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PEP0' C? P:-:ILIP LUBLI1IER. LABO- I2,1.3ER OF THE CODE AUTHORITY,
AID :=i:'?.7. CF T?:2 SU3-CC1.:.ITTEZ, T0 DEFIi.E T-:E PrOVISI0IS DEAL-
LiG .'IT:- VrAG2S FOP. r HE SEI:I-SKILLED



 Ir. submittin- my report on the definition of the term of semi-
 skilled e.-Iloyees, I want to stu.te that Article IV, Paragraph 2, Dro-
 vidin;: "IIo seiii-skilledL e.-nloyee engaged in tl-.e cutting, framing,
 -arin )ocketbook-mal:ino aici oper-ting exceptt lining operators, cement.
 in- or -asting) employed in the manufacture of any of the -nroducts cover.
 by the provision of this code, rminde of anyr materials other than imitation
 leather, shall be naie. at less than 5i5 per hour" is self-explanatory.

 For LiVny years all t-he manufacturers, collectively aind individually
consio.rreC the operations of cutting_, o-eratinr-, oocketbook-mal:ing,
franin, rnC. .nci vs skilled. oper- tions. It is true that there were
two classes p.reed upon, a first-class rd also a second.-class which
d.ifferen-ti.ted between rn rccom-lished worker who could do everything,
and a worker who could. -erform only certain -arts of the operation.

 In the case of pocketboo-h-moa:in-, a class of semi-skilled workers
was recognized, such as the helpers who are the direct assistants to the|
Pocketbook makers, and these helpers received a wage as high as $31.00
per wee;-, -n. today they receive $23.30 for *-0 hours' work.

 The -.':_ovision in the code establishing a semi-skilled employee in
the vbove mentioned branches of the industry was intended as a concessi2
to cover tihe special conditions in those factories that are outside of
thLe :.2etro-iolitan district of 1Iew York City, where a system of sectional"
izini- th.e Work has been installed. The workers in the out-of-town loc
ties are broken in to certain operations -nd within a very short period
after bein-i steadily engagec. in that -jirticular operation, become very
efficient and will compare most favorable in speed and efficiency on
that o,,.r.rtion with any s-illaed worker It is for this reason that the
terra. of seui-skilled emp-loyee is allowed in our code, and by excluding
ceraentin-g, -asting an lining; oor.ratinj, the obvious intention of this
provision of tie code is to cover all workers, except those who are un
skilled, who -,re engaged in te raking of p)ocketbooks. The only
question to be determined is: when is a new worker coming into the
trade as an ap'rentice and engaged in pocketbook-making, framing,
cutting, operav.ting or noring, to be considered,. semi-skilled?

 Our answer to this question is that a maximum of three months'
experience is necessary to be reg-rded ),s a semi-skilled worker in the
industry within the meaning of the code.

 To define "semi-skilled", as the committee defines it, is to
nullify tie intent of the -provision of the code and to render the en-
forceent .an cor.)liance of the revisionn totalI: im-ossible.

 The definitions contained in the reports of the majority and the
Minority of the committee are unsound as I shall presently show.



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