The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-03-31
Meat Strike Rests in Conference
of Packers, Union Chiefs and
Government Officials.
RAIL BOARD HAS ITS PROBLEM
Congress Plans Early Consideration of
Tariff and Tax Matters-Germany
an Enigma-AIIies' Tariff Ex-
pertinent Interesting-Dim
Outlook of Peace in
ireland.
BY z. r. Gibson.

HOPES for a settlement without
strike of the labor difficulties exist
ing in the meat-pacl1ing industry,
lodge in the mediation-arbitration eff
forts of the United States government.
Secretary of Labor Davis, although
new to his position, has been brought
quickly into realization of its re-
sponsibilities lii order that he may
get off on the proper foot and show
the people that he is the right man
in the right place, he is neglecting no
effort to bring about an adjustment
of the trouble which threatens one of
the most important items of the ma
tions good supply.
Although the result of the strike
ballot leaves no doubt that the en-
ployeeS are in a mood TO attempt a
complete tieup and gives their repre-
sentatives a powerful weapon in the
mediation conference at Washington,
there is a distinctly optimistic phase
in the willingness shown by both sides
to take part in that conference. 1t
indicates desire for reasonable adj
justment, and the fact that the pro-
ceeding is occurring under such inn
portant government auspices, warrants
assumption that 1t will be more readily
productive of results than if left SIM
ply to negotiations between the pack
ers and their employees. In the, latter
event, with both sides thoroughly stiff
necked, a strike would be the logical
outcome. The affair has great portent
as showing how the present adj
ministration proposes to deal with the
larger phases of capital and labor
strife, particularly as relating to the
cost of living and the return to nor
NAL conditions.
Az important development OF the
controversy pointing to possible meth
DDS of eliminating similar difficulties
in the future, is the announced offer
of some of the larger packers to
dem0cratize their plants. The pro-
posal is to give employees a voice in
labor conditions by separating the
plants into general divisions covering
the principal products, matters OF pro-
duction and mechanical departments,
each division to be subdivided into
voting precincts Of about 300 en-
plovees. The employees are to elect
delegates to a divisional council
which shall In turn choose delegates
to a general plant conference board,
while the company names an equal
number &C delegates to both board and
councils.
1t is proposed that the board shall
make recommendations on employ
ment. wages, working conditions, safe
ty. sanitation, recreation, transporta-
ton and other matters of mutual
interest. These recommendations
when concurred in by a majority of
the board are to be regarded as de-
cisions binding on plants affected. In
the case of a tie, the matter may go
to arbitration. Union labor officials
denounce the plan as one intended to
deceive the employees, disrupt the
unions and substitute a shop union
controlled by the companies.
The government railroad labor
board has a problem in considering
the great mass of data and in ADJUST
ing present difficulties. and others sure
to arise in the near future, between
the railroads and their employees over
announced reductions ia wages. Ship
pers and organizations representirg
the public are demanding a voice IN
the hearings. The big question: Is
similar to the one agitating the pack
ing industry, although no immediate