Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-05-08
Time Lost by Irregular Employment a
Vital Question to the Worker
The Belief That Unemployment and Low Wages
Tends to Keep the LabOrer in His Place Is
False and Has No Foundation
Bv Henry j. Oh President Federation of Labo

Labor
America owes no man a living" said a
statesman recently "but America does owe every
born soul an opportunity to earn livelihood.
"Why doesn't America give us that opportunity"
ask the jobless, the unemployed, those who are
able, ready and willing to work. For years labor
has been asking these pointed questions: Is un-
employment necessary? Should labor continue
to bear it's entire cost? Can it be prevented? How
can the evil be mitigated? How is unemployment
connected with many OF the larger problems OF
labor, of the consumer and the community?
the ills that beset the minds OF labor unemployment
ranks first Unquestonab is the most persistent and also
pepng Of the 1914 days which the average
worker loses annually "a of day is lost due to labor troubles
to accidents and sickness Unemployment loss OF
60 days due work and 80 to part time work AT
all mesregardess of his age-the fear OF no joo don
hangs him moment he at work. 1t demofalzes
him while denied work.
study of the unemployment problem would be um
mating to the student of social unrest who hopes
condemnation lack of accountability the part of those
who responsible for unemployment
Many employers still actually believe that Unemployment IS
good thing for business aid to discipline and low wages
and keeping the aborer in his place Such employ
ers conscious of the natural and inevitable trend of mod
industrial life Low wages reduce the purchasing power ana
of work commands respect only in periods of extreme
not effective most of the time Industry must
treat men as men, as humans in democracy
Nowhere is the spirit srngy manifested than
the agreement recently concluded between the miners union
and principal coal mine operators renewing the existing
scale for three Bumnous coal mining has been
nzed conspicuous offender the matter of Irregular employ
We told that nearly 100000 could be transferred
to other industries if coal mine operation made reguaa
most important consideration at time when many industries
complain of labor shortage due to restricted immigration
Cheap Coal, Better Wages, Profits
the public has greater interest in the statement
trustworthy economic authority that mine operation
reguarzed the earnings of all bnous miners could be in
of coal to the could be reduced
10 and the operators could make profits 4O longer
ating time.
ndustrialsts proud of their ingenuity and
sourcefuness Plans for now in opera
The
point the effective action by industry generally
Prevention Follows Responsibility
Notable progress being made also in the building industry
the direction of providing ayear work. The building
3% of the possible work time each Prob
ably this industry also will not realize the possibilities of
venting unemployment until is asked for manten
of involuntary unemployment
We all remember how employers claimed that they could
accidents Now that the law holds them liable for
it's COST they have gotten busy the prevention of the risk
Similar precautions expected with unemployment for both
risks while different are admittedly preVenabe IN large meas
The railway shopmen confronted with the problem
of irregular work While railway concede it entirely
practicable and possible to stabilize employment railway hopmen
are frequently forced lay off for eight week
examination payroll figures of railway shops shows
rregularty volume of employment The figures show that
the of freight and engine repair work that turned
over to the fairly constant throughout the Still
payroll of typical shop
inc around varied much 4O the year. Obvious
y not due work. but to planning
function
Logical Step
Experience in the United States during the past
shows that there four stages OF ndurs approach
prevention of unemployment First there indifference
plovmen Third experimentation by industry with
stabilize employmentthe stage have reached The
fourth stage which is just ahead will be marked by the adopt
Continued Page Three)