The Washington times., 1918-06-17
.,OOOWONEN
PRESS FIGHT
FORINCREASE
INBUREAUPAY
ny BILL PRICE.

=
The more than 1000 female en-
ployes of the Bureau OF Engraving
and Printing who are asking Con-
Eress for living wages have no plans
for radical activities to attempt to
impress the fairness OF their claims
upon national legislation, but will
depend upon continued presentation
Of actual facts to win recognition.
The night Of these skilled and hard
working women will have to be car
ried before the Senate Finance Com
mittee and to the floor Of the Senate,
II necessary, the House having declined
to adopt amendments offered by jean
nette Rankin to increase their sala-
ries to the amounts recommended oy
Secretary McAdOo and James L. VIII
meth, director OF the bureau.
senate To Hear Case.
The sundry civil bill, containing
the bureau appropriations, will be
taken UP by the Senate committee
soon after its probable passage by the
House today, and there is little doubt
that the Senate committee VIII give
TO committee members and others
representing the workers opportunity
TO present their case.
the woman employees organization OF
the bureau, today announced that
the workers are determined to carry
their Tight to a finish and are sure
Of strong support Miss Rankin also
told The Times that she will stand
by these workers to the last.
This is to be campaign week Witn
u.s." Miss Harris said. I'VE are 20
hold meetings at Typographical rem
awn a . p
noon, and Friday afternoon, ana on
the roof garden Of the bureau we
will hold meetings at the luncheon
hours Tuesday and Thursday after
moons. Our activities this week viii
be devoted to gathering data ana
making plans for the presentation OF
our case to Congress, but we are like
wise making a campaign TO associate
all the women workers OF the bureau
with our union, which Is already az
nliated with the Federation Of Labor
and on July 1 will join with the Fed
Srai Employees Union"
To Use Piekets.
Twice a day through this week
there win be stationed at the main
entrance to the bureau, on Four
tenth street, four union pickets, two
carrying banners OF the organization
and the other two armed with mem
bershfp blanks Women workers
passing in and out will be asked to
Join the union, which has 900 MEM
bers. Il is assured that new mem
bers will now roll in by hundreds
and possibly thousands Union mem
bers are to wear their badges all
week.
- Those not members Of the union
recognize the need Of an organization
70 protect and support their inter-
ests and are advocating immediate
membership.
The union is asking a minimum
wage pay for printers assistants and
operatives OF all kinds Of SIS per
month, and supplies facts to show
that women cannot meet living con-
ditiqns now on less than that
Secretary McAdoO is asking Con-
gress to increase the pay OF 1888
printers assistants from 1872 per day,
the present scale, to $3.50 per day;
2se operatives from 1892 to $3.50;
3OT operatives from 50 to $3.50; 1,341
operatives from 1924 to $3.50 per
diem; 4S3 skilled helpers from S2.31
to $3.50; and over 800 other opera
tives and skilled helpers to a maxi
mum Of S2.Ss per day. The aggregate
increase asked for is SS99,l1o.
Want 5000 Minimum.
Operatives are promoted from print
ers' assistants after several years
spent on the presses, and all OF the
work involves care and responsibility.
As requested by the Treasury, the
minimum yearly wage would be $500
and the maximum about 5000, to
which will be added next year $3.50
war bonus. The women's organiza-
ton feels that the minimum should
be 5000. independent Of the bonus,
ana they will urge the Senate to give
them that much.
Secretary McAdoo and Director Will
meth officially state to Congress that
the work the employees are called
upon TO do "is worth more money
than they are now receiving" but
that no increase can be made until
additional money is appropriated.