Evening star., 1943-07-09
WLB Denies Wage
Formula Upset BY
Two New Decisions
~ The Associated Press.

~ The Associated Press.
In separate decisions, the War
Labor Board has denied more than
1000 New York commercial print
ers the full amount permissible
under the Little steel formula and
ordered an increase OF 121a cents
an hour for 5000 Michigan and
Wisconsin lumber workers who had
received = 30 per cent increase since
January /, 1s41.
The Little Steel formula permits
an increase OF Is per cent above
the wage levels of JANUARY 1, 1941.
to compensate for increased living
costs.
The board emphasized that it was
not modifying the formula or other
policies. On the contrary, it said
the formula was still the corner
stone" for controlling the general
wage level in relation to the cost
Of living.
Decision On Printers.
The Little Steel formula would
have permitted m increase OF S420
q week for the printers. The board
allowed 81 on grounds that the full
amount would have an urlstabilizing
influence on the wage structure of
the industry. The printers have
been receiving $58.40 for q 40-hour
week, or Sl.48 an hour. Labor
members dissented.
The lumber workers, including the
30 per cent increase received in the
last two and half years, are max
ing q minimum OF As cents an hour
and an average Of so cents, which,
the board said, is substantially less
than the common labor rate in other
industries in the area. The board
established minimums of 571a cents
an hour for logging operations and
62h cents Tor sawmill operations,
with corresponding increases for
those getting above the minimum.
Industry members OF the board
dissented in the lumber case, con-
tending the board was trying to
solve a manpower problem without
a comprehensive Government pro-
gram that would guarantee the full
and efdcient use of available man
power and prevent wasteful prsc-
tices.
Taylor Explains Ruling.
DR.. George w. Taylor, public
member, who wrote the majority
opinion, said the decision was in
tended to 'modernize an obsolete
wage structure"
You just can't tell q lumberisck
who is getting IS or So cents an hour
that he is frozen to his job and ex-
pect him to stay in there and do his
best" Or. Taylor told a press con-
ference.
His opinion said that the industry
at one time was an orphan" and
the wage structure was erected ac-
cordingly. Now, however. he said.
the maple and birch produced in
that area sre critically needed for
aircraft and marine programs, but
sn obsolete wsge structure has cut
production
He said the board acted under it's
authority in rare and unusual
cases, where critical war production
cannot otherwise be obtained" to
approve increases not in excess of
the minimum OF the going" rates
for the most nearly comparable
work.
"The wage relationship" said DR.
Taylors opinion, must now be ad-
justed to reflect the increasing i'm
portance of these operations to the
national welfare. A failure to do so
would not only greatly hinder the
lumber industry in performing its
wartime job but would represent
gross injustice to the lumber workers
who. under War ManpoWer Com
mission regulations, are not free
under present conditions to transfer
to better paying jobs
Relatively High Rate.
In the printers case, DR.. Taylor
said that the relatively high wage
rate they received did not in itself
make the Little Steel formula inap-
plicable.
Although the Little Steel formula
is the general rule of appraising
claims for general wage increases,
he said, 'the board has recognized
that it would not be blindly applied
irrespective of the effect upon the
stabilization program
He said the compositors' rates in
New York have been traditionslly
related to the rates paid in other oc-
cupations in the printing industry
and that the base rates for compos-
itors and pressmen have been al
most identical. He added that as
result of recent negotiations the
basic rate for printing pressmen has
been set at $50 a week, which is ap-
proximately the new rate approved
by the board for the compositors.