Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-02-24
Local Union of Plumbers and Steam Filters
Renounces CLosed-.Shop

LII OH IuCCl view Will d COIIlIlOICldl
representative Mr.. Wilson stated that
he and other forward-looking Of
ficials of the Union had finally
arrived at the conclusion that
teachings and practices of present
day international labor bodies are
entirely at variance with the indi-
vidual interests of their member.
ship, and that he and his associ-
ates had decided that unless they
were to follow the unsound doctrines
of their international leaders to the
point where the whole structure of
labor unions would be endangered,
that it was necessary that the local
body should take some aggressive
means of protecting the interests of
it's members.
AS an illustration of the interfer-
ence that members Of Local Union
665 have suffered from outside in
fiuences, Mr.. Wilson called attention
to the fact that the average steam fit
ter could erect and connect from four
to six radiators in an eight hour day,
but that in the past they had been
limited by these outside influences to
erecting and connecting not more
than one to one and one-half radia-
tors per day.
Mr.. Wilson mentioned in particular
that such limitation of production
had been practiced and was being
practiced upon all the large building
projects now under way in Buffalo,
mentioning in particular the construc-
ton work at the Dunlop plant, etc.
When questioned by The CONNER
cial as to the plans of Local Union
665, as regards the continuance of
their organization, Mr.. Wilson stated
that the men were determined to con-
tinue their organization intact, but
that they would not recognize any
authority over themselves but their
own voluntarially assumed rulings
and regulations. That all money col
lected from members in the way of
dues would henceforth be retained in
the treasury of the local union instead
of being transferred to the national
headquarters in Chicago, and that
such money when disbursed would
be used for the exclusive benefit of
the men who had contributed it.
Mr.. Wilson was particularly insis-
tent that the men still looked upon
themselves as loyal union workers but
that they believe the time has come
when outside control Of local organi-
cations is more fruitful of bad results
than of good, and that as a conse-
quence Local Union 665s proposes in
the future to be an entirely self
governing body committed to econo-
mically sound and thoroughly Amer
lean policies and principles.
The Buffalo Commercial has
pledged to Local 665, which hence
forth desires to be known as an Open
Shop Union the fullest measure of
support in securing continuous en-
ployment for each and every one of
its members at the prevailing scale of
wages. Local 665 has assured The
Commercial that it will require every
one of its members to give absolute
satisfaction both as regards quality
and quantity of production, other
wise no employer will be asked to re-
tain upon his payroll any of its men,
bers. "~
The Commercial invites every en-
ployer of plumbers and steam filters
in Buffalo and its suburbs to state
his approval of the action of Local
Union 665, and pledge himself to
henceforth give its members prefer
ence when in need of labor.