144 ASSOCIATION OF IRON, STEEL AND TIN WORKERS [276 



i\Ianufacturers, who had previously signed the American 

 Sheet and Tin Plate agreement. 



At present, then, two associations of manufacturers — the 

 Western Bar Iron Association^^ and the Western Sheet and 

 Tin Plate Manufacturers' Association — are organized for 

 the purpose of dealing collectively with labor. Mr. James 

 H. Nutt, sometime trustee of the Amalgamated Association, 

 acts in the capacity of secretary for both employers' organi- 

 zations. In addition to the function of collective bargain- 

 ing, these associations at their meetings, held whenever 

 there is important business to transact, act on the tariff 

 and discuss trade conditions, prices and other topics of 

 common interest. Only those manufacturers who make 

 agreements with the union are members of either employ- 

 ers' association. Assessments are made by the secretary 

 to meet the expenses of the preceding month on the basis 

 of the number of trains of rolls in each mill. There are 

 only slight differences in the capacities of the mills repre- 

 sented, and each member has one vote.^*' In 1916, the 

 Western Bar Iron Association had fifteen members; the 

 Western Sheet and Tin Plate Association, ten. 



The joint agreements consist chiefly of scales of wages 

 for different classes of work. The agreement fixes first 

 the base rate in each branch of the industr>', such as boil- 

 ing, busheling, etc. The sliding scale with a fixed minimum 

 is based upon the market price of bar iron, and adjustments 

 are bi-monthly. 



^" The Republic Iron and Steel Company abides by the Western 

 Bar Iron agreement. 



2" The employers' associations appoint conference committees to 

 represent all the manufacturers who are members. Each emploj'er 

 usually sends a representative. Each committee has as its chairman 

 Mr. Nutt, who is satisfactory to all interests. In 1905 the Republic 

 sent but one official. The representatives of the union are appointed 

 by the president. In recent years there were five from each of the 

 four main divisions. The tin house, however, is generally repre- 

 sented by but one or two members. The president, vice-president 

 and secretary are ex-officio members of each conference. In 1916 

 there were 15 conferees in the sheet and tin, and 13 in the bar-iron 

 conference. 



