In the Labor Unions (11 July 1939) (original) (raw)

B.J. Widick

(11 July 1939)

From Socialist Appeal, Vol. III No. 49, 11 July 1939, p. 2.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’ Callaghan for the Encyclopaedia of Trotskyism On-Line (ETOL).

Spontaneous and, in several cases, officially called strikes of A.F.L. craftsmen on W.P.A. construction projects began this week in protest against the destruction of the union scales under the new relief appropriation measure passed by Congress.

In the New York area the strikes were so widespread that Thomas Murray, president of the Building and Construction Council of Greater New York, has called a meeting of his organization and says that official strike sanction is likely.

Murray estimated that 90 per cent of the 32,283 skilled workers on W.P.A. in New York City have stopped work.

Resent A.F.L. Policy

Resentment against the reduction in wage rates is directed not only against the Roosevelt administration but also – and this is very important – against the A.F.L. top leadership in Washington for having allowed Congress to delete the prevailing wage clause in the relief appropriation measure.

Under the present schedule, thousands of workers have been notified that they will have to work 130 hours a month to get the same pay they have been getting, on a monthly basis.

Under the old rates paid on a union scale, craftsmen obtained from 1to1 to 1to2 an hour, and worked much less than 130 hours.

A comparison of the pay received before the reduction on an hourly basis with union scale of wages and the money to be earned under the new schedule shows that most skilled craftsmen will get 60 cents an hour less! And work many hours more!

Facts and Figures

Here is what the New York craftsmen got before:

| | NumberonrollsMay 31 | | Hoursperfiscalperiod | | Payperfourweeks | | ---------------------------- | ----- | -------------------- | ------ | --------------- | | Plasterer | 766 | 39 | $78.00 | | | Stone cutter | 221 | 42 | 81.02 | | | Stone setter | 113 | 42 | 82.19 | | | Electrician | 1,514 | 42 | 84.00 | | | Plumber | 1,280 | 42 | 84.00 | | | Steamfitter | 627 | 42 | 84.00 | | | Asbestos w’ker | 268 | 42 | 84.00 | | | Bricklayer | 2,459 | 42 | 79.21 | | | Stone mason | 415 | 42 | 79.21 | | | Structural iron worker | 931 | 44 | 84.70 | | | Sheet metal w’ker or roofer | 932 | 46 | 85.10 | | | Glazier | 197 | 48 | 79.20 | | | Rigger | 172 | 48 | 79.20 | | | Tile layer | 316 | 48 | 81.02 | | | Marble cutter or setter | 284 | 48 | 81.02 | | | Metallic lath’er | 1,090 | 48 | 84.00 | | | Dock builder | 671 | 48 | 84.00 | | | Compressor op’tor (p’table) | 182 | 48 | 84.00 | | | Carpenter | 7,981 | 49 | 85.71 | | | Cement mason | 1,786 | 49 | 85.75 | | | Ornament’l iron worker | 840 | 49 | 85.75 | | | Paver (block & granite) | 180 | 52 | 86.27 | | | Bluestone and granite cutter | 123 | 52 | 85.80 | | | Blacksmith | 153 | 52 | 84.60 | | | Waterproofer & tar roofer | 604 | 53 | 84.80 | | | Marble polisher | 145 | 56 | 84.73 | | | Painter | 2,593 | 56 | 84.00 | | | Burner | 108 | 56 | 78,40 | | | Welder | 91 | 60 | 84.00 | | | Timberman | 1,784 | 68 | 81.60 | | | Pipe caulker | 163 | 72 | 82.80 | | | Mechanic (auto) | 190 | 80 | 80.00 | |

It can hardly be wondered that the A.F.L. members are up in arms over this. William Green, president of the A.F.L., and other top leaders have a real explanation to make for their bad mistake in allowing the reduction to go into effect without a serious fight.

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Last updated: 6 March 2016