Evening star., 1933-08-01
TIGHT LABOR CODE
DRAWN BY BUREAU
OF PUBLIC ROADS
Aims to Safeguard Workers
Against UnscrupuIous
Contractors.
WILL GOVERN ENTIRE
s400,000,0OO PROGRAM
Sixty Cents an Hour for Skilled
Labor and 40 for Unskilled
to Apply in D. c.

A comprehensive and carefully drawn
labor code, designed to safeguard work
ers on public road contracts from un-
scrupulous practices by contractors has
been drawn up by the Bureau of Public
Roads for inclusion in all road con-
tracts to be let under the $400, 600, 900
public works program.
The code. as far as the District Is con-
eerned, sets minimum wages OF 40 cents
Der hour for unskilled labor and 60 cents
for skilled Extraordinary precautions
are taken to see that these rates are
actually paid. Each pay day the con-
tractor must certify under oath the
names of all workers. the number OF
hours worked. and the wages paio.
These pay rolls must be checked ny
agents of the State Highway Depart
ment Tin this case the District High
Way DEPARTMENT. before being submitted
to the bureau of Public Roads, and the
contractor must at all times keep MS
time book and pay rolls open for IN
spection.
Must State Wages.
The Highway Department advertising
the lob must, in the newspaper adver-
tisements preceding the lettins OF the
contract, plainly state that the con-
tractor must pay the minimum wages
specified. A copy of the labor code
must be included in each contract
awarded to a successful bidder.
The first of the Districts contracts
under this fund is being advertised to-
dav. It is for an asphalt pavement on
Sixteenth street, between Columbia
road and Tiger Bridge.
Finally there is a provision thaI any
contractor who deliberately violates the
spirit and intent of these rules and
regulations, or the special provisions
issued hereunder shall not be eligible
to bid upon further work involving
ma --:cnal recovery highway funds
Some Salient Features.
Salient provisions of the labor code
g. ,g to all of the contracts Include
t. following:
- lsborcr shall be allowed to work
r., :, than 80 hours in any one week,
exceot where a worker puts in less
tim. by reason of bad weather, or any
siuiler cause In this case he shall
be allowed to bring his average up to
30 hours a week by extra hours In the
succeeding weeks Of any one calendar
month =,
Preference in the employment of all
labor, skilled and unskilled. shall be
given to qualified eX-Servlce men WIN
dependents. -,
All labor, skilled and unskilled. shall
be employed from lists OF unemployed
persons furnished the contractor by
public employment agencies. In the
case of the District. the lists will be
kept at the United States employment
agency operated at 480 Louisiana ave-
nue. under the direction of David Rumi.
Should the employment agency fail
to supply enough workers. the con-
tractor may go into the regular mar
ket for labor, but he, too, must give
preference to ex-service men with de-
pendents and to bona-flde residents OF
the District.
No Fee Allowable.
No fee of any kind shall be asked or
accepted by the contractor or any OF
his agents for securing employment on
road work, nor shall any skilled or un-
skilled laborer be charged anything for
the tools with which he does his work,
unless he damages them.
Every employe shall be free to lodge.
board or trade wherever he chooses
while working, and the contractor may
not directly or indirectly influence him
to do otherwise.
No transportation shall be charged for
taking an employe to the place where
the work is being done. In certain
designated fields, all of the work must
be done by hand labor. This applies TO
such matters as clearing and grubblng
timber less than Is inches in diameter.
trimming slopes in cuts and fills and
digging trenches for pipe of "a inches
In diameter or less.