Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-19
THE ONE BIG UNION

Make no mistake, the labor trouble with which this
country is now deluged is not a matter of economies. It
is not for wages these men are striking, nor is it for
hours. In the last analysis, it is strife for power. 1T is
war for a dictatorship, and that dictator will be Labor,
if the strikers have their way. The term collective bar
gaining has now lost its old definition, which was that a
craft collectively, such, for instance, as the typographical
Union, would bargain with employers as to wages, hours
and the like. Collective bargaining, as now interpreted,
really means that this same Typographical Union would
not be master of it's own affairs. but would merely form
a cog In a great labor machine. In other words, It is
Just another name for the One Big Union, and this in
turn means In its full significance that the country would
be- under the heel of a labor Car. In these circumstances
it is but natural that responsible labor leaders should
roundly condemn this movement.
Under this delightful scheme of collective BARGAIN
ing no trade could be master of its own affairs, nor
could any employer be master of his own industry, even
to the remotest degree. Under the One Big Union idea,
it is quite conceivable that a meat cutter in a Calgary
slaughter house, as supreme head of the o. B. u. would
be debating the policy Of the Dominion Iron and Steel
company. Or in turn, a Nova Scotia coal miner might
be telling a British Columbia shipbuilding company how
to operate its business.
Under the circumstances, the peril to canada's in
dustrial life is very real. Present conditions make it i'm
possible for industry to forge ahead. Men who a fort
night ago made a solemn compact as to wages and hours,
are today on strike. Other groups which contracted to
abide by the decisions Of an arbitration COMMITTEES. now
refuse to accept the awards. Manufacturers, who, un-
der normal conditions, would be out eager for orders
now hesitate to accept any even. when rendered them, for
they know not from day to day whether their men will
be working or walking the streets in a sympathetic
strike"
Within the past few days the federal government
has "nrued' considerably In its attitude toward this
sympathetic strike. Government employees who have
gone BoisheNk. are told that back to work they 20 or
leave the service for Ill time. which Is the right attitude,
and one which should have been taken from the first day
OF their walkout 1t winnipeg. Senator Robertson, min
istsr Of labor, who has been keeping q close eye on the
Winnipeg situation, makes the statement tha& these
troubIes are primarily 5of polihcal sasnificaacs. md have,
= amattsr Of faet. lttIs or nothing to do with labor con-
dittshs. In reality n =, - developed IN the 49,, I Bol-
shsvht movement. pnre and shnpIs. such bsinsE the
60 II nsst h fought out 70 TIE hitter end. Ths oah-
aAaa psspIe. = : whole havs 10 .intsntion of allowins
- - e. = dSctats 70 an other Glass;. We 80
hSsssrsl M esAd1sl ~ rsA5oah ovsr sng = ii II Il
= - $3.50 int 49, Ssasvs vant. NJ asarcAy. In
fsalAty. 49, 80 e - So - I'M saalalssaaa, III asf.r
- - Aaral ss-1srsats asuraay NkA4
ILyH NJ ESH0 GW EH @RX0