The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-07-22
BIG STRIKE IS ENDED
PACKERS AND EMPLOYEES AGREE
TO SETTLE DIFFERENCES
pY ARBITRATION.
MEN WILL GO BACK TO WORK
STRIKERS 70 BE REINsTATED
IN CID POSITIONS AS FAST
AS POSSIBLE.

49, ~ ~ "
AS POSSIBLE.
Chicago, July 21.-The strike Of
clearinghouse employees, begun nine
days ago, which has hampered the
packing industry throughout the coun-
try, was submitted to arbitration last
night at a conference of representa-
tives Of the packers, officers of the
meat cutters union and representa-
tives of all the allied trades employed
at the stockyards. Both sides agree
to abide by whatever decision the ar
bitrators may reach on all questions
in issue.
Pending the decision of the arbi-
tration board the men will be taken
back to work as rapidly as possible by
the packers, and it is agreed by the
packers that all the old employees are
to be reinstated within forty-five days
from the date work is resumed. II
any OF the former employees are still
unemployed at the expiration of that
time, such persons are to have the
privilege of submitting their cases to
the arbitration board for settlement.
The strikers will return to work as
soon as they can be advised of the
peaceable adjustment of the trouble,
and it is expected that by Friday
morning everything will be in normal
shape at all the plants in the different
cities where the employees were IN
strike.
Half an hour after the decision to
arbitrate had been received, M. J..
Donneily, the strike leader, had got
into communication by long distance
telephone with the leaders of the
strikers in outside cities and had adj
vised them that a satisfactory settle
ment had been reached and directed
the strikers to report for work as soon
as possible.
Brought About by Allied Trades.
The settlement of the difficulty by.
arbitration vas brought about by the
allied craft at the stockyards, who
would have become involved in the
controversy had it continued much
longer. The representatives of these
unions, which include about $4,000
men, met Tuesday and sent a final ap-
peal to the packers, asking for a
three-sided conference Wednesday of
packers, strikers and themselves. The
packers agreed, and Wednesdays con-
ference resulted.
The agreement entered into between
the representatives Of the packers and
of 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 bringing before the a%rbitrators for
decision any question of wages or con-
ditiOns. or any other grievance they
may have and both to abide by the
decision of the arbitrators. The pack
ing companies signing this agreement
r to retain all employees now at
work, who wish to remain, and will re-
employ all employees now out al fast
as possible, without discrimination.
Employees to return to work at the
wages received when going on strike,
pending the decision of the arbitra-
tors; %arbitrators to consist of three
practical packinghouse men, to be Sc
lected as follows:
Will BE Three A%rbitrators.
zone representative of the packing
companies; one representative of the
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butch
er Workmen of North America; these
two to select a third member. The
two first named shall meet within
~forty-eight hours after resumption Of
work, proceed to elect the third mem
Der, and shall meet daily for that pur-
pose until this duty has been complet-
ed. When the third member has been
selected, the three shall meet daily
unless adjournment be had by unani-
nous consent, until the final conclu-
sion has been reached and the award
made. Any former employee not re-
employed within forty-ive days from
date work is resumed is to have the
privilege of submitting his or her
case to arbitration, on question of dis
elimination, decision of arbitrators to
govern"
The agreement reached at last
nights conference Is similar to the
proposal made last Saturday to the
packers by Donnelly. When the men
return to work it will be under exact
ly the same conditions as prevailed
before the strike was declared, with
the exception that the question Of a
wage scale will be decided by arbitra-
ton.
At Kansas City, Sioux City, Oma-
ha and st. Louis both packers and
strikers were jubilant at the ending
of the strike. The men will all go
back to work.
RELIEF AT SOUTH ST. PAUL.
Packers and Strikers Pleased at End
iru of the Trouble.
st. Paul, July 21.-Both the Off
Gals of the Swift Packing company
branch and the strikers at South st.
Paul expressed delight and satisfac-
ton upon hearing that the conference
at Chicago had resulted in the settling
of the strike. They expressed willing