San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-14
LABOR RECEIVING
HIGHEST WAGES IN
HISTORY OF COUNTRY
May Go Higher-Brick-
layers and Plasterers Get
ting $3.50 an Hour.

New York City, Oct. 13.-There is
no likelihood of reductions in the cost
Of building labor in the immediate
future, according to survey of the
labor situation in the building in
dustry made public last week. The
survey was compiled. 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 coun-
try were represented.
1.-THE attitude of labor as it was ex-
pressed at the building trades depart
ment convention and in reports and
statements by the leaders of organized
labor indicated that in some trades
still higher scales can be expected with
a continuation Of present activities,
the survey states. "All building labor
is employed at the present time, ac-
cording to the reports of union Off
Gals.
THE number of apprentices is in
creasing rapidly, it was announced
and the attitude of the majority of
organization 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 seasonabie employment was urged
at the convention.
at also was urged that. in the
interest of the entire industry. build
ing activities should be kept going nor
mally rather than to endeavor to make
up the present building shortage
through abnormal activities over a
short period. The hope was expressed
in this connection that construction
work on types of buildings not i'm
mediately necessary, particularly pub
lie buildings, be temporarily deferred
and that the efforts of the industry
as much as possible be concentrated
on home building with view of safe
guarding the public againstla con-
tinual upward tendency in rents.
"Strict adherence to wage con-
tracts in the building industry was
voiced by. the convention which was
warned by President Gompers that
the obligation upon the unions and
the men wGs that where there were
agreements in existence with en-
ployers the men must continue to worl;
from the beginning of the excavation
to the completion of the operation.
"Jurisdictional strife was reported
as being largely eliminated. The con-
troversy between the bricklayers and
plasterers unions as to jurisdiction on
certain work, which was regarded as a
menace to the industry, was reported
settled. both sides having agreed to
cease hostilities at once and prevent
future stoppage of work. The Ma
tional Board of Jurisdictional Awards
was directed to continue its efforts
TO bring about an immediate settle
ment of te jurisdictional controversy
between the carpenters and sheet metal
workers.
Minimum wage scales in the build
ing trades on the cight-hour basis, as
submitted to the convention, showed
that labor is getting the highest wages
in history. Bricklayers throughout
the country are receiving from 81 to
S1.5O per hour; carpenters, So cents
to S1.25; plasterers. 81 to S1.50 /;
building laborers, % cents TO S1.1O /;
structural iron workers, 10 cents to
S1.37 L.; plumbers from so tents to
$3.50; fathers. 20 cents to S1.62 ID {;
electricians, 40 cents to S1.25: stone
cutters, 10 cents to $50. 1t was
stated. moreover. that many workers
are receiving bonus payments of from
81 to 81 per days in addition to the