Evening star., 1937-09-26

to institute formal training programs;
they looked upon the large companies
as a source from which skilled men
might filter down to them. The
employer union contracts in many
o,ntrs restricted the number of ap-
prentices to be permitted to go into
training.
Unskilled Pay Rose.
Then came N. R. A. with minimum
wages and shorter hours. The supply
of skilled labor, already depleted, was
inadequate to meet the demand. Even
more important was the effect of
higher base rates of unskilled labor.
The upward push from 35, 40 and As
cents an hour to so, SIS and so cents
narrowed the range between the
bottom and the top Of the wage struc-
ture. The incentive for the young man
with limited or apprentice training was
thereby diminished.
On top of all these other causes and
conditions, Uncle Sam entered the
picture. On certain Federal projects
organized to reduce unemployment,
wage scales we're often set so close to
prevailing rates, that workers naturally
wanted to stay on the P. w. A. or the
W. P. A., where jobs we're regarded as
safe. rather than seek work in private
employment. Under such circum-
stances, the Government pay roll be-
came far more attractive.
Skilled craftsmen. struggling for
dreary months for jobs commensurate
with their experience, eagerly took
work at rates slightly or even con-
siderably below normal standards.
They became absorbed in and ulti-
mately dependent upon governmental
work which offered permanency
against the hazards OF layof or dis
charge in private employment.
A revived naval construction pro-
gram threw open the gates of oppor-
tunity for mechanics, machinists,
molders. pattern-makers. electricians,
etc. Here again, the Government was
able to draw off many finely trained
craftsmen, who sooner or later would
have returned to private industry.
No Miraculous Escape.
Confronted by these conditions. and
amid rising tides Of increased produc-
'tion, American industry is valiantly
striving to set its house in order
Emergency demands are forcing exec.
utives to realize that there is ne
miracle way out" to escape an actual
or impending labor shortage.
The first step taken by many for
ward-looking companies was to find
out how extensive the labor shortage
was-and to ascertain how great q
supply of skilled workmen existed, In
latent form, in the ranks of the COM
pany itself
One large corporation in the Middle
West recently made survey of all of
its labor groups. All common labor fit
fer promotion to the ranks of semi
skilled workmen was classified. A SIM
liar classification was made in the
semi-skilled group. Out of so jobs
that need6 to be filled in the skilled
labor group, 40 were given to the
best of the semi-skilled workmen. The
members of the skilled labor group
also were classified according to their
capability, age, length of service,
physical condition, ETC., to seek can
didates for jobs as foremen.
Man-power inventories of this char
acter have revealed the possibilities
Of retraining old employees in new
processes. On the railroads and in the
textile, petroleum and telephone in
dustries, this procedure has been a
valuable asset both to employer and
employe.
Age Limit Tossed Aside.
In studying the labor shortage, a
survey Of the causes has been found to
be important, whether the condition
is attributable strictly to outside fac
tors which the management cannot
change or to conditions within the
plant, such as wages and hours. One
corporation discovered that rigid regu-
lations for hiring men only 40 years
old or younger was responsible for los
ing the services Of many capable
machinists, mechanics and others be-
yond the 40-year limit. A change in
this policy resulted in a substantial
older group being inducted into service
within short time
Rapidity of promotion also has been
found to be an important element.
Ambitious young men coming out Of
vocational or technical high schools
naturally want to rise rapidly in
private employment.
One large corporation, whose sales
activities cover the Eastern half of the
Nation, recently instituted an unusual
promotion policy. This company,
which employs many hundreds Of
truck drivers, mechanics, machinists,
carpenters, painters, garage repair
men, etc, has adopted automatic wage
increases. A new employe is told that
he must rise to the top pay rates
within 80 months from the time he
enter the service If he does not earn
this promotion he is dropped from the
service. From those who earn their
promotions, men are selected for
supervisory jobs or for the sales force.
While the policy has increased wages,
company omcish report that It has