Evening star., 1921-09-23
SUPERVISING FORCE
AT YARDS REDUCED
Consolidation of Two Shops
Under One Head Is
Effected.

Many members of the supervisory
force were reduced back to the work
benches in the Washington navy yard
shops. putting them under one head
has been effected, and more are in
contemplation with a consequent re-
duction of the supervisors and shop
foremen.
More than forty supervisors, in
Guiding quartermen and leading men
were reduced to the grades below. in
most cases carrying a reduction in
pay to them of more than 81 day
each. This pay loss is in addition
to the general wage reduction which
went into effect September Is.
There has been a general under
mining of the morale of the force
remaining at the Washington yard
according to those familiar with con.
ditions in the local gun factory
which has shown it's effect in the
constant decreases in pay and status
at the local gun factory. it wa:
pointed out. are having this effect.
Kept In Turmoil.
Not only is the mechanical force
kept in a constant state@ef turmoil
but. the administrative forces. in.
Guiding the clerks. are showing tn,
effect of the uncertainties of the
situation, it was said. 1t was said
further today that as high as six
clerks resign each day at the yard
to accept positions which they be-
lieve are more permanent.
The general reduction in statu:
which is going on throughout the
yard carries with it reduced pay pei
day, in addition to the general Gu,
ordered by the general wage board OF
, the Navy. No man who has been re-
duced has suffered less than cut OF
$3.50 day.
Officials of the local yard now arr
working on plans for consolidation
of shops with view to making fur,
ther cuts in pay and size of force
wherever possible, it was learned
Master mechanics. in addition to hav
ing their pay cut. are having addi
tional and heavier responsibilitie!
thrust on them by the addition O.
more shops. These shops, all for
! merly had separate master mechan
les, but many of these are being re
duced to quartermen, and given othel
| work in the shops.
However, while reducing master me
chanics in some shops and consolidat
ing others. the yard officials today ap
pointed one man. to master me
chanic shop instead of consolidating
the shop with some other.
Will Work Out Wage Plan.
Plans for obtaining satisfactor,
wage scales and conditions for EN-
ployes of the various navy yards will
be worked out at convention of of
ficials of District A, Internationa
Association of Machinists. which con
venes at the Machinists' building
Monday morning at 10 o'clock for
| six-day session. District a. comprise
all machinists employed in the nav!
yards of the country.
The machinists' officials will en-
deavor to formulate such plans in al
effort to prevent repetition of th'
action Of the general navy wage boart
lin recommending the recent drastic pa,
reductions for civilian employees of tn,
navy yards.
A concerted movement also will b,
wage award reopened. N. P. Alias
| president of District "A. said today tina
the machinists now realize that tn,
Navy Department will not reopen tn,
wage question on the protest of any on,
yard. He said that the fight agains
in scope. and it is the intention of tn,
machinists' association to make it SO.
Goes to Meeting.
Mr.. Alias left Washington today t.
attend a mass meeting of the Brook
lyn navy yard employees tonight il
New York. The Brooklyn yard EN-
ployes, he said. are expected to pro
test against the recent pay cut.
Representatives of Columbia Lodge
No. 174, comprised of machinists a
the Washington navy yard. are con
tinuing their canvass today amonf
members of Congress. urging them t.
! take some action to have the wag,
award reviewed. Virtually ever,
legislator seen by the representatives
1t is said, has agreed to do his utmos
in behalf of the navy yard workers.