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Fl w670e https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis odow6 Astor October 22, 19111. Memorandum From: Wry Anderson, Assistant Director. To: Miss Van Kleeck, Director of Woman in Industry Service. Subject: Visit to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, October 7th and 8th. Nemsons: Urgent ea11 from Mrs. Cox, member L.: the In-Lustrial Commission of Ireilena and Mr. Bell,Orgartze,r for the Central Labor Union, Ft. Wayne, saying that there was great unrest among the women workers and that there was ianger of a strike. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Talked with Mr. Bell* about the general situation and agreel to attend the meeting of the telephone girls that evening. They fad a very well attended meeting and I spoke to them of Lhe Government standards as affecting the telephone service. Told them about Mr. Burleson's appointment of a wage cF,almission of which Miss Julia 01 Conn,r is a member. She is the President of the Boston Telepnone Operators' Union. Telephone girls in Ft. Wayne receive wages ranging from thirty five to forty dollars ($35440) a month. They work eight Uours. Visited Miss Madden of the U. S. Nhployment Service. She informed we thet some of the firms started the girls as low as 43.13 an no. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Visited General Electric Coal)any, employees between 400 and 5C0,1/Working hours from seven in the morning to five-thirty in the evening, with one hour for lunch. Wor over time three nights a week, Monday, Wednesday, and_Fri.iay nights. They work straight from one o'clock to eight o'clock without time for lunch. The work is mostly piece work-, is said to make from ten a week up. Hour work ni(Leteen ($.19) cents per hour. Testers, lifting 22 pounds continuously. 1:10111 women taking men's places. The women sweeping get $.27 an hour. Men formerly got $.36 an hour. Building 1Lotcrs, women starting at $.19 an hour, men getting $.45 an hour. Attended the Union meeting of the girls in the e.-ening and spoke to them. this to say: imp,.rtant roll Ft. Wayne Journal and Gazette as "In her talk Miss Anderson explained the that the women are playing in the world war, and urged all tiose present to do their utmost toward the supnort of the Govern ment during these strenuous times of war, and also explained to those present just what the Govern ment requires of the women of the country. The women present were much aroused by the talk and all were enthused in their desire to be of service to the country." https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Edison Lamm Company: Company. Branch of the General Electric This plant does rostly piece work, women starting at $.15 an hour. Did not visit this plant, was told the working conditions were very poor, one of the worst in the city and the foreman very abusive. Boss Glove Company: nine. 2Cr girls employed,working hours Piece work system. up to $15.00. Can aake from $8.00 a week Hour work, $.16 an hour. Perfection Biscuit Company: ILAIrii week- 55 a week. From 100 to 150 girls. Paid for 60 hours if working full Paid $.13 an hour but while I was there the firm raised the hour work to $.15. Miss Madden of the Employees Service told me the plant conditio7is were good. • The Wayne Knitting Mills employing about 300 girls. Working conditions said to be very good. place of the city. Is the show Could not visit the factory because the Italian soldiers were being entert ained there that afternoon.
