The Union Label Battle
Everett printers and pressmen revolt against a city attorney’s attempt to strike down a mandate for union-made office supplies.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A dispute has erupted in Everett over Resolution No. 375, passed in 1908, which instructed the city controller to ensure that all printed materials purchased for city departments carry the Allied Printing Trades label. City Attorney Benj. W. Sherwood later issued an opinion declaring the resolution void, claiming such a requirement is unconstitutional and restricts free trade. In an open letter, local printers and pressmen—including members of Typographical Union No. 410 and Printing Pressmen's Union No. 185—denied Sherwood's claim that they were satisfied with his legal reasoning. They argue the city has every right to establish a purchasing policy that favors union labor, noting that similar resolutions are in force in cities across the country.
“We question your right to assume the powers of the supreme court of this state in giving your opinion.”
This 1911 dispute highlights the long-standing tension between municipal procurement policy and the influence of organized labor. Today, similar debates occur over 'Project Labor Agreements' and 'Local Hiring' mandates, showing how the city’s role as an employer continues to be a battleground for labor standards.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.