The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-12-28
GENERAL LABOR NEWS

NINLttNA~ kFE0Ia III w
A demand for a fiat increase of 255
cents an hour for all Packingtown erla-
ployees and that women workers be
paid the same wages as men for the
same work has been made to Judge
Samuel Alschuler arbitrator under the
"war working agreement" entered into
last December by Francis J. Heney,
counsel representing the fifteen EN-
ployees' unions operating in the pack
ing plants and at the stockyards. The
new wage demand, which means an In
crease ranging from 10 to so per cent
per day, varying according to class OF
employment, directly affects nearly
$4,000 employees working at Chicago
as well as in plants operated by the
'big FIVE" packers In other cities. 1t
is direct request for from 81 to $3.50
per day increase for each employee
and comes on top of the $1.45 per day
increase granted when the ''war work
ing agreement was entered into.
At conference in London a scheme
for the prevention of strikes in Ship
yards was unanimously adopted by the
Shipbuilding Employers federation
and the trade unions concerned. Sir
Robert Horne, on behalf of the admit
rally, addressed the conference and
emphasized the necessity Of an under
standing to prevent stoppages of work
and consequent delay in the output
of ships.
In view of the large number Of
young lads now being employed In
British shipyards and marine engine
works, many of the shipbuilding and
engineering employers are institution;
welfare schemes for the purpose ot
training the boys in the technique If
their work and for developing then
generally, as well as making them bet
ter citizens and better men.
Wages in Salt Lake City and Uhh
have increased 16 per cent since 1916,
according to survey of the state by
the state industrial commission. The
cost of food has increased IA per cent,
and where rent in 1916 cost SIS it
now costs $15.95, and light is 1857,
as compared to So in 1915. Clothes
costing $40 in 1916 now cost S27.72.
The formation of an official all.
women's council to deal with the prob.
lens Of women workers is announced
by Miss Mary Van Kleeck, director of
the women-in-industry service of the
federal department of labor.
Chinese walters, long known to this
country, particularly the West, are
making their first appearance in Lon,
don. Heretofore Chinese have been
employed as domestics only Ia the
kitchen,
Forty peace industries in New York
state need $1,000 workers, both men
and women, skilled and unskilled, for
immediate service, according to an
announcement made by the United
States employment service.
Resumption of construction work on
post offices and other public buildings
was ordered by Secretary McAdoo
thereby resembling orders of last De
cember suspending all public building
on account of war conditions.
Men released from the army and
navy will return to their old positions
in factories, stores and offices at Mil
wauBee as result of the decision
reached by employers at a recent con
ference.
1t Is expected that there will be 8
drop in the average attendance at The
London (EnglandD schools this year
of 1000 owing to removals on account
Of air raids.
A town of 10000 inhabitants coult
be formed of the men, women and chill
dren who are injured each year IL
Massachusetts in the course of theil
daily work.
The Swiss federal council has de
creed the adoption of 24-hour time TO,
railroads and other institutions unde
government control at date yet to b,
determined.
The United States boys working re
serve has enrolled in Oregon during
the past year 1850 boys.
Alien and prison labor has been uti
lized as far as possible in Englan,
during the war, according to the Unit
ed States department OF labor. No
only were 100000 women at work Ii
England in January, ], 442,000 Of whom
had directly replaced men, but 45,00
more were employed in hospitals or ii
domestic service.
The number of shipbuiIders EN-
pIoyed at Hog island now numbers al
most as many as the total number o
iron and steel shipbuildersl reports
four years ago throughout the entir
nation, when 33,50S constituted the ma
J tional quota.