The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-05-14
UNION PRINTING
TRADES PREPARE
FOR LONG SIEGE
Officials Preparing Statement
to Show Relative Labor Costs
on Local Job Printing.

The strike of the. printing trades
unions for the 44-hour work-week
in Duluth seems to have settled down
to one of endurance. The employing
printers are depending upon their
strike insurance and a few strike
breakers to hang out, while the print
ing tradesmen have sufficient de-
tense fund to Withstand a long siege.
It was at first estimated that the
international unions would have fl
nanced $4,000 men throughout the
country during the strike. but recent
reports indicate that only one-half
that number are still out. The other
half have returned to work under the
44-hour week.
There are no new developments in
the local situation during the week.
The union officers are preparing a
statement of the labor costs on local
printing. This statement will show
what the public is charged for labor
and what: the workmen actually get.
AS an instance in 1913 printers were
paid AZ $40 cents an hour while
the employing printers charged the
public $3.50 cents an hour. They,
made a profit Of approximately 1882
on every hours work, and on top
Of which they added an additional
profit of rs per cent.
Public Over Charged.
In 1920 the scale was raised to
S7k cents an hour, and employing
printers increased the labor charge
to the public to SO an hour. The per
hour profit on every mans labor was
therefore increased to $2.12k cents
an hour. The statement will further
show that a rs per cent additional
profit is added to the total charge on
the labor cost as we'll as to the cost
of material.
When the strike was first called
fixed strike benefit Of $40 a week was
given to the men who were out. That
amount has since been raised to SIT
a week, and it will be increased from
time to. time as the unions in other
cities score victories.
1t Prolongs Life.
When the I. T. u. reduced the work.
week from 81 hours to 48 hours there
was a noticeable reduction. in the
death rate of the members. The av-
erage age at death Of printers work.
ing the 54-hour week was 46.48 years.
Immediately following the inaugural
ton of the 49, hour week the average
age at death went to 53.17 years.
It has been estimated by compar-
ison with vital statistics of the past
that the introduction Of the 44-hour
week will add nine years to the aver
age life of printer. Isn't that worth
fighting for? Wherein is there argu-
ment against suchf1 What have the
anti-unionists to say about the shorter
Work-week when viewed from the
standpoint of human life and divorced
from that of dollars and cents?
No Reason for Raise.
The employing printers have pub
1icly declared that to grant the
44-hour week would increase the cost
of printing to the public, while at this
very time they are advertising in Chi
cago papers for printers offering to
pay them SIS for a. 48-hour week.
They guarantee two weeks pay, car
fare to and from Chicago and board
and room in Duluth.
1t has been calculated by the union
that the cost to the employing print
ers for such labor will be $8f for a
4S-hour week. The union printers
are only asking $42 for. a 44-hour
week. while outside labor is being Of
fered the equivalent of $1.75 an hour.
But Nominal Increase.
The new union scale will amount
to an increase Of less than cents
an hour, while the employing print
ers are paying to non-union workers
an increase Of SO cents per hour. The
employers. assert that to grant the A.
hour week it will increase the price
of printing 20 per cent. Who is stand.
ing the loss now while the strike
breakers are paid $84 a weekff
The public is advised by the print
ing trades unions that the best and
cheapest printing will be produced by
the best men in the business and men
of that quality may be found in most
cases in shops that carry the union
label.