The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-28

tAlIEC UoDACn Vi my ONA4 AAAlJ AAhDNsAAANA
was killed in an oil refinery. Be-
tween births I have worked, helping
to support my own family. But now
widowed, it is almost impossible to
exist
SlO-S13 a Week
l have been working in Piedmont
"a suburb, where Oakland manufac-
turers and the cream of society live
for the last three years. Fixed out a
living getting $40 to $13 a week for
services, at times scrubbing, washing,
cooking, serving at tables and all
other work connected with a house
hold. This gave me my own meals
and somehow I was able to keep a
home, 2 dinky rooms, where the chill
dren lived alone in the day time and
l slept with them at night My hours
of work were long, from 6 in the
morning until and sometimes past
9 ait night, with few hours off in
the midday. 1t was a broken shift
suited to the needs of the rich house,
hold I used up the few free hours
sewing and mending clothes for the
family. Didn't complain because we
were always taught to fear God and
pray for what we wanted
This week received wage cut,
through the stagger system, which
just makes me boil with resentment
against everything. My rich madam
boss came and said, Dorothy, you
will now work for IS a week and
carfare. three days a week. The
times arc hard and we will have to
save. We feel sorry, but that is
the best we can do for you now.
You've been a good worker and
hope you will stay. You will not
have to serve on the table, as Mary
will do that now MARY. the cook
also given more work and she told
me later, she got a cut of $40 per
month. OF course, you will wash,
iron, clean. mend garments as be-
fore"
l Was so dumbfounded and could
not speak. the while she was telling
me this, and finally when my speech
returned and jumping up TO tell her
what 1 thought of it, she was gone.
Grabbing a coat I ran out to a neigh
boring palace home to see what my
chum servant would say; she told me
she was also to work three days per
week, cook getting the balance of
work the three days she will be out.
Such cut was handed out to many
Ind perhaps all servants in Piedmont.
Had to Stay
WenS to employment office asking
for servants work, and was told no
calls were coming in. Short time jobs
were occasionally given. What else
was there to do? I had to stay on,
like many others. doing the work of
a week in three days. Midday hours
unknown, as work has to be finished
I pay 50 rent for the house. Will
only have S11 month left to feed
and clothe children and eat myself
four days week (the three which 1
work, I get my meals there.
Cast off clothing are not given to
servants any more, perhaps on rare
occasions. They are sent to the Sal
vation Army.
can't see how can live and bring
up my children. They are too young
to work
Organize and Fight
Pray-well, it's all off now. can
see more clearly now, that it is the
bunk handed out to make us keep
quiet and meek. I felt it deep in
my heart before. that those who we're
fighting for better conditions and So
ciai Insurance, for which I am happy
to say I signed. we're doing good work
but was afraid to admit it. Now I'll
shout 1t. Negro workers and white
workers, especially the former domes-
tic servants, who are most brutally
exploited, should immediately organ
ize and fight against wage cuts
Domestic Servant.