The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-04-12
Especial to The Labor JournaD

Especial to The Labor JournaD
WASHINGTON, April 6.-Amer-
lean labor has agreed that there
shall be no more strikes on war
industries.
This agreement was reached at
a conference of fourteen men, six
each representing capital and labor,
and two speaking for the general
public.
This new radical change in policy,
which provides for suspension of all
strikes and lockouts, and for the
settlement of all industrial disputes
by government mediation, will now
be submitted to Secretary of La
Dor Wilson and at once inaugural
ed as a working basis.
The new no-strike, no-lockout pol
icy seems to please all sides con-
cerned. Governmental bodies have
long felt the need for some defin-
ite policy of labor. Organized la
Dor has been just as anxious to sus-
pend strikes providing other ma
chinery were left to adjust disputes,
and thus speed up war activities.
And capital has been equally will
ing to eliminate controversies which
cut into their operations.
What looked like deadlock in
the deliberations was smoothed out
by the broad mindedness and true
patriotic craftsmanship of the two
neutral members of the board, Will
liam Howard Taft and Frank P.
Walsh.
"Here is labor, ready to concede
its strongest weapon" they argued.
"What answer shall we make? Shall
we go before the country and say
that we were not willing to compro-
mise? Shall we dare to say, in the
face of what is happening in the
war, that we held out for every
thing which we now possess and de-
manded all the sacrifices from la
bor?"
The principles and policies to gov
ern the relations of workers and
their employers in war industries
were agreed to as follows:
Text to New Agreement
"There should be no strikes or
lockouts during the war.
"The right of workers to organize
in trade unions and to bargain col
lectively, through chosen represen-
tatives, is recognized and affirmed.
"The right of employers to or
ganize in associations of groups and
to bargain collectively through chos-
en- representatives is recognized and
affirmed.
employers should not discharge
workers for membership in trade
unions, nor for legitimate trade
union activities. The workers, in
the exercise of their right to organ
ize. shall not use coercive measures
to induce persons to join their or
ganizations, nor to induce employers
to bargain or deal Herewith.
"ln establishments where the
union shop exists the same shall
continue, and the union standards
as to wages, hours of labor and 9th
er conditions of employment shall
be maintained.
"In establishments where union
and non-union men and women now
work together, and the employer
meets only with employees or repre-
sentatives engaged in said establish
ments, the continuance of such con-
ditions shall not be deemed a griev-
ance.
Established safeguards and regu-
lations for the protection of the
health and safety of workers shall
not be relaxed.
IF it shall become necessary to
employ women on work ordinarily
performed by men, they must be al
lowed equal pay for equal work and
must not be allotted tasks dispro-
portionate to their strength.
Eight Hour Day Affirmed
"The basic eight-hour day is rec
ognized as applying in all cases in
which existing law requires it. In
all other cases the question of hours
of labor shall be settled with due
regard to governmental necessities
and the welfare, health and proper
comfort of the workers.
"The maximum production of all
war industries should be maintained,
and methods of work and operation
on the part of employees or workers
which operate to delay or limit pro-
duction, or which have a tendency to