New-York tribune., 1917-12-03
Labor Unrest in
England Due to
High Food Cost
Inquiry Disclosed Dispro-
portionate Increase in
Wages and Expenses
Mistrust Government
Workers Feared Promises to
Restore Pre-War Conditions
Would Not Be Kept
Mistrust Government

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The Bureau
ofrsbor statistics. Of the United States
nsnsrtment Of Labor has presented in
A,letin form the results Of British
Governmental inquiry into industrial
s-oblems in Great Britain. Embodied
I, ,be bureaus Bulletin 237 is the full
-.,,vt OF the British Commission of
,.orirv into Industrial Unrest, which
..TSrcted its inquiry IN eight districts
- submitted its report on July L.,
1917 ,..-.-..
,bssize as the leading cause a. indus
,r;sI unrest the fact that the cost OF
,;yire has increased disproportionately
,o ne advance In wages and that food
distribution is unequal. Another cause
rerarded SIS particularly serious is the
restrictou Of personal freedom under
.Je munitions Of war acts, by which
,rorkrer have been tied up 10 parucu-
lev factories and have been unable TO
ob.ain wages in proportion to their
kill. in many cases the skilled mans
ages were less than those OF the un-
.sIlsd. The requirement Of leaving
.srtifcates was reported as one OF the
ebicf causes Of dissatisfaction, but this
,,striction has been abolished by an or
Ssr Of the Minister Of Munitions, ef-
sse.ive October 10, 1917, under which
sry munitions worker may leave his
,,sssnt employment for other war work
~ giving a weeks notice, or such
lopger notice as is provided for in his
existing contract Of service.
Dlution Of labor and lack Of conf
scnee in the government growing out
~ the surrender OF trade union Gus
.ons and the fear that promises re-
r,rd;rr the restoration Of pre-war con-
Sitions will not be kept are given spe-
risl attention. II is stated that the
irritation caused by the withdrawal Of
the trade card scheme under the mill
tary service acts has subsided, but there
remains much anxiety regarding the
working Of the schedule of protected
occupations. All the reports refer to
The lack Of coordination between gov
eminent departments in dealing with
labor. and considerable complaint on
account Of the delay in dealing with
disputes and the difficulty Of securing
prompt awards is reported.
Besides the more general causes Of
industrial unrest, certain causes, such
IS inadequate housing, liquor restric-
tons ard industrial fatigue are men
toned as acute in some districts. Men
ton is also made Of lack Of proper or
gsnization among the unions, inconsid-
erste treatment of women as regards
wages, delay in granting pensions to
soldiers. and inadequacy Of compensa-
ton under the workmen's compensa-
ton act.
A number of recommendations are
nade by the commissioners. OF these
the first is that there should be an i'm
mediate reduction in food prices, the
increased cost Of food TO be borne TO
some extent by the government, and
that there should be a better system
q distribution. The necessity Of re-
6ueing hours, readjusting wages to
iairer basis for skilled as against un-
skilled workmen, the fuller use Of
trade union machinery, and renewal by
the government of the declaration that
trade union rights and privileges,
which have been interfered with on
account Of the war, shall be restored
after lhe war, are insisted upon. The
commissioners strongly urge the adop-
tion Of the principle Of the Whitney
report for the establishment Of indus
trial councils for each Of the organ
ized trades. such councils TO be COM
posed equally Of employers and en-
plOyes This report, otherwise known
rs the interim report of the reconstruc-
ton committee on joint standing IN
dusrTisl councils. is reproduced in full
10 the bulletin under review. Regard
e~r. - - e
suggestions are offered, 70 the effect
that one central authority should be
constituted, that local arbitration tri-
bunals should be formed, that local
commissioners with technical knowl-
edge 10 settle disputes should be ap-
pointed and that workshop committees
should be established.
Other recommendations are that the
compensation under the workmen,s 9
compensation act should be increased,
that announcement should be made of
;ae governments policy as regards
housing. that pensions committees
should have larger discretion in their
treatment of men discharged from the
army. that the recruiting system should
have most careful handling, that the
work OF government departments deal
ing with labor should be more thor
oughly co0rdinated and that when an
agreement is draw. up between repre-
sentatives Of employers federations
and trade unions il should be binding
on all in the trade concerned.
While the report shows very clearly
The prevalence and the nature OF IN
dustrial unrest in Great Britain, 1t at
the same time indicates that there is
strong feeling of patriotism on the
rart of EMPLOYERS and employed
throughout the country. and they are
determined TO help the state in It's
rrr...s -