The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-19
j. s. WAR LABOR
BOARD WILL Be
BROUGHT HERE
Steps Taken to Settle Local
Labor Controversy, State
Organizer Announces.

UTluS LuC war ldDOT UOdTu 10 1tlCu-
mond to settle the labor problem here.
Paul J. Smith, organizer for the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, said Mon
day. According to Mr.. Smith the To-
cal workingmen are confident of sue
cess in perfecting their organizations.
A meeting will probably be held this
week to present a formal demand for
a higher wage scale.
THE women with whom have talk
ed in Richmond have said that they
will not give up until an organization
of women is perfected" said Mr..
Smith "They do. not intend to let
themselves be used to keep down the
wages.
"The people in Richmond seem to
have awakened. We have new mem
bers coming in all the time. About q
900 have sent in application. We are
perfecting new unions all the time.
President Wilson said in his pro-
clamation that the patriotic duty OF all
employers and employees was to abide
| by the decision of the War Labor
Board, and use the machinery of the
government which calls for collective
bargaining The men who put private
interest above government interest
will be the men who will refuse.
| Will Abide by Decision.
eve will bring about collective bar
gaining in Richmond and we have al
ready taken steps to bring the War La
Dor Board to Richmond. We Will
unanimously agree to abide by the de-
cision of that board whether the en-
ployers do or not. The decision Of the
board will be final and binding.
| ITO rfuse to accept the policy OF
, collective bargaining is simply to
stand in the way of the government in
| their efforts to secure maximum pro-
| duction.
In our endeavors in Richmond we
have the sympathy of the people who
place the cause of humanity above
that of the almighty dollar.
I'VE have absolutely no fear of the
| final outcome.
| The Simplex company agreed to
by the men and officials of the COM
pany, through Mr.. Feick, the govern
ment representative of labor to es-
tablish an increase in wages from hve
to fourteen cents an hour. If all the
other companies had been as fair, Mr.
Feick would have been able to settle
the situation in Richmond. The mat
ter will now go to the War Labor
board and we are not expecting any
4 thing lass from the War Labor Board
than theya.hare established IA other
communities. sA -,
The following Is the contract drawn
for the Simplex company, by the gov
| ernment:
Simplex Contract.
Article Eight hours shall consti-
tute days work, from Monday until
Friday inclusive, and FIVE hours on
Saturday
g. Work in excess of these periods
on any week day. shall be calculated
as over time and paid for at the rate
of time and one-half
| 8. Work on Sundays and the fol-
lowing holidays shall be paid for at
the rate of double time: New Years
day, Washington's Birthday, Decora-
tion day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiv
ing day and Christmas.
4. This schedule shall apply to all
employees except some special occupa-
tions such as mill wright and stock
! work.
| Art 2-The company will, as soon
! as possible, provide for their en-
ployes adequate and sanitary toilets,
washing facilities, and pure drinking
water.
Art. 3-Believing that in this ma
tional emergency. past differences
between employers and employees
must be forgotten in the common de-
| termination to produce the maximum
possible output of production, the
/ government will not tolerate any
discrimination either on the part of
employer or employe between union
and non-union men.
Art. 4-Employes may select COM
mittee from among our employees and
grievances must be taken up first, by
the individual then by the committee
if necessary. first witha the foreman,
second with the superintendent. In
event the question cannot be adjusted
the matter can be submitted to the
general manager and in case the man
ager or same other officer of the COM
pany fails to adjust the matter sat
isfactorily it shall be submitted to
the Department of Labor.
Art. Sit is agreed that there shall
be no strikes, or lockouts in this
plant during the period Of the war
Any controversy which might arise
and which cannot be settled between
the company and their employees shall
be submitted to the Department of
Labor for settlement.