The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-03-09
MACEY'S Dept.
STORE WORKERS
Get SMALL PAY
Must Work Overtime
Without Pay
By a Worker correspondent


ern department stores wages and
hours are pretty nearly the same. The
hours are long and the wages range
close to the point of a mere subsis-
tence ration. Many stick 1t out and
prefer an indoor shop existence to
that Of any other calling; the younger
people being assisted by their par
ents providing cheaper room and
board than they would otherwise get
by living elsewhere.
One Of the methods used by the de-
partment store owners in treating
their employees is that of patriotism, a
kind Of fatherly, feudalistic, social
aid type accompanied with low wages.
The employee is made to believe that
the employer is a benefactor. His
mind is continuously worked on by
legends painted beautifully upon the
wall.
He is warned by pictures Of old men
stopping youth on pleasure bent, beg
ging for thin dime, and bearing the
caption, Don't spend it ALL while an
other sign has it, Put your savings
IN the bank"
That big store, taking a whole block
34th to 35th street and Broadway,
New York, called "Maceys," and en-
ploying, together with their factory
hands. nearly 10000 workers, young
and old, use these methods Of hypoc-
risy and chicanery.
When you seek employment at
Maceys you must give strict account
of yourself giving the date of enter
ing your last three jobs and the rea-
sons for leaving, your whole history,
three references and a list of all the
property and money you may possess.
You must then pass a doctors ex-
animation and promise If accepted, to
join the Mutual Aid Association,
which is the company union.
If employed as a salesman your
wages are about $25 week for MAJ
ture men and less for younger people,
plus small commission.
The lesser lights such as porters
and collectors are rated at $40 week.
Mechanics, who look after the upkeep
of the building, such as electricians,
painters, window cleaners, engineers,
get from $50 to $35-way below the
union scale in like trades elsewhere.
Work Overtime Without Pay,
The hours of employment offici-
ally are set at eight a day including
Saturday tho many must work moro
than that. especially at Christmas
without overtime pay. A supper is pro
vided them on the premises to pre-
vent them from going out for it and
not returning.
Dances are arranged, cheap theater
tickets sold to keep the clerks con-
tented. Five doctors and four nurses
are supposed to aid the employees
when they are sick. If unable to work
the workers are advised to rest at
home and report for work when well. .
All this is provided for out Of fund
which all workers are compelled to
contribute to after six months serv-
ice, by paying monthly sum of 1925.
There is nothing the employee gets
that he does not pay for.
There are rest rooms for males and
females, where they may retire for
Is minutes by permission when Gus
toners are not crowding the store.
Vacations are given to employees after
one years service.
A cafeteria is run to supply a lunch
between the hours of II and 23O, the
prices being about the same as out
side restaurants and the food less pal
atable, three-quarters Of an hour be-
ing allowed for meals.
There are many old employees, 10.
is and 20 years in the service. The
firm frequently mentions them in
their monthly journal Sparks" but
fails to say how many are still Occur
pying their old positions at little in
crease in wages.
The majority come and 60. new
faces appear and disappear. A crowd
apply for work at the employment
office glad to take anything for the
winter months to keep out of the cold.
Arouse Class Solidarity.
n is up to the few class conscious
workers among them to arouse these
clerks to understand their class posi-
ton and show UP the bosses plans
Of collaboration and prevent them be-
Ing caught like flies with molasses. Z"
KINGS RalIicosanaas