The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-05-27

President and Harry Call, Secretary
Treasurer of the International Union
of Timberworkers.
Office, 207sS-9 Maynard Building,
Seattle, Washington.
To the Officers and Members of
Affiliated Locals, l. U. T.
Since the issuance of our bulle-
tin of May 10th, many important
things have occurred in the timber
industry. Some of the things that
have occurred are not a matter of
surprise to your International Of
ficers. We have been close OBJ
servers of the general trend of af-
convinced that movements detri-
mental to the best interests of the
workers were under course of de-
velopment by the boss-ridden Loyal
Legion and similar organizations.
We have pointed out to the
workers on numerous occasions that
the eight-hour day was slipping
away from the workers in the
Northwest; we told them WHY it
was slipping. We pointed out that
the same agencies would agree"
to a further reduction in wages.
All of our statements on these vital
matters are now borne out by the
activity of the "bosses" union.
1t is reported on reliable author
ity that Schaefer Bros. at Mon
tesano, Wash, gave the workers
their choice of $1.00 per day re-
-, 70 ha
ten-hour day. Some of them walk
ed eff the job as real men should
do: others remained at work.
Press reports state that the
Beardmore Lumber Company, near
Spirit Lake, Idaho, has attempted
to install the nine-hour day. 100
men walked off the job.
The Portland "Oregonian," of
Portland, Oregon, in its issue of
May 18th, carries the report that
the Board of Directors of the Loyal
Legion have agreed to reduction
in the Loyal Legion minimum wage
of $3.50 down to $500 per day.
The "Oregonian" is regarded as a
reliable source of information. This
reduction, it is reported, will be-
come effective on June list.
1t is also stated that the Board
of Directors of the Loyal Legion
has fined six companies $500 each
for paying less than the Loyal Lee
gion minimum, and that collection
will be made. The proceeding
should prove interesting, especially
in view of the fact that the work
ers will receive no relief even if
the fines are collected 1t is i'm
material whether the fines are col
lected OF not 1t is further evil
dence, however, of the great will
ingness on the part of the en-
ployers to "play the game fairly"
as the Loyal Legion insist that
they do. The Secretary of the
Loyal Legion, Mr.. Robert Gill, in
recent report states that II opera
tors have withdrawn, and that II
more Withdrawals were pending. So
Successful" has been the opera
ton of the Loyal Legion in the
timber industry that Mr.. Gill has
resigned as secretary and will go
to Baltimore to try to install the
same system in the printing indus
try, insisting that it is not
"union- busting" move on the part
of himself or the Baltimore employ
ers' organization. The experience
of the workers in the timber in
dustry is that the Loyal Legion
plan is nothing else but union
busting institution. The plan will
succeed no better in Baltimore than
it has on the Pacific Coast; the
smell of its failure floats to the
skies.
Wage Rates
The following is a sample of the
rates of wages that are posted on
Seattle employment boards: Bucker,
$3.50; second faller, 1915; high
climber, $3.50; rip sawyer, Al cents
per hour; trimmer and grader,
$3.75; knotsawyer, $500; and COM
mon labor $2.10. Kindly read these
over then draw a comparison be-
tween the wages paid one year ago
and those paid at this time. Then
compare the reduction in wages
with the reductions in cost of liv-
ing, if you have noticed any, and
you will be in fairly good posi-
ton to determine just where the
workers are getting off at.
General News Notes
In District No. l organization
work is progressing in several cen
tiers, especially in the Grays Har-
Dor section.
In District No. 2, General Or
ganizer P. J. Christ and District
President Paul r. Prochnow are in
the field and there is considerable
improvement in several parts of the
District.
In District No. 8, District Presi-
dent C. A. Kelley is working in the
jurisdiction of Local No. l66 and
reports progress. At Weed, Calf,
in spite of the opposition of the
employers the local union is more
than holding its own.
In District No. 4, new locals have
been organized at Laurel. Miss, and
there is considerable inquiry from
other parts of the District. The
workers in the South are now re-
sisting further reductions in wages
that some of the employers have
tried to force upon them.
International President Canterbury
has held several very successful
organization meetings during the
past week. Several more Local and
Special Organizers have been APP
pointed by the International Presi-
dent to work under the terms of
Resolution No. 3, adopted by the