The New York herald., 1921-06-08
PACKERS SEEK CUT
IN WAGE OF 100000
Operating at a Loss and Unem-
ployment Continues, Plea
Made to Judge Altschuler
ASK CHANGE IN HOURS
Allied Concerns in Chicago AS
sert That Life of the In
dustry is Threatened.

CHICAGO. June IA petition asking a
reduction Of wages of nearly 100000 ems
ployees in the meat packing industries
was filed to-day with Judge Alschuler
of the United States District Court by
the allied packing interests. Judge AL
schuler is the official arbitrator agreed
upon, under n continuation of a wartime
agreement
The petition asked that the wages OF
hour workers be reduced five cents an
hour and that the same proportionate
reduction also be applied to piece work.
ers' rates.
The petition cited as reasons the
changed working conditions. the unem-
ployment situation and the fact that the
packers are not earning a profit.
The petition asked that full hearing
be held before June 10 and that the
reductions be made retroactive to that
date in case the hearing is not COM
pleted
Relief from the penalties imposed on
the packers in the form of working hour
restrictions also was asked. With the
present eight hour day in force, 1t was
explained. the packers were guarantee
paying overtime after eight hours. II
was suggested that this be changed to
a guarantee Of forty-eight hours a week
and the agreement obliging them to pay
overtime after eight hours in any one
day be abolished.
The minimum rate now paid In the
packing industry is 45c. per hour, to
which It was cut from 53c. In March
following the abrogation by the pack
ers in February of a war time agree
ment under which Judge Alschuler was
the mediator between the packers and
their employees In all disputes At that
time the packers. after conferences with
President Harding and Secretary OF
Labor Davis agreed to continue the
arbitration agreement until September
1, and the employees agreed to accept
wage reductions averaging about 10
per cent.
In their petition the packers declare
that despite the last wage cut and re-
ductiof. Of their forces they have COM
tinued to operate at a loss and that they
cannot continue to exist under present
conditions.
This loss, they asserted, has amounted
to millions Of dollars while the farmer
was getting less for his product than he
did before the war, Wages. it was as
serted, constituted As per cent. of their
cost Of doing business and these costs
had increased despite a drop in living
expenses and the losses suffered by
stock producers and the packers.
Compared to other days" it was as
serted, labor is entitled to a larger
share of what it produces, but It is also
clear that II that portion is increased
or allowed to remain at a point that
business is stagnant and the industry
involved Is carried on at a loss, the
wage Garner will suffer a loss as acute
as that borne by the producer and in-
weston.
''The farmer and the producer have
taken severe losses: the earnings OF the
| investor are wiped out relatively the
wage Garner has not taken his share
of the burden of reimbursement"
The strike which threatened to tie up
the entire meat packing industry was
averted on March 23, when represen-
tatives OF the big Five" packing in
terests and of the 100000 men employed
by them, after q conference with Sec
retaries Davis, Hoover and Wallace,
signed an agreement lasting until next
September is.
The workers took a wage cut OF 8
cents an hour for hourly workers and
12H per cent. for piece workers. The
workers. however, kept the basic eight
hour day. The provisions OF the war
| time agreement. it was decided, should
remain in effect until September 10,
when they will end automatically. II
was agreed that in the meantime Judge
Alschuler should continue to be arbi-