Denver labor bulletin., 1915-03-20
ARSENAL WORKERS
TRY OUT NEW PLAN
Joint Bard to Introduce Col
loctive Barfaninf
Movement Inauturatsd Byesvsrpnsnt
At watsrtswn, Mass, Nay Prove
Model for Other Large Employers

sion, announces the Inauguration of
machinery for collective bargaining be-
tween the government and its employees
at the important government arsenal at
Watertown, Mass. Under an order is
sued by Brigadier General William Gro
States army, grievances of the machin-
lists and other workmen employed at the
arsenal are to be. adjusted by joint
boards, composed of representatives Of
the arsenal and of the employees.
This innovation is particularly -
esting because it puts collective bargain-
ing into effect under conditions that are
often said by critics of unionism to be
Incompatible with trade agreements
These conditions are the existence in the
arsenal of system of Scientific man.
agement devised by Frederick Taylor
of Philadelphia, and the fact that pub
lie necessity forbids any interference
with the operations of the arsenal, as
an important part of the national de-
fense. General Crozier's action in Is
suing this bulletin sets a precedent and
constitutes an experiment that will be
watched with interest both by public and
private employers. If the experiment
succeeds it will prove that democratic
shop organization can be maintained
management and in an industry where
safeguards against interruption are of
prime importance.
Devised to Avoid Trouble.
Thompson was detailed by the com
mission last summer to aid in an effort
to adjust the differences that threatened
to arise at Watertown because OF the
objections of the men to the Taylor
system of scientific management He
had the full cooperation and numerous
conferences with General Crozier, n. p.
Alifas of the Machinists' Union. and
John r. OLeary of the NIolders' Union,
as well as with Colonel Wheeler, COM
manding officer OF the arsenal. The plan
devised by Thompson is incorporated in
General Crozier's order.
This order provides a shop board, con
sisting OF a representative of the arsen-
al and of the employees in the shop
where the grievance arises. In case the
shop board fails to adjust the grievance
it shall then be taken up by the arsenal
board, consisting of an officer of the
arsenal. to be selected by the command
ing officer, and representative of the
employees OF the whole arsenal, to be
selected by the employees. In case the
members OF the arsenal board cannot
agree they shall submit a statement of
the subject in controversy to the media
tion board, consisting of five members
appointed as follows:
How Board Is Formed.
The commanding officer shall appoint
from his staff an officer, who, II prac-
ticable, shall act continuously; the COM
manding officer shall also appoint an
additional member, who may be an Off
Ger or an employe, not from the rank
and file of the employees, and who must
not be party to the grievance. The
employees on their part may also ap-
point two representatives from among
themselves, the first TO act as continu-
ously as practicable; the second shall,
II possible, be representative of the
craft which has the complaint before the
board, but he must not be personally In
volved in the question for adjudication.
The commanding officer and employees
shall select fifth man, who shall act
as chairman OF the board.
Appeal may be taken from the de-
cision OF the mediation board to n SUI
preme mediation board, which shall con-
sist OF three members, one TO be APP
pointed by the chief Of ordinance, one to
be appointed by the crafts representing
all the employees of the arsenal. and
these two to choose a third member who
shall act as chairman. The findings of
the supreme mediation board are not to
be final. but are to be subject to the
approval of the chief of ordinance, with
an appeal from him to the secretary Of
war.
Workers Waive No Rights.
General Crozier's order specifically
states that the ''employes are understood
as not waiving any objections which
they may have to any method or man
ner of work which may be in force In
the said arsenal, such, for instance. as
the stop watch elemental time studies,
or the premium system Of payment to
employees"
liz letter from General Crozier to
the commanding officer of the Water
town arsenal, Incorporated in Thomp
sons report, General Crozier states:
THE enlargement of the privileges
now existing and in practice with ref
erence to this subject is Offered with the
object of giving employees as full parti-
cipation in dealing with matters with
which they are closely concerned as is
consistent with the interest of the gov
eminent and the responsibility which is
devolyed upon the department"
IL Ia uuderstOOd TINT il the experiment