Montana labor news., 1936-12-10


ing cut rate shops and preying on
both the public and the legitimate
barber. The course of study con-
sisted of a little coaching on how to
hold a razor, a few general sugges-
tions on hair cutting and a lot of
practice on derelicts at 10 Or Is
cents each, all or most of the money
going to the school owner. In most
cases the equipment in the schools
is the cheapest obtainable, and the
toilet preparations nameless and
worthless. AS a result of these con-
ditions the barber shop trade be-
came badly demoralized and neither
the BARRIERS nor shop owners are
making a living wage.
The normal price of 25 and SOC
established more than a quarter OF
a century ago is inadequate to en-
able the members of the trade to
meet the minimum union wages nee
essary for a decent standard of liv-
ing and the ever increasing demand
for sanitation, sterilization and
Standardization which inevitably in
creases u operating costs. In the
last generation, sanitation has be-
come a household word. Children
are taught what it means in schools.
Mothers know enough about it to
protect their families. A constant
stream of information on the subject
appears in newspapers, magazines
and books. Five towels came into
being where before there was only
one. The great clean up began
White tiled shops replaced dismal
dens. Here and there a strange thing
called sterilization was talked about
Sterilizers and sterilizing appliances
came into being adding materially
to the operating costs.
Nowadays the entire family visits
the barber shop. The kiddies and
the grownups sit in the same chairs
They are entitled to protection from
infection. If the anne instruments
used on individuals with skin and
scalp infections are used without be-
ing sterilized on healthy men, wom-
en- and children, nothing but luck
and the natural immunity of some
people can prevent the spread OF
these infections. To deny the pos
sibility of infection under such con-
ditions, is to deny the natural re-
lationship of cause and effect. Ger
tainly no liberal minded person, and
more especially a union man, will
complain about a fifteen cent raise
on a haircut when he knows, if he
has any power of analysis or a modi-
cum of intelligence, that it does not
impose an unusual or undue hard
ship on any one, Records prove that
the average number of haircuts per
person is less than ten in a year
which brings the increased cost of
that item down to less than fifteen
cents a month.
Heretofore the journeyman bar
ber's wages were $24.00 per week,
nine hours a day, six days a week.
With this paltry sum he must sup
port himself and family, pay all doc
tor and dentist bills, maintain a
home, educate his children and if
he has a few spare moments he can
sit back and watch his bank account
grow.
In announcing the increase in rates
no one informed Mr.. Public that an
increase in wages of one dollar per
day was granted the %journeyman
barber, which in part answers the
question-why so much for a hair
cut and shave. Remember he still
is the poorest paid craftsman in
existence; remember also, that our
prices compare with those of sur
rounding communities where rates
have never been reduced.
We are not trying to help the bar
bers by hurting the public. The
public has never been hurt by the
barber. The cheapest thing in the
country today is a 65-cent haircut
Haircutting is a necessity and must
be done by a professional barber,
Haircutting is not an easy thing to
learn. 1t is really worth 75c and
the public will pay it, and especially
if prices of commodities continue
skyrocketing and shorter hours pre-
vail. 1t takes time and patience.
When well done, it improves a mans
appearance. We hear it mentioned
that so-and-so cannot afford such a
price. Yes, he can. Check up on
him or her and you will find that
he INDUCES in numerous luxuries
more harmful and less important
than a haircut. The mar who looks
well groomed, looks clean and tidy
and brushed up at all times, is the
man who among many applicants
will get the job or will hold a job
after he gets it. And the man who
sadly neglects his appearance, goes
with unshined shoes and uncut hair
is the chap who will be continuous
ly out of luck and who will blame
everybody but him self for that con-
dition.
Standards of service, Of equipment
and supplies have risen and as previ-
-