The San Francisco call., 1905-06-03
PUBLIC REPLY
TO EMPLOYEES
Employers Give Version of
Present Differences With
the Typographical Union
COMPARISON OF WAGES
Owners of Plants Declare
That Local Pressmen Are
Receiving Fair Treatment

The following communication has
been received from the Employing
Printers and Affiliated Trades Associa-
tion of San Francisco:
Articles have recently appeared in some of
our daily papers in reference to the difference
existing between the employing printers and
their employees. These articles only give one
side Of the controversy, and tend to mislead
the public to the zeal facts in the case,
which are as follows
had a minimum scale of SIS per week and a
nine-hour day They made a demand on the
much in excess OF that paid in any other city
that the employers could not consent to it, and
entered into compromise agreement. providing
ior an increase of 80 cents per week and a de-
crease or fifteen minutes per week each six
months until on January 1905. an eight -hour
day and so minimum wage scale was ac-
eomplished. Ii was expected that by January,
1905, ajority, III not all, or the large cities
would have conceded the sight-hour day. day: so so
on an equal basis with them 30 far as hours
was concerned. but not one of them has grant
ed the etght-hour day, and they are preparing
to resist the unions demands along these
lines.
In San Francisco as stated above. we are
paying a minimum scale of SO per week. ana
working eight hours per day; Omaha pays
SIS per week and works nine hours per day,
Chicago pays $19 so per week and works nm
hours per day; Detroit pays SIT per week and
works nine hours per day; Indianapolis pays
SIT per week and works nine hours per day;
Cleveland pays SIT per week and works nine
hours per day; Cincinnati pays SIS per week
and works nine hours per day; Buffalo pays $lS
per week and works nine hours per day; Boston
PAYS ST per week and works nine hours per
day; Pittsburg pays SIS to SIS per week and
works nine hours per day.
BY comparing the wage scale and hours OF
the cities noted above with that OF San Fran
cisco IL is seen at glance that the employing
printers here are working under great handi-
If the merchants of San Francisco were will
ing TO pay about 25 per cent more for their
nrfnf overcome
the Increased cost. the matter could easily be
adjusted by continuing the eight-hour day. but
they not willing to do this and as a result
thousands OF dollars are sent East each month
for printing which should be kept in San Fran
cisco.
A similar agreement to that of the Typo
graphical NUnion was entered into with the
Printing Pressmen's Union. which agreement
The International Printing Pressmen's Union
has an agreement with the United Typothetae
of America. one clause OF which reads as fol-
This agreement shall continue in full force
and effect until May 1, 1907. 1t is expressly
hfty-four hours shall constitute week S
work
and parcel Of the United Typothetae of Amer
lea. and all ask is that at the expiration
of the local agreement-Juiy !. 1so5-the print
ing pressmen live UP to their national agree
nlent with US, and treat the they
treat employers in other cities.
One of the editorials written the subject
charges the employers with an attempt to
break their agreement This is deliberate
misstatement Of facts, there has been no
intention Of breaking the present existing
agreement, which expires July 1.
In communications sent To the unions on the
subject and in conferences had with their com
mittees they have been advised that IL they
accepted the nine hour day there would be no
reduction in the wage scale or other condi-
tions, and that as soon as the employers IN
other large cities conceded the eight-hour day,
20 that were all on equal basis we would
grant il here without any question. This is
certainly treating employees in fafr and
just manner, and all we ask is a like treat
ment at their hands.
THE EMPLOYING PRINTERS AND AFFIL-
lated TRADES ASSOCIATION o FSAN
FRANCISCO.