Denver labor bulletin., 1918-12-21

all workers, lnCluQlnS women ana
developing policy with reference to
cancellation of contracts with due re-
gard to relation to the transfer of
labor from one occupation to another,
the conversion of plants manufactur-
ing munitions to the manufacture of
products required in peace, the stim-
ulation of the peace industries, plans
for public works, and demobilization
of returning soldiers at sufficiently
slow rate to insure their reinstate-
ment in normal occupations with the
least possible loss of time.
Shall Women Withdraw?
The question peculiar to women re-
lates to those who have taken mems
places. Many persons are asking the
woman in industry service of the
United States department of labor
whether these women should not now
withdraw to give place to the men.
1t would seem fair policy for
business organization to reinstate a
returning soldier in the position which
he held before the war, if he wishes
to be reinstated, but in justice to the
woman who has taken his place dur
ing the war sufficient notice should
be given to enable her to be trans
ferred to other work.
The question most frequently raised
relates to women who, altho not pre-
viously employed, have been drawn
into gainful employment for patriotic
reasons. No information is available
showing the extent of the employment
of women who have not hitherto been
wage earners.
Not So Many Are War Workers.
Scattered evidence indicates that the
number is much smaller than is gen.
orally supposed and that large num-
bers of women employed in the war
industries have been transferred from
other occupations. In one plant in
the war industries 65 per cent had
come from other factories, 25 per cent
from domestic service and restau-
rants, and 5 per cert from laundries,
and only 5 per cent had not been ems
ployed previously. If these figures are
typical, the problem for women in the
war industries is to arrange for their
transfer to normal employment, un-
less the plants in which they are at
work are converted to production in
peace time, under conditions making
it possible to retain the same person.
mel.
A report published by large or
ganiZation representing employees
points out that in the last twenty-five
years the employment of women in
rapidly than that of men and adds,
''The expansion of their activities at
this time may be regarded not as a
radical innovation but rather as an
acceleration of normal develop
ment." With the need for production
to feed ard clothe and shelter other
nations besides our own there is no
reason to believe that the employment
of women in industry will not increase
rather than decrease.
Problem Not Withdrawal
In view of this need and the re-
sponsibilities of women for their own
support and often for the support of
dependents, it is inconceivable that
any agencies of the federal govern
ment should urge upon them or upon
any other group of workers that they
withdraw entirely from gainful en-
ployment if they wish to make this
contribution to the economic life of
the nation.
The problem is not the withdrawal
of any group of workers voluntarily
but rather the organization of indus
try in such way as to utilize to the
full all of the available working forces
of the country. Who can doubt that
the enormous work of reconstruction
will demand the activity of every man
and woman capable of taking part in
the production needed, not only for
the United States, but for the coun-
tries of Europe?
Question of Child Labor.
One large group in industry, how
ever, should be withdrawn at the ear
liest possible moment-that is, the
group of children under 16, of whom
there are nearly 100000 employed,
according to the census Of 1910, and
of those more than one-half million
were in industries other than work
on farm.
| For women in industry the chief
danger is that they will remain in
certain industries or be introduced
into new ones at lower wage scale
than is paid to the women. It is time
to establish wages on the basis of the
occupation and not on the basis of
sex.
The woman in industry service
recognizes that this and other prob
lens of women in industry, which have
been familiar before the war, will be
accentuated during the reconstruction