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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DORTMUND. 179 coal and iron mines. The second firm is the Hoesch Iron and Steel Works, which carries on the production of iron and steel, and manufactures thereof ; it had in 1905 4,126 workmen and officials at the works, and 3,589 in the coal mines. There are two other large firms, one for the manufacture of bridges, gasometers, &c., with 1,100 employees, and the other for machine-making with 1,500 employees. All the other works in Dortmund itself are small. In September, 1906, all were extremely busy, much overtime was being worked, and the large firms stated that they had great difficulty in procuring a sufficient number of workmen. The ordinary working day consists of 12 hours, with two hours of intervals ; the intervals are definitely fixed so far as practicable, but in blast furnaces, foundries, rolling-mills, &c. it is not possible for definite pauses to be assigned. The theory is that the workmen there get their meals as opportunity offers, and are entitled to intervals amounting in all to two hours ; but it is alleged that in practice, during times of high pressure, there are often scarcely any intervals at all. Work commences at 6 or 7 a.m. ; in the former case there is usually half an hour’s pause from 8 to 8.30 a.m., and lj> hours from 12 to 1.30 p.m. ; when work begins at 7 the pauses are usually 9 to 9.15, 12 to 1.30, and 4 to 4.15. In the great works there are night shifts also. In both the Union and Hoesch works wages are paid monthly, and advances are made halfway through the month to such workmen as wish for them ; in other works wages are paid half-monthly or weekly. Wages are in the main for piece-work. The Hoesch works present some interesting features. They cover a great extent of ground, and the abundance of space gives an impression of roominess, with ample air and light. There are elaborate lavatories, well provided with shower-baths, &c. Near the main entrance to the works, just within the gates, is a well-equipped ambulance station, with a doctor in attendance ; this is connected with the factory Sickness Insurance Society (established under the compulsory Insurance Acts), but medical assistance is given also to the wives and families of the workmen. Outside the works there is a large dining-hall for workmen, in which a dinner is provided for about 4d., but the hall is comparatively little used. Great numbers of the workmen go home to dinner, but for those who do not (and many in the foundries, blast works, &c. cannot do so) the dinners are collected in covered waggons. These go each morning to various appointed stations in the surrounding district (where the workmen chiefly live), collect the dinners there (they are brought by the wives and children) and convey them to the works, where they arrive about 12 o’clock noon. The firm also maintains a creche for children from 2 to 6 years of age (i.e. up to school age) ; the children are kept from 8 to 12 and from 1 to 4 o’clock. The nominal charge is 6d. per child per month, but in many cases this is reduced to 3d., and about one-third of the children are admitted free. Finally the firm possesses near the works 202 houses with 493 dwellings, built by the firm itself chiefly for foremen. The houses are mostly small houses for two families, each family having three or four rooms, and generally there is a small garden. The “ Union ” firm has also a small colony, not merely for foremen, but for workmen of any kind. The houses are usually for six families, and each is completely detached, with a garden in front. There is a creche for young children. ‘ There is also a small Co-operative Society for the workmen. As in the Hoesch works, the lavatory arrangements are good, and the canteen system is well organised. In the coal mines an eight hours shift is worked by the chief classes of men employed underground, the hewers and trammers, except in places where the ordinary temperature is more than 82 degrees Fahrenheit, in which case the hours of labour may not exceed 6 ; there are no pauses. In these nours i» included the time necessary for the men to get from the bottom of the shaft to the workplaces, and vice versa, but not the time occupied by the descent and ascent of the shafts. For other underground workers there is a nine hours shift. For above-ground workers there is a 12-hours day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with morning and afternoon nauses of half an hour each, and a one-hour interval at mid-day No women are employed at the coal mines m this district, and no youths under 16 years of age. Overtime is prohibited where the temperature is above 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Wages are either so much per shift, or more 29088 Z 2

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