The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-05-01
Wage Increase For
Pacific Ship-Ydrds
Coast Master agreement To
Set Model For Other
Pdcts In u. s.

Washington, D. C. QLNS).-Sub-
stantial wage increases are provided
in master labor agreement covering
10000 Pacific Coast shipyards, worked
out by representatives of the ship
building industry and of organized la
Dor.
Terms of the agreement, designed to
stabilize labor relations and assure
maximum construction of ships for
the duration of the defense emergency,
were made public by the Office of
Production Management in announc-
ing the pact had been approved by
the Navy, U. S. Maritime Commission
and Sidney Hillman, OPM associate
director-general.
A. F. of l.. and CIO unions are
expected to approve the agreement,
which covers workers employed on
$667, 100000 of shipbuilding orders.
The agreement is of the utmost i'm
portance, because of its effect on other
agreements. Conferences to draw up
agreements similar to the Pacific
Coast pact will be held for east coast
shipbuilders as far south as Charles
ton, S. c., in Washington, beginning
April %; for the Great Lakes at an
undetermined place beginning April
80, and for the Gulf Coast, including
the east coast, in New Orleans about
May S.
The agreement provides uniform
wage and working conditions, includ-
ing full provision for the avoidance
of work stoppages through industrial
disputes throughout the Pacific Coast
shipbuilding area.
First Agreement of Kind
This is the first agreement to re-
suit from the establishment, on No
vember 27, 1910, Of the Shipbuilding
Sterilization Committee in the Labor
Division of the National Defense Ad-
visory Commission now under the
OPM. The chairman of this commit
tee is Morris l.. Cooke, noted indus
trial engineering consultant attached
to the staff of the labor division.
BY invitation of the committee,
shpyard employers and labor organi-
cations of the Pacific Coast met in
San Francisco February 3, as the Pa
cific Coast Sterilization Conference.
The conference completed it's tentative
agreement April 2. In addition to gov
ernment approval, that of the various
firms and labor organizations involved
is now being obtained preparatory to
final meeting Of the conference.
This action of approval by the gov
ernment was communicated to H. G.
Smith, president, National Council
of American Shipbuilders, who pre-
sided over the conference as chair
man; John P. Frey, president, Meta
Trades Department, American FEEDER
alton of Labor, it's acting chairman
and John Green, president, lnterna.
tional Union of Marine and Ship.
building Workers of America, ClO.
Basic wage rates for standard
skilled mechanics, for the period OF
the defense emergency proclaimed by
the President of The United States
1t is provided that existing wage:
above the standard are not to be re
duced and that higher wages may bt
paid to premium men.
A standard schedule of hours fol
shift work, with 10 per cent addet
wage for the second shift and Is pc
cent added wage for the third shift
Work Stoppages Barred
The pact also provides that:
"There shall be no lockouts on tn
part of the employer nor suspension
of work on the part of the employees
This agreement is guaranty tina
there will be neither strikes nor lock
outs and that all disputes will b.
settled by arbitration as hereinafte
provided"
A further clause declares: "ther
shall be no limit on, or curtailmen
of production"
Grievance machinery and arbitra
tion are provided for as follows: Al
grievances or complaints shall b.
promptly settled" between represen
tatives of the employer and employees
where necessary, the services of tn
United States Cancellation Servic
shall be speedily secured; should n
agreement be reached, the disput
shall be submitted to arbitration ma
chinery to be established by supple
mental agreements, and to be binding
upon all parties.
Tn insure an adequate supply o
competent craftsmen, the employer
are to establish apprenticeship train
ing programs acceptable to the work
ers and conforming with Federal O
State apprenticeship laws.
"This agreement" commented d
rector Hillman, "is calculated to re
lease the full productive capacity G
the Pacific Coast shipyards.
: "The action here taken has bee
designed to place the industry on
sound production basis by anticipat
, ing difficulties rather than allowin
labor relations to reach entangle
stages when corrective measures an
adjustments would be necessary"
' Representatives Of the A. F.. of
at the San Francisco conference il
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