The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-24
Strikes and LOekOuts During the
Year 1850.

AbhE looVs
WASHINGTON, April 23.-The adj
vance sheets OF the report of joseph
d. Weeks, expert and special agent OF
the Census Bureau, upon strikes and
lOckouts occurring within the United
States during the calendar year OF
1880 have been received by the In
terror Department. The records show,
he SAYS, that many strikes and lock-
outs still grow out OF the most trivial
causes. II is also true, especially 10
localities where large bodies of work
men are gathered, that there will al
ways be found men who, too frequent
ly from sinister and meTcenary mo-
t.ves, create dissenLions aud endeavor
to iDaugurate strikes. When strikes
are in progress their duration is liable
TO be prolonged by the efforts OF such
PERSONS. Yet the tendency, as stated,
is toward less frequent strikes and
lockouts. The number OF strikes in
certain Of the prominent trades, as
given in the report, is as follows: Iron
ard steel industries, 236; coal mining
1853; textile trades, 46; cigar,
making, AZ; building trades SO !;
transportation, SO; printing trades, % |;
glars industries, 81 piano making, IA !;
boot and shoe making, IL. Much the
greater portion (7l3 pei cent Of the
strikes aud lockouts reported upon
were caused by differences as to rates
OF wages. A total of SOB, or SO per
cent. OF those relating to rates Of
wages, or 81 per cent. of all, were for
an advance, and II, or IA per cent. Of
those relating to rates Of wages, or 81
per cent. OF all, were against reduc-
ton. Strikes growing out OF demands
for an advance are much more uni
formly peaceful than those against a
reduction. In conditions OF trade that
justify an advance it ia much more to
the interest OF the employer to give
In than to have his works stop. OF
the 8l3 strikes the results OF 4Sl, or SO
per cent, are given. OF these 1863, or
50 per cent, were successful, So, or Is
per cent, were compromised, and 227,
or AZ per cent, were unsuccessful.
II will be noted that while the
larger number Of strikes, 503 out of
7l3, were for an advance in wages, a
larger proportion OF strikes for this
cause were successful than for any
other important classes. OF the 307
strikes for an advance, Of which the
results are given, 127, or Al per cent.
were successful; So, or 20 per cent,
we're compromised, and l1S, or 80 per
cent, were unsuccessful. On the other
hand, of the As strikes or lockouts
where the demand was sgainst a re-
duct.on insisted on by the employer,
three OF those which the result is
given were successful, Is were com.
promised aud "a were unsuccessful
OF the other classes, those involving
questions relating to the payment OF
wages were quits uniformly success
full. Out OF the 20 strikes in connection
with the payment of wages which the
results are given, IL, or 55 per cent
were successful, six were compro-
missed, and 3 are reported as unsuc.
ces5iul. On the other hand, every
strike in connection with hours oil
labor, OF which the result is given
was unsuccessful. In questions rels
ting to administration and methods Of
work the strikers we're, as a rule, un
successful. OF the Sl3 stoppages by
causes reported upon $40, or SS pei
cent, were strikes; IS, or II per cent.
were lockouts. OF the $40 classified
as strikes the results of 1863 are given
OF these 143, or 80 per cent, were sue
Cesful; 1876, or AZ per cent, were un
successful and 20, or 10 per cent, were
compromised. OF the IS lockouti
that are classed the results OF 81 arr
given. OF these 10, or 10 per cent.
were successful; "a, or about 60 PEE
cent, were unsuccessful; while s, Of
about 10 per cent, were compromised
From Ala of the 762 OF the strikes re
ports were received, showing,the mum
Der of the idle in those cases to have
been 1913 262, making an average o
about $40 men to each strike.
The report concludes: "As TO wageI
lost, il appears that 64,779 employees
lost $3,7ll ,097. This would be at tn,
rate OF S57 each. As the entire mum
Der of employees estimated was 22S, 1873
the total loss of wages on this aversg
would be $4,000, 500, which woulC
have been received had the work ruI
constantly. OF course there would b,
a number OF offsets to this. In cas-
the strikes were successful, the add
tional wages would compensate for
portion cf this loss. In other cases
where unionism existed in the trade
in which there were strikes, the mel
received strike pay or strike benefits
, | lint the atrike hanpfitR were in mos
cases, simply reiunding money tina
had been previously paid. Then, i
many cases, the parties on strike 81
cured employment in other industries
, and hence their actual loss would b
what wages they would have earne
at their old labor, minus what the
did earn in presumably less prohtabl
employment"
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