Montana labor news., 1936-04-16
City Council of Superior, Wis,
Experiments With Ordinance
Designed to Promote Collec-
tive Bargaining and Avert In
dustrial Disturbances Menac-
ing Life and Property.
(By A. F. Of L. News Service)

(By A. +. OF l.. News SerVlce9
Recently the City Council OF Su-
perior, Wis, passed an ordinance de-
signed to eliminate violence in labor
disputes, protect workers in their
right to organize in unions and en-
courage collective bargaining.
To achieve this object the ordi-
nance makes it mandatory for city au-
thorities to close as "a public nuisance"
any concern whose officers refuse to
meet with representatives designated
by a majority Of the employees for col
lective bargaining purposes, provided
the refusal results in 50 or more per-
sons assembling near the business place
for one hour or more on two successive
days under conditions that constitute
a danger to life OF property.
Prior to closing the plant the city
authorities are authorized to appoint a
committee OF nine, composed Of an
equal number OF representatives of
labor, employers and the clergy, to in
vestigate the controversy and report on
the desirability OF issuing the closing
order.
The ordinance was introduced by
Councilman Smith, who is also presi-
dent Of the Superior Federation OF
Labor. 1t was adopted by the Council
on December II, 1885. A similar ordi-
nance has also been passed by the
Common Council OF Milwaukee, Wis.
Text of Ordinance
The official text Of the Superior or
dinance follows;
Ordinance introduced by Councilman
Smith, providing for the elimination
OF violence and other forms of dis
turbances, and otherwise insuring
the peace and comfort OF the COM
munity.
'"The Mayor and Council Of the City
of Superior do ordain as follows
Section l.. CAY II is the declared
policy Of the United States govern
ment in Section Isl Of Title % U. S..
C. A., commonly called the Wagner
Act, to eliminate the causes Of certain
substantial distractions to the free
flow Of commerce and to mitigate and
eliminated these distractions when
they have occurred, by encouraging the
practice and procedure of collective
bargaining by protecting the exercise
by workers OF full freedom Of asso-
citation, self-organization and designa-
ton Of representatives of their own
choosing, for the purpose of negotiat-
ing the terms and conditions Of their
employment for their mutual aid or
protection.
Collective Bargaining Is State Policy
"(b) 1t is the declared policy Of the
State Of Wisconsin in Section 268.18
Of the Statutes that negotiations of
terms and conditions of labor should
result from voluntary agreement be-
tween employers and employees, and
that workmen have full freedom OF as
ISOLATION, self-organization and the
designation of representatives of their
own choosing, to negotiate the terms
and conditions OF employment and
they shall be free from interference,
restraint or coercion OF employers in
designating such representatives or in
self-organization or in other %concertive
activities for the purpose of collective
bargaining or other mutual aid for pro-
lection.
"(c) 1t is herewith declared hat I'M
der certain conditions the City Of SUI
perior may become liable in damages
for injury to persons or property oc-
casioned by large assemblages Of peo-
pie.