Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-03-02
PROMOTING THE
HAPPY FAMILY PLAN IN
AMERICAN INDUSTRY
How One Corporation Works In
Harmony With Its Men.
AN INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY

All Grievances Presented by Men
Through Representatives Reach Head
of Company and Are Honestly lnves-
tigated.
For more thai a year a large n
progressive industrial corporation with
plants scattered ove a large territory
in several states of the southwest has
peer improving its relations with its
employees through the medium of a So
called industrial representation plan
an industrial constitution drawn on a
basis of democracy and mutual conf
dence between the head of b CON-
pany and the workmen who number
from 10000 to 1900.
To deal with the diverse interests
of such a vast body of men is a serious
task involving stern responsibilities.
Nevertheless the company, through its
representation plan, has not only car
ried on social and industrial betterment
work on a comprehensive scale but has
succeeded in settling all grievances
without friction and without interfer-
ence from the outside. During the
year several increases In pay have
been made upon the initiative of the
company.
Altogether the plan has demonstrate
ed itself to an important forward step
in the establishment Of amicable re-
NJ l-A-r1o. al tho 70 ofnre in in
dustry. A more widespread adoption
of such schemes in plants and rae
tories is heartily recommended by the
broad-minded manufacturers of the
country who have started the National
Industrial Conservation Movement for
the purpose of getting employers and
employees together. The supporters
of the conservation movement realize
that the captain of industry and the
workingman must fight shoulder to
shoulder to protect American industry
against conditions that are sure to
prevail after the Wat.
Workers Elect Representatives.
The Industrial Representation plan
was adopted in it's present form by
| LIE I'LL 6ClOlS vi Liz &OAAR0AJ @Ao -
a referendum vote of the workmen.
By secret ballot the workmen in the
company's various plants select repre-
sentatives who act as their authorized
agents in all matters pertaining to en-
LBlaEmen+cnEns-and Eorklns s2nasz
tons. the adjustment of differences.
and other matters of mutual concern
and interest. On the other hand, the
president keeps in direct touch with
the workmen through officers known
as presidents industrial representa-
tives.
Employees have been made to under
stand that they are absolutely free to
present ali their grievances even
though they involve charges against
the foremen or superintendent under
whom they work. Through the work
mems representatives the complaints
are referred to the presidents industri-
al representatives, who in turn investl-
gate them carefully and report their
findings in detail to the president.
In every case the grievances have
been investigated fearlessly and I'M
partially and adjustments have been
made OIL a strict basis OF fairness, IT.
respective of whether the award was
in favor of the workman or the com
pany official. The workman. dissatis-
fed with the decision of the presi-
dents industrial representatives. can
appeal to the higher officers of the COM
pany in consecutive order up to the
president. Then. if he still feels that
he has not received full justice, be can
carry his case to the joint committee
on Industrial Cooperation and %eoneilia-
ton, comprised of both employees, rep
resentatives and the company's repre-
sensations. and finally to the State In
dustrial Commission.
Confer on Wage Increases.
Under the industrial constitution
drawn up matters of wages, hours of
service and other vital factors in the