The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-05-07

Inc story going the rounds that
bricklaycrS are laying down on the lob
and that We are not laying DIS many
brick per day now as We did a few
years ago Is pure bunk" says Fred
Payne, business represe NATIVE of
Bricklaycrs' Union No. 3 of Todeo,
Ohio.
II have heard much us to how Ger
tain contractors are beclouding the is
sue regarding the high cost of con-
stru'iion and their propaganda, as
usual, would lay the trouble at the
door of the Bricklayers' union. Now
let us look at the facts. Let us COM
pare conditions right here in Toledo
and not take the statements issued by
publicity agents and factory managers
IN some other cities.
One story going the rounds" con-
tlnued Payne, lis that the bricklayer
had decreased his production from
LOO bricks per day in 1909 to SAL
bricks in 1920 and increased wages IS
per day in 1920 to $40 per day in 1921.
This propaganda matter Of the con.
tractors would have one believe that
our members are restricted by the un-
ION to lay only Il certain amount of
bricks each day. This statement is
false and those who are sponsors for
its circulation know it's false" said
PAYNE. I'VE vii! give a reward to
any person producing evidence that
our llltlilt)trs are limited to any Ger
tain amount Ct work per dav
Building Conditions Changed.
The public must understand that
building conditions of today and -
years ago are entirely different. The
days OF the massive brick walls are
past. Today concrete, steel and glass
have taken the place of these massive
brick walls.
Bricklayers today are working UNI
der conditions that call for more face
work which is more tedious and eX-
acting than the o!d-time massive brick
wall.
"for instance we call your atten-
ton to solid brick, construction work
Wnere Drlcklayers laid OH the average
OF 1000 bricks per day. On a concrete
construction the bricklayer is ham,
pered by many obstacles which are not
found on solid brick construction. In
many cases the concrete is not plumb,
which requires the cutting of bricks.
We are also furnished very poor scat
folding which restricts the bricklayer
i'll his work. Another thing overlooked
is that today there are NOSE face
brick being used on dwelling houses
and flats where our work requires
more quality than quantity.
Il want to tell the readers Of The
Union Leader how that story about
oricklayers laying only SAL bricks per
day in 1920" Payne said. Contract
ors are very careful not to even hint
at the real facts.
During the war conditions were so
uncertain there was great deal Of
cost plus work, or in other words
day work being done by contractors
The longer it took to construct a
building the more money the contrac-
Tor made as he received a percentage
OF all labor costs for the material for
his tools-if he had any on the job.
There was not much attention paid
to the bricklayer on these jobs as to
whether he was being supplied with
sufficient material to accomplish
days work.
ON one job | have in mind five
bricklayers were at work finishing the
fire walls. Materials were hoisted by
hand This manner of hosting could
at best supply but two men with ma
terial, but still all five were kept on
the job.
Had this been contract job the
contractor would have discharged
three men, but why should this be
done on this cost plus job? On an
other job there were seven bricklay-
ers and not enough helpers to supply
three with materials. On this job
there were only 500 bricks laid some
days. But still the bricklayers were