The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-07-26
The National War Labor Board

several sections of the country, par ticularly the great industrial centers of the East, that the War Labor Pol | icies Board had taken action making | impossible the changing of rates of wages or of working conditions in in dustry pending definite standardiza- tion of pay and conditions by that | body has been set at rest at Bridge | port, Conn.,, by representatives of the | National War Labor Board of which former President William I'll. Taft 1 and Frank P. Walsh are the joint chairmen.
 The reports have had a notably unfortunate effect in Bridgeport, where the War Labor Board is now conducting Investigations preliminary to a readjustment of the wage scale and working conditions throughout | the entire industrial community, em- bracing 57 essential war plants em- ploying more than 50,000 workers. 1 Assurances by the National War Labor Board representatives that the fears of the workers were entirely | unfounded were made with the com plete sanction and approval of Felix Frankfurter, chairman, and his fe1- low members of the War Labor Pol l icies Board. Such was the import ance attached by groups of workers to the reports that the National War Labor Boards decision, were it to in | volve a general wage increase within their jurisdiction, would be nullified by the Policies Board that Fred | Hewitt, editor of the Machinists Journal and representative of the In- l ternational Association of Machinists felt compelled to interrupt the hear ing at Bridgeport to ask for specific l information so that the workers would know exactly the extent to which the success of their demands 1 would be affected by the reported ac- ton of the Policies Board and so that the prevailing unrest on that account might be allayed.
 W. Jett LaucF, secretary of the Ma tional War Labor Board, had been made aware of the situation which had risen in Bridgeport and other To- calities by reason of the reports and, after entertainment of all the facts from the Policies Board, transmitted that to the examiners at Bridgeport Thus the entire situation was made clear to Mr. Hewitt and other rep resentatives of the workers.
 It was explained by W. L. Stodderd examiner for the War Labor Board, that inquiry from Mr. Frankfurter had revealed the facts to be as fol- lows:
 | 1. That the resolution of the Pol icies Board of June 14, concerning which the reports were circulated, did not recommend, as reported, that l changes in wage scales should not be made, but did urge upon the various Government departments and boards to refrain from making changes in present standards pending the stan dardization now under consdera- tion.' This does not invite in any way a request that wages which are now below the highest standards set 1 by any of the various wage adjust ment boards should not be increased to the level of such standards. Rath- CT, 1t was explained, it is the ex- pressed desire of the Policies Board that wages which are between stand ards should be brought up to that point. Concisely, the Policies Board l intended to convey the thought that the standards themselves should not
 be disturbed where they are in force and that they should be applied | where they are not in force.
 2. Of greater importance to the
 groups of workers now involved in
 controversies before the National
 War Labor Board and especially to
 those at Bridgeport, it was made known that the Policies Board has 1 definitely adopted the principles and
 policies of the National War Labor
 Board as it's own guiding principles
 and policies. This was done by res
 olution adopted July 12. This reso-
 lution, read to the workers repre-
 sentatives at Bridgeport, is as fol lows:
 Be in resolved, That it is the un- derstanding of the War Labor Poli-
 cies Board that the general principles
 and policies governing the relations
 of employers and labor adopted by
 the War Labor Board and approved
 and pronounced by President Will
 son are incorporated and embodied
 as part of the general guiding prin- ciples and policies of the War Labor
 Policies Board, and that the execu- tive secretary of the board be in- structed to so notify the War Labor Board"
 This resolution commits the Poli- cies Board to the following principles now so well understood throughout
 industry:
 , 1. The right of the workers to organize into trade unions and to
 bargain collectively with their em- ployers.
 2. The continuance of existing un-
 ion standards where they have here 5 tofore applied, plus the right of the workers to obtain improved condi-
 tions, wages, or hours or work | through decisions of the National War Labor Board or any umpire it
 may select in specific cases. } 3. Equal pay for equal work, } whether performed by men or by wo- l men.
 4. Recognition of the basic eight hour day where a law requires it and . settlement of the question of hours in
 other cases with due regard to gov ernmental necessities and the vel fare, health, and proper comfort of } the workers.
 5. Maintenance of the maximum ' of production.
 6. Due regard for the labor stan l dards, wage scales, and other condi-
 tions in particular localities in fixing
 wages, hours, and conditions of la | bor.
 '. Declaration of the right of all | workers to a living wage, insuring the subsistence of each worker and his family in health and reasonable
 comfort.
 g In addition to the above assuran- , ces a messa % from MT. Frankfurt-