Evening star., 1923-10-13
PAY Of BUILDING
LABOR TO STAY UP
Survey Shows Workers in
Some Instances May Even
Ask Increases.

There. is no likelihood of reductions
In the cost of building labor in the
immedIate future, according to sur
Ney of the labor situation in the
building industry made public yester-
Gay. The survey was compiled by S.
w. Straus G. Co, based largely on
data gathered at the convention of
the building trades department of the
American Federation of Labor at
Portland, Ore, at which $4,000 or
ganized building craftsmen OF the
country were represented.
The attitude of labor as 1t was ex-
pressed at the building trades de-
partment convention and in reports
and statements by the leaders OF or
ganized labor indicated that In some
trades still higher scales can be ex.
pected with a continuation of preseni
activities" the survey states. All
building labor is employed at the
present time, according to the reports
of union officials.
Increase OF Apprentices.
The number of apprentices is in
creasing rapidly, it was announced,
and the attitude of the majority OF
organizations was indicated as being
favorable to the removal OF all re-
strictions. The advent of these ap-
prentices is expected by labor leaders
to be factor in stabilizing wages
within the next two or three years.
"Stabilization of the industry to
mitigate the evils of labor migration
and seasonable employment was
urged at the convention.
ut also was urged that in the In
terest of the entire industry. building
activities should be kept going nor
mally, rather than to endeavor to
make up the present building short
age through abnormal activities over
a short period. The hope was ex-
pressed in this connection that con-
struction work on types of buildings
not Immediately necessary, particu-
larly public buildings. be temporarily
deferred, and that the efforts of the
industry, as much as possible, be con.
centrated on home building with a
view of safeguarding the public
Told to Keep Contracts.
"Strict adherence to wage contracts
in the building industry was voiced
by the convention, which was warn
ed by President Gompers that the OBJ
legation upon the unions and the men
was that where there were agree
ments in existence with employers
the beginning of the excavation to the
completion of the operation.
"Jurisdictional strife was reported
as being largely eliminated. The
and piaSterers unions as to jurisdic-
ton on certain work. which was re-
garded as a menace to the industry
was reported settled. both sides hav-
ing agreed to cease hostilities at once
and prevent future stoppase of work.
The national board of jurisdictional
awards was directed to continue its
efforts to bring about an immediate
settlement of the jurisdictional con-
troverSy between the carpenters and
sheet-metal workers
Minimum wage scales In the build
ing trades on the eight-hour basis. as
submitted to the convention, showed
that labor Is getting the highest
wages in history. Bricklayers through
out the country are receiving from
81 to $3.50 per hour; carpenters. s5
cents to s1.25; plasterers. 81 to $3.50:
building laborers. 20 cents TO $1.10:
structural iron workers, rs cents to
s1.37k; plumbers, from so cents to
s1.50; lathers. 70 cents to s1.62k !;
electricians, 20 cents to s1.25; stone
cutters, rs cents to $3.50. 1t was
stated. moreover, that many workers
are receiving bonus payments of from
81 to 81 per day in addition to the
regular wage scales"