The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-08-01
COORDINATION OF LABOR


dustrial life of the Nation.
2 On August l, the supplying of war
industries with common labor will be
centralized in the U. S. Employment
Service of the Department of Labor,
and all independent recruiting of
common labor by manufacturers hav-
ing a payroll of more than 100 men
will be diverted to the u. S. En-
ployment Service This is in accord
ance with the decision of the War
Labor Policies Board and approved
by the President on June II. (The
War Labor Policies Board is COM
posed of representatives of the War.
Navy, and Agricultural Departments,
the Shipping Board and the Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation, the War
Industries Board, and the Food, Fuel,
and Railroad Administrations. Its
chairman is Felix Frankfurter. As
sistant to the Secretary of Labor)
The above action was found neces-
sary to overcome perilous shortage
of unskilled labor in war industries.
almost universal practice of labor
stealing and poaching.
While the restrictions against the
private employment of labor apply
only to common labor at the present
time, these restrictions will, as soon
as possible. be extended to include
skilled labor. In the meantime, re-
cruiting of skilled labor for war pro-
duction will be subject to federal
regulations now being prepared.
This drastic change in the Nations
labor program has been found neces-
sary in order to protect the employer
and the employed, to conserve the la
Dor supply of the communities and
to cut down unnecessary and expen-
sive labor turnover (Which, in some
cases, is as high as 100 per cent a
week.) and to increase the produc-
tion of essentials.
While non-essential industries will
be drawn upon to supply the neces-
sary labor for war work, the with
drawal will be conducted on an equi-
individual employer as much as pos
sible.
Under the operating methods
adopted, the country has been di-
vided into thirteen federal districts,
each district in charge of superin-
tendent of the U. S. Employment
Service. The States within each dis
trict are in turn in charge of State
Director, who has full control of the
service within his state.
In each community there is being
formed a local community labor
board, consisting of representative
of the U. S. Employment Service. a
representative of employers and
representative of the employed. This
board will have jurisdiction over re-
cruiting and distributing labor in it's
locality.
A survey of the labor requirements
is being made, and in order that each
community may be fully protected,
rulings have been issued that no la
Dor shall be transported out of any
|
Service without the approval of the
State Director; nor shall any labor
be removed by the Service from one
state to another without the approx
al of the U. S. Employment Service
at Washington. Every effort will be
made to discourage any movements
from community to community or
state to state by any other service.
This labor program has the ap-
proval of all producing Departments
of the Government, through the War
Labor Policies Board
| 1t must be understood that farm
labor will be protected, for the in
dustrial program distinctly includes
special efforts to keep the farmer
supplied with labor
The requirement that unskilled la
Dor must be recruited through the
sole agency of the U. S. Employment
Service does not at present apply in
the following cases:
l. Labor which is not directly or
indirectly solicited.
9. Labor for the railroads.
3. Farm labor-to be recruited in
accordance with existing arrange
ments with Department of Agricul
ture.
q. Labor for non-war work
5. Labor for establishments whose
maximum force does not exceed one
hundred.
When the survey of labor require
ments has been made and the aggre
gate demand for unskilled labor in
war work is found, each State will be