The Fight for Fair Wages and Honest Employment
Everett labor leaders outline a legislative agenda to target employment 'sharks' and secure a minimum wage for women workers.
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President Case of the State Federation of Labor addressed the Trades Council on Friday evening, outlining a robust legislative agenda. A key priority is the 'employment office evil,' where a chain of graft connects unscrupulous employers with employment sharks. The Federation seeks uniform state legislation to eliminate these predatory practices and replace them with free municipal employment offices. Furthermore, Case announced a major push for a minimum wage law for women workers, acknowledging that employers will fight the measure with every resource at their command. He emphasized that the struggle for justice in the workplace may take several sessions, much like the hard-fought battle for direct legislation, but the commitment to secure these reforms remains firm.
“The justice of such a law cannot be denied by right-thinking men and women. Employers of labor will fight such a measure bitterly with every resource at their command.”
Everett's long history of labor advocacy often centers on the 'power of the rules committee' and the fight for worker dignity. The 1912 battle against predatory employment agencies echoes today's ongoing struggles against the gig economy's opaque management practices and the persistent need for protective wage legislation.
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