WAGES (PERCENTAGE INCREASE). (Hansard, 13 July 1926)

§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

The following table gives for 30th April, 1926, figures corresponding to those given for 30th June, 1925, on pages 88 to 91 of the survey of industrial relations prepared by the Committee on Industry and Trade. The particulars given are subject to the qualifications to which reference is made in pages 84 and 85 of the survey:

251W

Industry and Occupation.	Approximate percentage Increase in Time Rates of Wages for a full week (unless otherwise specified^* at 30th April, 1926 in comparison with the level of August, 1914).
Shipbuilding.
(Average of recognised time rates of wages in 9 principal centres).
Shipwrights	35
Platers	35
Rivetters	38
Ship joiners	44
Labourers	68
Cotton Industry—
(General increase on list prices modified to allow for the effect of reductions in hours of labour).	61
Wool Textile Industry—
(General increases, excluding increases granted in compensation for reduced hours of labour).
Time-workers	90¶
Piece-workers	80¶
Chemical Manufacture—
(General minimum time-rates recognised by the Employers' Federation and the Trade Unions).
Day labourers	115
Shift (process) labourers	106
Boot and Shoe Manufacture.—
(General minimum time rates for manufacturing processes agreed upon by the employers' and workers' organisations.)
Men—heelbuilding and stock and shoe rooms	111
Men—other departments	100
Women	100 to 112
Dock Labour.—
(Rates recognised at principal ports.)
General cargo-workers	103
	(based on average of daily rates).
II. INDUSTRIES OF THE "SHELTERED" TYPE.
Building.—
(Average of recognised time rates in 40 large towns.)
Bricklayers	81
Masons	86
Carpenters and joiners	84
Plumbers	86
Plasterers	85
Painters	101
Labourers	106
Railway Service.—
Engine Drivers^**	85 to 95
Guards	110 to 132
Ticket Collectors	115 to 135
Goods Porters	122 to 147
Passenger Porters (Class 2)	140 to 155
Road Transport.—
(Average of recognised rates in 12 towns).
One-horse drivers	108
Tramways.—
(Average of recognised rates in 52 towns).
Drivers	94
Conductors	105
Printing and Bookbinding—
(Average of recognised rates in 26 towns).
Hand compositors on book and jobbing work	107
Bookbinders and machine rulers	117

252W 253W

Industry and Occupation.	Approximate percentage Increase in Time Rates of Wages for a full week (unless otherwise specified^* at 30th April, 1926, in comparison with the level of August, 1914).
Baking.—
(Average of recognised rates in 13 large towns).
Fore hands	87
Table hands	111
Local Authorities (Non-Trading Services).—
(Average of rates in 24 large towns).
Labourers	99
^* In most of the industries referred to, the normal weekly hours of labour were less at April, 1926, than at August, 1914. The percentage increases in hourly rates of wages, therefore, were generally higher than the figures quoted.
† The figures quoted are based on the average earnings per man shift worked at June, 1914, and in the quarter ended March, 1926. The information available is insufficient to enable a satisfactory calculation to be made as to the percentage increase in rates of wages.
‡ The full amount of the increases quoted applies in the case of full-time weekly wages only to the lower-paid men. The increase over pre-war weekly full-time wages for the higher-paid men i s generally less.
Ş Special bonuses were being paid at April, 1926, to certain of the lower-paid workers. The information available is insufficient to enable the effect of such bonuses to be expressed as a percentage of 1914 rates, but the total percentage increase on the 1914 rates for such workers is in excess of the figures quoted.
║In some occupations the increase was greater.
¶In the case of higher-paid workers the increases were not so great but for some occupations in certain districts the increases over pre-war rates were greater than those quoted.
^** The increases shown do not take into account variation in the mileage payments made to drivers of long-distance trains.