The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-06-06


are the same as have been enjoyed
by seattle printers for mot. than
score OF years.
CZhRISM ny F0REMEN
ono 81 the conditions complained
of d the Limitation of forrmrn on
the part OF tho union 10 three causes
Tor discharge Of members OF tho
force. These cnuscs are lncom.
potency. characterization and neglect
Of duty,
Surely. NO fair minded pstton can
sggErst reasonable cause FOR dia.
charge OF an cmploye wh!sh does
not fall within thg power given
forcmen under this section preferred
70 tho Post tntcllIEenccr.
II Is identical with sections In con.
tracts In force wherever In the United
S;ntcl and Canada union printers
produce printing 80 any nature. job
or newspaper n H. identical with
sections ia force in contracts made
elsewhere without exception with
Hearst publications embracing -
daily newspapers and six magazines
n II protects the rmpioye against
discharge sor lodge affiliations. rrli.
gious or political belief. union uctiv.
ities color OF hair. and within d fore
man. Il dve@ not protect. and never
has protected. an employs from dis.
charge for drunkenness. loanng. In.
competency. characterization. o. any
prcvcutnbic fixture Whatsoever 70 do
the things he was hired and paid
10 do.
In the place Of this section the
toF.lntsiliEcncer's counter proposal.
submitted in the form Of an ulti.
,, natuni. provided
!. The setting up Of special
standing commttcc consisting OF
four msmbens two from each
side.
:. Tho giving 10 forcmou the
sole right OF discharge.
;. The provision tlat lin
cases q discharge. the special
standing committee shall have
power to confirm the DISCHARGE
or TO order the reinstatement Of
the discharged member'. that
the foreman shait not he TO-
; qutred 30 remstatc a discharged
member tof the printing forroj
until ordered 10 do 40 BY tho
: special standing committee" and
! that 1T shall require the affirma.
: tive votes OF four 90 members OF
p the special standing committee
: 10 decide the lsgueA.''
The effect desired by this provision
on the part OF the publisher.is ob.
! vious. To the very proper power
given by the union to the foreman
! to discharge an employee for incom.
Z potency. insubordination. or neglect
: Of duty would be added the power OF
I discharge for nny net whatsoever.
! including activity in behalf OF bet
! torment of conditions. or even in be-
I half Of their maintenance. It would
I, give to the foreman the power OF dis.
charge upon whim. II would give
the power OF ultimate destruction OF
the union itself
THE SENIORITY LAW
The Post-Intelligencer's ultlmatum.
besides lengthening hours and re.
ducing pay. demanded the abroea.
ton OF the unions seniority law.
This regulation. like that applying
to powers OF discharge, is fundn.
mental OF the international Typo.
graphical union. It's abrocntion
! could not be conceded by a subord.
mate union even II the members Of
that union so desired. The seniority
law has been In the body of in.
: ternationai union law for many
decades, and applies wherever union
: printers produce printed matter.
The seniority law is the result of
determination on the part Of union
printers to reduce 10 rule and write
into contracts "A safeguard which
most employers regard as moral
obligation - the continued employ.
ment and fair treatment OF en-.
ployes as they grow old in the
faithful service OF an employer.
The acknowledgement in it's uItl.
matum. demanded the abrogation OF
this rule. manifestly In order that
the employer might throw his older
mechanical employees upon the SCRAP.
heap, as he would a worn.out piece
Of machinery.
In this connection It should he
stated that for many years the In.
ternational Typographical union has
paid 10 every suporannuated mem.
ber q pension which makes possible
his retirement from service when
he shall have reached the age where
honorable service should bring rest
from labors
The International Typographical
union has for several decades main.
tanned, and continues 10 maintain,
at Colorado Springs. Colo, a home
TO which any sick member may re.
! pair for treatment, absolutely with.
out expense 10 himself, and TO
which supcrannuated members may
I, retire 10 live surrounded by every
/ comfort.
These two features. supported by
the union, make II Impossible for
any publisher reasonably to main.
tain that the union, 10y IL insist.
cnco upon the seniority law. forces
the retention upon the mechanical