Evening star., 1918-06-03
Quit Duties From 7 to |
O'Clock, Demanding Wage
Increase.
FAIR TREATMENT WAS
PROMISED TO STRIKERS
Decision to Resume Work Followed
a Conference Between Committee
and Engineer Commissioner.

Nine hundred District per diem en-
ployes. who went on strike this morn
ing. returned to work this afternoon
upon being advised by the .Commis-
sioners that they would endeavor to
adjust satisfactorily the wage griev-
ances of the men.
The walk-out was effective from Z
am. until o'clock and practically
put an end to work in the street
cleaning, sewerage. surface and other
engineer departments where labor is
employed.
The decision to return to work was
reached following a conference be-
tween committee Of the employees
and Engineer Commissioner Knight
at the District building.
No Chance to Consider Demands.
Commissioner Knight said there
would be no strike IL fair treatment
could prevent it. He stated that the
Commissioners had had no oppor-
tunity to consider the demands Of the
men.
sociation Of City Employees. headed the
committee which conferred with Com
missioner Knight.
"The reason for thetwalkout." said
Mr. Hurley, was that the District
bill is in process of formation and
supplemental estimates can be con-
sidered at this time. Had we deferred
this action until after the bill was
passed the Commissioners might say
there were no funds available. Only
one month of the present fiscal year
remains, and there Is enough money
on hand to meet the increase ap-
piled for"
The association has demanded a
minimum of SO a day for unskilled
labor, and 81 day for skilled labor.
The majority of those who walked
out this morning were unskiiled la
borers The association. Mr.. Hurley
said, instructed mechanics at the
sewerage and water pumping stations
to remain at work. in order that the
safety and comfort of citizens would
not be menaced by the strike.
Surprises the Commissioners.
The Commissioners said the strike
at this time came as complete sur
prise, as they had not been given suf-
f.cient time to consider the associa- :
tion's demand, which was submitted
May 20.
sioners that they are limited by ap-
propriations made by Congress for the
pay of per diem employees. Notwith-
standing this, they already have in
creased the pay OF laborers approx
mately 80 per cent during the year by
curtailing tho usual amount of work
done and drawing upon various ap-
propriations.
It was the opinion of the District
heads, before the conference with Mr.
Hurley and the committee began, that
they had gone to the limit OF their re-
sources in the matter of raising
wages.
Increases have been applied \ for
from time to time by individuals and
classes of employees, such as carpen-
ters aid other groups of skilled work.
ers, and in the majority OF cases a
way has been found to grant the re-
quest.
Paw of Unskilled Labor.
Appropriations carried in the cur
rent District bill for unskilled labor
are based on estimates ranging from
$3.50 to $1.75 a day. By reducing the
usual amount of work and drawing
sioners, in some instances. have paid
as high as $3.10 day for unskilled
labor, an increase of more than 100
per cent over the estimates on which
In6 al 1oSSu'
1.-The funds available to the Commits
sioners for, the payment Of per diem
employees are based on estimates submit
ted to the Secretary Of the Treasury Oc-
tober IS, 1915" said commissioner
were sufficient at the rate of wages then
obtaining and sufficient also to care for
moderate increases
increases in the wages of laborers
have been made from time to time dur
;ro tho GSn9l Annlic2 finnS nf n.
dividuals have been considered as well
as those coming from unions and other
organizations.
Increases Made When Possible.
mot all that has been asked, for has
been granted, BUT the Commissioners
have increased wages when and where
possible. The funds are so limited
that it would be impossible to meet
all the demands made. .
las far as skilled labor is concerned.
we have tried to approximate the rate
ployers, but taking into consideration
conditions of employment.
So far as unskilled labor Is concerned,
the wages have been similarly increased.
This applies to street cleaners. drivers.
1--WE appreciate the burden put on the
working man by the rapidly advancing
cost of living and would be glad to see
the wages increased. However. we can't
go beyond the scales determined in
other employments in the District. and
for lack Of funds it is impossible to
grant all the increases that have been
asked"
The street cleaning department was the
hardest hit by the walkout, only 25
out Of $50 linen showing up for work
this morning.
While the conference was in progress
at the District building majority Of
the strikers assembled at st. Joseph's
manCAd until Mr.. Hurley and the COM
mitts4 returned. The men were advised
by fhsiS rspreasptatiyea TO EstIrp 70