4 2
AACHEN.
the whole of the workpeople of Aachen are Roman Catholics, the Church
festivals and “ Mary days,” apart from the statutory holidays, are no longer
observed ; the only exceptions are Corpus Christi and Good Friday. On the
other hand, ecclesiastical festivals are observed by the public authorities. Most
of Aachen’s industries employ an increasing number of workpeople, though
the town’s growth has for a long time been comparatively slow. The
cloth industry shows the steadiest progress ; the manufacture of needles holds
its own very well ; but the card-makers, who 20 years ago numbered over
20 firms, have dwindled to a few large concerns.
A fortnight’s notice before ceasing employment is the general rule, and
wages are paid weekly. Both in the cloth and the several branches of the iron
and metal industry payment is by piece, and fixed daily or weekly wages are the
exception. List rates are observed in the cloth factories, these rates varying
according to the class of work done and the machinery used. Male weavers earn
in a full week from 21s. to 24s., but female weavers not more than 18s. The
general rate for finishers is from 15s. to 18s., with an average of 16s. The earnings
of male spinners range from 20s. to 25s., while dyers earn from 15s. to 18s.
Many of the textile workers are Belgians, who cross the frontier on Monday and
remain in Aachen all the week.
In the engineering works skilled men, paid by piece, earn from 30s. to 36s.
per week, and labourers from 17s. to 21s.
In the needle manufactories needle makers earn 24s., pointers from 30s. to
35s., polishers from 24s. to 27s., and stampers 30s. In the card-making works
setters earn 40s. and finishers from 25s. to 27s. Piece-work is also the rule in
these trades.
Few wages agreements have as yet been concluded in the building trades
at Aachen, though efforts are being made in that direction, consequent upon
repeated disputes. Payment is by the hour ; the predominant rate is 5d. to 6<A,
though rates of 4d. are common. With a ten hours day, masons and bricklayers
earn 27s. weekly, carpenters, joiners, and cabinet-makers from 22s. 10¿/. to 27s.,
plumbers 27s., painters 25s. 2<L, roofers and tilers 26s. 5d., and bricklayers’
labourers from 15s. to 21s.
Among miscellaneous trades the agreement rate for printers is 24s. 9d. for
compositors, machine minders and pressmen, while for machine compositors it is
30s. 11 d. for news hands and 32s. 2d. for jobbing hands ; chemical workers
earn 24s., bakers 22s. and 16s. 9d., according as they are first or second hands,
10s. Qd. being here reckoned as the value of board and lodging, and carters from
17s. to 19s. 6d.
The usual wages of unskilled labour range from 3s. to 3s. Qd. per day,
giving weekly rates of 18s. and 21s., of which the former predominates.
It may be noted that the u local, rate for day labour,” as fixed by the
administrative authorities for insurance calculations, is 2s. 4^d. for adult males,
with Is. 4ft/, for juveniles.
aW Æbwrs q/" LaWr m äß PrmwpaZ Occwpa&ms, OcMcr, 1905.
Weekly Wages.
Weekly Hours
of Labour.
Building Trades* :—
Masons and Bricklayers
Carpenters, Joiners and Cabinetmakers
Plumbers ... -
Painters
Roofers and Tilers
Bricklayers’ labourers
22s. 10(7. to 27s.
15s. to 21s.
27s.
60
60
60
60
60
60
Engineering Works :—
Moulders
Fitters ...
Smiths ...
Turners ...
60
60
60
60
60
60
Pattern-makers..
Labourers
30s. „ 33s.
17s. „ 21s.
summer.
* The wages and hours of labour stated for the building trades
.re for a full week in
