The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-21
THE SAN FRANCISCO PLAN.

Probably no city in the country has
than has San Francisco. The build
ing trades disagreements have been
especially annoying and damaging to
the welfare of the city. It is now be-
lieved by all parties directly con-
cerned that way for preserving in
dustrial peace in the building industry
has been found.
Late in 1920 the San Francisco
Chamber of Commerce appointed
committee on Industrial relations with
powers to examine into the whole
building trade situation, with the view
of bringing about a more wholesome
condition in the relations between en-
ployer and employe. For many years
the labor situation in the building
trades had been unsatisfactory, due to
frequent strikes and misunderstand-
ings with consequent losses to both
sides and to the good name of the city.
After a searching investigation the
committee ascertained the basic
causes which had kept the builders
and workmen apart and by bringing
them together finally obtained. their
consent to the adoption of an arbitra-
ton agreement for the settlement of
all future differences in questions of
wages, hours and working conditions.
Under the agreement the board is
given the widest latitude In the mat
ter of initiating Investigations into the
conditions affecting the building
trades and is empowered to call for
copies of contracts or agreements
touching any phase of the building sit
uation. The findings and decisions of
the board in each case will be accept
ed as final by the parties to the agree
ment. The board is nonpartisan In
character, each of the three members
being held to represent impartially the
interests of all the parties involved
including the employer, the employe
and the public.
The hearings held by the board will
be public, unless the board decide
otherwise, and the expenses of opera
ton are to be borne equally by both
sides.
It is agreed that this board shall sit
as a continuing board Of a(piEation,
to which shall be submitted all dis
putes as to hours, wages and working
conditions in building trades where
there are no disputes now, as well as
in those where there are, when and as
such disputes arise between the sig
natory parties, and that the decisions
of the board shall be accepted as final
and carried out by all parties. This
step is taken, it is stated, in order to
provide O permanent method of set
Ting amicably, and in a reasonable
manner, labor disputes affecting the
building trades, and with the hope
that building operations henceforth
may be put on a certain and stable
basis-a result which will be of ad-
vantage to the workers, to the employ
ers and to the public.
A part of the agreement reads:
1t is understood that the trades in
which there are now disputes con-
corning hours. wages and working
conditions, which disputes will be i'm
mediately submitted to the board. are
as follows: Painters. glassworkers,
varnishers and polishers. cement fin
ishers. cement laborers, hod carriers.
tending plasterers. marble rubbers and
sawyers, marble finishers and polish
ers, marble masons, marble masons'
helpers, hosting and portable en-
gineers, roofers. elevator constructors,
elevator constructors helpers, REIN
forced iron workers, team and auto
truck drivers, piasterers.
The San Francisco experiment is
worth watching. If It succeed, it
should appeal to workers as well as
employers in every city in the country
Something of the sort long has been
needed. However, it would tend to
throw a large army of walking dele
gates out OF jobs.