The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-03-03
SHORTER WORK DAY
INCREASES COST.


In the November issue of the Bull
letin of the United Typothetae of
America appears the following state
ment, recommending way to meet
the approaching eight-hour day con-
ditions:
The great majority of printing con-
Germs will put their plants on the
eight-hour basis the first of January,
and they are now figuring carefully
Just what Increase they will have to
ask their customers to pay in order to
keep the profits on the present basis.
Much calculation has been made as to
just what this percentage of increased
price to the customers should be;
opinions differ as to the exact amount.
In going from the nine-hour day to
the eight-hour day there is a loss of
finished product of one-ninth; that is,
elght-ninths as much printing will be
produced in the eight-hour day as
was done in the nine-hour day.
If the printer working eight hours
Is satisfied to continue doing business
In the same proportion that he did on
the nine-hour basis (one-ninth less).
he must raise his selling price one
eighth, or twelve and one-half per
cent, In order to make as much
money as he made In former years
when he worked nine hours a day.
To illustrate: The printer who does
$25, 900 worth of printing in a month
or year, working nine hours day,
will be able, with the same force and
at the same expense, to do only eight
ninths as much, or $22,223, but by
increasing his selling price one
eighth, or twelve and one-half per
cent, he still does $685. worth of
business.
If he Is ambitious and determined
to turn out as much printing as he
ever did 1t will be necessary to work
one hour overtime every day in order
to bring his production up to the nor
NAL, or what it was under ninehnur
conditions. This will make it neces-
sary to pay overtime wages (time and
hal), and this portion of the ex-
pense of production (wages) will be
found to have increased eighteen and
three-fourths per cent. This can be
shown by the following explanation:
III the shortening of the day in
creases cost twelve and one-half per
cent, time and one-half would natur-
ally be half as much again or twelve
and one half plus six and one
quarter equals eighteen and three
quarters. Or, to put it another way:
A days pay roll under nine-hour con-
ditions is, say, 500. Working eight
hours the pay roll remains the same
and one hours overtime makes it
s106.SS, an increase of eighteen and
three-fourths per cent. of 500.
This is about the right time of the
year for the printer to sit down and
write nice frank letter to his GUS
tomers-all of them-and tell them
what's going to happen to them. If
all the printers would do 1t simulta-
neously the shock would be over soon
and the customer ready to place his
orders much quicker than IL the
agony were prolonged by the recep-
'ioH Va ou,h iStbVio cFCly lew udyS
for six months or more.
Doubtless many of our readers will
search this issue of the Printer for in
formation in regard to adjusting
prices to conform to the eight-hour
day, which goes into effect on Janu-
ary 1, 1909 While the shorter work,
day has been brought about by agree
ment between the United Typothetae
Of America and organized labor, yet
10 what extent the Typothetae wifi in
terest itself in educating its members
In regard to changed conditions has
not yet been demonstrated. That the
Typothetae has given some attention
to this question is evidenced by an
article we print in this issue from the
U. T. A. Bulletin, which we recon-
mend for careful reading. AS therein
stated, twelve and one-half per cent.
Is the minimum printer can add to
his present price to maintain his pres
ent rate of profit. We sincerely hope
no printer-Board of Trade member
or otherwise-will neglect to secure
this just increase.-From the Board
of Trade Printer.