The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-01-29
YOUNGSTOWN STRIKE ENDS

Youngstown, O.-The strike OF Re-
public Iron and Steel company's en-
ployes came to a close when commit
! tees of the strikers and the company Of
ficials agreed to the following: Wages
OF skilled workers to be increased ap-
proximately 10 per cent, common labor
ers to be increased from 1917 to 90 cents
an hour; two hours to be allowed for
overtime if the overtime exceeds five
hours; future grievances to be handled
by the shop committee and no discrim-
ination because of union affilation.
The committee representing the
workers consisted OF three members OF
the Federal Labor union, organized by
the A. F. of L.; three from the cleo
trical workers and three from the
machinists. The strike resulted in
forming large unions OF common labor
ers, electrical workers, machinists.
steam engineers and stationary fire
men.
The settlement affects $4,000. About
5000 of these were advised with dur
ing the strike. and OF this number 40
per cent have been organized.
Washngton.-In letter to A. f. OF
! l.. Secretary Frank Morrison, Organ
izer Flynn states that East Youngs
is an incorporated city, separate from
Youngstown, and that it has only one
mill, the Youngstown Sheet and Tube
company, which employs about 10000
men who speak 90 different languages.
The organizer says ii is estimated that
about so per cent OF these workers are
foreign speaking. East Youngstown
has 5000 inhabitants, and about $50
voters.
Westinghouse wages, cXplota-
ton and opposition to trade unionism
caused the strikes and riot at East
Youngstown is the verdict OF George
p. West, representative OF the indus
trial relations commission who investi-
gated the Ohio industrial upheaval, and
reports in part:
During times OF depression, includ-
ing nearly half OF the time during the
past eight years. the steel workers and
their families have been kept alive by
charity. The Youngstown Sheet and
Tube company dolcd out the privilege
Of working three days a week to fam
iy men whose families were found tC
be destitute, after Investigations, and
besides distributed baskets OF food
The cost OF these baskets was later de
Quoted from the mans pay check, after
he had been permitted to work three
days week.
The riot was the natural outgrOwtl
Oi spontaneous, unOrganizcd rebellion
against an economic and industrial
regime so oppressive and brutalizng a
to oveTShadow the immediate provoca
tion and render it comparatively insig
! nihcant.
evidence is conclusive that the wag
policy Of the steel corporation has beef
based on the existence of huge sur
plus OF unskilled labor constantly re
pcnished from Europe. So long as tn
corporation could maintain with tn
aid OF charity, two men for every lol
; discomfort was smOthcred.
: During all these years the men live
in squalid, crowded rooms. Over
| crowding and poor diet aided the rapi
spread OF trochoma, a disease alway
i associated with dire poverty, The ep
!, demic became so threatening that tn
u Youngstown Sheet and Tube compan
became alarmed lest it would close il
:, plant, and spent thousands OF dollar
u to check the disease and restore tt
u human part OF its equipment to eff
- cheney"