Evening star., 1942-05-18

Shipyard Workers
Accept Reduction
In Wage Increases
Agreement at PorIey
Supports RooseveIt's
Anti-InfIotion Policy
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, May 18.-In line with
President Roosevelt's policy to pre-
vent an upward spiraling Of prices,
representatives of more than half q
million workers In the Nations ship
yards have accepted an agreement
which provides for a smaller in
crease in the uniform wages in the
industry than warranted by exist
ing contracts.
The increase in wages will average
about 8 cents an hour and repre-.
sents a total of from $125 ,000, 900 to
$l50,000,000 in the next year. Un-
der the cost of living" clauses in
existing contracts, the workers were
entitled to increases totaling $685.
100000 for the next II months.
Thus, labor'S representatives In the
first major demonstration indorsing
the Presidents anti-inf1ation pro-
gram agreed to relinquish an esti-
mated SIS, 100000 to 100000, 900 in
wage hikes.
The National Shipbuilding Con-
ference, at the conclusion of three
week session, yesterday announced
the program by labor, manage
ment and Government providing for
sterilization of wages.
Agree to Buy War Bonds.
In addition to accepting the lower
wage hikes, labor further agreed to
buy War bonds with their increased
wages and they would not be cashed
except in case Of extreme emergency.
Attending the conference were
representatives of the major ship
builders, the American Federation
of Labor, Congress of Industrial
Organizations, Navy, Maritime Com
mission and War Production Board.
Chairman Paul r. Porter OF the
w. P. BIS Shipbuiling Sterilization
Conference said the cost Of living
rise, which the salary increases were
to have matched, was 13 per cent
on the West Coast, the model for
the four shipbuilding zones. He said
the actual increases granted ranged
from 6 to 10 per cent.
During the conference President
Roosevelt urged the conferees to
accept wage standards which would
guard against the inflationary rise
in the cost of living"
Reduction Credited to Message.
THE full percentage wage in
crease for which your contract calls
and to which, by the letter OF the
law. you are entitled is irrecon-
cilable with the national policy to
control the cost of living" Mr..
Roosevelt told the conference.
The Presidents message, Mr.. Por-
ter said, very definitely" was re-
sponsible for the reduction in in
creases agreed on.
The agreement, on ratification by
workers and shipyard owners, will
stabilize wages for standard first
class mechanics at $1.20 an hour,
an increase of cents for workers
in the Pacific, Atlantic and Great
Lakes zones. The boost in the Gulf
zone, where a differential was abol-
ished, amounts to from 8 to 13
cents, Mr.. Porter said. A 10 per
cent hike is provided for common
laborers, who receive 80 cents an
hour under the old agreement.
A report by the conference said
that in addition to a Nationwide
established wage rate "the confer
ence made adjustments in other
matters which will tend to minimize
to the utomst the migration of labor
from one shipyard to another, as
well as generally stabilizing work.
ing conditions throughout the
country"
The agreement, the conference
said, will pave the way for the
practical application of President
Roosevelt's request for 24-hour-day
use of all tools, equipment and
buildings 1865 days a year."