The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-12-02
TAYLOR SYSTEM GETS |
SETBACK N. ENGLAND.
May Be Serious Labor Trouble IF
Employers Speed Up Eng
lish Workmen.
Eternal Struggle for Minimum
Wage Scale Many Men and
Women Are Out.

LONDON, Nov. S0.-(Special Labor
World Correspondence)-A number of
cases have recently been called to the
attention of the National Union of
Boot and Shoe Workers Operatives
where employers have handed the
the control Of their lasting and fin
ishing rooms over tt a machine COM
pany. In each instance not only has
friction resulted, but attempts have
been made to cut down wages and al
so to speed up and thereby increase
the output. -.
1t is stated that the machine COM
panies, in order to dispose of their
product, promised impossible outputs.
The manufa cturers naturally desired a
demonstration, and in order to demon
strate, machine companies have de-
manded that absolute control of the
factory be turned over.
This method is similar to the Tay-
lor and Emerson systems in America,
and If there is continuation serious
labor difficulties will follow.
The railway servants of this country
are very emphatic in their disapprov-
al of the report handed down by the
Royal Inquiry commission, and it is
difficult to determine what the final
result will be.
English papers, however, are print
ing statements to the effect that a
portion of the railway arrangements
have already granted an increase in
wages, and that other roads are to
advance wages likewise.
According to the London Times, the
increase already announced amount to
an annual cost to the Great Western
railway, of from $4,000 to $780,
900. London and Northwestern rail-
way, $400,000; Caledonian railway,
$4,000.
There is no abatement in the feeling
that national strike of miners is
| immenent. There are many griev-
| ances and they will very soon be
brought to head owing to the fact
that no agreement seems possible to
be reached between the coal opera
tors and miners.
The Miners federation has practic-
ally agreed that the minimum wage
for which they are contending should
| vary in certain. districts, but the oper-
! ators have not yeet come to this view,
| although it is modification of the
! original demand put forth.
For a considerable time the Lon
don Tramwaymen have been urging
an increase in wages and a better
| system of working:
It has been agreed to do away as
| far as possible with the spread over
/ time system; the wages of point shift
=, ers are to be raised from 26 shillings
! to p shillings; strappers from % shill-
ings to 20 shillings; drivers who are
! learning are to receive half pay for
three weeks, and conductors for two
weeks-this was formerly unpaid for
Recently 400 men, women and girls
came out on strike at the Birming-
ham small arms factory. They had
demanded an extra shilling week
and the firm was apparently in favo,
of conceding this on condition that
the men work two hours extra week
81 instead Of so hours. This being
refused the workers quit; they subse.
| quently induced other workers to joir
with them so that now over three
thousand are out. 49,
The big taxicab strike in this city
has been settled and the men are back
| on their machines. The employers
have agreed to their terms pending q
report by an arbitration commission.