Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

CURRENT NOTES OF INTEREST TO LABORSource: Monthly Labor Review, Vol. 15, No. 2 (AUGUST, 1922), pp. 242-246Published by: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of LaborStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41828389 .

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CURRENT NOTES OF INTEREST TO LABOR.

Labor Resolutions Adopted at Genoa Conference on Economic Reconstruction.

THE official bulletin of June 21, 1922, published by the Interna- * tional Labor Office, contains the following resolutions regarding labor which were adopted at the Genoa Conference on Economic Reconstruction, held April 10 to May 19, 1922:

Production. The economic reconstruction of Europe requires intensified production, which

depends essentially on labor. The greatest importance should be attached to the assistance which the workers, men and women, of the whole world and their organizations are willing and able to

give, in association with other factors of production, to the economic restoration of Europe. In order to obtain the fullest effort on the part of the workers, and in order to avoid regrettable competition between nations, the attention of all States is drawn to the importance of the conventions and recommendations adopted by the International Labor Conference, it being understood that each State reserves its right with regard to the ratification of any one or more of the conventions.

Unemployment. Article 22. - The present economic crisis, which affects not only production but

also the consuming capacity of the people, weighs heavily on the workers, both morally and materially. While it may be true that measures of economic reconstruction are alone capable of remedying this crisis, direct measures to deal with the resulting unemployment appear to be none the less efficacious for insuring sustained effort and efficiency on the part of the workers.

Article 23. - In consequence, and in addition to any arrangements for insurance or assistance against unemployment the following measures are recommended :

(а) The sytematic distribution of all the labor available by the national organization of employment agencies and by means of agreements between the countries concerned for the international coordination of labor distribution (emigration and immigration).

(б) In countries in which conditions permit, the placing in agriculture of as large a number as possible of such of the unemployed in industry as are capable of being employed in agricultural work.

(c) The systematic allocation of public contracts with due reference to the occurrence of unemployment and to the trades and districts affected, so far as may be consistent with the general interest.

(d) Development of public works in aid of unemployment, provided that they are useful and productive. Article 24- - In order to accelerate the effects of the measures set out in article 23 - (1) It is recommended that all States which are members of the International Labor

Organization should ratify the convention relating to unemployment adopted by the Washington conference, and that all the States should take into consideration the measures against unemployment envisaged by that conference.

(2) It is suggested that the international labor office should collect and publish periodically all information available on the experience gained by the different countries in dealing with unemployment.

(3) It is further recommended that all the States should cooperate in the inquiry relating to unemployment decided upon by the International Labor Conference of 1921.

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CURRENT NOTES OF INTEREST TO LABOR, 248

A Move to Standardize International Labor Statistics.

TTHE Washington correspondent of the International Labor Office * reports, under date of July 5, 1922, that Dr. Royal Meeker,

former United States Commissioner of Labor Statistics, is making a tour of European countries for the purpose of studying the methods employed and the sources drawn upon in securing information on various subjects which come within the field of industry and labor. He will also devote a large portion of his time to examining the sta- tistical methods used in compiling and tabulating statistics relating to labor.

Doctor Meeker's trip will include Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Austria, and Czechoslovakia. In speaking of this trip he says :

I shall put myself at the disposition of the officers of the Governments I will visit to furnish them every assistance within my power by way of suggestions and advice in order to help them improve their methods of gathering and compiling information. It is, of course, not possible at the present moment to set up uniform definitions of terms or statistical standards, but a long step in the direction of standardization and uniformisation can be taken within the limits of existing legislation and administrative practice. In other words the Governments can, if they have the mind to do so, com- pile their statistics of unemployment, wages, hours of labor, industrial accidents and illnesses, and prices in a much more nearly uniform way than they are now doing. I shall hope to be able to accomplish something along these lines.

Doctor Meeker is making this study in his capacity as chief of the research division of the Liternational Labor Office. He will also attempt to bring about a closer relation between the International Labor Office and the ministries of labor and governmental departments which deal with labor matters.

While on this trip Doctor Meeker expects to make a survey of the following industrial and economic subjects: Employment, hours of labor, wages and earnings, cost of living and retail prices, wholesale prices, industrial accidents, industrial hygiene, housing of workers, labor legislation, works councils, and factoryinspection.

An International Clearing House of Labor Information.1

P'ESPITE the fact that it has only been in existence for about two years the International Labor Office is becoming more and more

an international clearing house of labor and industrial information. The requests for information from Governments, trade unions, em- ployers associations, and individuals are increasing almost daily and a great variety of topics is included. It is of interest to note some of the inquiries which have been received since the beginning of the year. These range all the way from such items as a request for information as to the number of hairdressers in various European countries (received from the French National Federation of H air- dressers' Trade-Unions) to a request for the address of organizations in the United States likely to oe interested in literature on works councils (received* from a prominent British firm of manufacturers) . The following requests may be cited by way of illustration: From Germany, for information regarding technical education of miners; 1 Information received from Washington correspondent oí International Labor Office under date of July

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244 MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

from Poland, data on public holidays in commerce and in industry in various countries; from Switzerland, for a bibliography on Frenen technical handbooks. The International Federation of Transport Workers desired "information for studying the possibility of estab- lishing an international motor driving license. Many employers' organizations have made inquiries concerning their particular indus- tries in other countries, and requests have come from various parts of the world for figures on the comparative cost of living.

Cooperation Between International Labor Office and Solvay Institute.

THE June 9, 1922, issue of Industrial and Labor Information (Geneva) states that a joint investigation of various international questions

will be made by the International Labor Office and the Solvay Insti- tute (Brussels) . The institute's valuable collection of material regard- ing economic matters has been put at the disposal of the International Labor Office. On the other hand, that office's wealth of material on social subjects will be available for the use of the institute's 600 or more collaborators who are located in different parts of the world.

Bryn Mawr Summer School for Working Girls.

THE second annual session of the Bryn Mawr summer school for 1 working girls convened June 14, 1922. About 100 girls, among whom were garment and textile workers, candy packers, laundry women, corset and shoe fitters, electrical workers, and saleswomen, came from various parts of tne country as guests of Bryn Mawr College to take two months' course oí study. According to the Christian Science Monitor " of June 15, 1922; page 9, the aim of the work is to fit these girls " to become pioneers m brmging about a closer relation between the college and women of industry and commerce."

Austrian Trade Boards Act in Operation. THE Austrian act of December 19, 1918, 1 relating to the regulation * of labor and wages conditions in home work is under the super- vision of the factory inspection department. In their reports for 1920 the inspectors state that owing to a lack of staff this phase of their work has been very inadequately done, only 318 home workers having been visited. ̂ Many of the home workers have given up doing piecework at home either

^ because they receive higher wages in other

occupations or because their husbands are more highly paid. Re- cruits have been made, however, from the middle classes who because of the rise in the cost of living nave been forced to do something to meet it. i Labor Gazette, London, June, 1922, p. 250.

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CURRENT NOTKS OF INTEREST TO LABOR. 245

Woik of British Institute of Psychology.

TTEE National Institute of Industrial Psychology of Great Britain * held its first annual meeting onMarch 10, 1922. The International Labor Review of June, 1922, reports that the wort of the institute has been greatly appreciated by the employees whose tasks have been studied. According to a statement submitted at the March meeting referred to above, more than £1,900 ($9,246, par) have been received bv the institute in subscriptions from manufacturers for the support of its investigations.

The work of this new and important agency is outlined as follows : ( 1 ) The study of the requisites of commercial and industrial occupa-

tions and the development and use of appropriate tests in order to secure, (a) in cooperation with commerce and industry, a more scientific selection of employees, and (b) in cooperation with schools, more dependable vocational guidance for children.

(2) The investigation of the most desirable methods for the applica- tion of the workers' energies in offices, factories, etc., with particular reference to (a) the avoidance of useless motions, (6) the best arrange- ment of rfest periods, (c) the decrease of monotony and the arousing of greater interest.

(3) The discovery and verification of conditions which make for the maximum well-being of the workers and the most favorable relations between them and management in regard to pay methods, employees' representation, etc.

(4) The study of the various factors which influence the sale of commodities, for instance, designing and advertising.

(5) Providing (a) lectures for employers and emplovees and (6) courses of training for foremen, managers, welfare workers, and in- vestigators.

(6) The stimulation and correlation of research in industrial psychology and physiology throughout Great Britain and the publi- cation in practical form of the facts determined by such investiga- tions.

Agricultural Training Courses in Army of Yugoslavia.1

^ COME months ago it was proposed in Yugoslavia that a system of ^ agricultural training courses should be introduced in all military garrisons with a view to giving instruction in modern methods of agriculture to soldiers who nad been engaged in agricultural pursuits. The proposal was adopted and the delegates of the ministry for agri- culture and the ministry of war and navy, to whom the task of working out a scheme was assigned, have completed their work, and it is expected that the system will soon be put into operation. » International Labor Office, Industrial and Labor Information, Geneva, May 12, 1922, p. 58.

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246 MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

Program of Business Men's Group oí New York Ethical Culture Society.

TTHE A following principles of the business men's group of the New A York Society of Ethical Culture were published in The Standard,

May, 1922, issued by the American Ethical Union: 1. That there is a spiritual worth in every human being which industry must

recognize. 2. That human exploitation is immoral and socially destructive. 3. That the highest service which any calling can render is the development of

personality in all those who are affected by it. 4 . That service to the community and not profit seeking should be the main purpose of business and industry. 5. That there is a creative impulse in the mass of men sufficient to carry on industry without sole reliance upon the pecuniary motive; business and industry can call fortn the same constructive interests that play such an important part in the practice of the sciences and the arts.

The program of the business men's group states that industry should as far as possible solve its own proolems. Federal, State, and local governments should, of course, make laws applicable to industry in general, but the group regards the trend toward shifting the problems of industry to the State "as contrary to the best interests of the community." These business men declare themselves in favor of a "constitution for each industry" dealing with its requirements and difficulties and embodying its obligations and powers. Both employers and workers in each industry should maKe themselves responsible for -

1. Unemployment. 2. Education for adult workers. 3. Vocational training. 4. Industrial research and experimentation. õ. Industrial hygiene and safety. 6. Sickness insurance and old age pensions. 7. Planning to secure more regular and stable production. 8. Increasing efficiency of production. 9. Improving the quality of the product. 10. Observance of industrial laws. 11. Wages. 12. Hours of labor. 13. Distribution and marketing. Other planks in the platform are the recognition of labor-unions,

the dealing with them as integral units" and the increasing partici- pation of such unions in the responsibility for carrying on industrial enterprises.

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