The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-05-03
LABOR ITEMS or INTEREST
Chronicle Of Happenings of Import
ance Gathered From All Parts
Of the World.

HiALy SChtS al ilUuI dltSI ApIti 10
demanded by iaborers In Ottawa, Cam
ada, and enyirons.
The war labor board found in favor
of the right of workers to organize and
bargain collectively in four Illinois
packing plants.
For the first time In the history Of
the Trades and Labor council of Cam
ada, two woman delegates, represent
ing the waitress union. attended one
of the recent meetings.
Two of the important features ac-
cepted by the commission on interna-
tional labor legislation In Paris are
the prohibition of child labor under
sixteen years of age and the uniformity
of seamen's wages.
Refusing to accept an offer Of the
school board Of per cent increase
In salary, representatives of the Vic
toria (B. CO. Teachers association
have threatened to call strike which
would cripple the schools in that city.
Arrests by county and railroad de-
tectives of IL men at Mocanaqua, Pa,
is believed to have frustrated plot
to force general strike in the an
thracite mines and the resort to sa-
botage, If necessary, to enforce de-
mands.
IOwa's house of representatives
passed the senate measure, declaring
that human labor Is not commodity
or an article of commerce, and per-
hitting organization of unions for the
purpose of lettering conditions of
workers.
The Notwithstanding industry Of
Rockford, ILL.,, was at a standstill as
result of a strike of the union cabi-
netmakers, woodfinishers and wood
carvers. They ask an eight-hour day
and minimum wage Of 65 cents an
hour for journeymen.
Delegates representing 100000
Welsh miners adopted resolution at
Cardiff advising against acceptance OF
the governments terms proposed in an
effort TO avert strike. This action
was taken against the advice of the
miners leaders.
Announcement of a reduction of
metal miners wages of 81 day, eff
fective May l, was made by the Iron
Silver Mining company and by the
Yak mines of the American Smelling
and Refining company. Leadvlle, Colo.
About 1000 men will be affected.
Minister of Defense Wies said in
speech at Melbourne. Australia, that
under the defense act employers ref'isvS
ing to reinstate returned soldiers were
liable to fine of $500. The minister
added that the court could order the
fine paid to an employee not rein
stated.
Unauthorized mine strikes are grad
ually dying out in England. Thirty
thousand miners returned to work in
South Wales, leaving an equal num-
her still idle. In the Nottinghamshire
district 5000 have returned, and the
remainder are expected to be back at
work soon.
The new rolling mill of the Century
Steel company officials has been put
successfully in operation. On the first
day 1t rolled IL perfect rounds. This
gives the company ability to handle
any line of tool steel business and
makes 1t possible to take certain large
orders which have been pending.
Approximately 400 employees of the
Timkin Detroit Axle company, con-
stituting the greater part of the night
force. left their work as a protest
against the discharge Of an employee
they claim was Disseminated against
because he acted as chairman of
workmen's committee.
The war labor board decided that
brass workers Of Dayton, o., should
be placed on the same footing as iron
molders, who have agreed with employ
ers for minimum wage Of $500 per
day, an eight-hour day after May l,
time and half for overtime and dou-
Bile time on Sundays and holidays.
Practically all the important pack
ing houses in Toronto, Canada, have
deciGed to reduce their hours from 60
and "a to 4S week. The change
will affect in all about $500 men. A
corresponding adjustment of wages
will follow, the managers in most
cases announcing that they will pay
the same rate as formerly.
The S. Bleichroeder Banking COM
pany of Berlin, Germany, which owns
nearly all the shares of the Great OPP
peln mine at Oppeln, Silesia, has ar
ranged to turn over its stock to men,
bers of the miners union at par. The
mine will, IL the arrangement is car
ried out, become the first in Germany
to be owned by the employees.
Striking members Of the Harbor
Lighter Captains union of New York
voted unanimously to reject an offer
of a Is per cent wage increase, with
no changes in working hours, submit
ted to them on behalf of the New York
Boat Owners association by T. w.
O'Connor, international president Of
the Longshoremen's union. The unions