Evening star., 1940-11-19
Fleming Sees Key
To Production as More
Workers at 40 Hours
Differs With Sloan on
Way to Raise Output;
Cites Fotieue Factor
By OLIVER MCKEE.

Production of war materials by
the defense industries would not be
increased by raising the standard
work week from 40 TO 48 hours or
more, Col. Philip B. Fleming, ad-
ministrator of the Wage and Hour
Division declared today. Taking
issue with Alfred P. Sloan, chair
man of the board of the General
Motors Corp, who recently suggest
ed that defense production might
soon require a six-day week, Admin
istrator Fleming said he saw no
reason at the present time or in
the near future, for longer hours
in the war industries.
Our big job today, as I see it,
Is to train new workers" he said
Instead of seeking to expand war
production by increasing working
hours. the most economical and far
sighted method to reach this result
would be to hire and train workers
who are now unemployed. The
ranks of the unemployed contain
many skilled craftsmen who could
quickly be fitted into the defense
program. From the long range
point of view, it is important also
that provision be made for training
additional skilled workers.
The best way to increase defense
production is to keep the machines
busy l68 hours a week. Until the
surplus of labor now available is
hired. there is no need for making
any change in the wage and hour
law. which fixed 40 hours as the
standard work week"
Reports No Industrial Complaints.
The Wage and Hour Division has
so far received no complaints from
defense industries that tine present
4O-hour week is initiating against
the maximum output Of war mate
rials. Col. Fleming asserted, nor
has there been any pressure from
the war industries to modify the
present hour requirements of the
law.
Though longer working hours
might step up production for a
brief period. in the long run. Col.
Fleming declared. there would be
no expansion in output. Under
the conditions that prevail in mod
ern factories. where most of the
work is done by machines, longer
hours would bring the problem Of
fatigue. which tends to reduce eff
cheney, he pointed out. 1T is best to
conserve the reservoir of human
stamina for a great emergency" he
said.
The experience of Britain and
France, both in the present war and
the last World War, demonstrates
that production and efficiency are
diminished when working hours in
war industries are stepped up. Col.
Fleming declared. Experts of the
Wage and Hour Division are now
studying war production in Britain
and France in relation to working
hours. They are also assembling
such data as is obtainable on hours
and output in Germany's war in
dustries.
Close to "Optimum."
Though a 40-hour week may not
be the exact "optimum" figure
which results in a maximum of eff
cheney and output, his studies. Col.
Fleming said, convince him that it
is close to this optimum. Henry
Ford, a practical businessman, put
into effect in his plants the 40-hour
week in 1926. he said.
In reply to an inquiry from Brit
ish officials, Col. Fleming informally
has ruled that the wage and hour
law does not apply to British gov
ernment employees in the United
States. No suggestions have come
to him from any British ofncial that
the standard 40-hour week should
be abandoned in the war materials
industries to increase production.
Almost all defense production is
now covered either by the Fair
Labor Standards Act or the Walsh
Healey Act. which also provides for
standard work week, with pay for
overtime.
In two important speeches next
month, Administrator Fleming will
answer arguments of those who are
urging the abandonment of the 40
hour week to increase war produc-
ton. One is an address before
California Chambers of Commerce
at Los Angeles. a focal defense pro-
duction area. The other is speech
in New York before the National
Association Of Manufacturers.