The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-07-24
Exhaustive
REPORT ON
THE STRIKES

Washington. July 4--The industries OF
the United States suffered less from
strikes during 1905 than In any year since
1892. IL the number OF employees thrown
out OF work by strikes and the duration
OF the strikes be taken as measure. Ac-
cording to the 2lst annual report of the
bureau OF labor OF the department of COM
merce and labor in 1906 there were 221.s6i
employees thrown out OF work by 2077
strikes undertaken by 1887 strikers in
s292 establishments and lasting an aver
age OF Is days In each establishment in
volved. The report I'm part says:
''The year 1904 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 10000 en-
ployes being thrown out OF work by 1349
strikes undertaken by 506.049 strikers In
sl96 establishments and lasting an aver
age of 80 days In each establishment in
volved."
Statistics from 1881 to 1906 show strikes
in the United States numbered 36.757 and
lockouts 1876.
out on strike during the Is years was
6,72S.04s and locked out 1921. The de-
pendence OF one occupation upon another
In the same establishment swells the ag-
gregate of employees affected during the
period Of 9,529.434.
The average duration of strikes per es-
tablishment was Is days and OF lockouts
50 days
The greatest number of strikes In any
one industry was In the building trades.
which had over rs per cent OF the strikes
and rs per cent OF all the establishments
involved in strikes
THE Importance OF the part that or
ganized labor plays In strikes" the report
says, lis indicated by the fact that of
the total number OF strikes in 25 years
practically SO per cent were ordered by
labor organizations. Employees who
struck were successful oftener than they
failed and employers were similarly sue
cessful In lockouts. Employees succeeded
In winning all the demands for which the
strikes were undertaken in 4s per cent OF
the establishments. succeeded partly In
over is per cent and In only 36 per cent
OF the establishments did they fail entire
ly to win any OF their demands"
Lockouts resulted wholly I'm favor cf
employers In over 81 per cent OF the es-
adjustments involved, succeeded partly
In IL per cent and failed entirely in 20
per cent. Strikes ordered by labor or
ganizations were wholly successful In
practically 90 per cent OF the establish
ments involved. partly successful In al
most 16 per cent and failed entirely In
only 35 per cent of the establishments.
During the quarter century period men,
toned. Al per cent OF all strikes were un-
dertaken for increase of wages alone. or
in combination with other causes. over 23
per cent wholly or partly by disputes con-
cerning the recognition OF union and
union rules, practically u per cent caused
by reduction In wages almost 10 per cent
were to enforce demands for a reduction
of hours and only a little less than four
per cent were sympathetic.
Strikes for increases of wages have
been more successful than those for any
other cause. Strikes concerning recogni-
ton OF union and union rules entirely
failed in 43 per cent OF the establishments
involved and sympathetic strikes. the
most unsuccessful of all entirely failed in
rs per cent Of the establishments invoiv-
ed.