United labor bulletin., 1913-06-28
Must Obey Law
On City Work
Construction Company Not
Keeping Its
Promise
Pay Of $3.50 Per Day for Sewer
Laborers Also Being Viola
ted by Contractors

That the Denver-Pueblo Construc-
tion Company is violating the munich
pal eight-hour law and is not paying
its employees the wages provided by
city ordinance, was the charge made
at Sundays meeting of the Trades and
Labor Assembly. This firm has the
contract for doing a great deal of
sewer work in the city and has been
employing large number of labofers.
The law requires that no contractor
doing work for the city shall work his
men longer than eight hours per day,
and the minimum wage shall be $3.50
for that period.
City Attorney l. n. Stevens has held
that no contractor will be permitted
to violate these terms, whether they
are specifically written in the con-
tract or not All work done for the
city by contract must be paid for at
the same rate and men worked the
same hours as if the municipal gov
ernment were doing the work itself.
1t was stated that when complaint
was originally made against the con-
struction company some weeks ago.
the law, but delegates from the
United Laborer's Union declared this
had not been done. The Committee
on Public Institutions was instructed
to look into the matter.
]. P. Mckinley of New York, who
has been stationed in Denver to do
organizing work for the Hotel and
Restaurant Employees Alliance and
Bartenders League. appeared before
the Assembly and made an interesting
address. He thanked officers of the
state and central labor bodies for
courtesies extended during the con-
vention and predicted a largely in
creased membership soon in the
branches he represents.
Brickmakers Voted 500.
The Brick. Tile and Terre Gotta
Workers union was voted 500 to as
sist the ninety members now on strike
at the local brick yards. At sugges-
ton of delegates from this organiza-
ton, the sum will be considered as a
loan. to be paid back when the strike
is won. 1t was said prospects for vic
tory were good, as the companies in
volved had been unable to secure COM
petent men to do the work. A number
of Mexicans brought here had des-
troyed a large amount of material
through inability
Resolutions opposing transfer of the
city plumbing inspection department
from the Commissioner of Property to
the Commissioner of Social Welfare
were unanimously adopted and Sec
retary Bedford instructed to furnish a
copy to each of the five commissioners.
These resolutions were printed in
last weeks issue of The Bulletin.
Hunter to Give Square Deal.
Delegate L. c. Harrington. chair
man of the Committee on Public In
stitutions. reported having inter
viewed Commissioner of Improve
ments ]. B. Hunter in reference to
conditions of labor on the proposed
Colfax avenue viaduct. which is 10
cost in the neighborhood of one mil
lion dollars Mr.. Hunter stated that
so far as the law permitted he would
see that union labor was provided for
in the contracts and that the working
men of Denver would be given a square
deal on this big job. Mr.. Hunter has
always been a strong advocate CT
union labor and believes that union
hours and wages should prevail on all
city work.
A special committee reported that
all the rye bread at Lakeside Park
had the Bakers Union label and
recommended that all patrons call for
the dark bread instead of the white.
the latter being supplied by the unfair
Old Homestead Bakery.
Ten tickets to the Ladies' Tailors
Union picnic were purchased and dues
to the American Federation of Labor
ordered paid to the first of next year.
Nomination of officers will take
take place at the next meeting, Sun
day. July IS.
GoMPERS IMPROVING.