Montana labor news., 1935-10-17

profits, without adopting the policies necessary
to reemploy the jobless, now numbering l1,0O0,-
900. whom they prefer to have supported by Fed
eral, State and local governments. This fact IS
strikingly visualized by the Executive Council Of
the American Federation of Labor in its report
to the Federation's annual convention in Atlantic
City.
Referring to increases in the workers pro-
d~uctivity resulting from the wholesale intro
'duction Of labor displacing machinery and pro-
cesses during the depression, which competent
authorities say have been so large that only 80
per cent of the workers employed in 1929 would
now be required to operate industry at the 1929
peak, the Council said the unemployment pro-
blem will never be solved until reduction in the
hours of labor goes hand in hand with the in
PRODUCTION and development of machinery"
In emphasizing the fact their employers are
exacting more output from employees per unit Of
time instead of reducing hours to provide work
for the unemployed, the Council points out that
"in manufacturing industries production in the
first half of 1885 exceeded the last half of 1884
by 16.3 per cent, while employment was higher
by only 5 per cent" Combining for comparison
Manufacturing diu uliiiliiSs PlOduNbAOA III IN
first six months of 1885 exceeded the first six
months of 1884 by A. per cent while employ
ment was only is per cent higher.
These figures, the Council declares, make it
clear that under the policy Of those who own and
control, our great mining and manufacturing
industries, which employ nearly one-third of all
industrial and small-salaried workers, produc-
ton is increasing more rapidly than employ
ment.'
To emphasize the statistical proof Of this long
continued lockout of millions Of able-bodied per
sons the Council adds:
"In the two years and three months since
March, 1888, which was the bottom of dep
ression both for business and employment,
business activity has risen halfway back to
normal but only 80 per cent of those laid off
during depression have gone back to work. Of
the 9,500,0O0 persons who lost their jobs dur
ing depression, only 3,7OO,O 900 had found work
in industry up to June, 1885, and all these jobs
were found before June, 1884. Business acti-
witty, on the other hand, has risen from a low
point of 58.4 per cent of normal to 1911 per cent
of normal a recovery of so per cent"
To remedy this anti-social condition and per-
nit both unemployed and employed workers to
share adequately in business recovery the Coun-
Gil takes the logical position that labor's buying
power must be increased by shortening hours to
provide work for the jobless and raising wages.
On this point the Council says:
"This increased buying power must be made
by reemploying the unemployed as well as by
increasing the income Of those already at
work. With the gradual increase of produc-
ton and the consequent reduction of unit over
head costs, and with the steady increase in pro-
d~uctivity and consequent reduction of labor
costs, increases in workers and in workers
share of total income will be possible without
unduly burdening industry. This will not be
accomplished, however, unless we have strong
labor organizations to enable workers to Sc
cure their share of industry's earnings"
To bring about compulsory reduction of hours
to provide employment for millions of the unem-
ployed, and thus increase the workers buying
power, the Council strongly urged the prompt
enactment by Congress of the Black-Connery
Thirty-Hour Bill which closes the channels of
interstate commerce to commodities in the pro-
duction Of which labor is employed in excess OF
thirty hours per week.