Arizona republican., 1919-10-07

ment of industry on a large scale. with it's attendant economies and benefits. has, of necessity, erected barriers to personal contact between employers and employees, thus making it very for them to understand each other, all of which is largely respon sible for most of the unrest of the world.
 We cannot hope for prosperity in this fair community of ours until em- ployers and employees join hands and recognize that their interest is a com mon one; that which hurts one hurts the other; that which develops the well being and prosperity of one must, of necessity, develop the well being and prosperity of the other. In other words, the teaching that man is his brothers keeper should no longer be q dead letter but a living reality.
 The committee believes that the more contented the workman is the freer he is from worry, the more thoughtful, progressive and ambitious he is-the better his work will be. and the better it will be for everyone how ever remotely concerned.
 An employer who adopts the prin ciple that capital takes all the risk and that labor should be purchased as a commodity at the lowest rate pos sible, must expect from his workmen a continuous and constant warfare to make labor's wage as high as possible.
 regardless of any other interests. It | is only by the fairness of the employer
 in handling wages and working 'condi- tions that the average workman will
 be loyal and strive to do his best. The result of this bitter war has
 taught us all one lesson, namely that
 the day of governing by force is past The world will never put up with that
 method again. This committee, there fore, is opposed to that principle whicf
 seeks to force or compel a man. against his wishes to join a union or any
 other organized body of men.
 That the committee might have
 clear viewpoint of the building con.
 tractors, and that of the organized
 workers both sides were asked to pre-
 sent signed statement of their posi-
 tions.
 THE REASONS WHY WE. THI
 GENERAL CONTRACTORS. STANI FOR THE OPEN SHOP PRINCIPLE:
 IN THE BUILDING TRADE ARE A:
 FOLLOWS:
 The closed shop to the contracto
 means surrender of the control of hi business to an association of craft
 subject only to the whims of thei ; leaders, who assume control of hi work, while the contractor is privi . legged only to meet the pay rolls an 5 assume full responsibility for tn faithful fulfillment of his agreemen and in addition assumes responsibilit { for the safety of those employed on tn { work, who dictate the manner in whic , the same is to be run. with the assumr tion of no responsibility for the fin; I results.
 { We are unwilling to acquiesce in tf
 closed shop because we believe that t so doing we surrender American prir ] ciples, the freedom of contract, u Q right of men to work together as en |. ployer and employee upon a basis aloi e of fairness, justice and efficienc e The right to conduct ones business
 he sees fit. provided he does not har k his fellowmen thereby, is a sacr,
 American privilege.
 d We are not opposed to each era
 having a union of it's own for the a IS vancement of efficiency of it's mer
 | DtTS WHICH NOuiu Dt TUT lIt l. good of it's organization.
 We believe in a fair wage and
 eight-hour day.
 ]. It must be borne in mind that
 closed shop ruled by the Buildi
 Trades Council is being enforced wit
 out notice to the contractors or d
 crimination as to old or new VIC re thereby causing a large financial lc T, to contractors who had work in { d. course of construction and who h l- taken their contracts in good faith a 10 based on the wages in effect at | ts time.
 ee It should be remembered that ma sl In our employ are property owne al with families, and are among our b es citizens. Some of these men persona g' object to joining the trade union j D. the same as one man believes in lu Baptist church and another in the Cat ee olic church. They have rendered ma IT. years of valuable service to their e
 ployers. These employers. if co Dn pelled to work under a closed sh sSn would be obliged to discharge such e ny. ploye1 if they still refused to join u union and give up their principles, { .o their places would be taken, perha ~ by men who were not as efficient .9,e they, but whose recommendation ' a working card. The employer m .,. employ them regardless of their co a.. potency. and pay them the union SC a,. for the union quantity and quality Y. work. The employer is not left I judge whether a man is competent ,n not. for the Building Trades Coui ,at reserves that right. and if they deC t,, that this is a competent man, the ( ,st ployer must keep him on his pay I a, whether he wishes to or not. m, We do not believe that the UT ore wage scale as used by some crafts md right. as for instance in the carp roo ter's line the union scale is s7 per
 to all who carry a carpenters UT ,o- card. No matter whether he be vI- expert mechanic and has followed vet trade for years, or has only folio er- it for few months.
 md We do not believe there is any V avs reason or need for this radical cha ale. | in our economic life in going from act open shop. which Phoenix has alv nal been. to a closed shop town as ich Building Trades Council now propc the We have enjoyed unusual prospe op- for several years and there is no