Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1920 — UNION LABOR TO FIGHT PAY CUTS [ARTICLE]

UNION LABOR TO FIGHT PAY CUTS

Leaders Attend Executive Council of the A. F. of L. at Washington. TO COMBAT THE OPEN SHOP High Official Declares Large Employers Vigorous In Efforts to Extend System Throughout Country. Washington, Nov. 12.—Leaders of the American Federation of Labor now attending the quarterly executive council arc preparing to make a bitter tight against wage reductions and unemployment which they charge are now in progress throughout the United States, it was learned after the meet* Ing here. A vigorous effort is being made by largo employers throughout the country to extend the open shop, according to high officials Of the federation whoj are endeavoring at the meeting to devise means to successfully combat thd movement and hold capital to collect tlve bargaining. “The great tire factories of Akron 4 0., which maintain open shop recent* ly cut wages 50 per cent," declared one| delegate. “The method used was ta dismiss thousands of men and when! they applied aguln for employment td set a minimum wage approximately half they had been receiving. Thd fact that the Akron shops were not unionized made the task of the em 4 ployers easy. Fired and Hired Over. "Many men have also been charged and hired over again in steel mills In Chicago, textiles works W Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York, and automobile factories in the Central West. The cuts attempted and put into effect are from 22 to Wl per cent, "The one automobile company wltti a big factory in Indianapolis recently discharged a number of Its men ana took them back at wages averaging 22 per cent less than they had received. "The -dy defense against such rt policy he part of employers lies ini collective bargaining. Where union employees were concerned the cuts have been resisted with far more sue* cess than in the open shop. “The policy of the incoming admin* tstration toward the situation la, ot course, problematic. In any case the American Federation of Labor will set Its face against the tide of reaction! new sweeping the land.” The federation. It was stated, has a plan to raise a considerable fund for the purpose of resisting the open shop movement under consider** • tion.

Worried Over Immigration. The overwhelming tide of immigration now flowing toward the United States Is also regarded with the utmost concern by members of the coun-J ell who stated that It threatens to del predate the American standard of live* Hhood. It is more than likely that al resolution will he’passed appealing ta congress to Increase restriction. The sessions of the council will con-4 tlnue for five or six days. Among those attending it are Samuel pers, president of the federation; Sec* retary Frank Morrison, James Duncan, first vice president; Joesph F. Valentine, second vice president; Prank} Duffy, third vice president; Willlami Green, W. D. MahOn, T. A. RlckertJ Jacob Fischer and Matthew Woll.