Evening journal., 1919-11-01
ShlPYARD MEMS
PAY IS TREBLED
In Cases More Than That of
Ambassadors, Says EN-
ployerS' Counsel
FURTHER INCREASE
AS CHECK TO TRADE

Nisse karfve. assistant general man
ager Of the Pusey and Jones Company
has received the following information
from New York, relating to wages in
lhe repair yards in that city:
Mechanics in the ship repair yards
in and around New York city, are earn
ing more than college professors, bank
presidents, or even ambassadors, as
stated very recently by Henry c. Hunt
err counsel for the repair yards, and
further this situation is one OF the re-
suits brought about by the demands Of
labor.
MIR. Hunter cited figures taken from
The pay rolls TO show that the Increases
already given TO the men have been
greater than the advances in the cost
Of living. To grant the new demands,
he asserted, would check the develop
ment Of American shipping, and Of
foreign trade. His statement gives
further data TO the effect as follows:
"rhe pay roll records Of the repair
yards, furnish the best evidence, OF the
situation today, when the wOrkmen
after three upward adjustments OF the
wage scale affecting all classes Of labor,
have been demanding a further increase
Of % per cent. for all employees and
shortening Of the regular working
hours. At the present time the work
ing schedule week is forty-eight hours
in repair yards only.
inspection OF wage accounts at the
various yards In New York and vicinity.
shows that not scores or hundreds. but
thousands Of the men are receiving
from double TO treble the money cley
earned for the same capacity Of work
only little more than two years ago.
Their pay has more than kept pace
with the rise in the cost OF living, but
Notwithstanding this, they are seeking
TO saddle the expense OF products with
an additional increase, which, II grant
ed, must eyitably check the expansion
Of the American Merchant Marine and
Of the country's international COM
merce. The Importance Of the ship re-
pairing industry's contribution to the
nations prosperity makes the situation
one Of concern TO every American.
1T may be stated that in the repair
yards today, many carpenters draw
more pay then college professors. and
pipeitters more than bank presidents,
and machinists more than many am
1assadors and high officials in the ser
gice Of The government 10 would be
'asy TO cite case after case Of men
lrawing regularly 500 and upwards
Der week. There are many others, IL
: true who are making considerably
ess. but i'm no instance can 10 be said
hat any emplOye who takes advantage
OF the opportunities offered under the
the present wage scale, will fail TO earn
considerable In excess Of his own and
his familys needs.
~ group or a gang OF eight men in
the pipeniting department, working
together i'm one Of the yards, during
The period covered may be cited. or
the eight men, three are only helpers,
one Of the lowest paid and less skilled
classes Of labor, and these are in many
instances hardly more than boys. An
other is a pipe cutter. somewhat bet
ter paid, but not much. The other
four, comprising a pipefltter. plumber,
cOppersmitl and a tinsmilh. are
among the more highly remunerated
grades Of labor. Just before the war,
This gang Of eight men, working to-
gether. received on the basis Of an eight
hour day S2j.0j per diem. In 1917 Just
after the United States entered the war.
the gang was paid, on the same basis,
S2iiO. an increase OF nine per cent.
Today they are getting. for eight hours
work, Si9.G6. which is % per cent. more
than in l9ii. IF the additional increase
of % per cent, now demanded. were
given, they would receive s62.O7 day,
which is an advance Of IA per cent.
over 1915 rates
but the figures given above are con
fined only 10 the earnings OF the gang
OF eight mem I'm their straight time OF
eight hours only. and they take no ac-
count Of extra work and the extra pay
ment for overtime, which is at the rate
OF double time and half for outside
workers, and double time for shop
workers.
"The actual average combined week
ly earnings OF these eight men I'm 1911,
amounted 20 Si5030; in 1917 10 si6i 40.
and at present they have risen 10
Si0iO5, this last Is a gain Of i6S per
cent. over t9ii. With the present de-
mand OF % per cent. advance, they
would receive Sj05O6. am increase Of
236 per cent. over the pre-war aver
age or about i25 per cent. I'm excess Of
the rise in the cost Of living since the
beginning OF the war"