Denver labor bulletin., 1917-09-01
GOVERNMENT SHIPPING BUREAU SIGNS
TREATY WITH INTERNATIONAL UNIONS
Peace and Uninterrupted Work Construction
Steel and Wooden Ships; Threatened Strike
Employees of Shipyards on Pacific Coast Hasens
Action That Had Been Long Pending

| NalC III WHICH COTS Is
also being carried on for the navy
department, the secretary of the navy
or such person as he may designate
shall sit with voting power as a men,
ber of the board. In the event of a tie
vote, when the board is so constituted,
the decision shall be referred to the
chairman of the council of national
defense or to such person as he may
designate. This memorandum shall
In no way serve as a precedent for pro-
cedure in government plants under the
war or navy departments.
The plants where such construction
is being carried on shall be geograph-
lcally districted by the board. In each
district, the contractors in whose
plants such construction is being car
ried on, and the representatives of
such international labor organizations
as have members engaged in such pro-
duction or construction in such plants,
and as are selected for the purpose
by the labor member of the board,
shall be called upon, under conditions
to be laid down by it, to agree upon a
person or persons who shall act under
the direction of the board as examiner
or examiners in such district. If the
board does not succeed in having an
examiner so selected, then the board
shall by unanimous action select per-
son or persons for such position. The
examiner shall be subject to removal
by the board at any time by unanimous
vote. 1t shall be the duty of the dis
trict officer of the United States ship
ping board emergency fleet corpora
ton to report promptly to the board
any dispute with reference to wages,
! hours or conditions of labor which he
is unable to adjust satisfactorily to
the principals concerned; but the board
Will take cognizance of such dispute
when information concerning it comes
from any source whatsoever. Before
the district officer shall refer such
dispute to the board, he shall confer
with the local spokesmen or represen-
tatlves of such crafts as are involved
IN such dispute, or with such author
lied heads of any local labor organiza-
tions interested therein as may be
designated by the labor member of the
! board, or on their request with the ma
/ tional head or heads of such organiza-
ton or organizations or his or their
duly authorized representative or rep
resentatives. When it appears to the
board that such dispute cannot be so
adjusted, 1T will promptly send an ex-
amlner for said district to such plant
to bring about mutually satisfactory
adjustments, the terms of which shall,
If they receive the approval of the
examiner, be in report submitted by
him to the board for its ratification
If the examiner does not succeed in
| bringing about such adjustment, he
shall, in his report to the board, recon-
ment terms of adjustment. The board,
after due consideration and such in
vestigation as may seem necessary,
shall decide the questions at issue.
Basis of Wage Scales.
AS basis standards with reference to
each plant where such construction is
being carried on, the board shall use
such scales of wages and hours as
were in force in such plant on July 15,
1917, and such conditions as obtained
on said dates in such plants. Consid-
GRAFTON shall be given by the board to
any circumstances whatever arising
after such wages, hours or conditions
were established, and which may seem
to call for changes in wages, hours or
conditions. The board shall keep itself
fully informed as to the relation be-
tween living costs in the several dis
tricts, and their comparison between
progressive periods of time. The de-
|cisions of the board shall, under proper
conditions, be retractive, in which case
accounting such as may be proper shall
be made in accordance with the direc-
tions of the board. The decisions of
tiit WILL liilS
randum may be capable of achieving
such result, be final and binding on
all parties.
Signers of the Treaty.
The following signed the memoran-
dunn:
F. d. Roosevelt, acting secretary of
the navy.
Edward n. Hurley, chairman Unit
ed States shipping board.
w. l.. Capps, general manager, en-
ergency fleet corporation.
James O'Connell, president metal
trades department, A. F. of l..
William II. Johnston, president In
ternational Association of Machinists.
A. j. Berres, secretary-treasurer,
metal trades department, A. +. of l..
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor.
Joseph f. Valentine, president Inter
national MOulders Union.
Theobold B. Guerin, representing the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners.
John NJ. Donlin, president building
trades department, A. F. of l..
John r. Alpine, president United
Association of Plumbers and Steam
Filters.
Milton Snellings, president 1nterna
tional Union of Steam and Operating
Engineers.
Joseph A. Franklin, president Inter
national Brotherhood of Boilermakers
and Iron Ship Builders.
James Wilson, president Pattern
Makers League of America.
THE FIREMEN'S PENSION FUND.
An opinions concerning the state
firemen's pension fund, which was Gre