The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-08-06
Wage Earners'
Share Of Profits
BY GRACE G. GLASCOTT

EDITORS NOTE - This is the
| third of series of four articles
written by Grace G.. GlaScott, Re
Hour Division, L. S. Department of
Labor, Cleveland, Ohio.
The average weekly wage for fac
tory workers was S36 during February,
according to figures of the United
States Department of Labor. These
workers employed in durable goods in
duStrieS - which include most arma-
ment plants-average $42, while work
ers in non-durable goods industries
textiles, foods, etc. - average S27 a
week.
Considering the highest figure, $40
Il week, the reward of labor for its in
creased effort and increased hours of
work - including some overtime - on
war production is not unreasonable by
any means. Especially is this true
when one consideres the increased
profits now being enjoyed by manufac-
turing firms and retailing establish
ments.
| Particular attention, however, should
be drawn to the average weekly wage
of workers in non-durable goods in
| is not great in the face of the increased
cost of living.
1t is the lOw-paid workers in these
industries whom the Wage and Hour
Law basically protects. For instance
before the law became effective many
| workers in textile industries We're
among the lowest paid in the nation
| Weekly pay checks Of So and $6 were
not uncommon. Only through continu-
Gus efforts in their behalf has it been
possible to bring the minimum wage
! for textile workers to 40 cents an hour
This was done by Il wage order for
the industry, issued by the Wage and
Hour Law Administrator, which be
came effective as recently as April 20
1912
On the basis of 40 hours a week, this
means that the minimum wage which
Il worker in that industry now may re-
ceiye for those 40 hours of work is SIC
hot a very handsome pay check But
just how important this increased wage
minimum is to textile workers is illus
trated by the fact that the wage or
der directly affects approximately 15O,
600 workers In the industry.
Action of the Wage and Hour hi
vision in connection with the textile
| industry affords splendid illustration
of the operations of the machinery
provided in the Wage and Hour Law
for increasing minimum wage levels
The law provides that the AdminiStra
tor appoint committees to study eco
nomic conditions i'm various industries
with the view of increasing minimum
wage levels, up to n maximum of 4(
cents IN hour, wherever possible. Sucl
committees are composed of an equa
number of representatives of employers
in the industry being studied employees
and the public.
The first such committee named fOi
the textile industry recommended that
the wage minimum be increased from
the 3O-cents IN hour minimum re-
qured by law to 32I cents The Ad
ministrator approved the recommenda
tion and issued Il wage order in tha,
amount, effective October "A, 1899
When ii appeared THAT further adjust
ment could be made in the industry, Il
second committee was appointed. This
group recommended that the minimum
he increased to 37R cents in hour, ant
II wage order In that amount was mad,
effective of June 30, 1911. The accent
an hour order, effective April 20, 1912
therefore, was the third wage order
issued in the textile industry followin,
committee recommendation.
| Wage orders also have been issue,
for more than 40 other industries Like
tire case of the textile industry, some
of the other industries also were af
fected by more than one wage order
Although the statutory minimum
wage VIII become 40 cents an hour by
law on October "a, l9l5, wage order.
issued ON the basis of industry com
mitrec recommendations to date hay,
established 4O-cent wage minimum fol
workers I'm ~ industries. Some wage
orders, issued in recent months, wer,
influenced by the war boom, but mos
We're established on the basis of nor
NAL business conditions, which war
rantcd IN increase of wage levels I,
the hundreds OF thousands of workers
directly affected.
l. But, it Is obvious, many workers il
American industry still do not receiv
Il wage which enables them to main
tain an adequate standard of living fo
themselves and their families. The hug
profits associated with war still hav
not seeped down far enough to brin
material benefit to all wage earners
NOTE-"WageS and the Cost of
i Living" * the Suh ipct of Miss tluS-