The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-19
GERMAN UNIONS
FIGHT LUTHER'S
WAGE CUT PLAN
Finance Minister Is
Tool of Industrialists
BY LOUIS p. LOCHNER.
(Stan Correspondent Of The Federated Pres

\otuu Correspondent u ANN NNupAANsN AAN1sf
BERLIN, Feb. 1S.-German trade
unionists Of every political faith are
up in arms over a letter written by
Minister of Finance Luther, to the
minister Of labor, protesting against
awards of the latter's arbitrators by
which wages paid by private industry
is higher than the wage paid for
similar work in government services.
Luther claims that this makes it diff
fcult to proceed upon the program
of economy upon which the govern
ment has embarked. He says:
II would suggest that a decree be
issued under the e-of-emergency
act. by which the activities of the
arbitrators are to be restricted in
that they are not to make awards
beyond the wage-and-salary scales
paid by the federal government, ex-
cept under certain specified condi-
tions."
The workers are indignant that a
department of the government should
thus move to the assistance of the
bosses, against whom, even without
government interference, the trade
unions are waging an almost super
human struggle. Insolent and arro-
giant as never before since the revo-
luton, employers have used every oc-
casion and pretext for reducing
wages, employing workers only part
time, and firing thousands of them.
It has remained for the federal min
lister of finance, say the workers, to
furnish patriotic" reason for pay
ing the workers starvation wages.
Workers Angered.
In this connection it is recalled
that Luther was chief mayor of the
city of Essen, in the Ruhr valley, be-
fore he became cabinet minister, and
that the big industrials of Essen
openly boast that no city government
can exist save by their grace.
Employers Harsh.
The industrials were quick to take
the hint given by the minister OF
finance. The Association Of German
Employers societies published a dec
laration indorsing the minister's point
of view. Private industry" says the
psuedo-patriotic declaration, must
avoid everything that could depress
the spirit of the state officials anc
employees, whose lot it already a diff
cult one" But the cat is let out Of
the bag when in the next sentence the
declaration admits: Private indus
try is, however, fully persuaded
and this finds expression in it's wage
policy-that the whole German nation
is in state Of transition and that
the last word regarding the condition.
Of work has not yet been spoken
As the trade union leaders point
out, this last sentence, taken in con:
nection with the whole policy adopted
by private industry in recent weeks
means that they are planning to re.
duce wages further.
Labor Minister Objects.
The finance minister's letter proved
too strong medicine even for the con,
sentative Minister of Labor Braunr
who came from the Catholic trade
union movement. He declines to fol
low Luther's suggestion, saying thai
the very thing that Luther professe
to be after, namely that of gsttin,
German industry going again, woulI
be defeated, because the purchasing
power of the people would be i'm
measurably reduced by such a level
ing downward of wages.