The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-01-13
Wage Increases, Bonuses, Profit
Sharing, Insurance Benefits,
ETC., Affect Many. Z
CAME AT APPROPRIATE TIME
Gave Workers Occasion to Rejoice
During the HoIidays-$3oo, 100000
Said to Have Been Distributed
Woman Government En-
ployees Want Raise.


ployees and wage workers had occa-
sion to rejoice during the holidays
over the prosperity prevailing in the
| United States. This estimate of the
number Of persons affected by the in
creases in salaries and wages bonuses,
profit-sharing plans and insurance
| benefits is made by Secretary of La
Dor Wilson, based upon reports re-
ceiyed by his department. While no es-
| innate Of the aggregate amount of
money distributed under these vari-
Gus plans for helping employees to
celebrate Christmas and to enable
them to meet the high cost of living
Is made by the government, facts col
lected by the New York World indicate
that it exceeded $300,00O,000.
More than 500 woman employees of
tile national bureau of engraving and
printing attended a meeting held by
the "Girls' union" of the bureau, and
listened to six Washington labor lead
ers explain why these women holding
avn SANA ANoA pOoLlIOAo az llhS AiNiASJ
making plant, who had not already
joined the Girls union, should imme-
dlately enroll. The purpose of the
meeting was to increase the member
ship of the union so as to present a
more formidable front in it's fight for
higher scale of wages for plate print
ers assistants and operatives en-
ployed at the bureau.
The striking boiler makers of Liver
pool, England, voted by large major
tty to resume work. The new British
government adopted a rigorous policy
toward the Liverpool strikers, who, in
disregard to the munitions act, refused
for five weeks to work overtime and
then quit their posts. Official an
| nOuncement was made that the govern
ment had decided to deal with the sit
uation drastically.
Announcement was made by the
Union Electric company of St. Louis
| that in the last two months the wages
Of 1,100 employees had been increased
| and that in most -departmepts Dreft-
! sharing plan had been inaugurated by
| which employees can increase their
earnings from to 20 per cent
The A. F. Of L. convention has de-
clared in favor of the appointment OF
| a federal commission to investigate
the high cost of living and recommend
to congress measures designed to rem.
edy this situation and to prevent it's re-
currence.
Statistics show that the past season
has been the best Norwegian fisher.
men have ever had. They have earned
over 81 100000 more than they did in
1914, which year was specially good
for fishing.
By referendum vote the Western
Federation of Miners favor changing
the name Of their organization to 'In-
ternational Union of Mine, Mill and
Smelter Workers."
Owing to the difficulties in the Brit
ish boot trade it has been expected
that the minister of munitions would
shortly take over all the boot and shoe
factories.
In Austria those employed in agri-
culture, forestry and the homework.
ing industries are not subject to the
compulsory sickness insurance act.
Privates of the Boston fire depart.
ment will hold referendum ON the
question Of affiliating with the Ameri
can Federation of Labor.
Since the Berlin peace proposition
was announced the allies placed orders
for $4,000 tons Of steel for shells, and
are In the market for more.
The average earnings of factory
workers in New York have increased
from $1285 week to $l4.86 in the
past year.
The A. F. of L. convention declared
in favor of inaugurating a movement
toward unionizing negroes in the
| South.
Four hundred members of Bridge
port Comm Musicians union have
won their demand for union recogni-
| ton.
A worker in a munition factory, on
whom one match was found, was fined
So, or Ia days, at Gloucester, England.
International Union of Lace Opera
lives has Is local unions, with a COM
bined membership Of 1852.
The average increase in retail prices
of food in Great Britain since the start
of war is 65 per cent.
Carlow (Ireland) urban council has
increased the pay of their permanent
workmen by 25 per cent.
The Bank of Hamilton (Canada) has
granted bonus to all employees due
to war conditions.
Journeyman taiIors of Milwaukee
recently received an increase of 20
per cent in wages.
Laundry Workers international
union has a membership of 1890 to 81
| locals.
Coal miners in western Canada have
made demand for an increase in pay.
United textile workers have doubled
their membership within year.
France Is to have one meatless day
week.