Questions
1. Explain why labor organizations came into existence during the nineteenth century. On the whole have they been a benefit to industry or not? Give your reasons.
2. Give some reasons for expecting trade unions to be stronger in certain employments than in others. In which of the following employments would you expect the unions to be strong, and in which would you expect them to be weak: (a) railroading; (b) domestic service; (c) school teaching; (d) farming; (e) mining; (f) steel-making? Give reasons for your expectations in each case.
3. With what points in the program of the American Federation of Labor do you agree and with what ones do you disagree?
4. The closed shop is sometimes criticised as being “un-American” and the open shop has been called the “American plan”. What does this mean?
5. Are there any employments, public or private, in which strikes should not be permitted?
6. Why should the consumer pay the costs of all industrial accidents? Explain how he does so where workmen’s compensation acts have been passed.
7. In your opinion would the legislature be justified in limiting to eight hours per day the labor of (a) women in candy factories; (b) men who work on farms; (c) men who work in coal mines; (d) physicians; (e) waitresses in hotels; (f) female servants; (g) members of the fire-protection service in cities; (h) motormen on street cars? Give your reasons in each case.
8. Give your views as to the minimum age at which any person should be permitted to engage in regular employment for wages. At what age should employment in night work be permitted? Should persons under fourteen years of age be allowed to work for wages after school hours, on Saturdays, and during vacations?
9. A girl of sixteen has graduated from grammar school and could obtain a position as clerk in a millinery store at eight dollars a week. She is living at home and does not have to support herself. But the minimum wage for clerks in stores happens to be ten dollars per week and the owner will not pay so much. Is there any injustice here?