WORK OF THE GENERAL ARBITRATION BOARD.

Some idea of the activities of the Board of Arbitration can be gained by a study of the following tables. The Board considered on an average 440 complaints a year, or reviewed that number of decisions if it did not actually sit as a court of arbitration in each case.

The following table shows, by years, the number of complaints filed by unions and employers; also the disposition of the same. The total number of complaints filed was 2,751. Of these, 2,433 were submitted by the unions and 318 by the employers. The greatest number of complaints submitted in any one year by the unions was 497, filed in 1906, as against 233, filed in 1904 for a period of 15 months, or from October 1, 1903, to December 31, 1909, an increase of 79 per cent. The greatest number of cases submitted by employers in any one year was 103, filed in 1909, as against 41 filed in 1904 for a period of 15 months, or an increase of 151 per cent.

It is of interest to note that after the year 1906 the unions show a slight but gradual diminution of complaints, while the employers show a gradual increase for the same period except for the year 1908, when there appeared a decided decrease.

GRIEVANCES FILED BY UNIONS AND BY EMPLOYERS AND ACTION TAKEN THEREON BY THE GENERAL ARBITRATION BOARD, 1904 TO 1909.

GRIEVANCES FILED BY UNIONS AND BY EMPLOYERS AND ACTION TAKEN THEREON BY THE GENERAL ARBITRATION BOARD, 1904 TO 1909-Concluded.

During the existence of the general arbitration plan, or from October 1, 1903, to December 31, 1909, the employers' associations and the unions submitted to the general secretary a total of 2,751 grievances. Of this number, 2,433 were submitted by unions and 318 by employers' associations. Of the total number submitted by both parties to the agreement, decisive action was taken on 2,424 cases, 24 cases were compromised, and 251 abandoned, while the remaining 52 cases were referred to the several trade boards for adjudication.

GRIEVANCES OF UNIONS.

Of the 2,433 complaints submitted by the unions, 1,655, or 68 per cent, were decided in favor of the complainants, while 497, or 20.4 per cent, were decided adversely. Twenty-four complaints, or 1 per cent, were compromised and 44, or 1.8 per cent, were referred to trade boards, the plan providing that where a trade agreement exists between an employers' association and a union all disputes in that trade shall be settled by a trade board, with an umpire if necessary. The decision of said trade board or umpire shall be final. In case of failure on the part of either side to abide by the decision of the trade board or umpire, the question shall be referred to the General Arbitration Board for action within 24 hours after such failure or refusal. The remaining 213 cases, or 8.8 per cent, were abandoned because of their insignificance or because of decisions rendered making the presentation to the board unnecessary.

GRIEVANCES OF EMPLOYERS.

The total number of cases submitted by employers was 318, of which 215, or 67.6 per cent, were decided favorably; 57, or 17.9 per cent, were decided adversely; 8, or 2.5 per cent, were referred to trade boards; and 38, or 11.9 per cent, were withdrawn.

The total number of grievances presented by employers and by unions during the entire period of six years and the manner of disposal are set forth in the following tables:

GRIEVANCES FILED BY UNIONS FROM OCT. 1, 1903, TO DEC. 31, 1909, AND DISPOSITION THEREOF.