The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-08-18
WAGES OF THE
LONCSHOREMEN
Not True That Pacific Longshore-
men Get Largest Wage in
the United States

1t has been published nj all of Sc
attle's daily papers that the wages
paid to longshoremen on the Pacific
Coast are the highest in the world.
OF course, we know where these re-
ports emanated from and so do all the
longshoremen.
The wages paid longshoremen prior
to the strike were below the wages
paid longshoremen back in the year
1872 in the City of New York.
Forty years ago, and more, long
shoremen were receiving more in New
York City than they receive today on
the Pacific Coast
In the City of Portland longshore-
men for many years past received a
wage of 55 cents per hour day time
and 81 per hour night time, and this
wage is now being paid to the long
shoremen of Portland.
The question in minds of the think
ing public is 'Is the wage justified?"
Most assuredly, we answer. Portland
business men and waterfront en-
ployers are aware that the increased
efficiency more than pays for larger
wage.
Another way of looking at the justi-
fication of the Portland wage scale is
the ability of Portland waterfront en-
ployers to pay this scale of wages
when it was only possible to receive
$3.50 per ton for freight to the Orient,
whereas today shipowners are reap
ing harvest of $40 ton with cargoes
going and coming. Many firms along
the Pacific Coast have seen the wis
dom of granting the langshoremen's
demands.
1t now remains for the unions to
force the Waterfront Employers
Union to pay the scale. In answer to
the false statement of the Waterfront
Employers Union that the Pacific
Coast longshoremen receive the high
est wages in the world. The state
ment is rank injustice to longshore-
men and was presented to the daily
press with that intent. The History
of the Longshoremen," a work COM
piled by Barnes of the Russell Sage
Foundation, quotes the following
wages for longshoremen as far back
as the American Revolution of 1916.
Chapter 6. page 76, Barnes says: BE
fore the Civil War the famous long
and short quarter prevailed. Long
shoremen were paid $3.50 per day.
The day began at a. m. and ended
at 5 p. m. From IL to 1 o'clock was
the meal hour. The custom of taking
on men at or 9 o'clock divided the
first half day into quarters of un-
equal length, one from to 9, and the
other from 8 to IL. The pay was the
same for these unequal periods; that
is, man received 371a cents, the
fourth part of $1.50, whether he
worked the short quarter of two
hours or the long quarter of three
hours. Many excuses could be found
, for not beginning work until o'clock.
The custom house did not open until
O'Clock; in starting work on a ship,
permission to unseal the matches
could not be had until after that hour.
AS might be expected, foremen took
advantage of the various conditions
to work the men right through the
long quarter whenever possible
There was constant friction, and
the long and short quarter continued
to be bone of contention between
employers and employees until it was
, abolished in 1861.
e Gradually, with rise in the cost Of
r living, due to the Civil War, there was
t a corresponding increase in wages
Y About 1886, in response to a demand
r some instances 80 cents per hour
0 Two or three years later a demand
: for 33 cents was granted, and abou
i 1868 another protest was made, ant
e the rate was raised to 40 cents al
v hour for day and night work Blu
foremen took advantage of this uni
- form rate to do great deal of nigh
work. The piers were small, ant
trucking and tiering could be carrie,
y on to greater advantage at night whel
there were no teams to interfere
IL The men protested against this, an
with desire to cut out the excessiv
o night and Sunday work they demand
ed higher rate for working thes