The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-08-02
STOOL PIGEONS
Are ARMED AT
AMERICAN EXP =.
Company has Scheme
to Pay Low Wages

1--WE continue the publication OF
q letter from worker correspond
ent, a worker of the American Rail-
way Express Co. depot in Chicago,
who tells Of the conditions of the
workers there from every angle)
The agents and foremen have
been much disturbed by the recent
change, in name, at least, Of the
company. They fear some hidden
meaning that may bode evil for
them. This fear reacts not only
upon their treatment of the men,
which is even more overbearing than
before, but also is noticeable in their
treatment of each other. They seem
to think that some of their number
will be going soon and each one
wants to make sure it will not be
himself. Each one is trying to get
in the good graces of those above
him, and at the same time discredit
his fellows.
Stool Pigeons Abound.
Every express shed is well sup
piled with stool pigeons. Most no.
ticeable are the armed guards, called
gum shoes" by the men. (These
should not be confused with the
guards who accompany shipments of
money or other valuable.)
They walk the platforms and are
supposed to be looking for petty
thieves. They also keep the agent
Informed as to the general deport-
rent of the men reporting any
thing that might denote an under
standing among the employees look
ing toward their own betterment.
The company also has undercover
men among both the steady and the
extra men. These men report di-
rectly to the general office. In adj
dition the agent has his own pri-
vate stool pigeon, who is a worker
but stools on workers and foremen
alike.
We will now deal with the most
vital question affecting the employ
ces of the express agency, the hir-
ing Of extras, for this scheme must
be eliminated before the men can
organize in their own defense.
The employment of extras can be
traced to conditions brought about
by the World War. The war caused
great increase in trade and manu-
featuring bringing greater employ
ment and increases in wages. The
number of jobs available made it
hard for the express company to
get men at the low wage scale which
they maintained throughout the war.
At the highest the regulars got only
three cents more than the extras get
now.
AS stated before several express
companies were merged during the
war under government control.
having great trouble to get men at
low wage scale they hit upon a
novel plant to do this.
A Scheme to Pay Low Wages.
They paid off the men as soon
as they finished a shift which at
that time was as much as IL to Is
hours. This plan enabled the COM
pany to get men without paying
over 55c per hour. In fact, during
great part of the war period they
paid only 80 cents per hour, raised
to 42 cents and then to 55 cents per
hour. This plan of paying every
day was so successful that they
have retained it until the present
time. After the war boom was over
and more men available they began
laying off the regulars and in
creased the number of extras until
now they have only enough steady
men to fill those jobs that require
experience.
A Profitable Scheme for the
Company.
About four years ago they brought
out a variation of this scheme that
has been even more profitable for
the company. The first hours of
the morning and the first hours at
night are very busy at the sheds
as there are more trains arriving
and departing at those periods. The
afternoons are busy times as the
city pickups must be sorted and
loaded into cars.
These busy periods usually last
four hours or less. Men being plen-
tiful they are no longer worked ex-
tended shifts. The twelve hour shift
was abolished for the eight hour
one, then six hours. Later this rule
was amended so that no extra man
could work more than four hours
This rule is still in force, though
the extra men may be laid off sooner
if the company sees fit. And they
do see fit. The extra mems time
runs from little less than one hour
to four hours.
The company puts out the story
that this rule was forced on them
by the union but this is disproved by
the fact that the extras are worked
the full eight hours and more when
ever II is advantageous TO do so.
One of the most popular times for
doing this is on holidays when the
regulars who work receive double
time, but are told to take the day
off. The extra who takes his place
gets straight time at 81 cents per