The labor world., 1921-05-07
THE PRINTING STRIKE.

mined to swing this industry into the
44-hour week column, and on May
they set out for the Saturday half
holiday in the commercial and periodi.
cal branches of the North American
printing industry.
The unions involved are the inter
national organizations of printers,
pressmen, bookbinders and stereotypers.
These, together with large section Of
employers formed the international
joint conference council, in March,
1919. Strong declarations in favor Of
conciliatory methods and agreements
were made by both parties, and in the
following April the council recommend
ed that both parties submit the ques-
tion Of the 44-hour week, effective May
l, 1921, to their respective bodies. The
44-hour week was adopted by the men,
bers of all affiliated organizations, and
| at a mass meeting Of the council, held
in Atlanta, last December, it was de-.
clared:
"That this joint conference council
considers all members Of its constitu-
ent bodies are morally bound to adopt
and put into effect the 44-hour week
on May l, 1922
Despite these repeated declarations
for the shorter work week, and har-
mony in the industry, some employers
are now attempting to evade thex re-.
sponsibility and their pledged word.
In recent conference in Cincinnati
employers formed the "eight-hour
league" and are using the same argu-
ments against the Saturday half holi-
day that they used against the 49,
| hour week, Il years ago.
In Chicago on April 2 these employ.
ers conferred with representatives of
the interested printing trades and urged
that the demand for the 44-hour week
be withdrawn. This was unanimously
rejected by the labor representatives,
who insisted that pledges be lived up to.
One of the most glaring violations
of the employers pledge is recorded
in Denver, where employers ran large
advertisements in the daily press to
justify their contract breaking: The
chairman Of the Denver typothetae-
the employers organization-who signs
his name to these advertisements, was
one Of the two Denver delegates to the
convention of the United Typothetae,
union shop branch, in New York, Sep.
tember, 1919, which unanimously in.
dorsed the 44-hour week to become eff.
fective May l, 1921.
Every anti-union element in the coun'
try is lending its support to these en-.
ployers in an effort to check the a.
hour week in the printing trades
These employers see in this humane
movement menace to their long hon,
systems.
The four trade unions are united in
their determination to enforce thu
agreement. The members are thor
oughly grounded in the necessity fo,
united action. They are disciplined, re
sourceful and we'll equipped to insist
: that the Saturday half holiday be ap
piled, as per schedule arranged twt
years ago.
This movement means more than s
controversy between group of organ
lied workers and their employers. It.
strategic Importance is appreciated b,
anti-union individuals and organization.
that well realize the effect and inspira
tion that success in the printing trade!
will have On workers in other indus
tries.
; The unions are also awake to thi
phase of the question, and while the,
: are pleading for orderly methods. ani
the pledged word in the changing o.
working conditions, they are deter
mined that the 44-hour week will be :
fact as it should have been on th,
date agreed to by employer and en-
ployed.
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