The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-09-21
LABOR ITEMS OF INTEREST

Two large shipbuilding plants are
being erected In southern Chile. They
will be ready for operation in Septem-
Der.
One hundred and sixty thousand
Y, lshire (England) miners are out on
strike, 1t was estimated. Practically
all the pits in West Yorkshire are re-
ported to be idle.
The Plumbers and Gasfitters' union,
Local No. Of Chicago, unanimously
adopted a resolution to be presented
to President Wilson, asking the privi-
lege Of using light wines and beers.
The New York municipal civil serv-
Ice commission announced that among
steps being taken to fill the vacancies
in the police, fire and street cleaning
departments was the employment Of
women street sweepers in outlying dis
tricts.
Four thousand employees of the Ma
tional India Rubber company who re-
turned to work at Bristol, r. L. after
being on strike for month, walked
out again. Police and company Off
Gals said the strike was ordered by
labor leaders and that no wage de-
mands had been presented.
Announcement was made at Louis
vile, KY, that unionization Of approx
imately $4,000 shopmen in the employ
of the Louisville & Nashville railroad
has been completed. Organization Of
the men, 1t Is said, has been an is
sue between union organizations and
the railroad management for many
years.
Six hundred striking decorators in
% potteries at East Liverpool, o.,
voted to stand pat on their demands
for % per cent wage increase. The
possibility of complete shutdown of
the decorating shops is intimated. 1--e
manufacturers announced that here
after only essential ware will be manu-
featured.
Immediate payment Of retroa ctive
awards made to ship workers In set
tlement of wage disputes was ordered
by Charles Piez, general manager Of
the Emergency Fleet corporations Fail
ure to comply with the retroactive pro-
visions Of the awards, Mr.. Piez said.
is "fairly general In some yards of
all districts"
officials of the United State Mine
Workers appealed to Fuel Administra-
tor Garfield to order coal operators to
discontinue payment of bonuses and
substitute therefor a flat wage in
crease. This action was taken after
an all-day conference of mine district
representatives with President Frank
>. Hayes and other national officers Of
the union.
: Albany, N. Y, will be the scene of
the 1919 convention of the Interna-
tional Typographical union, If a SEES
sion is held next year. A referendum
will be submitted to the entire MEM
bership. The convention adopted a
referendum provision for an assess
ment of five cents member for money
to reimburse subordinate unions for
paying dues Of members in war serv-
ice.
An increase of $235000,000 a year
in wages and bonuses has been
secured for British railway men. The
secretary of the National Union OF
Railway men says: without once
having threatened or attempted a STOP
page of work, we have succeeded iE
improving the condition of our mem
bers, at the same time keeping clearly
in mind our great responsibility as q
transport industry"
The railroad administration Is CON
sidering the ACCESSIBILITY of establish
ing uniform pension system for SUI
perannuated railway employees, and
to aid in studying the subject has In
structed each railroad to report de-
tails of the system in effect among It's
employees. Preliminary reports show
a wide variety Of pension provisions
some of which work injustice on the
older employees who are too proud tt
apply for retirement.
The strike at Bridgeport, Conn.,, OF
approximately 1000 machinists anc
tool makers in three of the most impor
tant war industries in the country
which threatened to broaden and checi
war production throughout this dis
trict, was completely broken at Bridge
port, Conn, when telegram IRON
Frank p. Walsh, joint chairman OF the
national war labor board, was received
at meeting of 5000 Of the union men
Mr.. Walsh assured them in the teie
gram that the minimum wage scale
asked by the union will be substantial
" granted in the boards decision.
The Welsh miners are agitating fol
a shortening of their working day
They are now demanding six-houl
day by legislation.
Pressmen, mailers and stereotyper'
of the newspaper Offices in Toronto
have been granted 8 per cent IN
crease as q war bonus.
Telephone operators at the Tusca
rawas IN. " county telephone ex
change withdrew their demands ant
returned to work after striking TO
higher wages, when they learned tn
company was under government con
troll. The girls said they wanted .
show their loyalty. :