New Britain herald., 1923-08-06
PLASTERERS EARN
 VERY HIGH WAGES
Some in New York Making as
 Much as St19 a Week.

New York, Aug. 6.--As predicted il
 building trade circles two months ago
 "snowballing" has begun in the plas
 tering trade. The demand for plas
 terers is now reaching its peak and
 the mechanics, whose agreed wage is
 SIP a day, are already receiving s14
 while demands have in some instances
 been made on employees to grant
 work at double rate, bringing the pay
 of plasterers up to $119 for seven
 day week
 The plasterers are now in the posi-
 ton in which the bricklayers found
 themselves two months ago, when there was a demand for at least 10000
 bricklayers and supply of hardly
 more than 5000 available. It was then said that after the buildings in the course of construction were top ped out the other trades would fol- low the example of the bricklayers and wages of s14, s16 and SIS for plasterers. plumbers, tile layers, mar ble workers and painters would be the rule.
  ample of bricklayers and demanding higher bonuses for days work and re- fusing to work overtime, the plaster CTS demands have taken the line of insistence on overtime work. Accord ing to Christian G. Norman, chair man of the board of governors of the building trades employers association, plasterers on some jobs quit when the employers refused to grant overtime Saturday and Sunday at double pay, making SAP for the extra day and a half.
 Two weeks ago most of the plas- terers were receiving SIP day, but since the great demand for their serv- fees their wages have gone up to s14. As was the case in the bricklayers' dispute. employers and employees are blaming each other for the unsettled situation, the former declaring that the mechanics are threatening to quit unless they get overtime work, while the men allege that employers began the 'snowballing'' by offering double pay for overtime.
 Employers are awaiting with inter- CSl lHC dttiluuC ol tHC llCl plumbers, whose services will be in great demand when the plasterers have finished their work. Several months ago the journeymen plumbers and the master plumbers agreed on a wage of $1o a day, and in an attempt | to eliminate "snowballing" the union promised to discipline any of its men who demanded higher wages. and the employers on their side said they would fine any members offering higher wages than the agreed scale. The agreement was then hailed as one that would stop 'snowballing.
 The trades whose services will be greatly in demand after the plasterers and the plumbers are through with their work are the tile layers. marble workers and painters. There is scarcity of tile layers and marble workers. and there are already rumors of impending "snowballing" in these crafts.
 Despite the settlement of the brick layers strike month ago, the build Ing trades have not yet reached point of stability. Yesterday 250 der and triggers were ordered on strike by the Derrick and Riggers' union following the unsatisfactory conclusion of three months of negotia- jon with the employers for an in- crease of wages from $9 to s1o day.
 Most of the men are employed by he Employing Stone Setters Associa- ion Their work is to turn the vinches on the derricks that hoist the 'tone on buildings and to help unload he heavy blocks. The derrickmen york with the marble and stone cut CTS, skilled mechanics whose daily wage is s1o. The employers contend l hat to grant the derrickmen the same wages would unsettle the situation S