The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-07
BUILDING TRADES MEN
TO MEET I0a|GHI
VIII Present Demand For General
Increase Of Wage, Due TO High
Cost of Living.
NATIONAL ORGANIZERS HERE
Federation Of Labor Organizer De-
clares Wages Are Much Lower Here
Than In Other Citics-Employers
say They Know az No Strike.

At the mass meeting of all the
members Of the Building Trades coun-
Gil. to be held tonight in the Labor
temple at Fifth End Marshall streets.
steps will be taken to secure a set
Element of the existing trouble be-
tween labor and the building and cleo
trical contractors OF the city. 1t is
understood that the unions have asked
for an increase in wages.
National labor leaders from several
cities are In the clay and will address
tho meeting tonight Among them
are George w. Crosby, Washington. tt
, the United brotherhood OF Carpenters
and Joincrs; w j. Gallagher, Phila-
delphia, of the Brotherhood of Paint
ers, Decorators and papcrhangers;
Mr.. Lynn, Of the United Association OF
Plumbers and Steam1tters. and Mr..
| Hughes, of Springfield, Ill. of the
Amalga mated Sheel Metal Workers.
In addition to those there will be sew
raj local speakers
Electrical and building contractors
when approached yesterday, claimed
that the first intimation that there
was any dissatisfaction on the part
of workers came to them through the
newspapers J. T. Nuchols. when
questioned, stated that he had never
been asked by his employers for an
Increase in pay. and that II they had
any complaint It had never been made
known to him. The same statement
! was made by the tirm of John I.
Wilson 4 CO. 1t is understood that
! the majority of the builders main
tanned what is known as open shop
| meaning that they employ union or
nonunion men.
| W. II. jerks Of the jerks Electrical
company. stated that he was already
| paying more than the union rate OF
wages. and that he had never heard
of a strike being mentioned, or any
complaint. for that matter. w. b.
Catlett. of the Catlett Constructor
company, declared that he has not
had any trouble with his men ari
the same was said by Mr.. Jennings,
of Tresnon & jennings.
It is said that the building nctivi-
ties In the city at this time are the
| largest they have been for rome
time. and If a strike were declared
by the unions, 1t would be serious II
is expected that many more structures
will be started In a short time. ali
indications pointing to on ahnormally
, large building activity this spring.
Yesterday Howard T Coivin. or
ganzer of the American Federation OF
Labor. gave out the following state
| ment:
The demands recently submitted tc
+, the building contractors of Richmond
! by the mechanics in their employ are
! anything but exorbitant. In some in.
! stances they amount to less than 10
| per cent, and In no case do they OK.
! coed 20 per cent. These increases are
especially conservative when the fact
| Is taken into consideration that wages
in the building industry in Richmond
have been stationar. for more than
| ten years. In some trades wages are
actually lower than they were sew.
| eral years ago. The necessaries OF
| life have during this time gone UP In
leaps and bounds This is So no,
merely of food products, but OF
| clothes. shoes, fuel and rents The
rents OF work!ngmen's homes lrins
me last fifteen years have increased
from 25 to so per cent. When aiken
into consideration with the fac. tina,
wages have remained practically sta
| 'fonarv. this has meant a reduction In
| purchasing power Of the wages " the
working people Of at least so nc. cent
and as a result conditions have be-
! come unhearah'e.
! Tn everv trade affected nv the wage
demands that have been submitted BY
the Richmond unions wages are lower
| here than In any other city In the
United States or Canada with a popu-
| iat'on as great rs that of Richmond
| and In hundreds Of cities with only hall
the population thev are much higher
The mechanics Of Richmard can with
| In a davis Journey reach hundred
| cities where they can secure from %
10 20 per cent higher wa~es than In
| Richmond a wear ago Some OF the
| Richmond contractors made the state
| rnent that they were unable to secure
/ labor 70 do the work thew had on hand
ut that time. n that was really true
then. 1t Will be found to he much more
80 now. as men simply cannot continue
/ to work for the wages being paid
=. here.
| There are about 1900 men In the
| various building trades unions OF the
| city. The leaders In these various
unions are all conservative men and
desire TO settle their differences with
! their EMPLOYERS peecesbiy. All they
ask IL that the contractors OF the city
meet them In conference and 60 over
the demands OF the men with them"