Everett Labor Temple Organizes for the New Year
Newly elected leadership and local unions report on growth, employment gains, and a new initiative to ensure attendance at council meetings.
President Stainsbaugh called the Everett Trades Council to order at 8 p.m. New delegates were seated, representing the Musicians, Machinists, Shingle Weavers, Electricians, Lathers, Barbers, and Carpenters. The Council held its semi-annual election of officers for the coming six-month term, with A. W. Stratton (carpenter) installed as President, L. O. Lutz (tailor) as vice president, R. F. Straka (machinist) as secretary, and Gordan Maertz (sawmill worker) as treasurer. Secretary Straka, in his role on the City Free Employment Board, reported that the city employment office successfully placed 4,000 men in jobs during 1909. Various local unions provided status reports; notably, the Cooks and Waiters announced plans to campaign for a six-day work week, and Electricians No. 191 reported that employees of both telephone companies secured a 25-cent daily pay increase effective February 1st. To boost engagement, the council proposed a new rule: local unions failing to send a representative to any regular meeting will be assessed a 25-cent fine.
“Secretary Straka reported that the city employment office sent out 4,000 men to jobs during the year 1909.”
Everett's Labor Temple remains a powerful symbol of the city's blue-collar roots. Today's debates over gig-work and the 'right to disconnect' echo these early 20th-century struggles for standardized work weeks and living wages.
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