The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1943-08-06

building Corporation Mere back
at work IN fun force Thursday
after having resigned from their
supervisory jobs Monday Ia pro
test against their wage status
With their return. which fol
lowed several meetings the last
Of which wete attended by Bryce
Holcomb. commissioner Of the
United States Cancellation Ser
vice who cafue from Washington
and Jasper Davis. vice president
OF the International Brotherhood
Of HoilefmakefE and Helpers.
considerable confusion which had
resulted IN the ranks Of work
ers was aliayed and scores Of
men who had been absent from
their jobs As direct consequence
Of the retIgnnotions resumed their
jobs
The return of the leadefmen
was mada under protest under
the conditions and IN the caps
cities IN which they we're work
ING IS Of JUS 3ist. pending &C
tier by the Var Labor Board IN
the cas- They reported for work
On the day set - . desdiine iog
their return ~ company officials
who declared in = letter "a the
men that If they were not back
si work BY August 5 their posi-
iions would be filled through the
assistance Of the Mmnpower Com
mission.
Shortly after the day shift lead
ernnen failed 70 appear Al the
Aaxd OF t. lakA nveH tfteis usual
duties Monday, approximately
100 iotnefs we're called from the
5ob due to lack Of supervision
and about 50 operating engineers.
the crane and gantfy operators.
left the yard 70 attend : special
meeting which paipahly lasted
Throughout that day and Tucs
nay Men in other iobs were laid
off hy TIE company, due to the
cessation OF moving equipment
operation The number out Of
the yard tataled about 500 Mon
CAV. grew 10 approximately Ice
Tuesday. and dropped back Gown
70 aFouhd s09 "Wednesday Ac
cording 10 officials. all the men
were back Thursday and produc
ton was back IN normal stride
outsrowth OF Hour Cut
The situation appeared To be
the direct but delayed outgtowth
Of the cutting Of Gulf Coast ship
yard hours t. as hours 4 week
last fall Al : meeting Of Navy,
Maritime Commission. a + OF
l. and Industry representatives
When the new work week be
came effective on the first pay
period IL January. leadefmen
stacked ~ three overtime hours
q week when the management al
lowed them IL report Ter work IS
minutes before the shift chang
and remain IS minutes after their
shift WAS over During this time
officials explained the leader
men prepared the Job foe tine men
and At the close Of the day tied
up loose ends
IL MAJ. however. the Maritime
Commission ruled TINS extra time
unnecessary The adherence t0
the 4e-hour week meant . cut Of
s59s under the sT545 the leader
men had been making before the
cut IN hours Neither 81 these
sums. however. included bonus
pay. Twenty percent q The lead
eFmen N the yard Were called IA
bv the management 10 discuss the
return q q salary bass Of S72
Plus bonus. which nad been ~ eff
feet 81 one time previously These
men voiced then agreement but
dissatisfaction YVES soon evident
among the general Ieadefmen
personnel who complained thar
the men consulted by company
officials we're not a true cross
section q the straw BOSSES but
were hand picked
Seek Return &c Ranks
The next move aas 4 requesi
from the leadermen, signed bF
TEDDY souther, Thomas ~
Bates and d s. Hammock thai
me wages be increase % 50 81
& week o. thaI Tn leadefmeH BE-
allowed = return T. Wo a. skill.
I'd abof As Is required thl
esss Ras referred T. government
channels Tor decision and Was
certified by the secretary . De-.
Dor = tae Wsr LaDor Board 1a
Jus II LII eeIdenes has not neef
eslIea 70 from either SIDE
sH#avzHa auInuaIIIss explained