The daily worker., 1931-11-10
THE WORKING CLASS IN THE
u. S. S. R. AT THE 18th
ANNIVERSARY
sistence

Following the wage cuts OF the miners Of
Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, the capi-
talists started general attack along the en-
tire industrial line, aiming the first blows against
the workers in the steel and railroad industries
and spreading the attack rapidly to other
branches of industry automobile, textile, etc.).
The first to respond to that general attack
were the textile workers of Lawrence, Mass, who
by way Of strong mass organization, are carry
ing on a brave and determined resistance.
The repeated wage cuts, since the beginning
Of the crisis, brought about the lowering of the
standard of living to one-ttird. The total sum
Of wages paid in the U. S. dropped 80 per cent.
In 1929 the total fund of wages paid consisted
of s44,600,00000O; in 1890 that fund has de-
creased to s35 700,OO0oO0. AS a result OF sys-
tematic wage cuts forced upon the workers with
the direct assistance of the American Federation
of Labor the payroll fund in 1881 as compared
with 1929 has dropped to so per cent.
How does the matter stand in the U. S. S. r.?
In the U. S. S. r. the payroll fund not only had
not decreased, but has increased 212 per cent.
In comparison with the pre-war period, the pay
roll had grown to ITO per cent Already during
the last years has the nominal payroll in
creased more than 80 per cent. The increase in
the mining industry amounts to so per cent; in
metal 80 per cent in railroad transportation 40
per cent. For the last seven months of 1881 the
average wage has grown to 11.8 per cent. In the
last quarter of 1881 the increase in wages in
metallurgy amounts to 23.5 per cent; in mining
10 per cent (Which together with the increase
earlier in the same year of 1881 makes total
of 35 per cent?; in the chemical industry 20 per
cent We must point out also the improvements
made this year in the living conditions Of the
engineers and technical workers and also of the
teaching personnel
In considering and comparing the salaries paid
in the U. S. S. R. with those in the capitalist
countries, one must not forget those preferences
and privileges available for the proletarian class
in the Soviet Union. In the first place among
those preferences social insurance in the most
ideal and complete form is of the most vital i'm
portance. What do we see in the capitalist coun-
tries? Only in out Of 81 capitalist countries
does some kind of social insurance exist en-
bracing very few categories of workers But
even in those countries, as for instance in Eng
land and Germany, the bourgeoisie With the full
support of the Labor" Party in England and
the social democratic party in Germany, carries
on fight against social insurance in order to
place the entire expenditure for social insurance
upon the shoulders of the working class by way
of cutting down the dole and limiting the num-
Der of workers entitled to relief etc. AS re-
suit, the social insurance in these countries
shrunk to such an extent that 1t reflected upon
the deep lowering of their standard of living
But still worse are conditions in the u S.
where social insurance is granted, where the
bourgeoise working hand in glove with the A.
F. of L. is continuing a vigorous resistance
against any kind of social insurance at the cost
of the state and the rich. The demand of the
workers under the leadership Of the Communist
Party and the Trade Union Unity League for
immediate unemployment relief and social in
Surance was met by the government with brutal
violence, arrests of leaders, deportations and all
kinds of repressions directed towards the Com
muniSt Party and the Trade Union Unity
League.
And here again is the contrast most striking
when compared with labor conditions in the U.
S. S. R. where social insurance covers all work
ers without exception and discrimination. AS
far back in 1923 the number of insured had
been 100000 whereas in 1881 that number grew
to 1603000o The budget of social insurance In
1925 was 474,00O,000 rubles. In 1927 the budget
grew to s8o,0o0Ooo more in 1929 to 1,4oo 100000
and in 1881 the figure shows 2,173,o0Oo00 rubles
1t is worth while to mention that the insurance
fund is in the hands of the workers who COM
pose the insurance committee In case of illness
the insured worker gets the full amount of wages
beginning on the very first day till he Is capa-
bic to go back to work, or till he is transferred
to the category of invalids At the same time
he gets free medical attention and medicine
Working women as well as workers wives, get
special relief after their confinement during nine
months and are provided with an outfit for the
baby.