The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-02-29

Prospects Poor: 1ut Employers
Hope rPeaent ntatgnation
Will Not LaSt Long.

+ According to statement issued on
behalf Of the Building Trades EN-
ployers' association Of New York
city. the wages Of workers. In the
building trades will not be cut. The
employers say that although the PROS
poets are the worst IN five years they
have decided not TO- reduce wages and
that the differences with unions which
have failed to come 10 new agree
naent are only overAAswork1ng condi-
tions. No strikes 4re. desired on
either side. It is said 1t being ad-
smitted ON thep art the unions that
already there are more idle. building
mechanics than in several seasons.
Old Scale Satisfactory.
The unions which nave made agree
ments are satisfied to, have the old
wages, which are the highest ever
paid to building mechanics, continued,
and they are now, hoping that with
the new year matters will improve in
the building industry. SO that more Of
their members will De able to nave
work at these wages. The outlook at
present, however, is very bad. The
prospects now are fora poor building
year, and, like the mechanics. tn eem-
ployers can only hope that the present
stagnation will not Hast long. The
arbitration agreement Ghas been so ef-
fective In preserving ss peace in the
building industry that the employers
have decided in the meantime not to
reduce wages, wishing for continu-
ance OF the harmony. between; them
and the men which has hitherto pre-
vailed. It has reduced strikes to a
minimum, and it is. the general senti-
ment on both sides that It should con-
tinue as permanent institution.
Tho Trade grssn1ents.
The trade agreements with the en-
ployers under the arbitration plan are
made on the understanding that the
same conditions must be insisted on
by the unions in work done for in
dependent employers. The unions
have carefully shrdlu shrdlu shrdluau
have carried out this pledge for the
past four or five years; and these
wages have now come$to be looked on
as the standard rate. fSThe unions
which have made new agreements
with the associated employers for the
yeAr and the approxiiifi.ste number. bN.l. IL
men, including those stwlio work for
nonassoc1at1on contractors, are:~
List Of Unions:
Amalgamated Woodworkers' union.
5000; Bricklayers and Masons. 19
locals, 10000; Elevator Constructors
union, 1000; Tilelayers' union 800:
House shorers ana Movers union,
1000; Hoisting Engineers union 500;
Electric Workers union, 5000; Jour-
neymen Stonesetters' union, 5000:
Marble Cutters union, $500; Marble
Polishers' union, 1900; Plain and
Ornamental Operative Plasterers' So
ciety, 5000; Modelers' union, 800; Hot
and Cold Insulators' union, 500;
Woodcarvers' union, 800.
Other Union News.
The brotherhood Of Painters Is not
under the arbitration agreement. hav-
Ing struck in violation Of the arbitra-
'tion plan last spring. The union was
ruled out, and, while the open shon
was not officially declared against
the painters, they are employed with
out any discrimination as to being
union or nonunion men. The House.
smiths and Bridgemen's union was
ruled out Of the arbitration plan sew
eral years ago for repeated violation
OF the agreement and the open shop
was officially declared against the
union. A number of other trades have
never been under the arbitration plan.
1t Is estimated that there are alto
gether about 100000 building mechan-
les In Greater New York, about $4,000
of whom are now, idle on account of
the depression in the building trades
connected with the building industry
are also idle in the same proportion as
to numbers as the skilled trades.
ENnlIcA @LAoeE 1e-Ea, ~-.