The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-10-09
WOMEN REPORT
ON CONDITIONS
Tell of Speed-Up and
Discrimination

Many industrie swere represented
at the Women's Conference of the
TUUL Convention in Cleveland. Not
only were the needle trades and tex.
tiles represented, but there were also
women from heavy and basic indus
tries.
The Chicago plant of the West
ern Electric Company, said to be the
largest single plant in the country,
sent delegate. She reported that
there is shop committee in the
plant which issues a regular shop
bulletin. This is so we'll liked by
the workers that they eagerly buy
it, and the bulletin pays for itself.
The conditions for women and girls
are yer ybad, even worse than for
men.
The women work 90 hours a week,
but often are forced to work over
time in order to e-rl a little more.
The yare paid piece work or 81 cents
an hour. NJ en- and boys receive
SO cents an hour. In order to be
sure they can stand the terrible
speed-up, a physical examination is
given every girl and only the strong
est is hired. Women over 80 are
turned down. o fthe $4,000 workers
in the plant, $4,000 are women and
young girls. Theer is also discrimi-
nation against Jewish workers, the
company hoping to divide the work
ers on the race question.
Naturalization has resulted in
laying off many of the workers. In
1923 there were nearly $4,000 work.
ers, but in 1928 there were only &c.
900. No wthere are even less.
When a worker has stood the job
for year, he is granted one weeks
vacation with pay by the boss. This
is result of the shops bulletin,
an effort to keep the workers quiet
about the other conditions. There is
no social insurance, no compensation
for accidents, even. Each year a
girl works, she is given a one cent
raise pc rhour!
A miners wife from Wheeling, W.
Va, reported on the activity of wo-
men during the strike. She told par
ticularly of the soup kitchens
which fed the hildren of the strik-
ers. Organization work among the
miners wives of Wheeling will be
increased, she said, as she got inspir-
alton from the Convention.
The delegate fro mthe Wheel
ing Corrugated Steel shop reported
that about half of the 1000 workers
are girls. They work IL and Ia
hours a day at % cents an hour.
Even men get only 80 cents an hour.
They are forced to work in the eve
ming, straight through from noon
to $50 without any rest. II they
go to the wash room they are docked
for the time.
The speed-up has been introduced,
and on the testing machine where
s girls used to work, only two put
out the production now. They are
forced to work in terrific heat, and
the bosses laugh at the idea of cleo
trio fans. Naturally the girls often
faint, but they are not allowed to
go home unless they cannot stand up
at all. If you are late one minute,
Is minutes is taken off your time.
Conditions are so bad that no Wis
itors are allowed near the factory.
The workers have a shop committee
and are waking up to their condi-
tions.
The waitress delegate told of the
evils of the topping system. The
worker sewerage 10 hours q day but
get only 81 in wages. Yet of the
so 900 mattresses and cooks, only
I72 girls are in the union. This is
due to the corrupt officials, as there
were 5000 organized six years ago.
The cafeteria workers do not even
get tips. Men scab on the girls,
as the union has done nothing to
biuld up solidarity. None Of the
10000 Negroes are in the union,
Now the progressive groups are call
ing meetinugs and conferences to
build organizations.
The delegate from the left wing
office workers union pointed out
that even office work is becoming
mechanical. The girls are gradually
becoming aroused, and are joining
the new union.