Denver labor bulletin., 1918-04-06
COMMON LABORER OF i. s, IS ENTITLED
TO 81, 400 TO 81, 900 YEAR, SAYS BOARD
the War Labor Conference Commission
Signed by Representatives of Labor and Employers
President William H. Taft and Frank P
Walsh Representing the Public.

nave signed, are contained practically
all of the fundamental demands made
by the famous Walsh report of the
commission on industrial relations.
Not only is this fundamental conces-
sion made by the employers-that
from the common laborer to the high
est skilled man all shall have at least
a wage which meets the health-and-
comfort standard-but they concede
also the full right to unionize. They
abandon the 'Iopen shop" lockout of
union men. They agree that union
conditions shall be maintained wher-
ever they now exist. Both sides agree
that where women are employed, they
shall receive equal pay with men for
equal work, and they shall not be
given tasks disproportionate to their
strength. This removes the favorite
excuse for paying women less than
men.
Here is the first and most impor-
tant part of the declaration of prin-
ciples with regard to general relations
between labor and employers:
There should be no strikes or lock-
outs during the war.
Right to Organize.
81. The right of workers to or
ganize in trade unions and to bargain
collectively, thru chosen representa-
tives, is recognized and affirmed. This
right shall not be denied, abridged or
interfered with by the employers in
any manner whatsoever.
80. The right of employers to or
ganize in associations or groups and
to bargain collectively, thru chosen
representative, is recognized and af-
firmed. This right shall not be de-
MED, abridged or interfered with by
. -t,,r
soever.
IS. Employers should not discharge
workers for membership in trade
unions, nor for legitimate trade union
activities.
~. The workers, in the exercise of
their right to organize, shall not use
coercive measures of any kind TO in
duce persons to join their organiza-
tions, nor to induce employers to bar
gain or deal Herewith.
Existing Conditions.
al. In establishments where the
union shop exists the same shall con-
tinue and the union standards as to
wages, hours of labor and other con-
ditions of employment shall be main
tanned
80. In establishments where union
and non-union men and women now
work together. and the employer
meets only with employees or repre-
sentatives engaged in said establish
ments, the continuance C such condi-
tions shall not be deemed a griev-
ance. This declaration, however, is
not intended in any manner to deny
the right, or discourage the practice
of the formation of labor unions, or
the joining of the same by the work
ers in said establishments, as guar
anteed in the last paragraph, nor to
prevent the war labor board from urg-
ing, or any umpire from granting,
under the machinery herein provided,
Improvement of their situation in the
matter of wages, hours of labor, or
other conditions, as shall be found de-
sirable from time to time.
IS. Established safeguards and
regulations for the protection of the
health and safety of the workers shall
not be relaxed"
Now, the machinery provided by the
report for securing better conditions
in an "open" shop consists in the
holding of an investigation by ma
tional war labor board, and the ap-
pointment of an umpire to decide the
points at issue. This national wa
| labor board is TO be chosen in the
same way, and consist Of the same
number of persons, as the Walsh Taft
board. That is to say, it il probable
that the Walsh-Taft board will be
made permanent, for the period of the
war, and that it will act as a final
court of mediation and settlement for
every industrial dispute not handled
by some other federal authority.
Powers and Duties.
| Its powers and duties, as drafted by
Mr.. Taft, will be:
81. To bring about settlement,
| Continued on Page Four)