The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-05-05
Increase Is Fourth Granted Vol
unfairly by Big Corporation
Within Year.
WORLD FEDERATION PLANNED
President Gompers of American Fed
Grafton of Labor to Call Congress
in Washington as First Step
Other News OF Work
ers' World

announced an increase of 'about 10 per
cent in wage rates and salaries up to
$500" for the employees Of the cor
poration's various subsidiaries.
During 1916, the most prosperous
year in the history of the corporation,
three voluntary increases In wages and
salaries were granted, eQualing about
81 per cent. The annual pay roll was
increased to $263,3S5, 502 from $l76,-
S00,S64. The Steel corporation has
about 100000 employees. The new in
crease will add about $25, 100000 to the
corporations pay roll it is said.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, has an
nounced plans for a congress of labor
unions of the United States at Wash
ington in short time. Coalition of
labor interests in North and South
America and finally world federation
Is planned.
During the last year the Amalga-
mated Association of Street and Elec-
trio Railway Employees of the United
States and Canada made splendid prog
ress. Thirty-One new divisions have
been fully established, which gives the
| organization an increase of 1000 men,
berS. Wages have been increased for
over 10000 members, ranging from one
to six cents per hour. There has been
an increase of over $5,O0O,000 in wages
TO the membership as a whole during
the year 1916.
| Chicago union stone masons and
| bricklayers have showed their patriot
! ism in practical manner. Their joint
| board of arbitration at q meeting
agreed to remit the dues of young
members while in war service and
promised to find jobs for them when
they returned
The Tageblatt says labor difficulties
have broken out in the big Vulcan
Shipbuilding works at Hamburg. The
Workmen demand a One-third increase
In their wages The Vulcan works are
where most of Gernany's ocean liners
Hay -pSciI llil9hts = e.gE -
Organized miners in Kansas threat
en- to use their economic power to en-
force Kansas mining laws They have
| appealed to the governor and their
state senators. who are notified that
| if conditions are not bettered a strike
will result.
Hamilton (Ontario, CanadO Plumb
ers and Steam Filters union has Sc
cured three-year agreement and
| raised wages from 1911 cents an hour
TO 4715 cents for the first two years
and 80 cents an hour for the third
year.
Washnglon'S legislature has passed
the Observation-Disclosures BILL which
provides that q portion of the cost shall
be borne by workers. The trade union
movement attempted to have the cost
placed on industry.
Dallas CTex.) Typographical union
has signed Il five-year agreement with
newspapers in that city. Increased
wages and improved working condi
lions are assured during this period.
Metal shoes resembling skates, which
grip firmly when weight is applied to
them, have been invented to enable
men to climb steel frames Of buildings,
bridges and some types Of poles,
The pay Of French soldiers has
lately heen raised from ii cents to
one frame GO cents) day. The high.
er pay is given only to men in the
trenches,
WOrkmen Of today receive in one
hour as much money as the workmer
of 1893 received in a day that begar
with the dawn and ended with th'
twilight.
The Idaho legislature has passed {
compensation bill which compels EN-
ployers to insure employees in thu
state fund or carry their own risk.
The day laborer of 1777 received
cents day and his board, or 81 if h
boarded himself. His hours, too, were
from "sun to sun
Over 800 girl students of Toront,
university will don oyeralls during tn
summer vacation and work in the mu
milton factories.
Waltbamstow (England) council ha
decided to. give preferential employ
ment to discharged soldiers on tn
tramways.
Farm help and shepherds in Scot
land are getting weekly wage o
$3.50, besides the usual perquisites.
Wentworth county, Canada, council
has passed resolution disapprovin
, Of the action of the government i
| passing the teachers pension bill be
cause no provision was made for othe
workers.
Vancouver tB. CO. Trades and La
Dor council has passed resolutio
against bringing In Chinese labor.
A hospital is to be erected for benz
et of local unions at Gillespie, Ill.
Portsmouth, Eng, has i've woma
! saxieab drivers.
: City fire fighters at Reading, Pa
will organize,
Il