The New York herald., 1921-03-15
PACKING UNIONS
INSIST ON PARLEY
WITH MEN AT TOP
They Want Personal Ap-
pearance OF Armour,
Swift and Wilson.
CONFERENCE MARCH Fl
Thousands Of Workers Re-
turn to Yards Under Pro-
test Against Scale.
COOPERATIVE BASIS LAID
Plan for Employees to Share
in Management Outlined by
Armour Company.
CONFERENCE MARCH 21
COOPERATIVE BASIS LAID

Special Despatch 20 THE NEw YORK HERALD.
CHICAGO. March Representatives
of the packing industry unions will
meet with Secretary of Labor Davis
in Washington March 21 to arbitrate
their differences with the big Five"
packers. It was announced early this
evening by Dennis Lane. secretary Of
the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and
Butcher Workers of America, follow
ing a meeting of union officials late
this afternoon.
Acceptance of the unions to confer
with their employers and Department
.of Labor officials is contingent, ac-
cording to Lanes announcement. upon
the personal appearance of the su-
preme heads Of the packing industry,
including j. Ogden Armour, Edward
f. Swift and Thomas Wilson of Wilson
& Co.
Thousands of workers have resumed
their employment under protest with
wages reduced 10 per cent and changed
working conditions IN effect as an
nounced by the packers
A rapidly nearing crisis was foreseen
by Dennis Lane, who declared that un-
less the Government forces the packers
to abrogate the changed wage scale and
working conditions pending arbitration
strike appears inevitable
Warned to Stay Away.
Packers warned potential strikebreak-
ers to stay away, after being swamped
by men who swarmed into the city in
the belief that they would find jobs re-
placing workers believed TO be going on
strike. mo men needed was the pack
ers' message TO the jobless all over the
United States.
Representatives of nine international
labor unions representing every trade
allied with the packers employees proper
In the yards were notified by Samuel
| Gompers president of the American
Federation of Labor, to attend a meet
| ing here Wednesday to decide what ac-
\ ton they will take In event the strike
ie called. The call was issued at Mr..
Lanes request.
Overtures for peace were made py
Armour e. Co. following the return to
work. The overtures took the form OF a
proposal for the establishment OF self
government and management by the en-
ployees. acting in cooperation with the
company itself.
I The following synopsis OF the plan was
given out by Armour & Co.:
i Principles: To give employees voice as
10 conditions of labor. To provide e1-
peditious. orderly procedure for preven-
ton and adjustment Of disputes. Equal
representation for employers and em-
4 ployees.
I Representation Generally. one en-
ployee representative to each 200-300
employees. Not less than five employee
representatives on conference board.
/ Management Representation Manage
ment to appoint representatives to
boards equal in number to employees
representatives.
\ Duties and Powers: Board may con-
slider and make recommendations on ON
ployment and working conditions, wages
and cost Of living. safety and prevention
Of accidents. health and plant sanitation,
hours OF labor. educational and plant
publications.. recreation and athletics.
Employer transportation, and other
matters OF mutual interest Board con-
cerned solely with policies. Execution in
hands OF the management