The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-01-01
Labor S Help And
Advice Needed For
Low-Rent Housing

Washington, D. C.-Labor's advice
and help is needed to get "good low
rent housing said Nathan Straus,
USHA Administrator, in an article in
the current issue of Public Housing,
monthly publication of the United
States Housing Authority. He recon-
mends that those in housing engage
with labor in collective bargaining
for the improvement of living condi-
tions of all Americans"
A similar suggestion is made by
Charles F. Hollopeter, writing in the
same issue. Member of a plumbers
and steamftters' local and first chair
man of the Camden, N. j. Housing
Authority, Hollopeter tells the story
of how labor led the way in getting
public housing built in Camden. owe
know" he writes, "that labor must
help to build it's own homes. No one
understands the need of working men
and women better than the worker
himself"
Subtitled "By and For Labor" this
issue of Public Housing is divided
into three parts, each telling a sepa-
rate story. The first is Labor Builds
USHA Homes; the second is "Work-
ers Live in USHA Homes; and the
third points to the opportunity for
democratic action in labors paritcipa-
tion in the development and manage
ment of public housing.
Construction of the 10000 USHA
homes for low-income families means
221 100000 man-hours of work for
labor, and is paying labor 1922, ,00O,O 900
in wages. An additional 1900 jobs
have been created for maintenance
and management workers during the
60-year life of these homes. This
means an annual payroll of more than
$11 100000.
Rigid contracts, laws, and agree
ments guarantee good working con-
ditions to laborers on USHA jobs
Special provisions include prevailing
wages, the 40-hour week, no discrimi-
nation because of race, creed, or poll
tics, the right to organize and bar
gain collectively, prohibition of the
kickback, enforcement of safety reg
ulations, workmen's compensation in
surance, and regulated apprenticeship
employment.
Sample surveys of jobs Of tenants
in USHA homes reveal that every
type of worker lives in public hous-
, ing. Occupations range from candy
maker to foundry laborer, minister tC
barber, steel bundler to brush sales
man. For rent and utilities furnished
these workers and their families paid
$1912, $11.1S, $1,000, and 1898 q
month in four projects scattered
throughout the country.
"Public housing means more thar
mere shelter to workers families,
writes Hida w. Smith, National Di-
rector, WPA Workers Service pro,
gram. To the millions who can't fine
decent homes, it means, she says, gooC
health, a higher standard of living
more spare time and something con.
structive to do with it, safety for the
children, a chance to save money anC
get more for what is spent, and ar
opportunity to practice democracy il
managing a community Of workers il
new homes.
Labor's interest is the greatest OF
all groups participating in public
housing" writes Mr.. Straus. "WorkerE
are the ones who will suffer if these
homes are badly designed, badly con
structed, or badly managed. Labor
cannot leave their destinies solely il
the hands of people who profit from
construction, or of those who want tt
help the poor"
In reference to labor's successful
fight for housing in Camden, Publ,
; Housing says, "Where such close co
operation between labor and housing
does not occur, specific requirement:
and special desires of potential ten
ants cannot be anticipated. USHA en-
courages local housing authorities tt
deal with an articulate and well
! organized group, and to plan in tn,
open for a known demand Not onl,
does this reduce the possible margi,
Of error, but it also goes far to guar
antee the success of any project"
=