New-York tribune., 1920-12-21
Garment W ages
Cut 3OPerC Cent
By New Scale
Makers of Mems Clothing
Revise Standards of Paw
on Basis of Piece Work:
Rate About That of 1919
Seven Factories Reopen
Union President .Assails Ac-
ton of Operators as Move
TO Lower Production

The long awaited new wage scale of
the mems clothing manufacturers of
New York, on the basis of piece work,
was made public yesterday by the New
York Clothing Manufacturers Asso-
citation. 1t provides for wage reduc-
tons averaging abylt so per cent
under the peak prices prevailing since
November, 1919
The new piece work standards, ac-
cording to the announcement. are such
that the average worker will earn
about SIS a week less thap the highest
point reached in wage earnings by the
members of the Amalgamated Cloth
ing Workers during tine past year. The
workers under the new scale will earn
from S22 To $50 week, varying with
the degree of skill required in the
seventy odd operations which enter
into TIE making OF a suit
The New Wage Rates
The new scale Is based on the wages
paid February /. 1919. before the last
large increase in wages was granted.
Taken from the point of view of that
wage, the $50 a week wage provided in
the new scale repre- sents increases of
from 81 to ~ per cent. The $50 new
wage listed is that for pocket-making.
Sleeve sewers are the next listed in
the order of skill. and the wage fixed
for them Is S45. an increase of so per
cent over the February /, 1919 rate.
Cutters are to be paid S45 a week,
S9 per cent increase, and tape sewers
50 week. so per cent increase over
February /, 1919. The lowest paid
bot cf Il
packers, who Will receive so a week.
d per cent increase over February,
1919. The latter is usually classed as
learners operation.
Inc following announcement was
made by the manufacturers in connec-
ton with the new wage scale:
We, the Clothing Manufacturers As
soclation Of New T-rk, are going to
employ the workers upon piece rates
which, for the present, will be fixed
Tor each factory on the basis Of the
production CT t,-e average experienced
operator and calculated to produce
average earnings for the different
classes Of work.
1t is the belief of the manufac-
turers that the rates fixed in the new
scale Will enable the workers to earn
the amounts stated without undue
physical effort and will give the fast
workers ample opportunity to earn in
excess Of the figures given"
According to William Bandler. presi
dent OF the manufacturers association.
seven additional factories resumed
operauoc Yesterday, placing the total
NUMBER of factories at work at twenty
hFe. All Of these factories. he said
are without orders and are manufar
turing spring clothes on speculative
basis.
Union Denounces Scale
Sidney Eillr,an. president of tho
AlHaleamated Clothing Workers Of
.msrlce. tie organization representing
ne 69.c00 clothing workers IN this CITY
IN conAlct with the manufacturers, de-
nounced the new wage scale as de-
signed to curtail production and not
70 increase 1t. as the manufacturers
have crntended. He said the figures
given b. the manufacturers were
meaning eess" and that they fail 10
gire the actual piece rates.
lne new wage scale represents sub
stantial reductions" said Mr. Hillman
ne manufacturers them selves are the
Judges Of what the workers are to
earn. Ire new rates are part OF the
manufacturers whole scheme to keen
production down. Our proposition was
with tne rnanufact %eYs what propa,
production il. assuming responsi
bility for the standards to be agreed
upon, and thereby guaranteeing the
cos.s and establishing definite work
ing basis. We don't propose. however,
to give up collective bargaining and
all the other rights won by our workers
in years Of struggle. We won't go back
70 the sweatshop system"
Mr.. Hillman charged thai the manu-
factDreTS do not want 20 resume pro
duction and are determined to force a
national lockout. to curtail the out
put Of clothes and keep prices up. For
this purpose. ne said Harry Gordon,
counsel for the manufacturers, has
gone % Rochester. Chicago and Other
ci>ies 70 confer with the manufacturers
there CT general stoppage Of work
No Lockout in Rochester
~ had asked the manufacturers at
NJ .ast meeting with them" said Ny.
Hillman, whether they would guaraa-
tee % -copen their plants and keen
them goinr i We accept all their point 9
and they answered with An emphatic
no"
Mr.. Hillman said that ne received ,
message yesterday from Izadore Pearl =
man, manager of the Rochester join.
board Of the Anal mated, stating that
Hr. Gordon had been in that city r
ar effort % prevail upon the manu-
.actErers 70 join the New York etc-
ployers in locking out their workers
out tast the Rochester employers had
declined 70 do so. Mr.. Hllman added
tnat tne action Of the employers IN
Rochexter supports the recent stant
sa.en 81 the manufacturers in Chicago
Inc Chicago members Of the Anal
garnatcd's executive board. who spc-t
7sVefai daYs here comforting with the
n&uonal officials Of the organization,
~, tnis city yesterday. On departing
'neY iFz1ed statement TO the effect
tna' N" 100000 pledged by them TO
the 100000 fund 70 be raised by the
nnlon 70 finance the fight in this cits
y onlg first contribution" The
sa'o tney would double their contribu
ton Il necesxary.