Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-16
MANUFACTURERS.
CONTINUED from Page seven.)

PapermakerS Union at Bellows FallS,
VT. His executive committee refused
to ratify the movement and notified
the company to that effect This Bel
lows Falls strike continued several
months. When it was terminated, the
company offered to sign an agreement
with the .Papermakers Union. The
president, while continuing to do
business with the company, refused to
sign any working agreement unless
he should receive jurisdiction over all
the paper and pulp workers.
: July /. 190S-Because of the de-
pressed business conditions following
the panic, the company was forced to
practice every possible economy, the
salaries paid New York employees were
first considered, and changes in rates
and organization were introduced, eff
fecting saving of over 100000 per
annum. The salaries of mill superin-
tendents, agents, office employees and
foremen were considered by the board
of directors, and schedule Of stand
ard salaries was adopted. effecting
large saving of money. The board of
directors then took up the question
of mill employees paid by the hour.
Up to this date, the irregularities
which existed between the wages paid
in the different mills had been carried
forward. Men doing the same work
in different plants were receiving diff
ferent hourly rates. The advisability
of having standard rates for each oc-
cupation, without regard to mill, was
considered, and the board decided to
present a revised schedule to the men
for their consideration. The various
unions We're invited to send delegates
to New York to take up this question.
July %, 190S-The first meeting
was held and resulted without reach
ing any agreement. There was opposi
ton on the part Of the papermakers
organization to any reductions in pay.
The conference was therefore adjourn
ed for the time being.
Saturday, August /, 190S-The
president of the Papermakers Union
telephoned from WATERFOWL to the
manager of the company in New York.
objecting to a reduction of So per
week in the salaries of two foremen
at Rumford Falls, The manager of
the company replied that the board
of directors had fixed the salary of
these positions and that the manager
had no authority to change their
decision. The president of the union
replied that unless the salaries were
restored at once, the mills would not
start the following Monday morning.
Monday. August g. 19OS-None of
the paper mills started. Some Of the
pulp mills continued running. No
action h1,f ha RI
start up the paper machines during
the month of August
August 81, 190S-The International
Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen
and the International Brotherhood of
Pulp Workers signed agreements
with the company accepting the new
rates of pay. Up to this date no
reductions had been made in the
wages Of any employees paid by the
hour. The company then proceeded
to start up its paper machines, hiring
such papermakers as wished 10 work
under the new schedule Of wages.
By September 10. 19OS-A large
number of paper machines had been
started and it was evident that the
mills were gradully resuming opera
tons.
September 10, 1864 conference
was held at No. 80 Broad street. New
York, between the officers of the COM
pany and the president and secretary
of the Papermakers' Union. Mr. John
Mitchell, vice president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor arranged
this meeting and was present during
the conference. 1t was decided to
hold a meeting the following week. at
which time it was expected an agree
ment could be reached.
September %, 190S-A conference
occurred between the officers Of the
company and the president and secre-
tary of the Papermakers Union in
New York. At this conference, an
understanding was reached concern
ing all points of dispute. except that
of jurisdiction between the two
unions.
September "a, 19OS-The president
of the International Brotherhood of
PapermakerS attended conference
with the manager of the company in
New York. The manager of the COM
pany brought the presiden of the
Papermakers' Union and the president
of the Pulpmakers' Union together in
his office, furnished them with
stenographer and requested that they
settle between themselves the ques-
ton of jurisdiction. When the man.
ager of the company returned to his
oCe, the two labor presidents had
signed an agreement calling off the
strike and arranging to arbitrate the
jurisdiction between the two unions
The company then signed an agree
ment with each union. pledging itself
to accept the decision of the Board
of Arbitration as final, and to
recognize the jurisdiction laid down
by the Arbitration Board. Upon the
same day, September gath. 1908, the
company signed an agreement with
the Papermakers' Union, calling for
the termination of the strike, Monday.
September 2Sth, and covering the con
ditions under which the men should
return to work. After signing these
agreements, the manager of the COM
pany notified all mills to prepare TO
start up full the following Monday.
September 81, 1908-The president
of the Papermakers' Union notified the
men in all locals not to apply for work
as per agreement with the company,
hut to send delegates to ALBANY to
H111