Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/442

 428 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

demands, the following : Discontinuance of night and Sunday labor except under a very considerable advance in wages ($1.20 for work after 6 P. M. and $4.80 extra for Sunday labor) ; further, discontinuance of the English system of weighing, whereby work was paid per unit of 1,015 kilograms, instead of 1,000 kilograms ; payment of all costs of transportation to and from work by the employers, who were also to make good lost time and provide gratis accident insurance. The employers selected a commission of three ship-freighters to discuss conditions with the laborers.

Meanwhile, the original malcontents had combined with other similar organiza- tions to form the "Federatie van het Transport te Water." A meeting was held and motions carried demanding immediate cessation of Sunday labor.

The employers had adopted a very conciliatory attitude and had yielded several important points, e. g., discontinuance of the English system of weighing, free trans- port to and from work, etc. As for the insurance, many employers had long ago pro- vided for that. The demand for entire cessation of night and Sunday labor could not be fully granted. For years Sunday labor in the harbor of Rotterdam has been done only exceptionally. The employers, even though they could not promise absolute cessation, indicated their fairness and desire to limit such labor by agreeing to pay the #4.80 extra. But to pay $1.20 for all labor after 6 P. M. was too much to ask even here the employers tried to conciliate to the extent of offering to pay 50 per cent, extra for work after 9 P. M.

The workmen summarily rejected these generous terms ; with them it was all or none, and the chairman of the employers' representatives found himself forced to dis- band his commission (June 28), as all further discussion seemed worse than useless. Sharp words followed, and matters were brought to a crisis. The authorities of the Holland-American line informed their employe's that the ship " Spaarndam " must be loaded by night (June 29) ; for this service they were to pay 50 per cent, extra wages for work after 9 p. M. The workmen, however, informed the director that they would not work except on condition of 100 per cent, higher pay, adding that they considered this night work quite unnecessary. The master explained that the directors of the line knew best about that, and warned the hands that absence from work wtmld mean discharge. The workmen refused to work, and on the next day found the gates closed to them.

The directors now advertised for other hands, and the federation, making com- mon cause with the aggrieved members, began a system of intimidation. Men patrolled the harbor in small boats, trying by persuasion and threats to cause such as were at work to desert. General cessation of work was finally effected. On Wednes day, July 4, all was still on the river.

By Saturday (July 7) the workmen began to resort to violent measures and destruc- tion of property; wagons were injured, horses' bridles cut, and loads overturned. The police were powerless, and the burgomaster saw himself forced to seek aid of the military. Infantry entered the city (July 8), and armed ships and torpedo-boats were stationed in the harbor. But intimidation had been so effective that even under such protection the well-disposed did not dare to go to work.

The malcontents held regular meetings and exhorted each other to hold out, as the employers must yield. But the latter could not grant further concessions, and said truthfully that they had done all they could. The workmen now began to see reason, and gradually gave way, work being again in full swing by July 20.

The losses due to the three weeks' cessation of labor cannot be reckoned in figures. The workmen's organization itself suffered considerably ; neglecting the payments from relief funds, the cost of steam-launch hire, etc., there was paid weekly in wages about $120,000. Following the very lowest estimate, the total loss of wages amounted to $200,000. Further, numbers of ships destined for Rotterdam turned aside to other ports. There was also great loss of capital, owing to the impossibility of moving ships; vessels in the harbor nearly doubled in number during the strike. All the anchorages and loading stations were overcrowded, and it will still cost much anxiety and money before the immense mass of goods now lying in the harbor of Rot- terdam is properly transported. De Economist, July-August, 1900 (49. jrg.).

A. G. KKI.I.KK. YAI.E UNIVERSITY.