Full text of Earnings in Ship Construction Yards, Fall of 1942 : Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 752

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Frances Perkins, Secretary
B U R E A U OF L A B O R STATISTICS
Isador Lubin, Com m issioner (on leave)
A . F. Hinrichs, A ctin g Com m issioner

Earnings in Ship Construction Yards,
Fall o f 1942
Prepared in the
DIVISION OF WAGE ANALYSIS
Robert J. Myers, Chief

Bulletin 7\lo.

752

(Reprinted from the Monthly Labor Review
August 1943]

U N ITED STATES
G O V E R N M E N T P R IN T IN G OFFICE
W ASH IN G TON : 1943

F or sale b y the Superintendent o f Docum ents, U . S. G overnm ent Printing Office
W ashington, D . C.
Price 10 cents




LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

U n it e d St a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o p L a b o r ,
B u r e a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s ,

Washington, D. C., August 19, 1943.
T h e Se c r e ta r y of L a b o r :

I have the honor to transmit herewith a report 011 earnings in ship-construction
yards in the fall of 1942. This report was prepared by Willis C. Quant under the
direction of Victor S. Baril, in the Bureau’s Division of Wage Analysis, Robert J.
Myers, Chief.
A. F. H i n r i c h s , Acting Commissioner.
H o n . F r a n c e s P e r k in s ,

Secretary of Labor.

CONTENTS

P age

Summary__________________________ ________________________ _________ _____
Scope and method of survey______________________________________________
Definition of regions_____ - _________________________ _______________ _______
Labor force________________________________________________________________
Wage-stabilization program_______________________________________________
Hourly earnings, fall of 1942__ :___________________________________________
Atlantic Coast________________________________________________________
Gulf Coast_________________ __________________________________________
Pacific Coast-_____ ___ ___________________________ _____________________
Great Lakes region___________________________________________________
Inland region_________________________________________________________
Interregional comparisons_________________________________________________
Application of stabilization program___ ___________________________________
Earnings trend between spring and fall, 1942______________________________

ii




1
2
3
4
5
6
11
12
13
14
15
16
20
21

Bulletin

7\[o.

752 of the

United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
Reprinted without change from the M

onthly

L a b o r R e v i e w , August 1943]

Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards, Fall of 1942
Summary
THE level of earnings of shipbuilding workers, partly because of the
nature of shipbuilding employment, is among the highest found in
x\merican industry. In November 1942, first-shift workers in private
yards engaged wholly or primarily in new ship construction had
average hourly earnings of $1,044, exclusive of premium pay for
overtime. Within the industry, the highest level of earnings, $1,135,
was found on the Pacific Coast, the next highest, $1,048, on the
Atlantic Coast, and the lowest, 90.7 cents on the Gulf Coast. The
averages for the Great Lakes and Inland regions were but 2 cents
apart, 99.4 and 97.4 cents, respectively.
Straight-time hourly earnings, on the basis of data from identical
yards, increased by an average of 11 cents between the spring and fall
of 1942. Most of this increase was due to the wage adjustments made
in the four wage-stabilization agreements concluded at the National
Shipbuilding Conference in May 1942. In addition to establishing a
uniform minimum rate of $1.20 for first-class skilled mechanics in all
four regions, thereby eliminating the 5-cent differential formerly
existing in the Gulf region, the conference also granted a general
increase of 8 cents an hour to all other workers in the Atlantic, Great
Lakes, and Pacific regions, together with increases in the Gulf Coast
region ranging from 9 cents an hour for workers with rates up to 69.5
cents an hour to 13 cents an hour for workers with rates of $1.07 an
hour and over. These increases became effective between April 1
and August 1 in the various regions. The conference also deleted
from the original zone agreements the provision for adjusting wages in
accordance with changes in cost of living. Provision was also made
for periodic wage reviews, the first of which was to be made about
June 1, 1943. Similar reviews are to be made annually thereafter.
Increases in earnings in identical yards over and above those pro­
vided for in the stabilization agreements may be attributed largely to
the upgrading of workers, and in part to the acceptance of the stabili­
zation program by a greater number of yards.
A sharp increase of more than 16 cents in average hourly earnings
between the spring and fall of 1942 in identical yards in the Inland
region, which is not subject to the wage-stabilization program, was
due largely to general advances in wage rates in this region to levels
broadly comparable with those found in the stabilized areas.
1



2

Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

Scope and Method of Survey
The present comprehensive study of shipbuilding wages represents
the continuation of a series of such studies inaugurated by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics in 1936.2 The last detailed study of the industry
was made during the spring of 1942, shortly before the National
Shipbuilding Conference in May of that year, which resulted in broad
wagje adjustments in the industry. The present survey was made
during the fall of 1942 and reflects, therefore, the wage changes pro­
vided for under the stabilization agreements which went into effect
during the summer of 1942. This study was designed to provide
basic data for the appraisal of these wage changes, and to serve the
needs of governmental agencies charged with the responsibility of
developing the shipbuilding program and stabilizing wages in the
industry.
The current survey was limited to privately operated shipyards
engaged wholly or primarily in the construction of new vessels of 5
gross tons and over. Yards engaged in the construction of smaller
vessels, commonly referred to as boats, and ship-repair yards were
excluded from the survey. Some construction yards also do repair
work and boat building. Data relating to such activities, however,
were excluded, whenever possible, from the scope of the present survey.
The wage data presented in this report are based on pay-roll in­
formation for the pay period ending nearest November 15,1942. Full
utilization was made of the pay-roll data submitted semiannually to
the Secretary of Labor under the Copeland Act. These data were
very carefully analyzed and, where necessary, supplemented by
information obtained at the yards by experienced representatives of
the Bureau. The field investigations were concerned very largely
with the clarifying of occupational classifications and class designa­
tions within occupations, indicating first-sTift workers, and, in the
case of 3 1 1
*
'*
tems, prorating incentive
earnings
reflected in the average
straight-t:
„
^
s covered in the survey.
Altogether 86 privately operated shipyards engaged wholly or pri­
marily in the construction of new ships (5 gross tons and over) were
surveyed. In the selection of these yards full consideration was given
to such factors as type and size of yard, type of craft under construction,
geographical location, and corporate affiliation. The sample is be­
lieved to be fully representative of private ship-construction yards.
The wage data presented in this report relate only to first (dav)
shift workers.8 The data for such workers reveal accurately the basic
occupational and wage structure of the industry, since practically all
occupations are fully represented on the first shift. Furthermore,
data for first-shift workers are not distorted by shift differentials.
Extra earnings from premium pay for overtime were also eliminated.
* Earnings and Hours in Private Shipyards, 1936 and 1937 (Serial N o. R . 788); Earnings and Hours in
United States N avy Yards, 1936 (Serial No. R . 809); Earnings and Hours in Private Shipyards and N avy
Yards, 1936 and 1937 (Serial N o. R . 845); and Hourly Earnings in Private Shipyards, 1942 (Bulletin No.
727). The results of the semiannual surveys made b y the Bureau between M a y 1937 and M a y 1941 for the
use of the United States Maritime Commission have not been published.
* In a few instances, workers found in important occupations occurring only on the second or third shifts
were included in the study. In such cases, however, extra earnings resulting from shift-differential pay­
ments were eliminated so that the figures presented for thes* workers are average straight-time hourly
first- or day-shift earnings.




Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

3

As a result, the average earnings presented in this report are straighttime hourly earnings exclusive of premium overtime and shift-differential earnings.
No attempt was made to cover all occupations found in the ship­
building industry. Two basic factors were considered in selecting
occupations for coverage: (1) The importance of an occupation in
terms of number of workers employed, and (2) the strategic importance
of an occupation in the occupational structure. The occupational
coverage actually obtained is comprehensive in scope, as approximately
90 percent of all first-shift workers in the yards surveyed were em­
ployed in the 60 occupations for which data are presented in this
report.

Definition of Regions
Shipyards must of necessity be situated either on the coast or
along some navigable stream or body of water, because of launching
and delivery requirements. The industry today is widely scattered
along the three coasts, the Great Lakes, and the inland waterways of
the country. Any analysis of wages in as widely scattered an industry
as shipbuilding must necessarily be made on a regional rather than an
industry-wide basis. For purposes of this study, the regions used are
those of the shipbuilding wage-stabilization program, namely, the
Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific Coasts, and the Great Lakes. The
remainder of the country, where shipyards do not come within the
scope of the stabilization program, will be referred to as the “ Inland”
region.
The areas covered by the four regions, as defined under the stabili­
zation program, are—
Atlantic Coast: The tidewater ports of the eastern part of the United States
from the eastern tip of Maine to, but not including, the northern border of Florida;
and also, specifically, the Hudson River inland, to and including the industrial
area of Albany, New York, and the Delaware River inland, to and including the
industrial areas of Philadelphia, Pa., and Camden, N. J.; the Chesapeake Bay; and
the James River inland to and including Richmond, Va.
Gulf Coast : The tidewater ports of the eastern coast of Florida and of the
Gulf of Mexico, bounded on the west by the Rio Grande, and also, specifically,
the Mississippi River inland, to and including the industrial area of New Orleans,
including Lake Pontchartrain; the Houston Ship Channel inland, to and including
the industrial area of Houston; and the ship channels of the Neches and Sabine
Rivers.
Pacific Coast: The tidewater ports of the western part of the United States
from the Mexican border to the Canadian border, and also, specifically, the
Sacramento River inland, to and including Sacramento, Calif.; the San
Joaquin River, tributary to the Sacramento River, inland to and including
Stockton, Calif.; the Columbia River inland, to and including the industrial
areas of Portland, Oreg., and Vancouver, Wash.; and the Willamette River,
tributary to the Columbia River, inland to and including the industrial area
of Portland, Oreg.; and the Puget Sound area.
Great Lakes: The industrial areas of the American lake ports on Lake Superior,
Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario; and the connecting
waters between the Great Lakes.

The fifth region, referred to in this report as the “ Inland” region,
includes yards situated primarily on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers
and their tributaries, excluding those in Southern Louisiana and
Mississippi. These yards, as previously stated, are not covered by
the wage-stabilization program.




4

Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

Labor Force
The building of ships requires a high degree of skill. In many
occupations the work is both arduous and hazardous. Although the la­
bor force in a shipyard still consists mainly of male workers, as a result
of the tremendous expansion of the industry and the serious manpower
shortage, women have been hired in increasing numbers. They are
now found in many capacities, even as welders, an occupation which
until recently was limited to men. Even at the present time, however,
women constitute only a small proportion of all shipyard workers.
When performing the same work as men, they receive equal pay, and
therefore no attempt was made in this report to present data separately
for men and women.
Craftsmen account for over one-half of the labor force in all regions
except the Gulf Coast. In the latter region, craftsmen represent only
about two-fifths of all workers. Classes or gradations of workers are
generally found within each craft, ranging from handymen up to firstclass workers and specialists. In this report, specialists are combined
with first-class workers. The number of classes below the first class
varies with yards and regions. On the West Coast, only one broad group
is found. Within this group or class, which is known as the “ trainee”
group, and which combines all of the classes below first class found
in other regions, workers advance within a specified period of time
(from 2 to 6 months) to first class. In other regions, workers start as
handymen and advance successively through the third and second
class up to the first class; the rate of advance varies widely, depending
largely on the proficiency of the worker and openings in the higher
classes.
The separate figures for first-class workers (including specialists)
and other classes of craftsmen reveal rather wide variations by region.
In the fall of 1942, the greatest proportion of first-class workers
(48.2 percent) was found on the Pacific Coast, while the lowest (15.4
percent) was found in the Atlantic Coast yards (table 1). The Great
Lakes region ranked third, 31.4 percent of all workers being designated
as first class. The Gulf Coast and Inland regions each had about
the same proportion of first-class workers, 23.6 and 23.3 percent,
respectively. Because of wide variations between regions and even
within regions in the number of classes of craftsmen below first class,
it is not possible to refine this group in order to make regional com­
parisons. It may be noted, however, that the proportion of craftsmen
other than first class in the total labor force varied from 10.6 percent
on the Pacific Coast to 41.4 percent on the Atlantic Coast.
Craftsmen’s helpers form a very substantial proportion of the work­
ers in any shipyard. The proportion does not vary greatly among
regions, ranging from a low of 17.6 percent in the Atlantic Coast yards
to a high of 25.5 percent in the Great Lakes area.
The greatest proportion of apprentices and learners, 13.8 percent,
was found in the Gulf Coast area. This compares with 8.1 percent
on the Atlantic Coast, 5.8 percent on the Great Lakes, 2.8 percent in
the Inland region, and 0.6 percent on the Pacific Coast.
Another important occupation from the standpoint of number of
workers is that of laborers. The Gulf and Inland regions had a
substantially higher proportion of such workers than the other three
regions.



Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

5

T able 1,— Percent of Day-Shift Workers in Ship-Construction Yards, by Class of Worker
and Region, Spring and Fall of 1942
Atlantic Coast
Class of worker

Gulf Coast

Pacific Coast

Great Lakes

Inland
Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Craftsmen, first class............... 15.4
Craftsmen, other classes......... 41.4
Helpers....................................... 17.6
7.6
Laborers............. ......................
8.1
Apprentices and learners___
Supervisors................................ 5.9
Other w ork ers........................
4.0

15.2
88.5
16.3
8.2
10.8
5.3
5.7

23.6
18.0
21.0
14.4
13.8
5.5
3.7

24.6
17.4
24.0
13.9
12.7
4.2
3.2

48.2
10.6
20.4
4.6
.6
11.6
4.0

52.1
5.5
22.7
5.8
.4
7.3
6.2

31.4
21.1
25.5
4.8
5.8
7.0
4.4

27.1
28.9
23.0
6.5
3.7
4.7
6.1

23.3
30.8
17.7
14.2
2.8
7.5
3.7

20.9
32.5
16.7
18.9
3.4
3.1
4.5

100.0 100.0

100.0

All workers studied___ 100.0

100.0. 100.0

100.0 100.0

100.0 100.0

The constitution of the labor force in private ship-construction
yards does not appear to have changed materially between the spring
and fall of 1942, as an examination of table 1 indicates. It should be
mentioned, however, that the yard coverage in the fall survey was
somewhat broader than that in the spring survey. This difference
in coverage may tend to obscure some of the changes which actually
did take place. On the basis of the data in table 1, the most out­
standing change occurred in the Great Lakes region, where the
number of craftsmen other than first class decreased from 28.9 per­
cent in the spring to 21.1 percent in the fall of 1942. Part of this
decline is accounted for by the increase in the proportion of first-class
craftsmen from 27.1 to 31.4 percent. Other significant changes were
a decline of about 4 percentage points in the proportion of first-class
workers on the Pacific Coast and general increases in the relative
number of supervisory workers (foremen, assistant foremen, quartermen, and leaders) in each of the five regions.

Wage-Stabilization Program
A wage-stabilization program in the shipbuilding industry was
sponsored early in 1941 by the Shipbuilding Stabilization Committee
of the National Defense Advisory Commission, to secure greater
uniformity in rates of pay and to provide for a systematic and periodic
review of general wage levels in the industry. Four agreements 4
were voluntarily entered into by representatives of both the ship­
builders and the labor organizations and were approved by the Navy,
the Maritime Commission, a.nd the Office of Production Management.
The agreements became effective on the following dates: West Coast,
April 1; Great Lakes, June 2 ; Atlantic Coast, June 23; and Gulf
Coast, August 1, 1941.
Under the 1941 wage-stabilization agreements, a minimum wage
was set for “ first-class skilled mechanics.”6 This rate was set at $1.12
in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Great Lakes regions and at $1.07 in the
Gulf Coast region. The determination of the occupations to be
included in the “ first-class skilled mechanic” group and the rates to
be paid to other workers were left to local bargaining between manage­
ment and labor. The agreements also made provision for the stand­
* For further detail on these agreements, see M onthly Labor Review* issues of M ay 1941 (p.1162) and
October 1941 (p. 880).
• The Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and the Oreat Lakes agreements designated the workers entitled to the
minimum rate as “ first-class skilled mechanics,” but in the Pacific Coast agreement, they were referred to
as “ skilled mechan ics.” In actual practice, however, the minimum in each of the regions has been applied
to “ first-class skilled mechanics" only.




6

Earnings in Ship’•Construction Yards

ardization of shifts, overtime pay, shift differentials, prohibition
against strikes and lockouts, and periodic wage adjustments based on
increases in cost of living. The first wage adjustment was to take
place at the end of the first year of the respective agreements.
The effective dates of the wage agreements, it will be recalled, varied
from April 1 to August 1. Since living costs mounted rapidly and
unevenly in the months following the effective dates of the agreements,
there was danger that the wage structure of the industry would be
upset if cost-of-living adjustments were made at different times for
each region. Consequently, a National Shipbuilding Conference,
composed of representatives of the War Production Board, the Navy
Department, the Maritime Commission, labor, and management, was
held in May 1942 to consider methods of adjusting wages in all four
regions. This conference, acting on an appeal from the President,
agreed to delete from the zone agreements the provision for adjusting
wages in proportion to changes in the cost of living. Instead, specific
wage increases, which were generally lower than the workers would
have obtained by application of the cost-of-living formula, were
agreed upon. The new minimum for “ first-class skilled mechanics”
was set at $1.20 for each of the four regions, thus eliminating the differ­
ential that had existed for the Gulf Coast region under the terms of the
first agreements. For other than first-class skilled mechanics, the
amended agreements provided for an increase of 8 cents an hour
except on the Gulf Coast where a sliding scale was effected. This
scale provided for increases ranging from 9 cents an hour for workers
with rates up to 69.5 cents to 13 cents an hour for workers with rates
of $1.07 and above. Parties to the conference agreed that all wage
increases in each of the regions were to be paid in United States Sav­
ings Bonds. Methods of applying this provision were left to local
bargaining between labor and management.
The new agreements further provided for elimination of double­
time rates for Saturday and Sunday work as such, and prescribed
instead for the payment of time and a half for the sixth consecutive
day and double time for the seventh consecutive day in a worker’s
regularly established week. The agreements also provided for the
payment of time and a half for all work on holidays recognized by
local agreements and authorized the acceptance of extra pay in lieu of
vacations.
The amended agreements became effective in each of the regions at
the expiration of the first year of the original agreement and are to
remain in effect for the duration of the war. Periodic wage reviews
were provided for, with the first scheduled to be made about June 1,
1943. Annual* reviews are to be made thereafter.

,

Hourly Earnings Fall of 1942
The hourly straight-time earnings of shipbuilding workers on the
first shift averaged $1,044 in November 1942. The highest earnings
in any of the five regions were found on the Pacific Coast, where the
workers averaged $1,135 an hour. Gulf Coast shipyards reported
the lowest earnings, the average being 90.7 cents an hour. The
averages in the remaining regions were $1,048 in the Atlantic Coast
area, 99.4 cents in the Great Lakes area, and 97,4 cents in the Inland
area. Theso averages indicate the existence of substantially different
wage or employment structures in the different areas.



Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards
T able 2.— Average Hourly Straight-Time Earnings of Day-Shift Ship-Construction
Workers, by Region, Occupation, and Class, Spring and Fall of 1942
Atlantic Coast
Occupation and class

Gulf Coast

Pacific Coast

Great Lakes

Inland
Fall
1942

Spring
1942

A ll occupations studied.......... $1,048 $0,966 $0,907 $0,776 $1,135 $1,034 $0,994 $0.861 $0,974

$0,795

Fall Spring
1942
1942

FaU
1942

Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Average hourly straight-time earnings1

Anglesmiths..............................
First class...........................
Other classes.....................
Anglesmiths' helpers...............
Apprentices...............................
B la ck sm ith s...........................
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Blacksmiths' helpers...............
Boilermakers............................
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Boilermakers’ helpers............ .
Bolters, hand *.........................
First class...........................
Other classes...................
Burners, acetylene (includ­
ing gas)...................................
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Burners' helpers, acetylene
(including gas)......................
Carpenters (shipwrights).......
First class................ .........
Other classes......................
Carpenters’ helpers.......... .
Chippers and caulkers (in­
cluding foundry chippers).
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Coppersmiths...........................
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Coppersmiths’ helpers.......... .
Crane operators (ail types).. .
First class......................... .
Other classes......................
Draftsmen
(senior
and
junior)............................. .......
Drillers (including reamers
and countersinkers).............
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Electricians..............................
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Electricians’ helpers................
Erectors.................. ..................
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Erectors’ helpers......................
Foremen (including assistant
foremen and quartermen). _
Furnacemen (plate and forge
shops)......................................
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Handymen, not elsewhere
classified.................................
Helpers, net elsewhere clas­
sified.......................................
Joiners (including woodw ork in g-m a ch in e op era ­
tors).........................................
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Joiners’ helpers. ......................
Laborers (excluding tank
cleaners and janitors)_____

1.165
1.428
1.074
.968
.824
1.141
1.222
1.073
.880
1.124
1.360
1.096
.929
.986
1.063
.918

1.142
1.296
.952
.724
.691
1.086
1.153
1.034
.849
1.047
1.239
1.012
.757
1.257
1.290
1.208

1.123
1.222
1.077

1.064

1.035
1.142
.963
.802
1.219
1.396
1.132
1.229
1.488
1.085
.853
1.154
1.193
1.119




.724
1.051
1.061
(*)
.617
.974
1.075
.862
.612
* .950
.950

1.218
1.360
1.176
1.217
1.422
1.047
.766
1.056
1.137
.942

1.111

1.121

1.200

1.194
.977
.928

(2)
(*)
.795
.983

.646
.960

.820
.660

(2)

1.100 1.012
1.121

1.179

1.200

1.116
1.123

1.093
1.162
1.047

1.093
1.198
1.004

(2)

.949
1.063
.783
.615

.950
1.197
1.203
1.042
.943

(4)
1.121

.797
1.094
1.186
.955
.811

.879
1.074
1.162
.836
.812

(<)
.926
1.004
.817
.702

.948
1.070
.826
.980

1.180
1.204
1.089
1.195

1.100 1.121
1.123 1.180
1.001 1.025

1.116
1.186
1.013

.901
.925

.624
1.068
1.068

8

1.323

1.163

1. I l l
1.242
.922
1.047
1.224
.987
.744
1.148
.961
.684

1.067
1.070
(*)
1.154
1.198
.933
.682
1.081
1.124
.994
.697

1.640

1.503

1.428

1.234

1.072
1.348
1.023

1.086
1.133
1.039

00

.943
1.150
.685

(*)

.717
1.132
1.151
(*)
.873

1.284

(2)
.835
.916
.919
(’ )

1.382

1.011

1.000

.954
<2)
.939
(*)
.672
1.147
1.193
1.050
.871
1.150

.866

(0

.948
.731

1.200

1.267
1.267

1.037

.978
1.070
.843

1. lfil
1.012
(<)
.988
1.100

1.273
1.331
1.194
1.080
1.019
1.165
1.205
1.057
.967
1.173
1.070
.950
.955
.955

1.249
1.354
1.176
1.107
1.266
1.064
.853
1.024
1.198
.965
.772

.711

i.‘ oi2
1.124
.780
.597

.861

.813

.733

.740

1.129
1.301
1.032
.825

1.007
1.133
.957
.725

1.046
1.149
1.003
.789

.933
1.041
.805
.550

.718

.637

.611

.499

See footnotes at end of table.
548489°—43----- 2

1.050
1.050

1.067

1.200
00

.972
1.286
1.290
1.091
1.321
1.079
1.080
1.050
1.191
1.206
1.079
.955
1.147
1.206
1.116
.950
1.537

.872
.872

1.001

1.128
.941
.870

1.091
1.167
.992
.870
1.191
1.191

8

1.183
1.183

(2)

1.161
1.224
1.090

1.116
1.177
1.058

(2)

1.133
1.140
1.007
.871

.844

.957
.925

1.301

1.116

1.000
1.000

.854

(2)

.932
1.126
1.180
1.026
.796
.976

1.013
1.177
.984
.819
.966
.931

1.122

.913
1.015
.876

.942
1.421

1.372

1.176

1.282
.829
.850
(*)

1.232
1.232

8
.995

(*)

.941

1.200
1.201
(J)

.950

.718

.709

1.123
1.123

1.124
1.183
1.014
.685

1.033
1.091
.875
.670

.797

.707

.575

(J)

.786

.743

.575

8

Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

T able 2.— Average Hourly Straight-Time Earnings of Day-Shift Ship-Construction
Workers, by Region, Occupation, and Class, Spring and Fall of 1942— Con.
Atlantic Coast

Gulf Coast

Occupation and class
Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Pacific Coast
Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Great Lakes
Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Inland
Fall
1942

Spring
1942

$1.138
1.261
.891
1.279
.697
1.224
1.303
(2)
1.052
1.186
.992

$0,984
1.162
.895
.993
.645
1.123
1.175
(2)
.997
1.073
.921

.824

.601

i. 055
1.128
.980

.816
.810
.819

1.077
1.171
.999

.939
.989
.914

.807
1.110
1.228
1.035

.651
.916
.858
.991

Average hourly straight-time earnings1

i

$.930
Layers-out............................... . $1,219 $1.128 !$1.129 $1.014 $1.326 $1.235
(2)
First class........................... 1.400 1 1.278 1.192 1.079 1.328 1.235
(2)
(2)
(»)
996 1.014
.866
1.125
Other classes ___ _. ,
(2)
(2)
Leaders...................................... 1.357 1.307 1.322 1.137 1.335 1.263 $1.264 1.173
.891
.790
.740
.500
.950
.906
.700
Learners.....................................
.980
Loftsmen................................... 1.218 1.200 1.153 1.079 1.313 i. 229" 1.120
First class........................... 1.402 1.348 1.406 1.253 1.325 1.254 1.197 1.052
.901
.978 1.090 1.049
Other classes...................... 1.086 1.084 1.104
(2)
.987 1.187 1.121 1.109
.968
Machinists, shop and outside. 1.138 1.060 1.123
First class........................... 1.291 1.235 1.200 1.056 1.203 1.128 1.175 1.089
.859 1.081 1.014 1.032
.987
.898
Other classes...................... 1.076
.978
Machinists’ helpers, shop
.840
.733
.695
.620
.951
.868
.791
.719
and outside............................
1.145
Molders, foundry____ ______ 1.308 1,136 1.200
(2)
1.145
1.555 1 265 1.200
First class.......................
(2)
Other classes............. ......... 1.145 1 048
Painters, brush and spray___ 1.176 1.074 1.143
.837 1.119 1.123 1.070
.762
.984
First class........... ............... 1.293 1.204 1.192 1.017 1.202 1.123 1.142
.674 1.025
.870
.970
Other classes...... ................ 1.085 1.012
.657
Patternmakers____ ____ ____ 1.409 1 318 1.410
1.327 i. 489" 1.452 1.317
(2)
First class.......................... 1.423 1 327 1.410
1.327 1.489 1.469 1.317
(2)
Other classes........... .......... 1.358 1 297
(2)
(l)
Pipe fitters(including plum b­
.983 1.183 1.118 1.119 1.066
ers)........ —.............................. 1.092 1.050 1.112
First class.......................... 1.251 1.201 1.198 1.066 1.200 1.122 1.168 1.124
Other classes..................... 1.040
.999
.998
.868 1.082
.973
.980
.917
Pipe fitters’ helpers (includ­
.864
.754
.702
.615
ing plumbers’ helpers)------.949
.870
.798
.687
Plate-shop machine operators. 1.108 1.044 1.077
.915 1.149 1.061 1.068
.885
First class.................. ......... 1.363 1.160 1.177 1.056 1.206 1.118
.870
(2)
Other classes. .................. . 1.045 1.005 1.009
.974 1.055
.788 1.094
.900
Plate-shop machine opera­
.867
.754
.634
.950
.877
.834
tors" helpers...........................
.713
.640
.950 1.130 1.053
.860
Regulators
_______ _______ 1. 062 1.029
(2)
.950 1.130 1.053
.860
First class_______________ 1.169 1.148
(2)
.935
Other classes...... ................ .973
Riggers, ship________________ 1.138 1.049 1.119
.975 1.177 i. I 30
.947
.943
First c l a s s ..____________ 1.224 1.161 1.195 1.067 1.200 1.130 1.016
.943
Other classes____________ 1.099 1.002 1.011
.830
.910 1.122
.901
.882
Riggers, yard and crane-------.736
.839 1.109 ’ i."065" .967
.794
First class........................... 1.025
.978 1.080
.997 1.118 1.065 1 075
.796
.844
.858
Other classes......................
.713
.798 1.074
.900
.788
.941
.973
.886
1.080 1.000
.780
R ivet heaters___ ____ ______ 1.021
(2)
Rivet holders-on______ _____ 1.244 1.196
.893
.660 1.080 1.006 1.061
.920
.909
.896
.764
R ivet passers..................... ....... .833
.653
.963
(2)
Riveters____________________ 1.441 1.348 1.305 1*056" 1.197 1.122 1.205 1.115
First class....................... . 1.768 1.498 1.317 1.070 1.211 1.122 1.227 1.115
Other classes. ............. ....... 1.267 1.261
1.087
(2)
Sheet-metal workers (includ­
ing tinsmiths)........................ 1.146 1.077 1.121
.956 1.194 1.080 1.163
.914
First class........................... 1.385 1.302 1.199 1.038 1.204 1.129 1.198
.935
Other classes____ _______ 1.084 1.013 1.009
.850 1.075
.993 1.041
.893
Sheet-metal workers' helpers . .882
.779
.671
.956
.872
.620
.811
.690
Ship fitters................................ 1.100 1.015 1.079
.947 1.172 1.090 1.097
.945
First c la s s ......................... 1.255 1.169 1.203 1.061 1.203 1.121 1.177 1.110
1.076
Other classes...... ........ .
.834 1.091 1.002 1.006
.988 1.008
.838
Ship fitters’ helpers.................
.682
.848
.743
.587
.960
.870
.799
.683
Stage builders........... ............... .987
.877
1.080 1.000
.886
Tank cleaners....... .................
.673
.850
.930
Tool and die makers................ 1.181 1.105
1.174
(2)
(2)
First class........................... 1.371 1.255
1.195
(2)
(2)
(2)
(*)
Other classes...................... 1.010 1.030
Tracers....................................... .754
.691
.837
.902
.831
.759
.737
(2)
W atchmen and guards............ .760
.665
.660
.901
.507
.808
.767
.561
Welders, acetylene and elec­
tric........................................... 1.231 1.149 1.106
.969 1.165 1.122 1.093
.983
First class........................... 1.516 1.426 1.260 1.061 1.200 1.127 1.184 1.088
Other classes...................... 1.172 1.079
.988
.814 1.071 1.020
.889
.898
Welders’ helpers, acetylene
and electric............................
.827 1 .713 1 .748
.625
.967
.869
.777
.668

(2)

.830

1.071
1.081
1.037




(a)
(2)
(2)
.750
.831
.668
(2)
(2)
(3)

(2)

1.022
1.225
.991
.848
1.028
1.189
.969
.742

1.016

(*)
.963
(*
)
.882

1.042
.834
.572

0

(a)

See footnotes at end of table.

.612

1.017
.713

<*)
.613

1.072
1.174
.987

.*74
1.038
.763

.782

(l)

Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

9

T able 2.— Average Hourly Straight-Time Earnings of Day-Shift Ship-Construction
Workers, by Region, Occupation,
Atlantic Coast
Occupation and class
Fall
1942

Spring
1942

erne/

Class, Spring and Fall of 1942— Con.

Gulf Coast
Fall
1942

Pacific Coast

Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Great Lakes
Fall Spring
1942
1942

Inland
Fall
1942

Spring
1942

100.0

100.0

100.0

.3
.3
.1
(5)
.3
.2
.3
(5)
.6
.1
.4
.6
.3
.3
.1
.3
.4
.7
.1
.2
.1
.1
.1
(5)
.2
.9 " T o *
.9
.7
2.3
(#)

.1
.1
(5)

.2
.1
.1

.5
.3
.2
.1
.3
1.5
1.0
.5
1.1

1.0
.6

Percent of workers
All occupations studied..........

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Anclesmiths..............................
First class...........................
Other classes____________
Anglesmiths’ helpers________
Apprentices...............................
Blacksmiths..............................
First class...........................
Other classes....................
Blacksmiths’ helpers...............
Bnilprmftkers
.......... ,
First class_______________
Other c l a s s e s ._________
Boilermakers’ helpers.............
Bolters, hand *..........................
First class......................... .
Other classes____________
Burners, acetylene (including
gas)...... ...................................
First class......................... .
Other classes........... .........
Burners’ helpers, acetylene
(including gas)_______ _____
Carpenters (shipwrights).......
First class....... ...................
Other classes......................
Carpenters’ helpers............ .
Cl ippers and caulkers (in­
cluding foundry chippers)..
First class.. . ...................
Other classes......................
C oppersm iths______________
First class...........................
Other classes............. .......
Coppersmiths’ helpers______
Crane operators (all typ es).. .
First class...........................
Other classes____________
Draftsmen (senior and junior)

.2
<*)
.2
.2
1.4
.3
.1
.2
.2
.6
.1
.5
.3
.3
.1
.2

.1
.1
(5)
1
2.7
.2
.1
.1
.3
.7
.1
6
.7
.5
.3
.2

.1
.1
(4)
.2
9.5
.2
.1
.1
.4
.3
.1
.2
.3
(5)
(5)
(5)

.1
.1
12.6
.3
.3
(»)
.2
.3
.2
.1
.7
.2
.2

.2
.1
.1
.2
.5
.1
.1
(5)
(5)
.7
.6
.1
2.0
.6
.6

.1
.4
.1
.1
(5)
.1
.3
.3
(5)
.6
2.4
2.4

2.1
.7
1.4

1.7
.7
1.0

3.0
1.3
1.7

2.0
1.2
.8

3.8
3.2
.6

3.5
3.3
.2

1.1
.4
.7

1.8
1.0
.8

2.0
.9
1.1

1.4
.2
1.2

.2
6.0
2.4
3.6
1.2

(«)
4.0
1.0
3.0
.8

.5
6.6
4.9
1.7
1.9

(4)
11.4
6.7
4.7
4.1

.2
5.2
5.0
.2
1.7

(«)
3.8
3.7
.1
1.5

.4
12.0
7.1
4.9
3.1

(*)
14.7
7.9
6.8
6.3

.2
4.4
3.2
1.2
.5

(<)
3.9
2.3
1.6
.5

2.2
.7
1.6
.3
.1
.2
.4
.8
.4
.4
1.2

2.0
.8
1.2
.4
.2
.2
.3
1.0
.6
.4
2.2

1.1
.6
.5
.1
.1
(5)
.2
.9
.9
(•)
.8

1.2
.6
.6
.1
(s)
.1
.1
.5
.5

2.6
2.0
.6
.2
.2
(«)
.2
.5
.5
(5)
.5

3.7
3.0
.7
.2
.1
.1
(•)
.9
.9

2.0
1.2
.8
.1
.1

1.8
1.1
.7
.1
.1

1.5
.5
1.0

.6
.3
.3
.9

2.3
1.4
.9
.1
.1
(#)
.2
.8
.4
.4
3.0

1.0
.4
.6
4.5
1.0
3.5
2.1
1.0
.3
.7
.2

.9
.5
.4
4.4
1.1
3.3
2.0
.8
.2

.6
.6
(5)
2.7
2.2
.5
2.1
.5
.3
.2
.1

(5)
(8)

1.1
1.1
(#)
4.3
3.8
.5
1.6
.4
.3
.1
.2

1.0
1.0
(5)
2.7
2.6
.1
.9

.6
(*)
.6
3.9
2.6
1.3
1.6
1.8
.3
1.5
2.5

.5
.2
.3
2.9
1.0
1.9
1.4
1.9
.2
1.7
2.9

3.2

2.5

1.3

1.1

3.1

1.2

3.9

2.3

.1
(*)
.1

.2
.1
.1

.3
.3

.1
(8)
.1

.3
.2
.1

.3

.3

.5

1.5
.7
.5
.2

D rillers

(including ream ers

and countersinkers)_______
First class______________
Other classes____________
Electricians...............................
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Electricians’ helpers................
Erectors_______ ____________
First class..........................
Other classes___________
Erectors’ helpers........ ..............
Foremen (including assistant
foremen and quartern e i)._
Furnacemen (plate and torge
shops).....................................
First class...........................
Other classes................. ..
Handymen, not elsewhere
classified.................................
Helpers, not elsewhere classi­
fied..........................................
Joiners
(including wood­
working-machine o p e r a ­
tors) ........................................
First class...........................
Other classes____________
Joiners’ helpers..................... .
Laborers (excluding tank
cleaners and janitors)...........

(5)
(«)

3.7
2.5
1.2
3.7

.2
.1
.1

(*)
(5)

(«)
(*)

.9

.8

.3

1.8

1.0

.3

(5)

1.4
.5
.9
.2

1.0
.5
1.1
.6

.5
.1

.9
.9
(*)
.2

1.2
1.2
(6)
.3

1.3
.9

(*>

1.3
.7
.6
.1

.2

.2

7.6

8.2

14.4

13.9

4.6

5.8

4.8

6.5

See footnotes at end of table.




.6

.2

1.2

100.0 ! 100.0

(«)
.9
.5

.4
.8

2.6

.4

2.2
1.1
.5
.2
.3

.4

.2
.7

1.4
.6
.8
2.0

2.7
.7
2.0
1.3

5.0

.9

(»)
(»)

.1
.1

.3

.4

.4

1.9

1.6

14.2

18.9

10

Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

T able 2.— Average Hourly Straight-Time Earnings of Day-Shijt Ship-Construction
Workers, by Region, Occupation, and Class, Spring and Fall oj 1942— Con.
Atlantic Coast

Gulf Coast

Pacific Coast

Great Lakes

Inland

Occupation and class
Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Spring
1942

Fall
1942

Spring
1942

0 .2
.2

0.5
.3

2.2
.7

(5)
2.4
3.6
.3

.2

1.5

2.5
2.3
.3

2.2

Percent of workers
Layers-out.................................
First class...........................
Other classes....................
Leaders......................................
Learners....................................
Loftsmen...................................
First class...........................
Other classes.....................
Machinists, shop and outside.
First class........... - ..............
Other classes.............. .......
Machinists’ helpers, shop
and outside................... ........
Molders, foundry___________
First class_______________
Other classes . ....................
Painters, brush and spray___
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Patternmakers_________ ____
First class______________
.....
Other classes.........
Pipefitters (includingplumb­
ers)................... ......................
First class-.................... ...|
Other classes____________
Pipe fitters’ helpers (includ­
ing plumbers’ helpers). ..
Plate-shop machine operators.
First class..........................
Other classes......................
Plate-shop machine opera­
tors’ helpers..........................
Regulators
___ ___________
First class...........................
Other classes____________
Riggers, s h i p ...... .....................
First class .......................
Other classes
...........
Riggers, yard and crane.........
First class...........................
Other classes......... ............
Rivet heaters...........................
Rivet holders-on____________
R ivet passers
__ _____
Riveters.......... ............... .........
First class______________
Other classes.... .......... .......
Sheet-metal workers (includ­
ing t i n s m i t h s ) ..................
First class...........................
Other classes________ . ... '
Sheet-metal workers’ helpers.
Ship fitters...............................
First cla ss.........................
Other classes.....................
Ship fitters’ helpers........... .
Stage builders
.
.....
Tank cleaners
Tool and die makers _______
First class______________
Other classes.....................
Tracers.......................................
Watchmen and guards............
Welders, acetylene and elec­
tric...........................................
First class...........................
Other classes......................
Welders’ helpers, acetylene
and electric............................

0.5

0.5.

.2

.2

0.7
.5

0.7
.5

.3
2.7
6.7
.4

.3

.2

.2

2.8
8.1

3.1
.1
.2

.2
.2

6.5
1.9
4.6
2.2
.2
.1
.1
2.6
1.1

1.5
.1
.1

(*>

0.4
.4
(5)
8.5

.5

4.2
4.3
.4

.2

.1

.3
7.9
2.4
5.5

.3
3.4

1.2

.6

2.6

1.6
.1
.1

2.1

2.4
(*)
(8)

1.7
1.4
.3
(B)
(*)

2.1
1.0
1.1

.3
.1
.2

3.1
1.0
2.1
.2
.1
.1

2.2
1.2

.1

.3
3.6
2.4

(4) (5)
(8)

.1
.2
.2

(*)
4.2
3.6

2.5
2.5
(8)
(»)
(»)

6.1
.6

.5
.1

3.8
3.5
.3
2.1

0.1
.1

(8)
3.1
5.2
.4
.3

.2
.1

.1
6.0

5.9

3.2

2.2

.2
.1
6.1

2.4
.9
.7
.2

6.7
3.4
3.3

2.8

3.7

1.9
4.2

4.9

1.9

2.6

3.3

2.5
1.4

2.8

3.0
1.4

2.4

(*)
(8)
2.8
2.8

1.1

.9
1.9

(*)
(5)

.5
.5
(8)

.8
.8

1.6

.8
1.6

3.4
.9
2.5

2.7
1.5

3.5

1.2

1.6
1.1

4.7
4.0
.7

3.4
3.3
.1

4.3
3.2
1.1

1.9
1.4
.5

5.2
2.3
2.9

2.7
.9
1.8

2.3
.4
.1
.3

2.5
.6
.2
.4

3.1
.2
.1
.1

3.9
.3
.1
.2

3.2
2.3
1.1
1.2

3.1
1.6
1.0
.6

3.0
.3
(5)
.3

1.4
.6
.3
.3

2.7
.6
.3
.3

.9
1.3
.7
.6

.2
.2
.1
.1
1.3
.4
.9
.6
.2
.4
.3
.3
.2
.4
.1
.3

1.2
.2
.1
.1
1.2
.4
.8
.8
.2
.6
.4
.4
.3
.5
.2
.3

.2

.2
.2
.2

.3
.9
.9

1.2
.7
.7

1.0
.1
.1

.6
.2
.2

.5

1.3

.6
.3
.3
1.7
.1
1.6
.3
.3
(#)
.3
.3
(5)

.6
.3
.3
1.8

.2
.2

.5
.3
.2
.8
.3
.5
.2
.2
.3
.6
.5
.1

.7
.7

1.4
(>)

1.7
1.2
.5
.7
.6
.1
.1
.1
.1
.2
.2
C)

2.7
.6
2.1
1.4
6.3
.9
5.4
4.2
.6
(5)
.1
(5)
.1
.1
1.3

3.0
.6
2.4
1.4
5.8
.9
4.9
2.4
.9

1.7
1.0
.7
1.5
3.9
1.4
2.5
5.6

.4
.2
.2
.2
3.6
1.8
1.8
6.1

.1
(*>
.1
.2
1.0

8.2
1.4
6.8
.5

4.7
1.2

2.7

(6) 4

2.0
2.0
.3
.4
(8)
.3
.3

1.0
.7
.3
.2
.3
.2
.7
.7

.9
.7
.2

.4
.2
.2
.7
3.1
1.2
1.9
3.9

1.1
.1
1.0
.5
8.8
2.4
6.4
4.9

.2
.1
.1
1.1
.5
.6
.1
.1
.1

.2
2.1

(*)
1.9

1.4
1.3
.8
1.3
.1
.5
1.8
.9
7.2
8.1
5.2
6.0
2.0
2.1
4.6 ! 10.1
1.2
2.1
1.4
.6
.1
(8j
.1
(8)
(#)
.i
.2
1.3
.9

7.1
1.4
5.7

7.6
3.3
4.3

4.0
2.5
1.5

11.8
8.6
3.2

12.2
11.6
.6

6.8
4.7
2.1

7.4
3.3
4.1

13.1
6.0
7.1

15.2
6.1
9.1

.2

3.0

2.6

1.5

1.5

1.7

1.0

1.4

.1

(*)

09

1 Excluding earnings resulting from extra pay for overtime work.
2 N um ber of workers too small to justify computation of averago.
* Includes a small number of machine bolters.
* Occupation not included in spring 1942 study.
» Less than a tenth of 1 percent.




0.4
.4

1.2
.9
.3
.7
3.0
1.6
1.4
5.3
.5

.3
2.0

.8
1.6

.3
2.6

.2
2.1

1.1
.2
.9
.2
■7.7
1.8
5.9
6.8
.1

.1
.1

Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

11

ATLANTIC COAST

The Atlantic Coast region, despite extensive expansion of the indus­
try in other parts of the country, continues to play a leading role in the
building of ships. At the time of the wage survey, a wide variety of
ships, ranging from the larger naval and commercial deep-sea vessels
to the smaller harbor craft, was being constructed in the yards in this
region. Yards in the Atlantic area vary greatly in size.
Atlantic Coast shipyards reported first-shift workers in each of the
60 occupational groups covered by the study. Although considerations
of national safety prevent disclosure of the number of workers in these
occupations, the relationship of the various occupations to the labor
pattern as a whole can be ascertained from the ratio of the number of
workers in each occupation to the total number of workers in the 60
occupations studied.
About nine-tenths (89.8 percent) of all the workers studied were
found in 28 of the 60 selected occupations, the major concentrations
being among acetylene and electric welders (8.2 percent), laborers
(7.6 percent), learners (6.7 percent), machinists (6.5 percent), ship
fitters (6.3 percent), and carpenters (6:0 percent). Three other occu­
pations—electricians, pipe fitters, and ship fitters' helpers—had between
4 and 6 percent of all workers.
Any discussion of occupational wage rates in the shipbuilding indus­
try should take into consideration the classes or gradations of workers
within crafts. As previously pointed out, each craft is divided into a
number of classes based on skill requirements. There is, however, no
uniformity among regions or even within regions in the classes found
within crafts. Only first-class workers and specialists are comparable
from yard to yard and between regions. The various classes below
first class were therefore combined into one broad group— “ other
classes.”
First-shift workers in the selected occupations in Atlantic Coast
yards, as table 2 shows, had hourly straight-time average earnings of
$1,048 in November 1942. Occupational averages ranged from 67.3
cents an hour for tank cleaners to $1,768 an hour for first-class
riveters.
Nearly one-fifth (19.6 percent) of the workers, most of whom were
first-class craftsmen, were in occupations in which earnings averaged
more than $1.20 an hour, and another two-fifths (39.1 percent) were in
occupations with average earnings of between $1.00 and $1.20 an hour.
The latter workers, for the most part, belonged to the “ other classes”
of craftsmen, i. e., from handymen up to but not including first-class
workers. Nearly a third of the workers were in occupations with
average earnings ranging from 75 cents to $1.00 an hour. Most of
these workers were helpers in the various crafts.
First-class craftsmen generally earned more than the $1.20 minimum
established for such workers under the 1942 stabilization agreement.
Because of special circumstances, earnings lower than $1.20 were found
for 5 “ first-class” groups of workers—erectors ($1,198), crane operators
($1,193), regulators ($1,169), carpenters ($1,142), and bolters ($1,063).
Regulators and bolters are not generally considered by Atlantic Coast
yards as “ first-class skilled mechanics.” The relatively low average for
carpenters is due to lower wages paid in a few small yards engaged in
wooden-boat building and employing a large number of such workers.



Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

12

These yards, as a rule, have not subscribed to the stabilization pro­
gram. In the larger yards, however, the rates paid to carpenters ap­
proach the minimum of $1.20 set forth in the zone agreement. The
occupation of crane operators as used in this report covers workers
operating a wide variety of cranes, not all of which command the $1.20
rate. Generally, $1.20 or more an hour was paid for operators of
cranes other than bridge cranes, while lower rates prevailed for opera­
tors of the bridge type. The payment of rates slightly below the mini­
mum to first-class erectors in a few yards caused the average for the
occupation to fall slightly short of $1.20.
The average earnings for craftsmen designated as “ other classes”
differed widely among crafts, largely because of variations in the'com­
position of these groups. There was little uniformity in the number
of second- and third-class workers and handymen reported by the
various yards.
Earnings of shipyard workers, in general, were also influenced to
some extent by size of yard and type of construction. Workers in the
larger yards averaged about 10 cents more per hour than those in the
smaller yards. The latter group includes a number of wooden-boat
building operations which, as stated, do not generally subscribe to the
stabilization program and generally have a lower wage level.
The occupational structure in these yards also differs materially from
that in yards building metal ships.
Incentive methods of pay are quite prevalent among Atlantic Coast
yards. More than a third (35.7 percent) of the workers surveyed par­
ticipated in incentive-payment plans and were thus able to increase
their basic rates of pay by about 19 percent above the base rate.
The net effect of incentive payments was to raise by almost 7
percent the average earnings of the workers in the region as a whole.
Some idea of the variations in earnings between yards may be ob­
tained from the following tabulation which presents the lowest and the
highest averages paid to first-class workers in 5 representative crafts.
The lowest rates were invariably found in small yards engaged in the
construction of wooden ships, while the highest rates were generally
found in yards having incentive methods of wage payment.
Lowest
yard
average

Carpenters (shipwrights)______
Chippers and caulkers_________
Electricians________ ___________
Machinists, shop and outside...
Welders, acetylene and electric.

$0. 750
. 750
. 750
. 750
. 727

Highest
yard
average

$1. 661
2. 576
1. 570
1. 554
2. 169

GULF COAST

Shipbuilding in yards on the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast of
Florida, the area comprising the Gulf Coast region under the stabili­
zation program, plays an important part in the wartime program.
Although not so large in terms of number of yards, employment, or
production as the Atlantic and Pacific Coast areas, the industry in the
Gulf region is contributing materially to the Nation's fast-growing
fleet of Targe deep-sea and coastwise vessels and smaller harbor craft.
First-shut workers in the Gulf Coast yards were reported in all but
4 of 60 occupational groups studied, and nine-tenths (90.7) percent



Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

13

were in 24 of these groups (table 2). Approximately 14 percent of the
workers were classified as laborers. Other occupations containing
more than 5 percent of the workers studied were apprentices (9.5 per­
cent), welders (7.6 percent), carpenters (6.6 percent), and ship fitters'
helpers (5.6 percent).
The average hourly straight-time earnings of first-shift workers in
the Gulf Coast region amounted to 90.7 cents in November 1942.
Individual occupational averages ranged from 61.1 cents for laborers
to $1,428 for foremen.
Somewhat more than one-fourth of the workers studied (28.8 per­
cent) were found in occupations in which hourlv earnings averaged
more than $1.16 an hour. These occupational groups were very
largely made up of first-class workers who were generally paid the
minimum rate of $1.20 an hour in yards subscribing to the stabiliza­
tion agreement. In 9 occupations, first-class workers averaged from
0.1 to 2.3 cents less than the first-class minimum rate of $1.20. owing to
the lower wages in a few small yards (generally the wooden-ship yards)
which did not subscribe to the stabilization agreement. In 4 other
occupations, namely, joiners, erectors, yard and crane riggers, and
drillers, average earnings were substantially below the $1.20 rate
(from $1.07 to $1,149). In the Gulf Coast region first-class workers
in these 4 occupations were not generally considered as being subject
to the wage-stabilization minimum.
Another 17 percent of the workers were in occupations in which
earnings averaged between 93 cents and $1.15. This group was made
up mostly of second- and third-class craftsmen and handymen, desig­
nated as “ other classes” in their respective occupations. Only two
groups of “ other classes” of workers averaged less than 93 cents an
hour—painters (87 cents) and yard and crane riggers (71.3 cents).
Average hourly earnings of less than 90 cents were found in occupa­
tions employing more than half (54 percent) of the workers in the
region. Of these workers, nearly two-fifths were helpers in the vari­
ous crafts, all of whom had occupational averages of less than 80 cents
an hour.
The variations in occupational averages in the Gulf Coast shipconstruction yards were influenced by the different wage levels pre­
vailing among the various yards. Typical examples of these differ­
ences are individual yard averages ranging from $1.00 to $1,526 for
first-class welders, from 85 cents to $1.21 for first-class painters, from
99 cents to $1.20 for first-class electricians, and from 40 to 63 cents
for laborers. Hourly averages by yard for “ other classes” of crafts­
men as well as nonclassified occupations present similar variations.
Although wide variations in earnings exist among yards, considerable
uniformity was found in the earnings of workers within the same occu­
pation in the same yard.
PACIFIC COAST

With an average of $1,135 an hour, the straight-time earnings of
first-shift workers in Pacific Coast ship-construction yards were higher
than in any of the other 4 regions (table 2). Occupational averages
in this region ranged from 88 cents an hour for laborers to $1,537 an
hour for foremen.
Of the 60 broad occupational groups studied, no workers were re­
ported for the “ miscellaneous handymen” category. Such workers.



14

Earnings* in Ship-Construction Yards

who cannot be identified with any craft, were not found in West Coast
yards. About nine-tenths (90.3 percent) of all first-shift workers
covered on the West Coast were found in 26 occupational groups.
The outstanding occupation from the standpoint of number of workers
was that of welders who comprised 11.8 percent of the workers surveyed.
Only three other occupational groups had more than 5 percent of the
workers studied. These were leaders (8.5 percent), ship fitters (7.2
percent), and carpenters (5.2 percent).
Nearly three-fifths (57.1 percent) of the workers were in occupations
with average earnings of $1.20 or more an hour. This group, except
for the foremen, leaders, and draftsmen who are generally recognized
as higher-paid supervisory and technical employees, was made up of
first-class craftsmen. The minimum wage rate ($1.20) for firstclass skilled workers established under the amended stabilization
agreement clearly has been applied broadly in the Pacific Coast yards.
Eighteen of the first-class occupations, containing more than twofifths (43.8 percent) of all workers studied, had average earnings of
not less than $1.20 and in some cases only slightly more than $1.21 an
hour. First-class craftsmen in 5 other occupations—anglesmiths,
patternmakers, loftsmen, layers-out, and crane operators—had aver­
age earnings considerably higher than the stabilization minimum.
These higher averages are the result of special rates agreed upon by
labor and management for occupations requiring unusual skills or
involving heavy work.
Only 4 groups of first-class workers averaged less than $1.20 an
hour, namely, regulators ($1.13), yard and crane riggers ($1,118),
drillers ($1.08), and bolters (95.5 cents). None of the workers in
these jobs were considered to be within the scope of the term “ firstclass skilled mechanics,, for which the $1.20 minimum was established.
Another concentration of workers (21 percent) was found in occu­
pations with average earnings of between 94 and 98 cents an hour.
This group includes all of the craftsmen's helpers except anglesmiths’
helpers. The latter averaged $1.08 an hour. The most common
rate paid to helpers on the West Coast was 95.0 cents an hour. v
On the West Coast, “ trainees” correspond to handymen and to
the second- and third-class workers (“ other classes” ) found in the
other regions. In 14 of the 21 occupations for which data are shown
for such workers (trainees), the averages ranged from $1.06 to $1.10
an hour.
Locality, size of yard, and type of vessel under construction appear
to have little bearing on wages m West Coast shipyards. In general,
the averages conform closely to the wage scale set forth in an agree­
ment entered into by the West Coast operators and the Metal Trades
Department of the American Federation of Labor. Any variations
from these rates are attributable primarily to premium rates paid to
specialists or for work performed under less desirable conditions.
G R EAT LA KE S REGION

Although smaller both in number of yards and workers than the
industry m the seacoast regions, the Great Lakes shipbuilding opera­
tions nevertheless contribute measurably to the production of smaller
commercial vessels and war craft.




Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

15

Exactly 88 percent of all the workers studied in this region were
found in 25 of the 60 occupational groups covered in the survey and
more than a fifth of these were in the carpenter and welder crafts.
The other 12 percent of the labor force was spread among 31 occupa­
tions. No workers were reported in only 4 occupations—copper­
smiths’ helpers, foundry molders, unclassified handymen, and tank
cleaners. ^
Day-shift workers had average straight-time hourly earnings of
99.4 cents (table 2). The range in the averages of individual occu­
pations was from 67.2 cents an hour for apprentices to $1,469 for
first-class patternmakers. Exactly three-eighths of the workers sur­
veyed were in occupations with average earnings of more than $1.12
an hour. This group was made up very largely of first-class crafts­
men. Groups designated as “ other classes” formed a major part
of another 25 percent of the workers in occupations with average
earnings ranging from 90 cents to slightly less than $1.08 an hour.
Occupations in which earnings averaged less than 90 cents an hour
included all of the helper groups and accounted for the remaining twofifths of those workers included in this study.
First-class workers in only three of the occupations generally recog­
nized as being subject to the stabilization minimum had average
earnings either equal to or in excess of $1.20 an hour. This fact is
not to be construed, however, as indicating a general disregard for
the shipbuilding wage-stabilization program. On the contrary, the
minimum rate of $1.20 was quite generally paid to first-class skilled
mechanics in yards subscribing to the wage-stabilization agreement.
There were a few yards, however, that did not subscribe to the agree­
ment and, therefore, did not pay the $1.20 minimum to first-class
skilled mechanics, while other yards accepted the agreement with
some rate modifications. Despite this fact, variations m the average
rates from yard to yard for the same occupation were not so pro­
nounced as in most of the other regions. For example, yard
averages for first-class carpenters fell in the narrow range of from
$1.12 to $1.20 an hour, and the range for first-class welders was
from $1.12 to $1,278. Among the occupations showing the greatest
differences among yards was that of laborers, with average earnings
ranging from 58.5 to 81.3 cents.
IN LAN D REGION

Shipbuilding activities in the broad area designated as the Inland
region for purposes of this analysis have forged ahead rapidly since
May 1942, and now play an important part in both the commercial
and naval wartime shipbuilding program. Decided increases have
occurred not only in the number of workers employed but also in the
number of yards. Most of the yards in this region are situated on
the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and their tributaries.
The occupational pattern in this area was less complex than in the
other areas, all of the workers reported being found in 43 of the 60
occupational groups studied. About two-fifths of the workers were
found to be laborers (14.2 percent), welders (13.1 percent), ship fitters
(8.8 percent), and machinists (6.1 percent). Another fifth of the




16

Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

workers were in 4 occupations—carpenters, foremen, pipe fitters, and
ship fitters' helpers—each having between 4 and 6 percent of the
workers surveyed.
The straight-time earnings of the day-shift workers in the Inland
area averaged 97.4 cents an hour (table 2), 2.0 cents an hour less than
workers in the Great Lakes area. Among the individual occupations,
foremen were paid the highest ($1,363) and blacksmiths' helpers the
lowest (66 cents) average wages.
Occupations with average hourly earnings of more than $1.00 in­
cluded about one-third (34.2 percent) of the first-shift workers.
In addition, a fourth of the workers (27.8 percent) had occupational
average earnings of between 90 cents and $1.00. First-class crafts­
men comprised the major part of the former group, and “ other classes”
of workers (second- and third-class craftsmen and handymen) ac­
counted for the greater part of the latter group. The occupations of
craftsmen's helpers and laborers were numerically the most impor­
tant of the occupations with average hourly earnings rangng from
66.0 cents to 89.0 cents. Occupational averages falling within this
range included about two-fifths of the workers covered in this report.
Wages in this region are influenced to a considerable extent by such
factors as size and type of yard and method of wage payment. On the
average, the larger yards pay about 17 cents more per hour than the
smaller operations. Of all the workers studied, about one-third
(32.2 percent) received additional compensation under various forms
of incentive-wage plans. As a result, the income of these workers
was approximately 5 percent (4.9 cents) more than it would have been
if they had received only their basic wage rates. These incentive
payments raised the regional average by about 1.5 cents.
There was considerable variation among yards in rates paid for the
same job. Yard averages, for example, ranged from 72.5 cents to
$1,206 for first-class carpenters, from 82.5 cents to $1,306 for firstclass machinists, from 80 cents to $1,276 for first-class welders, and
from 42.9 to 94.5 cents for laborers.
Although shipbuilding operations in this region do not come within
the scope of the industry's wage-stabilization program, several of the
yards have adopted wage scales similar to those in the other areas.
Average hourly earnings approaching $1.20 or higher than this amount
were found in 10 of the 18 occupations for which data are shown for
first-class workers.

Interregional Comparisons
The straight-time earnings of day-shift workers in private ship
construction varied considerably from region to region in November
1942. The highest general wage level was found in the Pacific Coast
region, where workers earned an average of $1,135 an hour (table 2).




Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

17

The Atlantic Coast region ranked second with a general average df
$1,048 an hour. In this region the earnings of the workers were in­
fluenced to a considerable extent by incentive-wage payments. As
previously pointed out, approximately one-third of the workers in
this region participated in incentive-earnings plans. In the other
areas, incentive earnings were found to have comparatively little
effect on the general level of earnings. The lowest wages prevailed
among Gulf Coast yards, where workers averaged 90.7 cents an hour.
Average earnings in the Great Lakes and Inland areas were only 2
cents apart, the respective averages being 99.4 and 97.4 cents an hour.
The distribution of yard average hourly earnings provides a useful
indication of intraregional variations in plant wage levels and, in addi­
tion, sheds light on regional differences. Table 3 shows the percent­
age of yards in each region with specified wage levels, and the propor­
tions of each regional labor force employed in yards with the designated
levels of earnings. The least variation in plant averages was found in
the Pacific Coast region, where over nine-tenths of the yards, employ­
ing more than 99 percent of the workers, had averages ranging from
$1.05 to $1.20 an hour. Furthermore, 71.1 percent of all workers were
in yards having averages falling within tho narrow limits of $1.10
to $1.15 an hour. On the other hand, the greatest dispersion in yard
averages was found in the Atlantic Coast region, where the range was
from slightly more than 60 cents to just under $1.25 an hour. How­
ever, over three-fifths of the Atlantic Coast yards, employing 71.0
percent of the workers, had averages ranging from 95 cents to $1.15
an hour.
In the Gulf Coast region, most of the yards, with 92.3 percent of
the workers, had averages ranging between 75 and 95 cents an hour.
Within this group, however, the relationship between the distribution
of yards and that of workers is somewhat different. Thus, yardaverage earnings in one-seventh of the yards with 51.1 percent of all
the workers fell between 90 and 95 cents, while three-fifths of the yards
with but two-fifths of all the workers had average wage levels of less
than 90 cents an hour.
In neither the Great Lakes nor the Inland regions were the yard
averages concentrated at any single level. Most of the workers in
the former area were employed in yards paying between 90 cents
and $1.05 an hour. Although over three-fourths of the workers in
the Inland area were in yards in which hourly earnings averaged be­
tween 95 cents and $1.10, there was a fairly heavy concentration in
the interval from 75 to 80 cents.




Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

18
T a b le

S.-—Distribution of Shipyards and Workers by Average Hourly Yard Earnings
and Region, Fall of 1942
Yard-average earnings group

United Atlantic
States
Coast

Gulf
Coast

Pacific
Coast

Great
Lakes

Inland

Percent of yards with specified yard-average earnings

11.1

2.3
2.3
2.3

60.0 to 64.9 cen ts..
65.0 to 69.9 cents. .
70.0 to 74.9 cen ts..
75.0 to 79.9 cents.80.0 to 84.9 cen ts..
85.0 to 89.9 cen ts..
90.0 to 94.9 cen ts..
95.0 to 99.9 cen ts..
$1,000 to $1.049....
$1,050 to $1.099....
$1.100to $1.149....
$1,150 to $1,199....
$1.200to $1.249....
$1,250 to $1.299----$1,300 to $1.349-----

12.8
19.9
7.0
2.3
1.2
1.2

All earnings

100.0

8.1
3.5

8.1
5.8

11.6
11.6

12.9
3.2

22.6

12.9

12. g

11.1
22.2

7.7
23.0
15.4
23.1
15.4
7.7
7.7

12. S

10.0
10.0

20.0

11.1
11.1

10.0

11.1

20.0
21.8
47.8

21.8
6.5

20.0

10.0

4.3
4.3
100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Percent of workers in yards with specified yard-average
earnings
60.0 to 64.9 cen ts ..
65.0 to 69.9 cen ts..
70.0 to 74.9 cents..
75.0 to 79.9 cents.
80.0 to 84.9 cents
85.0 to 89.9 cents .
90.0 to 94.9 cen ts..
95.0 to 99.9 cents. .
$1,000 to $1.049,...
$1,050 to $1.099___
$1,100 to $1,149 . . .
$1,150 to $1,199. . . .
$1,200 to $1.249.
$1,250 to $1.299 . . .
$1,300 to $1.349___
A ll earnings.

0.6
.2
.2
2.1

0.5
1.5

1.4
.4

.2

1.4

1.7
8.9
10.9
11.7
11.5
7.5
29.8

8.3
.3
24.3
20.3

8.1

15.3

6.7

17.0

11.1

0.7
5.0

15.7

8.8

27.4
51.1
4.0
3.0

4.2
71.1
24.4

6.9
17.4
32.6
26.7
9.3
6.7
.4

4.6
17.7
41.7
18.3

100.0

100.0

100.0

.1

0)

100.0

100.0

100.0

i Less than a tenth of 1 percent.

A more satisfactory method of measuring the extent of regional
differences involves a comparison of average earnings for a selected
group of individual occupations. Comparative wage data are pre­
sented by region in table 4 for workers of all classes or grades in 38
crafts and for first-class workers in 16 crafts. Among the broad
occupational groups, covering all classes of workers, the highest wages
for 30 of the 38 occupations were paid in Pacific Coast yards. The
Atlantic Coast ranked first in only 6 occupations and the Inland region
in only 2 occupations. The high level of earnings on the West Coast,
as indicated by general occupational averages covering craftsmen of
all classes, was very largely due to the greater proportion of first-class
workers in this region. Of the craftsmen in the 38 occupations, 82
percent on the West Coast were classified as first class. ^This com­
pares with 27 percent in the Atlantic region, 57 percent in the Gulf
region, 60 percent in the Great Lakes region, and 43 percent in the
Inland region.




Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

19

With respect to first-class workers only, the Atlantic Coast region
had the highest average earnings in 11 of the 16 occupations for which
data are shown in table 4. In the 5 remaining occupations, Pacific
Coast yards were highest in 4, and the Gulf Coast yards were highest
in 1 occupation. The high level of earnings in the Atlantic Coast
region was due primarily to the influence of incentive methods of
wage payment.
T able 4.— Average Hourly Straight-Time Earnings of Day-Shift Workers in Selected
Occupations in Ship-Construction Yards, 6y Region, Fall of 1942
Occupation and class

Atlantic
Coast

Gulf
Coast

Pacific
Coast

Great
Lakes

A ll classes
Anginsmiths .............. ......... ................................................ Apprentices____________________________________________
B lacksmiths_________ ____________ ____ _____ .* _________
Blacksmiths' helpers______ _____ _______________________
Boilermakers____ ____ ________ _________________________
BnilfirTnaters’ hplpors
Burners, aefitylftnft (including gas) ,
___ _
Burners’ helpers, acetylene (including gas)..........................
Carpenters (shipwrights)________ _ _____ ____ . _____ ___
Carpenters’ helpers__________________ _____________ ____
Chippers and nanllrp.rs (including foundry chippers)
Crane operators (all types)____ T_______ 1 __ _V___ ______
Draftsmen (senior ana junior) __________________________
Electricians_____________________________________________
Electricians' helpers............... ................... ...... ......................
Erectors_____________________________________ __________
Foremen (including assistant foremen and quartermen)__
Helpers, not elsewhere classified_________________________
Laborers (excluding tank cleaners and janitors)__________
Leaders____________ ________ __________ ______ _________
Learners______ _______ _________________________________
Loftsmen_______ ________ _______________________________
Machinists, shop and outside___________________________
Machinists' helpers, shop and outside___________________
Painters, brush and spray_______________________________
Pipe fitters (including plumbers)__________ _____________
Pipe fitters' helpers (including plumbers' helpers)..........—
Plate-shop machine operators____________________ _____
Plate-shop machine operators' helpers..................................
Riggers, yard and crane................................................... ........
Sheet-metal workers (including tinsm iths)............... ..........
Sheet-metal workers’ helpers.___________________________
Ship fitters.._____ •_____________________________________
Ship fitters' helpers._______ ___________________ ____ ____
Tracers____ ____________________________________ ________
Watchmen and guards.............. ............... ...............................
Welders, acetylene and electric__________ _______________
Welders’ helpers, acetylene and electric___ ______ _______

$1.165
.824
1.141
.880
1.124
.929
1.123
.862
1.035
.802
1.219
1.154
1.382
1.107
.853
1.024
1.640
.733
.718
1.357
.891
1.218
1.138
.840
1.176
1.092
.864
1.108
.867
.901
1.146
.882
1.100
.848
.754
.760
1.231
.827

$1,227
.815
1.156
.751
1.093
.706
1.100
.702
1.135
.680
1.124
1.177
1.163
1.154
.682
1.081
1.428
.669
.611
1.322
.740
1.153
1.123
.695
1.143
1.112
.702
1.077
.713
.736
1.121
.671
1.079
.682
.837
.665
1.106
.748

$1.273
1.019
1.165
.967
1.173
.950
1.179
.950
1.197
.943
1.180
1.286
1.321
1.191
.955
1.147
1.537
.941
.880
1.335
.950
1.313
1.187
.951
1.119
1.183
.949
1.149
.950
1.109
1.194
.956
1.172
.960
.902
.901
1.165
.967

$0,954
.672
1.147
.871
1.150
.835
1.093
.797
1.094
.811
1.121
1.116
1.121
1.126
.796
.976
1.372
.718
.707
1.264
.906
1.120
1.109
.791
1.070
1.119
.798
1.068
.834
.967
1.163
.811
1.097
.799
.759
.767
1.093
.777

$1,284
.795
.983
.660
1.121
.928
1.093
.879
1.074
.812
1.116
1.161
1.301
1.013
.819
.966
1.363
.786
.743
1.279
.697
1.224
1.052
.824
1.050
1.077
.807
1.110
.830
1.071
1.022
.848
1.028
.742
L017
.713
1.072
.782

First class
Blacksmiths_____________ ___________ ___________________
Boilermakers_____ ______ _______________________________
Burners, acetylene (including gas)......... ........ ......................
Carpenters (shipwrights).................... ................ ..................
Chippers and caulkers (including foundry chippers)_____
Crane operators (all types)................................................... .
Electricians_____________ _______ ______ ____________ ___
Erectors______________________________ _________________
Loftsmen................................ .................. ......................... .......
Machinists, shop and outside.............. ............................. .
Painters, brush and spray........................................................
Pipe fitters (including plumbers)—............................. .........
Riggers, yard and crane_________________________________
Sheet-metal workers (including tinsmiths)....... ..................
Ship fitters _______ _______ ____________ ______ ___ _____
Welders, acetylene and electric........................................ .......

1.222
1.360
1.222
1.142
1.396
1.193
1.266
1.198
1.402
1.291
1.293
1.251
1.025
1.385
1.255
1.516

1.214
1.200
1.209
1.196
1.200
1.185
1.198
1.124
1.406
1.200
1.192
1.198
1.080
1.199
1.203
1.260

1.205
1.200
1.200
1.203
1.204
1.290
1.206
1.JJ06
1.325
1.203
1.202
1.200
1.118
1.204
1.203
1.200

1.193
1.200
1.162
1.186
1.180
1.177
1.180
1.122
1.197
1.175
1.142
L 168
1.075
1.198
1.177
1.184

1.100
1.194
1.19R
1.162
1.180
1.224
1.177
.931
1.303
1.186
1.128
1.171
1.081
1.225
1.189
1.174




Inland

20

Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

Application of Stabilization Program
Occupational averages for first-class workers presented earlier in
this analysis tend to show that the minimum wage of $1.20 provided
by the zone standard agreements for the Atlantic, Gulf, Pacific, and
Great Lakes shipbuilding areas has been widely applied. * There is
also evidence of the payment of this rate in the Inland area, although
the stabilization program does not extend to this area.
In the four regions subject to the stabilization program, the wage
data for November 1942 indicate that first-class workers in 25 crafts
were considered “ standard skilled mechanics” and received the mini­
mum stabilization rate of $1.20. These crafts are as follows:
Anglesmiths
Blacksmiths
Boilermakers
Burners, acetylene
Carpenters (shipwrights)
Chippers and caulkers
Coppersmiths
Crane operators
Electricians
Fumacemen
Joiners
Layers-out
Loftsmen

Machinists, shop and outside
Molders, foundry
Painters, brush and spray
Patternmakers
Pipe fitters
Plate-shop machine operators
Riggers, ship
Riveters *
Sheet-metal workers
Ship fitters
Tool and die makers
Welders, acetylene and electric

Supervisory and specialized workers, such as draftsmen, have been
excluded from the above list, as their rates generally are not closely
related to the application of any regulatory measures. Drillers have
also been eliminated from the list, as rates considerably below $1.20
were very often paid to first-class workers in this craft. The higher
earnings for drillers in the Atlantic Coast region result from incentivewage methods rather than from application of the zone minimum.
In the Pacific Coast region the average earnings for first-class
workers in each of the listed occupations for which figures can be
shown equal or exceed $1.20 an hour. In addition, first-class erectors
are also subject to the $1.20 minimum in this area.
All but 1 of the 25 occupations enumerated above show average
earnings for first-class workers approaching or exceeding $1.20 an
hour in the Atlantic Coast region. Carpenters, however, averaged
only $1,142 an hour. Despite this relatively low figure, most yards
paid the zone minimum to these craftsmen. The lower figure shown
for this occupation is the result of low rates paid to large numbers of
carpenters employed in a few yards engaged in building wooden boats.
Generally these yards do not subscribe to the zone standard agreement.
Among Gulf Coast yards, the average earnings of first-class workers
in all but 2 of the 25 occupations were either relatively close to or
exceeded the stabilization minimum. Joiners and plate-shop ma­
chine operators averaged $1,149 and $1,177, respectively. Sub­
standard rates in a few yards accounted for these lower average
earnings.
In only three occupations—boilermakers, patternmakers, and riv­
eters—did first-class workers in the Great Lakes region average as much
as or more than $1.20 an hour. In 14 other occupations, however,
first-class workers received average wages within 4 cents of the mini­
mum. These differences can be attributed, in most cases, to the
lower rates paid in a few of the yards and to the practice in some yards



Earnings in Ship •Construction Yards

21

of hiring first-class workers at less than $1.20 an hour for a short
period of time. The low earnings of ship riggers ($1,016) resulted
from employment of most of these workers in a few yards at sub­
standard rates. In general, however, it is reasonable to conclude that
the zone agreement minimum for this region was applied, at least in a
modified form, in most of the yards.

,

Earnings Trend Between Spring and Fall 1942
In the fall of 1942, as table 5 indicates, the average hourly straighttime earnings of day-shift workers in ship-construction yards for the
country as a whole, $1,044, were 8.8 percent (8.4 cents) higher than
the average of 96.0 cents an hour reported in the spring of 1942. These
figures are based on data for all of the yards covered in the two periods.
T able 5.— Average Hourly Straight-Time Earnings of Day-Shift Ship-Construction
Workers in selected Occupations, All Yards and Identical Yards, fey Region
All yards

Begion

Average hourly
earnings
FaU

Spring

United States........................- ...................................

$1,044

$0,960

A tla n tic ...-------------------------------- ---------------------G ulf.............................................................................
Pacific..........................................................................
Great Lakes................................................................
Inland..........................................................................

1.048
.907
1.135
.094
.974

966
.776
1.034
.861
.795

Identical yards

Increase
(cents)

Average hourly
earnings

Increase
(cents)

FaU

Spring

8.4

$1,069

$0,959

11.0

8.2
13.1
10.1
13.3
17.9

1.070
.892
1.138
1.001
.958

.969
.761
1.035
.863
.795

10.1
13.1
10.3
13.8
16.3

As table 5 shows, the largest increase in earnings among the regions
occurred in the Inland area, where the average rose from 79.5 cents
in the spring to 97.4 cents in the fall of 1942. This area employs a
relatively small proportion of the workers in the industry. In the
two major ship-construction areas, Atlantic and Pacific Coast regions,
comparison of the earnings data relating to all plants for the two
periods reveals the smallest increases, 8.2 and 10.1 cents an hour,
respectively. Changes in the Gulf Coast and Great Lakes areas were
practically identical, amounting to 13.1 cents in the former and to
13.3 cents in the latter region.
It should be pointed out that the above figures for the two periods
are based on somewhat different samples, and may not precisely
measure the changes that did take place between the spring and fall of
1942. Because of the rapid expansion of the industry, the sample
used in the survey made in the fall was considerably larger than that
used in the spring of 1942.
Wage data for identical plants probably provide the most accurate
measure of wage changes in the industry since the spring of 1942.
Figures for identical yards, presented in table 5, are based upon a
substantial proportion of the total number of yards in each region.
It will be seen that the increases shown for identical yards reporting
in both the spring and fall of 1942 in the Gulf, Pacific, and Great Lakes
regions closely approximate the increases shown for all yards reporting
in the respective regions in the two periods. In the Atlantic Coast



22

Earnings in Ship-Construction Yards

area, however, the increase for identical yards was higher by 1.9
cents than that shown for all yards in this region. On the other hand,
data for the identical yards in the Inland area show an increase of 16.3
cents or 1.6 cents less than that for all yards. The general increase
for the identical yards combined was 2.6 cents greater than the
increase shown for all yards.
A more extensive application of incentive-wage methods accounts
in a large part for the higher absolute change based on identical yards
in the Atlantic Coast area. In general, incentive-wage payment
plans were not found in the additional yards covered in the fall survey.
The inclusion of these yards in the fall sample naturally tended to
lower the general average for the region. In the Great Lakes region,
a number of the yards added to the sample in the fall of 1942 had
higher wage structures than those covered 'in the spring survey.
This tended to raise somewhat the average for that region.
In the four regions the absolute increases were greater than those
provided for under the zone stabilization agreements (8 cents in all
regions except on the Gulf Coast where a sliding scale of from 9 cents
for the lowest to 13 cents for the highest paid workers was adopted).
Increases over and above those provided for in the stabilization agree­
ments may be attributed in part to the upgrading of workers and in
part to the acceptance of the stabilization program by a greater num­
ber of yards. The sharp increase in average earnings in the Inland
region, which, as previously stated, does not come within the scope
of the wage-stabilization program, has resulted from a general raising
of the rates in this region to levels relatively comparable to those
found in other areas.