The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-09-25

organized Tor more nan 20 years. LIZ
has from time to time presented pro-
posed contracts or working schedules
to the proprietors Of meat markets
and they have generally been ac-
cepted. If there were no Citizens AL
lance in Duluth now there would have
bee no strike Of meat cutters.
They Hav ve Their eChoice.
The Meat Cutters' union gives to-
the proprietors the choice of two
agreements to sign. One provides for
the employment Of Union members
exclusively and the other makes no
reference to their employment. This
latter would be known to all fair
minded persons as an "open shop
agreement. So the Union has indi-
Gated to the proprietors of meat mar
kets that it was perfectly willing to
enter into an agreement with them
based either on the Union shop or
the proprietor.
If proprietor signed a Union shop
agreement under which he is required
to confine his employees to members of
the Union he would be entitled to dis
play the Union shop card in his mar
ket. If, on the other hand, he pre-
ferred to sign the so-called "open
shop" agreement he would not be en-
titled to the Union shop card. This is
one of the fairest propositions we have
ever heard Of during an experience in
the labor movement covering a long
period of time.
Ho@x, TTniOn n0oc If
Now how does the Meat Cutters
union propose to run the business
Of the proprietors? 1t states that nine
hours shall constitute days work
within a ten-hour spread. Any work
performed over nine hours shall be
paid for at the rate of time and one
half. The proprietors shall furnish all
line such as aprons and jackets worn
by meat cutters when on duty. Nc
employe Shall be supported by the
union who summarily leaves his EN-.
ployme ent, and unless he gives his EN-.
ployer at least three days notice. The
employer shall in turn give every EN-.
ploye three Gays notice before dis.
charging him, except for drunkenness:
or dishonesty when he may be dis
charged at one.
New Years day, Memorial day, In
dependence day, Labor day. Thanks
giving day and Christmas are desig.
mated as legal holidays for which
. meat cutters, If they are required tt
work on such days, will be paid at thu
rate of double time, which will also bt
paid for Sunday work.
Ir;,,
are utilized to cut meat they shall b.
paid the minimum wage scale. Ap
prentices may be employed 18 years o
age and over, limiting their number
to one apprentice for every five jour
neymen to prevent their employmen
as cl.eap laborers in the places of ex
perienced meat cutters.
Modest Wage Demand.
A minimu- wage scale Of $35
week or a daily wage of $3.50 is re
quested. Considering the high price,
the public is and has been compeuet
to ply for meat this is not believe,
to be an unreasonable request.
The above and no more the M. M
Gasser company was asked to do. ant
for asking 1t the company states il
it's advertisements that, 1--WE offere,
our meat cutters higher wages an,
shorter hours than the union demand
- but they were called out on strike be
cause we refu> to assign the privi
lege Of conducting our business to tn
Butchers union."
Such a statement is mere camou
Cont51ae1 o. page 'tt0o 49,
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