New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-31
THE LABoRER's CONDITION


MARKED CHANGES FOR THE BFT~rpp
RESULT OF THE MANY RECENT sTRIKEs-nyrrp,
WAGES AND LESS WORK THAN THREE W.
AGo-wifY THE NORWEGIAN Is HAPPIER
The members of the trade unions of this rt,- -.
few exceptions, arc more than pleased with a.. 80
cess which has attended their efforts this snn,,.
secure concessions from employers The busv 80 -
Is now at its height and in nearly all tho trades 49,,
rates OF wages and the length Of the working No.
have been adjusted satisfactorily to the mer tn
noteworthy instances of such concessions ara =,
cases Of the brewery men, who, although pooi,.r NJ.
losing in their strike, had the number of their o,
ing hours reduced from eighteen TO twelve uith
material lessening of their Sunday work in adli,.,
to a liberal increase Of their wages
The bakers, too succeeded ia having tbair -
dition bettered in more ways than the rednc+ion :,
Their working hours and an increase of wayas =
has been custom for bakers to board with tb.;r
employers, which compelled them. after ,Vorl,;n.
from fourteen TO eighteen hours day in the an
ventilated cellars where the ovens are sitpato5 ..
sleep and eat in the same building thus paSsi,.,
nearly the whole Of their time in a bal atlncSDha
The result of their strike TO reduce their ysori
hours TO twelve, 10 increase each mans wages 81 =
week, ana 60 allow them to board with the boSs.,
or not as they chose. The car-dTiyers were fort,,
nate in respect to their demand for fewer hour
work. Their grievance of having TO drive in an
Kinds OF weather, exposed alike to heat cold ana
storms, suffering from excessive fatigue produced nv
handling the brake and reins often for eigh.ee,
hours day, was seTions one, and the desner..e
mood TO which such arduous labor would drivo
them was appreciated by the officers of the com.
panies of time when a dangerous strike could be
avoided by judicious concession. The concesSio,
was given, and while most of the drivers pleaded for
time instead of money!" We wish to have a liftla
recreation with our wives and children they said
their only alternatives on some lines were to
stop work or TO take increase of wages
Although much dissatisfaction has bean
expressed since bv the men, their condition WAS
relieved OF much of the unpleasantness which IL
possessed at the time of the projected strike.
most oppressed by reason of the condition of their
labor. and most benefited by the agitation of The
season. There have been instances where the move
ments of the employers and employees have been
mutual for an increase of wages. When the journey
parts OF the city 10 agitate a strike among the men
for higher wages the bosses encouraged the action
of their workmen, and formed an association ~
boss-horseshoers TO establish a higher schedule Of
prices that they could increase the wages of their
employees Ofthe minor strikes il may be said that
they have been successful too. The taiorS early in
the season, aided by powerful union and a large
bank account. succeeded in making their own terms
after strike OF three weeks. The cigamakers
have made numerous strikes in the city
and in % most instances =, received an
The iongShorcmen, steamship firemen, men engaged
IN the building trades and day laborers have an In
greater or less degree been successful securing
, The present activity in building in this city and
the consequent demand for both skilled and UNI
skilled labor at high wages, are fruitful sources
OF comment ON the comparative condition of The
working classes now and at other periods in tho last
decade when wages were so low in proportion To The
cost OF living that the amount OF work was
scarcely sufficient for subsistence. The price Of
labor in this city has steadily increased during the
last three years, ana the demand for il has con
stanty grown greater, until now it seems that in
some trades the limit of high wages has been
reached, and any attempt to force the rates higher
Will result IN serious injury TO the classes of work
men engaged in those trades well ms to the cOnfrac
tors who employ men at imitation prices Ii has bean
this attempt ON the part of the trade unions that
has before caused temporary lull in the building
industry.
CHEERFUL FIGURES.
That an appreciation may be obtained of the con-
dition of labor in this city during the last ten years
thefollowng tables have been prepared showing the
actual rates of wages paid for several kinds of labor
and the cost of living at the same time The first
table shows the weekly hours of labor and the
wages paid by the week in New-York City and its
vicinity In 1873 and 1881: