The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-20
LABOR TROUBLE
DELAYING SHIPS
600 Mechanics on Strike at
Baltimore Yards for
Higher Wages.
UNIFORM RATE FAVORED
Differences in Scales Chief
Cause Of the Discomfort
Among Workers.
Spec,ai D,s,nich 10 Tax suN

Spsc,ai bespaich 10 THx suS.
wAsHINoroN. March 1e.--The Snip
ping Board and the Emergency Flcet
Corporation are finding II increasingly
difYlcult to keep the lid on the shipyard
labor situation. The spectre of labor
unrest that has lowered over every move
in tho shipbuilding programme will not
be laid.
Six hundred riveters, caulkers. ream-
ers. drillers and shippers employed by
Corporation are out on strike. A tele-
gram to the Emergency Fleet Corpora
ZION said that the men made 10 demands
and the company was w!thou; any en-
phantom Of their course.
The message stated that !: was
learned from ou.sida sources that they
were dissatisfied with the rate OF pay
and would not return to work until
Judge Gray of Wilmington has rendered
a decision on tho demand that they
made on the Adjustment Board for
s1o.5s a day for clippers and caulkers
and $2+ day for a gang of machine
riveters. consisting OF two men and a
boy
Judge Gray was one OF those sitting
Oh the Emergency Flee: Corporation la
Dor adjustment board IL. hx!r.S the wage
scale for the Chesapeake and Delaware
district. The demand is a big increase
over the figures allowed by the board.
II is known that there are rumbl:nss
and mutterngs in other directions along
the Eastern seaboard and that trouble
tI,A ~.
districts IL threatened. Discomfort IL
sprlnginE up in many quarters in the
shipyards over the rates OF pe. fixed by
the labor adjustment board.
Jealous of Higher Scales.
As soon as ono strike is adjusted
trouble comes in another direction. II
appears under the surface here that this
unrest at bottom Ia due to dissatisfac-
ton Of the Eastern workers with wage
scales, which are not as high as those
on the Pacific coast. The coast scale Is
; the highest in the country. The Cnesa :
peake and delaware scale is not 30 high
In many respects and the south Atlantic
and Gulf schedule Is even lower
The New York schedule which will
soon be announced Is expected TO be
higher than that FOR the Chesapeak.
and Delaware district, This is due. il
is said, to loca, conditions and the fac
, thai the coast and the New York die
. 'rlct are highly organized and tina
wages in equivalent employment outside
the shipyards is higher
As result OF this situation X seem
that the Shipping Board vii, eventu-
ally be driven TO fix a national and uni
form wage scale. officials would BE-
willing TO do this. but they fear that Il
the south Atlantic and other workers
get the Pacific scale--!t is accepted thai
no scale could be lowered--it would
! bring discomfort on the coast and around
New York. where workers would i'm.
med!ately claim that they We're en-
titled 10 higher pay than men In sec
tons that did not have to meet the same
living conditions.
Ask $40 Day.
were changed from piece work to more
difficult work and given a daily wage
around Sc day. which was fixed by III.
adjustment board. They took the posi-.
tion that as they we're able to make SIC
a day on piece work tthIs work was the
easy work on ship that they should
make $40 n day.
Chairman Hurley has appealed to J
A. Franklin, president OF the Interna
tohHi IHioh vi boiier MakeTh, whlcl
controls many Of the men who are out
to use his influence to get them back
Though the board Is being hard pressed
for action to clarity the situation |,
has determined to go slow.
| The baltimore company has pat IN.
matter sQuarely up to the Emergency
Fleet Corporation. with a message te
the effect that the wage question ha.
been handled and f1xed by the Govern
ment and that the hands OF the builder!
are tied. Officials here. however, hav.
determined to await developments. A
representative Of the Fleet Corporal tior
has gone to Baltimore to attempt to ge
the men back.
The Baltimore concern has three biz
steel ships under way and has contract.
for many others. Four additional way!
are nearing completion.