The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-05-07

work can get as much money? Al
good mechanic who will put forth
his best efforts is worth five or six
dollars a day as compared with la
Dor that can do only some simple
work. Think it over
II the Gazette will put the question
to a union leader, or anyone qualified
to speak for the union, it will get an
answer which the union workman
thinks sufficient, 1t will hold that il
an employer thinks certain workmen
is more skilled than his fellow, there
is no objection on the part of the
union, to that employer paying the
skilled workmen higher price than
the union scale demands
The union wage scale is based, ac-
cording to the statement of the union
leaders, on the work done by the aver
age workman. This scale is called the
minimum and is the lowest price
which can be paid laborers in the
class in question. 1t is stated that no
objection is made to the payment to
any worlSmen of price above the
scale, if the employer so wishes.
This answer satisfies the union man
and he thinks it ought to be salts
factory to the questioner. But, as
matter of fact, 1t only raises in the
mind of the thinker the question as to
the equity of such plan. BY the
statement Of the union leader a mini
mum wage rate is set by the union,
which must include all grades of work
men in the same class, good and bad.
No discrimination is shown.
This scale although the minimum, is
in fact somewhat higher than the rate
of wages paid in the open market to
the best grade of workmen in the
same class. For instance, the union
wages paid to plumbers. good, bad and
Indifferent, now is higher than the
highest wages paid to the most expert
plumber before the union scale was
adopted. 1t is stated this scale
is not based upon the work done by
Tie best class of workmen, but on that
OF the average best. But as it is
higher rate than was previously paid
the best workman, it stands to reason
that, practically, the union has adopt
ed rate really based on the work
done by the best and most paying
workman, and made it the minimum
wages.
Now see what happens. AS mat
ter of fact, the union has raised its
best workmen to little higher wage
scale and bodily lifted up to that level
all inferior workmen. Then they say.
Now, if the employers think any of us
are more skilled than the others, let
them pay us more wages. This, of
course, few employers will do, they
feeling that they are now paying as
high rate as they can afford, and do
ing it under pressure. AS a natural
consequence, the union, while better
ing the condition of the expert work
man to a slight degree-men who
could always secure work, at the least,
very near the price named in the mini
mum-it is lifting up large number
of incompetent and unsldlled work
men, making them their own equals
and compelling the employer to pay
them rate of wages equal to that
paid the best workmen This is equal
ity with vengeance and is in fact
an inequality, 1t is an injustice both
to the good workmen and to the en-
ployer, and the benefit goes largely to
the ranks OF the unskilled, irrespon-
sible and uneducated laborers.
The question is asked why not
grade the workmen, and pay them ac-
cording to their worth?" Such pro-
position is impossible in union work,
when the payment is by time. All
must work so long and receive the
same wages. A union could not hold
together under any other rule.
In order to make the union success
it is necessary that all grades of work
men in the various classes must be
recognized as equal in the minimum
wage scale. 1t is necessary for the
best class of workmen to lift up and
sustain the mediocre workmen. They
could not keep them loyal by offering
them a minor scale of wages. 1t is
philanthropy, but with an object which
forms weak spot in the union, and
which is likely to cause break some
day when the best class of workmen
get tired of exerting themselves so
their inefficient fellow laborers may
enjoy an equality in wages with
them Burlington Hawkeye.