The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-09-04

posed to the trade union move ment
that the American Federation of La
Dor offers little hope to the unskilled
workers or to the men who have no
fixed trade. The Longshoremen's
union Of West Duluth and it's achieve
ments are the best answer to this
criticism.
| How Longshoremen Rose.
Twenty-Five years ago the men who
loaded the lumber boats in Duluth
harbor were a shiftless, exploited ana
low waged lot. Stevedores hired them
to load boats. paid them off in saloons
| where most of their wages were pre-
| viously mortgaged, and worked them
continuously from the time boat
locked until she was loaded. Then
there was general loaflng period
! about the saloon owned by the steve
dore where all of their earnings were
spent and their ,prospe ctive earnings
| were mortgaged for drinks. The men
lived in shacks on the water front
| and were paid at the rate of 20 cents
an hour.
One day an organizer arrived IN
Duluth. It was Frank Weber of Mil
waukee, still in the harness, although
we'll advanced in years. He spent
! considerable time in an effort to bring
the "lumber showers together. The
stevedore saw his finish the moment
union was organized and he left no
stone unturned to prevent it. He
| bought off some of the leaders with
! booze; they knocked Weber, called
! him CRATER and did everything
! within their power to prevent him
from unionizing the men. Weber,
however, plugged away. got enough
! members to apply for a charter and
then put behind the weak union the
support Of the organized labor move
| ment Of the city.
Got First Contract.
These few men succeeded in getting
contract to load a line of boats at
a. cheaper rate than the stevedore,
but which paid them a higher scale.
When the non-union men learned
what the union men were getting they
demanded more from the stevedore.
He fought back; the men Joined the
union, and the stevedore was out Of
job. From that day the union has
controlled the situation in Duluth.
Wages went up year by year from 20
cents an hour to Is cents. The work.
day was limited to 10 hours. Over
time pay was gained, and Sunday
work was completely abolished.
But this was not all. With higher
wages and better conditions the long
shorenen moved from the water front
to the hillside where most Of them
own their own homes in West Duluth.
They have families. their children at
! tend the public schools and they are
among the most influential residents
Of the town.
Can Do Same For All.
| This is what trade unionism gained
for one bunch Of unskilled workmen
and it can do the same for all if they
will cease depending upon others and
do something for themselves. The
American labor movement is big
enough and broad enough to take
within its ranks every wage earning
man and woman in the land. The
door Of organized labor is wide open
for them, but they will not be pulled
in; they must come in of their own
accord.
About 20 years ago there was an.
| other union Of unskilled workers II
West Duluth, the saw mill workers
and they got along very well for {
short time. but these men did no
have the sticking qualities Of thu
longshoreNDen and the union soon wen
| by the boards. Lieut.. Charles Wilco,
of the Duluth police force was secre
tary Of this union and during thu
time he took an active part in thu
organization it was most successful
When the union disbanded wages were
/ paid to mill men according to tn
demand for labor. and they are still
1 below normal.
Machinists Organize There.
! One of the strongest unions in Du
luth is the Machinists' union. Thi
local was first organized in West Du
luth by the editor of The Labor World