DORTMUND.
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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
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