The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-29
ROWLAND DRY GOODS co.

that~resulted favorabIy
 Better wages, better working condi- tions and practically a saving of 5 days work every year has been ef- fected by the machinists of the city
 There are 800 working days in the year. On the @egiht hour day basis, with it's two hours day less work, 600 hours a, year or in the neighbor- hood of 75 eight hour days are saw ed.
 The International Association of Machinists' local, No. 30, has made the most phenomenal increaseNln nlsmber- ship of any union in the city, possi- bly in the country. Tie union had about 500 members last May l, and there will be 5000 members after this Sunday. A big initiation will be held Sunday afternoon in the Plaza theatre when more than 1000 members will be added to the union rolls Up to noon today the initiation list contained 1,- |255 names.
 "Of course these figures show that condition have never. .sbeen better in Bridgeport said Business Agent
 George J. Bowen today. "Our mem Rbership has increased 500 per cent. and is constantly growing.
 We have made Bridgeport a. union city and expect to keep it so."
 The growth of th e union since May of last year has been so great that another local has been organized here. So many employees of the Remington Arms 6 Ammunition Go. belong to the Machinists' union that Remington 1o- cal has been formed. Stillman Ben way is the new business agent.
 The Bridgeport Typographical union, No. 252, had a prosperous year. Jan. 1 their wages were increased by the employers.
 The establishment of a Laundry Workers union was another feature of the year, from a union standpoint Eight hours and better wages were obtained in most of the laundries of the city last summer through organi- zation.
 The Metal Polishers. Buffers. Plat CTS, Brass and Silver Workers U-iOn here obtained many concessions in big factories, including the Remington Arms last summer. John J. Flynn, one of the International vice presi- dents, acted as negotiater.
 The window cleaners organized, too, last summer and obtained better wages and hours.
 Arrangements have been made to organize the bookbinders during the next few months.
 The automobile repair workers will make demands early in May. They want the eight-hour day Most of them are working 10 hours. some nine and some an indefinite number.
 Two hundred delegates are expected at the convention here tomorrow of the New England district, Interna- tional Association of Theatrical Stage Ernployes The convention will be held in The Strat1eId. opening at 10 o'clock William Dillon, of Fall River. Mass, Newf England president, will preside, and International President Charles Shea, of New York, will ad- dress the convention. Local 109 has arranged for banquet to follow the business meeting.
 Business Agent Edward Thompson, of Local 1o9 has com 'eted negOtia- tfons with s. z. PoIi, the theatrical regarding the ~ wage and labor agreement to cover his houses here The new agreement, effective Monday, replaces one that has been in efretc for the last five years. MT. said today that the union had been most graciously received by MT. Poli in the matter of the new agreement, which calls for substantia1 increases in all departments