New-York tribune., 1919-02-17
Payments to Idle
Blamed for Labor
Unrest in Britain
Wealthy Who Were i'll War
Work Take Advantage of
Insurance Plan, Causing
Discomfort Among Poor

A recently discharged American avi
ator who has just returned here from
England declares that more than so
per cent of Great Britain's workers are
either idle or on strike, and the rcr-
centage is daily growing larger. The
situation, he says, has arisen out of
the governments plan of dealing with
unemployment following the cessation
of hosilities.
Shortly after the armistice was
signed the British government an
nounced its unemployment insurance
scheme. This consisted of a series of
weekly payments to all munition and
governmental employees intended to
carry them over the transitional pc
riod while changing from one employ
ment to another.
The administration of this scheme
has proved to be the direct cause of
the strike epidemic now sweeping over
the British Isles.
The policy adopted by the British
government is as Follows:
All men engaged in munition facto-
ries, or employed in civilian capacity
under the government were guaranteed
thirteen weeks employment insur-
ancc at the rate of twanty- nine shll-
ings a week. These payments could be
intermittent and could be spread
over period Of six months
condition was that the man must be
discharged from his employment.
Women Cared For, Too
All women engaged in similar work
obtained the same conditions except
the rate Of pay during Unemployment
was twenty-five shillings.
I. Soldiers and women discharged from
the army, navy and auxiliary services
received similar conditions except the
insurance extended over period of
one year.
The administration of this scheme
was placed in the hands Of the Board
of Trade and ahndled directly by the
government labor exchanges.
Difficulties that prec pitated the
strikes are due to the fact that the
mparatively wealthy persons have
been drawing these payments while
bona fide labor has been denied the
privilege.
The Labor Unions say that men who
have patriotically gone back to their
prc-war employment rather than loaf
at the governments expense have
been unfairly treated. They point out
that several employers, taking advan-
tagc OF the clause that no man who
quits his employment voluntarily is
entitled to unemployment insurance,
have lowered the mems wages to a
point where they are receiving only the
same pay as men who are not work
ing.
Wealthy Women Accused
Another point OF grievance with the
Labor Unions is the fact that hun
dreds Of wealthy women who took on
clerical work under the government
during the war are drawing this un-
employment money every week. These
women, they say, 90 every week to the
labor exchanges and register as "do-
nestle servants" to obtain the week
~ payments, but refuse every posi-
tion offered.
fused, practically en- masse, to enter
domestic service or any other employ
mcnt that pays less than the govern
mcnt insurance scheme. This has re-
acted directly upon the male popu-
.latlon, and has seriously affected Brit
ish industries which rely chiefly upon
female labor.
Those Who Waited Benefited
ne greatest grievance as voiced by
the labor unions arises from the
workers who transferred tc other en-
ployment before the government
scheme was announced. These men
and women find themselves WORKING
for less wages than their fellows who
waited.
While the workers who have been
discharged az 81 result Of cancellation
Of war contracts are compelled to re-
gister every day AZ the labor ex-
changes they are not compelled to ac-
cept any employment. Should they ac-
ccpt the employment offered they
waive all unemployment insurance un-
til they are again discharged.
1t IL .he phase Of the scheme that
has produced the unemployment,
strikes ana stagnatlon OF industry in
Great Britain, it is charged.