Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-02-01

" save Tic Hall Ccut.
The laundry business is skirting
the abyss of bankruptcy at all times,
and the proprietors yearn to unload
upon the trades unions. They are
willing, they claim, to sell their
plants to the unions, but they are
unwilling to correct labor conditions
at the behest of organized labor.
And the workers are actually
not worth the wages they are paid,
according to the laundry owners.
They soldier away their time and are
careless and inefficient "a check
against one woman worker on one
shift showing that the amount re-
ceived in payment for work turned
out in this shift was but 10 cents in
excess of the sum paid the worker.
Drivers waste their time in gossip
with customers, slip out and get a
hair cut or shave whenever the
spirit moves them, and otherwise
fritter away the time of the boss.
The boss himself was toiling earnest
ly about "a hours a day In order to
make ends meet, and they could see
no good reason why the employees
should not do likewise.
Facing all these burdens. of cheap
skate" customers and "bone-head"
employees, the laundry owners can
see no way to recoup themselves ex-
cept by holding down the wage scale,
although it was admitted that q new
and increased price list Of laundry
work was now being issued, and that
about year ago prices Of work had
been increased.
And with regard to the wages
paid and the hours of labor: 1t was
brought out in the discussion that
laundry workers are employed all
the way from two to twelve hours a
day, according to the desires of the
employer. with the minimum wage
rate of 50 a week as the maximum
scale and the hourly rate of 1917
cents applying to short time work.
Workers are compelled to appear for
work at 3 o'clock in the afternoon,
secure two. three or more hours. and
as a weekly wage get the munificent
sum Of 50, 81 and up to 80.
This practice is justified by the
laundry owners on the theory that 1t
Is simply spending money PROPOSE
ton on the part OF the workers. And
this was clinched by recital of an
instance where one woman had in
sisted upon taking a day OF when
the laundry had plenty Of work on
hand and really needed her services.
The committee argued that such
claims by employers were puerile:
that inefiiciency. II permitted. was
properly chargeable to the director
Of the business: that small reward
for good and faithful service and un-
reasonable and vicious conditions of
employment had some bearing on the
matter; that union labor does not
approve of or assume to protect inef-
ficiency, but believes in good work
for living wage, with reasonable
working conditions; that II the pub
lie was so lacking in order and re-
gard for the rights of others as as
serted, it was chargeable to lack of
system upon the part of the laundry
men themselves.
The agreement presented by the
unions is as follows:
This agreement, entered into be-
tween the Laundry of Olym-
pia and the Olympia Trades Council
and respective branches thereof.
The Laundry to be known
as the party of the first part and the
Olympia Trades Council and branch
es to be known as the party of the
second part.
Article 1. Eight hours shall con-
stitue a days work. Six days shall
be regular pay day each week.
Article 2. The party of the first
part agrees to hire none but men,
bers In good standing with the union
that has jurisdiction over the branch
where the vacancy may arise. Pro-
viding, however: that the union can
furnish such help, and in case the
union involved canot furnish the
help the employer may hire whom he
desires. Providing. however: that
the person employed shall make APP
plication to the union and is eligible
to membership therein.
Article 8. The party of the first
part agrees that 1t will not DISCHARGE
any employe on account of personal
prejudice or on account OF activity in
union work.
Article 4. Both parties agree that
during the life of this agreement no
strikes or lockouts shall be resorted
to. but II a grievance shall arise 1t
shall be settled by board Of arbitra-
ton. The board to consist of four
members-two employers and two
employees (emplOyes to be one from
the Trades Council and one from the
union involved. If it is not possible
for this board to settle the grievance,
they shall call fifth party, who de-
clares himself to the satisfaction of
both parties to be unbiased and i'm
partial and the decision rendered by
this party shall be final and binding