The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-06-14
GENERAL LABOR NEWS

More than lIo,oOO people IN Japan
abandoned agricultural pursuits to
work in new and enlarged factories
during the war.
In the % coal-producing counties of
Iowa, 9,049, 500 tons of coal were pro-
duced from 256 mines, with an average
of 15,464 men employed in 1917.
No Argentine industry has been free
from the menace of strikes during the
last two years, but the railways have
suffered more than any other single
class.
The new German national assembly
has promised to introduce a bill limit
Ing the workday for miners to seven
hours, including the period consumed
in ascent and descent.
Leather workers employed on trav-
elers' goods have succeeded in short
ening hours, increasing wages and i'm
proving working conditions in num-
Der of localities throughout the coun-
try.
Illinois is the only state which can
report a decrease In child labor for
the period of the war, according to
Miss Jeanette Bates, assistant attor-
ney general, assigned to the depart
ment of factory inspection.
The threatened strike in the paper
mills of Finch, Pruyin & Co., Glens
Falls, N. Y, was averted when work
ers' demands were granted at a con-
ference between company officials and
representatives of the men. Under
agreement mechanics will be paid 60
cents an hour and other workers will
receive a fiat increase of cents an
hour.
Six hundred members of the Toledo
Ladies' Garment Workers union have
received a Is per cent increase
In wages and a decrease in working
hours from so to 46 a week, with the
provision that if workers in New York
obtain a 44-hour week that standard
will be adopted in Toledo. A guaran-
tee of so weeks work a year also was
obtained.
When 800 striking ice men, en-
ployees of every ice company in De-
troit, returned to work, after the diff
Guilty was adjusted by the mayor of the
city, they returned with increases in
wages which make them, it is said the
highest paid men in the United States
for this class of service. Increases in
wages made by the General Ice COM
pany give foremen $36 a week and
those who peddle ice from the wag-
ons $33
A general strike Of $4,000 garment
workers was ordered by Benjamin
Schlesinger, president of the Interna-
tional Ladies Garment Workers union.
The union demands a 44-hour week,
change from piece-work basis to a
weekly salary and a minimum wage
scale. The winning of the demands
would mean the revolutionizing of the
garment industry in New York, and is
aimed at the abolition of Sweat
shops" 1t is also hoped to extend the
"active season" from six to eight
months.
Approximately 600 ironmolders, 400
in Cincinnati and 200 in Covington,
KY, did not return to their jobs fol-
lowing the failure of the employers
and officials Of the International
holders union to agree after nego-
tiations pending since January /.
Preparation of a report embodying
organized labors stand on reconstruc-
ton and national and international is
sues was begun at New York at SEES
sion of the executive council Of the
American Federation of Labor, The
report will be made public at the fed
eration's national convention in At
lantic City next month.
Charles 2. Bruch, general manager
of the Postal Telegraph system, an
nounced that effective June /, the
eight-hour day and time and a half
for overtime had been adopted for
all the systems employees in ffty-one
large and small cities in the United
States.
The Cumberland Ky.) Telephone
e. Telegraph company has given an
advance ranging from 10 to 20 per
cent in the wages of wire employees
and 81 week in wages of its opera
TORS. It's wire men were receiving $6C
to 500 per month and its operators
So to $50 q week.