The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-05-24
IN THE LABOR WORLD

line Brencn senate passed the elSHt-
hour labor bill, which now becomes a
law.
Wages in Denmark increased about
IS per cent between April, 1914, and
April, 1917, and about SO per cent up
to April, 1918.
Striking cigar factory workers OF
Tampa, Fla, voted to resume work.
Twenty-one factories and about 5000
workers were affected.
Teachers in the Lorain (O.) public
schools have been granted an increase
in salary of $3.50 year for all grades.
More than 200 are affected.
Preparations are being made to es-
tablish demonstrating industry at
Fort William in Northwest Scotland.
Five years employment will be guar
anteed trained men.
The Cotton Manufacturers associa-
tion in New York has abrogated Its
rule that any manufacturer who signs
union agreement must withdraw
from the association.
A medium weekly wage of $3.50
was fixed for all experienced women
workers in mercantile establishments
in California by the state industrial
welfare commission.
The minimum wage law of the
District of Columbia follows the gen
eral lines Of the Oregon law, which
has been upheld as constitutional by
the United States Supreme court.
The biggest undertaking that the
British government will try in order
to give employment to men liberated
from the army forces will be the chan
mel tunnel from Dover, England, to
Calais, France.
OF the 100000 workmen employed
in the tobacco industry in 1915
throughout Germany there are now
only $4,000. Over 5000 cigar factories
in that country have been closed down
owing to the lack Of materials.
Gas workers at Bremen have Joined
the general strike there, and the mid
die classes have commenced counter
strike, according to advices received at.
Copenhagen from that city. An in
tensified state of siege has, therefore,
been declared.
A senate criminal syndicalism bill
passed the California assembly, SO to
8. Attempts to add provision spe-
officially exempting lawful purposes or
acts of labor unions in conducting
strikes or boycotts," failed. The as
sembly passed senate bill authorizing
the industrial accident commission
to take up the work of rehabilitating
through re-education workmen injured
in industry. 1t would create fund
for this work from payments to the
state by employers. The bill now goes
to the governor.
When the 48-hour week became eff
fective In the silk mills at Paterson,
N. J., the manufacturers granted an
increase In wages to the $4,000 opera
tives, paying them 80 hours pay for
48 hours work. Expecting loyal CO.
operation from all classes of the work
ers in giving the mills long period
of successful peace operation, the
manufacturers made the increase vol
unfairly. The workers, however, are
not entirely satisfied with the situa-
ton, since they sought. even fewer
hours.
Texas shipbuilders believe there
will be a market for all the vessels
they can turn out and will continue
operations, regardless Of the Elmer
gency Fleet corporation order cancel
ing contracts for boats on which work
had not started. At the shipyards at
Beaumont and in Orange no men have
been discharged since January / and
| the ways show as great activity as
| in war time. officials of many yards
| say that with the revival of the Amer
| lean merchant marine they expect to
keep up capacity operation indeti-
nitely.
Since the settlement with the paint
ers' union April l the joint concllia-
| tion committee Of the Cleveland Build
ing Trades Employers association and
the Building Trades council have been
settling details of working conditions
without reaching decision on any OF
the demands still pending from the
| twelve building trades unions whose
contracts with employers expire May
/ Committee members from both or
carnations believe that as soon as an
agreement is reached on one scale all
the rest will be settled quickly. They
are not expecting building operations
will be interrupted May ] by inability
TO get together on new contracts
The shelters of the Fort Smith
| (Ark.) Spelter company and the Ath-
letic Smelling and Mining company
suspended operations as result OF q
strike of 300 employees. A ten per
cent cut in wages, effective April !,
ia the cause of the tieup.
The British labor party press de-
partment states that the executive
committee Of the labor party has CON
sidered the scheme for league OF ma
lions adopted at the official peace CON
ference in Paris, and has appointed Q
subcommittee to consider the calling
of a national conference of labor to
discuss the proposed covenant.