Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/623

 SOME PHASES OF SWEATING SYSTEM IN CHICAGO 609

week. One hundred and nineteen were earning less than $100 per year, and only 12 could earn more than $300. In 23 cases the family income was less than $100 per year, 89 of the fami- lies had from $100 to $300 per year, while 54 had more than $300. Reference to the following table will show what the averages of the industrial conditions are :

INDUSTRY

Average Weekly Wages

Average Number of Weeks Employed

Average Yearly Earnings

Average Family Earnings

Average Earnings per Week

Average Family Earnings per Week

Dressmakers

$0 90

42

t> 37.00

$213.46

So. 7 1

$4.11

Pants-finishers

I. 31

27.8?

42.41

260.61

.82

S-oi

Housewives and pants-finishers Seatnstresses

1.58 2 03

30.21 32.78

47-49 64. 10

245.92 184.00

9i i .23

4-73

3. 54

Pants-makers

2.13

30.77

75.61

239.05

i .45

4.60

Miscellaneous

2.77

2Q

81.80

405.81

1.58

7.80

Tailors

6 22

31 .06

211 .92

C23.2S

4.08

10. 06

General averages

S2.48

31.18

$ 76.74

$297.29


 * 1) 1.48

$5.72

The low average weekly wages, the average earnings per week, 1 and the general 'averages may be noted. The contrast between these conditions and those among the Swedes is start- ling.

The Swedes are scattered more or less throughout the city, but those in the garment trades are to be found on the north side. Where the best pants and coats are made, girls earn as much as $10 or $12 a week. This is partly due to the fact that many girls go into domestic service and leave so small a supply that the contractors are organized for the purpose of securing and keeping workers. The workers, too, are organized, even the women, and so keep up their wages. One of these organizations is the Custom Vest Trimmers', Operators', and Pressers' Union.

The union asked certain things from the contractors : a nine- hour day from 7 o'clock, with forty-five minutes for dinner, beginning at 12 o'clock; overtime work when necessary, but not on union nights ; the Saturday half-holiday in July and August ; a fixed scale of wages for piece work ; or for work by the week $8 or $10 for women and $12 or $15 for pressers or

'/. f., the average weekly earnings if one were earning each week.