The Owosso times., 1922-03-31
GENERAL LABOR NEWS

No ships were launched in the Tyne
during January, the first time there
has been a blank month for 80 years.
Richard S. Stanley, manufactures,
, told legislative committee that the
4S-hour week is running industry in
Massachusetts. 'It is the cause of
the increasing conditions of unemploy-
ment," he said.
The board of directors of the Penn
sylvania railroad authorized the pur-
chase of 250 all-steel passenger cars.
These, with 20 new steel dining cars
recently authorized, constitute the
largest order for steel cars in 1922.
The Long Island railroad, affiliated
with the Pennsylvania system, has au-
thorized purchase of fifty all-steel
cars.
The lumber industry in southern
Oregon and northern California is vir-
tually at a standstill, owing to the
spread of the strike of mill and camp
workers in protest against the ten
hour day recently put into effect by
the employers. No attempt has been
made to resume operations at the
factory at Doris, Cal.
Street car service in Mexico City
was resumed and the electric lighting
plants were functiOning normally, fol
lowing a settlement of the differences
between the Electricians union and the
Mexican Light and Power company,
which resulted in a strike being called
1t Is said the company conceded 13
out of 10 of the demands of the elec-.
tricians, but stood firm against the 9th
er two, which the electricians eventu-
ally waived, ending the strike.
Secretary Of Labor Davis announced
that he had been In direct cOmmunica-,
tiOn with the representatives of the
coal operators i'm the central cOmpeti-
tive field regarding q conference with
the miners in order to avert the threat
ened coal strike. Labor department
officials believe operators will agree
to meet the miners and thus carry
out the spirit and intent of the 1920
agreement, which provided for pre-
liminary conference to meet prior TO
April q, 1922.
The st. Louis Carpenters District
council, representing about 1000 union
carpenters, issued statement pro-
testing against the proposed determl-
nation Of a wage scale by the clti-
zens' committee without consultation
with the workmen. The carpenters
recently voted down proposed reduc-
tion of 20 per cent In the wage of
$1.25 an hour The statement as
serts that $1.25 an hour is not more
than is necessary for the maintenance
of the American standard of living at
the prevailing cost of living.
The Cleveland CO., Railway COM
pany notified its motormen and con-
ductors that wage reduction of five
cents an hour will become effective
May l, at the expiration of the present
agreement. The notices, which were
posted in all car barns, also stated
that overtime pay, except on Sundays
and holidays, would be discontinued.
The proposed scale would be 80 cents
an hour for men In the service three
months, SO cents for those In service
between three and nine months and 60
cents for those In service longer than
nine months.
Little danger of q change from the
eight-hour day in the pine mills In the
vicinity of Bend, Ore, is seen by ]. Il.
Hellenius, field officer of the Loyal Le-
gion of Loggers and Lumbermen. Mr..
Hellenius said he believed that the
competitive pressure to which minor
ity Of the pine mills of the Northwest
are being subjected was not only as
the result of longer hours in effect in
the southern territory, but also the
change TO nine and ten-hour day
being made by majority of the men,
bers of the Western Pine Manufac-
turers' association.
The threatened Irish postal strike
was settled. The workers agreed to
the selection Of commission to study
the cost of living. Meanwhile they ac-
cepted cut in wages.
Single state wage agreements be-
tween union coal miners and opera
tors, such as proposed by Illinois oper-
stors. are impossible under the policy
adopted by the United Mine Workers
of America at their recent convention,
President John l.. Lewis declared I'm a
message advising Illinois union OFF,
cinls to reject the operators proposal
for separate negotiations.