The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-22
GOVERNMENT HAS
PACT WITH LABOR
First Arrangement of the Kind to
Have a Place in Indus
trial History.
DISPUTES TO BE ADJUSTED
The Public, the Federal Government,
and the Union Involved VIII Be
Represented on Board to Set
tie Any Controversy That
May Arise.

| TIC FNHy controversy '"Ns
May Arise.
| The first pact between the FEDERAL
government and organized labor has
been signed, In essence it is an Amer
lean adaptation of Lloyd Georges first
agreement with the British unions en-
ployed in the munitions trades. Like
| the British precedent, it is an epochal
event in the history Of industry. The
| arrangement worked out at Washing
ton applies so far only to the shipbuild-
| ing trades. Similar agreements are,
however, being negotiated in the NUM-
ton and the war supply plants. The
treaty already signed provides for the
| adjustment Of all disputes as to hours,
wages and other conditions of labor in
| the shipyards of the country. The
navy department, the emergency ship
ping corporation, the federation of la
Dor and the national unions concerned
all signed the contract. Three ADJUST
ers representing the public, the fed
| eral government and the union in
VOWED are authorized to handle any
controversy which may arise. The
unions are pledged not to call out the
men on strike while the commission is
proceeding.
The Philadelphia Union of Heat and
Frost Insulators has signed an agree
ment With the Delaware Electric and
Supply company whereby wages are
raised to $425 a day from August l
to December 81, 1917. An increase of
Is cents a day will be paid every year
until December 81, 1920. The scale for
helpers viii be 81 day for the first
wear, $3.50 The second year and 50 the
third year. Employees whose work is
outside the city shall receive expenses.
Two hundred and fifty employees at
the Boston navy yard who are subject
to draft were officially notified that
under a ruling by Secretary Daniels
they would not be exempted because
of such service. Only skilled workmen
and draughtsmen who could not be re-
placed will be exempted, as announced
recently by the navy department.
When organized teamsters of San
Francisco urged the daylight delivery
of meat from wholesaler to retailer,
-ss-ew were told at can't be done" The
teamsters persisted and the plan is
proving effective. Formerly Transfers
reported at two and three o'clock in
the morning, now the deliveries are
made between n, m. and 5 p. m.
The BARRIERS union of Berlin, Ger
many, is much agitated over proposal
to train wives and daughters of hair
dressers to take their mems places
while the latter are at the front. The
union contends women are not capable
of running a barber shop alone, and is
fighting hard for a rule that at least
one man Be left in every shop.
Strikes of miners in Silesia reduced
the German production of coal by more
than 100000 tons last month, accord
ing to statements made in the debate
in the reichstag main committee on
the fuel problem. Vice Chancellor
Helfferich gave an urgent and earnest
warning against further strikes.
A wage increase aggregating $S,000,-
600 annually has been granted the 90
600 shop employees on the railroads in
southeastern territory. This settle
ment was effected by Secretary of La
Dor Wilson, who was called in as medi-
ator after efforts since last February
failed to bring both sides together.
Creation of a board of control i'm
mediately for labor standards in the
manufacture of army clothes to pre-
vent government work being done I'M
der sweatshop methods was announced
ty Secretary Baker. Louis KRISTEN of
Boston is chairman,
Unable to secure men for their work,
Superintendent A. n Kipp of the 500
line shops at Fond du Lac, Wis, is
sued a call for woman workers. The
500 line Is the first railroad in the
state to appeal for feminine labor.
The miners strike in the Birming-
ham (Ala.) district has been averted
through the efforts of Secretary Will
son. Practically all of the demands
made by he union including recogni-
ton, have been indefinitely postponed.
A vigorous organizing campaign by
Plumbers union No. 179 of Victoria.
3. c., has resulted in the establishment
of the 1914 wage scale-S5 for an eight
hour day dating from the first of the
month.
In many Of the large factories In the
vicinity Of Bridgeport, Conn.,, where
shells and cartridges are being manu-
featured, milling machines. lathes.
drills and planes are being operated by
women.
Plans for the establishment Of a
branch of the Union Printers home in
the South were rejected by the annual
convention Of the International Tvpo-
graphical union. The vote was almost
unanimous.
Representatives Of miners on strike
of between thirty-five and forty min
ers in Springfield and vicinity at n
meeting voted unanimously to return
to work,
"a modest minimum wage" Is the
latest contribution to social science.
nayv being used In arbitration cour+s