New-York tribune., 1921-03-24
600 Accept
age Cuts n
Paclxing Plants
Agreement Signed Provides
for Basic 8-Hoslr Day
snd s Months Extension
81 War Time Agreement
Alschuler To Be Arbiter
ReIuctions Announced by
she Employers Stand; All
Contracts End Sept. Is

0ntr6Css Ellu sept ID
WASHINGTON, March 2ss Workers
; s the packing industry, numbering
more than 100000, accept the recent
,v.re reductions Of approximately 127z
I'd is per cent under an agreement
.irned late to-day by their spokesmeu
xi.b representatives of the I've leading
packers.
v;des for the basic eight-hour day and
for extension Cor six months. or to
september Is. of the wartime Alschuler
agreement for arbitration of differ
ences.
The wsge scale as agreed to CORE
sponds with that put into effect March
I by the big packers, and reduces the
vsge rate Of all hourly paid employees
eixht cents an hour, and amounts to q
s reduction in piecework wage rates Of
12M per cent
Alschuler to Remain Arbiter
Judge Alsehuler, who during the war
ana until recently acted as arbiter in
differences arising between the packers
and their employees, continues his SER
yices in that respect under the agree
ment, which was reached through the
mediation of Secretary Davis.
Provisions of the agreement as
signed by J. G. Condor and Carl Meyer.
by Dennis Lane and Redmon s. Bren-
nan for the Amalgamated Order of
Meat Cutters and Butchers Workers of
North America, follow:
First-The wage cuts of eight cents
an hour for hourly workers and 1915
per cent for all piece workers shall re-
main in effect as of the date announced
By the packers, and shall not bessub-
5. iect to any further arbitration. II any
further reductions are desired they
shall be submitted to the administra-
tor.
Second The basic eight-hour day
and overtime rates. as announced in
the latest rulings Of Judge Alschuler
shall be restored, subject, however, to
tie right of the. employers or en-
ployees to submit to the administrator,
il they desire, any question as to
changes therein.
Agreement Ends Next September
Third 1.-The agreement of December
q, 1917, and extensions thereof and
sn decisions Hereunder, except as
herein modified, shall remain in effect
until September Is, 1921, at which
time the agreement and all awards
Hereunder and supplements and re-
HeWals thereof and understandings
connected Herewith shall absolutely
terfninate.
Fourth Samuel Alschuler, or
his successor, as administrator, shall
until said date retain and exercise all
4 of the jurisdiction and authority here
tofore existing, and the employers and
{ the employees shall abida- by his de-
cision in all matters of jurisdiction
and power under the administration,
and all subjects. of hours, wages, con-
ditions and adjustments thereof, ex-
espting rs hereinbeforc set out. The
employers and employees shall, how
ever, be permitted to put into opera
ticn plans whereby they may develop
amethod to handle between themselves
as they do not interfere with the ad-
ministration.
~Fifth Any questions relating to
hours or wages submitted to the ad-
ministrator during the continuance of
the agreement shall be submitted in
written briefs, unless otherwise re-
quested by the administrator
Federal Pressure Settled 1t
Pressure by the government was
understood to have been largely re-
sponsible for the attaining Of the
agreement. The controversy between
the packers and their employees was
the first major labor difficulty to face
the new Administration and President
Harding referred the matter to Secre-
tary Davis, who called in Secretaries
Hoover and Wallace to assist him.
Statements issued by the participate
ing parties after the signing of the
agreement showed some divergence OF
opinion as to the real meaning of the
settlement. Secretary Davis said s'it
has prevented strike of very serious
consequences" The employees dele
kates, Dennis Lane and Redmond s
Brennan, declared "the agreement is q
truce to prepare for war" The pack
ers' representatives, James G. Condor
and Carl Meyer, declared this will
enable the packers to complete plans
aiready announced to adjust between
themselves and their employees ali
matters of mutual interest"
representatives Of both sides were
understood tonight to have accepted
An invitation of Secretary Davis te
meet President Harding at the White
mrs -