The Connecticut labor press., 1919-04-05
WAR OVER, GOVERNMENT CANNOT
 KEEP AGREEMENT WITH MACHINISTS

Omc1ak-omau ray Onere0 to
 Practical Maehinists -- New
 Haven Lodge to Vote on Cues
 ton of Political Activity.
 Although the machinists' officials have been using every endeavor to in- huence the government to live up to its award III the Marlin-Rockwell case in New Haven, the company continues to operate nine heAlrS and 36 minutes per day five days per week. This is in di- rect violation of the award made by the war department under date of NoveTn- Der l, 1918 to continue for six months after the war, as was acknowledged by the War Department at previous date when the company tried to institute the same schedule, but as was stated by Major Franklin, who is in charge of the District Ordnance Office in Bridgeport business agent of the Machinists' Union, Conditions have changed with the signing of the armistice and we are no longer at war"
 It esems evident from this statement made by Major Franklin, that now that the war is practically over, regardless of the agreement on the part of the War Department, and accepted by the eIn- ployees in good faith, the government is no longer desirous of protecting the interests of the employees who 1abored So enthusiastically during the war, that the war might be prosecuted to sue, cessfuI conclusion. If the Marlin Rockwell corporation is so anxious to change the working schedule SO as to conform to the wishes of its employees why don't they operate eight hours per day and four hours on Saturday, mak- ing 44 hours week, providing employ ment for proportionate number of the unemployed, and enabling the employees to have the Saturday afternoon which no doubt they are desirous of having. This is the attitude of the employees, but under the present conditions, they are pracncaliy obliged to submit, to the die tates of the company
 To show the intensive spirit of phil anthropy practiced by one employer in New Haven under present industrial conditions. member of the Machinists' Union went to. the New Haven Screw Company to apply for position as machinist There was no opportunity for fnachinist but the company de- sired the services of man to operate a screw machine. The applicant, who was a general machinist, thought that he might take the screw machine job for awhile to tide him over until conditions got better, and was offered the magnih- cent sum of 15 cents per hour L
 The Machinists' Union has plenty of evidence to show that wages have been reduced bnysome of New Hayenss egr- pl0yeFS from J5 cents per hour to $ cents per hour in many individual cases. Most of these reductions have been in shops where the non1union men are the dominating feature. At the New Ha- cen Clock shop one day last week, member Of the Machinists' Union hap pesled to be in line of about 300 appli- cants for positions. The employment agent shouted: There are few jobs here at $12 ner week. Anyone who wants one of these jobs can remain in line. There were two out of the 2OO who remained in line. Considerable wonderment Is expressed as to whether these two who stayed were married men with families to support
 At the Acme Wire Company in High wood a member of the Machinists' Union applied for job as a machinist the other day. and was asked if he was d union mar. He was told that if he was union man the company would not hire him. These are some of the con- ditionS that the machinists are up against in New Haven at the present time
 ':Is 1t any wonder that Bolshevism sure cure for Bolshevism, or for the 'in- given to the people by the daily press, is to give the workers employment and a decent living wage" stated an official of the MachinistS' Union.
 Elm Lodge. Nc. 420, International Association of Machinists, is planning another educational meeting for next Thursday evening, 1t Odd Fellows hali, 05 Grown street. Professor Henry w. Farnum, chairman of the Local War Community Board, will he the principal speaker and he will speak on 1"Labor's Opportunity" This will be the fourth meeting of this nature which has been held by the local Machinists' Lodge, These meetings are open to all rnachin- ists and machine shcp workers in the city and from the interest shown in the previous meetings, 1t is expected that a large crowd will take advantage of this opportunity for education on the sub feet most vitaf to every laboring man and woman at the present time
 It is quite likely that Elm Lodge will take a canvass of its members in the near future as to the adyisability of making an effort to get the 44-hour
 
 permanent measure % prevent unem- pIoyrnent One important subject that Is now being taken ID by the lodge is the matter of politica! action. Because of the fact that organized labor in vari- ous parts of the country Is forming a political party of its own, and because of the fact that one of the aims of the International Association of Maehinists is to stimulate the political education of the members to understand their politi- cal rights and to use the ballot intelli- gently. the lodge is going to canvass its members to find out what sentiment there is for the formation of labor political party :.
 Members of the lodge are continu- ally leaving town to take jobs in ~vari- ous parts of the country where wage standards are being maintained.
 DEADLOCK IN STRIKE.