The Washington times., 1922-11-18
NO PLEDGE
ON PAY, IS
CLAIM
accuse Alias, Head of Union,
Of disappearing the
Issues Involved.

Inc case Oh Cno NAVY DcPafe-
ment in the contest with N. P.
Alifas, president Of District A,
international Association of
Machinists, over Forthcoming re-
auctions in personnel and resump-
ton of the 48-hour week at the
sreat Naval Gun Factory here
vas set forth today by officials
the Office of Captain Willard,
head Of the Navy Yard Division.
Deny Agreement Broken.
Atlas was accused of misrepre.
senting the issues involved by a
spokesman for the division, who
claimed that in its treatment OF
the workers in the many yards, as
here, the department has always
considered their welfare.
This officer pointed out that for
the past eighteen months the forty
hour week has been maintained In
order that during the period of sc.
we're industrial depression great
numbers OF workers would not be
thrown out.
In the past few months. 1t has
been found. he said, that the pick
Of the mechanics were beginning to
leave the Washington yard and
others, because they were now en-
abled to secure forty-eight.hour jobs
outside, with a consequent improve.
ment in wages.
1t was denied at Captain Wizards S
Office that in returning to a forty.
eight.hour week here on Decem.
Der l the Navy Department would
be violating any agreement with
members of the machinists' union
employed at the yard. providing for
q return from forty hours work
to .fortyfour.
No Scale Pledge.
''There was no such agreement
made" 1t was stated 1.-THE Navy
Department does not bind itself or
pledge itself to any scale of pay or
schedule Of hours. The method of
procedure is this: In each navy
yard district there is a local wage
board which works out wage scales
equal to those maintained In priv.
ate Industrial plants Of that district.
These are forwarded to the depart.
mental wage board for review, and
its findings go to the Secretary
Of the Navy, who may approve
them in part or whole. The various
rates are then put into effect in
the several yards. They may very
well vary from district to district,
as can be easily seen. This Is an
annual performance and 1t Is not
guarantees that are given, but
statements that are made.
"The Secretary doesn't want to
dignity this situation by paying any
attention to the charges of the
machinists," continued the officer
spokesman. But in this division
we feel that it's a poor return for
all we have tried to do for the men.
In one regard Atlas charges that
an agreement Is to be broken seem
true, on their face. Last year the
board of review recommended that
as soon as possible the weeks work
should be increased from five days
to five-and-a-half, or forty-four
hours. The secretary o. KS this,
but there was in no sense an agree
ment contracted"
Coming Reductions.
The foregoing explanations were
forthcoming when inquiries were
made at the Navy Yard division as
to what reductions might be ex-
pected here when the forty eight
hour week was resumed on the
first Of next month. The figure
had been variously reported as
from 220 to 700. The former is
much more nearly correct. It was
said, thought the exact reduction
will not be known even by Captain
Dayon, yard commandant, until
the date Of institution.
President Atlas has announced
that an appeal will be made by the
machinists of his district before the
general wage board on November ~,
embracing two points: First, the al
legged infraction Of an agreement by
the department; second, that re-
cent recommendation of the wage
board for the Washington yard for q
reduction Of cent an hour In the
pay Of first-class machinists and the
Institution Of the 4s.hour week will
likely necessitate the discharge OF
more workers after the December l
cuts. Al the same time Alias ex.
presses appreciation over the depart.
mental announcement that the re.
duction will in all probability not
exceed 220 by any considerable
figure.
Employees In Protest.
All through yesterday, said Atlas,
WCtt hito mo
office from virtually every navy
yard In the United States protest
ing the return to the full six-day
week.
During the war the Washington
navy yard was the scene of more
than feverish activity. Every avail
abb IN was hired: wage scales
bc to such an extent that
dr. yers, etc, were making as
h'r" $40 a day. r"''nting over.
timt md twenty-fou hours a day
the steam hammers could be heard
forging out the implements OF war,
while the gun.boring machines 81.
lently wormed their way through
twelve and fourteeninch tubes.
wor' 20 Tened but slowly after
thon Nut the entry Of Amer
icps auves into the naval
rcluci eements last January
d, alt the ard body blow, SO far at
continuance OF vast output was
concerded. The yard for a long time
has kept three ears ahead In fabri
eating guns. fire-control equipment
telescopic sights, etc.