New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-24
Employment of Women


women wanted to take their places in
the factory but union rules forbade the
employment of women on many kinds
of work. These rules were relaxed,
and more than one million and a half
of women have in consequence been
put upon mems work.
an England to-day there are more
than 5000 so-called controlled plants.
The use in this connection Of the word
controlled Is misleading" the Cham
Der bulletin says. "The operation of
these plants is not controlled, or super
vised. In fact, so far as management
Is concerned, the owners are quite as
free as before the war. Only profits
and labor are controlled. All profits Of
such companies in excess Of 20 per cent
beyond the average net earnings of the
two financial years next before the war
are 70 be paid to the government OK
chequer.
"If, however, these average net earn
ings-which are termed standard earn
ings-are not fair in the judgment Of
the Minister of Munitions, a different
rate of earnings may be established by
him. In arriving at shis new standard
of earnings the Minister may consider
any pertinent circumstances such as
increase of output, new machinery or
plant, alteration of plant, etc.
where the owner has used more
capital or produces a greater volume of
output than formerly, the Minister
shall allow him either 8 per cent per
annum on the amount the Minister de-
cides is the amount of the additional
average capital or such a share of the
excess profit as the Minister decides
to be the amount the owner would have
earned by similar increase of output
during the pre-war period. The owner
has the right to have whichever amount
is the greater--the s per cent or the
additional fixed sum-"
Strikes Prohibited
In such plants there may be no
strikes or stoppage of work Those en-
gagged upon certain classes of munition
work are forbidden to induce workmen
to enter their employ by offering in
creased wages or to bring workmen
from a distance of more than ten miles.
Such manufacturers are directed to APP
ply for all men needed to the Boards
of Trade Labor Exchange.
Through the Board of Trade Labor
Exchange and to meet such require
ments as those above stated. there
has been created volunteer industrial
reserve in which are enrolled men and
women who agree to 90 wherever they
may be required by the government
and to engage in whatever work is
given them. IL is explained by the
bulletin a large number of men and
women have enrolled in this reserve
and are acting under the instructions
of the Ministry of Munitions. Such
persons receive, in addition 10 their
wages, a subsistence allowance from
the government when they are com
PEELED to live away from their fam
lilies. This is for the purpose of max
ing it possible for workmen to send
their entire wages to their families.
All persons are forbidden to employ
men within six weeks after they have
left work. unless the man has "leav-
ing certificate" from the last employer
stating that he left with the employ
ers consent. II such leaving certi-
fcates are unressonably refused the
Munitions Tribunal may issue certi-
fcates having the same effect and inn
pose a fine upon the manufacturer who
refused the certificate.
As further indicating what has been
done to secure labor needed In con-
nection with the war, there have been
organized, under the army, battalions
of dock laborers at Liverpool. London
and other ports. In London alone there
are said TO be not less than 10000
dock workers in the army engaged in
dock work. These battalions are sent
where needed to assist in unloading
ships. While at work they receive the
regular workers pay in addition to
their army pay.
Under the munitions act there has
been organized a National Advisory
Committee on War Output, composed
Of seven labor representatives., this
committee 70 receive complaints from
labor with regard to the carrying out
of the munitions act" the bulletin
concludes. "Under this central COM
mittee there have been established
more than seventy local committees.
On these committees there are only
labor men.
There has been no limitation Of
the hours of labor in plants. but the
policy has been followed OF continu-
ing such hours as are usual in each
business. To train women and un-
skilled men classes have been formed
at technical schools. Also groups OF
unframed employees have been placed
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