The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-05-31
GENERAL LABOR NOTES.

pea NCliI VI IiiC CAAi
ployees in Italian automobile factories
are women.
Motion picture operators have been
given a six-hour day and 40 per cent
increase in wages.
Stove molders at indianapolis have
been granted an eight-hour day and a
% per cent increase in wages.
The total domestic production of
wooden and cotton goods in Argentina,
carried on in some eighty-one facto-
ries, is stated to have value of $1O,-
1854, and to employ about 1884 op-
eratives.
The Roman Catholic trade unionists
of Alsace-Lorraine, in a meeting held
at Strasburg convened by the "Syndi-
cats Chretiens," decided, after a pro-
longed discussion, to form new trade
unionist but nonsocialist organization.
| There will be six sections in the new
| organization, which will be known as
| CLASSIFICATION Syndicaliste Indepen-
dante d'Al$ace ct de Lorraine"
| Charges Of bad faith are made by
| officials of the Marine Workers affil-
iation against T. V. OGonnor, presi-
dent of the International Longshore-
mems association and other Off
GERS of the longshoremens organ
ization. Leaders of the harbor
| strike accused them of trying
to bring about a settlement with the
| private boat owners at lower wages
and longer hours than agreed to by the
railroad administration. The council
affirmed its loyalty to the striking
unions and rebuked the marine affilia-
TONS officers.
The women and girls employed in
the shops Of the Oregon Short Line
railroad at Pocatello, Idaho, are be-
ing replaced by returning soldiers as
these come home and desire to be en-
ployed again by that railroad. 1t is
understood that eventually the girls
will be replaced entirely and none en-
ployed in the shops. The railroad is
employing women as telegraph opera
| tors and station agents in some of the
smaller towns The women in these
positions receive the standard wages,
the same that men would receive In
these places.
Prepared to make strong demon
stration in favor of 44-hour working
week, the organized clothing and gar
ment workers of Montreal attained
their object amicably when the Cloth
ing Manufacturers association decided
to grant what the workers were asking
for. The change will come into effect
on April I, and the employers will pay
the same rate of wages as formerly
The Clothing Manufacturers associa-
ton is composed Of Ia of the leading
firms in that line in the city, and 1t is
expected that other manufacturers will
adopt similar course.
Criticizing the policy of employers
who retain women employees, State
Labor Commissioner Sam B. Montgom
cry declared that the employment sit
uation in West Virginia was becoming
more serious every day. '"In the coal
mining districts 10000 men have nc
work at ALL" he says; 1880 railroad
men have been laid off, 5000 EN-
ployees in the wo0dmen's branch OF
the lumber industry are out Of work
and hundreds of others are seeking
i jobs. The stagnation in the iron ant
I steel business, the coal business, the
indiscriminate cancelling Of govern
ment contracts, failure to resume
building operations in the state-al
are factors in making the situation
troublesome"
Increased wages of $4,000 yea
for the car men, $1,000 year for thu
shop and barn men, and $4,000 fo
track men were given the employees
of the Utah Light and Traction com
pany in an award of board of arbi
tration.
One hundred piano movers OF loca
73S, Chicago. won part of their de
mands against the Musical Trade
| Carriage association when Judge Sab
ath, acting as arbitrator, awarde'
them So more week In wages and |
raise of 20 cents an hour for overtime
They demanded an increase OF W
week.