Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1920 [PAGE 95]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1918]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

91

It appears that the janitors have received an increase in wages dating from July 1, 1918, of 50.7% over the wage scale of 1916. The groundsmen received an increase of 50% during the same period. (See page 9.) They ask for a working day of eight hours. The janitors, groundsmen, and truck men are the only men in the employ of the University now working over eight hours a day. The appended correspondence explains itself. August 25,1918 ( Concerning Janitors of the U. of I.) Mr, J. M. White, Supervising Architect

DEAR SIR:

In compliance with my duties as representative of the A. F . of L. in the wage settlement of the Janitors and Groundsmen of the University of Illinois, I wish to inform you that the Executive Board of the American Federation of Labor have approved the proposition submitted to you July 27th, and have instructed me to assist them in bringing about the enforcement of this scale (viz., not less than 35 cents minimum for a ten hour day and not less than 41 cents minimum per hour for an eight hour day. In justice to the Executive Board of the U. of 1.1 wish to say that this approval carries with it the right to strike to enforce the demands. The Executive Board advises us to make a settlement without strike if possible. It is not the desire of the Committee nor myself to resort to a strike, to enforce this wage scale, however this matter has been under adjustment since June 1st, and we are of the opinion that it should be settled by September 1st, and that the settlement should retroact to the time of the expiration of the last agreement or July 1st. In a personal talk with me in regard to the Janitors wage scale you informed me that you were watching the awards of the War Labor Board for a guide in fixing the scale of the Janitors and Groundsmen. In a recent issue of the Illinois Tribune I note that the W. L. B. have after extensive investigation found that it requires $1,760.50 per year for the average American family to live under present conditions, and recommend that these figures be taken into consideration in forming new wage agreements. The W. L. B. did not make a minimum wage scale along these lines because it would put several employers out of business. I wish to quote an extract from the laws of Illinois: Eight hours of labor between Sun up and the setting of the Sun shall constitute a legal days work in all mechanical trades, arts, and service by the day, except farm employments, where there is no special contract nor agreement to the contrary. The University of Illinois has no moral right in my opinion to disregard this law. In regard to the Farm hands and groundsmen, the groundsmen are not employed in the Farm department and are not doing farm work but are engaged in the maintenance of the grounds and to some extent the buildings of the University and in no way are they connected with the farming nor the production of farm produce, therefore we can in no way see that there is any connection between the Farm hands and the Groundsmen.