The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-12-08
FOR UNIFORM
wage SCALES
Rate 10 Be Paid Shipbuilders
Will Be General Throughout
the Country.
MEN GET MATERIAL INCREASE
Under New Arrangement the Scale 10
to Be NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Day
Fixed for the San Francisco
and Portland Districts.

UulLOflu llllllIuulH WA5E oSdlCo lui
the Pacific coast shippuilding yards, a
guide for all shipyards in the coln-
try, have been announced by the Unit
ed States shipbuilding labor adjust
ment board. The decision effects an
increase of from 10 to 80 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 NJ. j. Ma
guire, union conferee, representing
the metal trades craftsmen of the bay
district. Il 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, holders
blacksmiths, anglesmiths, pipe filters
| boiler-makers, ship filters, pressmen
angle and frame settlers, riveters, chip
pers and eaulkers, acetylene workers
and electrical workers, $5.25 day.
Painters and plate hangers, So.
Sheet metal workers, coppersmiths
and flange turner's, Sc.
Heaters, foundry carpenters, furnace
men and pinch and shear men, $4.50
Pattern makers, $3.50.
Planer men, countersinlSers, drillerE
and reamers and holders, $4.2O.
Machinist specialist, 81; rivet heat
ers, $3.15, and laborers, $3.25.
Helpers are divided into two classes
as follows:
Machinists, pipefitters, sheet meta
workers, ship filters, electrical work
ers, molders, helpers, $500.
Blacksmiths, coppersmiths, slab
plate hangers, hook tenders, tiange
fire and machine helpers, and casting
cleaners, $500,
In yards where wooden ships arr
being constructed the migig ~ rat
t for caulkers is fixed at $3.50; shil
t wrights, joiners, boat builders and mi
men, Sc, and laborers and helper
1925.
e The scale rates are retroactive, g
Src aI- ~, Cn1ID1 1ictTiI
g to August 1. They must be put int
effect on or before November u, til
board ordered, and back pay must /
e paid within two weeks from that tim
e Rates of wages now being paid in e,
e cess of the minimum rates fixed al
: to be in no wise altered.
An eight-hour day was fixed for IL
San Francisco and Portland district
/ Working conditions in the Pugt
b Sound district are to be determined b
a agreements by employers and emplo:
ees.
The acales are based on the increaS
n in the cost Of living since the begil
o ming Of the war, it was stated.
s Severty-five thousand men must
employed in the Pacific coast shiI
yards to carry out the government
S program, the board decided. Thu
e means 10000 skilled mechanics MOI
= than employed now. The board wi
+ urge the department of labor to e
tend the federal employment serviC
in California, Oregon and Washingtc
e to supplement the trade unions u
= able to supply skilled workmen.