The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-12-15
lBy Labor Research Association.l

. (By Labor Research AssOciation.)
I OADERS average from $40 to So week. and
cutting machine men average barely $40
week, according to a recent field study by the
Labor Research Association of New York City.
The al workers interviewed in August and
September represented 10 companies and Is
mines, chiefly in Western Pennsylvania They
included non-union workers who had no part in
last summers strikes, some United Mine Workers
of American members some men who had struck
with the National Mines Union and were back
at work, and some who had been evicted and
had nothing but strike relief between them and
starvation. Facts about earnings and hours and
other working conditions referred in each case
to the latest weeks of actual work.
Among the 96 leaders, 25 or about fourth
we're averaging less than $40 week; 81 were
averaging from $13 to SIS week; SO were aver
aging from $40 to just under $13. They all re-
ported good" weeks above the average and bad
weeks trailing down to even SO or only 81. Only
20 thought that any recent week had gone so
high as $40, while rs of the SO spoke of weeks
when they had earned less than SIS.
Cutting machine operators have been the most
highly paid tonnage workers. Only one of the
IS who were interviewed thought he was aver
aging now as much as $50 a week. Two reported
an average of SIS, four an average of $1S, six
an average of $50. Their weeks had varied
greatly, with each of them reporting an occa-
sional "hgh' week, running from $40 to $35,
and bad weeks when they got only from 81 to
Sl2. Most of this group had not been involved
in the recent struggle, but all were fully con-
Scous of the sharp Worsening of their condition.
Apart from two tracklayers, one barn boss,
and pumper steadily employed in g. closed
mine, the 80 company men con day rates. who
happened to be interviewed we're even worse off
than the leaders. One motornan was averaging
$1S week, but the others-loaders, snappers,
slate pickers, blacksmith tpple men-reported
averages ranging from SIS down to ST.
All groups stated that short time and wage
cuts had brought their earnings down TO less
than half of what they used to get. Several
workers said that even when they have the same
number OF working hours in a week, they get
only half as much as formerly.
Miners Pay Company Expenses
None of these figures represent the amounts
that mine workers actually have to live on for
the company makes deductions for doctor, lights
smithing, etc.
All but four of the 18 companies we're making
the workers pay for the company doctor This
varied from q flat so cents every half monthly
pay for all workers of certain companies, to 81
for married men and Is cents for single men at
three mines of the Valley Camp Coal Co. Work
ers at Pittsburgh Coal Co. Pittsburgh Terminal
Coal Co. and Indian Greek Coal Co. mines re-
ported deduction of rs cents for married men
and SO cents for single men, as doctors tax from
every half-monthly pay check.
The use of large lamps costs the underground
worker amounts which range from cents for
each day when they are actually used to a
steady tax of 10 cents q day, including days
when the mine is not at work.
Workers who Use a drill a. nick have TO
pay the company for sharpening their tools.
Serni-monthly pay checks showed deductions
for smithing that ranged from IL cents to so
cents.
For leaders who shoot down the coal explo-
sives are the largest working expense. The work.
erS' checks showed deductions from this item
ranging from $3.50 to 50 for the half monthly
pay period.
Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Co. was taxing the
workers at Coverdale so cents pay period for
the wash house. Six companies were taxing the