The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-06-10

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given to those laid off, who have
WORKER is slack times" In
annual report to the stockhold-'
ers it is evident that this cannot
be the real reason.
Profits Plentiful.
The net income of the West
ern Electric company available
for dividends and interests for
1923, totalled $10,079,471, after
SIS, 239, 1866 had been charged to
expense; $225,751,351 to the
cost of merchandise, and $2,409, S1S
had been charged to taxes. In addi-
ton, the sales of the subsidiary inter
national company, entirely owned by
the Western Electric, were $4,000, 900.
The presidents report declares that
at the beginning of 1924 untitled or
ders aggregated $94,951,O0O, as COM
pared with s62,069,000 at the end of
1922. I'm all departments Of your
company's works the prospects are for
greater activity in 1924 than in and
for billings substantially exceeding
the high record OF 1928" says Du
Bots. THE recent extraordinary
growth Of the Bell system has made
the obligations of your company to
provide the necessary facilities of
great Importance. In effect the prac-
tical operation of the arrangement is
that your company is that part Of the
Bell Telephone system which is re-
sponsible for manufacture and sup
ply. 1t is the obligation of your COM
pany to supply these necessary facili-
ties as the course Of business may
demand"
AS a matter of fact, the Bell Tele-
phone system is the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph company, which
owns the Western Electric company.
Slaves Make Bosses Wealthy.
The president admits that the en-
ployes Of the company we're respon-
sible for the rich harvest of profits
in 1928. 1.-THE directors OF the com
pany desire TO express and in no per-
functory phrases their conviction that
the exceptional record made during
the past year has been directly due to
the extraordinary efforts made by all
ranks of employees with a spirit Of de-
votion, courage and good will for
which no words can express too high
appreciation" says Du Bots in his re-
port.
Du Bots evidently believes that un-
fair exchange is no robbery. His eff
cheney system, which keeps produc-
ton at the highest possible speed and
keeps wages at the lowest possible
level, has Slapped the employees of
their strength and endurance. But Du
Bots is grateful, and in return for the
life blood of his workers he expresses
his appreciation. Du Bots digs the
hard cash out Of the bodies Of his
slaves, and in return slobbers mush
about good will-so everything is
squared up and the employees get a
ffty-ffty break.
Study of the past history of the
company reveals the true reason. Pc
riodically, in the stringent and invet-
crate efforts Of the Western Electric
to keep production high and still on
non-union low wage basis, the West
ern Electric let's their efficiency de-
partment run wild.
Hire, Fire; Re-Hire Game.
The old game played in the ship
yards after the signing Of the armis-
tice, to lower the standard OF living
Of the workers, is resorted TO by the
Western Electric at regular inter-
walls. This game is known among the
workers as firing and hiring" The
rumor is spread by the company that
general layoff is imminent. Men
are laid off by the wholesale.
This system is used to produce a
psychology Of panic among the en-
ployes. Every Henry Dubb is taken
in, and, anxious TO hold his Job, speeds
up his work, is submissive and docile
in the face of the bosses complaints,
and hangs around the foreman with
cat-like smile on his face.
Accompanying the Western Electric
system Of making the men afraid OF
their jobs is the system of placing
each man on standard OF produc.
ton. The men are paid on a low
hourly rate--around 40 cents an hour
and are on the piece work bonus
system, being paid piece work rates
If they exceed the hourly rate. II the
Western Electric wage slave gets his
production up to certain amount he
Immediately has either his piece work
rate or his hourly wage reduced.
Low Wages Always.
The Western Electric employees are
continually complaining about the low
wages. Numerous complaints have