The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-02-27
Conditions.
Wages in the
Auto Shops

own organizations for the coming
ployes on December 20, 1927, of
new rating that would be established.
They were told to report at the en-
ployment office to sign new agree
ment, which among other provisions
included a cut of hourly wages from
60 cents per hour to SO cents, with
bonus attached, and the abolition OF
all extra time for overtime, same to
be considered as single time.
The men were told that if they did
not like this new system they could
leave. This new order affected first
the trim and painting departments,
and has since been extended to all
other branches of activity
Wages have been cut in practically
every branch of the auto industry.
The Ford plant has taken apprentices
from the trade school, and put them
to work at $6.40 in the place Of men
who were making $500. The Packard
metal finishers have been cut from
~ CCllIo w OO-OO SC1lOO PCA hOOAs A0o
finishers and sprayers in the Dodge
plant used to get $500 to $1,000 a
day; they now get 5000 to $1,000.
In 1924 this company paid its work.
ers in the finishing room a day rate
and percentage amounting to $1,000
$1,000 day. In 1925, the enameling
method was introduced, and the work
ers now get day rates of As cents an
hour.
The assemblers in the Dodge plant
used to get $500 to $4,000 for two
weeks work. They now get $4,000 for
two weeks work. The fuckers in the
Fisher Body plant ere cut from SO
cents to as cents an hour. The pan
ellers on big Buics were cut from
$1.40 to 80 cents.
"The Belt"
"The production of car every five
minutes used to be considered peak
of achievement-now the Hudson
| speed under normal conditions is a
car every 80 seconds. and it has
been as low as every 90 seconds"
This is the way it is done. -.
moving belts. .one man tending
two assembly lines instead of one Ga
saving of $500 week for the Hud-
son Motor Car Company on pro-
duction of 900 cars). the driving
of 1000 bolts by power-driven tools
where hand methods drove 100 bolts
eight men doing the work of the
air motor. fender assembly con-
veyors using six men and IA women
instead of Sc men as formerly, cut
ting the cost 80 per cent.
By the introduction of the spray
gun for the painting of automobiles,
where 20 men formerly painted 275
chassis a day, 18 men now spray
1900.
Some twenty unions in the A. F.
of L. claim jurisdiction over various
sections of the automobile workers.
| These include: machinists, moulders,
carpenters, painters, electrical work.
ers, etc.
These A. F of L. unions are doing
nothing to organize the masses of the
automobile workers. At the Detroit
convention of the A. F. Of T., reso-
luton was passed for the purpose of
working out program in the auto
industry. A program was worked out,
but as usual these reactionary leaders
failed to do any work although the
program in itself is not of such
nature that it would make possible
such organization.
The A. F. of L. Program.
The program of the A. F. Of L.
proposes the following organizational
methods:
1. That an organization commit
tee be formed, composed of organ
izers of international unions claim
ing jurisdiction in the industry.
2. That these organizations
claiming jurisdiction be asked to
waive their dispute during the cam
paign.
8. That the skilled workers be
asked during the campaign to join
in their respective unions.
a. That the semi-skilled and un-
skilled workers be organized in
federal union directly under con-
troll of the A. F. of L.
What Are the Facts?
In looking over the above points,
one would say that on the surface it
does not look so bad, but what are
the facts?
| 1. Several organizers were mo-
bilized and were placed in the field,
but nothing was done.
2. Each of these organizers were
interested only in his own interna-
tional union, not in the auto work
ers, as a whole.
8. The local labor movement
does not know anything about the
program and no attempt has been