The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-07-20
GENERAL INDUSTRIAL NEWS

An agreement was reached by SEN
ate and house conferees on the legis-
lative, executive and judicial appro-
priation bill providing that all govern
ment employees in the civil establish
ment shall work eight hours daily be-
ginning July l, instead of seven as at
present, and shall receive $120 addi-
tional pay annually. The amendment
would apply to many thousand de-
partment clerks in Washington and
also to many in other cities, including
all those in executive branches Of fed
eral employ. The seven-hour day has
been in effect for departmental work
for many years.
A great wave OF unrest Is passing
over the laboring and artisan classes
throughout Jamaica. During the past
few weeks there have been more
strikes than ever occurred there in any
corresponding period. One strike Oc-
CURED on the government railway and
another among laborers for the NUM-
cipality. These were amicably settled
and the coal carriers at the docks OF
the United Fruit and Royal Mail COM
panies who saw the governor were adj
vised to accept compromise offered
by the companies.
AS a result of strike said to have
been called by the Detroit branch of
the Sailors, Union Of the Great Lakes
and a sympathetic walkout of firenien,
two steamers of the Detroit and Cleve-
land Navigation company were held
in that city. Union officials claim men
on the boats holding certificates as
able seamen are not receiving able
seamen's pay and officials of the COM
pany assert that every department
connected with handling the boats is
being manned by union men.
Long Island City, one of the great
industrial centers Of New York, is
threatened with a serious labor short
age, it became known when it was an
nounced that other factories would be
levied upon to supply workers for the
Wright-Martin aircraft factory and
gas defense that is being erected there.
At least 10000 persons will be employ
ed in these works. To aid In filling
the shortage the government intends
to open an employment bureau in the
Paynter building, at the Bridge plaza.
Construction of the new ten-way
shipyardS of the Union Iron works
division of the Bethlehem Shipbuild-
ing corporation in Alameda, Cal, Is
under way, upon authorization Of the
project by the Emergency Fleet cor
poratiOn, it was announced by J. ].
lyman, general manager of the works.
The new yards will cost between S15-
100000 and S20,000,000, lyman said,
and will furnish employment to 10000
men.
AS conservation measure the Butte
(MOnt.) street mems union announced
that in the future its members will ap-
pear on duty attired in Overalls and
jumpers in the place of regulation uni
form. "a wartime necessity; cutting
down expenses" was the explanation
given.
The railway workers in Bessarabia
are on strike and the entire country
is paralyzed, according to a dispatch
to the Exchange Telegraph from Zu-
rich. The dispatch adds that many
munitions depots occupied by Rouma-
mans have been brown up.
The house Of representatives went
on record as opposing payment Of
bonuses to workmen for extraordi-
nary services in producing war mate
rails by voting down, POS to 81, a SEN
ate amendment to the naval appropria-
tions bill permitting such payments.
Illinois has 1900 state chairmen of
the city, town and county women's
section of the council Of national de-
tense.
The national war labor board has
appointed three members Of organized
labor on a st. Louis local committee
of mediation.
Although no exact figures are known
it is estimated that over 100000 Amer
lean women are now employed in mu-
milton factories.
Women are being employed along
the docks in New York city. Check
ers are paid IS cents an hour and de-
livery clerks q cents.
Australian trade unions in the ship
ping industry have 10000 members.
Detroit labor men have donated their
library to Uncle Sans soldier boys.