SOLINGEN.
433
has other workmen in his employ, the wages of the latter depend on the terms
which they can make with each individual master. Moreover, some firms have
special wages-agreements of their own ; this is the case, for example, with the
largest firm in Solingen itself, for its hammer-men.
There is great diversity in the earnings of Solingen cutlers. As a general rule
the earnings of the factory workmen (except the grinders) are higher than those
of the home-workers, or as high for shorter hours of labour, but in both the factory
and the home industry there is a wide range, determined by individual capacity,
but still more by the kind and quality of goods upon which a man works, and
thus diversity applies more or less to all the various processes of manufacture.
The rates of earnings given below are based upon returns furnished by
representative firms in all the leading branches of industry.
The engineering trade does not take a very prominent place in the industry
of Solingen. The wages of skilled men in machine shops range from 27 s.
to 33s., and of labourers from 18s. to 21s. There is a steel works with several
hundred men.
Wages in the building trades are for the most part regulated by agreements.
The hours of labour vary from 57 to 60, and the predominant rates fall between
6d. and 6^d. per hour. It is noticeable that earth work is for the most part
done by Italian labourers.
It is due to the character of Solingen’s staple industries and to the
relatively high level of wages prevailing therein, that the rates of pay
for unskilled day labour, accepted by the authorities as the basis for insurance
calculations, reach an unusual scale, being 3s. 6d. for male adults, 3s. for males
between 17 and 20 years, and Is. 9\d. for juveniles under 17 years, rates equal
to 21s., 18s., and 10s. 9d. weekly.
Wages and Hours of Labour in the Principal Occupations, October, 1905.
Weekly Wages.
Weekly Hours of
Labour. .
Building Trades* :—
Bricklayers and Masons
Stonemasons
Carpenters
Joiners and Cabinet-makers
Plumbers
Stucco-workers
Painters ...
Bricklayers’ Labourers
31s. 2d.
36s.
33s.
.27s. lid.
30s.
32s. 5d. to 36s.
28s. lOd.
26s. 5d.
60
60
60
57
60
54-60
60
60
Steel and Bolling Works :—
Smelters...
First Rollers
Second „
Third „
Heaters ... « ••• » • ••
Moulders and Casters ...
Hammer-smiths—profile
„ plain bars (a) heavy
„ „ (&) Hght
Hand smiths
Pattern-makers...
Labourers
33s.
42s. 7d.
39s.
25s. 2d.
43s. bd.
38s. 5d.
54s.
49s. 2d.
37s. lOd.
30s.
30s.
24s.
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
Engineering Works :—
Moulders
Fitters ...
Turners ...
Smiths ...
Pattern-makers...
Labourers
30s. to 33s.
27s. „ 30s.
27s. „ 33s.
30s. „ 33s.
27s. „ 30s.
18s. „ 21s.
60
60
60
60
60
60
* The wages and hours of labour stated for the building trades are for a full week in
summer.
