The Butler County Press

LONGSHOREMEN WIN
WAGE AGREEMENT
New York.-The International Longshoremen's Association won their fight against the drastic wage reductions proposed by officials of the North Atlantic and intercoastal steamship lines as the basis for the renewal of the wages and hours agreement.
Under the former agreement the longshoremen were paid 85 cents an hour for regular time and $1.30 an hour for overtime, with the 44-hour week. The shipping interests insisted on reducing regular time wages to 70 cents an hour and overtime to $1.05.
Officials of the union conceded a reduction of 10 cents an hour for overtime, but retained 85 cents for regular time and kept the 44-hour week.
A member of the steamship wage committee said the companies had been forced into the wage schedule of the new agreement by the action of the United States Shipping Board lines in deciding in advance to renew regular time wage scale for the coming year. He expressed the belief that Chairman O'Connor, of the shipping board, had shown too much favoritism to the longshoremen.
Washington.-T. V. O'Connor, chairman of the United States Shipping Board, in an interview regarding the statement that he had shown favoritism in the wages controversy of the International Longshoremen's Association with the officials of the North Atlantic and intercoastal steamship lines, stated that he was proud of being honorary chairman of the Longshoremen's Association and of having the friendship of thousands of members of the association. He said he was not in favor of any movement to 'cut the wages of men who are making only $15 a week and was extremely glad to have aided in bringing about a renewal of the present basic wage rate of 85 cents an hour.
Mr. O'Connor was president of the International Longshoremen's Association from 1908 to 1921. He was appointed vice president of the U. S. Shipping Board by President Harding, was made chairman of the board by President Coolidge in 1924. and has held the position up to the present.