The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-02-20


automobile nlaat in South Bend are
no better than in any other auto
mobile plant. On the contrary, con-
ditions here are probably much
worse than any other plant.
Frcquan. St~'l-es.
The best proof of this is the fire.
uuent department strikes and the
growing dissatisfaction of the work
ers. Since production has started
on the new cars, there has hardly
passed week without a major or
minor strike or walk-out or stoppage
in the various departments. These
strikes and walkouts have become so
common already that it is nothing
new to us any more and it is taken
as a matter of fact that we workers
must use our only weapon-the
strike, in order to be able to
squeeze out more money from the
bosses.
The trimming departments went
on strike a few weeks ago. The
reason was that the workers were
promised rs cents an hour and when
the pay check came they only re-
ceived 69 cents an hour. Certainly
Fisher, the superintendent, was not
satisfied with the strike. But the
men told him: eve have children
just as you have From the wages
we are getting we are not able to
pay our bills for the grocer"
On the two dollars day the men
are getting we would like to see
Fisher get along. The men got
lot of promises.
Women Strike.
The women workers went out on
strike in one department demanding
the old wages tack-45 cents an
hour. They got it by sticking to-
gether.
One department in the foundry
went on strike. The wages here were
fixed so that no one could tell how
much he was getting until the pay
check came. After we have been
notified here that we go on piece
work, when the pay check came we
received our wages as per day rate.
We went On strike to get our piece
work rate. 1t was more than the
day work rate. The foreman
promised that everything would be
taken care of and so the men went
back to work. But SO far we got
only promises. 80
Another significant example as to
how they are trying to steal some
more money from us. 1t is not
enough that we get the lowest rate.
But when it comes to counting in
the job, instead of getting paid for
the full amount, they steal from US
and pay US for less. We complained
about that and the result was the
boss sent another timer to time the
job over again.
''No Labor Trouble"
These are only few instances of
strikes. A number could be men
toned about the machine shop, wood
shops and other departments. 1t is
no wonder that the company is adj
vertising in the Chicago Tribune"
in big Help Wanted ads, boosting
with big letters = "No Labor
Trouble" If the company is putting
this in the ad it means that there
is plenty of trouble. There are lines
of men waiting before the employ
ment office each day.
Frequent Accidents.
The old buildings in which we
have to work are almost like trap
holes. Accidents occur daily. Fires
are frequent. But what difference
does that make to our bosses? They
sit in their offices, coming out only
occasionally into the shop. Their
lives are not endangered. On the
application card big letters say that
the company is not responsible for
any accidents. When a worker is
hired he has to pass thru a most
thoro physical examination. After
he passes this examination he is
taken with a group to the safety
directors" who direct the safety by
making a speech to the new en-
ployes about the company's not be-
ing responsible for SO per cent Of
the accidents. "The other ten per
cent could be eliminated if the men
would watch how they work." h.
says.
He must think we have great fun
in having our bones broken, or our
fingers pulled out by the machine,
or being blinded by the gases, even
killed.
Company Neglect.
The plant hospital is crowded
every day. The men stand in line
to get attention almost like in the
employment office. All these acct
dents are the fault Of the company.
There are not enough safety devices.
The rates are so low and the speed
up SO great, that we are forced to
work under any unhealthy and
dangerous conditions in order to
make something. The other day a
man was killed falling on a machine.
A wife and three children were left
behind. The bosses do not worry
about them. "The company is not
responsible for any accidents" Men
after working nine, ten, twelve
hours on the night shift can hardly
stand on their feet. 1t is no wonder
that a man oiling pulley loses his
balance and falls on the machine be-