Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-07-30
BUNDY CLOCKS OUT
No More winding" at the
Shipyard,
THE SYSTEM ABOLISHED
Time Keepers WIN Keep ..Tab' on the
"orkmen. Employees OF the
Plant Pleased with
the Change.

The employees at the works of the
Newport News Shipbulding and Dry
Dock Company have wound their last
wind. #.. .
Yesterday afternoon the last one
of the Rundy clocks was taken ollj
of the plant, and when the employees
go TO work in the morning a time
keeper will register their time. They
will not be compelled to stop pm
their keys out and wind" their .ire.
which the mechanical arrangement
registered on a piece of tape.
Ih. determination of General Mana
ger W. a. Post to remove the clocks
caused general satisfaction among the
men. When Mr.. Post succeeded MI.
:Sonmers N. Smith in the management
OF the plant, one of his first acts Was
to issue an order that the employees
should register their time but twice :,
day instead of four times. as had been
toward abolishins the Bundy system OF
time keeping, which was obnoxious 20
the artisans in the company's employ
Now the system has been relegated 10
the background entirely.
The Hundy clock system was iu-
troduced during the administration OF
General Superintendent Sommers ~
smith. II occasioned the only strike
that ever occurred in Newport News
tor at first the men refused To wind
put on their coats and left the yard
FOR nine days the machinery at the
yard were kept going, but no work was
being done
When the clocks We're put in the men
sad nothing. not anticipating any loss
of time to themselves.
=" men. however. on the morning OF
May 4. 1896, each man w:ls given a lar.c
brass key with his number imprinted on
IL, ana was informed that he would be
| expected to wind" or register in tho
clock in his department. four times q
day. and that in his own time.
trouble commenced 10 brew. Registry
was required before ! ~ NJ. aftsr
II NJ. before 12:45 and after p. NJ
This order appeared in the light of a
gross imposition to the employees and
about o'clock the same afternoon
about two hundred men Went to the
office and asked for their money.
The next morning many men struck
and were paid off. On the following day
men in the remaining departments
Went out and three days after the
clocks were introduced in Newport
News the shipyard was idle merchants
were complaining, money was held in
4 tight grasp and the situation gave.
threatening outlook.
For nine days more than 1000 skilled
shipl'nilters We're Idle in Newport
News. In that time upwards o.! 800
n:cn left The city and secured positions
else where.
ON May 10 the majority of the srik +.
ers returned u work With the intention
Of giving the clock Il thirty-,lay trial.
Superintendent Smith agreed Ia tnk,.
back all OF the men. excluding none.
and on the following day every cmrlDg-
| poyee who Was in the city was work
ing at his customary place.
AT the end of thirty days n0 action
was taken by the men. the clocks hav-
| ing been found not to lie 50 detrimental
| after all although ii was generally
| complained of that the few minutes
| lost on the day should not be forced
| on the employees.
Business was stagnated by the strike,
| which resulted in the loss of many
! thousands of dollars to merchants.
| During the strike mass meetings We're
| held at which the system was bitterly
| denounced. ~