Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-08-13
Minimum Wage

In spite of all that political econo-
mists might say to the contrary, the
legal minimu mestablished in the chain
industry under the English Trades
Boards act has proved itself to be an
unqualified success, is the statement of
T. Stitch, in the International Metal
Workers Review. The chain trade is
divided into two sections. One is call
ed the factory and the other the out
work. The factory section is compos-
ed entirely of males in which the bet
ter qualities of chain are made, where
as the outwork section contains males
and females in which, generally speak.
ing, the commoner qualities are pro-
Iduced.
1t is in the outwork section of the
industry that the wages board has
wrought such marked improvement
The factory section, owing to one of
the most perfect pieces of trade union
Organization, has not been affected by
the board, because the trad eunion
has, since its inception, been able to
introduce and hold steadfastly living
rate of wages.
In the outwork section the inevita-
BILE middleman plays his part, and
many people are of the opinion that
| it is attributable to him that wages
are SO terribly low. Before the opera
| tons of the trades boards act, hun
dreds of men worked as many as 60
and 70 hours per week for $500 to
$3.50, while women and girls could not
possibly earn more than $125 or S1.50
for the same number of hours. And
this in trade where the physical
RI hn Iof
furnace-was so enormous.
On the chain trade board there are
six employers, six representatives of
the workers, two government co-opted
members, chairman and secretary.
The board meets as often as occasion
requires, to fix rates OF wages or dis
cuss any regulation or complaint which
is conceded to be of vital Importance
to the industry. Inspectors are re-
sponsible for seeing that the orders of
the board are put into effect and a fine
up to 500 and $25 for every day upon
which. the offense is continued is
fixed. i
A minimum time rate of 5 cents an
hour, or $2.75 for 54.hour week, and
minimum piece rates based on the
time rate to yield at least $2.75 in the
case of female workers is fixed. In |
the case of male workers a minimum |
rate of S. for 48-hour week on the
smaller sizes of chain, rising up to
a minimum rate of $3.50 on the larger
sizes is given.
AS in the case of the women workers i
piece rates were filed to yield the
worker, at least, the minimum time
rate. Learners rates were also fixed
Tor both sexes. Last year another ap-
plicat1on was made to increase the
minimum rates on the grounds of anil
increase in the >cost of living. the
smallness of the minimum, and to com
pensate for the increased efficiency of
the worker
After considerable discussion. the
board agreed to raise the time rate. for
women workers, from cents an hour
70 5h cents, and an advance on the
piece rates of 10 per cent, brir ging
The minimum rate up to SO. A similar
advance was also made in the mems
'ates.
Those who are constantly, stating
hat higher wages ruin Industry. will
ind no data in the chain trade TO SIN.
'ort that contention. The prediction
# the workers that the increase il
wages would tend to expand the indus
ry, has proved to have been very wellS
ounded, for there are more chainmak- :
rs employed in the trade today than :
t any time in its history. IT
The administration of the act has f,
cen considerably strengthened in the
hahn trade by the workers Joining the !
rade union. A trade board without =
rade union could not possibly be al q
uecess in this industry. and l fail to II
ee that much progress can be achiev- n
d in any other unless the workers q
rganize in order to secure all the g
enefits intended for them under the W
ct.-Exchang W