New-York tribune., 1918-08-05
Bethlehem Steel
Workers Upheld
By u. S. Decision
Win Right to Organize and
Important Increases
in Wages
Especial Dispatch to The Tribune

WASHINGTON, Aug. An de-
csion on the Bethlehem Steel Com
pany dispute involving Is 600 workers
on government contracts, the National
War Labor Board to-day ordered the
revision or complete elimination of the
bonus system now in operation at the
plant the revision OF piece work rates
and the establishment of a designated,
guaranteed minimum hourly wage rate
for some 5000 machine shop workers
IN conformity with the scales now be-
ing applied by the War or Navy de-
partments.
The workers are granted the right
to organize and bargain collectively.
The award further applies the basic
elght-hour day, with payment Of time
and half time for all overtime, double
time on Sundays and holidays and
orders the company to pay men and
women alike when performing the same
work
A permanent local board Of media
tion and conciliation, consisting Of six
members, three chosen by the company
and three by the workers, will be es-
tablished to effect agreements on fut-
ure disputes This board is to be pre-
sided over by q chairman, to be Sc
lected by and to represent the Secre~
tary of War. IN addition. an examiner
of the War Labor Board is to be as
signed to interpret and enforce the
award, being specifically instructed to
vestigate and report to the board
upon all charges of discrimination
against union men by the company.
Electricians Win Raises
Specific wage increases are granted
to the 440 electrical workers who made
- to- !, 4 q
manded increases to 6712 cents an
hour for electricians and at least 40
cents an hour for helpers. The board
awarded 81 II cents an hour for first
class electricians, 62l2 cents for sec
ond class electricians and 40 cents for
helpers. Wages for ether workers will
be fixed through the system of bargain
ing and cooperation between the COM
pany and the men provided for in the
award. approximate $4,000 workers
Will be affected by the award
The case came before the War Labor
Board on May T, following a series Of
strikes by machinists ard electrical
workers, and after various government
agencies bent on mediation had ex-
hausted their efforts to effect a settle
ment.
Since that date the War Labor Board
has conducted thorough Investigation
INTO the relations of the company and
its workers, both by hearings Of facts
and Investigations of conditions. Hear
ings were first held in Washington by
a section Of the board composed Of
Herbert II. Rice. vice president of the
/ General Motors Company and Thomas
!. Savage, executive officer OF the Inter
national Association OF Machlnlsts
The section disagreed. however. and
the case came before the entire board
which instructed the secretary, W Iett
Lauck. to conduct an investigation IN
the field Hearings were held in Beth-
leham by Mr. Luack and by Fl. S.
supplemented by the work of trained
! investigators.
Stated generally, the workers de-
manded the application of the basic
eight-hour day, with time and half time
fer overtime, with double pay for Sun
days and holidays: the right TO bargain
collectively through committees, pro
hIbltion of discrimination of any kind
because of trade union activities, re-
adjustment of the hourly and piece
work rates on the basis of the rates
paid in the shipyards of the Bethlehem
Steel Company and elimination of the
bonus system of payment.
It was contended by the ulachinists
representatives shat the bonus system,
with the alleged practice of continually
changing rates under It, operated to
hamper production. because the men do
not understand the method by which
their pay is computed. They asserted
that The bonus method was in effect a
substitute of time and half time for
overtime. On the other hand, the COM
pany maintained that the bonus sys-
TEN offered a premium for increased
production, and that the time and one
half was paid Independent Of the bonus
Concerning collective bargaining,
representatives of the men said the
controversy would have been settled
had the company chosen to meet with
committees Of its own workers. The
president and vice president of the
company stated that the custom of the
company in dealing individually with
its employees would not be changed
and that no committee in the choice OF
which the management had not some
voice would be received.
The machinists said the question Of
collective bargaining was an issue as
vital to them as the methods of pay
ment and conditions in the shops; for,
it was. they said. the refusal OF the
company to meet committee of the
workers seeking to discuss the ques-
ton of overtime payment at the time
the working day was changed from
eight hours to ten hours and twenty
five minutes, that caused the strikes at
the plant.
They made no demands for closed
shop or for union recognition but
merely that the company receive com
mittees Of It's own workers selected by
their fellow workers. They presented
evidence to support their assertion
that the machlnistsf union was denied
the privilege of meeting in any hall or