No Crack in the Dike

WAGES & SALARIES

Nine of the largest U.S. airlines* last week, acting as a group, gave in to labor's demand for no reduction in take-home pay by granting their employes a 40-hour work week (instead of 48 hours) at current wages, effective Jan. i.

Other firms found that they too could increase wages without raising prices: P: Thirty-three cleaning-&-dyeing plants in Los Angeles signed a contract with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, C.I.O., granting 1,500 employes a 35% increase over the 1942 basic wage, reducing the work week from 44 to 40 hours. Net result: a 17% increase in take-home pay.

P: Consumers Power Co. of Michigan boosted wages 15 to 17%, but kept the 48-hour week.

CI PM, New York's crusading daily, granted a 25% increase over prevailing contract rates.

P: Boston's Gillette Safety Razor Co. announced a 15% increase in the basic 40-hour rate for its 2,700 employes, as it cut its 48-hour work week to 44. Net result: a 2% increase in take-home pay. P: Standard Oil Co. of California handed out a 15% raise for 16,000 office and refinery workers, as it returned to the 40-hour week.

* International Harvester Co. gave 27,000 employes a 10% general increase, retroactive to Oct. 1, but returned to a 40-hour week.

*American, American Airlines Overseas, East ern, Mid-Continent, Northwest, Pan American, Pennsylvania Central, Transcontinental & Western, United.

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