The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas • Page 2

PAGE TWO (AnK.y COURIER NEWS MONDAY, APRIL 4, 1949 New Wage Raise Issue Pondered Many Questions Must Be Decided At Conference Table WASHINGTON spring bring another.round of wage Increases? Here are some of Uie questions that will have to be decided at file conference tables- Workers' representatives will ask: Have raises up to now met the rUe in the cost of the living? Have they been enough to provide the worker with his share of the growing output per man per hour made possible through teclmological and other advances? Employers will ask: Is business good enough and Is the outlook favorable enough to Justify giving wage raises? If the employes forced raise, would industry have to raise prices, Urns adding another turn to the rising spiral of Inflation? If prices could not be raised for fear of losing buyers, would employes have to be laid off to keep the business on a profitable basis? CIO economists, in the latest 1s- sue of the CIO News, already have called for wage raises. One big em- ployer already Is commuted to an Motors. The contract which the automobile manufacturer made last year with it 270,000 production workers provided 1 for a 3-ceiHS-an-hour raise on May 29, 1949. Cut Was "Adjustment" This is for increased productivity or. os It is called by some, "the annual improvement factor." The recent cut in wages which GM em- ployes took was aji adjustment the lowered cost of living, another provision of last year's contract.

But the productivity raise has nothing to do with the cost of living. Workers in a large number smaller industries are setting raises. The Department of Labor reveals this in rejxjrt, Current Waga Developments. Of 435 contracts reviewed In the January and February issues, raises were granted in all but 13 cases. But both APi- antl CIO textile unions failed to receive wage raises.

An arbitrator snid business conditions were such that pay raises would be likely to result In lay-offs harmful both to workers and employers. And the United Shoe Workers i (OIO1 sought a raise from 10 Massachusetts shoe manufacturers but failed to set it. The Amalgamated Clothing Workers (CIO) asked for no increase. Increases granted so far are not all "fourth It's 'the fifth raise since the war's end for some industries, only the first or second lor others. All eyes this spring will be on the Consumers' Price Index of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The in-' dex. irhloh is a measure of living costs, has dropped to 110.9 from IL-; all-time peak of 174.5 last August. Weekly Wages Dp Bince 1939 the average -weeky iivage In manfactring industries has increased from 533.86 to J54J54 as of October 1948. The rise ui the wages of bituminous coal miners has been perhaps the most $3388 a week in 1939 to 176.40 last October, In terms of real wages, however, the workers have not improved their lot nearly so much The which the average fac- tory worker was getting in October would buy no more than $31.23 1939. The Labor Department has figur- ed out that the average factory worker, although receiving a raise of 128.1 percent since 1939.

gained only 30.9 percent in purchasing power. The bituminous coal miners have increased their purchasing power 83.2 percent. But some other kinds of employes have done much worse. Brokerage house employes' real wages went up only 36 percent. The real wages ol employes of insurance firms have dropped 14.9 percent.

The President's Council of Economic Advisers said in its year-end report: "Substantial wage increases are still called for In a number of instances where wages are sub- sUndard." But the council added: "Pushing for the highest possible wage advance is dangerous to the economy in a period when that advance necessitates even higher prices." Head Courier News Want Ads. FURNITURE REBUILDING' The House of Charm can really make your present niiure like new again 1 We of. fer truly luperior workman- chip, a wealth of leltctlon In upholstery fabrics at every price level, and 10 day Hrvlcc. Call for a tree estimate. House Charm IlowUe Kemp WhUenhtm 2ttl Weit Main Ttttntt: M21 or WHEN YOU SHOP AT Jimmie Edwards Furniture Co.

Exactly at Pictured Here's A Real Value! STUDIO COUCH 3 Piece Bedroom Suite And you have n. choice of green, blue, or red. The upholstery Is durable lupeslry. The studio couch will do you double duly as a pretty Much In the duylime, a comfortable bed at night. So come In and it now at this special price.

Imagine all three pieces af this special low price! Panel lied, Vanity, a net Chest of Drawers beautiful Bonniewuod finish and built, to give you long service. See this suite today I 80 COIL SPRING COTTON MATTRESS INNERSPRING MATTRESS $7.95 $12.95 $24.95 Flexalum VENETIAN BLINDS SPECIAL Beautiful, Sturdy ROCKERS $13.95 Nut only will this rocker look very pretty in your home, but It's very strongly built. The spring flllert scat unrt the post promise long near. Choose from either red or blua Yitour. 12 FOOT WIDTHS 'Gold Seal" Linoleum We have a complete selection of lop- "Gold Seal" Linoleum in the very popular 12 foot width, as well as 6 and 9 foot slx.es.

You can choose just the color and design you want for yonr home at Jimruic Edwards' always low pi ices Full Sire KITCHEN CABINET A very attractive white cabinet with red trim design. You'll like the UTRC com part- mcnU am! the shtnlnp, easy- lo-clean board. And it's now offered til a bargain price! ANOTHER LOW PRICE White Metal CABINET BASE $24.95 Flexalum Venetian Blinds are lovelier the satin- smooth plastic finish easier to clean their flexibility makes cleaning simple and quick longer lasting Flexalum is sun-proof, rust-proof, warp-proof, and will not crack, chip or peel. Choose Flexalum for home and take advantage of our low prices. FURNITURE BARGAINS! Check this price: Slightly damaged DROP LEAF TABLES $24.95 Attractive, useful END TABLES $1.49 All wool face 9x12 RUG $19.95 China Base TABLE LAMPS $3.95 up JIMMIE EDWARDS 301 East Main Furniture Company Phone 248).