The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-07-02
NATIONAL WAR LABOR BOARD

allied crafts of Bridgeport exercise function mherVo
strange America which has been brought into being as ohe
great social changes have been the necessities Of war
Legislative efforts for the mediation and conclauon OF
labor troubles have been as leaves on ree b
the National War Labor Board is distinctive in two ways 1t
is composed of representing in way of speaking both
labor capital but Of great experience and held IN great
respect by the citizenship of the nation.
secondly the Board has compulsory power over the
disputes which it, in its efforts to mediate and
conciate unsuccessful.
It may decide the question by its unanimous opinion, or
lacking unanimity appoint umpire who shall hear and
finally controversy under the rules of the board
Certain board principles established such the right
employers employed to organize and the right OF each
group bargain collectively Employers must not discharge
employees for being union MEMBERS but unions must not use
coercive methods in obtaining members.
things existing before the war is to be main
tanned with respect safeguards for the protection OF the
health and safety of workers. but shops uonzed before the
remain and the failure of shop not unionlzed
before the to become unonized shall not be deemed
grievance though obstacle is thrown in the way OF workers
in such factories joining union
Where employed on work ordinarily perform
ed by they must be allowed equal for equal work.
must have tasks proporionae to their strength.
right of all workers to living wage is declared and{
the right includes unskled workers. living is de-
fined wage which will the subsistence of the work
and his family in health and reasonable comfort
The duty remain at work while the disagreement is ad
Indicated is afimativeey enjOned
These mainly the rules under which the Bridgeport
controversy will be determined. The determination will be
Of world wide Importance because the decision will
the by board part foundation
Of precedent upon which the future work Of the board will Re
reared.
effect the decision in the Bridgeport be de-
cson to all the labor the United States and their broader
aspects the principles laid down will have application from
to
The specific case is comparatively narrow There was
dispute between certain employers and their machnists and
tool makers The disagreement adudcated by officer
representing the department of Machnsts and oolma
classified, and scale of wages minimum wage
fixed for each classification The wage payments
made retroactive to May 4, 1913.
This decision set aside by the secretary war; and
there action under its terms employees then sus-
pended work. anad sought the mediation of the National War
Labor Board.
The workers represented by efficient leaders, the one
national and the other local representative of their union
and by others.
The employers are represented by counsel the Remng
ton-U NJ c. Company being specially represented having
condition dssimiar from the general condition.
The workers have confined themselves to- presentation
OF their claims as generally defined in the abrogaed decision
of the war department. They have suggested crasstrcaons
for the workers. and standards for classification
The manufacturers and especially for Remng
ton Company have broadend the scope of the matter by
costing to the board determination which include all the
workers employed in muniton plants in Bridgeport
plants that be deemed have bearing the
prosecution of the These the employees
in the hearings of the Ninety per cent of the unorganzd
Perhaps the number of the organized understaed The
point is not obcured that the manufacturers hope bring
workers into the purview of the adjustment.
There involved too great democratic changes, which
are vast departure from the American politely of let it alone
Gent theory individual contract between employer and en-
ployed completely disappears.
No longer is an American citizen the play of economic
forces by which he be submerged in hopeless poverty The
stale guarantees for the period of the at least every
yorker living wage, and from this principle be it to
the credit of Bridgeport employer and worker dsened
Surely this is democratic and in the direction produc-
ton so vast that all may be richer and poorer
Equally and profoundly democratic is the principle that
for equal work shall receive equal pay is possible
that this principle raugh with deeper consequences than
1se other.
This principle is born of that political movement world
wide and triumphant by which have been admitted to
political life equality with Their economic advan-
tages must not be less than equal.
The ubordnation of the is responsible for many
Of the ills with which society suffers Better and earlier
age will be promoted by the economic independence of
an whole train of social disease thereby be destroyed
In other times before hours shortened and work made
by machinery and the erection of wonderfully lighted
and ventilated plants the labor of at the expense
Of the family. The mother borne down by toll, not the
mother Of sons and daughters Of the best.