REGULATION OF. WAGES. The most essential function, as well as the explanation and justifica tion of trade unionism, is the determination of the conditions of employment by collective in stead of individual bargaining. The most im portant condition of employment is the rate of wages, as is well illustrated by the fact that in both England and the United States more than 50 per cent. of the strikes which occur are caused by disputes about wages. The conditions and characteristics of the regulation of wages by trade unions may be briefly summed up under three heads. (1) The standard rate as main tamed by American unions is a local rate fixed by the local union. In a few- trades working largely by piece, such as the Potters, Glass Blow ers, etc., the scale of prices is fixed for the whole country by the national union; and in a few other unions, such as the Brewery Workmen and the United Hatters of North America, a national minimum time rate is prescribed. But. in the vast majority of unions the regulation of wages is left wholly to the local union, and no strong demand for uniformity seems to exist. (2) Con trary to general opinion. the majority of trade unions, in trades in which it is possible, favor work by the piece rate system. In England, Mr. and Mrs. Webb have made a careful study of the wage system of every trade union baying more than 1,000 members, unskilled laborers and transport workers excepted. Of these, Ill unions, having 1,003,000 members, were examined; forty-nine, with 573,000 members, insisted on piece work; twenty-four, with 140.000 members, willingly rec ognized piece work; and thirty-eight, with 290,000 members, insisted on time work. A similar in vestigation in the United States was made by the Industrial Commission. Information was seem-el concerning 50 important unions in which piece work was possible. Of these unions 2S accepted the piece-work system in some depart ment without active opposition. while 22 unions either forbade or actively discouraged piece work. The reasons for this diversity are clear. In some occupations, such as spinning and weav ing, the intensity of the labor is determined by the speed of the machine. or, speaking generally,
the employer finds it possible to set the pace for the employee. In such oeenpations it is evident that the workers will insist upon piece payment to prevent forcing and over-exertion. In other occupations, such as ordinary carpentering or re pair work in general. it is impossible to esti mate how much skill or time will be required to perform a given `job' or piece, and here the time rate is the workman's only defense against exploitation. The testimony collected by the In dustrial Commission amply proves that the ma jority of the labor leaders of the United States would abolish the piece-rate system instantly if it were possible. The leaders hold that under the piecework system the most proficient workmen set the pace and fix the standard rate, thereby depressing the earnings of the less talented but no less industrious or deserving shopmate. In addition the argument is made that the piece-rate system either encourages production, and thus depresses prices, or throws the Nvork into the hands of a few workmen, thus increasing the amount of non-employment, both of which results tend strongly to reduce wages. The feel ing is also prevalent that the piece system stimu lates employees to over-exert themselves and to work themselves out at an early age.
It must be admitted that the piece system in practice may be, and often is, manipulated to the injury of the general body of wage-earners. It is undoubtedly true that employers are disposed to reduce piece rates as soon as the more efficient workmen in their employ demonstrate an ability to earn an unusually high rate by the system; and furthermore, the testimony seems convincing that in many instances the piece-rate system does lead over-ambitious employees to injure their health in the attempt to earn unusually high rates of pay; but the objection to piece work on the ground that it leads to over-pro duction, and the defense of a uniform wage irre spective of productive power, are on the face of them evils and untenable, if not from the stand point of the trade million, at least from the standpoint of the general public.