A FEMALE STRIKE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3041, 27 December 1882, Page 3

A FEMALE STRIKE.

The “ Melbourne Argus ” says It is not often that we hear of women and girls turning out on strike, but that unusual occurrence has been witnessed in the last few days. At intervals for some years past we have received communications complaining of the starvation wages paid by the clothing manufacturers to their hands ; but books have always been produced to disprove the statements made, hnd after some slight controversy the subject has been allowed to drop. It appears, however, that in the opinion of Messrs Death, Schiess and Co., low as the prices for needlework have been, they have not been low enough, so about six or seven weeks ago 10 per cent was deducted from the wages given by them for piecework. There was grumbling at this, but necessity demanded acquiescence. Encouraged by the success achieved, the firm in question determined to have an other slice off the earnings of its employees, but when a further reduction was announced soma flesh and blood rebelled. In three factories the white slaves submitted, but those in the fourth “ went out.” Once more the hooks are brought out for inspection, and our reporter is assured that good hands can get what certainly appear very decent wages. “ But, on the other hand, the employees assert that such wages cannot be made unless they work, not only the full eight hours in the factory, but take homo work, and sit up until 10 or H o’clock every night.” If they had to labor until 10 or 11 o’clock under the old scale to meet their requirements, what will they have to do under the it possible that the state of the trade the redactions unavoidable ; bat if not the decrease in prices certainly seems very much like an attempt to grind the faces of the poor and helpless. We fear that in the attempt to protect their interests many Ji>or women and girls will undergo great suffering, and have anything but a ‘‘merry Christmas.” But, after all, the discipline they will undergo will prove salutary if it leads them to overcome the ailly vanity which witholds them from the comparative freedom of domestic service and keeps them the serfs of an overcrowded • trade. When the custom of “ going out to service” had been established amongst the class that now furnishes the factory hands, the offer of needlework would not have had the overpowering attractions which it has undoubtedly possessed. If women —young women especially—are wise, they will make haste to quit a business in which employers can knock off 10 or 20 cent of their earnings at pleasure.