Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-24
CARPENTERS WAGE
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board considered the purchasing power oi
the money wage. 1t was bound TO lnvest-
gate the cost of food, shelter, clothing,
etc, required by n carpenters family
The board recognizes the force ot econo-
mic law and the interest of both parties IN
sufficient and abundant work II sought
10 fix wage more than adequate FOR bare
subsistence, and on the level of decent
comfort. The items that appear fairly
10 enter into such cost are rent, coal, hight,
food, clothing insurance, savings. reerea-
tion, doctor, dentist, contributions,
church dues, requirements, carfare, news
papers and spending money, including
Christmas gifts. Numerous family hudg-
cts covering such items were submitted
by the carpenters. They were based ON
the present cost Of living IN Wilmington,
and were explained and supplemented
by oral statements The lowest total
budget was 81, ,253Ss, for carpenter
with a wife and ono child. The highest
total budget was s2,S24.7S, for car
penter with a wife and five children
"It was a fair deduction from all the
budgets that yearly income q -, $50
was required to maintain an average car
pcnter's family in a reasonable state Of
cost Of living in Wilmington.
IF there are forty-four working hours
in each week, there arc 22SS working
hours a wear. without subtractlng lest
time. The testimony Of the carpenters
varies greatly as to the time lost on ac-
| count of winter months, rainy days, Ill
ness, delays in transporting materials, etc.
Some testify 10 losing three months or
| 25 per cent: others 70 losing two months
| or rs per cent II is fair 10 allow less
| Of at least 10 per cot cf 22ss hours CT ~
| hours. leaving 2,059 working hours per
| annum as a minimum period en- which
| compensation should he based To receive
| 81. 450 for 2.05o hours cf work, requires a
wage Of 81 119 per hour
FINDINGS or rur poARn.
Following are the findings Of the board
From the proof submitted and the
| information obtained. the board finds
| the following facts.
Il The present wage scale 81 unlor
| carpenters, is 81 1919 per hour IN Phlla.
| dclphia, Chester and Camden, where the
cost OF living IS less than in Wilmington
| -. The cost Of living in Wilmington Is
substantially higher than in the sever
| neighboring cities Of Trenton, Camden
/
| and Baltimore
g a fair annual income for vii
mington carpenter with an average
family. based on the present cost Of llv.
ing. is s., ,450.
''Therfore, this beard of arbitration viii
award to union carpenters Of Wilmington
Delaware. a wage scale Of sff2i2 per
hour. from the date Of the award, unit
| NAV |. 1921. subject To q condition. The
! board realizes the uncertainties of th'
near future II there is a radical change
in the cost Of living. there should be {
| corresponding change IN the wage scale
| Accordingly. the board will stipulatC
in the award that either party to thli
| arbitration shall have a right to have thC
wage scale, set in this award, reviewed
at anv time after January / 1927, by 8
| Board Of Arbitration, 10 be convened
within thirty days after request for sucf
review by either party
The board also INDUCED IN the follow
ing general observations:
.In the long run, wages must represent
the value OF the work done, The value O
the work done depends upon the market
and the demand for the product of th'
workshop. ANY scale of wages that Ignores
this economic law is artificial and un
stable.
1T follows that the cost of living Is no
the sole or final test of wages. The car
penter has right, like every workman, Il
| gradually raise his standard of living
While there is a strong and steady de
mand for the product OF his labor, th'
| workman NAV insist that the cost of
decent standard of living should FIX hi
wages. One danger in establishing
DFf
is that the competent and loyal wosk
men are rewarded no better than the less
competent and Indifferent grea
problem facing union labor is to grad
| workmen, so that wages may be scale1
according to their character and capacity
The carpenter is entitled to full value 10
his services. BY the same token, the EN-
ployer is entitled to full valtie for wages
Wages should bear direct relation to pre-
duction If a carpenter takes full pa
without giving full production he Is takn
what properly does not belong to hun
THE AWARD.
Following is the text of the award:
"Know all men that we. the sut
scribers, constituting the Board OF Al
bitration TO whom the matters IN cor
troyersv. between Local Union No. 62t
| OF InfIeu vi Val lytiAttio ga
! Joiners Wilmington, Delaware, and eIgi
teen employers of union carpenters !
Wilmington, Delaware, to wit: Dennl
, Buckley, Chas ]. Doughnerty, Donaldso
K Jackson, Hogeson Brothers, Inc, Et
ward L. Johnson, Joyce Il kerrigal
Fred G. krapf, Phillip III. Lynch, "
J Howard May, Egbert Nutter, Realt
Construction Co, Joseph Schunde
Thompson & Binger Inc, j. A. Bader
q Co. Charles Forwood, Geo. W. RauC
man, David Dangel Il Sons, and jaime
, Stewart Co. Inc, were submitted by a
agreement contained in letter slgne
by their respective agents, bearing dat
June Is, 1920, having heard the proof
of the parties, and having examined II
. matters in controversy submitted
them, do award as follows, viz:
THAT from the date of this award, unit
May /, 1921. wages of 81 l212 per hot
shallbe paid by said employers Of unio
carpenters To union carpenters, snble'
to this express condition, that at an
time after January l. 1921, either part
! to this dispute may have the foregolr
award reviewed by Board of Arbitratie
upon giving thirty days notice IN writir
Of the desire for such review TO the 9TH