The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-08
Workers Now Worse
OFF Than Under
Hoover
WAGES BUYS LESS
MIRA. Cuts Wages By
Spread-W Work Plan
BY SEYMOUR WALDMAN
Daily Worker, Washington BureRu)

Dy DE- MUM w ALTMAN
Daily Worker, Washington Bureau)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7. -
The overwhelming majority of
workers in the United States
shave been forced to a lower
living standard" under the Roosevelt
National Recovery Act, the American
Federation of Labor, one Of the Blue
Eagles chief supporters, admits in
its January Monthly Survey of Bust
ness to be issued tomorrow.
Lower Wages
Only the lowest wage groups, that
is, the numerically few sweatshop in
dustries, the A. F. Of l.. survey de-
clares, show any gains under MIRA.
codes. Though the hourly wage rates
average higher by five and one-half
cents per hour" in many cases it
is not enough to compensate for
shorter hours and Gin no case is it
enough to compensate for higher
prices" the Federation announcement
adds.
The A. F. of l.. does not attack
the vicious spread-the-work (spread-
the misery plan, despite the fact
that it declares: Millions who got
jobs during the year are better of,
but those who had jobs at more than
a minimum wage, have lost ground"
Rising Living Costs
In addition, the survey points out
that food prices, as compared with
a year ago, have risen seven per cent,
while clothing and furnishings in
creased 21 per cent, 80 that the
workers real buying power is con-
siderably lower" The Federation Of
ficials, however, neglect to state that
since April 1888 the general average
of retail food prices in 81 cities has
risen nearly IT per cent, according to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of
the Department of Labor. The survey
states:
Tn wages, there have been def
mite gains under codes for the lowest
wage groups; but workers Of average
or higher wages have been forced to
lower living standard. Hourly
wage rates average higher by five
and one-half cents per hour, but
in many cases this is not cough to
compensate for shorter hours; and
in no case is it enough to conpen-
safe for higher prices.
Workers incomes in our 16 chief
producing and distributing industries
averaged $20.53 a week in November,
1892 and $2056 in November, 1888.
Meanwhile, food prices are up 7 per
cent and prices of clothing and fur
nishings are higher by 81 per cent,
so that workers real buying power
Is considerably lower. Millions who
got jobs during the year are better
off, but those who had jobs at more
than a minimum wage have lost
ground"
Laud N.R.A.
Notwithstanding all this, the open
ing paragraph of the A. F. Of l..
survey, under the headline Workers
Review the Year" sounds like a pub
liGty release from the MIRA. bally-
hoo machine.
workers have made three impor-
tsnt gains in 1888: % greater en-
ployment; 100000 who were out of
work last year-and now have jobs
in industry, and 100000 have tenn
porary work under C.WA, P.W.A.
and C.C.C.; ca shorter hours: aver
age weekly work hours in industry
generally are shorter by four hours
per week than at the end of 1892;
CD organization: workers are better
organized to handle their problems
and share in industrial control than
they were last year."
The report does not state that
wherever the employers have required
the use of the A. F. of l.. oficialdom
CONTINUED on Page Two)