The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-09-09
UNDAUNTED,
LABOR FACES
THE STRUGGLE

LABOR Day, this year, dawns with
the skies ominously beclohded
Labor is fully conscious of the
magnitude of the struggle it is now
in the midst of, but is facing the
| future with a stout heart, unswerv-
! ing courage and an unimpaired con-
| fidence in itself to win the present
contest and keep driving on toward
the goal of a larger freedom and
higher standard of life for the
great toiling millions.
The past year, in our state and
nation. has seen the forces of greed
marshaled into a well-organized
fighting force, bent on breaking
/ their only defense-the organized
trades union movement of America.
Non-Union Shop Campaign Here
Our state labor movement, in line
with the experiences of the rest of
the nation, has been confronted with
a campaign for the so-called Amer
lean plan and the so-called open
shop, or, more precisely, the non
union shop. A drive for unwar-
ranted wage reductions has been
waged against cur movement on
every side. Strikes have been
found necessary in most industries,
and have been reluctantly entered
into by the workers, in order to
protect their wage standards
against constituencies reductions.
In most cases, where reasonable
wage reductions were proven neces-
sary, those reductions have been
agreed to by the workers, but in
many cases the demand for wage
reduction on the part of the en-
ployer has been so avaricious and
unreasonable that strikes were
necessary in order to force a more
reasonable attitude on the part of
the employer. In most instances,
the demand for wage reductions
has been coupled with a demand
Practically all of the labor
troubles that have occurred within
our state have been precipitated
by the employer on that issue.
The trades union movement has
successfully combatted every effort
to establish the open shop. Wage
notifications, where proven neces-
sary, have been agreed to, but no
surrender of the right of collective
bargaining and maintenance of the
union shop has been sui rendered,
| and none will be.
Theatrical Crafts Winners in Fight
The theatrical crafts, during the
past year, successfully weathered
the open shop battle in the cities
OF Seattle, Tacoma, Yakima and
Spokane. and renewed their agree
ments with the moving picture
syndicates, retaining the union shop
| and mutually satisfactory wages
and union conditions. The bakers
unions of the state have also won
their fight after a strenuous battle.
The building trades unions of the
| of guerilla warfare on the Joint is
sue of wage reductions and the open
non-union shop in most of the
| cities and industrial centers, but
| they, too, have successfully wealth
cred the storm, and, while in most
cases reasonable wage reductions
were agreed to, it always occurred
when the main issue-the nom
union shop-had been withdrawn by
the employer.
The miners employed in the COM
mercial coal mines of our state are
engaged in terrific struggle now
with the mine owners over the
| open non-union shop issue. The
question of wages has from the be-
ginning been prime issue, and
had the issue been continued and
confined to the wage reduction a
mutually acceptable solution of that
| problem would have been found,
but the announcement of the coal
owners of the severance of all re-
lations with the Miners Union and
their determination to establish the
open non-union shop at the mines,
has precipitated what will I'M
doubtedly prove to be the bitterest
labor fight that has ever occurred
in our state. 1t is fight in which
every citizen of the state is con-
cerned. Over 1000 miners, their
wives and families are threatened
with eviction from their homes and
their places are to be filled with
the scum of creation (scabs) re-
cruited from the four corners of
the earth.
Miners Naturally Won't Surrender
1t is natural to presume that the
members of the Miners Union, who
are citizens, residents and taxpayers
of our state, will not surrender,
without a struggle, their right to
life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness. The cost to the state, be-
fore the struggle is over, will prove
| enormous. The millions of dollars
spent annually by those residents
Of our state will no longer find
their way into the channels of
legitimate business within our
state, but will be taken outside
of our borders by the band of vag-
abonds that are constantly travel
ing back and forth across our Dor
ders and earning temporary grub
stake at this nefarious occupation.
Hundreds will undoubtedly be in
ured and probably killed in these
dangerous mines because of lack
Of mine experience.
No one can safely predict when
the contest will come to an end,
but this much is certain-that in
the end the miners will win and
their organization be maintained in
every coal camp in the State of
Washington.
The open shop campaign is not
abating much. However, most of
the small employers have come to
recognize the futility of it and
have dropped all further effort at
its establishment among their en-
plOyes. But the larger employers,
still entrenched behind surplus war
profits and encouraged by the
wave Of unemployment, are still
pursuing the non-union twill o.
| the wisp."