South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-26
ENGLISH SOLVE
EMPLOYMENT Of
FEMALE LABOR
Women viii Make Articles in
Great Britain Formerly
Made in Germany.
BY EDWIN ". HULLINGER.

BN EDWIN W. HULLINGER.
LONDON. April 28.-CBy mail -
Women workers who carried on
IN the machine shops during the war
VIII work at semi-skilled jobs. prin-
cipally In certain new industries
which British capital is already pre-
pairing 10 exploit on a considerable
scale They will help manufacture
articles England formerly imported
from Germany. other continental
countries or America.
The viii work here on equal
footing with men and with full con-
sent OF organized labor
Sanction Female Employment.
In response 10 appeals of 200. coo
munitionetses threatened with being
ruled out OF the work shops bv
restitution OF the pre-war labor
status" the Amalgamated Society Of
Engineers has decided TO sanction
employment or women az repeu-
ton" work on this basis. j. r.
Brownie, president Of the A. :. e..
revealed 70 the United Press.
A series OF conferences between
the A. $. Z. and their employers be-
Kan in May 10 draw up a post wa r
labor agreement, including stipula-
ton definitely fixing womens status
in the trade
importance l. KnOkn.
The importance Of this may be
gagged from the fact that the A =.
+. dominates the mechanical trades.
where the bulk Of war substitution
OF woven took place.
Brownie declared that:
Munition plants are already I'M
dergoing remOdeling preparatory TO
manufacturing products England
either did not make at all before the
war or only 10 a very limited extent.
other plants are 10 be expanded or
reconstructed for the same purpose.
These products include.
Electrical appliances - formerly
ported from Germany. now TO be
manufactured in England on a large
scale
Motor cars-made on a small
scale before the war. but principally
imported either from the continent
OF America.
Cycles-ditto.
Capable OF Development.
Sewing machlnes-large indus
try at Glasgow but capable Of fur
ther development in England.
Brownie said he knew Of at leas;
one munition plant now being con-
Verted into sewing machine fac
tory
Brownie believed that this indus
trial eXpansion-together with the
natural reasslmilatiOn OF many war
workers into sO-called women's
tradcs-would absorb a large part
of the present surplus of female
labor.
He predicted that the new under
standing with the employers would
definitely specify i'm what industries
IN ewomen can work and in which
they cannot. This cannot be left
10 chance" he explained.
He regarded the occupations enum-
Grated above as the most likely So
luton.
Solve by Wage Scale.
The question OF equal footing
with men" probably will be solved
by Introducing a piece rate scheme
Of wages. enabling women to eaeru
gust as much as a man. provided she
produces equally, both as regards
quantity and quality Of product.
Brownie admitted the presence of
q strong prejudice IN the a. =. T..
AGAINST the piece rate system. but
believed this could be overcome.
Some Barriers Remain.
Barriers against women VIII re-
main. however IN the skilled occu-
pations OF the trade Brownie said.
All women who have been replacing
skilled artisans during the war will
have 10 leave and seek eemploymeu,
in the semi-skiIled lined
Brownie said that for the pur-
pose OF promoting confidence be-
twee the employers and men" the
4. :. +. viii insist that the employ
ers 20 through the formality of rec
ognizing the pre-war rights and priv
iieges in toto tncluding the old
limitations upon women labor
This. ne said. would demonstrate the
employers good faith"
some Restrictions Removed
Then the A :. f. viii ofter Co re-
move some Of the restrictions ON
women
Although the =. : r. still holds
that the womens place is I'm the
home, and not IT. the workshop" he
explained. eve admit the war has