TABLE 24.—UNION REGULATIONS AS TO LENGTH OF APPRENTICESHIP PERIOD[TableList]
| Trades in which indentures are usually signed | |
| Bricklayer | 4 years |
| Plasterers | 4 years |
| Sheet metal workers | 4 years |
| Trades in which indentures are seldom signed | |
| Steam-fitters | 5 years |
| Carpenters | 4 years |
| Inside wiremen | 4 years |
| Plumbers and gas-fitter | 4 years |
| Cement finishers | 3 years |
| Asbestos workers | 3 years |
| Painters and paperhangers | 3 years |
| Slate and tile roofers | 3 years |
| Lathers | 2 years |
| Structural and ornamental iron workers | 1½ years |
| Elevator constructors | varies |
All obtainable information points to the conclusion that the number of apprentices employed in the city is far below the maximum permitted by the unions. Many large contractors have no apprentices and say they will not bother with them. Others state that they have been unable to get or keep good apprentices and have therefore given up the plan.
Union Organization
The building trades are among the most strongly organized in the city. It is estimated that their unions at the present time include about 90 per cent of all the men engaged in building work. Practically all the large contracting firms employ only union labor. The few non-union workers are employed by small contractors.
Requirements for admission to the different unions vary to a marked degree. If the union is strong and has a good control over the labor supply, admission fees are higher and regulations as to apprentices and helpers are more stringent than if the union is fighting to gain a foothold.
Earnings
No industrial workers in the city are paid better wages than those employed in the building trades. More than one-half of the skilled workers are in trades that pay an hourly wage of 50 cents or over. The hourly rate in each occupation is shown in Table 25.