Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-08-03
Local Labor. Index
BY FRED HUDSON. UNDER AUTHORITY
OLYMPIA TRADES COUNCIL
LOCAL.


LOCAL.
The Trades Council held but a
short session Thursday night of last
week. Martin Flyzik, who was
scheduled to be present and lead a
discussion of the first aid provisions
of the compensation law, was una
voidably absent and consideration of
the first aid amendment adopted by
the last legislature was postponed to
later date.
The Label League had prepared
refreshments for the occasion. These
were dispensed, after the Council
had voted to dispense with all regu-
lar business, and adjournment was
taken to the mass meeting of Timber
Workers, then in session at Eagles
hall. where members of the Council
took part in the program.
Two features of the local labor
movement have stood out prominently
during the last week-walkouts on
the part of mill employees in the es-
adjustments tributary to this city
and the organization of these men
by the Timber Workers Union, and
a strike of the several unions en-
ployed at the local shipyards.
Two mass meetings for millwork-
ers have been held in the city in the
last few days attended at each session
by all that the hall would accommo-
date. In addition to tho recruits
signed up by the union at these mass
meetings, agents of the union have
visited a number of the camps and
organized the entire force of the mill.
The demand in all cases where the
men have walked out Of the lumber
mills is for the eight-hour day. with
no reduction in the scale of wages.
The Sloan Shipyards Corporation
became involved in a walkout Tues
day by reason of the summary dis
missal of two members of a scale
committee acting for the Carpenters
Union in negotiations for an ad-
vanced scale of wages. Upon pro-
test to the foreman in charge of the
work against the dismissal. and de-
mand being made for reinstatement,
the foreman responded automatically
and invited walkout, which chal-
lenge was accepted by the men. A
mass meeting of the strikers was
held Tuesday at The Lobby and this
meeting was addressed by Messrs.
Sloan and Ward.
Mr.. Ward asked for delay. while
Mr.. Sloan declared that he was pow
erless to dc anything without the
sanction of the government. The
men placed little faith in the sin
cerity or truth of the statements of
Mr.. Sloan. and as Messrs. Sloan and
Ward had been in conference and ap-
parently were acting with a common
purpose, it was speedily voted to
strike the Ward yard and thus place
the yards on common basis, and
negotiate scales of wages for both in.
situations.
A scale committee, representing
the unions acknowledgements
Caulkers, Ship Laborers, Steam En-
gineers, Electricians, Plumbers, and
Painters-worked all day Wednes-
day formulating and harmonizing
the demands of the several unions
and incorporating the whole in
blanket agreement. This work fin
ished. Messrs. Ward and Sloan were
called before the committee and ex-
tended discussion of the agreement
had. No settlement could be ar
ranged. The employers offered to
reinstate the men whose discharge
brought ABOUT walkout and submit
| the questions of a scale of wages to
a committee of Cancellation. the men
| to resume work at once and the final
agreement to be effective as of
August /. The committee decided to
recommend to the mass meeting ac-
ceptance of the offer of the employ
ers.
| In the meantime representatives OF
the federal department of labor.
Messrs. White and Sneider of Seattle,
addressed the men in mass meeting,
| =.
explaining the purpose and scope OF
their participation in the negotiations
and urging the men to accept the
offer of the employers and 90 back to
work. promising to exert whatever
force they could to guarantee the
carrying out in good faith Of the
agreement proposed by the shipyards.
1t was after 10 Wednesday even
ing when the scale committee report
ed to the mass meeting, and 1t devel-
Oped that the decision of the com
mittee was arrived at by majority
vote and not by unanimous action.
This situation presaged long and
thorough discussion of the points at
issue, so the meeting adjourned to 8
O'Clock Thursday morning.
Blankenship & Lee have been
granted the use of the Allied Print
rroIoc l.hoI Tho To- roConf "