The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-24
UNION TO STICK T.
F0R$1 ANH0UR.
Carpenters Hold Cost Of Living
Julsttles Them In Making
Demand For Such.

The Carpenters union and the
Builders Exchange have not been
able to get together on a wage scale,
and there seems to be some queer
monkey business" about the matter.
Citizens Alliance is being played In
the deal? All the carpenters ask for
is wage scale of 81 an hour, time
and one-half for overtime, double
time for Sundays and the 4:4-hour
week. : - G017tr NJ:
They put the proposition up to their
employers as far back as Nov. 1, 1919.
Conferences have been held, at one of
which an offer Of a maximum scale OF
80 cents an hour was made. Some
thing was said about the ":open shop"
although the union had made no re-
ference to either a union or "open
shop" in its demands. However, this
question keeps coming up and Is still
used as an excuse to put Oft the car
penters. =:
Then the claim is made that II the
carpenters are paid a wage scale OF
81 an hour it will seriously curtatl
building operations: in Duluth. OF
the wages of building mechanics and
laborers which are never above the
bread line will not have fractional
part Of the influence Of the building
industry as compared with the pres
ent prices on building supplies and
material, some Of which has advanced
more than. 500 per cent during the
last five years..
It is admitted that the labor cost.
in producing building material and
supplies has advanced, but it has not
increased as much in any case to war
rant the present high prices that are
charged for material and supplies :
In any event. the Duluth carpenters:
have proven what it costs them to live
in Duluth. They have figures show:
ing the number Of days each has been
employed In a year, and they have as
certained that they can not properly
support themselves and their families
ON a,less: wage than 81 an hour. In:
nearly every city surrounding Duluth
carpenters are: paid $1.10 an hour.
Minneapolis carpenters have signed
up. for this season for 81 an hour.
It is generally: admitted that a
higher wage scale should be paid here
than in the Twin Cities on account Of
the difference in the cost Of living,
yet the local exchange would have the
Duluth carpenters work for less wages
than are paid "a Minneapolis: There
is a ,: good demand for carpenters
everywhere and the men usually go
where the. best wages are paid; II the
local exchange refuses to meet: the 81
an hour demand OF The Duluth car,
penters, will not many Of the best
men in the trade leave the city and:
seek employment where they can earn
better wages? -. Should this be the
case, and it "a believed It will be.
would not scarcity: Of carpenters
compel builders: to pay the 81 an
hour scale II they are to keep their
men?, =,
The union is determined to stick for
the s. an hour wage. 1t becomes ef-
fective May i, and The Labor World
is advised that no union carpenter
will work after that date for less
than the union wage Of 81 an hour.
Would it not be better to yield to the
inevitable, now: settle up and work
together on friendly terms? A outld-
ing strike would sure more discour-
age building than a nominal increase
in the labor cost Of such.