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PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY OF LABOR

Coal Production in the United States During 1922 1

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REPORT of the United States Geological Survey recently issued gives an account of the labor troubles in the coal industry during 1922 and a variety of statistical information relative to the operation of the anthracite and bituminous mines of the country.

The unsettled labor conditions which resulted in two general strikes, one in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania and the other in the unionized and in some of the nonunion bituminous coal fields of the country, were the outstanding features of the history of the coal industry in 1922 and had a very decided effect upon coal production for that year. The strike in the bituminous mines tied up 60 per cent of the normal productive capacity of the mines for approximately 20 weeks, while the strike in the anthracite region. of Pennsylvania lasted from April 1 to September 11. In spite of this fact and the interference with nonunion production by the strike of railroad shopmen, the total output of bituminous coal in 1922 was slightly in excess of that of 1921, due to the industrial depression which began in the last half of 1920 and did not end until 1922 and which had resulted in greatly lowered production for industrial purposes in 1921.

Practically complete returns as to the physical operation of the mines are secured by the Geological Survey from the commercial mines throughout the country producing 1,000 or more tons each per year. There were 9,299 such mines reported to be in operation in 1922. The output of the numerous wagon mines and country banks is secured from the records of the railroad companies of the coal shipped by these mines over their lines. During the depression in 1921 there was little activity in these mines but the market conditions in 1922 and the high prices created by the strike, combined to stimulate great activity in the wagon mines. The total number of such mines reported for 1922 was 4,851 and their total shipments were 3,459,442 tons. Country banks which sell their product locally and do not enter into competition with the commercial mines produce such a small amount as to be negligible. As no statistics as to number of employees or time worked are available for the wagon mines the statistics of the number of men employed, average number of days worked, etc., relate to commercial mines only.

Coal production in 1922 amounted to 422,268,099 net or short tons of bituminous coal and lignite and to 54,683,022 short tons of

United States. Department of the Interior. Geological Survey. Coal in 1922, by F. G. Tryon and Sydney A. Hale. Washington, 1924. Mineral resources of the United States, 1922, Part II, pages 439669.

Pennsylvania anthracite. Bituminous coal production increased 1.5 per cent over 1921 production, which is considered an index of the extent of the industrial depression of 1921, while anthracite production was lower than in any year since the strike of 1902. The value of the bituminous coal and lignite produced in 1922 was $1,274,820,000, an increase in value of 6.2 per cent over the preceding year, when the value of the product amounted to $1,199,983,600, the percentage increase in value, however, amounting to four times the percentage increase in quantity. The value of the anthracite produced in 1922 was $273,700,000 or a reduction of 39.5 per cent from the value of the product in 1921, which in that year was $452,305,000.

There was in 1922 an average of 156,849 men employed in the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania and of 687,958 in the bituminous mines, while the average number of days worked was 151 in anthracite mines, 142 in bituminous mines, and 144 in the industry as a whole.

In bituminous mines the average production per man per year was 609 tons and the average per man per day was 4.28 tons, while in anthracite mines the figures were 349 and 2.31 tons, respectively. In these figures there are various factors included that tend to bring down the average of the man who actually gets out the coal. Among these factors are the inclusion of the day men above and below ground, the frequent absenteeism of men supposed to be at work, tonnage men leaving work before the mine as a whole stops, and time lost by miners in unavoidable delays, such as waiting for mine cars. The average determined by including all the workers is of value, however, as it affords at least a rough indication of the units of labor necessary to raise a ton of coal and prepare it for shipment. The following table shows the average production per man in each State for 1921 and 1922. The great difference in productivity per man in the different States may be accounted for in some degree by inequalities in skill and diligence, but to a large extent it is due to differences in the physical conditions under which the work is done and particularly to differences in the thickness of the coal beds.

For production in the years 1918, 1919, and 1920, see MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW, June, 1922, p. 98.

COAL PRODUCED PER MAN AND AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WORKED PER YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1921 AND 1922, BY STATES

A comparison is made of the relative productivity of labor employed under different methods of mining which, next to thickness of seam, has probably the largest influence upon the output per man per day in a given mine or district. It is not unusual for two methods of mining such as mining by hand and by machine-to be used in the same mine. In such cases a mine is classified on the basis of the method by which the larger part of its output was produced during the year reported. Mines reported under the heading "Not classified are chiefly small mines which failed to answer the question and in which the method usually employed is shooting from the solid or mining by hand. In the statistics for 1914 strip pits were not reported separately. The following table shows the average amount of coal produced in net tons per man per day by method of mining, data for surface workers being included in the computation:

BITUMINOUS COAL PRODUCED PER MAN PER DAY IN 1914, 1920, AND 1921, BY METHOD OF MINING

A study of the records of the Geological Survey made in collaboration with the President's Conference on Unemployment shows the relation between the size of mine and productivity per man em

ployed. It was found that as the size of the mine increases production per man also grows larger. The following table shows the average production per man in net tons in 1905, 1914, 1920, and 1921, classified according to the size of the mines:

BITUMINOUS COAL PRODUCED PER MAN EMPLOYED PER DAY WORKED AT ALL COMMERCIAL MINES IN CERTAIN YEARS, IN NET TONS

LABOR AGREEMENTS AND AWARDS AND DECISIONS

THE

AGREEMENTS

Cement Masons-New York City

HE agreement between the Masters' League of Cement Workers and the United Cement Masons Union, No. 1, of Greater New York, shows the desire of both sides to stabilize conditions and to prevent occasions of disagreement while it is in force. The agreement is to continue without change till January, 1926, and if either employers or union desire any alteration to be effective after that date they must give notice by registered mail to the other side on or before October 1, 1925. If no such notice is given, the agreement is to continue in force "from calendar year to calendar year, with the right reserved for either party to serve notice on the the 1st day of October in any succeeding year for any desired change to take effect on the following 1st day of January."

Eight hours, worked between 8 a. m. and 5 p. m., shall constitute a day's work, double time must be paid for overtime, and overtime is disapproved.

The wages for journeymen shall be $1.314 per hour. The wages for foremen shall be $1 per day of 8 hours additional to the above rate for journeymen when three or more cement masons in addition to the foreman are employed. The foreman shall work with his tools when requested to do so.

Union men are to be employed when available, but provision is made for occasions when they are not to be had, and some of the practices of which unions have been accused in the past are especially forbidden.

The union shall at all times have the first opportunity to supply members of the association with workmen, and the members of the union shall not refuse to work with men who are not members of their organization when the union has failed to supply a sufficient number of competent workmen. The members of the association shall be at liberty to employ and discharge whomsoever they shall see fit, and the members of the union shall be at liberty to work for whomsoever they shall see fit.

The amount of work that a member of the union may perform shall not be restricted by the union, nor by the representatives, officers, or members of the union; nor shall the use of machinery, tools, appliances, or methods be restricted or interfered with.

The two parties agree that they will jointly maintain an apprenticeship system which shall provide a sufficient number of skilled cement. masons, and for this purpose agree to the rules and regulations concerning apprentices adopted by the joint apprenticeship committee. The employers' responsibility for losses of tools or clothing while men are on the job is defined and limited, and provision is made for settling disputes which may arise.

Each of the parties hereto shall appoint one member to represent it on the general trade board of the concrete industry.