The San Francisco call., 1906-08-07

~-NSfo Union NO. SOs
The new wage scale Of Wait
ers -nion No. 80 wens into effect yes
'erday. All reports at hand indicate
general approval Of the same bv en-
Ployers as being. under present condi-
IONS, extremely moderate In fact
only 10 cents per day additional IS asked
lot steady men, and the day;s work is
e -1-1oe onlrorm--to consist of ten hours
WiOhlh fourteen, as before the fire. No
reasonable person could object to such
q oc-aano. Most proprietors have al
leSay recoupeo L emselves against any
increased wages or shorter hours by
raising the prices OF their meals for
many months past One objection has
Deeh heard- that the new scale makes
no provision Cor rather exception py
making special proyision) for steady
sl&-hoUr watches lbroken or unbrcken)
IN recent years practice had grown
UP 70 employ but few steady men and
10 work most Of them during the rush
hours only. To accom-a odate that prac-
lice siX-hour scale was made with
wages fixed proportionateIy less than
Tor ten hours. No thought whatever
was taken OF the euect upon the craft
by permitting such condition OF
things The tendency in effect was 10
discourage men to enter an occupation
that provided by scant aid poorly paid
employment and have no assurance that
reasonable weeks wage could be
earned The policy OF the new wage
scale is 70 coUnteract that condition of
things It is an undeniable fact that
the houses employing the largest num-
Der o. siE-h0ur men and having prac-
ticallS bat one or two meals a day 90
as large and profitable q business as
houses serving meals all day long.
Hence q desire on the part of such
nnTCnC n u~h ~ will ha
SATISFIED with wages proportionate TO
the time employed in the face of the
impossibility of finding employment for
the same men anywhere else during
their leisure hours is not in accordance
with the modern spirit OF fairness TO
those who work for their living. One
cOIar for three consecutive hours
work during the rush time OF the day
regardless Of whether the man per
forms that service continually or but
occasionally is Z demand that will be
considered moderate. measured with
the profit and convenience afforded to
the employer Any employer who can
not afford 10 pay that wage should not
engage in the business or should do
his own work and not discourage other
proprfetors from paying the scale. Any
business which relies for success on
underpaying and overworking en-
ployes should be discouraged by the
At the tribunal of public opinion.
THEODORE JOHNSON,
Secretary Waters Union No. 80.
THOMAS AYLWARD.
Business Agent"
The following labor item is taken
from Pittsburg paper and shows that
artisans throughout the country are
aware Of the high cost Of living in this
city and are not inclined TO come this
way so long as rents are going up and
provisions are becoming dearer:
Some men Of the various trades of
Pittsburg and vicinity have gone to
san Francisco to find work. but moth
inE lke the number has gone that IL
Was first thought would be required to
build the city. Leo Kules a member
Of the local Bricklayers' Union. wrote
10 the union in san Francisco asking
= Aow conditions were for employment in
at city In regard to bricklayers. The
> following letter from +. J. Brandon,
third vice president of the international
replied 'Bricklavers that are good men
are wanted badly in San Francisco, is
most Of the new arrivals here are not
W 10 the standard. There is plenty of
work at 81 q day. Come out The
hricklayers Of Pittsburg are receiving
a minimum rate OF so cents an hour. or
$3.50 day. and most OF them are get
ting So cents an hour, or S5.25 a day.
There are almost always a number of
contractors who ask the business agent
for men at the minimum rate. co cents
aa hour, and they have a hard time
getting them, as most of the local men
command more When the difference
between the cost OF living in Pittsburg
and the East generally is compared
with san Francisco prices, il can be
readily seen why they do not get the
hest class OF briclxlayers in the stricken
city"
That Is to say that s5.s5 viii go fur
tier IL the East than 81 IN this city.
Sheet Metal workers Union ". I04, at
its last meeting, initiated thirty can
didates. 1t has fifteen applications on
file. The union voted TO parade on La
Dor day. Business was reported brisk.
All members are working at the in
creased wage scale, which was volun-
tarily granted by the employers. The
increase was from $3.50 to So a day
The union numbers $50 men in good
standing.
The District Council OF Sheet Metal
Workers met in its hall Sunday after
noon and distributed the remainder OF
the relief money senr by unions affil
lated with the international to help tho
members who suffered through the
great fire.
Laborers' Protective Union No. Se44
net in Sheet Metal Workers Hall Sun
day night. Thirty candidates were OBJ
ligsted and many applications are on
file. The officials reported condi
tions prosperous. The relief COM
fllittee reported that help is to
be given all members who suffered
through the fire. A donation for this
purpose from the A. F. of L. was thank
fully received. Many unions have sent
letters OF sympathy. The committee on
constitution and bylaws filed a report
recommending many changes. The
matter will come up for final passage
al the next meeting. All members are
expected 10 be present In obhgating
Tho candidates President Murphy was
particularly happy in the advice given
the ncwc corners. His instructions to the
recruits were received with enthusiasm
fv the old members. The union de-
cioed to purchase an American flag 10
replace the one lost by the fire, and it
win be carried in the Labor day parade.
The committee appointed TO select
meeting place will report at next sun
days meeting.