The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-30

tionary thus in reality undergoing
constant lowering The code leaves
many loopholes such as no provisions
for outside workers, apprentices, etc,
under which the bosses will lower
wages to their hearts content, thus
in practice wiping out even the mis-
cradle standards set and especially
discriminating against Negro workers
in the South.
A New Stagger Plan
%. Regarding hours Of labor: The
code proposes a maximum Of 40 hours
per week. But it does not provide
for a guarantee of 40 hours of en-
ployment per week, nor does it pro-
vide for any number Of weeks per
year. This in reality negates any
fixed minimum wage, aside from the
other considerations mentioned above.
Wages for workers now receiving
above the minimum are not to be
adjusted upwards so that they shall
receive the same wages for the 40
hour week that they now receive for
the longer work week. This places the
hours provision on the same footing
with the previously advertised and
widely practcied Hoover eagle stag
ger plan. Already we see that the
employers are introducing new speed
up methods by which they hope to
get out as much work from the work
ers in the shorter workday at re-
duced wages, as they did in' the long
er work day at higher earnings. The
code does not prohibit night work for
women, nor provide shorter hours for
youth labor.
Demand Right to Organize
IS. Regarding the right to organ
lze The code merely repeats the
general provisions of the National In
dustrial Recovery Act without defin-
itely defining the rights Of the work
ers to organize into unions of their
own choice. 1t does not provide
against company unions or the fore
ing of the workers into unions con-
trolled by corrupt officials with the
aid Of the bosses, as is the case in
many instances where the bosses COL
lect dues for the labor leaders who
make agreements over the heads Of
the workers 1t does not provide for
the right 10 strike if the workers re-
fuse to accept the conditions of the
code or for any other grievance
during the dur tion of the
code, but, on the contrary, calls for
the system of compulsory arbitration
which would force slavery conditions
on the workers with the backing Of
the whole machinery Of the govern
ment. We propose the following:
"a That industry and the govern
ment assume the responsibility for
fixed minimum weekly and yearly
wage for every worker in the industry.
This is to be achieved through pro-
visions that no worker shall be given,
less than 40 weeks per year of en-
ployment-no less than 80 hours per
week and maximum of 40 hours per
week; that wages shall be set at
minimum of so cents per hour This
would provide a minimum wage of
S720 yearly for every worker. Only
such a proposal, if embodied in the
provisions, would represent a mini
mum wage provision as against
the present proposals which are
fraud upon the masses and guarantee
nothing
"b) That where the industry does
not provide workers with this min
imum of yearly earnings, the govern
ment shall pay unemployment insur-
ance equal to this amount, and for
part time workers the difference be-
tween the amount (S720) and the
actual earnings. Workers who receive
higher than the minimum at pres
ent shall be paid insurance equal to
their present average wage.
60 That the wages of workers re-
ceiving at present above this mini
mum shall be increased Immediately
by Is per cent.
I'D That wages shall be adjusted
for all workers regularly as prices
rise so that there shall be no low
ering of the living standards due to
initiation.
"e) That the labor code shall pro-
vide for denocratically elected shop
committees, controlled by the work
ers, in all mills, to be recognized by
the employers. These committees to
deal with the employers in the en-
torcement of wages, hours, discharges.
conditions of labor, etc. The right
of the workers to belong to any union
of their own choice shall be fully
stated. The right of the workers to
strike whenever any demands are not
granted shall be stated in the code
fl No night work for women in
any part of the country.
"g) No child labor under Is;
shorter hours for youth between the
ages of 10 and 49,"