Great Falls tribune., 1922-02-19

Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas. 1t
provides an average weekly pension
for 315 men. who are no longer able
to do mine work.
The Carpenters District Council in
Syracuse. n. Y. representing more than
900 union carpenters, has proposed
for it's membership wage reduction
of 10 cents an hour, making the hourly
rate 80 cents instead of 81.
According to. the United States En-
ployment Service. employment in Mas
saehusetts in January. 1921, had de-
clined 80 per cent from the same month
in 1920 Michigan was hardest hit.
with 50 per cent. on account of the
automobile industry.
About 80 per cent of the Italian silk
filatures have closed down and fur
ther 80 per cent are working only
three days a week. The wages have
been raised, but the lack of water
power makes it essential that the
plants close.
Houston. Texas, maintains a gang Of
laborers, ranging in number from 200
to 600. paying them S1.25 day, and
If they have dependents, supplement-
ing this by charity. Employees apply
ing to the city for labor are supplied
from this gang.
As organized labor is represented on
the Workmen's Compensation Board of
Ontario. Can. the Canadian Manufac-
turers' association has asked the pro-
vincial government that representa-
tive of the manufacturers be appointed
to the board.
Coal mined by stripping has become
an important factor in the total pros
duction. Removal of the overburden
by the use of large mechanical units
enables stripping methods in some
places TO effect greater recovery than
is possible by underground mining.
A considerable increase in employ
ment from December. 1920, to Decem-
ber. 1921, is shown for all the textile
industries in the United States. The
largest increase in any OF the MAJOR
industries occurred in the WOODEN
trade, where 11o.9 per cent rise IN
employment was reported
Unemployment among the members
Of the German trade unions shows
remarkable decrease from June to
September, 1921. For example. the
creased from 3.S to is per cent and
from % to 90. Corresponding de-
creases are shown among other trades
as follows: Factory workers., 2.I to
1.3: textile wrkers. 2.6 to 0.5; building
workers, 81 to IA, and woodworkers,
A to is.
A report made by the commissioner
of labor to the Rhode Island general
assembly some time ago covering the
period from December 81, 1915, to
December 81. 1919, reveals the fact
that the average percentage OF IN
| crease in minimum wages in the entire
textile industry from December 81,
1915, to December 81, 1919, was 1877
while the average percentage of in
| crease in the maximum wages in the
states textile industry for the same
| period was 1888 This same report
| shows the average percentage of de-
crease in minimum hours of labor for
this period was 112 and the average
percentage of decrease IN maximum
hours of labor 1915-1919 was B.
The year 1921 was a disastrous year
| for British labor organizations. A re-
markable instance of how the trade
| depression is affecting the unions is
| afforded by the case of the Amlaga-
mated Engineering union which has
| paid out $1O,OOO,OOO In unemployment
benefits and has over 26 per cent OF
] it's workers unemployed. Fewer than
| three Quarters of the members are
able to pay contributions. with the re-
| suit that the current expenditure Is
| greater than the income, and the neeo
| for a special levy or some other means
| Of obtaining additional funds is being
discussed During December the
| nj embership of this union decreased
| by nearly 1000.