Evening star., 1933-08-04
Ordnance Equipment for New
Vessels to Be Produced
at Plant Here.
1923 PER CENT PAY CUT
AFFECTS 1900 EMPLOYEES
Labor Federation To Fight Reduc.
tons Under Order Placing Work
ers on Nve.Day Week.

An increase in employment at the
Warrington Navy Yard seemed In pros
pect today. a. q result Of til huge ship
building program for which contracts
were awarded yesterday.
The Washington yard, 1t was pointed
out. VIII produce almost all the ord
nance equipment for the vessels to be
constructed.
However. pay reductions Of 1874 per
cent, affecting approximately $500 en-
ployes OF the yard. VIII result from the
order placing all civilian workers in the
Navy's shore stations on q five-day,
40-hour week. A total Of $4,000 viii
be sheared from the weekly pay roll on
August 6, when the cut becomes effec-
tive.
80 More DrasSAtsmen.
Employment OF more than 30 ad-
ditional draughtsmen has been author
t1ed already. to handle work on design
for the new ordnance Due to the
routine delays connected With authori-
zation Of the ordnance work, creation
Of designs and construction of expert
mental equipment, actual production in
the yard here will not begin for quite
long time 'omcials predicted today
The order for q 5-day week in ali
Navy shore stations complies with q
code agreement between the private
shipbuilding companies awarded con-
tracts and the National Recovery Ad-
mtnistration. Formerly civilian en-
ployes at the Navy Yard worked a sly
day week and received full 6-day pay.
The mandate from the Navy Depart
ment does not reduce the scale of
wages, but eliminates four hours of
work each week and takes away the
s-hour pay previously dispensed.
Labor in Opposition.
immediately after announcement of
the pay cut, the Metal Trades Depart
ment- Of the American Federation Of
Labor began to plan . drive in op-
departments estimate, about 1000 Of
its members Will suffer from the order.
Navy ofnciak had said approximately
$4,000 would be affected.
It Is understood the Metal Trades
Union viii take the stand that the cut
Is totally inconsistent with the admins
tration recovery program. The or
ganization contends that Hnce President
Roosevelt has committed himself to in
crease employment, reduce hours and
raise wages, to give Q heavy cut to the
Navy workers at this time would coun-
teract the purposes of the recovery drive.
The hope Of the labor representatives
Is believed to be establishment of o
40-hour week with wages ut the former
48-hour level.
More Work Predicted.
Predictions Of improved employment
all over the United States as q con-
sequence Of the $500, ,000, 900 naval
building program were made yesterday
by high o1ncisls Of the Navy.
Admiral william II. STANDBY, chief
OF naval operations, at press con-
ference said present unemployment in
the shtpbuildtng industry would be fully
taken up when the entire program gets
underway. The full effects may not
be felt, however, for about SIX months.
he said.
It was estimated that s5 per cent
Of the construction outlay would 20
to labor. Admiral Standley said studies
show that for every man put to work
directly in shipyards, four would be
provided employment in allied indus
tries and every State In the country
would benefit.
I've no doubt it will be felt all over
the United States"- he stated.
OF the 81 vessels to be constructed,
Fl will be built In private shipyards
and Is in Government yards on the
Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. The pro-
gram will bring the United States much
nearer to the limits Of sea strength
permitted under the London treaty.
With the exception Of . heavy cruiser
and four destroyers, for which Con-
gress Appropriated funds, the entire
schedule Is being financed from the
4236.000 900 fund apportioned the Navy
from the $500. .o0o. 900 public works
money.