DÜSSELDORF.
20&
and best organised in Germany. There is a large use of labour-saving machinery ;
American methods have been increasingly introduced during recent years, and
American managers have of late come upon the scene. The workmen engaged
in this industry are highly skilled, and their employers speak well of them.
A ten hours’ day is almost universal. Work begins variously at 6, 6.30,
and 7 o’clock, and the hour of closing depends on the number and duration
of the intervals ; the usual number is three, but some works stop only
at midday. The longest hours, viz., 65 per week, are worked in the textile
factories, the employees in which are mostly females. Wages are as a rule paid
fortnightly, and a week’s or a fortnight’s notice on either side is customary,
though some firms dispense with notice altogether.
At Gerresheim, several miles from the town, there are large glass bottle
works, and in Düsseldorf itself are porcelain and earthenware factories. Glass
blowers, working by piece, earn 33s. 2d. weekly, this including a house or a
money payment of 4s. per week instead.
A comprehensive idea of the range of wages in different industries is
afforded by a return, given in Appendix IV. to this volume (p. 501), of the daily
wages of 8,901 adult workpeople (i.e., workpeople of 20 years and upwards)
enrolled in the Düsseldorf Local Sick Fund (Ortskrankenkasse). These work
people fell into the following wages groups :—
Wages Groups.
Under 3s. daily
3s. and under 3s. Gd. daily
3s. Gd. and under 4s. 0d. daily
4s. 0d. „ 4s. Gd. „
4s. Gd. „ 5s. 0d. „
5s. 0d. „ 5s. 6c?. „
5s. Gd. and over
Total ...
Skilled Men.
78
196
947
1,893
1,377
542
178
5,211
Unskilled Men.
No. Per cent.
15
38
18-2
36 2
26 5
104
34
100-0
158
996
1,443
866
191
33
3
3,690
Per cent.
4- 3
27 0
391
23-4
5- 2
0-9
0-1
1000
Together.
No. Per cent.
236
1,192
2,390
2,759
1,568
575
181
8,901
2-7
13-4
26-8
310
17 6
6-5
2-0
1000
The largest employer of labour in Düsseldorf is the municipality itself.
The hours of labour of municipal employees range from 60 to 78 per week.
The wages of tramway drivers and conductors rise according to the years of
service, those of the former ranging from 24s. Gd. to 38s. Gd. and those of the
latter from 21s. to 28s., with 68 hours of work.
Wages and Hours of Labour in the Principal Occupations, October, 1905.
Weekly Wages.
Building Trades*:—
Masons and Bricklayers
Stonemasons
Carpenters
Joiners and Cabinetmakers
Plumbers
Painters ...
Stucco-workers...
Plasterers
Masons’ and Bricklayer’ Labourers
Engineering Trades :—
Moulders
Fitters
Turners ...
Smiths ...
Pattern-makers..
Cranemen
Labourers
32s. 5d.
29s. 8c?. to 32s. 5c?.
34s. 2d.
27s. Id.
24s.
27s.
36s. to 37s. 10c?.
30s.
26s. 5c?.
37s.
30s. to 35s.
33s. „ 36s.
33s. „ 36s.
30s. „ 33s.
24s. lc/.
21s. to 24s.
Weekly Hours of
Labour.
60
54
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
* The wages and hours oí labour stated for the building trades are for a full week in
summer.
2 D
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