112 ASSOCIATION OF IRON, STEEL AND TIN WORKERS [244 



ter — but the law was not rigidly enforced. All restrictive 

 measures as to output were abolished in 1905. The eight- 

 hour shift has been continued in practically all tin-plate 

 plants." 



' Until the early eighties, the national union made no at- 

 tempt to preserve, as days of rest, Sunday and the usual 

 holidays. The matter was left to local agreement between 

 the workmen and the employer.-^ In 1883 the convention 

 passed a resolution that "all Bessemer mills governed by 

 this Association cease all Sunday work, except that which 

 is necessary, after the first of January, 1884."" This ac- 

 tion did not, of course, put an end to the practice, and 

 protests were frequently made. The belief was held, as in 

 the case of excessive production, that Sunday labor tended 

 to reduce wages, as well as to cause physical harm of the 

 workmen. Accordingly, steel and rod mills — which com- 

 monly operated on Sunday — were required to stop rolling 

 not later than five o'clock on Saturday and not to commence 

 again until Monday morning.-^ 



The Amalgamated provides not only that no skilled work- 

 men be required to work on Sunday, but also for a shorter 

 work day on Saturday. Puddle mills, on single turn, make 

 five instead of six heats. Bushelers quit charging after 

 seven hours. Finishing mills stop rolling seven hours from 

 the time the mill started to roll ; sheet and tin mills work 

 the first eight-hour shift only. Such advantages have not 

 been maintained, however, without vigilant effort. 



Until 1903, the union provided no uniform rule as to 

 working on holidays, with one exception. No member was 



22 In a three-turn mill, no member of a crew was permitted to 

 work longer than eight hours (Proceedings, 1901, p. 6051). 



2» Vulcan Record, 1872, no. 10, p. 43. Occasionally mills were con- 

 strained to cease operations on Sunday, by pressure of public opinion 

 and local civic and philanthropic societies (National Labor Tribune, 

 May 13, 1882, p. 4, col. i). 



2* Proceedings, 1883, p. 1238. 



25 Proceedings, 1894, p. 4677; 1806, p. 4988; 1897, p. 5188. Many 

 of the plants of the United States Steel Corporation, particularly the 

 large steel mills, now non-union, operate on Sunday. In some in- 

 stances, the state law requires one day's rest in seven. 



