Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-22
BUILDING INDUSTRY
SUFFERS BIG LOSS
Halt Billion a Year in Wages
Declared Lost Through
& Unemployment
MUCH WASTE REVEALED

New York. July 22.--Half a billion
dollars a year in wages is being lost in
the building industry through unem.
ployment. IL is asserted in report
made public today by the Committee
on Elimination Of Waste in Industry
Of the American Engineering Council.
Lack Of work is declared TO be the out.
standing fact in this industry, whose
critical condition following the war is
attributed primarily to high costs OF
construction.
Waste, il is said is causing huge
losses in the industry which employs
some 5000. 900 mechanics and laborers
ie a single year. The chief sources OF
waste are. according TO the report
irregular employment, inefficient man
aeement. and wasteful labor rcguIa-
tions. Customs or conditions prevail
ing throughout the industry. and poorly
designed equipment are given as sec
ondary causes.
The public must be educated to the
need OF a sensible distribution through
the year Of it's construction demands
and requirements. continues the re-
Fort. "Idleness. however. Is not due
entirely to seasonal demands; strikes
and lockouts are appreciable causes.
H9pnaTarO management
"Haphazard management in plan =.
ming and controlling work and lack OF
standards. which often double the labor
cost, characterize most construction
undertakings. Here. again. few
builders. recognizing the waste in money
and man power. are adopting IT, 'thods
that approach modern factory manage
ment.
"Greater CO. operation between the
vorkmcn and the employers is an abso
lutte essential. This cooperation must
bC attained before we can approach the
elimination OF labor difficulties. Such
cooperation. however. is Impossible
without tho removal of causes of frc-
ton and the working out Of plans TO ,'''
end.
Representative average conditions III
the bui ding trades of Philadelphia and
vicinity reveal lost or wasted time A.
high es "A per cent among iron work
ers. 81 per cent among cement hnlShers
sc per cent among steam filters. pns-
terers' helpers and stone cutters, Il
per cent among roofcrs and 30 per CEN
among painters and papcrhangerS
This percentage is based on the reia'
ton of the average days worked pei
year to the number Ot effective day
possible.
The days at work average lS!' pc
year for the various trades in lhi'a
delphia. The average of estimates re
ported by contractors is 2lO worktn
days a Year. More than half "f tn
lost time. it is estimated is due Z
bad weather and the balance chief
in waiting for or looking for work.
Co. operation Necessary
The report continues
"If the greatest cause. the deman
for an increase in wages. could be elm
mated. strikes as fnctOr of vast
would shrink into insigniticance. Th
remedy that suggests itself is co-opera
tion.
The most encouraging sign is foun
in what is known as the Phlladelphl
Plan put forth by the labor element
that city.
This plan contemplates the organi
~ zation into single body through assO
Citations. groups or committees, of eac
employing branch of the building in
dustry in number at least equal to tn
nineteen represented in tn" Council .
the Associated Building Trades. \ head
ing-up committee. composed of an cqua
number OF representatives from TIL
groups Of employer and employed wou.
constitute the tribunal or council OF tn
building industry in Philadelphia.
The inquiry into the building industr
was made as a part Of a national uHSa
OF waste conducted bv the committee
This assay was started by Herber
Hoover