The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-09-03

II or not.
subsequently. trouble arose over the
threatened adoption Of the plan and a
federal representative was called into
the case. All the men who suspended
work at that time We're reinstated with
the understanding that Mr.. r. S. jerks.
vice president OF the Company, would
adjust the dimculty and which included
a scheme where men were forced TO con-
tribute funds to purchase an automo-
bile for a certain foreman: also other
things that We're lone that proved ex-
tremely distasteful and created dissen-
sion. all of which impaired efficiency and
production.
The plan Of organization Just men
toned was prepared and men in the var
ious departments voted. Some of the
departments refused to participate. I'm
der a coercive drive the vote was taken
and a committee was made up from var
ious departments. This committee
signed the document. and this document
the Company contends is an agreement.
and must remain IN effect until January
1st, 1920, and after that date, unless
sufficient notice TO change the plan is
given. it must automatically remain in
effect.
In the early part Of July the employees
drafted an agreement which embodies
working conditions and a wage scale.
and which properly classified the various
jobs performed in the different depart
ments. This has never been done. All
work had been done under any kind Of
classification the Company cared to
make. on July 18th. the proposed agree
ment was submitted to the Company.
and a committee selected to negotiate
the agreement. Our intention then was
10 solicit a conference with the Company
and discuss both working conditions and
scale Of pay. because we knew the condi-
tons were deplorable and must be ad-
Justed without much delay in order to
avoid suspension of work at that time.
Chief Clerk Miller informed that com
mittee that Mr.. Nincett. works manager.
refused to meet with them. insisting
that they take their proposition before
the committee that was appointed IN
March and If that committee considered
1t advisable TO take up the new propS-
sition he would act with that committed.
1 The men declined to acquiese in the
proposition. asserting that the former
committee represented only a small part
or about ten per cent of the men.
uPon the company's reply to the COM
mittee, that tho company's plan was
the only one they would consider. the
men Immediately walked out of the
plant.
Several days later federal represen-
t~atives Of the Department Of Labor ar
rived in Hammond for the purpose OF
mediating the difficulty; at that time
nothing was accomplished. on August
1st. the federal representative again
visited the plant. The Management con
scented to-meet the committee that they
had previously refused 70 met on July
18th.
zThis committee did meet the company
the federal representative also being
preent. At this conference the Company
stated that within ten days after the re-
turn of tho employees II would meet the
committee and confer relative to wages
and conditions in the plant and make
adjustments wherever it was necessary.
at the same time stating that many
piece work prices in effect would not b,
changed This committee was also given
TO understand tina the Company would
IN no way change the plan that was
voted on in March.
The proposition of the company was
carried to the men. who rejected it be-
cause they considered il to be an uurair
way Of treating with them. Promises
to do certain things. made by the COM
pany were never carried out. The men
lost faith or confidence in the employer
and knew that if they did return Il
work. tho verbal agreement or under
standing would be questioned. leaving
room for dispute and for that reason de-
manded that the company give its state
ment in writing. To this the company
declined
The Federal Representative left tn,
city. having exhausted all his efforts tc
bring the company and employees TO