The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1920-09-03
WHEN THEY SAY
"OPEN SHOP"
They Mean Closed Shop To
Union Men
By Frank Morrison
Secretary of American Federation OF
Labor


The union shop is democracy in in
dustry. The right of employees to bar
gain collectively, to have a voice in
working conditions, is recognized.
In the non-union shop this democ-
racy is unknown. Paternalism and
autocracy is the rule The employer
is absolute. He is the sole Judge of
working conditions. He sets hours
and wages and tells his employees they
may accept same or quit their employ
ment. If the worker quits, and suf
fering to his wife and children result,
the employer calls this freedom of
contract"
This employer dislikes the term
'non-union" shop, so he refers to his
plant as "open shop" The term is
misleading and in intended to deceive.
The inconsistency of the so-called
"open" shop employer is shown when
he says he makes no distinction be-
tween union and non-union employees
and then fills his plant with spies to
report any union employe who has
been discovered discussing the value
of trade unionism.
These employers know that in this
age of organization it is unwise to
announce that they are opposed to
trade unions. So they employ Just
enough trade unionists to serve as an
alibi against the charge that they op-
pose trade unions, bat they do not
employ enough trade unionists to dis
pute the employers absolute and com
plete control of working conditions.
If these organized workers advocate
trade unionism they are discharged,
The unions hold that organized Ia
Dor sets the standards for workers
and that it is just as logical that all
workers assist in maintaining these
standards as it is for all citizens to
pay taxes.
The so-called "open" shop employer
would not apporve a citizen shirking
his duties as a taxpayer, but does
favor his employees Sinking their du-
ties to their fellows. The reason for
the latter position is apparent. The
employer profits by this shirking
which permits him tc set wages, hours
and working conditions. But more
than this he retains complete power
i over his employees.
He may arrange welfare societies il
his plant. He may have a pension
system for those employees who serve
him faithfully, and who just as faith
fully abstain from trade union mem
bership. He may conduct system OF
/ athletics and recreation for his en-
ployes and provide them with model
work rooms, but above and beyond al
these there is no element of democ-
racy in his plant He denies his en-
ployes collective bargaining, and there
fore controls the lives of these work
ers. He sets their living standards.
He orders. His workers accept. They
are denied an equality enjoyed by
union shop employees.
Non-union shop employees accept the
welfare work of an employer, but
they do it at the price Of their lib
erty. Their grievances are subject to
the good will Of the employer. He
may remedy them, but he does it be-
cause he is "a good boss" and not be-
cause his employees stand up as men
and demand justice.
If the grievance is not adjusted the
employe must accept onerous condi-
tions or quit. If an individual quits,
that is nothing to the employer.
Fundamentally there is no differ
ence between the non-union shop en-
ployer and the slave owner before the
Civil War. In both cases the en-
ployer and the slave owner are abso-
Lutte. Both provided amusement for
their workers. The slave owner prid-
ed himself on being a good master" J"
The non-union employer says: II pro
tect my employees"
In neither case was the slave or is
the employe permitted to protect them
selves.
In the union shop this autocratic
rule does not exist. Here, the en-
ployes have collective voice in work
ing conditions The employer con-
cedes that democracy in industry is
possible and that welfare work is not
substitute for democracy. The
union employer is not interested in
welfare work or in protecting" his
employees. He treats them as Ameri-
cans who can furnish their own
amusements and recreation. Company