The New York herald., 1921-11-25
STRIKES in U.S.NOW
CUT $4,OOO,OOO,OOO
FROM YEARLY WAGE.
100000 Daily Loss Is Re-
ported in New York Gar
ment Industry.
100000 LOSE TIME
Illness and Other Causes Of
Idleness Cost 100000. 900
1 Days Annually.
MEDIATION MAKES GAIN
Governments Arbitration Ef-
forts Are Succeeding, Say
! Bureau Reports.
MEDIATION MAKES GAIN
Special Despatch TO THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
b. Wnshfu u0fon n Nnx l.

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. G., Nov. "a.
Wage earners throughout the United
States are incurring losses at the rate
OF $4,000. 100000 a year as q result of
strikes and lockouts and deliberate abb
senteeisn from their tasks, according
10 data collected by officials Of several
Government departments.
Despite widespread unemployment,
this year will establish a new record
for strikes. officials of the Labor De-
rartment foresee. During the first six
months OF 1871 the number Of workers
on strike was far in excess of the
number in the same period OF 1920, it
was shown in summary Of industrial
relations prepared for Secretary of
Labor Davis.
More than 100000 workers viii
have lost time through walkouts by
January I. That is in addition to a
greater number of workers temporarily
thrown out Of their jobs as result Of
work. The exact number Of workers
thus indirectly affected by strikes cam
not be determined by the Labor De-
partment officials because OF a lack Of
suitable data.
The average strike involves more than
1000 men, the Labor Department rec
crds show, although controversies IN
volve many thousands Of men and
women. Most strikes continue IN effect
NJ t<oe tx.,<>i bor< y,at
be effected. It has been found.
Mediation Being Urged.
In the strike Of the New York gar
p,ent workers alone the loss to workers
and employers is estimated at from
$3.50, 10 to $1,o00,0oo a day. The loss
to employers from a large strike Is diff
cult 10 estimate because II involves a
determination of the probable amount
of business that would have been done
had the conflict not been uDdertaken.
\ propa ganda TO conviuce workers
and employers that mediation should be
undertaken IN every case before work is
stopped or the workers locked o,:t row
is being carried on IN all sections of the
country by the Bureau of Mediation and
Eopciliation. The bureau Is working
through its thirty mediators in all big
Industrial centres. The mcdiators are
taking every opportunity to call the at
tention OF the public as we'll as that of
the workers and employers to the ex.
istence OF the Government machinery
for arbitration. In several big indus
trial centres, this propaganda has re-
suited IN q steady decrease In the num-
Der Of strikes, Government officials say.
Secretary Davis and other officials OF
the Labor Department are convinced
that the attitude Of all workers and
employers is gradually becoming more
friendly toward Government mediation.
An invitation TO act Is necessary before
tho Government can step into any labor
quarrel. This restriction on the Bureau
Of Mediation Is set UP in the law pro-
viding for its existence.
Women are figuring in more than half
OF all the strikes now being undertaken
More than 100000 are members OF labor
unions affiliated with the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor, It is estimated. Women
strikers show determination equal to
men In refusing TO go back to work un-
less their demands are satisfied by en-
pioyers, officials say. The number OF
women unionlsts is continually increas-
ing.
uuenpiOyment Being Reduced.
Illness. injury from accidents and
''personar' reasons now cause the aver
age industrial worker to lose twenty
days a year from work. according to a
study of industrial absenteeism on file
in the Labor Department. There are ap-
proximately 100000 WORKERS now
regularly employed In Industrial pur-
suits. Secretary Davis recently csti-
I'll nt.t IA <t<st to.
illness and personal causes means the
loss to industry annually of 260. .o00, 900
days of work. On the basis OF an aver
egc wage of So per day, the financial
loss to workers from causes other than
strikes. is $1,000. 100000 a year. The
total may, however. reach $4,000 700, 600
a year. officials estimate. Many work.
ers still arc earning IS and more q day.
Because OF the economic depression
and part time operation of most mills
and factories. Unemployment during i92f
and 1890 has cost workers nearly s10.-
00,000.0 600. according to estimates made
FOR the National Conference on Uuem-
poyment. With the gradual economic
revival now going on unemployment Is
rapidly being cut down. II Is shown In
reports 20 the conference. Uncmpioy-
inent now involves not moro than 2.500,-
900 workers. II is estimated. and the
number may be ae-fow as 100000 In
J,frsar, 100000 were idle. and BY
midsummer the number had increased TO
100000