The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1926-10-22
By JOSEPH A. WISE
Staff Correspondent, international
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Labor News Service
Detroit, Mich Henry Ford's wide
ly heralded five-day week is the bunk,
according to old-time union friends
who have resided in Detroit for many
years and who claim to be well in
formed as to the Fordian labor pol
icy, which, they say, is highly per-
fected low wage and "open shop" pol
icy, exploited by means of skillful
advertising, in such a manner that the
multi millionaire auto king is pictur-
ed in the minds of the peoples of the
earth as "big-hearted Hank" whose
heart is overfowing with philanthropy
and the milk of human kindness.
The five-day work week is not
new departure in the Ford plants,
according to these trade union friends.
The employees in these plants were
put on a five-day basis many months
ago, it is alleged; but the announce
ment of the "new" policy was so tim
ed as to be made at the psychological
moment when it would attract the
widest possible attention in order that
sales of Ford cars and farm machin-
cry might be promoted to the fullest
extent and at the same time nullify
in the greatest possible degree any
moves made by this years convention
Of the American Federation of Labor
toward unionizing the automobile in
dustry.
With these purposes in mind, the
superlatively organized Ford publicity
machine cut loose with tremendous
blowing of horns concerning the new
Fordian philanthropy" just prior to
the convening of the big labor con-
clave in this city.
Philanthropy had nothing to do with
the Inauguration of the fve-day work
week by Ford, it is claimed. His sales
of cars had been greatly reduced
through heavy competition from firms
manufacturing moderately priced
cars.
This keen competition left Ford in
the position of having huge and
highly developed industrial machine
which could turn out a much larger
product than the market could con-
sumo. How to meet the situation was
a serious problem until the idea of
the five-day week was hit upon. The
advertising possibilities were not the
least of the considerations.
The public has been led to believe
that Ford is paying his employees six
days wages for five days work. This
is so only in few rare instances, 1T
is said Only "those who deserve it,
receive six days pay for five days
work. To deserve it" an employe
must be "star man." All Ford en-
ployes wear badges. "Star men" have
star added to their badges. These
"star men" are employees who have a
"drag" or who have been able to meet
the Ford requirement of producing as
much in five days as they formerly
produced in six days. 1t goes without
saying that only limited number of
men can meet this requirement.
The Ford wage scale is interesting
The top wage for skilled mechanics is
$7.2O day. A few men receive SIC
day, but these are foremen, and
there are foremen who do not receive
that much.
A beginner is paid SIS day for a
period of three months. If it is de-
cided after that length Of time that
the new man will make the kind OF
employe that Ford wants, then he is
advanced to Sc day.
Following this the pay of the en-
ploye is advanced in multiples of AZ