Return to work of 13,000 knit goods workers, who had been striking for several weeks, was effected yesterday by announcement of the arbitration decision made Wednesday by Raymond W. Ingersoll, Borough President of Brooklyn. The wage scale, which had been from $13 to $40 weekly, is now from $15 to $40 weekly.
Mr. Ingersoll became arbitrator at the suggestion of Mayor LaGuardia and Mrs. Elinore M. Herrick, executive vice-chairman of the Regional Labor Board, and with the consent of all parties to the dispute. His award is binding because both the workers and the employers had agreed to abide by his decision.
The principal points in the award are:
The agreement for a thirty-six-hour week for the first year and a thirty-five-hour week for the second years is supplemented by a decision that overtime be paid at time and one-third. Overtime, however, is never to exceed two hours in one day or eight hours in one week.
In the next calendar year three and one-half holidays are to be given with pay—Washington’s Birthday, Independence Day, Labor Day and one-half on election day. Absence on Columbus Day will be optional, but absentees will not receive pay.
Nineteen crafts are specified in the wage award, ranging from $49 for knitting mechanics to $15 for separators, thread clippers, boxers and folders, all material increases. Written collective agreements are being prepared under supervision of the arbitrator.
All terms will be applicable as of last Monday, at which time most of the workers had agreed to return to their posts pending arbitration.
The complicated question of limitation of machine loads was left for adjustment by the employers and the unions.
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