Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-30
EMPLOYING FIRMS ASKED TO AD.
VANCE WAGES TO 81 AN
HOUR.
ASKING % PER DAY
FOR EIGHT HOURS WORK
employers Say Demands Can Not Be
Met and Mon Are Employed Under
Contract Which Runs to May 4, 1920
Come Strike Sentiment Among
Men, According to Secretary MulIisan

Union plumbers in four shops or the
city have asked master plumbers for
81 an hour for an eight hour day, an
increase Of 50 q day over the present
wage scale. According to master
plumbers the notice was in the nature
of an ultimatum and inferred that un-
less the demands Of the men were
met strike would be called Aug. /.
Secretary Daniel Mulligan, Of the
plumbers local, declared at noon, how
ever. that no ultimatun had been ds-
sued and that the men had simply asked
an increase in wages to meet the in
creasing high cost Of living. He said
he believed tho matter would be ad-
justed at meeting to be held this eve-
ming by the men and the master
plumbers. ...
The four union shops affected are
those Of the McCarten Plumbing Com
pany, Boughton & Banzhaf, A. C. Bur
CESS and Crinklaw Bros.
Mon Work Under Cantraet.
Master plumbers said all union men
were under contract at So q day, the
contract expiring May 4, 1920. The
demands Of the men, they declared,
were in violation Of the wage agree
ment. Most Of the employers have
been prominently identified with the
plumbers union in the past and two at
least have held offices in the local
union.
It was stated that an increase was
granted the men, from IS to Sc a day,
when the present wage scale was
drawn. This increase, 1t was said, was
awarded because Of the prevailing high
prices for the necessities Of life.
Contract For Minimum Only.
Secretary Muligan admitted that the
present wage contract did not expire
until May 4, next year. He pointed
out, however, that it provided for a
minimum scale Of Sc day with no
mention Of a maximum wage. The
union plumber, he said, believed that
in view Of the master plumbers charg-
ing $1.25 an hour, that there should
be some division Of this excess with
the union men. Higher wages are de-
manded, he added, because Of the cost
of all necessities.
Without having exact knowledge as
to the opinion Of all union men, he
said he believed that there must pe
q wage adjustment or possibly the
plumbers would strike.
One Issue Solved.
There is but one issue insolved in
the request OF the men for a meeting
with the master plumbers this evening,
that Of q wage increase. 1t is said there
Is no controversy over hours or en-
ployment or working conditions. Ac-
cording to one employer there Is no
likelihood Of strike, AZ some OF the
employees have expressed themselves
as opposed to walkout should the
master plumbers attempt to hold the
men to their contract.
If the increase Is allowed, It was
said by master plumbers that the price
Of labor to the consumer must be in
creased rs to 100 per cent. It will
compel the contractors to charge from
SITS to 81 an hour for plumbers, it
was asserted.
WI! Affect other Trades
Should there be any break between
employers and the men such action
might be expected to result in demands
for wage increases, in proportion to
plumbers pay, from all building trades,
it was declared. A proportion wage
scale has always been maintained and
an increase Of 50 day to plumbers
would cause q disproportionate wage
scale to other building trades labor
who would seek adjustment thru a
general demand for increased pay.