New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-03-18
PREPARE FOR WALk0UT
AUTHORITY VESTED BY UNION
IN EXECUTIVE BOARD.
PACKING HOUSE EMPLOYEES DEL.
EGATES VOTE FOR STRIKE
REFERENDUM.
twestera Newspaper Union News Service.D

Omaha, Neb., March IA referen-
employees was authorized at n confer
ence of workers delegates here as
word came from Washington thai
President Harding had referred the
packing house labor situation to the
Department of Labor for attention.
Ballots would be prepared imme-
diately and sent out from the head
quarters of the Amalgamated Meat
Cutters and Butcher WOrkmen's
Union in Chies go, according to Dennis
Lane, secretary of the organization.
The two-day conference, called by
the union, resolved To vest full au-
thority in the organizations executive
board to "call and conduct the entire
strike situation" if a walkout is voted
in the referendum.
A lonG-distance telephone message
from Frank Morrison, secretary of tie
American Federation of Labor, in
Washington, informed Secretary Lane
that the President had received the
'ollfltll't VII am NV tii'h's h"'
the matter under consideration. This
telegram asked that President Har-
ding use his influence to have the
packers suspend their wage and hour
changes, and submit the matter TO ar
bitratiOn.
Mr.. Morrison telephOned Secretary
Lane that he had called a meeting of
all allied unions having members
working for the packers 10 confer in
Chicago. This conference will outline
ployes of the packing houses IL a
strike is called.
The resolution adopted by the con-
ference of butcher workers delegates
left the matter of a strike entirely in
the hands of the unions executive
committee. The conference Went on
record in favor of a strike, however, if
President Harding does not succeed in
inducing the packers To comply with
wartime agreement as requested in
their telegram to the White House.
ut has been clearly developed the
resolution said, that il Is the sense of
this conference that, in the e Pres
ident Harding does not Undue the
packers to maintain the eighi-hour
workday and return 10 a compliance
with the agreement entered into with
the United States Department of La
Dor, we should unanimously and effec-
lively resist a return To the ten-hour
day, wage reductions and other bar
barrie conditions they seek to impose
upon us"
The resolution instructs the execu-
tive board ito Immediately arrange for
the taking of a referendum vote on the
question of a strike, such vote 10 he
taken as nearly as possible on the
same day in all the packing house cen
tiers on a uniform ballot"
This ballot, Secretary Lane said,
would read as follows: "Do you favor
and authorize a strike in the event
that the government or our organiza-
ton is unable to induce the packers 10
maintain the eight-hour workday and
compliance with the agreement en-
tered into with the United States De
partment of I.aborY"
The vote will be taken by all union
members In the five large packing
plants and all independent plants
which have adhered to the larger
plants policies, Mr.. Lane said.
II the referendum vote authorizes a
strike, the date and all other details
will be determined by the executive
under authority Of the confer
resolution.