The Alaska daily empire., 1919-04-08
UNION FAVORS DRY ROOMS FOR
 THE CANNERIES
Much Discussion at the Meeting of the Alaska Labor Union Last Night on Legislation Be-
 fore Congress.

Legislation and means for better ing working conditions formed the greater part of the discussion at the meeting of Alaska Labor Union No 1, at it's regular meeting last night Two resolutions were passed in favor of sanitary working conditions in the canneries.
 The members of the legislative committee of the Union reported pro gress being made on the eight-hour law. It was reported that there is a disposition to make the eight-hour law including the canneries effective the first of the year, owing to pres ent contracts having been made for this Summer and the suggestion was made that the Labor Union go or record, as meeting the cannerymen half way, and making it effective not later than July 18th. It was con sidered a matter of much import ance that the Union should not take basty action, or do anything which might endanger getting a workable eight-hour law, that the subject go over until next Monday evening and for the President to issue a notice of important business to come be fore the Union in order to get all members to attend and have whatever action was taken endorsed by prac tically the whole body.
 The dance committee reported that all details had been arranged for the dance to be held in Labor Un- ion Hall Wednesday evening of this week:
 The following resolution was adopt ed:
 That for the health and physical well-being of the wage workers of Alaska is of prime importance to the Territory;
 That the clothing and persons of men and women working in the fish canneries and salteries in Alaska do become, by reason of the nature of 'he work, damp, frequently soaking wet, and foul from fish and slime and offal;
 That employees engaged in su 6 occupation should not be permitted to work under conditions injurious or dangerous to their health, when comparatively slight expenditure cn the part of the employers will avoid objectionable conditions and enable the employees to keep them selves reasonable clean and dry:
 That mining companies in Alas, ka make a universal practice of pro viding free drying rooms and show CT baths for their workers. and have spent for such accommodations in creases the physical efficiency of their workers and creates more har- monious relations between the em- ployee and employer to the mutual benefit of both.
 Therefore, be it resolved by the Alaska Labor Union, Local No. 4 that a petition be. and hereby is presented to the Governor of Alaska and to both houses of the Territor- ial Legislature, asking that legis- lation be enacted compelling those who employ labor in preparing sea foods for market in Alaska to install dry rooms and shower baths for the free use of their employees and in sufficient numbers to accommodate the entire number of their employ CTS, and where men and women are engaged in the same plant, that sep arate dry rooms and shower baths be provided for such sex"
 The other resolution adopted pro vides for precautionary measures tc prevent the spread of contagious and infectious diseases, through the present practice of contract and Or iental labor, and incidents are giver to show that diseases have beer spread among the natives and whites from contract labor. The resolution says: "That Gov. Riggs stated, il his message to the Territorial Legis lature now in session: We mus for the sake of future generations guard against these diseases by eith CT authorizing the Commissioner O Health to issue controlling regula tions or pass laws making possible