any matter coming before it for settlement, said committee shall have power to call upon the State Board of Conciliation and Arbitration, whose decision shall be final and binding.

ARTICLE XVII. In the event of a dispute, a conference shall be held by a committee consisting of three members of the union and three members of the contractors, who shall endeavor to adjust the same, and should this committee disagree, said dispute shall be referred to the arbitration committee provided for in Article XVI, but the employer involved and the business agent of the union shall not be eligible to serve on the arbitration committee; both, however, may be present.

ARTICLE XVIII. That, as all differences under this agreement are to be settled by arbitration, no strike or lockout shall be ordered by either party hereto as against the other for any grievance whatsoever; it being understood, however, that any sympathetic strike or lockout in which either party is obliged to take part on account of its affiliation with any central body of employees or employers shall not be considered a violation of this agreement.

ARTICLE XIX. On the signing of this agreement said contractors shall be commended to the Building Trades Council, and their names recorded with the business agent of the Building Trades Council, according them the recognition of architects, builders and contracting parties.

ARTICLE XX. This agreement dispenses with all former agreements between said contractors and said union, and can be annulled only on the first day of May of any year by a majority of either party, giving a notice of four months previous, but may be amended at any time by a majority of both parties.

ARTICLE XXI. This contract shall go into effect on signing, with the exception of Articles I and VIII, which go into effect January 1, 1903.

ARTICLE XXII. The Contractors' Association shall not discriminate against any of the men now out on strike.

In response to inquiries, the leading employers announced their intention to conform to the terms of the agreement, the union immediately ratified it, and the strikers returned to work on the 3d.

The Superior Court, sitting in equity, on the first day of October refused to enjoin the George A. Fuller Company from excluding the non-union employees of the Lord Electric Company from the new building of the Board of Trade, for the reason that the sub-contractor had an adequate relief at law. The same court on the 4th of the month refused to issue the desired injunction against the union; thus all the difficulties were settled, and important steps taken to prevent the recurrence of strikes in this industry. Better acquaintance. developed a larger degree of mutual esteem, and since the reconciliation of October 2 no difficulties have arisen that could not be settled privately.

MASON TENDERS-FRAMINGHAM.

All the mason tenders at work on the construction of Gorman's Theater in Framingham, employed by a contractor named O'Loughlin, and those employed by Mr. Ross in constructing the buildings of the Dennison Manufacturing Company, went out on strike August 25, for an increase of 25 cents per day of 8 hours.

The Board interposed on the 26th with an offer of mediation, and learned that Mr. O'Loughlin had come to an agreement with his men that day, and that the men had resumed work. In consequence of the strike of Mr Ross's mason tenders, the bricklayers and carpenters were obliged to cease work for want of material. The Board was preparing to go to the scene of the difficulty, when on the 28th it was learned that a settlement had just been effected, on terms satisfactory to the workmen.

GEORGE E. STANLEY TRANSPORTATION COMPANY —

LOWELL.

On August 27 the George E. Stanley Transportation Company of Lowell discharged a team driver for cause, whereupon 11 teamsters went out on strike. The Board investigated the difficulty on the same day, and ascertained that the men's places had been filled.

GOLDING & CO. - BOSTON.

The 9-hour day had been established by the machinists of Boston, but the employees of Golding & Co. complained of 10 hours, demanded a reduction of working time to 9 hours, and, furthermore, an increase of 10 per cent. in the rate per day. The firm had already granted a 20 per cent. increase in wages, and was unwilling to do more; but, to avoid trouble, proposed a 57-hour week and an increase of 5 per cent. in the wages. This was not satisfactory. A strike of 120 thereupon ensued on the 30th of August, and continued for several days unknown to the public and without attracting the attention of organized labor. On September 5 the late John F. O'Sullivan, general organizer for the American Federation of Labor, gave notice of the strike, and requested the Board's mediation with a view to composing the difficulty. Interviews were had with the employer and with the men's committee; both consented to confer on the following day at the State House. Accordingly on the 6th a conference was had, in the presence of the Board, between Mr. Golding and four workmen. An understanding was finally arrived at which settled the strike, and provided against a renewal of the difficulty in

1903. The following are the terms of the settlement: that 57 hours constitute a week's work, without loss of pay; and that on September 1, 1903, Mr. Golding would consider a proposition from his employees for a week of 54 hours, without loss of pay. The men immediately returned to work, and there was no further difficulty in that quarter.

M. & C. SKIRT COMPANY-BOSTON.

During the summer the Boston Cloak and Skirt Makers' Union engaged in a movement for an increase of wages. The M. & C. Skirt Company of Boston, it was alleged, ignored the employees' demand, and on the 3d of September 18 men and women skirt makers went out on strike, to enforce recognition and the union schedule. When the Board inquired at the factory, the manager stated that he had no knowledge of dissatisfaction. Repeated efforts were made by the Board to bring the parties together, but without success. The employer stated to the Board that the work people were of different grades of efficiency, and had received each what he was worth; that some kinds of work were better performed at piece prices, but of other kinds of work the product was more satisfactory when the wageearner was paid by the week. There had always been jealousy between the weekly wage-earners and the piece workers, each claiming that the other received better pay. At the end of the season the manager, responding to repeated demands, made weekly wages general. This was not so satisfactory as he had been led to believe; 3 men who had formerly done piece work objected and were discharged, whereupon the rest went out on strike. The manager began to take in new

help, of whom he had now 22, which was 1 short of the complement; and, while they were not so well trained as the old hands, he was fairly well satisfied. He was under no obligation to inefficient employees, he said, and must be permitted to replace them whenever he could. In any event, he would not discharge his present help until he could find better; was willing to take back some of his old hands, but not all; and had no objection to the union.

On the 16th it was learned that 2 of the strikers had returned, and there were no more places to fill. Nothing further was heard of the case.

GLOBE SKIRT COMPANY-BOSTON.

On the third day of September 13 men and women employed by the Globe Skirt Company of Boston as skirt makers went out on strike for the same rate of wages as that paid in other skirt factories in Boston. The proprietor said, in response to the Board's offer of mediation, that he would be very glad to have the matter settled, since it interfered with his contracts. He said there was no disagreement as to price, he having agreed orally with the agent of the Boston Skirt and Cloak Makers' Union on the price which should be paid. The difficulty arose from a demand of the union's agent for a formal agreement, including the recognition of the union, which the employer refused to sign. The Board advised him to avoid the complications that would arise from hiring in new hands during the consideration of a settlement, and sought the employees at the headquarters of their union. Failing to find the committee' in charge or the business agent, an invitation was extended