New-York tribune., 1918-12-17
Fiercer Battle for the Ballot
48-Hour' Week for Women
Set as official Standard
'ederal Labor Department Makes Recommends
tions for Feminine Workers, Including Rest
Time of 10 Minutes Morning and Afternoon

WASHINGTON, Dec 16.--Standards
governing the employment of women in
industry have just been given out by
the Department of Labor. They were
drawn up by the Women in Industry
Service of the department and approved
by Secretary of Labor Wilson. Miss
Mary Van Kieeck. director of the
Women in Industry Service. says in re-
porting on the standards:
In peace or in war, women's work is
essential to the nation. During the
war the experience of all countries has
shown that women were ready and able
to take the places of men withdrawn
Tor military service
! MASS Van Kleeck goes on to saw that
puolic attention has been called to the
service women can render in industry.
But the increase of their numbers in
industry started long before the war.
In the decade just preceding 1910 the
number OF women gainfully employed
increased from 100000 to $4,000 Of
"hom z.ooO'0U0 were in manufacturing,
: trade, transportation or public service.
"Ihe greater necessity for control of
the standards of womens employment
IS due to the fact that women have
been IN weaker position economically
tEan men," continues Miss Van Kleeck.
DEMONSTRATION will give an oppor-
tunlty for new upbuilding of safe
guards to conserve alike the industrial
efficiency and the health of women, and
to make it impossible for selfish inter
j ests to exploit them as unwilling co:a-
petitors in lowering standards of
wages, hours, working conditions and
! industrial relations which are for the
best interests of the workers, the in
dustries and the citizenship of the
country.
During the war, by vote of the
War Labor Policies Board, all contracts
of the Federal departments have con-
ance with the state labor laws. In each
state an official of the State Labor De-
partment has been deputized to CO.
operate with Federal agencies in en-
forc."g provisions of contract. This
affords basis and a precedent for con-
tinued relations between state and
Federal agencies in the upbuilding of
standards for women's labor.
"As the contracts grow fewer with
the coming of peace, the responsibility
of the state increases. But the recog-
milton of the national and international
Importance of standards of labor con-
dtions will still be paramount, since
in peace. no less than in war, the ma
tion will depend for prosperity upon
the productive efficiency Of it's work
ers."
Standards recommended for the en-
ployment of women are:
Hours of Labor
DAILY Hours-No woman shall be
employed OF permitted to work more
than eight hours in any one day or
forty eight hours in any one week
The time when the work of women en-
time allowed for meals shall be posted
in a conspicuous place in each work
room, and record shall be kept of
the overtime of each woman worker.
2-Half- holiday on Saturday-Ob-
servance Of the half-holiday should be
the custom.
3-One Day of Rest in Seven-Every
woman worker shall have one day Of
rest in every seven days.
4-Time for Meals-At least three
quarters of an hour shall be allowed
for a meal.
5-Rest Periods-A rest period OF
ten minutes should be allowed in the
middle of each working period, with
out thereby increasing the length OF
the. working day.
6--Night Work-No woman shall be
employed between the hours of II
p. m and a. m.
1. Equality With Mems Wages-Wo-
men doing the same work as men shall
receive the same wages. with such pro
portionate increases, as Che men are
receiving in the same industry Slight
changes made in the process or in the
arrangement of work should not be re
garded as justifying lower wage fol
a woman than for man unless sta
tistics of production show that the
output for the job in question is less
men are employed. If a difference il
output is demonstrated the difference
in the wage rate should be based upoi
the difference In production for the jol
as a whole and not determined arbi
trarily.
2. The Basis of Determination o
Wages-Wages should be established
on the basis Of occupation and not OF
the basis Of. sex. The minimum wag
rate should cover the cost of living 70
dependents and not merely for the in
dividual.
Working Conditions
1. Comfort and Sanitation--State la
= Dor laws and industrial codes shoul
be consulted with reference to provi
i, sions for comfort and sanitation
Washing facilities. with hot and col
water, soap and individual towels
should be provided in sufficient mum
Der and in accessible locations to max
/ washing before meals and at the clos
. of the workday convenient.
Toilets should be separate for me
$ and women. clean and accessible. Thei
,: numbers should have standard ratl
d to the number of workers employed
Workroom floors should be kept clear
o Dressing rooms should be provided ao
a jacent to washing facilities, maxim
C possible change of clothing outside tn
r wworkrooms. Restrooms should be pre-
: vided. Lighting should be arrange
!, that direct rays do not shine into tn
d workers eyes. Ventilation should b
o adequate and heat sufficient. Drinkin
{: water should be cool and accessible
+ with individual drinking cups or bubbl
y fountain provided. Provision should b
u made for the workers to secure a he
! and nourishing meal, eaten outside tn
Q workroom, and if no lunchrooms ar
q accessible near the plant lunchrool
f should be maintained in the establish
ment.
2. Posture at Work-Continuou
standing and continuous sitting al
both injurious. A seat should be pro