The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-04-12
Demands Made Upon Company
on April Ninth Declared as
Unreasonable and Unjust
1T is DECLARED
MORE MAY FOLLOW
Workers and Company Make
Statement Concerning Griev.
ances-Racial Objections
Are Conspicuous \

Demands made upon the manage
ment of the Pensacola Shipbuilding
Company April by the International
Brotherhood OF Boilermakers and Iron
Shipbuilders and Helpers OF America,
which were Immediately answered
with the company's declination on the
same date. eliminated in a walk out
yesterday morning at 10 o'clock by
652 men.
Efforts made during the past few
days by Mr.. Amos, employed by the
u. S. Emergency Fleet Corporation. to
arbitrate and adjust all labor griev-
ances in the power OF the board. fail
ed at conferences recently held and
the walk out followed.
Summing up from the statements
made by officials of the company and
the unions, it is made to appear that
the main grievance is one OF racial
objections and contention by the work.
ers that lowering of wages Is indicat-
ed in spite of the fact that several
times recently assurances have been
given by the plant management that
no cut in wages Is in immediate con-
Possibility of an agreement between
the company and workers at an early
date, was indicated in discussions OF
the differences last night. though no
definite steps are known to have been
taken in that direction by either side.
this feeling being based only on minor
of the differences. Some
OF the labor leaders stated that yes
walkout will be followed by
a similar action of others today.
Following is a statement made last
night by r.. G. Allen. Jr., manager for
the boilermakers union.
THE proposition cOucerniug theN
vvaIIxO,st kskaaz zshtI 4Ar4 In q prcpo-
sition or principle which not only con
Germs the boilermakers. but every man
employed in the shipyards. II is a
of who shall be supreme
rs n mechanic. the white man or the
colored man.
I'm the Chickasaw Shipbuilding
plant in Mobile. Ala. the Chickasaw
,ompany was employing colored men
here for driving rivets. a strictly me-
Job, for So cents per hour.
While the present rate under the
Macy award is soc per hour. II this
company can force the white man out
ind put the colored man in his place
when the Emergency Fleet turns this
yard loose, the rate of riveters and
,ther mechanics will be 35 cents. IL
hey can force that on the colored man
.hey cannot force It upon the white
nan, especially the white union men,.
Statement by r. w. Crenshaw.
There were 2186 men checked in
he morning of April IL and at 10
,'clock $50 walked out. Eighty per
.ent of those going out did not know
Why they were going.
I'VE were not notified that they
we're going to strike. but 1t was not.
as this class OF men have
,een wanting to strike for several
months. the climax coming on April
]. when we were confronted by six
Of the Boilermakers
,nion making demands on this COM
,any which could not be granted.
Not any of these representatives
re employees of this company, and the
chairman and his chief associate are
,ot even residents of this vicinity. but
,lew in here for the purpose OF pulling
,ff the trouble. Our only surprise
vas that so many good men VINO hve
ere and have their families here would
REV up their good jobs to follow such
nen as these, who have no interest In
his community.
I'VE use negroes on pneumatic Tools
IS we'll as helpers. Many OF these
lelpers use pneumatic tools. When II
|ecame necessary 10 TeuuCe Jul WIN
ng forces we did not discriminate in
ayor of any one, but took up each
mans record of production and elimi-
,ated those with the lowest record.
md it might be interesting to know
hat some of those records were the
pwest in the history of shipbuilding.
)ne gang working one day. eight
ours. drove rivets, and It was not
negro crew. II white men expect to
old their positions they must do SO
n their merits.
I'VE have in no way and at no time
yer placed a negro foreman over white
nen. nor have we ever attempted to
orce social equality between the races.
The Pensacola Shipbuilding Com
any is ready at all times to meet It's
mployes to adjust any differences In
heir affairs and in addition, the
emergency Fleet Corporation has an
fficial stationed in the plant to ad-
ust any grievances the men might
ave with the company, and In view
Z these facts, / am wondering what
xcuse these men who have walked
ut today have made to their wives
nd children for the loss Of their
,bs."
Copy Of Demands.
Following is a copy Of the demands
,ade upon the shipbuilding COMPANY
v the boilermakers: