The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-03

Bookbinders at the Government Print
ing Office are again stirred up. and there
is a general unrest in the bindery ~
Uncle Sans big printery. A special meet
ing IF Local Union No. 3. international
Brotherhood Of Bookbinders. has been
called, and u is said that action far over
shadowing the Ashton affair viii be
taken
Several weeks ago Mr. Mcfarland, fore
man Of the bindery division. put q mum
Der Of women 10 work on several jobs.
In place Of men. The women are doing
what is known as quartcr-b0und wors
for the Post-ofice Department. This has
been done for years by the b1okbinderS
and they deeply resented the actica o.
Mr. Mcfarland in putting women il their
places
A letter was addressed to tine Pu5I.
Printer and a reply anxiousiy awaited
The expected answer came yesterday.
and when the days work was done a sp--
cial meeting Of the arbitration commiuee
was held. TIE committee decided that
the matter was too big fer thera to as
sumo the responsibility without FIRST pre-
senting the matter to the full union and
10 the Central Labor t-nion 1t jas weekly
meeting Monday night Public Printer
Stillings letter was, in substance. to ti.s
effect that the change had been mad.
for the good Of the service" This was
deemed unsatisfactory. ard the special
meeting was called rs a result
l. National Question.
The bookbinders consider that It is
fight for their lives. and the settlement
Of the question means life or death for
them Under the rules Of the Iuterna-
tional Brotherhood Of Pookb.uders. # is
said. they cannot work under present
conditions. and the matter viii b. taken
up by the national body. MS well rs Sine
American Federation Of Labor Memo
rials and petitions will be presented 20
the House and Senate. and each member
will be called on Individually by tn lo.aIs
al over the country aw-uE tHelr con tit
uents Z! IS pr ..nl- tHly central labor
unions al over The country will also be-
interested. and. in fact the movement
made national in every sense. POst-office
officials VIII also be called upon
Putting women on this work is regarded
By the men as poor economy. as il IS
said they have to have labor help They
can't mix the paste and cannot handle
the books. as they are much too heavy
for any one but a man. They also say
that the work done by the women g in
ferior and what is known as slop work
The men say that the post-office author
tiles will undoubtedly object TO the quality
Of the work. They regard the employ
ment OF women on this work as merely
an opening wedge, and fear that the
practice will be extended. For this reason
they are planning a strenuous campaign.
Claim Compact Is Violated.
II is also claimed that Public Printer
Sullings handed down decision several
months ago. in which he said that no
bookbinder would be disturbed doing book
binding work. The present situation Is d
violation Of this agreement, so to speak.
Just what action VIII be taken by the
Central Labor Union Monday is not
known What the bookbinders will do
at their special meeting is equally as
vague, but it is probable that they will
appoint committees 10 take up the fight
In various quarters and give the arbitra-
ton committee full power to act.