The Washington herald., 1922-02-10
NAVY YARDClJT
. SIUNS UNIONS;
MAY ACT TODAY
Rumors of Further Re-
duction In Personnel
Not Confirmed.
PLEDGE BROKEN,
ASSERT LEADERS
Say Employees Had Been
Promised Ample
Notice.

Stunned by the sudden lay-off of
1850 men from the Washington
Navy Yard, officials of the American
Federation of Labor and various
machinists' unions last night an
nounced that no definite steps had
been taken appeal to President
Harding and the Secretary Of the
Navy. although lengthy conferences
had been held between officials ef
the federation and various ma
chinists' locals yesterday.
Definite steps may be taken by
heads OF the various union locals
today since IL was intimated that
various committees would be called
into conference this morning to de-
eide what action will be taken.
Vain efforts to prevent the cut
in the personnel at the navy yard
were made yesterday by Represent
ative Frederick n. Zihlman. of
Maryland. and a delegation of Of
ficials from the machinists' union at
the Navy Department.
Promise Of Ample Notice.
The Representative, with n. p.
Alifas, J.. W. Hughes, J. z. Nussear.
w. W. Keller and r. Z. Janson. rep
resenting the navy yard workers,
called on Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Roosevelt, who directed them
to take the matter UP with Admiral
McVay. chief of ordnance. Admiral
McVay declared that the navy yard
would not be entirely closed, but
he made no direct promises regard
ing a further cut in the personnel.
While the action of the govern
ment had been anticipated. a prom
Use had been made that ample
warning would be given so that the
men would have an opportunity to
find other employment. IL was said.
Nevertheless the navy yard workers
were notified upon reporting for
work that they were furloughed
without pay until further orders
pending reorganization OF the navy
yard.
Declored by Committee.
The action of the Navy Depart
ment was deplOred last night by the
legislative committee of Lodge ia,
international Association of Ma
chinists, which met at Naval Lodge
Hall. Fourth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue southeast
The furlOuEh came without
warning despite the fact that the
local committee had been assured
that no drastic action was contcm-
plated" statement issued by the
committee said. This action works
hardships on the men who have
been furlouEhcd, as they will re-
ceive no compensation. although
their name will be carried on the
rolls.
The deplorable facts concerning
the furl"ugh arc that many men
who have given thirty and forty
years nC their life to the service of
the government have been turned
away with scarcely moments
notice and without any hope or
prospect of employment in their
line, owing to their advanced age.
Union Heads Worried. -
THE men had hoped that in the
event of a curtaiiment of work due
to the action of the arms confer
ence that ample notice would be
given which would give them
chance of locating elsewhere"
The 1850 men furlOughed yester-
day are not departed from the serv-
ice. but are furloughed without pay.
This procedure. it is pointed out. re-
tains them within the Jurisdiction
of the retirement act.
The situation. which union heads
regard as extremely serious. can
be helped considerably, labor lead
ers said. by passage of legislation
which is now pending in Congress
to increase the personnel of the
Pension Office. Money deducted
from the pay of the workers for
the retirement fund is being held
up by the Pension Office because
of the small number of workers in
that office. The Pension Office, ac-
cordinE to members of Lodge ia.
of the International Association OF
Machinists, is working at present
on October claims.
Urge Temporary Work.
Members composing the delega-
ton appearing at the Navy Depart
ment urged that the men who are
being laid off through stoppage of
work on the manufacture of big
guns should be given temporary
employment on smaller guns and
other equipment for auxiliary craft
which the Navy Department needs.
In this respect, members OF Ad-
miral Robert Z. Peary Post. AT,
Veterans of Foreign Wars. in a reso-
luton adopted at their meeting, in
dorsed the stand taken by the dele
cation in recommending to the gov
ernment that all contracts for gov
ernment materials and supplies 'be
awarded to government plants or navy
yards instead of outside contractors
and manufacturers. thereby fore
stalIing occurrences of furloughing
government employees.
Rumors were spread throughout
the city that further reductions would
be made in the personnel OF the navy
yard today, and navy yard officials
neither affirmed nor denied the ru-
NOR when they simply said that there
was no way of telling at present.
Various unions embracing all trades
will act jointly on the navy yard
furlough at their meetings, which
will be held during next week. They
will adopt resolutions which will be
submitted to various officials of the
government.
Representative Zihlman intimated
last night that he would continue his
fight for the navy yard workers. hop
ing to get them employed on small
arms manufacture that do not come
under the reductions proposed in the
arms parley agreement.