The Principles of Economics, with Applications to Practical ProblemsFetter, Frank A. (Frank Albert)
General
The Principles of Economics, with Applications to Practical Problems
Fetter, Frank A. (Frank Albert)
Economics
3. _In order to accomplish their ends, the trade-unions seek to control
their employers' business in various ways._ They demand, first, that no
non-union men shall be employed even at union wages; they demand that
the employer shall help them to force his employees into the unions. In
this very usual demand for the "closed shop" or "union shop" the public
can see very little justice. On this point, nearly always, unions
forfeit in a strike the sympathy of the public; yet the unions assert
that it is almost absolutely necessary to gain this point in order to
carry out their objects. If a union and a non-union man work side by
side there are many ways in which the employer may make the union man
suffer. If business slackens, it is likely to be the union man that is
discharged; if any preference is given, it is to the non-union man.
Certainly all will agree that if the unions are to get the strength to
enforce _all_ their demands it is essential that they make good this
claim which leaves the employer almost helpless. Yet it certainly is not
essential to the accomplishing of valuable services for the members of
the union. The educational and mutual-benefit features are attained
without this means; and much experience shows that, if their cause is
strong, the organized men can carry with them a large proportion of the
workers and the sympathy of the public in a contest for higher wages. It
never has seemed to any considerable portion of the public any more
desirable that organized labor through its officers should be able to
dictate to employees, than that employers should crush the workmen. It
is by just this assumption that union advocates beg the question of the
"union shop."
[Sidenote: Other limitations put upon industry by unions]
Further, the unions direct and control the employment of labor, often
limit the number of apprentices in a trade, and assume to determine who
shall enjoy the privilege of learning it. They limit the output, fix the
maximum amount, and forbid the use of labor-saving machinery. Whenever
the unions are charged with these acts, labor leaders either deny the
facts or avoid giving a direct answer, but there is no doubt that the
charge is true in many ways and in many cases. The requirement that each
special kind of work shall be controlled by a special trade, and
disputes between rival trades, for which their jealousies are
responsible, give rise to great annoyance, expense, and loss to
employers and to the entire public.
[Sidenote: The strike and the boycott]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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