike
until every method for a satisfactory set
tlement was exhausted. The required
thirty-day notice had been given and
the State Industrial Commission had en-
deavored to conciliate the differences be-
tween employe and employer. However,
tn Coors management stood by their
declaration to cut wages and employ
cheap labor. adding now that Colorado
has voted dry We have no further use
for unions"
Faithful Service Don't Count
Since January I the employees, reduced
to about one-third the number before
that date, have been engaged in making
product Is labeled, together with matted
milk and similar soft beverages. The
men on strike will probably seek en-
ployment in other lines, or leave Colo
rado, as many brewery workers have
already done. Some OF the men had been
working for Adolph Coors, head of the
concern, for twenty-five years or more,
and had assisted him to acquire his
present wealth, estimated at s., ,0o0, ,ooo-
Assembly Declares Coors Unfair.
All products OF the Coors Brewing com
pany at Golden were declared to be un-
fsir to union labor at the regular meet
ing of the Denver Trades and Labor As
sembly last Sunday afternoon. Dele
gates from the Brewery Workers Union
reported that long continued efforts to
reach a satisfactory settlement with the
concern had failed. The arbitration and
grievance committee of the Assembly
also submitted a report stating that in
conference with the Coors management
the latter had declared their purpose to
run an open shop" pay what wages
they pleased and hire help without re-
gard for the union or old employees of
the company. Therefore, upon request
of the Brewery Workers Union, the Coors
Brewing company and all its products
We're declared unfair.
Commission Fails at Cancellation.
When the state prohibition law be
came effective January /, the Coors
brewery began the manufacture of near
beer. matted milk and other non-alco-
holic beverages and announced cut in
wages The matter was taken before
the State Industrial Commission ana
every effort made to have Coors sign an
agreement to continue the old scale and
union conditions. such as agreed to by
the Denver brewing concerns which man
utaeture similar line OF drinks How
ever, Coors declared they could get
along without the unions, now that the
state had voted for prohibition" and re-
fused to renew the old agreement or en-
ter into new one with the Brewery
Workers union. Wages were cut from
p cents to Sl-s5 per day and the men
given to understand that sffiliation with
the union was not necessary to retain
their Jobs
Making Greater Profit Now.
The Coors Brewing company is the
richest concern OF its class in Colorado.
It's business was built up largely thru
the loyalty and efforts of union en-
pioyes; Now that the manufacture of
alcoholic beer is prohibited and other
beverages sre substituted. these faithful
employees are cast out
Only half the material is required to
manufacture near beer necessary for the
regular lager beer. and there is no reye.
nue. tax so the present profit is much
larger than formerly. tho the quantity
produced is not so great.
1t also was stated at the Assembly
meeting Sunday that Coors employ giris
IN their pottery works at Golden for
wage as low at - per week. II will
therefore be remembered that all of the
eoors products, near beer, matted milk.
pottery ware, etc, are unfair to union
labor
Adolph Coors also is president of the
United States Portland Cement com
nany, the works of which are located AZ