WISCONSIN. (From Ninth Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics, 1899-1900, pages 235-238.) AVERAGE ANNUAL EARNINGS IN FACTORIES, 1883-97. 1883..... 39,360 $14,268,213 $363 1885... 38,797 $9 1887.... 62,935 23,710,866 377 23+ 1888... 71,218 28,416,694 1889..... 1890..... 80,880 38,023,247 404 6 1892... 90,936 38,295,878 426 22+ 1893.... 96,540 37,327,810 1894... 83,642 1895. 85,767 32,993,707 384 1896...... 80,051 31,749,822 397 1897..... 87,534 36,583,044 418 8+ 13+ 21+ STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS. As is always the case in years of general prosperity, with the growth of labor organizations, increase in rents, coal and food, come strenuous efforts on the part of the various organizations to better the condition of their members by securing increased wages, less hours of work, etc. These efforts and demands on employers sometimes result in concessions, and in other cases in contests, which are often protracted and costly. The upward trend of prices in the past five years having already had its effect on the cost of living, the workers felt that there should be a corresponding increase in their wages. That this has only been partly so need not be repeated here. The industrial activity of 1897 to 1902 had culminated and the reaction natural thereto set in before the workers had secured the full fruition of organization. It is to be hoped that the reaction will not cause such reductions in wages in 1904 as to bring about more industrial conflicts. The strikes in Maryland in 1903 were not only as numerous as in 1902, but they affected more people, involved more loss in wages and brought about greater results altogether to the work people. The per capita loss in wages was about $300 as against $205 in 1902. There was 6,310 persons employed in the industries where the troubles occurred in 1903, as against 3,984 in 1902, and the number of employees for whom the strikes were undertaken was 4,117 in 1903 as against 3,016 in 1902. The number of employees on strike in 1902 was 2,511, while 2,972 were on strike in 1903, and 3,047 were thrown out of work in 1902 as against 2,992 in 1903. Altogether the strikes of 1903 increased in benefits to the workers in some respects, but decreased in others. There is no doubt that the strike of the carpenters involved the largest number of men, and brought about greater and more radical results than that of any strike of the year, as it cemented the carpenters' organizations, increased their membership and brought about a solidification of the builders and contractors. In the table that follows it will be found that twenty-nine strikes or lockouts are reported for 1903, as against twentynine in 1902. Of these, twenty-six were strikes and three were lockouts by the employers. Twenty-three of these took place in Baltimore city and six in the counties of the State. Most of these strikes were in manufacturing industries, and only one or two in the building trades, thus showing where labor is well organized and have annual agreements with employers few strikes obtain and better conditions exist both for the employed and the employer. Fifteen of these strikes were for increased pay or reduced hours of labor. Six thousand three hundred and ten people were employed by the concerns in which these strikes occurred and 4,117 persons were to be benefited by the strike of 2,972 persons. The table shows that 2,972 persons went on strike, and that 305 were brought from other places to this State to take the place of the strikers, and 299 of the new hands were retained after the strikes were settled. It is almost impossible to ascertain fully the loss in wages and the loss to the employers consequent upon the strikes. The employees keep no data of what money is paid out, or at least they often refuse to give these figures, and the employers rarely, if ever, consent to furnish the information desired on this point. However, we estimate the loss in wages consequent upon the twenty-nine strikes and lockouts as $189,178. Of these twenty-nine strikes, twenty-three were ordered by organizations, six were not and three were lockouts. Of these, fifteen were successful or partly so. Of those ordered by organized labor, twenty-three in number, thirteen were successful or partly successful, six were unsuccessful and four are pending. The advantages gained were varied: in five cases there were reductions in the hours of labor consequent upon the strike, and in eight of the strikes the establishments were closed in consequence and five partly closed. Twelve of these strikes were settled by agreement, two by concessions on the part of the employer, one was called off by the organization, and the balance were not settled at all. [See Strike Table ] STRIKE OF CLOAK MAKERS. Fifteen men, employed as cloak makers by Nassanowitz & Schiff, went on strike in November, 1902, and the strike was carried along until January 27, 1903. The cause of the strike was a demand for an increase of fifteen per cent. in wages. The strike was ordered by the Cloak Makers' Union No. 4. It was finally settled successfully by agreement and by an increase of wages. TAILORS' STRIKE. Thirty members of Garment Workers' Union No. 7, employed by Louis Richter, went on strike January 25, because one of their number was discharged. After being out four weeks a settlement was effected by Mr. Richter agreeing to pay $300 and signing a contract for six months, providing that he would not discharge any member of the union until the cause for such discharge had been passed on by the union. He also agreed to abide by union rules governing the shop. STRIKE OF THE LAUNDRY WORKERS. On January 21 the shirt-ironers employed by E. Rosenfeld & Co. made a demand for one cent increase per shirt for ironing. The firm positively refused to pay the same, claiming that the ironers were earning from $15 to $16 per week the year round. About seventy-six of them struck, and after being out of work for about two weeks, returned on their own accord. The strike was unsuccessful and the table shows the loss by same. BOILERMAKERS' STRIKE. The employees of the Spedden Ship Building Company, on February 13, went on strike for fifty cents increase per day for work on old boats. The strike was largely due to a misunderstanding, and after being out three days, the men returned to work at old prices. The loss to the firm was about $40 a day, seventy-five men being out. ESTABLISHMENT OR NAME. INDUSTRY. LOCATION. OCCUPATION OF EMPLOYES. *These three were lockouts by the employers. WAS STRIKe Ordered or DefendED BY ORGANIZATION? IF SO, NAME. Male. Female. Male. Female. Male. Female. Male. Female. Strike. Strike. November 25, 1902...... January 27, 1903...... 15 January 5, 1903...... January 27, 1903.... 15 30 Yes. Cloakmakers' Union, No. 4, I L. G. W. of A.. Yes....... 15 to 30 per cent. increase in wages. 60 Yes. Coatmakers' Union, No. 7, U. G. W. of A. Partly Reinstatement of man discharged... 60 Shirt ironers Demand for increase of 1 cent per shirt. January 21, 1903...... February 4, 1903.... No No 54 .... Baltimore County Boilermakers and iron shipworkers.... Demand for nine-hour day Annapolis............ Baltimore.. Baltimore Manufacturing machinists Baltimore... Boot and shoe manufacturers.. Baltimore....... Storage and loading vessels... Baltimore... Building cars Fibre Cloth hats and caps... Baltimore.. Boilermakers and helpers......... Drivers February 13, 1903 February 16, 1903. Refusal of driver to teach new employe.... February 16, 1903...... February Yes. Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders' Union No No 54. No Baltimore.... Demand for union recognition and increased wages... March 15, 1903......| March May I, 1903...... May May 6, 1903...... June September 23, 1903.. .... May 8 8,000 May ... Bricklayers Objection to sub contractor... May II, 1903..............| May 21, 1903...... 20 20 Yes. United Cloth Hat and Capmakers' Union. Yes. District Council, U. B. C. and Joiners..... Unions Nos. 435 and 438, Steamfitters-and Helpers... Yes. Ironmolders' Unions, Nos. 19 and 34 Baltimore Typographical Union, No. 12.. Yes. Boilermakers' and Iron Shipbuilders', No. 35...... Yes. Bricklayers' Union, No. 2...... Baltimore.... Structural ironworkers Employment of non-union carpenter Wheelwrights, painters, etc. Demand for reduction in number of hours... Demand for increase of wages and reduction of hours Demand to see pay books...... June 8, 1903...... 238 238 Yes. June 20, 1903 August Yes. Bridge and Structural Ironworkers' Union, No. 16 1 hour per day in 20 shops and 5 per cent. increase in wages 48 60 Partly.. Contract signed and wages increased $2 per week. 78 Baltimore... Operators Demand for price-list and recognition of union. June 26, 1903...... June Yes. United Cloth Hat and Capmakers' Union.. Blacksmiths, machinists and laborers. Demand for bi-monthly pay-day and extra time.. Demand for increase of 50 cents per day Employment of non-union man... Demand for io per cent. increase of wages..... 172 172 38 38 Yes. My Maryland Lodge, No. 186, I. A. of M New price-list and recognition of union. Partly..... Two shops granted demands 50 54 July Yes. Boot and Shoeworkers' Union....... No 60 .... July No August 6, 1903...... August Yes....... August No .... Yes. Bi-monthly pay instead of monthly. 50 cents per day..... 60 60 September 7, 1903...... September 9, 1903....... 10 ΙΟ 50 Yes. United Cloth Hat and Capmakers' Union....... Yes... Discharge of man and increase of wages..... 50 30,000 Yes. Lockout by National Marble Dealers' Association. 48 Baltimore..... Butchers and packers Baltimore County Ironworkers .... Operators Demand for contract for 1904.. Discharge of two men Reduction of wages..... Reduction of 5 to 10 per cent. in wages........ November 24, 1903 December 14, 1903...... December 14, 1903 September 21, 1903...... January November 2, 1903... 5, 1904...... November 14, 1903. December 44 44 9 Yes. Union No. 45, Piano and Organworkers. 60 Butchers' Union, No. 90...... Yes Recognition and agreement. 60 2, 1903...... 2 200 2,500 No. Organization afterward No ... Recognition of union... 60 United Cloth Hat and Capmakers' Union... Yes. United Cloth Hat and Capmakers' Union..... WAS ESTABLISH CONSEQUENCE OF MENT Closed in STRIKE? HOW LONG? WAS STRIKE SET MENT, ARBITRATLED BY Agree TION OR CONCESSION ? |