The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-02-21
5 FOR A 51-H0UR
WEEK.; SLAVE ALL
LIGHT AT HOME
Workers Forced to Get
Own Material

le question why girls become pros
tutes. This murder-mill, located
Seventh ST., near Filbert, employs
Dung working women in the most
ruelling kind of toll at SIS for a
hour week, or less than 10 cents
4 hour. And not satisfied with
lcking the lifeblood out of their
ayes during the regular working
ours, the bosses rob them of sleep
forcing them to slave far into the
ght at home.
In fact, the weekly wage of girls
tie lacing department does not
me to IS, because they have to
by their own needles and thread.
you'll take better care Of your
,uff if you got to pay for it," the
lief crimp snarls at the newcomer.
The company cannot be putting out
ash for needles, they're always be-
lg lost"
Before she can qualify for slavery
the stencilling department, where
10 lampshade decorating is done, a
orker must have attended an art
,hool or had previous experience on
&c Job. AS might be expected, the
irl capable of handling such highly
,illed work draws a fabulous sal
ry (by Maid~Rite standards -S8 a
eek.
Not a Breathing Spell.
Misunderstanding is narrowing
rudgery. The paint has to be
lbbed into the parchment by
srength of arm while the stencil is
ED firmly in place. At the end of
ight and three-quarters hours of
:eady plugging in the murky,
5uffy, sinking loft of the stencil
ng room, an able bodied man would
e dog-tired. Not one breathing
oell is allowed all day; the speed-up
PUSHES every last spark of energy
ut of its victims; when girl is
potted exchanging few words
it'll her bench-mate the straw-boss
ares into them like a believing bull.
,aturally the women workers are
,ashed-out, stiff in their joints
sleep on their feet by the time $50
nally drags around. But their
eeper waddles up as their cramped
ingers drop the brushes for the
rst time since noon. Day work is
lerely warming up exercise.
Slavery at Homework.
"Who wants homework, girls ?"
here is no answer. His eyes bulge
18th menace, "This works got to be
one, understand? he splutters.
hey UNDERSTANDING homework, no
ob. Browbeaten, the workers each
1g home a 15-pound bundle of
archment panels, to sit up until 2
r 8 in the morning, and they pay
or the privilege.
There are 300 large panels to a
1t. A heavy border, about an inch,
or the edge, has to be drawn around
very one in ink. A ruling pen, cost
1g So; a small bottle of India ink,
) cents, and a ruler are needed for
he job. None Of these is supplied
y the bosses.
All Night Slavery.
"Oh. it will only take you about
n hour to finish them up" the boss
ssures the new hand as she sizes
D the hefty package she is to drag
lcng nome. The others laugh Bit
erly. The truth is that it is i'm
,ossible for a human to turn out
he 300 panels inside of 8 hours.
Jsing an ordinary writing pen the
york goes twice as slow. Most of
he young women have their fam
lies pitch in and help, in order to
.et to bed before daybreak. But the
ew slave, who had to go it alone,
gently shaved from 1880 at night
o4a. m. on her first batch of home
work., being afraid that she would
,e fired if all the panels were not
eturned by morning. For this
rightful ordeal she was presented
nth one whole dollar-and was still
;2.25 out of pocket for the mater
ais. Three nights of such killing
,ondage and she had not yet broken
wen.
Whole Families Enslaved.
With the lacers the story is the
anne. Bent double over their work
rom s to IL ana from 12:45 to $3.50
,rudging like slaves at tasks SO
nonotonous that they drive you mad
here is no release for them when
light falls. They must go on stitch
ng though their backs are breaking
heir eyes bloated from lack of rest
heir fumbling fingers raw from jab
,ings, unless someone at home car
end a hand. In this way whole fam.
lies are enslaved. The lacers sell
three nights or more a week anc
heir Sundays to the bosses ant
,sLen the month is ended they are
lucky To find themselves a few cents
ahead of the game.
Ten dollars is the topmost wage
raid in this sweatshop. Nobody or
riece-work is permitted to make
more. Boys and men in the spray
inc and lacquerjng department gel
straight five dollars. In few
eases they get S., and they sweat
blood for that hellish dole, inhaline
noisonous fumes, toiling at tor
need while half starved and rackee
IN body. Only one old worker,
scouerer with family to support
makes $40.
Snme lonr-standing employees il