The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-05-01
ORGANIZED LABOR
HAD IT'S BEST YEAR
Received More in Twelve Months Period
Ending May /, Than Ever Before in
Its History, Say American Fedora
tion of Labor Officials.

tion of Labor Officials.
Washington, ID. c., May l.--0rganized
labor received more in the year ending
with May in increased wages, shorten
ing of hours and legislation than ever
before in its history, according to off.
cials of the American Federation of La
Dor. Wage advances were general the
country over in virtually every line of
industry and laws beneftting labor were
put on the statute books of every state
in the union except ive.
Wage increases were greatest in the
metal trades, many of which were stim-
ulated by war orders. Cotton manufae-
turing was the only main industry which
did not grant substantial increases. The
metal trades, too, claimed the greatest
number of strikes during the year,
though many plants increased the pay OF
their men and cut working hours vol
UNFAIRLY.
One benefit brought by the industrial
revival WHICH ldDOT OllEldlS COHstuti a.
important as increases in wages was the
effect on unemployment, which has dis
appeared within the past year Statistics
just completed by the department of la
Dor show that men of all trades have
been called in to work. Iron and steel
mills have on their payrolls now thirty
six per cent more men than were en-
ployed a year ago and the car building
and repairing industry has increased ITS
forces by about the same percentage.
Manufacturers of boots and shoes are
employing twenty per cent more men
than this time last year.
Wage increases during the year have
ranged from five to fifteen per cent. \ ,
the department of labor or the Ameri
can Federation of Labor, but reports
coming in to both tell OF what is being
accomplished In manufacturing plants in |
all parts of the country
The department of labor puts the coun-
try's 1915 strikes at 1900, about 900 |
more than the year before About two. |
thirds of them were for wage increases
or decreased working hours and most of |
them were successful Munitions strikes /
starting in the summer of 1915 attract
ed much attention. Most of them were
for shorter hours without pay increases.
Shorter hours generally were obtained
by the munitions workers, but where
wage increases were asked the workers
seldom got as much as they asked for.
Strikes in the clothing industry in
'astern cities involved a number of I
workers, ,,but their duration was compare
lively short. A middle western clothing
trike, in Chicago, however, lasted for
hree months and involved from 6,000 TO
5000 workers. Other strikes of i'm
,ortance during the year included the
,uilding trades strike in Chicago, which
alted building in that city for time
he oil and chemical strikes at Elizabeth,
4 j., and neghboring cities and the chi S
ago street car strike. The eastern 0hla /
oal strike was settled just year age.
The causes of strikes and lockouts /
we're numerous. In total of 200 |
trikes three hundred were for wage in
reases; 1873 for shorter working day 20
ecause OF wage cuts; so because of dis 4
barge of union men! 40 because Of en-. G
loyment of non-union men and 90 for r
pen or closed shop.
The most significant feature Of the I
ears labor legislation is given by labor $
,aders as enactment of workmen's COM I
ensation laws. The growth ef the in
ustrial commission plan is considered $
great Importance also. This plan
mites in one authority the administra \
on of workmen's compensation, factory
spection and other labor laws. 1t was r
lopted during the year by Colorado, In a
ana, Montana, Nevada and New York. q
Unemployment received the attention q
number of legislatures. Illinois es-
lblished a commission on unemploy-
ent; California and Nevada investi- u
Ited unemployment conditions and Ida = =
provided emergency employment =
rough county boards. - y
Public employment officers we're es- :
blished by California, Idaho, Iowa, !,
ichigan and Oklahoma extended their i
lblic employment systems. Seven a.
ates provided for licensing and super :,
sing private employment Offices. Il
Laws relating to the employment of
,men and children were passed by 70
mber of states. Arkansas and Kansas df
acted minimum wage laws and Cali IN
rnia, Massachusetts and Washington 70
lended minimum wage laws already in in
rec. Eleven states now have minimum go
Ige legislation. Arkansas and Penn DC
lvania passed child labor legislation to
ring the year. ab
In the field of safety provision the ba
'st detailed enactments were those for
llated by the industrial commission of wi
and the industrial boards of hi,
W York and Pennsylvania. The sea ou
ms act, the Alaska and Arizona old liB
G pension laws and CALIFORNIA; ap- pc
OF commission to report
social insurance were other important rio
,ctments. op
wi