Evening star., 1943-02-14
Absenteeism
Continued From First Page.)

the CIO United Automobile Workers
sent to the War Manpower Com.
mission a plan to boost output
through industry wide agreement:
and a guaranteed weekly wage.
In calling on the CIO member
ship to stay on the job, President
Murray emphasized that the Nation
cannot afford the loss of man-hours
resulting from workers absentine
themselves from their jobs need
lessly or for trivial reasons. Hours
lost cannot be regained and hours
lost mean production lost"
He noted that "absenteeism is
also contagious" and that when one
man takes day off irresponsibly
others are likely to follow and the
effect on those who remain at theil
post is sometimes demoralizing
Outgrowth Of Order.
The job studies and Mr.
Reuthers proposal were believed to
have been an outgrowth of President
Roosevelt's 48-hour work-week order
as it has been felt in some quarters
that the longer week would acceler-
ate the absentee rate.
In presenting the report of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Duane
Evans commented that as the de-
mands of war production bring us
nearer and nearer to the exhaustion
of labor reserves, the problem of
absenteeism can no longer be viewed
with complacency.
The Owl said that actually
there are no statistics which give
an adequate picture" of the absentee
problem, and it was conceded that
in some plants, under difficult
working and transportation condi-
tions, the rate might be more than
double the pre-war figure. 1t added
that in collaboration with the Man
power Commission, War, Navy and
Labor Departments, Maritime Com
mission and the War Production
Board, the whole matter would be
studied in an effort to arrive at
some satisfactory solution.
Says Discipline Can Help.
The Owl said the reports it had
studied indicated that lob absence
is not new problem, but wartime
has made it more serious in extent
and in its effect upon the piled-up
production needs" 1t quoted from
one report submitted to the VINO
that no attempt should be made
TO whitewash absenteeism" and
Government, management and Ia
Dor must do their utmost to prevent
it. Union discipline can help greatly,
and much is being done along this
line already"
Material shortages, work shifts
poor working conditions and made
quate labor relations were listed by
Owl as preventable absenteeism
causes. Other preventable causes
are check cashing, poor housing, ap-
pearance before ration boards, minor
accidents and illness, homesickness
of Immigrant workers, family needs
for shopping and lack of child
care facilities.
War prosperity" hang overs
social engagements, after payday
absences, bad scheduling Of work
and labor boarding were listed by
Owl as causes for inexcusable work
absences. Serious illness and acci.
dents were listed as unavoidable
causes.
Reuther's Proposal
Mr.. Reuther suggested that ir
order to achieve full employment
and heighten labor morale. tht
| VINO. the War Labor Board anc
the Office Of Economic Stabilizatior
take the following steps immedi,
ately:
!. Formulation by the WLB of ar
Industry wage stabilization policy
and creation Of tripartite govern.
ment, management, labor wage
I commission in the automotive ano
allied war industries to work out
and administer master wage agree.
ment based on the principle ot
equal pay for equal work.
2. Establishment of regulations re.
quiring all plants to provide full EN-.
ployment Of 40 hours a week which
Shall he increased TO 48 over 9
period Of so days This part of the
plan would be carried out in &C.
cordance with the Presidents 43.
hour work week.
3. Immediate release to other wa,
plants, with full seniority protection
Of all employees who cannot be giver
full employment.
4. Initiation by Government of 2
national wage policy which viii
guarantee 40 hours pay a week tc
/ employees who work less than II
hours through no fault of their own
! the cost TO be borne by the Govern.
ment when the short work week i.
due TO material shortages. change o.
schedules and specifications, and BY
! management where the latter is re.
Spon5ibie.
! Maritime Commission Offers Plant
| Meantime, all-ponJ safety ant
health program for all commercial
shipyards, designed to conserve
manpover and reduce job absences
caused by accidents and illness. wal