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Original Document
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Original Document
"Working Rules," International Association of Bridge, Structural, and Ornamental Iron Workers, 1914.

WORKING RULES RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF MEMBERS OF LOCAL UNION No.3 [Pittsburgh], OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE, STRUCTURAL AND ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKERS. [May 1, 1914]

Article I.
Eight hours shall constitute a day's work in the Pittsburgh district. Time and one-half time will be allowed for time worked in excess of the hours fixed upon as constituting a day's work for one shift, except as follows:

Article II.
On Sunday through the year, Decoration Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, or the days observed as those holidays, and after 12 o'clock noon Saturday throughout the year double time shall be allowed. No work shall be performed on Labor Day, except in case of dire necessity, where the property of the employer is in jeopardy, and where the services of the men is required to place the same in safe condition. Double time will be allowed for any time worked on Labor Day.

Article III.
When two or more shifts are employed on the same work, the men in each shift shall be paid the regular straight time rate of wages per hour. The hours for each shift may be arranged between the employer and workmen, as may be most advantageous, but the hours of employment on each shift will not be less than the hours fixed upon as constituting a day's work. When one shift is employed, the hours of work shall be between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., except in cases of necessity, or when otherwise mutually agreed upon between the employer and employes.

Article IV.
Workmen will be paid every week at 12 o'clock noon Saturday on job. It will be the general custom to withhold not more than one and a half (1 1/2) days' time to enable the employer to prepare the pay roll.

Article V.
When any workman is discharged or laid off, he shall be paid in full within twenty-four hours on the job. When a workman leaves the service of an employer of his own accord, he will receive the pay due him on the next regular pay day.

Article VI.
There shall be no limitation placed upon the amount of work to be performed by any workman during working hours. There shall be no restriction on the part of the Union or workmen as to the use of machinery or tools, or the number of men required to handle or operate the same.

Article VII.
There shall be no restriction on the part of the Union or workmen as to the employment of foremen. The employer may employ on one piece of work as many foremen as in his judgment are necessary for the safe, expeditious and economical handling of the same, regardless of whether such foremen are members of the Union or not, so long as such foremen do not perform the work of journeymen, or act in the capacity of "Pusher," except where a foreman is employed temporarily, for the sole purpose of retaining him in the service of the employer.

Article VIII.
No person other than those authorized by the employer shall interfere with workmen during working hours, and in no case shall stewards, when employed on the work, transact any business in connection with his Union, or interfere with other workmen during working hours.

Article IX.
This Union, upon demand, is to furnish the employer with a sufficient number of competent workmen to meet his requirements, and in case the Union fails to do so, the employer shall be at liberty to employ other men. In this case mutually satisfactory arrangements, as to the transportation, are to be made with Secretary of the Local Union in advance.

Article X.
Workmen classified as Bridgemen, and entitled to receive the rate of wages as agreed upon for Bridgemen, shall be skilled mechanics, and shall be competent to perform such work as the erection, rigging and handling of travelers and other important appliances used in the erection of work, the erecting in place and connecting of members entering permanently into a structure, and driving of field rivets under competent foremen.

Article XI.
Apprentices may be employed in the proportion of one Apprentice to every seven (7) Bridgemen, and such Apprentice shall serve on erection work for a period of not less than one year and a half before being eligible for membership in a Bridge and Structural Iron Workers' Union, and before receiving the rate of wages agreed upon for Bridgemen. No man shall be employed as an Apprentice who is over thirty-five years of age. Apprentices shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the foreman in charge; the intention being that the Apprentices shall be given such varied duties from time to time as will enable him to learn the trade and fit him for the position of a Bridgeman. Apprentices shall receive not less than 40 cents an hour.

Article XII.
Laborers may be employed for the unloading and handling of materials in yards and storage points, so long as such material is handled by hand, and no rigging or machinery is used to handle same.

Article XIII.
In case of removal of old structures, members of the Union shall be employed to land, dismember and remove same, except such material as can be removed by hand, and no rigging or machinery is used in removing same.

Article XIV.
Such work as the framing, placing and removing of false-work, pile-driving, and the framing and erection of derricks and travelers, and the assembling and erection of all iron and steel in reinforced concrete work in the field, shall be performed by members of the Union.

Article XV.
Framing and placing of wooden decks, including ties and guard rails; the placing and adjusting of operating machinery in draw bridges, and the machinery in other structures, shall be performed by such men as employer may select.

Article XVI.
In case of misunderstandings or disputes arising between an employer and his workmen, the matter in question shall be submitted to arbitration, locally, without strikes, lockouts or stoppage of work, pending a decision of the arbitrators, consisting of three disinterested persons, one to be appointed by the employers, one by the Union, and the third by the two first selected, whose decision shall be rendered within six (6) days, and be final and binding on both parties, and not subject to appeal. None of the definite articles of these rules shall be subject to arbitration.

Article XVII.
This Agreement shall be effective from May 1, 1914.

Article XVIII.
The jurisdiction of Local Union No. 3 shall not exceed one hundred and thirty-five (135) miles in radius from City Hall, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Article XIX.
The wages of Bridgemen shall be 62 1/2 cents per hour.


Credit: Luke Grant, United States Commission on Industrial Relations, The National Erectors’ Association and The International Association of Bridge and Structural Ironworkers (Washignton D.C., 1915), 177-81.
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