"DARG"'IN JAPAN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 70, 16 December 1919, Page 13

"DARG"'IN JAPAN

DOCKYARD WORKERS' DISPUTE EIGHT-HOUR SYSTEM CONCEDED One of the largest 6hipbuilaing concoins in Juuau, the Kawasaki Dockyard, at Kobe, lias paid out about i:25,000 for nothing, and lias increased its wages bill bv .£OO,OOO per month, as the result of a strike, which, in certain respects, is unique in the history of Japanese industry. According to a correspondent of tho "Sydney Morning Herald," tho trouble started about the middle of September, when 15.000 men demanded.an increase of waires amounting to 70 per cent., together with a special allowance o£ 50 tier cent. Further, they demanded the immediate distribution of a promised bonus of about .£375,000, and a guarantee of a regular half-yearly bonus to all men with more than six months' service with the company. Lastly, the introduction of an eight-hour day was demanded, not that the men wished- to work only eight hours, but they wanted overtime for all the hours over eight they were called noon to work. Even in Japan, where so many things ordinarily happen which would be unlikely in other parts of the world, such a comprehensive demand as. this for better working conditions could, not bo granted immediately, whereupon the men decided to "go slow." Tho 15,000 men next, morning walketf up to the Bundy clock's as usual, but <when they arrived at their various workshops they did no work. Many of thorn made no pretence of working, while others wore "busy" wir>in<r down idle machinery very leisurelv with a handful of cotton waste, There was no organisation among the men when the "darg" started, but they very soon elaborated a schemo to meet tho rcciuirements of the situation. Committees were elected to see that no wanton act of destruction or disorder was committee.'. About seventy men did nothing else but, keeD a watchful eye -upon their comrades, ready to take immediate action should the "go slow" policy threaten to take a more dangerous form of protest against the management's refusal to grant tho men's demands. A couple of hundred police officers, in the euise of labourers, mingled with the dockyard workers in the hops of getting information as to the leaders of tho "darg" and other facts which might bo useful in connection with subsequent criminal proceedings. Tho men were very indignant at this espionage, in view of tho official assurance given that tho the uolico would not interters in the dispute—as thov usually do in Japan. Feeling ran very high when it became known that nolicemen were mingling with tho 15.000 hands in the dockyard, but fortunately there appears to have teen no viol, enco, possibly because the spies wore not easily identified, and probably becauso thev were speedily withdrawn. Matters went on like this for about ten days. Deputations from tho men met the management and discussed the situation, but without any nearer a settlement. The men were not threatening in their attitude, and tho management maintained an uir of amiability— tho ono being confident of success, and tho other being apprehonsive of more serious developments if the men's feelings wore ruffled. Mr. Matsukata, president of the Kawasaki Dockyard, took tho line that tho' great increase in tho cost of living necessitated a further increase of wages, and as a matter of fact said ho was engaged in making preliminary investigations to that end when tho "darg" was declared. By their own action the men had delayed the increaso of wages which the management had contemplated. Concerning tho "darg," Mr. Matsukata was most emphatic; it was a vile and detestable thing, and much as he detested strikes, considered they wero preferable to "going slow." He told the men to go back to work, and when they had given, evidence of their sincere repentance an increase of wages would be granted, though not to the extent demanded. After several interviews along thesa lines, at which the men's representatives firmly but without success insisted upon some definite assurance being given them of the improved conditions vaguely hinted at, a ballot was taken as to whether a striko should bo declared. Ninety-three elected delegates voted for a strike, and G2 for continuing the "darg" or resuming work pending tho management's announcement of its concession. Accordingly, at noon on September 27, the great dockyard was empty save for a strike committee of IG, who were given authority to carry on negotiations with the management. Things then began to move very swiftly. In tho nfternoon tho strikers' committeo invited Mr. Mntsukata to meet them. There were present the local Chief of Police and representatives of the Press. The chairman of the committee told Mr. Matsukata that the men intended to stay away from work until a satisfactory settlement of tho disputo was arrived at. Then followed from the other sjde a long recapitulation of tho company's kindly intentions, suddenly upset by the precipitate action of tho men. The committee again pressed for something more definite, and Mr. Matsukata mildly remonstrated with;;! them for doubting his sincerity. After considerable verbal fencing of this kind the Striko Conunitteo withdrew to consider the posi. tion, and, although Mr, Matsukata had not definitely promised anything, the committee were of opinion that what ho had said, together with what had hcon left unsaid, indicated—more Japanico— that, while no concessions would bo made to tho strikers, the management would "voluntarily" increase the men's wages and introduce the eight-hour system. Notices were accordingly posted in the street, and advertisements inserted in tho papers by tho committee, calling upon the strikers to attend the dockyard on October 29. The result of tho interview with Mr. Matsukata was communicated to thorn, and all hands immediately returned to work, confident that they had won their point. Latest advices from Japan indicate that the trouble at the Kawasaki Dockyard has had far-reaching effects. Tho prospect of having to pay a largo staff of workmen their wages while "going slow" caused considerable alarm among big ■ employers of labour. It wa6 estimated that the Kawasaki Company would havo to pay 250,000 yen in wages during tho operation of the "darg," during which . time practically nothing was done in tho dockyard. It is interesting to note— mure Japanico again—that in order to "save face" this money will not be paid out as "wages," but in some other form ns a "gift" or "bonus." But, apart from these peculiarities of the Kawasaki dispute, the recent trouble has brought about many changes in Japanese industrial circles. The Mitsubishi Dockyards at Kobe and Nagasaki, the Harima yard, the Osaka- Ironworks, the Kobo Steelworks, tho Sumitomo Company—all these important industrial concerns and many others promptly announced their adoption of tho eight-hour system, and since the beginning of Octolior, when all this trouble took place, probably there have been dozens of othor concerns following suit. As already stated, the eight-hour day in Japan docs not mean that working hours are restricted to that number, but merely that compulsory labour is ■limited to eight horn's, after which the worker can continuo at his labours if required—and so disposed—receiving overtime rates for tho extra hours. It is estimated that the cost of building ships at tho Kawasaki Dockyard will bo increased by about 20 yen a ton as a result of the new order of things.