The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-21
STRIKE ENDS.
Differences Between Packers
and Striking Employees
Will Be Submitted to a Board
of Arbitration.
STRIKERS TO GO BACK.
On Same Conditions as Prevailed
Before the Trouble
Settlement Was Brought About
by Allied Trades Unions.

Chicago, ILL.,, July 21.-The strike of
packing house employees, begun nine
days ago and which has demoralfzed
the packing industry throughout the
county was settled mere last night at
a conference between representatives of
the packers, the officials of the Meat
Cutters union and representatives of
allied trades employed at the stock
yards. The whole controversy will be
submitted to a board of arbitration,
both sides agreeing to abide by what
ever decision this board may reach.
Pending the decision of the arbitration
board the men will be taken back to
work as rapidly as possible by the
packers, and it is agreed by the pack
ers that all the old employees are to be
reinstated within forty-five days from
the date work is resumed. If any of
the former employees are still unempIoy-
ed at the expiration of that time, such
persons are to have the privilege of
submitting their cases to the arbitra-
ton board for settlement.
The strikers will return to work as
soon as they can be notified of the
peaceable adjustment of the trouble,
and 1t is expected by Friday morning
everything will be in normal shape at
all the plants in the different cities
where the employees were on strike
Half an hour after the decision had
been reached to arbitrate. NJ. ]. DON
nelly. the strike leader had got into
communication by long distance tele-
phone with the leaders of the strikers
in outside cities and had notified them
that a satisfactory settlement had been
reached and directed the strikers to re-
turn to work as soon as possible.
Tne settlement of the difficulties by
. h f1-.1f Ton
allied craft at the stock yards who
would have become involved in the
controversy had it continued much
longer.
which represent about a. 900 men, got
together and sent a final appeal to the
packers asking for a three sided confer
ence between the packers and strikers
and themselves, in a final effort to ar
range some sort of an agreement which
would prevent the strike spreading to
the affiliated unions. This appeal of
the allied trades unions received
favorable response from the packers
and the final conference was the re-
suit
The agreement entered into between
the representatives of the packers and
the strikers follows:
Wages and working conditions of
all employees now on strike to be sub
mitted to arbitration, each party to
this agreement having the privilege of
cision any question of wages or condi-
tions or any other grievance they may
have, and both to abide by the decision
OF the arbitratorS- The packing comS
panieS signing this agreement to re-
tain all employees now at work who
wish to remain, and will re-employ all
employees now out as fast as possible,
without discrimination. Employees to
return to work at the wages received
when going on strike, pending the de-
cision of the arbitrators; arbitrators
to consist of three practical packing
house men, to be selected as follows:
"One representative of the packing
conn panieS; one representative of the
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and
Butchers Workmen of North America.
These two to select a third member.
The first two shall meet within forty
eight hours after resumption of work,
proceed to elect the third member and
shall meet daily for that purpose until
this duty has been completed. When
the third member has been selected
the three shall meet daily unless ad-
journment be had by unanimous con-
sent until final conclusion has been
reached and the award made. Any
former employe not re-employed with
in forty-hve days from date work is
resumed to have the privilege of sub
nitting his or her case to arbitration
on question of discrimination, decision
of arbitrators to govern"
The agreement reached is practical |
ly the same as the proposition made
last Saturday to the packers by Mr..
Donnelly. The only difference is that
in Saturdays communica ton Donnel-
ly insisted that the strikers be all
taken back to work within seven days. |
This the packers refused although |
they agreed to accept every other de-
mand made by Mr.. Donnelly
When the men return to work it |
will be under exactly the same condi- |
tons as prevailed before the strike |
was declared with the exception that
the question of a wage scale will be |
decided by arbitration. The old wage
last year, expired May %. Since that |
time numerous conferences have been /
held between the packers and the |
union in an effort to settle upon new
but without avail Nine days |
ago it was decided to call a strike in !
order to bring the employers to terms. |
Five hours after the strike had been |
called Donnelly received a communi-
cation from the packers offering to |
arbitrate the whole difficulty. Mr.. |
Donnelly declared that the offer had
come too late to prevent the walkout, |
the packers claimed that the !
communication had been mailed to
Donnelly "a hours before the latter |
received it. Forty-eight hours after |
the strike had been on Mr.. Donnelly |
offered to accept the arbitration prop |
be put to work with the ac-
ceptance of the proposition The |
packers refused this demand but Of |
fered to re-employ the strikers in the |
order of their application. A number
of conferences were held in an effort to /
reach some sort of compromise, but |
the question of reinstatement proved a
STUN bling block at all these meetings
and finally peace negotiations were
With the probability of the strike
Continued on Page Six.)