The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-05-13
NEW WEAPON FOR
OPEN SHOPPERS
Now Being Used Against Print
ing Trades 44-HOur Per Week
Campaign.

Strike insurance as an adjunct to
the Open-shop drive is now being
written by a number of mutual COM
panies fathered by large concerns
employing labor. Employers who
have hitherto dealt fairly with the
unions are being guaranteed against
loss if they will break with labor
organizations. Printing firms are
being urged to repudiate their agree
ment to put the 44-hour week into
effect, and they are promised a
sum equal to their usual profits and
overhead expenses in event a strike
Of employees takes place.
Who is putting up all this money?
That is the question being asked
by members of organized labor. OF
course, the most of it is being put
up by the commercial, financial and
industrial combines which inaugur-
ated the open-shop movement. Re
Gently several strike insurance COM
panies have been formed to handle
this feature of the campaign. One
of these is the Employers Mutual
Insurance and Service Company of
Baltimore, with Edward C. Myers,
PRESIDENT; Emlen T. Littell, vice
president and secretary; Louis S.
Zimmerman, treasurer, and Morris
Griffith, assistant secretary.
There could be no criticism of
strike insurance if conducted along
legitimate lines, like accident, life
hail, flood and tornado insurance
but when it is used as an induce
ment to employers to wage war on
labor unions, that is quite another
story. Recently the Baltimore con-
Germ sent to employers a printed
folder, with charts and tables, call
ing attention to the rapid growth
of the American labor movement
in which it says: Labor is power
fully organized. not only by trades
but in one great positive and finan-
cial federation. The most complete
answer to organized labor's methods
is insurance"
Members of the mutual" are re-
imbursed "for actual daily loss not
exceeding the per diem indemnity
caused by a strike beginning at any
time while the policy is in force
for period not exceeding 800 work
ing days"
The American Federation of La
Dor has been investigating the strike
insurance business and finds that its
development is co-existent with the
campaign for the open shop inaug-
urated by the United States Cham
Der of Commerce and related asso-
Citations of employers soon after the
armistice was signed. In discussing
the Baltimore mutual" Frank Nor
rison, secretary of the Federation,
said:
at would be interesting to know
the influences that are back of this
particular company. The fact that
1T was brought into existence dur
ing the time that the money powers
were endeavoring to impede the &C
tlvltles of the unions and endeavor-
ing to destroy them raises a sus-
picion in my mind that it may be
used as means of encouraging en-
ployers to enter into industrial war
fare with their employees for the
purpose of reducing wages and in
creasing hours. 1t is certain that
the development Of strike insurance
companies will be a potent factor in
increasing HluuSIflal STRIFE, prOVld-
ing there is unlimited financial sup
port available.
1T is not conceivable that any
single company could induce employ
ers to pay premiums large enough
to guarantee them against loss
through strikes. Even if it did.
1t could not guarantee employers
against loss of trade and customers
to other employers who were wise
enough to enter into agreements
with their employees so they might
be IN a position to supply the pub
lie with their products"