Hammond Times, Volume 14, Number 61, Hammond, Lake County, 28 August 1919 — Page 6

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CfTKe management of the Standard Steel Car Company, Hammond Works, believes a statement of its position in the present labor difficulty at this time will tend to clear the situation and aid such of its employes who are desirous of returning to work, to understand the exact situation. JSince the signing of the armistice, November 11, 1 9 1 8, no orders for new cars have been received due to the uncertainty of the railroads as to their future needs and ability to finance them, while on the other hand, the Company has been obliged to accept cancellations for nearly 12,000 cars and was only able to prevent cancellation of a considerably larger number by making substantial reductions in the prices at which the orders had been takenSjfEvery possible effort has been made to keep the various departments in operation and the Company has continued to build cars in order to afford employment to its employes, notwithstanding the fact that cars built could not be shipped because the railroads were not in position to take them, and they have been stored for months entailing considerable hardships and loss to the Company. During the period since the orders now in progress were taken, there have been several wage increases. Our lowest paid men have been earning $4.62 a day and the higher have been paid up to $10.00 a day. Some men, especially skilled, have been earning even more. Since January 1st, 1916, our labor rates have increased from 80 to 135 up to July 18, when operations ceased. flflt has been the policy of the Company to deal fairly and as liberally as conditions permitted with its employes in the establishing of rates and working conditions, and the management feels that the employes should have sufficient confidence in it to warrant them in feeling this policy will be continued. CjThe management desires therefore to say to its men now either on strike or not working, due to the conditions caused by the strike, that the conditions for re-employment are as follows: 1. Men will be employed at the same rates of pay as those in effect July 18, 1919. 2. Men will be employed under the same general working conditions as were in effect on July 18, '19 3. All grievances of individuals may be brought by them to the Management for adjustment or thru the employes' representatives regularly selected some months ago, if desired. 4. The Company will not deal with special committees selected at this time by any one class of men 5. Tlie Company reserves the right to employ only such men as in its judgment are efficient workmen and willing to work under the company's rules. There have been so many reports circulated of conferences to be held from day to day between officers of the Company and others, that the management desires to put these rumors at rest by advising the above facts and stating that no one has been authorized to change the above conditions and they are the only ones under which the men will be reemployed.

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G. H. VINCETT, Manager of Works Hammond, Indiana, August 26th, 1919

JOSEPH THOMPSON, Superintendent.