The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-07-21
Preservation Of Standards Urged
by Association for Labor
Legislation.
ASKS EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN
Organization Declares Accepted Wage
Standards Built Up by Years of
Struggle Should Not Be Low
ered-News of Labor World.

tries to serve the nation in war re-
quires efficient machinery and proper
standards, is the declaration made in q
bulletin on Labor Laws in War Time"
issued by the American Association for
Labor Legislation.
las men go to the front from indus
trial pursuits, those remaining must be
kept fit to meet the increased demand
for materials" the bulletin states.
And as women enter industry in rap
idly increasing numbers, the need be-
comes even more pressing FOR protec-
tive measures"
Equal pay for equal work without
discrimination as to sex is urged.
Women who really take the places of
men should receive the pay of men,"
according to the bulletin. Accepted
wage standards, built up through years
of struggle, should not be undermined
under cover of war necessity No
such necessity has appeared"
Labor placement should be under
public control, according to the associ-
alton, and the whole system expanded
around federal, state and city public
employment bureaus.
Safety first and health first--good
business always-are pressing require
ments now that production has to be
increased and workers are pouring in
to employments new to them," the bull
letin states. vigilance, too, must be
exercised to protect women entering
industries from bad surroundings, in
furious tasks and exploitation-mora
or physical. Complete protection Of
working men and women in the pres
sure of war-and the guarding Of the
children--cannot be secured without
strict administration of labor laws"
Officials intrusted with the admins
tration of labor laws in practically all
the states, reports the bulletin, have in
dicated their intention to maintain
rigidly the protective measures for Ia
Dor during the war. ATTACKS upon la
Dor laws have been checked by over
whelming evidence that prevention of
speeding m and layerstraintis a. true
war necessity. Practical tests have
shown that maximum production of
materials depend upon protection of
workers.
The large cotton-producing county
in the United States Ellis county,
Tex.-yielded 143,714 bales last year.
This is more than six times the
amount produced in the whole state
of Virginia and more than was raised
in either Mississippi or Florida.
Beginning November /, members of
Cleveland CO., Electrical Workers
Union, No. SO, will receive an addi-
tional % cents a day and on the fol-
lowing May another % cents day,
making the mlnimUmA$6.20. Overtime
will be double these tates.
The mills and smelters Of the Cana
nea Consolidated Copper company at
Cananea, Sonora, Mex, 80 miles south
of Naco, Ariz., We're closed because the
Mexican government had ordered that
American workmen be replaced by
MeXicans
Portugal has law compelling all
employers to give their employees one
day of rest each week, thus putting an
end to their practice, which had be-
come quite general, of working people
seven days in the week.
Landlords in England are prohib-
tied from raising rents and the gov
eminent prohibits employers from re-
ducing wages of pensloned soldiers
who have returned to their former en-
ployment.
Directors of the Sinclair OIL and Re-
filming company have voted a wage bo-
nus of 10 per cent to all employees re-
ceiving less than $500 a year. The
bonus will be paid quarterly beginning
July /. ......
After two years of speeding up" mu-
milton workers throughout Great Brit
ain are beginning to show industrial
fatigue" which is having an effect on
output.
A British munitions worker was SEN
fenced by Birmingham magistrate to
II months Imprisonment for attempt
ing to restrict the production of NUM-
lions.
The executive committee Of the Do
minion Trades and Labor council is
protesting against the Introduction Of
conscription in Canada at the present
tine.
The Chilean government is devoting
much attention to developing the coal
mines of that country, some of which
extend three miles under the ocean.
A German woman and prisoner of
war, usually a Russian, working side
by side In the field Is a common sight
Throughout Germany.
Coal miners in the coal fields of AL
berta and British Columbia demand a
30 per cent wage increase and a gen
eral eight-hour day.
In 1898 the Stationary Firemen's In
ternational had 444 members. At the
recent convention the membership was
placed at 1900.
OF the $500 women conductors EN-
pioyed on the London (England) street
cars nearly half were formerly In do
nestle service.