Pueblo chieftain., 1921-04-19
The Impending Printers Strike

! On May first the union printers in the commercial
shops of the United States will go strike to enforce
the terms of an agreement which they claim made
two years ago for the establishment of y-four-hour
week This strike will not affect the newspaper Offices
III which the union printers have been working upon
different basis, and there also Job offices in
which there contracts between the printers and their
employers which have not yet expired.
There are some features in connection with this
industrial controversy, which make it of more than
usual Importance and interest The International Typo
graphical Union justly regarded of the foremost
labor unions in the world. In the intelligence of its
members in the business ability of its officials in the
successful in which its affairs have been con-
ductcd in its preference for arbitration rather than
strikes in the settlement of industrial differences and
in its insistence upon the faithful keeping of con-
tracts other union stands higher than that of the
printers of the United States and Canada 1t also has
splendid record for its of old and disabled mem
bers and the Union Printers Home Colorado Springs
justly regarded of the best of its kind in the
world.
The merits of the pending controversy depend upon
the facts with regard to the which the union
printers claim was had two The Typographi-
cal Union has been scrupulous in keeping agreements
and the International organization has gone to extreme
limits IN compelling local unions to keep faith with
heir employers The printers therefore have double
be kept and it is not valid say that within
the past two years conditions have changed so that an
agreement that seemed fair years ago. is not longer
fair
1t is however, claimed by the employed that the
agreement not actually made, that the socalled
agreement was nothing more than recommendation by
committee for favorable action and that this recon-
mendaton was ratified by the employers
This matter of fact the kernel the controversy
and 1t is to be regretted that there this time
some authoritative way of determining the fact that
would settle the merits of the controversy with all fair
minded people.
The question of the fortv-four hour week is one
that is quite distinct from that of the observance of
contract agreement entered into years ago and
to be made effective the first of May of the present
year The forty four hour week means eight hours
day for five days week, and four hours Saturday
thus giving the worker Saturday afternoons for amuse
ment recreation In cities of the United States
and moro commonly in Canada it has been the custom
of the trade to close the printing shops Saturday aft
ernoon but in such cases the have been required
to work longer hours other days in order to make
the total Of fortycight hours for the week In such
places therefore the present proposal to do away with
the time over eight hours other days and retain
the Saturday half holiday, and also make this custom
universal in all union shops
The fundamental question, therefore. is how much
of the workers time in tine printers trade should
considered fair amount be given the industry
by which he gains his livincf That is question that
concerns the worker alone and the worker and
the employer exclusively but it is that concerns
the entire community.
The total amount of production limits the total
amount that be distributed wages in salaries in
dividends and in the other methods of distribution The
question therefore, is what the employer shall pay
to the for his work, but the much larger
question what shall tho worker give the community
in which he lives in exchange for the living gets for
himself and for his family. The fundamental principle
involved is the that is expressed in the SAYING