New-York tribune., 1918-02-17

bic as soon as the men generally appre-
ciate the significance Of their refusal
i" work amid the critical conditions
iow confronting the government.
moreover. the decision of the Labor
Adjustment Board to-day for the Della
ware River district is said not only to
prove q disposition on the part of the
government to consider the demands of
the men as expeditiously rs possible,
but 1t is said further to provide definite
remedies for many OF the complaints
against existing conditions it the yards.
The decision recognizes. for example.
the difficulty of maintaining a uniform
wage scale in some of the yards on
account of inadequate housing facili-
ties and the consequent necessity for
many of the workers in these yards to
commute. This difficulty is to be over
come by provision that, where the
men arc compelled to pay more than
eight cents for transportation to or
from their work, the additional expense
is to be borne by the companies.
In the Delaware River district the
cight-hour day is made the official
standard during the first five days Of
the week. a four-hour day. with a
half-holiday Saturday, is granted Work
III excess Of ten hours day is for
hidden, except in the case of working
on drydocks or in the protection of
property where continuous service may
be temporarily required. Men working
on night shifts are to receive 5 per
cent bonus.
The decision of the Labor Adjust
mcnt Board incorporates strong ap-
peal to labor not to limit output. At
the Shipping Board, it was stated to-
day. the most influential labor leaders
in the country now favor the elim'nA-
tion of all restrictions on output The
question is, however. a matter Tor tHe
local unions to decide, and the officials
are most hopeful regarding their
actions.
Limitation of Output Opposed
In emphasizing the dcsirability of
removing all restrictions on output, the
Labor Adjustment Board says:
an the present national emergency
it is vitally important that every linz
itation upon output be removed. Every
shlpyard worker must appreciate that
ne is fighting for his country when he
drives rivet or caulks seam, Just
as effectively as the soldier in the
trenches when he wields his bayonet
or fires gun. And as the soldier is
paid directly by the government, so
the shipyard workers must realize
that he now receives his compensa-
t;on from the government. all ship
building now being upon government
account.
"To bring it home to picceworkers
that the government is behind them
and that they must be behind the gov
ernment we direct that the following
notices be printed and posted con-
spicuously in every department. OF
every shipyard where plecework IS
carried on:
"'The piece rates prescribed as
part of it's award by the Shipbuilding
Labor Adjustment Board and printed
in the piece rate book for Delaware
River shipyards shall under no cir
cumstances be lowered during the
duration of the war. In the name of
the people of the United States we
urge employees in shipyards to do
their utmost toward winning the war
by removing all limitations upon out
put and Fastening in every possible
way, each according to his capacity,
the production of ships.
'SHIPBUILDING LABOR AD-
JUSTMENT BOARD"