Evening star., 1922-12-24

in continuous work the logical alterna.
tive to the two-twelve-hour shift sys.
tenn is the e-eight-hour shift system
ana this Is the usual procedure; no tech
hical difficulties have been encountered
oy an overwhelming majority Of the
plants which have changed from two to
three shift operation II Is not possible
TO give inclusive data as to tho effect
upon the number Of shift workers of
the change from two to three shift op.
Grafton because of variations in condi-
! t1ons. for in many small plants the num-
| Der OF shift workers has increased in
| proportion to the increase in number Of
shifts and in many large plants the
number OF shift workers has remained
substantially constant when changing
from two to three shift operation; fac
! tors to be considered in changing from
two to three shift operation are readi-
ness or the men to do moro work per
hour under the shorter shift. responsi.
dividual earnings and labor costs, zen.
eral industrial and economic condi.
tions. number Of working days in a
week and rotation Of shifts; the gem
eral effect Of the eight-hour day a. to
production. etc. has been Satisfactory:
wages tend to increase under the eight.
hour day; worlkmen use their extra time
wisely only few plants have revert.
ed to the twelve-hour day.
Spare Time Well Used.
One answer of the investigators is
worth quoting: The evidence is con-
elusive that the extra leisure time of
the men under the shorter working
day is used to goo 1 advantage. 1t is
spent in gardening, truck farming
and in doing odd Jobs which other.
wise would haTe to be paid for or
Wn111d mt ho dnna ~
The question of wage rates is, of
course. important. It may be said
that a comparison of wage rates un-
der the eight-hour shift operation
with the rates under the ten-hour
shift indicates general tendency to
increase the rate per hour under the
eight-hour shift. so that the daiIy
earnings will be the same as they were
before the change. In some instances
a compromise was made whereby the !
rate per hour was increased sum- |
GENTLY to make the daily earnings !
equivalent to a ten-hour day. In |
other cases a 25 per cent increase in |
the rate per hour met with the an |
proval of the men.
There is a natural divergence of
opinion as to the advantages and dis
tion. but the engineers found that the
weight of the evidence and the most
positive statements are In favor ~ |
the three-shift operation.
Benefits Even watchmen.
Watchmen are a good example Of
/ class of workers who. as q rule.
ire on twelve-hour shifts. This ia
true Of three-shift plants as well as
If two-shift plants. Some companies
have put their watchmen as well as
Ill other employees on three shifts.
some of these have been noted. The
Iew York sShipbuilding Company saw
10 reason for its $50 watchmen work
ng twelve-hour shifts when every. Il
me else In Its plant was on eight
lours. Ford's watehmen are on eiTht
lours. The Washburn- Crosby Com /,
amy, when the watchmen were ;;
hanged to eight-hour shifts. real ;
zed q more effective service. The I
hortening of shifts was regarded rs !
he important factor that contributed J
o the improvement. :
The superintendent Of q Philadelphia I
lant, whose watchmen were on :
Telve- hour shifts. thought It was q I
listake. A prominent fre insurance t {