The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1920-04-17
L0NcSH0REMEN'S UNION MEM
BERs CLAIM DoUBlEcROss
ADJUST BEFORE STARTING
II Settlement IS not Made II WIN
Tie up Ore Shipments From the
Lake Superior Ranges

III the fellow who said that Life
Is Just one d-n thing after another"
had limited his indictment 10 indust-
rial life and had used strike" for
thing" he would have accurately por-
trayed industrial life these days.
With the switchmen tieing up the in
dustrial centers so that traffic isechok-
ed, food is made scarce and business
unstable, the timber workers threaten
ing to walk out May and stop lumber
production and with several dozen
strikes of lesser proportion scattered
all over the United States, life is to be
further scrambled by refusal OF the
longshoremen-better known to us as
dock men"--to start work until their
wage grievance OF last year is ADJUST
ed.
There have been rumors OF refusal
of the top dockmen to go to work for
several weeks but II was only last
week that the matter came 10 head
with conference OF the workers from
all OF the ore shipping ports
Escanaba Men Affected
The question at issue is the unset
tied question of wages and working
agreements between the top dockmen
and the railroads This same ques-
ton caused a strike last season that
tied up shipments In the middle OF the
season and greatly reduced the a.
mount of ore shipped from some OF
our mines. The men say that, they
were inveigled into abandoning their
strike last year but that this time
they will not go to work until the
question is settled.
The ore from Crystal Falls goes 60
Escanaba and the top dock men at
both the st. Paul and Northwestern
road docks are included in the mem
bership of the Longshoremen's Union.
These men work on the docks in the
summer time and at other work in the
winter. They are now employed at
other work and for that reason they
can stick unless their refusal 20 han
die ore kicks back and interferes with
the work they are at.
wages and work agreement con-
ference was held in Ash-lnd Wis,
April 7 and s, between delegates from
practically all ore docks on the Great
Lakes and railway officials Of the diff
erent roads concerned. Topdock
workers we're represented from Two
Harbors, MINI, Superior. Wis. Mar
quette and Escanaba, Mich. and Ash
land, Wis. Monthly men we're repre-
sented by delegates from Ashland, Wis
and Escanaba, Mich.
No decisive agreement was reached
at the two-day conference. but the
matter in hand was covered by a
thorough discussion OF all points con-
cerned In the ore dock labor situation.
G. ]. Quigley. superintendent OF the
Ashland division OF the North Western
road. who was elected chairman Of the
conference. submitted the results OF
the discussion To the higher officials |
OF the various railroads, and further |
action covering the ore dock situation J
is awaited from them.
1t is probable that another confer
ence will be held before the ore BUSH
ness gets under way. The ore dock |
employees do not intend to resume
work this season until satisfactory |
agreement has been reached, they as
sert.
Ore from Crystal Falls has COM
menced 10 move but only In a small |
way The odgers and Monongahela
mines have been loading into cars for
several weeks and this loaded ore, to-
gethor with the daily output At these
properties is being hauled 10 the
docks.
How long this will keep up II the
men refuse 10 come to work In any
number Is problem.
Many OF the mines are anxious 10 /
start their steam shovels at work and
this will also be interfered with as
with any number OF the dock men abb
sent from work limited amount Of
ore can be handled.