Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-02-10
Another Conference of Build
ing Trades Men and Work.
ers viii be Held on Feb. 23
MANY AT THE MEETING
Cut in Wages so That Build
ing Will be Possible, Main
Issue of the Session.

Following a general discussion at
the conference of the building con-
tractors and representatives of the
building trades unions, held yester-
day afternoon in the Building
Trades Association rooms in Maple
street, at which time the reduction
In wages was talked over, 1t was de-
cided to call another conference on
February 23. as but little had been
accomplished.
The meeting was we'll attended by
Representatives of the various build
ing crafts but not enough to afford
a settlement. President c. c. Chris
tensen of the association called the
meeting to order and explained that
1t had been called mainly to consid-
er and agree on a reduction of wages
to be paid during the coming season.
so that both sides would be benefited
and also the public at large through
out Middlesex county. He then in
troduced Oscar Schroeder.
Mr.. Schroeder, who stated that
II IL not the wish of the employers
association to cut wages as by do
Ing so they also cut themselves. but
the cry of the public is to reduce
The cost of building and the repairs
70 old ones. If this reduction in
wages did not come, Mr.. Schroeder
said that he believed there wou d
be but little done. He said that the
idea was not to create strikes. lock-
outs or open shops. lie earnestly re-
quested the union workers present
to consider a reduction.
l.. w. Smith, carpenter and gen.
eral building contractor stated that
the cost of building must be
in oil fQ hpe
and that material has taken a drop
of at least twenty-five per cent.
which could be proven by recent es-
Inmates given out to the public. He
also pointed out that unorganized
labor in nearly all its branches had
been reduced and he thought that
organized labor should consider a
reduction In the building trades as
it would stimulate building, and
give employment.
A Mr.. Ridgeway of New Bruins
wick, spokesman for the Allied
Trade Council was the next speaker.
He requested of Mr.. Smith, who the
public was. and Mr.. Smith answer
ed. You and / are part of the
public" Mr.. Ridgeway then con-
tinued by saying that the present
high cost of living demands high
wages and not a cut. According to
Mr.. Ridgeway, the only thing that
remained was to take the strength
away from the parties who have the
money and will not release it. ,
At this point Fred Christensen
interrupted the speaker by saying
that we want no radical socialistic
speech, but consideration only be-
tween ourselves on what is best to
90 In order to get employment and
business.
Mr.. Ridgeway then continued by
saying that by reducing the wages
at this time it would reduce the
standard of living and that would
be a detriment to the country. He
then compared IS day at the pres
ent time with 81 a day in 1913. and
claimed that the IS a day now did
not have the value of the S4 day
in 1918. He thought that sS day
necessary during the present high
cost of living and could see no rea-
son for a cut in the present wages
Representatives of various organ
izations were then heard from and
these men stated that at recent
meetings of their unions the reduc-
tion in wages had been discussed.
hut they could not convince them
selves that a reduction in wages at
this time is warranted. They claim
ed that the price of living had gone
up instead of down, and what had
gone down was only trifle of the
reduction asked and suggested by
the contractors.
A question asked by the contrac-
tors was: ''Will the labor unions
consider reduction In wages at
this time?" This question was not
answered.
A request was made by the labor
union representatives present that
a delegation of the builders attend
meeting of every union and state be
fore the Sc different bodies the rea-
son for requesting the cut in wages
rhe builders agreed to this.
AS several organizations in New
Brunswick and other places in the
county had found 1t impossible to
have delegates present at yester-
days meeting and as no conclusion
was reached 1t was agreed to hold
another conference on February %.
at o'clock in the afternoon at the
same place.