The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-10-01

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once organized, with no legal respon-
sibility will not observe their con-
tracts; that they will be controlled
10y denlagogues and industrial dis
tuibers and try to exact impossible
conditions, to the constant disturb
ance and worse of their carefully
built business organizations. 1t is a
! trait Of human nature to see the de-
structive rather than the constructive.
and the instances in which collective
Labor scrupulously kept its word are
lost sight of in the more spectacular
instances where Labor has violated
its pledged word and acted in an ar
bitrary and unjust manner.
No Direct Union Recognition
The commission was impressed
with the impossibility of changing
such a viewpoint overnight and had
to devise a way to bring about the
same result without direct union
recognition. So it suggested what it
had already put into operation in the
copper industry of Arizona, viz, the
"tri-partite agreement"
After conference with both parties,
meeting them separately, or Jointly
with the distinct understanding that
when so meeting at the solicitation
of the Government no union recog-
milton was implied or understood, it
was agreed that for a stated period
of time certain working conditions
should obtain. This understanding.
made in the form of simple memo
randum of TERMS" was made between
the operators and the commission,
and another memorandum of terms
Identical in its provisions made be-
tween the workers and the commits
sion. Neither operators nor workers
signed with each other, but each
signed the same provisions separately
with the commission. The Govern
nent thus became the underwater of
the agreement.
1t is true there is vested no manda-
tory power anywhere in government
to compel either party to live up to
the terms of the agreement, but there
is no more binding force than the
moral obligation of each to the Gov
ernment after pledging it's word and
good faith. Back of it also stands
the force of public opinion, which
neither party can afford to defy.
But the Government does not con-
tent itself with simply negotiating
an agreement and then sitting back
in a corner expecting it to work
automatically. 1t would not so work.
The Government sets up machinery
for the adjustment of grievances
within the industry which the inter-
csted parties cannot adjust and the
machinery is simple, human and at
the service Of employer and employee
alike.
Danger of Little Grievance
Most of the trouble in industry
arises from unadjusted grievance.
Many employers have as yet not
realized the Importance of maintain
ing as part of their organization a
Labor department presided over by
man who understands the psychol-
ogy Of Labor, to keep the little griev-
ances from fermenting. The man
who has-or thinks he has, it is all
the same in it's effect upon him-a
grievance and cannot give it voice
somewhere within the employers
organization, is the fallow ground
upon which the seed of the dema-
gogue falls.
During the year ending June 80,
1920, the Federal oil adjuster hand
| led COZ grievances. Both parties to
the Memorandum of Terms and bound
themselves to abide by any decision
the adjuster might make on griev-
ances over which his jurisdictions was
recognized in the Memorandum of
Terms. In less than a dozen cases
was it necessary to hand down an
| arbitrary decision. In some cases
| the grievance was without merit, but
| the compliments were given their
"day in court" and it was patiently
explained to them In cases where
there were real grievances, both the
employer and the employee were con-
ferred with and the case argued at
length, ending in agreement on the
part of both that a certain disposition
of the case was just and equitable.
| grant you that such machinery
must be in the hands of men who
are fitted by training, experience and
sympathy to deal tactfully with both
employers and workmen. Men of any
other type are not big enough tc
deal with the situation. | grant you
that the whole scheme would fail il
the wrong type of man was chosen
for these positions, which are judi
cial and diplomatic rather than ad
ministrative. One of the functions
of government, in my opinion, is tc
find and develop such men and place
them at the disposal of the nations
industries.
Memorandum of Terms
The Memorandum of Terms nego
tiated one year ago provided for 6
contingent pay" Of 25 cents per day
per man for the year ending June
30, 1920, to be paid in lump sum al
the end of the year, if, in the judg
ment of the commission. THE
TERMS OF THE MEMORANDUM
HAD BEEN FULLY AND FAIRLY
LIVED UP To This meant that il
the men struck, We're guilty of wilIfu
or malicious conduct, violated any Of
the terms of the memorandum, they
would forfeit the contingent pay. Lee
us see what happened.
When the commission met will
both parties on July 20 last to ne
gotiate a new memorandum we were