Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1921-04-29
TRYING TO WIGGLE OUT

A recent issue OF the News-Gazette
contained an article purporting to
emanate from A. G. Paris, wherein
he states the printers will claim, on
May |, that the employers have
broken their agreement to put into eff
feet the 44.hour week in commercial
printing plants on that date. Mr.. Par
ris has hit the nail squarely on the
head. That is just what they are do
ing-brealxing an agreement.
The United Typothetae is composed
of two branches--the open shop
branch and the closed shop branch,
each acting independently of the
other although under the same name
of United Typothe:ae, the same as
the various lodges come under the
name of Masons. The closed shop
branch Is concerned only where union
shops are conducted, and the open
shop branch where non-union shops
are conducted. Consequently the two
combined-the United Typothetae as
a whole-have no more authority to
control the policy of either branch
than the Blue Lodge has to dictate
the business of the Shrine.
A little history of the transactions
leading up to the 44-hour agreement
might not be amiss at this time.
Shortly after the close OF the war, IT
was realized by the employing print
ers and the Typographical Union that
a "reconstruction" period would soon
come At preliminary meeting 1t
was decided that in the future any
movement changing existing condi-
tions in organized printing establish
ments would be AGREED UPON by
representatives of both sides con-
cerned. To this end. the three employ
ing groups employing UNION print
ers (non-union employers and the
United Typothetae had nothing what
ever to do with the proceedings be-
cause they were in no way concerned)
chose four delegates. and the four
unions selected four delegates and the
international Council was formed and
at meeting held in April, 1919, the
following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That both parties are
TO submit to their respective bodies:
that, beginning May l. 1921, the forty
four week will prevail nationally in
the printing industry, and that each
side recommend the adoption of this
resolution to their constituent bodies
and report at the next meeting of the
International Joint Conference Conn.
Gil"
Following this. at New York, on
September Is. 1919, the following res
olution was passed by the closed shop
branch of the United Typothetae;
Resolved. by the Closed Shop
Branch of the United Typothetae of
America. in annual convention assem-
bled in New York, on September Is.
1919, in accordance with the intent
expressed by the National Joint Con
ference Council, That we hereby agree
to the introduction of the forty-four
hour week in the Closed Shop Branch
on May /. 1921
The resolution establishing the
rty-four-hour week on May l. 1921.
was also ratified by every organization
connected with the International
Joint Conference Council, and at each
OF the twenty meetings held since the
resolution was adopted there has
been absolutely no attempt made to
abrogate II.
Later. al a meeting of the Joint
Conference Council held in Atlanta.
Ga, on December 13 and IA, 1920, it
was
Resolved, That this Joint Confer
ence Council considers ALL MEM
BEERS of its constituent bodies are
morally bound to adopt and put into
effect the forty.four-hour week on
May l, 1921"
The foregoing proceedings have
nothing to do with the open" shop
=, branch Of the United Typothetae, be.