The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-03-18
THE BIG FIVE"
MEAT PACKERS
BREAK FAITH

Chicago, March 12.-Quickly fol-
| lowing their abrogation Of an agree
ment with workers, to which the
| government was party, the "big
five" meat packers announce a 1917
| per cent wage reduction and longer
! hours.
Under the agreement any change
in working conditions had to be
passed upon by Federal Judge AL
schuler, who was selected by the
National Council of Defense in 1918
to act as arbitrator until peace was
declared.
In April, 1919, the packers asked
Secretary of Labor Wilson to ex-
tend the agreement one year after
peace was declared. They said
they were impeled to take this ac-
ton in order "to avoid labor con-
troversies and to promote the gen
eral welfare during the troublous
period of reconstruction"
Under this agreement the arbi-
tration machinery functions until
one year after peace is officially
declared by the United States. This
is the packers own proposal. Now
they reject it and announce war on
their employees.
Their first step is to smash the
arbitration machinery created by
the government by giving notice to
the United States Department of
Labor that in the future they
would not submit to the jurisdic-
ton of Judge Alschuler as admin
istrator-"
"The packing house barons have
not only struck a blow at arbitra-
ton but they have shaken the con-
fidence of the 100000 employees in
this industry and all other workers
in the efficacy of governmental
agencies" declares Dennis Lane,
secretary-treasurer of the Amalga-
mated Meat Cutters and Butcher
Workmen's Union.
What do you suppose enters
into the mind of the worker who
stayed on the job for 40 cents an
hour during the war period, and
who never received more than SO
cents an hour in the high wage
| period of 1919 to 1920, because he
loyalty kept his agreement with the
| government not to strike, but ar
bItrate, now when the packers dis
regard the government and attempt
to cut wages and lengthen hours
Does it increase his respect for gov
eminent, law or orders? Will he or
other workers ever again take
! kindly to arbitration?
"As recently as last August two
| of Inco1 ~, Lo
making plants in this city went on
strike and the packers Immediately
requested the Secretary of Labor to
urge them to return to work and
maintain their agreement. Our In
! ternatlonal Union ordered these men
back to work on penalty of revoca-
ton of charter in order to sustain
our agreement with the government.
The labor market was in our favor
then and we could have won that
strike, secured large increase in
wages and other concessions.
Keep in mind that August, 1920,
was almost two years after signing
OF the armistice, yet the packers
then with the existing labor mar
ket, did not plead that the agree
ment should be set aside because
the signing of peace with Germany
had long been deferred"
Mr.. Lane states that when the
/ packers asked for an extension of
the agreement, in 1919, their en-
ployes were not anxious to accept
the plan. About 80 per cent of
these workers are classed as "un-
skilled Then they were receiving
but 40 cents an hour, and they
knew that with the condition of
the labor market favorable to them
they could, through their economic
power, secure substantial conces-
sions from the packers.
I'VE listened, however, to the ap-
peal of the government" said Sec
rotary Lane, that we continue to
submit to arbitration and renew our
agreement with the Department of
Labor for the period requested by
the packers, one year after peace
had been signed, and we did agree
and sign such an agreement.
IF the packers had any sense of
justice and decency in their atti-
tude toward their employees, and
sincerely believed that reduction
in wages and any changes in hours
or working conditions were justi-
fable because of changed eco
nomic situation, they would and
could have made use of the arbi-
tration machinery under the AL
schiller agreement by filing a Pc
ton for hearing and decision on
such matters. That was the order
ly procedure they We're morally
obliged to follow under their agree
ment with the government.
There was no penalty clause at
tached to this agreement, but what
care the packing barons for moral