Cost of living in German towns

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 866449027

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-93831

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Cost of living in German towns

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Stat. Off.

Year of publication:: 1908

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (LXI, 548 Seiten)

Collection:: Economics Books

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CREFELD. 155 belong to the local branch of the Socialist Union of German Textile Workers. There is also a " Christian ” (i.e. mainly Roman Catholic) textile-workers’ union, which, however, appears to be much less active and successful than the Socialist organisation. There are two Workmen’s Secretariates, one (quite new) founded and maintained by the Socialist trade unions, and the other founded by the " Christian ” unions. The former gives advice to members of the contributory unions on all questions affecting relations with employers, the insurance laws, civil code, &c. The Workmen’s Secretariate of the “ Christian ” unions is con cerned rather with propaganda work, but there is also a People’s Bureau, which was founded 14 years ago by the Roman Catholic unions, and gives free legal advice to its members, who pay 9d. a year subscription. The municipality has recently founded an Association for Social Welfare which will take over the maintenance of the People’s Bureau, and receive a grant from the town for that purpose. Finally it may be remarked that there is a general agreement that the consumption of spirits is diminishing, even among the weavers, and is being replaced by an increased consumption of beer. The success of this form of the temperance movement is ascribed to the combined action of societies, local authorities, and the trade unions of both camps. Wages in the Silk Industry. Piece-work is predominant in the weaving branch of the silk industry, (the only important exception being for the weaving of patterns), whilst time work is the rule in dyeing and printing. There is no general wages agreement for weaving ; each firm makes its own rates, which are commonly very compli cated ; but the general results seem to be the same in all the factories. There are complaints in many cases as to deductions for faults, &c., but this practice is said to be less common than was formerly the case. As a rule only one day’s notice is necessary on either side, an arrangement which the workpeople prefer, though married men are often engaged subject to a fortnight’s notice. Wages are paid weekly. Coming to the wages of particular occupations, it must be remembered that both husband and wife frequently work in the factories ; and also that in stuff weaving there is usually no difference in the rates paid to the two sexes, though there may be in the actual earnings. In many cases, also, where the husband is employed in a factory, the wife and sometimes the daughter work at home at the sewing of neckties. Weaving.—The wages of the velvet weavers (mostly men) are decidedly higher than those of the stuff weavers ; the rates in both cases are so much per metre, and the earnings naturally vary within somewhat wide limits. Thus in one large velvet factory the wages of the weavers ranged in 1905 from 2ls. to 56s. per week, but the normal wages vary from 24s. to 2os. for a full week of 58? hours. But though employment amongst the velvet weavers has now for some time been fairly constant, this is not usually the case, and in 1905 the actual earnings of the velvet weavers in Crefeld were estimated to average only about 22s. weekly, while in the rural districts they were considerably lower. The velvet hand - weavers (for ordinary fabrics), of whom a few lemain in the district, working in their own homes, do not get beyond 18s. a w eek for 12 or 13 hours a day, and even then the worx is very irregular. The usual wages of stuff weavers, engaged in the manufacture of materials for dress and neckties, are from 21s. to 24s. per week of 58? hours, lhese rates are for a full week, but taking the year through it is rare for a stuff weaver to earn much beyond £45, equal to 17s. od. per week. Hand weavers can earn about 14s. to 15s. per day of 12 or 13 hours. Ribbon weavers with full work earn 30s. per week. Finishers both on silk and velvet earn 22s. ZWn? Tradf.—In this branch of the industry time-work is the rule, and the rates ¿re higher for colour dyers than for black dyers, since the work of the latter class is comparatively simple, and is little more than the carrying out of instructions, whilst the colour dyers, working according to samples, Imve to exercise a great deal of judgment and have a personal responsibility. The wages of dyers are regulated by agreement as follows : Black dyers, nom 29088 U 2

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