The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-07-29
ORGANIZATION WORK

ORGANIZATION WORK
Seattle, Wash. July %, 1921
To the Officers and Members, Local
Unions, /. U. T.
Greeting: Many important mat
tiers have claimed the attention of
your offers since the ISSUANCE of
our official bulletin of July 1st.
At that time we informed you that
plans were being formulated for the
Inauguration of a general organiza-
ton campaign for the Northwest,
that a conference of Northwest la
Dor officials would be held during
the convention of the Washington
State Federation of Labor, which
was held at Vancouver, Washington,
from July II to IA, inclusive.
Our proposed conference was held
in Portland, Oregon, on July 18th.
1t was attended by representatives
of the American Federation of La
Dor, the Oregon and Washington
State declarations of Labor, the La
Dor Press, some of the largest Cen
trail Labor Councils in Oregon and
Washington, and your International
officers. At this conference all of
were given very careful considera-
ton, and plan of organization was
agreed upon. 1t was also unani-
mously agreed by those present that
the general labor movement of the
two states should be appealed to
for financial assistance to help
carry out our campaign. Your In
ternational officers then introduced
a resolution calling for the financial
support of the two states. This
resolution was adopted unanimously
by the convention at Vancouver and
has the endorsement of the Execu-
tive Board of the Oregon State
Federation of Labor.
The report of the Executive Coun-
ell of the Washington State Fedora
ton of Labor urges that every eff
fort be made to organize the tim
Committee on Officers Reports en-
phasized this need and urged the
delegates to use their best efforts
to induce their locals to render fl
nancial assistance. In short, the
labor movement of the two states is
pledged to give its full support to
organization work in the timber in
dustry. President William M. Short
made a stirring appeal to the con-
vention to assist in this work.
IN OTHER STATES
At its meeting on July 9Th, the
Executive Board of the West Vir-
ginia State Federation of Labor
took up the matter of organizing
timber workers. 1t recommended
that four of its Vice-Presidents be
appointed as Special Organizers to
work under the terms of Resolution
last March. This Federation will
also assist these officers financially
until such time as they are able to
care for their own expenses. 1t is
confidently expected that our indus
try will be thoroughly organizec in
that state.
In the state of North Carolina
plans are under development that
will no doubt result in the organiza-
ton of the timber industry of that
state. Recent letters from that sec
ton are to the effect that RESPONSE
BILE members of the labor movement
will take UP the work.
A new charter has been issued
to Hattieburg, Mississippi. New To-
Gals recently formed in the states
of Mississippi and Florida are
making good progress in spite of
the strike condition that has existed
in some localities.
There is every reason to believe
that organization work will proceed
with considerable speed in the state
of Wyoming; one local union is now
in course of organization and 9TH
ers are possible. So in spite of the
opposition of the employers and
their tools, both paid and voluntary,
our movement spreads. The reason
for organization is easily under
stood; the reports on wage rates,
the stories told by the employment
boards in Seattle, Washington and
Portland, Oregon, are enough to
convince the most skeptical work
or in the timber industry that we
must ORGANIZE, that he must
ACT. The following is sample:
Portland, Oregon: Mill and yard
men 37h cents per hour; ratchet
setter, 40 cents per hour; cutoff
HAL, ~ CeHIS per uOuI. All IeIl-
hour jobs. Hammond Lumber Com
pany, T.. +. graders, $500 per day;
planning mill men, $500 per day.
Cosmopolis, no wage rates stated,
as usual. Here are a few more
from Portland: Chaser, $3.50; green
chain men, $3.50; fallers, $4.00-
$4.25: buckers, $4.40; swampers, 40
cents per hour.
Seattle, Washington: Trimmers and
graders fast feed, $500; lumber
sorters. $500; stickerman, $3.50;
edgerman, $500. Re-sawyer, 1878.
Transfers and cant-hook men,
(booked as general woodsmen),
$500 to $500 per day, short log
Job. Board ranges from $125 to
$3.50 per day. Other reports are
to the effect that in some places
the scale for common labor" is
down to Is cents per hour.
Weed, California: Common labor,
men, $3.50 per day. Women work
ers, SLIGO per day. This company
is importing colored workers for its
logging camps.
Alabama: White workers, $1.25
per day, I'll hours); colored work
ers, rs cents per day, I'll hours).
West Virginia: Wage reductions
of from 16 to 80 per cent.
WARNING!
Your officers view with consider
able alarm the increasing number
of 10-hour jobs that are being list
ed on the employmnt boards, and we
kpoxu Of mora that ara NOT listed