Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1917-12-01
FOR UNIFORM
WAGE SCALES
Rate to Be Paid ShIpbullders
viii Be General Throughout
the Country.
MEN GET MATERIAL INCREASE
Under New Arrangement the Scale Is
to Be RetroactIve-Eloht-Hour Day
Fixed for the San Francisco
and Portland Districts.

Uniform minimum wage scales for
the Pacific coast shipbuilding yards, a
guide for all shipyards In the coun-.
try, have been announced by the Unit
ed States shipbuilding labor ADJUST
ment board. The decision effects an
increase Of from 10 to 30 per cent over
the old scale, although its uniformity
makes it lower In some localities than
the temporary scale now In force.
The decision, the first to be re-
turned by the board, declares that en-
ployees' discrimination, interfering
with the defense Of the nation in time
of war, against so-called unfair ma
terials would be intolerable.''
"There won't be many ships built
under this SCALE" declared M. J. Ma
guire, a union conferee, representing
the metal trades craftsmen of the bay
district. II believe the entire ship
building crafts Of the Pacific coast
will appeal to Wilson against the de-
cisiOn."
The minimum scale uniform for the
Pacific coast was fixed as follows:
JOurneymen machinists, mOlders,
blacksmiths, anglesmiths, pipe filters,
boiler-makers, ship filters, pressmen,
angle and frame settlers, riveters, chip
pers and caulkers, acetylene workers
and electrical workers, $5.25 day.
Painters and plate hangers, S..
Sheet metal workers, coppersmiths
and 1ange turner's, Sc.
Heaters, foundry carpenters, furnace
men and punch and shear men, $3.50.
Pattern makers, $3.50.
Planer men, countersinkers, drillers
and reamers and holders, $420.
Machinist specialist, $4; rivet heat
ers, $9.15, and laborers, 1925.
Helpers are divided into two classes,
as follows:
Machinists, pipef1tters, sheet metal
workers, ship filters, electrical work
ers, molders, helpers, $500.
Blacksmiths, cOppersmiths, slab,
plate hangers, hook tenders, fange,
fire and machine helpers, and casting
cleaners, $3.50.
In yards where wooden ships are
being constructed the minimum rate
for caulkers is fixed at $3.50; ship
wrights, joiners, boat builders and mill
men, SO, and laborers and helpers,
1925.
The scale rates are retroactive, go
ing back in the Puget Sound district
to August !. They must be put into
effect OH or before November IL, the
board ordered, and back pay must be
paid within two weeks from that time.
Rates Of wages now being paid in ex-,
cess of the minimum rates fixed are
to be in no wise altered.
An eight-hour day was fixed for the
San Francisco and Portland districts.
F. Working conditions in the Puget
Sound district are to be determined by
agreements by employers and employ
lees.
The scales are based on the increase
in the cost of living since the begin
ming of the war, 1t was stated.
Seventy-tive thousand men must be
employed In the Pacific coast ship
yards to carry out the governments
program, the board decided. That
means 10000 skilled mechanics more
than employed now. The board will
urge the department of labor to ex-
tend the federal employment service
I'm California, Oregon and Washington
to supplement the trade unions un-
able to supply skilled workmen.