The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-15
CUT UNIONS OUT
Chicago Packers Adopt New
american" Plan.
Employ Both Union and Nom
union Help.
LISTEN TO employees ONLY
Representatives of Workers
Must. Be e. S. Citizens.
AlschuIer Arbitration Agree
ment Not To Be Renewed.

Chicago, Sept. 15.-A fight against
complete expulsion of organized labor
from four of the largest meat packing
concerns here was to be launched at a
meeting called by officials of the In
ternational Butcher Workers union of
Chicago for this afternoon The
plants became 100 per cent "open
shops" today. Union agents were said
to be making desperate efforts to Zine
up the workers,
Armour & Co, Swift & Co., Wilson
& Co, and the >Cudahy Packing
company have announced the in
auguratio1 of the American shop
representation" system of dealing with
their employees. Labor unions. under
this plan, are not recognized by the
packers.
Morris Has Own Plan.
Morris & Company, which has form
ulated no specific system of dealing
with their employees, announced that
the company would make no changes
in wages or working conditions at
present. Officials said they were
working In harmony with their en-
ployes and that grievances could al
ways be taken up with the company.
If found necessary later they said,
some system of employees council or
other representation might be inaug-
urated.
Arbitration Agreement Ends.
The announcement of the adoption
of the shop representation plan fol-
lows the expiration today of the Al
schuler agreement under which Fed
eral Judge Alschuler was arbiter of all
! disputes between the packers and their
employers. The packers previously
had served notice that they would not
renew this agreement, which they re-
garded as a war time measure.
Under the shop representation plan,
| all men and women are eligible to
work in the packing plants whether
members of unions or not; no person
not an employe of the company may
represent employees in the adjustment
of grievances and employees elect their
own representatives by ballot. All
j representatives elected must be Ameri-
can citizens.
Say Employees Approve.
It was announced by James G. Con-
don, attorney for the packers, that 80
| per cent of the $4,000 employees of the
| plants involved had voted for adoption
of the new plan. Condor also an
nounced that there would be no i'm
mediate, attempt to readjust wages or
working conditions
Officials of the International
Butcher Workers union declined to
comment today upon the action OF
the packers. It is believed. however,
the unions will make a determined
attempt to force a conference with
the packers in an effort to preserve
union influence in the packing plants
In some circles, the possibility of a
strike is not discounted.
No Wage Adjustment.
! The new plan, very similar to that
instituted by Armour e. Co, several
months ago, involves the employment
of either nonunion or union workmen,
the workmen electing from their num-
Der representatives to confer with the
packers regarding matters affecting
the employees. There will be no inn
mediate readjustment of wages under
the new system, it was announced.
Union Wants Hearing.
Request for a conference to renew
the wartime agreement or substitute g
new agreement practically identica
was made to the packers by union Of
ficials last week. Charles Hays, presi
dent of the union said no reply hac
been received from any of the com
panies and apparently they intend tt
ignore the union request"