The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-22
THE GREAT FORD MYTH

then wearing white shirts we're fired Last
summer the barley water for the foundry work
ers was removed and in its place the men we're
told to drink ordinary hot water and take three
or four pills daily which the foreman gave to
them At certain times you're fired If you walk
down the main aisle IN your building. At others
you suffer if you're caught lodging among the
machines on your way to work At one time
it was all right to wear a badge anywhere, Just
SO that it was in sight. Overnight an order was
issued that they would be worn on the left
breast and all who forgot to do so were laid off
In times like these, when every excuse is seized
upon to lay off men, it becomes a nerve-racking
ordeal to stick to the job. If you stay too long
in the toilet you're fired; If you eat your lunch
on a conveyor, you're fired; If you eat it on the
floor, you're fired; If you wait TO return stock
to the tool crib, you're fired; If you talk to men
coming on the next shift. you're fired!
Practically everyone at work in Ford Rouge
today owns or is paying for Ford car Every
year for some time past the workers have been
canvassed as to the type Of car they have, when
they intend to get a new one, and so on In
the spring of 1880 this system was used to force
the workers to get FordS on pain of losing their
jobs. The names Of those who did not possess
Fords were turned over to statesmen and they
reported back to the plant. Those who did not
buy were laid off. For months the Detroit News
printed letters Of Ford workers and their wives,
protesting against this When that paper ques-
toned Ford officials 1t received categorical
denial that forced buying of Fords Is carried on
but the letters continue TO pour in on the
paper. In at least one case, the company did
not even keep its word with the worker who did
buy car-this man sold his old car, mortgaged
his house to buy new Ford and then laid off a
few weeks laterl I myself know of several cases
Trher cd 10 hsYuy How
two of them lost the cars when they were laid
off and could not keep up the payments
The discomfort which develops from these con-
ditions is kept in check by the Service Depart
ment The open section, whose members are
known as service men, acts as police body in
the plant. 1t checks up on men walking around;
sees that workers do not talk to each other;
prevents bosses from becoming too friendly with
their workers; enforces the thousand and one
petty regulations Of the plant. They are under
no discipline. From their decision there Sc 70
appeal 1t is significant that when an employ
ment manager defied the Ser,!oe Depa-v-..4t
by retaining men they had told him to dismiss,
he himself discharged and the employment
division was made part Of the Service Depart
ment From my own experience with 1t, am
inclined to agree with former member who told
me, ats made up Of ex-pugs and thugs" AS
class they are the most hated and despsed-
and feared-men in the whole Rouge plant.
The secret section works more smoothly It's
members are scattered throughout the plant,
working with the regular workers. 1t is their
job to listen in" on the workers, find out what's
going on and locate those who voice dangerous
thoughts" In this way even the nildest criti-
cism Of Ford is likely to meet with swift and
silent dismissal. Charles e Sorenson, chief en-
gineer and absolute ruler Of the Rouge plant
says that men are not fired from Rouge because
of their radicalisn, but one OF his subordinates
Donald Marshall, tells different story He
told a group when I was present, that at one
time the company had been informed OF the
existence OF "a Communist nucleus OF five or
six" and that "they had been cleaned out mighty
quick" RE explained that while the company
does not cooperate With other corporations IN
maintaining blacklist, it does not tolerate
union or radical propaganda within the plant.
In fact, so easy is it to get a man fired for
political agitation that foremen have some
times used it Unfortunately to get rid OF men
they don't like. There are members OF A p.
Of l. unions in the Rouge plant, but they are
tolerated only because they keep their rnorShs
shut. and those who cannot keep theig mouths
silent are disposed Of by the Silent. secret-ser-
vice men --.
These things 1 have portrayed hardly get be-
low the surface-but they will suffice to show
why Ford is no hero to his workers.
tTbas article was written before the murder
Of fow Hunger Msrchers at the River Rouge
Ford plant March 7ths-Editer. Daily
Werkerl