The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-14
Packers Announce New Plan
for Their Employees.
VIII Be Given Part in Manage
ment of Plants.
Big STRIKE is POSTPONED
Chicago Workers Stay on Jobs
at Reduced Wages.
VIII Wait Negotiations Before
Deciding on Action.

Chicago, March 14.-Plans where
by employees of packing plants of the
country are to share with the man
agement in the knowledge of all con-
ditions of mutual interest" were an
nounced today.
The announcement was made while
strike vote, because of the 121s per
cent cut in wages, in effect today, was
in progress.
AS soon as the organization is ef-
fected in the various plants, the en-
ployes' representatives will consider
''all matters of mutual interest. such
as wages, hours of labor, working con-
ditions, sanitary and safety measures"
the announcement said.
The outline of the proposed plan as
given out by Armour & Co. said that
when the representatives of employer
and employees could not agree on any
matter the question could be referred
to an arbitrator.
Work at Cut Pay.
The men back of the yards" went
to work stoically and without dis
turbance today altho the 12h per
cent reduction in wages and a change
in hours of work in packing plants
went into effect.
At mass meetings yesterday, the
workers approved the protest being
made by their union heads against the
wage slash. They will remain at their
jobs until the result of the strike vote
now being taken is known or the diff
ferences settled by arbitration.
Two representatives from each OF
the packers and their employees will
meet with two government officials in
Washington this week in hopes 70
reach an amicable agreement. Botn
packers and union leaders declared
there would not be runaway
strike.
Cut Relatively Small.
"Our cut in wages is small when
compared to other firms, SAID the
statement of Armour & Company.
1--WE have a list of 81 other firms re-
ducing wages where the decreases ran
from 1925 to 1894 per cent. The
stockholders of Armour & Company
could not dodge the fact that we are
losing money.
THAT is why wages are reduced.
Any assertion that we are attempting
TO establish a ten-hour day is wrong
The guarantee of extra pay Tor over
time after 54 hours in any one week
makes this impossible. The butcher
II
to As hours wage earnings per week,
and the adjustment in the hours of
labor is to enable them to get it.
The average working time in the
killing gangs in the past year has
been AZ hours. Under the new ar
rangement a worker will be able to
earn a substantial inceease.2
Packing house employees in Fort
Worth, Tex. Kansas City. Kan, and
Sioux City, Ia, also decided at mass
meetings yesterday to go to work to-
day pending completion of the strike
vote Employees in the Omaha plants
planned to hold meetings tonight to
discuss their action.
The cut in wages will be delayed
until April II in the plants at st.
Louis and st. Joseph. Mo-, it was
;tated by c. X. Urquhart, manager
of the St Louis plant, because OF a
state law requiring thirty days notice
for wage reductions for employees of
1nanufa curing concerns.
"Work as Usual" in X. c.
Kansas City, Kan, March IA
"Work as usual" today was the deci-
sion of eight thousand packing house
workers here