The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-19
MPLOYES AGREE
 ID LOWER WAGES.
"PIant Congress" System Works in Packing
 Industry
By Associated Press

By Associated Press
 Chicago, November 1S.-Employes of Armour & Co.,, 26,OO0 in all, to- day, through their plant governing committee, agreed with officials of the packing house that wage re- duction is necessary and fixed its amount.
 The cut is effective November 2S. This is the first time in the history of the industry that wage reduc- ton has been arrived at in such a manner. /
 Tonight officials of Swift and Company announced that after an all-day conference the representa- tives of the Chicago assembly of em- n1ent of wage was necessary. had extended vote of confidence in the management and had voted to leave the wage readjustment to the dlscre- ton of the management.
 Reduction for various classes of employees of the Chicago employees of the Chicago assembly practically corresponding to those fixed by the employees of Armour and Company and effective on the same date. Mo- vcmber 2s were then announced -by company officials who said they ex- pected the other Is assemblies of employees to take same actions.
 Employees of Wilson and Company and the cudahy Packing company, who are holding plant conferences. are expected to accept similar re- auctions. and Norris and Company has announced that it will follow the example of the others.
 Plant Congress.
 All of the big five except Morris and Company last bring inaugurated the plant congress" system of em- ployees participation in the manage nent of the industry.
 The agreement between Armour and Company and it's employees fol- lowed a o-day conference. Twen- ty-four employees, representative of the plant councils in nine cities, met with an equal number of company officials. The books were opened and the financial situation of the company explained. The question was put to a vote and the following reductions effective in all plants ex cept that at Fort Worth, Texas. adopted:
 For piece workers. per cent; un- skilled labor getting 45 cents an hour or less, IF cents; semi skilled labor getting 45 and 50 cents an hour. 8 cents.
 A minimum wage of 25 cents an hour for adults was agreed upon.
 The reductions at Fort Worth. where wages are gagged by local labor conditions, are: Unskilled labor, receiving from 421a to 47i5 cents an hour, cents. Skilled labor receiving more than 471s cents an hour, cents.
 When the reductions are applied to the plants of the big five, l25.000 workers will be affected.
 Wages in smaller packing houses gre based on the big five scale.
 No change is made iA working conditions or the 44-hour week guar antee.
 New Departure.
 Today's action, officials said, marked new departure in American industry. While the plant congress idea has been tried with varying success in other lines, the packing houses were the first national in dustry to attempt this method of employee representation in the man. agement.
 Ten days ago the companies an nounced, in a statement to their ern- ployees that wage reduction would be necessary and outlined their req sons for requesting the cut. Todays s action was the result.
 Officials of the company say they suggested no figure for the proposed reduction. The employees repre- sentatives called for the books and from the companys financial show ing figured out the reduction which was adopted.
 The action, 1t was emphasized. was purely voluntary on the part of the remployees' committee, the company representatives agreeing to the cut proposed by the workers.
 The final test of the plan will come however, officials say. when it is seen whether or nos the body of employees accept the decision of their chosen representatives.
 The big five plants have always been known as "open shop indus tries. Packing officials say the union membership is largely confined to the smaller plants and that any strike call would not affect them seriously.
 Offfcfals of Wilson and Company tonight announced that representa- tives of tbe Chicago plant assembly at a meeting with company officials today had agreed to cut in ges. The amount of the cut will not be fixed until tomorrow. Officials stated they had been advised that the Kan sas City plant had agreed to wag,