Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1956-04-20
STEVE ]. NovAK, PRES.
0cAl AQ7. UAW-CI0

kVGAI TTfs 0AW-&tS
We American Workers have oui
troubles and more than our share
it often seems to us, but every
once in awhile we run into a re
minder of the good things we en-
joy.
An unusually frank and reveal
ing report on Communist Chinese
factories has come to our attention
1t gives a sharp contrast to our
eight-hour day land perhaps soon
to be six-hour day. which we have
won through free trade unions.
In communist dominated coun-
tries free trade unions cannot ex
list. The report states that workers
are being forced to work for con
secutive periods ranging from "a
to 30 hours and that in many cases
they are not paid for their over,
time.
Communist managements appar'
emily record the extra time as
hours BORROWED from rest periods,
work done in advance, makeup
work, or work done on contribu-
tory or gratuitous basis"
AT pneumatic tools plant, work
ers on emergency jobs worked five
days and nights in succession;
sometimes on night shifts they dis
pensed with their supper. In one
case, the transport department
called in workers on sick leave
and made them work 80 hours in
succession. Some of the Communist
party workers in the plant spoke
at meetings of the 'commendable
spirit of certain workers who stay
ed at their jobs for two days and
two nights consecutively.
The fatigue caused by overwork
has led to many accidents. In a
sheet mill, group leader, after
working strenuously for whole
day, was asked to do extra hours
at night. Weak from fatigue, he
slipped, hit high tension wire
and was electrocuted. At a lathe
factory many workers remained al
their jobs whole day and night
but finally fell unconscious when
trying to move heavy logs"
Now from Paris comes the report
that most French workers think
that in many respects their U. S
counterparts are the "happiest
workers in theworld view
shared even by members of Com
munist unions. French workers re
vealed in an inquiry their opinion
that the U. S. worker is better
paid, better organized and boasts
more comfort in his home.
Yes, we American workers have
many things to be thankful for b
we still don't like the habit Ger
tain people have of pointing /;
finger at us to keep themselves of
the spot.
For instance when farm income
dropped 81 billion Secretary of Ag
riculture Ezra Taft Benson tried IL
place the blame for the farmers
price squeeze on wage increases
won by workers.
This doesn't make sense because
today workers in meat packing
houses through increased produc
tivity have more than made up fol
the wage increases they received
The wage cost per pound of meat
in 1925 was 3.42 cents, while ir
1855 it was 3.41 cents.
Now take a look at the net pro
fits for the fiscal year of 1855 fol-
NINE of the country's largest meat
packing companies $24 millior
more than in 1854 and eight farm
equipment companies made ne
profits of a 1868 per cent increase
over 1854.
OF course, we realize it's much
easier for Benson to point the fin
ger at the worker than at corpora
ton high profits and the weakness
Of his own farm policy.
Ernest Borgnine, who won ar
Academy Award oscar" for hi!
sensitive and gentle portrayal of ;
butcher in Marty" has been made
an honorary member of Local 400
Amalgamated Meatcutters anC
Butcher Workmen.
A survey reports - In most spot.
of u. S. it requires at least $111.5(
per week to support an average
family of four at commonly &C
cepted medium standards of living
A get-well wish goes to Oscar
Creager who is still on our sicl
list.
,.,:alo l,,....o ~ /.