The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-11-08
ELECTRICAL WORKERS
MUST BE ORGANIZED
By A. L. FISHER.

The busy season in the building
industry is almost at an end. The
time for an inventory is at hand.
Being an electrician, I will refer
to the electrical industry.
There is no doubt that all trades
have been affected by efficiency and
the speed-up system, which are so
notorious in the United States. But
it seems to me that our trade is the
most affected. Especially is this
felt in the unorganized field. The
speed-up system exists in the closed
shops also, due to the fact that the
officialdom of the union is more
concerned with pleasing the employer
than the worker. The reactionary
officialdom of the union cares very
little if members produce more than
the quota set by the union.
The boss prefers those workers,
who promise mot to look at the
watch" and not to be too strict on
the quota. The men being anxious
to get their jobs forget" about the
time and quota, with the inevitable
result they are doing the work of
two, which, of course, results in I'M
employment even during the busy
season. The union does not dis
courage this, but on the contrary en-
courages it, and the quota only re-
mains a dead letter in the working
rules of the union.
More and more there is little which
distinguishes it from a company
union.
But it is even worse with the I'M
organized electricians. The average
unorganized journeyman works for
81 a day; helpers for 81 day. If
you watch the Help Wanted" ads
you will see that some bosses call
for experienced ele trici n
thoroughly acquainted with A. c.
and D. c. motors, $40 a week to
start. Very often it is, experienced
helper $3.50 day."
Set Helper Against Mechanic
Not long ago the helper as the
name indicates was only supposed to
help the mechanic, hand him the
tools, materials, drill beams, etc. But
it is not so now. A great change
has taken place The bosses in this
industry found they could use the
helper to do mechanics work, and
most of the ads read as follows:
"helper work alone, must have own
tools, $3.50"
1t is clear that the boss does not
mean a helper, but he means a
mechanic, at the wages of helper
The result is that the mechanic finds
himself down and out and is forced
to apply for the helpers job.
There is of course, no wage and
quota set for the unorganized cleo
tricians. They produce more than
seems possible, put in Is minutes or
half hour more for good measure
per day. When given the envelope
Saturday night, (most of them work
6 days a week. he is told that he
will have to do better next week if
he wants to remain on the job.
Sometimes he is told that his tools
are too dull" and that this is probN
ably the reason for his siowness.
Fearful Speed-Up.
All this takes place during the
"husy season" The boss works the
men to death for as little pay as
possible. There are plenty of men
in reserve even in the busy season,
who will work at any price in order
to keep themselves and their families
alive.
Attempts have been made to or
ganize che electricians, but all of
these have failed with the exception
Of one and that is the "E. w. Al,
which succeeded in forcing II. Fl.
Breach to take in about $50 men in
to the local. This partial success due
. ~""N YHV"