Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-09-06
STORE EMPLOYEES
ARE ALLOWE'|Dl TO
!. VOICE OPINIONS.
All Matters Concerning their
Work Talked Over With
Them.

New York, Sept. 5.-rrThe republican
form Of government for employees, in.
In certain Industrial plants.
throughout the country, has been
adopted bI-a large New York de-,
p~artnzent store.
Employees OF this store. numbering
LOO, have a voice in virtually, all
matters affecting their relations with
the management, through elective
fsystemSof Representations prevailing in
the government Of the United states.
The employees elect uembers of their
house Of Representatives and senate
directly While the. executive depart
ment consisting OF a. cabinet Of five,
is named by the corporation officials.
The judiciary functions are carried
out by joint justice conymittee from
the legislative bodies. All branches
powers from a constitution somewhat
similar to the constitution of the ma
ton. = Y
The fixing of wage scales-and work
ing Conditions are included in the
broad powers of the house and senate,
while the justice committee MAY bring
about the expulsion Of an employee
from the concern, If they find a work
err has been unjustly|discharged; they
i~CAA AA0SC - ACAAAoSdkCus y nSkS.O4
the legislature may be vetoed by the
cabinet, but this has not been neces.
fsary as yet. it was said by officialsiof
the concern. NJ
Improvement of the service render
ed by the store to its customers is the
ain, Of much OF the legislation enacted
by the workers, but the lettering of
the morale of the force Of employees
also brings many bills to the floor of
tho h0,,~o oS.l oono%n rynjOh sno~Syo,No
one day each week.
Recently a bill providing for the in
'stallation of a motion picture machine
ito provide "movies""- in the. building
was passed and the management is to
spend $1,000 a year carrying out its.
provisions. Another act provided for
the location and installation: Of new
individual lockers in the basement
where employees might hang their
coats and hats. ~
Passing much of the responsibility
for the conduct of the institution onto
the shoulders of the employees has
brought about many Improvements,
most of them originating in sugges-
lions which are made to the sug-
gestion committee of the house and
senate at the rate of more than SO a
week. Employees are paid cash prizes
for all suggestions put into use and no
ou66SoLAOAl 10 ICJCSLNuH uAAIA oA AAAVSoSAe
cation has been made by the commit
tee.
An increase in the earning power Of
each employe is one of the purposes
of the new store government and
economy dividends are paid on the
saving in the percentage Of operating
expense. A merit system has beentin
by the workers, grades for
employe being made out monthly
on a basis Of their ability and exper-
fence and cooperative work. An
ing those turned in for all workers :
by their direct superiors-floor man
ayers, buyers, assistant buyers and
department heads. Salaries go up
along with the ratings and promotions
are based on them.
The house of representatives men,
bsrship is elected directly by all of
the workers except department heads
and their assistants. These two
groups elect the senators Of whom
there are IA compared with 16 repre-
body changes senh-annually, the
holding Office one year. The
five standing committees from each
body include those on justice, CO.
operation, economy and service.
AS soon as this Industrial demo-
cracy plan has gone beyond it's infan-
cy, its originators hope to take the
public into the organization in some
way. Already observance of the =
resulted in bills directed toward maxi
ing shopping more pleasant and sug-
pected to come outside the store after
the government grows beyond the
embryonic stage.