The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-03-22
WIRE MEN GIVEN INCREASE
General Advance Of Ten Fer Cent to
All Employees Of the Western
Union Telegraph Company.

of ten per cent in wages to all en-
ployees of the Western Union Tele-
graph company belonging to the as
sociation recently organized by the
company, has been made. The in
crease, retroactive from July ], APP
plies to about $4,000 workers.
The advance is subject to the APP
prevail of Postmaster General Burle-
son.
The increase was the result of a re-
cent conference at, Washington be-
tween a committee of employees and
Mr.. Burleson. 1t will mean an addi-
tional outlay of $3,0O0000 and will
not include the bonuses and commits
sions already being allowed other en-
ployees, who will not share in the in
crease.
Directors and officers Of the Stand.
ard Oil company of New Jersey at a
conference with company employees
agreed to increase the wages of all
refinery workers approximately ten
per cent. The increase became eff
fective at once. 1t is the sixth gen.
eral wage raise granted by the COM
pany since August |, 1915. The 49,
hour week is not affected by the raise
announced.
Construction of four mammoth ways
at the new shipyard Of the New York
Shipbuilding corporation at Glouces-
ter, N. j.. is progressing rapidly. They
will be large enough for the building
of the largest ships afloat, or, if de-
sired, each will accommodate three de-
stroyers. When the new ways are COM
pleted the concern will have 20 large
ways.
Longshoremen are no longer "poor
and downtrodden," according to Will
liam FL. Edwards, United States inter-
nal revenue collector, who, in state
ment at New York reported many of
these workers are earning $4,000 to
$1,000 a year. Many longshoremen,
ignorant of the income tax, failed to
file returns to the government and
have been penalized as delinquents.
Approximately 1000 garment work.
ers who have been ON strike for three
weeks voted to return to work follow
ing an agreement by the war depart
ment at Washington to arbitrate the
strike under a proposal submitted by
the manufacturers. The strikers seek
80 per cent wage increase, better
working conditions, and permanent
arbitration board.
Workers Patriotic league, composed
of men and women engaged in war
work, has been formed at Pittsburgh
by the Pittsburgh district ordnance Of
flee and, according to plans announced,
the members will be given honor med
ais identifying them as employees Of
plants working on war orders, for the
government.
One hundred and fifty retired coal
miners of Mercer county, Pennsyl-
vania, have taken up their picks and
returned to the coal mines, that the
output of coal may be increased.
Pledge cards have been signed by the
old miners that they will do their best
while the war continues. They expect
to mine 100000 tons a year.
At the opening session of the Inter-
national Typographical union at Scran-
ton, Pa, President Marsden G.. Scott
read a cablegram from Marshal Foch
addressed to the printers of the United
States saying: "The factory, like the
trench, is post of combat. The duty
is not to abandon it before the en-
envy. My compliments to your union
for having understood it so WELL"
Secretary Of Labor Wilson has an
nounced the establishment of wom-
ems division in the department of Ia
Dor as a recognition of the great i'm
portance of the work of women in
industry and the necessity for a ma
tional policy in determining the condl-
lions Of their employment.
Several hundred union boilermakers,
tank testers and iron calkers have
quit work at the Newport News ship
yard in protest against the contract
system" In vogue there. One member
of the union committee said the mis-
understanding between the men and
the officials would soon be rectified.
The strike of members Of the Com
merclal Telegraphers' union employed
by the Western Union was called off
by r. r. Wise, president Of the local,
upon assurances from Postmaster Gen
eral Burleson that operators dis
charged for union affiliations would be
reinstated.
Women employed in ali branches OF
industry in France number $4,000, &C.
cording to an official report. This
compares with $4,000 employed IN
normal times. This increase is due
almost entirely to the employment Of
women in metal industries, chiefly In
munition works.
Sixteen thousand men In New York
affected by the "work-or-fght" order
have sought productive employment
through the United States employment
service in the last month, according
to an announcement by Charles %
Barnes, acting state director.
Contracts have been awarded fol
| the construction of SO steel cargo
ships of $500 tons each by yards OF