The labor world., 1922-03-11

The boss BARRIERS ran a display
advertisement in the daily papers
Thursday in which they attempt
ed to give their side Of the con
troversy with the Journeymen
BARRIERS union. The language Of
the advertisement is similar ( to
that used by L. c., 1arris,, presi-
dent of the Citizens Alliance, in
a special bulletin issued by him
under date Of February 28. l::=
1t is evident that the statement is
not that Of the boss BARRIERS, but of
the Citizens alliance. The strongest
claim made in the statement is that
the boss BARRIERS held a conference
with the BARRIERS union about the
middle of February and that the
union refused to make any tonces-
sions whatsoever and demanded a
continuance of the old SCALE"
That is not truthful, statement
OF. the facts. The boss BARRIERS did
present a proposition to the executive
committee Of the union for reduc-
ton In wages, but that committee
was without power to act and the
matter was referred to the union al
which. time it was expected that a
committee from the boss BARRIERS
would attend and present their case.
The committee Of bosses did not
attend the meeting of the union and
the only Information the members
of the union received was in the res
port Of it's executive committee,
shortly following which: the an
| noun cement by the boss barbers was
received that wages would be reduced
on the Monday next. The union never
had an opportunity to do other than
accept or reject the mandate Of the
| boss BARRIERS.
When the boss BARRIERS or Mr.. Har-
ris say that. the BARRIERS union was
given a chance to consider the wage
| reduction mandate they are but, mis-
| stating the facts. and they are doing
so for. the purpose Of bolstering up
their weak case, g..
The Citizens alliance, through its
| infant chi Id, the Boss. BARRIERS assd-
citation, makes apology for; the barber
shops continuing the 25 cents, shave
and the so cents haircut. The over-
head IS so heavy. it says. that the
boss BARRIERS can not afford to reduce
prices. Let us see; about that.
When patrons paid Is cents for a
shave and 80 cents for a haircut
journeymen BARRIERS were paid: $1s
a. week and: We're given 80 per cent
over $50. They now propose to. pay
BARRIERS. $50 a. week and 60 per cent
over $50. They would have BARRIERS
work for. but II per- cent higher
wages than were paid to them before
. the war;. while the cost Of living Is
still at least 30 per cent higher than
it was when the scale was SIS a
week.:
The boss BARRIERS are getting two
thirds more for a shave than they
charged before the war, and 43 per
cent more; for a haircut, and yet
they expect tourneymen BARRIERS to
'live on a wage scale only II per cent
higher than the pre-war wage. They
prate much about their own in
creased expenses which, they say.
take nearly all they can make on an
average increase in. charges of. IS
per cent. but thew make no. allow
ance for the. increased living. ex-
penses of their employees. They are
not consistent and they are decided
lv unfair.
The Citizens alliance can not hon.
estly defend the position of this boss
BARRIERS in this controversy. and, 1t
would not do; so II it did not see ''red''
in the union shop, and also see an
opportunity to- strike another blow
at union labor. -,