New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-05
y. S. Sets Pay
And Duty for
Shipyards Men
Builders Are Only Agents
of Government During
War" Is Decision

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 4.-Uniform
minimum wage scales for the Pacific
Coast shipbuilding yards, guide for
all shipyards in the country, were an
nounced to-day by the United States
Shipbuilding Labor Adjustment Board.
The decision effects an increase of
from 10 to 80 per cent over the old
scale here, although its uniformity
makes il lower in some localities than
the temporary scale now in force.
The decision, the first to be handed
down by the board, declares that en-
ployes' discrimination, interfering
with the defence 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 NJ. J. Ma
guire, a union conferree representing
the metal trades craftsmen of the bay
district. "I believe the entire ship
building crafts Of the Pacific Coast
will appeal to Wilson against the de-
cision."
The scales are based upon the in
crease in the cost of living since the
beginning of the war, 1t was stated.
$4,000 Men Needed
Seventy-fve thousand men must be
employed in the Pacific Coast ship
yards to carry out the governments
programme, 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
in California, Oregon and Washington
to supplement the trade unions unable
to supply skilled workmen.
"The shipbuilding labor adjustment
board is a war board" the decision
states. "The owners of the shipyards
are, for the duration of the war, mere
il agents Of the government. En-
war has changed their relation to each
other. The government is insistent
that ships it requires must be built
and built promptly. 1t is equally in
sistent that standards of living must
be preserved.
"The national programme requires
an increase in the .utput Of ships
from 100000 tons turned out in 1915
TO 100000 tons in 1918. This makes
necessary introduction wherever pos
Siple Of the two and three shift sys-
TENS. Immediate steps TO bring about
this change must be taken by ship
yard owners. The board urges repre-
sentatives Of organized labor and EN-
ployers concerned to WORK out in CO.
operation with agents of the govern
ment plans for the more rapid train
ing of skilled workers in the different
crafts"
Summarizing the decision, Secretary
Henry a. Seager of the board said:
"The board did not feel justified in
forcing on the taxpayers of the coun-
try who henceforth must pay for the
ships built the higher wages that the
consideration OF merely local aspects
of the situation might have warranted.
Urges Utmost Help
at urges employers and employees 70
accept the decision III the spirit OF
loyal cooperation and do their utmost
TO help the government win the war by
turning out the ships so urgently re-
quired."
All members Of the board left tor
the East late to-day.
Representatives of the craftsmen met
in secret conference and discussed the
decision of the board, which was re-
DOTtEQ TO De uUldNOidb4f W bHfHs
Mcguire. adding to his declaration
that an appeal 20 the President would
be made, said:
81 do not believe the men will leave
their jobs. believe organized labor
will be found patriotic enough to hold
its ranks to the work until the Presi-
dent has ample time to review its ap-
peal and decide upon it.
"The representatives OF labor here
will return 20 their respective homes
and the unions will vote upon the new
scale. The scale means an increase for
the majority of workers over their old
men who will receive less under this
scale. but in Seattle there are 6'OUO
scale than they arc getting now. 10
others the increase is very slight.
"The board found living costs had IN,
creased &c per cent. The men want
enough 70 meet this"
The scale rates are retroactive, gong
hack in the Puget Sound district to Au-
gust / They must be put into effect
an or before Monday, November IL, the
hoard ordered, and back pay must be
Maid within two weeks from that time.
Pates of wages now being paid in eX-
cess Of the minimum rates hxed are 10
he in no wise altered.
An eight-hour day was fixed for the
ca, Francisco and Portland district.