The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-09-26
TO ENPLYEES OF
LUMBER INDUSTRY

A paper has been distributed thru
the mills which contains the follow
ing Introduction.
THE following statement of our
attitude toward the Ais is made
at the request of some of our men,
In reading To the end of the ar
ticle we find that it bears no sig
natures, 50 Of course it is hard TO
determine who is responsible for the
foregoing statement. As to their
not signing il. the only reason we
can see that they have not done so,
is that they are ashamed to place
their name in black and white be-
fore the public as being in favor Of
such an organization as the Ais and
we do not blame them for that eth
er.
We. the workers of the lumber in
dustry, know very we'll that one
sided things are not square and for
that reason we are opposed to the
Ais.
If it is to be a really cooperative
organization why haven't the en-
ploNers granted the employees the
privilege Of becoming members Of
the West Coast Lumbermen's As
ISOLATION? Where is the square deal
they are preaching when they de
prive the workers of the same priv
tlege they themselves ask for be
coming members of the Al?
THE employer member may at
tend any local meeting Of the Ais
at any time if he is in good standing
in his own local" This is from the
4-Ls constitution This is some
more of that square deal Suppos
ing that one of the employees had a
grievance of some kind to bring up
at the meeting and about the time
he was to take the floor the employ
er was to enter the meeting. The
effect of having that employer pre-
sent would in many cases keep the
employee from saying a word of
complaint, as he would be in fear of
losing his job. We can prove this
in another way. Surprising that the
employee member was allowed to
attend meeting of the West Coast
Lumbermen's Association; do you
think that the mem hers of that or
ganizatiCn would transact a great
amount of business? No! Abso-
lutelY not. They would be afraid
that this employee would spread the
word among the rest of the men and
start something. The employers
would not he in favor of the lis
if they could not control it. If the
FIlI bI''Ne t'S bhIlt'ti ~ DtllbT liltlT CON
ditions they must get into an Organi-
zation controlled by themselves.
Another reason the article states
they are in favor of this wonderful
organization is "To maintain the bas-
ic eight-hour day"
The best way to secure this isl
thru an organization organized
throughout the entire industry. The
Ais is (was) organized in these
Northwestern States To maintain
this eiEht-hour day it is necessary
TO establish it throughout the entire
industry.
There is a great deal more of this
kind Of "bull' but it is really not
necessary to repeat it. 1t lays great
stress on cooperation, good feeling
and harmony. The employees of the
lumber industry are all in favor Of
these things but know they will
never be accomplished thru a boss
controlled organization" such as the
4-Lc.
The only way this can he brought
about is through an organization
where the employees are allowed
membership alone. AS the employ
ers have their Association, the EN-
ployees should have theirs. Then
each side should choose their repre-
ground and draw up working
agreement that would cover all con
ditions under which these employ
ees should work. This is fair pro-
position and if the employers will
practice a little Of this square deal
doctrine, as stated in the paper dis
tributed in the mills, the proper spir-
it will prevail throughout the lum-
Der industry.
Drop the Ais, Mr.. Employer. as it
is only creating more unrest among
the employees. Our government has
recognized the right of workers or
ganizing and you S good Americans
should do likewise.
AS to the Ais article mentioned
we cannot give the employers cred
it for it as it had no signature and
as stated before we admire them
for not signing.
The workers should join the Tim
berworkers' Union, composed of
workers only and if they are in fa-
vor of it the Bosses" can join the
4-Ls TIM WORK Err