Net Results of the Changes in HOURS OF LABOR during the Years, 1907–1909: By Industries - Concluded.

Of the 45,815 employees who received reductions in hours during 1909, 27,928, or 60.96 per cent, received reductions in anticipation of the 56-hour law which was to go into effect on January 1, 1910, 12,084 received reductions at their own request, and 5,803 received voluntary reductions. There were 11,363 employees who received. reductions without strike and 721 who obtained decreases after strike; 8,546 employees secured reductions with the aid of labor organizations and 3,538 received reductions without such assistance. Only 16 employees obtained decreases by arbitration.

During 1909, 16,173 employees in New Bedford received reductions in their weekly hours of labor. Other cities in which a large number of workingmen were granted reductions in hours were: Boston, 5,488; Holyoke, 4,334; and Springfield, 3,824.

In 1909 there were 1,091 employees who obtained the nine-hour

day and 5,302 employees who obtained the eight-hour day as compared with 255 and 1,093 in 1908 and 3,214 and 3,063 in 1907.

Of the 45,815 employees who received reductions in hours of labor, 15,187, or 33.15 per cent, were females. The industries in which the largest numbers of female employees received decreases in hours were: Cotton goods, 11,558; woolen and worsted goods, 1,126; printing and publishing, 783; and bookbinding and blankbook making, 730.

IV.

DETAILED REPORT BY INDUSTRIES.

In the preceding general summary changes in rates of wages and hours of labor have been dealt with as a whole. For the convenience, however, of those who are especially interested in particular industries certain facts concerning changes in the more important industries of Massachusetts have been brought together in the following sections.

1. BUILDING AND STONE WORKING.

A. BUILDING TRADES.

Changes in Rates of Wages. During the year 1909 the changes in this industry affected 5,331 employees, or 29.09 per cent of the total number in all industries, as compared with 993, or one per cent, in 1908 and 14,220, or 8.5 per cent, in 1907. Of these employees, 5,331 received increases in 1909 amounting to $6,870.16, and 108 of those who received increases also sustained decreases amounting to $129.60, the net result being an increase of $6,740.56 a week as compared with a net increase of $1,582.94 in 1908 and a net increase of $21,073.17 in 1907. Of the 5,331 employees affected in 1909, 2,471 were in Boston, 434 in Springfield, and 368 in Lawrence.

The following table shows the extent to which each of the occupations included in this industry was affected:

In 1909 there were 179 employees who received voluntary increases, in 1908 there were no voluntary increases, and in 1907 there were 16.

In 1909 the number of workmen who received increases after strike was 1,331, or 25.83 per cent of all in this industry who received increases at request of employees, while in 1908 and 1907 the percentages were 26.6 and 1.14 respectively.

The following table shows to what extent the building trades workmen received increases without strike and after strike:

Of the 5,152 workingmen who received increases in wages upon their own request, 5,121, or 99.40 per cent, secured the improved conditions with the aid of labor organizations of which they were members, while but 31 secured advances without such aid. In 1908 and 1907 the percentages of employees securing increases with the aid of labor organizations were 83.69 and 99.83 respectively. All but three of the 1,331 employees who received increases after strike obtained the increases with the aid of labor organizations, while of the 3,821 employees who received increases without strike 3,793 received the increases with the aid of labor organizations.

All the increases in 1909 and 1908 were effected through direct negotiations between the two parties or their representatives, while in 1907, 7,890 employees received advances in this manner and 6,288 received increases as a result of arbitration.

in

There were 108 building trades workmen who sustained reductions. wages, but since they had previously been granted increases aggregating $259.20 a week the net increase received by them amounted to $129.60 a week.

Changes in Hours of Labor. During 1909 reductions in hours. were granted to 6,059 employees upon their request amounting to 22,119.3 hours a week. Of this number, 6,056 received the reduc