U.S. Labour Promises To Increase Output, If Wish For Shorter Week Granted.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18016, 29 November 1926, Page 4

U.S. Labour Promises To Increase Output, If Wish For Shorter Week Granted.

“GRINDING ROAR AND NOISE OF MODERN FACTORY AFFECT THE WORKMAN IN EVERY WAY."

FOLLOWING Oil the recent institution by Mr Henry Ford of a live-day week in his motor-car works in the United States, Mr William Green, president of the American Federation of Labour, lias now declared that:— In return for a shorter week—five days, totalling forty hours —without a reduction of wage, the trades unions would undertake to increase production. This offer was the outstanding question under consideration at the annual convention of the Federation, which opened at Detroit on October -1, and was attended by 400 delegates representing three million workers.

REVERSAL OF LABOUR’S FORMER POLICY. NEW YORK, October 4. A new wage policy, amounting to nothing less than a great revolution in the methods of trades unions in the United States, seems to be indicated by a statement made yesterday by William Green, president of the American Federation of Labour, which opens its sixteenth annual convention at Detroit to-day. After a meeting of the executive committee, Green said it was proposed to increase production in return for a shorter work-week without reduction in wages, as various industries had already proved, themselves ready for the change. This is a notable reversal of policy on the part of American labour leaders, who have hitherto regarded a fiveday week only as a means of providing jobs for a greater number of workers by creating a necessity for employing' additional hands to keep up the output. Apparently it has been prompted by Henry Ford putting into practice, with the definite adoption of a five-day week without reduction of wages, his ideas as set forth in his new book. WAS MR FORD FIRST? But the labour chiefs could hardly be expected to admit this, and, in fact, Green hastened to head off any suggestion of the kind by saying:— “ The policy of Henry Ford of establishing a five-day week is a direct consequence of the foresight shown by American Labour. We established the shorter week in many trades before Mr Ford said anything about it. “ The printing trades are a case in point, and so are some of the garment and building trades.” This is strictly true, though, as I have already S3id, increased production by the individual worker did not enter into the arrangement. However, American union leaders—of late years, at any rate—have been quick to note the trend of the times, and to adjust themselves to changing conditions. WILL NOT SACRIFICE WAGES. Green, indeed, emphasised this adaptability with some pride when he remarked: “It should be understood

that the conception of the federation has been sufficiently elastic to meet developments in the manufacturing, industry.” The fruit of this acumen, it may be pertinent to remark, is to be seen in banks and important businesses established in various cities with union funds, and conducted successfully by the unions themselves. Of course; it remains to be seen what response the proposal of Green or of the executive committee, whichever it may be, will meet with from the federation. Meanwhile, expounding his idea, which, it will be seen, coincides singularly with Ford's, except in respect of the effect of specialised work oil the toiler. Green said:— “We think several industries—notably mining, building and au.tpr mobile-making—are ready- for the shorter week. Labour will not sacrifice wages to get it, but we will not get it until productivity is increased. “The productivity per worker is so great in the automobile industry that the output per head has increased from 25 to 50 per cent. “ The shorter week is made necessary by the nervous tension under which the industry is carried on, by the unprecedented specialisation and standardisation «f the industry, and the monotonous and :-stereotyped nature of many processes in our great works. “ The grinding roar and noise iii modern factories affect the workman in every way. If he is to live at all, we must reduce the number of hours to conform to his strength. If long hours are continued the manufacturer will suffer, as he will have a large labour turnover. .Men simply will not remain in places of employment where they will suffer physical degeneration and nervous exhaustion.”