The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-01-18
men Who KICK
ABOUT STEAL
ARE DISMISSED
Stool Pigeons There to
Report Them

Haven, Conn.,, one OF the largest
in the world and employing at pres
ent 5000 workers, has just put
across vile scheme Of robbery and
exploitation through the establish
ment of the "Winchester Employees
Fund Association" through which a
weekly deduction will be made from
the pay envelope of every worker in
the plant.
The percentage of the deduction
will be on the basis of from cents
from wages ranging from $40 to
1899 a week, to ID cents from
wages ranging from $50 to $99.99 a
week.
On the basis of the existing low
wages paid by the company, the
average deduction made from the
pay envelope of every worker every
week will be from IL to IA cents.
For II months the complete sum
will amount to over $4,000, sum
not to be sneezed at and which will
represent the real life blood of the
workers.
The Winchester Plant workers
were asked to "vote" for the scheme
when it was first prepared five
months ago. On August 10, 1928,
every employee of the Winchester
Plant and its subsidiary companies
like he National Refrigerator Com
pany was given slip of paper on
which was inscribed 'Vote Yes" A
week later company officials an
aounced that the workers Of the Win
chester and subsidiary companies
had approved" of the plan for the
formation of the employees fund as
ISOLATION.
According to the claws" for the
administration of the fund, the pur-
pose of the association will be to
give financial aid to welfare insti-
buttons and aid tubercular workers.
But the rules state, too, that the
none, will be spent as "the trustees
deem it advisable and necessary"
The Board of Trustees shall con-
sist, the rules continue, of II mem
bers. ten of whom shall be appointed
by the ten divisional superintend-
ents of the plants, and one, who
shall be ex officio, and treasurer of
the fund. Later the rules provide
that the treasurer of the Winchester
Repeating Arms shall be also the
treasurer of the fund, who shall de-
post the financial resources of the
fund in such banks or trust COM
panies as the company may select"
Part of the scheme consists of
the establishment of a perpetual
trust system through which Of
ficials will hold responsible positions
indefinitely.
1t will be seen that while, as at
present, the company will collect an
average of $4,000 annually, this
figure will be increased tremendous
ly when, in time of war, the number
Of employees in the plant will be five
and six times larger than the num-
her working now.
When a worker applies for job
in the Winchester Ammunition plant
he is therefore obliged to submit,
not only to a breaking speed
UP, company spying and stop watch
timing by speed men, but to the
privilege" of being robbed when he
gets his pay envelope.
Almost everybody, every week,
the workers complain, is short by
25. 80 and sometimes so cents in
the pay envelopes. Whenever a
'tool' of the company hears work
err complain he at once gets busy
They are instructed to say: "Ah,
don't be so cheap! Why make so
much fuss about such small sunni
And if in spite of all this worker
still persists he is marked and the
next day is told to "stay home for
q few days" Through such meth
DDS these kings of war profiteerng
are driving a sharp dagger deeper
and deeper into the flesh and blood
of the workers of the Winchester
Plant.
The 5000 workers at present EN-
ployed in the plant are divided into
three classes. In the first class is
recruited the great majority OF the
workers, in a sport organization
known as the Winchester Recreation
Club. Members pay voluntary ia,
of $3.50 cents month, although moi
every one is compelled to belong
to the organization.
The second or senior class is known
as the Gold Medal organization, anC
is composed of workers who have
survived Is years or more working
in the plant. The group numbers
344 at present. "A gold bar is added
to their gold medal for every add
tional five years that these robots
can stick. The class, is. also the
reservoir from which the company
draws it foe foremen, spies and speed
men.
In the third class is the so-callet
pension class, numbering 131, who
have managed to survive continu
Gus drudgery of 80 years. These
workers are today more dead thar
alive, but they are being used by
the company's officials to speed W
the bulk of the workers and helI
make them obedient slaves.
CHARLES MITCHELL.
ssThe function of the soviets.
4 the Significance OF the Dictator