The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-12-07
SUGGESTIONS
TOSAFEGUARD
LABOR RIGHTS


States war production and to safe
guard the rights and health of work
ers have been made by United States
Chief of Ordinance to arsenal com
manders and manufacturers. The
suggestions are given out as Order
No. 10 and were issued on November
18th. This order is printed to
show the intention of the govern
ment to fulfill its promise relating
to the maintenance of labor stand
ards. A similar order has been
issued by the Quartermaster Cen
eral and is as follows:
While circumstances are not such
as to render appropriate the issu-
ance of definite orders upon this
subject at the present time, the fol-
lowing suggestions are commended
to the careful consideration of ar
senal commanders and manufacturers
executing oredrs for this depart
ment:
In view of the urgent necessity for
prompt increase in the volume of
production of practically every art
icle required for the conduct of the
war, vigilance sdemanded of all
those in any way associated with in
dustry, lest the safeguards with
which the people of this country
have sought to protect labor should
be unwisely and unnecessarily broken
down.
Safeguards of Efficiency
1t is fair assumption that for
the most part these safeguards are
the mechanisms of efficiency. In
dustrial history proves that reason
able hours, fair working conditions,
and a proper wage scale are essen
tial to high production. During the
war every attempt should be made
to conserve in every possible way
all of our achievements in the way
of social betterment.
In the preparation of the follow
ing memorandum no effort has been
made to establish or even to suggest
definite rules of conduct. The men,
orandum presents what may be con-
sidered fair, if tentative, basis of
action.
The department wishes to be as
sured that schedules of hours obvious
ly excessive or wage scales distinctly
unfair or working conditions such
as should not be tolerated will GER
tainly be brought to it's attention.
Hours of Labor
l. Daily hours.-The days work
should not exceed the customary
hours in the particular establish
ment or the standard already at
tanned in the industry and in the
community. 1t should certainly not
be longer than 10 hours for an adult
workman
The drift in the industrial world
is toward an 8-hour day as an eff
cheney measure.
1t has also been shown that hours
of labor must be adapted to the age
and sex of the worker, and the ma
ture of the occupation.
2. Overtime.-The theory under
which we pay "time and half" for
overtime is tacit recognition that
it is usually unnecessary and always
undesirable to have overtime. The
excess payment is. a penalty and in
tended to act as a deterrent. There
is no industrial abuse which needs
closer watching in times of war.
3. Shifts in continuous industries
Eight hours per shift should be a
maximum in continuous "a hour
work.
a. Half holiday on Saturday.
The half holiday on Saturday is al
ready a common custom in summer
and it is advantageous throughout
the year, especially if the work day
be 10 hours long the other days of
the week. The working period on
Saturday should not exceed five
hours.
An occasional shift of two or
three hours on Saturday afternoons
is unobjectional if essential, but the
additional hours should be regarded
as overtime and paid for on that
basis.
5. Hours posted 1t is desirable
that the hours of labor for every
trade should be posted.
g. Holidays.-The observance of
national and local holidays will give
opportunity for rest and relaxation
which tend to make production more
satisfactory.
T. One day of rest in seven.-One