New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-25
STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS
Department Of Commerce and Labor
Issues annual Report

United States suffered less from strikes during the
year 1906 than in any year since 1892. if the num-
Der of employees thrown out of work by strikes and
the duration of the strikes be taken measure.
In that year 216S6 employees thrown out Of
work by 2077 strikes undertaken by 1881 strikers
in 1922 establishments and lasting average of
231 days in each establishment involved.
These favorable industrial conditions regards
strikes during 1905 apparently exceptional
and cannot be assumed TO indicate any lasting
tendency toward industrial peace. for tho preceding
period of six years QS99 10 1900 was period OF
extraordinary industrial strife, and the number OF
employees thrown out of work by strikes in each
of the four years Q90f 1900 exceeded the num-
Der thrown out of work in any year on record
1894
The year 1894 stands out in the history of the
country as the year most notable for the great
number of workers thrown out OF work by strikes
over $4,000 employees being thrown out Of work
by 1349 strikes undertaken by 505,049 strikers in
S196 establishments and lasting an average OF ga
days in each establishment involved. In both 1892
and 1903 the number of employees thrown out OF
work by strikes was slightly less, ana the average
duration somewhat shorter, although the number
OF establishments involved in 1903 was 5000 greater
than before, reaching 20,2lS
These facts brought out in the tWenty-lrst
annual report of the bureau Of labor Of the De
partment of Commerce and Labor, devoted 10
strikes and lockouts in the United States during
the twenty fve-year period 1881 to 1905, just issued
The total number of strikes in the United States
during this period of twenty-five years 36,157
lockouts 1915, 3S,303 labor disturbances of
both kinds Strikes occurred in 18l 407 establish
ments and ockouts in 1851 establishments. max
ing total of l99954 establishments in which these
Interruptions Of work occurred.
The total number of persons who went out on
strike during the twenty-five years 672S.0is
and the number Of persons locked out 1921.
making total of 744i,279 employees striking and
locked out
EMPLOYEES THROWN OUT OF WORK.
Because of the dependence of one occupation
another in the same establishment. the stopping
Of work by strikers and employees locked out In
one or more occupations often makes 1t impossi-
Bile for fellow employees in other occupations to
continue work. The total number of employees. in
Guiding strikers. thrown out Of work by strikes
was s503,S24 and the number thrown out OF work
by lockouts was s25,6l0 or total of 9,529,43i en-
ployes thrown of work the establishments
Immediately involved IN strikes and lockouts. These
figures do not include any employees thrown out Of
work in the many establishments not Immediately
involved In the strikes and loCkouts but depend
ent in way another the establishments
involved, as for material. power. etc.
More than % per cent Of all those thrown Of
work by strikes were men, and only 943 per cent
women. In lockouts s41S per cent OF the employees
thrown out Of work were men and 80 per cent
women.
The average duration Of strikes per establishment
was 254 days and OF lockouts $40 days. The strike
or lockout does not. OF course, always result IN
the closing OF the establishments involved. but
6l3S cent Of all establishments involved. or
lu343, We're closed average OF Dol days. In lock-
outs 6S3 per cent Of all establishments involved
or I265s. were closed average Of so4 days.
The greatest number of strikes in any one in
dustry was In the building trades which had IS
per Of all strikes and 1888 per OF all the
establishments involved IN strikes. In the coal
and coke industry were eos per cent Of all strikes
and 929 per cent OF al establishments involved IN
strikes. THIS latter industry had more strikers
and employees thrown out OF work BY strikes
than any other. The building trades were second
In order in both these respects. with the men
clothing and iron and steel Industries next In
lockouts the building trades led all other industries
having 1913 per cent OF all Iock"uts more t'al oRe
half OF all the establishments involved. and about
30 per cent OF all the employees locked out and OF
persons thrown out OF work
THE STATES MOST AFFECTED.
Employees and employers who are concentrated IN
the great industrial states arc more prone 70 en-
gage In strikes and lockouts than those Throughout
the country generally. Thus. the five statcs-New
York. Pennsylvania. Illinois Massachusetts ana
Ohio-had GO &c per all str!kes and 81 A per
cent of all the establishments involved in strikes,
5622 per cent Of all loc4outs and T.99 per cent Of
all establishments involved in lockouts, although
these five states had only - per cent OF all the
manufacturing establishments Of the country IN 100"
The Importance Of the part that organized labor
PLAYS in strikes is indicated by the fact that OF tho
totaI number OF strikes in twenty-five years 6s99
per cent were ordered by labor organizations, ana
the strikes ordered included SD3i per cent or AL
establishments involved In strikes, 1860 per cent OF
all strikers and 7745 cent OF all employees thrown
ont Of work IN establishments involved in strikes
Employees who went strike succeeded more
often than they failed. They succeeded III winning
all the demands for which the strikes were UNDER
taken In 4 81 per cent OF tho establishments sue
cceded partly in 1928 cent and In only 800 per
cont Of the establishments did they fail entirely -
win any OF their demands. on the other hand tho
employers, when they took the iniative and locked
an, theIr amnoyes succeeded moro often than they
failed IIockouts resulted wholly In favor OF en-
Movers In 81 % per cent Of the establishments In
volved succeeded partly in lO-7l per ceut, and
failed entirely in 500 per cent OF the establish
ments.
The strikes which were ordered by labor organ
tzations were much generally successful than
those not so ordered. Thus, strikes ordered by
labor organizations wholly successful IN 494s
per cent of the establishments involved. partly
successful 1887 cent. and failed entirely n
only BAGS per cent OF the establishments ON the
other hand strikes not ordered by LABOR orgh!Zt-
tons were wholly successful in but 1886 per cent
Of the establishments involved. partly successful
IN SO per cent ana failed entirely In 56H per cent
the establishments
THE LEADING CAUSES OF STRIKES
During the twenty hve-year period covered by
the investigation of tho bureau of labor 4o72 per
cent NJ all strikes were undertaken for increase of
wages either alone or In combination with some
other cause and 1924 per cent were for increase of
wages alone Disputes concerning the recognition
of union and union rules either alone in COM |
tination with some other cause. produced 1885
per cent of all strikes and were the sole cause Of
18 81 per cent. reduction OF wages was the cause
wholly or in part. of ll& per cent OF tho Strikes
and CTS per cent 10 enforce demands for a
reduction Of hours. Only Sf per cent OF the |
strikes sympathetic.
or the total number OF establishments involved |
in strikes Il 81 per cent involved in strikes
dertaken wholly in part to enforce demands for
increase Of wages.
The most important cause OF lockouts was dis |
mites concerning recognition of union and union |
rnles and employers organization. which alone |
and combined with other causes. produced nearly |
one-half all lockouts and included more than !
of all establishments involved In loCkouts |
Strikes for Increase OF wages have been more |
successful than those for any other cause. having
entirely failed in only Sl96 per cent of the estah
lshments involved in strikes for that cause while
the next most successful, those against increase
Of hours entirely failed in 300 per cent of the |
oetabIishments involved. Strikes concerning recog-
oyIt InfOn rIllpS pDtir atla6 in