The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-22

Henceforth Contracts For Government
Work Will Require Acceptance by
Contractors of Decisions of the Trl-
bunaI-Union Officers viii Guarantee
Adherence to Agreement.
After four months Of discussion the
plan of establishing Industrial stantl-
ards to govern war work and to main
tain such standards through national
industrial tribunal has been adopted
by the Council of National Defense.
How much the decision of the council
was stimulated by the strikes in the
copper camps, in the coal mines and in
the shipyards, and how much by the
demand of the executive council Of the
American Federation Of Labor for d.
rect representation of the workers on
all boards having to do directly with
contracts for war work, is matter OF
speculation. Announcement Of the new
regime, which will be marked by en-
forcement of the federal law providing
for basic eight hour day, with time
and a half for all overtime, was made
on Aug. 8.
It is proposed that the tribunal which
will direct the settlement of all indus
trial disputes in the munitions and sup
plies industries throughout the country,
shall consist of nine persons, three rep
resenting the government, three the en-
blowers and three the workers Dis
putes involving more than 1000 work.
ers will be handled directly by this
board. Disputes affecting smaller
number will be treated by subordinate
tribunals, which will be established as
circumstances require. In each tribu-
nal, however, the proportion Of repre-
sentation of the government, the en-
ployers and the workers will be the
same.
Authority will be enforced through
clause in all contracts for work hence
forth to be done for the government,
requiring acceptance by the contractor
of the decisions of this industrial tri-
bunal. Officers Of the national and in
ternational unions will give their writ
ten guaranty Of adherence, and the Sec
retaries of war and Of the navy will
sign for the government.
About June ID Samuel Gompers, as
head of the American Federation Of
Labor entered into written agree
ment with Secretary of War Baker COW
ering the settlement Of industrial dis
putes in the construction of the army
environments. The army named one mem
Der of the central adjustment board,
the building trades department of the
American Federation of Labor named
John r. Alpine as its member, and the
secretary Of war chose civilian as the
third. These three men have been ad-
justing various claims for advances in
wages and for improved conditions or
employment for nearly eight weeks past.
Only now is the fact Of this arrange
ment divulged.
The navy department did not become
a member of this agreement as to in
dustrial disputes in the building OF
camps, and hence arose the danger OF
strike of carpenters at naval camp
near New York city, which led to the
agreement of the contractor to employ
none but union men. The navy depart
ment then promptly Joined the war de-
partment in its contract for ADJUST
ment through the central board.
James O'Connel, president of the
metal trades department of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor states that
the creation Of the industrial tribunal
does NOT necessarily mean the end Of
strikes in plants doing war work. He
points out that it is not retroactive as
to past disputes nor as to contracts al
ready given, and except by agreement
between the government and the firms
to which contracts have been awarded
1t cannot be expected to apply to the
hundreds of possibly billions
of dollars worth Of supplies and mu-
nitions and ships now in process of
manufacture.
Again. the tribunal has no legal pow
err to enforce its DEGREES, but will rely
wholly upon the cooperation of other
branches of the government in mtu-
encing business men and workers to
concur in It's findings. Its success Will
be measured by its own promptness In
satisfying the demands of various
groups of workers for wage sufficient
to maintain them at their accustomed
standard Of living or at better stand
ard consistent with the approval Of ac-
tive public opinion. That 1t will pre-
vent strikes, except by establishing
this relation between wages and the
current cost Of the necessaries of life
is not assumed by the Council OF Ma
tional Defense.
Bakers Issue Petition.