Evening star., 1943-02-11

possible contribution to the war.
Q. Does the order apply to coal
miners, most of whom have a 35-
hour week under union contract?
A. The first areas designated in
clude no coal-mining centers, but
successful efforts are being made
now by the Government to have the
work week extended in many areas
to meet war fuel needs. Some haz-
ardous occupations or industries
may be exempted.
100000 Labor Force.
Q. How much additional produc-
tive power is made available by this
order?
A. NO statistics are available. 1t
has been estimated that if the a.
hour week were in effect, in all in
dustrles and areas where it would
result in maximum use of labor that
1t would add the equivalent of
l,OOO,OO men to the labor force.
Q. Will the 4s-hour week be ap-
piled in the steel mills of Detroit
and Buffalo, which are labor short
II.
which is not now listed as labor
shortage area?
A. This will be decided later. upon
investigation by the VINO and con-
suitatlon with the industry, to de-
termine whether it is possible and
feasible. A few industries NAV have
to be handled on an industry wide
instead of an area basis.
@. Will OPA permit prices to be
raised on showing of increased
costs?
A. That is governed by OPA reg
ulations, but it is unlikely that the
increased labor cost will add more
than small fraction to the cost of
production.
@. Does the order apply to Gov
eminent arsenals and navy yards?
A. Yes, but practically all these
are on work week OF 48 hours.
Government Offices.
O. What about Government
Offices?
A. The Government receptly
adopted 43-hour work week for
the duration, with overtime pay for
| work in excess of 40 hours as fixed
by Federal law.
@. Does the order apply to news
papers and retail stores?
A. Yes in the critical areas. But
1t should be emphasized that the
purpose of the order is to economize
on manpoWer and not to increase
hours of work where it will not con-
tribute to the war.
@. What about little one-man
business and professional people like
doctors and dentists?
A. The order applies only to en-
ployment, and self employed per-
sons are not regarded as employees.
@. Does the order apply to
laundries?
A. Yes, in the critical areas.
@. Suppose an employer declines
to increase the weekly pay of an
employe although he increases the
work week to 48 hours. What can
the worker do?
A. If the employer is governed by
the Wage-Hour Act, the employer is
required to pay time and one-half
Tor all overtime over 40 hours in a
week There is no law covering the
employer whose workers are not
covered by the law. However, such
an employer as described in this
question would be likely to lose his
employees to employers who are pay
ing time and one half for overtime,
Violations of Law.
O. Could an employer get away
with paying worker straight time
Tor pay over 40 hours?
l. A. II the worker is covered by
the Wage Hour Act, the employer
would be violating Federal law. If
the worker is not covered, he would
be likely to leave his job for en-
ployment with an employer who is
paying time and one-haf.
@. Should State and local gov
ernments adopt the 48-hour week
under this order?
A. Yes, if their employees hours
OF work are not fixed by State or
local law. The order does not
change any rate of wage or over
time pay fixed by local, State or
Federal law.
Q. Is the order inflationary. in
that workers will get much larger
pay checks?
A. No, because of the great pro-
duction needs of the war; because
the worker will produce more; be-
cause the work in any given plant
will be spread out among fewer
employees. and because price CELL
ings and wartime limits on luxury
goods production will prevent work
ers from excessive and inflationary
spending In addition, income taxes
will recapture part of the workers
added income.