The copper era and Morenci leader., 1917-01-12
MIAMI COMPANIES WILL MAINTAIN
 FOPEN SHOP"
Will Not Compel Their Employees to Join Miners Union or Force CoIIec- tion From Them of Union Duesn Is Reply to Request


 shop policy" that is the employment of labor without reference to whether or not they belong to any union, has been declared for by two of the larg- est mining companies in the state, the Inspiration and the Miami Consoli- dated. The ''open shop" has been the policy of these two companies, as we'll as all of the other large mining com panies in the state, all the time, and the public declaration of this as the policy of the. two Miami companies cam6 about as the result of a request by the Miami local of the miners union for meeting for the purpose of signing an agreement for a closed shots that is, that the company would refuge to give employment to anyone whot was not a member of the union.J Tie employees Of the company have beeH addressed by Messrs.s C.. E.. Mills and J. Britton Gottsberger, gen erak managers respectively of the En- spifAtion and Miami, outlining their vieNs The reasons givenFfor the res fusel ito enter closed shop agree melt are similar in each communities tion That of General Managsr Milss, of the Inspiration, follows:a ttz
 | Address to Employees.
 Tosthe Inspiration Employees:
 This company has been requested to meet committee from Local No. 70. Miners Union, to sIgn an agreement calling for a closed shop;Sa and. an increase of fifty cents per day in the present wage rate.
 This letter is addressed to you in orderyto make clear and definite the position Of the company on these and other snbjscts.
 The request for a closed shop" is a proposal that the company shall com pei every one of it's workmen to join the union and shall force collections from them of all dues, arrears, assess ments and fines levied by the union.
 It is my duty to tell you that the h. spiration company will not adopt this policy. It has never concerned itself whether man belonged to the union or not. It has never refused man work because he belonged to the ur- ion, and it will never refuse him work because he does not The freedom of individual choice, that has hitherto been exercised by the employee who preferred to join the union, this com pany will continue to grant to the man who does not. To the Inspiration company no other attitude seems fair between a company and it's workmeh This is the ''open shop a policy the company has maintained in the past and will in the future.
 The Inspiration company has in the past always dealt directly with it's employees and it is always willing to do that on all subjects of common concsrn and interest. It does not be- lieve an agreement with an outside labor organization will be for the real interests of the company, the work men themselves, or the community. and it therefore will not now or in the future enter into this agreement for a closed shop" with the union or deal with it's officials or committees.
 With no uncharitable feelings for the sincere man who may think diff ferentIy from the above, we are yet obliged to say, that insistence on the part of the union officials for their program can have but one result. It will mean a suspension of operations and loss of the benefits of the pres ent prosperity in the copper industry to the company, it's men, and the com munity at large. ss
 dnterests Are Common
 The company declines to increase the present wage scale because the request is smanifestly unreasonable. In the wage scale now in effect it was the endeavor of the company to make one fso just and fair in the hours of work and wages paid, that no reason able and candid man could judge them otherwise. The company believes it is such a. scale I am asking you as an employee if it is not such. If it is so, then we have nothing but common interests,i since everything the com pany and its employees can by mu, tuaI suggestion and cooperation do to increase the safety and improve the conditions of the work or better the community in which we live, is for the good of both. s
 The company is seeking this coop eration from you. That is why il asked for and you elected. an em ployees' committee. It is sincerely trying to bring to light and remove every just grievance. It has invited you or any aggrieved employee tc come directly to it's office or to pre-