Evening star., 1924-06-09
Wage Is Defended.
Plasterers' Demands Are Declared
Fair By Writer.


There are two sides to every ques-
tfon. For a week the public have
seen in the newspapers statements
which are either entirely illogical
or unwarranted by the facts of the
case.
Mr.. Shannon, president of the Real
Estate Builders Association, called
the wage scale of the plasterers eco
nomically unsound and unbusiness-
like.
Another statement published cat
whose inspiration ] do not know was
that only on the Walker Hotel were
men at work on the new scale. s14 a
day. 1t was also stated that men
were breaking away from the union
and working with non-union firms.
The unkindest statement made was
that the plasterers would fight the in
production Of non-union labor.
Now, let me begin with the last
statement and work toward the
first. the economical soundness or
unsoundness Of the wage scale.
Plasterers will not fight the intro
duction of the non-union element. 1t
Will simply allow that element to
defeat itself by incompetence and in
creased cost OF production. Men have
not broken away from the union. Out
OF 500 two men have gone to work
non-union. The union is bearing
with wonderful fortitude, this sad
depletion in their ranks.
The walker Hotel is not the only
job where plastcrers are working.
The list of employers who are nav
ing the new scale is quite encourag-
ing And. now as regards the eco
nomic unSoundnesS of the new scale.
When piastercrs got SIS a, day if
cost for the plasterer's labor. in
an average house, say 600 wards
approximately s72. Two men. doing
three days work browning and three
days whitecoating, or to put it
at Sc day equal s72. The wage scale
of today. $14, makes the plasterer's
labor cost sl6S, difference of sss
A house sold in Sc day for $4,000
A house sells, in s14 day, for. $500
An increase in price of a house 500
Plasterers' added cost ... s6
$1,000
The plasterer added ss6 and has to
primary cause of the house costing
IS. 90 more
The individual salesman who sells
the house gets at least . per cent
'please note ! am conservative as
POSSIBLE of $500. or sI7e. which is
s. more than the labor bill of the
plasterer
What about the economic soundress
or that? But that is only one small
added cost 10 the house. Examine
n ~f.1
the house
Let me give an instance A builder
,3ld the writer he built three houses.
HE agreed with his son, a contracting
plumber. that he would wait for paw
Hent until the houses were sold and
partake of profits. His exact words
to me were: My sons share of the
profits on the three houses was 81 600.
II / could give him that you have an
idea what profit / made" And this is
one OF the men who protest at the
economic unsoundness of the plaster
ers' wage scale.
Let US diagnose the remark of our
scale being unbusiness- s-like. All bust
ness is based on buying in the cheap
est market and selling in the dearest
Provide reserve fund. Fix a price
that covers all contingencies
The plasterer has a precarious bust
ness No sinecure, no guarantee, at the
mercy OF rain, snow and storm
shortage. of material and the hun
dred and one causes of non employ
ment resulting in loss of wages. His
average. if fortunate, is eight months
work in the year. His experience
on real estate work during these
weeks Of rain can be better lima gined
than described. His wage scale when
working should be determined on the
| same principle as that of the business
man.
There is not~a plasterer but would
gladly exchange places with those
who have a steady position with sick
| leave and vacation allowance and
know nothing ofhis experience. The
plasterer is studying economies and
| is business-like in framing his wage
scale to allow him to earn a reason
able average income
JOHN FTNDLAY