Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1917 — PROMOTING THE HAPPY FAMILY PLAN IN AMERICAN INDUSTRY [ARTICLE]

PROMOTING THE HAPPY FAMILY PLAN IN AMERICAN INDUSTRY

How One Corporation Works In Harmony With Its Men. —— AH INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY All Grievances Presented by Men Through Representatives Reach Head of Company and Are Honestly Investigated. For more than a year a large and progressive industrial corporation with plants scattered over a large territory in several states of the southwest has been improving its relations with its employees through the medium of a socalled industrial representation plan—an industrial constitution dfawn on a basis of democracy and mutual confidence between the head of the company and the workmen who number from 10,000 to 12,000. To deal with the diverse interests of such a vast body of men is a serious task involving stern responsibilities. Nevertheless the company, through its representation plan, has not only carried on social and industrial betterment work on a comprehensive scale but has succeeded In settling all grievances without friction and without interference from the outside. During the year several increases in pay have been made upon the initiative of the company. Altogether the plan has demonstrated itself to an important forward step in the establishment of amicable relations between all the factors in industry. A more widespread adoption of such schemes in plants and factories is heartily recommended by the broad-minded manufacturers of the country who have started the National Industrial Conservation Movement for the purpose of getting employers and employees together. The supporters of the conservation movement realize that the captain of industry and the workingman must fight shoulder to shoulder to protect American industry against conditions that are sure to prevail after the War.

Workers Sleet Representatives. The Industrial Representation plan was adopted in its present form by the directors of the company and by n referendum vote of the workmen. By secret ballot the workmen in the company’s various plants select representatives who act as their authorized agents in all matters pertaining to employment, living and working conditions, the adjustment of differences, and other matters of mutual concern and interest. On the other hand, the president keeps in direct touch with the workmen through officers known as presidents industrial representatives. Employees have been made to understand that they are absolutely free to present all their grievances even though they /involve charges against the foremen or superintendents under whom they work. Through the workmen’s representatives the complaints are referred to the presidents’ industrial representatives, who in turn investigate them carefully and report their findings in detail to the president. In every case the grievances have been investigated fearlessly and impartially and adjustments have been made on a strict basis of fairness, irrespective of whether the award was in favor of the workman or the company official. The workman, dissatisfied with the decision of the presidents’ industrial representatives, can appeal to the higher officers of the company in consecutive order up to the president. Then, if he still feels that he has not received full justice, he can carry his case to the joint committee on Industrial Cooperation and conciliation, comprised of both employees, representatives and the company’s’representations, and finally to the State Industrial Commission.

Confer on Wage Increases. Under the industrial constitutiondrawn up matters of wages, hours of service and other vital factors in the company’s with its employees are settled by a written contract Increases in wages are worked out In conference between company officials and the workmen’s representatives. | In all matters of industrial betterment the employees’ representatives play an important part They are assigned to joint committees on which they serve with representatives of the company. The names of these committees—Safety and Accidents. Sanitation, Health and Housing, and Recreation and Education—give an adequate idea of the broad scope of the company’s interest in its employees. To carry out the schemes endorsed by the committees the company . has spent money and effort unstintingly, although it has always avoided any semblance of paternalism. I. Since, the inauguration of the plan the company has enlarged its previous programme of providing model homes for its employees who live on company property. The company is. fencing, free of charge, eath employee's home. A series of prizes is given every year for the cultivation of lawns and gardens. Many, of the workers own-their own automobiles. At the "plants garages have been provided, with stalls rented to employees at a moderate rate.— Industrial Conservation,