The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-09-21
THE EIGHT HOUR
DAY IN NuLWAUKEE,
BY Carl d. Thomson.

lNAS SiSAS Aoui udy LOT al 1tS pubic
employes, including not only all la
borers and mechanics that work for
the city directly. but also for all who
are employed by any contractor or
sub-contractor doing work for the
city.
The ordinance reads as follows:
AN ORDINANCE fixing the num-
Der of hours which shall constitute
a days work for laborers, workmen
and mechanics employed upon the
public works of the city OF Mil
waukee.
THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE do
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS
Section 1. The service and em-l
ployment Of all laborers, workmen
and mechanics who are nov or may
hereafter be employed by the city
of Milwaukee,, Or by any contractor
or sub-contratcor upon any of the
public works of said city, is hereby
limited and restricted to eight hours
In any one calendar day; provided,
that not less than the current rate of
daily wages in the locality where
such contract may be performed, Zorl
the same or similar services rendered
by such laborer, workmen or me-
chanic shall be paid under the provi-
slons of this ordinance by aid city |
or by any contractor or sub-con-
tractor upon any public works of said
city. And it shall be unlawful for
any officer of the city government, or
n such contractor of sub-contractor,l
whose duty ieAshall be to employ di-
rect, or contrib the services of such
.laborers, workmen or mechanics, to |
or permit any such laborer, |
workmen or mechanic to work more
eight hours in any calendar day
except in case of extraordinary emer-I
gency.
Section 2. Any officer of said
city, contractor or sub-contractorl
whose duty it shall be to employ di-
rect or control any laborer workmen
or mechanic employed on any public
works of the city, who shall inten-
tlonally violate any provisions of
this ordinance, shall be deemed
guilty of a misdeameanor. and for
each and every offense shall upon
conviction thereof, be punished by a
fine of not less than ten dollars nor
more than fifty dollars, or by inn
prisonment in the house of corre-
ctlon not more han thirty days, or
by both such fine n Imprisonment
in the discretion of the court having
jurisdiction thereof:
Section 3. The board Of public
works is hereby required to make the
provisions of this ordinance a part Of ,
the specifications of each and every
contract which said board shall here
after let for the performance of any
public work pursuant to law. And all
contracts not incorporating the pro-
visions nf thia ~ dinanca Ch,11 I1 |
null and void.
contractors violating the provisions of
this ordinance shall forfeit all rights
under their contracts.
Section 5. This ordinance shall
not apply to existing contracts.
Section 6. This ordinance shall
take effect and be in force from and
after its passage and pulication."
h ordinance establishing the
eight hour day is in line with the
policy Of the present administration
In Milwaukee which as is we'll
known, is under the control of the
Socialists. a distinctly working class
movement.
This fight for the eight hour day
began years ago, and has been kept
up continuously since 1904, when
the Socialists elected their first rep
to the city council. In that
Year the city was building some big
twenty million gallon engines in
their water works system. The So
cialists tried to get at resolution pass
cd providing for the eight hour day
Tor the men who were employed up
on this work. The resolution was
adopted and constituted the first VIC
tory for organized labor in his re-
spect.
Later on, in 1906, various street
car companies were seeking fran
chises from the city. The Socialists
opposed the granting of these fran
chises except upon condition that the
company Should employ union labor
and grant their employees an eight
hour day. The provisions were de-
feated, but the Socialists kept up the
fight for the eight hour day in other
directions.
About the same time an ordinance
was introduced in the city council
providing for the general eight hour
day for all public employees. The
machlnist's union sent petitions and
resolutions to the city council urging
the passage of the ordinance. But
the city council was still at that time
in the control of the Republicans
and Democrats and they refused to
n g &C no ND ;,