New-York tribune., 1919-08-20
Submits Wage
Agreement for
Clothing Trade
Decision of Geo. l.. Bell
Calls for Weekly Increase
of SIS and Restoration of
Collective Bargaining

Restoration of the collective wage
bargaining between workers and en-
ployers in the mems clothing industry
in this city, and a general increase in
wages amounting to about SIS per week,
were the essential elements in a de-
cision announced yesterday by George
l. Bell.
AS impartial chairman of the Joint
Industrial Council of the Mems and
Boys Clothing Industry of New York,
Mr.. Bell was called upon to draft
plan for the future conduct of wage
bargaining in the industry in order to
stabilize conditions which had become
chaotic through the competitive bid
ding for labor by manufacturers and
demands for increases by workers.
The decision is binding npon the mem
bers of the Clothing Manufacturers
Industrial Exchange and the Anal
gamated Clothing Workers of America.
About 140 manufacturers, comprising
approximately go per cent of the local
industry, are members of the manu-
facturers' organization. At general
meeting last week those outside of the
association voted unanimously with
members to uphold any decision the
executive committee of the organiza-
ton should arrive at in attempting to
solve the labor problem.
Trade Urged to Submit
In announcing his decision Mr.. Bell
stated that it did not represent merely
his own arbitrary views, but the COM
posite opinion of both employers and
Io Al fO, +lo
tinuation and enlargement of self gov
ernment in the industry, and expressed
hope that the entire trade would sub
NIT to the new rulings. He also ex-
pressed the belief that the New York
market as a whole must cooperate in
the establishment and utilization of
the system of industrial government
now being organized among the New
York, Chicago, Rochester and Balti-
more markets.
The rulings, in part, follow:
individual bargaining on wage in
crease for a whole shop or group
of workers or individuals must cease.
promises of wage increases since
August Is, 1919, made by manufact-
urers or contractors or their agents
are of no effect and void.
"As a means of fulfilling the col
lective obligation of the Manufacturers
Association to initiate on July ID what
would have amounted to practically a
general increase and in order to equal
ize and stabilize the whole situation
an increase of SIS per week is awarded
to all week workers in the inside and
contracting shops of members of the
Manufacturers Association. This in
crease to start from and to be in
cluded in the pay rolls of the week
ending August 16, 1919, and to include
and supersede any promises made by
manufacturers or contractors of in
creases for that week. Any manu-
facturers or contractors who have actu-
ally paid increases previous to the
week ending August 16 must also pay
this general increase, unless they had
a different understanding to the con-
trary with their workers, as they
should pay the penalty of bargaining
individually at the same time as they
are bargaining collectively through the
association.
Piece Workers Affected
"Piece workers, other than workers
on knee pants, are to receive a per-
centage increase in piece rates to equal
as nearly as possible the S5 increase
awarded week workers. CA decision
on increases for knee pants workers
Special adjustments concerning the
wages of aged workers, who are ad-
mittedly sort of pensioners, shall be
made in individual cases through the
collective and impartial machinery.
The above general increases, by
agreement and by order of the chair
man, are to be absolutely final for the
season up to December /, 1919; any ne
gotiations for readjustment of wages
must be opened not later than Novem-
Der l, 1919, and any new rates shall
become effective not earlier than De-
cember l, 1919.
"1n conclusion, since the increases
IN wages during the season have been
unusually large and the wage rates are
now at level to compare favorablv
with any industry, it is urged that the
industry should make its Contribution
to solving the pressing problems con-
fronting the consuming public by curb
Ing the efforts of either individual
manufacturers or workers to secure
selfish and abnormal temporary gains.
production and stabilization of condi-
t,ons so as to make for production are
the two real and constructive tasks
confronting the industry and the at
tention of management and workers
should be devoted exclusively to those
tasks, without frittering awav energy
IN petty attempts to secure advantages
for either q few manufacturers or y
few workers." Va