The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-04-23
By J. H. PABLO.

attention lately, not only in progress
sive labor circles but also from en-
ployers. For instance, the Second In
dustrial Council, which was appoint
ed by President Wilson, approved
and strongly recommended a certain
kind of Shop Committee as a strike
Also Charles Schwab, the
steel king, more than sympathlzes
with the idea. Here is what he says
on the subject:
~ believe, l advocate, and ! prac-
tice the principal that the workn1er
of this country are entitled to rep
resentation and collective represen-
tation in treating for wages and con-
ditions with their employers.
II believe that such represents
tives, however, as they may select
must come from their own ranks and
not from the ranks of some indus.
trial or local that knows nothing
of the conditions or circumstance;
under which they work."
This statement teaches several
good lessons.
(1) That the class-conscious in
dustrial magnates do not trust any
kind of more or less centralized
labor union; and
I (2) that they are not afraid Of q
Shop Committee which is not di-
rected and supported by some power
full labor organization outside of the
shop-hence;
(3) The most important thing is
not the Shop Committee, but the
purpose and the basis upon which
it is built.
Occasionally Floating" from ono
shop to another in east or middle
west, sometimes working as a car
penter or repairmah while having q
Typographical Union card in one
pocket and Machinists Union card
in another, ! have seen all kinds OF
Shop Committees, workers commit
tees, welfare committees, joint con-
mittees, councils, etc. Sometimes one
is "fired' by the boss for fighting
against shop committee, sometimes
for organizing one.
There exist two distinctive kinds
of shop committees, both consisting
Of workingmen. Nevertheless, ons
group can be rightfully designated
as the
Bosses Shop Committee.
This species may be found in stecl
mills, machine shops, shoe factories,
woolen mills, etc. They have been
organized either by direct appoint
ment by the company, or in tha
following manner. A shop meeting is
called by the company. Everybody is
present-from sweeper to "super."
A band plays some popular patriotic
"Brag time" to stimulate the proper
enthusiasm. The company's best
speaker calls the meeting to order
and tells a story about mutual in
terests of employers and employees,
or about the company's love for its
slaves. Then the floor is thrown
open for discussion. Usually, some of
the company's spies have prepared
speeches and denounce unions, boil
agitators, etc. After this
the audience is invited
to pick out the "best" men, the men
who are longest in the shop, and
elect them on a shop committee for
the purpose Of receiving grievances
from individual employees for con-
sideration, etc. The committee is
elected. 1t consists Of such men as
were chosen by the Company.
This is the kind of a committee
Wilson's Second Industrial Confer
ence recommends. Such is the plan
Of labor representatives Charles
Schwab approves. And, true to his
conviction, quite recently he engaged
General Wood and a whole army to
keep away outsiders" in order that
his own workmen may select their
representatives unmolested.
The more intelligent workers in
Schwab's and other establishments
the purpose Of this kind
of shop committee. They know it is
not theirs. Therefor they call It the
Bosses Committee"
Wherever this arrangement exists
no union man is tolerated. II one
Is in such shop he must keep his
affiliation concealed. Whatever he
loes in behalf of his union-he does
secretly. Secret organization work Is
common among workers where en-
ployers have established spying and
,lack-listing systems and where a
nan is fired Us soon as the employer
'inds out that he belongs to a labor
inion.
The question before us is: what
'hall we do in such shops and under
iuch conditions? 81
There can be only. one answer:
TO hell with the bosses shop COM
nittees. Let's organize secretly un-
III we are strong enough to come