The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1917-10-05
TO CORRECT THE
LAROR UNREST
GOVERNMENT is STRIVING TO
OEVELOPE COMPREHENSIVE
SYSTEM FOR WORKERS.


ment is working TO develop some com
prehensive system Of dealing with tho
labor unrest which threatens to ham
per war production. Il is concerned
over the pronounced upward move
ment OF wages, sprcportionate fol
various industries and the difficult,
Of stabilizing conditions without do
ing injustice to workers or employ
ers. Nearly all production now is di
rectly Or indirectly necessary for The
prosecution of the war and the output
Of war materials is curtailed b,
strikes. extraordinary movement O
workers from one industry to anothe,
or from plant TO plant. and other un
settled conditions.
On the recommendations ot tht
commission headed by Secretary VIII
son, Of the Department of Labor
which left today for the west. will
largely depend the government.
eventual policy Meanwhile it is III
derstood the governments course vii
be:
10 extend to number of industrie
having war contracts the present svs
TEN of wage adjustment boards whicl
have been created for cantonmen
construction, shipbuiIding, longshore
mems work and army and navy cloth
ing production;
TO increase the number OF war dc
partment contracts containing clause
providing that in case of suspensio
Of work by strikes the Secretary @
War shall settle the disputes.
To enforce agreements with indus
tries for whose products standar.
prices are fixed. not TO reduce wages
To encourage employers to form as
sociations by industry groups to dea
collectively with labor demands; an(
To press informally for adjustmen-
OF disagreements before they reacl
the strike stage, under the implied
pressure of the governments wal
power to commander and operate
plants.
These practices already are in eff
feet on a small scale. They hav,
failed to prevent many walkouts
however, despite the government,
recognition in most cases of labor,
right to higher pay TO meet the in
creased cost of living. Special stud
is being given British government
methods by mann American officials
While recognizing that British metl
ods may not be adaptable entirely te
American labor conditions, official
here are giving special attention tt
the following British practices:
Capitalization of administration q
all labor matters affecting war pro
duction in single government de
partment;
Entrusting OF mediation of trouble
reaching the strike stage to anotbe
branch;
Government promotion of the OF
ganizetion of labor now unorganizef
and of employers by industries tc
make collective agreements possible
and
Heavy tax levies on war profits
which some observers consider
prprime cause of labor unrest.
The defense conucil's labor com
mittee, headed by Samuel Gompers
will cooperate in any movement to
stabilize labor conditions that can no
be expected, officials say, tc preyen
strikes or force mediation except b,
its general advocacy of industria
peace as a war policy. Considerable
effective work has been done bv con
tracts specifying that the Secretary O.
War shall adjust controversies if the,
interfere seriously with production. II
many cases also they have been ablc
to quietly mediate threatened labo,
disputes and avoid strikes.
The shipping board is considerin
an attempt to organize shipubuilders
under an agreement not to lure work
men from one Ifnt to another, and
there has been considerable discus.
sion among officials of other depart
ments of nationwide movement tc
stabilize labor conditions in that wav
Labor leaders, however, at hostile tc
the plan.
Employers interests represented by
the national industrial conference
board are urging the government tC
call conference of labor leaders tc
ratify an agreement which include,
a provision against changing condi
tons of oBen or closed shops durini
the war. Since this would virtual.
suspend the labor orga nization move
ment, it is opposed by labor leaders.