Music Trade Review

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16
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
AUGUST 13,
1921
When the trade has returned to normal con-
ditions, and the available competent men em-
Employers and Employes Sign Agreement Fixing a Minimum Scale of Wages for Workmen in ployed in 1920, including ex-service men, are
generally back the shop committee and man-
Piano Factories—Forty-seven-hour Week Agreed Upon—Scale Based on Cost of Living
agement shall agree upon the number of workers
American piano manufacturers will read with cial ability through skilled production is mani- below the full rate, provided there shall not be
interest of the agreement recently signed by the fested this rate can be increased, but no guar- at any time more than one such worker to every
Allied Pianoforte Industries Committee, of Lon- antee can be given of its maintenance. The com- two receiving the full rate. Until this state of
don, England, representing the Piano Manufac- mittee and stewards have the right to decide on improvement in the industry is reached there
turers' Association, the British Associated Piano the ability and special qualifications of workers shall be one such worker to every three receiv-
ing the full rate. The joint delegates' com-
Makers and the Association of Manufacturers below twenty years of age.
Wages shall be regulated by a standard scale mittee shall meet and decide when normal con-
and Dealers in Pianoforte Supplies, with the
ditions have arisen.
National Amalgamated Furnishing Trade Asso- as follows:
Termination of employment:
Labour Gazette
ciation (piano section) and the National Union
v
One hour's notice must be given on either
Cost of
of Musical Instrument Makers whereby wages
side to terminate employment. Same to be de-
Living Figure,
Wage Rate,
in the London district covering a radius of
voted to the grinding of tools and putting them
Per Cent
s.
d.
twenty miles from Charing Cross will be stabil-
in order.
132^
2 O/2
ized until such time as the cost of living drops
Regarding the duration of the agreement, it is
126
2
0
below 100 per cent above the pre-war cost of
pointed out that no alteration of the agreement
living.
119J4
2
0
and no notice terminating the same shall be
113
2
0
The agreement sets forth that a shop com-
given by either side before December 31, 1921.
106^
2
0
mittee shall be formed and a shop steward
On that date and after three months' notice may
selected in every workshop and factory, who
100
1 ny 2
shall be recognized by the employers and man-
Should the cost of living rise above \2>2y 2 be given either of variation or termination.
agement and who shall agree upon facilities for per cent the wage rate shall rise J^d. for every Failing a mutually satisfactory arrangement be-
carrying on shop committee duties within the further complete 6 l / 2 points. Should the cost of ing reached during the period of the three
factories, but shop meetings shall be held in living fall below 100 per cent the wage rates months' notice a further period of six weeks
must elapse before either side can take any
the men's own time. The committee and shall fall y 2 d. for every complete 6y 2 points.
Without prejudice to this schedule, minimum action contrary to this agreement.
stewards must consult and settle with the man-
agement all matters appertaining to working wage rates remain at 2s. per hour for three
conditions. No changes shall be made in the months from the date of the agreement. At the
BETTER BUSINESS IN BUFFALO
present method of payment either through shop end of three months—and of every subsequent
three months—the available cost of living figures Slight Improvement in Demand Encourages
committee or with individuals direct.
Piano Men—Personals and Other News
In case of differences or complaints they shall published during the previous three months shall
be referred to the joiijt committee of delegates be averaged and that figure shall fix the wage
BUFFALO, N. Y., August 9.—A slight improvement
composed of an equal number of elected repre- rate in accordance with the schedule for the fol-
sentatives from the employers' and workers' asso- lowing three months. When any change is in business is noted by a majority "of the piano
ciations, who shall meet and give a decision made in the skilled rate a change in the other men here. The hot weather, which brought a
within ten days which shall be binding on both minimum rates shall be made to bring them into general lull over all kinds of business, has de-
sides. Failing settlement by them the matter the same relative position with the skilled rates parted and with the arrival of more temperate
weather business seems to be showing an im-
shall be submitted to a ballot of the Employers' as applies at present.
provement. Dealers report that collections are
The Matter of Overtime
Association or trade union members, as the case
In regard to overtime it is set forth that no improving somewhat. Some of them also re-
may be, prior to a lockout and strike taking place.
overtime shall be worked in any shop or factory port that sales have shown a tendency to pick
The Working Hours
The normal working hours have been fixed at without the consent of the joint conference dele- up.
"We notice an increase in the number of
forty-seven per week, each factory being priv- gates, unless on occasion of a temporary break-
orders
that are coming to our plant," said Jacob
down,
where
the
shop
committee
and
manage-
ileged to decide how it shall be worked. In case
that there is at any time 4 per cent unemployed ment may agree that such time may be worked II. Hackenheimer, president of the C. Kurtzmann
in the trade a conference shall be called to con- by the section affected until such breakdown Co., who is one who has an optimistic report to
make. "We note that business is improving."
sider the reduction of the working week, or any has been restored to normal conditions.
Many of the piano dealers are announcing
The
rates
of
wages
for
overtime
work
are:
other remedy, with power to put same into oper-
ation; this consideration of methods to apply First two hours, time and a quarter; second two sales. A big August sale is to be held at the
hours, time and a half, after which double time Wurlitzer store here, starting August 11 and
when more normal conditions prevail.
until the recognized time for starting in the continuing for a month. Stephen J. Butler,
The Rate of Wages
The minimum rate of wages for laborers over morning. Saturday afternoon, time and a half manager of the piano department in the store of
twenty years of age is placed at Is. 6y 2 d. per for the first two hours, after which double time J. N. Adam & Co., announced that a sale of
hour. The minimum rate for women shall be until the recognized time for starting on Mon- used pianos and player-pianos would start there
two-thirds of the men's rate, that is, Is. 4d. per day morning. Holidays and Sundays to be Wednesday. This is a clearance sale.
M. L. Lemenoff, Eastern representative of the
hour; when they perform similar operations and double time. In five-day factories, Saturday
equal a man in skill and output they shall re- morning, time and a quarter for the first two j . Seeburg Piano Co. and the Marshall Piano
ceive the same rate as a man. The minimum hours, time and a half for the second two hours, Co., of Chicago, was a caller in town.
Miss Marion Leone, of the Hoffman Piano
rate for boys and improvers ranges from 3j^d. afterwards double time.
Co.,
is taking her vacation.
It
is
set
forth
that
skilled
work
people
shall
per hour at the age of fourteen to Is. Id. per
With Caruso dead and his voice preserved to
hour at the age of eighteen. Over eighteen the not work for more than one employer and an
wages will be arranged by the committee and employer shall not engage a worker for part us only through the phonograph records, many
time, except in the case of stringers and tuners, of the stores here are featuring Caruso num-
stewards and employers.
when
there is insufficient work for a full week in bers. They are meeting with a great demand.
Skilled workers over twenty years of age shall
Denton, Cottier & Daniels, in a large display
receive a minimum of 2s. per hour. Where spe- one shop or factory.
advertisement,
call attention to his numbers.
Extra rates for outdoor workers:
This is the dull season as far as traveling
Employes working outdoors in town are to
receive 2d. per hour above their rate of wages representatives of piano houses are concerned.
Very few of them have been in town of late.
•THE LEADING LINE
in the shop.
Employes, when sent to work in the country,
and not able to return home at night, are to re-
WEAVER PIANOS ceive 5s. per day expenses, Sundays included.
When men are working on outside jobs in
Grands, Uprights
the London district all time spent in traveling
and Players
to and from the shop before and after the usual
time of opening and closing shall be charged
YORK PIANOS
overtime rates. When men are traveling at
Uprights and Players
night by rail or boat, after making the usual
working hours, they shall be paid overtime in
LIVINGSTON PIANOS
accordance
with the above rates, in addition to
Uprights and Player-Pianos
Awarded first prize in many world compe-
which they shall receive the usual 5s. expenses.
titions during the past sixty years, the
If your competitor does not already have this
The workmen shall be at liberty to undertake
Schomacker Piano is now daily receiving
line, go after it at once.
first prizes of preference won by its superb
any class of work or accept employment in con-
tone, wonderful breadth of expression and
nection with this trade, except in cases where
structural beauty.
Weaver Piano Co., Inc.
differences and disputes exist.
SCHOMACKER PIANO CO.
FACTORY
YORK, PA.
Proportions of workers working below full
Established 1870
23d and Chestnut Sts.
Philadelphia, Pa.
rate:
ENGLISH PIANO WORKERS AGREE TO NEW WAGE SCALE