s 50.00
Paperhangers 50.00

_From 40 to 50 Cents_
Asbestos workers 47.50
Composition roofers 42.50

_Under 40 Cents_
Cabinet-makers and bench hands 37.50
Machine woodworkers 37.50
Electrical fixture hangers 37.50
Hod-carriers 35.00

Union organization is a more powerful factor in determining wages in
these trades than technical knowledge and skill. A high degree of
skill in a given trade brings little advantage in the matter of wages.
By establishing a minimum scale below which no journeyman shall work,
the union secures practically a flat rate of pay for most of the men
in the trade. When there is much building work and good men are
scarce, contractors sometimes pay higher wages to highly skilled
workmen in order to secure their services. As a rule, however, their
reward comes in the form of steadier employment. The less skilled man
is the first to be laid off when business is slack, while the
first-class workman, for the reason that he is so hard to replace, is
the last to be discharged.

Many unions, among them those of the carpenters, bricklayers, and
painters, make no provision as to the wages of apprentices. Table 26
shows the wages in three of the building trades that have established
a uniform scale for apprentices. Sheet metal apprentices are paid a
bonus of $1 extra for each week served.

TABLE 26.--USUAL WEEKLY WAGES OF APPRENTICES IN THREE BUILDING TRADES

-------------+----------------+----------------+--------------+
| | | Sheet metal |
Year | Inside wiremen | Plasterers | workers |
-------------+----------------+----------------+--------------+
First year | $5.50 | $5.50 to $6.25 | $5.00 |
Second year | 13.20 | 8.25 to 11.02 | 5.50 to 6.00 |
Third year | 17.60 | 13.75 to 16.00 | 6.50 to 7.00 |
Fourth year | 22.00 | 19.25 | 8.00 to 9.00 |
-------------+----------------+----------------+--------------+

HOURS

The usual working day is eight hours. Many of the trades work only a
half day on Saturdays throughout the year; practically all have this
half holiday during the four summer months. For h