The Washington times., 1923-07-02
VAvY YARD
LEADER
(NJ5
z Members Of Wage Commit
tee Listed Among 100 Work
ers Given Discharge.

Robert Janson, president Of the
machinists' union, Columbia Lodge
No. ia, and one other member
Of the navy yard wage board,
which waged the successful fight
for the 10 per cent salary in
crease Just granted, are among
100 machinists who were "laid
of" at the navy yard today.
Reasons For Separations.
The other wage committee mem.
Der is:
g. III. EmIet, 2415 Q street.
southeast.
1t is said that the union officials
are to be separated from their po-
sitions because they were compelled
to take time off to press the argl-
ments OF their fellow workers tor
wage increase which resulted in
lowered efficiency records.
Navy yard machinists, 1t was said
today, are very much exercised over
the discharge Of the faithful union
officials who will be deprived OF
the fruits Of their efforts, and q
delegation led by n. p. Atlas. presi-
dent OF the international Machin-
lists Union, Will today go 70 the
office Of the Assistant Secretary
Of the Navy with view of having
Plan Fight for Jobs.
Following q conference today with
leaders of the local machinists'
union, President Atlas announced
that campaign will be launched to
get the dismissal of the 100 ma
chinist annuIled on the grounds that
the yard will be justified In mourning
deficiency as they cannot get oyt
their scheduled work II they cut Eft
10 per cent Of their entire enroll
ment of nachiniStS.
Congress laid out a certain amount
OF work for the Washington navy
yard Atlas continued, land II ma
terial and wages increase they ate
perfectly justified in sustaining b
deficit to get 1t out. This is despite
the fact that the present Admins
tration seems to be determined to
fight shy OF deficits. In fact, the
international situation, 1t seems to
me, forbids the disarmament Of the
group OF skilled mechanics now at
the navy yard.
Conditions have become so bad at
the navy yard that every worker
there almost lives in the daily dread
that he will be fired. and those who
are dismissed. am afraid, win never
return to the Capital"
Say Work Scarce Here.
It was made plain that the 100
machinists who are slated to go out
on July will have to pick up and
leave Washington with their fam
lilies as there are. no positions avail
able in their line of work.
Some of the workers said that 200
machinists have been gradually ''laid
off" at the Alexandria torpedo sta
ton and that they have "combed the
city for situations" and left 1t bar
rem.
''It is most unfortunate" Presi.
dent Atlas said today, that these
men should be among the 100
machinists to be severed from the
service, as according to the regulas
tons adopted in September, 1921.
1t was distinctly written that union
officials who acted for their CO.
workers should not be penalized.
Error Alias Believes.
Naturally, had not these union
men been working indefatlgably in
the interests of their fellow-work-
men for an increased wage they
would have attained thier usual
high efficiency ratings and not have
been discharged.
IT am firmly in the belief that
they have been included IN the
group laid Off through an. error
Of some official at the navy yard
who does not understand their
status"
1t was explained at the office Of
the commandant of the navy yard
today that while the 100 men were
notified Saturday and tbday of
their dismissal that 1t will not be.
come effective until July z. which
is the end Of the next pay period.
Within day or two 100 mem
bers of the clerical force at the
navy yard will be Laid off," to take
effect July Z, after which, 1t is said,
there are anticipated no further
slashes in the present working