The Washington herald., 1921-05-29
WAGE REDUCTIONS
BY BUILDING TRADE.
BECOME GENERAL
Only Cities With Agree
ments Postpone Cut
In Labor Pay.
REvIvES ACTIVITIES
Saving of From Ten to Twenty
Per Cent Affected in
Many Places.
REVIVES ACTIVITIES

Many Places.
That Washington construction IL
unhampered by labor. difficulties.
md the wage has been readjusted to
a reasonable standard. Is the COM
mon belief Of constructionists In the
city. There are no normal or pre-
war prices, however. but the gem
eral trend of thought of local con-
tractors seems to put the present
labor and material status on Q stable
plan.
Denation of wages in the building
trades which is widely regarded as
he precursor Of healthy construc-
tion activity Is taking place In prac-
tically every section OF the country.
Reductions varying from 10 to 20
per cent have been effected In .
number Of cities. and are expected
to follow shortly in many others.
In certain cities, however. no reduc-
tion at this time Is possible as ex-
isting agreements do not expire for
several months. Those In New
York. for example. run until Janu-
ary /, 1922.
New agreements are providing
not only for a reduction in wages,
but also for . revision of former
clauses pertaining to the employ
ment and output of laborers. Con-
tractors are insisting that former
practices of restricting output shall
be eliminated. and that the unions
shall abide by decisions of the ma
tional board for jurisdictional
awards.
The adjustment Of wages and en-
ployment clauses has resulted In
many strikes throughout the coun-
try. but a noticeable tendency ex-
lists to settle disputes by means OF
arbitration. Both employers and
employees are turning to this method
Of settlement as the most equitable
and logical means.
In a few instances, labor unions
have recognized the necessity for
some dehation of wages IL building
construction Is to be revived. and
have accordingly instituted volun-
tary reductions of wages. Infor-
nation relative to employment is
given in the following notes:
BirminE ham. Alabama.
Several trades have voluntarily
put into effect a reduction. The
movement was started in March by
the bricklayers.
San Francisco, Cal.
An arbitration award of March 81
prescribed a reduction of IN per
cent of certain wages instead OF an
increase as demanded by employees.
The effective date of the award was
postponed at the request Of labor,
but was reaffirmed and set for May
9 The Building Trades council re-
pudiated the arbitration agreement
on the ground that the arbitrators
had no right to decrease wages, but
might either increase or refuse an
increase in wages. Contractors are
determined to adhere to the award
of the arbitration board.
New Haven, Connecticut.
Work under existing contracts is
being executed in spite OF strikes In
the following trades: Bricklayers'
carpenters, stone cutters, masons'
plasterers, painters, plumbers,
steam ftters. Strikes have been
called on account of reduction In
wages varying from 10 to 20 per
cent.
Pensacola, Fla.
Wages at Pensacola are the same
as those at Chattanooga, Tenn, ex-
cept that contractors are paying u
per hour for masons and plasterers
as agreed upon in Pensacola.
Atlanta, Georgia.
Wages have been reduced from 10
to 20 per cent, but no agreements
have been signed. No strikes or
lockouts are expected.
Alton, Illinois.
Contractors expect to secure a re-
duction Of SO Ia per cent In the
wages of plasterers and cement nm
ishers. A reduction of 20 per cent
is expected in the other trades.
Chicago, III.
Practically all agreements ex-
pired May 1, and the employers OF
chicago agreed that all work
should cease on April 80 until dis
putes with the trades are satisfac-
torily adjusted. The employers are
demanding in addition to q reduc-
ton in wages from s1.25 to Sl.oO
that a clause be inserted in the con-
tracts prohibiting sympathetic
strike or any strikes for jurisdfc-
tional reasons. Under this clause
the laborers agree to continue work
nending a decision of the national
board for jurisdictional awards.
DanviIIe, nj.
Wages in the building trades have
been adjusted as follows: Bricklay-
ers. sl.oo: carpenters. s7h cents;
masons, s7h cents; sheet metal
workers. 80 cents: plasterers, $1.oo;
painters and plumbers, sl.0o; steam