Evening journal., 1918-09-24
WOMEN MUNITION
WORKERS in FRANCE.
Member of French Mission
Speaks of French Women
Workers at Home
MANY SUPPORT
THEIR FAMILIES

Employers OF women munition
workers In France are manufac-
turers, writes Mrs. Laura Miller. Wo-
mems Service. United states Employ
ment Service, for the last issue Of the
Employment Service Bulletin. omcals
Of the French Mission Of Ordnance En-
gineers that is now in Washington,
point out that conditions Of employ
ment in France have been very differ
ent from those In America
There was no State-owner employ
ment service I'm France for recruiting
labor at the beginning Of the war
French workingmen were almost uni
versally modified az the beginning Of
the war. When these men are released
for factory work now, they must, In
most cases, be secured through the
ministry of war. and are liable for
army service again II they do not work
satisfactorily, or II they are no longer
needed by the factory. Captured Ger
mans and imported laborers from Africa
and China do a great deal OF the heavy.
unskilled work. None OF these classes
va AaNNAf to - NNluNfA NiANf NNAlA nN AN-
cruited through a civilian agency.
More important yet Is the fact that
since almost no exemptions are made
from army service. women in industrial
ccnters had 20 60 10 work shortly after
war was declared 10 support the FAINT
Ses left by men who had gone TO the
front.
Lieut.. Paul Berthier. manager Of a
large munition plant az ST. Chamond.
between Lyon and st. Etienne. says that
more women than could be employed
could be secured at his plant at any
time since war commenced.
THE French Government has advised
us about the hours, wages and other
conditions which 70 Is wise we should
follow" he said. Employment may be
different at other plants particularly at
new ones established since the begin
ming Of the war At St. Chamond we
already know the women who come 10
us for work. Many Of their husbands
have worked for us. We know that
they can make and assemble fuses and
do other work that is not beyond their
strength. Teaching them amounts 10
little They learn quickly and do well
= d
with 6.000 Of them women.
when women have come 10 us for
work we have chosen the mothers and
wives Of soldiers. mothers Of children,
widows and the very poor. We can do
that. you see. because we know them.
a few OF them are big and very strong.
They wear trousers and smOcks that
are waterproof and their work Is TO
draw shell cases from the furnaces.
The great heat. the water, and the size
Of the shells makes 10 necessary for
them TO dress especially for their work.
Most Of the women do light work that
/ is not hard We see that they do not
have TO carry big loads.
MANY women who have the neces-
sary education. are employed in the
Offices In work that men and boys had
always done
WOmen's wages are not equal TO
mems. Lieutenant Berthier said, but 10
the wages paid by the private factory
must be added. in nearly an eases the
allowance made by the government TO
an soldiers dependants. Women at or
dinary work in a munitiOn plant, earn
from 20 II francs a day. The woman
who Is the wife Of a soldier. with four
children, perhaps earns S francs. The
government allows her another francs
for the support OF herself and her chill
dren.
Her husband probably made only r.
or "a francs. With his clothing ana
food supplied at the front. the family
probably has as much total income.
Lieutenant Berthier explained, as it had
in peace time.
What they most lack he continued,
Is the care which the mother could give
her children n she We're at home. No
special provision is made for the chill
drcn who are too young 10 work and
whose mothers are employed in the
munition plant at St Chamond, except
the babies. 4 complete nursery is fltted
up at the plant where mothers can
leave their babies In sanitary surround
inss in the care Of nursemaids. Mothers
are free 10 leave their work five or six
times a day % feed and care for these
children. Fresh, clean milk is furnished
90 any babies who are. arlifcially fed.
The entire expense OF the nursery Is
met by the owners Of the plant
"The factory at st. Chamond has been
unable to install modern features that
have been put into plants built since
the war began. because it is an old
plant" the lieutenant concluded. Rest
rooms. dininsrooms, and reception
rooms are provided in many modern
plants for the use Of women employees.
particularly in plants that have attract
cd workers who did not always live
in the town where the factory Is To-
Gated
America can, perhaps. learn from
France many things about the hours
and conditions Of labor among women
munit'cr workers. that will increase
prod" without harming the wom-
en-. r things that II is not wise
30 way France has had 10 do
then impossible 10 employ wom-
en- in the way we have done be-
cause y fundamental conditions
which control employment are different
in the two countries
IINTTEn 2JQEDIhN