The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-07-03
MINIMUM WAGE FOR WOMEN

A minimum wage of twenty-five
cents per hour for all women and
minor employees over seventeen years of
age has been established by the Wis
conSin industrial commission in com
pliance with the provisions of the mini
mum wage act of the 1913 legislature.
The orGer goes into eject Aug. l,
1919
Establishment of the minimum wage
came as the result of IA petition filed
with the industrial commission in May,
1918, by the Wisconsin Federation of
Labor, the Consumers League of Wis
consin and the Central Council of So
cial Agencies, Milwaukee.
Since last May the commission has
been at work determining just what
is a living wage for women and minor
employees, and has been assisted by an
advisory wage board, consisting of
representatives of employers, employees
and the public, who were nominated by
organizations of employers and en-
ployes.
At the final meeting of the wage
board on June 20, the wage scale
adopted by the commission was unani-
mously recommended, and the commits
sion, under the authority of the act of
1913 on Monday issued the following
order to all employers of female and
minor labor:
mo employer shall employ any eX-
perienced female or experienced minor
employe over seventeen vars of age, in
any occupation, trade, or industry
throughout the state at "A wage rate
less than twenty-five cents per hour.
During the first three months of the
learning period the wage paid shall not
be less than eighteen cents per hour.
During the second three months of the
learning period the wage paid shall not
he less than twenty cents per hour.
"Permt children shall be paid
wage of not less than eighteen cents
per hour. Permit children between six
teen and seventeen eyars of age who
have completed three months in the in
dustry shall be paid not less than
twenty cents per hour. Permit children
producing the same output as en-
ployes in the higher wage classification
shall be paid not less than the mini
mum wage rate for such class.
"For the purpose of this order en-
pIoyes shall be deemed experienced
after six months of employment in the
trade or industry, whether for the
same employer or for different en-
ployers. In seasonal industries oper-
ating only for few months during
the year no learning period is recog-
nized, and all female and minor em-
ployes in such industries shall be paid
wage of not less than twenty-five
cents per hour.
"The total number of employees in
any establishment who receive wages
below twenty-five cents per hour, but
not including indentured apprentices,
shall not exceed 20 per cent of the
total number of women and minor em-
ployes normally employed.
"Where board or lodging is fur
nishcd by the employer as part pay
ment of wages, an allowance may be
made therefor of not more than $3.50
per week for board and ~ per week
for lodging.
"Where payment of wages is made
upon piece basis or system other
than time rate, the actual wages shall
be not less than that provided for in
this order.
"Every employer employing females
or minors shall keep posted a copy Of
this order, on form prescribed by the
commission, in conspicuous place in
the general work room and in the
women's dressing rooms.
"This order shall become effective
IAug. !, 1919"