The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-15
OPEN SHOP IS
ANNOUNCED BY
4 BIG PACKERS
Meat M o g uLs VIII
Deal With Employees
Direct in Future.
BULLETIN.

H1SnI0gC0ny sept. l0s-k OHIt-
ed Press) = The big packers
will follow their adoption of the
sO-called American plan of
employe organizations with
wage cuts, despite present
agreements, Secretary MOrri-
son of the American Federation
OF Labor said today.
The national labor OIganiZa-
ton will back the international
Butchers Union and other or
CARNATIONS OF packer employees
in their fight against the open
shop, Morrison said when
shown a United Press dispatch
stating that four of the big tive
packers had virtually deposed
organized labor from its plants.
Chicago, Sept. 15.-(By the Unit
ed Press. )-The open shop was
established today by four of the
nations largest packers.
Officials of the International
Butchers union were notified by
the packers that in the future only
the employees and not union Off
cials, would be dealt with.
The agreement under which Fed
eral Judge Samuel Alschuler acted
as arbitrator in disputes between
packers and union employees ex-
pired today and in its place open
shop representation plan" was es-
tablished.
Packers announced that more
than 80 per cent of their 10000
employees in the country have vot-
ed in favor of the plan In all the
large packing concerns the COM
panies have formed its employees
INTO organizations, representatives
of which treat with company Off
cials in matters of working condi-
tions and wages.
The packers that have thrown
their companies into open shops
are:
No Action by Morris.
Armour &, Co., Swift & Co, VIII
son & Co. and the Cudahy Pack
ing company. No announcement
has been made by Morris & Co. OF
a shop representation. plan.
with the announcement CT the
open shop came the statement that
there would be no immediate read
justment of wages or working con
ditions, both of which remain the
same as under the AlSchuler agree
ment.
News that organized labor had
been deposed in the packing plants
hit like a bombshell in labor cir
cIe5. Pending conferences among
union officials no statements were
forthcoming.
Charles Hayes, president of the
union; Patrick German, vice pres
ident, and Dennis Lane. business
agent. called on the packers today
other year of the same wage scales
and working rules as provided in
the Alschuler wartime agreement
Outlines New Plan.
At the Armour, Swift and Nor
ris plants they were told that only
their own employees would be
dealt with in the future. They
were told at the Cudahy and Will
son Offices that the superintendents
were out of the city.
Attorney James G. Conden, pack
ers' attorney, outlined the Amer
I ican shop" representation plan, in
! operation in the four concerns, tC
the United Press as follows:
| All men and women are eligible
/ to employment whether members Of
outside unions or not
| No person may represent en-
/ ployes in adjustment of grievances
who is not an employe of the com
pany.
The employees elect their owl
representatives by ballot. Thest
representatives must be American
citizens.
Employees elected as representa-
tives treat with executives of tn,
companies in the matters of wagt
scales and working conditions