8-K

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT

                    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                       Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):   June 25, 2003



                          THE L.S. STARRETT COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          Massachusetts                 1-367              04-1866480
  (State or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission         (IRS Employer
        of Incorporation)            File Number)      Identification No.)



                  121 CRESCENT STREET, ATHOL, MASSACHUSETTS  01331
                (Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number:   978-249-3551




          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



















                                  Page 1 of 2

Item 5.  Other Events and Required FD Disclosure

On June 25, 2003, the L.S. Starrett Company (the "Company") mailed to
shareholders the dividend declared June 4, 2003 along with a letter from the
Company's President and CEO. A copy of the letter is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits
99.1 President's letter accompanying dividend declared June 4,
2003.





EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.  Description

99.1   President's letter accompanying dividend declared June 4,
2003.




                                   SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                             THE L.S. STARRETT COMPANY


Date:  June 27, 2003                         By: s/ ROGER U. WELLINGTON, JR.
                                             Name: Roger U. Wellington, Jr.
                                             Title: Vice President, Treasurer
                                                  and Chief Financial Officer











                                  Page 2 of 2
eightkjundiv6-27.doc

EX-99

THE L. S. STARRETT COMPANY
Athol, Massachusetts


To the Stockholders:

     The enclosed check represents a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share
declared by your Board of Directors on June 4, 2003.  This is payable June 27,
2003 to stockholders of record on June 16, 2003.  This same dividend is paid
on both Class A and Class B shares.

     This dividend represents a reduction of $0.10 per share.  This decision,
while difficult, is the right one and taken with a long-term view of our
business, as we think it is in our best interest and that of our stockholders
and employees to retain cash in the business to invest in our future.

     The new tax bill recently signed should help the economy in general and
business in particular.  A combination of investment incentives and lower
taxes on dividends will help companies like ourselves by encouraging capital
investment and allow shareholders to put a larger percentage of their
dividends where it belongs, in their pockets.



D. A. Starrett
President and CEO