LABOUR OUTLOOK IN U.S.A.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 19 March 1927, Page 9

LABOUR OUTLOOK IN U.S.A.

Visit of Australian Mission.

BIG WAGES FOR WORKERS.

By Cable—Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (.Received March 18, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 17.

The Australian Mission is spending ft busy week in Chicago, dividing into several parties, and investigating various industries and interviewing officials of ti.” Federation of Labour, the Association of Commerce, and the Government Employment Bureau. The whole party visited the Crane Company’s large valve and pipe factory—a remarkable example of mass production, where 95 per cent, of those working piecework are earning a bonus with no appearance of hustling: The company employs 8400 persons, including 5 per cent, women. Piecework rates are set, enabling them to earn 25 per cent, extra bonus. The rates arc never cut, but can be increased. Machinists are earning up to 5s an hour, but the average ; n the whole works is 2s Bd. The working week consists of forty-eight hours, with a bonus additional. One section of the Mission, interviewed, amongst others, Mr Cosen (former-president of the Illinois State Federation of Labour). He was unable to estimate the number of unemployed in Chicago. In addition to the Government, there were 350 private employment agents, and no statistics were available for the whole ..Operations, but the Government .Bureau statistics showed there were three to one applicants for every job during January, which were the worst figures since Januaiy, 1922. The February figures showed an improvement.-

Tne unions are nimble to make any headway against large corporations, which were open shops, with workers enjoying high wages. If the employees gave the works a square deal the unions were excluded. The only progress the unions are making is among common labour. Enumerating the v ages in Chicago, Mr Cosen said that bricklayers tvere sometimes making £2O weekly, during the. busy season, including overtime.

/ Organised labour in Chipaeo totalled 15,000, being approximately dO per cent, of the total workers.