The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-03-08
GENERAL LABOR NEWS

A demand for fiat increase of %
cents an hour for all Packingtown en-
ployees and that women workers be
paid the same wages as men for the
same work has been made to Judge
Samuel Alschuler, arbitrator under the
"war working agreement" entered into
last December by Francis J. Heney,
counsel representing the fifteen en-
ployees' unions operating in the pack
ing plants and at the stockyards. The
new wage demand, which means an in
crease ranging from 10 to so per cent
per day, varying according to class Of
employment, directly affects nearly
10000 employees working at Chicago
as well as in plants operated by the
"big five" packers in other cities. 1t
is direct request for from 81 to $3.50
per day increase for each employee
and comes on top of the $1.45 per day
increase granted when the war work
Ing agreement" was entered into.
At conference in London a scheme
for the prevention of strikes in ship
yards was unanimously adopted by the
Shipbuilding Employers federation
and the trade unions concerned Sir
Robert Horne, on behalf of the admi-
rally, addressed the conference and
emphasized the necessity Of an under
standing to prevent stoppages of work
and consequent delay in the output
of ships.
In view of the large number of
young lads now being employed in
British shipyards and marine engine
works, many of the shipbuilding and
EnglhgsfF1g employers IRE fnstitutiae
welfare schemes for the purpose of
training the boys in the technique of
their work and for developing them
generally, as well as making them bet
ter citizens and better men.
Wages In Salt Lake City and Utah
have increased 16 per cent since 1915
according to survey of the state by
the state industrial commission. The
cost of food has increased IA per cent
and where rent in 1916 cost SIS, ii
now costs $15.95, and light is $5.S7,
as compared to S. in 1916. Clothes
costing $40 In 1916 now cost S27.72.
The formation of an official all
women's council to deal with the prob
lens of women workers is announced
by Miss Mary Van Kleeck, director OF
the women-in-industry service of the
federal department Of labor.
Chinese walters, long known to this
country, particularly the West, are
making their first appearance in Lon
don. Heretofore Chinese have beer
employed as domestics only in the
Kitchen
Forty peace industries In New York
state need 21,000 workers, both men
and women, skilled and unskilIed, fol-
Immediate service, according to an
announcement made by the United
States employment service.
Resumption Of construction work or
post offices and other public buildings
was ordered by Secretary McAdoo
thereby resembling orders of last De
cember suspending all public building
on account of war conditions
Men released from the army and
navy will return to their old positions
In factories, stores and offices at Mil.
waukee as a result of the decision
reached by employers at recent con.
ference.
1t is expected that there will be a
drop in the average attendance at the
London (England) schools this year
of 1000 owing to removals on account
of air raids.
A town Of 10000 inhabitants could
be formed Of the men, women and chill.
dren who are injured each year in
Massachusetts in the course of their
daily work.
The Swiss federal council has de.
creed the adoption of 24-hour time for
railroads and other institutions under
government control at date yet to be
determined.
The United States boys working re.
serve has enrolled in Oregon during
the past year 1850 boys.
Alien and prison labor has been uti-
lized as far as possible in England
during the war, according to the Unit
ed States department of labor. Not
only were 100000 women at work in
England in January, 1,442,000 of whom
had directly replaced men, but $4,000
more were employed in hospitals or In
domestic service.
The number of shipbuilders EN-.
ployed at Hog island now numbers al.
most as many as the total number OF
iron and steel shipbullders reported
four years ago throughout the entire
nation. when 3,50S constituted the ma
tional quota.