Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-05-27
STATEMENT ON
CABLE STRIKE
Standard Underground Co.
Gives Position in Strike
That Started Thursday
TELL OF PAST ACTION
Gave Employment During
Dull Times and Paid Good
Wages During Depression
TELL OF PAST ACTION

The following statement ito our
employees" explaining the company's
position in the strike which started
at that factory this week was given
out this morning by officials of the
Standard Underground Cable Com
pany:
"A considerable number of our
employees did not return to work
Thursday morning, May 25. follow
ing the action on the part of a
small number at noon the day be-
fore. No previous complaint was
made or discussion had on the sub
ject and the only reasons which
have thus far reached US are that
our employees are disappointed a.
the fact that no raise was volua-
tarily announced by our company
following the advances recently
made by number of other Perth
Amboy industries.
mo previous complaint or re-
quest was made on the subject
though we since understand that
some of our employees are loyal and
reasonable, and we take this oppor-
tunity of calling attention to some
facts which we are sure nave been
overlooked, and which as a matter
of fairness should be given full con-
sideration.
For years it has been the pre-
vailing custom for the general base
rate paid in the. Perth Amhoy metal
industries and in the clay industries
and other seasonal occupations, to
pay somewhat higher rates than in
the Gable Works, in recognition OF
different working conditions, houri
more laborious work, or the seasonal
nature of the work as compared
with our comparatively continuous
steady employment. This difference
has frequently amounted to as much
as three cents per hour.
When, as a result of the serious
falling off IL business, it was made
necessary something more than a
year ago to take these changed con-
ditions into account, material re-
ductions in the rates of pay were
made in the Perth Amboy district
Just as they were made everywhere
else throughout the country. AT
that time, and as the record WIFI
show, the Cable Company did not
reduce their rates to the same ex-
tent that other reductions were
made locally, but maintained its
base rate at thirty-three cents per
hour (with a starting rate of Hlrty
cents per hour) notwithstanding tho
fact that other industries which had
normally paid three cents per holr
higher than our rates. were reduced
TO thirty cents per hour and in some
cases to twenty-five cents per hour
or still lower. Therefore, it is TO
be noted that in maintaining QUE
rates at the figure stated, we were
maintaining them at from five cents
per hour to ten cents per nouF
higher than they would have been
had we kept our rates at the usual
relationship to the other local rates
mentioned.
I'm other words, If we had made
as great reductions in our rates as
were made at the time by the other
industries which have recently ad-
yanced their rates, we would nave
not only saved a large sum of money
but would have been in position
where increases could have Deen
made at this time to correspond
with those made in other directions;
but We leave it to all fairminded
people to judge whether by the ac-
ton we did take, we did not treat
our employees more StHeIouSiy oiN
fairly. And we do not yet believe
and do not wish to be forced TO the
conclusion by your action that our
mistake during the past year or SO
was in not making greater reduc-
tions in rates than We did make IN
order that We might now at TINS
later date, anG after having made
the savings which meanwhile have
gone to you in increased pay, be IN
a position to make advances which
others have only recently made.
During the recent very extreme
business and industrial depression,
we have made other sacrifices in
your interest than in the matter OF
rates and have booked a large ag-
gregate volume of orders at less
than cost because they could only be
had by quoting less than cost, and
because such orders were needed to
avoid still further reducing our
forces or shortening working hours.
Our commitments ahead are all
| based upon the present level OF
prices and costs and do not admit
| of increased or unanticipated ex-
(Contfnued on page p
! Alinden ca 14250-5-25-3t'