98
BREMEN.
enumerated by the Factory Inspector, were employed subject to wages
agreements. They included 825 workmen in breweries, 1,110 employed in
printing and lithographic establishments, 657 locksmiths and fitters, and 61
workmen employed in manufactories of heating apparatus. FTo wages
agreements have been concluded in the heavy trades.
The usual hours of. labour are 10 or 10^ daily. There is amongst the
organised workmen a strong agitation in favour of a reduction to 9 hours, but
Bremen’s somewhat isolated position as an industrial town is prejudicial to its
success, and concessions made in this respect are sporadic and isolated. It is
the almost universal rule to dispense with notice on either side, employers
especially preferring, under existing circumstances, to enter into no binding
obligations as to the period of service, so that workpeople can be discharged, or
can cease work, any day. From the workpeople’s standpoint this loose arrangement
is less desirable, since so many of them are householders. Wages are paid
either weekly or fortnightly, according to the industry.
There has been a steady, if slow, rise in wages during the last few years,
and it is estimated that in general the advance has been quite 10 per cent, since
1898. At the same time, the cost of living has greatly increased, partly because
of the abolition of free imports within the Free State of Bremen, and partly
because of the higher imperial taxation, and it is generally allowed that the
advantage of higher wages has in this way been altogether neutralised.
In the shipbuilding yards it is customary to set new men to work on time
rates, and they continue on this basis for some weeks, every man being paid
according to his capacity. The rate is revised from time to time, and only later
is payment by piece introduced. As a rule four days of the week are worked
on piece and two days on time rates, the former being about 30 per cent, higher
than the latter. Sixty hours work per week are universal in this industry.
The wages of skilled men range from 23s. to 27s. and of labourers from 18s. to
22s. In the engineering works skilled men earn from 25s. to 30s. and
labourers from 18s. to 21s.
In the saw mills and timber yards machine-men earn from 24s. to 27s. 6<i.
and labourers 24s. In the corn, rice, and starch mills the predominant rate of
wages is 24s. per week, while pressers in the oil mills receive from 24s. to 25s. 10d.
Wages in the building trades are for the most part regulated by agreements,
and the hours of labour in summer are 54 weekly. It is possible to give
comparative rates of wages in one branch of the wood-working industry covering
a series of years. The return relates to a large joinery establishment
employing machine power. From 1888 to 1890 the working day consisted of
10 hours and since 1890 of 9 hours :—
Record of Daily Wages Paid in a Bremen Joinery Establishment from
1888^1904.
Year.
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
Adults.
Highest Daily
Rate of Wages.
S. d.
3 44
3 6)
3 4%
3 6
3 101
3 11
4
;
3
7
91
Lowest Daily
Rate of Wages.
s. d.
2 0
2 11
2 4
3 0
2 6
41
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 4q
3 81
3 8
3 44
3 6
3 91
ä*
8
3
J uveniles.
Highest Daily
Rate of Wages.
S. d.
?
¡
2 111
1
1
1
2
1
1
I
7
II
Lowest Daily
Rate of Wages.
s. d.
f
ê
i
0
?
4
4
n
