Plumbers’ Union Strikes Against Non-Union Apprentices
A standoff between Tacoma union workers and shop owners over hiring practices threatens to trigger a city-wide labor walkout.
The story, cleaned up
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A plumbers' strike will be precipitated by the union in Tacoma tomorrow if shop owners hold to their decision to ignore union rules regarding the employment of men who have not served a three-year apprenticeship. This afternoon, union men declared a strike at one shop after an owner employed a helper to perform work contrary to union rules. Union members also claimed that the firm charged full journeyman wages for work performed by apprentices. Employers deny the allegations and assert their intention to employ men based on ability rather than union rules, claiming they can secure non-union laborers from Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco to keep their shops running.
“They claim that enough non-union men can be secured here, at Seattle, Portland and San Francisco to do their work.”
This 1893 labor dispute over the definition of 'skilled' versus 'unskilled' work and the usage of non-union labor from neighboring cities highlights the long-standing tensions in the Puget Sound construction and trade industries, mirroring modern debates about gig labor and subcontracting.
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