The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-08-22
Will Try to Secure a Con-
j ference With Steel Cor /
pOratiOn First
TWELVE DEMANDS
TO BE PRESENTED
want Shorter Day.. One Days Rest in
Seven and Higher Wages-Gompers
Empowered to Call a Strike. at Any
Time ID

Time. Il
YOUNGSTOWN, o., Aug. 22.-Wheth-
er a nationwide strike of iron and steel
workers will be called depends upon a
conference which the union leaders hope
to obtain within the next 10 days with
representatives of the United Staets Steel
corporation. II the corporation officials
refuse to meet the union representatives
a conference committee of six represent
ing the "a unions involved headed by sam
uel Gompers, president of the American
federation of labor, is empowered to call
a strike forthwith.
This sums up the conference of repre-
sentatives of the unions affiliated with
the American federation of labor which
yesterday canvassed the vote of unions
on the question of calling a strike as an
nounced by w. H. Foster, member of the
conference committee and spokesman for
the union. Without giving exact figures
Mr.. Foster stated that 90 per cent of the
workers voting on the question had voted
in favor of a walkout.
In the absence of Mr. Gompers, who is
; returning from Europe, Mr.. Foster in
timated that other members of the con
! ference committee might proceed to ar
range for the meeting with representatives
, of the steel corporation He said. howev-
er, that Mr.. Gompers is expected to ar
! rive within a day or so, III which case
Mr. Gompers may conduct the overtures
himself
+. II Gary. chairman Of the board Of
the United States Steel corporation. fftob-
| ably will be first approached on the sub
ject Of a conference to take up the -
basic demands of the unions, Mr.. Foster
intimated
The conference committee, Mr. Foster
stated, is to hold another meeting within
a few days, when the method of approach
ing the steel corporation will be deter
mined. The date and place of this meet
ing were not announced
| Whether the conference committee viii
! call strike at the end of 10 days in case
1t has arranged meeting with the Steel
/ corporation but has failed to obtain an
agreement on the demands made by the
| unions, Mr.. Foster said he could not
state. That would be. a new situation,
| and the course Of action would have to
be decided after the situation appears, :
] he said.
| Decision to attempt to arrange the
meeting superseded the contemplated call
| ing of strike forthwith in case the
strike vote favored walkout No an
nonncement was made by officers as TO
why the decision for a conference was
decided upon in preference to calling the
strike forthwith.
Twelve basic demands would be made
on the manufacturer. Mr. Foster said. in
addition to minor demands to be forum
lated by the a unions which have mem
bers working in the steel industry. The
| basic demands are:
|. Right of collective bargaining.
>. Reinstatement of all men discharged
for union activities with pay for time
lost
! 81 The eight-hour day.
! f. One days rest in seven.
.. Abolition of 24-hour shifts.
q. Increase Ill wages sufficient to guar
antee American standards of living.
4 Standard scales of wages for all
crafts and classifcations of workers.
5. Double rates of pay for all over
time work and for work on SUNDAYS and
holidays.
! g. Check off system of collecting union
dues and assessments.
TO- Principles if seniority to apply in
maintaining, reducing, and increasing
working forces
, IL. Abolition of company unions
L. Abolition of physical examination
OF applicants for employment
These propositions are subject to devel
opment when the demands are presented
|