Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
April 17, 1934
The Daily Worker
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
What is this article about?
1934 article in AFL's American Federationist where organizers from across the US report that NRA codes are reducing real wages, raising living costs, and forcing workers into company unions, with specific examples from cities like Birmingham, Montgomery, and others.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
AFL Organizers Admit NRA Batters Down Real Wages
NEW YORK.-That a tremendous attack is being levelled at the workers' living standard, is admitted by correspondents of the A. F. of L. official organ, "American Federationist," in its April, 1934, issue.
From many parts of the country, A. F. of L. organizers, who work with and favor the N. R. A., send in the following revealing facts on how the N. R. A. is constantly driving wages down and forcing the workers into company unions:
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-"The minimum wage scales of the codes are being paid for skilled labor. The cost of living has so advanced that wage-earners' incomes have been lowered considerably."-Ike Robinton.
MONTGOMERY, Ala.-Efforts are being made to organize the workers at the Southeastern Manufacturing Co., where the pay is from $3.50 to $8 a week, and where they now have a company union."-C. W. Wallis.
HELENA, Ark.-"Skilled labor paid over $35 a week is classed as officials and are worked from 60 to 70 hours a week."-J. H. Gore.
DANVILLE, Ill.-"Incomes are decreasing due to increases in the cost of commodities."-Walter G. Steube.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.-"Employers insist on men joining the company union."-Wm. J. Stuhr.
ANDERSON, Ind.-"The General Motors Corporation controls here. . . Wages have been reduced by reducing hours, and working conditions are very bad."-C. T. MacPherson.
EVANSVILLE, Ind.-"The workers here have not gotten to first base in getting codes enforced. Evasions of every description have been used by the manufacturers, and the intent and purpose of the codes has been lost through manipulation both tangible and intangible. In no factory has a union been recognized excepting the company union."-F. A. Marynell.
KOKOMO, Ind.-"In a few instances wages are higher, but in the majority they have been chiseled down."-H. E. Vincent.
MUNCIE, Ind.-"Through coercion the hourly rate of wages has been lowered and in some places the work force is also being cut. Wage-earners' incomes are the minimum generally and that constitutes the maximum."-Max Matthews.
COFFEYVILLE, Kans.-"Wage-earners' incomes have been cut by steady increases in food prices."-A. B. Paul.
FARIBAULT, Minn.-"Wage-earners have no income, as what they get goes for food, fuel and clothing, and some have a hard time getting that."-James F. Mohan.
RED WING, Minn.-"We are watching costs of living, but it don't seem to do much good, as wages remain the same, with everything else on the increase."-Axel V. Anderson.
PLAINFIELD, N. J.-"With few exceptions wages have not been increased in proportion to increased prices."-Edward V. Wood.
SCHENECTADY, N. Y.-"Prices are gradually rising and there seems to be no way to get an increase in pay."-Fred A. Soellner.
HAMILTON, Ohio.-"We note price increases in practically all commodities, but wages have not been increased."-Stanley Ogg.
IRONTON, Ohio.-"Wages as low as $1.25 for a ten-hour day were paid by one of our prominent citizens."-W. C. Dimmick.
NEW YORK.-That a tremendous attack is being levelled at the workers' living standard, is admitted by correspondents of the A. F. of L. official organ, "American Federationist," in its April, 1934, issue.
From many parts of the country, A. F. of L. organizers, who work with and favor the N. R. A., send in the following revealing facts on how the N. R. A. is constantly driving wages down and forcing the workers into company unions:
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-"The minimum wage scales of the codes are being paid for skilled labor. The cost of living has so advanced that wage-earners' incomes have been lowered considerably."-Ike Robinton.
MONTGOMERY, Ala.-Efforts are being made to organize the workers at the Southeastern Manufacturing Co., where the pay is from $3.50 to $8 a week, and where they now have a company union."-C. W. Wallis.
HELENA, Ark.-"Skilled labor paid over $35 a week is classed as officials and are worked from 60 to 70 hours a week."-J. H. Gore.
DANVILLE, Ill.-"Incomes are decreasing due to increases in the cost of commodities."-Walter G. Steube.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.-"Employers insist on men joining the company union."-Wm. J. Stuhr.
ANDERSON, Ind.-"The General Motors Corporation controls here. . . Wages have been reduced by reducing hours, and working conditions are very bad."-C. T. MacPherson.
EVANSVILLE, Ind.-"The workers here have not gotten to first base in getting codes enforced. Evasions of every description have been used by the manufacturers, and the intent and purpose of the codes has been lost through manipulation both tangible and intangible. In no factory has a union been recognized excepting the company union."-F. A. Marynell.
KOKOMO, Ind.-"In a few instances wages are higher, but in the majority they have been chiseled down."-H. E. Vincent.
MUNCIE, Ind.-"Through coercion the hourly rate of wages has been lowered and in some places the work force is also being cut. Wage-earners' incomes are the minimum generally and that constitutes the maximum."-Max Matthews.
COFFEYVILLE, Kans.-"Wage-earners' incomes have been cut by steady increases in food prices."-A. B. Paul.
FARIBAULT, Minn.-"Wage-earners have no income, as what they get goes for food, fuel and clothing, and some have a hard time getting that."-James F. Mohan.
RED WING, Minn.-"We are watching costs of living, but it don't seem to do much good, as wages remain the same, with everything else on the increase."-Axel V. Anderson.
PLAINFIELD, N. J.-"With few exceptions wages have not been increased in proportion to increased prices."-Edward V. Wood.
SCHENECTADY, N. Y.-"Prices are gradually rising and there seems to be no way to get an increase in pay."-Fred A. Soellner.
HAMILTON, Ohio.-"We note price increases in practically all commodities, but wages have not been increased."-Stanley Ogg.
IRONTON, Ohio.-"Wages as low as $1.25 for a ten-hour day were paid by one of our prominent citizens."-W. C. Dimmick.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Nra
Afl
Wages
Labor Organizers
Company Unions
Codes
Depression Era
Economic Hardship
What entities or persons were involved?
Ike Robinton
C. W. Wallis
J. H. Gore
Walter G. Steube
Wm. J. Stuhr
C. T. Macpherson
F. A. Marynell
H. E. Vincent
Max Matthews
A. B. Paul
James F. Mohan
Axel V. Anderson
Edward V. Wood
Fred A. Soellner
Stanley Ogg
W. C. Dimmick
Where did it happen?
Various Cities In The United States (E.G., Birmingham Ala., Montgomery Ala., Helena Ark., Danville Ill., East St. Louis Ill., Anderson Ind., Evansville Ind., Kokomo Ind., Muncie Ind., Coffeyville Kans., Faribault Minn., Red Wing Minn., Plainfield N.J., Schenectady N.Y., Hamilton Ohio, Ironton Ohio)
Story Details
Key Persons
Ike Robinton
C. W. Wallis
J. H. Gore
Walter G. Steube
Wm. J. Stuhr
C. T. Macpherson
F. A. Marynell
H. E. Vincent
Max Matthews
A. B. Paul
James F. Mohan
Axel V. Anderson
Edward V. Wood
Fred A. Soellner
Stanley Ogg
W. C. Dimmick
Location
Various Cities In The United States (E.G., Birmingham Ala., Montgomery Ala., Helena Ark., Danville Ill., East St. Louis Ill., Anderson Ind., Evansville Ind., Kokomo Ind., Muncie Ind., Coffeyville Kans., Faribault Minn., Red Wing Minn., Plainfield N.J., Schenectady N.Y., Hamilton Ohio, Ironton Ohio)
Event Date
April 1934
Story Details
AFL organizers report from multiple US locations that NRA codes result in lower real wages due to rising living costs, wage reductions, long hours, and coercion into company unions, undermining independent labor organization.