The Washington times., 1923-04-21
CONSTRUCTION
TRADES END
: STRIFE
Peace Reigns With 100 Per
Cent Employment as Period
Boom Approaches.

standing features IN the build
ing trades situation throughout
the country: New wage scale:
being signed up on the basi:
of substantial increases: virtually
100 per cent employment OF
labor; the bonus system still
generally existent and likely tt
continue; and a general tend
ency to adjust differences in
such a way as not to disturb
the progress of building activi
ties, according to genera
building labor survey just com.
pleted by S. w. Straus and Com.
pany. The survey adds:
RECIPROCITY REIGNS.
The necessity of practical reci-
procity and cooperation between
employer and employee is so APP
parent to all concerned that a
radical stand on the part of either
side does not at this time seem
likely. An analysis of the new
wage adjustments in various cities
shows labor is inclined fully to
compensate itself in keeping with
the great demand for it and the
Increased cost of living, and that
builders are endeavOring to hold
the unions within bounds which
will not make future construc-
ton; prohibitive in cost.
In Chicago. negotiations have
been completed which may insure
peace for some time between
workmen and employers, the Chi
Cago Building Trades Council hav-
ing signed three-year agreement
with the Building Construction
Employers Association. with the
Lands award as the basis for all
disputes. Bricklayers have signed
an agreement of $1.25 per hour,
which practically sets the new
scale for other skilled workers in
award carpenters now receiving
81 an hour will receive $1.15 after
May 81.
REQUESTS GRANTED.
Carpenters not working under
the Lands award have served
notice they want s125 an hour,
and it is reported contractors gen
orally viii pay that scale. Similar
increases asked by structural iron
workers, plumbers, plasterers and
steam filters probably will be
granted. The painters who want
an increase from 98 cents an
hour to SIPS already have signed
an agreement with employers
making Saturday a holiday. The
tile layers unions fireproofers)
have signed a new agreement
with the F'ireproofers' Association,
granting them Is cents an hour
increase, or $1.271S per hour rate.
In Minneapolis, a new scale eff
fective June ! grants a 10 per
cent increase to all skilled labor,
which applies to thirteen other
Minnesota cities. In Louisville
carpenters have signed for an
increase; in Duluth contractors
have decided to grant an increase
to most trades effective June l,
ranging from 10 and 1914 per
cent In Atlanta, Ca, and Co
lumbus, Ohio, increases have been
granted, and in Buffalo brick
layers are receiving $1.25 an hour,
which includes a bonus of 12s
cents. In st. Louis bricklayers
are demanding $3.50 an hour and
painters have signed up for $1.05
until May 1. when the scale will
90 to $1.121z. In Detroit some
trades have been increased 20
per cent; in Kansas City common
labor is paid as high as IS cents
an hour.
SHORTAGE IN SOUTH.
In many important Southern
cities a shortage Of labor is re-
ported and any new wage scales
are based upon this situation. In
Oklahoma City steam filters
threaten to strike unless they are
granted SO a day; in Boston in
creases have been allowed for 1928
with further increases in 1924; in
Atlantic City all trades not still
under contract have been granted
increases; in the Pittsburgh dis
trict increases have been granted
from 10 to rs cents an hour
for skilled mechanics, and laborers
are receiving so cents, with an
increase of 10 cents after July /.
In San Francisco there is q
shortage of labor, and contractors
are nearly all paying more than
the scale; in Nashville the labor
situation is reported easier with
five cuts in wages and two in
creases effective May /: in Omaha
five trades have signed agree
nients and the building crafts
strike is believed to be nearing a
settlement: the carpenters have
returned to work at $40 an hour,
an increase Of 10 cents. Other
crafts also have received in
creases.
NEW SCALES MADE.
In Erie, Pa. contracts have
been signed giving increases to
carpenters and tile settlers and
some other trades: in Richmond.
Ind. new scales have been
signed covering two years, with
bricklayers at $40 an hour.
At Shreveport, La, bricklayers
have signed at $3.50 an hour; in
Portland, Ore. where labor has
been stable for a long time, a
general increase Of 10 per cent is
now asked. but in Seattle. the
present scales will probably be
continued for six months. In
st. Paul, increases will probably
become effective June l; in AL
hany, few increases will be-
come effective May l; in Toledo,
many bonuses are being paid
skilled mechanics, while common
labor has been advanced from
10 to Is cents an hour.
Early settlement of the situa-
ton in New York is anticipated
Despite thu prompt refusal Of
employers to meet all the new
demands of the unions, It Is not
now believed that any serious
strikes will occur. Bricklayers
lew receiving 81 to $40 above
the $40 daily scale will 1t is
believed. continue to enjoy DO