The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-09
The Covenant OF Calgary.

Calgary, the largest city in the
Province Of Alberta, Ia a Canadian
metropolis, the centre of an important
stock shipping and mine supply town,
busting, enterprising settlement.
There, as elsewhere, the problem OF
domestic service has worried the
homemakers; there, as elsewhere, the
exactions and idlosyncrasies Of mis-
tresses and maids have brought gloom
to many f1resldes; and there formal,
united effort has been made to put
household labor on new and salts
factory basis.
The Covenant Of Calgary was
drawn, according to the American
Chamber of Commerce in Canada, by
the Housekeepers Association, COM
posed Of cooks and housemaids, and
has been vigorously imposed on their
employers in the city. The Chamber
Of Commerce asserts that the docu.
ment provides for the solution OF
"the immemorial servant problem &C.
cordlng to the servants own ideas
and ideals and In effect makes the
cooks and maids rulers Of the home
under n mandatory Of the House.
keepers Association" When cook
or housemaid is employed 1t is under
these terms:
a. hnI "a
my best services to my employer.
"2. The rate of my wage shall
be - a month.
IS. Ten hours shall constitute a
days work.
-. II more hours are required they
shall be regarded as overtime and
paid for at the rate Of IL cents an
hour.
10. shall have every Sunday
evening free after 9 80 o'clock
&c. My employer shall speak Of me
as her Thousekeeper' and shall al
ways address me as Miss or Mrs
So-and-so.
a. shall have the privilege OF en-
tering or departing by the front door,
rs. l shall have the use of a suit
able room one evening a week in
which to entertain my friends until
10 o'clock.
"9. shall make 1t a rule TO be
in my employers house at IL o'clock
every evening.
40. I shall be given proper board.
all. Comfortable and sanitary
lodgings shall be provided for me.
ia. This engagement of service
may be terminated at any time by
either party giving two weeks notice.
"13. In case OF the violation OF
any Of these terms either party
may terminate the engagement i'm
mediately.
"a. All complaints from either
employees or employers shall be laid
before an arbitration board COM
posed OF members of the Housekeepers
Association. who will seek to adjust
the difficulties with Justice"
When the contract was introduced
it was predicted that the employer:
would not be able to endure the con
ditions 1t would produce. Not only
have they been able to endure them
but in many cases they heartily ap
prove Of them. The definition Of
rights and duties has cleared the
domestic air. The Housekeepers AS
ISOLATION is developing not only as G
trade union but also as n training
school for domestic workers. Better
conditions for house servants seen
likely to produce better house Ser
wants, not only because they are more
contented but because they are better
| fitted for their duties. The association
has been adlhtted to the Fedora
Workers Union of Canada and Is rec
ognized by the confederated women,
clubs.
Perhaps other towns may find t.
the Covenant of Calgary a way T.
overcome difficulties which make home
keeping a great burden everywher'
on this continent and in many coun
tries abroad. II this be the case, the
fourteen principles of the House
keepers Association will reap for theIl
authors fame unrivalled by that wor
by the author of any other collection
of fourteen points.