The Colorado statesman., 1921-03-12
PACKING HOUSE EMPLOYEES DEL
EoATEs VOTE FOR STRIKE
REFERENDUM.
PREPARE FOR WALKOUT
AUTHORITY VESTED BY UNION
IN EXECUTIVE BOARD TO
CONDUCT SITUATION.
cwest,rn Newspaper Union New. ssrics)

Omaha, Neb., March ia referen-
DUN strike vote OF all packing-house
employees was authorized at n confer
ence of workers delegates here as
word came from Washington that
President Harding had referred the
packing house labor situation to the
Department of Labor for attention.
Ballots would be prepared imme-
diately and sent out from the head
quarters of the Amalgamated Meat
Cutters and Butcher Workmen's
Union in Chicago. according to Dennis
Lane, secretary of the organization.
The two-day conference, called by
the union, resolved to vest full au-
thority in the organizations executive
board to "call and conduct the entire
strike situation" If walkout is voted
in the referendum.
A long-distance telephone message
from Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor, in
Washington, informed Secretary Lane
that the President had received the
conference telegram and already had
the matter under consideration. This
telegram asked that President Har-
ding use his influence to have the
packers suspend their wage and hour
changes. and submit the matter to ar
bitratiOn.
Mr.. Morrison telephoned Secretary
Lane that he had called meeting OF
all allied unions having members
working for the packers to confer in
Chicago. This conference will outline
plan of concerted action by all EN-
ployes of the packing houses if a
strike is called.
The resolution adopted by the con-
ference of butcher workers delegates
left the matter of strike entirely IN
the hands of the unions executive
committee. The conference went on
record in favor of n strike, however, if
President Harding does not succeed IN
inducing the packers TO comply WIN
wartime agreement as requested in
their telegram to the White House.
''It has been clearly developed" the
resolution said, that it is the sense OF
this conference that in the event Pres
ident Harding does not induce the
hackers to maintain the eight-hour
workday and return to a compliance
with the agreement entered into WIN
the United States Department of La
Dor, we should unanimously and effec-
lively resist return to the ten-hour
doy. wage reductions and other bar
barrie conditions they seek to impose
upon us"
The resolution instructs the execu-
tive board "tO Immediately arrange FOR
the taking of referendum vote on the
question of a strike, such vote TO be
taken as nearly as possible on the
! same day in all the packing house cen
ters on uniform ballot"
This ballot, Secretary Lane said
would read as follows: DO you favor
and authorize Il strike in the event
that the government or our organiza-
ton is unable to induce the packers to
maintain the eight-hour workday and
compliance with the agreement en-
tered into with the United States De
partment of LaborT'
The vote will be taken by all union
members in the five large packing
plantsN and all independent plants
which have adhered to the larger
plants policies, Mr.. Lane said.
If the referendum vote authorizes
strike, the date and all other details
will be determined by the executive
board under authority of the confer
ence resolution.