DRESDEN.
193
until 31st March, 1908. Under that agreement the hourly rate for bricklayers
and masons, carpenters and joiners was fixed at 6c?., to be increased from
1st April, 1906, to 6‘6c?., and from 1st April, 1907, to 7c?., while for labourers
(other than hod carriers) the rates agreed to were 4'8c?., rising to o 3c?. and o'6c?.
The length of the working day in winter was left to individual arrangement.
For the summer season (1st April to 30th September) the hours, exclusive of
intervals, were fixed as follows :—In 1905,10 per day, but 8 only on Saturdays ;
in 1906, 9^ with 7\ on Saturdays ; and in 1907, 9 hours with 7 on Saturdays.
The earnings for a full week under this agreement were, therefore, up till
1st October, 1905, 295. for bricklayers, masons, carpenters and joiners, and
23s. 2c?. for labourers other than hod carriers, while the present rates are 305. 2c?.
and 245. 5c?. respectively. Under this agreement hod carriers are paid the same
rate per hour as bricklayers, masons, carpenters and joiners, the explanation
given for this curious fact being that the work of carrying bricks and mortar is
exceedingly arduous and requires more than the average physical powers.
Amongst the other principal groups of workpeople employed in the building
trades the weekly wages of skilled men range from 24& 5c?. for paperhangers
(who, it should be remarked, are also upholsterers and layers of linoleum, etc.)
to 325. 6c?. for stone-cutters. The standard weekly hours of labour are 55 for
painters, 52 for stucco-workers, paperhangers and marble-cutters, and 50 for
stone-cutters. For one important group of workpeople usually classed with the
building trades in British statistics, viz., plumbers, no strict comparison can he
made. In Dresden, and indeed in Germany generally, the work of fitting and
repairing gas and water pipes is done either by the Schlosser or the Klempner,
both of them craftsmen for whom we have no exact equivalents in the United
Kingdom. The Schlosser's craft, originally confined to the making of locks, has
in course of time been extended so as to comprise a great variety of other
smith’s work, requiring the use of the vice and file, as well as certain branches
of the work undertaken only by plumbers in the United Kingdom. The craft
of the Klempner (called a Spengler in South Germany) who was originally a
tinsmith only, has undergone a somewhat similar evolution, and now comprises
plumbing as well as the making and repairing of a variety of household
requisites (such as lamps, chandeliers, etc.) of bronze, brass and iron. Ko
general wages agreements are in force for the men belonging to either of these
crafts, but returns furnished by large manufacturers who employ many Schlosser
and Klempner, show that the majority earn from 27s> to 28s. in a full week
without overtime.
Printing, Paper, and Allied Trades.—The wages shown in the Table are
those paid under the general agreement for the printing trades of Germany, to
which reference has been made in the reports on other towns.
In the manufacture of sensitized paper for photographic purposes the bulk
of the operatives are women and girls. Such men as are employed in this
industry are unskilled.
In cardboard goods manufacture the two principal groups of skilled male
operatives are fully qualified Schlosser (see u fitters in fable) and bookbinders
respectively. The Schlosser's work in this industry consists in making the wire
rivets and fastenings by which the goods are held together.
Food, Drink, and Tobacco Trades.—Among the trades falling within this
group the tobacco, cigarette, chocolate and sweetstuff industiies are of great
local importance, but are carried on almost entirely with female labour.
In cigarette and tobacco factories the male staff is made up of fitter s and
mechanics, bookbinders and cardboard cutters, a few cigarette machinemen and
cigarette-tube machinemen, knife-grinders, tobacco-cutters, and day labourers
(including packers).
In the chocolate and sweetstuff industry the male operatives- who here
again are far outnumbered by the female—consist of makers of chocolate goods,
makers of sweets composed entirely or mainly of sugar, caramel boilers, the
gingerbread makers, the packers, the warehousemen and yardmen, and the
Uread-bakino- and cornmilling are engaged in on a large scale by certain
local firms who supply the greater part of the demand for these products in
Dresden. Journeymen millers, a class of men who rank as " skilled,
2 B
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