Denver labor bulletin., 1917-03-24
FRISCO WORKERS
MAKE Big GAINS
REMARKABLE RECORD OF
PAST SIX MONTHS.
In Spite of "Open Shop" Fight by
Commerce Body, Nearly All Trade
Unions Have Secured Wage
Raise and Better Conditions.
Especial Correspondenee.)

| Especial Correspondence.)
| SAN FRANCISCO, March 2e.-"The
past six months has been a record
breaker in the number of labor unions
that have successfully negotiated new
working agreements calling for an in
creased wage, the eight-hour workday
and union shop conditions" says John
A. O'Connell, secretary of the San
Francesca Labor Council, in a state
ment issued last week.
"And this remarkable showing has
been made without the necessity of re-
sorting to drastic measures, in most
cases." says O'Connell, who submits
this as proof that the average employ
er in San Francisco is willing to grant
just and reasonable demands of or
ganized labor.
"Since the so-called open-shop fight
was started in San Francisco last sum-
mer," says O'Connell, "the majority
of the unions affiliated with the San
Francisco Labor Council have secured
better working conditions, higher
wages and union shop conditions, many
of the employers agreeing to place
the union label on their products.
Reason for Congratulations.
"Of course, it is true organized la
Dor has suffered one or two defeats in
that period, but the unions so affected
are already recuperating and, profiting
by their experiences, are re-organizing
on a stronger basis than ever before.
Surely organized labor of San
I Francisco and vicinity has reason to
congratulate itself on the splendid
showing made during the past few
months" says O'Connell, who modest
I ly disclaims any credit for this happy
condition Of affairs, altho he has been
I largely responsible for the negotiating
Of the working agreements between
employers and the unions Of the San
/ Francisco Labor Council.
Big Gain for Building Trades.
And what is true Of San Francisco
Labor Council is equally true Of con-
ditions enjoyed by the unions Of the
] San Francisco Building Trades COun-
! ell.
Thru the efforts Of p. II. Mccarthy,
president of the State and San Fran
cisco Building Trades Councils. many
of its affiliated unions have procured
material increases in wages, not only
I in San Francisco, but in the bay coun-
ties, together with improved working
conditions and shorter work day. In
| fact. the building trades mechanics of
San Francisco and vicinity are enjoy
/ ing better working conditions than
ever before in the history of the To-
]
An instance of McCarthy's abilities
along these lines was demonstrated
within the week. when he was able to
procure a wage increase of so cents
I day for all union carpenters, millmen
and sheet metal workers in San Fran
cisco and the bay counties. Nearly
twenty thousand workers are bene-
] fitted by the new agreements negotiat-
ed by Mccarthy, who was able TO con-
vince the employers that the demands
Of the workers were Just and reason
able" without even threatening to call
strike.
Other Crafts Also Benefit.
] And what Mccarthy did for the car
penters. millmen. sheet metal workers
and other building trades men, Mich
ael Casey. president Of the Brother
hood of Teamsters. was successful in
doing for the teamsters Of San Fran
cisco, when. since the first Of the year
he procured a wage increase of so
cents a day for the 5000 members of
his organization.
For the first time in the history of
the local labor movement, the French
and Italian bakeshops of San Fran
cisco are practically all unionized. This
has been accomplished thru the efforts
Of C. kidwell. secretary of Bakery
Wagon Drivers Union.
Also the employees Of the local
French laundries are now making
their first determined effort to organ
ize as part of the labor movement.