Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-02-15
sue. Examiner Henry Nc

tone in issue. Examiner Henry Nc
Bride came to Olympia Thursday
and attended the regular meeting of
the Shipwrights, at which were pres
ent representatives of other unions
,, interested. The matter was thor
oughly considered. Mr.. Mcbride de-
clined to make decision but agreed
10 REFER the matter to the Macy
board by telegraph. The following
day, instead of waiting for the opin-
ion OF the federal adjustment board,
the yard management placed the en-
ploye who had been the cause of the
conference back in the yards. Mat
ers became SO unpleasant for him
that he decided to leave the yard.
and asked his foreman for a dis
charge. Having no blank discharge
In hand, the foreman went to the
office for one and was there uueried
as to whom he purposed discharging.
Upon giving the name, Barnes, the
manager said he would handle the
case, accompanied the foreman back
to the work and transferred Barnes
to another part of the construction
work.
All the skilled crafts were of like
mind regarding the matter and
deemed the action of the manage
ment reputation of the understand
ing to maintain the conditions until
the matter had been passed upon
authoritatively by government off,
Gals.
Emphatic protests had been made
against employment alongside union
men of a carpenter who had repeat
eddy slurred and defied the union.
and the union men were led to be-
lieve the yard management had de-
liberately taken up the fight of this
man against the unions. The trans
action had all the earmarks Of an in
tention on the part of the managers
to throw down the gauntlet to organ
ICED labor. The men picked it up.
After considering the situation and
registering protests without avail,
the union employees, without waiting
for an official action of the unions.
threw down their tools and left the
yard. This action was later Endorsed
by the unions in mass meeting and
in separate sessions of the crafts in
volved.
The meetings of Friday night de-
cided upon a general committee. and
this committee was given full power
to negotiate q settlement of the griev-
ances of the men.
Current In some circles of the city
Is criticism Of the men for quitting
work and thus retarding the building
of ships which 1t is agreed we sorely
need. and, of course, these. critics
place the blame entirely upon the
men. They attempt to create the i'm
preston that the management Of the
yards periodically performed its duty
in arbitrarily reinstating an employee
Objectionable to $50 fellow employees
and thus goading the workers to quit
their employment. Employees, how
ever, do not consider this viewpoint
at all reasonable. It is argued that
the wishes Of $50 employees should
have some weight as against the
stubborn attitude of one man. The
skilled craftsmen involved insist
that their voice shall be heard in de-
termining conditions under which
they will work, the management, APP
parently. holding the view that only
its dictum shall govern.
Many of those who left the yards
have already shaken the dust of
Olympia from their feet and are now
busily at work upon government
boats in other shipyards of Puget
Sound.
The men are eager and anxious to
give their best efforts to the govern
ment. but they do not intend to sub
NIT to the undermining of their or
CARNATIONS. 1t is the opinion Of
many union men that the employing
interests are doing their best 10 ham,
string organized labor under the
cloak of patriotic service. This be-
lief is based upon most substantial
evidence and the unions will smoke
out the false patriots and fight them.
TRADES COUNCIL MINUTES.