The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-07-07
YOUNG CANDY
WORKERS WORN
OUT BY STRAIN
~. w. l.. Offers Program
to Bunte Slaves
BIZ cLARENcE MILLER.

cocoa dust that settles on their chest,
in rooms that are so hot that the boys
are compelled to take off their shirts,
while the girls work in blouses that
are wet with their sweat and sticking
to their bodies, was disclosed by in
lvestigations conducted by the Young
Workers League at the Bunte Bros.
confectionery factory located at 1901
Franklin Blvd. This is one of the
largest confectionery plants in the
world.
While the workers slave under
those conditions, modern efficiency
methods" as the guide Mr.. Moller,
who took me around the plant, called
the modern" speed-up system, are
installed for the sole purpose of in
creasing production. The production
of that company is rather extensive
as they supply candy to most of the
countries on the American continent,
and several countries in Europe and
Asia.
With the installation of the mod
ern efficiency methods" the value of
the company increased in the last five
years from $2,471,1S2 to s5,575,749, an
increase more than double. Not much
money was spent on methods" to i'm
prove in any way the conditions un-
der which the young workers slave.
Chances of Injury.
xxyh;1o sotro fbr,, tha nlauf uau
some of the most miserable sights. In
the packing department | asked a
girl, who worked at newly installed
cough drop packing machine that does
the work of about % to 30 girls,
whether there was any chance Of get
ting hurt and she replied mo" At
the same instant it, was by mere
chance that she escaped having her
fingers cut by the machine.
In another place saw worker
packing cocoa. The temperature was
freezing, and they were dressed in
sweaters and shawls, while the air
was full of cocoa dust. The age OF
most of the workers was IA. There is
no doubt that if they will work there
for a few more years they will con-
tract consumption.
Eyestrain Evident.
In another room where the hand
made chocolates are manufactured
(the guide told me that this was a
better seller) girls were sitting in one
,1ooo Ro~ hovr. varforpnfpo oorto;n
specific motions over and over again.
They were doing it with the regularity
of a machine. Their eyes were bulg-
ing out from over stress, and most of
them wore glasses. With few excep-
tions they all looked anemic.
The candy that the workers produce
under those miserable conditions
must taste well, as the net sales have
increased in a few years from $1,22e,-
3O5 to $6,2S4,264. The employees who
are not. directly connected with the
finished candies are given chance
to buy them only every Wednesday.
At one time they were able to buy
it at wholesale prices, but the price is
now lucTedbeu 10 Ieldu'
Low Wages.
The average wage at Bunte's CEN
tiers around $21 per week. One of the
workers told me that he gets $40 per
week. / then asked him whether he
was satisfied and he answered in a
resigned voice, what can l do?" This
we'll illustrates the minds of the work
ers. 1t is the very thing that the
Young Workers League is trying to
point out to the workers, namely that
those things exist only because the
workers allow them to exist and that
they can be done away with If they
will organize into one solid body and
demand the things which they should
get.
Y. w. L. Program.
The Young Workers League has
formulated the following program for
the young workers at Buntes:
/. Abolition of the speed-up system,
and piece work.
2. A six-hour day, and a five-day
week for all young workers.
8. A fully paid weeks annual vaca.
ton. ;,
4. No night work or overtime work
This program can and must be &C
cepted II the young workers at Buntes
are to grow and develop normally.
On with the work to successful