Demands of the Letterpress Printing Workers*
(November 21, 1922)

1 Letter to the Company

To whom it may concern: We, the workers, have been employed by your esteemed company for years. The daily working hours are too long, causing extreme hardship. The newspaper typesetters work entirely at night, from dusk till dawn, unable to sleep peacefully—this suffering is even more unbearable. The monthly wages we receive range from as much as eight yuan to as little as five or four yuan. This is barely enough to sustain an individual’s life, with no surplus to support a family. Recently, economic changes have driven the cost of living ever higher; food and rent grow more expensive by the day. Thus, our original wages make it even harder to make a living. Driven by necessity, after a unanimous decision by all, we present to your esteemed company these ten demands essential for our survival, requesting a reply and full acceptance within three days. Furthermore, this demand from us workers arises purely from the pressures of survival. In daily interactions, relations between employer and employees have always been cordial. We trust your esteemed company will not ignore the suffering of us workers and will fully accept these demands.

2 Letter to the Press

To whom it may concern: The worker members of our association, oppressed by the struggle for survival, suffer greatly in both spirit and material well-being. Having no alternative, we are submitting our demands to the various printing companies, requesting increased wages and improved treatment. Should the companies disregard the workers' suffering and stubbornly refuse, they will force us workers down a final path, at which point a general strike by all may become unavoidable. We have always deeply admired the press for upholding public justice and showing consideration for laborers. The workers of our association personally print the newspapers, and have contributed no small effort to the press. As our relationship is deep, our mutual regard is naturally sincere. Regarding our association’s demands to the various companies for increased wages and improved treatment, it is proper to communicate these details to your esteemed newspaper, hoping you will uphold public justice, so that our association’s reasonable demands may be achieved soon. We would be most grateful. The list of demands is attached.

3 Demands

A. Typesetting Department Regulations. (1) For newspaper typesetters, daily work shall be limited to 6,000 characters for typesetting and distribution. An additional person must be added for page makeup for each type of work. Once various news items are set and distributed, they must not be pulled. Miscellaneous job workers shall work limited to _ hours per person per day. If there is urgent work _ additional evening shifts shall be opened, with three hours counting as a half-day’s work, and supper must be provided. (2) Manuscript deadline times for newspapers: (1) Supplements: 10 a.m. (2) Domestic and foreign news: 2 p.m. (3) Provincial news: 4 p.m. (3) Newspaper typesetters shall receive a monthly wage of twelve yuan in silver dollars, excluding meals, calculated on a monthly basis. Miscellaneous job workers shall receive a basic monthly wage of ten yuan in silver dollars, excluding meals. It must be calculated per _ period, with double pay for _ salary. (4) For distribution and type returning, the wage per thousand characters is one jiao and eight fen. Blank spaces are calculated as characters. Side rules, large and small brackets, and side symbols add one half extra. Tables within books count double. English parts, complex miscellaneous items, and tables are to be negotiated in person. Meals are to be provided by the company. (5) The company shall allocate twenty percent from its annual surplus as a bonus for workers. (6) For miscellaneous job workers, the work year shall commence on the eighth day of the first lunar month and conclude on the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month. The first and fifteenth of each lunar month shall be rest days, and wages shall not be deducted. If special work occurs on a rest day, double wages must be paid. (7) Apprenticeship lasts three years to graduation, requiring general knowledge. Those who have studied for a full six months shall receive an allowance at the company’s discretion. For each family, only one may enter as an apprentice while one simultaneously departs.

B. Letterpress Printing Department Regulations. (1) Contract printing of large newspapers _ type consisting of two sheets, contract price: twenty-five yuan in silver dollars. Quantity ranges from one hundred copies up to one thousand copies. If exceeding one thousand copies, calculation is at eighty percent of the original price. (2) Contract printing of small newspapers, each type consisting of one small sheet, contract price: twelve yuan in silver dollars. Quantity ranges from one hundred copies up to one thousand copies. If exceeding one thousand copies, calculation is based on sixty percent of the original price. If there is additional printing of miscellaneous items, temporary negotiation in person applies. (3) Miscellaneous job workers shall be hired by the shop owner. (4) Paper feeding workers shall receive a monthly wage of ten yuan in silver dollars. If also serving as a supervisor, an additional five yuan in silver dollars must be added monthly. (5) Cart pushing workers shall receive a monthly wage of five yuan in silver dollars. (6) Whether for contract work or hired work, meals shall be provided entirely by the company. Rules for apprentices and evening work shall follow the Typesetting Department regulations. In all cases, the company shall not dismiss workers under false pretenses. If a worker is dismissed for cause, the reason must be notified to this association and its consent obtained; otherwise, it shall not be valid.