San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-29
BUILDING UNION
GETS ASST
NEWMEM
Increased Strength Of
Trades Stabilizes Wages,
Survey Shows.


costs in the building industry is found
in statistics made public yesterday by
the Building Research Bureau of G.
l.. Miller & Company, nationally
known investment banking house, spe-
cializing in building construction.
Figures compiled by the Research
Bureau from official reports of the
average paid up membership in the
seventeen building trade unions in the
United States showed that they now
have a membership of more than
$4,000. This represents a gain in
the last two years approximately A..
GIL new members. an increase of 8
per cent over their former member
ship.
FAVORABLE POSITION.
This membership gain" said the
Research Bureau. 'has placed labor
in more favorable position than ever
before to oppose any attempt to de-
flate seriously the improved stand
ards Of living it has recently achieved.
Although the unions only actually
control between IS and 40 per cent
OF the 2,250,000 wage earners in the
construction industry, the wages and
working conditions attained by the or
ganized crafts are generally accepted
as the basis Of compensation for all
building workers.
Another important factor in the
wage situation Is that there is no per-
ceptible indication that the building
labor supply will greatly exceed the
demand. The apprenticeship system
has failed to perform its function and
native American workers have not
been attracted to the industry in large
numbers. Limitation of immigration,
first by the war and later by legisla-
ton, together with strict laws against
contract labor, and the condition of
employment in some European coun-
tries, have also greatly reduced the
supply of skilled and unskilled labor
recruited from abroad, especially from
northwestern Europe.
CONTINUE TO GROW.
therefore, the probability is that
under normal building conditions
there will be a utilization Of the avail
able force practically to capacity for
some time"
Unprecedented building activity OF
the last two years, the acceptance OF
apprentices and the normal organlza-
ton efforts Of the various unions, was
credited BY the Research Bureau with
being largely responsible for the in
creased union membership. Ii the
unions continue their present rate OF
growth it is expected, that they Will
report the largest membership in his
tory in 1926, even exceeding the
record breaking enrolment OF S69,OOO
In 1921.
Labor officials said that the in
creased membership gave assurance
that the supply of union labor was
being sustained and would be ample
TO meet the requirements of the IN
dustry. They asserted that any large
slackening in building activity at this
time might result in a surplus Oh
both skilled and unskilled craftsmen.
STRONG CRAFTS.
Building interests, on the other
hand, declared that unless the tram
ing of apprentices was speeded up
and the immigration laws. modified,
there was a possibility of some future
shortage of both skilled and unskilled
mechanics. They pointed out that the
. per cent immigration law had re-
duced by more than half. the number
of workers available from Europe
There has also been numerous de-
partures of unskilled labor during the
wear. Canada and Mexico are now
looked to as the chief sources of the
common labor supply.
Using as n basis of comparison,
figures compiled from reports OF the
United States Census for 1920, stat
istics were cited by the Research Bu-
reau. showing that the union organic
alton of the skilled trades was the
most highly developed, and that APP
proximately 80 per cent of all the
skilled workers in the industry were
unionized. The Plasters' Union was
shown to be the strongest organized
craft, having a membership equal TO
40 Der cent of all the workers en-
gagged in that trade. Other well or
ganized crafts were the bricklayers.
electricians, carpenters, structural
iron workers and painters. Common
labor has a very small union repre-
sentation; less than 10 per cent oil
the CO., 2O3 workers in the industry
being organized.
THE Bricklayers Union reported a
membership of only 10000 to the
American Federation of Labor, but 1t
claims a membership Of approximate
" 100000 journcymen and appren-
tees. If the latter figure is accepted,
the bricklayers would be the strong
est organized craft. being about o.
per cent unionized.