money on both sides, and often great suffering to the workmen's families. Like war, either might almost always be prevented. There is a better way to settle quarrels than by fighting. This is by arbitration. Both parties agree to allow a committee, or board, to settle their differences for them. Sometimes each side chooses one member of the committee, and the two choose a third member. Often the desired results are obtained without the loss of time and money. As employers and employees become more friendly, they will learn to work together in settling their differ ences. More good can be accomplished in this than in any other way, and our industrial life will become more and more that of a "square deal" for all. Questions and Topics for Discussion What two groups are there in all industries? What do employers and employees sometimes do on such questions as wages, hours, and working conditions? In such cases what do employees often do? What do they form? What good laws have been passed, through the efforts of the unions? How do these laws affect you? How do they affect women and children? What sometimes happens when employees make demands which do not seem fair to the employer? What may the employees then do? What is a "walk out"? What sometimes happens then? Who wins the strike if the employer is forced to give the employees what they demand? Sometimes, when the employer will not grant the demands of the workers, what does he do? What is this called? If the employees return to work under the same conditions as existed when work was stopped, who wins? In either case, who always suffers? What do the strike and lockout mean to both sides? Which side usually suffers most? Could not the strike or lockout almost always be prevented? What better way is there to settle quarrels than by fighting? What is arbitration? What plan is usually followed in arbitration? What is often obtained without the loss of time and money? What should employers and employees learn to do in settling their difficulties? What can be accomplished in this way? Tell of cases you know of where strikes were settled by arbitration. Was it at the beginning of the strike? Or was it after a long period of unemployment? Was the settlement a satisfactory one? Could not this method have been used before work was stopped? Would it not have been better for all? LESSON XVI SHOP COMMITTEES Years ago a certain Belgian family of nine members made wooden shoes in their home. At first, only the father made the shoes. He was a skilled workman and made only high-grade shoes. Soon he had more orders than he could fill. One by one other members of the family began making shoes. At last the whole family was busy. In order that he and his family might work together better, the father often called them around him to talk about the work. He told them his plans, and they exchanged ideas. All gained by these talks or conferences, as they were called. For each began to know the other's problems. The father and his family did not always agree on all questions. But after they had talked things over, it was easier to reach an agreement than before. These conferences helped business and brought a bigger income to the family. The father was able to get them greater comforts, and better their working conditions. A business of to-day, instead of employing nine people, often employs nine hundred, nine thousand, or even more. Instead of consisting of a family group, living in the same house, it consists of a small army of people. They gather from miles around, coming to work in the morning, and going to distant homes at night. The superintendent of a large factory has so many employees that he can hardly know each of them. They are so many that he cannot gather all of them around him to talk things over. Neither can so big a group go to him in a body. Yet a way has been found which gives both employer and employees a chance to express their opinions about work, wages, or working conditions. This may be done through the shop committee. The shop committee is made up of employees elected by the workers to represent them on various questions. This committee meets with the employers, who are also sometimes formed into one or more committees. They talk over questions and conditions in a commonsense and business-like way. Usually a decision agreeable to both can be reached. The shop committee, if properly worked out, is a democratic way of settling difficulties. It ought to bring about good industrial relations. The plan, wherever established, should be used properly by all. The employees should take things up and talk them over with the employer. The employer should bring before his employees such problems as concern them. Both should look at things fairly, and hear what the other has to say. Then both should try to correct any errors on their part. Together they should try to find some plan agreeable and profitable to both. In this way much inconvenience, bad feeling, loss, and often suffering may be avoided. Questions and Topics for Discussion Tell the story of the Belgian family who made wooden shoes in their home. Who gained by the conferences which the father held with his family? Did they always agree on all questions? Why was it easier to reach an agreement after they had talked things over? How did these conferences help business? What was the father able to do for his family? How does the number of people employed in a business to-day, differ from the number in the Belgian family? In what other ways do the two groups differ? Can the superintendent of a large factory gather all his employees around him to talk things over? Why not? Can so large a group go to him in a body? What way has been found which gives employers and employees a chance to talk together about work, wages, and working conditions? How is the shop committee made up? What kind of a decision is usually reached? What may be said of the shop committee as a democratic way of settling difficulties? How should the plan be used by employers and employees? What kind of plan should they try to find? What may be avoided in this way? LESSON XVII INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY We are used to the idea of our democracy, in which the people rule, a democracy which is based on freedom. In this democracy every citizen may fit himself for any service in the state, or commonwealth, as the state is sometimes called. There is another kind of democracy. It is called industrial democracy. Our industrial democracy is the commonwealth of labor. Like other democracies, it has privileges and responsibilities. Each man may fit himself for any honest labor. He is free to move about in search of work. He is free to seek a better job. |