The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-10-21
The Union Shop

In the earliest days trade unions of the first de-
mands for the union shop These proud words neae
the realization of the ideal that had right to
participate determining the terms and conditions under
which they worked to that such conditions were enfoc
and support those who were willing TO insist upon JUS
in the workpace with opportunity to promote economic
progress. 4 r -, -, .1.
in the work community 1t provided security for It's mem
bers and established machinery for adjusting msunderstand
ings and disputes. IA,
also responsible for seeing to that the
unions members lived up to their responsibilities under the
contracts which included dependabllty alr days work.
carrying out work orders ETC. Successful unions enforce
compliance with contracts.
Unless all workers union members the union has no
way discipline them The ability OF the union to exert ds
cpne begins with work training for which the union, IN
cooperation with employers and schools its respon
sbtv The fixing of wage eligibility for the
Job accepting its share Of responsibility for the cope
ency of workers. the union serves both management ana
The union agreement enforced in union shop lays the
foundation on which cooperation between workers and
apement developed But the union cannot coopera-
tion upon workers who refuse to join the union.
Even though they benefit by the higher wages and bet
ter standards resulting from union activity non-unlonlsts
refuse share the effort to make progress which involves
risks In asking for the exclusion of those who re-
fuse o the union applies majority rule Non-unlonlsts
can seek employment with others OF their way OF thinking
Employers hostile to unions make much of the open"
shop-meanng the shop ntoerant of unionsand OF the
right of workers not to join union Workers 90 have that
right like all other conscientious obectos but they must
not infringe upon the rights of the majority who wish to be-
long union order that they may have an effective tool
for their economic advancement The union shop is also
to management-Degnnng with It's employment
function This basic service has long been established in
sution in the construction and printing industries For
wears seaarng workers and ongshoemen struggled to
establish union hiring halls that union representatives
might underwrte terms of employment assuring workers
protection against physical brutality brutal conditions of
work and lodging boat we'll assuring pay according
contract This progress rests the Seamen Act assur
ing to seafaring workers the right without liability to
rest quit the lob when the boat in safe harbor
The union shop is an accepted and constructive nsu-
ton finding employment for its members, negotiating and
enforcing contracts covering terms and conditions of work,
and serving the management the industry the community
and the government times of need For effectiveness it
requires workers to join unions prior to placement or within
fixed period aferwardor seek other Jobs The regulation
rests on the respected principle of majority rule
The corporation lawyers who wrote the Taft Hartley
wanted to weaken the power Of unions They recognized
the union shop the key to union effectiveness and outlaw
ed the requirement for union membership condition of
employment and devised regulations under which they
badly hoped requirement to join the union would not be APP
proved.
So the Presidential election has its background
effort to disrupt the international Typographical Union and
to hamstrng its local unions by nuncton-even forbddng
them TO pay strike benefits tedious and expensive elections
in the building trades shipping West Coast tied up
by strikes Of Communist unions endangerng standards in
the whole shipping industry established by unions that have
served democracy Through precedens in these battles the
rights Of all workers menaced.
Labors first line of defense is to its votes in the
coming elections against key persons who responsible
for the enactment Of the Taftartley Law which has
vved govenmentby and denied freedom of
tract to workers.
ICrboy Irrc Cbc,ooJ I,Jrctyxy