Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-03-14
PROMOTING THE
HAPPY FAMILY PLAN IN
AMERICAN INDUSTRY

Gov One Corporation Works 10
Harmony With It's @o1.
An INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY
All Grievances Presented BY Men
Through Representatives. Roach Head
u Company and Ars Honestly lHvss-
tleatsd.
For more than Q year Q large and
progressive industrial corporation with
plants scattered over . large territory
In several states Of the southwest has
been improving it, relations with IT.
employees through the medium Of . 20
called industrial representation plan
an Industrial constitution drawn on .
basis Of democracy and mutual conf
dence between the head Of the COM
pany and the workmen who number
from 10000 to $4,000.
To deal with the diverse interests
Of such q vast body Of men d . serious
task involving stern responsibilities.
Nevertheless the company. through it,
representation plan, has not only car
ried on social and Industrial betterment
work on q comprehensive scale but has
succeeded In settling all grievances
without friction and without interfer-
ence from the outside. During the
year several increases I'm pay have
been made upon the initiative Of the
company.
Altogether the plan has demonstrate
Cd itself to an important forward step
in the establishment Of amicAble re-
lations between all the factors In IN
dustry. A more widespread adoption
of such schemes In plants and fac
tories is heartily recommended by the
broad minded manufacturers Of the
country who have started the National
Industrial Conservation Movement Tor
the purpose Of getting employers and
empioyees together The supporters
OF the conservation movement realize
that the captain Of industry and the
workingmnn 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
Yves ADOPTED in its present form by
the directors of the company and by
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-
ployment, living and working condi-
tions, the adjustment Of differences,
and other matters OF mutual concern
and interest. On the other hand, the
president keeps in direct touch with
ths workmen through officers known
ss presidents Industrial representa-
tives.
EMPLOYEES have been made to under
stand that they ASe absolutely free to
pregsbt all their grievances even
though they involve charges against
the foremen or superintendents under
whom they work. Through the work.
mems representatives the complaints
are referred to the presidents industrt
Al representatives, who in turn tnvesti-
cate them carefully and report their
nndings in detail to the presidents
In every case the grievances have
been investigated fearlessly and i'm
partially and adjustments have been
made on 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, II he still feels that
he has not received full justice, he can
carry his case to the joint committee
on Industrial Cooperation and concilia-
tAOL, VI bOtn Ccb, 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
company's relations with Its employees
are settled by a written contract In
creases in wages are worked out in
conference between company officials
and the workmen's Representatives.
In all matters Of industrial better
ment the employees representatives
play an important part They are A.
signed to joint committees on which
they serve with representatives Of the
company. The names Of these COM
mittees-Safety and Accidents. Santa
ton, Health and Housing. and Recrea-
ton and EducatiOn-1ive an adNOuat r.