Montana labor news., 1945-11-15
BUSINESS GOES
in A STRIKE

WASHlNGIO - tfP) - lhe ire
quenty expressed charge that not all
the strikes are instigated by unions
found sound support on the floor of
the House Nov ] when Rep. Hugh
DeLacy (D.-Wash) detailed some
facts about the northwest lumber strike
In the state of Washington alone
6000 AFL lumber workers are on strike
for $1.0O an hour and $44 a week.
The lumber companies in 1914, De-
Lacy pointed out, had profits in 1914
that were 5l179o above the l936-39
level, and prices OF lumber are up 70fe
over 1889 Wages, however, are only
l5f6 higher, due to the Little Steel for
mula
Still the management refused to meet
the $44 a week wage for the seasonal
work and DeLacy used the official
publication of the lumber industry and
Big Business to show why
Here is the answer out Of industry
own mouth-Crow's Pacific Coast Lum-
Der Digest, for Aug 81, l945, long be-
fore the strike broke out
"'The facts are, said this industry
spokesman, that the average producer
does not care whether his men strike.
Some have expressed the opinion that
they are afraid that they will not With
the average manufacturer already in
the high income tax bracket he will re-
ceive very little net return for operat-
ing the balance of this year and the
moral obligation to run no longer
exists.
DeLacy then quoted from Business
Week, the McGraw Hill publication
that is bible for corporation execu-
tives. 1t said Behind the large lumber
strike in the Northwest is the operators
determination to stand pat, because they
earned this year just about all the pres
ent tax laws will permit them to keep. |
Their attitude is that a showdown with
labor might as well come now as later, |
in fact, better now than later
Altogether, some 10000 lumber work.
ers are idle in the Northwest, and De-
Lacy charged that the lumber barons
of the Northwest are on a sit-down I
strike against the U. S. government"
Then, DeLacy continued, Just as in
lumber, all industry can afford to pay
as much as 249o wage increase, and
that without raising prices While the
exact percentage Of increase may vary
from industry to industry, a wage in
crease Of 241e by the same corpora
tons would allow them a profit in l946
after taxes, Of $4,000 million, or more
than twice the prewar average and only
500 million short Of industry}s 1912
war profit total.
The study prepared for Pres. Truman
by the Office of War Mobilization, and
from which he based his radio speech
IN wages and prices shows the gross
average pay Of U. S. workers in manu-
lacturing rose from $26.64 in January
L94l to $47l2 in April 1945 gross
Increase Of 77f6 But the study shows
he cost Of living rose at least 32e6 in
hat period and that millions who never
before were taxed, paid income tax
evies in the new war prosperity Al
owing for price and tax boosts, the
lyerage workers take home pay, in
94l dollars rose from $26.47 to $31.47,
which is only 1870 net gain.
DeLacy next showed what parts Of
he $4712 came from overtime, work :
ng longer hours, shifting to higher j
aid industries and increased hourly (
ates, etc.
Assuming that the hourly rates will !
lot be materially cut and that perhaps
alf the increases can be retained by I
he workers, the gross average weekly L
ay of the worker in 1946 will fall to y
1896 a week, if he works at all. This a
$ 282o cut below his April, 1945 pay c
heck. i
That workers money wage of 1890 v
ill buy 3ao less in l946 than his aver
ge l94l wage of $26.64. The actual a
'orth Of 1890 is 1879 below what he n
armed in January, l941. n
What are workers and their fami- L
es supposed to do in this situation7" Il
'eLacy asked. e
Stand still and take it?"
DeLacy knows they aren't going to n
Ike it.