The Connecticut labor news., 1923-06-15

shift operation" He concluded: "The evidence clearly indicates, when the change has been made after
 careful consideration, wise planning and close attention given to execu- ton, that the results of changing from Ia I2-hour to a shorter shift have been satisfactory to all concerned. The genral conclusions to be drawn from this study are:
 "I.-The shorter shift has resulted in satisfactory improvement of
 quantity and quality of production and in reduction of absenteeism and
 industrial accidents, where good man agement prevailed and the co-opera-
 tion of labor was secured
 "2.-In general no economic loss
 Inherently obtains because of such a change, provided management uses discretion, carefully plans and com petently administers productive pro- cedure and further provided that la Dor sincerely and fully does it's part.
 "3.-In general the tendency has been to increase the rate per hour under the shorter shift, so that the daily earnings of the workers are the same as they were before the change. In some instances a compr omise was made whereby the workers received an increase in hourly rate sufficient to compensate them for one-half the number of hours by which the length of the shift was shortened.
 't4-The evidence shows that there are no technical processes that pro- hibit shorter shift and furthermore the extra time for leisure has in gen. eral been used to advantage by the workers
 The conclusion Is inevitable that green and inefficient management in the steel industry are responsible for the continuance of the I2-hour day and for the economic wastes that tend to keep wages down.
 Here's How Engineers Condemn
 Steel Bosses. The famous report of the engineers that led to the appointment by Judge Gary of his star chamber committee of bosses says:
 The principle of the I2-hour shift is survival of the time when 1t was a custom to work men long hours, and when the mechanical side of the iron and steel industry was less per fectly developed, so that periods of idleness of the mill and the HIGH IIeQuGnI1Y than at present But now prac- tically all the heavy labor at the blast furnace is handled by machinery ~! What reasons remain why the steel industry does not divide the 24 hours into three shifts instead of two? Executives hesitate to take the step because they do not know what the result will be- * The American iron and steel industry is at dis advantage because it never has had a we'll deveolped research department 1 Most of the important techni- cal advances of great magnitude, even though invented in America, had had to be tested and exploited in foreign countries before they were generally | adopted in American industry"
 There Is the crux of the situation. | in part of the steel in dustry Oudge Gary's parD is not on it's toes but prefers to stick to out worn conditions, and to outworn greeds and prejudices. And the re- port of the engineers concludes s1g- t is not possible (lo make the change) and if profits at present cannot stand the extra pro- l duction cost, then the I2-hour shift must be continued until a change occurs"
 It does not say what will bring about change. It is significant, however, that changes of this kind