Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-03-20
BALTIMORE STRIKE.
TIES UP WORK ON
NEW MEN-OF-WAR
COO WORKERS LEAVE POSTS
DEMAND DOUBLE PAY-WiLS SON
TO DISCUSS PERIL WITH
HEADS OF WAR BOARDS.

dred ship yard workers at the Balti-
more Shipbuilding Company's plant.
who had been given substantial wage
increases about month ago. walked
hut yesterday. demanding approx
mately 100 per cent more pay
Their action tied up all work on a
number OF mine sweepers being built
for the navy.
Construction also ceased on cargo
vessels being built under direction
ri the emergency feet corporation TO
light the German submarine menace.
The strike and the vdrious condi-
lions OF which 1t is symphonic will be
one OF the subjects of conference
tomorrow between the President and
the heads of the various war boards.
Punishment Urged.
The officials OF the Baltimore Ship
building Company. reporting to Gen
eral Manager Piez Of the fleet cor
poration late today the details OF
the sudden recrudescence of shipyard
labor troubles, suggested that such
strifers be barred from all work on
government contracts for sixty days
The men, they reported demanded
that clippers and caulkers. who arc
now paid $500 day. be given so SO
aud that riveting gangs, consisting Of
two men and IA boy. be paid flat
rate OF S2i a day.
The shipyard official said the walk.
out occurred without warning, the
men simply refusing to work until
n given a decision on their demands.
" Poweriess, Company Says.
The company backed its appeal for
some sort OF punishment for the
strikers in this statement.
THE government expects us to
build ships.
'Some drastic action must be
taken TO prevent occurrences of this
kind
The men are receiving exceed.
ingly high pay and all question OF
wages. piecework prices, hours and
conditions OF labor, are absolutely in
he hands OF the government.
Manager Piez and his assistants to.
day were inclined to mpute today :
walkout to desire by the men 10
enforce day wage scale on the basis
OF pay for special work.
The present scale of 81. so for chip
pers and caulkeds is for eight hours
work, they explained and many OF
the men make in addition comfort.
able surplus in time and half over
time pay as well as double time holi
day and Sunday pay.
Shipping board officials were in
touch tonight with J. A. Franklin
head OF the Boilermakers Union tc
which most Of today's strikers be
long.
Speed up is Idea.
They expressed strong hopes thai
the union heads would have the men
back at work directly
The Presidents conference tomor
row, while il will be no doubt largely
devoted TO this latest development ir
the ship labor situation. was not
called primarily for that purpose.
The call was sent out before th(
strike became known, and the Presi
dents idea was to discuss the speed
ing up OF every phase of war work
by increased coordination of effort
Those who will attend are:
Edward \. Hurley, chairman of the
shipping board.
Dr. Harry A. Garfield, United State.
fuel administration.
Vance e. Mccormick. chairman O
the trade board
William G. McAdoo. secretary OF thu
Treasury and director general of rail
roads.
Bernard Baruch, chairman Of III,
war industries board.
Herbert Hoover. federal food ad
ministrator.