The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-08-22
GIANT
Special Forms OF Exploiting Workers
By BEN LIFSCHITZ

articles ON ''AutOnobile-Syn of
Modern Slavery" The preceding
articles have covered the scope of
the industry, the giant mergers, the
driving forces to imperialist war and
the competition between Ford and
the General Motors.)
The automobile industry can truly
be designated as the real "Ameri
can" industry. 1t marks the high
est point of American capitalism in
technical development, mass pro-
drction, concentration of industry,
sales methods and financing.
The automobile industry is indeed
the pride Of American capitalism.
At the hearing of the bar associa-
ton, held in New York, James A.
Emery, general counsel of the Ma
tional Manufacturers Association.
pointed to the automobile industry
as an example to prove the sound
ness of the American plan of pro-
NANSASAi3 VIC OpGh CHODs
THE cost of production is reduced
to the minimum and the wages of
the workers have been at compare
lively high levels" 1t is working
out so well for the capitalists that
the manufacturers of the leading
European countries: England, Ger
many and France, are sending over
their technicians and efficiency men
to study the American plan Of pro
duction and exploitation. 1t has
also appealed very much to the labor
leaders of England and Germany.
who have sent over their reprasen-
millennium" where the accepted slo-
Millennium" where the accented slo-
gan is "the higher the production,
the higher the wage"
Greatest Exploitation.
A careful study of conditions.
however, will convince any observer
that nowhere is the exploitation of
the worker SO sharp as in the auto
mobile industry, notwithstanding the
fact that the average production for
the individual worker is so high.
The economists term this acute
form of exploitation as various
forms Of wage paynents"-but the
workers in the automobile industry
know from bitter experience that all
these various forms of wage pay
ments are introduced to squeeze out
every atom Of energy in order to
produce more and more work for
the same money and most of the
time for less.
Speed-up is manifested in yari-
GUS ways: Piece-work is one of the
systems evolved by the employing
class to increase production BY civ-
ing the workers certain price per
piece. The more pieces they turn
out, the more they get up to a GER
tain point. Under this system many
bosses may be dispensed with.
Time-study men are employed to
walk around with stop-watch and
observe different operations. When
they think that worker is making
his money too easily, or getting too
much for the operation, his piece
work is cut down and the worker
must work all the harder to catch
up.s
Then the conveyer line may he
screwed up a little faster. The
steam may even be turned low in
winter to keep the workers a Dit
chilly and, hence, more in the mood
to move fasterat the machine. Rails
ing the task of the Individual worker
or the group is the most common
speed-up system.
The Whip-Fear.
The lay-off method, or the mere
rumor Of lay-offs, may be used to
put fear In the hearts and hands.
Under the stimulus, they give closer
attention to the belt. The workers
names and production records may
be put on a blackboard and com
petition encouraged. The gangs or
group piece-worlz system may be
used.
This makes the workers boss each
other. Each realizes that the
harder he pushes the other fellow
the more the return to each other
under the gang payment system.
The department percentage
scheme is practiced in the Hudson
Motor Car Company, where the
company guarantees 200 per cent Of
the day rate, provided the work is
done in given time. However, the
workers are ignorant as to the rates.
This company practices schemes Of
reduction of forces, expecting the
smaller group of workers to pro-
duce the same amount of work.
The Buick Worker" tells how the
gang system works in plant No. &c.
When new man comes in, instead
of the company paving him day. rate
while he breaks In on the job, the
workers (the gang have to pay him
out of their own small wages.
At the Chevrolet plant in Flint,
Mich, they hire in some depart
ments at flat rate of az cents an
hour, promising bonus which will
run them up to 65-70 cents in three