The Connecticut labor news., 1922-09-29

Its acceptance will, engineers say greatly influence the general labo1 situation and will eventually result II far-reaching changes in labor hour: in the steel industry.
 Dean Mortimer E. Cooley of the University of Michigan Engineering School, president of the council, urged the adoption of the report, calling ii a remarkable contribution of the en- gineering profession toward the ad- vancement of mankind.
 ?. Most Important Investigation 1T .. Work.
 Professor Samuel McCune Lindsay of Columbia University, representing the Cabot fund, cooperating with the American Engineering Council, said the report is "The most important in- vestigation of any industrial situation ever undertaken in this country He quoted Professor Henry R. SeagerA of Columbia, president of the American Economic Association, as sharing his views generally.
 The majority of managers and ex- ecutives of steel industries, with whom the matter was discussed, be- lieve, says the report, that the good O fthe industry can be better served by eliminating the I2-hour day than by increasing dividends, provided by means of labor saving devices, and in other ways this step can be taken without serious injury to the industry
 It is not expected, however, that Wall Street will welcome this. blow at the god of profits and dividends on behalf of the good of the industry. The best engineers, the foremost stu dents of. economics, and the most prominent managers and executives in the industrial world are on the side of labor in the campaign for the g. hour shift. Eventually the 12-hour day will be a matter of history, in the opinion of the engineers.
 Increased Product With Decreased
 Hours.
 "In almost every continuous indus try" says the report, "there are plants which are Operating on an g. hour shift basis in competition with 12-hour shift plants"
 Tn practically every major continu- ous industry, plants that have changed from I2 hours to eight hours have increased the quantity of production per man up to as much as 25 per cent
 In a few cases, the report states, the increase has been much higher. In the steel and iron industry, 1t was found that "the change from the I2 to the 8-hour day has secured results sufficient to compensate Tn whole or in part for the extra costs.
 Other advantages of the Shout day in the steel and iron industry are de- scribed as increased efficiency, better morale, elimination of the floating
 fo I2-hour men a day, off a week, and greater prestige of the industry with the public.
 There are few continuous indus tries which do not have I2-hour plants" says the report. "Of some 40 or SO continuous industries, number are overwhelmingly on three shifts. The majority are partly on two shifts and partly on three shltts' with three-shift operation on the pre- Donderance. There are a half dozen industries ip which two-shlft opera tion is so nearly universal that 1t IS difficult to find an exception.
 "Outside of the steel industry the total number of employees on 8-hour shifts is now considerably larger than the total number of employees on I2- hour shifts. Taking into consldera- tion all continuous industries between one-half and two-thirds of all workers on the continuous operation are on shifts averaging I2 hours.
 100000 Workers Still Work 12-Hour
 Day.
 There are upwards of 40 contlnu- ous industries operating more or less completely upon a shift system. They haf = 900 wage-earners on shift work. Their families constitute from I,5oo,- GOO to 100000 persons who are de- pendent upon earnings from shit work
 "There are 3oo,ooo Wage-earners working on I2-hour shifts. They and their families number more than r. 100000 persons.
 "The logical alternative to the two I2-hour shift system IS the three g. hour shift system, and this is the usual procedure. Nevertheless, other shift systems have been resorted to in a limited way, in changing from the I2-hour shift.
 "The effect of the 8-hour as com pared with the I2-hour shift opera tion on the quantity and quality Of production, absenteeism and industrial accidents, has been satisfactory where good management and cooperation of labor have been secured. In prac- tically every major continuous indus try there are plants which have in- creased the quantity of production per man as much as 25 pc rcent. In few exceptional cases the increase has been much higher.
 Evidence shows also an improve ment in quality of production follow ing the production in the length of the shifts"
 Investigation Covered Period of Two
 Years.
 Dr. H. E. Howe of Washington, chairman of the work-periods com mittee, presented the report, which