The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-08-24
Unions Petition
For Extension Of
Minimum PoyLow
Action In Appreciation OF
Ohio Wage Law Demand
ed by AFL Athletes
(By Ohio Labor News Service)

Columbus, O.-Petitions are being
by Ohio Unions affiliated
with the American Federation of La
Dor requesting George A. Strain, Di-
rector of the Ohio Department of In
dustrial Relations, to extend applica-
tion of the Ohio minimum wage law
to additional industries.
Aroused at statement made by Di
rector Strain a month ago that the
minimum wage law would not be ex-
tended due to insufficient funds ap-
propriated by the General Assembly
for his Department, action has been
started by at least three Unions in
the state to secure extension of the
law to the industries in which their
membership is employed.
The use of petitions to force applica-
tion of the minimum wage law is pro-
vided by statute. Section 4 of the
Ohio minimum wage law provides:
"The director Department of In
dustrial Relations) or the superinten-
dent division of minimum wage)
shall have the power, and it shall be
the duty of the director on the petit
ton of so or more residents of the
state, to cause an investigation to be
made. of the wages being paid to
women or minors in any occupation to
ascertain whether any substantial
number of women or minors in such
occupation are receiving oppressive
and unreasonable wages as defined in
section one. If, on the basis Of in
formation in the possession Of the di-
rector or the superintendent, with or
without a special investigation, the
director is of the opinion that any sub
stantial number of women or minors
in any occupation or occupations are
receiving oppressive and unreasonable
wages as defined in section one, he
shall appoint wage board to report
upon the establishment of minimum
fair wage rates for such women or
minors in such occupation"
Originating in Akron Local 1O5-A,
Beauticians' Unions throughout the
state are expected to supplement
petitions started by that organization
in demanding completion of a wage
survey launched two years ago by O.
B. Chapman, Industrial Relations Di-
rector under Governor Davey.
H. F.. Montoney, Columbus, inter
national representative of the Retail
Clerks Union, stated that he was
planning to present the matter of APP
plying the law in the retail industry
at state convention of his organiza-
ton in Columbus, September 10.
A wage survey in the retail indus
try was completed in 1887 by the
minimum wage division under Director
Chapman, but wage board was never
appointed to establish minimum
fair wage for that industry, Director
Chapman pleading also "lack of
funds"
Office Workers. Union No. 21427
Columbus, directly affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor, has
placed petitions in circulation after
adopting the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, The Ohio State Fed
GRAFTON of Labor and Local Unions in
Ohio affiliated with the Office EN-
ployes International Council of the
American Federation of Labor have
gone on record requesting the Mini
mum Wage Division of the Ohio De-
partment of Industrial Relations to
conduct survey of the wages paid
office workers of Ohio for the purpose
Of establishing fair minimum wage
standard for women and minor office
workers in this state under the Ohio
minimum wage law; and
WHEREAS, Experience has reveal
ed that many of the thousands of
workers employed in the State of Ohio
under this classification of labor re-
ceive as compensation for their ser
vices an inadequate, oppressive and
unreasonable wage rate; and
WHEREAS, The Ohio minimum
wage law has been on the statute
books for six years and has been APP
piled to only three industries in that
time; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Office Workers
Union No. 2l427 of Columbus petition
Governor John w. Bricker and Indus
trial Relations Director George A.
Strain to order a survey Of the wages
paid office workers in the State of
Ohio and establish a fair minimum
wage standard! and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Columbus
Federation of Labor and affiliated
Unions be asked to concur in this Res
oluton and assist in securing the
proper and complete application of the
Ohio minimum wage law in industries
employing women and minors"
Copies of the resolution were sent
to other Office Workers Unions in the
state with request for concurrent
action.
The following petition form is be-
ing used by the Unions in their re-
quest to Director Strain:
"We, the undersigned resident and
citizens of the State of Ohio, do here
by petition you in accordance with the
provisions Of Section 154-45 of the
General Code to cause an investigation
to be made of the wages paid women
and minors employed in office work