Evening star., 1923-11-11

posal and the length of a days work
reached the limits Of human endur-
ance. Twelve and fourteen hours
were the average. while women and
work sixteen and eighteen hours a
day. These and similar evils led to
the organization Of the workers for
protective purposes. Through their
cal action. &C on the worKine day vas
gradually shortened. The first de-
mand for an eight-hour day was
voiced in England as far back as
Congress at Birmingham, held in
1869. presented it as one Of its funda-
mental principles"
In Great Britain the record shows
movement was comparatively slow up
to 1914, but from then on 1t made
rapid strides, until at present COM
petent Investigators and authorities
assert that it is practically universal.
patient and determined quest Of an
objective that in itself was sound and
feasible. Here again We have the
most careful conduct OF q great move
the education Of the people. and espe-
objective. It's present status is
summed up briefly as follows:
Hours Not Restricted.
Working hours Of adult males, ex-
cept in the mining industry and In
certain dangerous trades, are not re-
stricted by law in Great Britain.
They are fixed in the principal trades
by agreements, under whose provi-
sions the forty-eight-hour week or
less is almost universal, according
to a bulletin on hours of labor in
Great Britain issued by the interna-
tional labor office at Geneva in Octo-
Der. 1922.
Under the collective agreements
the week generally consists OF five
and one-half days, and in those IN
constitute the normal weekly period
this involves more than eight hours
on the nve full days to permit OF
the half holiday on Saturday. In
sorae cases arrangements have been
made under which a working week
of forty four to forty-eight hours is
spread over five days. no work being
done on Saturday or Sunday On the
other hand, few industries, owing
to- the nature of the processes. work
is Continued through the week end.
the men working seven eight-hour
shifts.
are those constitutins ot;nna normai
but In the majority of the agreements
provision is also made for overtime IN
excess Of the specified hours TO De
paid for at special rates, ranging gen.
orally from 25 to SO per cent ABOVE
the usual rates, with higher rates for
weekend work, and in some cases
for unusual periods of overtime work
on any one day. The trades boards
normal hours of work, after the COM
pletion Of which overtime rates are
to be paid, to be forty-eight IN the
unorganized trades. In several cases
the boards have made provision unoea
extended where the employers re-
oufre attendance but five days
week. The decisions OF the ira 1raoes oes
boards affect approximately S,VoV,voV
workers and II approved by the min
lister Of labor have the force Of law.
Lack Force Of Law.
Industrial agreements In Great
Britain have not the force OF law
but they have been effective IN re-
ducinE the hours Of labor in nearly
all industries.
The factory and workshop acts of
1901 and 1907 and the employment
Of women, young persons and chill
dren act Of 1920 regulate their hours
of labor in factories and worksnops'
and to some extent have haq the
erect Of reducing the working hours
of adult males whose work depends
upon that of the workers covered by
law. Under the provisions Of the
factory acts the legal hours OF the
employment Of women and young
people are limited to twelve on week
days, except Saturday, inclusive OF
meal times. In certain industries q
limited amount Of overtime iS al
lowed women over eighteen years Of