192.211•21 Workers in the lead-type printing department of Changsha, owing to their dire living conditions, have requested the shop owners to improve their working conditions. The day before yesterday, they invited the owners of various companies to a tea meeting at Tianran Terrace, where they immediately presented their demands and a letter, as reported in yesterday’s paper. Below is a detailed record of the conditions put forward by these workers, together with the accompanying letters…

(1) Letter to Yizhi Company: To Whom It May Concern: We, the workers, have been employed by your company for several years. However, our daily working hours are excessively long, and the labor is extremely arduous. Those assigned to typesetting for newspapers work exclusively at night, often through the entire night without rest; this kind of suffering is particularly unbearable. Our monthly wages range from eight yuan at the highest to four or five yuan at the lowest. Even at the upper end, it is barely sufficient to sustain ourselves, leaving no surplus for any savings. Recently, economic conditions have changed, and the cost of living has been steadily rising—food and rent have become increasingly expensive. Under these circumstances, our existing wages are becoming ever more inadequate to support a decent standard of living. Forced by these pressing circumstances, we have unanimously resolved to submit ten vital demands to your company, requesting a full and unconditional response within three days. It should be noted that our present demands are solely motivated by the hardships of daily life. In the past, relations between us and your company have always been harmonious, and we are confident that you will not ignore our plight but will fully acknowledge our just claims.

(2) Letter to the Press: To Whom It May Concern: Fellow workers in our association are suffering immensely, both physically and mentally, due to the oppressive conditions of their livelihood. Out of necessity, we have submitted a set of demands to all printing companies, requesting higher wages and improved working conditions. Should the companies fail to heed our plight and persist in refusing to meet our reasonable requests, we shall have no choice but to resort to the ultimate measure of a general strike, which may then become unavoidable. The press has long been admired for upholding public opinion and showing consideration for laborers. Many of our members personally print for various newspapers, and thus maintain close ties with the press, sharing a deep mutual understanding. Therefore, we respectfully request that you bring our just demands for increased wages and better treatment to the attention of the relevant companies, so that they may be addressed promptly. We would be most grateful if you could help ensure that our legitimate requests are met at an early date. The terms of our demands are enclosed.

(3) Terms of Demand  (A) Agreement for the Typesetting Department:

(1) For newspaper typesetters: Each person shall work no more than six thousand characters per day, with an additional typesetter assigned for each separate section. Once a piece of news has been typeset and checked, it may not be altered. As for those engaged in miscellaneous typesetting, their daily workload shall be limited to a specified number of hours. If urgent work arises, overtime may be arranged, but not exceeding three hours per night; appropriate evening meals must also be provided.

(2) Deadline for submitting manuscripts to the various newspapers:  (a) Supplements: 10:00 a.m.  (b) Domestic and foreign news: 2:00 p.m.  (c) Provincial news: 4:00 p.m.

(3) Newspaper typesetters shall receive a monthly wage of twelve silver dollars, in addition to board and lodging, calculated on a monthly basis. Miscellaneous typesetters shall be paid ten silver dollars per month, likewise including board and lodging. A separate allowance shall be provided for double-shift work.

(4) Payment for finished typesetting: Eighteen cents per thousand characters, with blank spaces counted as well. Half extra will be charged for large and small frames, as well as border symbols; tables within the text will be doubled; complex English-language sections are subject to individual negotiation. Board and lodging shall be provided by the company.

(5) The company shall allocate twenty percent of its annual profits as a bonus for the workers.

(6) The working year for miscellaneous typesetters shall begin on the eighth day of the first lunar month and conclude on the fourteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. New-moon and full-moon days shall be designated as rest days, without any deduction from wages. If such a rest day falls on a day when special work is required, the worker shall be compensated at double rate.

(7) Apprentices shall complete their three-year training and acquire a basic level of general knowledge. Those who have studied for at least six months shall be entitled to a stipend at the discretion of the company. Only one apprentice shall be admitted at a time, and only one allowed to leave.

(B) Agreement for the Lead-Type Printing Department:

(1) For large newspapers: Two pages constitute one job, priced at fifteen silver dollars. Charges shall be based on percentages ranging from one hundredth to one thousandth. Any portion exceeding one thousandth will be billed at eighty percent of the standard rate.

(2) For small newspapers: One page constitutes one job, priced at twelve silver dollars. Charges shall be calculated in increments down to one thousandth. Work beyond one thousandth will be billed at sixty percent of the standard rate. If there are also miscellaneous items to be printed, arrangements will be made on a case-by-case basis.

(3) All auxiliary workers shall be hired directly by the shop owner.

(4) Paper-feeders shall receive a monthly wage of ten silver dollars; those who also serve as foremen shall be paid an additional five silver dollars per month.

(5) Press operators shall be paid five silver dollars per month.

(6) Regardless of whether work is contracted out, all provisions for food and lodging shall remain the responsibility of the company. Apprenticeship and overtime shall be governed by the same rules as those applicable to the typesetting department. Companies shall not dismiss workers under any pretext. Should dismissal become necessary for valid reasons, the company must notify our association and obtain its consent; otherwise, the dismissal shall be deemed invalid.