The Great Dock Strike of 1889
Wages
C: 'It is this utter uncertainty of employment which renders the casual dock labourer's earnings so scanty; for the rate per hour by which he is paid is not excessively low.
He is paid uniformly at the rate of 5d. [2p] an hour, with in some cases, an extra penny an hour for overtime - i.e. work done between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. ...
The average pay earned per week is put down variously at 3s. [15p] and 7s. [35p]. Striking averages is of course difficult where employment is chiefly a matter of luck.'
TheTimes, 29 August 1889.
D: Wages of trades in and around 1889
Fitters and turners
38s. [£1.90p], 54-hour week
Bricklayers
9d. [4p] an hour, average week 52'/2 hours [£2.10p per week]
Building labourers
6d. [2'/2p] an hour, average 52Vz hours [£1.31p per week]
Compositors
36s. [£1.80p] for a 54-hour week
Skilled furniture workers
9d. [4p] an hour, 52-hour week [£2.08p per week]
Agricultural labourers
13s. 4d. [67p] a week, hours at master's discretion
British Labour Statistics, Department of Employment [quoted in The Great Dock Strike of 1889 by Terry McCarthy].
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Contact
Nigel Sagar
Design and Technology
London Borough of Barking
and Dagenham
Email: nigel.sagar@lbbd.gov.uk
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