The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-08-28
ORGANIZED LABOR WINS
OVER HALF ITS STRIKES

Statistics Complied by the United
States Bureau Of Labor Show the
Potency OF Organized Action--Non-
unionists Make Poor Showing.
More strikes succeed than fail, and
Ghe most successful ones are those
called by organized labor 50 the de-
partment of commerce and labor has
ascertained after a digestion Of labor
statistics gathered during the last
twenty-five years.
Statistics for the twenty-five year
period, from 1881 to 1906, show strikes
In the United States numbered 36.T5T
and lockouts 1916. The total number
Of persons who went out on strike
during the twenty -fve years was
6,T2S,O4S and locked out 1921. The
dependence Of one occupation upon
another IN the same establishment
sweIIs the aggregate Of employees af-
feeted during the period to 9.529434.
The average duration of strikes per
EcAd MAc. AWCnAFrnfE AAS .
and Of lochouts eighty-four days.
The greatest number Of strikes N
any one industry was in the building
trades, which had more than 26 per
cent Of strikes and 3S per cent Of all
the establishments involved In strikes.
The importance OF the part that or
ganized labor plays In strikes" the re-
port says, "is indicated by the fact
that of the total number Of strikes In
twenty -five years practically so per
cent were ordered by labor organlza-
lions. Employees who struck sue
ceeded oftener than they failed. and
employers were similarly successful
in lockouts. Employees succeeded in
winning all the demands for which
the strikes were undertaken IN 4e per
cent OF the establishments. succeeded
partly in more than is per cent. and
in only 80 per cent OF the establish
ments did they fail entirely TO win
any Of their demands"
Iockouts resulted wholly in favor Of
employers in more than 81 per cent
OF the establishments involved, sue.
ceeded partly in II per cent and failed
entirely in 80 per cent. Strikes ordered
by labor organizations were wholly sue
cessful In practically so per cent Of The
establishments involved, partly sue.
cessful in almost 16 per cent and failed
entirely in only 35 per cent OF the es-
adjustments, On the other hand, I'M
organized labor was wholly defeated
In sc per cent OF It's strikes aud success
ful in only "a per cent.
During the quarter century period
mentioned Al per cent of all strikes
were undertaken for increase of wages
alone, or In combination with other
causes. more than % per cent wholly
or partially by disputes concerning the
recognition Of union and union rules,
practically u per cent caused by re-
ductlon Of wages, almost 10 per cent
were to enforce demands for a reduc-
ton Of hours and only little less than
per cent were sympathetic.
Strikes for increase Of wages have
been more successful than those FOR
any other cause. Strikes concerning
recognition OF unions and union rules
entirely failed In 43 per cent of the es-
Adjustments involved, and sympathetic
strikes, the most unsuccessful Of all
entirely failed in 76 per cent Of the es-
Establishments involved.
During 1001-O5 @ per cent Of all
strikes and II per cent Of all lockouts
were settled by joint agreement and
less than per cent OF the strikes and
little more than 2 per cent Of the
lockouts were settled by arbitration
The department adds that these flg
ures do not really show the advance
ment toward Industrial peace, MS both
methods were adopted In many cases
before strike or lockout had been do
clared
"The year 1894 stands out in the
history Of the country as the year most
notable for the great number Of work
ers thrown out of work by strikes
more than 100000 employees being
thrown out Of work by 1,349 strikes
undertaken by 10000 strikers In s11C
estat lishments and lasting an average
Of thirty-two days in each establish
ment involved