The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-09
STEEL PLAN TS
 FOR .8-HOUR SHIFT
Eight To Ten Thousand Men
 In Alabama To Be Affected
 By Abolishment Of 12-Hour
 Day, Due On August 16 INDEPENDENT COMPANIES TO FOLLOW I. C. l. LEAD Predicted More Negroes Than
 Whites Will Benefit In Bir-
 mingham District, Because
 Of Ratios At The Furnaces

Eight to ten thousad men, white and black, will be affected by the shift from the 12-hour to the S-hour day in the iron and steel industry in this state, it is estimated
 The Tennessee company auxiliary of the steel corporation, is prepared to abolish the 12-hour day on in- structions from the hes q office Of the Steel corporation in New York.
 The Gulf States Steel company will act simultaneously with the Tennessee company, according to its ability to secure the extra men re- quired for the Shour shifts.
 The Republic Iron and Steel com pany will abolish the 12-hOur day according to its agreement with oth- CT members of the American Iron and Steel institute.
 It is believed that the change in Alabama is to be made at an early date. The 12-hour day in the steel indL stry of America begins its exit next Thursday, August Is, at the large Carnegie steel works of the Steel corporation in Pittsburg. Aboli- ton of the 12-hour day there and in stitution of the Shour day was an nounced for that date by Judge Gary Wednesday,
 Fall In Line.
 At the offices of the Gulf States steel it was stated that this com pat,y. being a member of the Amer ican Iron and Steel institute, was bound to the common agreement reached by its members to abollsh the 12-hour day and that this was to ke done as additional men needed for the change could be secured. IL was stated that the supply was not yet in sight. Management or the Republic Iron and Steel company ex- pressed intention of abolishing the i2-hour day at blast furnaces ana coke plants the same as the Tennes- see and Gulf States Steel.
 The announcement as to the Car negte steel works is generally ac- cepted in industrial circles as early forernnner of total abolition of the 12-hour day in the American steei industry.
 It is presumed that independent iron makers will gradually fall Tn line with the Tennessee and other companies in abolishing the 12-hour day. The lead of the principal m dustry is usually signal for gen eral conformity in Alabama lnous- trial circles.
 Many Negroes Affected.
 Probably more negroes than whites will be affected by the change, there being about so per cent Of negroes around blast luTudGeS, 9V PNt NNA'N -'- open hearth department ana oO per cent around the coke furnaces.
 Advices from Youngstown are to the effect that the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Mill company one Of the largest industries there, will go on the eight-hour day next week tae same time as the Carnegie works from 1me New York announcing the cbappa at the Carneeie works is as follows:
 Gary Announcement.
 "The 12-hour day in the plants or the Carnegie Steel company, the idts est subsidiary of the United states Steel corporation, will be eliminated on August 16, Ebert II. Gary, chair man of the latter's board or olrec- tors. said Wednesday: % ,
 "Workers shifted from 12-hour to an S-hour day will receive Hat increase of 25 per cent in their hourly pay, it was said at the local offices Of the steel corporation.
 This means that their hourly pay will be changed from 40 to 50 cents and their daily pay from S4.SO to Sa' Laboring men in their rolling de- partments will work on 1O-hour shifts instead of the present 12-hour basis, and will receive no change in their present 40-cents-an-hour rate. CHICAGO DISTRICT
 CHICAGO, August S.-Establlsh- ment of the eight-hour day in cer- tain units of the steel mills in the Chicago district is expected to start next Monday, although no offlclai announcement has been made.
 The eight-hour shift, it is under stood, will start in the blast furnaces and merchant mills of the united States Steel corporation at Gary, Ind, and the Illinois Steel companys plants here