Strikes in Water and Fire Departments
The strike in the water works of Cincinnati, which happily was of short duration, nevertheless emphasizes the evils that might follow in the train of disturbances of this kind in either the fire or the water works department. There is absolutely no more excuse for a strike among the employees of either of these public branches than there would be in the United States Army or Navy. The service these men render to the public is in fact, at least in times of peace, of more importance to the welfare of the citizens than that of either of the branches just mentioned.
The water supply is vital to the public health, both in its quality and its quantity. Sickness and death would soon follow in the wake of deterioration in the one and the reduction beyond reasonable bounds of the other. In like degree the safety of the public depends upon its fire fighters being continuously “on the job.” For this reason the men who strike for personal gain in either of these departments take upon themselves a very serious responsibility. There are few cases where conference and arbitration will not bring these men the results which they desire. and there is always the appeal to public opinion, which is an agency fully as strong as the strike, if the men’s cause is just.
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