WAGES AND HOURS IN CANADA.

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 36, 10 August 1918, Page 12

WAGES AND HOURS IN CANADA.

\ According to a, statement published in a recent 'issue of the Labour Gazette (Canada) 33 changes in rates of xvages and hours of labour, affecting, approximately, 21,400 workpeople, were reported to the Labour Department, as having occurred during the > last quarter of 1917. In the preceding quarter 41 changes were reported, by which ap*. proximately 22,000 workpeople were affected. Twenty-six of the 33 changes were wage increases, without other changes; five were increases accompanied by a reduction in hours of labour; one a reduction in hours of labour; and one' a reduction in wages. In the manufacturing and mechanical group of industries eight changes were reported, by which approximately 6363 workpeople were affected, the great majority of whom were in the metals, machinery, and conveyances trades. In the transportation group seven changes Were reported, affecting 5920 people. Only three changes occurred in the mining industry, but the number of workers affected, namely, 8100, was greater than in any other group. The number of disputes which began in' Canada in 1917 was 141, and seven were carried over from 1916. The number of workers involved in the 148 disputes was 48,329,: and the_ number of employ- I ers 714. The^total time lost was estimated at 1,134,970 days. The most serious disputes in the year occurred in the coal mining areas in British Columbia and Alberta. A demand for higher wages was the dominant cause in 65 per cent, of the disputes. In 15 cases, or 10 per cent, of the total, the disputes were due to a demand for shorter hours. Eightytwo disputes terminated in favour of the workers, and 31 in favour of the employers,. the former representing 55 per cent, and the latter 21 per cent, of the total. ..