Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-10-17
Collective BARGAINING
From the Chicago Tribune.


The justice of the principle keollective bar
gaining is pretty generally recognized. We
can all see that single employe is at hope
less disadvantage in dealing with powerful
employer if his place can be filled by another
worker. Therefore. the American courts and
public opinion have recognized the right OF
employees to associate themselves for the pur-
post of presenting their claims to employers
and generally advancing their conditions. 1t
is clear, too, that a man may be a very highly
skilled mechanic, man of ability and brains,
and yet lack either the experience or the spe-
terms with his employer or his employers rep
resentative. Therefore, most OF us realize that
the only way in which employees may be put on
a safe footing of comparative independence is
by banding together and selecting representa-
tves who can devote themselves entirely to
the special business of representing the en-
ployes' interests. I
But the term collective bargaining is broad
one. If it meant merely the right of group
of men or women employed by the same en-
ployer to present their demands collectively
through one of their own number, there would
industrial development. Objection from en-
ployers begins where employees combine with
employees of other employers and select a COM
mon representative who is not employed by
any one but the union. This. some employers
assert, is interference by outsiders" 1t is GER
tainly an extension of the right Of collective
bargaining which very greatly increases the
power of the employees while bringing the evils
inherent in any form of indirect representation.
But it also sometimes brings substantial bene-
fits both to industry and the public which pays
the cost of industrial warfare In the hands of
radicals great damage can be wrought by a
high concentration of power. In the hands of
conservatives moderating influence can be
exercised, and has been frequently to the honor
of organized labor
Il It. L.. Il If
government But the American principle is to
create checks and balances for any power, and
we are confident that the American public will
not submit long to the rule of any autocracy,
whether in politics or industry. The closed
shop the sympathetic strike, are exercises of
power which challenge the instinct and prin-
ciple Of all Americans who respect individual
liberty and wish to retain our present system
of government and society.
Collective bargaining covers all these ques-
tons of the organization of representation in
industry, but perhaps the irreducible minimum
of it is that there shall be bargain. That is,
when employer and employee have met in this
way, the result formulated in an agreement
must be considered by both sides binding. If
it is not, there is no collective bargaining.
Here is where not only the employers but
the general public, which pays in the end for
industrial conflicts, have good reason to COM
plain of present conditions. Especially of late,
since radicalism has increased in the labor
movement, breaches reputation of contracts
by employees have multiplied. Sometimes rep
resentatives of the employees have bravely OPP
posed repudiation; sometimes they have Or
dered it or connived at it. In either case, men
who look beyond immediate results can see that
if contracts are frequently broken they will not
BE made, and collective bargaining will cease
The radicals would welcome this. When the
radical leadership of the steel strike includes
collective bargaining among the issues, it does
So with its tongue in its cheek. Collective
bargaining means industrial peace, at least be-
tween contracts, and the radicals don't want
peace. Radical ethics are based on the theory
not of cooperation but Of opposition; not of
employer is an oppressor, not party to a con-
tract of common effort for common profit.
But the American labor movement which
has been able to place American labor on
higher plane Of prosperity and security than any
other labor, has not yet been swept into the
radical stream 1t is conscious Of steady ad-
vance on its own lines. and it has had of late
the opportunity to watch the working of rad
icalism in practice abroad We do not think
the American labor movement is going to lose
its head, desert its wisest leaders, and follow
theorists into a wallow of destructive expert
ment But if it is not heading that way it ought
to consider that its real progress rests upon
fidelity to its proved conservative leaders and
upon fidelity to contract. Without these, coll
leetive bargaining is an empty phrase.
In fact, civilized society could not exist with
out respect for contract. Without it there can
be no dealing among men except that of brute
force; there can be no security. no order. With
out contract there can be only anarchy or
despotism.
Contracts made under duress or clearly
proved deceit sometimes may be broken. But
these exceptions should be bona fde exceptions
When contracts are frequently broken it may
be understood that there is bad faith in their
making, and that the principle of contract, of
collective bargaining, is not respected. The
folly of this ought to be clear, will be clear to
any one who is able to think beyond immediate
results.