The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-06
Wages and High Prices.

the public, relying upon current ru-
mors, often comments: But they
get such high wages in the Bridge
port munition factories" This COM
ment needs qualification.
1t is true that munition factories
have offered high rates of pay in Or
der to attract a sufficient labor sup
ply. But are the increases over the
general rates formerly prevailing COM
parable with the increased cost of
living? In the exhaustive report of
the special Commission to Investigate
the Conditions of Wage Earning
Women and Minors in the state, pub
llshed early in 1913, the medium wage
for women in the cotton industry is
given as 1857, in silk S7.65, in cor
sets, $7.87, in metal $7.43, and in
rubber $756.
The medlan wage of the munitiOn
workers studied by the Russell Sage
Foundation in the summer of 1916
was $1O.97. That is, the median
wage for munition workers in 1916
was about 5 per cent above the
median for cotton workers more than
three years before, and, roughly, 40
per cent. higher than that in the 9TH
Industries. Meanwhile, in the course
Of one year only, rents had so in
creased that the median rent paid in
families of women munition workers
was % per cent. more than the me-
dian rent year before.
Moreover, as far as the earnings of
women are concerned, during the
summer of 1916, the MANAGEMENT ap-
peared to be engaged in the process
n ra6I inc ~,
workers affected were caught between
the mlllstones of increasing prices
and decreasing incomes.
I'VE used to get twelve and a half
cents thousand" said an inspector,
land that certainly did make slick
pay for girl But now they only
give us nine cents for the same work"
Even where piece rates were not re-
duced the tremendous speed at which
the machines were driven, according
to the testimony of many of the girls,
In certain cases so injured the machin-
cry that they could not turn out as
much as they used to. The contin-
ual stoppages for repairs made big in
roads on the workers earning time,
What Must Be Done.
To meet the problems of unstan-
dardized working conditions and rising
costs, Bridgeportsi efforts alone are
not sufficient. The city has underta-
ken a vigorous campaign to provide
housing facilities, to improve the gen.
eral health, to organize Fairgrounds
and to regulate traffic, but the sit
uation calls for more than local effort
Even the two short years experience
seems to prove decisively that the pro-
lection of the workers cannot be left
entirely in the hands of the -organiza-
tions which employ them. The public
also has a responsibility to perform
through state action.
The whole situation transcends the
interests of any one plant or any one
community. The experience illustrat-
ed in this establishment affects many
plants in many communities. Eng
land, pressed by great issues which
haYe forced her attention upon funda-
mentals, has found it necessary to lay
particular stress upon the health of
her munition workers, and has gone
painstakingly to work to gather accu-
rate and authentic material concern
ing the industrial situation. The1
United States Department of Labor
should no longer delay in getting in
formation about the extent Of night
work for, women in the munitions in
dustry, its effects, the length of the
working day, the provision for rest
periods, safeguards against accidents
and industrial poisoning, wages, and
the purchasing power in communi-
ties affected by sudden expansion Of
industries
Completing the whole situation
and rendering it more imperative, is
the overcoming question:: What
will happep to our industries when
the war is tover?" England, again
looking forward, has extended the
Unemployment Insurance Act to cover
workers in munition factories and al
lied industries, as a means Of reliev-
ing the possible distress following
the close of the war.
The Legislature of 1915 in Connec-
ticut failed to pass an act prohibiting !
night work for women in factories.
Officers of the American Association |
for Labor Legislation have long been I
residents of Connecticut, and the Con-
sumers' League is actively at work in !
this state. Labor unions are thor |
oughly established in the state and,
are fortified by national affiliations. |
Yet these organizations have so far
not succeeded in arousing the public
and the lawmakers to the extent Of |
night work for women in
factories.
Another Legislature convenes this
month. If we can judge by experience
Of the, most progressive Industrial
states, practical measures can be
without delay, some by the
state and some by the city, to safe
guard not only the munition workers,
but employees in other industries which
in times of prosperity and excessive
demand for labor tend to place undue
burdens upon women and girls.
Night work should be prohibited by
effective legislation already tested in
such an important manufa curing
state as New York, where a rest pc
Rod in factories is definitely assured
for all women between 10 p. m. and
p. m.
The daily hours of work should be
reduced from the present legal limit
Of ten hours to eight, to conform With
The most advanced laws already, in op
Grafton in four states. -
Employment of women in factories
should be limited to six days in the
week, to make the other provisions
restricting hours really effective.
The law should specify the minimum
lime to be allowed for lunch, prefer
!, h |