The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-10-11
IN THE LABOR WORLD

States number more than 275,000
Sheet-metal workers in Knoxville,
Tenn, have been given an increase in
pay Of 50 per day.
More than 100000 wage-earning
women are now members of the Ma
tional Woman's Trade union.
Steamfitters and plumbers in Duluth,
Mimi, have received an advance Of 80
cents day, making their daily wage
81.
The building trades department Of
the American Federation Of Labor has
DIT the present time over 100000
members.
United States cigarmakers rolled 81
O60.960 cigars In 1917 while in 1918
they made over 40,000,000,000 ciga-
rettes
The Texas Power and Light com
pany's refusal to arbitrate differences
with organized electrical workers re-
suited in darkness for Fort Worth,
Tex, for several nights.
\ q
Foreign-trained workmen who really
know the finer points Of the decorative
trades are paid from $12 to SIS a day,
while Americans thoroughly competent
for ordinary work get So day for
their services.
Previous to the war Belgian cotton
mills operated about 4 10000 spindles,
about 100000 of which could be oper-
ated at the present time, providing
brass and copper fittings, shafts, pull
leys. ETC., could be replaced.
The Standard Oil company Of Indi,,
ana is adopting an industrial relations
plan carrying with 1t provisions for
annuities for employees and giving EN-
ployees voice in matters pertaining
to relations with their employers.
American Express employees at
Syracuse, N. ", quit work when in
formed that their wage increase, grant
ed June /, was not retroactive to Jam
uary l. The men We're told that an err
ror had been made In previous an
Inouncement.
Approximately 600 city employees,
representing l6 organizations, at a
mass meeting at Seattle, Wash, vote !
| to form zone big union for the pur-
pose primarily Of seeking a $50 a
month increase in pay for every city.
employee. Policemen and firemen
would be included.
Miners of Nova Scotia are planning
| to work only five days each week, ac-
ccrdlng to a statement made at Glace
| Bay By Silby Barrett, newly elected
| international board member Of the
United Mine Workers. The announce
ment caused d stir In Cape Breton
| labor circles
The project providing a minimum
wage for women and girls employed In
Porto Rico was approved in the lower
house., after many stormy sessions.
The bill provides that women under
eighteen years of age shall be paid not
less than four dollars a week, and
women over eighteen years six dollars
week. The first three weeks of APP
premiership are exempt from this re-
quirement.
| A demand for uniform is per cent
increase in wages for the silk ribbon
weavers of Paterson, N. j., has been
received by Albert 4. Wyman, secre-
tary Of the silk Employers associa-
ton of Paterson and all silk ribbon
manufacturers, from John Golden, gem
eral president of the United Textile
Workers Of America, who points out
that the weavers are not satisfied with
the concessions granted by the manu-
facturers, which range from 10 to 10
per cent.
Five hundred technical workers EN-
4 ployed by the borough Of Queens, New
York, at salaries ranging from ST.
800 to S2,750 a year, announced they
had joined the Union of Technical Men
| and presented a demand to Borough
President Connolly for an average I'M
crease Of $500. The men are RESPONSE
bic for all plans and specifications for
borough work and for inspection Of
lbuildings.
/ The Chicago structural iron workers,
4 who have been making 875a cents an
hour. The steamftters, who have
been getting 81A cents an hour, de.
mand sl.25 an hour