The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-12-03
INDUSTRIAL UNREST
IN BRITAIN CAUSED
BY HIGH LIVING COST

Tho fun report If the British commits
has just boon reproduced in bulletin
no. 2%7D "i the Burcan Of Labor Stalls
Tics Of the +. :. department nj Labor
The report l., presented i'll light sections.
showing the results OF inquiries in eight
DISTRICTS al Great britain. Inc commits
sion was appoint cd .lunG IL. 1917. and ts'e
completed report WAS submitted July j,
1917.
The reports for all the districts en-
phasizc as the leading cause "t industrial
unrest tho fact that TN" cost nt lirins
has increased diSprop"rtionatrly In the
advance nf wages and That food distrl-
hutton is unequal. Another cause re-
rardcd as particularly serious Is the ro-
Strictinn Of personal freedom under the
Munitions OF War Acts. 10y which work
men have hrcu tird up IT, particular fac
Iorira and have been unable tn OBTAIN
wages in proportion 10 their skill in
many cases the skilled mans wages were
less than those uf the unsHlllcd. The
requirement of leaving certificates WIS
reported as ono uf the chief cauSrs o:
dissatisfaction. but this restriction has
been abolished by an order Of the MINI
lister Of Munitions. effective October La.
1871, under which amy muitionS worker
may leave his present employment l"r
other war work by giving weeks no
lice. or such longer notice ms provided
for in his existing contract of service.
Lack Of Confidence.
Dilution Of labor and lack Of confidence
in the government growing ont ~ lhr
surrender Of trHdc union customs anu lh"
fear that promises regarding the restora-
ton of prc-War conditions will not BE-
kept. arc given special attention. II Is
stated that the irritation cauS"d by lhI
hdrawal uf thu trad" card S@hclnc
under the Military S"rvrrr Acts has sub
sided. bUt there remains mich anxiety
regarding the working of tn" Schctiuio
of protected occupations MI tho reports
refer In the lack or coordinate ion between
government departments III ''nhllnS Win
labor. and considerable complaint on AZ
count OF the delay in dealing with hiS-
uuicS and III" difficulty nf securing
awards is reported.
Besides III" more general causes "t IN
duStrihl unrest certain causes. such rs
inadequate housing. liquor restrictions.
and industrial fatigue ar" mentioned as
acute II som" districts. Mention ~ also
made of lack al proper organization
among tn" unions. ITrnnSidrrat" trra' l.
nrnt Of women AS regards wages. delay
in granting pensions Ia soldiers. and IN
adequacy ~ compensation under tn"
Wurkmcn'S Compensation Act.
Recommendations.
\ number at rcrnInDrnda arr
nude by the commissioners. nf these The
first is that there should u" an imm"dl=
int" reduction in food prizes. tn" in
ha Ii "a, NJ,
extent by tn government. and that thor"
should Ia, Il better system Of 'iiSiriAntl"n.
Tho necessity Of reducing hours. read
luStiue wages Ia a f:lirrr basis Tor SkllI-
cd as against unsl;illrd worl;m"n. tho
fuller us" Of trades union machinery,
and renewals by IN" c"vrrnmrnl Of III"
declaration that trud" unI"n rights and
privileges which have h""n lnt"rfrrcd
with on account NJ tn" war shall h' re-
stored after n" war. r" insisted upon,
Tho commissioners sirnuSl.'. uFE" tn
adoption Of tho primo iJlc ~ tho Whit
ley report TOR tho establishment Of in
dustrial councils for each of tn" organic
ID trades such councils IN Ia. composed
equally Of employers and employees. THIS
report, otherwise known as III" interim
Nrrprrt Of N" r"rnnst-urtInu c"riEItt''
IN joint standing industrial c":inc:ls. IS
reproduced in fuIl in III" h,;ll"iin under
review. Regarding IN" settlement NJ
disputes various suggestions hr" Offer
al. 10 til. effect thrl "nH central aH-
thority should l"- instituted. that local
arbitration tribunals should he formed.
that local comm !Ssi"rcrS with i"rhinral
knowledge /" S"ttl" disputes should h'
appointed. und that workshop commit
ICES should h"."$tahI!Sh"h.