The Coolidge examiner., 1937-03-25

wage llCIGdSo udS lOIiON NCu WoSO
increase in a multitude of leading
industries. In many cases, wages
are above the boom-time level, and
are at all-time peaks. However, Ia
Dor heads are still far from satisfi'
ed. They are, in some instances.
demanding further wage boosts. In
other instances they are demanding
shorter working weeks without
wage decreases which, in effect,
constitute wage raises, inasmuch as
industry's labor cost per unit pro-
duced would be lifted.
Without debating the many-faced
subject of whether or not labor
deserves more money, it is obvious
that a turgid situation vitality affect
ing workers, stockholders and
management, is developing.
Unions are in stronger position
now than they have been for many
years. Furthermore, the craft
unions are at least momentarily on
the decline, and the industrial
unions led by John L. Lewis, are
In the ascedent. The A F. of
l.. is no match for the CIO in ag-
gressiveness or pulling power. And
the CLIO, for good or evil, has final
ly reached the stage where it can
make strong demands on industry
and feel safe in achieving them.
For example, the steel industry is
the great stronghold of the open
shop" Yet steel has recently Off
cially recognized a CIO committee
as a bargaining agent, and it is
generally believed that it will accede
to som CIO demands in such mat
ters as wages and working hours.
Reason for steel's "capitulation" is
plain. 1t is looking forward to big
production and profit year-mills
are operating close to capacity "a
hours a day, and ambitious expan-
sion palms are underway. Steel
cannot operate without bituminous
coal, source Of energy in practically
all mills. The coal industry is near
ly 100 per cent uniCnized now. Is in
the Lewis ranks. Steel knows that,
in all probability, Mr.. Lewis and
his CLIO could bring about an almost
complete cessation Of coal produc-
ton by means of strike. So, rather
than take a chance of being forced
to shut down and lose business,
steel strings along" with the
unions. A remarkable sidelight on
this is found in Mr.. Lewis recently
published tribute to the Chairman
of the Board of U. S. Steel, Myron
Taylor, for his all and cooperation
III SCII1luS ullllCuOIlCo'
Higher wages naturally mean
higher prices for all manner of com
modities and services. This is
where the race, referred to by the
Annalist, comes in. Will wages, on
a percentage basis, outrun prices
Will the income of the public at
large go ahead along with rises in
the price index? Will the consumer
accept higher prices and not cut
down his buying? These are vital
questions, which only time can
answer.
In the meantime, the reader may
consider it certain that prices will
continue to go up all along the line.
Most commentators also regard it
as certain that shorter hours and
higher wages are inevitably coming
in most industries. The Administrat
ton is at least tacitly favorable to
labor's aim-state governments
have shown disinclination to enforce
the law in such matters as sit down
strikes. AS a result, some observers,
even though sympathetic with la
Dor, are fearful that unions may de-
mand more than the public can pay
and cause collapse in the upswing
in buying and business.
Business briefs of interest follows:
RETAILING: Business Week re-
ports that in 1895 retail trade
crossed $37,161, COO, 900 IA per
cent more than il 1885, 23 per cent
less than in 1929.
CONSTRUCTION: According to
Engineering News Record, February
construction was 15 per cent great
er than the weekly average for
1886, in spite of bad weather in
many sections. Private building i:
I'D 145 per cent, public building