Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-10-09
EXPLANATION OF THE
"WORk OR FIGHT" EDICT.
The Chairman of the Community La
Dor Board Makes Statement.
Mr.. Editor:

Mf. Editor:
On account of the importance of
the work and the general lack of in
formation about the same, l desire to
give in your columns a statement of
the nature of the United States EN-
ployment Service and Of the Employ
ment Service Offices, the Community
Labor Boards and the Public Service
Reserve Agents through whom it's
work is done.
The recruiting of labor through
private and public agencies without
reference to local war needs, the con-
stant movement of workmen back
and forth from one job to another, Of
ten over great distances, conducted at
great national expense and resulting
in much loss of time and efficiency,
and the decreased supply of labor due
to the virtual cessation of immigra-
tion since 1914, in conjunction with
greatly increased industrial activities
have resulted in an acute shortage of
unskilled labor and of certain classes
of skilled labor needed for war work
and have caused the government to
take over the entire work of recruit
ing and distributing unskilled labor
needed in war work.
The general principles on which
this new program is based are that
in time of war all the labor resources
of the country should constitute
common supply for the benefit of all
industries connected with the war;
that all industries not directly con-
nected with the conduct of the war
should contribute their equitable
share Of the labor which is needed
by war industries, so that such work
may at all times be fully manned;
that an equitable distribution of the
contributions required from non-war
industries for war work, and proper
distribution of available supplies of
labor among the war industries, ac-
cording to their relative needs, can be
secured only when conducted by
central agency.
The United States Employment
Service of the Department of Labor
has been constituted such central
agency. In each state the work is
under the direction and control of a
state director, Hon. Robert w. ST.
monds of Montpelier being the state
director of Vermont.
The recruiting of labor for war
work will be conducted by paid off,
GERS of the service and by volunteer
public service reserve agents, one of
whom will be appointed in practically
every community in the state.
The distribution of labor will be
conducted by branch Offices of the en-
ployment service, which will be estab-
lished wherever necessary. The
branch office for Orleans, Caledonia
and Essex counties is at st. Johns
bury.
In each county is a board called the
Community Labor Board composed of
three men, one, the chairman, repre-
senting the employment service, one
representing the employers Of the
county and one representing labor.
The personnel of the board in this
Thompson, Barton, chairman; {. 5.
Skinner, Orleans, representing en-
ployers, and A. T. Pierce, Newport,
representing labor.
This board has the decision Of all
questions concerning recruiting and
distributing labor in the county and,
when local quotas are assigned to the
county for recruiting purposes, in so
far as they have to be raised by get
ting men from non-war work, the
board will divide up the total Of the
county's quota, assigning to indus
tries and employers in non-war work
the proportionate share which each
should stand ready to contribute.
There will be appointed to the
board two women who will sit with
the board upon all questions concern
ing the employment of women.
All employers engaged in war work
whose maximum force exceeds 100
men are prohibited from recruiting
labor except through the u.
S. Employment Service, except that
they may employ men who voluntari-
ly seek employment at the plant.
This does not apply to railroads and
farms who may recruit labor private
ly.
Employers in non-war work and
employers in war work of less than
100 men are under no restrictions as
to employing unskilled labor except
that they are required to refrain
from offering superior inducements or
in any other way competing with, or
to get labor from, the
government or employers engaged in
war work, and they should advertise
for labor only under supervision and
control by the local representative of
the United States Employment ser
vice. Subsequent regulations may be
made covering this subject.
At the present time the U. S. EN-
0loyment service has taken over the
and distribution of unskill-
ID labor in war work only.
It is expected that in a short time
t will take over the recruiting and
of skilled labor also but
It the present time the only restric-
ions as to recruiting skilled labor
re that it shall not be solicited in any
way, direct or indirect, by advertising
inducements or otherwise, of
nen already employed in war work;
hat no advertising shall be done ex-
ept with the authorization of the 10
al representative of the United
States Employment Service; and no
Employer shall advance, pay, or ar
ange for interstate transportation of
abor, except through the agency or
With the consent of the United States