The following table is a recapitulation, showing occupations and results:

Of the 180 strikes of textile operatives 21 succeeded, 45 were compromised, 102 failed, three were pending when the reports were closed, while nine were not stated at that time. Of the 149 strikes in the boot and shoe industry 42 succeeded, 38 were compromised, 52 failed, eight were pending, and nine were not stated. In the metal-working industry 26 strikes succeeded, 26 were compromised, and 27 failed.

The total line of the table shows that of the 1,123 strikes occurring 293, or 26.09 per cent, succeeded, 243, or 21.64 per cent, were compromised, while 483, or 43 per cent, failed. Those strikes which succeeded or which were compromised taken together are slightly in excess of the number that failed.

The causes of the labor disputes correlated with the results are presented in the next table.

As is generally found to be the case, the question of compensation entered into a very large majority of the strikes. There were 427 disputes inaugurated to enforce demand for increase in wages or to resist reduction in wages. Considering the 146 disputes that were inaugurated for increase in wages and shorter workday, as well as the 66 strikes for increase in wages, shorter workday, recognition of union and other causes, we find a total of 639 controversies, more than 50 per cent of the total number occurring. To obtain a shorter workday was the cause of 84 strikes, protests against non-union workmen was the cause of 47, against working conditions the cause of 40, against objectionable workmen the cause of 39, and trade union principles the cause of 34. Comparatively speaking, wages, hours of labor, and trade unionism in some form entered into nearly all the strikes recorded.

To obtain the duration of labor disputes and the consequent total working-days lost is a difficult matter, inasmuch as we can obtain absolutely in but few cases the actual number of strikers and the time when the strike closed. The difficulty arises in a measure from the fact that in many instances a strike is not declared off by a union for some months, or perhaps never declared off, when, from the employer's standpoint, the strikers' places have been filled and business resumed without serious detriment in a few days after the inauguration of the trouble.

The following table is a record of duration of 533 strikes and lockouts.

It will be seen that by far the largest number of strikes were of one week or less duration, i.e., 329 strikes lasted one week or less than one week out of a total of 533. The largest number of strikers and workingdays lost occurred in those strikes where the duration was 25 weeks, there being but two strikes of this duration with 26,030 strikers involved and 3,904,500 total working-days lost. The reason for the great number of strikers and working-days lost in this case is the Fall River textile strike; naturally, this strike makes the entire total much in excess of what it would otherwise be. The 533 strikes recorded show the number of strikers involved to be 121,492, with total working-days lost of 6,443,395. The wages lost to employees approximated $12,000,000 in the five years. This is only an approximate for the 533 strikes where all the facts were returned. In the introduction to this article we have given an estimate of what the total loss would be for the five years for all the strikes.

Although the important strikes were considered in detail in a part of the Bureau Report for each year, we append here a résumé of the most important strikes occurring during the five years, arranged chronologically, the heading showing also class of workpeople involved and location.

1901-May- Linemen General.

The strike of the linemen of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Co., Boston Elevated Railway Co. and Boston Electric Light Co, was inaugurated in Boston on May 4, per order of Local Linemen's Union No. 104 and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of America. The operations of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Co. extend throughout the State, the headquarters of the four divisions being in Lowell, Springfield, New Bedford, and Boston. The Boston division covers a radius of 15 miles. The cause of the strike was to enforce the acceptance of the eight-hour day (afterward changed to nine hours), $3 minimum wage for linemen and $3 50 for foremen, recognition of union, and minor grievances. The demands were not granted, and within two weeks the strike was practically settled as far as the companies were concerned; many of the strikers returned to work, the places of others being filled. Including the groundmen and laborers, who struck out of sympathy with the linemen, nearly 300 men went out.

1901-May-Machinists - General.

The machinists' strike was general throughout the country, being ordered by the International Association of Machinists. The strike was ordered to take place on May 20, and within two weeks

the employees of all the large establishments in the industry throughout Massachusetts were on strike. The cause of the strike was the refusal of the firms to sign and accept the following agree

ment:

"Machinists. A machinist is classified as a competent general workman, competent floor hand, competent lathe hand, competent vise hand, competent planer hand, competent shaper hand, competent milling-machine hand, competent slotting machine hand, competent die sinker, competent boringmill hand, competent tool maker, and competent linotype hand.

Hours. Nine hours shall constitute a day's work on and after May 20, 1901.

(Note: This arrangement of hours is not to interfere in any way with shops where a less num

ber of hours per day is already in operation.)

Overtime. All overtime up to 12 o'clock midnight shall be paid for at the rate of not less than time and one-half time, and all overtime after 12 o'clock midnight, Sundays and Legal Holidays, shall be paid for at the rate of not less than double time.

(Note: The foregoing rates are not to interfere in any way with existing conditions; that is, where higher rates than above are paid, no reduction shall take place.)

Night gangs. All machinists employed on night gangs or shifts shall receive overtime as specified above, for all hours worked over 54 per week.

Apprentices. There may be one apprentice for the shop and in addition not more than one apprentice for every 5 machinists. It is understood that, in shops where the ratio is more than the above, no change shall take place until the ratio has reduced itself to the proper number, by lapse or by the expiration of existing contracts.

Wages. An increase of 12 per cent over the present rates is hereby granted to take effect May 20, 1901.

Grievances. In cases of a grievance arising the above firm agrees to receive a committee of their machinists to investigate and if possible to adjust the same. If no adjustment is reached the case shall be referred to the above Company and the representatives of the International Association of Machinists. If no satisfactory settlement can then be agreed upon, the whole subject matter shall be submitted to a Board of Arbitration consisting of 5 persons, 2 to be selected by the above Company, 2 by the above Lodge of the International Association of Machinists, and the 4 to choose a fifth arbiter, and the decision reached by this Board is to be binding on both parties to this agreement."

Over 1,000 men were granted their demands during the first day, and within a week this number was augmented to 1,500. In some cases concessions were made and men returned to work; in some establishments the order to strike resulted in a lockout on the part of the firm, the men's places were gradually filled, and in a short time establishments were running with full force.

1901-June-Paper Makers - Holyoke.

Over 2,500 firemen and paper makers of Holyoke and South Hadley Falls struck on June 4. Direct cause of the strike was to enforce demand of Stationary Firemen's Union for increase in wages (minimum daily wage to $2) and shorter hours (8-hour day), with the three-shift system to be granted the firemen The grievances of the paper makers were founded upon those of the stationary firemen and were presented to the manufacturers by Eagle Lodge of Paper Makers; demands were as follows: "That 64 hours constitute a tour worker's week's work, the week beginning at 7 o'clock Monday morning and ending on the following Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock, a full week's wages to be received; that the mills absolutely cease from manufacturing between 4 P.M. on Saturday and 7 A.M on Monday, and during that time no work of any description to be done by tour workers; 9 hours to constitute a day's work for all other day employees except on Saturday, when 8 hours would be a day's work; employees receiving less than $2 per day to be granted an increase of 20 per cent on present wages." The strike was settled through the efforts of the State Board of Arbitration on June 15; the men soon returned to work. The demands of the firemen were granted in their entirety; 3 shifts of firemen to do the work formerly done by 2 shifts; 8 hours to constitute a day's work at 25 cents per hour minimum wages. The agreement between the manufacturers and the Eagle Lodge of Paper Makers took effect July 8, and embodied the following clause: "Manufacturing departments will be in operation from 7 A.M. on Monday to 6 P.M. on the following Saturday, making 131 hours. A week's work for a tour worker shall not exceed 66 hours. Each company reserves the right to operate its manufacturing departments, in any or all of its plants, for a full 144 hours per week, but in case the company elects so to run it will not require any tour worker to work more than 66 hours in any one week. In case the shortening of hours in the finishing department should so unbalance any plant as to make it impossible to finish the paper made, it is understood that the help will work such overtime as is necessary to keep the finishing up even with the manufacturing until such time as any extra equipment needed may be added. The help working such overtime to be paid for same at their regular rate of wages." The wages and hours of labor were specifically stated for each department and each class of operatives; the agreement as to Sunday work provided that double time would be allowed for such work on repairs. This was the first labor difficulty of importance experienced in the paper trade in Massachusetts; it caused the shutdown of 25 plants in Holyoke and South Hadley Falls, curtailed the daily production of 319 tons of paper, and lasted 2 weeks.

1901-September — Expressmen - Boston.

About 250 expressmen and helpers in the employ of the New York & Boston Despatch Express Co. and Earle & Prew struck for recognition of union and reinstatement of 10 men who were discharged; it was alleged that 7 of the men were discharged for joining the union; International Team Drivers and Helpers Union, Local No. 307, involved. [On Oct. 2 (strike was inaugurated Sept. 25) strikers returned to work, 7 of the discharged men being taken back, the cases of the other 3 being left to arbitration, and it being allowable for men to be members of union. Conferences were held with the State Board of Arbitration and President of the Boston Chamber of Commerce; these parties together with the Mayor and the President of the Transportation Trades Council were instrumental in settling the strike and averting the threatened tie-up of Boston transportation.]

1901 October - Garment Makers - Boston.

The most important strike of the period, in the point of number of persons involved, was that which the garment makers in Boston declared against the clothing contractors. The trouble started on Oct. 3 when 50 garment pressmen struck for a 9-hour day and 10 to 15 per cent increase in wages. Subsequent upon the strike, 450 pressmen were locked out. The men returned to work two days later when demands were granted. On Oct. 8, the tailors, garment workers, basters, and other clothing employees, to the number of 4,500, went out, demanding an increase in wages from 10 to 15 per cent and 9-hour day. The strike lasted two days, an increase in wages from $1 to $1.25 per week being granted. Local Union No. 1, United Garment Workers of America, involved.

1902 January - Teamsters and Freight Handlers - Boston.

The agreement between Team Drivers International Union No. 25 and Master Teamsters of Boston after much agitation and controversy was decided upon and went into effect on January 10. On January 20 the team drivers employed by the R. S. Brine Transportation Co. struck, alleging that the agreement was not being lived up to by the employer. The company claimed that it was not bound by the agreement of January 10, and two weeks later secured a temporary injunction from the Superior Court restraining the teamsters union from interfering with its business. On February 28 an injunction against the union officials, except the president of the Allied Freight Transportation Council, was made permanent. Much opposition was made by union workmen against handling goods drawn by the R. S. Brine Transportation Co., but the company having partially filled strikers' places had continued its business under police protection. About 200 team drivers were involved in the difficulty. Following this was the strike of freight handlers which was inaugurated on March 8 by freight handlers and freight clerks, numbering about 600, in the South Boston freight house of the New York, New Haven, & Hartford R.R. Co. The alleged cause of the difficulty was refusal on the part of the employer to reinstate 11 men who were discharged for refusing to handle goods hauled by the R. S. Brine Transportation Co. On March 9 a sympathetic strike was ordered involving employees engaged in the transportation of freight on both railroads and steamships. Sympathetic action soon extended so that within three days members of the various branches of the Team Drivers International Union, employed as expressmen, truckmen, or otherwise in transporting or receiving freight, were on strike, the number of strikers having now been augmented to over 20,000. The New York, New Haven, & Hartford R.R. Co. filled the strikers places in the freight yard with Italian laborers; it was stated that the road officials had anticipated the intended strike and had many applicants for work. Variance between the parties in interest during which the efforts of the State Board of Conciliation and Arbitration and the officials of the Allied Freight Transportation Council, aided by the personal influence of the Governor, the Mayor, and leading business men were directed towards an equitable settlement of the points at issue, resulted in a speedy termination of the strike. Within one week from the start of the difficulty a great many of the strikers had returned to work. The New York, New Haven, & Hartford R.R. Co. as well as the Boston & Albany R.R. Co. refused to reinstate the strikers except as they were needed, while the Boston & Maine R.R. Co. took all its men back. Great difficulty was experienced after this by the strikers not being taken back as they applied for work. The State Board, under the direction of the Governor and in conjunction with the committee appointed at the conference, endeavored to have the men taken back as quickly as possible. Three weeks later it was reported that less than 300 men had up to that time failed of reinstatement. This strike was one of the largest and most important that had been experienced in Boston for years, and at the time threatened to tie up the entire business interests not only of this city but of the State.

1902-April - Brewery Workmen - Boston.

A strike involving a large number of employees was that of the brewery workmen in Boston, inaugurated on April 3. The men left work to enforce demand for a nine-hour day and 50 cents an hour overtime, and because of the opposition to acceptance of what was known as the "discharge clause" which maintained that “employees may be discharged at the discretion of the employer and that every man discharged by a subordinate officer shall, if he so desires, be given a hearing by his employer whose decision shall be final. At such hearing business agent of the union may be present."