Arizona republican., 1918-09-07
MEAT SITUATION SOON ADJUSTED
 BY J0SEPH.L0RD
Agreement Quickly Reached
 By Mediator Between Employers and Employees As to Hours and Wages

There has been an adjustment of the meat situation in this city before the populace was aware that there was need of an adjustment. That was a part of the business here of Joseph F. Lord. federal mediator. who delivered one of the Labor Day addresses There had been rumors of strike. It would not, perhaps, have been a serious one, for there were connected with the agi- tation only a few of the newer men. The majority, the older men in the field were presumably satisfied with wages and hours.
 Demands, however, had been made upon the proprietors of all the shops for increases of wages, for shorter hours and for a recognition of the union. The latter demand precluded possibility of settlement and when the mediator took the matter up the proprietors stated that that could not be entertained. They had already stated that they would not discriminate against the union; that their men not already members could join it but that no man would be forced to join.
 Nor would they deal directly with the union but through the chamber oi commerce and the NJ. and NJ. as they had done in the past. That matter was therefore waived and an agreement wal quickly reached on every other disputed point. Five shops took part in the con ference. The hours in the shops will bt nine. so that beginning next Monda, the shops will open at o'clock and vii close at five instead of six. Tn, to that. The longer hours had beeI | i1fo ;v.a of the public and in these war time the public ought to adjust itself to re quired conditions.
 The advanced wages agreed upon d not add much to the higher class 0 labor. Blockmen will receive $325 week, though some of the more ex pert had been paid a little more tha that. Helpers will receive not less tha $25 a week, except in cases of boy under the age of IS who will be pal s75 month. Girls employed as wrap pers and doing work that men are nov doing will receive the same wages a men. It may be stated though, ths there are not now and have not beer women or girls so employed.
 The eight hour day will prevail the slaughter houses. There will be
 uniform wage there of $a5 a week fe butchers and their helpers though ther is sliding scale to that wage from $s a week for the first year of helper But in most of the slaughter house especially in that of the Phoenix Met and Products company there are T workmen under the sliding scale bl all will come under the $35 scale.
 The proprietors expressed willing ness to come under any regulation which the government desired to impo.
 but they mentioned certain contingeI cies that might seriously affect ther
 For instance their trade in the nortl
 ern part of the state which has bee built up in the course of several yea is already seriously threatened. A mour and Morris cars from Denver ar
 Kansas City have already invaded tn
 field, all along the Santa Fe road ar o along branch roads to Mayer, Jerom '. Prescott and as far south as Wicker q burg. Some have, indeed, come
 Phoenix. These companies have be, i, selling meat to the shops cheaper th:
 the local butchers can sell it. IT c invaders may be selling at loss i, obtain control Of the territory b ' whether they are doing so or not. Il e local butchers feel that they cam
 compete and are less able to compe
 under the newer regulations. Tn
 were told, though, that that matt d would be taken care of In some way . As to the hours for selling, the pr e prietors said that groceries and sho Il in the outskirts of the town which op early and close late and which hane if meats would cut in on their trade. Tn
 were told that they would be protect
 against such cOmpetftion
 The question of competition from c
 of town shops for outside territol
 especially from Glendale which has
 ready reached out to the north, VI
 brought up. It was shown that unt
 lower wage and with much low rents those out of town shops col l. become formidable competitors. Tn, ] the mediator could promise no relief