Page:Robert W. Dunn - American Company Unions.djvu/38

 ing was effective. Finally, the strikes were beaten and since then the Harvester plan has been a model for imitation by smaller companies thruout the country. The plan stresses the educational features and is used with skill to offset what its spokesmen call "the promiscuous propaganda" of "organized labor and labor agents." The workers are given "the facts" in the usual way and the company-directed "leaders" do the rest. A Department of Industrial Relations, similar to that used by the Pullman and other large companies, gives special attention to the plan, and the chairman of this department, a salaried official of the company, or some one appointed by him, acts as chairman of the works council, while the secretary of the council is appointed by the superintendent of the works. The company prides itself on the way the plan has been used to reduce wages "without friction" while the workers, particularly in the Tractor Works in Chicago, speak of the plan as a "bitter joke" and regard the representatives as "company men." Said one of the workers, "we know and they know that they would not dare to run for the position of representing us unless they obeyed every wish of the Harvester Company. Their jobs would be taken from them." Active union men have been discharged from the plant for being too talkative on behalf of real unionism. Of course no unions are recognized as all the works are completely open shop. Americanization, stock-selling, and safety campaigns are tied in with the plan, and the workers' representatives are inspired with "mutual responsibility" by handing over to them minor jobs in connection with the administration of these "morale-building" devices.

Among the textiles the company union has had