The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-05-13
DECREASES IN
WORKERS. WAGES


| through the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistcs received and tabulated re-
norts concerning the volume of en-
ployment in March, 1921, from rep
resentative establishments i'll 13 man.
ufacturing industries and in btu
minous coal mining.
Comparing the figures of March,
| 1921, with those of identical estab-
lishments for March, 1920 it appears
! that in all industries there were
decreases in the number of persons
employed The largest decrease,
53.5 per cent, is shown in the auto
mobile industry. Leather shows a
decrease of 1913 per cent and hos
iery and underwear decrease of BAL
per cent
All of the IA industries show de-
creases in the total amount of the
pay roll in March, 1921, as COM
pared with March, 1920 The most
important percentage decrease, GA
I appears in automobiles. Leather
shows a decrease of 46.6 per cent;
hosiery and underwear, decrease
of 45.8 per cent; and iron and steel
a decrease of 44.2 per cent.
| Ill comparing NldICil WIFI GDI
airy, 7 industries show an increase
in the amount of money paid to
employees, while seven show de-
crease. The most important in
crease, 44.7 per cent, appears in the
automobile industry. Wooden shows
an increase of 25.7 per cent. A
decrease of 1913 per cent appears
in both iron and steel, and coal
mining.
Changes in Wage Rates and Per
Capita Earnings
During the period February Is tC
March Is, 1921, establishments il
II of the IA industries reported
changes in wage rates. One firm
in mems ready-made clothing and
another in silk reported an increase
All other wage rate changes were
| decreases.
IRON AND STEEL. The largest
reduction reported by any plant in
the iron and steel industry was 81
) per cent, which affected 40 per cent
| of the force. In nine establishments
all of the employees were decreased
approximately 20 per cent. Ninety
eight per cent of the force in one
firm and 95 per cent of the force
in another firm had a wage rate
reduction of 20 per cent, while still
another firm reported a 20 per cent
cut did not state the number OF
employees affected. One concern
| reported a reduction ranging from
3 to 20 per cent, affecting all en-
ployees, while another concern re.
| cd HopraasaS from IL
per cent to Is per cent, affecting
all employees. A reduction rang.
ing from A per cent to Is per cent
was reported by one mill, affecting
II per cent of the force employed
Thirty per cent of the men in one
plant were decreased II per cent
in wages and in another plant q
per cent of the employees were re,
duced Is per cent. A wage rate
reduction of IS per cent was re,
ported by 6 plants affecting all OF
the force in three plants, SO pei
cent in the fourth, IS per cent in {
fifth, and 65 per cent in a sixth
Eighty per cent of the men in on,
plant were decreased ten per cen
in wages and fifty per cent o.
the force in another were re
duced seven per cent in wages
In one mill the laborers, OF
80 per cent of the force, had {
wage reduction of 10 cents an hour
Business depression, caused by lacl
reported for this industry. The pen
capita earnings show a decrease OF
SO per cent, when comparing the
February and March figures.
| AUTOMOBILES. Comparing thu
per capita earnings of employees
for March over February, an in.
crease of "a per cent is shown
A large majority of the plants are
gradually resuming operations.
CAR BUILDING AND REPAIR
ING. A wage rate decrease of
per cent to 90 per cent of the force
was reported by one shop. Many
shops report a small reduction il
force, but the per capita earnings
show an increase of one per cent
when comparing the March with
the February payroll periods.
| COTTON MANUFACTURING. Re.
auctions of 20 per cent, 17R pei
cent, and 10 per cent were reported
by three firms, affecting practically
the entire force in two firms, anC
about so per cent of the force in the
third firm. While a large per-
centage of the plants were working
full time, slight curtailment in pro-
duction was reported causing the
per capita earnings to be or per
cent less for March than for the
previous month.
COTTON FINISHING. The pei
capita earnings for March are 0.s
per cent higher than for February
due to full time employment in this
industry.
HOSIERY AND UNDERWEAR
All the employees in one concern
had % per cent reduction in wages
| and in another concern the entire
force was reduced II per cent in
wages. Two firms reported 1C
per cent decrease but did not state
the number of people affected. This
industry reports improved business
conditions after period of depres-
sion due to wage rate decreases and
part time employment. The increase
in per capita earnings in March oven
February is IL per cent.
WOOLENS. One establishment
reported wage rate decrease OF
224a per cent which affected all OF
the force. Many wooden mills are
steadily approaching normally. Ar
increase of rs per cent in per CAPT
ia earnings is shown for this pay.
roll period over shat of last month
SILKS. An increase of IL pei
cent was given to 1.5 per cent OF
the employees in one establishment
A reduction of 10 per cent, affecting
all of the employees in one concern
and ~ ner cent in another concern