Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-15
Labor Gains
In Europe
Workers Make Strides
Toward Improved
Job Conditions
By Siaid Ams

Workers around the world appea,
10 have made tremendous steps
forward since the wars end in get.
ting some say-so about the eondi.
tons under which they work.
Reports have Just been collected
by the Labor Department from Oh,
embassies abroad and from the many
labor federation meetings held this
spring. Here are high lights:
Belgium
The March meeting Of labor
management and government agreed
on . pay raise for only the lowest
paid.
Bslg1ans have been battling thu
nesd for Q general pay raise in thu
hope Of keeping prices down. Tc
cushion their austertty program
the Parliament has passed law tc
allow vacation bonuses for 1913
Workers over IS get five weeks pay
for q two-week vacation. Workers
under 10 will get Ave weeks pay fol
three weeks vacation.
France
The General Confederation OF
Workers (Which broke of from the
old Communist-run federation)
came out in April for independence
from political activity. But it re-
quested several changes.
French wages have been frozen by
the government. Now the GCW
wants q return to free collective
bargaining. 1t asks an increased
share in management and wants
government planning for production
price cuts and naturalization OF
credit and critical industries.
High prices are the big French
headache. The government has
tried to bring them down through
several DEGREES but with little
success.
Great Britain
July the final steps of a modi-
fed Beveridge plan went into effect
1t extends benefits for sickness, OLD
age, unemployment and industrial
injuries. It gives free medical ano
hospital care to every one. Self.
employed are included in every
thing but unemployment compen-
sation and accident benefits. Ever
the unemployed get old-age pay
ments.
Money to cover the program lex.
cept for the needy will come from
workers, employers and government
The other top labor news from
Britain concerns the 100000 foreign
workers who have been taken in as
italian foundry workers, Poles who
fought with the Allies, German
prisoners Of war and European vol
unteers, most of them Germans ano
Austrians
The volunteers get the same work
ing conditions and benefits and pay
the same taxes as the British.
Italy
This month at Carrara, CO.
operative clothing factory is being
set up with the help Of $500 00(
fund collected by the Amalgamateo
Clothing Workers of America
Americans will supervise the plant
and finally turn it over to the
Italians. Clothing will be sold te
Italy at no profit.
Norway
The government has extended
the life Of the Wages Committee
which has the job of preventing
work stoppages and whose rulings
are binding on both management
and labor.
In April, management on re-
quest from labor, agreed to give
the lowest paid workers a pay raise
Austria
The Austrian Federation Of Labor
is opposing wage increases and
pushing production on the ground
that only more goods will solve its
members troubles. But farmers are
screaming for higher agricultural
prices. (The government sets them)
The trade unions warn that higher
food prices will mean demands for
higher wages.
New price control and rationing
laws we're passed this spring on the
demand of labor, which is also ask
ing a capital levy and a capital
gains tax.
Germany
Labor and management in the
British-American zone were told in
April they could negotiate wage in
creases up to IS per cent. Negotia-
tions are being delayed until the
buying power of the new mark has
been determined.
Greece
In April, Greek workers held their
first freely elected congress in IA
years. The rightists and moderates
>angled bitterly.
In May, the government was
forced to repeal decree which set
penalties up to death for any one
promoting a work stoppage.
Romania
This Communist-run government
is having strangely capitalistic
troubles. The country had rum
away imitation last year, and the
government had to grant big wage
increases. These were promptly fol-
lowed by a big jump in prices, with
resulting benefit to nobody.
Turkey
Under new law workers are
forming industry associations with
authority to negotiate on working
conditions, the duty to appear be-
fore arbitration boards and the
right to run mutual aid funds.