Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-07
iGARMENT WORKERS
| REFUSE PAY CUT
Say Merchant TaiIors Should
Give 60-Day Notice on Sug-
gested Wage Changes.

organized garment workers and
Joprneyinen tailors here have refused
the request of the Merchant Tailors'
Exchange to put into effect a wage
reduction of 20 per cent, it was learn
ed today. In case the reduction is or
dered, according to labor leaders, the
men will refuse to.work.
A letter from the merchant tailors
was forwarded to the journeymen
tailors union last week, stating:
Ask Acceptance Of Cut.
Owing to the extreme conditions
now prevailing in the clothing busi-
ness. which has hit the merchant
tailor unduly hard, we. the members
or the Merchant Tailors' Exchange of
washington are compelled to ask for
reduction in the price of making
our garments.
we have made a reduction in our
selling price to our customers in or
der TO stimulate trade and now ask
tne co. operation OF our, ,journeymen in
Oroer TO cope with present conditions
we therefore ask that you deduct the
~ per cent granted in our last in
crease In wage renewal, which means
to go back to the last printed bill of
record, same to take effect on January
10. 1921"
The reply forwarded by the tailors'
union read as follows:
Request Promptly Turned Down.
Your communication has been, re-
ceived and was given proper consider
alton. We wish to call your attention
to the fact that this notice is a breach
OF the agreement as the agreement
calls for. sixty days notice prior to
its expiration. which is April l."
George E. Hebbard. secretary Of
the Merchant Tailors' Exchange. to-
DAY declared that no action was con-
templated by that organization be-
fore next week. He declined to state
whether the wage reduction would
then be ordered, but said that con-
sideration would be given to the re-
ply of the tailors' union.
Ben Bodick. business agent for the
1ourneyman tailors. declared that in case
the wage reduction of 20 per cent was
ordered. restoring the scale to the
1919 level. the members of the tailors'
and OF the garment workers union.
numbering about 400 combined. would
refuse to work.
A prominent merchant tailor here
yesterday shwoed pay roll on which
salaries averaging $50 per week were
paid expert tailors and pressers on
weekly wages. On piecework basis
the wage rates at present are 1890
AOi tuC mug VI q COdI ana $S.IJ for
either trousers or vests. In 1914 a
scale of 81. IS and $6 for the making
of a coat was in effect, the wage va
rying as to the grade Of work. Trous-
ers were $1.15 at that time, and for
the making of vest a rate of s1.25
was allowed.
The 1919 scale had jumped to a
point where coat was listed at s12
labor cost, trousers and vests at $500
each. When the 20 per cent increase
went into effect on March 1, 1920. the
rates became $1240 for a coat and
$3.75 each for trousers and vests.
Regarding the wages paid, en-
ployes' representatives declare that
the condition of high wages exists
only in busy periods. averaging four
months to the year. when overtime
work allows for the making of con-
siderable wages. For the coming two
months slack work will cause a loss
of half the normal time, labor leaders
stated. many of the workers making
as low as an average of SIS per week
during this period.