Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, March 22, 1922
Reprinted from The Black Diamond, the nationally known coal magazine, March 4, 1922
The Pacific Coast Coal Company of Seattle, Washington, confronted with the unreasonable attitude of the United Mine Workers of America, has broken away from the union, and now refuses to employ a member of that organization.
It recognizes, however, the right of the man who works to organize and to present his demands through an organization.
What the company objects to is having its employees controlled by an organization with headquarters two thousand miles away. It is willing to deal with its men through collective bargaining; but demands that men in its employ who have been chosen by their fellows shall represent those employees, rather than some paid official of a union or some walking delegate.
The outline of the plan which is being evolved by this company as presented in last week’s BLACK DIAMOND suggests a plane on which capital and labor can meet as equals, and through which a square deal can be accorded both.
That organization of labor is beneficial not only to the employee, but to the employer as well, is admitted, but when labor leaders so far forget their responsibility to the members of their organization as to foster unsound economic doctrines, it is far better for labor to deal directly with the employer through local organizations.
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