The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-24
SOVIET WAVE SWEEPS GERMANY
Wage Cut Accepted By Packing Employees
Both Sides Sign Agreement Providing for Reductions, Basic Eight Hour Day and Extension for Six Months of Arbitration Agreement.
By Associated Press

or an immediate Slrlke III the pdCk- ing industry were averted tonight through the mediation of Secretary of Labor Davis.
 Compromises on the part Of the em- ployes IA accepting the recently am aounced wage reduction and on the part of the five big packers in consent ing to six months extension of the Alschuler arbitration arrangement made possible the settlement after three days of conferences In which rep resentatives of the packers and em- ployers and Secretaries Davis. Hoover and Wallace participated
 TERMS OF SETTLEMENT
 The terms of the settlement as agreed to are in brief as follows
 Reduction of wages amount to
 cents an hour for hourly workers
 md to i:1& per cent for picce-
 workers.
 Retention of the basic eight
 hour day and overtime rates as
 provided in the wartime Alschuicr
 rulings.
 Extension for six months. or
 until next September 15, of the
 
 ucI AlschuIer shall decide all aucs-
 tions of hours, wages, conditions
 and adjustments not specifically
 provided for in the written ngrce-
 menf.
 Pressure by the government was un- derstood to have been largely respon- sible for the attaining of the agree ment.. The controversy between the packers and their employees were 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.
 OPINIONS DIFFER
 Statements issued by the participate ing parties after the signing of the agreement showed some divergence oi opinion as to the real meaning of the settlement. Secretary Davis said "it has prevented a strike of very serious consequences" The employees dele gates. Dennis Lane and Redmon $ Brennan, declared ''the agreement Is 6 truce to prepare for war" The pack CTS representatives James G. Condor and Carl Meyer, declared this will enable the packers to complete plans already announced to adjust betweer themselves and their employees all mat. ters of mutual interest"
 Representatives of both sides wer, understood tonight 10 havs accepted ar invitation of Secretary Dayis to mee President Harding at the White Hons, tomorrow
 During the entire three days of con, ferences the representatives of th' two sides fa6ed each other in joint ses- sion but twice, on Monday when each side stated it's case and late toda. when the final terms were signed. II Is understood that at the last moment there was a threat of further discus sion, but Secretary Davis is said tc have exclaimed, What's the use O arguing. sign.' The two sets of rep resentatives thereupon affixed theil signatures.
 NO ACTIVE PART
 Secretaries Hoover and Wallace tool no active part in the almost continuou: separate conferences between Secre tary Davis and the representatives O. each side following Mondays join conference but 1t is understood con. clusons which they reached aftel hearing the statements by both side' Monday had considerable bearing il shaping the final settlement
 Apprival of the efforts of the new Sec retary of Labor was voiced tonight b, MT. Brennan. speaking for the employees In verbal statement Mir. Brannan sai' tf at he greatly admired the spirit show by Secretary Davis throughout the con ferences even though he did not agre with all the secretary's economic be liefs.
 Secretary Davis also in verbal state ment said.
 T am highly gratified that strike il the packing industry has been averted The reaching of the agreement has en tailed a great deal of hard work am long hours The adjustment has pre- vcrted a strike of very serious conse quences..'
 AGREEMENT PROVISIONS
 The terms of the agreement were em bodied in letters addressed to Secretar Davis and signed by the respective ne eotiators for the two sides. The letter fellow:
 eIn connection with the matter of Ia bor rates and condiWons in the pack ing houses within the Alschuler admin istration and agreeable to the converse tions we have had with you during tn past few days we hereby accept you recommendation covering an amicab adjustment of said matters, and an ar engagement for the continuation of wages hours and working conditions as the existed under the latest Alschuler rulina subject, however, to the following mod ification:
 "First--The wage cuts of cents pc hour for hourly workers and 12ls pc .cent for all piece workc $ shall remail in effect as of the dates announced D the packers and shall not be subject t any further arbitration. If any furthe reductions are desired they shall b submitted to the administrator.
 "Second-The basic eight-hour da and overtime rates as announced in tn latest rulings of Judge Alschuler shal be restored. subject, however, to tn right of employers or employees to sub nit to the administrator, If they desire any quetsion as to changes therein.
 "Third-The. agreement of Decembe
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