LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE LANCASHIRE LOCK-OUT. [To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPDCTATOR."]
the Manchester Guardian of February 4th, I saw a -quotation from the Spectator re" The Lancashire Lock-out," In it you are made to say that "the attempted reduction, be it understood, applies to the spinners only ; the wages of the card- room hands are not to be touched." I presume this quotation is correct. If so, then permit ate to say it is not a right repre- sentation of the position of affairs. The proposed 5 per cent. reduction, as given notice of by the employers, applies to all persons employed in both the departments named, and also to -other mill-workers. In proof of this, let me give you a copy of notice posted at the mills, as follows :—
'TRH FEDERATION Or MASTER COTTON SPINNERS. ASSOCIATIONS.
Local Association.
NuricE.—We hereby give you notice that on and after the 7th day of November, 1892, the wages of all hands in our employ will be reduced 5 per cent."
That point being settled, let me further say that the number
Of spindles stopped is upwards of sixteen millions, while about five million spindles are stated to be working short time. A simple rule to get at the number of hands so in- volved is that three operatives are engaged upon every one thousand spindles, and as to the wages earned, these are com- puted at 20s. per operative week. Therefore, we get in round
figures, fifty thousand workpeople directly out of employment, irrespective of those affected in other industries and occupa-
tions which largely depend on the cotton trade; and also fifteen thousand working short time; or in all, say, fifty-seven thousand workpeople who are not earning wages, which will .amount to, on the basis given, 257,000 per week. As the dispute has lasted thirteen weeks, and is now in its fourteenth week, the loss in wages to the operatives will be 2750,000, irrespective of any loss to the employers. If we include the loss of earnings in attendant occupations, the total must not be far short of a million of money. Now, as to how the 5 per cent. reduction will affect the -employers ; this can easily be ascertained on the basis laid
down. The employers, however, in stating their case, put it that it will mean one-sixteenth of a penny on every pound of
yarn spun, which, they say, will, in many instances, make all the difference between accepting and refusing a yarn order.— I am, Sir, &c., LANCASTRIAN.
Previous page
