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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
JAMES J. DAVIS, Secretary
BUREAU
OF LABOR STATISTICS
ETHELBERT STEWART, Commissioner
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES )
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS)
M I S C E L L A N E O U S
----- No. 393
S E R I E S
TRADE AGREEMENTS
1923 AND 1924
COMPILED BY EDSON L. WHITNEY
OF THE U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
SEPTEMBER, 1925
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1925
ADDITIONAL COPIES
OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON, D. C.
AT
15 CENTS PER COPY
CONTENTS
Page
Introduction___________________________________________________ 1-3
General provisions of agreements_____________________________ 2, 3
Actors_______________________________________________________ 3-6
Automobile workers_______________________ _____________________ 6, 7
Bakers__________________________________________________
7-10
Barbers______________________________________________________ 10-12
Bill posters___________________________________________________
12
Brewery workmen______________________________________________ 12-15
Brick and clay workers__________________________________________ 15-17
Broom makers_________________________________________________ 17, 18
Building trades:
Asbestos workers___________________________________________ 20, 21
Bricklayers_________________________________________________21-25
Carpenters__________________________________________________25-27
Electrical workers____________________________________________ 27-29
29-31
Elevator constructors__________________________________
Engineers, steam and operating______________________________
31
Firemen and oilers_________________________________________ 31, 32
Hod carriers_______________________________________________ 32
33
Lathers__________________________________________________
Painters__________________________________________________ 33-37
Plasterers_________________________________________________ 37, 38
Plumbers_________________________________________________ 38-42
Roofers___________________________________________________ 42
Sheet-metal workers__________________________________
42-45
Structural-iron workers_______________________________________ 45-47
Clerks, retail_________________ ________________________________ 47, 48
Clothing trades:
Boot and shoe workers_______________________________________ 48-50
Cloth hat and cap makers___________________________________ 50-52
Fur workers_________________________________________________52-54
54-58
Ladies’ garment workers_______________________________
Men’s clothing workers_______________________________________ 58-61
Coopers______________________________________________________
61
Glass industry:
Glass-bottle blowers________________________________________ 61, 62
Window-glass workers_______________________________________ 62, 63
Hotel and restaurant employees__________________________________ 63, 64
Iron, steel, and tin workers--------------------------------------------------------- 64, 65
Laundry workers_______________________________________________65, 66
Leather workers________________________________________________ 66
Longshoremen-----------------------------------------------------------------------------66-68
Meat cutters________ - _________________________________________
69
Metal trades:
Boiler makers______________________________________________69, 70
Machinists_________________________________________________ 70, 71
Metal polishers_____________________________________________71, 72
Molders------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 72-74
Stove mounters_____________________________________________74, 75
Miners, coal--------------------------------------------------------------------------------75-80
Musicians-------------------------------------------------------------------------------80, 81
ffyper makers----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 81-83
ii i
IV
CONTENTS
Printing trades:
Page
Allied Printing Trades Council________________________________ 83, 84
Bookbinders____ 1__________________________________________ 84-87
Compositors, machine operators, proof readers, etc_______________ 87-97
Photo-engravers____________________________________________ 97-100
Printing pressmen________________________________________ 100-103
Stereotypers and electrotypers_____________________________ 103-107
Railways, electric____________________________________________ 107-114
Shipping industry:
Marine engineers___________________________________________ 114
Masters, mates, and pilots_________________________________ 114, 115
Seamen_________________________________________________ 115, 116
Stone-working trades:
Granite cutters-----------.----------------------------------------------------- 116-118
Paving cutters----------------------------------------------------------------- 118, 119
Quarry workers------------------------------------------------------------------ 119
Stonecutters_______________________________________________ 120
Teamsters__________________________________________________ 120-122
Telegraphers, commercial--------------------------------------------------------- 122, 123
Theatrical stage employees------------------------------------------------------ 123-125
Upholsterers------------------------------------------------------------------------- 125, 126
Wall-paper crafts---------------126-128
BULLETIN OF THE
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
no .
WASHINGTON
393
September , 192s
TRADE AGREEMENTS IN 1923 AND 1924
INTRODUCTION
While the bureau had been interested in trade agreements for sev
eral years, and had frequently mentioned them or referred to them in
its publications, it was not until 1902 that an attempt was made to
collect and examine documents of this character, when copies of the
more important agreements coming to the bureau began to be printed
in Bulletin No. 42 (September, 1902).
Since 1912 the bureau has collected agreements in connection with
its union-scale studies and of late years has made a systematic effort
to secure copies of the more important agreements and arbitration
decisions in the leading industries. Previous to July, 1921, articles
relative to such agreements and decisions appeared at frequent inter
vals in the Monthly Labor Review published by this bureau. Since
that date labor agreements, awards, and decisions have formed a
regular department of the Review.
The present bulletin contains extracts from agreements in the lead
ing industries in 1923 and 1924, tending to show what matters are
considered of vital importance in each. The number of such agree
ments made annually is unknown, but as the attention of the bureau
was called to upward of 4,000 in 1923 and 1924, it is evident that
their number must be very large and that only a very small percent
age of them can appear in a bulletin of this character. The bureau
had a collection at the close of the year 1924 of some 14,000 such
agreements.
Many unions, probably the majority of them, have no written
agreements. They have simply a verbal understanding with their
employers or merely an understanding among their own members,
which is very generally observed. Frequently the union passes by
laws or worlang rules which include many items ordinarily incorpo
rated into agreements, and members are expected to observe them in
working for employers. In fact, such by-laws are often submitted to
employers for their approval, and even when this is not done many
employers recognize them as in the nature of agreements. Indeed,
many agreements contain clauses expressly incorporating such by
laws or working rules.
There is no uniform method of making agreements. They may
be made by the national officers of the union (aided in some in1
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
2
stances by representatives from the locals), by delegates, large sec
tions of the union, by district councils or small groups of locals in a
city and its vicinity, or by the locals or their officials. Generally,
after being signed, the agreements are referred to the locals for
their approval in open meeting, and frequently also to the national
officers.
Likewise, these agreements are variously accepted by the em
ployers. In the majority of cases they are signed by individual
employers. Frequently, however, they are signed by groups of
employers acting together for this purpose or by employers’ associa
tions of various kinds.
Generally the agreement is executed in duplicate or triplicate, one
copy being retained by the employer and one by the local union, the
third being sent to the national board where such procedure is requii ed. In many cases, however, the agreement is prmted (generally
at the employees’ expense) and copies are given to each member of
the union and to each employer; or it may simply be printed on
broadside cardboard and tacked on the walls of the factory or shop.
In some cases the national union issues a general contract form
with blank spaces for hours of work, rates, and certain other items
that naturally vary with the different unions. Such forms also serve
as models for locals which print their own agreements.
GENERAL PROVISIONS OP AGREEMENTS
There is scarcely a provision common to all agreements. Agree
ments generally start with a preamble stating their object and pur
pose, which is generally to promote social and material welfare and
harmonious relations between employers and employees, to prevent
disputes, and to afford employers an opportunity to obtain good
help easily and quickly.
Generally the agreement provides for a union shop, or that the
employer shall hire only employees in good standing in the union,
ana often that new employees shall be obtained only through the
union employment office. In case the union is unable to furnish
workers the employer may obtain them from any other source, but
such workers must join the local within a certain specified time—
two days, or a week, or a month, or at the next meeting of the local.
Some unions require that such employees secure recognition or per
mission cards from the union before going to work. In case such
persons refuse to join the union within the specified time or are
deemed incompetent by the union their services must be dispensed
with by the employer as soon as union men can be found to take
their place.
The hours of work are always stated in all agreements. The
8-hour day is very generally observed. The 44-hour week is practi
cally the rule in the building trades and in many other unions. The
agreements generally specify the hour for beginning and ending work
and the period to be allowed for the noon meal; no shop may change
these hours except by permission of the union.
The wages also are invariably stated in the agreements, always as
a minimum, however, and higher wages are rarely forbidden. A
common clause is that existing wages m any establishment are not
to be lowered because of the agreement. Wages are generally stated
ACTORS
3
by the week, with a provision that they are to be paid in cash weekly,
at a given hour on a specified day, and that if there is a delay in
payment this time must be paid for.
A week is almost invariably defined as six days. Sunday is gen
erally observed as the weekly day of rest, though in continuous in
dustries any day may be so observed. The number of holidays
specified to be observed varies from 2 to 10. In some cases employ
ees must be paid for the holiday. As a rule, work done outside of
the regular daily schedule of hours is paid for at the rate of time and
a half, and work done on Sundays and holidays at a double rate,
though many agreements do not distinguish between the two classes
of work. Work on Labor Day, except in case of necessity, is generally
forbidden.
Many agreements contain apprenticeship provisions. In general,
apprentices observe'the same hours of work as journeymen, but their
rate of pay varies from one-third to one-fourth that of journeymen
in the first year of apprenticeship, to two-thirds or three-fourths that
of journeymen in the last year. The rules as to overtime are the
same as in the case of journeymen. The number of apprentices
allowed varies greatly, ranging from 1 apprentice to each 2 jour
neymen to 1 apprentice for 15 journeymen. Apprentices are arti
cled to a certain employer, are registered with the union, serve
two to four years, and are admitted as journeymen on passing an
examination given by a committee of the union, frequently in con
junction with a committee representing the employers.
In some cases foremen and superintendents must be members of
the union. Generally, however, such membership is not required.
Generally, only one member of a firm or company is allowed to do
journeymen’s work unless a member of the union.
In a few industries the union label is mentioned, and its use in
those industries is often made compulsory.
Cool drinking water furnished free during the summer and satis
factory sanitary arrangements are also often specified.
The following provisions are inserted in most of the agreements: No
employee is to oe discharged because of activity in support of union
principles or because of prejudice on the part of the foreman. A
shop chairman or committee is to be elected or appointed in each
shop to look out for union interests. The business agent, organizer,
or a committee of the union is to be admitted into the shop at any
time for the purpose of settling differences. There shall be no strike
or cessation from work pending the settlement of a dispute. Pro
visions for arbitration are frequently made, the board generally to
consist of an equal number of representatives from each side and
they to choose the umpire or chairman, and the decision of the board
to be final and binding on both sides.
Below are given extracts from agreements made in the leading
trades, showing in general the conditions existing in 1923 and 1924.
ACTORS
The Actors’ Equity Association, composed of actors and performers,
has two agreements, one with the Managers’ Protective Association,
incorporated under the laws of New York, and composed of theater
owners engaged in presenting dramatic and musical compositions,
*
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
4
and the other with independent proprietors not members of this
association. The former agreement, dated May 12, 1924, became
effective June 1, 1924, for a period of 10 years; the latter is without
date. From the nature of the case these agreements omit many
clauses considered necessary-in ordinary labor agreements and insert
many not to be found in agreements for other occupations.
The agreement with the Managers’ Protective Association is rather
lengthy. It applies only to performers “ portraying any parts or
characters,” to understudies, and to permanent company stage man
agers. It does not apply to “ productions in stock, repertoire, tents,
or other classes of production,” nor to the chorus, with whom a
separate contract is made. It is in two parts—the basic agreement
and the standard contract. The former is between the two associa
tions ; the latter is between individuals, members of each association.
The Equity Association claims to have more than 80 per cent rep
resentation in productions in the field to-day; hence the insertion of
the following sections in the contract:
No member of this association shall * * * play in any company or any
performance produced by any member of the Managers’ Protective Association
(Inc.), unless at least 80 per cent of the actors, who are members of said company
and/or appear in said performance, are fully paid-up members of Actors’ Equity
Association in good standing and unless each of the remaining persons who are
members of said company and/or appear in said performance, * * * (none
of whom may be suspended or delinquent member of Actors’ Equity Association
or a person who has been expelled or dropped therefrom) shall * * * have
paid in cash to this association a sum or sums equal to what such person
would have had to pay to this association as the usual and regular initiation fee
and dues if such nonmember had at the time of his or her first rehearsal in said
company duly applied for and been admitted to membership in this association;
and unless such nonmember shall continue so to make thereafter to this associ
ation payments in the same amounts as if he or she should have continued there
after to be a member of this association in good standing; and such payments
* * * shall * * * be made * * * directly and not by or through
any producer or other person, firm or corporation.
No member of this association shall work * * * for any employer, mana
ger, or producer, who * * * produces * * * any play or makes any
production in which there are less than 80 per cent of Equity members, and also
unless all nonmembers in such play or production * * * make to this asso
ciation the payments hereinbefore specified. Understudies and permanent stage
managers are to be counted as members of the company.
The persons whose names are on a certain list of nonmembers agreed upon
between this Association and Managers’ Protective Association, * * * are
* * * to be deemed nonmembers; but none of the payments to the Equity As
sociation hereinbefore specified need be made by them. If such actor shall at any
time become a member of the Equity Association, his name shall thereafter be
deemed eliminated from said list.
The Equity Association agrees not to reduce the above percentage
of nonmembers; not to force or coerce nonmembers to become mem
bers; not to “coerce or persuade any Equity member to obtain or
seek employment through its employment agency” ; not to participate
in “any sympathetic strike against any member of the Protective
Association that may at any time during the life of this agreement
be called by any craft connected with th£ theater” ; not to interfere
in the casting of plays or prescribe the number of actors in a play;
for 25 years to admit to membership any person “of good character
and of sufficient age,” except dropped or expelled members, upon
payment of the regular initiation fee of $10 for actors of less than
two years’experience, and $25 for others; and to grant the Protective
Association the benefit of any more favorable terms or conditions
5
granted other producers, except such as are granted in the regular
independent contract.
The Protective Association agrees not to cause anj persons to
resign from the Equity Association or to refrain from joining it; not
to blacklist any member of it; not to compel any “member to pay
any consideration for his employment to any medium through which
he may be employed” ; not to compel a member to do the work of
any stage hand or musician; not to admit to its membership anyone
without the consent of the Equity Association; to give to members
of the Equity Association the benefit of any better working conditions
granted to any other actors.
An arbitration board is provided for, to be composed of three per
sons, one to be named by each side to the controversy and the third,
or umpire, being specified in the agreement. This board is to
hear controversies regarding the interpretation of the agreement
or any breach thereof ana disputes between producers respect
ing their right to the service of any actor. The board is to receive
evidence under rules adopted by itself. Its decisions are to be in
writing and a copy is to 1be sent to each of the parties interested.
Its decisions are final and must be complied with within 10 days.
The arbitration procedure must meet the requirements of a lawful
arbitration under the laws of the State of New York and the award
may be entered in the supreme court of that State. A strike is per
mitted 10 days after a producer fails to observe the terms of the
award, but the strike is to be limited to the employer in default.
Similarly, a joint arbitration board is to be established to determine
claims arising under the standard contract, the board to meet regu
larly twice a month.
The standard contract is an individual agreement made between
a manager and an actor, stating the names of the parties, the part
to be played, the dates of beginning and ending of employment, the
rate of compensation, and the duties to be performed. The contract
is conditional on the observance of the provisions in the basic agree
ment. The rules and regulations in connection with the standard
agreement relate to details, such as rehearsals, abandonment and
termination of a play, termination of contract, clothes, costumes,
weekly performances (ordinarily eight, with an additional sum, equal
to one-eighth of the weekly compensation, paid for each performance
over eight in each week), lost performances, lost rehearsals, trans
portation, illness, and the like.
The agreement made with the independent producers is similar
to the preceding. The principal difference lies in the wording of
section 5 of each agreement. In the Producers’ Protective Asso
ciation agreement, the manager agrees that 80 per cent of the mem
bers of the company shall be members of the Equity Association;
in the independent agreement, the manager agrees that all members
of the company shall be members of the Equity Association. In
both cases a violation by the manager gives the actor the right to
end the agreement, and to collect from the former all sums then due
him, plus nis return railroad fare and two weeks’ salary.
The Chorus Equity Association has agreements with the Mana
gers’ Protective Association and with independents similar to those
already described, with a few changes to fit the different conditions.
The basic agreement of the Chorus Equity Association contains one
clause not in that of the Actors’ Equity Association, as follows.
ACTORS
6
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Anything to the contrary in this agreement notwithstanding, it is agreed
that not oftener than once every two years from the date hereof, during the
duration of this agreement, the parties hereto shall, upon 30 days* notice in
writing by either party to the other, meet for the purpose of modifying the
minimum wage and working conditions in the minimum two weeks* contract.
In the event the parties can not agree, the questions involved shall be decided
by arbitration in the manner provided for herein and the decision or award shall
then be incorporated in this agreement.
Members of the chorus are guaranteed a minimum salary of $30
a week in New York City, with an increase of $5 for certain work
outside of that city.
The Actors’ Fidelity League is a union of actors making agree
ments with the Producing Managers’ Association. Their contracts,
called “ standard,” “ stock,” “ run of the play,” and “ try-out,” vary
in detail, but in general they are similar to the agreements made by
the Actors’ Equity Association. The main variations are as follows:
In the “ standard” contract both parties agree that they are “ bound
bv no affiliation of any kind that can or will prevent the fulfillment
of this contract,” ana that the minimum weekly salary is to be $30
in New York and $35 outside of New York. In the “ stock ” contract,
the number of weekly performances is as provided by individual
agreement and no minimum salary is stated. The “ try-out ” contract
is used only during the months of May, June, and July.
AUTOMOBILE WORKERS
The United Automobile, Aircraft, and Vehicle Workers of America
is a union composed of workers in the industries mentioned in the
title. The union is industrial in character and includes the follow
ing classes of workers: Body makers, woodworkers, finishers, wood
workers on repairs, machine hands, hammermen metal workers,
fender makers, metal finishers, metal workers’ helpers, blacksmiths,
blacksmith finishers, trimmers, trimmer bench hands, stripers and
finishers, painters, assemblers, electricians, and car porters.
An agreement made between Local No. 49 in New York City and
the New York Motor Coach Manufacturers’ Association, May 22,
1924, which with slight necessary modifications was signed by many
individual employers not members of the association, provides for a
union shop working 44 hours a week.
The following are extracts from the agreement:
2. That a higher rate [than that provided for herein] can be paid by the
employer to any employee deemed worth more than the minimum scale. Any
thing above the minimum scale is a matter of individual agreement between the
employer and the workman.
10. The party of the second part agrees to furnish employers * * * with
competent workers, but in the event of the party of the second part being
unable to supply any such employer with workers, then the employer shall have
the right to obtain them through the ordinary channels, with the understand
ing that all workers so engaged are to become members of Local No. 49, and
they shall make payment on their application when receiving their first full
week*s pay, if they are recognized as competent workmen by the employer.
11. (a) If the worker so hired is not recognized as a competent journeyman,
he shall take out a permit card from Local No. 49 within 24 hours after starting
to work and pay a reasonable fee weekly for a period of no more than four
weeks, at which time his status must be decided upon, either by his employer
or the joint grievance committee on appeal.
(6) If he is passed as a competent journeyman, he shall become a member of
Local No. 49 and his permit-card payments shall apply on his initiation fee.
BAKERS
7
(c) If he is not passed as competent, he shall continue undisturbed in his
place of employment under permit until his place is filled by the union or his
employer dispenses with his services.
13. Each employer shall notify his shop chairman when putting new men to
work.
19. Apprentices shall be employed only in the following ratio: 1 apprentice
to 5 or more journeymen; 2 apprentices to 10 or more journeymen; 3 appren
tices to 15 or more journeymen. No department shall have more than 3 appren
tices, and in case of a reduction in the working force the number of apprentices
shall be reduced in the same ratio as the force is reduced. An apprentice shall
not be over 21 years of age when starting his apprenticeship.
20. Apprentices shall be advanced to journeymen as soon as they become
competent in the opinion of the employer. No apprentice shall be admitted
to lull membership in the union unless he has served at least two years at his
branch of the trade or has demonstrated his fitness to the satisfaction of the
employer or the joint grievance committee.
21. Every apprentice shall be registered with the party of the second part
and shall receive a card bearing the date of such registration, which shall be
considered as the date of the beginning of his apprenticeship.
23. Men of any age may be employed in lieu of apprentices if they have had
experience in a similar line to the department in which they are employed.
They shall be advanced to journeymen as soon as they become competent, in
the same manner as apprentices.
24. No more than two helpers shall be allowed for each body maker.
BAKERS
The Bakery and Confectionery Workers’ International Union of
America consists of bakers organized generally, one union in a city
covering the various divisions of the craft. Where, however, there
are Italians, Poles, Scandinavians, Bohemians, and Hebrews in a
city, and where bread is made according to formulas followed in the
old countries, separate unions of the nationalities are often found.
As a rule, a local union includes only those working inside the
shop. Salesmen generally affiliate with the teamsters’ union. In
Sacramento bakery salesmen are subject to a special agreement,
and in Seattle they form an independent union. There is a union
of candy makers in Brockton, Mass., one of cracker makers in San
Francisco, one of cracker and candy makers in Seattle, and unions
of ice-cream-cone makers in New York City and Boston.
In a few cities bakeries are divided into machine shops and hand
shops, the difference between them being that in the former machin
ery is used to divide, mold, or round the dough. However, workers
in both classes of shops belong to the same union. They are gener
ally divided into three classes: Dough mixers or spongers, ovenmen, and henchmen; or, first, second, and third hands. Sometimes
the first two classes are combined. Some shops have a foreman in
addition.
Generally, the number of hours worked is 8 per day, 6 days per
week, work on the seventh day being generally forbidden. There
is no Saturday half holiday. Saturday or Sunday is the usual rest
day. Frequently night work is also forbidden; where allowed, a smaller
number of hours is worked than during the day or the rate is
increased from 10 to 15 per cent. Work done before 4 a. m. or
after 8 p. m. is generally considered night work.
Wages are paid by the week and not by the hour or day. A
weekly pay day is observed. When a holiday occurs, five days con
stitute a week. Therefore the holidays observed are carefully men
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
8
tioned in each agreement, as in section 11 of the agreement between
Local No. 118 and the Employing Bakers’ Association of Washington,
D. C., May 1,1924, which follows:
Labor Day * * * and Christmas Day of each year shall be full holidays.
All work is to be finished by 10 p. m. of Sunday before Labor Day. No work
is to be done from that time until 10 p. m., Labor Day, except by the dough
maker, who may start to make dough at 6 p. m. on Labor Day. On Christmas
* * * all work is to be finished by 12 o'clock noon, December 24, and no
member is to start working until midnight of Christmas Day * * * except
the dough maker, who is allowed to start at 8 p. m. on Christmas Day. * * *
Members who may be required to work on any of the national legal holidays
* * * outside of Labor Day and Christmas Day shall receive time and half
time pay for same. The holidays to be observed are as follows: Decoration
Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's, Lin
coln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday.
In San Francisco (agreement of Local No. 24, November 14,1923,
sec. 8) employees are paid for holidays, but work two hours’ overtime
without extra pay the day before; when holidays fall on Saturday,
Sunday, or Monday they work six days that week and receive onehalf day’s extra pay. In Pueblo (agreement of Local No. 162, May
1,1923, sec. 10) employees work either four hours on holidays or two
hours’ overtime both the day before and the day after, as required.
The Jewish unions very generally receive pay for nine Jewish holi
days during the year. Section 11 of the Hebrew Local No. 100, of
New York City, for 1924 contains a typical provision of this kind:
The employer agrees that regular employees shall not work or be called upon
to work on the following days: 2 days of Shabuoth; 2 days of Rosh Hashana:
1 day of Yom Kippur; 4 days of Succoth; and the 1st day of May, it being agreed
that the employees shall receive their regular wages for those days as if they had
worked, including cases where such holidays fall within or include the employees'
“ day off."
In the bakery industry overtime is permitted “ only in cases of
emergency” when jobbers can not be obtained, and is then generally
limited to one or two hours a week to be distributed equally among
all the employees in the shop. The overtime rate is generally time
and a hah. In a few cities double time is chargeable for holiday
work.
The work of journeymen is described in section 7 of the agreement
of Washington, D. C., Local No. 118, May 1,1924, as follows:
No one but a journeyman baker or apprentice shall do any of the following
work: Weigh ingredients for making dough or attend mixer while mixing dough;
attend to aging of dough after making; remove dough after aging of same to
trough; hand-scale dough to loaves; mold or round up dough into shapes; place
molded dough in cloths, boxes, or pans; handle a peel in any way at oven, or peel
Vienna or other bread or rolls from cloths in boxes to peel plate. No pastry
work to be handled by anyone except a journeyman baker or apprentice until
same is iced and finished ready for sale. On automatic machines journeymen
shall be employed when necessary to place bread in the ovens by hand.
Journeymen are forbidden to work outside the shop, load wagons,
scrub floors, clean up the place, or do other work not pertaining to
their craft. Jobbers—extra hands and substitutes—are engaged only
through the union. Generally the minimum time for which they
may be hired is half a day, with overtime pay for any time after
eight hours.
Apprentices serve for two or three years. Their number varies
greatly in the different cities. The ratio between apprentices and
journeymen is usually one to four or five. Generally apprentices are
BAKERS
9
obliged to become members of the union or at least to register with it
immediately on starting their term of service. Their wages are reg
ulated by the union and vary with each year of service. The follow
ing office rule appears in the agreement of Local No. 2, Chicago,
May 31, 1924: “ The employer must send his apprentice to a bakers’
school for at least four hours once a week without loss of salary. It
is left to the employer to choose the most desirable time for sending
his apprentices to school.”
Helpers are to be found in every bakery of any size. They are
generally members of the union or are required to obtain working
before starting to work. They are not apprentices, but do
{>ermits
aborers’ work around the bakery and are forbidden to do work or
dinarily performed by bakers. Packers in the shipping room are often
not required to join the union. Sections 1 and 7 of the agreement
of Local No. 74, Spokane, May 1, 1924, relating to helpers, are as
follows:
All journeymen, apprentices, helpers, stock clerks, packers, checkers, bread and
cake wrappers, porters, pan greasers, or other help employed in connection with
the manufacturing, and preparing of bakery products, also in cleaning or main
taining the shops or equipment in order, not covered by other unions except the
office employees, will be members of * * * Local 74. * * * Shipping
clerks shall not be required to belong to the union unless they do work connected
with packing, checking, or wrapping for other than instructing purposes, in which
case they shall belong to the union.
One helper will be allowed in the manufacturing of bakery products, in any
shop where one to seven journeymen are employed and one additional helper
for each seven additional journeymen employed. Helpers shall not be allowed
to work at the bench, on machines, at the oven or dough. They may punch
dough, clean machines, or do other unskilled work incidental to the baking busi
ness, but shall not do any journeymen's or apprentices' work.
Helpers’ hours are the same as those of journeymen and their
wages are often regulated by the union.
Generally not more than one partner or one stockholder in a com
pany or firm will be allowed to work as a journeyman unless he is at
the same time a member of the union. Foremen are not usually re
quired to be members of the union unless they do journeymen’s work.
The Hebrew union of Hartford (Local No. 80) has the following
clause (sec. 16) in its agreement of May 1, 1923: “If the boss him
self works in the bakery he must give two days’ work every week to
our union men” ; while under section 9 of the May 1, 1923, agreement
of the Hebrew union of Baltimore (LocalNo. 209) “ the employer
agrees not to employ any of his families [sic], neither his wife, his son,
nor any other relative, unless he is a member of Local 209.”
Nearly all agreements contain provisions requiring the establish
ments to be kept clean and sanitary and to provide and maintain
for the use ana convenience of their employees sanitary dressing
rooms, toilets, wash rooms, and clothes lockers. A clause (sec. 13)
in the agreement of the New York Hebrew Local No. 100, May 1,
1924, reads as follows:
The employer shall keep his bakery or bakeries in a clean or sanitary condi
tion, equipped with a medicine chest containing necessary medicines and band
ages for use in emergency cases, and carry insurance in .the manner provided by
the workmen's compensation law of the State of New York.
The use of the union label on bakery products is required by many
agreements and is optional by others. The labels are taken care of
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
10
by the shop steward, who sees that they are properly placed on the
Use of the labels is granted by the union at rates varying
J>roducts.
rom 5 to 15 cents per thousand, the union reserving the right to end
their use by an employer for violation of any terms of the agreement.
In many agreements members are forbidden to board or lodge
with their employers; in others, this is optional with the employee.
Agreements ‘ are usually made for one year and very generally
expire on the last day of April. However, the agreement of Local
No. 74, Spokane, May 1, 1924, was made for four years “ except as
to wages,” which were to be revised yearly on request of either party.
Most of the agreements contain a general provision relative to
arbitration. Section 17 of the Spokane agreement, just mentioned,
is as follows:
A board of adjustment is hereby created, to be composed of three members of
Bakers* Local Union No. 74 and three * * * employers who have signed
this agreement and are owners of baking establishments. Said board * * *
shall elect a chairman and secretary and shall adopt rules of procedure which
shall bind both parties. Said board shall have the power to adjust any differ
ences that may arise between the parties hereto regarding the meaning or
enforcement of this contract. Said board shall meet for consideration on
matters that may be referred to it within 48 hours subsequent to the receipt of
its secretary’s notice to come. The board’s decision shall be submitted to both
parties in writing, * * * and their decision shall be effective from the date
of submission of such question or difference. If the board can not agree on any
question referred to it within 48 hours after taking the matter up for discussion
they shall then select a seventh member, who shall have no connection with
either party, and the decision of the majority * * * shall be final and bind
ing on both parties. Pending the decision of any question referred to the board,
work shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this contract and
made retroactive to the date this question was submitted to this board of adjust^ ment, providing, however, that a decision must be reached on same within 15
days after submission of any question.
BARBERS
The agreements of the Journeymen Barbers1 International Union
of America are invariably made with individual proprietors. The
fact that the proprietor usually works in the shop, that the journey
men barbers are virtually his helpers, and that both sell service
instead of goods causes the character of the contract to be different
from those used in other industries.
The union prints a shop card which the employer is allowed to
display; he agrees to comply with the union rules and to regard
the card as union property subject to removal on demand of the
union.
Barbers' hours are somewhat longer than those in most other
occupations. In general, barber shops are open from 8 o'clock in the
morning to 7 or 8 o'clock in the evening. On Saturdays the closing
hour is 9 or 10 o'clock. In a few cases the agreements say nothing
about the opening and the closing hour but limit the number of daily
working hours to 8J^ or 10HJ, with 2 or 3 hours more on Saturdays.
The shop is to close at the hour prescribed in the agreement.
There are no overtime provisions. However, the practice is to
attend to all who enter the shop previous to the closing hour. Fre
quently no objection is made to the proprietor attending to those
who enter after the closing hour, and in some cities bona fide guests
11
in hotels are permitted to be served out of hours. Sections 4 and 5 of
the agreement of Local No. 20, Pittsburgh, made May 1, 1924, pro
vide as follows:
BAllB&KS
Section. 4. Men in the downtown district shall work not more than 8% hours
in a 10-consecutive-hour day for the first 5 days of the week. On Saturdays
they shall work no more than llj^ hours in a 13-consecutive-hour day. No
journeyman in the downtown district shall work more than 54 hours per week.
Where the swing-shift system is in force journeymen shall commence not earlier
than 7 a. m. and work not later than 9 p. m. the first 5 days of the week;
on Saturdays from 7 a. m. to 10 p. m. Journeymen shall be permitted one
hour and a half per day for meals, subject to shop rules.
Sec. 5. In the outskirts district barber shops shall open not earlier than 8 a. m.
and close not later than 7.30 p. m. the first 5 days of the week; on Saturdays,
open not earlier than 8 a. m. and close not later than 9 p. m. Men to receive 1
hour and 30 minutes for meals, subject to shop rules, but in no case will a man
be allowed to work more than 56*^ hours per week.
In the few cases where Sunday work is allowed shops close at noon.
Holidays are variously treated. Where shops are open on holidays
they close at noon. Where they are closed on holidays they remain
open until 9 or 10 o’clock the night before, and when holidays occur
on Saturday or Monday they are generally open on the holiday until
noon. Kules 3 and 4 of Local No. 192, at Kansas City, July 1,1924,
vary somewhat from the above and read as follows:
R ule 3. Ten and one-half hours shall constitute a day’s work on weekdays,
13^2 hours on Saturday, and 5 hours on the following holidays: New Year’s
Day, Decoration Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas,
except when the holiday comes on Saturday, when the regular hours shall
prevail.
R ule 4. N o journeyman shall be allowed to work later than 11 p. m. on any
day, or 1 p. m. on holidays, except as provided for in Rule 3.
Wages are on a commission basis, varying generally from 50 to 65
per cent of the man's receipts, with a guaranty generally of from $25 to
$30 a week for those working a full week. The wages of journeymen
are paid weekly and no deduction is made because of a holiday. When
a barber works less than the full week his wages are generally com
puted according to a different scale of guaranty or commission, de
signed to give him a wage considered fair under the circumstances.
Methods of computation are also prescribed in case of extra hands who
work evenings alone or all day Saturday, the number of such extras
being frequently limited to one in a shop. Sections 1-3 of the
agreement of Local No. 20, Pittsburgh, May 1, 1924, read as follows:
Section 1. The wages of a journeyman barber shall be not less than $25 per
week, and 60 per cent on all over $36.
Sec. 2. Any journeyman who is absent one or more of the first five days of the
week the sum deducted shall not exceed $4 per day. If he is absent on Satur
day, the sum deducted shall not exceed $7. But in no case shall a journeyman
receive less than 70 per cent from the receipts as wages.
Sec. 3. For an extra man on Saturday the wages shall be 70 per cent, with a
minimum guaranty of not less than $8. For an extra man for a day before a
holiday the wages shall be 70 per cent, with a minimum guaranty of $7. An
extra man during the week shall receive 70 per cent, with a minimum guaranty
of $5 per day. * * * When a man is hired for a few hours per day he shall
receive not less than 60 cents per hour.
A half day’s vacation each week or one day every two weeks is
frequently allowed without loss of pay, the day to be designated by
the proprietor of the shop and to be omitted in any week in which a
holiday occurs. In Local No. 752, New York City, paragraph 8 of
the agreement calls for a vacation of one day each week.
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
12
The fact that a certain proportion of the wages is in the form of
a commission on business causes the union to take a lively interest
in the rate of charges to customers. A price list is therefore fre
quently prepared by the union and stated either in the agreement or
its by-iaws. A proprietors failure to observe this list is considered
a breach of the contract and renders him liable to a fine.
Apprentices are but occasionally mentioned in the agreements.
They are limited to one per shop, must be registered with the union,
and must observe union hours. Their scale of wages is nowhere
mentioned, nor the term of service required before their admission
as journeymen. Where a shop is operated by partners, only one is
to be considered as the proprietor. The others are required to be
members of the union ana to observe all union requirements,
especially those relating to hours.
Proprietors must obtain their help, when possible, through the sec
retary or business agent of the union. They must furnish uniforms
when these are required and must launder them at no expense to the
journeyman.
Arbitration is rarely mentioned in these agreements except* in a
general way.
BILL POSTERS
Extracts from the agreement for 1923 made by Local No. 57,
Portland, Oreg., of the International Alliance of Bill Posters and
Billers of the United States and Canada, follow
Section 1. Each vaudeville, stock, combination and moving-picture theater
shall employ a member of the International Alliance of Bill Posters and Billers
of America, Local No. 57, as advertising agent by the week.
S ec. 3. The duties of an advertising agent shall be as follows: Changing lobby
frames, changeable electric sign displays, posting paper on house boards, plac
ing of window cards and lithographs and laying up paper.
Sec. 4. N o member of this union will be allowed to do any work other than
that pertaining to outdoor advertising or to furnish implements or materials.
Sec. 5. In the event that the party of the first part * * * leases, rents,
or sublets * * * the theater or place of amusement owned or controlled by him,
then * * * the party * * * will be held responsible for any act of such
lessee * * * which is a violation or infringement of this agreement.
Sec. 6. It is understood that no member will be permitted to work as an ad
vertising agent under the weekly scale for more than two places of amusement
under or controlled by the same management.
Sec. 9. Two weeks’ written notice will be required of either party to this
agreement to terminate an engagement. Such notice to take effect on the second
Saturday following the date of notice.
Sec. 10. This scale applies for a week of six days not including Sundays or
holidays.
Sec. 11. Overtime shall be paid for at the rate of time and one-half.
Sec. 12. Forty-eight hours shall constitute a week.
Sec. 13. Lower floor passes shall be furnished by the party of the first part to
square locations for advertising privileges.
BREWERY WORKMEN
The International Union of United Brewery, Flour, Cereal, and
Soft Drink Workers of America has jurisdiction over malt, grain ele
vator, yeast, vinegar, alcohol, wine, cider, cereal beverage, and min
eral water workers and includes those engaged in manufacturing,
bottling, and handling beverages. The union claims jurisdiction
over the engineers, firemen, coopers, teamsters, chauffeurs, stablemen,
and helpers around the brewery and enforces this claim in many
13
cities. A union may include workers in all the various lines here
enumerated, but in cities where the industry is large separate locals
of workers in each line of the work are often formed. The engineers
and firemen, often with oilers, icemen, and laborers, form locals of
their own. Drivers are often grouped with bottlers, though many
locals of teamsters alone are affiliated with the brewery workmen’s
union.
The agreements are generally rather lengthy and are made between
local unions, or joint executive boards in the larger cities, and indi
vidual employers. The agreement is generally a collection of agree
ments representing the various departments or local unions—as brew
ers, shippers, engineers, firemen, bottlers—and the conditions of work
in the different departments vary. The number of hours worked is
generally 8 per day, 48 per week, sometimes 44. Generally overtime
is permitted, time and a half being charged; for Sundays double time
must be paid. When foremen or chief engineers are not members of
the union they are not allowed to do journeymen’s work. All other
employees, except the office force, and including watchmen and freight
handlers, must be members of the union and “ citizens of the United
States or those who have declared their intention to become citizens.”
The number of apprentices allowed varies from 1 apprentice for
every 5 journeymen to 1 for 20. The term of apprenticeship is gen
erally two or two and a half years.
Proprietors must furnish suitable sanitary rooms, lighted and
heated, for the changing of clothes. Union-made materials and
machinery are to be given preference. Strikes, sympathetic or other
wise, are forbidden, but members of Local No. 293, Los Angeles,
in section IT of their agreement dated March 21, 1924, refuse “ to
handle or bottle any product of any brewery that is declared unfair”
by the union. The union label is supplied at cost to all proprietors
complying with the terms of the agreement.
Many.unions provide for the settlement of disputes by arbitration.
A somewhat elaborate provision is given in Article X of the St. Louis
Brewery Workers’ Union agreement made with the Cereal Beverage
Manufacturers of that city, February 1, 1921, which is still in force,
the last extension having been made November 1,1924. The article
reads as follows:
BREWERY WORKMEN
In case of disagreement as to the interpretation and application of any article
of this contract * * * an attempt at settlement shall first be made between
the secretary of the union and an authorized representative of the employer. In
the event that no satisfactory adjustment of the differences can be made * * *
the complainant * * * shall submit its case in writing, setting forth fully
the cause of the disagreement and the circumstances relating thereto. In all
disagreements arising the complainant shall refer specifically to the article of the
contract under which the disagreement arose. A copy of this written complaint
shall be filed with the secretary of the union or employer as the case may be.
The written complaint and answer thereto shall be submitted to a board of con
ciliation which shall consist of three members and four alternates to be selected
by the employer and three members and four alternates to be selected by the
union. The written complaint and answer shall form the basis of all hearings
before the board of conciliation, who shall preserve a complete record of all its
proceedings. Members and alternates of the board of conciliation shall serve
for one year and until their successors are appointed. The board shall meet
every two weeks when there is business before it, or more often by mutual agree
ment, to consider all disagreements presented as herein provided. Four members
46976°—25----- 2
14
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
of the board, equally divided, shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote on
all questions shall be binding on the board.
The board of conciliation is authorized to make rules and regulations for the
proper and orderly conduct of its meetings.
If the board of conciliation fails to arrive at a satisfactory settlement of the
disagreement presented to it, then either the union or the employer may demand
arbitration. The board of arbitration shall consist of two members of the union
and two representatives selected by the employer. In case of disagreement the
four arbitrators thus selected shall agree upon a fifth, who shall be a disinterested
party, out of the trade or union. Each side shall pay fees for its own arbitrators.
A stenographer may be employed by either party. When both sides use the
transcript made by the stenographer, the expense shall be borne equally; other
wise the expense shall be borne by the side employing the stenographer.
All complaints and answers shall be submitted in writing, and arbitration
shall be confined to the subject in dispute. The written records of the arbitra
tion shall contain the complaint filed, the answer filed, names of witnesses and the
decision of the arbitrator and his reasons supporting the decision rendered. The
arbitrators shall meet at an agreed place within the city of St. Louis for the
purpose of completing the organization within one week after written request is
made for arbitration. Arbitration shall be completed within 14 days. Should
either side fail to comply with the request for arbitration within the specified
time, the side so failing shall forfeit its case.
Pending arbitration, work shall proceed under this agreement, and the written
decision of a majority of the board of arbitration shall be final and binding on
both parties.
Employees shall not cease work, walk out, strike or engage in a shop strike
during negotiations for a settlement of differences, while arrangements are being
made for conciliation, or arbitration, or upon the conclusion and decision of the
board of conciliation or board of arbitration.
The following* typical sections are taken from the agreement of
the Philadelphia Joint Board, made in May, 1924:
No man shall be ordered to varnish casks or vats without the proper safety
appliances having been first installed as provided by the laws of Pennsylvania.
There shall be provided by the employer rubber boots, gloves, and goggles for
the protection of employees engaged in cleaning casks or vats and sharp
substances. Oil lamps are prohibited in all departments. Men working in the
washhouse and racking room shall be provided with waterproof aprons by the
employer.
Brewery department
Watchmen will receive one week’s vacation during the year with pay. * * *
No one employee shall be compelled to stack three full half-barrels on top of
one another. In breweries where more than 80 half-barrels must be racked off
in an hour, two men must be employed to stack them up.
Employees shall receive beverages during working hours, and time of serving
same shall not exceed 10 minutes in the forenoon and not exceed 10 minutes in
the afternoon, but employees are to be allowed beverages before and after hours.
During the 10 minutes’ beverage pause in the forenoon, employees in this depart
ment shall be entitled to eat lunch.
* * * The term of apprenticeship shall be 2 years: 7 months in the fer
menting room; 7 months in the storage and racking room; 6 months in the
kettle room; and 4 months in the washhouse. At the end of this term the given
apprentice, if capable, shall receive his certificate from the brew master.
Shipping, drivers, helpers, laborers, and stablemen
Watchmen will receive one week’s vacation with pay during the year. * * *
Stablemen and drivers who aye compelled to feed, water, and clean horses on
Sunday or on special holidays shall not work on such days longer than 3H hours
and shall be paid the regular hourly rate. Any work beyond such time shall be
paid at the rate of time and half-time.
Each driver and operator shall load his own vehicle at the proper place
appointed in the brewery and upon his return shall unload and properly place
empties and full packages where directed. It shall be part of the duties of the
drivers and operators to haul all material required in the brewery from the cars
BRICK AND CLAY WORKERS
15
or railroad station and deliver same at the proper place as directed by the super
intendent of the shipping department. Each driver shall clean his horses and
harness where no other provision is made.
Engineers
Men working seven consecutive days in this department will be paid for the
seventh day at double time, unless the union is unable to fill vacancies, where
upon the regular rate shall be paid. * * *
The engineer going off watch must turn over his plant to the next watch in
perfect running order, leaving no hot bearings or imperfect joint or packing, and
shall receive no extra pay for overtime consumed in correcting imperfections
when he is at fault.
Firemen, oilersy and firemen helpers
Men working seven consecutive days in this department will be paid for the
seventh day at double time, unless the union is unable to fill vacancies, where
upon the regular rate shall be paid. * * *
* * * A fireman shoveling over 3 tons of coal on a shift shall in no case be
compelled to shovel same more than once, and he shall have a helper. Fuel
must be conveniently placed in front of furnaces.
The international union also makes agreements with large yeast
companies having several plants in different parts of the country.
The provisions are similar to those already mentioned and are bind
ing on all locals interested; each local, however, arranges its own
wage scale with the company.
BRICK AND CLAY WORKERS
Locals of the United Brick and Clay Workers of America ar§ to be
found mainly in the Middle West. The unionis industrial in character
and comprises within its membership all who work in and around the
yards, except foremen, superintendents, shipping clerks, and the office
force. The agreements generally provide for a closed shop; an 8 or
9 hour day, with exceptions for certain men; overtime and work on
Sundays and holidays (except absolutely necessary work) generally
paid for at the rate of time and a half; a weekly pay day; no strike
until after an investigation of grievances; and settlement of com
plaints by a committee on grievances.
The following provisions, which in some respects are at variance
with the preceding description, are taken from the agreement of
Brickmakers’ District Council No. 1, Chicago, effective for three years
from May 1, 1924:
S ection I. * * * Should the organization fail or be unable to furnish men
in sufficient numbers within two days after being notified by the manufacturer
to furnish men, the manufacturer may employ men who are not members of the
organization and may pledge such men 30 days' work. At the end of the 30day period these men may be replaced by union men, but if the organization fails
to supply union men to replace such nonunion men at the end of said 30-day period
the manufacturer may retain such nonunion men for a further period of 30 days
and continue to do so until this organization shall be able, at the end of some 30day period, to supply union men; provided, however, that such nonunion men
be employed with the understanding that they pay the same dues per month as
are paid by members of this organization and are subject to the same check-off
regulations as apply to union men.
After working 30 days temporary employees must be accepted into the union
if such employees elect to join the union.
The manufacturer on his part agrees to promptly notify the organization
when he is in need of men.
The manufacturer further agrees to check off all initiation fees, dues, fines, and
assessments each month, provided that the local union or the business agent of
16
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND' 1924
this organization submit a list in duplicate to the manufacturer, arranged accord
ing to yards when neccessary, at least 10 days prior to pay day.
The manufacturer reserves the right * * * to adopt any and all improved
machinery and methods in the conduct of his business which he may deem ad
visable to adopt, and in case any new machinery is used which displaces hand
labor such machinery shall be operated at a price not to exceed the price paid to
men operating similar machinery in brickyards in the Cook County district.
The manufacturer shall have the right to discharge men not satisfactory to him.
Sec. II. * * * Nothing in this agreement shall prohibit an employer, one
foreman, or one member of any firm from working on the yard not more than
two hours on any one day.
Sec. III. * * * Where it is necessary for men to work more than 8 hours
for the proper operation of the plant, they shall be paid straight time up to 10
hours, and time and one-half thereafter. * * * Burners and helpers to receive
straight time. When a yard is shut down for repairs, all extra roustabout work
shall as far as possible be divided among all available men on the plant.
All members of this organization who are citizens and who are entitled to vote,
and do vote, shall be given opportunity to do so both on election and primary
election day.
Sec. IV. * * * All yards shall have a stated pay day, to wit: All employees
shall collect their wages semimonthly. * * * If pay day falls on a Sunday
or holiday, employees shall receive their pay on the previous day.
Sec. V. Each yard shall have a steward, whose duty it shall be to enforce this
agreement. In the performance of this duty he shall hear complaints of any
and all character made by either the employees or the manufacturer or his agent,
the foreman, and shall then and there endeavor to settle such complaints. * * *
Cases which can not be adjusted in this manner shall be reported to the district
council by him. If the district council can not settle the matter in dispute with
the manufacturer, the case shall be left to the decision of a man to be agreed
upon as umpire by the business agent of District Council No. 1 and the manu
facturer. Said umpire shall render a decision within three days after all evidence
in the case shall have been presented to him, and his decision shall be final and
binding upon both parties.
Under no circumstances shall a yard be shut down by either the steward, the
men, or the local unions having jurisdiction over the yard where a complaint is
under investigation.
* * * Representatives of the manufacturer and a representative of each
local union shall meet at least every three months to discuss grievances that may
arise and other matters of mutual interest and importance to both parties. Said
meetings to be called and arranged by officials of each party.
Sec. VII. The label of Brickmakers’ District Council No. 1 and the name,
initial or number of the yard of the manufacturer shall be placed upon the brick
manufactured, except in the case of side-cut brick or in any other cases where
the marking may be impracticable. Such label shall at all times be the property
of Brickmakers' District Council No. 1 and may be withdrawn at any time for
any violation of this agreement.
S ec. XVIII. No strikes or cessation of work shall be called or brought about
by any individual, group of individuals, or any local unions belonging to this
organization for any reason whatsoever.
A strike may be called only by District Council No. 1, and by it only after
the manufacturers, through their business agent, shall have had ample oppor
tunity to present their side of any controversy concerning the rules or scale of
wages to the men.
Sec. XX. The business agent of this organization and the business agent of
the manufacturer shall constitute the tribunal which is to determine whether or
not this agreement or any section thereof shall have been violated, and their
decision shall be final and binding upon both parties to this agreement. * * *
All fines shall be checked off in like manner as dues and assessments are checked
off, and in such installments as may be agreed upon by the two business agents.
Sec. XXI. All collected fines shall be held in trust by the business agent of the
manufacturers and credited to an account called “ Relief Fund of District Coun
cil No. 1,” and he shall pay out money from this fund as may be agreed upon
by the two business agents provided for in this agreement.
The following clause relative to apprentices appears in the agree
ment of Local No. 16, Belleville, 111., March 22, 1924;
BROOM MAKERS
17
Section 7. Apprentices shall only be put in when Local No. 16 can not furnish
experienced men; if the apprentice’s work proves satisfactory, he shall receive
the scale of wages. The yard committee is to be notified who the apprentice is.
BROOM MAKERS
Members of the International Broom and Whisk Makers’ Union
are generally employed on a piece basis, the rate varying with the
weight, size, and character of the article made. The international
organization prepares a general contract relating to the use of the
umon label. This label contract with a scale of wages attached is fre
quently the.|>nly agreement entered into by many unions with their
employers. The essential provisions of the general label contract
are as follows:
Said party of the first part shall not employ in their broom factory, located
at_________any person or persons whatsoever who are not members in good
standing in the International Broom and Whisk Makers’ U nion_________ , with
the exception of such persons as are not eligible to membership, and employed
on work not claimed by said union.
The said parties * * * shall pay to their employees the scale of wages
hereto attached and in employing apprentices shall comply with the apprentice
laws of the International Broom and Whisk Makers’ Union.
These said parties of the second part agree to work for the above said parties
of the first part for the attached scale of prices for the term of this contract.
* * * This contract shall extend for a period o f ___ months from date
of signature and shall be binding on the parties hereto.
* * * All brooms manufactured by the said parties of the first part shall
be labeled with the label of the International Broom and Whisk Makers’ Union,
and the cost of the said labels shall be paid by the said parties of the_____
part.
* * * All questions upon which the parties hereto fail to arrive at a satis
factory agreement shall be submitted to a board of arbitration, and there shall
be no suspension of business pending such decision, except by mutual agreement.
[N ote.—In all cases, the scale of wages adopted by the local union must be
attached to this agreement and be a part thereof.]
Some of the conditions attached to the wage schedule of Local
No. 29, Chicago, effective September 1, 1923, and continued for
another year from September 1, 1924, are as follows:
All shops shall furnish scales at convenient places for tyers to weigh brooms.
All extra work other than regular employment by journeymen tyers and sew
ers shall be paid for at the rate of 90 cents per hour.
Overtime shall be paid for at the rate of 15 per cent in all departments of the
trade.
All shops shall be provided with proper heat, light, and ventilation, and mem
bers will not be permitted to work while this section is violated.
When any department is laid off, no member shall work in said department
until entire department resumes work.
Journeymen shall be allowed 10 minutes, * * * to clean off and around
their machines.
No overtime shall be allowed in any factory unless said factory is working full
time, 44 hours, and 6 days per week.
Working-days shall consist of 8 hours, as follows:
From April 1 to October 1—7.30 a. m. to 12 o’clock noon and from 12.45
p. m. to 4.15 p. m.
From October 1 to April 1—8 a. m. to 12 o’clock noon and from 12:45 p. m.
to 4.45 p. m., and 4 hours on Saturday, from 8 a. m. to 12 o’clock noon.
* * * No work shall be done in any factory on Sunday except putting in
a bleach in hot weather or repairing machines.
Manufacturers conducting union factories and using the union label shall not
handle brooms, toys or whisks not bearing the union label.
Any foreman not eligible to membership in this union working at either tying
or sewing shall pay 35 cents per week for the use of the label.
18
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Any official of the union on business for the unitm shall be admitted to fac
tories at all times.
All journeymen shall be supplied with sufficient material to work steady dur
ing the time shops are running. But when one journeyman waits for material
all journeymen in shop shall stop work until all journeymen have material.
In case journeymen are short of material and not sufficient help working, the shop
steward shall notify the foreman to put on sufficient help to keep all journeymen
working steady, and if he is unable to obtain sufficient help he shall take help
from machines until he can obtain other help, and if he refuses to do so the shop
steward shall send the members home at once.
BUILDING TRADES
Each of the crafts ordinarily grouped under the teifei “ building
trades” makes agreements with its employers according to its own
rules and customs. In several cities, nowever, it is customary for
these agreements to be approved by a body representing the trades
collectively, and also for the allied body to issue statements show
ing the rates of wages in the various allied trades. In a few cities
agreements are made by the Building Trades Council with bodies
representing the builders. The building-trades agreements generally
provide for the prevention or arbitration of disputes between em
ployers and employees. The more important parts of an agreement
between the joint conference board of the Building Construction
Employers’ Association and the Chicago Building Trades Council
for three years from April 1, 1923, follow:1
Article 2. Both parties hereby agree that there shall be no strikes, lockouts,
or stoppage of work, and that they will by all lawful means compel their mem
bers to comply with the arbitration agreement and working rules as jointly
agreed upon and adopted, and that where a member or members affiliated with
either of the two parties to this agreement refuse to do so they shall be sus
pended from membership in the association or union to which they belong.
Art. 3. Principles upon which this agreement is based:2
I. That there shall be no limitations as to the amount of work a man shall
perform during his working-day.
II. That there shall be no restriction of the use of machinery, tools, or appli
ances.
III. That there shall be no restriction of the use of any raw or manufactured
material, except prison made.
IV. That no person shall have the right to interfere with workmen during
working hours.
V. That the use of apprentices shall not be prohibited.
VI. That the foreman shall be the agent of the employer.
VII. That workmen are at liberty to work for whomever they see fit, but
that they shall demand and receive the wages agreed upon by the joint arbitra
tion board in this trade under all circumstances.
VIII. The employers are at liberty to employ and discharge whomsoever they
see fit.
Art. 4. Both parties * * * will at their annual election * * * elect
an arbitration committee to serve for one year.
Art. 5. The arbitration committee * * * shall consist o f------members,
who shall, within 30 days after the * * * signing of this agreement, meet
and form a joint arbitration board, elect a president, secretary, treasurer, and
umpire, and thereafter the said arbitration committee shall meet not later than
the third Monday of January in each year in joint session, when they shall
organize a joint arbitration board for the ensuing year.
Art. 6. N o person who is not engaged in the trade covered by this agreement,
or holds a public office, either elective or appointive, under the municipal, county,
1 M uch of th is agreem ent is incorporated in to th e in d ivid u al agreem ents of th e different bu ild in g trades
of C hicago.
» T hese principles appear in th e ind ividu al agreem ents of m any building trades unions.
BUILDING TRADES
19
State, or National Government, shall be eligible to act as a representative on
this trade joint arbitration board; and any member shall become disqualified to
act as a member of this trade joint arbitration board and cease to be a member
thereof immediately upon his election or appointment to any public office or
employment.
Art. 7. An umpire shall be selected who is in no wise affiliated with this
trade or who is occupying an elective public office. In the event of any umpire
* * * being unable to serve, any unsettled dispute within the jurisdiction of
this agreement shall be settled by the joint conference board * * * and its
decision shall be final and binding upon all parties to this agreement.
Art. 8. Both parties * * * agree to recognize and abide by the decisions
of the joint conference board created under the terms of the joint agreement
between the Building Construction Employers’ Association of Chicago and the
Chicago Building Trades Council * * *. Should a dispute arise between either
party to this agreement and any other body of employers or employees and the par
ties in controversy are unable to adjust same, said dispute will at once be taken up
and decided by the joint conference board, subject to appeal on all jurisdic
tional matters to the national board for jurisdictional awards, whose decisions
and rules shall be final and binding upon all parties to this agreement.
Art. 9. The joint arbitration board shall have full power to enforce this
agreement * * * and to make and enforce all lawful working rules govern
ing both parties. No strikes or lockouts shall be resorted to * * * pending
the decision of the joint arbitration board or the joint conference board or of the
national board for jurisdictional awards.
Art. 11. When a dispute or grievance arises between a journeyman and his
employer * * * the question at issue shall be submitted in writing to the
presidents of the two organizations, and upon their failure to meet within 48
hours and agree and settle it, or, if one party to the dispute is dissatisfied with
their decision, it shall then be submitted to the joint arbitration board which
shall hear the evidence and decide in accordance therewith. All verdicts shall
be decided by majority vote, by secret ballot, be rendered in writing, and be
final and binding upon all parties. If the joint arbitration board is unable to
agree, the umpire shall be requested to sit with them, and after he has heard the
evidence shall cast the deciding vote.
Art. 14. No member or members affiliated with the party of the second part
shall leave his work because nonunion men in some other line of work or trade
are employed on the building or job or * * * on any other building or
job.3
Art. 17. The abandonment of work by the members of the party of the second
part, either separately or collectively, by concerted or separate action, on any build
ing or buildings being constructed by or for any member of the party of the first
part will be considered a breach of this agreement, unless the party of the second
part, upon demand, furnishes within 24 hours an equal number of competent
men for such work.
Art. 18. If after 48 hours’ notice to the party of the second part they are
unable to furnish to all members of parties of the first part a required number
of mechanics, then the party of the first part shall be entitled to procure and
employ the men required. Such men shall be affiliated with the international
unions associated with parties of the second part.
Art. 19. The foreman, if any, shall be selected by and be the agent of the
employer, subject to the terms of this agreement and its working rules and
decisions of the joint arbitration board.
Art. 22. Holidays. * * * No work shall be done on these days except
to protect life and property.
Art. 25. There shall be no overtime work except of an emergency nature
to preserve life or property.
Art. 26. Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to interfere with the
rights of the officials of the unions from stopping work for the purpose of
collecting wages due the members until such time as payment is made or, in
case of dispute as to the amount of wages due, until the matter has been referred
to the joint arbitration board for adjustment.
The agreements of local unions in the building trades show uni
formity in many directions. In general, they are made for one year;
*The penalty for violation of this agreement is $25 in case of employees and $50 to $200 in case of
employers. If not paid by the offender, it is to be paid by the association to which he belongs.
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
20
provide for a union shop; an eight-hour day with Saturday half hol
iday; overtime only when unavoidable and then generally at double
time, though occasionally at time and a half; double time for Satur
day afternoons, Sundays, and holidays; entire prohibition of work on
Labo^Day; board when on out-of-town jobs; free transportation to and
from w ort when the cost of same is more than one street-car fare;
permission for men incapacitated by age or physical infirmity to
work for less than the scale; a weekly pay day, often specifying the
day and even the hour of payment 5 payment for at least two hours1
work in cases where the men report for work and find none; immedi
ate payment in case of discharge; free drinking water; suitable room
and lockers for tools and clothing; no stoppage of work or sympa
thetic strikes. Also they usually provide that the foreman shall be the
agent or representative of the employer; state the actual hour of
beginning and ending each workday, with the time allowed for lunch;
and permit the business agent at will to enter and examine cards
and settle differences. Generally but one member of a firm or cor
poration is allowed to work at the trade. Where two or three shifts
are used, overtime rates apply unless such shifts work for at least
four days. Some method of arbitration is often mentioned, with
usually two or three representatives of each side and an umpire,
when necessary.
ASBESTOS WORKERS
The International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and
Asbestos Workers is composed of persons engaged in the application,
installation, and erection of heat or frost insulation and the Handling
or distributing of insulating materials. One general form of agree
ment, varying only in details, is in Use by all the locals. The area
covered by an agreement includes the city where made and extends
from 25 to 75 miles from the city hall in every direction.
Generally but one improver, who receives two-thirds a mechanic’s
pay, is allowed for each mechanic employed, and he is allowed to
work only in company with a mechanic. Improvers serve four years
before being allowed to take a mechanic’s examination.
When work is allowed to be done on Labor Day, triple pay is
required.
Employers agree not to sublet any work. No member of a firm
or officer of a corporation is to do the work of a workman, and no
member of the umon is to contract or estimate on work or to act in
any trade capacity other than that of workman. Mechanics in charge
of out-of-town operations, where board is paid, are to complete the
same before quitting their employer.
Ordinary disputes may be settled by a disinterested umpire. Local
strikes and lockouts are forbidden; general strikes and lockouts are
permitted only when ordered by a building trades council or the
national union or an employed association.
The provisions of Local No. 26, Rochester, N. Y., relative to
arbitration are as follows:
15. During the term of this agreement the questions relating to its interpre
tation or its violation shall be submitted to and determined by conciliation and
arbitration, it being understood, however, that the plain provisions of this agree
ment shall remain fixed during the term of this agreement. In the event of
differences between the parties all work shall continue without interruption
BUILDING TRADES
21
pending proceedings for conciliation and under the conditions prevailing at the
time when the differences may arise. In the event that one of the parties claims
the other is violating this agreement or is acting contrary to its provisions,
or ought for any reason to change its conduct in any particular, such claim shall
be reduced to writing and served upon the other, and two representatives of
each party shall meet at the Builders’ Exchange, 25 Main Street East, at 8
o’clock in the evening of the day following the service of the claim for the purpose
of conciliation.
If the differences shall not have been adjusted by conciliation within 48 hours,
then on the fourth day after the claim shall have been served, at the same hour
and place, three representatives of each of the parties shall meet for the purpose
of arbitration. Each party shall have the privilege fco challenge one of such
representatives of the other side, and the two remaining on each side shall con
stitute the four arbitrators.
The four so selected shall choose a fifth person to act as chairman of the board
of arbitration.
Such board of arbitration shall hold daily sessions until the matter submitted
to it shall have been decided. All questions shall be determined by a majority
vote of the five arbitrators.
Pending the proceedings herein provided for, neither party shall permit any
walkout, strike, or lockout. A decision reached by conciliation or arbitration shall
be forthwith reduced to writing and a copy thereof served upon each of the parties
hereto and shall be binding upon both sides.
BRICKLAYERS
The Bricklayers, Masons, and Plasterers7 International Union of
America includes marble setters and ceramic, mosaic, and encaustic
tile layers in addition to the workers mentioned in the title of the
union. Marble mosaic unions are generally independent of the brick
layers7 union, as are likewise a few unions of tuck pointers.
In addition to the agreements made locally jjjie national organi
zation makes national agreements with individual employers and
certain national associations. A general national agreement is made
with contractors holding building contracts in several cities. It is
supplemental to the local agreements and has not varied in form for
several years. It is as follows:
We, the firm o f _________agree to work the hours, pay the wages, and abide
by the rules and regulations established or agreed upon by the Bricklayers, Masons
and Plasterers’ International Union of the locality in which any work of our
company is being done. In employing bricklayers, masons, plasterers, tile layers,
and marble masons preference shall be given to members of the Bricklayers,
Masons, and Plasterers’ International Union.
No change to be made in the hours and wages in any locality that would entail
a financial loss to us without our being consulted upon the proposed change and
agreeing to it.
In consideration of the foregoing the Bricklayers, Masons, and Plasterers’
International Union agrees that no stoppage of work or any strike of its mem
bers, either collectively or individually, shall be entered into pending any dispute
being investigated and all peaceable means taken to bring about a settlement.
The agreement between the national organization of bricklayers
and the Tile and Mantel Contractors7 Association of America, oper
ative for five years from April 1 , 1923, relates to the setting of tile
in buildings and does not cover warehouses, yards, or manufacturing
establishments. It provides that there shall be no restriction on
the amount of work an employee may do, thafr the superintendent
or foreman is to be the agent of the employer, that the employer
may employ and discharge workmen at will, and that eight hours
shall constitute a day7s work, with overtime at time and one-half
and double time for Sundays and holidays. The articles relative to
apprentices and to differences are as follows;
22
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Article IX
In order to provide ‘sufficient skilled mechanics for the natural increase of the
tile trade, it is agreed by both signatories to this agreement that an apprentice
system be established of such scope as will meet the requirements both as to the
number and efficiency of its workmen.
To insure the required number of mechanics, it is agreed that each employer
employing 1 or more journeymen shall employ 1 apprentice, and that when
an average of 5 mechanics are employed throughout the year * * * he shall
be entitled to 2 apprentices, with the maximum of 3 apprentices * * * [if]
employing 10 or more mechanics throughout the year.
It is further agreed that in order to promote the institution and execution
of an apprentice system guaranteeing thorough training, the following rules
and regulations be adopted and made part of this agreement, and both parties
hereto bind themselves to carry them into effect:
General rules and regulations governing the em ploym ent , training , and instru ction
of apprentices
1. Applicants for apprenticeship must be at least 16 years of age and must
be duly indentured. Application for apprenticeship shall be approved by the
local joint arbitration board.
2. Apprentice shall serve a term of three years of continuous employment,
including school instruction if provided. The first three months of the appren
ticeship term shall be recognized as a probationary period; during this period
the apprenticeship indenture may be annulled by either party thereto.
3. (a) All apprenticeship terms shall wherever possible include technical school
instruction of a minimum period of one month per year for the first two years
of the apprenticeship * * *.
(6) Graduates of fully accredited schools recognized by the * * * asso
ciation and the * * * union, * * * giving a three months’ course of
instruction and technical training, shall receive six months’ credit for such
schooling.
(c) Applicants for%pprenticeship who have served some time in connection
with the tile trade shall receive such credit as the joint arbitration board in any
locality may determine.
4. Apprentices shall be given a thorough training in all work pertaining to the
preparing for and settling [sic] of all work.
5. The rate of wages shall be as follows: First year, 40 per cent of the me
chanic’s wages; second year. 60 per cent of the mechanic’s wages; third year,
76 per cent of the mechanic’s wages.
6. Supervision of apprentices and the enforcement of a faithful performance
of the apprenticeship agreement by both parties hereto shall be as follows:
(а ) In States having laws pertaining to apprentices, by the laws of the State.
(б ) In cities not located in States having laws pertaining to apprentices, by
the joint arbitration board of the local tile contractors and the local union.
7. All indentures must be executed in quadruplicate, one copy delivered to
the apprentice, one retained by the employer, the third to be filed with the party
of the first part, and the fourth to the party of the second part to this agreement.
8. Apprentices upon completion of their term, shall be furnished with a suit
able certificate upon application for same, to be issued by the * * * associa
tion and the * * * union, accompanied with recommendations and certi
fications of qualifications by the supervising boards.
Article XIV
Section 1. * * * All questions or differences * * * which can not
be settled locally * * * shall be referred to the executive officers of the
two organizations for immediate settlement, but, if * * * changes of any
kind whatsoever are desired in the changeable parts of it, written notice stating
definitely the change desired must be given * * *. I f the matter can not be
adjusted previously by correspondence between the executive officers * * *
then the said officers shall meet in a joint session * * * and then and there
reach an equitable agreement. If such an agreement seems impossible between
the two parties within a reasonable time, then the matter shall be settled by arbi
tration, and such settlement shall stand as the final verdict, pending which, no
strike, lockout, or stoppage of work, individually or collectively, shall be
permitted.
BUILDING TRADES
23
Sec. 2. * * * Six months prior to the expiration of this agreement [both
parties] shall meet in joint session for the purpose of formulating a new agree
ment, pending which being accomplished this agreement shall remain in full
force and effect.
The agreement between the national organization of bricklayers
and the National Association of Marble Dealers, effective January 1 ,
1 1 24, is a little shorter than the preceding. It relates to interior
marble setting. Some of the articles are as follows:
Article III. The party of the second part agrees * * * to do * * *
work * * * without restriction (excepting only such as has been manufac
tured in a penal institution and is known as “ prison made”), and it is agreed if
they shall fail to furnish a sufficient force when notified to do so, that the mechan
ics furnished will work in harmony with such other mechanics working under
similar conditions as are obtainable.
Art. IV. * * * There shall be no limitation as to the amount of work
an employee shall perform during his working-day or as to the use of machinery
or tools.
Art. V. * * * N o person shall have the right to interfere with or talk to a
workman, except the duly accredited representatives of both parties hereto,
during working hours. The superintendent shall be the agent of the employer
and when a superintendent is not employed on a building, and the work is in
charge of a working foreman, then said foreman is also the agent of the employer.
The agent of the party of the second part shall be any accredited representative
thereof.
Art. VI. * * * The employing of workmen shall be done by the employer
or Superintendent unless they order the foreman to do so.
Art. VII. * * * All workmen are at liberty to work for whomsoever
they choose, and all employers are at liberty to employ and discharge whomso
ever they choose.
Art. VIII. * * * The employer on any job shall determine the number of
helpers to be employed.
Art. IX. * * * Eight hours shall constitute a day's work; any time worked
after the regular eight hours (except Sundays and holidays) shall be regular
overtime, and the workmen shall be paid for it at a rate of double time, and it
shall be designated as “ emergency time,” except in localities where mutually
agreed otherwise.
Art. XII. It is agreed by the party of the first part that a minimum wage
scale of $1.12J^ per hour shall be paid everywhere in the United States and
Dominion of Canada for all work covered by this agreement; provided that in
order to meet local conditions the local organizations of the party of the second
part, or local members or representatives of the party of the first part, may sub
mit requests for changes in the wage scale to be effective on January 1 or July 1
of each year, not less than 30 days prior to one or the other of the dates men
tioned above; but such local scale when established in any locality shall remain
in effect for at least one year from the date when it becomes effective. The
party of the first part agrees that requests for changes in the wage scale emana
ting from the local organizations of the party of the second part * * *
shall receive prompt consideration in conference with the duly accredited
representatives of the local organizations of the party of the second part, in each
case, and an agreement reached, if possible; * * * if an agreement on any
local wage scale can not be reached by negotiation as herein provided, the matter
shall be settled by arbitration, and the result of the arbitration shall be binding
upon both parties to this agreement and upon all of their members; pending
the result of any conference or arbitration provided for herein no strike, lockout,
or stoppage of work, individually or collectively, shall be permitted.
Art. XIII. * * * All questions or differences arising between the parties
to this agreement not covered by the preceding article and not affecting the agree
ment itself which can not be settled locally by the agents of both parties hereto
shall be referred to the executive officers of the two organizations for settlement
immediately. If the matter can not be adjusted previously by correspondence
between the executive officers of the respective parties hereto, then the said
officers shall meet in joint session at some location to be mutually decided upon
on any agreed date, not more than 30 days after the matter has been referred
to them, and then and there reach an equitable agreement. If such an agree
ment seems impossible between the two parties within a reasonable time, then
24
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
the matter shall be decided by arbitration, and such settlement shall stand as
the final verdict; pending such verdict no strike, lockout, or stoppage of work,
individually or collectively, shall be permitted.
Art. XVI. It shall not be considered a violation of this agreement to
withdraw members of the party of the second part from any operation in
protection of its direct interests.
The local unions are variously organized. In the smaller places
they include workers in all branches of the trade. In the larger
cities each branch is often separately, organized.
The agreements generally are for one year and follow the lines
shown in the three national agreements heretofore given, with, of
course, the modifications and changes demanded by local conditions.
Many of the local agreements are practically copies of the national
agreement.
The agreement between the Mason Builders7 Association and cer~ tain bricklayers7 unions,4 of Greater New York and Long Island, for
1924-25 provides that the association is to obtain its help from the
union. It further provides that—
Article IX. * * * Any member of these unions upon showing his card of
membership shall be permitted upon any job when seeking employment. The
shop steward or business agent shall determine who are members of these unions.
It shall not be the duty of the foreman to ask any man to what union he belongs.
If the shop steward be discharged for inspecting the cards of the bricklayers on
the job or calling the attention of the foreman to any violation of the agreement,
he shall be at once reinstated until the matter is brought before the joint arbi
tration committee for settlement.
The representative of the builder in direct charge of bricklayers must be a
member of the Bricklayers, Masons, and Plasterers’ International Union. If
charges are preferred against this man, his employer shall be notified at once in
writing what the charges are. If the charges are sustained at the trial, the pen
alty shall not be enforced for two weeks, and the employer shall have the right
to have the matter discussed by the joint arbitration committee after the New
York executive committee of the bricklayers’ unions has xendered its decision.
Art. X. Any member of a union, party to this agreement, who is an employer,
or who may become an employer, must deposit his card of membership in said
union, and his membership shall cease, excepting his mortuary benefit therein.
Art. XI. No member of these bricklayers’ unions shall work for anyone not
complying with all rules and regulations herein agreed to.
No laborer shall be allowed upon any wall or pier to temper or spread mortar
which shall be delivered in bulk, said mortar to be spread with a trowel by the
bricklayers, who shall work by the hour rate only. If a bricklayer works half
an hour or less, he shall be paid for half an hour.
Art. XII. If a building be abandoned for any cause,*on which wages—and
wages only—of any member of these unions are unpaid, the bricklayers shall
reserve the right to refuse to work thereon until these wages are paid.
The following provisions are taken from the agreement of Local
No. 2 with the Builders7 Association of Niagara Fans, N. Y., April 1 ,
1923:
Article V. (a) The Bricklayers and Masons’ Union No. 2 agrees that none of
its members shall be allowed to contract or subcontract any work unless said
member takes a withdrawal card from the union.
(b) Said card shall not be recognized for redeposit for a period of six months
from date of issue.
(c) The secretary of the union shall notify the secretary of the Builders’ As
sociation of all such withdrawals and redeposits of union cards for such purposes.
Art. XV. When a contractor or firm of contractors hires a foreman to lay out
and generally superintend the erection of brick or stone work, such foreman shall
be a practical bricklayer or stonemason and shall be a member of the Brick
layers, Masons, and Plasterers’ International Union of America, and only the two
*
Unions Nos. 1, 9,34,37, and 41.
BUILDING TRADES
25
first-named members of any firm shall have the right to act as a foreman of any
brick or stone work; such names to be submitted to the committee at the time of
signing the agreement.
Art. XVI. There shall be a permanent board of arbitration appointed, three
members from each party to this contract, to be designated in writing. The
persons so appointed may be changed at any time by a new designation in writ
ing. The six so appointed shall at once choose a seventh person to act as um
pire in case of their disagreement, designating him in writing, and they may
change the umpire, or appoint a new one, for special cases at any time by a like
writing. In case of a disagreement between the six arbitrators the decision of
the umpire shall be final. All designations made under this article, and all
decisions of such arbitration, shall be filed with the secretary of the local union.
The duties of the arbitration board so composed shall be to settle all disputes
resulting from the enforcement or violation of this agreement. If, during the
term of this agreement, this arbitration board shall decide that abnormal condi
tions necessitate a change in any of its clauses, this board, after due considera
tion, shall be empowered to adjust them.
CARPENTERS
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
aims to include in its membership all who are engaged in carpenter
work of any description; milling, joining, assembling, erecting, fas
tening, or dismantling of all material of wood, hollow metal, or fiber,
the erecting and dismantling of machinery, and the manufacture of
all wood materials, when the training of a carpenter is required in
the operation of either machine or hand tools. Where members are
sufficiently numerous, local unions are formed of bridge, dock, and
wharf carpenters; shipwrights and boat builders; ship carpenters
and calkers; railroad carpenters; car builders; millwrights; ma
chinery erectors; pile drivers; bench hands; floor layers; stair build
ers; millmen; furniture workmen; cabinetmakers; box makers; reed
and rattan workers; runners of woodworking machinery; and groups
of the same.
The agreements vary somewhat in contents, depending on the
character of the work of the members of the unions. Unions affili
ated with the building trades have agreements conforming to those
of the other building trades. The millmen and furniture workers
form classes by themselves, the shipbuilding unions follow the rules of
the metal trades, and the car builders those of the railroad shopmen.
Where there is but one local in a town that local generally makes
its agreements with individual employers. Where there are several
locals in a place they form district councils and make joint agree
ments with associations of employers. Oftentimes the district coun
cils are composed only of those unions working in the building
trades. Sometimes the millmen form a similar district council and
the two act independently of each other.
The agreements are generally short. Most of those in the building
trades follow closely principles already given. Those in the other
trades contain some variations. The wages of millmen, however, gen
erally run lower than the wages of building carpenters and they occa
sionally work 9 hours a day. Foremen are generally required to be
members of the union. When work is carried on with two or more
shifts, the second and third generally receive 8 hours’ pay for 7 hours’
work. Piecework is forbidden. Several agreements require employ
ees to be protected under the provisions of the workmen’s compensa
tion laws of the State where they are working.
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
26
Apprentices must be between 17 and 22 years of age at the time
of apprenticeship. Generally each shop is allowed 1 apprentice, and
another for each 5 to 10 journeymen employed. Their term of
service is 4 years. Their wages vary from one-fourth to two-thirds
that of journeymen. They must be members of the union or, at
least, registered with it. A complete statement of apprenticeship
is given in the agreement between Local No. 31, of Trenton, N. J.,
ana the Master Builders' Exchange, effective May 1 , 1924. The
following extracts are taken from section 9 of the agreement:
One apprentice may be registered to all bona fide contractors. In no case shall
an apprentice be started until the consent of the board of arbitration has been
obtained. He shall be taken on trial for three months, and if satisfactory the
board of arbitration shall be notified and the boy credited with the time he has
served. He shall then be indentured to the contractor for four years, starting
from beginning of trial, and a copy of indenture to be given the contractor, to
Local Union No. 31, and to the boy’s parents. He shall then be registered in
Local Union No. 31. The boy must be between 17 and 22 years of age when
starting his apprenticeship. * * * The employer shall furnish work for the
apprentice 52 weeks per year, and in case the apprentice does not report for work
the employer is not obligated to pay him for that day. The employer shall fur
nish all necessary tools for the apprentice. * * * The apprentice must take
a two-year course in the night school in the School of Industrial Arts, half of
the cost of his tuition to be borne by Local Union No. 31 and half by his employer,
and on his entrance into the School of Industrial Arts the local union shall see
that he attends same.
Section 7 of Article XI of the agreement between the district
council of Pittsburgh and the Master Builders' Association of Alle
gheny County, dated April 1 2 , 1924, reads in part as follows:
All apprentices shall be required to attend whatever trade school the joint
arbitration board shall make arrangements for them to attend. They shall be
given credit for the length of time that they spend in the school the same as
though they were actually working on the job.
The following extracts from agreements of various locals are of
interest:
That the party of the second part shall have the right to quit work on any
job or building or operation when ordered to do so by the general president of
the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.
That 60 per cent of the carpenters employed on buildings or working in shops
must be affiliated with the Albany District Council. No member or members
of the union shall lump or subcontract work. (Agreement of District Council,
Albany, N. Y., May 1, 1924, art. 4, (f) and (g).)
No members of the parties of the first part shall sublet, piece or lump out
their carpenter work except to a contractor working under this agreement.
Neither shall any journeyman, who is a member of the party of the second
part, be permitted to take piece or lump work in any shape or manner, or work
for any owner or contractor who does piece or lump work, whether he be a
member of the party of the first part or not. Contracting firms having two or
more members, only two of them shall use tools. (Agreement of Local No.
183, Peoria, 111., effective April 1, 1924, art. 9.)
No contractor or employer shall * * * require his men to work on any
unfair job.
No contractor or employer shall * * * require his carpenters to perform
the work belonging to any other organized trade. (Agreement of Local No. 66,
Jamestown, N. Y., May 1,1923, arts. IX and X.)
BUILDING TRADES
27
All carpenters doing carpenter work for individuals shall charge the same rate
as the master carpenters, and under no circumstances shall work be done after
working hours. All members of the different locals shall use their influence to
have such work turned over to members of the master carpenters.
No carpenter will be allowed to loan his tools to a disinterested party, such as
plumbers, painters, tinners, plasterers, bricklayers, electricians, laborers, or any
craftsman not directly connected with the carpenter work. Should he be found
doing so the contractor shall have the right to dock same one hour’s time.
(Agreement of District Council, Wilkes-Barre and vicinity, May 1, 1924,
(8) and (9).)
No lawyer is to act as arbitrator, council [counsel] or advisor at any proceedings
held under this plan, but it is further provided that a judge may act as arbitrator.
It is also further mutually agreed that the plain provisions of this agreement,
the agreed wage scale, the hours of work, and the employment of union carpen
ters shall remain fixed and shall not be a matter of arbitration during the life of
this agreement. (Arbitration plan of District Council, Syracuse, N. Y., and
Syracuse Builders’ Exchange, for 1923, (I-G) and (I-I).)
ELECTRICAL WORKERS
The membership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers is composed of workers in various lines of industry—manu
facturing, installing, maintaining, and operating electrical apparatus
in buildings, subways, bridges, ships, vehicles, locomotives, and vari
ous devices, for purposes of lighting, heating, power, telephone, tele
graph, and transportation. They are grouped into four general
branches—outside, inside, shop, and railroad.
Telegraph and moving-picture operators and mechanical operators
in transportation are each grouped into unions by themselves. Most
of the rest are found in locals affiliated with the Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers. The telephone operators form a separate
department in the brotherhood.
Where sufficiently numerous in any community, locals of workers of
one class, as inside wiremen, fixture hangers, assemblers, linemen, or
shopmen are found. There is generally but one local of a class in a
town, and this local makes agreements with associations of electrical
employers so far as possible. The inside wiremen are generally affili
ated with the building trades, as are at times the linemen, but the
latter are more frequently connected with power, transportation, tele
phone, and telegraph service, though retaining their connection with
the brotherhood. However, for convenience, agreements of inside
wiremen, fixture hangers, and linemen are here considered together.
No national agreements are made in the electrical industry. A
declaration of principles was however adopted in July, 1919, by the
convention of the National Association of Electrical Contractors and
Dealers, in September, 1919, by the Convention of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and in December, 1919, ratified
by a referendum vote of the membership of the latter. These prin
ciples appear in many of the local agreements. They are general in
character, recognize the wastefulness of the overlapping of functions
in various groups of the industry, recommend cooperation between
employer and employee, urge the avoidance of strikes and lockouts,
condemn the making of agreements in restraint of trade or granting
special privileges to special groups, recommend fixing qualifications
for engaging in the electrical construction industry, and recognize the
right of collective bargaining.
28
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Very few local agreements are made for a longer period of time
than one year. The agreements recognize a closed shop, the 44-hour
week, and the payment of double time for overtime except on Sat
urday afternoon in the case of one man per shop who is there to
attend to emergency calls only. Linemen occasionally work eight
hours on Saturday. Rubber boots, coats, hats, and gloves are fur
nished by the employer where required.
The distinctions between helpers and apprentices and their respec
tive duties are shown in the following extracts:
The workmen covered by this agreement are divided into three classes: (a)
Journeymen; (b) helpers; and (c) apprentices registered with the union.
The employer shall be entitled to 1 apprentice and an additional apprentice
for every 10 union men, journeymen, and helpers he has on an average employed
weekly.
Apprentices shall be registered to the employer on request in writing to the
union, and the request in writing shall specify the number of journeymen and
helpers in his employ. The employer shall notify the union as soon as he has
laid off an apprentice or if an apprentice leaves his employ or becomes a helper.
Unemployed registered apprentices shall be assigned to an employer in prefer
ence to a new applicant. If the employer fails to comply with the above, the
union reserves the right to refuse to register another apprentice to said
employer.
The employer shall be entitled to a number of helpers equal to the number of
journeymen employed by him, it being understood that no more helpers than
journeymen shall be allowed regularly on any one job. This does not require a
helper "to lay off during the temporary absence of the journeyman with whom he
is working. (Agreement of Local No. 3, New York City, January 4, 1924,
secs. 7-10.)
A helper as herein mentioned is one who has been registered with Local No.
69 i International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, at least one year, during
wh ch time he must have been 75 per cent of the time employed.
An apprentice under this agreement is one who has not served one year at
the electrical work. It is necessary that he be registered with Local Union No.
696, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, but he shall not become
a member until he has been registered at least one year. He shall be issued an
apprentice card on the payment of $1, card to be good for six months. He
shall pay the sum of $1 each succeeding six months after issuance of said card;
all money so paid to apply on initiation fee when he shall become a helper at
the end of the two years’ period.
(a) A helper will be permitted to work alone for a period not exceeding 3 hours
providing no journeyman is available.
There shall at no time be more than one helper to each journeyman.
Each shop shall have not more than one apprentice to each four journeymen
and not more than three apprentices, irrespective of the number of journeymen.
(Agreement of Local No. 696, Albany, N. Y., May 1, 1924, arts. 7-10.)
Any shop employing one journeyman steadily will be entitled to one helper,
and for the next three additional journeymen one extra helper, or an apprentice
providing helper is first employed, and thereafter for every three journeymen,
including the seventh journeyman, one helper, and thereafter one helper to two
journeymen; but in no case will any shop be entitled to more than one appren
tice. No contractor member of firm to be considered a journeyman, as referred
to in this article. No apprentice shall be allowed to work for a contractor,
party of the first part, until registered by Local Union No. 43, and shall not in
any case be given any priority over the helper.
Apprentices shall be registered to employer, on request in writing to the union
and the request in writing shall specify the number of journeymen and helpers
in his employ. The employer shall notify the union as soon as he has laid off
an apprentice, leaves his employ or becomes a helper. Unemployed registered
apprentices shall be assigned to an employer in preference to new applicant.
If the employer fails to comply with the above, the union reserves the right
BUILDING TRADES
29
to refuse to register another apprentice to said employer, it being understood
that no more helpers than journeymen shall be allowed regularly on any one
job. (Agreement of Local No. 43, Syracuse, N. Y., June 18, 1924, arts. 11, 12.)
Each helper shall attend a night school for electrical instructions and shall
attend on an average of not less than 5 hours per week during school period.
(Agreement of Local No. 481, Indianapolis, April 1, 1924, art. 13.)
The pay of helpers and apprentices varies from one-fourth to
two-thirds that of a journeyman.
Strikes and lockouts are forbidden except such as are called by
building-trades officials or the officers of the national organization.
No one while a member of the union is to contract to do electrical
work on his own account. Only one member of a firm or corporation
is allowed to work as a journeyman and he is required to carry a
card showing that he is a working member of the firm.
The following extracts from various agreements are of interest:
All men sent out of the city on a job shall be allowed, transportation, travel
ing time, sleeper and board by the party of the first part. No traveling to be
done on Saturday afternoons or Sundays unless first ordered by the party of the
first part, in which case double time shall then be paid. No pay to be allowed
for traveling at night except in emergency, breakdown, or repair calls, in which
case double time shall be paid. Time of traveling to be designated by the party
of the first part. (Agreement of Local No. 309, East St. Louis, 111., July 15,
1924, sec. 10.)
The official union label of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
shall be placed on the inside (and outside, if convenient) of all buildings where
the electrical work is being done by the members of this local union. It is de
sirable to have the contractor also place a placard wherever permissible.
Upon violation of this agreement by either party said agreement shall become
null and void, and no new agreement shall be signed by either party unless the
offending party shall file bonds to the extent of $100.
Upon second violation the bond shall become forfeited to the offended party.
All differences arising between the parties to this agreement are to be settled
by a board of arbitration, consisting of two electrical contractors who have
signed this agreement and who employ at least two journeymen of this local
union continuously, they to be selected by the contractor with whom the differ
ence exists, and two journeymen of this local union. (Agreement of Local No.
52, Essex County, N.J., April, 1923, secs. 8, 13, and 14.)
This agreement is to take effect March 1, 1924, and shall continue in force
until March 1, 1925, and shall be considered renewed from year to year there
after under the same terms and conditions as herein stated unless one party noti
fies the other party in writing on or before October 1, five months prior to the
termination of this agreement, specifying the changes desired, or five months
prior to the termination of the year for which this agreement is continued, renewed,
or extended, of their intention to terminate this agreement, and if any change in
the terms of the agreement is contemplated by either party they must notify the
other party of its intention to make change at least five months prior to the
expiration of this agreement or any renewal or extension thereof. (Agreement of
Local No. 26, Washington, February 21, 1924, Art. II, sec. 1.)
ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS
Elevator constructors assemble, erect, and equip escalators and
elevators in buildings. A model agreement was drawn up September
10,1923, by a joint committee representing the manufacturers and the
46976°—25-----3
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
30
International Union of Elevator Constructors. It contains the usual
regulations for a closed shop, a 44-hour week, double rates for over
time, and prohibition of strikes or lockouts except by authorization
of the building trades council and the international union authorities.
Some of the other provisions are as follows:
Second. The rate of wage to be paid * * * shall be based on terms of
international agreement covering the elevator industry throughout the United
States as follows:
* * * The average wage rate of the five highest of the following seven prin
cipal building trades—bricklayers, plasterers, carpenters, electricians, sheet-metal
workers, plumbers and steam fitters, and iron workers—be accepted as the wage
rate for the elevator constructor mechanics; the wage rate for helpers to be 70
per cent of the mechanic’s rate.
* * * No change in wage rate shall be made more often than six months.
Thirty days’ notice in writing shall be given by either party of a desire of such
change, and such written notice shall constitute cause for a meeting of both
parties.
Fourth. When it is necessary to work more than one shift on contract work
requiring three days or more, workmen shall be paid at the rate of time and
one-half for the first eight hours of the extra shift and double time for all
additional time.
*
Eighth. * * * The total number of helpers employed shall not exceed
the number of mechanics, except that the party of the first part may use as many
helpers as best suits his convenience under the direction of a mechanic in wreck
ing old plants, hoisting material, putting on cables, and on foundation work.
Ninth. Traveling time and expenses: * * * When members * * *
are sent outside of the jurisdictional radius covered in this agreement, they will
be paid straight-time rates for traveling time during regular working hours. If
the trip extends beyond regular working hours, single time will be allowed for
the actual traveling time up to five hours.
Tenth. * * * There shall be no restriction placed on the character of work
which a helper may perform under the direction of a mechanic.
Eleventh. * * * The party of the first part may hoist or lower their ma
terial with the aid or use of derricks employed on the building, and this work
shall be done under the direction of the party of the second part.
Twelth. Scarcity of help: * * * i n the event of their being unable to sup
ply sufficient mechanics and helpers to meet the requirements of the party of the
first part, the party of the first part may employ mechanics or helpers not mem
bers of the party of the second part, and the party of the second part will issue
permits to such mechanics or helpers, these permits to be renewed from week to
week. * * * These mechanics and helpers may apply for admission to the
organization of the party of the second part and may be elected to membership
therein if they meet the requirements of the organization.
Thirteenth. * * * The party of the first part is entitled to one apprentice
and one additional apprentice for each eight mechanics on the pay roll of the party
of the first part. Such apprentices shall not be under 18 years of age at the
beginning of their apprenticeship.
Sixteenth. In the event of any dispute arising * * * which can not
otherwise be settled, the matter shall be submitted to arbitration, each party
selecting two members and these four to select the fifth, and the parties hereto
* * * to accept the decision of such arbitration board.
Both parties further agree to submit differences that can not be settled locally
to a national arbitration committee, which * * * shall have power to
enforce its decision by right of mutual consent for the protection of the public
and the entire elevator industry; and * * * pending their decision there
shall be no stoppage of work.
The national arbitration committee * * * shall consist of an equal num
ber of representatives of the International Union of Elevator Constructors and
representatives of the Elevator Manufacturers’ Association and shall be formed
annually * * *; and its decision shall be final and binding upon each party
of this agreement.
In general the local agreements follow the model.
In some cities the umon has jurisdiction over elevator operators.
The wages of these workers often vary with the height of the building
31
in which they work. The two-year agreement between Local No.
66 and the Building Managers’ Association of Chicago, November
1, 1923, provides for a working-day of
hours, witn overtime at
the regular rate up to 10 hours and time and a half thereafter and
on Sundays and holidays (except in the case of regular all-night oper
ators) ; equal rates of pay for male and female employees; provision
of uniforms, where required, by employers. Elevator starters receive
$ 1 0 per month more than operators.
BUILDING TRADES
ENGINEERS, STEAM AND OPERATING
The International Union of Steam and Operating Engineers in
cludes engineers operating steam rollers, boilers, or heating plants in
buildings, “ dinkey ” locomotives, pumps, concrete mixers, stone
crushers, steam shovels, cable ways, pile drivers, and hoisting and
portable engines of all classes used in connection with building oper
ations, whether operated by steam, electricity, air, or gas. The
hoisting and portable engineers are connected with the building
trades. Engineers on railroads and steamboats form unions by
themselves. In breweries engineers and firemen often form a joint
local affiliated with the brewery workmen’s union.
The agreements provide for reasonable protection against falling
materials and the weather. The rule is a 48-hour week in breweries
and buildings and a 44-hour week in the building trades. Where
three shifts are employed, the custom is to work each shift 8 hours
daily, including the lunch period, but with only 4 hours on Saturday.
On building work double rate is always paid for all overtime. Local
No. 506, Philadelphia, in an agreement effective May 1 , 1923, pro
vides (Art. Ill, sec. 1 ) that “ Engineers and firemen employed on
straight time shall be paid for all holidays.”
The agreement of Local No. 1 1 , Syracuse, N. Y., dated April 1 ,
1924, states (art. 9) that engineers are entitled to one week’s vaca
tion during the summer months, with pay, ‘‘with employer’s consent.”
The following provisions are taken from the agreement of Local
No. 103, Indianapolis, April 1 1 , 1924 (Art. IX, secs. 1-4):
When an engineer is employed to operate a mixer for paving (not building
construction) he may be employed by the month.
An engineer may" be employed to operate a steam shovel by the month
♦ * *. An engineer employed by the month must receive a full month’s pay,
but if employment is changed to other than by the month the conditions provided
in hoisting engineers’ agreement for employment in building construction shall
prevail.
The working-days in a month for an operator employed by the month to
constitute a calendar month * * * except that boilers may be washed and
repairing of machine shall be done on Sundays. No work shall be done on
Labor Day except in case where it is necessary to save life or property. Satur
day afternoon shall be considered a half holiday.
The working-days for an operator employed by the month shall be 10 hours
or less, which shall be between the hours of 7 a. m. and 6 p. m.
FIREMEN AND OILERS
The International Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen and Oilers
is composed of oilers, water tenders, boiler washers, ash handlers,
coal passers, and boiler, retort, and stoker firemen and helpers. Their
agreements are usually made with individual employers. The follow
ing extracts are taken from the agreement made by Local No. 32, De
troit, April 1, 1924:
32
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Article III. * * * (a) The chief engineer shall have full charge of all fire
men, oilers, and other boiler-room help, and in his absence the engineer on duty,
appointed by the chief, shall have charge of all boiler-room help.
(b)
* * * The firemen in charge of boiler room, while on duty, shall not
perform any other duty which shall take him outside of said boiler room, not in
Connection with his said duty as fireman.
Art. IX. It is further mutually agreed that in case of grievance or difference
between the employer and employees, the difficulty in question shall be laid be
fore an arbitration committee consisting of five men, two of whom shall be ap
pointed by the employer, and one of the two so appointed shall not be in any
way interested in that particular industry; two shall be appointed by Local
Union No. 32, International Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen, and one of the
two appointed shall not be a member of national or international union the
members of which are employees of that particular industry; the fifth man shall
be elected by the four men appointed as above and shaft not be in any way
interested in the industry or be a member of any labor organization, or, as the
case may, by mutual consent, be submitted to the State board of consultation
[sic] and arbitration, and both employer and employees shall abide by the
decision of said committee of said board of consultation and arbitration.
HOD CARRIERS
The International Hod Carriers, Building and Common Laborers1
Union of America is composed of persons doing laborers’ work in
yards, quarries, factories, mills, building operations, constructing
streets, sewers, and tunnels, laying water, gas, and electric mains,
tending carpenters, bricklayers, and plasterers, making mortar, and
building scaffolds. As a rule a union includes members working at
all branches of the trade, although in the larger cities there are a few
specialized unions. A few extracts from agreements follow:
When three 8-hour shifts are employed, one-half hour for lunch shall be
allowed each man in every shift, with pay; but where possible the men shall
lunch alternately to permit the work to proceed continuously.
All digging depth below 15 feet of level of surface of ground, rate of pay
shall be increased 5 cents per hour every additional 10 feet. (Agreement of
Cement Workers7 Local No. 100, East St. Louis, 111., April 1,1924, Art. II, secs.
15 and 28.)
All work shall proceed pending a settlement of dispute, but a sympathetic
strike called by the Building Trades Council, or the district council of the
International Hod Carriers, Building and Common Laborers7Union of America,
when it is necessary to protect union principles, shall in no way be considered a
violation of this agreement. (Idem, Art. III.)
All men tending masons to begin work previous to the hour of starting in
order to have material on the boards or scaffold by starting time shall be left to
option of contractor. Laborers shall receive time and one-half for overtime and
Saturday afternoons, except when working with bricklayers who are working
overtime; then double time shall be paid. * * * Men beginning 10 minutes
before starting hour to quit 10 minutes before quitting time. (Agreement of
. Local No. 177, Des Moines, 1924, Art. III.)
Time and one-half shall be paid for the first two hours overtime after the
regular quitting time on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and
Fridays. All other overtime shall be paid for at the rate of double time. When
members are compelled to work more than two hours overtime, they shall be
allowed one-half hour for lunch with pay. If men are working after 12 o'clock
midnight, the employer shall furnish lunch with pay. Where possible the men
shall .arrange to lunch alternately to permit the work to proceed continuously.
(Agreement of Locals Nos. 22, 53, 162, and 284, St. Louis, Mo., effective March
1, 1923, Art. XI, sec. G.)
BUILDING TRADES
33
LATHERS
The membership of Wood, Wire, and Metal Lathers’ International
Union includes workers engaged in putting laths or plaster board
into position for the application of plastic material. The following
extracts are taken from the agreement of Local No. 74, Chicago, in
effect July 23, 1923, articles 4, 9, 18, and 26:
Article 4. It is conceded by both parties to this agreement that 100 yards of
wood lathing on ordinary work is a fair day’s work. It is also conceded by both
parties to this agreement that special provisions should be made for those mem
bers of the party of the second part who are incapable from age or other causes
so as to give them equal rights with all other members, and in accordance with
the above the party of the first part concedes the right of the party of the
second part to grant special privileges to the members of this class and to
regulate the wages.
Art. 9. The party of the second part agrees to allow the use of common labor
to distribute material from floor to floor, but no laborer to be allowed to use the
tools pertaining to the craft of lathing. At no time shall this clause be construed
to affect the right of the party of the second part to distribute their own
material.
Art. 18. Any contractor who desires to work with the tools must show a con
tractor’s card issued by Local 74 and conform to the working rules of the
party of the second part.
Art. 26. It is agreed that 90 yards of plaster board is considered a fair day’s
work when nailed on wood or ordinary construction. Plaster board to be nailed
to each joist, stud or bearing with approved large-headed nails not to exceed
6 inches apart.
PAINTERS
The members of the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators, and
Paperhangers of America apply (and remove) oil, paints, varnishes,
stains, ana the like to any material for preservative or decorative
purposes, set glass, and hang paper. In small cities the various
workers of the craft are grouped into single unions. In larger cities
individual unions are found of sign painters, scenic painters, hard
wood finishers, wagon painters, ship painters, car painters, varnishers, gilders, paper hangers, glaziers and decorative and art glass work
ers, groupea together into district councils. As a rule the agreements
are made with individual employers.
The 44-hour week is practically universal, but the Seattle, Boston,
New York and vicinity, and the Sign Painters’ Union No. 830, of
Chicago, agreements call for a 40-hour week, Saturday being ob
served as a whole holiday. The following extracts from the agree
ment of District Council No. 9, New York, May, 1923, include the
provisions found in most painters’ agreements, other than those
common to all building-trade agreements:
First. * * *'' On all out-of-town work done by an employer he shall employ
members of District Council No. 9 to the extent of at least 50 per cent.
Fourth. Men employed by New York employers to do work out of town shall
receive the wages and "work the hours herein provided, but if the wages in the
locality in which such work is done are higher than herein provided, the men
shall receive such higher wage, and if the hours of labor prevailing in such local
ity are shorter than those herein provided, the men shall work such shorter
hours. The higher wage and the shorter hours shall apply to all men on such
jobs, whether such men come from the jurisdiction of District Council No. 9 or
from the locality in which the work is performed.
Fifth. * * * When a man is directed by the employer to remain on an
out-of-town job from the beginning of the same until its completion, the
employer shall pay his board and lodging for seven days per week at a rate
sufficient to insure decent accommodations under the prevailing living conditions
in the locality.
34
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Sixth. The rate of wages for apprentices shall in all cases be based upon
journeymen’s wages and shall be as follows: Thirty-five per cent of such wages
during the first year of apprenticeship, 45 per cent during the second year, 55
per cent during the third year, 70 per cent during the fourth year. After the
fourth year such apprentice shall be considered a full-fledged journeyman and
shall receive full journeyman’s wages.
Seventh. * * * Men having charge of five men or more shall receive one
hour’s pay in addition to their regular wages for each day’s work.
Ninth. Only 1 apprentice shall be allowed for 10 full-fledged journeyman
workers or less. No shop shall have more than 2 apprentices at any time. The
conditions of employment of apprentices shall be regulated by the joint appren
ticeship committee of the painting and decorating industry.
Eleventh. Stoppage of work on account of a sympathetic strike ordered by
the union shall not be considered a violation of this agreement.
Twelfth. The employer shall carry adequate insurance under the workmen’s
compensation law to cover all men.
Thirteenth. The employer shall not sublet or subcontract to employees or
other persons any work of painting, decorating, paper hanging, or other work
done by members of the union.
Fourteenth. The employer shall provide adequate and secure lockers for the
clothes and tools of the men and shall be responsible for loss or damage of the
same. Such lockers shall be separated from the paint shop.
Fifteenth. The employer shall make adequate and proper provisions for the
health and safety of the workers in connection with their work and as far as
possible protect them from hazards and from the danger of lead poisoning or
other vocational diseases, and particularly:
(а ) Provide proper and modern safety devices to men employed on scaffold
work. No man shall be discharged for refusing to work on a ladder or scaffold
ing which he considers unsafe.
(б ) Furnish the men with clean and sanitary drop cloths or rags whenever the
same are used in his work.
(c) Provide proper toilet and washing facilities on every job, and allow five
(5) minutes’ time for washing up.
(d) Furnish fresh drinking water to the men at least twice a day.
(e) Allow men working with flat paints in insufficiently ventilated rooms a
reasonable interval for breathing fresh air between work in one room and another.
(/) No dry sandpapering of painted surfaces or trim shall be allowed.
(g) No paints and substitutes of turpentine proven by chemical analysis to
contain benzol or other highly poisonous substances injurious to the health of
the men shall be used.
(h) No spray painting machine of any make or construction shall be used for
the painting of any building or structure.
Nearly all agreements prohibit work on Saturday afternoon and
many prohibit overtime work, except in emergency, and then only on
written permission of the executive board or district council or busi
ness agent. Local No. 156, Evansville, Ind., in its agreement effective
April 1 , 1924 (sec. 4), makes this provision:
Members must secure permits from the business agent, stating the number of
men to work Saturday afternoon, and all members working shall pay 50 per cent
of their wages earned on said Saturday afternoons into this local union’s treasury.
Section 9 of the same agreement provides:
When four other building trades receive an increase of wages higher than
Local Union No. 156, that the painters’ scale shall automatically become increased
to the minimum scale of the four trades receiving increase.
Extra wages are paid to those performing hazardous work.
Five cents per hour above the minimum rate of wages shall be paid for swingstage work where stage is swung more than 50 feet or two stories above the base
of operations.
Bridge and structural-iron painting shall be paid for at the same rate as paid
to structural-iron workers; this applies to superstructure of new buildings not
inclosed, such as open skeleton work and bridge work, but does not apply to
BUILDING TRADES
35
inside of buildings such as trusses, beams, and miscellaneous iron and steel work.
(Agreement of District Council No. 6, Cleveland, March 1, 1923, extracts from
Art. X.)
Any member * * * working on tanks, stacks, or above 60 feet—sidewalk
level—shall be paid 50 cents per hour in addition to the regular rate of wages
for the entire sign.
Working on stacks 100 feet or higher shall be paid for at the rate of double
time.
Any member * * * working on electric signs erected either horizontal or
vertical, whether it is new work or repaint, shall be paid 25 cents per hour in
addition to the regular rate of wages. (Agreement of Sign, Scene, and Pictorial
Painters1 Union, Local No. 830, Chicago, April 1, 1924, secs. 6 and 7.)
The use of a brush over 4 inches in width is generally prohibited
in ordinary flat work.
Apprentices are generally required to be under 2 1 years of age, to
be registered with the union, and to serve with some contractor for
three years. Generally not more than one apprentice to five journey
men in a shop is allowed and the total number of apprentices is
rarely allowed to exceed two or three.
Employers are required to keep a strictly union shop. Members
are foibidden to work with nonunion men or for an employer who
does not sign the agreement or comply with its provisions. A stop
page of work because of the presence of nonunion men is not con
sidered a violation of the agreement, sympathetic strikes are permit
ted, and contractors are not allowed to become members of the union,
nor are journeymen allowed to contract for work. Only one member
of a firm is allowed to do journeymen’s work, and must then observe
union rules as to wages and hours.
The following provisions are found in the agreement of New York
Sign Writers, Local No. 230, April 1 , 1924, Articles III, IX, X III,
and XIV:
A rticle III, S ection E. Sign painters and their assistants working on the
road shall receive the daily wage scale adopted by the local union having juris
diction over the locality from which they are traveling, and not less than $4.50
per day hotel expenses, until they return to their home town; provided they
must comply with the working rules and laws in the locality in which th ey work,
and demand at all times the shorter workday and the higher wage scale.
A rt . IX, Sec. A. No member * * * shall be directed or allowed to work
on scaffolds or ladders unassisted, but must be provided with competent help to
insure safety and proper handling. “All men so engaged shall be members in
good standing in the party of the second part.”
Sec. B. N o advertising journeyman will be allowed to work without a senior
apprentice, studio work excepted.
A r t . XIII. It is expressly agreed that all ladders, planks, etc., shall be deliv
ered on the job by the employer. Where rags and cloths are used they shall
be furnished to the men in sanitary condition. Heat and hot water shall be
supplied in shops, and all standard sanitary conditions covered by legislation
must prevail.
Sec. A. All scaffolds and rigging shall be inspected, swung, and removed from
jobs by members of the party of the second part.
Sec. B. * * * All rigging, ropes, scaffoldings, and tackle used by members
of the party of the second part shall be inspected at intervals in a way that will
insure the safety of all members of the party of the second part using said rig
ging, etc.; any member of the party of the second part shall have the right to
refuse to work upon the rigging, scaffolding, etc., improperly hung or in an un
safe condition. All such unsafe rigging shall be removed or defects otherwise
corrected.
36
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Art. XIV. * * * The party of the first part shall make use of the union
labels of the party of the second part on all signs and show-card work executed
by members of the party of the second part, unless sufficient reason is given.
Sec. A. The union label must be placed on all political signs, all work intended
for buildings under construction or alteration executed by members of the party
of the second part, and failure to comply with this requirement will result in the
label being affixed wherever omitted by the party of the second part at the ex
pense of the party of the first part.
Sec. B. The party of the first part agrees on receiving union labels from the
party of the second part to sign the usual union label agreement with the party
of the second part and be governed by same.
The following provisions are found in the agreement of Sign, Scene,
and Pictorial Painters’ Local No. 830, Chicago, April 1,1924, sections
3, 4, 10,11, 18, and 19:
Section 3. Any member of the party of the second part working for two or
more consecutive weeks for the party of the first part shall be known and
considered a regular employee. All regular employees shall be guaranteed
40 hours' employment for each successive calendar week they are employed there
after. All regular employees whose services are not required for the following
week must be notified of same not later than the preceding Friday.
Sec. 4. Sign and pictorial painters and senior apprentices working “ on the
road" shall receive the daily wage scale adopted by the local union having
jurisdiction over the locality from which they are traveling, and not less than
$3.50 per day hotel expenses, together with all traveling expenses from date of
leaving until they return to their home town; provided that they must comply
with the working rules and laws of the locality in which they work and demand
at all times the shorter workday and higher wage scale. Members so engaged
shall receive a traveling card issued by the G. E. B. through their local unions,
said cards to be colored—the color to be changed semiannually.
Sec. 10. Said party of the first part shall have the right to employ apprentice
boys under the age of 21 years, as follows: If he employs and pays the scale of
wages to 40 or more journeymen, 3 boys; 20 or more journeymen, 2 boys; 2 or
more journeymen, 1 boy; but in no case will more than 3 boys be allowed. Such
boy or boys to be bound by contract on form furnished by Local 830 for a term
of four years, and said party of the first part shall, at the expiration of said time
furnish said boy with his indenture paper or credentials. It is expressly under
stood and agreed, however, that no apprentice shall be allowed to work where
two journeymen are not employed steadily. In no case shall an apprentice in
the first and second year of his term be allowed to do a senior apprentice's
work.
Sec. 11. The said party of the first part further agrees not to employ or cause
to be employed more senior apprentices than the combined number of journey
men in each shop. It is expressly agreed that no senior apprentice or apprentice
shall be permitted to work overtime in any shop unless assisting a journeyman.
No senior apprentice or apprentice shall remain in any shop after workmen have
quit (preparatory work excepted) unless there remain with them an equal num
ber of journeymen. * * * No senior apprentice shall be permitted to work
as a journeyman at any of the branches under the jurisdiction of the Painters'
District Council.
Sec. 18. A sympathetic strike, when ordered by the board of business agents
of Painters' District Council No. 14, shall not be a violation of this agreement.
Sec. 19. This agreement shall not take away the power of the business agent
of the Painters' District Council or Local 830 to call a strike on any shop for
any reason that may appear to the Painters' District Council or Local 830 to
be sufficient.
The following provisions are found in the setters’ agreement of the
Art Glass Workers’ Local No. 624, Chicago, June 1 , 1924, sections
5, 7, 8 , 12, 15, 16, 17:
Section 5. When members of the party of the second part are sent out on
work, or returning therefrom or when traveling between jobs necessitating travel
after working hours, they shall be paid single time until they reach their desti
nation if a sleeper is not provided.
Sec. 7. N o firm, individual, or party of the first part shall be allowed to use
the union label that does not employ at least one journeyman at any time. It
BUILDING TRADES
37
is further agreed upon that should said parties not have work for one or more
journeymen, then the union label shall be withdrawn until such time as party
of the first part shall employ one or more journeymen.
Sec. 8. Each apprentice shall be registered on the books of the Local No. 624,
and not more than one apprentice shall be allowed to every seven journeymen
or a major fractional part thereof. Any person engaging to learn the art-glass
trade shall be required to serve four years as an apprentice, and he shall not be
under 16 or over 21 years of age at the time of beginning his apprenticeship.
S ec. 12. * * * In times of dull business the working hours shall be re
duced or the men work in shifts, so as to give each employee an .equal oppor
tunity to earn a living.
Sec. 15. In case of trouble or a strike on any building where members of Local
No. 624 are employed * * * no member of this union shall work on same.
Sec. 16. * * * The firm signing this agreement will not discriminate
against any man on strike from any other shop.
Sec. 17. This union reserves the right of the use of the union label and the
party of the first part will only have the use of same on work that is made under
fair union conditions and in accordance with agreement made by the joint action
of the standing committee.
Piecework and subcontracting by journeymen, commonly known
as “ trade work, 77 is generally forbidden in the painting trade. Paper
hanging, however, is almost entirely piecework and double time is
paia for all overtime work.
PLASTERERS
The Operative Plasterers7 and Cement Finishers7 Internationa
Association of the United States and Canada consists of two classes
of members: Plasterers, who do plain and ornamental plastering of
cement, stucco, and artificial stone work; and cement finishers who
spread and finish cement, concrete, asphalt, and composition work
in buildings, bridges, elevators, gutters, streets, steps, sidewalks,
tunnels, sewers, cisterns, etc. The agreements are similar to those
of the other building trades. The following extracts are taken from
the agreement of Local No. 109 with the Plastering Contractors7
Association, Akron, Ohio, January 1 , 1923;
A r t ic l e I. * * * Foremen * * * shall receive at least 50 cents per
day in advance of plasterers7 wages.
Art. II. Overtime to be paid at the rate of time and one-half to the
hour of 9 p. m.
Art. VII. No employer shall be allowed an apprentice unless he has been
employing journeymen for a year or more. No employer shall have more than
one apprentice at any one time except when employer employs more than six
men the year round; then he shall be allowed one apprentice every two years.
Every apprentice shall be on probation for a period of three months. Any ap
prentice coming * * * from another place to finish his trade shall furnish a
release from his former employer and comply with the regular apprentice laws.
No apprentice to be over 21 years of age when commencing apprenticeship.
The apprentice shall not work during the time of apprenticeship for any other
than the respective employer to whom he may be apprenticed unless said employer
is unable to keep him continually employed.
Art. XIV. Salamanders or stoves, when used for heating or drying work,
shall be covered and piped to chimney or other opening to carry obnoxious fumes
out of the building. All buildings to be inclosed beginning November 15 to
March 15. Open torches which give off obnoxious fumes shall not be used for
lighting or heating * * *.
Art. XV I. * * * Where there are two or more members in one firm, only one
member shall be allowed to use the tools.
The following extracts are taken from the agreement of Local No.
155 and the Employing Plasterers7 Association of Baltimore, May 1 ,
1924:
38
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Section 5. On all jobs where there are 4 or more men working there shall be a
foreman. No foreman shall have charge of more than 20 men, and for each and
every additional 20 men or a fraction thereof there shall be an additional foreman.
Each foreman shall receive 50 cents or more per day than the regular rate of
wages.
Sec. 14. All shafts and dangerous places must be sheeted tight above and be
low to insure safety of men employed in such places. When men are requested
to work on top or inside of a car in any elevator or on a platform used in an
elevator shaft, car or platform must be inspected by a recognized inspector of the
city, and a certificate of inspection issued to the plastering contractor or who
ever may be employing the plasterer before the plasterer will be allowed to work
in such a place.
Dangerous places to be determined by the business agent, and he to be noti
fied before any plasterer is asked to or works in such a place.
Sec. 15. On and after November 1 to April 15 all buildings shall be inclosed
in a suitable manner to exclude weather conditions. From November 15 to
March 15 all buildings shall be heated to a temperature of not less than 40° F.
before fche plasterer shall be allowed to work in same.
Sec. 21. Any member of Local No. 155 leaving the city to work for any mas
ter plasterer doing business in the city of Baltimore shall not receive less than
the regular rate of wages. Any member being sent to a job where he will have to
remain longer than one day shall have his hotel or board bill paid, also transporta
tion and traveling expenses. No traveling time allowed for 12 hours between the
hours of 4 p. m. and 7.30 a. m. Traveling tim e during the other hours of the
day or night shall be paid for at the regular rate of wages. Under no circumstances
will any member of the local be allowed to travel from Saturday, 11.30 a. m., to
Sunday evening, 8 p. m. This section does not apply to cities where there is an
Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Finishers’ International Association local.
Sec. 29. All employers parties to this agreement shall submit to the business
agent of Local No. 155 every Monday morning the number of men they have in
their employment and where working; also jobs that employer expects to start
within the week and where located, blanks to be furnished by Local No. 155 for
compliance with this section.
PLUMBERS
The United Association of Journeymen Plumbers and Steam
Fitters of the United States and Canada is composed, in addition to
those named in its title, of gas fitters, sprinkler fitters, railroad fit
ters, marine plumbers, marine fitters, hot-water fitters, power-pipe
fitters, fixture fitters, and their helpers or apprentices. In the
smaller cities locals generally include representatives of all the above
classes. In the larger cities locals are often found covering but one
of these crafts.
Plumbers’ agreements are generally made with employed associa
tions. The agreement between the Heating and Piping Contractors1
Association and the Enterprise Association of Steam, Hot Water,
Hydraulic, Sprinkler, Pneumatic Tube, Ice Machine, and General
Pipe Fitters of New York and vicinity, Local No. 638, dated June
29,1923, is practically an arbitration agreement. The rules referred
to in article 10 below are similar to those to be found in most steam
fitters’ agreements. The principal clauses of the agreement are as
follows:
Article 1. * * * The Enterprise Association shall furnish to the members
of the Contractors’ Association all the competent steam fitters * * * which
they demand * * * and the members of the Contractors’ Association will,
in the employment of members of the Enterprise Association, observe the rules
of the Enterprise Association within the territory to which they apply as set
forth in the copy of same hereto attached. No other rules shall apply during
the life of this agreement.
If the Enterprise Association fails for a period of six days to supply any mem
ber * * * of the Contractors’ Association with a sufficiency of competent
BUILDING TRADES
39
steam fitters, then the joint trade board of arbitration shall meet and at once
act, so as to make the terms of this agreement operative forthwith.
* * * The Enterprise Association agrees to keep their books of member
ship open * * * for examination at all times of qualified helpers of the
Progress Association who shall become Enterprise steamfitters upon passing such
examination.
A sufficient number of examining boards of the Enterprise Association shall
m eet and pass the required number of candidates as quickly as the deficiency
demands.
A rt . 2 . * * * The Contractors1 Association * * * will furnish the
Enterprise Association a list of its members and will notify the Enterprise Asso
ciation of any changes that take place in said list of members every month.
A rt . 3. * * * No strike against any member or members of the Contrac
tors’ Association shall be ordered by any officer of or entered into by any mem
ber of the Enterprise Association, nor shall any lockout against members of the
Enterprise Association be declared by the C on tractor Association so long as
this agreement and the rules hereto attached are conformed to by both
parties.
A r t . 4. * * * A permanent board of arbitration shall be established; the
said board to consist of four members of the Contractors’ Association and four
members of the Enterprise Association, whose term of service shall be not less
than six months. At least three of the arbitrators representing the Enterprise
Association shall at the time of their selection have been in the continuous em
ploy of one or more members of the Contractors’ Association for at least three
months next preceding.
A rt . 5. * * * No business agent of the Enterprise Association shall be
eligible to serve as an arbirator.
Art. 6. * * * The questions, matters, and complaints which shall be pre
sented to the board of arbitrators for decision shall be as follows:
All alleged violations of this agreement or the rules attached.
The determination of the true intent and meaning of any part of this agree
m ent or the rules.
The making of a new agreement to supersede this agreement at its termination.
Any other m atter which may, by mutual agreement, be referred to the board.
The board of arbitration shall meet monthly (unless mutually agreed unnec
essary) to consider the probable number of steam fitters which will be required
in the near future to carry on the work of the members of the Contractors’
Association.
A r t . 7. * * * In case any of the rules or agreement are violated by either
of the parties to this agreement, or by any of its members, then no strike or
lockout against any member or members of either of the associations shall be
instituted by either association without first submitting the grievance or ques
tion at issue to the board of arbitration.
The first meeting of the board of arbitration shall take place within two work
ing-days after notification in writing from the secretary of the association hav
ing a grievance. When a decision is reached by the board of arbitration upon
any matter submitted to it, the said decision shall be final and binding on both
parties. Any subsequent action of either association shall in no way alter or
nullify the effect of said decision, nor shall said decision be abrogated by either
association without the consent of the board of arbitration.
A unanimous vote shall be necessary to carry any resolution.
Should the board of arbitration fail to agree * * * said board * * *
shall select an umpire, and each side shall make its argument before the umpire,
who shall within two working-days thereafter render his decision, and said deci
sion shall be final and binding upon both parties hereto.
A rt . 8. * * * Both parties * * * shall abide by any joint arbitration
plan that may be agreed upon by a convention of the representatives of the several
employers’ associations and a majority of the unions of the building trades of
New York City.
* * * Disputes between trades and disputes relative to questions of juris
diction of trade shall be adjusted in accordance with the method set forth in the
joint arbitration plan of the New York building trades as adopted on July 9,
1903, and amended on April 22,1905, and all decisions rendered thereto deter
mining disputes arising out of the conflicting jurisdiotional claims of the various
trades shall be recognized by and be binding upon the parties hereto.
A r t . 9. * * * No change in this agreement shall be asked for by either
party hereto, to take effect prior to the first day of January, 1924, and not then
40
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
unless notice by the association asking for such change is given to the other
association on or before the first day of November next preceding the said first
day of January, 1924. Such notice shall be given in writing by the secretary of
one association to the secretary of the other association and shall state specifi
cally all changes desired, and written receipt therefor shall be evidence of such
notice.
In case no notice is served by either association on or before November 1,
1923, then this agreement shall continue in effect from year to year, with right re
served for either party to serve notice on any 1st day of July in any year for any
desired change to take effect on the following 1st day of January.
Art. 10. * * * This agreement is based upon the 12 principles for trade
agreements indorsed by the Building Trades Employers’ Association and
the Building Trades Council of New York City, and same shall become part of
this agreement, and nothing in the rules of the Enterprise Association attached
hereto or within this agreement shall be interpreted to contradict or nullify any
of the said 12 principles for trade agreement.
It is understood and agreed that in case any provision of this agreement shall
be found to be contrary to law such finding shall not in any way affect the
other provisions of this agreement, which shall, notwithstanding, continue in
full force and effect.
The following extracts from the agreement between Steam and
Hot Water Fitters and Helpers’ Local No. 533 and the Association
of Plumbing and Heating Contractors of Kansas City, December 30,
1923, cover most of the items found in plumbers’ agreements:
Section 2. * * * There shall be created * * * a joint board, con
sisting of 10 members, 5 of whom shall be appointed or selected from the mem
bership of each party hereto, all of whom shall be members in good standing in
their respective associations, * * * that the journeymen members of this
joint board be employed by a member of this association, and that the employ
ing members be employers of No. 533 members.
The duties of this board shall be initiative, supervisory, and judiciary; it shall
study the conditions of the trade, use every effort to elevate standards, improve
methods, and increase efficiency. It shall have charge of all matters pertaining
to this agreement and mutual interests of the parties thereto. It shall perform
such other duties as may hereinafter be prescribed, all in accordance with this
agreement and the laws of the land.
Sec. 3. * * * The members of the association agree to employ only mem
bers of Local Union No. 533 to do their work as long as Local No. 533 is able
to supply them with reliable, competent, and otherwise satisfactory fitters and
helpers, preference of employment at all times to be given to members of the
association.
Sec. 4. Every disagreement, misunderstanding, or grievance of any character
whatsoever arising between any individual member or members of either party
hereto shall be submitted to both business representatives, and in the event of
their failure to agree upon a settlement within 48 hours, or if one party to the
dispute is dissatisfied with the decision arrived at, it shall then be submitted to
the joint board in writing. The joint board shall have the power to summon
any member or members affiliated with either party hereto, against whom com
plaint has been lodged for violating this agreement, and they shall also have the
power to summon witnesses in connection therewith. The summons shall be
given to the representative of the association to which the member or members
belong. He shall cause the member or members to be summoned to appear
before the joint board on the date set for the hearing. Failure to appear, after
having been duly summoned * * * shall subject the member to a fine of
not less than $5, or not more than $25, for each offense; said fine to be collected
by the organization to which the offending member belongs and turned over to
the joint board.
* * * No strikes, lockouts, or any cessation of work shall be caused by
either party to this agreement. This will not affect the * * * complying
with the order of the Building Trades Council for cessation of work provided
the heating contractor affected is notified prior to removal of journeymen. Jour
neymen m ust be given sufficient time and be required to place tools and material
on jo b in safety before quitting.
Sec. 6. The joint board shall meet regularly on the second Wednesday of
each month at 8 p. m. at place agreed upon. Special meetings may be called as
occasion may require by the representatives of either party hereto*
BUILDING TRADES
41
Sec. 8. * * * The foreman shall be selected by and be the agent of the
employer. Any member of No. 533 acting as job foreman, having been duly
appointed as such, shall receive foreman's wages, which shall be $1 per day above
prevailing wages.
* * * No member of the association shall employ a member of Local
Union No. 533 for more or less than the stipulated scale in this agreement and
no member of Local No. 533 shall demand or receive more than the stipulated
scale from any shop or on any job in Kansas City or vicinity. For disability or
age the joint board will allow [No. 533] men to work for less than the prevailing
scale of. wages.
Sec. 12. Automobiles belonging to journeymen not to be used during working
hours. The journeymen may use car of an employer during working hours
provided a sign in reasonably large letters is painted on the car, and provided
the employer carry liability insurance to protect the journeyman driving such
car; and further provided the employer purchase chauffeur’s license for journey
man if law requires it and pay all other expenses incidental to the journeyman
driving car.
Sec. 14. * * * Members employed on any job shall report at said job 15
minutes before regular hour of going to work and shall have his working clothes
on ready to go to work at the designated hour. They shall continue to work until
designated hour to cease work. Any workman not ready for work at the said
hour shall be docked for all time lost. Helpers shall pick up all tools other than
hand tools used by fitters before the hour of quitting work. All hand tools used
by fitters shall be carried to and placed in tool box after the hour to cease work.
Sec. 16. Any member deciding to withdraw from Local No. 533 to enter busi
ness in the heating industry shall, together with the other parties interested in said
business enterprise, be asked to appear before the joint arbitration board.
Sec. 19. All apprentices shall be registered by a joint committee composed of
two employers complying with this agreement and two members of Local No. 533.
Committee in its judgment may require an apprentice to receive instructions
upon subjects named by it.
Employer agrees that apprentice shall have opportunity for normal advance
ment; the employer shall assist and encourage him to attend classes and study
as prescribed by the committee.
Apprentice applicants shall be of ages between 16 and 21 years, inclusive,
except upon proof of having worked at the trade or for reasons sufficient to the
committee.
Apprentice to be examined by the committee at its discretion, but not less than
once for each six months.
Apprenticeship is for five years, at the end of which time his last employer
shall submit a statement concerning him to the committee, as to qualifications
to become a steam fitter.
Apprentice after four years may apply for examination to the committee, and
if he passes shall be permitted to work with the tools as a junior journeyman,
wages to be set by the committee. * * * The employer is not to lay off
journeymen so that junior journeyman fitter may be kept busy. Junior fitter not
to be employed unless there is a journeyman fitter employed.
The following extracts relate to various matters:
Article 4. When men are required to work out of town, the firms shall pay
all traveling expenses, board, and lodging, and if within a reasonable distance of
Portsmouth they shall be allowed to come home once a week at the firm’s
expense, on their own time.
Art. 13. No journeyman plumber or steam fitter shall perform any labor for
anybody unless he shall be a member of the Master Plumbers’ Association or a
signer of this agreement. (Agreement of Local No. 453, Portsmouth, N. H.,
June 18, 1923.)
Article II, Section 11. * * * All men sent outside of Marion County shall
receive straight time while traveling between the hours of 6 a. m. and 6 p. m.
If necessary to travel at night, the employer shall provide berth. (Agreement
of Local No. 73, Indianapolis, Ind., April 30, 1924.)
P aragraph 5. The ratio of plumbers’ apprentices shall be one for each of three
journeymen steadily employed; the term of apprenticeship shall be three
42
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1023 AND 1924
years, after which apprentice shall be known as a senior apprentice and shall be
entitled to work by himself, with tools, for a period of two years, under super
vision of the employer, and shall be paid such wages as employer may determine.
During the term of apprenticeship, and while serving under journeymen, appren
tices shall be permitted to do any and all such work as they are capable of; while
such journeymen are working on other parts of the work, the ratio of the senior
apprentices to be employed shall be one for each three journeymen steadily
employed. (Agreement of Local No. 189, Columbus, Ohio, February 1, 1924.)
ROOFERS
The United States Tile and Composition Roofers, Damp and
Waterproof Workers’ Association is composed of the two classes of
workers named in the title.
The union was formed in 1920 by a consolidation of the two classes
of roofers, but in the larger cities the two branches have kept their
separate existence.
The following extracts from Local No. 75, Dayton, Ohio, May 1 ,
1923, relate to matters peculiar to the trade:
Article IV. All employees shall be required to be on the job ready to begin
work 10 minutes before the regular starting time, and no employees shall be
required to work overtime except in case of bona fide emergency or vital
necessity.
Art. V, Sec. 2. * * * The foreman shall receive 10 cents per hour more
than the journeyman roofers.
S ec. 3. Only one member of any company will be allowed to work on any job,
and he must be a practical roofer.
Sec. 6. When there are three journeymen on the job one laborer will be
allowed; or two to five, six, seven, or eight; three for nine, and so on.
Art. X II, Sec. 2. Employers shall be required to provide employees with rub
ber-soled shoes for all work on steep roofs and with rubber boots on all water
proofing jobs where same are necessary.
N ote.— There will be allowed one apprentice on tile or slate in every shop
employing journeymen tile or slate roofers. Where there is one journeyman,
there will be allowed one apprentice and one laborer; where two or more jour
neymen are used, one apprentice and laborers necessary to handle tile or slate.
Wage scale first year and half, composition scale; next year, scale of foreman on
composition; and the last six months of service to be paid the difference be
tween the composition foreman and the journeyman scale on tile and slate; said
apprentice will be registered with Local No. 75. When apprentice is working
on composition work, he will receive the scale of wages paid on that class of
work.
SHEET-METAL WORKERS
Members of the Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers’ International
Alliance are coppersmiths and tinsmiths. The former make and repair
sheet copper and brass work—copper pipes, kettles, tanks, pans, stills,
and coils. The latter make and repair sheet-metal roofing, cornices,
gutters, conductors, hollow-metal doors, metal sashes, ceilings, ven
tilators, and furnaces. In only the larger cities are the two classes of
members found in separate unions. Workers in railroad shops, auto
mobile shops, and shipyards generally form unions by themselves.
Agreements are generally made with associations of sheet-metal
contractors.
A very complete agreement is that of Local No. 38, Westchester
County, N. Y., made June 29, 1923, with the Master Plumbers and
Steamfitters’ Association, from which the following extracts are taken:
4. Both parties hereto agree to furnish each other, within 30 days after date
of this agreement being duly signed, a correct list of the membership * * *
of the other.
BUILDING TRADES
43
5. In the event of the expulsion or resignation of a member of either party
the other party shall be so notified by mail. Upon receipt of such notice it is
agreed that the expelled or resigned member is no longer subject to the pro
visions of this agreement.
6. The party of the first part agree that they will employ members of the
party of the second part, and the party of the second part agree that they will
work for the members of the party of the first part or for employers regularly
engaged and who are established in the sheet-metal business, who "are not mem
bers of the party of the first part, and who will agree to comply with the pro
visions of this agreement.
8. Should any dispute arise between the parties hereto, it shall be referred to
a joint conference board, consisting of five members of each of the parties hereto,
who shall serve during the life of this agreement and who shall meet jointly.
13. Each party hereto shall designate a representative with power to enforce
the intent and provisions of this agreement, also all decisions of the conference
board. Any member * * * failing to comply shall be considered a non
member by the opposite party.
14. Either party hereto having a grievance, or a violation of this agreement,
shall serve notice of such to the representative of his party, who shall at once
notify the opposite party. In case the grievance is one whereby the terms of a
trade agreement are being violated the cause shall be removed at once; failing,
the aggrieved party can appeal to the conference board. * * *
17. Members of the party of the second part shall not be permitted to con
tract for labor or executive work on their own account.
25. Regular or consecutive overtime shall not be worked unless permission to
do so has been granted by a joint committee, consisting of the chairman of the
party of the first part and the chairman of the party of the second part. This
shall not apply to occasional overtime made necessary by the exigencies of the
work.
26. The party of the second part or any member thereof shall not order any
strike against the party of the first part, and the party of the first part shall not
lock out any member of the party of the second part.
Article II, Section 1. There shall be a joint committee on apprentices com
prised of four members; two from each of the parties hereto. They shall have
full control of all matters pertaining to apprentices.
Sec. 2. Each member of the party of the first part shall have the privilege of
employing one apprentice to every five journeymen or a part thereof.
Sec. 3. When an employer takes an apprentice he shall at once notify the
secretary of which party he is a member of, who shall at once notify the
joint committee on apprentices. This committee shall act upon the application
within one month. * * * No such candidate is to be more than 21 years of
age.
Sec. 4. Each shop shall be privileged to provide one junior to every five
journeymen or a majority fraction thereof, and at no time shall a junior be
employed unless a journeyman is employed.
Sec. 5. Each apprentice shall have 12 consecutive months’ work in shop during
the term of his apprenticeship.
Sec. 8. Every apprentice must attend a trade school or take a course in a
correspondence school for the last two years of his term as apprentice.
Art. IV, Sec. 1. The employer may employ one helper to every three jour
neymen. Helpers may use the hammer, dolly bar, screw driver, and monkey
wrench while assisting the journeyman, but under no conditions shall the helper
use the tools.
Sec. 2. Upon request of the business agent the employer shall furnish a list
of the names of journeymen and apprentices he employs.
Art. V, Sec. 2. When an employer orders a man to leave town after 5 p. m.
to start work the following morning, he shall be paid single rate for such time
consumed in travel, but not to exceed 8 hours.
Sec. 3. All traveling expenses and board shall be paid by the employer to
journeymen working outside the jurisdiction * * *. Where members of the
party of the second part are working outside this jurisdiction for a member of
the party of the first part, such member of the party of the first part shall pay
the transportation of the journeyman to a point within this jurisdiction at least
once each month.
44
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
The most important provisions of an apprenticeship agreement
between Local No. 1 2 , Pittsburgh, and the Sheet Metal Contractors’
Association, April 4,1924, are the following:
Article I, Section 1. Every shop employing one journeyman is entitled to
one (1) apprentice and one for every three additional journeymen employed. All
apprentices shall serve five years at this trade before becoming a journeyman.
Every apprentice shall be registered by the secretary of the apprenticeship com
m ittee, which shall consist of three members of the Sheet M etal Contractors’
Association and three members of Local Union No. 12, Amalgamated Sheet
M etal Workers’ International Alliance. A complete record shall be kept by the
secretary of the date of commencing, who employed by, date of leaving, what
trade school he attended, days absent from school and from work. No appren
tice shall be permitted to leave the shop at which he is employed without the
consent of the apprenticeship committee.
Sec. 2. Every apprentice must and shall attend sheet-metal classes at the Car
negie Institute of Technology the last four years of his apprenticeship, or until
he has finished the course for sheet-metal apprentices.
* * * Any apprentice receiving grade “A” marks at the end of any school
year shall receive two months’ credit on his next eight months’ period, thus
reducing that period to six months.
Sec. 3. The apprentice shall apply himself diligently to learning the various
processes, tool and machine operations used in constructing the sheet-metal work
as conducted by his employer, in addition to his school work, so that at the end
of each term of his apprenticeship he shall be competent to merit advancement
to the succeeding term.
Sec. 4. The apprenticeship conclusion date shall be noted on the apprentice
ship enrollment card. Identification cards are good for term of issues only. On
the first Wednesday of September, January, and M ay the apprentice shall pre
sent himself at the time and place notified by the joint committee on apprentices,
make report of his progress in school and shop, and exchange identification card
of expired term for identification card for ensuing term.
S ec. 5. A committee of three shall be selected from the Sheet M etal Contrac
tors’ Association and a like number of members from Local No. 12, Amalga
mated Sheet M etal Workers-’ International Alliance, who shall pass upon the
admission of the applicant to journeymanship. His monthly report shall be
taken into consideration and time lost shall be made up before a certificate will
be granted.
Sec. 6 . The joint committee on apprentices shall act in an advisory capacity
between apprentice and school; adjust all differences that may arise; terminate
the apprenticeship and services of the apprentice if deemed for the best interest
of the sheet-metal trade.
They shall semimonthly make report to the employers’ association and the
union. Their decision in all matters affecting relations between employer and
apprentice, as intended by these rules shall be binding on all parties.
dec. 7. On dates appointed by the joint committee on apprentices, three times
yearly, on the first Wednesdays of September, January, and May, apprentices
shall report at 8 p. m. at place designated by joint committee on apprentices.
At these meetings the apprentice shall make report and exchange identification
cards of expired term for card of ensuing term.
Sec. 8. The employer shall send the apprentice to the Carnegie Institute of
Technology for trade instruction one day each week from October 1 to M ay 1,
during the last four years of his apprenticeship. The apprentice shall be allowed
his regular wage for days while attending school.
Sec. 9. The employer shall cooperate with the apprenticeship committee by
signing the monthly school report cards furnished to the apprentices by the
school, and report to the committee if the apprentice is making satisfactory
progress in shopwork to warrant advancement at the end of each period.
The following extracts are taken from the agreement of Local No.
43, Atlantic City, May 1 0 , 1924:
Article 6 . N o member of Local 43 shall work for any but legitimate sheetmetal contractors who have signed this agreement, are regularly engaged in
business, who carry compensation for their employees, and who have a perma
nent place of business and the customary equipment.
BUILDING TRADES
45
Art. 7. N o employee shall contract or subcontract any work for any indi
vidual, firm, or corporation other than whom he is directed by his employer
or the business agent of this union.
Art. 9. Only one apprentice will be allowed to every three journeymen
employed. No more than five apprentices will be allowed any employer at one
time. All apprentices shall be registered in Local 43, and their ages when start
ing their apprenticeship shall be between the ages of 16 and 21 years of age, and
they shall serve an apprenticeship of four (4) years, and at no time will they be
allowed to take charge of work where the assistance of a qualified mechanic is
required.
The following provisions appear in the agreement of Local No. 5,
Youngstown, Ohio, April 1 , 1924:
R ule 10. No member of Local No. 5 shall be permitted to contract for
work or do work on his own accord other than on his own individual property
while employed by any contractor signing this agreement, but shall turn over
all such work to his employer. Members of No. 5 will do all in their power to
enforce this rule.
R ule 13. Any foreman in any shop under the jurisdiction of Local No. 5
which has 10 or more men working under him is required to make application
for membership, pay same initiation fee as others, but will immediately take
out withdrawal card, the same to be renewed annually for the sum of $3.
The following provision appears in the agreement of Local No.
, Washington, D. C., November 1 , 1923:
10 2
Article X II, Section 1. The school as conducted by the Sheet M etal Con
tractors’ Association is available for all registered apprentices. It is the use
of this school by all registered apprentices that will help the trade. There
fore, it is understood the union will use its entire influence to have all registered
apprentices attend this school.
The tuition to be paid to be the prevailing fee, and said fee shall be paid to the
treasurer of the school board through the instructor.
STRUCTURAL-IRON WORKERS
The members of the International Association of Bridge, Struc
tural, and Ornamental Iron Workers construct, load, erect, install,
remove, dismantle, and wreck bridges, viaducts, trestles, dams, reser
voirs, piers, docks, elevators, caissons, tunnels, subways, blast fur
naces, vats, tanks, towers, trusses, and fire escapes; drive piles; move
and place machinery and rigging; and make, erect, and construct
the structural and ornamental iron and metal work in buildings.
Ordinarily a local union includes workers of all classes. In a few of
the largest cities, however, there are unions composed of but one
class of workers. The territory covered by a local generally extends
many miles from the city or town where its headquarters are, often
more than 100 miles. Agreements are usually made with employers7
associations.
Extracts from the agreement between the Bridge, Structural, and
Ornamental Iron Workers-and Reinforced Concrete Steel Riggers and
Machinery Movers Local No. 3, and the Structural and Ornamental
Iron Employers of Pittsburgh and vicinity, effective March 1 , 1923,
show those general provisions of structural-iron workers7 agreements
not common to other building-trades agreements:
Article III, Section 1. Time and one-half time shall be paid for the first
two hours of overtime after the regular working hours. Double time shall be
paid thereafter.
The time and one-half rate to apply only in case of emergency which shall be
determined by the foreman and steward on the job.
46976°—25----- 4
46
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Double tim e shall be paid for overtime from Saturday noon to 8 a. m. Mon
day and the following holidays: Decoration Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas.
N o work to be done on Labor Day unless for the protection of life or property.
Sec. 2. When working on jobs out of the city of Pittsburgh special arrange
ments shall be made to accommodate the working hours with respect to the
transportation service to obtain 8 hours’ work on the job.
Art. V. When three shifts are employed on the same piece of work 7 hours
shall constitute a day’s work for each shift, but the rate of wages shall be at the
rate of 8 hours’ pay, straight time, for each shift.
Art. VI, Sec. 1. No less than 4 men shall constitute a riveting gang, no less
than 6 men shall be on the floor around a derrick, constituting a raising gang;
a pusher, 2 connectors, 2 hookers-on, and the bellman, and if the derrick be oper
ated with swing lines or bull stick 7 men shall constitute the gang, and there
shall be no infraction of this rule.
Art. X II. When structural and ornamental iron workers are hired by an
employer or his representative to go out of the city to work, he shall be furnished
first-class accommodations, berth and traveling expenses, and be paid straighttim e rate of wages, not to exceed 8 hours out of 24, while traveling to and from
the job; and in the event of the employee quitting job before he has worked 10
days his expenses shall revert to his employer and their conduct being judged
by the foreman in charge.
Art. XIV. Any member of the union who may be employed as a pusher
where four or more men are employed shall receive not less than 12J^ cents per
hour more than the prevailing rate of wages.
Art. XV. Apprentices may be employed in proportion of 1 apprentice to
every 10 journeymen, and shall serve not less than two years before being eligible
for membership in the union and before receiving the rate of wages agreed upon
for journeymen. An apprentice shall be given varied duties from time to time
that will enable him to learn the trade and fit himself for the position of jour
neyman. * * * Laborers shall not perform the duties of apprentices.
Art. XV III, Sec. 1. There shall be no cessation of work for any cause except
where nonunion men are employed. Should any dispute or misunderstanding
arise the same shall be referred to a joint arbitration committee, consisting of
three members from the Structural and Ornamental Iron Employers’ Association
of Allegheny County and three members from * * * Local Union No. 3.
In case they can not agree this joint arbitration committee shall select an umpire
whose decision shall be final and binding on all parties.
The following extracts are taken from the agreement of Housesmiths, Union, Local No. 52, New York City, with the Allied Build
ing Metal Industries, made June 1 , 1923:
2. There shall be no strikes or lockouts upon the work of members of the
association, nor shall the members of the union collectively leave the work of a
member of the association, nor can any sympathetic strike against any member
of the association be entered into by the union. All disputes arising in the trade
shall be settled by a joint trade arbitration board, with an umpire if necessary,
and the decision of the joint trade arbitration board or of the umpire shall be
final and binding upon the parties thereto.
(a) The joint trade arbitration board shall consist of three members of the asso
ciation, appointed by the association, and three members of the union, appointed
by the union, whose term of service shall not be less than one year.
Walking delegates or business agents of the union shall not be eligible as
arbitrators, except by full consent of both parties*.
6. When four or more men are employed on a job, one shall act in the capac
ity of a working foreman and shall receive $1 more per day than the prevailing
rate of wages of finishers; when six or more men are employed on a job, one shall
act in the capacity of working foreman and shall receive $2 more per day than
the prevailing rate of wages for finishers.
7. A finisher shall be permitted to work on any job without a helper when no
more than eight hours are required to do the work. Each finisher shall be as
sisted by a helper when only two men are required for a job. When more than
two men are required for a job the proportion of finishers and helpers shall be
discretionary with the employer. It is not the intention of this clause to per
m it generally the manning of jobs by helpers.
13. When a member of the union takes a contract for any work covered in
this agreement, he shall immediately forfeit and surrender his membership card.
\
CLERKS, RETAIL
47
This rule also applies to any member of the union who becomes a member of a
firm or corporation engaged in any of the lines of business covered in this agree
ment.
14. * * * The parties hereto, the association, and the union will exercise
the utmost discipline possible to prevent their members from either individually,
collectively, in conjunction with each other, or in conjunction with others snow
balling wages. The term “snowballing” is understood to mean the practice on
the part of employers of offering, in order to secure workmen, higher wages than
those provided by agreement and the practice on the part of workmen of indi
vidually or collectively demanding, before accepting employment, higher wages
than those provided by agreement. The parties hereto understand and mutually
agree that the practice of snowballing is demoralizing to the association and to
the union in that it encourages unnecessary and undesirable shifting from em
ployer to employer and produces distrust among both employers and employees,
each of the other and of their organizations.
The agreement of Local No. 1 0 , Kansas City, for 1924 contains
the provisions given below:
Article 10. Piecework shall not be tolerated by this union in any form, and
no member shall be required to do any specific amount of work.
Art. 13. When employer or his representative furnish board and sleeping
quarters for the men they shall furnish clean and comfortable sleeping quarters
and palatable food and shall not charge more than $9 per week for board and
lodging.
Art. 15. When members of this union are called upon by the international
association to protect union principles or change jurisdiction claims, it shall in
no way be considered a violation of these rules.
A£t. 17. When employer sublets the work to another firm or company, the
subcontractor shall be subject to all the terms of these rules.
The following are taken from the agreement of Local No. 348,
Erie, Pa., May 1 , 1924:
Article 6, Section 4. Workmen shall have clothes changed ready to start
work at starting time. Changing of clothes and washing of hands when quit
ting for the day shall be considered as working time. When tools are checked
in and out the same shall be done during working hours.
Sec. 5. Contractors shall furnish a suitable shelter for the use of ironworkers
for the purpose of keeping their clothes and eating their lunches, the same to be
heated in cold weather.
CLERKS, RETAIL
The Retail Clerks’ International Protective Association includes
in its membership persons employed in mercantile and mail-order
establishments handling and selling merchandise. The national
association has prepared an agreement, which is in use by several locals,
providing that employers signing the agreement and conforming to its
terms shall be entitled to the use of the union store card issued by
the union, and that only unionists shall be employed, or that any
nonunionists employed shall become members within 30 days. The
card shall specify the closing time on various days and the legal
holidays to be observed.
Locals in the larger cities generally insert additional clauses. Ac
cording to such agreements the stores are to close by 5.30 or 6 p. m.,
except on Saturday and two or three days before Christmas, when they
may keep open until 8 or 9 o’clock; 8 or 9 hours to constitute a day’s
work except Saturday, withovertime at time and a half; a week’s vaca
tion with pay after one year’s service; and pay for all holidays.
The following provisions are taken from the agreement of Local
No. 195, Chicago, April 1 , 1924, which was made for two years:
2. (a) Fifty-four hours shall constitute a week’s work with one full day of rest
each week. Clerks shall not be required to start earlier than 8.30 a. m. in the
48
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
morning and cease work not later than 9 p. m. The following schedule of hours
shall be adopted where stores are open Sundays. Work starts at 8.30 a. m. each
day and ceases at 6 p. m. on Mondays, 9 p. m. on Tuesdays, 6 p. m. on Wednes
days, 9 p. m. on Thursdays, 6 p. m. on Fridays, 10 p. m. on Saturdays, and Sunday
1 p. m. Clerks shall be off one full day a week either Monday, Wednesday, or Fri
day, as agreed upon by the party of the first part and employees. The same sched
ule of 54 hours a week shall be mutually arranged for between the employer where
stores are closed on Sundays.
3. * * * Where stores are operated on Sundays the employees shall cease
work at 1p .m . Stores shall be open evenings one week before Jewish Easter and
New Year's and * * * one week before Christmas.
4. (c) All salespeople engaged in the business less than 18 months shall be classed
as apprentices and their wages will be optional to the employer and employee for
a period of the first 18 months' experience and the minimum wage scale of a
salesman thereafter. Apprentices shall be limited to not more than one appren
tice for every two salesmen for two to six salesmen, and a proportional number
thereafter.
CLOTHING TRADES
BOOT AND SHOE WORKERS
There are several independent shoemakers' unions, each with locals
operating in various places and making agreements. These agree
ments generally provide for a union shop, a revision of prices and
conditions at stated intervals, an overtime rate, a form of arbitration,
and an equal division of work diming slack seasons.
The Boot and Shoe Workers' Umon issues a form, known as the
“ union-stamp contract," which is in very general use by the unions
under its .control. Extracts from this agreement follow:
First. The union agrees to furnish its union stamp to the employer free of charge,
to make no additional price for the use of the stamp, to make no discrimination
between the employer [and] other firms, persons, or corporations who may enter
into an agreement with the union for the use of the union stamp, and to make
all reasonable efforts to advertise the union stamp, and to create a demand for
the union-stamped products of the employer in common with other employers
using the union stamp.
Second. The employer agrees to hire as shoe workers only members of the
Boot and Shoe Workers' Union, in good standing, and further agrees not to re
tain any shoe worker in his employment after receiving notice from the union
that such shoe worker is objectionable to the union, either on account of being
in arrears for dues, or disobedience of union rules or laws, or from any other cause.
The employer agrees that there shall be no discrimination against any member
of the union because of his or her activity in union affairs.
Third. The employer agrees that he will, not cause or allow the union stamp
to be placed on any goods not made in the factory for which the use of the union
stamp is granted, and the employer agrees that it will be a violation of this con
tract to use the union stamp or stamps in any other place than the particular
factory for which the use of the stamp is granted.
Fourth. * * * The union will not cause or sanction any strike, and the
employer will not lock out his employees while this agreement is in force. The
employer agrees that where a change of system or methods is made he will notify
the local union affected and endeavor to mutually agree upon a price to be paid.
Failing to agree, the matter shall be arbitrated, and the decision rendered shall
date from the time of change in system and method. In the event of the em
ployer or local union * * * giving written notice to the general president of
their desire to refer to arbitration any matter in dispute relative to wages, condi
tions of employment, interpretation of contract, or any other difference of opinion,
he shall insist that the application for same shall be signed within seven days from
his receipt of said notice. Failure of either party to comply with this clause
shall constitute a direct violation of this contract.
Fifth. The union agrees to assist the empk^er in procuring competent shoe
workers to fill the places of any employees who refuse to abide by section 4 of
this agreement, or who may withdraw or be expelled from the Boot and Shoe
Workers' Union.
CLOTHING TRADES
49
Eighth. The employer agrees that the union is the lawful owner of the union
stamp, and the employer agrees not to make or cause to be made any union
stamp or stamps, and it is further agreed that the union will furnish free of cost
all stamps necessary to be used under the agreement.
Thirteenth. In case the employer shall cease to do business or shall transfer
its business or any part thereof to any person or persons or corporations, this
agreement shall be ended, and the stamp or stamps shall be returned to the
general president forthwith, without demand from the union, when a new agree
ment of similar tenor to this may be entered into between the employer and the
general executive board of the Boot and Shoe Workers’ Union.
The Amalgamated Shoe Workers of America Joint Council No. 1,
in Lynn, Mass., incorporated the following provision into its agree
ment made August 6, 1924:
VIII. During the months of June, July and August the working time shall
be five days a week of nine hours each, beginning Monday of each week; during
the other nine months the time shall be the foregoing and a half day on Satur
day, the total not to exceed 50 hours. Concerns manufacturing slippers may
work the Saturday half day in June, July, and August, or any of said months,
providing they select other three months in which to omit the Saturday half
day.
The agreement between the Shoe Workers’ Protective Union and
the Haverhill Shoe Manufacturers’ Association, December 19, 1923,
contains the following provisions:
1. There shall be no strike, lockout, or cessation of work and nothing shall be
done by either party to hinder, impede, retard, or prevent production. This
article is not arbitrable.
4. * * * During their spare time * * * superintendents, foremen,
foreladies, assistant foremen and assistant foreladies may be employed to a rea
sonable extent in working on shoes in any of the departments without being
members of the union. Any claim of the union that the designation of any
employee as one holding such a position is a pretext or that any such person is
to an unreasonable extent employed or engaged as a shoeworker, if not adjusted
with the union, shall be referred to arbitration.
Manufacturers, including, in cases of corporations, officers, may work on shoes
in any of the departments of the business without being members of the union.
5. During the months of June, July, and August regular working time shall
be five days of nine hours each, and there shall be no Saturday work during
those months.
During the months of December, January, February, March, April, and May
of each year, the regular working time shall be 53^ days each week of 48 hours.
During September, October, and November the regular working time shall be
five days of nine hours each, but each local agent may, if in his opinion it is
necessary, grant Saturday work.
9. All differences shall be referred for final settlement to a board of arbitra
tion which shall consist of three members, who are to be chosen as follows: One
member to be appointed by the general agent of the union, one member to be
appointed by the manager of the association, both of whom shall serve until the
determination of the particular controversy for which they were appointed; the
third member, who shall be known as the neutral arbitrator, shall be chosen by
said general agent and manager; provided, however, that if within 12 secular
days from the date hereof they shall fail to agree upon and designate the third
or neutral member of said board, then the neutral member shall be named in
writing by any four of the following named persons * * * acting upon the
written application of said manager or said general agent, but no neutral mem
ber shall be so named unless he has the indorsement of either said manager or
said general agent.
All decisions and orders of said board of arbitration shall be made in writing
and shall be signed by a majority of its members, except as otherwise provided,
and shall be made within three days after the close of the evidence.
The third or neutral member of said board of arbitration shall be reimbursed
for all expenses and disbursement^ incurred by him in the performance of his
duties and shall be paid a reasonable compensation for his services, the parties
hereto agreeing to pay in equal shares all sums of money required for the above-
50
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
mentioned purposes. Clerical or stenographic services incurred by the board
shall be borne equally by the association and union.
12. This agreement shall remain in force until December 31, 1928, provided,
should either party to this agreement desire to alter, amend, or annul it before
its expiration it shall give written notice thereof to the other party not later
than September 1, 1925, in which event the agreement shall remain in force
until December 31, 1925.
CLOTH HAT AND CAP MAKERS
The United Cloth Hat and Cap Makers of North America consists
of makers of cloth hats and caps and millinery workers. Their
agreements generally call for a umon shop; a 44-hour week; prohibi
tion of foremen doing journeymen’s work; overtime at the rate of
time and a half, but no overtime work during "the period of unem
ployment” ;5 a weekly pay day; equal division of work .among all the
workers during dull seasons; and full pay for named holidays.
The following are certain of the general provisions in the agree
ment between the Joint Council of New York and the Cloth Hat and
Cap Manufacturers’ Association, effective for two years from July 1,
1924:
A r t ic l e I. (e) When a worker who is indispensable in the factory serves notice of
leaving, the employer shall immediately notify the union, through the association,
and such worker shall not leave before the union is able to replace him or her.
This, however, shall not be applied to workers who are leaving the trade or the
city.
If) No worker shall be discharged without sufficient cause or reason, nor
until an opportunity has been given for a joint investigation as to the sufficiency
of the cause and reason. In case of disagreement the board of adjustment shall
decide after a trial.
A r t . II. (6) No overtime work shall be permitted during the months of June,
July, and August, nor on Saturdays and Sundays during the balance of the year,
nor shall more than eight hours’ overtime be permitted in any one week, same
to be worked during the first four days of the week. Should conditions in the
trade at any time warrant a deviation from the above regulation of overtime,
the matter shall be taken up in conference between the association and the union,
with the chairman of the board of adjustment, as chairman, for such adjustment
as the needs of the industry may require.
A r t . V. (a) The members of the association shall have their work made in
their own shops, with the exception of such work as may be agreed upon be
tween the association and the union for every individual manufacturer, subject
to following rules:
1. Exceptions are to be permitted for such work which the respective manu
facturer is not adapted to make in his own shop.
2. The respective manufacturer shall register with the union the shops with
which he contracts for work that is subject to exception.
(b) Members of the association working for jobbers or manufacturers shall
register with the union all such jobbers and manufacturers for whom they work.
(c) Workers shall not be required to work for any firm, member of the associ
ation, which will work for or supply work to any manufacturer or jobber during
the pendency of strikes called or conducted by the union against the latter
firm.
(d) The union reserves the right not to permit its workers to perform work
for any member of the association who does any work for firms or who sells
goods to firms against whom the union has declared a strike, or who sends goods
to such firms, its principals, agents, factors, or jobbers during the pendency of
such a strike, and the calling of a strike by the union against a member of the
association to enforce the right hereby reserved shall not be construed as a viola
tion of this collective agreement.
(e) In no case shall any member of the association buy cut goods for caps or
hats to be manufactured on its premises.*
*As this is a seasonal industry there is a period, both in summer and in winter, when there is little or
no employment.
CLOTHING TRADES
5i
Art. VII (c) There shall be no opposition to or interference with the introduc
tion of new machinery on the part of the union, provided that such introduction
does not eliminate from employment workers in the shop where such machinery
is introduced.
(e)
The association shall supply the union with a correct list of the names
and addresses of all its members and shall immediately inform the union con
cerning the withdrawal, resignation, or expulsion of any members, as well as
concerning the admission of any new members.
(/) The association agrees that its members will permit the inspection of
their pay rolls and payments for work by representatives of the board of adjust
ment and the union for the purpose of investigating whether the respective
firm is living up fully to the provisions of this agreement.
That part of the same agreement relating to the unemployment
and security trust funds and the adjustment of disputes is given
substantially in full below:
VI .— Unemployment fund
(а ) The association agrees that every one of its members shall send to the
Joint Council of New York * * * on each and every pay day during the
life of this agreement a sum equal to 3 per cent of the pay roll for that
particular week, covering all the workers coming under the terms of this agree
ment. These payments shall be by check made payable to the Joint Council of
Greater New York’ of the United Cloth Hat and Cap Makers of North America
and shall be accompanied by a statement on a form supplied by the union,
setting forth a list of the workers, the amount of wages paid to each, and the
total sum of wages paid for that week, thereby supplying the data on which the
3 per
cent payment for the week in question is being made.
(б ) These payments shall begin as soon as the joint council shall make the
arrangements for the receiving of moneys, which shall in no event be later than
September 1, 1924.
(c) The sums of money thus received by the joint council are to be used in
its discretion in such ways or forms as it may deem necessary for the payment
of unemployment benefit to the members of Locals Nos. 1, 2, 3, 17, 23, 30, and
40 of the United Cloth Hat and Cap Makers of North America, and for no other
purpose, except incidental expenses that may be incurred in the administration
of this unemployment fund.
(d) In arranging for the payment of the weekly sums by the members of the
association as herein described, it is not intended that either the association or
the members of the association shall have any right, property, or interest in the
funds accumulating from such payments, and shall incur no other responsibility
in connection with the disbursement of the said funds over and beyond the obliga
tion to make the weekly payment of the sum herein specified * * *. Nor
is it intended that any worker employed by the members of the association shall
in any way acquire specific rights, property, or interest in the said fund, but
that the Joint Council of New York of the United Cloth Hat and Cap Makers
shall be deemed to have completely fulfilled the requirements of this provision of
the agreement as far as the association or any of its members are concerned, or
any individual worker working for such firms, by using the said fund for the
payment of unemployment benefit to members of the locals herein mentioned
under such arrangements as the said joint council may agree upon.
A r t ic l e VIII .— Security trust fund
(а ) For the faithful performance of this agreement on the part of the individ
ual members of the association it is hereby agreed that the association will
collect from each member of the association a sum equal to $200 per member.
This sum shall be deposited either in cash or United States Government bonds
with a bank or trust company in the name of a trustee to be agreed upon by
the association and the union. Until such time as the association and the
union have designated the trustee herein provided the association shall be the
custodian of this fund and shall to all intents and purposes be deemed the trustee
of the said fund.
(б ) In the event the complaint by the union before the board of adjustment
against any member of the association shall, after a trial, result in a decision
A r t ic l e
52
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
awarding to the union or to any workers of said firm a sum or sums of money,
a member of the association affected by said decision shall pay the said sum or
sums so awarded within 72 hours after rendering the decision. If the member
fails to pay such sum or sums within the time specified, the chairman of the
board of adjustment shall certify in writing the fact of such failure to the trustee
of the fund or to the association while it is custodian of said fund. Tbe trustee
or the association, as the case may be, shall thereupon draw upon the security
fund for the amount of the award rendered by the chairman of the board of
adjustment, up to the amount of the member’s share in the security trust fund,
namely $200. The member of the association affected by such proceeding shall
be required to deposit with the trustee the equivalent of the sum drawn out
within 72 hours of the drawing of such amount from the security trust fund.
If he shall fail to do that he shall forfeit the protection of the agreement.
# A r t ic l e IX .— Adjustment of disputes
(a) The parties to this agreement agree that there shall be no strike or lock
out during the continuance of this agreement for any reason whatsoever or be
cause of any matter in controversy or dispute between the association and the
union or between any member of the association and any member of the union,
but that all matters in controversy or dispute, if any, which the firm and its
workers have been unable to adjust shall be immediately referred to the mana
gers of the respective organizations by the party or parties aggrieved for imme
diate joint investigation and adjustment.
(b) During the pendency of the controversy a stoppage or a cessation of work
shall not be permitted, whether by the authority of a representative of the union
or in any other way. In the event that the representatives of the parties hereto
shall be unable to adjust the controversy or dispute the same shall immediately
be referred to the committee on adjustment, whose decision shall be final and
binding upon the parties to this agreement.
(c) The committee on adjustment shall consist of five members, two repre
senting the association, two representing the union, and Dr. Paul Abelson, who
is hereby agreed upon and designated as chairman of the board of adjustment
for the life of the agreement.
The following provisions from the agreement of Local No. 10,
St. Paul, Minn., November 1, 1924, show the efforts to stabilize
employment in the industry:
Five per cent of the pay roll to be paid to the union each week until the num
ber of weeks of employment for the year is determined, and to be returned to
the firm when 48 weeks’ work have been given for the year.
Four per cent of the pay roll to be returned to the firm if 47 weeks’ work only
have been given.
Three per cent of the pay roll to be returned to the firm if 46 weeks’ work
only have been given.
Two per cent of the pay roll to be returned to the firm if 45 weeks’ work only
have been given.
One per cent of the pay roll to be returned to the firm if 44 weeks’ work only
have been given.
If 43 weeks’ work or less shall have been given during the year, then there
shall be no return Of this money.
If any employee leaves before the end of the year, said employee shall not
be entitled to any part of this increase, and the 5 per cent of said employee’s
wages paid to the union shall be returned to the firm.
Payments of the 5 per cent to the union shall be continued uninterruptedly
by the firm until November 1, 1926.
FUR WORKERS
The membership of the International Fur Workers’ Union of the
United States and Canada consists of fur workers in all branches—
cutters, nailers, finishers, liners, ironers, cleaners, glove makers, cap
makers, rug makers, muff-bed workers, garment workers, trimmers,
dyers, hatters; also sheepskin workers, tanners, and dyers, and
feather-boa workers.
53
A two-year agreement between the Associated Pur Manufacturers
(Inc.) and the Furriers7 Union of New York City, effective February
1, 1924, covering Locals Nos. 1, 5, 10, and 15, provides for a 44-hour
week; no overtime except during the months of September to De
cember, inclusive; pay for 10 holidays (optional whether they shall
be American or Jewish holidays) ;weeldy payment of wages; no piece
work; registration of apprentices; 1 apprentice to every 10 journey
men, witn a maximum of 5 apprentices in a shop; an apprenticeship
period of six months; prohibition of inside contracting; no one to be
permitted to work for two firms at the same time; no work to be taken
home; and the creation of a committee to prepare a plan for unem
ployment insurance. The following extracts are taken from the
agreement:
CLOTHING TRADES
4. Firms whose factories are closed on Saturdays may change the Saturday
hours to Sundays. Such changes must be registered with the conference
committee.
5. No factory shall operate more than six days a week.
8. No firm shall be permitted to work overtime more than 13 weeks.
9. Overtime work shall be not more than two and one-half hours a day, five
days in the week, excepting during the periods from the second week in Septem
ber to the second week of December, inclusive, when additional overtime will be
permitted upon Saturday afternoon not to exceed four hours. No worker shall
be permitted to work regular time in one place and overtime in another place.
Overtime shall be paid for at the rate of one and one-half. Employers shall file
with the conference committee a record of overtime immediately upon the
cessation of such overtime period.
Adjustment of disputes
18. * * * There shall be no strike or lockout during the continuance of
this agreement * * *. All matters in controversy or dispute, if any, shall
be immediately referred to the managers of the respective organizations,
* * * f o r * * * investigation and adjustment. In the event that the
representatives of the parties hereto shall be unable to adjust the controversy
or dispute the same shall be immediately referred to the conference committee.
Conference committee
19. The parties to the agreement hereby establish a conference committee
consisting of 11 members, 5 representing the association and 5 representing
the union, and Dr. J. L. Magnes to act as the chairman, with the power to vote
in case of a tie. Dr. Paul Abelson is hereby designated as the secretary of the
conference committee, with authority to act with the full power and duties of
the chairman of the conference committee in the absence of Dr. J. L. Magnes.
Two representatives of the union and the manager and labor manager of the
association shall be ex officio members of the conference committee.
20. The conference committee shall secure such clerical and other assistance
* * * as it may deeln necessary, the expenses to be defrayed by each party
to the agreement in equal amounts.
21. The conference committee shall devote its attention chiefly to the solution
of problems and disputes affecting the entire industry. For the investigation
of problems and disputes affecting the individual workers and employers,
the manager and the labor manager of the association, two representatives of
the union, and the secretary of the conference committee shall constitute a
committee on immediate action and shall be known as the industrial court in
the fur industry. The committee on immediate action shall have the power to
work out, subject to the approval of .the conference committee, methods of pro
cedure to facilitate their work. The conference committee may arrange for
periodic inspection by a representative of the association and the representative
of the union of such shops of the association as are subject of complaint to deter
mine whether all workers are in good standing with the union.
22. Any employer or the workers shall have the right to appeal from the
decision of the committee on immediate action to the conference committee.
54
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 192o AND 1924
23. The conference committee shall have the power to recommend the
disciplining of any member of the union or a member of the association for vio
lations of the terms of this agreement after due trial; and both parties to this
agreement agree to enforce such recommendation.
28. The same conditions as prevail in the shops of the members of the associa
tion shall be maintained in the shops of contractors working for the members of
the association.
Members of the association may give work to an outside firm or contractor
provided that such firm or contractor employs at least five workers and main
tains contractual relations with the union, and * * * shall at all times
comply with all the provisions of the union agreement.
Firms giving any part of a garment or whole garments to be made by an out
side shop or contractor, or doing any business with them, shall immediately file
the names of the outside shop or contractor with the conference committee.
29. In the case of contractors working for members of the association doing
only finishing work after the cutting, operating, and nailing has been done in the
inside shop, a special form of a conference committee certificate shall be intro
duced. All firms who at the time of the signing of this agreement have been
employing such contractors shall file within 30 days of the ratification of this
agreement the names and addresses of such contractors.
The conference committee shall arrange through the committee on immediate
action for the inspection of such contracting places doing only finishing work,
and shall issue certificates to such contractors.
Periodic inspection of these shops shall be made under the auspices of the
conference committee, and the association agrees that no work will be given
to contractors on finishing work who have either failed to secure conference com
mittee certificates or whose certificates have been revoked by the conference
committee.
30. Equitable division of work shall be carried out wherever possible during
the months of June, November, and December for those who have worked with
the firm not less than seven consecutive weeks prior to the period when equal
division of work is begun in each establishment.
In the event of the union claiming that an emergency affecting unemployment
prevails in the industry the matter shall be referred to the conference committee
to establish whether or not such alleged emergency exists, and upon its finding
the existence of such an emergency ways and means for mitigating this con
dition shall be devised. In the consideration and action of such matter the
chairman of the conference committee shall act only in the capacity of mediator.
LADIES’ GARMENT WORKERS
The International Ladies7Garment Workers7Union covers workers
engaged in the manufacture of ladies7 garments of all classes. The
local unions, located mainly in large cities, are generally composed
of workers engaged on one branch of work, as buttonhole makers,
embroidery workers, cutters, finishers, pressers, tailors, examiners,
fitters, or designers on cloaks, suits, waists, skirts, dresses, children^
clothing, corsets, underclothing, or raincoats. Frequently the locals
in a city have a joint board which makes the agreements.
The agreements are generally for one year, call for a union shop,
a 44-hour week, overtime at time and a half, no piecework (though
there are exceptions to this), no strike or lockout to occur during the
life of the agreement, a system of arbitration or method of adjusting
disputes, equitable division of work in dull times, workers observing
Saturday as the Sabbath to be permitted to work on Sunday instead,
no officers or members of the nrm or foremen of the members of the
association to do journeymen^ work, wages to be paid weekly, no
work to be performed at home, employers to furnish sewing ma
chines, power, and all material required for work, and no time con
tracts to be made between employers and individual workers.
The Joint Board of the Cloak, Skirt, Dress, and Keefer Makers7
unions, New York, N. Y., makes two agreements. The current
CLOTHING TRADES
55
agreements bear the same date, July 16, 1924. One is with the
Merchants Ladies’ Garment Association, composed of merchants or
‘obbers who employ manufacturers to make garments for them,
1
n it the association agrees to prevent members giving work to non
union manufacturers under penalty of fine or expulsion. Other
provisions are as follows:
Second. * * * The term “ manufacturer ” within the meaning of this agree
ment comprises all types of employers producing garments on their own premises,
including manufacturers who produce garments from their own material, “ submanufacturers” who cut and make up garments from goods delivered or sold to
them by the merchant or “ jobber, ” and “ contractors ” who make up garments
from goods delivered to them in cut form.
A “union shop” within the meaning of this agreement is one that employs at
least 14 machine operators and a corresponding number of employees in other
branches of the work and is operated under a contract with the union. With
respect to establishments conducted directly by members of the association a
“ union shop” is one that employs none but members in good standing of the
union to perform all operations in connection with the production of the gar
ments, observes the union standards hereinafter enumerated, and complies with
the other requirements above set forth.
Third. For the purpose of carrying the provisions of the above clause into
effect the union shall immediately submit to the association a list of all manu
facturers who are operating under contracts with it and shall at least once in
everj' week notify the association of all changes in and additions to the list.
The association shall immediately furnish the union with a full list of the man
ufacturers with whom its members deal * * *. Such list shall be corrected
and supplemented every week.
Fourth. No member of the association shall give work to a new manufactured*
or order or purchase goods from him before ascertaining from the association
that such manufacturer is in contractual relations with the union.
Seventh, (a) No member of the association shall order or purchase garments
from any manufacturer whose workers are on strike, nor shall any member of
the association make or cause to be made any work for any person against whom
the union has declared a strike until such strike in each case has been fully
settled.
Eighth. No member of the association shall send out cut goods to contractors
unless he operates an inside shop.
Ninth. Each member of the association shall be responsible to the members
of the union for the payment of their wages for work done by them on garments
made by submanufacturers for such association member, provided that such lia
bility shall be limited to one full week's wages in every instance.
Eleventh. The association shall cooperate with the union in establishing and
maintaining an unemployment insurance fund for the benefit of the members of
the union. The fund shall be made up by contributions from the manufactur
ers and the union or individual members of the union; the contribution of the
employers to the unemployment insurance fund shall be equal to 2 per cent of
the weekly pay roll and that of the workers to 1 per cent of their weekly wages.
The fund shall be administered jointly under proper rules and provisions to be
agreed upon by the parties.
Twelfth. An appropriate label shall be adopted by the joint board of sanitary
control to designate that the garments carrying the same have been manufac
tured under proper sanitary surroundings. The joint board of sanitary control
shall furnish such labels at cost to manufacturers conducting union shops. Each
member of the association obligates himself to handle or deal in no garments
that do not bear this label.
Thirteenth. All complaints, disputes, or grievances arising between the parties
hereto involving questions of interpretation or application of any clause of this
agreement or any acts, conduct, or relations between the parties or their respec
tive members, directly or indirectly, shall be submitted in writing by the party
hereto claiming to be aggrieved to the other party hereto, and the manager of
the association and the manager of the union, or their deputies, shall in the first
instance jointly investigate such complaints, grievances, or disputes and attempt
an adjustment. Decisions reached by the managers or their deputies shall be
binding on the parties hereto.
Should the managers fail to agree, the question or dispute shall be referred to
a trial board, consisting of one member from each organization party hereto and
56
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
a permanent umpire, to be known as the “ impartial chairman ” in the industry.
Such impartial chairman shall be selected by the parties hereto in conjunction
with the Cloak, Suit, and Skirt Manufacturers, Protective Association and the
American Cloak and Suit Manufacturers’ Association, within two weeks from the
date of the execution of this agreement. Should the said parties fail to agree
upon a choice of such impartial chairman within the said period of two weeks,
the advisory commission appointed by the Governor of the State of New Fork
and consisting of Messrs. George Gordon Battle, Herbert Lehman, Arthur D.
Wolf, Lindsay Rogers, and Bernard Shientag, shall, upon the request of either
party hereto, appoint such impartial chairman.
Each case shall be considered on its merits, and the collective agreement shall
constitute the basis upon which the decision shall be rendered. No decision
shall be used as precedent for any subsequent case. Should the said umpire
resign, refuse to act or be incapable of acting, or should the position of umpire
become vacant for any cause or reason, the parties hereto shall immediately and
within five days after the occurrence of the vacancy or the refusal or inability
to act designate another person to act as umpire, and in the event of the failure
or inability of the parties to make such selection within the period of said five
days the advisory commission appointed by the Governor of the State of New
York, hereinbefore referred to, shall, on application of either party, summarily
appoint such umpire. In the event that the commission shall cease to function,
then the Supreme Court of New York County on application of either party
shall summarily appoint such umpire under the provisions of the arbitration law
of the State of New York or otherwise.
The second agreement of the joint board is with the Industrial
Council6 of the Cloak, Suit, and Skirt M anufactured Protective
Association, which is composed of those members of the association
who deal collectively with the unions. This second agreement con
tains all the above provisions and also the following:
Nineteenth. No overtime work shall be exacted or permitted in the manu
facture of cloaks and suits between November 15 and December 31, nor between
May 1 and July 15. Manufacturers engaged in special lines, such as the manu
facture of skirts, pile fabrics, linens, and summer goods, shall have the right to
establish periods different from those above stated, according to the demands of
their business, provided that such periods in all cases do not exceed eight
months of the year.
In the seasons in which overtime is permitted such overtime shall not exceed
10 hours in any week nor 2 % hours in any day and shall be restricted to the
first five working-days of the week. Additional overtime shall not be permit
ted except in cases of emergency, and then only with the consent of the union.
Twentieth. * * * All operators, finishers, and piece tailors shall be paid
at the rate of time and one-half for overtime. All other classes of workers for
whom the last agreement provided that double time shall be paid for overtime
shall receive that rate under this agreement.
Twenty-first. All workers shall be paid for the following legal holidays, to
wit: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and for one-half day of election day. And.
such holidays shall be observed.
During the week in which a legal holiday occurs employees working less than
a full week shall be paid for the holiday pro rata for the hours worked.
Twenty-second. No contracting or subcontracting within the shop shall be
permitted. No work shall be given to workers to be made at home.
Twenty-sixth. Should there be a shortage of labor in the industry, and the
union unable to supply the employers with workers, the employers may engage
apprentices to make up the deficiency. The wages to be paid to such appren
tices, as well as the conditions and regulations under which they shall work,
shall be determined between the union and the association when such emergency
arises.
Twenty-seventjh. The employer may discharge his workers for causes such as
incompetency, misconduct, insubordination in the performance of his work,
’breach of reasonable rules to be jointly established, soldiering on the job.
6Or Industrial Branch, as it is called in the agreement.
CLOTHING TRADES
57
Thirty-first. No member of an employing firm or foreman thereof shall do
cutting if such firm employs no cutters. If a member or foreman of the firm
not employing cutters is found to do the work of a cutter, such firm shall become
liable to and pay to the union a sum equal to the minimum weekly wage scale
of cutters, i. e., $44 for each of such violations of this agreement.
Some provisions appearing in the agreement of the Underwear
and White Goods Workers' Local No. 62 and Cutters' Local No. 10
with the Cotton Garment Manufacturers of New York (Inc.), March
26, 1923, and not mentioned heretofore are the following:
Second. Only such members of the association shall be considered parties to
this agreement, entitled to its benefits, and bound by its terms as shall have
and continue in their employ members in good standing of the union to the ex
tent of at least 30 per cent of the total number of their employees eligible for
union membership. Members of the association not complying with this con
dition shall not be deemed parties to this contract for any purpose whatsoever.
Fourth. All piece prices shall be settled between the employer and a price
committee of not less than three nor more than five chosen by the employees in
each establishment and representing, as far as possible, different branches of the
work. The prices of new styles shall be adjusted within two days; otherwise the
workers shall .not be required to do the work. Should a dispute arise between
the employer and the price committee the same shall be adjusted on the basis
of a test to be made by an average experienced operator selected by the employer
and the price committee and conducted under the direct supervision of the
association and the Local Union No. 62. Any employee who has been working
at least two months in the factory shall be eligible to make such test. The
prices so adjusted shall be paid as of the commencement of the work. A list of
all piece prices shall be made and posted in a conspicuous place in the factory.
A record shall be kept in a notebook to be furnished to the workers by the em
ployer, wherein the lot numbers of the work delivered and prices to be paid
therefor shall be entered. If there should be no price committee in a factory,
the union shall have the right to investigate such factory for the purpose of
ascertaining whether the provisions of this agreement with respect to wages are
lived up to, and to cause the election of a price committee as above provided.
When an employer has declared his intention of having certain work made on a
particular machine and he and the price committee can not agree upon the
price to be paid for such work, and the manufacturer refuses to permit the price
to be fixed by test as provided for in this paragraph, the manufacturer shall not
have such work made on different machines or by outside contractors, the inten
tion of this provision being that the method of test hereinabove provided shall
not be evaded, and no methods resorted to in order to coerce workers to reduce
prices.
Eighth. Overtime shall be limited to six hours per week and shall be paid to
piece and week workers at the rate of double time.
Twelfth. * * * In any factory wherein the workers who are members of the
union constitute at least 60 per cent of the total number of employees eligible
to membership the managers of the parties hereto shall direct that all the workers
become members of the union, as a condition of the continuance in the employ
of the manufacturer, except in extraordinary cases approved by the grievance
board. No cutters and assistant cutters shall hereafter be employed unless they
are members in good standing of Local No. 10, and not later than January 1,1924,
all of the cutters and assistant cutters shall * * * be members in good
standing of Local No. 10.
Thirteenth. A worker shall be considered a learner during the first seven months
of his or her employment.
Twentieth. Each of the parties hereto shall forthwith appoint four represent
atives, and the eight persons so appointed shall constitute a board to be known
as the grievance board for the hearing and determination of all claims arising
hereunder between employer and employees or between the parties hereto. The
determination of said board in all matters shall be conclusive upon the parties
hereto. Should the members of the board fail to agree, the matter in dispute
shall be submitted for determination to three persons, one appointed by the as
sociation, one by the union, and the third or umpire, to be chosen by the said
58
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
appointees of the parties hereto. The determination of any two of such three
arbitrators shall be binding upon the parties hereto.
It shall be the duty of the grievance board to enforce compliance with the
terms of this contract.
MEN’S CLOTHING WORKERS
There are three unions of workers engaged in the manufacture of
men’s clothing. Their agreements have several matters in common.
Thus nearly all are for a period of one year and call for a union shop,
a 44-hour week, an overtime rate of time and a half, controversies
to be first taken up by the shop chairman and the employer and
arbitrated when necessary, an equal distribution of work during the
slack season, a weekly pay day, prohibition of individual agreements
with employees, and pay for certain holidays.
The Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America have no standard
form of agreement. The unions make agreements individually or
jointly with individual employers or associations of manufacturers
m the same city, according to circumstances. The agreements vary
greatly in length and contents. The following extracts are taken
from a standard agreement used in Philadelphia by the joint board
with individual manufacturers.
I. The firm agrees to employ none but members of the union, and such
workers * * * must secure working cards from the union office before be
ginning to work. If the union can not furnish additional workers when needed,
the firm shall be privileged to secure such workers, who if not members of the
union shall become members and secure working cards from the union office.
3. No worker shall be discharged without cause. Consent to discharge shall
be given by the union representative if he should be convinced that the cause
for discharge is justified.
5. No overtime shall be performed without the consent of the union repre
sentative.
7. * * * No subcontracting system shall prevail in the shops of the firm
and no individual agreements or contracts be made with any of the clothing
workers.
8. The firm agrees that no work shall be made in any of its shops for any firm
or manufacturer against whom a strike may be on.
9# * * * A union representative shall have access to * * * the shops
of the firm at all times for the purpose of making investigations with reference
to the sanitary conditions and also as to whether the provisions herein contained
are complied with.
10.
* * * Matters in dispute either between the workers in the shops and
the firm or its representatives or between the union and the firm shall be ad
justed amicably. In no case shall a stoppage of work be effected before all
efforts for a peaceful settlement * * * are exhausted.
II. No work shall be sent by the firm to any outside contractor unless said con
tractor maintains a union shop in accordance with the terms of this agreement.
The firm shall furnish the union a list of all contractors now making work for
the firm. No additional contractor shall be given work by the firm without the
consent of the union.
12. * * * In the event any of the contractors fail to pay wages due to
members of the union the firm shall pay all such wages due for work performed
on garments of the firm.
The United Garment Workers of America have a short standard
form or label agreement between the national organization and indi
vidual manufacturers, from which the following extracts are taken:
1. All employees engaged in the manufacture of garments for the party of the
first part shall be not less than 16 years of age and must be good-standing mem
bers of the party of the second part.
CLOTHING TRADES
59
2. All proper sanitary conditions shall be observed in all shops manufacturing
goods for the party of the first part, who agree to comply with all the require
ments of the State laws relating to workshops.
4. Garments shall be manufactured in shops equipped with mechanical power,
owned and operated by party of the first part.
6. The said label shall be in charge of a member designated by the party of
the second part, employed in said shop, who shall keep an account of same.
The lat*el shall at all times be considered the property of the party of the second
part, and all labels on hand shall be returned to said party immediately upon
notification that the privilege to use the same has been withdrawn.
7. The party of the first part agrees to pay for the use of labels that have
been sewed in garments in the process of manufacture only at the rate of $3 per
thousand labels.
8. The party of the first part shall abide by the union conditions observed in
the respective branches of the trade.
9. Should any difference arise between the firm and the employees, and which
can not be settled between them, the said differences shall be submitted to the
general officers of the United Garment Workers of America for adjustment.
Should this not prove satisfactory, the subject in dispute shall be submitted to
an umpire to be mutually selected for final decision.
The following extracts are taken from a supplementary agree
ment of Local No. 228 with a firm in Portland, Oreg., June 4,1923:
4. Whenever a new garment is introduced or when work is changed on any
garment, the firm will ask the price committee for a price on same and will pay
the operator's average pay on the work until the firm and the committee reach
an agreement.
6. * * * The price committee shall consist of one person from each
department. All prices must be reported in detail to Local Union No. 228 and
ratified by the same before they are finally accepted.
7. The party of the first part or his representative shall have the right to dis
charge any of their employees, providing there is just and sufficient cause for
such discharge, but the local union is in duty bound to protect its members;
therefore the union shall investigate any grievance at once.
11. * * * Each operator will have a definite operation assigned to them,
after nine months' service in the factory, and they will be given the same work
as long as there is any of that kind in the factory; also a second and third
operation will be assigned to each operator, to be given them when none of the
first operation is available.
12. When it is necessary to change an operator's work in order to complete
rush orders, the work regularly belonging to operators so engaged will not be
given to other persons, but be kept for the regular operator on that work;
when the firm desires any operator to leave her regular work and work on rush
orders, such operators wifi be paid their average hourly wage; when an operator
has no work regularly belonging to her and is offered other work in the factory,
she will be paid for such work at the regular piecework rate.
13. When any operator or group of operators are not able to do their work in
such quantity as to keep the work moving properly through the factory, an extra
operator will be placed upon the work until the surplus work is almost completed;
* * * the extra person will be taken off the work in time to leave the regular
operator ample work.
16. When new or improved machines are placed in the factory, old operators
* * * will be given preference in operating same; if prices agreed upon by
the union on new or improved machines do not enable the operator to make as
much as on old machine at the old price, prices on the new machine must be
raised to cover such deficiency.
17. All prices submitted * * * will be tried out by time work * * *
before the piecework rate is paid, and all prices must be ratified by Local
Union No. 228 before being finally accepted and paid in Portland.
18. During slack seasons no new employees wifi be hired and no work will be
divided with any employee who has been a member of Local Union No. 228 for
less than nine months.
19. Any employee entering the factory who is not a member of * * * Local
Union No. 228 must affiliate with said local union within 31 days from the time
of entering said employment; any person employed about the factory who is not
60
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
eligible to membership in the United Garment Workers of America, but who is
eligible to membership in the union of his craft, is required to join said union
at their earliest convenience.
22. Where work has been established on a week-work basis in any depart
ment, same shall not be changed except with the consent of the local union.
The Journeymen Tailors* Union of America is composed of tailors,
cleaners, dyers, pressers, and bushelmen working in the clothing in
dustry. Their agreements are generally short. Extracts from a
longer agreement of Local No. 350, Parkersburg, W. Va., effective
September 16, 1924, follow:
3. * * * When female apprentices are employed in place of male appren
tices, they shall receive the same rate as male.
5. Any employee who has worked at the trade for two years shall be classed
as first class. Any employee * * * when promoted to a higher position
shall receive $2 increase every six months until they have reached scale of wages
paid.
7 * * * All apprentices are to receive $1 per week increase every six
months until minimum wage is paid.
8. All females working at jobs formerly occupied by males shall receive males’
pay, provided they perform equal service as males. No employee shall receive
less than their present salary while with the present employer during period of
this contract.
9. The parties hereto mutually agree that 44 hours constitute one week’s work,
and 52 weeks per year, straight salary. * * * Time to be divided as follows:
January, February, July, and August, 41J£ hours per week; March, June, Sep
tember, and December, 44 hours per week; April, May, October, and November;
46J^ hours per week. Shop to close at noon Saturdays.
10. Any and all overtime to be paid at the rate of time and one-half. Straight
time for all legal holidays and all other days that the party of the first part sees
fit to observe. Should it be necessary to work on any of stated holidays, pay
ment to be made at double time, and Sunday double time. The factory if closed
on account of fires, flood, lack of electricity, shortage of gas, etc., or by Govern
ment orders, the employees are to receive no wage during said period providing
employer is in no way responsible for shutdown.
14. Party of the second part hereby agrees to furnish party of the first part
with a union label for all garments made on the premises by members of the
Journeymen Tailors’ Union of America.
15. On no section of the work shall there be more helpers or apprentices than
there are employees receiving first-class scale of wages.
Two provisions in the agreement of Local No. 5 with the Merchant
Tailors and Designers of Chicago, October 1 , 1923, appear in a simi
lar form in several agreements, as follows:
No tailors to be discharged in the dull season; that is, during December, Jan
uary, June, and July.
Team or group work may be used .when desirable in each branch of the shop.
Other provisions found are as follows:
5. Employees shall receive one week’s paid vacation, providing they
have been in the employ of the firm for a period of one year or more.
A r t . 11. In case any member of Local Union No. 34 shall be suspended or
discharged and proper inquiry reveals the fact that he or she is not guilty as
charged, they shall be paid for all time lost. (Agreement of Local No. 34, Scran
ton, Pa., April 1, 1923.)
4. ♦ * * Twelve hours to be the maximum overtime on the basis of one
week’s labor.
6. The National Tailors agree to retain all of their operative force during the
dull season, viz, July and August in the spring and summer season and January and
February in the fall and winter season, and not to increase or change and to
equally divide all work amongst the employees during the inactive period, each
employee working the same number of hours.
. A r t ic l e .
GLASS INDUSTRY
61
8. * * * The National Tailors are to have an absolute free hand in the
management of their shops, and no opposition is to be met from either the
Journeymen Tailors’ Union Local No. 11 or employees in adopting new methods
of operation, in sectionizing various operations, in installing machinery, etc., all
of which tend to increase production, a factor of extreme importance. (Agree
ment of Local No. 11, St. Louis, Mo., February 1, 1924.)
COOPERS
The Coopers’ International Union of North America consists of
makers of barrels, kegs, vats, tanks, and the like. Coopers in brew
eries are frequently members of the brewery unions, but when they
are sufficiently numerous to form independent unions these unions
generally affiliate with the Coopers’ International Union.
Coopers’ agreements are generally short and call for a closed shop,
a 44-hour week, a weekly pay day, a rate of time and a half for over
time, with double rate on Sundays and holidays, and work to bear
the union stamp.
GLASS INDUSTRY
GLASS-BOTTLE BLOWERS
The Glass Bottle Blowers’ Association of the United States and
Canada is composed of all employees in and around glass-bottle fac
tories. Agreements are made annually by the national organization
with the employers in the glass-bottle industry. Agreements are
made for the four departments of the industry—machine blowing,
stopper grinding, covered-pot furnaces, and tank furnaces—and the
wage scale and working rules of each are prepared and issued
separately. Generally the work is by the piece. A rate is provided
for each kind or part of a bottle blown. The general rules of all
groups are similar. Extracts from the general rules and regulations
governing the machine department, for the season of 1924-25, follow:
S e c t io n 1. Operators shall work six days per week on day turn and five
nights per week on night turn, making an average of five and one-half days per
week except during the months of May, June, July, August, and September.
When working three shifts, * * * actual working time to be seven and
one-half hours per shift, with one-half hour for dinner.
Where there are a number of idle competent men in any branch, manu
facturers and the committee shall use every effort to arrange for a division of
time and work with the idle men.
S ec . 2. Eight hours shall constitute a day’s work.
Work shall cease at 12 o’clock noon on Saturdays during the months of May,
June, July, August, and September.
S ec . 3. There shall be no Saturday night work.
Sec. 4. When a machine is not in proper working order, or necessary facilities
furnished, the operator shall report the same promptly to the factory manager,
and if the machine is not put in proper working order or* necessary facilities
furnished within 60 minutes after such notification, the factory manager shall
notify the shop to work the machine day work from the expiration of the hour
or lay-off until the next regular time for starting work, which shall be the next
half day.
If shop loses 60 minutes or less during the day, men are not to be paid for
said time lost. If shop loses over 60 minutes during the day, men are to be paid
for all time lost.
Sec. 6. When new ware or new machines are brought into a factory, and they
have been worked long enough to be in good working order, it shall be the duty of
the manager and the price-list committee to arrange wages and put the machine
or press on piecework.
46976°—25-----5
62
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
S ec . 7. All journeymen and apprentices shall be compelled to receive their
earnings in full in cash every two weeks, and not more than one week’s earnings
shall remain unpaid when this payment is made. There shall be no deductions
made for private accounts or bills against workmen. Apprentices are to be paid
in full their proportion of wages every pay day under the rules.
S ec . 8. * * * Apprentices are to be taken during the season of 1924-25 at
the ratio of 1 apprentice to each 10 journeymen steadily employed.
S ec . 9. Firms who * * * reduce the number of their journeymen must
also reduce the number of their apprentices in the proportion to the journeymen
employed at the time of reducing their working force, so that they at all times
shall be within the requirements of the rule.
S ec . 10. If from any cause an apprentice leaves the trade, he can not be du
plicated, but should he die during the first year of his apprenticeship the firm
may duplicate him during that season only.
S ec . 12. Any operator holding a regular place and desiring to quit work must
give notice to the manufacturer and then work five consecutive days immediately
in his regular place. Manufacturers desiring to discharge operators must give
them the same notice with the same rights.
S e c . 21. * * * When workmen are to be hired, they shall be members of
the Glass Bottle Blowers’ Association.
S ec . 23. Operators are permitted to enter the packing room before starting
and after stopping work, on the day or night turn or during the regular stopping
times, for the purpose of inspecting or looking after ware made by their shops,
but must not remain in the packing room after such inspection has been made.
Sec. 25. Journeymen or apprentices shall not be permitted to work more than
one shift in 24 hours.
S e c . 26. Operators shall not be discriminated against or discharged for carry
ing on the work of the Glass Bottle Blowers’ Association.
Sec. 27. No operator shall be allowed to carry blanks or molds to or from
the ovens.
Sec. 28. Continuous production is agreed to, but each operator shall take a
vacation of two consecutive weeks between June 15 and September 15, time to
be arranged between the factory committee and the superintendent.
S ec . 32. All information wanted in regard to the intent or meaning of the
rules, regulations, and prices shall be referred to the president of the Glass Bot
tle Blowers’ Association, whose decision in all such cases shall be binding unless
said decision is reversed by the joint wage preliminary conference in the case of
a protest.
A manufacturer desiring to protest against a decision of the president shall
serve notice in writing on the branch in his locality of his intention to protest
and shall also notify the president of both the Manufacturers’ and the Glass
Bottle Blowers’ Associations of the protest, which notice shall contain all infor
mation necessary for a proper review of the case protested. Said notice shall
be served not later than 30 days prior to the first day of the preliminary con
ference.
Protests on decisions made between April 1 and July 1 shall be reviewed at
the final conference with notice as above stated, to be served not later than
July 25.
The following extracts are taken from the tank-furnace agreement,
season of 1924-25:
S ection 14. * * * It is understood that where there are a sufficient number
of competent idle men, and the branch so requests, every effort shall be made by
the manufacturers to employ three shifts.
Sec. 18. No factory is to be stopped for the purpose of permitting the work
men to attend the funeral of a deceased member, but branches may appoint
pallbearers or a suitable committee to attend funeral.
S ec . 32. An apprentice shall serve not more than four years, consisting of 40
working months, from date of being put in to blow. Said apprentice shall re
ceive not less than 75 per cent of journeymen’s wages. No loss of time shall
be charged against the apprentice unless the time so lost can be reasonably
attributed to him.
WINDOW-GLASS WORKERS
The National Window Glass Workers’ Association is composed of
window-glass blowers, gatherers, cutters, and flatteners. The associ
63
ation makes a national agreement yearly with the National Associa
tion of Window Glass Manufacturers. The following extracts are
made from the agreement effective September 15, 1924:
HOTEL AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES
Section I, Article 26. Manufacturers shall deduct from the earnings of all
members of the National Window Glass Workers working for them 2 per cent
of the amount earned for dues to the National Window Glass Workers and shall
within 10 days after each and every settlement present check for the full amount
to the chief preceptor, payable to the secretary of the National Window Glass
Workers, together with the names, amount earned, and the amount paid by each
member during said period, same to be forwarded by the chief preceptor to the
national secretary. No debt of any kind that a member contracts shall prevent
the deduction of this 2 per cent, and any manufacturer who overpays or fails
to deduct and forward said money for dues shall be liable to the National Win
dow Glass Workers for the payment of same whether the member has anything
due him or not. This also applies to entire earnings of boss cutter and boss flat
tened. All bills to be presented weekly with the amount earned.
Art. 28. In case disputes arise concerning poor glass the blower and gatherer
shall be required to work at list wages unless released by the manager or chief
preceptor, except that this shall not apply to stony glass, in which case the man
ufacturer shall pay an average day's wages if he insists on having the glass
worked.
Art. 29. Forty hours shall constitute a week's work for the blowers and
gatherers. The following system may be adopted when locals so decide: In
order to do away with the 4 o'clock shift on Saturday morning, the midnight
shift shall produce a full day's work, the day shift starting at 8 o'clock and
working until 12 noon. The 4 o'clock shift finishes work for the week at mid
night Friday night. All work ceases on Saturday at 12 o'clock noon.
No more than five hours shall be worked consecutively without at least 30
minutes tempo being taken.
Art. 30. The president and executive board of the National Window Glass
Workers shall have the privilege at any time during the operative period of this
agreement to place a checker in the plant of any company in which they see fit
to do so. Said checker shall have the privilege of making a record of all glass
cut and packed at said plant.
Art. 31. All manufacturers signing or authorizing the signing of this scale
hereby agree to bind themselves to comply with the usages and working rules
of the National Window Glass Workers, which shall be printed for the use of
both parties.
Art. 33. All manufacturers signing this scale hereby bind themselves and
those they represent to and with the National Window Glass Workers that they
will not, either by themselves or any officer, stockholder, representative, or other
authorized person, sign any other scale or agree to pay any other scale of wages
than the scale provided herein, and for any violation of this the president of the
National Window Glass Workers shall, upon being satisfied of the violation,
notify the company or firm that they have canceled this scale to such manu
facturers, and all members of the National Window Glass Workers employed
by such manufacturers shall cease work.
Sec. Ill, Art. 18. No member or local when a difficulty arises shall have
the right to cease work or pull pipes without the authority or permission of the
national president or executive board through the local council.
HOTEL AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES
The Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ International Alliance and
Bartenders’ International League of America is composed of cooks,
waiters, soft-drink dispensers, kitchen girls, porters, call boys, pantry
help, and general help in hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, and ice-cream
parlors, and at lunch counters, soda fountains, and the like. Gen
erally one local includes all groups, but in the larger cities there are
locals comprising members engaged in one line of work only. Usually
the agreements call for a union shop, a 6-day week, a weekly pay day,
overtime rate of time and a half, 8 hours’ work to be done in 10
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
64
hours, no strikes or lockouts, arbitration of disagreements, and only
two working partners in an establishment, and include scales for
short shifts, parties, banquets, holidays, conventions/celebrations,
and helpers and extra help of various kinds. The employer must
furnish meals.
The following provisions are taken from the agreement of Locals
Nos. 106, 107, and 167, Cleveland, July 15, 1924:
Nine hours to constitute a day's work, the same to be worked within a period
of 13 consecutive hours. * * *
Adequate and sanitary locker facilities shall be provided and maintained by
the management of each establishment. * * *
A clean and otherwise sanitary place must be provided by the management
where waiters only may eat their meals. The management must provide clean,
wholesome, and palatable food at all times, and the waiters shall have their
choice at each meal of at least one roast and one entree with an. additional fish
entree on Friday and other fast days which are generally observed, and said
entree or roast, including soup, potatoes, one vegetable, coffee, tea, or milk,
bread, butter, and one dessert, will be considered a meal. No one kind of roast
or entree shall be served to the waiters more than once in four consecutive days.
In any establishment where the employer fails to comply with this agreement
and arbitration fails to clear the matter, the management will, on presentation
of a petition signed by two-thirds of the waiters employed, abolish the serving
of meals to waiters and pay 75 cents in lieu of every meal, in addition to their
wages. * * *
Waiters shall not be required to do so-called porter work, such as oiling tables,
sweeping, washing of silver or glasses, or cleaning of vegetables or the handling
of chairs and tables. * * *
Where special uniforms are required they shall be such as can be used for street
wear or for regular service at any other establishment. * * *
The agreement provides that waitresses shall not sweep or mop
floors, wash dishes or silver, mirrors, windows, or coffee urns, clean
fruits or vegetables, make salads, count or put away silver when off
duty, or be held responsible for loss of steak knives or any articles
used in service, or for breakage.
Waitresses’ standard uniforms for all kinds of waitress work shall be plain white
tailored waists and large apron either gored or gathered. * * *
Any houses closing voluntarily on a holiday shall pay their cooks for the day
closing.
The chef shall have full jurisdiction over the kitchen, and if any cook is dis
charged he shall be paid immediately.
The foflowingpro visions are taken from the agreement of Local No.
69, Galveston, Tex., May 1 , 1924:
3. Ten hours to constitute a day’s work for all employees except women.
4. * * * Double time for all time over 10 hours in one day.
5. The proprietors to have the right to arrange the hours to suit themselves,
each employee, however, to complete the day’s work inside of straight 14 hours,
with permission of one split, with the exception of night watches, which are to
start not later than 10 o’ clock p. m. and work straight time.
IRON, STEEL, AND TIN WORKERS
The Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers of
North America is composed of all men working in and around rolling
mills, tin mills, steel works, chain works, nail, tack, spike, bolt, and
nut factories, pipe mills, and works run in connection therewith.
The association makes an annual agreement with manufacturers,
known as the western scale of prices. The scale is very lengthy and
detailed. The memorandum of agreement preceding the 1924-25
scale reads, with a few slight omissions, as follows:
LAUNDRY WORKERS
65
* * * The following scale of prices, based upon the actual sales and ship
ments of iron or steel, as arranged for in conferences, shall govern the wages of
the several departments as herein stated commencing July 1, 1924, and ending
June 30, 1925.
* * * When a scale or scales are signed in general or local conferences,
said scales of contracts shall be considered inviolate for that scale year, and
should the employees of any departments (who do not come under the abovenamed scales or contracts) become members of the Amalgamated Association
during the said scale year the Amalgamated Association may present a scale of
wages covering said employees, but in case men and management can not come
to an agreement on said scale same shall be held over until the next general or
local conference, and all men shall continue work until the expiration of the
scale year.
However, should any of said employees be discharged for joining the Amalga
mated Association or for practicing legitimate union activities, said discharges
shall be considered a grievance of the whole in accordance with section 2.
* * * Where local scales affecting other departments are under considera
tion and negotiation, all men will continue work until a settlement has been
reached or negotiations formally discontinued unless it shall be apparent that
there is intentional delay in settlements.
It is further agreed that no scale shall go below the base price named on the
rate selected.
No. 1. Whenever deviations from the western iron scale signed for by any
manufacturer and the Amalgamated Association are made, and evidence is pro
duced to prove it, the Amalgamated Association and manufacturers agree to
make every effort to correct the same, provided the trains and furnaces are sim
ilar, but if the deviations continue to be tolerated by the Amalgamated Associa
tion all other mills shall receive the same. All manufacturers and workmen
governed by this scale hereby agree not to make any deviations from the scale
agreed to.
No. 2. In case of a grievance arising at any mill there shall be no cessation of
work by men until the same has been investigated through the proper channels
and has been finally passed upon by the district executive committee of the
Amalgamated Association.
No. 3. All men under the jurisdiction of the Amalgamated Association shall
be paid out of the office, provided full data be furnished the company as to de
tails. The Falcon Tin Plate Co. system of pay days to be in effect except where
present semimonthly system is mutually satisfactory. This not to apply where
straight two-week or weekly pays now prevail.
No. 4. * * * When improved machinery or methods of operation are
introduced into mills, thus increasing the output and reducing the work of the
men, there shall be a readjustment of the scale governing such work.
* * * When and where misunderstandings arise as to the proper interpre
tation of any part of this agreement, the proper official or officials of the
association with the local committee shall first discuss the matter with the
management before any rulings on same are rendered. * * * Pending such
investigation and discussion, there shall be no cessation of work by men affected.
LAUNDRY WORKERS
The Laundry Workers’ International Union includes all employees
in custom laundries. The agreements provide for a union shop, an
eiffht-hour day, time and a half for overtime, and a method of
arbitrating differences.
The following extracts are taken from the agreement of Local No.
26, San Francisco, June 18, 1923:
Ninth. Women markers, washers, and distributors must be paid the same rate
of wages paid to men employed on the same work.
Tenth. Markers, distributors, washers, and wringers shall be known as Branch
No. 1. All others shall be known as Branch No. 2. No member of Branch
No. 2 shall be allowed to classify work which requires the reading of marks.
Eleventh. The proportion of apprentices in the marking and distributing
room shall be at the ratio of one apprentice to every five journeymen in each
laundry. No apprentice to be allowed in the washhouse. Apprentices must not
66
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
take the place of journeymen. Helpers in the washhouse when doing journey
men’s work shall receive the same rate of wages paid to journeymen employed
on the same work.
Twelfth. The term of apprenticeship in Branch No. 1 shall be 18 months.
The party of the second part agrees: * * * (b) That [it] will not call any
strike of its members in sympathy with other organizations or labor unions unless
sanctioned by the San Francisco Labor Council, and that its members will faith
fully perform their various duties toward the laundry employing them under
this agreement to their best ability.
The agreement of Local No. 64, Brockton, Mass., June 1 , 1923,
includes the following:
A rticle I. Forty-eight hours shall constitute a week’s work with 50 hours’
pay.
A r t . III. * * * All work done Saturday afternoon shall be paid for at
the rate of double time.
A r t . IV. All overtime shall be paid for at the rate of double time.
A r t . V. * * * Holiday work to be paid for at the rate of double time, and
under no circumstances shall a member be compelled to work Labor Day. *
Art. IX. One apprentice to be allowed for every 20 hands. Apprenticeship
to last four weeks.
LEATHER WORKERS
The United Leather Workers’ International Union of America is
composed of persons employed in the production or transportation
of leather or by-products thereof. The agreements of the unions
generally call for a union shop, a 44 or 47 hour week arranged so as
to give a Saturday hah holiday, time and a half for overtime
and double time for holidays, no piecework, and an arbitration
committee.
The following extracts are taken from the 1924 agreement of
Local No. 32, with the leather-goods manufacturers of Boston:
A rticle IV. Forty-four hours shall constitute a week’s work. No work to
be performed on Saturdays during the months of May, June, July, and August.
During those four months the hours shall be from 7.45 a. m. to 12 m., and from
12.45 p. m. to 5.30 p. m., with the exception of Fridays, when work shall cease
at 4.30 p. m.
A r t . IX. Goods made by union help must bear the union label.
A r t . XIII. Three apprentices to be allowed to every 10 experienced workers.
New workers shall be apprentices for six months, then be considered secondclass workers. After the next six months they shall be considered first-class
workers if approved by a committee of the union and the association.
A r t . X V l. In dull seasons all work shall be equally divided among al?
employees in the productive department of the same branch of work.
A r t . XIX. Equal pay for same kind of work regardless of sex.
A r t . XX. Not more than two employers or shareholders or foremen not
members of the union [shall] be allowed to work on the productive part of the
business. Only one foreman to be allowed to each department.
LONGSHOREMEN
The International Longshoremen’s Association includes laborers
engaged in loading and unloading all shipping along the water front
ana railroad cars on docks, piers, or in marine warehouses; clerks
and mechanics doing work in connection with the same; grain eleva
tor employees; and men engaged in cotton compresses and ware
houses. In the larger Atlantic and Gulf ports the agreements are
made between the unions representing the various classes of work
and the United States Shipping Board and representatives of the
67
shipping interests. There is a marked similarity between the agree
ments for like work at the different ports.
Generally the agreements are made for one year, call for the em
ployment of union men only, 44 hours per week for six months (May
to October), and 48 hours during the remainder of the year, and
specify rates for overtime work and the wages to be paid weekly.
Disputes are generally to be adjusted by a committee of four (two
,representing each side), with the aid of a fifth man when a majority
of the four are unable to agree.
The following provisions relating to loading and unloading of ships
are taken from the agreement between the locals at Boston and the
United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, deep
water steamship lines, mtercoastal lines, and contracting stevedores,
effective October 1 , 1924:
LONGSHOREMEN
A rticle III. When union men are employed on steamers, sailing vessels, and
lighters in the harbor, loading and discharging cargo, they shall be paid from
the time they leave the wharf until return to same. * * * Men not to be
paid for meal hours unless they work. If men supply their own meals, 80 cents
per meal to be allowed by the employers.
A r t . V. No members of locals shall work with sailors running winches or
handling baggage or cargo, to the exclusion of union men, unless union men are
not available, but the stewards may handle stateroom baggage. When men do
not return to work it is left to the discretion of the employing stevedores to fill
their places as best they can.
A r t . VI. It is understood that so far as possible only baggage and mail be
handled on Labor Day and Christmas Day after 5 p. m. on Christmas Eve.
A r t . VII. Providing it does not conflict with Article XVII of the working
rules, men shall be hired in regular gangs before 5 p. m. on Saturdays, when
required to work on Sundays, and before 5 p. m. on the eve of all holidays,
excepting Saturdays, during the months of October, May, June, July, August,
and September, when the time shall be 11 a. m. * * * In emergency cases
of wrecked or stranded vessels, men are to be hired at any time.
A r t . XVI. When men are knocked off 15 minutes or less after the hour,
they shall be paid for one-quarter of an hour; if knocked off 16 minutes after
the hour, and not more than 30 minutes, they shall be paid for one-half an
hour; if knocked off 31 minutes after the hour and before 45 minutes, they shall
be paid for three-quarters of an hour; and if knocked off 46 minutes after the
hour, they shall be paid for one hour.
A r t . XVII. Minimum number of men in gangs shall be 17. Employers to
have the right to judge how all men are to be distributed.
This clause does not apply to any cargo discharged into or from lighters or
directly into or from cars, nor to any cargo handled by an electric magnet, nor
to sailing ships, in all of which cases the number of men shall be left to the
stevedores’ discretion.
The weight of the loads in all cases to be left to the stevedores’ discretion.
Any abuse of this clause shall be immediately reported to the standing com
mittee of the employers.
Articles III and IX of the wage scale read in part as follows:
III. * * * There shall be no work performed during the meal-hour
period, but if through necessity the men are compelled to work they shall receive
double the prevailing rate of pay until relieved. Men to be paid a minimum of
one hour for any fractional part of the first hour and actual time worked after the
first hour.
A r t . IX. When rubbers are required for handling wet cargo, leather hand pads
or gloves for handling barbed wire, they shall be provided by the stevedore or
company.
A rticle
The following provisions relating to loading and unloading of ves
sels are taken from the agreement between the locals at Orange, Beau
mont, and Port Arthur, Tex., and the United States Shipping Board,
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
68
the Master Stevedores’ Association of Texas, and contracting steve
dores in the places named, October 1 , 1924:
Dam aged cargo
Damaged cargo on vessels in distress, or where fumes, smoke, or obnoxious
odors are present, to be -shifted, discharged, or otherwise handled, shall be paid
for at double-time rates applicable to class of cargo handled, but all undamaged
cargo, whether in same compartment or not, shall be paid for at regular rates.
In case of dispute as to what shall constitute damaged cargo the matter shall be
referred to the grievance committee, whose decision shall be final.
N um ber of men per gang
The stevedore shall have the right to determine the number of men employed
in each gang or working at each hatch, but the number of men at present
employed at the various ports shall remain the same, except where hatchway is
to be filled or other places not reached by an open hatch. The stevedore shall
also have the right to shift the men from hatch to dock and from dock to hatch.
* * * There shall be no stoppage of work or lockout under any circum
stances. * * * In case of dispute as to interpretation of this contract or any
working rules agreed to in connection with this contract there shall be no ces
sation of work, and the case shall be referred to the grievance committee, com
posed of two representatives of the shipping and stevedore interests, two repre
sentatives of the organizations, and a neutral chairman acceptable to both sides.
The longshoremen’s associations guarantee the full observance of this contract
by the individual members of the association.
The employers also pledge themselves to the faithful performance of their ob
ligation under this contract. No rule or rules affecting in any way the cost of
labor or the working of ships shall be adopted by either party of this agree
ment * * * except by mutual consent.
W orking rules
R u le 12. Handling coal in bunkers on fire, when smoke or fumes are present,
shall be paid for at double the awarded rate for coal work.
R u le 16. Longshore gangs shall consist of not less than 14 men, the foreman
to use his judgment in placing the men; not less than 6 men to be employed in
the hold; however, in rigging up vessels preparatory to loading or discharging,
where a full gang will not be needed, the stevedore may employ any amount of
men sufficient to rig up such vessels.
R u le 17. Case oil gangs shall consist of 22 men and a foreman when loading
with spiral conveyor, 18 men and a foreman when loading with whips, men to
be placed as foreman sees fit.
Cotton work
Stow ing cotton by hand. —Two hundred forty bales shall constitute a day’s
work for a gang of five men.
Stow ing cotton w ith tools. —Stowing 105 bales shall constitute a .day’s work for
a gang of five men.
The following extra-rate provisions are taken from the agreement
of Locals No. 874, commercial checkers, and No. 975, steamship clerks,
with the United States Shipping Board, deep-water steamship lines,
and contracting stevedores, of New York City and vicinity, October
1, 1924:
8. Double time shall be paid when checking or tallying ammunition or ex
plosives down the bay; time to start from the time of leaving the pier to their
return to same; meals as covered by longshoremen’s agreement.
11. AH checkers or tallymen working on cargo damaged by fire or water, when
working under distress conditions, shall receive double the prevailing rate.
12. Checkers or tallymen working offshore or tallying from dock into ship on
cargo calling for double time under the longshoremen’s agreement shall be com
pensated for double time under the conditions specified in such agreement.
METAL TRADES
6&
MEAT CUTTERS
The membership of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters, and Butcher
Workmen of North America consists of workers (except the office
force) connected with slaughtering and packing establishments, sau
sage workers, and meat cutters in shops. Generally there is but one
union in a town, and the agreement covers the three classes of work
ers mentioned, though in a few cases there are separate agreements
for each. Agreements are generally made with individual employers,
call for a union shop and rate of time and a half for overtime, pro
hibit work on Sundays, and provide for a union card to be loaned to
the employer and to be displayed by him in the market where it can
be readily seen. It is agreed that members generally are not to
work over eight hours a day in slaughterhouses or over nine hours
a day in shops, or before 7 a. m. or after 6 p. m., except on Saturdays
when work is to end at 9 p.m .; on holidays the shops must close at
9 or 10 a. m., and on days preceding holidays may remain open until
9 p. m. An apprentice is usually allowed for three or five journey
men. Employees are to keep counters, blocks, and the floor behind
the counter clean and sanitary at all times.
The following extracts, from the agreement of Local No. 88 , St.
Louis, September 1 , 1923, are of interest:
S e c t io n 5. The men shall be furnished by the firm for each week with six
aprons, two coats, and one cap cover if caps are to be worn. Help-outs must be
furnished with sufficient aprons, coats, and cap covers to insure neat appearance.
S ec . 9. It shall be deemed a breach of contract for any person other than a
classified meat cutter to sell, cut, or wrap up meats.
S ec . 10. A ll ^meat cutters m u st be p olite and courteous to th e trade, m ust
keep blocks, counters and them selves and their attire in a sanitary condition a t
all tim es.
The following excerpts are from the agreement of Local No. 115,
San Francisco, August 26, 1924:
S e c t io n 7. Employees employed as wrappers, handling knife, or performing
other duties other than wrapping any portion of time shall become members of
this union.
S ec . 87 Delicatessen stores handling fresh meats shall observe the same hours
as meat markets, and delicatessen wishing to remain open after meat markets
are closed must partition off or inclose meat department.
The agreement of Local No. 1 , Syracuse, N. Y., December 1,1923,
contains the following closed-shop provisions:
A r t ic l e 8. It is further agreed that the party of the second part will not b e
required to work with nonunion men of any craft doing work for the proprietor
in the market in which he is working.
A r t . 9. Union meat cutters will not be required to sell nonunion sausage
products of any kind, the preference of purchase to be granted to local
industry * * *, as far as practicable. This article proposed and adopted by
the Master Butchers of Syracuse and accepted by this union in the interest of
home industry.
METAL TRADES
*
BOILER MAKERS
The International Brotherhood of Boiler Makers, Iron Ship Build
ers and Helpers, of America includes in its membership workers
making boilers, grates, and fire doors; doing all iron work connected
with the making of iron ships, iron tanks, vats, standpipes, water
10
TRAUE AGltEEMEMS, 1923 AND 1024
towers, furnaces, roasters, converters, and stacks around mines, mills,
and smelters, heaters, manufacturing and power plants, water-wheel
and turbine work; and running welding, riveting, punching, and
shearing machines, flangers, and drill presses. The members are
formed into locals, and the locals of a city are united into lodges.
Railroad workers are grouped into railroad lodges and generally
affiliate with other railroad crafts. Generally the agreement calk
for a union shop, an eight-hour day, foremen to be members of the
union, wages to be paid weekly, and double time for overtime work.
The following extracts are taken from the working rules of Lodge
No. 83, of greater Kansas City, effective January 29, 1923:
A rticle IV. On any outside work job where three or more members are em
ployed they shall immediately select one of their members to act as steward until
the same has been confirmed by the business representative or another appointed
in his stead. * * * Members so elected by the members on the job or ap
pointed by the business representative shall be compelled to serve unless excused
for good and sufficient cause.
* * * The steward shall represent the lodge on the job where he is em
ployed, help to enforce the laws of our brotherhood and Lodge 83, examine the
cards and due books of all members on first starting to work and once a week or
more often if he deems it necessary * * *. Collect all indebtedness of the
member due the lodge and turn same over to the secretary on or before the next
regular or special meeting. The steward in conjunction with the business repre
sentative shall take up the complaints and grievances and help to adjust same.
He shall report to the lodge all infractions of the laws of this lodge by any
member working on the job of which he is steward. No extra compensation
shall be paid to a journeyman while acting as steward. He shall take care of
injured members and accompany them to their homes or hospital without loss
of time. He shall always while working carry a copy of these working rules.
In case a member is killed on any job all members of that job shall lay off the
balance of the day and the day he is buried. He shall perform such other duties
as the lodge or business representative in consonance with our laws may
direct.
It shall be the duty of all members starting to work on a job to report to the
steward before starting.
A r t . V. * * * No work shall be performed on Labor Day or Christmas
Day except in serious emergencies affecting life or property; in such cases three
hours for one shall be paid.
A r t . XI. When the employer or his representative furnish board and sleeping
quarters for the men they shall furnish clean and comfortable sleeping quarters
and palatable food and shall not charge more than $7 a week for board and
lodging.
A r t . XIII. When members of this union are called upon by the international
brotherhood to protect union principles or change jurisdiction claims, it shall in
no way be considered a violation of these rules.
Art. XIV. When the employer sublets the work to another firm or company,
the subcontractor shall be subject to all the terms of these rules.
MACHINISTS
Members of the International Association of Machinists make,
erect, inspect, adjust, assemble, install, maintain, dismantle, and oper
ate machinery, engines, motors, and pumps, whether driven by hand,
foot, steam, electricity, gasoline, air, or water. They manufacture
and install machine tools, do riveting, calking, boxing, shaping,
and drilling in boilers, tanks, and frames, ai^d make cash reg
isters, typewriters, adding and addressing machines,, firearms, air
planes, drills, hand tools, automatic stokers, hoists, elevators, and
derricks. Their agreements generally call for a union shop, an eighthour day, overtime pay at the rate of time and a half, and one ap
71
prentice for every five journeymen employed. Machinists at work
on railroads generally affiliate with the railroad workers. Those
connected witn building trades affiliate with the building trades
councils. Others affiliate with the metal trades councils.
Certain of the rules of District No. 8, Chicago and vicinity, May 1,
1923, are as follows:
METAL TRADES
S e c t io n 3. Eight hours shall be the standard workday, * * * except on
Saturday, when work shall cease at 12 o’clock noon.
Where night shifts are worked, not more than 40 hours per week shall be
worked in five nights.
Men employed on night shift shall receive the same compensation for 40 hours
as they would receive for 44 hours on day shift.
S ec . 4. D ou b le tim e shall be paid for all tim e w orked over th e regular day
and night schedule and for Sundays and legal holidays.
If overtime is worked on either day or night shift, there shall be at least 30
minutes intermission before overtime takes place.
No overtime shall be worked on nights when shop meetings are to be held.
In case of depression in trade the hours shall be shortened all that is necessary
to keep the normal force employed.
S ec . 5. Apprentices shall not be less than 16 and not over 21 years of age
at the beginning of their apprenticeship term, * * * and be employed on
day force only.
The number of apprentices shall not exceed one to every five journeymen
machinists, nor shall they be permitted to work overtime.
Apprentices shall be required to attend a continuation school for a period of
not less than eight hours every two weeks. They shall suffer no loss in wages
for school attendance.
Apprentices in their last year of service may be sent on outside jobs with
journeymen machinists in the ratio of one to each job.
METAL POLISHERS
The Metal Polishers’ International Union has jurisdiction over metal
polishers, buffers, and platers. Its agreements are customarily made
between locals and individual employers and
call for a
union shop, an eight-hour dav, overtime rate of
a half with
double time for Sundays and holidays, 1 apprentice to 8 or 10 journey
men, and apprentices to serve for three years.
The following provisions are taken from the agreement of Local
No. 1 2 , Maspeth, Long Island, February 1 , 1924:
A r t ic l e IV. It is further agreed that in the event that the firm has any of its
polishing, buffing, or plating work done outside the shop it will be done in a
union shop.
A r t . V. Forty-four hours shall constitute a week’s work, and time and onehalf shall be paid for all overtime, except Sundays and regular holidays, viz:
New Year’s Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Decoration Day,
Fourth of July, Labor Day, Columbus Day, election day, Thanksgiving, and
Christmas, which shall be paid for at the rate of double time.
A r t . VIII. Any grievance that may arise, first shall be settled, if possible,* by
a committee of the employees of the company and the officials of the company,
and in the event of the above constituted committee failing to agree, then the
matter shall be referred to a committee composed of the officials of the organi
zation and the officials of the company; and in the event of the above constituted
committee failing to agree, then the grievance shall be referred to the Central
Trades Labor Council to be arbitrated according to its constitution by disinter
ested members of that body; and it is further understood and agreed that no
strike or lockout whatever shall take place until all such honorable efforts at
arbitration have failed.
The agreement of Local No. 138, Belleville, 111., June 30, 1923,
contains, among others, the provisions that follow:
72
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
(5) There shall be no limit to the output of production.
(6) When a man is taken from piecework and placed on daywork temporarily
(meaning three days or less) he shall be paid the average of his previous one
week’s earnings. Steady dayworkers to receive the shop average.
(11) When a difficulty arises between the foreman of the said party of the
first part and any of the parties of the second part, and said difficulty can not
be amicably settled, it shall be referred to the superintendent of the said party
of the first part, and then if an adjustment can not be reached it shall be referred
to the two associations; both parties in the dispute shall continue operation in
the ordinary manner.
MOLDERS
The International Molders’ Union of North America has jurisdiction
over workers in the trade of molding in all its branches and sub
divisions.
In 1891 the national union made an agreement with the Stove
Founders’ National Defense Association. Conferences between the
two organizations have been held yearly since then and the original
agreement has been modified and enlarged. Extracts from the confer
ence agreement issued January 1 , 1924, follow:
C lause 1. Resolvedly That this meeting adopt the principle of arbitration in
the settlement of any dispute between the members of the International Molders’
Union of North America and the members of the Stove Founders’ National
Defense Association.
C la u se 2. That a conference committee be formed, consisting of 12 members,
6 of whom shall be iron molders appointed by the International Molders’ Union
of North America and 6 members appointed by the * * * association, all to
hold office from January 1 to December 31 of each year.
C la u se 3. Whenever there is a dispute between a meinber of the * * *
association and the molders in his employ (when a majority of the latter are
members of the International Molders’ Union), and it can not be settled amicably
between them, it shall be referred to the presidents of the two associations before
named, who shall themselves or by delegates give it due consideration. If they
can not decide it satisfactorily to themselves, they may, by mutual agreement,
summon the conference committee, to whom the dispute shall be referred, and
whose decision by a majority vote shall be final and binding upon each party for
the term of 12 months.
Pending adjudication by the presidents and conference committee, neither party
to the dispute shall discontinue operations, but shall proceed with business in the
ordinary manner. * * * No vote shall be taken except by a full committee
or by an even number of each party.
C la u se 4. Apprentices should be given every opportunity to learn all the
details in the trade thoroughly and should be required to serve four years. Any
apprentice leaving his employer before the termination of his apprenticeship
should not be permitted to work in any foundry under the jurisdiction of the
* * * union, but should be required to return to his employer. An appren
tice should not be admitted to membership in the * * * union until he has
served his apprenticeship and is competent to command the average wages.
Each apprentice in the last year of his apprenticeship should be given a floor
between two journeyman molders, and they with the foreman should pay special
attention to his mechanical education in all classes of work.
C la u se 6. When the members of the Defense Association shall desire a gen
eral reduction in the rate of wages, or the molders’ union an advance, they shall
each give the other notice at least 30 days before the end of each year,"which
shall commence on the 1st day of January. If no such notice be given, the
rate of wages current during the year shall be the rate in force for the succeeding
year.
C la u se 10. The members of the * * * association shall furnish to their
molders shovels, riddles, rammers, brushes, facing-bags, bellows and strike-off,
provided, however, that they charge at actual cost tools so furnished, adopting
some method of identification; and when a molder abandons the shop, or requires
a new tool in place of one so furnished, he shall, upon the return of the old tools,
be allowed the full price charged without deducting for ordinary wear; any dam
age beyond ordinary wear to be deducted from the amount so charged.
METAL TRADES
73
C lause llj^ . If sufficient iron is not furnished the molder to pour off his
work, and such work has to remain over, he shall be paid for such work remain
ing over at the regular price.
This rule shall apply excepting in case of breakdown of machinery, where no
allowance shall be made.
Clause 12. Whenever a difficulty arises between a member of the * * *
association (whose foundry does not come under the provisions of clause 3,
* * *) and the molders employed by him, and said difficulty can not be
amicably settled between the member and his employees, it shall be submitted
for adjudication to the presidents of the two organizations or their representa
tives without prejudice to the employees presenting said grievance.
Clause 13. In pricing molding on new stoves when there are no comparative
stoves made in the shop, the prices shall be based upon competitive stoves made
in the district, thorough comparison and proper consideration being given to
the merits of the work according to labor involved.
Clause 14. Stove manufacturers, members of the * * * association shall
furnish in their respective foundries a book containing the piece prices for mold
ing, the same to be placed in the care of the foreman of the foundry and a
responsible molder agreeable to both employer and employees, said book to be
placed in a locker on molding floor, to which the foreman and the molder so
selected shall have free and independent access.
Clause 15. The general trend of industrial development is toward employing
skilled labor as far as practicable at skilled work, and in conformance with this
tendency it shall be the policy in shops of members of the * * * association
to discontinue the present practice of molders wetting and cutting sand, dump
ing out and trimming castings; this work to be done and paid for by the firms,
who shall regulate the molding and pouring time as seems best to them, agreeing,
however, to furnish the last ladle of iron to be poured, within eight hours from
the starting of the eight-hour workday; failing in this, to pay time and one-half
time at the minimum day rate agreed to between the two associations for time
in excess of eight hours.
Each molder will give the shaker-out instructions as to the amount of water
and new sand required. When in the morning the molder finds his instructions
to the sand cutter have not been carried out he shall notify the foreman and the
foreman shall be responsible for putting the sand in condition immediately, and
if the firm has the molder put any or all of the sand in condition the molder
shall be paid for the time consumed at the rate per hour that he earned during
the molding period the previous day.
Whenever it becomes necessary for a molder to shake out his floor, because of
lack of laborers to do this work, he shall be paid for this work, time and one-half
on the basis of the minimum day wage agreed to between the two associations.
Clause 16. Inasmuch as it is conceded by the members of the * * * asso
ciation that the earnings of a molder should exercise no influence upon the mold
ing price of work which is set, according to well-established precedent and rule of
conference agreements, by comparison with other work of a like kind, the plac
ing of a limit upon the .earnings of a molder should be discountenanced in shops
of members of the * * * association.
Clause 17. When a full floor of new work is given a molder he should be
guaranteed the daywork rate of pay for the first day, in order that he may be
given an opportunity to get the job in good running order for piecework; if,
however, the molder should earn more than the daywork rate, he should be paid
his full earnings.
Clause 19. The * * * union shall not itself, nor by any of its agents
in any manner discriminate against the goods manufactured or sold by any
member of the * * * association, because of the unwillingness of such
member of said association to use the union label.
Clause 20. When the price of piecework has been agreed to * * * such
prices shall be reduced to writing * * * and shall be final and binding.
Clause 21. The general ratio of apprentices to journeyman molders employed
in the foundries of members of the * * * association shall be one to five,
and one to each shop; provided, however, that whenever a member of the
* * * association finds he can not secure the number of molders he may require
for the needs of his business, the question shall be referred to the presidents of
the two associations, or their representatives, for investigation and relief. If it is
found that the member of the * * * association is entitled to relief he
shall be allowed such additional number of apprentices as shall be mutually
agreed upon.
74
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
The number of apprentices shall be computed upon the number of floors being
operated by journeyman molders, it being understood that when the force of
molders is increased said increase shall have been in existence not less than
eight weeks previous to the employment of additional apprentices.
In shops where the ratio at present is more than one to five, the ratio agreed
upon shall be reached by refraining from placing new apprentices at work until
such time as the apprentices employed shall have been reduced to the proper
number, and that in the shops where the present ratio is less than one to five,
no journeyman molder shall be discharged or laid off for the purpose of sup
planting him by an additional apprentice.
Clause 23. Recognizing the desirability of introducing new methods and
machines in stove foundries, it is agreed by the conferees of the International
Molders' Union of North America and of the Stove Founders' National Defense
Association that such processes are entitled to and should have consideration
in fixing prices and wages.
Clause 24. When a stove is to be priced, a list shall be furnished the com
mittee of all pieces that belong to the stove, whether some of such pieces have
been priced previously or not, so that the committee shall know what pieces go
with the stove, and such pieces as have been already priced can be so marked
and all prices, when agreed upon by a committee of molders and a represent
ative of the employer, to be dated and signed by both parties.
Clause 25. When new sand is needed, it shall be delivered to the molders'
floor free of charge.
C lause 28. Beginning January 1, 1924, the molding price of all work in shops
of the * * * association shall be increased 10 per cent on the prices paid at
the present time. Where the percentage is at present 100 per cent on list, this
increase will make the percentage 120 per cent or its equivalent.
Seven dollars and twenty-five cents shall be established minimum day wage
for all daywork molders, and molders working by the day at core making in the
shops of the members of the * * * association.
In districts where the minimum rate established by the International Molders'
Union of North America is in excess of $7.25, the rate established by [it] shall
apply.
The local union shall allow an old or physically incapacitated molder to work
for such wage as may be mutually agreed upon between him, his employer and
the local union.
Locals quite generally follow the conference agreement, though
occasionally with oral change where advisable.
STOVE MOUNTERS
The Stove Mounters’ International Union of North America in
cludes in its membership stove, range, and furnace mounters and
drillers, riveters, cutters, punchers, pattern fitters, testers, gaters,
and welders working with them. Their agreements are generally
short and made with individual employers and call for a union shop,
a 48-hour week, time and a half for overtime, double time for Sun
days and holidays, one apprentice for each eight journeymen, and
some form of arbitration.
Some of the more important provisions in the agreement of Local
No. 38, Peoria, March 17, 1924, other than the general ones men
tioned above, follow:
Article II. Grievances of all kinds by either party should be taken up with
the foreman of the department and by properly authorized shop committee and
shall be adjusted as promptly as possible. It is further agreed that while any
differences are in the course of adjustment neither party shall discontinue
operation.
Art. VI. In the event of a mounter being taken from his piecework bench
and put temporarily on daywork he shall be paid at the rate of his previous
two week’s piecework earnings. One week or less shall be construed as
temporary.
MINERS, COAll
75
Art. VII. In the event the foreman gives the mounter a job that is short
eastings and said castings are not on mounter's floor within eight hours from the
time mounter started, he shall be paid daywork for putting on shorts. It is
also agreed that when a mounter is working on a stove that does not fit prop
erly he shall be paid daywork for time lost until patterns are changed and cast
ings fit properly.
Art. VlII. The company shall not discriminate against any employee because
he is a member of the union or because of his services on a committee acting for
the union.
MINERS, COAL
The United Mine Workers of America accepts as members all
persons employed in and around coal mines, coal washers, and
coke ovens. Its field is divided into about 25 districts. Each dis
trict makes basic agreements, with supplemental agreements with
individual employers or associations of coal operators within its
limits, applicable to veins, fields, individual towns, or counties, gen
erally for periods of two or three years. In a few cases districts are
divided into subdistricts and basic agreements are made by them.
The agreements frequently are amendments to prior agreements
and generally are lengthy. They vary in the different parts of the
country only in detan. Most of them expired in March, 1924, but
were generally continued for three years from April 1 , 1924, in all
“ terms, provisions, customs, and conditions.” They consist mainly
of wage scales; they provide for the employment of union workers
only, an eight-hour day, the check-off, the removal of dirt, slate, and
other impurities from the coal, the use of certain grades of powder
only, the proper and safe protection of miners at work, ana semi
monthly pay days.
The following extracts are taken from the agreement of Districts
Nos. 14, 2 1 , ana 25 with the Southwestern Interstate Coal Operators7
Association, covering Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri,
effective April 1 , 1924, for three years:
S e c t io n 1. (1) The duties of the mine committee shall be confined to the
adjustment of disputes between the mine foreman and the miners or mine
laborers arising out of this agreement, or any district or local agreement made
in connection therewith.
Where the mine foreman and said miners or mine laborers have failed to agree
the mine committee and the mine foreman are empowered to adjust the dispute,
and if they disagree it shall be immediately referred to the superintendent of the
mine and the district president or their representatives.
(2) In the event the superintendent and the district president or their repre
sentatives fail to agree the case shall be referred to the president of the district
and the commissioner of the Operators' Association or their representatives.
If the president of the district and the commissioner of the Operators' Associa
tion or their representatives fail to agree, they must either make other disposi
tion of the case for final adjustment or refer it and the records in connection
therewith * * * to the district's joint board of miners and operators for
settlement, whose duty it shall be to adjust all grievances referred to said board.
All cases that are disagreed upon by the various joint boards shall be referred
* * * to a commission consisting of Mr. John P. White and Mr. W. L. A.
Johnson for final settlement.
Pending a final settlement of any dispute the mine shall continue in operation,
and all miners, mine laborers, and parties involved shall remain at work except
discharged employees. Said district joint board shall adopt rules for its own
government and shall not render decisions in conflict with the written terms of
the interstate and district contracts nor in conflict with local customs as to
prices and conditions of employment that are established as being in effect at
the expiration of the 1923-24 contract, which are hereby renewed and continued
in effect except where changed in the existing contracts.
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TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
(5) The joint board of each district shall be composed of six members, three
from each side. This shall include the president of the mine workers of said
district and the commissioner of the operators, who by virtue of their positions
shall be members of said board. The other members of the district joint board
shall be members or representatives of their respective organizations. Each
side shall make its own selections, and the compensation of the men so selected
shall be fixed and paid by their respective organizations. In District 21 there
shall be two such boards, one for Arkansas and one for Oklahoma, unless mutu
ally agreed otherwise.
(6) When a meeting of the district joint board is requested by either side,
said board shall be convened within three days from the time application for a
meeting is made, and at such time and place as may be mutually agreed upon
by the commissioner of the Operators’ Association and the district president of
the United Mine Workers of America.
Sec. 2. (1) For all classes of labor eight hours shall constitute a day’s work.
The going to and coming from the respective working places is to be done on the
employee’s own time. All company men shall perform whatever labor the fore
man may direct. An eight-hour day means eight hours’ work at the usual
working places, exclusive of noon time, which shall be one-half hour for all classes
of day labor. This shall be exclusive of the time required in reaching such work
ing places in the morning and departing from the same at night. The operator
may refuse to allow any day man to work on any day on which he fails to be at
his working place at the starting time.
Sec. 4. (1) The management of the mine, the direction of the working force,
and the right to hire ana discharge are vested exclusively in the operator, and
the United Mine Workers of America shall not abridge these rights. * * *
If any employee shall be discharged or suspended by the management, and it is
claimed that an injustice has been done him, an investigation, to be conducted
by the parties and in the manner set forth in section 1, shall be taken up
promptly, and final disposition of same made within 15 days. And if it is proved
an injustice has been done, the management shall reinstate said employee and
pay him full compensation for the time he has been suspended and out of
employment.
N ote.—Our understanding of paragraph 1, section 4, relating to discharge,
is that no man shall be discharged except for sufficient cause other than personal
prejudice or activity in matters relating to the United Mine Workers of
America.
(5) No member of the United Mine Workers of America shall be denied em
ployment except for sufficient cause, other than personal prejudice or activity
in matters affecting the United Mine Workers of America, and when an applicant
for work is denied employment, and it is claimed by him an injustice has been
done said applicant, investigation shall be conducted by the tribunals and in
the manner set forth in section 1 for the adjustment of grievances and shall be
taken up promptly. If it is proven an injustice has been done, the mine man
agement shall give employment to said applicant and pay him compensation for
time lost not to exceed seven days. The reasons assigned for not employing
said applicant shall be set forth during the investigation. It is understood and
agreed that the taking up and investigation of discharge or applicant case will
take precedence over all other cases except shutdowns, and no list shall be kept
for the purpose of regulating the employment of applicants. No local rule shall
be enacted or enforced in conflict with the provisions of this paragraph.
Sec. 5. (1) In case of either local, temporary, or general suspension of mining,
either at the expiration of this contract or otherwise, the engineers and such mine
workers as are necessary to fully protect the operators’ property shall not suspend
work, except at the option of the operator, but shall operate fans, pumps,
generators, motors, boilers or other machinery, and do such timbering and repairs
as are necessary to protect the property under their care.
The operator at his option to retain only such engineers and maintenance men
as are required, but with the understanding that all engineers and maintenance
men shall be entitled to an equal division of the work at the scale price in effect
at the time of suspension; provided, however, the operator may exercise the
option of suspending such engineers and maintenance men and assuming full care
of and complete responsibility for their property during such suspension.
(2) In case of either local or general suspension of mining, the operator shall
have the right to select day or monthly men employed by the company in any
capacity to operate fans, pumps, or other machinery necessary to protect the
property. It is understood that such men shall be employed from their respec
MINERS, COAL
77
tive classifications and that this provision is null and void in case company exer
cises their option of assuming full responsibility as provided for in paragraph 1
of this section.
Sec. 6. (1) No strike or stoppage of work shall occur at any mine until the
question in dispute shall have been considered and finally disposed of by the
joint board or commission provided for in this contract.
(2) Should any officer, or officers, of the United Mine Workers of America, or
any member or members thereof, employed at any mine cause the mine or part
of the mine to shut down in violation of this rule, each member of the United
Mine Workers of America employed at said mine, except those who continue at
work, shall have deducted from his earnings the sum of $1 per day for each day
or part of the day they remain idle. Boys receiving boys' wages, or where
receiving half turn, shall be amenable to one-half of the penalty provisions of
this paragraph.
(3) Should any operator, or his representative, lock the men out for the pur
pose of forcing a settlement of any grievance, or cause the mine or a part of the
mine to shut down in violation of this rule, he shall be fined $1 per employee
for each day or part of a day the mine is thus thrown idle. The operator shall
be amenable to one-half the penalty provisions of this paragraph where boys
receive boys' wages or where receiving half turn.
(4) All money assessed against the employees under this rule shall be collected
from the pay for the half month in which the violation of the rule occurs or
from the first money due thereafter. All moneys assessed against the operator
for violation of this rule shall be turned over to the district treasurer of the
United Mine Workers of America in the district in which the violation occurs,
and all moneys assessed against the miners shall be turned over to the treasurer
of the Southwestern Interstate Coal Operators' Association.
All fines provided for in all agreements shall be automatically collected and any
operator failing to collect and forward to proper parties such fines shall pay a
penalty of $2 for each employee subject to be fined, the same to be collected
and retained in the miners' district organization. And in no case shall any fine
be refunded except by mutual agreement of the accredited representatives of
the miners and operators.
After resumption of work in case of any strike or lockout, if either party
claims the fine has been unjustly assessed, there shall be an immediate hearing
and a thorough investigation made of such case in accordance with section 1,
interstate agreement, and in the event it is found the penalty was unjustly
assessed it shall be refunded.
(5) There shall be no demands made locally by either operators or employees
which are in conflict with this agreement, * * * and there shall be no pro
visions imposed violating the same.
(6) Any officer or committeeman of the United Mine Workers of America
who shall advise or encourage any employee to refuse or cease work, where he
has a right to work under this agreement, may be discharged.
(7) If any day man refuse bo continue at work because of a grievance which
has not been taken up for adjustment in the manner provided herein, and such
action shall seem likely to impede the operation of the mine, the mine committee
shall immediately furnish a man or men to take such vacant place or places in
order that the mine may continue at work, and it shall be the duty of any mem
ber or members of the United Mine Workers who may be called upon by the
mine foreman and mine committee to immediately take the place or places
assigned to him or them in pursuance thereof.
Sec. 8. (1) The operator will recognize the mine committee in the discharge
of their duties, as provided for in this agreement, and agree to check off all dues,
assessments, fines, and initiations from all miners and mine laborers when de
sired. In order to protect the companies, the United Mine Workers of America
agrees, when the companies so demand, to furnish a collective and continuous
order authorizing the company to make such deductions. The companies agree
to furnish the miners' local representatives a monthly statement showing sep
arately the amount of dues, assessments, fines, and initiations collected. In case
any fine is imposed the propriety of which is questioned the amount of such fine
shall be held by the operator until the case is taken up and a decision reached.
(2) All deductions for dues, assessments, initiations, and fines shall be made
through the company office upon statement made by a duly authorized repre
sentative of the local union.
46976°—25----- 6
78
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
(3) It is agreed that the miners may employ a checkweighman to see that coal is
properly weighed and a correct record made thereof, and when such checkweigh
man is employed the companies shall furnish him a check number, and he shall
credit to his number such portion of each miner’s coal as he may be authorized
to do by the local union.
Sec. 9. (1) Motormen and drivers shall take their motors and mules to and
from the stables, and the time required in so doing shall not include any part of
the day’s labor, their time beginning when they reach the change at wmch they
receive empty cars—that is, the parting motormen and drivers at the shaft bottom
and the inside motormen and drivers at the parting—and ending at the same
place; but in no case shall a motorman and driver’s time be docked while he is
waiting for such cars at points named. The inside motormen and drivers at their
option may either walk to and from their parting or take with them, without
compensation, either loaded or empty cars to enable them to ride. This pro
vision, however, shall not prevent the inside motormen and drivers from bringing
to and taking from the bottom regular trips, if so directed by the mine foreman;
provided such work is done within eight hours.
(2) When the stables are located outside the mine, the company agrees to de
liver the mules at the bottom of the shaft in the morning and relieve the drivers
of the mules at the bottom of the shaft at night.
Sec. 13. (1) No deduction shall be made for doctor unless such deduction is
authorized by the individual employee.
Sec. 15. (1) In the event of an instantaneous death by accident in the mine,
employees shall have the privilege of discontinuing work for the remainder of
that day only. Work, at the option of the operator, shall be resumed the fol
lowing day and continue thereafter. In case the operators elect to operate the
mines on the day of the funeral of the deceased as above, or where death has
resulted from an accident in the mine, individual employees may, at their option,
absent themselves from work for the purpose of attending such funeral, but not
otherwise, and whether attending such funeral or not, each member of the United
Mine Workers of America employed at the mine at which the deceased member
was employed shall contribute 50 cents and the operators $25 for the benefit of the
family of the deceased or his legal representatives, to be collected through the
office of the company. In the event that the mines are thrown idle on account
of the employees* failure to report for work in time intervening between the time
of the accident and the funeral, or on the day of the funeral, then the company
shall not be called upon for the payment of the $25 above referred to.
(2) Except in cases of fatal accidents, as above, the mine shall in no case be
thrown idle because of any death or funeral, but in the case of the death of any
employee of the company or member of his family, any individual miner may,
at his option, absent himself from work for the purpose of attending such
funeral, but not otherwise.
From the general provisions relative to several counties in District
No. 14, the following articles are taken:
S ection IX, Article 3. That the color line shall not be a bar to employment.
Art. 6. In the event of a fall for which the miner is not responsible, under
this contract, occurring in his working place, the company shall make prepara
tions to clean up same within four hours from time of notice. If the company
desires to continue to work such place after they are so notified, the miner af
fected shall be given the preference of doing such work at the scale rate. * * *
If the place is stopped by the company, the miner shall be given another place.
Art. 8. That the scale rate of blacksmiths at mines where construction work
is being done shall be that of a first-class blacksmith, and the scale of mine
blacksmiths at mines where sharpening tools and general mine repairs are being
done shall be that of second-class blacksmiths, based on an eight-hour day.
Art. 12. Engineers, firemen, machine runners and helpers, shot firers, motormen, fire runners, and gas men shall give the mine foreman one day’s notice of
his intention to be absent from work. This rule shall not apply in cases of sick
ness or accident.
Art. 13. When a mine works and hoists coal two hours or more on any day,
the miners and loaders may remain in the mine at their option, and there shall
be no local ruling affecting same.
Art. 18. When an adequate number of empty railroad cars are at the mine
two hours before starting time in the morning, with sufficient capacity to work
one-quarter day, and the operator has assurance from the railroad company that
MINERS, COAL
79
more cars will be placed at the mine before empty cars already at the mine are
loaded, then all employees shall go to work, but if the operator has not sufficient
cars to comply with the above section two hours before starting time, then one
long blast of the whistle will be sounded indicating there will be no work on that
day and also by notifying employees at agreed local points by telephone or
otherwise. This will not interfere with any satisfactory local rule which was in
effect at the expiration of the 1917-1920 contract or that may be hereinafter
agreed upon.
Art. 19. In regard to taking the mules into the mine where the mules are kept
on top of the slope opening, the mules are to be taken to and from the tipple
to the mouth of the slope. In shaft opening the mules are to be taken down and
up the shaft by the company, either by the drivers on the company’s time or by
the company employing a man to do so, and it may employ any man or number
of men it chooses to do this work.
Where the mules are kept in the mine, if the mules are harnessed by the com
pany, the driver must be at the mine bottom or the parting where he commences
work, ready to begin at starting time. If the driver harnesses the mules, he does
so on the company’s time.
The following sections are taken from the agreement of District No.
17 with the Northern West Virginia Coal Operators7 Association,
April 1 , 1924:
Section 1. * * * All coal shall be paid for on a run-of-mine basis.
Sec. 2. The scale of prices agreed to for mining coal shall include the work
required to properly mine, drill, shoot, clean, and load the coal, and properly
timber the working places in the mine, and the operator shall be required to
furnish the necessary props and timbers to properly timber all working places.
When timbers, props, etc., are sent to the miner in mine cars in reasonable amount
he shall unload same.
Miners shall lay all track in rooms and temporary track in entries, and the oper
ators assume the obligation of laying all turn rails and switches. Where grades
are favorable the miner shall accept the empty car at the nearest switch to his
working face.
It is understood the miner shall be responsible for the care of all supplies sent
to him for his use and that he will recover all turns, rails, and ties in pillar draw
ing where possible.
Sec. 22. The mine committee shall consist of three men, all of whom shall be
American citizens, or who have made application for citizenship, and employees
of the mine, and who speak the English language. The duties of the mine com
mittee shall be confined to the adjustment of disputes that the mine boss and
miner or miners have tried to but are unable to adjust. The mine committee
shall have no other authority or exercise any other control, nor in any way
interfere with the operation of the mine, and for violation of this clause the
committee or any member thereof may be discharged.
Sec. 23. In case of any local troubles arising at any mine the aggrieved party
shall make an earnest effort to adjust the dispute with the mine foreman. In
case they are unable to agree the matter shall be referred to the mine committee
and local management of the mine; and, if they fail to agree, to the commis
sioner of the Operators’ Association and the miners’ officials; and, if they fail
to agree, to the district board of the two organizations; and should they fail to
agree they shall select an umpire or referee, and a decision of a majority of them
shall constitute a final and binding award. In all cases all parties involved must
continue at work pending the investigation and adjustment as above set forth.
Sec. 24. If any employee for whom the scale is made refuses to wdrk because
of any grievance which has not been taken up as provided herein, and such
action shall seem likely to impede the operation of the mine, such employees or
any of them will be subject to dismissal without recourse at the option of the
company, and the mine committee shall immediately furnish a man or men to
take such place or places at the scale rate, in order that the mine shall con
tinue to work, and it shall be the duty of any member or members of the mine
workers who may be called upon by the mine boss or mine committee, to
immediately take the place or places assigned him or them in pursuance
thereof.
Sec. 28. * * * The United Mine Workers of America recognize that the
very fundamentals upon which collective bargaining is founded is the strict
observance of wage agreements by both parties to this contract. Local strikes
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TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
can not and will not be tolerated. Every member of the United Mine Workers
of America under the jurisdiction of this agreement pledges himself to cooperate
with and assist every officer of the organization in preventing local strikes.
Every officer of the organization; subdistrict, district, and international, pledge
themselves to do everything possible to make this declaration effective.
Sec. 29. Should any officer or officers of the United Mine Workers of America
or any other member or members thereof, employed at any mine, cause the mine
or part of the mine to shut down in violation of this rule, each member of the
United Mine Workers of America employed at said mines, except those who con
tinue to work, shall have deducted from his earnings the sum of $2 per day for
each day or part of a day they may remain idle.
Sec. 30. Should any operator or his representative lock the men out for the
purpose of forcing a settlement of any grievance or cause the mine or a part of
the mine to shut down in violation of this rule, he shall be fined $2 per employee
for each day or part of a day the mine is thus thrown idle.
Sec. 31. All fines assessed against employees under this agreement shall be col
lected by the operator from the pay for the half month in which the violation of
the agreement occurred, or the first money due thereafter, and the operator shall
remit the same to the treasurer of the joint board within 20 days after collection.
A failure on the part of the operator to do so shall make him liable to a penalty
of 50 per cent of the amount involved.
Sec. 32. All fines assessed against the operator shall be remitted to the treasurer
of the joint board within 20 days after official notice is given in writing. Said
notice shall be given within two weeks after the alleged violation, stating the
cause of the fine from the local union to the operator affected.
Sec. 33. All fines provided for in this agreement shall be automatically col
lected, and any operator failing to collect such fines shall pay a penalty of $4
for each employee subject to be fined, the same to be collected and retained in
the miners' district organization. And in no case shall any fine be refunded
except by mutual agreement of the accredited representatives of the operators
and the miners.
Sec. 39. A bufial fund may be established by each mine or local, to which
fund each miner shall contribute 25 cents a month until a sum of not less than
$100 and not more than $500 shall have been created, when collections shall cease
until the fund is reduced by death, when a collection of 25 cents per month per
man shall again be made until the amount reaches the maximum agreed upon,
and so on.
Sec. 41. It is understood that in the event of a disagreement between opera
tors and mine workers, steam and electrical engineers, firemen, and pumpers are
required to continue to perform such work as is in line with their duties.
During any strike or suspension it is hereby understood and agreed that all
men on all kinds of outside construction and repair work together with all kinds
of work inside the mine that is not producing coal must continue at work. It
is further understood and agreed that such miners as are necessary are to be
permitted to mine coal for the boilers and consumption of employees of the
company. But this is not to be construed to mean to mine coal for shipment.
MUSICIANS
The American Federation of Musicians does not make agreements.
The locals specify working conditions which must be observed and
issue price lists which members are to observe in making contracts.
These lists cover vocal and instrumental rates for engagements at
concerts, dances, parties, banquets, rinks, hotels, cams, theaters,
ark concerts, summer gardens, parades, picnics, athletic exhiitions, and on steamboats, either as single performers or in bands
or orchestras, whether for a single entertainment,- day or evening,
or by the week, month, season, or year. The scales are minimum,
and members may quote higher prices at will.
The following are certain of the rules supplemental to the price
list of Local No. 802, New York City, 1923-24:
E
1. All musicians must be engaged by a contractor member of Local 802,
American Federation of Musicians.
PAPER MAKERS
81
2. The contractor shall receive double of all charges unless otherwise pro
vided.
5. No part of any regular orchestra shall be laid off on account of a travel
ing company carrying musicians.
7. Contractors furnishing regular orchestra in theaters must file with the
local a contract signed by the management for the entire season that the house
is open, stating the number of men engaged and the instrumentation.
15. Transportation and first-class sleeping accommodations must be furnished
on out-of-town engagements when night travel is necessary.
16. Members of orchestra or stage band shall not perform on more than one
instrument during any performance unless paid a full extra salary.
The following are theater rules in connection with the price list of
Local No. 5, Detroit, September 1 , 1923:
A room or, in lieu thereof, individual lockers shall be provided by the theater
management for the safe-keeping of musicians’ instruments and clothing; such
rooms shall be kept in a clean and habitable condition; also the orchestra pit.
When musicians in theater orchestras are required to talk, sing, or render joke
service to performers which is in no way connected with the rendering of musi
cal services, and is not in line of their regular work in the orchestra, an extra
charge must be made of $1 per man per day for each act making such
requirements.
One of the rules of the same local pertaining to motion-picture
houses is as follows:
Where there is continuous music, a piano or organ player shall be engaged to
give the orchestra reasonable relief during the performance. A reasonable relief
shall consist of no less then 20 minutes out of each hour or its equivalent and
no wait of less than 10 minutes shall apply on the 20 minutes unless it is a com
plete picture, and where no relief is granted by management an additional charge
of $2 per day per man shall be charged. The matter of 20 minutes per hour to
apply only to the orchestra and relief organists.
PAPER MAKERS
There are two unions of paper makers. Speaking broadly, the Inter
national Brotherhood of Paper Makers has jurisdiction over all
branches of paper making in the machine room, beater room, and finish
ing room, except the work of swipers and sweepers. The Interna
tional Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite, and Paper Mill Workers has,
generally speaking, jurisdiction over all other branches of paper mak
ing. In a paper mill will generally be found representatives of both
unions as well as members of unions of machinists, firemen, electrical
workers, carpenters, etc. It is customary for the large manufacturers
to make one agreement with all the above-named unions in their
en
agreement is generally short but includes in it mill rules
applicable to all. Usually the employees work eight horns a day,
with time and a half for overtime, and are members of the union.
The following extracts are from the agreement of the Great North
ern Paper Co., with mills in Maine, effective May 1 , 1924, made
with both unions of paper makers and the organizations of firemen,
machinists, and electrical workers:
Fourth. Permanent employees shall maintain membership in good standing
in the proper union, and the company shall assist in bringing this condition about.
When available, union men shall be hired, and new employees not union men
shall become so within 15 days from the date they start work. If men are laid
off, the older in point of service, when efficient, shall have preference of employ
ment.
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TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Fifth. Paper, mills shall operate six days per week, from 8 a. m. Monday to
8 a. m. Sunday. Pulp mills shall operate six days per week, six and one-half days
when pulp is needed, and a longer period when mutually satisfactory.
Sixth. Only members of the Paper Makers’ Union, assisted by swipers,
sweepers, and laborers, shall clothe and operate paper machines. During the
Sunday shutdown the work on paper machines shall be limited to cleaning, oil
ing, and repairs.
Eighth. There shall be no strikes or lockouts during the period of this agree
ment. All parties signing the agreement shall endeavor to bring about a condi
tion of maximum production.
Among the mill rules the following are of interest:
7. Tour workers shall be organized into three shifts and shall work eight con
secutive hours upon each shift. * * * Shifts shall rotate in sequence weekly.
8. When a tour begins, each tour worker is required to be in his place. At
the end of a shift no tour worker shall leave his place to wash up and dress until
his mate has changed his clothes and reported to take on responsibility of the
position. If a tour worker does not intend to report at the beginning of his
shift, he shall notify his foreman at least two hours before his tour begins. If a
tour worker does not report for his regular shift, his mate shall continue at work
for a period of two hours, giving the foreman an opportunity to get a substitute.
If it is impossible to secure a substitute, at the end of two hours, the tour
worker shall finish out the unfinished tour. When a man works an extra tour,
arrangements shall be made to provide him with his meals.
16. Employees must not wear clothing which can readily become entangled
in machinery. Clothing not in use shall be kept in lockers provided for that
purpose.
22. Grievances arising in any department shall be reported in writing by the
proper organization to the superintendent, and the superintendent shall give a
written reply within five days, stating the adjustment he has made of the mat
ter. If the superintendent fails to adjust the grievance, it shall be taken up in
conference by the general manager or president of the Great Northern Paper Co.,
and the international president, or representative of the respective organization,
and if no settlement is reached within 10 days it shall be referred to arbitration,
the company selecting one man, the organization one man, and the two thus
selected to choose the third party. This committee of arbitration will convene
and render a decision within 15 days, said decision to be final and binding upon
all parties to this agreement. If a discharged employee claims injustice, the
grievance shall be presented within 48 hours. An employee proven by the above
procedure to be unjustly discharged shall be reinstated, and shall receive pay
for lost time.
The following extracts are from the agreement of the Peiepscot
Paper Co., having several mills in Maine, with both unions of paper
workers and the unions of firemen and machinists, May 15, 1924:
4. * * * All work such as washing screens, cleaning molds on
cylinder machines, cleaning and oiling dryer boxes and other repair work shall
be done by repairmen, helpers, and laborers. No Sunday work on paper
machines may be required of any member of the International Brotherhood
of Paper Makers.
5. * * * The ground wood and sulphite pulp mills will be operated six days
per week, but they may be operated six and one-half days per week when necessary
to provide sufficient pulp to operate the paper mills of the company at full
capacity.
12. The company when hiring new men shall give preference to members of
the unions. When laying off help, union men shall be retained in preference to
those not members; among equally efficient employees, the older in point of serv
ice being given preference of employment.
19. Any wage changes made by the majority of our competing companies with
their labor unions will automatically become applicable to the company.
The following extracts are from the agreement of the John A.
Manning Paper Co. (Inc.), Troy, N. Y., with Local No. 17 of the
Brotherhood of Paper Makers, May 1, 1924:
PRINTING TRADES
83
Section VII. Wage agreements shall be decided by a committee appointed
by the party of the second part and a committee appointed by the party of
the first part. In the event of the failure of these committees to agree the
president of the party of the first part and the president of the party
of the second part shall meet together and endeavor to agree on the points in
dispute. Failing to agree, they shall, within a period of five days by agreement,
select a third party, who, with themselves, shall have power by majority vote
to settle the points in dispute.
Sec. VIII. All grievances shall be decided by the shop committee of the
plant concerned, which committee shall be composed of the superintendent of
the plant and three members of the party of the second part. The president of
of the party of the second part shall not be a member of any shop committee.
In the event of the failure of the shop committee to reach an agreement the
presidents of the first and second parties shall proceed to reach an agreement by
the method of settlement provided in Section VII.
PRINTING TRADES
ALLIED PRINTING TRADES COUNCIL
The Allied Printing Trades Council is a delegate body represent
ing the unions distinctively connected with the printing business.
The only agreement entered into concerns the use of the union
label. The form in use in 1923 follows:
That the said party of the first part in consideration of the license to the use
of the label of the International Allied Printing Trades Association, party of the
second part, hereby stipulates that he now employs and hereby agrees during
the continuance of this agreement to employ in the printing, binding, and pro
duction of all printed matter, photo-engravings, electrotypes, stereotypes, and
all other illustrative matter entering into printing and printed products, none
but members in good standing of unions which are now and hereafter may
become affiliated and members of the party of the second part, to pay their
scales of prices, to observe their apprentice laws and comply with their working
rules; that no electrotypes, stereotypes, photo-engravings, or illustrative matter
of any other kind shall enter into and become part of any union label composi
tion of the party of the first part, unless such electrotypes, printing or binding,
stereotypes, photo-engraving, or illustrative matter shall have been produced in
its entirety under union conditions and in union establishments authorized and
recognized as such by the party of the second part, and employing members in
good standing of unions who are now or may hereafter become affiliated with
and members of the party of the second part; that the party of the first part
will not have any composition done, will not do or have any photo-engraving
done, will not print any composition or photo-engraving, whether stereotyped,
electrotyped or not, and will not bind any printing or printed matter, except in
a composing room, stereotype or electrotype room, photo-engraving room, press
room, or bindery licensed by the party of the second part to use its said label, or
in an office employing only members of the party of the second part in good stand
ing; that no stereotyping, electrotyping, or photo-engraving of composition shall
be used, unless the composition from which such stereotyping, electrotyping, or
photo-engraving has been made shall have been done by members of the party
of the second part and at the time in good standing; that said label of the party
of the second part shall not be used by the party of the first part in or upon
anything but the absolute, strict, and sole products of the labor of members of
the party of the second part as far as the composition, stereotyping, electrotyp
ing, photo-engraving, printing, and binding of the same are concerned; that no
member of a union affiliated with and whose members are also members of the
party of the second part shall be required or be permitted by the party of the
first part to do any work aside from the technical or mechanical work of his own
particular trade or calling; that the party of the first part will not give, hire,
license, loan, sell, or dispose of in any way whatsoever to anyone said label of
the party of the second part, nor duplicate said label in any manner whatsoever,
except by permission of the party of the second part; and the party of the first part
further agrees to comply with all the laws, rules, and regulations of the party of
84
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
the second part and of the subordinate unions of the international bodies compos
ing it whose members are or may hereafter be employed by the party of the first
part, now in force or which may hereafter be adopted by them or either of them,
which said laws, rules, and regulations are made part of this agreement as if
herein set out and written.
In consideration of the foregoing agreements the party of the second part
agrees to furnish to said party of the first part free of cost, unless otherwise
provided for hereinafter, the label of the International Allied Printing Trades
Association for the sole use of the said party of the first part, it being under
stood and agreed that the title to the same shall be and always remain in the
party of the second part, and any violation of this agreement, or of the laws,
rules, and regulations of the party of the second part of the subordinate unions
whose members are or may hereafter be employed by the party of the first part,
governing the issuance and use of said label of the party of the second part shall
render this agreement null and void, and thereupon said party of the second
part shall be entitled to the immediate possession of all engravings, electrotypes,
or stamps of said label of said International Allied Printing Trades Association,
party of the second part, in the possession of the party of the first part, and
said party of the first part hereby agrees to immediately surrender to the party
of the second part all engravings, electrotypes, or stamps of said union label
which may be in possession of the party of the first part by reason of the same
having been loaned or leased pursuant to this license, and the further use of
said label thereafter by said party of the first part shall be illegal and without
warrant or right.
BOOKBINDERS
The International Brotherhood of Bookbinders consists of book
binders, paper rulers, paper cutters, edge gilders, marblers, foldingmachine operators, and bmdery women. As a rule, there is but one
local in a city, but in the larger cities the bindery women often form
a local of their own, and occasionally there are found locals of paper
cutters and others. Agreements are generally made with employers'
associations. The agreements usually call for a union shop, a 44 hour week, an overtime rate of time and a half, and double time on
holidays, a weekly pay day, and some form of arbitration, and forbid
strikes and lockouts.
Extracts from the arbitration and wage-scale agreements made
between the Printers' Board of Trade and the Franklin Printing
Trades Association of San Francisco, March 8, 1923, with Local No.
31 of bookbinders and Local No. 125 of bindery women follow:
1. Any and all differences * * * and any other negotiations had between
the parties hereto shall be settled, determined, or carried on by conciliation and
arbitration, and in the manner hereinafter set forth.
2. A joint conciliation committee of three or more representatives of the em
ployers and three or more representatives of the union shall be formed. This
committee shall have power to settle any and all differences that may arise
between the parties hereto and to carry on any negotiations had between the
parties hereto. They shall also have power to select arbitrators whenever
necessary and in the manner hereinafter provided.
3. All differences and any grievance shall be presented in writing by the com
plaining party to the other party for conciliation by an authorized executive of
each of the parties. Should the two executives fail to reach an understanding
within three full business days after the matter has been presented, they shall
then refer the case to the joint conciliation committee. Should the joint concili
ation committee fail to reach an agreement within 10 full business days after
the matter has been referred to them, then the settlement of any unsettled
points * * * shall be left to a board of arbitration. Negotiations for a
new wage-scale agreement, and for a continuation, modification, or amplification
of a wage-scale agreement and any other negotiations * * * shall be carried
on by the joint conciliation committee. Should the committee fail to reach a
complete understanding within 40 days after the matter has been referred to
them, then the settlement of any unsettled points * * * shall be left to a
board of arbitration.
PRINTING TRADES
85
4. The arbitration board shall consist of three persons who shall be chosen by
the joint conciliation committee. The arbitrators shall select one of their num
ber to act as chairman; he shall be entitled to vote and voice on all questions.
No member of the arbitration board shall be a member of the union or of the
employers.
5. Testimony and arguments shall be presented in any form a board of arbi
tration may direct. In the event that either party fails to appear or to submit
testimony in the form required within 10 full business days after due notice has
been given, the arbitrators shall proceed to settle the case and render their
decisions in accordance with the evidence in their possession.
6. * * * Decisions shall be final and binding and may, at the discretion
of the arbitrators, be made effective from the date the grievance was first
presented.
7. Pending final decision by the conciliators or arbitrators in any case, work
shall continue in all shops without interruption and under the conditions prevail
ing prior to the time the dispute arose.
9. The employers agree to settle by conciliation and arbitration * * *
any disputes which may arise with any printing trades union the members of
which are employed by them, and they further agree not to arbitrarily operate
with a nonunion crew any department of their shops now unionized, provided
the union involved accepts conciliation and arbitration. The union agrees that
should any other union employed by the employers refuse conciliation and arbi
tration * * * or refuse to abide by the decisions of the arbitrators, its
members will continue to work in the usual way.
10. The employers will employ in their bindery departments none but mem
bers of the union to do any mechanical work that comes under the jurisdiction
of the union; and no work that comes under the jurisdiction of the union shall be
done in the bindery departments of the employers for any person or firm that
becomes involved in a strike or lockout with the union or in whose bindery
departments members of the union are not allowed to work; provided that, in
each particular case, protest is made to the employers.
11. The union shall not engage in any walkout, strike, or other form of con
certed interference over which it has control affecting the offices of the employ
ers. The employers shall not engage in any lockout against the members of the
union. The employers shall withdraw all aid and support from any of their
members who may refuse to live up to the terms of this agreement or to comply
with any decision of the joint conciliation committee or of the board of arbitra
tion, * * * and shall in each particular case officially notify the union.
S e c t io n 1. Work shall be done on a time basis only.
Sec. 2. * * * Seven and one-half hours shall constitute a maximum and
a minimum shift for night work on the first night shift and seven hours on the
second night shift; provided, further, that on Saturday nights, six and one-half
hours shall constitute a maximum and a minimum shift on the first night shift.
Sec. 11. (a) A joint apprentice committee composed of two members of the
union and two of the employers shall be formed. This committee shall devise
ways and means for the proper education and encouragement of apprentices
and for indenturing them. They shall outline the grade and classes of work
apprentices should follow from year to year; they shall require apprentices to
appear for examinations at stated times. If any apprentice does not show
aptitude and proper qualifications for the binding trade, the committee shall
advise the apprentice accordingly.
(b) No apprentice shall be under the age of 16 years nor over the age of 20
years at the beginning of the apprenticeship.
(c) The ratio of * * * apprentices to journeymen shall be as follows:
one apprentice to 1, 2, or 3 journeymen; 2 apprentices to 4, 5, or 6 journeymen;
3 apprentices to 7, 8, 9, or 10 journeymen; 4 apprentices to 11,12,13, or 14 jour
neymen; 5 apprentices to 15 or more journeymen.
(d) Apprentices shall be registered by the employers and the union, and they
shall be bound by indenture to their employers in the manner provided by the
joint apprentice committee.
(e) No apprentice shall leave one office and enter that of another employer
without the written consent of the first employer and the joint apprenticeship
committee, and the date of such change of offices shall be recorded by the union
and the employers and the apprentice shall be indentured to his new employer
for the balance of the term of apprenticeship.
(f) The term of apprenticeship for male apprentices shall be four years, and
that for female apprentices two years.
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
86
Some of the provisions of the book and job agreement between the
Closed Shop (Printers’ League) Branch of the New York Employing
Printers, Association and Local No. 119, the Paper Cutters’ Union,
effective on January 17,1923, to September 1,1924, are given below:
8. All complaints * * * shall receive prompt acknowledgment and atten
tion, and every effort made to reach a prompt and satisfactory adjustment.
9. When a complaint is made, it shall be immediately transmitted to the
organization to which the party complained of belongs. Such complaints to be
adjusted within a period not exceeding 30 days.
10. The chapel chairman shall be the recognized official representative of the
union of which he is a member.
11. The foreman shall be the recognized official representative of his employer
in dealing with the chapel chairman.
15. Night work: Forty hours of eight consecutive working hours for five
consecutive nights, Monday to Friday, inclusive. Work shall not begin later
than 8 p. m. and on the eve of a holiday not later than 6 p. m.
16. Third (lobster) shift: Thirty-two and a half hours of six and a half con
secutive working hours for five consecutive nights, Monday to Friday, inclusive.
22. Forty-five minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed, shall be allowed for
lunch time, as near the middle of the working period as practicable.
28. Overtime price and one-half for the first four hours, after which double
price for the second four hours and triple price for the third four hours.
29. Early call: Men on day forces called in to work before the regular hour
shall be paid price and one-half for time worked from 7 a. m. to the regular hour
of starting work. If called before 7 a. m. they shall be paid double price for
any time worked before 7 a. m.
38. Each and every member of the union must refuse to perform any work
whatsoever in an office which has not paid wages in full for previous week’s
work.
39. When legal holidays fall on pay day the force shall be paid off on the
preceding working-days.
48. In the event of the discharge or lay-off of a member of the union, if he
considers that he has been discriminated against, upon demand the foreman
shall give the reason for discharge in writing, and the member shall have the
right to trial before a joint committee consisting of three members of the
Closed-Shop Branch and three members of the union, which joint committee shall
select a chairman from their number. After considering all of the evidence in
connection with the reason assigned for discharge, effort at agreement shall be
made, and if a decision is reached it shall be final and shall be so accepted by
both parties to the controversy. If agreement can not be reached, the committee
shall select a seventh man, and the decision of the committee thus constituted
shall be final. Should the committee fail to agree upon the seventh man, he
shall be selected by the presiding judge of the appellate division of the supreme
court of the first or second district.
50. The foreman in charge of a workroom shall be the only person to whom
application should be made for a situation. He shall be the only person for
employing and discharging employees.
54. Foremen of binderies must be members of the union having jurisdiction
over that department.
56. The union reserves the right to its members to refuse to execute any or
all struck work received from or destined to unfair employers or publications.
66. No person shall be permitted to enter the trade as an apprentice under
the age of 16 years or over the age of 18 years, and he shall serve four years at
the recognized branches of the trade.
67. All apprentices shall be registered by the Printers’ League and by Paper
Cutters’ Union.
73. The foreman of the bindery is required to test the ability of each apprentice
under his charge after six months and within the first year of his service to deter
mine the fitness of such apprentice for the trade. The apprentice shall there
upon receive from his foreman a written statement of his qualifications, a copy
of which he shall file with the union and the league. Should the apprentice be
deemed incapable he shall be refused further work at that branch for at least
one year. Any dispute arising over this question shall be determined by the joint
apprentice committee of the league and the union, and all interested parties shall
have an opportunity to be heard.
PRINTING TRADES
87
76. When an apprentice is out of employment, through failure or retirement
from business of his employer or other causes beyond the control of the employer
or the apprentice, such apprentice shall have an opportunity for completing his
term in any office, regardless of the number of apprentices employed therein; pro
vided that no more than one such extra apprentice shall be allowed any shop,
nor shall any journeyman be displaced.
77. A joint apprentice committee composed of five representatives from the
league and five representatives from the union shall be formed to study, investi
gate, and report, and, during the life of this agreement, act to secure enforcement
of the conditions outlined in this agreement covering apprentices. The com
mittee shall have full power and authority any time during the term of appren
ticeship to cancel the apprenticeship of an apprentice who does not show
aptitude and proper qualifications for the work. The committee shall meet
jointly at the call of the chairman of each committee, at such time and place as
may be determined by them.
COMPOSITORS, MACHINE OPERATORS, PROOF READERS, ETC.
The International Typographical Union includes in its member
ship compositors, proof readers, machine operators, machinists, and
mailers. There is but one English-speaking union in a town. In a
few large cities there are locals consisting of persons setting type in
foreign languages and also a few locals of mailers. Each local makes
two agreements, one with the newspaper publishers, and the other
with book and job printers. These agreements are made with dif
ferent bodies, at different times, and often for different periods of
time. In smaller towns the agreements are often printed together,
but generally they are printed separately. They are frequently rather
lengthy, provide for a variety of matters, including a union shop, a
44-hour week, weekly payment of wages, arbitration of disputes
under a specified plan, an overtime scam, prohibition of piecework,
and usually contam clauses relative to the reproduction of matter.
Below is given the contract form prepared by the international
union and used by many locals:
CONTRACT
This agreement, made and entered into this___ day o f ---------by and between
the________________ Company through the authorized representatives, the party
of the first part, and the subordinate union of the International Typographical
Union of the city of__________known as Typographical Union No____ by the
committee duly authorized to act in its behalf, party of the second part.
Witnesseth, That from and after__________and for a term of---------years, end
ing__________and for such a reasonable time thereafter (not exceeding 30
days) as may be required for the negotiation of a new agreement, the establish
ment represented by the said party of the first part binds itself to the employ
ment in its composing room, and the departments thereof, of mechanics and
workmen who are members of Typographical Union No___ and agrees to respect
and observe the conditions imposed by the constitution, by-laws and scale of
prices of the aforesaid organization, copies of which are hereunto attached and
made a part of this agreement.
And it is further agreed that aforesaid constitution and by-laws may be
amended by said party of the second part without the consent of the party of
the first part: Provided, however, That such changes do not in any way conflict
with the terms of the scales and rules as set forth in this contract.
It is further agreed that the scale of prices appended to this contract shall
continue in operation, without change, during the life of this contract, except as
may be mutually agreed between the parties hereto.
A standing committee of two representatives of the party of the first part,
and a like committee of two representing the party of the second part, shall be
appointed; the committee representing the party of the second part shall be
selected by the union; and in case of a vacancy, absence or refusal of either of
such representatives to act, another shall be appointed in his place. To this
committee shall be referred all questions which may arise as to the scale of prices
88
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
hereto attached, the construction to be placed upon any clauses of the agreement,
or alleged violations thereof, which can not be settled otherwise, and such joint
committee shall meet when any question of difference shall have been referred
to it for decision by the executive officers of either party to this agreement.
Should the joint committee be unable to agree, then it shall refer the matter to
a board of arbitration, the representatives of each party to this agreement to
select one arbiter, and the two to agree upon a third. The decision of this
board shall be final and binding upon both parties.
It is further agreed by the party of the first part that in the event of the
installation of machines or the substitution of machines other than those at
present in use for hand composition or distribution, a scale of wages may be
agreed upon by the joint committee of the parties to this agreement; but if no
satisfactory conclusion can be reached, the matter shall be referred for final
settlement to a board of arbitration as above provided for.
It is agreed by the said party of the second part that for and in consideration
of the covenants entered into and agreed to by said party of the first part, the
said party of the second part shall at all times during the life of this agree
ment truly and faithfully discharge the obligations imposed upon it by furnish
ing men capable of performing the work required in the mechanical department
of the party of the first part over which party of the second part has jurisdiction.
It is agreed that both the language and the spirit of this contract between
___________________________________ Company, party of the first part, and the
organization known as Typographical Union No.___ , being a trades-union
chartered by and under the jurisdiction of the International Typographical
Union, an organization having its headquarters at Indianapolis, Ind., by its com
mittee duly authorized to act in its behalf, party of the second part, make it im
peratively obligatory on both parties, whenever any difference of opinion as to the
rights of the parties under this contract shall arise, or whenever any dispute as
to the construction of the contract or any of its provisions takes place, at once
to appeal to the duly constituted authority under the contract, viz, the joint
standing committee, to the end that fruitless controversy shall be avoided and
good feeling and harmonious relations be maintained, and the regular and orderly
prosecution of the business in which the parties have a community of interest be
insured beyond the possibility of interruption.
It is further stipulated and agreed that the party of the first part shall not
now nor during the life of this contract enter into any association or combina
tion hostile to the printing-trades unions, nor shall it at any time render assist
ance to such hostile combination or association by suspension of publication or
any other act calculated to injure the printing-trades unions.
And the party of the second part hereby agrees to enter into no combination
or association with the intent or purpose of injuring the_____________________
-1----------------------------------Company or its property, and shall not be a party
to any hostile act with similar intent.
The said_________________ Union N o .____, party of the second part, hereby
reserves to its members the right to refuse to execute struck work received from
or destined for unfair employers or publications.
This contract shall immediately become null and void, in event the charter of
the said___________________________Union No-------, party of the second part,
is suspended or surrendered, and all union labels shall be immediately returned
to the proper authorities.
This contract shall be null and void in case of trouble with an allied craft,
providing such trouble can not first be settled by arbitration, such arbitration
to be in accordance with the provisions of this contract.
This contract is entered into by and with the consent of the International
Typographical Union, an organization to which the party of the first part con
cedes jurisdiction and control over trade organizations in all mechanical depart
ments of the party of the first part, with the exception of the pressroom and
bindery, and the International Typographical Union, through its authorized
representative, hereby agrees to protect the party of the first part in case of
violation of the agreement by the said party of the second part under the juris
diction of said International Union.
LABEL AGREEMENT
These articles of agreement, entered into this------------- day of_______________
________A. D___________ by and between__________________________________
----------party of the first part, and---------- --------------------Typographical Union
No____ party of the second part.
PRINTING TRADES
89
W it n e s s e t h , That the said party of the first part, in consideration of the
use and privileges of the union label, owned and controlled by the said party
of the second part, as agents for the International Typographical Union, hereby
agrees to employ none but members of------------------------------ Typographical
Union N o .-----party of the second part, not to use the said label or trade
mark upon anything but the strict production of union labor, and to neither
loan nor duplicate said trade-mark, or use the same upon any printed matter
without imprint or trading name, except by permission of the party of the
second part.
The said party of the first part further agrees to pay the adopted scale of wages
of the party of the second part, hereto attached, and to comply with all its laws
and those of the International Typographical Union, now in force or hereafter
adopted.
Any violation of this agreement shall make it null and void, and all cuts,
electrotypes or stamps of the label or trade-mark of the party of the second part,
in the possession of the party of the first part, shall immediately be delivered to
the party of the second part, and the further use of the same after such annul
ment by said party of the first part shall be without warrant and illegal.
This contract shall immediately become null and void in event the charter
of the said--------------------------------Union, No------ , party of the second part, is
suspended or surrendered, and all union labels shall be immediately returned to
the proper authorities.
Many unions attach to this contract a scale of prices. The follow
ing extracts are taken from the newspaper agreement between Local
No. 6 , New York City, and the pubhshers of daily papers, effective
January 1 , 1924, to July 1 , 1926:
CONTRACT
The union shall not be bound by any provisions of the articles of association,
by-laws, charter, constitution, codes, laws, regulations, resolutions, or rules of
any character of the publishers which are in conflict with the provisions of this
contract. The publishers shall not be bound by the constitution, by-laws, reso
lutions, rules, or regulations of the union which are in conflict with the provisions
of this contract. Each party, however, recognizes the right of the other to adopt
laws and regulations of any character for the government of its own members.
No precedents or previous conditions, rules, or agreements shall be recognized
in any way or affect or modify the rules of this contract.
The publishers agree that only members of the union shall be employed for
journeymen's work in the composing room, except as elsewhere provided, upon
the terms and conditions contained in this contract.
The union agrees to furnish as many competent and skilled workmen as
required by each office for the operation of its composing room.
S e c t io n (a). A joint standing committee shall be maintained to consist of two
representatives of Publishers' Association of New York City and two representa
tives of New York Typographical Union No. 6, * * * to which committee
shall be referred all questions which may arise as to the construction to be placed
upon any of the clauses of the agreement, or any alleged violation thereof, which
can not be settled otherwise. The decisions of the committee shall be by majority
vote of all its members and shall be of binding effect.
Sec. (b). If any controversy arises as to interpretation or enforcement of this
agreement of the scale of prices attached hereto, the conditions prevailing prior
to the dispute shall be maintained until the controversy has been disposed of as
provided herein.
Sec. ( c) . When it becomes evident there is a disagreement as to the interpre
tation or enforcement of the terms of this agreement, the aggrieved party shall
address the other party in writing, clearly setting forth the matters in question
An issue is raised when notice is given in accordance with this section.
Sec. (d). The two parties or their authorized representatives shall promptly
attempt to reach an agreement. If they shall agree, their decision shall be final
and binding, subject to appeal by either party within 10 days to the joint stand
ing committee.
Sec. (e). If they shall fail to agree within one week or if appeal be taken from
their decision, the controversy shall be referred by either party to the joint
standing committee.
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TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Sec. (f). The joint standing committee shall meet within seven days after a
question or difference shall have been referred to it by the authorized represen
tative of either party to the agreement. If within 10 days from the date of its
first meeting the joint standing committee is unable to render a decision by ma
jority vote, the members of such joint standing committee shall constitute them
selves into a local arbitration board by adding a fifth member who shall be
chairman of the board.
Sec. (g). The decisions of the majority of this board of five shall be final and
binding on both parties to the agreement.
Sec. (h). * * * Sixty days prior to the expiration of this contract either
party hereto may give to the other party notice of. desire to change the terms
hereof. Negotiations shall be immediately entered into and proceed with all
due diligence. If an agreement has not been reached by the date upon which
the contract expires, status quo conditions shall be maintained until an agree
ment is reached or other action is authorized by the International Typographi
cal Union. Nothing herein obligates either party to arbitrate differences respect
ing a succeeding contract.
Scale of 'prices
3. All work must be time-work.
4. * * * Seven and one-half continuous hours (exclusive of 30 minutes for
lunch) shall constitute a night's work, the hours to be between 6 p. m. and 3 a.m.;
except on Saturday, when the hours may begin at 4 p. m .. or any time there
after until and including 7 p. m.
5. Members of the union employed at day work for morning newspapers shall
receive day rates (subject to third-shift provisions). Members employed at
night for evening newspapers shall receive night rates (subject to third-shift
provisions).
6. * * * Seven and one-half continuous hours (exclusive of 30 minutes for
lunch) shall constitute a day's work, the hours to be between 8 a. m. and 6 p. m.
When called to work at or before 5 a. m., $2 extra shall be charged in addition
to the overtime; and when called to work at or before 7:30 a. m., $1 extra shall
be charged in addition to the overtime. On evening newspapers publishing six
days Sunday work shall be double price.
11. Overtime, which shall apply to work done before as well as after the hours
specified, shall be charged at the rate of price and one-half, based on the salary
received during the specified hours for time worked, unless otherwise provided
for. Overtime shall be computed in five-minute periods, unless otherwise arranged
between the office and the chapel.
12. All overtime to be distributed by the foreman equally as far as practicable
in his opinion.
17. In no case shall less than a day's pay be paid to any member of the union.
23. On all matter set for daily newspapers when proofs are read and copy
held the work shall be done by members of the union. Proof readers shall not
be held responsible for errors when a copyholder is not furnished.
24. No member of the union shall be held financially responsible for errors
occurring in an advertisement, nor shall any member of the union be held respon
sible for errors appearing in railroaded matter.
26. All compositors employed in offices where machines are introduced must
have the exclusive privilege of learning and becoming familiar with their operation.
No obstruction or restriction whatever by members shall be placed upon or stand
in the way of learners other than that they are not practical printers.
27. When an office introduces machines it shall take compositors from those
already members of the chapel and instruct them.
28. This union reserves the right to its members to refuse to execute all struck
work received from or destined for unfair employers or publications.
29. All union machine officers are prohibited from supplying machine compo
sition to nonunion offices.
32. The practice of interchanging, exchanging, borrowing, lending or buying
of matter previously used, either in form of type or matrices between newspapers
or job offices not owned by the same individual, firm or corporation, and pub
lished in the same establishment, is unlawful and shall not be allowed; provided
that the reproduction of the original of such type, matrices or plates in type
within four days of publication shall be deemed a compliance with this law.
33. All type matter in local advertisments, when matrices, cuts, type matter,
or plates are furnished the office instead of copy, shall be reset as nearly like the
original as possible within four working-days of publication.
FEINTING TRADES
91
37. On morning and evening newspapers 12 hours must intervene between the
time of quitting and starting work, but no member of the union shall be allowed
to work more than 12 hours in any 24. This shall not apply on Saturdays or
election day to evening newspapers publishing Sunday editions or to unusual
emergencies.
38. Offices publishing morning and evening papers have the right to use adver
tisements and reading matter set up for the morning paper in the evening paper,
and vice versa, or in both.
41. No man shall be deemed a competent machine operator unless he sets a
minimum of 4,500 ems of solid nonpareil, corrected matter, per hour from straight
narrative copy free from intricacies and impediments, either as to short takes,
long waits, or long walks.
47. When the International Typographical Union has sanctioned a strike of
Mailers’ Union No. 6 in any office coming under this agreement, Typographical
Union No. 6 reserves the right, upon instructions from the International Typo
graphical Union executive council, to terminate this agreement.
Rules governing the employment of apprentices
59. In newspaper offices, declared as such by the union, apprentices may be
employed in the ratio of 1 to every 15 men or a majority fraction thereof, but
not more than 6 shall be permitted in any office.
60. Apprentices shall be registered on the books of the union and shall at all
times be under the direction of the foreman and supervision of the chairman.
61. The term of an apprentice shall be five years (except as hereinafter other
wise provided), the first year to be considered one of probation, such probationer
to be possessed of the following qualifications: (a) Between 16 and 21 years of age;
(b) possessed of a certificate of graduation from grammar school, or its equiva
lent, failing which they must undergo an educational test to be agreed upon by
the parties to this contract; (c) in good health and sound physically.
Upon registering, a fee of $1 shall be levied upon the apprentice to cover a
physical examination by the union’s physician. In the event of rejection of
applicant the fee shall be returned.
62. The foreman is required to test? the ability of all apprentices under his
charge during the first year of their service to determine the fitness of such
apprentices for the trade. The apprentice shall thereupon receive from his fore
man a written statement of his qualifications, copy of which he shall file with
the union. Should an apprentice be found incapable by the foreman, his regis
tration shall then be revoked.
72. All apprentices on the day shift shall attend the School for Printers’
Apprentices of New York one afternoon each week. If employed on the night
shift they shall attend school of apprentices one night each week. In both
cases time shall be paid for by employer. In addition they shall be required to
go one afternoon or night each week on their own time.
73. The employer shall pay to the School for Printers’ Apprentices a tuition
fee of $25 each year, in advance, on the first day of each and every school term
while the apprentice is in his employment; provided the employer shall not be
required to pay the tuition fee of the apprentice if said apprentice is in the first
year of his apprenticeship.
74. To maintain his registration the apprentice must pay to the School for
Printers’ Apprentices the following tuition fees, which may be paid in eight
monthly installments, in advance, beginning with the first month of each and
every school term:
P er year
P er paym ent
Second year____________________________ $10. 00 or
$1.25
Third year----------------------------------------------12. 50 or
1.57
Fourth year.......................
15. 00 or
1.88
Fifth year___________________________
20.00 or
2.50
78. Office boys (not apprentices) will be allowed to work proof presses, carry
proofs and copy, and type on galleys, but shall not be allowed to handle type,
proofs, copy, or any printing material in any other manner whatever.
The following extracts are taken from a two-year agreement
between Local No. 16, Chicago, and the Chicago Local, American
Newspaper Publishers’ Association, effective February 1 1 , 1924:
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TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
P a r a g r a p h 2. No individual agreement or contract of any character shall be
made between Chicago Typographical Union No. 16 and any member of Chi
cago Local of the American Newspaper Publishers' Association during the life
of this agreement, unless said newspaper shall have first withdrawn from
membership in said Chicago Local of the American Newspaper Publishers'
Association.
P a r . 3. If any terms affecting wages, hours, or working conditions, better or
different than those given in this agreement, or any concessions whatever, are
allowed by the union to any Chicago daily newspaper during the life of this
agreement, those said better or different terms or concessions shall be allowed
immediately by the union to the employer.
Newspaper scale of prices
S e c t io n 1. Seven and one-half hours shall constitute a day's or night's work
and 45 hours a week's work. However, the employer guarantees to employees
working on the bonus basis on typesetting machines only seven hours' work per
day.
S e c . 6. When five and one-half hours of the time worked by any man com
mencing work before 12 o'clock midnight * * * fall between 12 o'clock
midnight and 6 o'clock a. m., his day’s work shall consist of six and one-half
hours, including not less than 30 minutes for lunch. Night rates shall be paid
to men employed on this shift, and overtime rates shall be paid for all time in
excess of six and one-half hours.
S e c . 13. All work performed in excess of the seven and one-half hours * * *
shall be construed as overtime, and shall be paid for at the rate of price and
one-half. Overtime shall be calculated only for actual time on duty in excess
of the hours stipulated as constituting a day's or night's work. In cases where
employees commence work before or after the regular starting time they shall
not be entitled to overtime until after they have worked the hours herein speci
fied as constituting a day's or night's work. This rule applies to journeymen
and apprentices.
The provisions as to hours and transfer of matter in the three-year
agreement between Local No. 13, of Boston, and certain daily news
papers of that city, effective November 16, 1923, are as follows:
S e c t io n 3. A day's work on Sunday shall consist of six consecutive hours,
excepting lunch time, which shall not exceed 30 minutes and shall not be counted
as office time. The hours for Sunday daywork shall be between 7 a. m. and
6 p. m. The pay shall be the same as for seven hours of regular time. When
a member works in one office Saturday night apd Sunday day, or Sunday day
and Sunday night, the Sunday daywork shall be paid for at double price.
S e c . 15. All type matter in local financial, local amusement, or local retail
store advertising, when mats or plates are furnished the office instead of copy,
shall be set within three working-days of publication. It is understood that
this rule does not apply to advertising of general advertisers who sell their
product through their own branch stores in this and other cities. No paper
shall give or transfer a matrix of an advertisement, other than a cut, and fchen
only to Boston daily newspapers now published in the English language. No
matter used in the columns of a paper using machines shall be transferred or
sold to any other newspaper office, and no work shall be done for any office on
strike. The office is entitled to all “ pick-ups" of any character whatsoever.
Matter once paid for shall always remain the property of the office. “ Kill"
marks shall not deprive the office of “ pick-ups." Present conditions in connec
tion with the use of news matter in the columns of signatory newspapers shall
continue in force during the life of this agreement.
The following extracts are taken from the three-year agreement
between Local No. 16 and the Franklin Association (book and job
printers) of Chicago, October 9, 1923:
S e c t io n 1. None but members of Chicago Typographical Union No. 16, pos
sessing a current working card, shall be permitted to perform the work of a
journeyman or foreman in any department of a composing room of any office
under the jurisdiction of said union.
S e c . 8. * * * Overtime to be reckoned at one and one-half times the regu
lar rate, provided that overtime on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
PRINTING TRAPES
93
and Friday exceeding three hours shall be paid for at the rate of double the
regular rate. After four hours on Saturday the rate shall be double the regular
rate.
Sec. 10. Upon application to the employer the chairman of the chapel shall be
furnished with correct information regarding the earnings of any member or
members of the chapel.
Sec. 15. All work done on Sunday * * * [and holidays] shall be charged
for at double the regular rate.
Sec. 21. No member * * * shall be allowed to act as foreman in any job
or book office under its jurisdiction for a less sum than $3 per week above
journeymen’s wages.
> Sec. 28. Members * * * shall be employed, laid off, and discharged by
the foreman in charge, and shall receive instructions from or through him.
Sec. 31. To be deemed a competent operator an average of not less than
3,500 ems solid an hour on type larger than 7-point, of 4,000 ems solid an hour
on 7-point and smaller type must be produced for a week of 44 hours, due
allowance being made for loss of time from causes not the fault of the operator.
Operators shall have the right to see and measure strings or dupes on demand.
Such strings to be measured and computed in accordance with the standard of
type as * * * prescribed.
Sec. 34. The machinist shall not have any control of the operators, except
where the machinist is a printer or an operator, or both, when he may act as
foreman. In no case shall a machinist be permitted to operate more than one
standard linotype for the purpose of casting rule, making metal furniture, slugs,
border, or dashes.
Sec. 35. A linotype machinist must be put in charge of each shift where five
or more operators are employed.
Sec. 46. All apprentices and conditions affecting apprenticeship under the
terms of this agreement shall be under the jurisdiction of a joint apprenticeship
committee, which shall have entire control of and be responsible for the selection
of apprentices and shall be vested with full power and authority to enforce all
conditions outlined in this agreement. This committee shall be composed of
two representatives of the Franklin Association of Chicago, and two representa
tives of Chicago Typographical Union No. 16.
No apprentice may be employed except through the joint apprenticeship
committee.
All apprentices shall be registered with the organizer of the union as secretary
of the joint apprenticeship committee.
Sec. 47. Candidates for apprenticeship must possess the following qualifica
tions:
(a) Not under 16 years of age. (b) Graduate of the common schools of the
United States or the Dominion of Canada, or some school of equal merit, (c)
In good health and sound physically, (d) Must have been examined and
approved by the joint apprenticeship committee.
Upon acceptance by the joint apprenticeship committee the apprentice shall
be registered and shall receive an apprentice card.
Sec. 48. No employer shall be entitled to an apprentice unless he has a plant
and equipment sufficient to enable an apprentice to become a finished composi
tor at the completion of his term of apprenticeship. The joint apprenticeship
committee shall be the judge of an employer’s ability to properly qualify for the
employment of an apprentice.
S e c . 49. The following shall be the apportionment of apprentices: One appren
tice for each 7 journeymen or major fraction thereof; but no more than 10
apprentices shall be permitted in any office; provided, however, that an office
employing not less than two journeymen shall be entitled to 1 apprentice. The
average number of journeymen (except monotype machinists) employed during
the preceding year shall be the basis for determining the number of apprentices.
S e c . 51. Office boys (not apprentices) may carry proofs and copy, and sort
and put away leads, furniture, cuts, and plates; set pi and handle and prove
type on galleys, but shall not set, make up, nor distribute type, nor break up
forms nor act as bankman.
Sec. 52. The term of apprenticeship shall be five years. The first year shall
be considered one of probation. During this probationary period either the
union or the employer may object to the further employment of any apprentice.
In the event of such protest the matter shall be referred to the joint apprentice
ship committee for adjustment.
46976°—25----- 7
94
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1023 AND 1024
Sec. 54. In the first week of the second year every apprentice shall pay to the
secretary-treasurer of Chicago Typographical Union No. 16 the sum of $5, which
shall constitute the first payment on the International Typographical Union
lessons in printing. Thereafter he shall pay to the secretary-treasurer of
Chicago Typographical Union No. 16 the sum of $1 a week for 20 weeks. Not
longer than three months after the beginning of his second year he shall enter
upon the study of the International Typographical Union lessons in printing
and shall complete lessons during the last four years of apprenticeship as follows:
Second year, 10 lessons; third year, 8 lessons; fourth year, 10 lessons; fifth year,
9 lessons. Failing to complete these lessons as required in each year he will not
be awarded new card and his employer will not be required to pay him the reg
ular increase in scale for the new period until such lessons have been completed.'
Fifth-year apprentices shall not be eligible to membership in Chicago Typo
graphical Union No. 16 as journeymen until they have completed these lessons
to the satisfaction of the International Typographical Union Commission. At
the end of the fifth year each apprentice shall appear before the joint appren
ticeship committee for examination. If the examination proves satisfactory, the
committee shall issue him a certificate showing that he has fulfilled the require
ments laid down in these rules.
Sec. 55. Offices where typesetting machines are in use (linotype, intertype,
linograph, Ludlow) and where a regular journeyman machinist is employed may
employ one machinist apprentice, who shall be allowed to do any machinist work
assigned to him by the machinist in charge, which work shall finally embrace
everything a machinist may be called upon to do. The term of apprenticeship
shall be five years, and the scale of wages provided for compositor apprentices
shall apply. Applications for machinist apprentice cards must be signed by the
chairman and head machinist of the plant where apprentice is employed. Said
apprentice shall not be allowed to work without a journeyman machinist.
Upon registration an apprentice having worked in a machine shop or having
gained mechanical experience outside a printing office may be given credit for
such time, according to his ability to master the adjusting and repairing of type
setting machines, such credits to be passed on by a joint committee of four
machinists designated by the joint apprenticeship committee.
Machinist apprentices shall not be permitted to operate keyboard.
Porters may be allowed to melt metal, put metal around machines, clean mats,
space bands, and plungers, but shall not be allowed to start, repair, change
or adjust machines.
Sec. 60. Attendants on monotype casting machines shall be classed as run
ners and are not to be considered apprentices nor confused with journeymen
machinists. No runner shall be permitted to take charge of any plant.
Runners may start and stop the machine, oil it and keep it running, put on
spools of paper, put on and take off galleys, regulate the temperature of the
metal and keep the metal pot filled, and perform such other work as may be
assigned to them by the machinist in charge of the plant, but shall not be per
mitted to make any adjustments requiring machinists’ tools.
The ratio of runners permitted in the caster room shall be one for each four
casting machines in operation or major fraction thereof.
All monotype runners must be registered with the joint apprenticeship com
mittee.
The following sanitary regulations appear in the newspaper agree
ment of Local No. 2 1 , San Francisco, September 1 , 1924:
Section 2. * * * Every composing room in which our members are em
ployed shall be kept in a cleanly state and free from effluvia arising from any
drain, lavatory, or other nuisance, and shall be provided, within reasonable
access, with a sufficient number of toilet appurtenances for the use of persons
employed therein.
Every composing room in which our members are employed shall be so venti
lated while work is carried on therein that the air shall not become so exhausted
as to be injurious to the health of the persons employed therein and shall be so
ventilated as to render harmless, so far as possible, all the gases, vapors, dust, or
other impurities generated in the course of the manufacturing process or handi
craft carried on therein that may be injurious to health.
In any composing room where a work or process is carried on by which dust
or injurious gases are produced or generated, that are liable to be inhaled by per
sons employed therein, the person, firm, or corporation by whose authority the
work is carried on shall cause to be provided and used in said composing room
PRINTING TRADES
95
exhaust fans or blowers, with pipes and hoods extending therefrom to each machine
contrivance, or apparatus by which dust or injurious gases are produced or gen
erated. The said fans or blowers, and the said pipes and hoods to be properly
fitted and adjusted and of power and dimensions sufficient to effectually prevent
the dust or injurious gases from escaping into the atmosphere of the composing
room.
In every printing office where steam tables belonging to the stereotyping
department are located in the composing room, said steam tables shall be
equipped with a galvanized-iron partition to form a hood (hung from the ceiling
as low as head room will permit), and to which shall be attached an exhaust fan
of sufficient capacity to carry off the vitiated air.
In every printing office where steam tables are located on the same floor oc
cupied by the composing room, and are not equipped as above provided, they
shall be separated from the composing department by a partition so constructed
as to prevent the fumes and gases arising from said steam tables from escaping
into and contaminating the atmosphere of the composing department; and all
doors and other passages between the composing and stereotyping departments
shall remain closed except during the ingress and egress of persons to and from
the department, or shall be so constructed as to be self-closing.
Melting and refining pots, if located in composing rooms, shall be hooded, piped,
and connected with an exhaust fan to carry off gases or vitiated air and shall
not be operated while any part of the composing-room force is at work in the
room.
Extracts from the arbitration agreement of Local No. 30, St. Paul,
in effect February 1 , 1923, follow:
(A) * * * All differences and disagreements affecting wages, hours, and
working conditions arising between said employer and the members of said typo
graphical union in his employ shall be settled by arbitration under the rules of
the code of procedure herein set forth and hereto subjoined, when an amicable
agreement can not be reached by said employer or his representatives and the
representatives of said typographical union.
(B) The laws of the International Typographical Union and St. Paul Typo
graphical Union No. 30, and any proposition seeking to lengthen the workingday to more than 8 hours, or work week to more than 44 hours, shall not be
subject to the provisions of this arbitration agreement.
(D) * * * All work * * * in the composing room of the employer
shall continue without interruption pending proceedings looking to conciliation
and arbitration; and * * * the employment of members of the typograph
ical union, the wages, hours of labor, and working conditions prevailing in the
composing room at the time the difference arises shall be preserved unchanged
until a final decision of the matter at issue shall be reached.
(E) All differences which can not be settled by conciliation shall be referred
to arbitration in the manner stipulated in this agreement.
(G) The award of the board of arbitration in all cases shall include a determi
nation of all the issues involved; it shall cover the full period between the rais
ing of the issues and their final settlement; any change in the wage scale may be
made effective from the date the issue first arose. * * * An award by a
majority of the board shall be final and shall be accepted as such by the parties
to the dispute.
(H) If either party to this agreement shall be dissatisfied with the decision of
the board of arbitration, * * * application for a rehearing on the point
or points concerned may be made to the board of arbitration, but notice thereof
must be given to the other party in writing, stating the grounds on which said
application for rehearing is based, within 10 days after the rendition of the
board’s decision. The board shall meet within 10 days after receiving such
application for rehearing and shall review the points made therein ajid the answer
of the other party, if any, and if deemed meritorious shall summon both parties
before it for reargument within 10 days from the time of said review. If not
deemed meritorious, it shall so inform both parties in writing within 3 days, and
the award shall stand.
(I) If misconduct, fraud, or collusion is charged against the board by either
party, notice thereof shall be given to the other party within 10 days after the
award has been rendered, stating the nature of the misconduct, fraud, or collusion.
A new board shall then be selected within 20 days after such notice has been
given, and a hearing of the charge shall be had by the new board within 10 days
after its selection. If the charge is sustained by the board, it shall so notify
96
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
both parties in writing within 3 days, and shall reopen and proceed with a retrial
of the case within 10 days after giving such notice. If the charge is not sus
tained, it shall so notify both parties in writing within 3 days, and the previous
award shall stand.
(J) Any award made or decision rendered by the board shall be binding on
both parties for at least one year, but the board may provide that it shall be
effective for a longer period, not to exceed two years.
(K) All expenses of the board of arbitration shall be divided equally between
both parties to the controversy. The expenses of the parties to the arbitration
shall be borne by themselves, and no expense incurred by one party shall be
chargeable to the other party.
(L) It is agreed that an honest and faithful effort at conciliation shall be made
by both parties before arbitration is proposed. Failing in such efforts, arbitra
tion shall be had forthwith.
(M) * * * In the event of inability to agree on new scales of‘wages this
shall also be settled by arbitration.
(N) This agreement shall be in force and effect from and after February 1,
1923, and shall continue in force and effect until January 31, 1928, and at the
expiration of said period of five years shall be renewed for another period of five
years unless notice, in writing, of termination is given by either party to the
other one year before the expiration of the period for which this contract is
signed; and it is also understood that amendments may be made hereto at the end
of each five-year period.
Code of procedure
Section 1. The two parties in interest must have a conference as soon as
possible and not later than 30 days after an issue is raised, at which conference
* * * every effort to agree shall be made. * * * In case the two parties
can not agree their differences shall be submitted to arbitration.
Sec. 2. (a) The board of arbitration shall consist of five members, two of
whom shall be named by each side. The four so named shall select the fifth
member, who shall be a disinterested person and shall act as chairman of the
board. All must be residents of the city of St. Paul.
(c) The chairman * * * shall be entitled to vote on all propositions
which may properly come before the board. He shall declare a motion car
ried only when at least three of the arbitrators shall have voted affirmatively
thereon.
id) At the conclusion of the hearing the board shall retire and go into execu
tive session. * * * If in executive session a tie vote occurs on any propo
sition, or if there are any differences, questions, or propositions which do not
receive the votes of three of the four original members of the board, the chairman
shall cast the deciding vote.
Sec. 3. (/) Equal opportunity shall be allowed for presentation of evidence
and argument.
ig) In event of either party to the dispute refusing to appear or present its
case after due notice, it may be adjudged in default, and decision shall then be
rendered against such party.
(ti) All evidence communicated to the board in confidence shall be preserved
inviolate, and no record of such evidence shall be kept, except for use on reargu
ment or retrial, and shall be destroyed immediately if application for either is not
made within 10 days.
(j) In case of the inability of either side to present evidence at the moment the
order may be varied to the extent of allowing such evidence to be presented at
such session as may be agreed upon by the parties to the controversy or bs may
be ordered by the board of arbitration.
Sec. 4. (a) When a hearing is concluded the board shall, without unnecessary
delay, * * * go into executive session * * * for the determination of
its award.
(b) The award of the board must be formulated and signed by all the mem- .
bers thereof at a regular, executive session, after there has been full opportunity
for consideration and discussion, the date and time of such session having pre
viously been determined at a full meeting of the board.
(c) If any member of the board dissents from the award and wishes to file a
dissenting opinion, he shall give immediate notice to that effect, and shall, within
48 hours after the award has been decided upon, formulate his reasons for dis
senting. Such dissenting opinion when signed and presented to the secretary
must be attached to the award.
PRINTING TRAPES
97
Sec. 5. The board shall not be compelled to set forth its reasons for making
fche award, but may do so in the written award only. In framing its award the
findings shall be expressed in detail, to the end that no misunderstanding shall
afterward occur.
PHOTO-ENGRAVERS
The International Photo-Engravers’ Union of North America
claims jurisdiction over all workers engaged in making reproductions
by photo-engraving or any kindred method for printing purposes.
There is generally but one union in a city.
The agreements are generally made with employers’ associations.
Frequently two agreements are made, one with newspapers and one
with commercial printers. The agreements usually provide for a
union shop, 44-hour week, a weekly pay day, overtime rates of time
and a half and double time for Sundays and holidays, 1 apprentice
to every 5 or 10 journeymen, and some system of arbitration. They,
are frequently made for a period of three or five years, with a proviso
that the wage scale may be reopened at the end of each year.
Local No. 3, Boston, concluded two agreements with the daily
newspapers for five years from March 15, 1923, one relating to shop
conditions and the other an arbitration agreement. Extracts from
the former agreement follow:
A r t ic l e I, S e c t io n 1. * * * Each journeyman shall work at the branch
of the trade his card calls for. He may be directed by the foreman to help out
at other branches in case of necessity or emergency, with the understanding
that if the accumulated time worked by him at any one branch, other than his
own, amounts regularly to half a day each day or night, it shall be considered
sufficient to create a situation.
When the union is unable to furnish the required number of journeymen, the
office shall have the right to employ competent men, whether members of the
union or not, provided that if such outside men are given permanent employment
they must join the union within 30 days.
Sec. 2. The foreman shall be a member of the union, but he shall be directly
responsible to the office employing him for the conduct of the men under his
direction. * * * The foreman shall be the judge of a man’s general fitness
to work in the shop, and no foreman shall be obliged to employ any man whom
he may consider incompetent after he has given him a fair trial.
Art . II, Sec. 1. Not less than 44 hours shall constitute a week’s work. Not
less than 6 nor more than 8 hours shall constitute a day’s or a night’s work.
* * * All time in excess of 44 hours per week, or of 8 hours per day, shall
be overtime, to be paid for at the rate of time and one-half.
S ec. 2. * * * At least 15 minutes must be allowed for lunch, and where
less than 30 minutes are allowed it shall be counted as office time.
Sec. 3. When “ good day” or “ good night” has been called, and a man is
called back, after leaving the office, he shall receive $1 compensation for said
call, besides regular overtime.
Art. Ill, Sec. 3. No apprentice shall be allowed to displace a journeyman reg
ularly employed. During the first year an apprentice shall be required to perform
general apprentice work in the engraving department at the discretion of the
foreman. During the second year he must work at least two hours each day at
the branch of the trade he elects to follow; at least three hours a day during the
third year, and at least four hours each day during the fourth year, at his branch,
under the direction of a journeyman. In his fifth year he shall devote all his
time, except the time necessary for his apprentice work, to such work in the
branch that he elects as the foreman shall direct.
No apprentice shall be allowed to work overtime.
Art. V, Sec. 1. N o publisher * * * shall give, transfer, or loan a cut to
any party or parties not a signer of this agreement.
Term of agreement
The above scale of wages and conditions shall be in effect from March 15,
1923, to March 14, 1928, inclusive, and thereafter shall run continuously from
98
TBADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
year to year, with the exception that the scale of wages may be opened up yearly
by either party giving written notice to the other party thereto of any proposed
changes 60 days prior to March 15, 1924, or sixty days’ written notice prior to
March 15 of any year thereafter until the specified terms of this agreement have
expired.
The more important parts of the arbitration agreement are as
follows:
S e c t io n 1 . In the event of any difference arising * * * which can not
be settled by conciliation, such differences shall be referred to a board of arbi
tration.
Sec. 3. An issue is raised at the time a written request is made by either party
presenting in detail changes in conditions desired.
S e c . 4. The parties in interest must have a conference as soon as possible and
not later than 35 days after an issue is raised, at which conference (or continu
ations thereof) every effort to agree shall be made. The party upon whom the
original demand is made should, if it contemplates presenting a counter proposi
tion, formulate it in full and in detail as soon as possible after the receipt of the
demand of the proponent party, the said counter proposition to be presented to
the party making the original demand * * * within the same period of 35
days. The propositions of both sides should be considered, discussed, and
earnest efforts made to arrive at an agreement by conciliation. If no agree
ment is reached within 60 days after the issue is raised, upon the demand of
either party the issue or issues shall be referred to a board of arbitration.
Sec. 5. The board of arbitration must be formed, composed of residents of
the locality in which the controversy arises, two members thereof to be named
by each side. If within 30 days the board has not reached a decision, the case
shall be immediately referred to a board of appeal, such board to consist of three
members of the executive council of the I. P. E. U. and three members of the
A. M. P. A.
S e c . 6. * * * The local board of arbitration * * * shall * * *
conduct its hearings under the following rules:
(B) It may examine all parties involved in any differences referred to it for
arbitration.
»
(D) It may require affidavits on all disputed points.
(F) In event of either party to the dispute refusing to appear or present its
case after due notice, it may be adjudged in default, and decision shall then be
rendered against such party.
(H) * * * Written pleadings, instead of oral arguments, shall be allowed
when agreed upon by the parties to the controversy, or when ordered by board
of arbitration.
(I) * * * No evidence shall be received or considered that was not pre
sented at a regular open session of the board, except that it shall be allowable
for the members of the board, in any case, to visit any office in a body to see
the operation of labor therein, or for any other necessary purpose, to aid in
arriving at a just decision.
S e c . 7. When a hearing is concluded, the board shall, without unnecessary
delay, go into executive session, from which all persons except the four original
members of the board shall be excluded, for the determination of its award.
* * * The award of the board must be formulated and signed by all of the
members thereof at a regular executive session after there has been full oppor
tunity for consideration and discussion.
Sec. 8. If any member of the board dissents from the award and wishes to file
a dissenting opinion, he shall give immediate notice to that effect, and shall, within
48 hours after the award has been decided upon, and before it has been promul
gated, formulate his reasons for dissenting, and such opinion must be signed by
him before a final adjournment at a regular executive session arranged for as above
provided. Such dissenting opinion, when thus signed, must be attached to the
award.
S e c . 9. The local board shall not be compelled to set forth its reasons for
making the award, but may do so in the written award only. In framing its
award the findings shall be expressed in detail to the end that no misunder
standing shall afterward occur. The decisions of the arbitration board shall be
final and binding upon both parties.
S e c . 10. The board o f appeal shall meet at such time and place as may be
determined by it. Due notice of time and place of meetings of the board of
appeal shall be given all interested parties. If the board, as thus constituted,
PRINTING TRADES
99
is unable, after considering a case at a meeting, to reach a decision, the mem
bership of the board shall be increased, by unanimous vote, by the addition of
a seventh and disinterested member.
Sec. 11. When either party to a local arbitration shall desire to appeal to the
board of appeal, written notice to that effect must be given to the other party
within 32 days after the local decision has been rendered, and the appeal shall
be filed with the board of appeal within 40 days after such decision. When an
appeal is under consideration by the board of appeal, it shall not take evidence,
but both parties to the controversy may appear personally or may submit the
records and briefs of the local hearing and make oral or written arguments in
support of their several contentions. They may submit an agreed statement of
facts, or a transcript of testimony, properly certified to.
Sec. 12. The board of appeal must act when its services are desired by either
party to an appeal as above and shall proceed with all possible dispatch when
rendering such services.
Sec. 15. All expenses of an arbitration board shall be, divided equally between
the union and the other interested party or parties.
The following provisions are taken from the newspaper agreement
of Local No. 1 with the Publishers' Association of New York City,
effective August 1 , 1923:
Forty-four hours shall constitute a week’s work for men employed on the day
shift and 40 hours for those employed on the night or third shift. These hours
to be equally divided and uniform on each working day or night.
All time worked before or after the regular hours designated by the foreman
shall be paid for at overtime rates, price and one-half for the first four hours.and
double price thereafter. On days preceding holidays men shall not be requested
to work more than three hours’ overtime except in emergency.
No foreman shall request, and no chapel chairman shall permit, a journey
man to work more than six hours’ overtime in any week, provided that a com
petent substitute can be obtained. A journeyman who has worked six hours’
overtime in any one week shall take an extra day off in the next ensuing week,
if the union can furnish a competent substitute.
Men requested to work on holidays shall receive not less than two days’ pay
for the regular hours and thereafter price and one-half of holiday rates.
Men called back after quitting work and leaving the office shall receive one
full regular day’s pay for five hours of such extra work or less, and overtime for
all work in excess of five hours.
Men shall nob work more than six consecutive days in one week when a com
petent substitute can be provided.
All foremen shall be members in good standing in the New York PhotoEngravers’ Union, No. 1, I. P. E. U. They shall be directly responsible to the
publisher or business manager for the conduct of the men under their direction,
the quality and time of delivery of all work, and the economic administration
of their respective departments.
Apprentices shall be allowed at the ratio of 1 apprentice to each 15 journey
men regularly employed, provided that not more than 3 apprentices shall be
allowed in any office, and not more than 1 on each shift.
The book and job agreements are generally made with a separate
organization and the agreements vary somewhat in details. The
following provisions are taken from the agreement of Local No. 1 ,
New York City, with the Photo-Engravers’ Board of Trade of New
York (Inc.), effective for three years from January 1 , 1923:
Article 2, Section 4. No extra charge shall be made for stamping or
etching union labels on plates.
Art. 7, Sec. 1. Overtime shall constitute all work performed at times either
before or after the regular established schedule of working hours of 44 hours for
day workmen and 40 hours for night workmen, as provided herein, and shall be
paid for as follows:
For the first four consecutive hours of continuous work, time and one-half;
for any part of the succeeding four hours of continuous work, double time, and
for any part of the third four hours of continuous work, triple time. For work
performed on Saturday afternoon or after the regular hours of work on Satur
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TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1023 AND 1024
day morning by night workers, double time for the first three hours and triple
time thereafter.
S e c . 2. For work performed on Sundays, Christmas, or Independence Day,
not less than eight hours' work at triple time. For work performed on other
legal holidays, not less than eight hours at double time. Work performed in
excess of eight hours, triple time.
PRINTING PRESSMEN
The International Printing Pressmen’s and Assistants’ Union of
North America has jurisdiction over pressmen, feeders, and press
assistants. In the smaller cities there is frequently a single local,
but in the larger cities there are separate locals .for each branch.
The agreements are generally made with associations of employers,
frequently for a period of three years, and provide for a union shop,
a 44-hour week, with overtime rates, a weekly pay day, and some
system of arbitration.
The following extracts are taken from the wage-scale agreement
between Local No. 24 and the Printers Board of Trade and the Franklin
Printing Trades Association of San Francisco, March 1 , 1923:
S e c t io n 2. * * * Seven and one-half hours shall constitute a * * *
shift for night work on the first night shift and seven hours on the second night
shift; provided, further, that on Saturday nights six and one-half hours shall
constitute a * * * shift on the first night shift.
Sec. 3. Any shift beginning at or after 7 a. m. and terminating at or before
6 p. m. shall be considered a day shift, except that on Saturdays all day shifts
must be begun and terminated between the hours of 7 a. m. and 12 m.
S e c . 4. Any shift beginning before 7 a. m. or terminating after 6 p. m. shall be
considered a night shift; provided, that all Saturday night shifts must be begun
and terminated within seven hours after the regularly established call of time
of night shifts.
S e c . 10. (b) Foremen.—In every pressroom a foreman shall be employed; he
may work upon any press under his charge, but shall not directly operate more
than the number of presses prescribed in this agreement.
(c) Holiday day shifts.—Time and one-half at above regular day rates, except
Labor Day, which shall be paid for at the rate of double time.
(d) Overtime day shifts.—Time and one-half at above regular day rates to
12 p. m. on days other than holidays.
Double time at above regular day rates after 12 p. m. until work ceases and
on holidays.
(e) Regular night shifts.—Three dollars per week in addition to above regular
day rates.
Sec. 11. (a) A joint apprentice committee composed of two piembers of the
union and two members of the employers shall be formed. It shall devise ways
and means for the proper education and encouragement of the apprentices and
for indenturing them. It shall require apprentices to appear for examination at
the end of each year of their apprenticeship. If at the end of the first year
qualifications for the printing trade are not shown, the committee shall advise
the apprentice accordingly.
(b) The ratio of apprentice pressmen shall be 1 to 4 journeyman pressmen;
that of apprentice assistants shall be 1 to 4 journeyman assistants.
Platen pressmen who become apprentice cylinder pressmen shall be rated as
fourth-year apprentices.
(c) Apprentices shall be registered by both the employers and the union, and
they shall be bound by indenture to their employers in the manner provided by
the joint apprentice committee.
S e c . 12. This agreement shall remain in effect indefinitely * * * pro
vided that it shah be subject to change or termination 60 days after the date on
which written notice is given by either party to the other party of any desire to
change or terminate this agreement; provided, further, that the earliest date of
change or termination of this agreement shall not be before February 29, 1924.
The three-year agreement between Local No. 7 and employing
printers of Milwaukee, effective July 1,1923, contains among others,
the following provisions:
PRINTING TRADES
101
S e c t io n 2. * * * The scale of wages * * * may be opened up by
either party giving written notice to the other party of proposed changes, six
months before the end of any year during fche term of this contract, said changes,
if any, to become effective at the beginning of the year after the end of said six
months.
Sec. 3. Should the committees herein designated fail to agree as to any
changes in said scale, then the matter shall be referred to a board of arbitration,
the Employing Printers’ Association of Milwaukee selecting two arbitrators and
the party of the second part selecting two arbitrators, and the four so selected
to agree "upon a fifth. The decision of the board shall be final and binding upon
all parties.
Sec. 4. Except as may be hereinafter stipulated, it is agreed that the con
stitution and by-laws of Milwaukee Printing Pressmen’s Union No. 7 as exist
ing and constituted in copies of same, dated “ Revised and adopted November
10, 1914,” which * * * are made a part of this contract, and subject only to
such changes as will not alter nor affect the relations of the principals to this
document during the life of this contract.
Sec. 10. The party of the second part further agrees that its members shall
not leave the services of any of the shops constituting the first party until suf
ficient notice to the foreman of the department shall have enabled him to fill
the vacancy without interruption to this service.
Sec. 12. The party of the second part agrees that there shall be no limit put
upon the output of presses by the union or its members.
Sec. 18. Where there are seven or more single cylinder presses or other presses
in the pressroom, the foreman shall not run presses.
Sec. 23. The scale for night work shall be $2 per week in excess of the day
scale.
Agreements of web pressmen vary but little from those of other
pressmen except in the scales and the rating of presses. The following
extracts are taken from the agreement between the Web Pressmen’s
Union No. 37 and the Newspaper Publishers’ Association of Indian
apolis, September 10,1923:
3. (1) Eight hours shall constitute a day’s or night’s work.
(2) A week for a six-day evening paper is to consist of six days of eight hours
each, between the hours of 7 a. m. and 7 p. m. The hours for all work to be
consecutive, exclusive of lunqheon time.
(3) A week for a morning paper with a Sunday edition is to consist of six
nights of eight hours each, between the hours of 6 p. m. and 6 a. m. The hours
for all work to be consecutive, exclusive of luncheon time.
(4) On a morning paper required to publish an extra section as a part of the
regular Sunday edition the force may be called on not earlier than 3 p. m. Sat
urday, and time and one-half shall be paid for all time after eight consecutive
hours’ work.
(7) Overtime shall consist of work done after hours agreed on above for each
day’s or night’s work and shall be paid for at the rate of time and one-half.
(8) A journeyman pressman holding a steady six-day position in any one of
the various offices who is called upon by a publisher to work a day and a night,
or a night and a day in succession, shall be paid a bonus of $2 for his second
day’s or night’s work.
A r t . 4. Six consecutive hours shall constitute a day’s or night’s work on New
Year’s, Decoration Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas,
or days observed as such. * * * Overtime on these holidays shall be paid for
at the rate of time and one-half, based on a schedule of an eight-hour day or
night. No pay on holidays when no work is done.
A r t . 6 . For a call-back after a man has washed up and left the building
or is called for work after “ good morning” or “ good night” has been called or
is called before the regular beginning time of a day’s or night’s work, the office
shall allow $1 with time and one-half for time actually employed, except as pro
vided for in section 4, article 3, of this contract. * * * If a call-back is made
on any of the aforementioned holidays, the rate of pay shall be $2 and double
time for time actually employed. In case of a call-back a full crew shall be
called in.
A r t ic l e
Some of the clauses of the agreement between the Press Assistants’
Local No. 23 and the Closed Shop (Printers’ League) Branch of the
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TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
New York Employing Printers’ Association, January 1 , 1923, are
given below:
14. Day work: Forty-four hours.
15. Night work: Forty hours of eight consecutive working hours for five
consecutive nights, Monday to Friday, inclusive. Work shall not begin later
than 8 p. m., and on the eve of a holiday not later than 6 p. m.
16. Third (lobster) shift: Thirty-two and a half hours of six and a half
consecutive working hours for five consecutive nights, Monday to Friday,
inclusive.
23. Whenever a member of the union is required or permitted to work over
time more than one and one-half hours, one-half hour shall be allowed to
obtain lunch; when actual overtime at work exceeds five and one-half hours
after the regular quitting time of the shift, he is entitled to a second lunch
period of one-half hour, and when actual overtime worked exceeds nine and
one-half hours after the regular quitting time of the shift, he is entitled to a
third lunch period of one-half hour. Lunch time shall be paid for at overtime
rates of the period within which it occurs for both time and piece hands, pro
vided that when members are required to work overtime for less than one and
one-half hours above provisions shall not apply.
24. When a regular full week of 44 hours has been worked and there is over
time on Saturday morning or Saturday afternoon, one-half hour lunch must be
paid for.
27. Work on Sundays and holidays shall be at double the regular scale and
men so employed shall receive not less than one single day’s or night’s pay. If
more than four hours are worked, a full day at double time shall be paid for.
28. Overtime: Price and one-half for the first four hours after which double
price for the second four hours and triple price for the third four hours.
30. Ten hours must intervene between time of quitting and starting work,
except in cases of unusual emergency. The chapel chairman and the foreman
must agree that said emergency exists on the same day in which emergency
arises. If they do not agree, the men may go to work before the 10 hours are
up, but complaint shall be lodged in the usual way for settlement of disputes.
38. Each and every member of the union must refuse to perform any work
whatsoever in an office which has not paid in full for previous week’s work
* * *; said prohibition to remain on said office until all members of the union
have been so paid. No further action by the union shall be necessary when
wages have not been so paid.
50. Foreman in charge of workroom shall be the only person to whom appli
cation should be made for a situation. He shall be the only person for employ
ing and discharging employees.
51. All orders for the department concerned shall emanate from the foreman,
who shall be considered the representative of the employer. Any complaint over
orders issued or action taken by the foreman, in pursuance of his duties as fore
man, shall be disposed of in the same manner as other disputes arising under
these rules, and it is recommended that he be a member of the respective union
working in the department.
59. All pressroom apprentices shall be registered by the league and the union.
60. Each office shall be allowed one apprentice cylinder press feeder for each
apprentice cylinder pressman actually employed as such in said office; and, in
an office where there is an odd cylinder press, the said press may be operated by
an apprentice cylinder pressman.
65. A joint apprentice committee composed of five representatives from the
league and five representatives from the union shall be formed to study, investi
gate, and report, and during the life of this agreement act to secure enforcement
of the conditions outlined in this agreement covering apprentices. The com
mittee shall have full power and authority any time during the term of appren
ticeship to cancel the apprenticeship of an apprentice who does not show apti
tude and proper qualifications for the work. This committee shall meet jointly
at the call of the chairman of each committee at such time and place as may be
determined by them.
N e a r ly every agreement contains some reference to arbitration,
the provisions in the arbitration agreement of Press Assistants’ Local
No. 42, April 29, 1924, with the Closed Shop Division of the Typothetse of Washington,**D. C., being as follows:
PRINTING TRADES
103
First. That the parties hereto will settle any and all differences affecting
wages, hours, working conditions, and shop practices that may arise between
the two parties in interest, under the terms and conditions of this contract, by
conciliation, and if conciliation fails, by arbitration, and in the following manner:
Should either party have a grievance the same snail be presented immediately
in writing to the other party for conciliation by accredited representatives or
representatives of each party; said conciliators shall meet to consider said griev
ance within three working-days after the filing of same; if an understanding
can not be reached within 10 full working-days after the grievance has been
presented, then the settlement of said grievance shall be left to a board of
arbitration.
This board shall consist of five members, two of whom shall be chosen by
* * * Union No. 42, * * * two by the Closed Shop Division of the
Typothetse of Washington, D. C. (Inc.), and the fifth member shall be chosen
by the other four. The fifth member of the board shall act as chairman. He
shall be entitled to a vote and voice on all questions. He shall not be a member
of * * * Union No. 42 * * * nor of the Closed Shop Division of the
Typothetse of Washington, D. C. (Inc.). Testimony and argument shall be
presented in any form the board of arbitration may direct. In the event that
either party fails to appear or to submit testimony in the form required within
10 full business days (or such other mutually-agreed-upon time), after due notice
has been given, the arbitrators shall proceed to settle the case and render their
decisions in accordance with the evidence in their possession.
Second. That the decision of the board of arbitration * * * may be
based on any logical evidence which to the board may seem to have probative
value. Said decision shall be final and binding and may, at the discretion of
the arbitrators, be made effective from the date the grievance was first presented;
that pending final decision by the conciliators or arbitrators work shall continue
in all shops without interruption and under the conditions prevailing prior to
the time the dispute arose. All expenses attendant upon the settlement of any
disputes which are incurred by direction of the board of arbitrators shall be borne
equally by the parties to this agreement.
Fourth. That the * * * Typothetse of Washington, D. C. (Inc.) will
employ in their pressrooms none but members of * * * Union No. 42,
* * * to do any mechanical work that is mutually agreed comes under the
jurisdiction of said union; and that no work that con^s under the jurisdiction
of * * * Union No. 42, * * * shall be done in the pressrooms of the
Closed Shop Division of the Typothetse of Washington, D. C. (Inc.), for any
person or firm that becomes involved in a strike or lockout with said union.
Sixth. That * * * Union No. 42, * * * shall not engage in any
walkouts, strike, or other form of concerted interference over which it has con
trol affecting the offices of the Closed Shop Division of the Typothetse of
Washington, D. C. (Inc.); that the Closed Shop Division of the Typothetse of
Washington, D. C. (Inc.), shall not engage in any lockout against the members
of * * * Union No. 42; * * * that the Closed Shop Division of the
Typothetse of Washington, D. C. (Inc.) shall withdraw all aid and support from
any of its members who may refuse to live up to the terms of this agreement
or to comply with any decision of a board of arbitration as hereinbefore pro
vided, and shall in each particular case officially notify said union to that effect.
STEREOTYPERS AND ELECTROTYPERS
The International Stereotypers’ and Electrotypers’ Union of North
America unites two classes of men whose work is somewhat similar.
In the smaller towns one local covers the two classes, but in the
larger cities each class has its own local. The agreements are
generally rather lengthy, providing for a detailed system of arbitra
tion, a union shop, a 44-hour week, overtime rates, weekly pay day, 1
apprentice to 5 or 10 journeymen and an apprenticeship term of 5
years.
The following extracts are from the agreement of Stereotypers’
Local No. 58 with a newspaper in Los Angeles, September 30, 1924:
S ection 1. * * * A special standing committee of four * * * shall
be appointed, two * * * te be named by the party of the first part, and
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TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
two * * * [by] the party of the second part. * * * If at any time
either party desires that one of its representatives on the special standing
committee shall appear in the capacity of advocate before the board of arbitra
tion provided for in this section, said representative shall resign from the
committee and a new representative shall be appointed in the manner herein
before provided.
To the special standing committee shall be referred for settlement all disputes
arising * * * between the parties hereto, except as in this section provided.
The special standing committee must meet within five days from the date on
which either party * * * notifies the other party in writing that a meeting
is desired, and shall proceed forthwith to attempt to settle any question raised
by either party. Except that the special standing committee shall have no
jurisdiction over the settlement of a new wage scale and a new contract to
become effective at the expiration of this agreement, said committee shall other
wise have complete power to determine its jurisdiction.
Provided the general laws of the International Stereotypers' and Electrotypers’
Union, in effect on the 1st day of January, 1924, shall not be subject to the pro
visions of this arbitration agreement. Provided further, that all changes in said
laws and all new general laws enacted subsequently to the first day of
General
anuary, 1924, shall not be operative between the parties hereto and shall not
effect [sic] this arbitration agreement, except by the mutual consent of the
parties.
Cases of discharge may be taken up by the chapel, if the chapel meets on the
case within 48 hours after the discharge. If the chapel does not meet within 48
hours after the discharge, the member discharged has lost the right of appeal, as
herein provided, and shall be considered to be legally discharged, and can not be
reinstated except at the option of the foreman. If the chapel takes up a dis
charge case, as hereinbefore provided, and reinstates the discharged member,
said member shall be immediately reinstated by the foreman; provided that the
foreman or the office may appeal from the decision of the chapel to the special
standing committee. The special standing committee shall have power to confirm
the reinstatement or to reverse the chapel and order the discharge of the member.
If the chapel upholds the foreman in the discharge of a member and does not re
instate, such member shall have the right to appeal from the decision of the
chapel to the special standing committee. The special standing committee
shall have power to confirm the discharge or to reverse the chapel and order the
reinstatement of the discharged member. Appeals in discharge cases must be
submitted to the special standing committee within 30 days from the date of
the decision of the chapel. If appeal case is not submitted within 30 days from
said date of the decision of the chapel, the right to appeal is lost, and the
decision of the chapel is final. The 30-day time limit can be extended by
unanimous consent of the special standing committee. In the case of any
appeal by a discharged member to the special standing committee, pay for time
lost by such member is an arbitrable point. The special standing committee
shall have power to decide what is due such member for time lost, but in no case
shall the amount exceed what the member would have earned at straight-time
rates in the position from which discharged had such member been employed
full time during the settlement of the case.
It shall require the affirmative votes of the 4 members of the special standing
committee to decide the issues, and the decision of the special standing commit
tee in all cases shall be final and binding on the parties hereto. If the special
standing committee can not reach an agreement on any dispute * * * within
10 days from the date on which a dispute is first considered by it, at the request
of either party hereto, the members of the committee shall form a board of
arbitration and shall select a fifth member, who shall be a disinterested party
and who shall act as chairman of the board. The board of arbitration thus
formed shall proceed with all dispatch possible to settle the dispute. It shall
require the affirmative votes of three of the five members of the board of
arbitration to decide the issues, and the decision of the board of arbitration in
all cases shall be final and binding on the parties hereto.
All expenses of the board of arbitration shall be equally divided between the
party of the first part and the party of the second part.
Sec. 2. * * * If any terms, wages, hours, or conditions better than those
given in this agreement, or any concessions whatsoever, shall be allowed by
said union to any daily newspaper in Los Angeles during the life of this agree
ment, then said better terms or concessions shall be allowed immediately to
the party of the first part.
PRINTING TRADES
105
S ec . 4. Los Angeles Stereotypers’ Union No. 58 agrees to furnish * * *
as many competent stereotypers as are required to perform the stereotyping
work in the office signatory hereto. If such help is not furnished by the union
within a reasonable time, the publishers shall be privileged to secure such help
regardless of union affiliations and retain such help until such time as the union
shall furnish the required help.
S ec . 5. * * * This newspaper shall be entitled to one * * * appren
tice for every * * * five journeymen holding regular situations.
S ec . 6. Eight consecutive hours between 6 a. m. and 6 p. m., or 6 p. m. and
6 a. m. including 30 minutes for lunch shall constitute a day’s work.
S ec . 9. Six days shall constitute a week’s work for journeymen and apprentices.
Sec. 12. Foremen shall receive not less than $1 per day or night more than
the journeyman scale.
The provisions regarding hours and disputes in the agreement of
Stereo typers’ Local No. 19 with the ^Publishers’ Association of
Washington, D. C., June 1 , 1923, are as follows:
3. The hours of labor on morning papers shall be between 7 p. m. and 7 a. m.
and shall be seven hours consecutively except on Saturday, when the hours
shall be eight consecutively.
The hours of labor on afternoon papers shall be between 7 a. m. and 7 p. m.
and shall be eight hours consecutively, except that on newspapers publishing a
Sunday morning edition the hours shall be between 4 p. m. on Saturday and
7 a. m. on Sundays.
5. * * * The foreman shall be the judge of a man’s competency as a
workman and of his general fitness to work in the office. Foremen have the
right to employ journeymen or apprentices; provided, however, that there is
no apprentice duly registered for two years unemployed and may discharge (1)
for incompetency, (2) for neglect of duty, (3) for violation of office rules (which
shall be conspicuously posted), and (4) to decrease the force, such decrease to
be accomplished by discharging first the person or persons last employed.
If the chapel has a grievance against the foreman, it shall first refer it to the
publisher or business manager of the newspaper, and if the difference is not
satisfactorily adjusted the chapel shall then refer its grievance to the joint
standing committee.
7. There shall be appointed a standing committee consisting of the president
and secretary of the union and two representatives of the publishers, to which
shall be referred immediately all differences which may arise between the union
and the publishers.
If the standing committee is unable to adjust any difference within a period
of 10 days after it has been referred to it the difference shall then within a
period of 10 days be submitted to arbitration.
9. When arbitration is resorted to hereunder the board of arbitration shall
consist of one person selected by the union and one person selected by the
publishers, who shall choose a third arbitrator. The decision of the "three
persons so selected or of a majority thereof shall be binding on the parties
hereto.
The following extracts are taken from the agreement of the Elec
trotypers’ Local No. 3 with the Chicago Employing Electrotypers’
Association of Chicago, April 30, 1924:
Overtime
1. All overtime to be paid at the rate of time and one-half for the first three
and one-half hours after the regular schedule of hours, and double time there
after. On Saturday, work after 1 p. m. shall be paid at double time rate.
2. When members of the party of the second part are required to work one
and a half hours or more overtime, they shall be allowed 30 minutes for lunch
with pay. When it is necessary to continue the overtime for 5 hours, another
half hour shall be allowed if the actual work is to continue for over one hour
longer. The same rule to apply for continuous overtime at the end of every
four hours.
3. No foreman shall be permitted to work overtime without at least one other
journeyman working with him for such department where such overtime may be
required.
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TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Sunday and legal holidays
1. Six hours to constitute a day’s work on Sunday and legal holidays between
the hours of 8 a. m. and 5 p. m., with one-half hour for lunch after three hours’
work.
2. Sunday and legal holidays shall be charged at double-time rates; any por
tion of such day less than three hours to be paid for at triple-time rate,
3. Overtime preceding and following the regular hours shall be charged at
triple-time rate.
Apprentices
8. There shall be created a joint apprenticeship committee consisting of three
representatives from the association and three representatives from the union,
who shall examine all applicants for apprenticeship as to their qualifications be
fore they are recorded. All apprentices shall have a grammar-school education
or its equivalent; provided, that where a proposed apprentice who is otherwise
acceptable does not meet the above requirements the joint apprenticeship com
mittee shall see that he makes up the necessary credits.
9. After the first six months of the boy’s apprenticeship the committee shall
mutually determine his fitness to continue as an apprentice. It shall be the
duty of the joint apprenticeship committee to see that every apprentice is given
an opportunity to become proficient in all branches of the department to which
he is apprenticed.
11. All apprentices shall serve an apprenticeship of five years under instruc
tion and shall not be less than 16 years nor over 30 years.
Notice
All employees must give one day’s notice to employer before leaving position,
and the employer must give one day’s notice to discharge an employee for an
indefinite period, such notice to be given not later than 9 a. m.
General conditions
1. The party of the second part reserves to its members the right to refuse to
execute all struck work received from or destined for unfair employing electro
typers or stereotypers.
Sanitation
1. A joint sanitation committee consisting of the secretary of the association
and the president of the union shall take up all complaints relative to sanitary
conditions in the workrooms of the members of the party of the first part.
Arbitration
1. The parties hereto covenant and agree to submit to arbitration any ques
tion of dispute that may arise, but in no case shall the laws of the Chicago Elec
trotypers’ Union No. 3 ,1. S. and E. U., as ratified by this agreement, nor the
International Stereotypers and Electrotypers’ Union laws, be subject to arbitra
tion.
2; All questions of dispute arising out of or concerning this contract, and all
questions arising between any of the members of the party of the first part and
his employees covered by this agreement, shall be taken up and disposed of by
an arbitration committee, to consist of two members from each party, appointed
by the respective presidents of each party; the said arbitration committee to
select a fifth member to act in case of a tie vote.
3. Arbitration shall be held within 10 days after written request therefor has
been made by either party to this agreement.
Following are the overtime and holiday provisions of the agree
ment of Electrotypers’ Union No. 36 with the St. Louis Employing
Electrotypers’ Association, April 14, 1924:
Overtime
Overtime work shall be paid the following rate: Time and one-half until 9.15
p. m.; thereafter, double time until the next regular starting time. Saturdays,
time and one-half until 4.15 p. m.; thereafter, double time until the next regular
starting time.
RAILWAYS, ELECTRIC
107
Holidays
1. Sundays and all legal holidays to be paid at the rate of double time.
J urisdiction
1. All shops must have a foreman. Said foreman must be a member of this
union and the International Stereotypers and Electrotypers’ Union. All fore
men shall have full power to hire and discharge all help.
The following extracts are taken from the agreement of Electrotypers* Local No. 11, Boston, with the firm of Ginn & Co., May 1,
1923:
Forty-eight hours shall constitute a week’s work. The working schedule to
be regulated between 7 a. m. and 5.30 p. m. each day except Saturday, Saturday
to be between 7 a. m. and 12.30 noon.
Forty hours per week shall constitute a week’s work and shall be divided
into five nights per week, exclusive of mealtime. The night hours to be per
manent and consecutive except mealtime.
Overtime before and after posted hours until 10 p. m., except Saturday until
5 p. m., time and one-half. After 10 p. m. (except Saturday, which is after
5 p. m.), Sundays and legal holidays (which shall include June 17), double
time. Any employee working any portion of Sundays or legal holidays is to
be paid for a full day. When overtime amounting to one and one-half hours
or more is worked one-half hour to be allowed and paid for as lunch time.
Any part of an hour after 30 minutes to be paid for as a full hour.
One registered apprentice shall be allowed to every four journeymen perma
nently employed in each foundry or in each finishing room; not more than
three registered apprentices shall be allowed in any finishing room or in any
foundry.
Whenever any difference shall arise as to the interpretation of this agreement
between the parties hereto, it shall be the duty of either party to this agree
ment to make a complaint in writing to the other party hereto specifying the
nature of said difference. Whereupon a board of conciliation shall be created
* * * to consist of two members of the party of the first part and two mem
bers of the party of the second part, each party having a voting power of two,
which board of conciliation shall have power by a majority vote to finally
adjust, settle, or regulate said difference. This board shall meet within one
week after such difference shall be presented and render a decision thereon within
three days thereafter. Should said board be unable to decide any difference
submitted to it for determination, said board shall then by a unanimous vote
of the four members select a * * * fifth member within the period of 30
days. Should the board fail to select a * * * fifth member within the
period of 30 days the selection of the fifth member shall immediately devolve
upon a representative of Ginn & Co. and the president of the International
Stereotypers and Electrotypers’ Union. The decision of such board of five, as
then selected or constituted, shall be final and binding upon all parties thereto.
RAILWAYS, ELECTRIC
The Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway
Employees of America consists of motormen, conductors, guards,
and bus operators employed in connection with the operation of
street and electric railways; gatemen, watchmen, and employees of
the car houses, pit department, and track department; collectors;
and yard crews.
The employees on some interurban lines are affiliated with the
railroad unions of locomotive engineers, conductors, and trainmen.
As a general rule, however, the agreements with urban lines vary
but little from those with the interurban lines. Some companies
make separate agreements with the various locals on their lines and
108
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
some make a joint agreement with all such locals. These agree
ments are: generally very long, covering wages, hours, arbitration,
runs, overtime, and seniority rules.
The following extracts are from the agreement between Division
No. 241 and the Chicago Surface Lines (including the Chicago City
Railway Co., the Chicago Railways Co., the Southern Street Rail
way Co., and the Calumet & South Chicago Railway Co.), effective
for two years from June 1 , 1923:
S ection 2. The company * * * will not directly or indirectly interfere
with or prevent the joining of the association by any men employed by the com
pany * * *. The company will neither discharge nor discriminate against
any employee because of his connection with the association.
S ec . 3. * * * The properly accredited officers of the company shall
meet and treat with the properly accredited officers of the association on all
questions and grievances that may arise during the life of this contract, and
should there be any that can not be amicably adjusted between the properly
accredited officers of the company and the properly accredited officers of the
association, same shall be submitted to a temporary board of arbitration.
One arbitrator shall be chosen by the company and one by the representatives
of the association. The two arbitrators so chosen shall endeavor to meet daily
to select the third, and the three arbitrators so chosen shall then likewise endeavor
to meet daily for the purpose of adjusting said grievances, and the decision of a
majority of said board submitted in writing to the company and the association
shall be binding upon both parties.
In the event of the failure of either party to appoint its arbitrator within six
days after arbitration is decided upon, the party so failing shall forfeit its case.
Each party shall bear the expense of its own arbitrator, and the expense of the
third arbitrator shall be borne equally by the parties hereto.
S ec . 7. Car repairers, motor repairers, inspectors, dopers, terminal men, car
cleaners, car placers, body repairers, and janitors shall have the right to be
absent from duty every other Sunday.
In all cases when men are laid off to reduce the force they shall be laid off
according to seniority, primarily, but consideration may be given to their capac
ity and fitness, and when men are put on they shall be reinstated according to
their seniority standing at the time they were laid off, giving weight to the same
consideration.
Trainmen shall be allowed to pick runs quarterly, so as to become effective
on the 1st day of January, April, July, and October, and all tables shall be
posted not less than two days before the quarterly picking term or any special
picking, except in any emergency picking, in which case the tables shall be posted
so as to give the men as much time as is practicable before picking runs.
Sec . 8. The workday of all employees shall be eight hours, with time and onehalf for all time worked over eight hours; not less than 60 per cent of the runs
shall be straight time; the balance shall be completed within 14 consecutive
hours and no run, regular or extra, shall pay less than eight hours’ time. All
runs on Sundays and holidays shall be straight time, as near six hours as pos
sible, and shall be paid only actual time worked up to eight hours, with time
and one-half for all time worked over eight hours. The company shall not
operate any runs of less than eight hours (except Sundays.and holidays), and in
case any such runs shall be less than eight hours the company shall pay eight
hours’ time therefor.
The company shall have the right to fix the number of cars running at all
hours, and the length of time they shall be on the street, endeavoring at all
times to make the work as agreeable to the men as will be consistent with the
foregoing.
Trainmen shall be allowed a fall-back for meals on an average of 25 minutes.
Fall-backs shall be provided on all streets where terminal facilities permit.
Where terminal facilities do not permit a fail-back the men shall be allowed a
relief for meals and shall be paid therefor up to but not exceeding 30 minutes,
it being understood that no runs shall work more than seven consecutive hours
without a fail-back or relief for meals.
Trainmen will not be required to make extra trips after completion of the day’s
work except in extreme emergencies.
All trainmen shall be allowed 10 minutes when commencing the day’s work,
10 minutes for the second pull-out and 7 minutes after finishing the day’s runs
RAILWAYS, ELECTRIC
109
for preparing themselves and their cars, making reports, or performing such other
duties as may be required by the company in the preparation for or the comple
tion of the day’s work.
S e c . 9. * * * Operators of one-man cars shall receive 8 cents per hour in
addition to their regular rates.
All night-car runs shall be straight and not more than eight hours.
Trainmen shall be paid for actual time in making out accident reports and
shall receive 25 cents per day additional while instructing students.
The provisions of the agreement between Division No. 589 and the
Boston Elevated Railway Co., July 1 , 1923, include those given
below:
S e c t io n 104. In no case shall an employee be transferred or removed from
any position against her or his wishes to make place for another. Employees
may only be removed from their present positions for unsatisfactory service, lack
of work, or failure to qualify, except as hereinafter provided for. In all cases of
consolidations or reorganizations employees affected are to follow their work to
the extent that work may exist under such changed conditions and shall take
their respective places under the new conditions according to the respective rating
of all concerned.
Sec. 105. Uniforms and caps may be purchased in the open market, provided
they conform to the company’s specifications and pass its inspection.
Sec. 106. The company shall post in each rating station and department a list
giving the seniority rating of each employee in that rating station and depart
ment and the rate of wages received. This list shall be corrected each time an
employee is hired or leaves the service, and is to show the order in which men
laid off are to be given an opportunity to return to work.
Sec. 109. All employees of the company who are members of the association
will be given free transportation on the cars of the company to and from work
when wearing official cap and badge plainly exposed to view. A deposit of $1
will be required for such badge. Employees to whom badges are furnished simply
for the privilege of transportation will not be entitled to same until after period
of 30 days’ employment.
Sec. 201. Seats shall be provided for motormen on all cars and for conduc
tors on all prepayment cars and such other cars as permit of their use. Vesti
bules or cabs on all new cars shall be equipped with heaters.
S e c . 202. Runs shall be laid out as hereinafter specified and the association
agrees that its members shall take the runs so laid out.
A schedule run shall provide between seven and eight and one-quarter hours’
platform work on week days and between seven and eight hours’ platform work
on Sundays and holidays.
At least 60 per cent of schedule runs shall not exceed 11 hours’ outside time,
and in no case shall a schedule run exceed 14 hours.
Time allowed for reporting and turning in shall not be considered in determin
ing percentage, nor be paid for, if when added to the actual platform time it does
not, in the aggregate, exceed eight hours.
Lay-offs of 30 minutes or less in schedule runs shall be paid for as platform
time.
All schedule runs with total time less than eight hours shall pay eight hours.
All schedule runs with total time in excess of eight hours or less than eight
and one-quarter hours shall pay eight and one-quarter hours.
S e c . 205. In the selection of schedule runs, additional runs, and position on
the cover list seniority shall prevail, and men shall select in accordance with
their continuous age in their respective classes.
S e c . 212. When men are transferred from one division to another, due to lack
of work, they will be taken from the foot of the division list and will start- at the
foot of the list at the station in the division transferred to, but will retain their
rating in their own division, and before any new men are hired in their own divi
sion they will be given opportunity to return. If they then prefer to remain in
the new division, they shall forfeit their rating in their old division, and their
rating in the new division will be as of date transferred.
Sec. 214. Any conductor or motorman transferred at his own request from
one division or rating station to the same position in another division or rating
station shall forfeit his seniority rating in the division or rating station left and
46976°—25-----8
110
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
start at the foot of the list in the other division or rating station, it being under
stood that the rate of pay will continue as of station left.
Sec. 224. All surface-car motormen and conductors who have passed the pro
bationary period shall, when learning different equipment or routes other than
those routes on which they have been broken in, be paid at their regular rate
while so doing. This also applies to men who return to work after being laid off.
Men required to go to instruction school on their own time shall be paid running
time to and from rating station at flat rate.
S e c . 232. Any motorman or conductor shall be given, if he so desires, at least
one day off in 15 days.
Sec. 233. Conductors will be allowed five minutes at the beginning of the day
to prepare car for service and 10 minutes at the close of the day for making up
and turning in work.
Motormen will be allowed five minutes at the beginning of the day to prepare
car for service and five minutes at the end of the day for putting up of car.
Sec. 234. Conductors and motormen making out written accident reports or
statements on their own time shall be paid for the time required by the company
in making out such reports not to exceed 20 cents for each report.
Sec. 239. When a lay off of motormen, conductors, and guards in a division
becomes necessary, the junior man in the division in the class affected shall be
the first man laid off, and so on through the list.
Sec. 240. When one-man cars are put into operation on any line operated by
the company, the motormen and conductors in the station from which the cars
are operated shall have the right to select such runs in accordance with their
seniority in the service irrespective of which class they are in.
Ten minutes shall be allowed at the beginning of the day for preparing car for
service, and 20 minutes at the end of the day for making up, and turning in work
and putting up car.
Sec. 241. Mot6r-bus service will be separated from transportation car service
work.
The senior men in car service at the rating station from which the busses are
operated applying and qualifying to the extent of the number of regular week’s
work provided on the schedule shall select their week’s work in the order of sen
iority and establish a rating from date entering bus service, and the next senior
men to the extent required shall establish a rating in bus service as extra bus
drivers.
Bus work will be arranged on a weekly basis of six days, the day off to be
shown on schedule. The schedules shall be made up and paid for, and the hours
of labor shall be the same as provided for car service except as otherwise
provided in this section.
Ten minutes shall be allowed at the beginning of the day for preparing bus for
service and 20 minutes at the end of the day for making up and turning in work
and putting up bus.
Bus operators can only return to car service through illness, disability, or dis
qualification for bus work, and such men will not be permitted to again enter
bus service.
The following extracts are from the agreement between Division
No. 85 and the receivers of the Pittsburgh Railways Co., May 2 2 ,
1923:
S e c t io n 1. (1) The hours of service for all early, late, and swing runs shall
be on a basis of a maximum of 11 hours and a minimum of 8 hours, with the
exception that in order to complete a run or schedule not to exceed 2J^ per cent
of the total number of earlies, lates, and swings may go over 11 hours and the
said 2J^ per cent of runs shall not go over 11 hours and 15 minutes. A day’s
work on all early and late runs shall be completed in not to exceed 12 con
secutive hours. All swing runs shall be completed within 15 consecutive hours.
Straight runs shall pay time and one-half for all outside time in excess of 11 hours.
Swing runs shall pay time and one-half for all outside time in excess of 14
consecutive hours.
(8) All runs over five and under eight hours will pay eight hours’ time.
(11) Suitable accommodations will be provided for men to eat their meals, after
they are relieved. * * * Where cars are blocked or late, provision shall always
be made for men to eat their meals, and it will be the duty of the company
officials at each barn to see that this provision is carried out at all times.
S e c . 5. (1) Where conductors work cars that have no fare boxes, the dis
patcher or receiver will, upon request of the conductor, check the number of his
RAILWAYS, ELECTRIC
111
packs of tokens or tickets, count his money and loose tokens under the number
of 30, and in the presence of the conductor place the exact amount of money,
number of packs of tokens or tickets and number of loose tokens or tickets on
his day card in “ink” tad approve the same. This will clear the conductor of
all responsibility as to the amount of money, the number of loose tokens or
tickets; however, conductors will be allowed to put up their tokens or tickets
into packs of 30 in wrappers provided by the company.
Sec. 9. (1) Trainmen desiring to be excused from duty for a period not to
exceed three days shall obtain the consent Of the dispatcher; for a leave longer
than 3 and not in excess of 14 days the consent of the local superintendent must
be obtained; for a leave of absence of more than 14 days, the consent of the
division superintendent, with the approval of the superintendent of transporta
tion, must be had. Any employee accepting a position with any other firm, cor
poration, or private employer of labor during a leave of absence shall be consid
ered as having terminated his services with the company.
(2) There shall be placed in the office of each car house of the respective lines
an open book in which men can register the particular day or days on which they
wish to get off, but no man will be allowed to register for the day preceding any
legal holiday and holiday combined when other men want to get off on the holi
day, and men so registering for any particular day or days shall have first pref
erence (excepting legal holidays as above stated), except in cases of members of
committee or other members of the association wanting off on business of the
association; they shall have first preference over all. Persons so registering must
sign in ink, otherwise they lose their turn. Said book to be dated seven days
ahead; that is, a man to have the privilege of asking off seven days ahead of any
day he desires, and no man will be allowed off more than one Sunday in three con
secutive Sundays, providing there are other men who want to get "off. No man
will be allowed off on two consecutive holidays provided there are other men
who want to get off.
Sec. 12. (1) All motormen and conductors shall receive an allowance of 15
minutes for making out all reports requiring the use of the accident blank.
Sec. 16. (1) Employees of this company or any other persons are forbidden to
solicit on the company’s premises, including cars or in front of the car houses or
offices, contributions to benefits, balls, individuals, or any other objects. They
are also prohibited from carrying on the barter or sale of tickets for watches, suits,
or articles of any kind on the company’s premises. This includes all forms of
lottery and pool tickets. Should it be necessary to raise a subscription for an
employee or employee’s family, the same shall be submitted to the superintendent
of transportation for his approval or disapproval, in writing, a carbon copy to be
posted at the barn.
(2) Collection of dues * * * shall be permitted in all car houses or
stations.
(3) There shall be no discrimination between union and nonunion men;
all shall be treated alike as employees of the company.
Sec. 17. (3) All motormen and conductors shall receive 50 cents per day
in addition to the regular rate for teaching students.
Sec. 20. (1) The use of stools for all motormen will be permitted on all
lines.
Certain extracts, given below, from the agreement between Divi
sion No. 620, of Framingham, and the Boston & Worcester Street
Railway Co., October 1 , 1923, are of interest:
S e c t io n 1. The company will treat with properly accredited officers and
committees of the association on all grievances that may arise.
Sec. 3. A. On special occasions or when business is so heavy that members
may not have time to go to their homes for their meals or to their regular
eating place the company will furnish an order or lunch ticket for the same,
the expense of any one lunch not to exceed 50 cents.
B. Conductors, motormen, and messengers working freight cars shall receive
one hour’s pay in lieu of a meal ticket in addition to the regular day’s pay for
9 hours, and if they continue unrelieved for 12 hours they shall receive in
addition to the pay for such extra work 1 hour additional pay for their
meals, it being understood that crews on freight cars shall carry meals with
them or get meals at such times or places as not to delay the freight service.
Sec. 5. All members shall have free transportation over all lines operated
by this company at all times.
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TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1023 AND 1924
Sec. 7. Conductors, messengers, or motormen must not be permitted to
hold their rating under leave of absence longer than 60 days unless by mutual
consent of both parties in writing, but upon return to duty after 60 days must
take their place at the bottom of the list as a new employee.
Sec. 8. Any conductor, messenger, or motorman who is transferred from
his department to another department shall, at the expiration of 60 days, unless
by mutual agreement of both parties in writing, either return to his former
department or give up his seniority rights in the bidding-in system and take the
bottom of the list in the department to which he was transferred.
Sec.. 19. When conductors and motormen are required to lose time when
looking up accidents they shall be paid at their rating for all time so required
and shall receive 10 cents pay. for making out such accident report as required
by the company, providing such report is filed with starter, division superin
tendent, or at general office before 9 a. m. on the day following accident.
Sec. 21> The number of hours which shall constitute a day's work for truckers,
truck loaders, and car packers shall be 9 hours, to be completed within 10 con
secutive hours, except work may be 10 hours to be completed within 11 con
secutive hours if employee so selects.
Sec. 23. A. All time in addition to the regular shall be paid for at rate of time
and half time.
B. Holidays and Sundays shall be paid for at the rate of time and half time.
Sec. 24. A. The hours of labor for substation employees shall be nine hours
per day.
Sec. 25. A. The hours of labor for watchmen shall not be over 12 hours per
night.
S ec. 26. The hours of all shopmen shall be 9 hours within 10 consecutive hours,
except Sundays and holidays, which shall be 8 hours within 9 consecutive hours.
Sec. 27. F. Rubber hat and coat will be furnished by the company to men
working on wrecking car.
G. Seniority shall prevail in the shop when vacancies occur ; the oldest man
in continuous shop service shall have first choice, but his ability to fill vacant
positions must have been proven and his promotion must have the approval of
the master mechanic.
H. On Sundays and holidays men working eight hours shall receive nine
hours' pay.
I. The employees of shops will be allowed 10 minutes before quitting time for
the purpose of washing up, and whistle will be blown when it is time to wash
up.
S ec. 28. A. A day's work for all track foremen and trackmen shall consist
of 9 hours to be completed within 10 consecutive hours, except on Saturdays,
Sundays, and holidays, when 8 hours to be completed within 9 consecutive hours
shall constitute a day's work.
K. The company will furnish gloves and overalls for men handling treated ties
on all sections.
L. When men are c&lled upon to work upon other sections than the ones on
which they are regularly employed, they shall travel to and from such work on
the company's time, provided the time it takes to reach such work is longer than
the time required to reach their own section.
M. In case passenger cars fail to run for a period of three hours or more after
trackmen have finished regular day's work, or in case company requires men to
stay on job after regular day's work is completed, meals or the equivalent will be
furnished to the extent of 50 cents per meal.
Sec. 32. Any matter which can not be amicably adjusted between the com
pany and the association shall be submitted to a board of arbitrators to be se
lected in the following manner: The company to select one, the association to
select one, and the two thus chosen to select a third. The decision of a major
ity of said board to be final and binding upon both parties.
In the event of the failure of either party to appoint its arbitrator within five
days after arbitration is decided upon, the party so failing shall forfeit the case.
Each party shall bear the expense of its own arbitrator, and the expense of the
third arbitrator shall be borne by the parties hereto equally.
The provisions of the agreement between Division No. 580 and
the Syracuse Lines of the New York State Railways, May 1 , 1924,7
7 A ll the sections quoted also appear in the agreement of D ivision N o. 282 of sam e date w ith the
Rochester Lines of the same com pany.
RAILWAYS, ELECTRIC
113
»
vary somewhat from those of the agreements already quoted, as is
shown below:
S e c t io n 2. (a) The workday for all regular motormen and conductors will
be on the basis of 9 hours, with a leeway of three-quarters of an hour to com
plete schedule when necessary.
(b) All regular runs of 7 hours and less than 9 shall pay 9 hours’ time.
(j) All-night cars shall work not more than 8 hours and 15 minutes and
receive 9 hours’ pay.
(0 At least 60 per cent of all schedule runs shall be laid out with outside
time not to exceed 11 hours, and in no case is a schedule run to have outside
time in excess of 14 hours. The men having schedule runs with outside time
on the schedule exceeding 11 hours shall receive additional compensation at the
rate of 10 cents per hour for such outside time exceeding 11 hours. Computa
tion of time to be made in 15-minute periods.
Sec. 4. (6) * * * Regular conductors and motormen who are assigned to
or held for extra work over and after their regular schedule run shall be paid at
the overtime rate for the actual overtime work and at straight time for the time
held after the first two hours have elapsed since the finish of their schedule run.
Sec. 5. (a) Conductors and motormen shall be given preference for work on
snowplows and sweepers. All snow work on snowplows and sweepers shall be
paid for at the overtime rate. If such snow work shall exceed five hours’ work
and one hour additional for changing clothes, he shall not be assigned to his
regular run that day. If such snow work and interval of one hour for chang
ing clothes shall be less than five hours, he may be assigned to regular work for
the balance of that day, providing such assignment shall not compel him to
work later than his regular run calls for, it being understood that in no case
shall he receive less than his regular run calls for.
Sec. 10. (a) The company agrees to furnish free transportation to members
of the association on all lines owned, leased, or operated by the company in the
localities in which they are employed.
(h) The issuance of trip passes to the dependent families of the members of
the association shall, at the discretion of the company, be granted.
Sec. 11. (a) The company agrees to permit any member of the association
to be absent for not exceeding 30 consecutive days in any year, providing that
in the judgment of the company the extra list is sufficiently large to permit of
such leave of absence, without interfering with his position on the seniority list
until after the expiration of that time, but the member will have the right to
ask for an extension of such leave of absence, either by letter or person.
S e c . 21. (b) Motormen and conductors shall be allowed 18 minutes extra for
making out accident reports and written statements of personal injuries and
property damages, except to company’s property, and in this case it must be
shown that it was the fault of the employee.
Sec. 26. Motormen and conductors shall receive not less than 5 cents per
hour over and above their regular rate while instructing students.
Sec. 32. Collection of dues by the officers of the association will be permitted
only in the car houses and shops of the company, and such collections shall not
interfere with the men in the performance of their work.
Sec. 39. (a) In the shops not more than six days shall constitute a week’s
work, the same not to include Sunday. Overtime rate to be paid for all Sunday
and holiday work.
S ec. 40. All promotions, transfers, or reductions of the force shall be based
upon seniority and efficiency, according to the class of work.
Sec. 41. Pive minutes shall be allowed at night for the purpose of washing up
and making out the necessary time cards.
Sec. 55. (a) The seniority list of names shall be placed by the company in
each substation, starting with the oldest man in continuous service of the com
pany in the capacity he has been employed in for the past three months, and so
on in rotation through the entire list.
(b) In case that a vacancy occurs the company shall advertise such vacancy.
Positions made vacant shall be given to the oldest man who has been in con
tinuous service for three months or more and who has submitted a bid in writing.
Where men are off sick or on a vacation at any one station for over 10 days, this
will constitute a vacancy. In case of chief operator’s position made vacant, a
man taking his place will get chief operator’s wages.
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TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
(c) All promotions, transfers, or reductions in the force shall be based upon
seniority, but without discrimination according to class of work, provided the
men are qualified.
SHIPPING INDUSTRY
The employees on board ship are grouped into unions independent
of one another, but their agreements are made yearly between the
officers of the national organization and their employers singly or in
groups.
MARINE ENGINEERS
The National Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association of the
United States of America is composed of persons licensed by the
United States Steamboat Inspection Service or commissioned as engi
neers in either the United States Navy or United States Coast Guard
Service. Many locals issue wage scales and rules to be observed in
their relations with small craft. The national body, however, makes
annual agreements with the United States Shipping Board governing
the employment of engineers in all service and varying the wages of
the various classes of engineers according to the size of craft on which
they are working.
The following rules are taken from the agreement effective July 1 ,
1924:
R ule 1. * * * No engineer shall be required or permitted to take charge
of a watch upon leaving or immediately after leaving port unless he shall have had
at least 6 hours off duty within the 12 hours immediately preceding time of sailing.
R ule 2. The working-day in port where watches are broken shall be 8 hours
out of each 24 to be distributed as the necessities of the watches and other duties
require. For work performed in excess of 8 hours equivalent time off will be
allowed.
R ule 3. On arrival of ship at the home port engineers shall be given shore leave
for seven nights, * * * and the night watch shall be taken by a relief engi
neer of a rating not less than first assistant.
For the remainder of the lay in home port of ship the engineer standing the
night watch shall have the next day off.
R ule 4. If the chief or assistant engineer is required to stay on board in any
port on Sundays or on New Year's Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day,
or Christmas Day, he shall have one full day off with pay or be paid one day's
additional pay.
R ule 7. A working-day in port in excess of eight hours shall not be performed
or paid for unless the work is done by written order of the chief engineer, master,
owner, or agent of the vessel. An entry shall be made in the engine-room log
book every time an assistant engineer is required to perform overtime service,
covering kind of work, reason for same, and time started and finished. Authorized
overtime to be paid at the pro-rata rate.
R u l e 9. When in port and board is not furnished, $2.50 per day shall be
allowed for subsistence and $1.50 per day shall be allowed for lodging when
quarters are not provided aboard.
MASTERS, MATES AND PILOTS
The National Organization, Masters, Mates, and Pilots of America,
comprises persons regularly licensed by the United States local
inspectors, the State pilot commissioner or the State local inspector
to act as masters, mates, or pilots of lake, bay, river, or ocean steamers,
vessels or motor boats or as licensed operators of motor boats. The
national organization makes an annual agreement with the United
States Shipping Board similar to that with the marine engineers
where the wages of the deck officers vary with the size of the craft.
In the agreement effective July 1 , 1924, are to be found all the rules
115
quoted under the preceding head of marine engineers and in addition
tne following:
SHIPPING INDUSTRY
R u l e 11. There shall be no discrimination in the employment of any master
or mate on account of affiliation or nonaffiliation with any organization.
SEAMEN
The International Seamen's Union of America is composed of local
unions of seamen grouped according to districts and character of
work done, as stewards, firemen, and fishermen. The agreements are
made by these groups with individual employers or with groups of
employers or the United States Shipping Board and are generally
very brief, relating mainly to wages and hours of labor. The fol
lowing extracts are taken from the agreement of the Alaska fisher
men, attached to the shipping articles during the season of 1924:
S e c t io n 1. The parties of the second part hereby engage in the services of said
_________ and agree and promise for the consideration hereinafter mentioned to
give their whole time and energy to the business and interests of said_______
and to work day or night * * * according to the lawful orders of the
captain, superintendent, or whoever may be in charge; that they will during
the time that they shall remain in the employ of said..................work and labor
in the capacity of seamen, fishermen, trapmen. Also to work on boats, lighters,
vessels, and in canneries, salteries, and/or in any other capacity, up and down,
and at and about the cannery or salting station to which they may be assigned,
according to the terms of this agreement and for the compensation herein
provided.
Sec. 2. (a) Before and after the fishing season * * * 48 hours shall con
stitute a week’s work; * * * provided, however, that at no time shall men
be compelled to work more than 11 hours within each 24 hours. * * * Any
man working over 48 hours during a week or over 11 hours during 24 hours or
on Sundays or holidays shall receive extra compensation.
(id) Extra compensation * * * shall be paid for handling cargo or mate
rial from or to other parties and for new construction.
Except in emergencies caused by sickness or accident, men signing this agree
ment shall not work in fireroom or engine room of steamers other than ffiling
coal bunkers, or as cooks or waiters, or work in canneries as mechanics, or pile
cans, unless extra compensation is paid therefor.
Money so earned to be divided equally among the fishermen and trapmen at
the cannery.
Sec. 4. (e) Fishing boats and crews ordered transferred to fish at another
station than the one originally attached to shall be selected by lot.
(g)
Fishermen and trapmen hired in Alaska shall commence work with the
arrival of the first sailing vessel and cease work with the departure of the last
sailing vessel of their stations.
Sec. 7. (a) On sailing vessels there shall be deducted from the run money of
each fisherman or trapman not able to both steer and go aloft the sum of $20
on the outward voyage to Alaska and $10 on the homeward voyage from
Alaska. Men not able to both steer and go aloft shall not be placed on the
lookout, but shall stand their respective watches and do such other work as they
may be able to do. * * * From every 10 gill-net fishermen aboard such
vessel one man may be detailed to work on nets. * * * All money deducted
on a voyage of a sailing vessel shall be equally divided among the following men
aboard: The netmen, the mates of the vessel, * * * and all fishermen and
trapmen who have agreed at the time of signing the shipping articles to perform
all duties connected with the navigation of the vessel. Watchmen, lamp trim
mers, and water tenders shall not share in money so deducted. In all sailing ves
sels carrying cannery crews the master of the vessel shall assure himself that a
sufficient number of sailors be assigned to his vessel for three watches. Each
cannery crew to handle their vessel.
Sec. 8. (a) Men who stay on vessels while discharging and loading agree to
work all cargo to or from any lighters, steamers, vessels, or canneries belonging
to the_________ , * * * also to moor and clean ship, bend and unbend
sails, and prepare hold for cargo, but all lightering shall be done by the crew of
the station to which cargo is consigned.
116
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Sec. 11. (e) If any gill-net fisherman loses his partner through sickness or
accident, or by partner leaving the boat, and is unable to find another partner,
the superintendent may select a new partner for him. If such partner be
unobtainable, the fisherman so left alone shall be placed at work until a fishing
partner is secured. While not fishing such man shall receive credit for the
average catch of boats fishing for his respective cannery or limit when boats are
on the limit.
, Sec. 13. (d) All parties of the second part while engaged under this contract
shall receive medical and surgical attendance and medical and surgical necessities.
Sec. 15. (a) The_________ through its superintendent or agent in charge,
may at any time discharge any party of the second part for refusal to perform
tide work or for any other just cause, and his wages shall cease at the date of
such discharge.
(6) Any man who is discharged or who quits shall be paid only half-run money
and his other earnings.
Sec. 22. This contract is entered into subject to all present and future laws,
rules, and regulations which may be prescribed by the Government of the United
States, the Secretary of Commerce, or other governmental authority; and if at
any time any of the aforesaid provisions of this contract shall be contrary to any
such rules and regulations, then the said provisions are, so far as they conflict
with such rules or regulations, to be considered abrogated and not binding upon
either of the parties hereto.
STONE-WORKING TRADES
GRANITE CUTTERS
The Granite Cutters’ International Association of America includes
persons cutting, carving, turning, lettering, rubbing, polishing, saw
ing, and setting natural or artificial granite and hard stone on which
granite cutting tools and machines are used, including street work,
statuary work, and tool sharpening. The agreements of the locals
generally provide for a union shop, a 44-hour week, 40 hours dur
ing the four or five winter months, a weekly pay day, a buildingtrade rate higher than that for monumental granite work, double
time for overtime, Sunday, and holidays, but no overtime to be
worked except in case of emergency; one apprentice for five or eight
journeymen, apprentices to serve three years; suitable sheds to be
provided as shelter from sun, rain, or snow and to be heated during
the winter; all dust-raising machines to be provided with suitable
suction devices; air used in pneumatic tools to be heated during
the winter; and some method of arbitration.
The following articles are taken from the agreement of the Barre
(Vt.) branch, April 1 , 1924, effective for four years:
Article VI, Section 2. Within one month from the signing of this agreement
a body of six members to be known as the “betterment committee” shall be
created. Of the committee three members shall be appointed by the employer and
three by the local branch, Granite Cutters1 International Association. It shall
be the duty of this committee to investigate, to assist in the development, the
perfecting, and the introduction of dust-removing devices; to consider insurance
against sickness and improve in every possible way general working conditions.
Sec. 3. Funds for the development and experimental work of this committee
shall be provided in the following manner: One-half of 1 per cent to be deducted
weekly from the wage of each member of the local branch * * *. The em
ployer to set aside each week an amount equal to the total sum derived from the
above source. This fund shall be placed in the hands of the treasurer elected
by a majority of the betterment committee. Should the funds thus provided
be either inadequate or more than sufficient for the desired purpose any neces
sary change may be made by mutual agreement.
Sec. 4. The “betterment committee” shall make a written progress and
financial report on or about April 1 and October 1 of each year to the em
ployer and local branch * * *.
STONE-WORKING TRADES
117
Sec. 5. Should the members of the “betterment committee” be unable to
agree, any subject in controversy shall be submitted to the adjustment com
mittee in accordance with Article XX of this agreement.
A r t . VIII, S ec. 1. No surface-cutting machine other than a baby surfacer to
be operated in cutting plant. All surface-cutting machines shall immediately
cease operations when a breakdown in the air suction or other device occurs, or
when such air suction or other device becomes defective. That workmen shall
be protected from grit from said machines, proper screens or butty boards must
be furnished. Workmen must be at all times amply protected from said
machines.
Sec. 3. It is agreed that the employer shall have the privilege of operating
two shifts on all granite-working machinery. One shift to be the established
working-day and to be paid as per section 1 of Article III of this agreement.
The second shift shall be of seven hours’ duration, and for which all operators
shall receive eight hours’ pay. Should the employer desire to operate two shifts,
which break up the established working-day, these shall each be of seven hours’
duration, and for which workmen shall receive eight hours’pay. When operating
such machinery on regular time the employer shall have the privilege of running
overtime, as provided in Article III, section 3. It is agreed that where a manu
facturer operates two shifts such work shall be sold to concerns which are con
sidered by the adjustment committee in no way to be a detriment to the business.
S e c . 4. (c) The term of apprenticeship on lathes and saws to be two years.
A r t . XI. Awnings shall be furnished for all outdoor work.
A r t . XVII. * * * A party or firm to be a recognized contractor or manu
facturer must own their blocks and tools, rent their own shed room, and
pay their own tool sharpening; they must take a monument complete with the
exception of extremely large stones, statuary, turned work, or sawed work.
A r t . XIX, S e c . 1. All apprentice granite cutters shall be required to serve a
term of three years. Three months’ trial shall be given, after which an agree
ment shall be signed by apprentice and employer which shall be binding on both
parties. Should any contention arise between an apprentice and his employer,
it shall be left to a committee as provided for in Article XX of this agreement.
S e c . 4. Manufacturers shall keep a record of all apprentices in their employ;
such records shall state the date when apprentice leaves, with or without clear
ance lines. * * * Any manufacturer hiring an apprentice who may have
already served part of his apprenticeship elsewhere shall demand and receive a
record of such time served. All such records must be kept on file; also the
time such apprentice may have been employed by him. All of which records
must be open to inspection by the shop steward or adjustment committee of
either association.
A r t . XX, S e c . 1. * * * Any grievance or contention that may arise
during the existence of this agreement as to its performance in good faith by
either party shall be referred to a committee of six members, three to be selected
by the employer and three from the local branch Granite Cutters’ International
Association, which committee shall act as an adjustment committee; and said
committee, failing within five days to agree by two-thirds vote, shall refer the
matter in dispute to an arbitration board of seven, two to be selected by the
employer and two by Granite Cutters’ International Association. In each
instance the two thus appointed shall select one additional member to serve,
and these two members thus appointed shall choose the last or seventh member.
The last three named shall be men of high standing in no way connected with
the granite industry. The arbitration committee thus constituted shall hear
the parties and make an award within 15 days by a majority vote. Pending
such arbitration in reference to the foregoing agreement, * * * there shall
be no strike, lockout, or suspension of work.
S e c . 2. * * * Any grievance or contention that may arise during the
existence of this agreement that is not covered by this agreement shall be refer
red to the adjustment committee, who shall render their decision within five
days; and any agreement that they may come to in the matter under consider
ation shall be accepted by both parties. If the adjustment committee fails to
agree, the matter then shall be referred to the arbitration committee provided
for in section 1 of this article. Pending consideration by this adjustment
committee, it is mutually agreed that the cause of contention be not removed
the first five days, but said contention shall be removed pending consideration
by the arbitration committee; and it is further agreed that pending the consid
eration of any contention by said adjustment and arbitration committee there
shall be no strike, lockout, or suspension of work. The award of arbitration
committee shall be final.
118
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
The following articles are taken from the agreement of the Chicago
branch, March 1 2 , 1923, which is to continue until April 1 , 1926:
S e c t io n 4. * * * Members operating large surface machines shall receive
50 cents extra per day.
Members jobbing outside, exposed to the weather, shall receive 50 cents extra
per day, unless suitably protected from the sun and inclement weather. Mem
bers working beyond the city limits to be paid full time for traveling time, includ
ing all expenses. Members sent to other cities shall be paid half time while
traveling in his own time and full time while traveling during regular working
hours.
Sec. 7. Any member who by reason of old age or sickness is unable
to earn the standard rate shall be allowed to work for such lower rate as a com
mittee of this branch shall decide.
Sec. 8. Piecework or subcontracting shall not be permitted between employer
and employee.
Sec. 20. * * * Drinking water with sanitary bubbler to be provided in
every shed and a suitable place to change clothes to be provided our members.
Sec. 21. Cutting sheds to be heated from whistle to whistle, from 15th of
October until 15th of April. Heat to be turned on half an hour previous to
starting time.
A greem ent governing apprentices
S e c t io n 1. There shall be allowed two apprentices to each full gang of granite
cutters; where six or less men are employed there shall be but one apprentice.
No apprentice tool sharpener to be employed unless there are at least three jour
neyman tool sharpeners employed. No apprentice polisher to be employed un
less there are at least two journeyman polishers employed.
Sec. 2. The term of apprenticeship at granite cutting shall be three years,
at tool sharpening two years, at polishing two years, and no apprentice shall be
admitted to membership in the Granite Cutters* International Association
unless he has completed his full term of apprenticeship.
S ec. 5. Three months* trial shall be given apprentices, after which time
an agreement shall be signed by the apprentice and his employer, which shall be
binding on both parties.
PAVING CUTTERS
The International Paving Cutters’ Union of the United States
and Canada consists of persons cutting stone paving blocks for
street-paving use. There is a short national agreement existing
between the union and the Granite Paving Block Manufacturers’
Association of the United States, effective for two years from April
1 , 1923, which, slightly condensed, reads as follows:
The prices now being paid for cutting paving blocks be continued in force.
* * * If at any time after January 1, 1924, * * * there be a reduction
of at least 10 per cent in the cost of living, as per the index figures issued by
the Massachusetts Commission on the Necessaries of Life, or a material change
in the demand for paving blocks other than exists at the present time, the
Granite Paving Block Manufacturers* Association of the United States (Inc.)
shall, upon 30 days* written notice to the Paving Cutters* Union headquarters,
make a reduction of $2 per thousand on all prices now being paid for cutting
paving blocks except Durax.
The agreements are generally bills of prices, which vary according
to the size of the block, the work being mainly piecework. Wages
are payable weekly, provision is made for a grievance committee, a
44-hour week, tools to be sharpened and kept in good order, and
only union employees to be employed.
The following sections are taken from the agreements of the
Lithonia and Stone Mountain branches, Georgia, May 1 , 1924:
21. It. is hereby stipulated that the paving cutters claim jurisdiction over the
cutting of all flange blocks.
22. None but paving cutters in good standing in the Paving Cutters* Union
shall be employed, nor shall nonunion blocks be purchased.
STONE-WORKING TRADES
119
25. Paving cutters shall be provided with sheds to work in from April 15 to
October 15 of each year. Any firm failing to comply with this section shall
pay 10 per cent additional on the cutting price of blocks.
27. One air drill to be supplied where it is to the benefit of the men and
employer for every three men.
QUARRY WORKERS
The Quarry Workers’ International Union of North America is
composed of all men engaged in quarry work, including the black
smiths, derrick men, engineers, firemen, laborers, riggers of derricks,
and stone-derrick men. The agreements call for daywork entirely,
44 hours to the week, weekly pay days, overtime rate of time and a
half, double time on Sundays and holidays, and some system of
arbitration.
The following articles are taken from the agreement of the Con
cord, N. H., branch, January 18, 1923:
S e c t io n 1. * * * All time worked over and above the eight hours shall
be paid for as time and one-quarter. All men to receive double time for Sundays
and the following holidays: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanks
giving Day, and Christmas.
S e c . 10. None but union men will be employed while this union can furnish
the required amount of help called for by the company. If after reasonable
time has expired and the union is unable to secure the required workmen, no
objection will be made to the company employing nonunion men.
S e c . 14. * * * This agreement covers all engineers employed in or about
the quarries and cutting plants. * * * If the engineers should strike in order
to force recognition of the engineers’ union the members of the Quarry Workers’
Union will not enter into a sympathetic strike to assist said engineers to force
recognition of their union. Furthermore, the quarry workers will do everything
in their power to fill vacancies made by said engineers should they vacate them
by a strike.
S e c . 16. * * * Any grievance or contention that may arise during the
existence of this agreement and bill of prices as to its performance in good faith
by either party shall be referred to a committee consisting of six members, three to
be selected by the employer signing this agreement and three from the Concord
branch of the Quarry Workers^ Union, which committee shall act as an adjust
ment committee; and said committee, failing to agree by a two-thirds vote, shall
refer the matter in dispute to an arbitration board of three, one to be selected by
the employer signing this agreement and one by the Concord branch of the
Quarry Workers’ Union. These two shall agree upon and select a third party
to act with them, and the board thus constituted shall hear the parties and make
an award within 15 days by a majority vote. Such award shall be final. Pend
ing such arbitration in reference to the foregoing bill of prices it is mutually
agreed that there shall be no strike, lockout, or suspension of work.
* * * Any grievance or contention that may arise during the existence of
this agreement and bill of prices that is not covered by this agreement and bill of
prices shall be referred to an adjustment committee, who shall render their decision
within five days, and any agreement that they may come to in the matter under
consideration shall be accepted by both parties. If the adjustment committee
fails to agree, the matter shall then be referred to the executive committee of
the Concord branch of the Quarry Workers’ Union and an equal number
selected by the employer signing this agreement; said joint committee shall give
their decision within five days. Pending consideration by said adjustment
committee it is mutually agreed that the cause of contention be not removed
for the first five days, but such contention shall be removed pending consider
ation by the joint executive committee; and it is further agreed that pending the
consideration of any contention by said adjustment and arbitration committee
there shall be no strike, lockout, or suspension of work.
An article in the agreement of the Milford, Mass., branch, April 1 ,
1923, contains a provision (art. 13) requiring the employer to pro
vide “ a suitable place, properly heated m cola weather, where work
men can go when it is stormy or cold to eat their dinner.”
120
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
STONECUTTERS
The Journeymen Stone Cutters7 Association of North America has
in its membership stone and marble cutters and carvers, tool sharp
eners, and operators of stone, marble, and artificial-stone cutting and
sawing machinery, molders in artificial-stone plants, and all workers
engaged in the fabrication of stpne, in stone setting, and in interior
marine setting. The agreements generally are very short. They
provide for arbitration of disputes, closed shop, and a 44-hour week.
The Chicago branch and the Associated Builders of Chicago have a
joint arbitration agreement dated May 31,1923, which contains pro
visions similar to the one in use by the building trades of Chicago
(see page 18). The working rules include the following:
4. * * * No contractor shall be allowed to have in his employ more than
two apprentices at any one time.
Where the contractor has employed a yearly average of two journeymen, he
will be allowed one apprentice.
Where the contractor has employed a yearly average of five or more.journey
men, he will be allowed two apprentices.
5. * * * Preference in hiring apprentices to be given to sons of members
of the party of the second part.
Contractor discharging an apprentice without just cause will not be allowed
to take another in his place until the time of said boy’s apprenticeship shall
have expired.
Any apprentice who may quit his employer without proper permission will
not be allowed to work in any other yard within the jurisdiction of this agree
ment.
All lost time to be made up at the end of each year.
Apprentices must serve four years in full, but no boy can be kept as an appren
tice for more than 56 months from the date of his starting at the trade.
6. The apprentice, upon completing his ‘indenture, shall report to the joint
arbitration board and shall, after furnishing said board with satisfactory proof
of his competency as a skillful mechanic in his trade, receive a certificate
approved by the board, which shall entitle him to a journeyman card.
TEAMSTERS
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stable
men, and Helpers of America comprises all employed on horses,
harnesses, carriages, or automobiles in stables and garages. The
individual unions in smaller towns are composed of all classes of
workers. In the larger cities the individual locals generally contain
members doing kindred work only, extending sometimes to persons
whose work is only loosely connected with that of teamsters, as, for
example, lumber loaders, express movers, furniture packers, news
paper deliverers, ice cutters, cold-storage men, platform men, and
butter and egg packers. The agreements generally call for employ
ment of union men only, an arbitration plan, increased rates for over
time, and wages varying according to the character of the work done,
the size of the truck, or the number of horses driven.
The following extracts are taken from the agreement of Local No.
313 with the Truck Owners7 Association of Tacoma, Wash., April 1 ,
1923:
S e c t io n 6. Eight hours to constitute a day’s work. Time to be designated
by employer when the men are to report at the barn or garage.
The first hour or fraction thereof, either before or after the regular eight-hour
day, shall be paid for at the rate of straight time, thereafter time and one-half
for all overtime.
Double time for all holidays, and Sunday work time and one-half.
TEAMSTERS
121
Firms owning teams may employ men not members of Local 313 for stable
work if they see fit, or members of the local by special agreement.
S e c . 7. All disputed claims for overtime must be submitted to and approved
by the steward of each barn or garage, and the matter of overtime so regulated
that no injustice may be done to employer or employee. The union shall have
the right to appoint the steward in each barn or garage.
S e c . 8. * * * Any member of the association, when notified by the secre
tary-treasurer of Local 313, shall withhold dues, fines, and assessments levied
against a workman by the union from their wages.
The agreement of Bakery Salesmen’s Local No. 335, Kansas City,
May 1 , 1923, contains the following:
A r t ic l e 2. The minimum scale of wages for bread routes shall be 11 per cent
on first $300 and 8 per cent on all sales thereafter, with a guaranty of $25 per
week. The minimum scale of wages for cake routes shall be 10 per cent on all
sales, with a guaranty of $25 per week. Salesmen to receive commission on all
goods delivered on his route at any time. This does not include Sundays
and holidays. No two salesmen from the same shop to serve the same customers.
Employer cutting salesman’s route will guarantee salesman the same wages as at
time of cut for six consecutive weeks. Master baker to give salesman a daily
report of sales each day and a weekly report at the end of each week.
A r t . 3. Eight hours constitutes a day’s work, to be completed in 10 consecu
tive hours, six days to be a week’s work. No salesman or extra man to work on
Sunday or the first Monday in September, known as Labor Day.
Salesmen taking care of horses, wagons, or trucks in any way except on route
to be paid $2 per time. No salesman to pay for loading of his wagon or truck,
nor will he be permitted to wrap or shuck bread, and not to report at the bakery
earlier than one hour before leaving time.
A r t . . Where there is a strike or lockout it will not be considered a violation
of this contract for salesmen to refuse to serve the same.
6
The following provisions are taken from the Ice Wagon Drivers
and Helpers’ Local No. 519, San Francisco, June 25, 1923:
A r t ic l e 5. Drivers and helpers will be required to do their regular work, with
out additional pay, on the first Sunday in September.
A r t . 6. When drivers or helpers are required to do any work on Sundays
* * * or holidays * * * they shall be paid for a full day’s work at regu
lar time, provided they work less than five hours; and if they work to exceed
five hours they shall be paid for a full day at time and one-half.
A r t . 7. On days preceding holidays drivers and helpers shall deliver a two
days’ supply of ice to their regular trade, regardless of the time it requires; but
any other work done after the fixed hours, as set forth in article 9, shall be
deemed overtime.
A r t . 9. Working hours: Nine hours per day * * * with “ give and take ”
one-quarter hour at quitting time; one hour thereof to be allowed for lunch;
members of the union must have breakfast before reporting.
A r t . 16. Whenever any member of the union is required by the company to
give a'bond for the faithful discharge of his duties, or to render proper accounts,
or to indemnify the company against any accident or otherwise, all costs of such
bonds to be paid by the company.
A r t . 17. Overtime to be signed by drivers and helpers when they have finished
their work and settled their accounts, provided no driver shall be allowed more
than 20 minutes for settling his accounts.
A r t . 18. * * * Drivers and helpers may go home when they have finished
serving their trade, settling their accounts, and they learn from the foreman that
there is no further handling of ice to be done, with the mutual understanding
that no driver or helper shall be called upon to handle ice in the ice houses.
The following provisions are taken from Coal Teamsters’ Local No.
, Boston, April 14, 1923:
68
A r t ic l e II. Eight hours shall be a day’s work excepting on Saturdays from
April 1 to September 30, 1923, inclusive, when work will end practically at 12
noon.
A r t . Ill, S e c . 1. * * * Employees when required to work holidays shall
be paid an additional day’s pay at the regular weekly rate; i. e., two days’
pay.
122
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Wharfmen shall be paid wharfmen’s pay for all kinds of work except while
employed as carmen, wheelers, or trimmers while discharging coal from vessels.
Sec. 2. Pay for overtime of teamsters, chauffeurs, and helpers shall be based
on 15-minute periods beginning at 5.15 p. m. on week days, excepting that on
Saturdays from April 14, 1923, to September 30, 1923, overtime shall begin at
12.15 p. m.
Employees will be paid at the regular weekly rate of wages until 5 p. m. on
week days, except on Saturdays as above specified, when the regular rate of
wages will be paid until 12 noon.
Between 5 p. m. and 7 a. m. on week days all work shall be paid for at the
rate of time and a half, except for stevedoring work as specified above. Pay
for wharfmen, teamsters, and chauffeurs on Saturdays from April 14, 1923, to
September 30, 1923, shall be at the rate of time and a half beginning at
12 noon.
Art. IV. The holidays * * * shall not be deducted from the weekly
wages of the teamsters, chauffeurs, and wharfmen, provided they are regular
employees and have worked the two previous days to and the succeeding day
after the holiday during the pay-roll week in which the holiday occurs.
TELEGRAPHERS, COMMERCIAL
The Commercial Telegraphers’ Union of America embraces all
branches of the telegraph service except that on railroads and makes
agreements with the various presses. Extracts from the three-year
agreement made with the United Press, International News Service,
August 8, 1924, follow:
First. That on and after July 1, 1924, the employer agrees to employ in its
day, night, Saturday-night Morse, and automatic leased-wire service only teleg
raphers or automatic operators who are members of the union; provided said
union can furnish competent Morse and automatic operators.
Second. The right of seniority shall rule in all cases, ability and fitness being
equal. Seniority shall rank from the date of last regular employment. Seniority
shall not be retained for more than three months, on leave of absence, except in
cases of illness or military service.
Third. Eight hours, including 30-minute lunch period and two 10-minute rest
periods, shall constitute a day’s work on all circuits; six days or six nights shall
constitute a week.
Fourth. Operators’ grievances shall be submitted to the district chief oper
ator within 48 hours with the right of appeal * * * to the president or editormanager of the employer. N o operator shall, without just cause, be transferred,
suspended, or discharged. Any operator feeling himself unfairly transferred*
suspended, or discharged, and disproving any charge made against him, shall be
reinstated without prejudice and shall be reimbursed for all loss of pay and any
reasonable and necessary expense which he m ay have incurred in proving ids
innocence.
Fifth. * * * Any operator desiring to resign shall give the district chief oper
ator at least 10 days’ notice of his intention or be fined or suspended, or both, by
the union, such fine to be used to reimburse any reasonable expense incurred by
the employer in covering the positions during the unfulfilled term of notice, and
the employer agrees that any operator shall be given 10 days’ notice of any sus
pension of service or 10 days’ equivalent in money, or be transferred, railroad
or boat fare to be paid by the employer.
Seventh. In any difference of opinion as to the rights of the parties to this
agreement the question in dispute shall be submitted to arbitration, the decision
of the arbitrators to be final and binding on both sides. Arbitrators shall con
sist of one person selected by the employer, one selected by the union, and the
third selected by the first-named two.
Eighth. Holidays.— Day: A full day’s pay for four hours’ work up to noon
or for four hours’ work beginning at noon on Christmas and the Fourth of July,
and double time for additional time.
Night: Double time shall be paid for not more than two of the following
national legal holidays during the contract year to full-time night Morse and
automatic operators: New Year’s D ay, Fourth of July, Labor D ay, Thanks
giving Day, and Christmas, to be mutually agreed upon by the chief or division
chief operator and the telegrapher.
THEATRICAL
stag e e m p l o y e e s
123
Ninth. Two weeks’ vacation, with full pay, to be taken between May 1 and
October 1, shall be granted annually to all leased-wire and machine operators,
except Saturday-night operators, of one year’s continuous service.
Tenth. * * * If at the end of the second year of this contract an abnor
mal economic situation exists creating a major economic dislocation * * *
the men and the company reserve the right to reopen this contract, in the usual
manner provided for the termination of contracts, for revision in harmony with
economic conditions. * * * In case there is any dispute as to the right of
either party to reopen this contract under this clause the issue will be submitted
to the Secretary of the Department of Labor or his appointees, whose decision
will h e final and binding.
Twelfth. It is agreed that in the case of staff reductions or the abolition of
any position the operator vacating such position shall have the right to the posi
tion held by the junior operator in his chief operator’s district, providing that
operators transferring from one chief operator’s district to another shall retain
their seniority. Any operator desiring to transfer to another district or to an
other position in the same district shall file with the circuit chairman $nd chief
operators of his own district and the district or districts to which he desires trans
fer, general chairman and superintendent of telegraph, duplicate copies of a stand
ing bid or bids, not to exceed five in number, for the positions desired. Any
operator desiring transfer from one chief operator’s district to another shall have
the same seniority rights as if he were already in the district to which he desires
transfer. It is agreed that in the event of the position for which the bid is made
becoming open the vacancy shall be offered to the bidder, by message on the
wire, whose seniority entitles him to first consideration. It is further agreed
that his transfer shall be contingent upon the ability of the union to supply
competent operator to fill his position.
Fifteenth. Arbitrators shall consist of two persons, selected one by the union
and one by the employer. If the two persons thus selected fail to reach an agree
ment within 48 hours, they shall select a third person, the majority to decide the
points at issue. Should the representatives of the union and the employer fail
to select a third arbitrator within 48 hours after having failed to agree upon the
points at issue, the third arbitrator shall be selected by the United States Depart
ment of Labor. The decision of the arbitrators having been announced, both
parties bind themselves to accept or reject the award within five days of its
simultaneous announcement to the union and to the employer.
THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and
Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada
is formed of locals of the two above-named crafts. Only in the smaller
towns are the two classes combined into one union. In the larger
cities there is generally one local of each class.
The national organization provides two forms of contract, one for
individual stage employees and one for individual moving-picture
operators, for use of members of the union contracting with traveling
organizations, and also issues a form of contract which is generally
incorporated into the agreement made by the locals.
The last-named form contains, among other things, the following
provisions:
1. The party of the first part agrees to employ only moving-picture-machine
operators supplied by the party of the second part.
3. The party of the first part agrees that when desiring to dispose of the
services of a member of the party of the second part who is employed on weekly
salary he will give such member two weeks’ notice or pay two weeks’ salary
in lieu thereof.
4. The party of the first part shall have the right to make such rules and
regulations as may be deemed necessary for the management of the performances,
and the party of the second part agrees that its members shall obey all rules and
directions of any authorized representatives of the party of the first part, in so
far as they do not conflict with the terms of this contract, with by-laws and
working rules now in force of the party of the second part, or with the rules and
124
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND' 1924
regulations of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and
Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada.
6. The party of the second part agrees that such of its members as are
employed by the week shall give the party of the first part two weeks’ notice in
case they desire to leave the employment of the party of the first part.
Local agreements are generally made with individual theaters.
The different unions classify places of amusement differently, by
location, by seating capacity, by number of hours open daily, by
number of days open weekly, by price of admission, whether openair, vaudeville, combination, stock, or mixed theaters. All possible
variations are covered.
Generally a projectionist is not to work longer than 6 or 7 hours
a day. Theaters open for 10 or 12 hours a day employ two projec
tionists, and if open for a longer period in one day they employ three.
Provision is usually made for the employment of a relief operator.
Wages are by the week and generally six days constitute a working
week; special rates are made for all overtime work, Sunday work,
or midnight entertainments. Provision is always made for extra
performances on special occasions. Operators are not to be required
to carry films. The stage employees include carpenters, electricians,
mechanics, and property men.
The agreements usually date from September 1, being effective for
one year.
The following extracts are taken from the agreement of Local No.
170, motion-picture-machine operators, Kansas City, 1924-25:
The party of the first part agrees:
First. To employ none other than union operators for the operation of any
machine used for the projection of moving or motion pictures, stereopticon
views, or both, in th e----------------theater, a t___________
Second. That the operator be allowed to display at all performances union
emblems approved by our international body.
Party of the second part agrees:
First. To furnish competent, experienced, sober, and reliable operators to the
party of the first part at the earliest possible moment after being notified of a
vacancy existing or to come into his or her establishment.
Third. To make frequent inspections of the working and the apparatus for
which its members are directly responsible, and to use every means within its
power to keep the same up to the highest standard of efficiency.
Sixth. Party of the second part agrees to pay up to and including $150 indem
nity in case of fire:
(а ) At no time will this local be held responsible for fire unless the projection
booth is equipped with metal film containers and fire extinguishers approved by
the National Board of Fire Underwriters.
(б ) Neither will this local be responsible in case of fire when equipment does
not contain fire shields and all other necessary safety devices as required by the
Board of Fire Underwriters.
(/) The local will not be responsible for film, either in case of fire or other
wise damaged, when film is being projected faster than 10 minutes per reel, reel
not to exceed 1,000 feet.
Eighth. In any theater where the schedule is so arranged that it can not be
properly manipulated by one man enough extra men shall be employed to prop
erly present the show.
The number of men shall be fixed by the executive board of this local.
chedvle of w ages .— * * * All time over eight hours in any one day shall
be construed as overtime.
Overtime shall be only on the hourly basis; fractions of an hour shall be one
whole hour and computed at one and one-half times the regular wages.
Certain provisions of the agreement of Local No. 181, Baltimore,
1923-24, are given below:
UPHOLSTERERS
125
Regular operators may lay off one full day each week, providing they furnish
union substitute at no extra expense to the management.
Six week days shall constitute a week. Sundays double time, Christmas,
New Year’s, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Labor Day, time and one-half.
The following extracts are taken from the agreement of Local No.
2, stage employees, Chicago, September 1, 1923:
All stage hands and flymen to report for work one-half hour before curtain,
with the exception of the property department, who shall report three-quarters
of an hour before curtain.
Their duties shall consist o f setting and striking all scenes of said regular
performance. All other labor performed shall be paid for at the regular scale.
No member of this local shall donate his service for any benefit without the
sanction of the local.
For any performance running after 11.30 p. m. all employees shall receive
overtime at the rate of single time up to 12 o ’clock midnight; after 12 midnight
the double-time rate shall prevail.
In theaters where acts are changed after the matinee, or any extra work is
done, between the hours of 5 and 7 p. m.—namely, the supper hour—all men
shall receive double time for such labor. This will include taking in and put
ting out extra acts or changing scenery, rehanging a show in any theater or any
extra work outside of the regular current booked attraction.
All men reporting for work at the call of the carpenter, property man, or
electrician, and through no fault of theirs there is no performance shall be paid
for said performance.
* * * All time lost in waiting for cars or transfer company, men to be paid
as per regular scale. All men handling scenery, properties, or electrical appa
ratus, or baggage in and out of car or in and out of theater must be members
of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
* * * When a carpenter, electrician, property man, or other person bor
rows any article or articles for use in a theater he or they are acting as an
agent for the management, and as such are not liable for loss by fire, theft, or
other unforeseen causes, negligence or willful abuse excepted.
The extracts given below are taken from the agreement of Local
No. 16, San Francisco, September 1, 1924:
* * * The maximum number of hours worked per week shall not exceed
48 hours.
Every hour worked between 12 o’clock midnight and 8 a. m. to count as two
hours on the 48-hour week.
Any tim e in excess of the 48 hours shall be paid for at the rate governing
broken time.
Four hours to be allowed as a performance; any time in excess of the four hours
to be paid for at the rate of 25 cents for each quarter of the hour used.
All employees working at a theater must report 30 minutes before the
performance.
UPHOLSTERERS
The Upholsterers’ International Union of North America accepts
into membership upholsterers of all kinds of furniture, vehicles, and
cushions; hangers of draperies, curtains, window shades, and awnings;
linoleum and carpet cutters and layers; mattress and box-spring
makers, etc. Generally all are grouped into one union, though in a
few cities the individual branches are separately grouped. The agree
ments are generally made with individual proprietors, and provide
for a union shop, 44-hour week, overtime rate of time and a half
(frequently even double time) and for Sundays and holidays double
time, one apprentice to each four or five journeymen, and apprentice
ship period of from three to five years. The following provisions are
taken from the agreement of Local No. 76, New York City, September
1, 1923.
46976°— 25----- 9
126
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Article 7. Supervising foremen shall not be required to be members of the
union. Foremen who do any work classified as journeymen’s work * * *
shall be required to be members of the union and shall receive wages not less than
the minimum scale fixed by the organization, and they shall work the same
number of hours as the other members of the union.
No owner, partner, or stockholder shall be permitted to do work classified as
upholstery work.
Art. 8. All new materials are to be used in the manufacture of upholstered
furniture, and employers must maintain sanitary conditions in the workrooms.
Art. 10. All agreements between the firms and individuals in effect at the date
of the signing of this agreement shall be null and void, and no agreement whatso
ever shall be entered into between employers and their employees as individuals
from now on unless the same has been approved by Local No. 76.
A r t . 11. * * * No bonus will be offered by the employers or paid to their
employees other than their weekly wages. No employer shall hold back or in
any manner retain a portion of wages of any employee for any purpose whatso
ever, and all moneys belonging to members of this union now held by employers
for any purpose whatsoever shall be returned to them when this agreement is
accepted by the employer. And it is further agreed that no men shall ask or
receive a loan or money from their em ployer..
The agreement of Local No. 77, Philadelphia, September 1, 1924,
includes among its provisions the following:
3. The system of work in the shop shall be one of the two, either piecework or
week work. There shall not exist two systems in one shop.
4. Forty hours shall constitute a week’s work.
6. One apprentice shall be allowed to every eight journeymen.
8. Every apprentice shall join the union at the end of the first year of his
apprenticeship.
11. No sewing shall be done by the upholsterers.
Division of available work is provided for in the agreement of
Local No. 44, New York City, September 4, 1923, as follows:
During the dull season work shall be divided as equally as possible between
the men employed at the expiration of the busy season. The custom now in
effect in a few shops of borrowing men from each other is unfair to members
who are without employment and should be discontinued.
* * * When there is not sufficient work for the employment of all our
members, then the hours of labor shall be reduced to 40 hours per week, from
January 1 to September 1, in order to provide employment for a larger number
of workers.
In order for a firm to be designated as a union firm and published as such in
the directory of union shops issued by Local No. 44, the owner of the establish
ment may only cut furniture covers, wall hangings, draperies, curtains, and
shades.
If there is more than one partner or stockholder in the firm, they shall give
the name of the partner or stockholder whom they wish to perform the work
above designated to the union, who shall decide whether the man in question
shall be permitted to perform this work.
WALL-PAPER CRAFTS
The locals of the United Wall Paper Crafts of North America make
agreements with employers on forms furnished by the national organi
zation. There are three of these—covering (1) printers and color
mixers in factories, (2) print cutters in factories, and (3) print cut
ters employed in shops of jobbers—dated August 1, 1923, and effec
tive for three years. In tne first two agreements the manufacturer
is called the party of the first part, the local the party of the second
part, and the individual member of the local the party of the third
part. Extracts from these agreements with the machine printers and
color mixers follow:
WALL-PAPER CRAFTS
127
Article I. * * * The parties of the third part shall be entitled to a vaca
tion of two consecutive weeks between July 15 and September 15 in each year
covered by this agreement, such vacation period to be designated by the party
of the first part and for which no wages will be paid.
Art. II. The manufacturer guarantees to the machine printers and color mixers * * * for fhe first period 48 weeks' employment, 43 weeks at full pay
and half pay for any time that subscribers of the parties of the third part should
be idle up to 48 weeks. For the second and third periods 50 weeks' employment,
45 weeks at full pay, and half pay for any time that subscribers of the parties
of the third part should be idle up to 50 weeks.
Art. I ll, Sec. A. * * * Fifty hours shall constitute a week’s work, that is,
five days of nine hours each and one day (Saturday) of five hours.
, Sec. B. In the event of it being necessary for the manufacturer to operate
his plant in excess of the hours provided for in Section A, it is agreed that all
such overtime shall be paid for at the rate of time and one-half. * * *
On * * * six * * * holidays there shall be no work performed and for
which no wages shall be paid.
Sec. C. * * * There shall be no overtime work performed on Wednesdays
or Saturdays, and should it be necessary for the manufacturer to operate his
mill at night, or with a double force, this work shall be paid for at the rate of
time and one-half time. * * * Should a holiday fall on either Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday, overtime work may be performed on the Wednes
day of the same week at the option of the manufacturer, provided that not over
12 hours' overtime shall be worked in any one week. No overtime shall be
performed in the months of June, July, and August unless the factory shall have
lost time because of disability during the said three months.
Art. IV, Sec. B. * * * At least one boy shall be employed on a printing
machine at all times, or one man for two printing machines, and two boys or
one man while changing, and one helper to each color mixer, and * * * a
color mixer for three printing machines for every seven grounding machines or
blotchers, but when there is an additional printing or grounding machine the
color mixer or mixers shall mix for the extra machine, but for more than an
additional machine another color mixer shall be employed. * * * Any avail
able help may be employed in printing top prints as finishing process, but in
the case of printing backgrounds apprentices or journeymen are to be employed
for that purpose. Tandem background machines to be under the control of
the printer operating the printing machine. There shall be one color mixer
apprentice for every four journeymen and one printer apprentice for every six
journeymen. There shall be provided two grounding machines or a printing
machine for the color mixer apprentice. There shall be a printing machine for
the machine printer apprentice. * * * A six-machine plant shall be entitled
to a machine printer apprentice. * * * Apprentices serving time shall not
be disturbed by reason of reduction in number of printers or color mixers
employed.
Art. V, Sec. B. * * * In the event of any disagreement between the
party of the first part and parties of the third part, * * * the grievance
shall be submitted first to a committee made up of the parties of the first part
and third part herein. If the grievance so submitted * * * can not be
amicably adjusted immediately between them, or in case the parties of the third
part desire or claim the right to submit the question to their national organi
zation, then the decision of the party of the first part shall prevail and work
shall continue until such matter is either adjusted between the parties to this
contract themselves or until the dispute shall be decided by the national organi
zation for the parties of the third part.
Art. VII. * * * In the event of serious injury to or destruction of the
factory or premises of the manufacturer by fire, windstorm, or other misfortune,
or in case of the inability of the manufacturer, by reason of the war, govern
mental embargoes, or other official restraint of transportation, or strike or
strikes in the coal mines or on the railroads, or any other strike that may affect
the successful operation of the factory or its ability to secure coal or other mate
rial or supplies, or ship goods, or a strike of the minor help, to continue the
operation of their printing machines, * * * this agreement shall be sus
pended during the continuance of such disability, but shall be revived as soon
as such cause or causes are removed. In case of strike of minor help this sus
pension shall not extend beyond two weeks. Should any of the above reasons
obtain, the manufacturer agrees to pay the men signatory to this agreement 50
per cent of their wages for time lost as the consequence of their inability to
operate on account of such specified cause or causes for a period of two weeks.
128
TRADE AGREEMENTS, 1923 AND 1924
Art. IX . * * * The party of the first part hereto shall not, and will not,
place any orders for the manufacture of goods with any other than a union
factory.
Art. X III. The party of the first part will not require the party of the third
part to work in a factory where nonunion print cutters are employed.
The preceding provisions are also contained in the agreement of
print cutters. Other provisions are:
Article IV.‘ The manufacturer * * * agrees to employ only pr'nt cut
ters affiliated with the United Wall Paper Crafts of North America, who are in
good standing, on such work as may be performed in the manufacturer’s shop;
but no restriction is placed on the manufacturer as to the use of foreign or non
union cut rollers; and the print cutters, * * * and the parties of the third
part * * * further agree to mend or repair any blocks which the manufac
turer may desire to have repaired, whether such blocks are of union, nonunion,
foreign, or domestic manufacture.
Art. VI, Sec. B. * * * In the event of serious injury to or destruction
of the factory or premises of the manufacturer by fire, windstorm, or other mis
fortune creating a shortage in materials, making manufacturing prohibitory,
* * * this agreement shall be suspended during the continuance of the dis
ability of the manufacturer to operate on account of such injury or destruction
to property.
The agreement of print cutters in jobbing shops contains the pro
visions below:
Fifth. * * * A week’s work shall consist of 44 hours, * * * and
there shall positively be no work done on Sunday.
Sixth. All time worked in excess of the hours above specified shall be paid
for at the rate of time and one-half.
The party of the second part also agrees not to do any work themselves in
any of the branches of print cutting after 12 o’clock noon on Saturdays, except
when absolutely necessary to get out shipments during the months of July and
August, and positively no Sunday work at all.
Tenth. The party of the second part agrees that all contracts for work with
manufacturers shall contain a provision that in case of disagreement arising be
tween the manufacturer and the executive board of the United Wall Paper
Crafts of North America * * * the said party of the second part shall not
be liable under this agreement, but that said party of the second part shall be
privileged to return all work in said party’s possession under said contract to
the manufacturer, if the dispute between said manufacturer and said general
executive board or the party of the first part can not be settled within one week
by negotiation or other amicable means.
Twelfth. * * * In event of disagreement between the party of the second
part and the members of the party of the first part there will be no strike
or lockout in the first instance. All disagreements shall be submitted to the
general executive board of the United Wall Paper Crafts of North America for
adjustment. The decision of said board must be made within one week; in the
meantime the conditions objected, to shall be eliminated. When such dispute is
determined * * * the party against whom the decision is made shall pay
the expenses incident to the adjustment of said agreement.
Eighteenth. For a violation of any of the provisions of this agreement by the
party of the second part said party shall be required to pay and will immediately
become indebted to the party of the first part the sum of $500, said sum to be
in lieu of and in liquidation of damages resulting to the party of the first part
because of such violation.
Nineteenth. * * * In case there is a violation of this * * * or other
agreement by either party, then this agreement shall in its entirety and in each
and every of its terms become null and void from date of such violation except
as to the payment of liquidated damages, as herein specified.
SERIES OF BULLETINS PUBLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
The publication o f the annual and special reports and o f the bim onthly bulletin was
discontinued in July, 1912, and since th a t tim e a bulletin has been published a t irregular
intervals. Each num ber contains m atter devoted to one o f a series o f general subjects.
These bulletins are num bered consecutively, beginning w ith No, 101, and up to No, 236*
they also carry consecutive num bers under each series. Beginning w ith No, 237 the serial
num bering has been discontinued, A list o f the series is given below. Under each is
grouped all the bulletins which contain material relating to the subject m atter o f that
series. A list o f the reports and bulletins o f the Bureau issued prior to July 1, 1912, will
be furnished on application. The bulletins m arked th u s * are ou t o f print.
Wholesale Prices.
*Bul. 114. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1912.
Bui. 149. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1913.
*Bul. 173. Index numbers of wholesale prices in the United States and foreign countries
*Bul. 181. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1914.
*Bul. 200. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1915.
*Bul. 226. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1916.
Bui. 269. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1919.
Bui. 284. Index numbers of wholesale prices in the United States and foreign countries. [Revision
of Bulletin No. 173.]
Bui. 296. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1920.
Bui. 320. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1921
Bui. 335. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1922.
Bui. 367. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1923
Bui. 390. Wholesale prices, 1890 to 1924. (In press.)
Retail Prices and Cost of Living.
*Bul. 105. Retail prices, 1890 to 1911: Part I.
Retail prices, 1890 to 1911: Part II—General tables
*Bul. 106. Retail prices, 1890 to June, 1912: Part I
Retail prices, 1890 to June, 1912: Part II—General tables.
♦ Bui. 108. Retail prices, 1890 to August, 1912
*Bul. 110. Retail prices, 1890 to October, 1912.
*Bul. 113. Retail prices, 1890 to December, 1912.
♦ Bui. 115. Retail prices, 1890 to February, 1913.
*Bul. 121. Sugar prices, from refiner to consumer.
Bui. 125. Retail prices, 1890 to April, 1913.
*Bul. 130. Wheat and flour prices, from farmer to consumer.
Bui. 132. Retail prices, 1890 to June, 1913.
Bui. 136. Retail prices, 1890 to August, 1913.
*Bul. 138. Retail prices, 1890 to October, 1913.
*Bul. 140. Retail prices, 1890 to December, 1913
Bui. 156. Retail prices, 1907 to December, 1914.
Bui. 164. Butter prices, from producer to consumer.
Bui. 170. Foreign food prices as affected by the war.
Bui. 184. Retail prices, 1907 to June, 1915.
Bui. 197. Retail prices, 1907 to December, 1915.
Bui. 228. Retail prices, 1907 to December, 1916
Bui. 270. Retail prices, 1913 to 1919.
Bui 300. Retail prices, 1913 to 1920
Bui. 315. Retail prices, 1913 to 1921.
Bui. 334. Retail prices, 1913 to 1922.
Bui. 357. Cost of living in the United States.
Bui. 366. Retail prices, 1913 to December, 1923.
Bui. 369. The use of cost-of-living figures in wage adjustments. (In press.)
I
Wages and Honrs of Labor*
Bui. 116. Hours, earnings, and duration of employment of wage-earning women in selected Industries
in the District of Columbia.
*Bul. 118. Ten-hour maximum working-day for women and young persons.
Bui. 119. Working hours of women in the pea canneries of Wisconsin.
*Bul. 128. Wages and hours of labor in the cotton, woolen, and silk industries, 1890 to 1912.
•Bui. 129. Wages and hours of labor in the lumber, millwork, and furniture industries, 1890 to 1912.
*Bul. 131. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, 1907 to 1912.
*Bul. 134. Wages and hours of labor in the boot and shoe and hosiery and knit goods industries, 1890
to 1912.
*Bul. 135. Wages and hours of labor in the cigar and clothing industries, 1911 and 1912.
Bui. 137. Wages and hours of labor in the building and repairing of steam railroad cars, 1890 to 1912.
Bui. 143. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15,1913.
*Bul. 146. Wages and regularity of employment and standardization of piece rates in the dress and
waist industry of New York City.
•Bui. 147. Wages and regularity of employment in the cloak, suit, and skirt industry.
•Bui. 150. Wages and hours of labor in the cotton, woolen, and silk industries, 1907 to 1913.
•Bill. 151. Wages and hours of labor in the iron and steel industry in the United States, 1907 to 1912.
Bui. 153. Wages and hours of labor in the lumber, millwork, and furniture industries, 1907 to 1913.
•Bui. 154. Wages and horns of labor in the boot and shoe and hosiery and underwear industries, 1907
to 1913.
Bui. 160. Hours, earnings, and conditions of labor of women in Indiana mercantile establishments
and garment factories.
Bui. 161. Wages and hours of labor in the clothing and cigar industries, 1911 to 1913.
Bui. 163. Wages and hours of labor in the building and repairing of steam railroad cars, 1907 to 1913.
Bui. 168. Wages and hours of labor in the iron and steel industry, 1907 to 1918.
*Bul. 171. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 1,1914.
Bui. 177. Wages and hours of labor in the hosiery and underwear industries, 1907 to 1914.
Bui. 178. Wages and hours of labor m the boot and shoe industry, 1907 to 1914.
Bui. 187. Wages and hours of labor in the men’s clothing industry, 1911 to 1914.
•Bui. 190. Wages and hours of labor in the cotton, woolen, and silk industries, 1907 to 1914.
•Bui. 194. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 1,1915.
Bui. 204. Street railway employment in the United States.
Bui. 214. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15,1916.
Bui. 218. Wages and hours of labor in the iron and steel industry, 1907 to 1915.
Bui. 221. Hours, fatigue, and health in British munition factories.
Bui. 225. Wages and hours of labor in the lumber, millwork, and furniture industries, 1916.
Bui. 232. Wages and hours of labor in the boot and shoe industry, 1907 to 1916.
Bui. 238. Wages and hours of labor in woolen and worsted goods manufacturing, 1916.
Bui. 239. Wages and hours of labor in cotton goods manufacturing and finishing, 1916.
Bui. 245. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15,1917.
Bui. 252. Wages and hours of labor in the slaughtering and meat-packing industry, 1917.
Bui. 259. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15,1918.
Bui. 260. Wages and hours of labor in the boot and shoe industry, 1907 to 1918.
Bui. 261. Wages and hours of labor in woolen and worsted goods manufacturing, 1918.
Bui. 262. Wages and hours of labor in cotton goods manufacturing and finishing, 1918.
Bui. 265. Industrial survey in selected industries in the United States, 1919.
•Bui. 274. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15,1919.
Bui. 278. Wages and hours of labor in the boot and shoe industry, 1907 to 1920.
Bui. 279. Hours and earnings in anthracite and bituminous coal mining, 1919 and 1920.
Bui. 286. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15, 1920.
Bui. 288. Wages and hours of labor in cotton goods manufacturing, 1920.
Bui. 289. Wages and hours of labor in woolen and worsted goods manufacturing, 1920.
Bui. 294. Wages and hours of labor in the slaughtering and meat-packing industry in 1921.
Bui. 297. Wages and hours of labor in the petroleum industry, 1920.
Bui. 302. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15,1921.
Bui. 305. Wages and hours of labor in the iron and steel industry, 1907 to 1920.
Bui. 316. Hours and earnings in anthracite and bituminous coal mining—anthracite, January, 1922;
bituminous, winter of 1921-22.
Bui. 317. Wages and hours of labor in lumber manufacturing, 1921.
Bui. 324. Wages and hours of labor in the boot and shoe industry, 1907 to 1922.
Bui. 325. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15, 1922.
Bui. 327. Wages and hours of labor in woolen and worsted goods manufacturing, 1922.
Bui. 328. Wages and hours of labor in hosiery and underwear industry, 1922.
Bui. 329. Wages and hours of labor in the men’s clothing industry, 1922.
Bui. 345. Wages and hours of labor in cotton-goods manufacturing, 1922.
n
Wages and Hours of Labor—Continued.
Bui. 348. Wages and hours of labor in the automobile industry, 1922.
Bui. 363. Wages and hours of labor in the iron and steel industry, 1907 to 1922.
Bui. 364. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15,1923.
Bui. 366. Productivity costs in common-brick industry, 1922-23.
Bui. 368. Wages and hours of labor in the automobile-tire industry, 1923.
Bui. 360. Time and labor costs in manufacturing 1(M) pairs of shoes.
Bui. 362. Wages and hours of labor in foundries and machine shops, 1923.
Bui. 363. Wages and hours of labor in lumber manufacturing, 1923.
Bui. 366. Wages and hours of labor in the paper and pulp industry, 1923.
Bui. 371. Wages and hours of labor in cotton-goods manufacturing, 1924.
Bui. 373. Wages and hours of labor in slaughtering and meat packing, 1923.
Bui. 374. Wages and hours of labor in the boot and shoe industry, 1907 to 1924.
Bui. 376. Wages and hours of labor in hosiery and underwear industry, 1907 to 1924.
Bui. 377. Wages and hours of labor in woolen and worsted goods manufacturing, 1924.
Bui. 381. Wages and hours of labor in the iron and steel industry, 1907 to 1924.
Bui. 387. Wages and hours of labor in the men’s clothing industry, 1911 to 1924.
Bui. 388. Union scale of wages and hours of labor, May 15, 1924.
Employment and Unemployment*
•Bui. 109. Statistics of unemployment and the work of employment offices.
Bui. 116. Hours, earnings, and duration of employment of wage-earning women in selected industries
in the District of Columbia.
Bui. 172. Unemployment in New York City, N. Y.
•Bui. 182. Unemployment among women in department and other retail stores of Boston, Mass.
•Bui. 183. Regularity of employment in the women’s ready-to-wear garment industries.
Bui. 192. Proceedings of the American Association of Public Employment Offices.
•Bui. 195. Unemployment in the United States.
Bui. 196. Proceedings of the Employment Managers’ Conference held at Minneapolis, Minn., Janu
ary, 1916.
♦ Bui. 202. Proceedings of the conference of Employment Managers’ Association of Boston, Mass.,
held May 10,1916.
Bui. 206. The British system of labor exchanges.
Bui. 220. Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Meeting of the American Association of Public Employ
ment Offices, Buffalo, N. Y., July 20 and 21,1916.
Bui. 223. Employment of women and juveniles in Great Britain during the war.
•Bui. 227. Proceedings of the Employment Managers’ Conference, Philadelphia, Pa., April 2 and 3,1917.
Bui. 235. Employment system of the Lake Carriers’ Association.
•Bui. 241. Public employment offices in the United States.
Bui. 247. Proceedings of Employment Managers’ Conference, Rochester, N. Y., May 9-11,1918.
Bui. 310. Industrial unemployment: A statistical study of its extent and causes.
Bui. 311. Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Meeting of the International Association of Public Em
ployment Services, Buffalo, N. Y., September 7-9, 1921.
Bui. 337. Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the International Association of Public Em
ployment Services, Washington, D. C., September 11-13, 1922.
Bui. 366. Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the International Association of Public
Employment Services, September 4-7, 1923.
Women in Industry*
•Bui. 116. Hours, earnings, and duration of employment of wage-earning women in selected industries
in the District of Columbia.
*Bul. 117. Prohibition of night work of young persons.
•Bui. 118. Ten-hour maximum working-day for women and young persons.
Bui. 119. Working hours of women in the pea canneries of Wisconsin.
•Bui. 122. Employment of women in power laundries in Milwaukee.
Bui. 160. Hours, earnings, and conditions of labor of women in Indiana mercantile establishments
and garment factories.
♦ Bui. 167. Minimum-wage legislation in the United States and foreign countries.
•Bui. 175. Summary of the report on condition of women and child wage earners in the United States.
•Bui. 176. Effect of minimum-wage determinations in Oregon.
•Bui. 180. The boot and shoe industry in Massachusetts as a vocation for women.
•Bui. 182. Unemployment among women in department and other retail stores of Boston, Mass.
Bui. 193. Dressmaking as a trade for women in Massachusetts.
Bui. 215. Industrial experience of trade-school girls in Massachusetts.
•Bui. 217. Effect of workmen’s compensation laws in diminishing the necessity of industrial employ
ment of women and children.
Bui. 223. Employment of women and juveniles in Great Britain during the war.
Bui. 253. Women in the lead industries.
m
Workmen’s Insurance and Compensation (including laws relating thereto)*
*Bul. 101. Care of tuberculous wage earners in Germany.
♦ Bui. 102. British National Insurance Act, 1911.
Bui. 103. Sickness and accident insurance law of Switzerland.
Bui. 107. Law relating to insurance of salaried employees in Germany.
*Bul. 126. Workmen’s compensation laws of the United States and foreign countries.
•Bill. 165. Compensation for accidents to employees of the United States.
♦ Bill. 185. Compensation legislation of 1914 and 1915.
Bui. 203. Workmen’s compensation laws of the United States and foreign countries.
Bui. 210. Proceedings of the Third Annual Meeting of the International Association of Industrial
Accident Boards and Commissions, held at Columbus, Ohio, April 25-28, 1916.
Bui. 212. Proceedings of the conference on social insurance called by the International Association of
Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, Washington, D. C., December 5-9,1916.
*Bul. 217. Effect of workmen’s compensation laws in diminishing the necessity of industrial employ
ment of women and children.
Bui. 240. Comparison of workmen’s compensation laws of the United States.
Bui. 243. Workmen’s compensation legislation in the United States and foreign countries.
Bui. 248. Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Meeting of the International Association of Industrial
Accident Boards and Commissions, held at Boston, Mass., Aug. 21-25,1917.
Bui. 264. Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the International Association of Industrial
Accident Boards and Commissions, held at Madison, Wis1., September 24-L27,1918.
Bui. 272. Workmen’s compensation legislation of the United States and Canada, 1919.
*Bul. 273. Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Meeting of the International Association of Industrial
Accident Boards and Commissions, held at Toronto, Canada, September 23-26,1919.
Bui. 275. Comparisons of workmen’s compensation laws of the United States and Canada.
Bui. 281. Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Meeting of the International Association of Industrial
Accident Boards and Commissions, held at San Francisco. Calif., September 20-24,1920.
Bui. 301. Comparison of workmen’s compensation insurance and administration.
Bui. 304. Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the International Association of Industrial
Accident Boards and Commissions, held at Chicago, 111., September, 19-23, 1921.
Bui. 312. National Health Insurance in Great Britain, 1911 to 1920.
Bui. 332. Workmen’s compensation legislation of the United States and Canada, 1920 to 1922.
Bui. 333. Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Meeting of the International Association of Industrial
Accident Boards and Commissions, held at Baltimore, Md., October 9-13, 1922.
Bui. 359. Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the International Association of Industrial
Accident Boards and Commissions, held at St. Paul, Minn., September 24-26, 1923.
Bui. 379. Comparison of workmen’s compensation laws of the United States as of January 1, 1925.
Bui. 385. Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the International Association of Industrial
Accident Boards and Commissions, held at Halifax, Nova Scotia, August 26-28,1924.
Industrial Accidents and Hygiene*
♦ Bui. 104. Lead poisoning in potteries, tile works, and porcelain enameled sanitary ware factories.
Bui. 120. Hygiene of the painters’ trade.
♦ Bui. 127. Dangers to workers from dust and fumes, and methods of protection.
♦ Bui. 141. Lead poisoning in the smelting and refining of lead.
♦ Bui. 157. Industrial accident statistics.
♦ Bui. 165. Lead poisoning in the manufacture of storage batteries.
♦ Bui. 179. Industrial poisons used in the rubber industry.
Bui. 188. Report of British departmental committee on the danger in the use of lead in the painting
of buildings.
♦ Bui. 201. Report of committee on statistics and compensation insurance cost of the International
Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions. [Limited edition.]
Bui. 205. Anthrax as an occupational disease.
♦ Bui. 207. Causes of death by occupation.
♦ Bui. 209. Hygiene of the printing trades.
*Bul. 216. Accidents and accident prevention in machine building.
Bui. 219. Industrial poisons used or produced in the manufacture of explosives.
Bui. 221. Hours, fatigue, and health in British munition factories.
Bui. 230. Industrial efficiency and fatigue in British munition factories.
•Bui. 231. Mortality from respiratory diseases in dusty trades.
♦ Bui. 234. Safety movement in the iron and steel industry, 1907 to 1917.
Bui. 236. Effect of the air hammer on the hands of stonecutters.
Bui. 251. Preventable death in the cotton-manufacturing industry.
Bui. 253. Women in the lead industries.
Bui. 256. Accidents and accident prevention in machine building. Revision of Bui. 216.
Bui. 267. Anthrax as an occupational disease. [Revised.]
Bui. 276. Standardization of industrial accident statistics.
Bui. 280. Industrial poisoning in making coal-tar dyes and dye intermediates.
IV
Industrial Accidents and Hygiene—Continued.
Bui. 291. Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Bui. 293. The problem of dust phthisis in the granite-stone industry.
Bui. 298. Causes and prevention of accidents in the iron and steel industry, 1910 to 1919.
Bui. 306. Occupation hazards and diagnostic signs: A guide to impairment to be looked for in ha*ardous occupations.
Bui. 339. Statistics of industrial accidents in the United States.
Bui. 392. Hygiene of the printing trades. (In press.)
Conciliation and Arbitration (including strikes and lockouts).
*Bul. 124. Conciliation and arbitration in the building trades of Greater New York.
*Bul. 133. Report of the industrial council of the British Board of Trade on its inquiry into industrial
agreements.
*Bul. 139. Michigan copper district strike.
Bui. 144. Industrial court of the cloak, suit, and skirt industry of New York City.
Bui. 145. Conciliation, arbitration, and sanitation in the dress and waist industry of New York City.
Bui. 191. Collective bargaining in the anthracite coal industry.
*Bul. 198. Collective agreements in the men’s clothing industry.
Bui. 233. Operation of the industrial disputes investigation act of Canada.
Bui. 303. Use of Federal power in settlement of railway labor disputes.
Bui. 341. Trade agreement in the silk-ribbon industry of New York City.
Labor Laws of the United States (including decisions of courts relating to labor).
*Bul. 111. Labor legislation of 1912.
*Bul. 112. Decisions of courts and opinions affecting labor, 1912.
•Bui. 148. Labor laws of the United States, with decisions of courts relating thereto.
•Bui. 152. Decisions of courts and opinions affecting labor, 1913.
•Bui. 166. Labor legislation of 1914.
*Bul. 169. Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1914.
•Bui. 186. Labor legislation of 1915.
•Bui. 189. Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1915.
Bui. 211. Labor laws and their administration in the Pacific States.
•Bui. 213. Labor legislation of 1916.
•Bui. 224. Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1916.
Bui. 229. Wage-payment legislation in the United States.
•Bui. 244. Labor legislation of 1917.
•Bui. 246. Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1917.
•Bui. 257. Labor legislation of 1918.
Bui. 258. Decisions of courts and opinions affecting labor, 1918.
•Bui. 277. Labor legislation of 1919.
Bui. 285. Minimum-wage legislation in the United States.
Bui. 290. Decisions of courts and opinions affecting labor, 1919-1920.
Bui. 292. Labor legislation of 1920.
Bui. 308. Labor legislation of 1921.
Bui. 309. Decisions of courts and opinions affecting labor, 1921.
Bui. 321. Labor laws that have been declared unconstitutional.
Bui. 322. Kansas Court of Industrial Relations.
Bui. 330. Labor legislation of 1922.
Bui. 343. Laws providing for bureaus of labor statistics, etc.
Bui. 344. Decisions of courts and opinions affecting labor, 1922.
Bui. 370. Labor laws of the United States, with decisions of courts relating thereto.
Bui. 391. Decisions of courts affecting labor, 1923-1924. (In press.)
Foreign Labor Laws.
•Bui. 142. Administration of labor laws and factory inspection in certain European countries.
Vocational Education.
Bui. 145. Conciliation, arbitration, and sanitation in the dress and waist industry of New York City.
*Bul. 147. Wages and regularity of employment in the cloak, suit, and skirt industry.
•Bui. 159. Short-unit courses for wage earners, and a factory school experiment.
•BuL 162. Vocational education survey of Richmond, Va.
Bui. 199. Vocational education survey of Minneapolis, Minn.
Bui. 271. Adult working-class education (Great Britain and the United States).
Labor as Affected by the War.
Bui. 170. Foreign food prices as affected by the war.
Bui. 219. Industrial poisons used or produced in the manufacture of explosives.
Bui. 221. Hours, fatigue, and health in British munition factories.
Bui. 222. Welfare work in British munition factories.
Bui. 223. Employment of women and juveniles in Great Britain during the war.
Bui. 230. Industrial efficiency and fatigue in British munition factories.
Bui. 237. Industrial unrest in Great Britain.
V
Labor as Affected by the W ar—Continued.
Bui. 249. Industrial health and efficiency. Final report of British Health of Munition Workers
Committee.
Bui. 266. Joint industrial councils in Great Britain.
Bui. 283. History of the Shipbuilding Labor Adjustment Board, 1917 to 1919.
Bui. 287. National War Labor Board.
Safety Codes.
Bui. 331. Code of lighting factories, mills, and other work places.
Bui. 336. Safety code for the protection of industrial workers in foundries.
Bui. 338. Safety code for the use, care, and protection of abrasive wheels.
Bui. 350. Rules governing the approval of head-lighting devices for motor vehicles.
Bui. 351. Safety code for the construction, care, and use of ladders.
Bui. 364. Safety code for mechanical power-transmission apparatus.
Bui. 375. Safety code for laundry machinery and operations.
Bui. 378. Safety code for woodworking machinery.
Bui. 382. Code of lighting school buildings.
Miscellaneous Series.
•Bill. 117. Prohibition of night work of young persons.
*Bul. 118. Ten-hour maximum working-day for women and young persons.
*Bul. 123. Employers' welfare work.
*Bul. 158. Government aid to home owning and housing of working people in foreign countries.
*Bul. 159. Short-unit courses for wage earners and a factory-school experiment.
♦ Bui. 167. Minimum-wage legislation in the United States and foreign countries.
Bid. 170. Foreign food prices as affected by the war.
•Bui. 174. Subject index of the publications of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics up to
May 1,1915.
Bui. 298. Profit sharing in the United States.
Bid. 222. Welfare work in British munition factories.
Bui. 242. Food situation in central Europe, 1917.
•Bui. 259. Welfare work for employees in industrial establishments in the United States.
BuL 254. International labor legislation and the society of nations.
Bid. 263. Housing by employers in the United States.
Bui. 266. Proceedings of Seventh Annual Convention of Governmental Labor Officials of the United
States and Canada, held at Seattle, Wash., July 12-15,1920.
Bui. 268. Historical survey of international action affecting labor.
BuL 271. Adult working-class education in Great Britain and the United States.
Bui. 282. Mutual relief associations among Government employees in Washington, D. O.
Bid. 295. Building operations in representative cities in 1920.
Bui. 299. Personnel research agencies. A guide to organized research in employment management,
industrial relations, training, and working conditions.
Bui. 307. Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Convention of the Association of Governmental Labor
Officials of the United States and Canada, held at New Orleans, La., May 2-6,1921.
BuL 313. Consumers' cooperative societies in the United States in 1920.
Bui. 314. Cooperative credit societies in America and foreign countries.
Bui. 318. Building permits in the principal cities of the United States in 1921.
Bid. 320. The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Its history, activities, and organization.
Bui. 323. Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Convention of the Association of Governmental Labor
Officials of the United States and Canada, held at Harrisburg, Pa., May 22-26,1922.
Bui. 326. Methods of procuring and computing statistical information of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Bui. 349. Chinese migrations, with special reference to labor conditions.
Bui. 3£2. International Seamen’s Union of America. A study of its history and problems.
BUL 346. Humanity in government.
BUI. 347. Building permits in the principal cities of the United States in 1922.
Bui. 3&L Industrial relations in the West Coast lumber industry.
Bed. 362. Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Convention of Governmental Labor Officials of the
United States and Canada, held at Richmond, Va., May 1-4, 1923.
Bui. 361. Labor relations in the Fairmont (W. Va.) bituminous-coal field.
Bui. 398. Building permits in the principal cities of the United States in 1923.
Bui. 378. Convict labor in 1923.
•Bui. 381. Post-war labor conditions in Germany.
Bn3. 363. Works council movement in Germany.
Bud. 984. Conditions in the shoe industry in 1924.
B|9. 386. Gust of American almshouses.
Bifi. 369. Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Convention of the Association of Governmental
Labor Officials of the United States and Canada, held at Chicago, 111., May 19-23,1924.
VI
SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS ISSUED BY THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Description of occupations, prepared for the United States Employment Service, 1918-19.
Boots and shoes, harness and saddlery, and tanning.
Cane-sugar refining and flour milling.
Coal and water gas, paint and varnish, paper, printing trades, and rubber goods.
Electrical manufacturing, distribution, and maintenance.
Glass.
Hotels and restaurants.
Logging camps and sawmills.
Medicinal manufacturing.
Metal working, building and general construction, railroad transportation, and shipbuilding.
Mines and mining.
Office employees.
Slaughtering and meat packing.
Street railways.
•Textiles and clothing.
•Water transportation.
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