OCCUPATIONS, WAGES AND LABOUR ORGANIZATION
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A dispute involving about 400 workers concerned the Shanghai section of the tailoring trade. In October the left- wing union suddenly sent to some 40 employers a so-called new agreement on wages and working hours. The document was prepared without previous discussion with employers, and its provisions would have placed managerial functions largely in the hands of the workers. Considerable wage increases were demanded. The employers, who have an effective association, stood firm and refused to sign or discuss the new agreement. Accordingly, about 75% of the workers were brought out on strike by the union. The 25% who remained at work have right-wing political leanings. The strike was particularly ill-advised, as the workers knew as well as anybody else that they could not get work elsewhere. However, they remained away from work more than 14 days and lost 5,000 man-days as a result.
Another dispute concerned the largest maker of camphor chests. Premises in which 37 employees worked were demolished, whereupon the left-wing union demanded that all 37 be immediately given work in the main factory, which employs about 200. When the management said this was impossible, the union countered by calling a strike in the main factory. Pickets attempted to prevent the movement of goods out of the factory, and police intervention was necessary. Following discussions in the Labour Department, the strikers returned to work after a month.
The transfer of spinning workers and machinery from one mill to another operated by the same concern led to a dispute on pay rates in the new mill. The workers who were to be transferred objected to the rates in the new mill, which were somewhat less favourable than those they had previously enjoyed; but instead of appointing representatives to discuss matters with the management, they went on strike and picketed the premises to prevent the machinery from being moved. The pay issue was eventually settled by the management agreeing to a 10% adjustment, but since, in order to avoid loss of production, they had taken on some 80 workers from other mills, the final result was that a corresponding number from the union responsible for the strike lost their jobs.
Minor Disputes. The number of minor disputes dealt with by the Department during the year was 1,241, a figure