Evening star., 1916-12-10
women |NF|GHT
FOR HIGHER WAGE
Bureau Of Engraving and
Printing Employees Conduct
ing Aggressive Campaign.
STRONG SUPPORT IS GIVEN

Much has been said recently about
the high cost of living, proving beyond
doubt the need of an increased wage
scale for the underpaid government
employee" is plea made in a statement
issued formally by Mary E. Ganzhorn.
president, and Miss Gertrude NJ. Nc
Nally, secretary, speaking for the Fed
eral Labor Union, No. 1916 This union
is also known as the Girls Union." and
is composed of woman workers, not
holding clerical positions, in the bu-
reau of engraving and printing.
The greater number of the members
are machine operatives. who receive
s1.75 a day. The Girls Union is en-
deayoring to obtain for them an in
crease to a fiat rate of S2.24, and also
an increase of 20 per cent in wages for
all woman employees who receive less
than s2.25 day
Indorsed by A. F. Of L.
The American Federation of Labor
has formally indorsed resolutions urg-
ing such increases, introduced by the
delegate of the Girls Union. Miss Nc
Nally, at the recent convention in Bal
timore Joseph E. Ralph. director OF
the bureau of engraving and printing,
is also in strong sympathy WIN Ihe
complaints of conditions made by the
woman employees Of the bureau anu Ia
vors their demands.
s.In the last few months" says the
formal statement issued by the oIneers
Of the Girls Union, many or the
members of our organization have hao
to pay IS increased board mon,hiy,
Last fall it was possible to purchase
coat for SIS; this fall the same coat
costs $25.
stockings are more expensive anu
less durable than formerly. The wa!
shoes are going up makes you wan. 10
hold your breath. In fact, all wearaples
have increased in price
Standard of Living in Peril.
.con.ider this, and also the fact that
most women at the. bureau nave oe-
pendents at home. and it is easily seen
that if we are to maintain the stand
ard of living we now have. 1t Is lmpera-
tive that our wages be substantially
Increased at once"
While the statement does not give
statistics of the woman workers VINO
have families dependent upon them'
the conditions are generally WI
One of the officers. who receives the
. k-&O
children. Another sustains an older
and a younger generation with her
earnings. The majority of the Work
ers are not merely earning pin money
by their labors, but are at least support
ing themselves, If not one to five others
I'VE are at present In the midst OF a
campaign" continues the statement.
"to increase the wages of the woman
employees of the bureau OF engraving
and printing. For the last few years
we have tried, unsuccessfuily, to raise
our standard OF wages. but we believe
that at this time the Congress of the
United States, realizing the necessity
for such action. is willing to put
through some legislation for our bene-
--"Our delegate to the American Fed
Grafton of Labor convention was able
to have two resolutions passed unani-
Inously-one calling for a standard
wage for all machine operatives to be
not less than 1924 per diem; the other
asking at least a 20 per cent increase
for all women employed in the bureau
who are now receiving less than 81 25
per diem. In asking for this increase
we were not actuated solely by the
high cost of living. but we believe that
the character of the work we perform
is worth more than our present wage.
Assured Of Support.
THE federation has promised in con-
vention its active assistance. and we
will have also the support of the Cen
ira! Labor Union of Washington. D. c.,
and the Maryland State and District
of Columbia Federation of Labor. with
which bodies we are affiliated.
THE director of our bureau has
promised us his support. He has sug-
gested ways and means which will be
effective in our campaign for increased
wages.
I'VE. the officers and executive COM
mittee of Federal Labor Union, No.
1916. are exerting all the energy, abil-
ity and influence We possess in the in
terests of higher wages for women in
the bureau OF engraving and printing
and We are enthusiastically optimistic
as to the outcome of our activities"