The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-01-05
LABOR ITEMS OF INTEREST

Almost 100000 workmen employed
in the mills and factories<of the Turtle
Creek and lower Monongahela valleys
were paid more than $5,000,000 for two
weeks wages, all records being bros
ken. At the big plant Of the Wrestling.
house Electric company, which grant
ed its men an increase of 10 per cent,
to become effective the fist of Novem-
Der, the men have just begun to realize
on the increase. Recent increases at.
the Carnegie Steel company plants
have raised the pay rolls in these con-
Germs ~ thousands of collars.
Approximately thousand men EN-.
pIoyed by the Twin City Rapid Transit
company were virtually locked out
when they reported for work at the
car barns in st. Paul and Minneapolis.
The men were told to report to the
general superintendent next day at
nine O'Clock, although the street car Of
fclals who could be reached declined
to discuss the situation. Carmen said
| llIuJ lucII IullS UCCu uOoiShCu W
other men and that they were locked
out as result Of wearing union but
tons.
Not only in furniture plants through-
out the country are women at work,
but in one or two machine shops wom-
en- are employed, running drill presses
and lathes, and their work there is ex-
cellent. The refining business has also
been invaded and one refinery has a
young woman who works about the
yards gauging stills, testing oils and
doing mans work generally.
Members of the state mercantile
board. in meeting at Topeka, Kan.,
approved the recommendations Of the
state welfare commission that the
minimum wage for women employees
in mercantile establishments In Kan.
sas be $3.50 per week for experienced
employees and So and 81 10 yectixJal
I for women serving first and second aps.
premiership periods.
John Moore, president of the Ohio
+ DJuIC NlptlCd ApNl-
lalre to enforce fines on the miners
who refused to work after an agree
ment on the wage scale. The men
found dollar missing in their pay
envelopes for each day they were off
work. They threatened to strike and
Moore made them go to work.
At a conference of Texas and LOuisi
ana OIL field workers, a committee was
appointed with instructions to request
oil producers and operators of these
two states to meet with them to dis.
cuss improved working conditions. The
proposed changes include union recog,
milton, the eight-hour day and in
creased wages.
William Schaefer, German spokeS'
man for a recently organized union
seeking raise in pay for machinists
employed at the American WoOdwork'
ing Machinery company, Aurora, ILL.,,
was arrested on a charge of violating
an oath required of enemy aliens that
they will not interfere with govern
ment work.
English unionists have approved a
motion TO build in London a National
Labor institute, as permanent me-
mortal of freedom and peace" in honor
Of trade union members who have
fallen in the war. The building will
be the national headquarters Of the
trade union congress and the National
Labor party.
On the ground that funds have moi
: been provided with which to meet the
Obligation that would be incurred
Mayor Carroll Thornton of Youngs
, town, Ohio vetoed the ordinance Civ
ing members of police and fire depart
ments wage advances Of SIS monthly
eve are at war;" said Preslden
Gompers, land when we are at war VIZ
) must fight and do our best to win a
the earliest possible moment. He WHIT
does not must bear the contempt OF
} all red-bIooded men who do their duty
Plans are under way at Springfield
5 Ill.,, for the building of $4,000 Min
: ers' hospital by the United Mine Work
: ers' Union of America, 1t is to b.
: owned and operated under the super
vision of the miners.
t BY vote of 215 to q, the American
!, Federation of Labor determined Il
/ abandon it's lifelong nonpartisan attl
e tude and actively enter American poll
tics next year.
9 An advance Of 10 per cent in wage
: for all employees earning less than So
e a week was announced by the Victo
Talking Machine company, Camder
y N. 7. The increase affects 10000 worl
: ers.
D One of the activities Of the civil,
industrial clubs organized through tn
Y Chicago Association Of Commerce
n the promotion Of employment bureau
l. for high-scaool students.
Shipyard workers will be paid
" cents an hour while learning the trad
Is and 81 a day after four months ser
K Ice, according to shipbuilders Mt Ba
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