New-York tribune., 1920-09-07
Italian Labor
u ph0lds Taking:
OF All F'actoriie
Hope Expressed EMPLOYERS
Attitude Will Not Force
Workers to Make Common
Cause With Metal Men
Plants Still Are Held
Ambassador Avezzona, i'm
Statement, Declares Sit
uati0n Is Not Alarming

MILAN, Sept. 6.-Representati of
the General Confederation of Labor
and the committee of action" of the
Metal Workers Federation and Trades
held meeting to-day at which it was
decided that the movement organized
by the Metal Workers Federation was
justified. The delegates promised to
assist in adjusting the dispute, but
hope was expressed that the employers
would not adopt an uncompromisng
| attitude which would compel all work
ers to make common cause with the
metal workers.
A meeting Of the executive COM
mlttee of the Federation of Labor will
| be convened September 10.
Strikes Hold Factories
ROME, Sept. 6.-Hope is entertained ID
that a satisfactory solution will be
found to the metal workers dispute
Nhe workmen's unions, however, have
adopted resolution, which is approved
also by the leaders of the Socialist
party, to the effect that the conflict, if
it could not be settled, must not be
|
but extend to the entire proletariat
with the specialization Of all forms OF
production.
Meanwhile the strikers, especially at
Milan, continue to hold the managers
and engineers whom they consider
necessary to the operation of the occu.
pied establishments. The managing
director of one of the factories who
was visiting at the home of friend
was seized and carried off by seventy
armed strikers.
Although the government officially
is not interested in the metal work
ister of Labor, and Signor Media, the
| latter one of the representatives Of
Milan in the Chamber of Deputies
are doing their best to find a solution
which thus far has not been attained
! The employers maintain that the diff
| ficulties under which industry is
laboring are such that it is impossible
to grant an increase in the wages OF
! the workers. The employers also re
long as the works are arbitrarily oc
cupicd by the men.
| During the course of the negotia-
tions, which continue, the plant owners
| have shown a disposition to agree tc
put their establishments on a coopera-
tive basis. Considerable time, even
months, however, is necessary for tho
completion of such arrangements. The
Minister of Labor and Signor Media
have, therefore, proposed an Immediate
4 increase in wares of from 10 TO 20 per
cent, which increase would be repaid
to the owners when the cooperative
systems arc working.
Severe Punishments Threatened
| The strikers are keeping strict dis
cipline among their forces. A watch
man who failed to announce the
passage of camion with soldiers ant
/ police was punished by Imprisonment
in cage and kept there in a humili
ating position under threat, which was
not fulfilled, of having metal polish
ing sand played upon him.
The most serious punshments are
threatened those who disobey the or
ders of the commissions managing the
occupied works, or who destroy OF
steal materials. All workers leaving
the works are vigorously searched by
| the strikers sentinels
The newspapers say that Sunday
passed without disturbances in Italy
where without disturbances in Italy
The Epoca reports that at Turin two
Continued on pauo eluhN