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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
W. N. DOAK, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ETHELBERT STEWART, Commissioner
MONTHLY
LABOR REVIEW
VOLUME 33
NUMBER 6
DECEMBER, 1931
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1931
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D . C. - - - - - Price 15 Cents per Copy
Subscription price per year: United States, Canada, Mexico, $1.50; Other Countries, $2.25
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C E R T IF IC A T E
T h is p u b lic a tio n is issued p u rs u a n t to the
provisions o f th e su n d ry civil a c t (41 S ta ts.
1430) ap p ro v ed M arch 4, 1921.
C o n ten ts
Special articles :
Page
P ro d u c tiv ity of lab o r in stre e t a n d ro a d building a n d in d itch dig g in g .
T echnological changes in th e cigar in d u stry a n d th e ir effects on la b o r.
A rb itratio n in th e dress in d u stry in N ew Y ork C ity , b y N . I. S to n e .
1
11
18
Unemployment insurance and benefit plans:
U nem ploym ent-benefit p lan s in th e U n ited S ta te s_________________
P ublic unem ploym en t-in su ran ce system s in foreign c o u n tries------- G erm any— R ecen t changes in unem p lo y m en t-in su ran ce sy ste m -----G reat Britain-— R ecen t changes in u n em ploym ent-insurance sy s te m .
S enate hearings on unem ploym ent-insurance sy ste m s----------------------
31
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72
75
Employment conditions and unemployment relief:
P ro g ram fo r p rom otio n of em p lo y m en t____________________________
E fforts to keep child ren a n d y oung persons in school---------------------M ary lan d — E fforts to im prove em p lo y m en t conditions in B altim o re.
P ennsylvania— U nem p lo y m en t in Ju n e, 1931---------------------------------W isconsin— S tabilizatio n p lan in lu m b er in d u s try --------------------------U nem ploym ent in foreign co u n tries--------------------------- v ----------------G re a t B ritain — C hanges in em plo y m en t a n d u n em p lo y m en t----------Mexico— U nem ploym en t in Ju ly , 1931-----------------------------------------N ew Z ealand— U nem ploym ent relief m easu res--------------------------------
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88
Old-age pensions:
G reat B ritain — W idow s’, o rp h an s’, a n d old-age pensions, E n g lan d an d
W ales, 1930-31_________________________________________________
90
Trade-union benefits:
Benefits of sta n d a rd n a tio n a l a n d in te rn a tio n a l unions, 1930------------
92
Industrial and labor conditions:
Provisions regarding discharge of union m em bers found in collective
ag reem en ts_____________________________________________________
T ra n sie n t fam ilies in A rizona a n d F lo rid a -----------------------------------G erm any— C ost of p ro d u ctio n of coal_____________________________
94
99
101
Recreation:
T rade-union holiday hom es a n d holiday tra v e l-------------------------------
103
Industrial accidents:
A nnual safety congress, 1931------------------------------------------------------------104
R evised safety code fo r in d u stria l illu m in atio n ----------------------------------106
R eduction of accidents in cem ent m an u factu rin g in 1930----------------106
Labor laws and court decisions:
T ex t of law relativ e to collection of em p lo y m en t sta tis tic s --------------R ig h t to u n p aid wages m ay be assigned in Illin o is---------------------------
108
108
Workmen’s compensation:
T im e lim itatio n for filing com pensation claim h eld abso lu te in New
M exico___________________________________________________________
V erm ont com pensation law held a b a r to su it in N ew H a m p sh ire -----Mexico— N ew w orkm en’s com pensation legislation---------------------------
HI
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Cooperation:
D evelopm ent of cooperative m ark etin g in th e U n ited S tates, 1930-31.
127
F rance— W orkers’ p ro d u ctiv e asso ciatio n s-----------------------------------------128
J a p a n — D evelopm ent of consum ers’ co o p eratio n --------------------------------129
Spain— New cooperative la w ------------------------------------------------------------130
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h i
IV
CONTENTS
Labor an d oth er organizations an d c o n g re s se s:
W orld Social E conom ic C ongress, 1931____________________________
C an ad a— T rad es a n d lab o r congress, 1931--------------------------------------F rance— C ongress of G eneral C o n fed eratio n of L abor, 1931_________
G reat B ritain — M eeting of trad es-u n io n congress, 1931------------------W orkers’ education a n d tra in in g :
T hree lab o r su m m er schools, 1931------------------------------------------------In d u stria l d is p u te s :
S trikes a n d lock o u ts in th e U n ited S ta te s in O ctober, 1931_________
C onciliation w ork of th e D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r in O ctober, 1931____
N orw ay— S ettlem en t of lab o r d isp u te _________ •------------------------------Labor aw ards an d decisions :
C lothing c u tte rs— New Y ork C ity -------------------------------------------------Jo u rn ey m an tailo rs— D enver, C olo------------------------------------------------Labor tu r n o v e r:
L abor tu rn o v e r in A m erican factories, O ctober, 1931_______________
A sta n d a rd pro ced u re fo r com piling lab o r tu rn o v e r s ta tis tic s _______
H ousing:
B uilding p erm its in prin cip al cities of th e U n ited S ta te s, O ctober, 1931 _
Wages and h o u rs of la b o r :
W ages a n d ho u rs of lab o r in th e m an u fa c tu re of silk a n d ra y o n goods,
1931______ _____________________________________________________
H o u rs a n d earnings in five d e p a rtm e n ts of th e iron a n d steel in d u stry ,
1931____________________________________________________________
W age-rate changes in m an u factu rin g industries, O ctober, 1931______
W age changes re p o rte d b y trad e-u n io n s since A ugust, 1931_________
F arm w age a n d lab o r situ a tio n on O ctober 1, 1931_________________
W ages an d ho u rs in th e gray -iro n fo u n d ry in d u stry , O ctober, 1931____
W age ra te s a n d earnings of b itum inous-coal m iners in th e A llegheny
d is tric t_________________________________________________________
A ustralia— R ed u ctio n of official salary scale in N ew S o u th W ales____
G erm any— A ctu al earn in g s of coal m in ers__________________________
Ja p a n — W ages in m ines, la s t q u a rte r of 1929_________ _____________
T rend of em p lo y m e n t:
S um m ary for O ctober, 1931_______________________________________
E m p lo y m en t in selected m an u fa c tu rin g in d u stries in O ctober, 1931 _
E m p lo y m en t in n o n m an u factu rin g in d u stries in O ctober, 1931_______
E m p lo y m en t in b uilding c o n stru ctio n in O ctober, 1931______________
E m p lo y m en t on C lass I ste a m railro a d s in th e U n ited S ta te s _______
W holesale and re ta il p ric e s :
R etail prices of food in O ctober, 1931______________________________
R etail prices of coal in O ctober, 1931---------------------------------------------In d ex nu m b ers of w holesale prices in O ctober, 1931_________________
W holesale prices in th e U n ited S ta te s a n d in foreign countries, 1913
to S eptem ber, 1931_____________________________________________
Cost of liv in g :
S ta n d a rd of living of 400 fam ilies in A m algam ated H ousing C or
p o ratio n dw ellings_______________________________________________
Im m igration an d e m ig ra tio n :
S tatistics of im m ig ratio n fo r S eptem ber, 1931---------------------------------P ublications relatin g to la b o r :
Official— U n ited S ta te s ____________________________________________
Official— Foreign co u n trie s_________________________________________
U nofficial_________________________________________________________
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T h is Issu e in B rief
Striking instances of increased labor 'productivity through the use of
machinery are brought out in a study of the operation of street and
road building and ditch-digging machinery. For instance, a ditch
digging machine, operated by one man with a helper, can do as much
work in an hour as 44 men using hand shovels. Page 1.
The output of cigars per worker has been nearly doubled by the use of
the long-filler cigar machine. The small hand factories are decreasing
in number and the bulk of cigar production is being concentrated in
the large machine factories. Page 11.
Wages in the manufacture of silk and rayon goods averaged 40.6 cents
per hour in 1931, according to a study by the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics, summarized on page 175. Hours of labor per week averaged
50.7. Since 1914, full-time working hours per week have decreased
from 54.6, or 7.1 per cent. During this period, average hourly wage
rates have more than doubled, rising from 19.7 cents in 1914 to 40.6
in 1931. Owing to the decrease in working hours, full-time weekly
earnings have not increased to quite the same extent as have hourly
earnings, although they have nearly doubled, the average for 1931
being $20.58 as compared with $10.79 in 1914. Rayon has become
a constantly increasing factor in this dual industry in recent years.
The 1931 survey of wages and hours of labor in the iron and steel
industry, made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows that average
hourly wage rates in puddling mills were 59.2 cents; in blooming mills,
66.4 cents; in plate mills, 62.7 cents; in bar mills, 58.8 cents; and in
standard-rail mills, 61.3 cents. Average full-time hours per week
in 1931 in the five departments listed were 53, 52.6, 56.7, 55, and 54.9,
respectively. The data obtained for these departments are summa
rized on page 181, three other departments—blast furnaces, Bessemer
converters, and open-hearth furnaces—having been covered in the
November Labor Review.
Industrial relations in the dress industry of New York City are gov
erned by a set of agreements among the four factors comprising the
industry—manufacturers, jobbers, contractors, and labor—which were
signed February 12, 1930. While arbitration had been practiced in
the dress industry for many years prior to 1930, there had been no
permanent arbitrator, the parties agreeing upon an arbitrator for
each case as it came up. The present agreements are the first to
provide for permanent, constantly functioning arbitration machinery.
Page 18.
A plan providing for a certain fixed amount of employment has been
adopted by employers in the lumber industry in the State of Wisconsin.
This is said to be the first practical attempt of this character to be
made by an entire industrial group. By the terms of the agreement
the production of each plant for the period July 1, 1931, to July 1,
1932, will be fixed at 28 per cent of the annual average for the years
1927 to 1929, and provision will also be made for increasing production
evenly throughout the industry if the demand warrants it. Page 82.
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VI
TH IS ISSUE IN B R IE F
Thenumber of unemployedinPennsylvaniain June, 1931, was 918,768,
or 24.7 per cent of its total working population, according to an esti
mate by the bureau of statistics of the department of labor and indus
try of that State. The ratio of applicants for work to jobs open in
June, 1931, as shown by the statistics of the State public employ
ment offices, was 409 applicants to 100 job openings. In the same
month of the preceding year there were 320 applicants per 100 avail
able jobs. Page 80.
Studies of transient families in Arizona and Florida, made by the
National Association of Travelers Aid Societies upon the request of
the President’s Organization on Unemployment Relief, show that
since the beginning of the present business depression there has been
a decided increase in transient persons in need of relief and that the
machinery for dealing with the relief of this particular class of unem
ployed persons is inadequate. Page 99.
Discharge of union members without previous notice, except for just
and sufficient cause, is prohibited in a number of collective agreements.
The majority of the agreements providing for previous notice of dis
charge also provide that the employee shall give a similar notice to
his employer before quitting his job. Examples of provisions regarding
conditions under which union members may be discharged, as they
appear in collective agreements received by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, are given on page 94.
The Federal Labor Code of Mexico, which became effective in August,
1931, supersedes all previous labor legislation, both Federal and State.
An English translation of the sections of the code dealing with work
men’s compensation is given in full in this issue, beginning on page 114.
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KALAMAZOO PUBLIC LIBRARY
MONTHLY JAM 9" 1S32
LABOR R EVI EW
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
W A S H IN G T O N
VOL. 33, N O . 6
D E C E M B E R , 1931
P ro d u ctiv ity of Labor in S treet and Road B u ild in g and in D itch
D igging
HE present article presents data showing the various operations
in road and street building, and shows, in cases where information
could be obtained, the man-hour performance on the various jobs and
processes.
It will be noted that the machmes used do many times the amount
that could be done by hand labor in the same length of time. Thus,
the compressor machine used in street rebuilding to make the first
break in the old pavement can do in less than 15 minutes what it would
take a man using a hand pick and sledge hammer two hours to do.
The same machine can clean the surface of nearly six times as much
pavement as could be done by hand labor in the same time. The
ditch-digging machine (operated by one man with a helper) can do as
much in one hour as 44 men using hand shovels. In other cases, while
remarkable performance records have been attained with the use of
machines, no data are available to show the time that would be re
quired to do the same work with hand labor.
T
Rebuilding of Streets
B e l o w are' shown the output and performance of the crews used
in the various processes on a job of street rebuilding in Washington,
D . C.
Under modern labor-saving methods the work of paving streets is
considerably subdivided. The main operations, in the sequence in
which they are performed, are the breaking up and removal of the old
pavement, the removal of old curb and setting of the new, the grading
of the roadbed, the pouring of the concrete base, the laying of the
gutter, and finally the application of the binder and finish coats.
The rebuilding work includes also the repair of such sidewalk along
the curb and street intersections as it is necessary to break.
Below is given a detailed description of the various processes in
the order in which the work is actually performed. Data as to man
hour output are also given in cases where such were available.
Operations Performed by Crews Employed in Paving Work
Compressor-machine crew.—The compressor is mounted upon a
motor vehicle, thus enabling it to be moved from job to job under its
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
own power, and is operated by gasoline. It is equipped with aircompressor drills, cutter, spade, sprayer, and blower, each operated by
air pressure of 80 pounds per square inch. Its crew consists of an
operator and one or two laborers.
Where an old pavement is to be removed, the air-compressor gun or
drill is used to punch holes through the paved surface of the street to
the dirt below and to break a hole 6 or 7 feet square so the power
shovel can begin work. If the operator works alone, a hole of the
required size can be broken in the surface of the old paving in less
than 35 minutes. It is estimated that it would take a man using
hand pick and sledge hammer at least three hours to break a hole of
the same size through the 8 or 9 inch surface of a street. Another
use of the machine is that of breaking the paving at street inter
sections. A line of holes is drilled through the pavement across the
street. This is done to prevent the power shovel, while tearing up
the old surface, from breaking the pavement at the intersection beyond
the line of the holes. The machine is also used to break the sidewalk
at and near the curb, and to cut a straight line across and through
the top or finish coat and binder coat where the new surface is to be
joined with the old. The blower attachments are used to clean the
surface of the concrete base of the street before the application of the
binder coat. The compressor is, in fact, a general-utility and real
labor-saving machine.
It required only 10 minutes for the-operator of the machine to cut
through 1y2 inches of the finish coat and 1% inches of the binder coat
34 feet across a street, for a joint between old and new surface, and to
make a break about 15 inches wide. It is estimated that an average
man, working with hand tools, could not have done this work in less
than half a day, or four hours. Using the blower attachments, the
operator and two laborers in 2}{ hours cleaned 1,180 square yards of ce
ment surface prior to the application of the binder coat—an operation
which would have taken two men with hand tools an entire day of
eight hours to perform, or nearly three times as many man-hours.
In addition to the saving of time, the results obtained by the use of
the machine are also better and more satisfactory than those obtained
by the hand method.
Power-shovel crew.—The shovel used on the jobs studied had a
bucket or shovel of 1 cubic yard capacity, a 12-ton thrust, a boom of
21 feet, and consumed about 35 gallons of gasoline in a day of 8 hours.
Its original cost was $11,250 and its estimated depreciation is 25 per
cent per year. The crew was made up of one operator and two
laborers. The number of trucks used in hauling the salvage (asphalt
and stone or concrete) and dirt ranged from six to nine, depending on
the distance to which the salvage was hauled.
The operator of the shovel had had 14 years’ experience in the work
and had perfect control of the machine. This was important, as the
efficiency of a power shovel is identical with the efficiency of the
operator. Working under favorable conditions, this operator loaded
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LABOR PRODUCTIVITY— STREET AND ROAD BUILD IN G
3
onto the trucks 4 buckets, or an average of about 3%cubic yards, per
minute. Because of his efficiency in grading, there was little or no
dirt left for the fine grading crew to remove.
The laborers of the power-shovel crew work along with the shovel,
usually one on each side of the street. They shovel the loose material
from along the curb toward the middle of the street and break with
sledge hammers the large slabs of asphalt and cement as they are
turned up by the shovel, so that the pieces can then be picked up by
the shovel and loaded onto trucks.
The salvage of asphalt and stone or concrete base is used in improv
ing dirt streets and the dirt goes to dumps and fills.
The number of truck loads of salvage broken and loaded by the
shovel on the five 8-hour days on which the shovel was working at
capacity was 54, 56, 57, 59, and 54. On three of the five days no
dirt was loaded, on one day 4 truck loads of dirt were removed, and
on another day 2 truck loads. At the rate of Z% cubic yards of salvage
per truck, the number of yards removed per day was 189, 199, 206,
and 189; this was an average of almost 196 cubic yards per 8-hour
day and of 24.5 per hour. The number of cubic yards per man-hour
was a little less than 8.2. The man-hour output of this shovel may
appear very low, especially if compared with the record of a shovel
excavating and loading dirt only, but it should be borne in mind that
it takes as much or more time to break up the salvage as to load it
onto the trucks.
The man-hours that would be required to break and load by hand
196 cubic yards (i. e., the output of the power-shovel in a day of 8
hours) can not be estimated with any degree of certainty, because very
little of this work has been done by hand. Judging from the time
taken by a laborer, using a hand pick, to break the concrete between
the gutter and a manhole, that could not be reached by the shovel,
the cost of hand labor would be prohibitive.
Curb crew.—This crew consists of a foreman, two curb setters, a
stonecutter, a peg setter, and about 15 laborers. The work of this
crew is done entirely by hand. The crew takes up the old curb, digs
a trench 15 inches deep and 18 inches wide, and sets the new curb in
the trench according to grade.
Curbstones vary in thickness and depth. Those for one street are
8 by 8, of another 8 by 12, and of still another 6 by 20 inches. The
curb used at street intersections may be of greater depth than that
elsewhere on the street. Stones 8 by 8 and 8 by 12 inches are set on
a cement base, while those 6 by 20 inches are set on spalls and cemented
at the joints.
The concrete used for the curb is mixed at the plant of the con
tractor, delivered to the job by trucks, and dumped onto a steel pan
about 8 feet square. Although the concrete is moist, it is not soft and
does not give under the weight of the curbstones while they are being
set. If the concrete were very wet the heavy curbstones would sink
into it and the alignment of the various pieces would be very difficult.
In making the base for 8 by 8 and 8 by 12 inch curbstones, the
laborers take the concrete from the steel pan and spread it to a thick
ness of 6 inches in the bottom of the trench and then tamp it, using
a steel tamper 10 by 10 inches in size and, including the handle,
weighing about 20 pounds.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
The peg setter then places the pegs showing the grade for the curb
and runs a cord f rom peg to peg marking the top of the grade and also
the outer line of the curb. The curb setters and helpers place the
curbstones on the concrete base with crowbars and bring each stone
to the correct grade and line.
The concrete base is cut through to the dirt, on the street side, in
line with the curb, so that the brick gutter may be laid at the proper
depth below the top of the curb.
The number of linear feet of curb that can be set varies from day to
day and hour to hour, due to the differences in the dimensions of the
stones, the weather, and other conditions.
Fine grading crew.—This crew, consisting of a foreman, a road
scraper and roller operator, and about 15 laborers, levels the bed of
the street to the proper grade. With the exception of the work done
by the road scraper and a 10-ton roller, all the operations of this
crew are done by hand.
The scraper has a blade (set at an angle), one end of which is nearer
to the front wheels of the machine than to the rear wheels, so that the
dirt as it is cut from the street bed rolls along the blade and off in a
ridge or row, thus making it easy to be shoveled and moved to fill
low places in the bed. Not only does this machine smooth the street
bed and make a more even grade than could be made by hand with
pick and shovel, but it saves much labor. It is operated by one man
and can cut and grade a space about 6 feet wide and 1,000 feet long
in 15 minutes or less. I t can not be used to advantage around man
holes, short turns, or corners, or near the curb; such work must be
done by hand.
The next work after the scraping operation is that of setting iron
pegs in the street bed and running cord from peg to peg to mark the
top of the finished pavement. If the street surface is to be 10/£ inches
thick (8 inches of concrete and 2% inches of binder and top or finish
coats), the bed is so graded that it will be 10%inches below the cord,
the high places being leveled and the low places filled in by laborers
using hand shovels. As soon as the grade is made, the 10-ton roller
is run over the bed, packing the dirt firmly and making it ready for
the pouring of the concrete. The grading and curb-setting crews
(about 30 men) in one day of 8 hours graded 1,900 square yards; the
grading crew alone (15 men) in the same length of time graded 840
square yards.
The foreman of the grading crew orders the bricks for the gutter.
After they are delivered, the laborers of the crew stack them on the
curb so that they will be ready for the gutter crew.
Concrete-mixing crew.—This crew consists of a foreman, with from
25 to 27 men and 7 or 8 trucks.
Cement is trucked to the job and unloaded to the roadbed a short
distance in front of the mixer, and as needed is wheeled directly to
the batch pan of the mixer and unloaded near the front and to the
side of the pan. One man delivers the cement to the pan. Sand
and gravel in the proper proportions are delivered by trucks and
dumped directly into the batch pan. Each truck has three or four
compartments, each with enough sand (1,245 pounds) and gravel
(2,123 pounds) for 1 cubic yard of mixed concrete. One compartment is emptied at a time, the dumper tripping a sheet-iron lever
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LABOR PRODUCTIVITY--- STREET AND ROAD BUILDING
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which loosens one of the gates in the truck and permits the contents
of the compartment to run from the truck into the pan of the mixer.
In tripping the gates of the truck, an iron rod, forked at the end, is
used. Two men open and dump into the pan along with the sand
and gravel four bags of cement for each batch, thus completing the
ingredients required for the batch of concrete. The mixer operator,
by moving a certain part of the machine, then lifts the pan and
dumps the batch into the revolving drum or mixing box. Water for
the batch is obtained by hose from the fire hydrant, the amount
necessary being measured by the mixer operator by means of machin
ery. The batch is mixed for the proper length of time (usually 1*4
minutes), dumped from the mixer to the bucket, and run out on boom
of the machine, whence it is dumped and spread into a form set for it.
As the pan is being filled for a batch of concrete, another batch may
be in the mixer and still another spread in the form. The form is
made of 4-inch timbers, 8 or 9 inches wide, placed 10 feet apart and
extending from a point 14 inches from the curb on one side of the
street to the same distance from the curb on the other side. As one
form is being filled another is set for filling. This work is done by
three men. The concrete, after being dumped and spread by the
bucket of the mixer, is smoothed by five or six shovelers and then
tamped by two men. The tamp used for this is of iron, about
14 feet long and 8 inches wide, weighs about 200 pounds, and has
a handle at each end. During the tamping process one of the
tampers stands on boards which have been laid across the street
from curb to curb, on the newly poured concrete, and the other
tamper stands on the street bed. They lift and drop the tamp onto
the concrete to bring the surface to the proper level.
A form 14 inches wide, 4 inches deep, and about 10 feet long, is set
along each curb to make a channel for the gutter. Concrete to the
depth of about 7 inches forms the base of the channel for the gutter.
The space above the concrete is about 2 inches deep and is for the
brick gutter.
The tampers are followed by a man using a shovel to smooth the
surface so that the binder coat will adhere. The surface finally is
swept with a stiff, long-handled brush.
On hot days, after the concrete is poured, it is sprinkled to prevent
its setting too soon. Five days after pouring, concrete made of
straight or standard cement is tested and is required to stand a pres
sure of 300 pounds or more per square inch. Concrete made with
“ Incor,” or high-early-strength cement, may be tested 48 hours after
pouring; it is used at street intersections and on jobs where streets
can not be closed for more than three or four days.
The amount of concrete that can be poured in one day of eight, nine,
or more hours varies to some extent with the width of a street. A
narrow street requires more frequent moving of the mixer than a
wide street.
The following table shows for each of five days on job A and for
one day on job B the number of hours that the concrete-mixing
machine was in operation, the number of men in the mixing crew, the
number of man-hours for the crew, the number of cubic yards of con
crete poured, and the average number of cubic yards per man-hour
exclusive of the hours of the drivers of the trucks.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The average number of cubic yards poured per man-hour on the fifth
day on job A was only 0.79. The job was completed on that day and
the mixer was in operation only 1x/i hours. The averages for the other
four days are representative. The average by days ranges from 0.97
cubic yards per man-hour on the third day to 1.07 on the second day.
T a b l e 1.—H O U R S OF O P E R A T IO N A N D O U T P U T OF C O N C R E T E -M IX IN G C R E W ON
EACH DAY
M ixing crew
Hours
mixer was
in opera N um ber
tion
of men
Job and days
Job A;
F irst d a y ____________________________________
Second day- ----------------------------------------------T h ird day__ --- -- - -- ------------------ - Fourth d ay ______ --- -- - ----------Fifth day____________________________________
Job B:
One d a y - - - ------ ---------------- - ----------------------
8
8
17 .
25
ny2
4n
M an
hours
worked
Cubic yards poured
Total
Average
per m an
hour (ex
clusive of
hours of
truck
drivers)
27
27
27
25
27
216
216
189
125
220
232
184
132
32
1.02
1.07
.97
1.06
.79
27
297
309
1.04
1 Changed to other work after working 7 hours, as grade a t street intersection was not ready.
2 Stopped b y rain.
2 Job A completed on this day. M achine moved to job B.
4 Two crews; 1 worked 8 hours and the other 3 hours.
Gutter crew.—This crew, which includes a paver, grouter, and three
laborers, lays the gutter on each side of the street in the channel made
for it by a form when the mixing crew poured the concrete. The
gutter extends 14 inches into the street from the curb, has a pitch of
1}i inches, the curb edge being that much lower than the street edge,
and is made of one layer of vitrified bricks, 9 inches long, 4 inches thick,
and 3% inches wide, and sand and cement.
Dry-mixed concrete, made of 1 part of cement and 2 parts of sand,
is spread 1% inches thick in the channel for the gutter. The mixing
and spreading of the sand and cement is done on the job by a laborer.
Other laborers place the bricks along the street near the channel,
within the reach of the paver. The paver smoothes the dry cement in
the channel to an even thickness and lays the brick on it. In laying
the gutter, the paver places a whole brick crosswise of the channel,
then breaks a brick into two equal parts and places one-half at the end
of the whole brick, leaving a crevice of about one-half inch between the
two and making the width of the gutter 14 inches. In the next row
the positions of the half brick and whole brick are reversed so that
the crevice between them is not in line with the crevice between those
in the first row, thus making a broken joint. This process is continued
until the laying of the brick for the gutter is completed. The grouter
pours water on the layer of bricks. The water seeps through the crev
ices to the dry concrete beneath and binds the bricks and the concrete
forming the bottom of the channel for the gutter. He then mixes
water and cement, which he pours on the bricks to fill the crevices
between them and to form a thin coating on top. He sweeps the
cement on the bricks thoroughly to force it into the crevices, thus
completing the gutter. The grouter places sand along the street
edge of the gutter to keep the cement from running from the gutter,
as the top of the layer is about 1}{ inches above the surface of the
concrete in the street.
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[12701
7
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY— STR E E T AND ROAD BUILD IN G
A little less than 4% bricks are required for 1 square foot of gutter
and 40 for 1 square yard.
Binder and top-finish crew.—This crew consists of 1 dumper, 6 forkers
or shovelers, 5 rakers, 2 tampers, 3 or 4 employees who do general
work, and 2 roller operators. Forks are used in spreading the binder
coat and shovels in spreading the finish coat. The number of trucks
used in hauling the materials from the plant to the job is governed
by the distance of the haul.
The 10-ton roller machine used by this crew has 2 rollers, 1 with
a tread of 53 %inches and the other of 54 inches. The roller consumes
approximately 20 gallons of gasoline in a day of 8 hours and 3 gallons
of oil in a week.
This crew places the binder and finish coats, makes any necessary
sidewalk repairs connected with the street work, and may also do
fine grading work.
The binder coat is made of crushed stone and asphalt, thoroughly
heated and mixed at the plant erected for that purpose. It is con
veyed to the job by truck and dumped to the street in small quantities
as directed by the dumper. It is then distributed over the surface
by laborers with spading forks, spread to an even thickness of l){
inches by the rakers, and made compact by the tampers and the
10-ton roller.
The finish coat is made of asphalt, sand, and limestone dust also
thoroughly heated and mixed at the plant. It is hauled to the job
by truck and dumped to 2 steel pans, 10 by 8 feet and 8 by 8 feet,
respectively. It is then distributed over the surface of the binder
coat by the shovelers and spread by the rakers to a thickness of 2
inches, tamped along the edge of the gutters and around the manholes,
and then made compact and smooth by running the roller over it.
The rolling process reduces the finish coat to a thickness of 1% inches.
The steel pans are used to prevent heating the binder coat too much
and also to save time in spreading the material. After enough of
the material has been shoveled from the pans to cover the adjacent
surface of the street the pan is pulled forward by truck by attaching
a wire rope from the pan to the truck.
The finish coat looks very fluffy and light when dumped to the
pans and spread over the surface. This is due to the extremely high
temperature to which it has been heated.
The table following gives performance figures for this crew.
T a b l e 2 —H O U R S O F O P E R A T IO N A N D O U T P U T O F B IN D E R A N D T O P -F IN IS H C R E W
Square yards
covered
Period
worked
Operation
B inder coat
__ _____________ _ _____- ____________
Finish coat_________________________________________________
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[1271]
Hrs.
6
2
6
3
8
3
M in.
0
15
0
35
0
30
M an
hours
worked
T otal
Average
per m an
hour
(exclusive
of hours
of truck
drivers)
120
45
120
72
160
70
3,360
1,180
2,200
1,040
3,045
1,130
28.0
26.0
18.3
14. 5
19.0
18.9
8
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
The lowest performance figure shown in this table—14% square
yards covered—is not representative, as heavy rain had soaked the
sand the previous evening, slowing up the work both at the mixing
plant and on the job.
Sidewalk repair.—The compressor machine is used here to punch
holes in the cement and break up the sidewalk along the curb and at
street intersections. The breaking of the sidewalk is necessary if
there is no parking (grass, shrubbery, etc.) between the sidewalk and
the curb. The broken parts are shoveled by hand into trucks and
hauled away. The place to be repaired is graded to a depth of 5
inches to allow for 4 inches of concrete base and 1 inch of top or
finish (a mixture of sand and cement). The base is mixed at the
plant and delivered to the job by truck. It comes to the job rather
dry, so that it readily absorbs the moisture in the top or finish coat and hastens the setting and hardening of that coat. The concrete is
spread with hand shovels and tamped thoroughly, and the finish coat,
which is mixed on the job, is then applied. A crew of 21 men in a
day of 8 hours loaded and replaced 182 square yards of broken
sidewalk.
Building of Concrete Roads
E f f ic ie n c y or productivity in the construction of roads or public
highways by companies equipped with modern road-building machineery is illustrated by the 1-day record of a company working as
subcontractor on a job in Illinois in 1931.
In one day of 13/2 hours a crew of 87 men, working a total of 1,180
man-hours, poured a concrete slab 3,078 feet in length, 18 feet wide,
and 9 inches thick at the edges, tapering to 6 inches, 2 feet from each
edge and continuing at 6 inches in thickness for the other 14 feet of the
width of the slab or road. A total of 1,113.2 cubic yards of concrete
was mixed and poured, or 2.7 per cent in excess of the theoretical
amount for the dimensions given above. The average cubic yards
per man-day of 13% hours and per man-hour were 12.79 and 6.943,
respectively. These figures did not include the time of the super
intendent, timekeeper, or drivers of hired trucks.
On the day on which the above record was made, the time of
operation was 1% hours more than the nominal or ordinary working
time of 12 hours per day. The 1,180 man-hours actually worked by
the 87 men resulted in an average of 13.56 hours, thus indicating that
one or more men worked more than 13% hours on that day.
The hauling to the job from the railroad siding, a distance of 1%
miles, was done by trucks. As stated, the hours of the drivers of the
trucks were not included in the figures quoted above.
The equipment used by the subcontractor was as follows: 2
concrete mixers working in tandem, 1 subgrade planer, 1 scratch
template, 1 finishing machine, 1 longitudinal float, 2 straight edges,
1 finishing belt, 1 subgrader, 2 caterpillar tractors, 1 roller, 2 rotary
scrapers, 2 leaning wheel graders, 1 form grader, 2 pumps, 1 bin,
2 cranes, 4,500 feet of burlap covering, and 9,000 feet of 8-inch base
forms.
Performance Records of Power Shovels
T h e p e rfo rm a n c e reco rd s in n u m b e r of cubic y a rd s e x c a v a ted an d
lo a d e d o n to tru c k s b y tw o p o w er sh ovels u n d e r a few of th e m a n y
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1272]
'IGURE 1.— DITCH-DIGGING MACHINE, AVERAGING 22 CUBIC YARDS OF
S o i l . P e r M a n - h o u r , a n d r e p l a c i n g 44 M e n
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY— STREET AND ROAD BUILDING
9
and various conditions found in excavating by shovels are given
below.
Shovel No. 1 has a lifting capacity of 16K tons, weighs 37^ tons, is
of the caterpillar tread or type, is operated by a gasoline engine, and
travels at a speed of about 3 miles per hour. When in operation it is
equipped with either a dipper or clamshell bucket, each with a capac
ity oi 1% cubic yards. The operator of this shovel has had many
years’ experience and, under favorable conditions, can load a truck
with a capacity of 3 cubic yards in one minute.
On the job to which the present description relates, before begin
ning the work of loading the shovel operator had to make a roadway
near the shovel large enough for two or more trucks, in order to obviate
loss of time by the shovel in waiting for the trucks to get into position
for loading. Also, more than twenty trees, ranging in diameter from
12 to 20 inches, had to be uprooted and moved from part of the street
right-of-way. The shovel lifted four or five bucket loads of dirt from
around the roots of each tree, and then, placing the bucket against
the tree about 20 feet above its base, pushed it over. The tree was
then lifted and torn entirely clear of the ground. The time required
ranged from 10 to 15 minutes per tree, or at the rate of 4 to 6 trees
per hour and 32 to 48 trees per day of 8 hours. (The construction
engineer estimated that, without the use of the power shovel, it
would take one man a day of 8 hours to uproot one of the trees.)
Laborers with hand axes cut the large trees in two, so that they could
be loaded onto trucks and hauled away, but the small trees were
loaded intact.
Working under normal conditions, the power-shovel operator loaded
278 truck loads, averaging 3 cubic yards per load, or 834 cubic yards in
a day of 9 hours. As the operator of this shovel did not have a helper,
this is an average of 31 truck loads, or 93 cubic yards per man-hour.
A contractor who, during the period 1915 to 1918, used two horses
and a plow to loosen dirt for hand shovelers, stated that 6 men work
ing at the usual speed of an average laborer loaded a wagon of 1%
cubic yards’ capacity in 10 minutes, or 1% cubic yards per man-hour.
At this rate it would take 62 men with hand shovels, working 1 hour,
to equal one houris output of the power shovel (93 cubic yards), not
including the time that would probably be lost in getting the wagons
into position for loading.
The cost per hour for excavating and loading 93 cubic yards with
power shovel was $1.50 for the shovel operator, plus $1.25 for esti
mated depreciation of the shovel, plus 67 cents for gasoline—or a, total
of $3.42. The estimated cost per hour of plowing and loading 93
cubic yards was $1.45 for team and driver, plus $27.90 for 62 men each
at 45 cents—or a total of $29.35, or a little more than 8% times the
power-shovel cost.
Shovel No. 2 has a bucket of only seven-eighths cubic yard capacity,
and has a crew of three men. One of the crew operated the shovel,
another fired the boiler with coal to make steam, and the third worked
as a pitman assisting the operator in the loading. This crew, in
four and one-half 8-hour days, or 108 man-hours, loaded 1,800 cubic
yards of dirt. The average number of cubic yards per man-hour for
this shovel was only 17, as compared with 93 for shovel No. 1; the
difference was due mainly to the difference in the number of persons
87017° — 33-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1273]
10
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
used in the operation of the shovels and the capacity of the buckets.
There was also a difference in the density of the dirt, that excavated
and loaded by shovel No. 2 being much more compact than that
loaded by shovel No. 1. No. 1, with a bucket of 1/ cubic yards capac
ity, was operated by 1 man, while No. 2, with a bucket of seven-eighths
cubic yard capacity, was operated by 3 men. No. 2 was an old type
but had been recently rebuilt and was in good condition. No. 1 was
comparatively new and of the latest and most efficient type.
Machine Ditching Records
T h e ditcher machine has to a very great extent replaced hand
labor in digging ditches for pipe lines for the distribution of water and
gas in cities and suburban districts and for the transportation of
natural gas and crude oil from sources of supply to cities and indus
trial districts for fuel, light, etc. The machine is also used in street
and road work and in ditching for foundations of buildings. It does
the work as well as or better than can be done by hand and is subject
to less delay and loss of time than occurs when work of this kind is
being done by a large gang of men, especially when the supply of
labor is less than the demand, or in extremely cold weather when the
ground is frozen and it is almost impossible to do the work by hand.
The record given below illustrates the efficiency of the machine,
as compared with hand work.
Figure 1 (facing p. 8) shows a machine that can be adjusted to
cut ditches ranging in width from 12 to 24 inches and in depth from
a few inches to 8 feet and 3 inches. The machine is operated by one
man. A laborer who works ahead of the machine clears the route for
the ditch. In 50 minutes the machine dug a trench 210 feet in length,
4 feet deep, and 20 inches wide. This was at the average rate of
approximately 62 cubic yards per hour for the two men, or 31 cubic
yards per man-hour. This rate is a little better than the general
average, as no rock or gravel was found in cutting the ditch, nor was
the machine handicapped by embankments or other unusual condi
tions. The machine, working on the same contract, in one and onehalf 8-hour days cut a trench 20 inches wide, 4 feet deep, and. 2,160
feet long. This was at the average rate of 180 linear feet per hour for
2 men, or 90 linear feet and 22 cubic yards per man-hour. The
contractor said that in digging a ditch in the same soil and under like
conditions, 75 men would be required to dig by hand a trench 1,200
feet long, 4 feet deep, and 20 inches wide, in a day of 8 hours. This
would be at the average rate of 150 linear feet per hour for the 75
men, or 2 linear feet and a little less than half a cubic yard (% ) per
man-hour. At this rate 44 men would be required to dig as much (22
cubic yards) per man-hour as was done by the ditching machine.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12741
T ech n o lo g ica l C h an ges in th e Cigar In d u stry and T h eir Effects
on Labor
STUDY of technological changes in the cigar industry has re
cently been completed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the
results of which are presented herein. Special reference is made to the
machine now being used in the making of long-filler cigars. With
this machine one employee now produces about the same number of
cigars that it formerly required two employees to produce under the
hand method.
The number of small cigar factories in operation is showing a decided
decrease from year to year, while the number of factories with large
output is on the increase.
There has also been a change in factory locations from the larger
cities to the smaller communities since the introduction of machinery.
The production of the 5-cent cigar has shown a remarkable growth
from year to year and now constitutes the bulk of the total cigar pro
duction. While the total production of cigars has shown an almost
continuous decrease from year to year, the total production of cigar
ettes has shown a material increase from year to year.
A
Types of Machines
T h e firs t re a l aid to h a n d w o rk in th e cig ar in d u s try cam e w ith th e
in tro d u c tio n o f th e w o o d en m o ld , w h ich is a w ooden b lock u su a lly
c o n ta in in g 15 c ig a r-sh a p e d grooves fo r th e re c e p tio n of th e bun ch es.
Next came the suction table, which made easier the work of rolling,
and consisted of a metal sheet with a perforated plate in the center.
When the wrapper leaf was placed on the plate it was held on the
perforations by suction created by an exhaust system. The operator
then raised the metal plate by means of a foot pedal, after which a
roller passed over the leaf and cut it in the proper shape on the sharp
edges of the plate.
The stripping machine was later used for the removal of the stem
from the tobacco leaf; it is still in use.
Various types of bunch-making machines were also introduced,
many of which are still in use.
While all of these devices did much to increase production, some of
them were merely conveniences or aids to handwork, and there was
little actual displacement of labor by reason of their use.
However, in the year 1917 there was patented and placed in op
eration the first successful machine for the making of a completely
headed, long-filler cigar in one continuous series of operations. Such
was its success that the number of these machines in operation
showed a material increase from year to year, and it is estimated that
approximately 50 per cent of the United States output of long-filler
cigars is now manufactured on these machines.
Long-Filler Cigar Machine
This machine (see fig. 1) carries out all the necessary operations for
the complete manufacture of a long-filler cigar, from the feeding of the
filler leaf into the machine by the first operator to the inspection of
the cigar by the last operator.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[12751
11
12
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
- The first operator, known as the “ filler feeder,” places the filler on
an endless feed, belt, between a guide and a shear bar which is adjust
able for the length of cigar desired. There is an even distribution of
the tobacco, and with the ends of the filler against the guide bar, the
operator cuts off the other ends with the filler knife. As the tobacco
feeds forward it passes under a row of star wheels and a set of guides
adjusted to the correct height for the size of the cigar. I t then passes
under a second row of star wheels which travel at a slower rate of
speed than the first row, giving sufficient time for the tobacco to be
slightly compressed before being fed against the mechanical measuring
fingers. As soon as the proper amount of tobacco has been pressed
against these measuring fingers, a trip block stops the entire feed
mechanism at this point. When the measured amount of tobacco is
removed, the feed belt and star wheels again begin to operate, bring
ing forward each succeeding portion.
The measured tobacco is drawn by a set of reaper fingers to a pair
of corrugated cutters which trim the ends to shapes determined by
the amount of tobacco required at the head and “ tuck” ends of the
finished cigar. The tobacco that is trimmed off is carried by a return
belt to the filler feed box. The tobacco, now formed to the shape of
a cigar, is pushed forward to the rolling table where the binder, placed
in position by the binder carrier, awaits it.
The second operator, known as the “ binder layer,” places the
binder leaf on the binder die, where it is held down by suction and cut
to the correct form for the type of cigar to be made. The suction is
then transferred to the carrier, which picks up the leaf and deposits
it on the rolling apron. The head end of the binder receives a sup
ply of paste from a paster roller before being rolled around the cigar
shaped filler to form the bunch.
The bunch is softened by being rolled between a knurled drum and
a concave, after which it is placed by thimbles at the head and tuck
ends for the succeeding operations. A set of transfer fingers then
carry it to a crimping mechanism for compression of the head and
tuck to the shape required. Any projecting tobacco at the ends of
the crimper jaws is trimmed off while the bunch is held firmly inside
the jaws. From the crimper the bunch is carried over by another
set of mechanical fingers to the wrapping mechanism. .
The third operator, known as the “ wrapper layer,” places the
wrapper on the wrapper die, where it is held down by suction and
cut to the desired form in the same manner as the binder. It is then
carried by the wrapper carrier to the wrapping device, where the bunch
is revolving between fluted rollers. The head end of the wrapper
receives a supply of paste, after which the wrapper, drawn off the
carrier by the revolving bunch, is rolled in a spiral around it, starting
from the tuck end.
After being wrapped, the cigar is carried by mechanical fingers to
a reroller drum and concave where it is softened, smoothed at the
head end by a knurler, cut to length at the tuck end, and deposited
on the inspection table.
The last operator on this machine, known as the “ inspector,” ex
amines all cigars before placing them in trays. Her duties often also
include the patching of imperfect cigars.
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[1276]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
F i g u r e 2.— M a c h i n e U s e d
for the
Ba n d in g
of
C ig a r s
13
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES IN CIGAR INDUSTRY
These machines are adjusted for the making of only one size or
shape of cigar. With any change in the size or shape of the cigar to
be manufactured it is necessary to change the dies. I t is also nec
essary to have at least two machines, one right-hand and one lefthand, to apply the right or left hand portion of the binder and wrapPe'T'hese machines are not sold but are leased on a royalty basis.
Output with long-filler cigar machine.—Table 1 shows estimates ol
output and of labor displacement by the long-filler cigar machine since
1917, when this machine first came into use. As the table shows, an
enormous increase in cigars manufactured by this process has taken
place, In 1931, when "nearly 3,000,000,000 cigars were manufac
tured on this machine, the services of 17,474 employees were required.
This, however, was less than half the number (38,830) that would
have been necessary had the same number of cigars been made by
hand.
T a b l e 1.—E S T IM A T E D M A C H IN E P R O D U C T IO N O F L O N G -F IL L E R C IG A H S N Ü M B E R
O F M A C H IN E E M P L O Y E E S R E Q U IR E D ,
PLACED
AND
AJib
E sti
m ated
num ber
of hand
workers
required
for same
produc
tion
E sti
m ated
num ber
of em
ployees
displaced
1, 500, 000
9, 000,000
181, 500, 000
371, 250, 000
401, 250, 000
9
54
1,089
2, 228
2,408
20
120
2,420
4,950
5, 350
11
66
1, 331
2,732
2,942
_ - ------------- -------------_______________________
___ ____ _________________
477, 750, 000
632, 250, 000
718, 500, 000
956, 800, 000
1,446, 750, 000
2,867
3, 794
4,311
5,742
8,681
6, 370
8, 430
9,850
12, 757
19, 290
3,503
4,636
5,539
7,015
10, 609
____________ ________________
_______________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
1,824, 750, 000
2,040, 000,000
2, 290, 500, 000
2, 768, 250, 000
2, 912,250,000
10,949
12, 240
13, 743
16,610
17,474
24, 330
27, 200
30, 540
35, 910
38, 830
13, 381
14, 960
16, 797
20, 300
21, 356
1917
191«
E stim ated
machine
production
(cigars)
]9?1
_________________ _____
_ _______________________
_ _________________________
_________________ ______
_ _________________________
1999!
199,2
__________________________________
__________________________________
191Q
1Q9H
1994
1995
1990
1998
1999
1 9QO
1931
OF
E s ti
m ated
num ber
of
machine
em
ployees
required
Year
1997
NUM BER
1
The machine-production figures shown in the above table are
based on an estimated average of what these machines have actually
produced rather than on their potential capacity. In arriving at
these figures the following factors were taken into consider ation. ( )
The fact that the cigar business is a seasonal one and many of the
machines are not in operation the entire year; (2) the fact that the
production on these machines is dependent to a large extent on the
experience of the operators; and (3) loss of time due to breakdowns
and the repairing of the machines. _
.
, ,
With 4 experienced operators working an average full-time week oi
48 hours, one machine will produce approximately 20,000 cigars per
week, or, with an average of 50 full weeks per year, approximately
1,000,000 cigars per year.
.
,
,
The estimate of the average number of handworkers formerly re
quired for the machine production is based on the estimated aveiage
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1277]
14
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
production of cigars per cigarmaker per year. It was necessary in
arriving at this figure to take into consideration the following variable
conditions found under the handwork method: (1) The production per
employee under the teamwork system (with one bunch maker and
two rollers to a team), where the cigar work is divided, is much
greater than under the straight handwork system where the cigar
fs made entirely by one person; and (2) production varies in the
different factories according to the size and shape of the cigar manu
factured, the quality of work demanded by the individual manufac
turer, the condition in which the tobacco came to the worker, the
individual differences in the productive ability of the workers, and
the variations in the length of time operated by different factories due
to seasonal or other conditions.
Employees required by machine.—The number of employees made
necessary by reason of the introduction of the improved long-filler
cigar machine varies somewhat from factory to factory. On the
machine itself there must be 4 employees—1 filler feeder, 1 binder
layer, 1 wrapper layer, and 1 inspector. Considerable variation was
found in the number of other employees. Thus, the number of
mechanics used in the repair and making of new parts averaged, in
one factory, 1 mechanic to each 6 machines used; others had 1
mechanic to each 8, 10, or 12 machines. The average for all the
factories was approximately 1 mechanic to each 8 or 10 machines.
The number of oilers was dependent to a great extent on the amount
of care and oiling of the machines that the management felt was
necessary. In small factories the mechanic often did the oiling also.
The average was found to be approximately 1 oiler to each 25 ma
chines. The additional supervision made necessary by reason of
this machine was dependent on production and the system of the
particular factory, but averaged about 1 supervisor for each 5 ma
chines.
The use of the machine necessitates somewhat more inspection of
the product than was necessary under the hand process. While it is
difficult to determine accurately the proportion of the inspection force
made necessary by the use of the machine, there is approximately 1
additional examiner to each 10 machines.
On the basis of the above figures it was found that each of these
machines requires approximately 4% employees.
Cigar Banding and Cellophane Wrapping Machines
Some cigars are banded only, while others are first banded and
then wuapped in cellophane. However, the most usual method now
employed is to first cellophane the cigar and then band it.
While some factories still operate the cellophane wrapping and
banding machines as two units, it was found that most of the larger
machine factories are now operating these machines as one unit. The
two machines are placed side by side, and by means of a transfer arm
the cigars are transferred from the wrapping machine to the banding
machine, making a continuous operation.
The wrapping machine (see fig. 2) is now quite generally used by all
cigar manufacturers. There are now three or four different types of
machines on the market, their general operation being as follows:
The cigars are placed in the feed in quantities as boxed and in the
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TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES IN
CIGAR IN DUSTRY
15
same order in which they are taken from the trays. They travel
through the machine row by row, so that after they come from the
machine completely wrapped, they are placed in boxes in their original
order and position. A slide in the feed moves the bottom row of
cigars toward the wrapping device, where sets of mechanical fingers
carry them to a swinging arm which transfers each in turn to a rotating
turret.
The cellophane is fed from a roll, in set amounts, to a place in front
of the turret jaws into which the cigar is to be pressed, and there cut
to the proper length. The cellophane is pushed into the turret j aws
by the cigar and there the cigar is wrapped on three sides. A slide
folds up the bottom portion and the turret jaw passes to the next
station. During this movement the top portion is folded down by
rubbing past a stationary plate.
The ends are folded "by four jaws set in pairs; the outside pair
opens and closes horizontally, while the inside pair opens and closes
vertically. While all four jaws are open, they are moved towards
the cigar, close lightly and then draw back, allowing each jaw to drag
with a slight tension. The vertical jaws form a crease in the cello
phane end, while the horizontal jaws fold over on this crease. The
backward movement of the jaws stops a short distance from the
end of the wrapper, where a combination former and sealer starts in
motion and performs the finarcreasing and sealing.
The sealing is performed by making a double bend in the tapered
end of the wrapper. The wrapper is released from the jaws as the
sealing mechanism engages.
After the cigar is wrapped in cellophane, the turret moves to the
discharge position where a spring-operated bar ejects the cigar from
the open turret jaws. A transfer arm then deposits the cigar on a
table in the correct position for packing. While passing through the
machine each cigar makes one complete turn.
The improved cigar-banding machine with an automatic feed will
band and pack approximately 28,000 cigars per day of 8 hours. The
services of only one operator are required where there is an automatic
feed. The duties of the operator of this machine are to keep the
machine supplied with bands and to repack the cigars in the wooden
boxes and fasten the boxes after the cigars have been banded.
Considering the combined cellophane ^wrapping and banding
machines, one operator can handle approximately 25,000 cigars per
day. Where it is necessary to place the cigars in cardboard pack
ages, it is necessary to have approximately one additional operator to
each two machines, due to the comparative slowness of this operation.
Labor displacement.—It is difficult to measure the displacement of
labor by these machines, because the cellophaning of cigars is a com
paratively new operation and was not done under the hand method,
and because the placing of the cigars in the wooden boxes by the oper
ator of this machine is really a division of labor from the hand packing.
However, generally speaking, it may be said that one operator on
this combined machine will in a stated length of tune now wrap,
band, and pack three times the number of cigars formerly banded by
the hand operator.
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
Changes in Cigar industry as a Result of Machinery
T he introduction of machinery in the cigar industry has in general
had the following effects on the industry:
1.
I t has resulted in the elimination of many small hand plants and
has concentrated production in a comparatively smaller number of
large plants using machinery.
e 2. The mass production under the machine method has made pos
sible the production of more and better cigars retailing at not over
5 cents.
3. Because of the space required for the machines, it has resulted
in some change of factory locations from the larger cities to the smaller
communities.
Table 2, compiled from the latest available internal revenue figures,
shows a decrease in the small cigar factories (i. e., those with output of
less than 500,000 cigars per year) from 13,149 in 1921 to 6,976 in 1930.
I t further shows that, while the total number of factories has de
creased since 1921, those manufacturing more than 40,000,000 cigars
per year each increased from 11 in 1921 to 35 in 1930. Of a total of
14,578 factories in operation in 1921, 11 produced 15.7 per cent of the
total output; in l930, 35 of the 7,552 factories in operation made 49.8
per cent of all cigars produced. Stated in another way, 0.46 per cent
of the factories in operation during 1930 produced 49.8 per cent of all
the cigars manufactured.
T a b l e 2 .— N U M B E R O F F A C T O R IE S A N D P R O P O R T IO N O F T O T A L C IG A R O U T P U T
M A N U F A C T U R E D B Y F A C T O R IE S OF C L A S S IF IE D A N N U A L O U T P U T
N u m b er of factories w ith classified
o u tp u t, in operation during—
A nnual o u tp u t (cigars)
1921
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
Per cent of total cigar production
m anufactured b y factories w ith
each classified ou tp u t
1921
1926
1927
1928
1929
13.7
8.0
7.0
5.3
3. 0 2. 6
6.8
4. 3
3. 7
5.3
3. 4 3. 4
3.9
3. 3 2. 4
4.9
2. 9
3.6
18.4 15.6 13.3
16. 0 15. 5 15.0
10. 0 18.4 16.6
15.7 25. 0 33. 2
6.7
2. 4
3.1
3. 2
2. 8
2. 8
9. 4
14. 7
18.1
36.9
5,5
2. 0
2. 8
2. 7
2. 6
2.1
10. 0
13. 4
12. 3
46.7
5. 2
1.8
2 8
2. 5
2. 5
1. 9
8. 4
11. 4
13.7
49.8
T otal _____ ____ 14, 578 10, 247 9, 312 8,753 8,378 7,552 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100. 0
Factories in operation a t
end of year. - _______ 12,105 8, 427 8,110 7, 502 6, 780 6,195
100.0
U nder 500,000__________ 13,149
500,000 to 1,000,000______
510
1,000,000 to 2,000,000____
324
2,000,000 to 3,000,000_____
147
3,000,000 to 4,000,000____
76
4,000,000 to 5,000,000____
73
5,000.000 to 10,000,000____
178
10,000,000 to 20,000,000___
85
20,000,000 to 40,000,000---25
Over 40,000,000_________
11
9,281 8,470 7,997 7,694 6, 976
281
243
222
188
148
196
167
139
127
116
89
88
81
70
61
44
61
52
49
42
53
43
39
30
25
123
147
91
87
72
74
69
69
63
49
42
37
39
29
28
23
28
28
37
35
1930
For taxation purposes the Bureau of Internal Revenue divides
cigars into five classes, according to the price at which they are ex
pected to retail. The table following, based upon the sale of revenue
stamps, show’s the per cent that each of the three principal classes has
formed of the total production in each fiscal year since 1920-21.
I t is seen that cigars of classes B and C have formed a decreasing
proportion of the total each year, while class A cigars (those made to
retail for 5 cents or less) have almost doubled in proportion.
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TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES IN CIGAR IN D U STR Y
T able 3.—P E R C E N T C IG A R S OF S P E C IF IE D C LA SSES i F O R M E D OF T O T A L C IG A R
P R O D U C T IO N IN E A C H F IS C A L Y E A R , 1921 TO 1930
Per cent cigars of specified class formed of total
production in—
Class of cigar
1920-21 1925-26 1926-27 1927-28 1928-29 1929-30
Class A cigars (retail price, 5 cents or u n d e r)________
Class B cigars (retail price, over 5 to 8 cents) ________
Class C cigars (retail price, over 8 to 15 cents)________
30.2
27.8
39.2
43.8
14. 3
39.0
48.3
11.4
36.0
51.3
10.0
36.0
54. 7
, 8.8
34.0
60. 7
6. 6
30.3
1 As determ ined b y B ureau of Internal Revenue, for purposes of taxation.
The following figures, taken from internal revenue reports, show
the production of cigars and of cigarettes by calendar years, 1913
to 1930, inclusive.
T a b l e 4 .—O U T P U T OF C IG A R S A N D C IG A R E T T E S , BY Y EA R S, 1913 TO 1930
N um ber of cigars m anufactured N um ber of cigarettes manufac
tured
Y ear
W eighing more W eighing 3
th a n 3 pounds pounds or less
per thousand
per thousand
7, 571, 507,834
7,174,191, 944
6, 599,188,078
7, 042,127,401
7,559,890, 349
7, 053, 549,402
7, 072, 357, 021
8, 096, 758,663
6, 726, 095,483
6,722, 354,177
6,950, 247, 389
6, 597, 676, 535
6,463,193,108
6,498,641, 233
6, 519, 004, 960
6, 373,181, 751
6, 518, 533, 042
5,893,890,418
1913.
1914.
1915.
1916.
1917.
1918.
1919.
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
1924.
1925.
1926.
1927.
1923.
1929.
1930.
W eighing
more th a n 3
pounds per
thousand
959,409,161
1,074, 699,103
965,135,187
890.482, 790
967, 228,920
847,466, 421
713,235,870
633, 222, 232
670.482, 748
632, 906, 635
505, 305, 490
530, 714, 332
447,089,170
412, 314, 795
439,419, 390
415, 535,410
419,880, 335
383, 069,980
15,105, 776
13.894.359
15,816, 210
22,192,700
24, 596,110
23.413.857
31,888, 910
28, 038, 552
14, 518, 266
17,450,456
18.065.858
16,054, 285
17,428,807
13,239,765
11.432.360
10,403, 004
9, 952, 480
7,366, 925
W eighing
3 pounds or less
per thousand
15, 555,692,661
16,855,626,104
17,964, 348, 272
25,290, 293,911
35,331,264,067
46,656,903, 224
53,119, 784,232
47,430,105,055
52,085,011,560
55,763,022,618
66,715,830,430
72,708,989,025
82,247,100, 347
92,096,973, 926
99,809, 031,619
108,705, 505, 650
122,392,380,846
123,802,186, 217
T a b l e 5 —P R O D U C T IO N OF C IG A R S W E IG H IN G M O R E T H A N 3 PO U N D S P E R 1,000, BY
M O N T H S A N D C LA SSES, F R O M JA N U A R Y , 1931, TO A U G U ST, 1931
Class A
1931
J a n u a r y ...
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch____
A pril___ _
M ay ____
June.........
J u ly ............
A ugust___
N um ber
of cigars
252,620, 780
232,113, 080
291, 397, 080
297, 712, 280
314, 514,100
360, 743, 270
351,843, 340
337,738, 560
Class B
Per
cent N um ber
of
of cigars
total
69.6
64.0
66. 2
64. 7
67.3
69.7
73.5
72.9
14, 584, 000
27, 382, 327
32,148, 003
28, 730, 580
13, 716,427
11, 557, 014
7, 223,013
7, 234,580
Class C
Per
cent
of
total
4.0
7.5
7.3
6.2
2.9
2.2
1.5
1.6
N um ber
of cigars
90,697,140
96,559, 278
109, 260, 970
124, 207, 224
128,653, 790
136,112,290
111, 970, 598
111, 643,830
Class D '
Per
Per
Per
cent N um ber cent N u m cent
of of
of of cigars
of ber
cigars
total
total
total
25.0
26.6
24.8
27.0
27.5
26.3
23.4
24.1
4, 534, 738
6,198, 544
6, 876,610
8, 462, 403
9, 513,814
8,105,331
6,877,418
5,938,089
1 Class D cigars m anufactured to retail a t over 15 to 20 cents each.
2 Class E cigars m anufactured to retail a t over 20 cents each.
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Class E 2
1.2
1.7
1.6
1.8
2.0
1.6
1.4
1.3
502,660
585, 518
789, 747
869, 413
901, 530
995, 754
986,480
700, 585
0.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
T otal
362, 939, 318
362,838, 747
440, 472,410
459, 981, 900
467, 299, 661
517, 513, 659
478, 900,849
463, 255,644
A rb itration in th e D ress In d u stry in N ew York C ity
By N. I. S t o n e , F
orm erly
I m p a r t ia l C h a ir m a n , D r e s s I n d u s t r y
Agreements in the Dress Industry
NDUSTRIAL relations in the dress industry in New York City
are governed by a 4-cornered set of agreements among the four
factors comprising the industry—manufacturers, jobbers, contractors,
and labor. By manufacturers are meant those who operate their
own shops, known in the industry as “ inside” shops; by jobbers are
meant manufacturers who have their garments made in “ outside”
shops, i. e., in shops operated by contractors. However, even manu
facturers who operate their own shops usually have some, and fre
quently the greater part, of their work done outside by contractors.
The agreements governing the relations in the industry are as
follows: (1) Agreement between the Affiliated Dress Manufacturers,
(Inc.) (organization of manufacturers) and the International Ladies’
Garment Workers’ Union; (2) agreement between the Association of
Dress Manufacturers (Inc.) (organization of contractors) and the
same union; (3) agreement between the Wholesale Dress Manufactur
ers’ Association (Inc.) (organization of the jobbers) and the union;
and (4) agreement between the Association of Dress Manufacturers
(Inc.) (contractors) and the Wholesale Dress Manufacturers’ Asso
ciation (Inc.) (jobbers). The last mentioned agreement also governs
the relations between the Affiliated Dress Manufacturers and the
contractors.
For the sake of brevity and clearness, these four organizations,
whose names have a confusing similarity to an outsider, will be re
ferred to in this article as manufacturers, jobbers, contractors and
the union.
The four agreements were signed at the New York City Hall on
the 12th day of February, 1930, and witnessed by Acting Mayor
Joseph V. McKee and Lieut. Gov. Herbert H. Lehman, the latter
having taken an active part in the negotiations between the interested
parties leading to the adoption of the agreements and by wise counsel
and conciliatory spirit having kept the parties together whenever the
long-drawn-out negotiations threatened to break up.
. The general purpose of the agreements is set forth in the fourth
introductory paragraph of the agreement between the manufacturers
and the union, which states that—
I
T he p a rtie s hereto desire to cooperate in establishing conditions in th e in d u stry
w hich will te n d to secure to th e w orkers a living wage, to e lim in a te u n fa ir conditions of lab o r an d san ita tio n , a n d to p ro v id e m eth o d s fo r a fa ir a n d peaceful
a d ju stm e n t of all disp u tes t h a t m ay arise betw een th e d ifferent pro d u cin g fa c to rs
m th e in d u stry , so as to secure u n in te rru p te d o p eration a n d general stab ilizatio n
of th e in d u stry .
The dress industry is a typical needle industry, in which anyone
with a knowledge of the trade can set up in business with a small
capital. I or this reason the industry is always overcrowded with
numerous small shops keenly competing with each other for business.
As the antitrust laws make it impossible for the manufacturers to
18
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ARBITRATIO N IN THE D R ESS IN D U STR Y
19
regulate prices among themselves, the union appears as the sole
stabilizing factor. Given a strong union controlling the entire in
dustry or even the greater part of the industry, the manufacturer
has the assurance that his competitor must pay labor the same
minimum wage as he does. In this way a level is created below
which the industry can not sink.
The dress industry thus furnishes the rather uncommon industrial
phenomenon of an employers’ organization favoring in its own in
terest a strong union. This fact finds expression in the following
language in article 18 of the agreement between the manufacturers’
association and the union:
T he p arties hereto recognize th e necessity ,of unionizing th e en tire in d u stry in
th e m etro p o litan d istric t. In o rd er to b rin g a b o u t such unionization, th e
union will m ake every effort to organize all em ployees a n d shops in th e in d u stry
an d th e Affiliated [D ress M anu factu rers] will cooperate w ith i t in such efforts.
In line with this avowed purpose, the agreement provides for a
closed union shop, in article 2, as follows :
T he A ffiliated agrees t h a t all of its m em bers who produce all or p a r t of th e ir
g arm en ts on th e ir ow n prem ises will m a in ta in union shops, a n d t h a t all of its
m em bers who h ave th e ir garm en ts produced by o th e r m a n u factu rers or p u rchase
th e ir g arm en ts from such m an u factu rers will deal only w ith such m an u factu rers
as conduct union shops.
T he te rm “ m a n u fa c tu re r” w ith in th e m eaning of th is ag reem ent com prises
all ty p es of em ployers- producing g arm en ts on th e ir ow n prem ises, including
m an u factu rers who produce g arm en ts from th e ir own m aterial, “ su b m an u
fa c tu re rs ” w ho c u t a n d m ak e up g arm en ts from goods delivered o r sold to th e m
by th e m erch an t or “ jo b b e r,” a n d “ co n tra c to rs,” who m ake up g arm en ts from
goods delivered to th em in c u t form .
W ith resp ect to establish m en ts co nducted directly b y m em bers of th e Affiliated,
a “ union s h o p ” is one t h a t em ploys none b u t m em bers in good stan d in g of th e
union to perform all o p eratio n s in connection w ith th e pro d u ctio n of th e g a r
m ents, observes th e union sta n d a rd s h e re in a fte r enum erated , a n d com plies w ith
all requirem ents s e t fo rth in th is agreem ent. _
W ith respect to o th er estab lish m en ts a “ union s h o p ” w ithin th e m eaning of th is
agreem ent is one th a t is o perating u n d er a subsisting w ritte n ag reem ent w ith th e
union.
The same strict provision is extended by article 3 to contract
shops for which the manufacturers, members of the Affiliated Dress
Manufacturers, assume responsibility:
F o r th e purpose of carry in g th e provisions of th e above clause in to effect th e
union shall im m ediately su b m it to th e Affiliated a list of all m a n u factu rers who
are operating u n d er c o n tra c ts w ith i t a n d shall a t le a st once in every week no tify
th e Affiliated of all changes in a n d a d d itio n s to th e list.
T h e Affiliated shall im m ed iately fu rn ish th e union w ith a full list of th e m a n u
fa c tu rers w ith w hom its m em bers deal, arran g ed in such m an n er as to in d icate
th e ex act nam es a n d addresses of all m a n u factu rers w ith w hom each of th e re
spective m em bers of th e Affiliated h as dealings. Such list shall be corrected a n d
supplem ented every week.
N o m em bers of th e Affiliated shall em ploy or co ntinue em ploying a m an u
fa c tu re r whose nam e is n o t in cluded in th e la te s t corrected list of “ union sh o p s’
fu rn ish ed by th e union a n d shall n o t o rd er or purchase goods or otherw ise deal or
co ntinue dealing w ith such m an u factu rer.
W henever i t shall a p p e a r t h a t a m em b er of th e Affiliated gives w ork to a non
union m an u factu rer, th e Affiliated sh all im m ed iately d irect him to w ith d raw
his w ork from such nonunion m a n u factu rer, w h eth er such w ork be in process
of operation or otherw ise, u n til th e m a n u fa c tu re r en ters in co n tra c tu a l relations
w ith th e union.
For the first violation of the above provision article 4 provides a
heavy penalty and for a second offense calls for the expulsion of the
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
manufacturer from the association u unless the union agrees to another
penalty. ’ Article 6 prohibits a manufacturer from giving work to or
purchasing garments from any shop whose workers are on strike or
from performing work for such a shop.
The constant advent of newcomers who, with their small shops
with next to no overhead, work havoc with the industry has resulted
in the gradual disappearance of some of the largest and longest-estab
lished firms, so that to-day it is frequently impossible to distinguish be
tween manufacturers’ and contractors’ shops by mere size, many
manufacturers’ shops being as small as and even smaller than con
tractors’ shops; hence the following provision in article 9 of the
agreement against such shops: “ The Affiliated and the union are
in accord that the interests of the industry will be best served by
larger factory units and that factory organizations with less than
12 working machines are undesirable arid shall be discouraged.” A
shop with 12 working machines employs from 20 to 25 workers.
The corner stone of the agreements is the sweeping prohibition of
all strikes and lockouts and the use of arbitration in their stead for
the settlement of any and all grievances, disagreements, and misun ders t andings.
The provision against strikes and lockouts is worded as follows
m article 14:
D uring th e term of th is ag reem ent th ere shall be no general lockout, general
strike, in d iv id u al shop lockout, in d iv id u al shop strik e, or shop sto p p ag e fo r an y
reason o r cause w hatsoever. T h ere shall be no in d iv id u al lockout, strik e, o r
stoppage pending th e d eterm in atio n of a n y co m p lain t o r grievance. Should
th e em ployees m an y shop o r facto ry cause a sto p p ag e of w ork o r shop strik e or
should th ere re su lt m a n y shop or facto ry a sto p p ag e of w ork or shop strik e, notice
thereof shall be given by th e Affiliated to th e union. T h e la tte r o b lig ates itself
to re tu rn th e strik in g w orkers a n d th o se w ho h a v e sto p p ed w ork to th e ir w ork
111 } n e+ u h ° P y 1^ 111 2 j h o u rs a fte r th e re c e ip t b y th e union of such n otice, and
u n til th e ex piration of such tim e i t shall n o t be deem ed t h a t th e strik in g w orkers
have abandoned th e ir em ploym ent. I n th e e v e n t o f a su b s ta n tia l v io latio n of
th is clause on th e p a r t of th e union, th e Affiliated sh all h a v e th e o p tio n to term in a te th is agreem ent. T h e existence o r nonexistence of such s u b s ta n tia l v iolation
shall be d eterm ined b y th e tr ia l b o ard , a s c o n stitu te d u n d e r th is c o n tra c t, on all
th e facts a n d circum stances. S hould a n y m em b er of th e A ffiliated cause a lockAffirn+h!f 0rrll8 shA
°XTT facto ry , no tice th ereo f shall be given b y th e un io n to th e
ffiliated. u h e Affiliated o bligates itself, w ith in 24 h o u rs a fte r th e re c e ip t of
such notice, to te rm in a te th e lo c k o u t a n d to cause its m em bers to reem ploy th e
w orkers, a n d u n til th e ex p iratio n of such tim e, i t shall n o t be deem ed t h a t th e
em ployer hasi forfeited h is rig h ts u n d e r th e agreem ent. In th e e v e n t of a su b
sta n tia l violation of th is clause on th e p a r t of th e Affiliated, th e union shall h av e
th e option to te rm in a te th is agreem ent. T h e existence o r nonexistence of such
su b sta n tia l violation shall be determ in ed by th e tria l b o ard on all th e fa c ts a n d
circum stances.
The other agreements contain substantially the same terms as
outlined above, they are also in substantial accord on such important
matters as hours of labor, wage scales, arbitration, etc. The ricffit
of the employer to discharge his workers is strictly defined and cir
cumscribed, and will be more fully discussed below.
The chief point of difference between the terms of the agreements
°f t*16 union with the manufacturers and that with the contractors
relates to discharge and the conditions governing the settling of
piece rates.
65
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Arbitration
A r b i t r a t i o n is provided for in article 15 of the agreement between
the Affiliated Dress Manufacturers and the union in the following
manner:
All co m p lain ts, d isp u tes, or g rievances arisin g b e tw een th e p a rtie s h ereto ,
involving q u estio n s of in te rp re ta tio n o r a p p lic a tio n of a n y clause of th is a g ree
m e n t, o r a n y a c ts , co n d u ct, or re la tio n s b etw een p a rtie s o r th e ir respective
m em bers, directly o r in d irectly , shall be su b m itte d in w ritin g b y th e p a rty h ereto
claim ing to be aggrieved to th e o th e r p a rty h ereto , a n d th e m an ag e r of th e Alfiliated a n d th e m a n ag e r of th e u n io n , o r th e ir d e p u tie s, sh all m th e first in
stan ce jo in tly in v e stig a te such co m p lain ts, grievances, o r d isp u tes a n d a tte m p t an
a d ju s tm e n t. D ecisions reached by th e m an ag ers or th e ir d ep u ties shall be binding
on th e p a rtie s h ereto.
.
,
.
, ,
Should th e m an ag ers fail to agree th e q u estio n o r d isp u te shall be referred to a
tria l b o ard consisting of one m em ber from each_ o rg an izatio n p a rty h ereto a n d a
p e rm a n e n t u m p ire to b e know n as th e “ im p a rtia l c h airm an _ m th e in d u stry .
E ach case shall be considered on its m e rits a n d th e collective ag re e m e n t shall
co n stitu te th e basis u p o n w hich th e decision shall be ren d ered . No decision
shall be used as p reced en t fo r a n y su b seq u en t case.
_
.
.
T h e p a rtie s hereto shall agree u pon th e choice of a n im p a rtia l c h airm an w ith in
th ree w eeks from th e d a te hereof. Should th e y fail to reach such ag re e m e n t
w ithin such tim e, th e G overnor of th e S ta te of New Y ork shall, upo n ap p lic a tio n
by eith er p a rty , sum m arily a p p o in t such im p a rtia l ch airm an . *
T h e procedure hereinabove o u tlin ed fo r th e a d ju s tm e n t of d isp u te s between
th e union an d th e Affiliated shall also a p p ly to all disp u tes betw een th e unip n a n d
th e W holesale D ress M a n u factu rers’ A ssociation and_ th e A ssociation of D ress
M an u factu rers (In'c.), if a n d w hen such association e n te r in to collective agreem ents
w ith th e union, an d th e im p a rtia l ch airm an shall serve in th a t c a p acity w ith resp ect
to th e d eterm in atio n of all such d isp u tes a n d all d isp u tes betw een th e associations
am ong them selves. All disp u tes shall be h eard on no tice to all p a rtie s in te re ste d
therein.
While arbitration had been practiced in the dress industry for many
years prior to 1930, there had been no permanent arbitrator, the par
ties agreeing upon an arbitrator for each case as it came up. The
present agreements are the first to provide for a permanent, constantly
functioning arbitration machinery.
In compliance with the foregoing provision, the writer was elected
as impartial chairman and performed the duties of arbitrator from
March, 1930, until July, 1931. During his incumbency he rendered
decisions in 177 cases in which every provision of any importance in
the four agreements had to be interpreted and enforced.
It will be noted that the agreement provides for a trial board
consisting of “ one member from each organization, party hereto,
and the impartial chairman acting as arbitrator. In practice, the
two members representing their respective organizations act as
attorneys at the hearings before the board, examining their witnesses
and cross-examining the witnesses of the opposing side.
After the facts have been established to the satisfaction ot all
concerned, the hearing is closed and the trial board meets in executiv e
session, at which the two representatives of their respective organiza
tions, in their capacity of members of the trial board, argue the
case before the chairman. The object of holding the executive
session is to give the partisan members of the board an opportunity
to act in a judicial capacity, or at any rate to enable them to com“
promise in give-and-take fashion, without the embarrassment oi
critical scrutiny of their attitudes on the part of their constituents
who, of course, expect them to fight their battles to the bitter end.
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While men are to be found among the officers of the employers’
organizations and the union who are capable of assuming a judicial,
or at least a semijudicial attitude in the closed sessions of the trial
board, and in this manner help the chairman in shaping the decisions,
as a rule, as time goes on and personal feelings develop in the course
of the daily conflicts, it becomes more and more difficult for them to
maintain a judicial attitude and the task of impartial weighing of
the evidence and of interpreting the intent of the agreement, in
questions where the interpretation of a given clause of the agreement
is at issue, falls upon the shoulders of the chairman.
In practice, while every decision is rendered in the name of the
trial board, the decision is written by the chairman and signed by
him without either of the other two members of the board knowing
its contents until the decision is issued and promulgated.
In the following pages an attempt is made to analyze and explain
the decisions rendered on the most important issues that developed
in the industry during the incumbency of the writer as impartial
chairman, as far as the limitations of space will permit.
Right of Discharge
I n c o m m o n with most of the needle-trades unions, the Inter
national Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union zealously guards the
worker’s title to his job. The worker’s job is his sole means of earn
ing a livelihood and the union exercises all its powers of coercion
and persuasion with the employer, and, failing in that, its right to
air the grievance before the arbitrator before it acquiesces in the loss
of the job by one of its members. It is the one opportunity the
union has of bringing home to individual members of the rank and
file the service it is capable of rendering them personally, on the one
hand, and, on the other, of giving them a realization of its ability to
limit the power of the boss over his workers which, but for the union,
seems unlimited.
The right of discharge is defined in article 29 of the agreement
between the manufacturers’ association and the union as follows:
“ The employer may discharge his workers for the following causes:
Incompetency, misconduct, insubordination in the performance of
his work, breach of reasonable rules to be jointly established, soldier
ing on the job.”
In the agreement of the union with the contractors’ association
this right of discharge is limited to one cause only—“ misbehavior.”
In all other cases the employer is shorn of the power of summary
discharge and can only serve notice upon the union of his intention
to discharge a worker for a stated reason or reasons. Unless and
until the union agrees to the discharges or the trial board sanctions
it, the worker, no matter how detrimental his connection with the
shop may be to the employer, unless he is guilty of “ misbehavior,”
remains employed at full pay. Article 17 of the agreement with
the contractors’ association reads as follows:
(a) N o m em ber of th e association shall discharge a w orker, except for m is
behavior, before a n otice in w ritin g is served on th e union of th e reason fo r th e
in ten d ed discharge. In case of a discharge fo r alleged m isbehavior, a n d it be
d eterm ined t h a t th e w orker be re in sta te d he is e n title d to receive p a y fo r all th e
tim e he stay ed out.
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(6) T he union shall in v estig ate th e notice of th e in ten d ed discharge w ithin
48 hours of th e receip t of sam e. If th e un io n does n o t consent to th e proposed
discharge, th e question shall be referred to th e tria l b oard, w hose decision shall be
final. P ending such decision th e em ployee shall co n tin u e w orking a t full p a y .
Discharge is not the only action by an employer which deprives a
worker of his livelihood. Among cases brought by the union for
review by the trial board were those charging the employers with
lockouts, and with discrimination against their own employees by
sending out work to contract shops while the workers in their own
shops had little or no work to do; those questioning the good faith of
the employer in reorganizing his shop so as to get rid of workers whom
he could not otherwise discharge; and those questioning the right of
the employer to discharge workers because of alleged stoppage on their
part.
Lockouts
M o s t of the so-called “ lockout cases” brought by the union before
the impartial chairman arose from disagreements as to piece rates.
Several had their origin in the effort of employers to reorganize their
business under the stress of the business depression—a procedure
which is permitted under the agreement between the association and
the union.
Of all the lockout cases there was only one which would be regarded
as a typical lockout within the meaning of that term as generally
understood outside of the garment industry. That was case No. 144,
in which an employer asked his cutters, in violation of the existing
agreements, to accept a 20 per cent reduction in their wage rates,
and told them that unless they would agree to accept the reduction,
they need not come back to work the following day. The firm having
declined to appear before the trial board for a hearing (on the ground
that it was about to discontinue business), it was found guilty of a
lockout and declared “ outside the protection of the agreement
between the Affiliated and the union” ; this action gave the union the
right to call a strike in the shop or take any other lawful means to
protect the interests of the workers.
A typical lockout case arising out of a disagreement as to a piece
rate was case No. 146, in which the employer, unable to get his workers
to agree to a piece rate acceptable to him, stopped giving that line of
work to his employees and sent it to one of his contract shops. The
union charged the firm with a lockout on the ground that he had no
right to deprive his employees of work, in order to bring pressure upon
them to accept his rate, instead of submitting the new work to a test
as prescribed in the agreement. In this case the chairman, finding
the two sides only 5 cents apart (the final offer being 55 cents as
against 60 cents demanded by the union), was able, as mediator, to
induce both parties to resume work and come to an agreement as to
the piece rate within a week.
In another case (No. 53) the firm, finding the cost of production in
its own shop too high in comparison with its contract shops, ceased
giving work to its own shop, under various pretexts, assuring its
workers that the shop would be reopened as soon as there was suffi
cient work for it to do, in the meantime clandestinely sending work
out to contract shops.
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The union charged a lockout. The manufacturer denied the
accusation and, when charged by the union with sending work out
while his own employees remained idle, he stated that he had sent
out only an insignificant number of garments (not exceeding 60) for
which it would not pay to reopen the shop.
He agreed to submit his books for examination by an accountant
of the impartial chairman’s office—the usual procedure when the
union challenges the accuracy of an employer’s statement. In spite
of this promise, he refused to show the books to the accountant, where
upon he was declared by the trial board to be guilty of a lockout,
ordered to reopen the shop with his old employees, and directed not
to send work out so long as his own workers were not fully employed.
At the same time the attention of the association was directed, first,
to his defiance of the authority of the impartial chairman in refusing
to produce his books and, second, to his admission that he was sending
work out to nonunion shops in violation of article 4 of the agreement;
for each of these acts he was subject to a fine by his association.
Had this employer acted in a straightforward manner, he could,
under the agreement, have achieved his object of discontinuing
manufacturing on his own premises and have become a jobber, by
applying for membership in the jobbers’ association before the com
mencement of the new season, and by stating frankly to the manu
facturers’ association and to the union that he found it unprofitable
to continue in business as a manufacturer. The jobbers’ association
would then have notified the union of his application, and if the
union objected to his admission to membership by the jobbers’
association it could have brought the case before the impartial
chairman for review.
Quite different was the verdict in case No. 160—another case in
which the union charged a lockout by the employer. This employer,
who preferred to do all his work in his own shops, finding bis orders
in excess of the capacity of his two shops, decided to open an addi
tional shop to take care of a temporary excess of orders. To prevent
any misunderstandings he took the union into his confidence, arranged
to hire all the additional help through the union with the understand
ing that as soon as his two regular shops were able to handle the
orders, the shop would be closed and the help discharged. This
understanding with the union was necessary, since under article 31
of the agreement all workers retained “ after a trial period of one
week, shall be considered regular employees.” At the same time the
employer promised the union that, should sufficient business develop
to keep the new shop busy it might become a permanent addition to
his plant.
One of the newly hired union workers was made forewoman of the
shop. She proved unable to command sufficient authority to get
the right quality of work and was so harassed by her fellow workers
that in spite of the entreaties of the employer, she gave up her job.
The firm, finding itself with no one to run the shop and with the
work of the season slowing down, did not think it worth taking
chances with some new foreman, and decided to close down the shop
and transfer the unfinished work to its regular shops.
The union charged the firm with a lockout on the ground that the
firm, in taking up the matter with one of the union officials, told him
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the work would last for at least two months. The shop having been
open only one month, the union insisted on the reopening of the shop
for at least another month.
In its decision the trial board pointed out the straightforward
manner in which the firm handled the matter, deplored the lack of
cooperation on the part of the workers and the union with the manage
ment, and their lack of appreciation of the opportunity for employ
ment the firm had offered to the union members. In view of the
denial by the firm that it ever gave any assurance of two months’
employment, the trial board accepted the statement of the firm as
against the testimony of the union official, since the opening of the
shop was of a distinct benefit to the union and its unemployed mem
bers and it stood to reason that the union would be glad to see a
temporary shop opened without any inducement of a minimum term of
employment. The union’s charge of a lockout was therefore dismissed.
Quite often the charge of a lockout, by the union, is bound up with
a charge of a stoppage or strike by the manufacturers’ association.
Case No. 42 is typical. In this case the employees, having refused to
accept the price offered them by the firm on a new garment, stopped
work.^ The employer notified the association of the stoppage some
time in the forenoon, but the union clerk in charge of the district
where this shop was located could not be reached until after 2.30 p. m.
He was informed of the stoppage, which was a violation of the agree
ment, and was requested to communicate with the shop chairman (in
each shop the workers or the union designate one of the employees as
shop chairman, who acts as the official spokesman of the workers in
the shop and issues orders to the workers in the name of the union),
so that he might induce the workers to resume work. He refused to
give directions to the shop chairman over the telephone, saying he
must first discuss the matter with the chairman. Asked to proceed
immediately to the shop to adjust the matter, he refused to do so on
the ground that it was raining. Nothing was done by him until the
following morning, when he proceeded to the shop with the clerk of
the association only to be informed by the employer that the workers,
having failed to resume work, had been discharged at the close of the
working-day. The union claimed that the discharge of the entire
shop under the circumstances was in violation of article 14 and, there
fore, constituted a lockout. The association on the contrary claimed
the workers were guilty of a stoppage in violation of the same article
and that as the union had failed to return them to work by the end of
the day, the discharge was justified.
Article 14, after forbidding strikes and stoppages, states that—
Should th e em ployees in a n y shop o r fa c to ry cause a stoppage of w ork or shop
strik e o r should th e re re s u lt in a n y shop o r fa c to ry a stoppage of w ork o r shop
strike, notice thereof shall be given b y th e A ffiliated to th e union. T h e la tte r
obligates itself to re tu rn th e strik in g w orkers a n d th o se who h av e sto p p ed w ork
to th e ir w ork in th e shop w ith in 24 h o u rs a fte r th e receip t b y th e union of such
notice, a n d u n til th e ex p iratio n of such tim e i t shall n o t be deem ed t h a t th e
strik in g w orkers h av e a b an d o n ed th e ir em ploym ent.
The language quoted is so clear and unequivocal that the trial board
had no alternative but to reinstate the workers in their jobs, since the
discharge took place before the expiration of the period of 24 hours
provided for in the clause just quoted. In doing so the trial board did
not find the firm guilty of a lockout; on the contrary it found the
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
workers guilty of a stoppage, as charged by the association, but as the
agreement protects them against discharge for a period of 24 hours
and provides for no punishment for the act, the trial board had to
overrule the discharge (not the lockout) of the workers and content
itself with the following admonition to the union:
W hile th u s sustain in g th e claim of th e union in th e p re se n t case, th e chairm an
w ould fail in his d u ty to th e b e st in te re sts of th e in d u stry w ere he to fail to tak e
official cognizance of th e im p erfect o p eratio n of th e union m ach in ery fo r th e
handling of stoppages.
I t is inexcusable t h a t th e ty in g up of th e w ork of a n e n tire shop should be
h andled in th e leisurely m a n n e r in w hich i t w as h a n d led in th e p re se n t case w hen
th e clerk of th e union assigned to th is case refused to confer w ith th e shop ch air
m an over th e telephone, w hen his a tte n tio n w as called to th e stoppage, a n d re
fused to go to th e shop p ersonally because i t w as rain in g a n d failed to ta k e a n y
steps to h av e a n y o th e r official of th e unio n ta k e th e necessary actio n , w ho m ig h t
be less afraid of exposure to rain . In th is m a n n e r a v alu ab le aftern o o n w as w asted
a n d th e re p eated telep h o n e calls of th e em ployer fo r h elp tre a te d w ith sc a n t a t
ten tio n . T h e 24-hour clause sets th e ex trem e lim it fo r th e re tu rn of striking
em ployees, b u t can n o t be used b y th e union as a shield fo r d ila to ry ta c tic s or
willful disregard of a re q u e st from a n em ployer or th e em ployers’ association to
te rm in a te a stoppag e w hich is causing him serious loss.
The foregoing illustrations are typical of most of the lockout and
stoppage cases, which as previously stated, are mostly the results of
disagreements over piece rates. Another set of lockout and stoppage
cases arises out of efforts of firms to avail themselves of the benefit
of the so-called reorganization clause, described below.
Reorganization
A r t i c l e 30 of the agreement between the Affiliated Dress Manu
facturers and the union provides that “ Each member of the Affiliated
shall have the right in good faith to reorganize his factory. A re
organization in good faith shall mean a bona fide reorganization of
the employer’s business, necessitated by a permanent curtailment of
his business or a fundamental change in the character of his business.”
This provision'was necessary in order to protect the interests of
any manufacturer who, because of a reverse in business, or a change
in the character of his business, may find it necessary to be relieved
of some or all of his employees. Without such a provision in the
agreement such a step would be impossible, since under the union
policy, fairly successfully enforced for many years, every union
worker in the garment industry has what practically amounts to a
life tenure of his job and can be removed only for a definite cause,
clearly defined in the agreement.
Although the industrial depression had already set in at the time
of the signing of the agreement, no attempt was made by any member
of the association to avail himself of the reorganization clause for
nearly a year, until the cumulative effect of the depression drove some
of them to this step. Beginning with the first case, however, the
union took a determined stand against reorganization and contested
every case to the last. This attitude of the union was prompted by
the distress among its unemployed and partly employed members and
the consequent desire to prevent any additions to its roll of the unem
ployed. In this case the presence of an impartial arbitrator, an office
created upon the insistent demand of the union, served to protect the
interests of the employers, as it did for the workers under the clauses
drawn for their benefit.
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The first reorganization case (No. 97) to come up for review by the
trial board raised a broad question of procedure which was of far
more than ordinary importance. The case was not submitted as
a reorganization case, but arose from a charge of a lockout, by the
union, and of a stoppage, by the association.
The case offers an excellent illustration of the plausibility with
which the same action can be called a lockout or a stoppage, depend
ing on the viewpoint of the respective sides to the controversy.
Also, because of its bearing on all subsequent reorganization cases,
the decision is worth reproducing in extenso. On a certain day, so
reads the decision—
T he firm inform ed th e shop ch airm an th a t th e y were going to p u t u p a p a rtitio n
w hich w ould c u t off fou r m achines used by th e operators. T h e firm s ta te d th a t
th e y h ad to m ake th e change in o rd er to h av e tw o se p a ra te sam ple room s to
accom m odate th e req u irem en ts of its tw o designers. T h is change m e a n t th a t
fo u r of th e m achine o perato rs w ould be th ro w n o u t of w ork. T h e shop chairm an
p ro te ste d ag ain st th e anno u n ced change a n d asked th e firm to ta k e u p th e m a tte r
w ith th e association. T h e firm to ld th e ch airm an t h a t he could ta k e i t up w ith
th e union. T h e ch airm an rep o rte d th e m a tte r to th e union t h a t afternoon.
A t 4 p. m . th e sam e aftern o o n , a m a n cam e u p to ta k e m easu rem en ts for th e
proposed change, an d w hen th e w orkers re p o rte d fo r w ork on T u esd ay m orning,
th e four m achines w ere c u t off a n d only eig h t m achines left.
T h e firm inform ed th e o p e rato rs t h a t th e y could decide am ong them selves
who is to rem ain to w ork a t th e 8 m achines, or, if th e w orkers preferred, all 12
could rem ain an d a lte rn a te a t th e m achines on th e principle of eq u al division of
w ork. T h e o p erato rs refused to s ta r t to w ork u n d er those conditions a n d re
p o rted to th e union.
T h e association took th e ground t h a t th e em ployer w as w ith in his rig h ts to
m ake th e change an d as he did n o t discharge a n y of th e w orkers i t w as th e d u ty
of th e w orkers to proceed w ith th e w ork u n d e r e ith e r of th e conditions offered by
th e firm an d th a t if th e y were n o t satisfied w ith th is arran g em en t, th e union h ad
th e privilege of bringing th e case before th e im p a rtia l chairm an in stead of ordering
or app ro v in g th e stoppage b y th e w orkers.
T he tria l bo ard is asked by th e union to pass upon th e follow ing issues:
As regards procedure: 1. W h eth e r th e firm w as w ith in its rig h ts in proceeding
w ith a reorganization of its fa cto ry u n d er article 30 of th e agreem ent, w ith o u t first
n egotiating w ith th e union to th a t end. 2. W h eth e r th e firm w as g u ilty of a
p a rtia l lockout in having proceeded w ith th e arra n g e m e n t w hich th rew fo u r m en
o u t of w ork.
As regards th e m erits of th e case: 3. W h eth e r th e firm ’s actio n can be regarded
as “ a reorganization in good f a i th ” w ith in th e term s of article 30.
T he issue su b m itted by th e association is w h eth er th e union is g u ilty of causing
or approving a stoppage.
1.
R ig h t to r e o r g a n iz e f a c t o r y w ith o u t p r e v io u s n e g o tia tio n w ith th e u n i o n .—
A rticle 30 of th e agreem en t betw een th e Affiliated D ress M a n u factu rers (Inc.),
a n d th e In te rn a tio n a l L adies’ G arm en t W orkers’ U nion provides th a t—
“ E ach m em ber of th e A ffiliated shall h av e th e rig h t in good fa ith to reorganize
his factory. A reorganization in good fa ith shall m ean a b o n a fide reo rganization
of th e em ployer’s business, necessitated by a p e rm a n e n t c u rta ilm e n t of his
business or a fu n d am en ta l change in th e c h a ra c te r of his business. ”
T he union tak es th e position t h a t since article 30 provides t h a t “ E ach m em ber
of th e Affiliated shall h av e th e rig h t in good fa ith to reorganize his fa c to ry ,” it
follows t h a t th e y m u st first ta k e u p th e m a tte r w ith th e union, th ro u g h th e
association, so as to preclude th e union from questioning th e good fa ith of th e firm
a fte r th e actio n h as been ta k e n , w ith o u t its p revious consent.
T he association tak es th e position th a t article 30 gives “ E ach m em ber of th e
Affiliated * * * th e rig h t in good fa ith to r e o r g a n iz e his fa c to ry .” T he
article does n o t say th a t he shall h av e th e rig h t to do so by ag reem en t betw een th e
union a n d th e Affiliated, as is done in a rticle 37, a n d t h a t th erefo re th e re w as no
necessity for th e firm to n eg o tiate fo r th e consent of th e union in ad v an ce of its
action.
D e c is io n . — T he Affiliated ap p ears to h av e th e b e tte r of th e arg u m en t, according
to th e literal w ording of article 30. I t is tru e th a t th e re is no reference to agree-
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m e n t betw een th e union an d th e Affiliated as is clearly pro v id ed in article 37.
On th e o th er h an d , if th e Affiliated w ere to a d o p t th is policy as a rule in all sim ilar
cases in th e fu tu re, i t w ould expose its m em bers to th e risk of in cu rrin g u nneces
sary losses if, upon a p p eal b y th e union ag a in st th e actio n of th e firm , th e tria l
b o ard should decide th e case ag a in st th e firm. A firm m ig h t go to th e expense of
m aking som e costly stru c tu ra l changes in its fa c to ry a n d th e n find itse lf obliged
to te a r o u t all th e stru c tu ra l w ork w hich i t h a d ju s t p u t u p , if th e decision of th e
tria l board w ere to su stain th e claim of th e union t h a t such change w as n o t m ad e
in good fa ith o r w as n o t necessita ted b y a p e rm a n e n t c u rta ilm e n t of th e business
of th e firm o r a fu n d a m e n ta l change in th e c h a ra c te r o f th e business.
T he only w ay to av o id th is a d d itio n a l loss is b y n e g o tiatin g th e m a tte r w ith th e
union in advance an d in th e case of failure to o b tain th e u n io n ’s consent, by a p p e a l
ing th e m a tte r to th e im p a rtia l ch airm an ; In t h a t case, a n ad v erse decision by
th e tria l b o ard w ould a t le a st h av e th e a d v a n ta g e of n o t subjecting th e firm to
th e ad d itio n al expense of first m aking th e stru c tu ra l change a n d th e n being
obliged to undo it.
A p relim inary n e g o tiatio n w ith th e union w ould also h av e th e a d v a n ta g e of
avoiding in te rru p tio n of w ork, as in th e p re se n t case, w hich, w h eth er called a
lockout or a stoppage, causes a loss of p ro d u ctio n to th e firm a n d a loss of e a rn
ings to th e w orkers a n d th erefo re is h a rm fu l to b o th in terests.
I t is th erefo re th e ru lin g of th e tr ia l b o a rd t h a t in th e in te re st of b o th sides,
p lan s h av in g to do w ith th e reo rg an izatio n of a fa c to ry shall be first ta k e n up w ith
th e union th ro u g h th e association a n d in case of failure to com e to a n ag reem en t
p ro m p tly , th e em ployer shall h av e th e rig h t to lay th e m a tte r, th ro u g h th e
association, before th e im p a rtia l chairm an.
As a result of this decision, no attempt at reorganization was made
thereafter without preliminary negotiation_with the union. In no
case, however, did such negotiation result in an agreement, so that
every case had to come up before the trial board. Among the cases
decided in favor of the employers, case No. 127 may be taken as an
illustration of the issues involved.
The firm in question applied for permission to reorganize its factory,
by a reduction of its working force, because of a loss of business and
capital.
In su p p o rt of its claim, th e firm su b m itte d th e re p o rt of its financial condition
p rep ared b y a certified p ublic a c c o u n ta n t a n d checked b y a n a c c o u n ta n t of th e
office of th e im p a rtia l chairm an.
I t ap p ears from th is re p o rt t h a t in th e four m o n th s since N ovem ber, 1930, th e
firm has lost 37 p e r cen t of its c ap ital. A lthough its losses w ere h eav y in N ovem
b e r and D ecem ber, th e firm c o n tin u ed to o p erate w ith its full force in th e hope of
m aking u p th e losses in J a n u a ry a n d F e b ru a ry , w hich a re th e b e st m o n th s of th e
spring season. C o n tra ry to its expectations, how ever, Ja n u a ry likewise show ed a
loss a n d th e loss in F e b ru a ry w as alm o st 10 tim es as larg e as in Ja n u a ry . T he
volum e of business in 1930 w as 22 p e r c e n t below 1929. T h e business of th e
spring season of 1931 shows a falling off of 41 p e r cen t from th e corresponding
period in 1930.
Because of th ese facts, th e firm feels t h a t it can n o t carry on its business on th e
p resen t scale w ith o u t jeopardizing th e to ta l loss of its cap ital. As a n evidence of
its good fa ith , th e firm p o in ts to th e fa c t t h a t as a first step in reducing costs it
reduced th e salaries of th e m em bers of th e firm b y 50 p e r cent. T h e n ex t step
w as to reduce th e salaries of its office help b y from 14 to 20 p e r cen t. I t also has
placed its lo ft in th e h a n d s of a re a l-e sta te a g e n t for lease, w ith a view to ta k in g a
sm aller lo ft so as to reduce th e re n t, a n d as a final step i t finds i t necessary to
reduce its w orking force, w hich is now to o large fo r th e p re se n t volum e of business
a n d is therefore w orking on p a r t tim e. T h e firm feels t h a t unless i t can p ro m p tly
reduce its w orking force, th e co n tin u ed losses w hich i t is su stain in g from w eek to
week will com pel i t to liq u id a te th e business alto g eth er.
T h e union questions th e p e rm a n e n t c h a ra c te r of th e c u rta ilm e n t of th e firm ’s
business, p o in tin g to th e fa c t t h a t th is is a tim e of general business depression in
w hich p ractically all firm s in th e in d u s try h a v e suffered a loss of business a n d th a t
i t is to be hoped t h a t th e firm ’s business will increase w ith th e recovery in general
business conditions. I t feels t h a t th e re d u ctio n of force is u nnecessary since th e
firm has a rig h t to divide th e w ork equally am ong its em ployees on a p a rt-tim e
basis. T h e union also contends t h a t because of th e sm aller volum e of business,
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th e orders are of a sm aller size, w hich necessarily slows up th e w ork an d therefore
th e firm will need a relativ ely larg er n u m b er of people for th e reduced business.
D e c i s i o n .— A rticle 30 of th e ag reem en t u n d er w hich th e firm claim s th e rig h t to
reorganize its business, read s as follows: “ E v ery m e m b e ro fth e Affiliated shall have
th e rig h t in good fa ith to reorganize his facto ry . A reorg an izatio n in good fa ith
shall m ean a b ona fide reorganization of th e em ployer’s business, n ecessita ted by a
p e rm a n e n t c u rtailm en t of his business o r a fu n d a m e n ta l change in th e ch a ra c te r
of his business.”
T h e union questions th e perm an en cy of th e c u rta ilm e n t of th e business of th e
firm. I t is of course im possible to p re d ic t th e fu tu re a n d to say w ith positiveness
t h a t a firm will never be able to recover its business. Ju d g ed b y such a te s t no
firm could p ro v e “ p e rm a n e n t c u rta ilm e n t” of business. W hen, how ever, a firm
h as been losing business, as in th e p re se n t case, fo r a period of m ore th a n a year
a n d each succeeding m o n th is w orse th a n th e corresponding m o n th of th e p reced
ing y ear a n d w hen th e loss of business is accom panied n o t only b y a dim in u tio n
of profits b u t b y loss of c ap ital, w hich is increasing from m o n th to m o n th , to deny
such a firm th e rig h t to reorganize its business so as to sto p its losses w ould be
eq u iv alen t to forcing it to co ntinue in business u n til it lo st all of its cap ital, as so
m an y firm s in th e in d u s try h av e done. T h e fa c t t h a t th e firm h as b y th is tim e
lo st a b o u t 40 p er cen t of its c a p ita l a n d h as reduced th e salaries of its own m em
bers 50 p er cen t is a fu rth e r in d icatio n of th e good fa ith of th e firm in seeking reor
ganization.
I t is extrem ely u n fo rtu n a te t h a t as a m eans of preserv in g its existence, oneth ird of th e firm ’s em ployees m u st lose th e ir em ploym ent. I t only em phasizes
th e need of providing un em p lo y m en t in su ran ce eith er th ro u g h legislation or
th ro u g h th e action of th e in d u stry , as h as been recognized in principle u n d er
article 12 of th e agreem ent.
U nder th e circum stances, it is as m uch in th e in te re st of th e w orkers as of th e
firm t h a t i t be given a n o p p o rtu n ity to save its business an d th e re b y re ta in in its
em p lo y m en t th e g reater p a r t of its w orkers ra th e r th a n t h a t all th e w orkers sh o u ld
u ltim a te ly lose th e ir em p lo y m en t a n d th e firm be forced o u t of business.
O ut of a to ta l force of 69 w orkers, th e firm proposes to re ta in 47 em ployees, or
tw o -th ird s of its to ta l force. T h e firm asks fo r th e privilege of reta in in g th o se of
its em ployees w hich a re b e st su ite d fo r its w ork. T h e union in sists on h av in g
th e w orkers d raw lo ts to d eterm in e w ho is to rem ain. T h e union is opposed to
selection of em ployees eith er on th e ground of efficiency or g re a te r su ita b ility to
th e business of th e firm o r sen io rity of em ploym ent. I t claim s t h a t i t h as an
equal in te re st in all of its m em bers a n d th a t th erefo re all should be given an equal
o p p o rtu n ity b y using th e b lind chance of d raw ing lots.
I t is tru e t h a t so fa r as th e union is concerned, it h as an equal in te re st in all of
its m em bers a n d t h a t if th e union h a d to choose w hich of its m em bers a re to
re ta in th e ir jobs a n d w hich are to leave, i t w ould h a v e a v ery em barrassing ta sk
on its han d s a n d draw ing lo ts w ould p ro b ab ly be th e only w ay o u t of th e difficulty.
I t is equally tru e , how ever, t h a t fro m th e p o in t of view of th e em ployer a n d his
business n o t all w orkers a re alike. Some a re m ore efficient a n d o th ers a re less.
Some tu r n o u t a finer q u a lity of w ork th a n others. Since it is im m aterial to th e
union w hich of its m em bers are reta in e d , so long as th e re is no d iscrim ination
ag ain st an y of th e m on acco u n t of union a c tiv ity , i t seem s b u t fa ir t h a t w hen a
business is struggling u n d er g re a t losses a n d severe com p etitio n t h a t th e firm
should h av e th e privilege to re ta in th e w orkers w ho a re b e st su ited fo r its q u ality
of w ork an d will be m o st helpful to th e firm in m ain tain in g its business.
T here is n o th in g in th e ag reem en t to su p p o rt th e claim of eith er side, b u t it
m ay be of in te re st to n o te t h a t in th e cloak in d u stry , w hich o p erates u n d er an
agreem ent containing th e id en tical reorg an izatio n clause, decisions ren d ered h av e
given th e em ployers th e privilege to choose th e ir w orkers in cases of reorganization.
The trial board therefore rules as follows:
1. T h a t th e firm be g ra n te d its applicatio n to reduce its w orking force so th a t
it will consist of 16 o p erato rs, 5 d rapers, 3 finishers, 1 b aster, 1 h em stitch er,
2 h an d sewers, 1 pinker, 1 exam iner, 3 cleaners, 3 pressers, 2 graders, 2 c u tte rs,
5 sam ple h an d operato rs, 2 sam ple h a n d finishers, m aking a to ta l force of 47, o u t
of 69 em ployees w hich th e firm h a d w hen i t m ade its ap p licatio n on F e b ru a ry 28,
8 of w hom h av e v o lu n ta rily le ft its em plo y m en t since th e n .
2. T he firm is to re ta in th e w orkers w hich it finds m ost suitable.
3. As a m easure of relief to th e w orkers w ho a re to be elim inated a n d bearing
in m ind th e savings th e firm will effect on th e one h a n d an d its stra ite n e d financial
condition on th e o th er h an d , th ese w orkers are to be p a id in full for th e w eek
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ending F rid ay , M arch 27, alth o u g h th e ir em ploym ent will term in ate on T uesday,
M arch 24.
4.
Should th e firm be favored by an increase of business w hich will necessitate
th e em ploym ent of a larg er force, or should an y vacancies occur, such vacancies
are to be filled from am ong th e em ployees now laid off, if th e y are available a t th e
tim e th e vacancies occur.
In a similar case, No. 158, the firm was authorized to reduce its
working force, but “ In view of the fact that the firm has indicated no
preference for any of its employees, the request of the union, that the
determination of which of the employees are to remain shall be made
by the drawing of lots, is hereby granted.” On the question of
compensation to the discharged employees the decision reads:
T he tria l b oard shares th e view of th e union t h a t it is very re g re tta b le th a t
w orkers should lose th e ir em ploym ent w ith o u t com pensation to tid e th e m over
u n til th e y can find a new jo b ; b u t b earin g in m ind th a t th e firm is n o t in a position
financially to m ake such p a y m en ts a n d th a t th e firm is n o t given a n y rig h t of
preference in th e choice of em ployees to be retain ed , th e tria l b o ard is obliged to
deny an y claim for com pensation.
MeTe falling off of business, even if of a permanent character, is
held not to be sufficient ground for reorganization, as will be seen
from the decision in case No. 108:
Owing to business depression a n d g re a t falling off in th e business of th e firm ,
th e firm sublet a p a rt of its prem ises a t 525 S ev en th A venue w ith a view to saving
re n tal, retain in g th e re only its show room s a n d offices a n d m oving th e fa c to ry to
a side street, a t T w en ty -n in th S tre e t a n d E ig h th Avenue, a t a low er re n ta l. T h e
new q u a rte rs proved insufficient to accom m odate th e 18 sew ing m achines w hich
it now has an d th e firm fo u n d itself obliged to reduce its 14 o p erato rs now em
ployed to 10, giving th e union th e choice of e ith e r elim inating 4 of th e o p erato rs
alto g eth er from its em ploy, o r dividing w ork am ong th e 14 o p erato rs on 10
m achines. T he union objected to th e a rran g em en t a n d th e case w as b ro u g h t
before th e tria l board by th e Affiliated D ress M an u factu rers (Inc.) on behalf of
th e firm.
T he firm sta te d t h a t its business h ad dro p p ed from $1,400,000 in 1928 to
$900,000 in 1929 an d less th a n $700,000 in 1930. I t therefore felt w a rra n te d in
reducing its force to th e e x te n t req u ired b y th e lack of space in th e new q u arters.
T he union objected on th e g round th a t th e firm is em ploying several co n tracto rs,
th e force in its p rese n t q u a rte rs being able to tu rn o u t n o t m ore th a n o n e-th ird to
one-half of its 1930 business. I t therefore felt th a t as long as so large a p a r t of its
business w as done in c o n tra c t shops, no c u rta ilm e n t of em ploym ent in its own
shop was w arranted.
D e c is io n .— In these days of business depression a firm is e n title d to th e full
e x ten t of protection w hich is in ten d ed by article 30, w hich g ra n ts th e firm th e
rig h t to reorganize its fa cto ry in good faith . Such a reorganization “ in good
f a ith ,” as sta te d in th e agreem ent, m u st be “ necessitated by a p e rm an en t
c u rtailm en t of his b u sin ess.” On th e o th e r h an d , th e livelihood of th e w orkers,
w hich is w holly d ep en d en t on th e ir jobs, is likewise e n title d to p ro te c tio n u n d er
th e agreem ent.
W ith reg ard to m em bers of th e Affiliated D ress M a n u factu rers (In c.), th e
established p ractice in th e in d u stry , u n d er th e agreem ent, calls fo r preference
being given to th e firm ’s own em ployees before w ork is given o u t to c o n tra c t
shops. T h e c u rtailm e n t of th e business m u st be of such m ag n itu d e as to leave
insufficient w ork for all th e w orkers em ployed in th e inside shop. A ccording to
th e firm ’s own figures, it is still doing a g reater business th a n its p re se n t w orking
force can handle.
T he tr ia l board th erefo re can n o t au th o rize a n y red u ctio n in th e n u m b er of
sewing m achines w hich w ould involve a cu rta ilm e n t of em ploym ent for th e
p resen t force.
Other issues which have been submitted to arbitration involve
stoppages, discharges for causes other than those reviewed in this
paper, the method of settling piece rates, the right of the employer to
change from week to piece work, preference of inside shops over
contractors’ shops, noncompliance with decisions of trial board, etc.
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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND
BENEFIT PLANS
U n e m p lo y m e n t-B e n e fit Plan s in th e U n ited S ta te s
HIS article contains a brief review of the various unemploymentbenefit plans in the United States which were described in con
siderable detail in Bulletin 544 of the bureau, entitled “ Unemploy
ment-benefit Plans in the United States and Unemployment Insurance
in Foreign Countries.” The material on the United States plans was
obtained by representatives of the bureau who made personal visits to
all companies and organizations having benefit plans in so far as the
bureau could learn of the existence of such plans.
In the United States, as is generally known, there has been no
legislation on the subject of unemployment insurance. Such benefit
measures as have been devised have been solely upon private initiative
and under private control.
The bureau’s survey covered 79 unemployment-benefit or employ
ment-guaranty plans, and although the field was not completely
covered, it is believed that practically all important plans, particularly
those in existence prior to the present depression, were included in
the survey.
The number of employees potentially affected by these plans was
about 226,000, but, for reasons noted below, the number actually
eligible to benefit at the time of the survey was considerably less than
this number. The plans were distributed, by type, as follows:
Fifteen company plans; i e., those established by employers
either individually or in groups. These companies employed
about 116,000 employees at the time of this study, and of this
number it is estimated that slightly more than 50,000 were
eligible to benefits.
Sixteen joint-agreement plans, established by agreement between
trade-unions and employers, and covering approximately
65,000 workers. In some instances union membership totals
were used, as the figures representing number of persons eligible
were not available.
Forty-eight trade-union plans, maintained solely by labor organ
izations, either national or local, for the benefit of their own
members. These covered about 45,000 persons.
Without attempting to review these various plans in detail, a
brief summary of the principal features of certain of the outstanding
plans may serve to give a useful picture of the present status of the
whole subject of unemployment-relief plans in the United States.
T
Company Plans
T he 15 company plans, while possessing a superficial similarity,
differ greatly in their methods and in their objectives. These differ
ences are due in part to differences in theory, but perhaps in still
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
greater part to differences in the industrial situation of the several
plants—character of product, seasonal characteristics of demand, etc.
And, in general, the type of plan adopted depended upon the degree in
which the particular company believed that stabilization of employ
ment could be attained in its plants.
From this point of view, the several company plans may be distin
guished as of three main types, although the line of demarcation is
by no means entirely clear in all cases: (1) Plans emphasizing guaranty
of employment; (2) noncontributory plans, with reserve funds; and
(3) joint contribution plans.
Plans Emphasizing Guaranty of Employment
In this group may be placed those plans in which the company
concerned believed that stabilization of employment was practical
and so nearly attainable that steady employment could be promised
its workers, and that any cost involved in the plan would be so small
that it could be carried as part of operating expenses, without the
need of an accumulated reserve fund.
Plans in this group include those of the Procter & Gamble Co.,
the Crocker-McElwain Co., the Columbia Conserve Co., the Con
solidated Water Power & Paper Co., the S. C. Johnson Co., and the
United Diamond Co.
These plans are alike (1) in guaranteeing continuous employment,
or, failing that, compensation for an indefinite or at least a long
period of time to such of its employees as meet certain eligibility re
quirements and (2) in regarding any cost as part of the current oper
ating expenses. They differ considerably as regards the stringency
of their eligibility requirements.
The Procter & Gamble plan guarantees employment at full pay
for 48 weeks in each year to every employee who has at least six
months’ service with the company, whose wage or salary does not
exceed $2,000 a year and who is a member of the profit-sharing plan
of the company. Participation in the profit-sharing plan involves
subscription to a stated amount of company stock, but is entirely
voluntary. Prior to the depression, about 80 per cent of those
eligible were participating in the profit-sharing plan, which gave them
the protection of the employment guaranty, but since the depression
the number of eligibles participating has increased to almost 100 per
cent. In March, 1931, the total number of employees of the com
pany was 5,691, and the number eligible to profit sharing and thus to
the employment guaranty was 4,788, or 84 per cent of the total.
From the inauguration of the guaranty plan up to the present,
including the current period of depression, the company has been
able so to maintain production and employment that steady work
has been furnished to all profit-sharing employees. As a result, the
cost of operating the plan has been insignificant. The company
states that during the present depression there have been no discharges
among the profit-sharing group because of lack of work.
The Crocker-McElwain Co. and the Chemical Paper Manufacturing
Co., of Holyoke, Mass., are associated in management and have a
joint unemployment-guaranty plan. Under the plan as originally
adopted in 1921, factory employees with five years of service with the
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33
company were guaranteed 52 weeks of employment each year at
full-time earnings.
In February, 1931, however, the guaranty was reduced to 44 weeks
per year and 80 per cent of full-time earnings. This change was
made as the result of the depression, which considerably reduced the
business of the company, and thus made the cost of the full-time,
full-wage employment guaranty very expensive. The company stated
that the amended plan will probably remain in effect for the remainder
of the year but was unable to state positively that it would be con
tinued any definite length of time. The company has worked toward
stabilization, through the attempt to coordinate sales and production,
the provision of storage facilities, etc., and prior to the present de
pression production and employment had been very steady for a
number of years. In 1930, the number of factory employees of both
companies was about 570, of whom about 55 per cent were covered
by the guaranty plan. A plan of unemployment benefits to cover
employees having less than five years’ service had been drawn up,
but had not been put into effect at the time of the bureau’s survey.
The Consolidated Water Power & Paper Co., Wisconsin Rapids,
Wis., guarantees its employees either continuous work or compensa
tion for time lost for an indefinite period. The compensation given
in lieu of employment is approximately one-third of the average
monthly wage. There is no other limit on the number or amount of
benefits in a year.
In the four months preceding June 8, 1929, a total of $2,931 was
paid in benefits to 43 employees. Since that time, and including the
period of the present depression, the company has been able to pro
vide work, so that there have been no lay-offs and no benefits paid.
In 1929, approximately 700 employees were covered by the plan.
The cost of the plan is borne by the company, but the plant employs
union labor, and the plan is administered by the personnel manager
and representatives of the three unions concerned through their
regular grievance committee.
The Columbia Conserve Co., of Indianapolis, Ind., differs from the
other companies here considered in that the employees have acquired
more than 50 per cent of the stock, and since June 30, 1930, have been
in practically full control of the company. The employment-guaranty
plan, however, was in existence long before that time. Under this
plan all regular employees, both in office and in factory, are on a
salary basis and are guaranteed full salary for 52 weeks in each year
including vacations. Employees who are not on a salary basis, and
are therefore without this protection regarding employment, are of
two classes: (1) Those employed at the peak of the season and (2)
those who have not yet proved themselves sufficiently satisfactory to
the rest of the organization, regardless of length of service, to be
placed on the regular salary roll. In June, 1931, there were 144 sal
aried workers. The number of nonsalaried workers varies from none
to 75.
The company has endeavored to stabilize the highly seasonal in
dustry in which it is engaged—canning and preserving of various
kinds—and it reports that in 1918 only 7 per cent of the output was
handled in the first 6 months of the year, while in 1928, 33 per cent
was so handled.
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In general, the company has been successful in providing work for
its salaried employees, these being used on maintenance and similar
work when there is no production work. As a result, the variation in
the number of employees has been small. During the present depres
sion, any slack time has been used for educational classes conducted
by the company. Discharges are handled by a works council, and
persons discharged are given a bonus of two weeks’ salary. The com
pany states that no salaried worker has been discharged because of
the depression. All extra costs under the employment-guaranty plan
are paid out of operating expenses.
The unemployment-benefit plan of S. C. Johnson & Son, Racine,
Wis., provides for payments at a fixed daily rate up to a maximum of
200 days, for employees with 6 months’ service. The cost is borne out
of operating expenses, no reserve fund being set up. However, from
the beginning of the plan in 1922, up to and including the period of the
present depression, the company has been able so to stabilize its pro
duction and to regularize employment that the necessity of paying
benefit has arisen only very infrequently, the total cost of this item
in eight years being but slightly more than $4,000. During 1930 and
the first three months of 1931 there were no lay-offs and consequently
no benefits were required.
In the case of the United Diamond Works (Inc.), of Newark, Ni J.,
benefits to unemployed workers were paid as early as 1921. There
was, however, no very formal plan, the company simply paying its
laid-off employees a percentage of their wages for the period of the
lay-off or shutdown. The expense was met out of surplus earnings.
The plan operated very successfully until the present depression,
during which the plant has been shut down for long periods. In
March, 1931, benefits were discontinued, as the surplus was exhausted.
The company states that on the resumption of work it is probable
that the accumulation of a reserve fund for unemployment-benefit
payments will be begun.
Two other well-known company plans belong in this group—those
of the John A. Manning Paper Co., Troy, N. Y., and the Behr-Manning Corporation, Watervliet, N. Y. These are independent com
panies, but operated under similar unemployment-benefit plans up to
April 1, 1931. At that time, the John A. Manning Co. changed to a
contributory plan and the Behr-Manning Corporation was reported
as considering making a similar change.
Noncontributory Plans, With Reserve Funds
In this group are included several plans, which, while being entirely
noncontributory like the plans previously noted (i. e., the cost is borne
wholly by the companies concerned), have attempted to set up reserve
funds to meet the emergency demands of bad years or bad seasons.
Of this type are such plans as those of the Dennison Manufacturing
Co., the Dutchess Bleachery (Inc.), Leeds & Northrup Co., and the
joint plan of three companies in Fond du Lac, Wis.
The plan of the Dennison Manufacturing Co. became effective in
1920. In the preceding three years the company had set aside various
sums as a reserve fund, which, including accrued interest, amounted
to approximately $147,000. No further contributions have been
made to the fund.
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The benefit features of the plan, as modified in January of this year,
provide that employees with a record of six months’ service with the
company shall have a guaranty of a percentage of their weekly pay
provided they are retained on the pay roll. In other words, the
company does not guarantee permanence of employment to any of its
workers, but it does guarantee a minimum to those retained on the
pay roll. Very serious and, in normal times, very successful efforts
have been made by the company to stabilize production and employ
ment, but in the present depression it has been necessary to discharge
too many workers to make a straight employment-guaranty plan
feasible. " Between 1929 and March, 1931, the average number of
employees in the plant declined from some 2,700 to 1,900 and the
average number covered by the plan declined from some 2,300 to
1,600. Discharged workers are given a bonus of two weeks’ pay.
As no extra payments have been made to the fund, it is being
rapidly exhausted, the original fund of $147,000 being reduced to
some $35,000 in March, 1931. It is stated, however, that at the
earliest possible moment the company will begin to build up the fund.
The unemployment-benefit plan of the Dutchess Bleachery (Inc.),
Wappingers Fails, N. Y., is somewhat similar to that of the Dennison
Manufacturing Co., including the provision of a large initial reserve
fund. It was originally planned by the Dutchess Bleachery Co. that
the unemployment fund was to be maintained from the net profits of
the company, and in 1922 the fund had reached the sum of $93,000.
Since that time, however, there has been no available surplus and as
no further contributions to the fund have been regarded as possible
it has gradually been reduced so that in March, 1931, it amounted to
only $11,000. The time is apparently approaching when the fund will
be wiped out. On the other hand, the number of employees subject
to the plan (there being a 12-month service requirement for eligibility)
was as large as it was in 1929, and a decline in the early part of 1931
was attributed rather to departmental reorganization than to slack
work.
Under the unemployment-benefit fund of the Leeds & Northrup Co.
of Philadelphia, a reserve fund was built up by an initial deposit of
$5,000 followed by deposits of 2 per cent of the pay roll, until the fund
was brought up to an amount equivalent to twice the maximum
weekly pay roll during the preceding 12 months. The plan provided
that the fund should be maintained at this point. Benefits are based
on a percentage of earnings and are paid for periods up to 26 weeks
in a year, depending on length of service.
The company employs somewhat over 1,000 workers, of whom
about 90 per cent are covered by the plan. During the depression
employment has remained quite stable, and the company considers
the benefit plan adequate to meet all requirements, even during times
like the present. When business recovery takes place a review of the
plan is contemplated, making the terms more generous. Normally
this company has little seasonal employment and has not suffered as
much from the depression as have many industries.
The Fond du Lac plan was established in September, 1930, by three
manufacturing firms. It is a cooperative undertaking, the companies
agreeing to provide employment for all eligible employees, either at
their own plants or elsewhere, and failing this to pay 65 per cent of
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wages for a period of 100 days in each year. Each company con
tributes 1 per cent of its monthly pay roll to a special fund, out of
which benefit payments are made.
As the plan was not started until September, 1930, experience there
under has been too limited to permit of any important deductions.
Since its adoption and up to April, 1931, there were no lay-offs and
consequently no benefits had been paid from the fund. It was stated
that, prior to the plan’s adoption, turnover ran as high as 40 per cent
per year.
Joint Contribution Plans
All of the company plans in effect prior to the present depression
were noncontributory as regards the employees, the full expense bmng
borne by the company. On the other hand, all the plans known to
the bureau which have been adopted since the depression have been
based on the idea of joint contributions by employer and employees,
either completely so, as in the case of the General Electric Co. and the
amended plans of the Brown & Bcailey Co. and John A. Manning Co.,
or in a modified form, as in the Rochester plan, where the employer
alone contributes in normal times, but the employee is required to
contribute in periods of emergency.
The Brown & Bailey Co., paper-box manufacturers, of Philadelphia,
began in 1927 the accumulation of a fund for the payment of unem
ployment benefits._ The desired amount of the fund was placed at
$7,500, or approximately twice the maximum weekly pay roll in
normal times, and the company was to contribute 2 per cent of weekly
pay roll when it fell below that amount. The fund was ready for
operation in 1929, but no payments were required until April, 1930.
The original plan did not provide for contributions from employees,
but later the plan was changed so that employees contribute 1 per
cent of their wages to the fund when the fund falls below $5,000.
This change, it was stated, was made at the request of the employees.
All employees are eligible for benefits, without regard to length of
service. In a period of business depression the company retains its
entire force and runs on short time, supplementing the earnings of
the employees with payments from the benefit fund sufficient to
bring the weekly wages to an amount which was formerly 80 per cent
of the normal earnings but which was reduced in 1931 to 75 per cent.
The plan has functioned successfully during the present depression.
The number of employees (about 100) has remained stable, and during
the first four months of 1931 the fund has not been appreciably
reduced. Since April, however, it is reported, the strain on the fund
has become severe.
Note might be made in this connection of an entirely separate but
very interesting plan of the Brown & Bailey Co., which provides that
employees laid off on account of the installation of new machinery or
more efficient methods are paid 75 per cent of their regular wage until
new jobs are found. In 1929, 16 employees were discharged for the
reasons mentioned, and 14 of them were paid until jobs were secured,
the longest period of payment being about three months.
The original plan of the John A. Manning Paper Co. (Troy, N. Y.), as
noted above, was one under which the company supported its benefit
system out of operating expenses. In April, 1931, the plan was
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changed to provide for a contributory system similar to that of the
General Electric Co., namely, for a contribution of 1 per cent of wages
by employees, matched by a like contribution by the company, and
augmented, in times of emergency, by a 1 per cent deduction from the
earnings of salaried employees, including officials. The object of the
accumulated fund is to guarantee a minimum of four days a week to
each operating employee for a period determined by the amount of
his contribution to thè fund, plus interest.
Commenting on the experience of the company under the former
plan, the general manager stated that the plan followed in the past
has been found to be entirely adequate in handling seasonal fluctua
tions but has proved to be inadequate in taking care of a major
business depression.
The unemployment-benefit plans of the General Electric Co. are of
particular significance because of the large number of employees con
cerned, larger in total than the combined employees of all the other
companies whose plans are here being reviewed.
Two distinct plans have been set up by this company during the
past year, as follows :
(1)
Unemployment-pension plan in the electrical apparatus plants.
The unemployment-pension plan, which is in force in all the plants
manufacturing electrical apparatus, provides for the establishment of
a fund formed by the contributions by employees amounting to 1
per cent of the actual weekly or monthly earnings of employees so long
as the earnings of the employees exceed 50 per cent or more of the
average weekly or monthly pay, and by a contribution of similar
amount by the company. In times of abnormal unemployment, con
tributions are required from salaried employees and officials, who pay
approximately 1 per cent of their earnings into the fund. The plan
provided that no payments should be made from the fund until an
employee had contributed for 6 months, that the benefit period
should not exceed 12 weeks in each year, and that weekly benefits
should not exceed $20. On account of business conditions, however,
a special emergency was declared December 1, 1930. The emergency
plan contained three important modifications because of the fact that
it was put into effect before a substantial fund could be accumulated.
These provisions include the contributions of 1 per cent of earnings of
all employees of the company except those in the lamp department,
payments only to employees in need of funds, and reduction of maxi
mum weekly payments from $20 to $15. The change, which allowed
benefits only to employees in need, constituted, of course, a funda
mental change of policy, and made of this part of the plan a relief
measure rather than a benefit plan as usually understood.
Since the time of the bureau’s survey (October 1, 1931), it was
announced that beginning November 1, 1931, the rate of contribution
to the unemployment reserve fund would be increased from 1 to 2
per cent and all those on the pay roll on that date should be guaranteed
against lay-off without compensation for a period of six months, the
amount of wage guaranteed being one-half of average full-time
weekly earnings but not to exceed $15.
In addition to the benefit payments due to slack work, the plan also
provided for loans to unemployed workers not to exceed $200, and loi
relief to any employee or former employee of the company who has
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been retired on old-age or disability pension or disability relief, after
investigation by the administrators, and for such a period as they
may decide.
From December 1, 1930, to April 30, 1931, benefits were paid to
10,253 employees, amounting to a total of $549,605.50. This amount
covered payments for complete unemployment, part-time employ
ment, loans, and the relief of distress. The total employment was
about 70,000.
The company stresses the fact that the plan is experimental, and
that it may be changed in the light of experience.
(2)
Guaranteed-employment plan in the 12 lamp works. A study
of the possibilities of stabilization of work and guaranty of employ
ment in the incandescent-lamp department was made by the com
pany in 1930. As a result, a plan guaranteeing 50 weeks’ work of not
less than 30 hours each was put into effect for the year 1931.
All employees on an hourly or piecework basis, with two or more
years of service, are eligible. Participation is optional, and the indi
vidual application of the employee requests the company to withhold
1 per cent of his or her weekly earnings and to credit the amount so
deducted to the employee. The company guarantees 5 per cent inter
est, and the savings, including interest, always belong to the em
ployees; the accumulated principal and interest is paid to them upon
leaving the employ of the company, to their beneficiaries upon death,
or in the form of additional pensions upon retiring.
No expenditures have been made under the plan to this date.
There are about 8,000 employees in all the incandescent-lamp
plants, and approximately 4,500 are covered by the plan.
_ The so-called Rochester plan is the latest and perhaps the most
significant plan to be adopted, since it contemplates the stabilization
of employment in an entire city. It was adopted in February, 1931,
by 14 manufacturing establishments whose employees represent about
one-third of the industrial employees of the city. The number of
subscribing companies has since increased and it is hoped that ulti
mately all employers in the city will adopt the plan. The first pay
ments into the funds will be made during the current year, but no
benefits will be paid until January 1, 1933.
During normal periods the plan will be financed entirely by the
employers. Each employer contributes to a reserve fund annually a
sum up to 2 per cent of his pay roll, the amount contributed depending
upon the estimated amount needed to meet the requirements of the
particular establishment Payments into the reserve fund will be
continued until the fund is equal to five annual appropriations at the
rate of payment decided upon. Any payment made from the fund
after the maximum is reached will be replaced by additional
appropriations at the regular annual rate.
In addition to the payments made to the reserve fund, each com
pany reserves the right, after January 1, 1933, and when a prolonged
period of unemployment sets in, to declare that an emergency exists
and to assess all officials and employees of the company an amount
equal to 1 per cent of their earnings.^ The sums so raised will be
matched by the company and paid into the reserve fund. Each
company will manage its own reserve fund and benefit payments,
there being no provisions for joint management or joint responsibility.
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It is not yet known what percentage of total pay roll the various
signatory concerns will lay aside in_ reserve funds to cover any lia
bility for unemployment benefits arising under the plan. The con
cerns covered are now engaged in an examination of their records for
previous years to form a basis for estimate as to what percentage of
pay roll will be sufficient. The first allotments into the respective
reserve funds must be made within the current year. In this con
nection the Eastman Kodak Co. finds, on the basis of examination of
its records for the past 30 years, that annual payments into the
reserve fund of not more than 1 per cent of the pay roll should be
adequate to cover the cost of the plan for this company.
Joint Agreement Plans
As t h e name indicates, joint agreement plan's are those established
by formal agreements between employers and trade-unions. The
terms are thus a matter of contract and are obligatory upon the
parties during the period fixed in the contract. In this respect they
differ from the company plans, which are established by the employer
and may be discontinued or modified when the employer deems such
action wise.
Of the 16 plans covered by the bureau’s survey, it is of interest to
note that 9 are concerned with the clothing trades and 5 with the
lace-making trades.
Because of differences in emphasis and in benefit provisions, these
16 joint agreement plans may be divided into 3 groups for convenience
of summary: (1) Guaranteed-employment plans; (2) plans providing
against seasonal unemployment; and (3) plans providing against
general unemployment.
Guaranteed-Employment Plans
Two joint agreement plans—That of the shop crafts on the Seaboard
Air Line Railway, and that in the wall-paper industry—provide
simply for a guaranty of steady employment for a set period of time.
The Seaboard Air Line Railway Co. has entered into agreements
with the Federated Shop Crafts annually since 1928 to provide a
minimum number of positions in the maintenance-of-equipment
department of the railroad. In 1928, 1929, and 1930 the guaranty
was made for the whole year, but in 1931 the agreement was drawn
up to permit changes from month to month in the minimum number of
positions guaranteed.
The United Wall Paper Crafts and the employers in this industry
established a guaranteed-employment plan for machine printers, color
mixers, and print cutters as early as 1894. Under the terms of the
agreement prior to 1929, the employee was guaranteed 50 weeks of
work—45 weeks of work at full pay and 5 weeks on vacation at half
pay—provided the factory failed to operate. The employers bore all
costs. In 1929 the guaranty is reported to have been reduced to 40
weeks at full pay. At the time the bureau’s survey was made a new
agreement was being negotiated; pending settlement of terms the
union considered it inadvisable to furnish information regarding cur
rent developments under the plan, and the bureau has not been
informed of the outcome of these negotiations.
87017°—31------4
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Plans Providing Against Seasonal Unemployment
The joint agreement plans in the clothing trades—and these con
stitute a majority of all the agreement plans—are directed to the
problem of the seasonal unemployment which is a regular feature of
practically all these trades, and make no attempt to meet the problem
of cyclical unemployment. Prominent examples of plans of this type
are those existing in the men’s clothing industry of Chicago, New
York, and Rochester. These three plans are based on agreements
between the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and the
employing firms. _In all three cases the benefit features are similar-—namely the provision of benefits to idle workers in the two dull seasons
which occur each year. In the Chicago plan the benefit is limited to
30 per cent of full-time weekly wages, with a maximum of $15 per
week, for a period of not over three and three-fourths weeks each
season, while in New York and Rochester the benefits are somewhat
less. As regards financing, the plans are much more diverse. Under
the Chicago agreement, the employers contribute 3 per cent of pay
roll and the employees 1% per cent of their wages; in New York the
cost is borne solely by the employers; and in Rochester the agreement
calls for equal contributions of 1% per cent of wages from each party,
but because of the depression the employees’ contribution has been
waived.
All of these plans have continued to operate during the depression,
but because of the heavy demands on the fund there has been a
tendency to reduce benefits by lengthening the waiting period, les
sening the benefit period, etc.
The plan in effect in the ladies’ garment industry in Cleveland
differs considerably from those in the men’s clothing industry as
above described. Under this plan the workers concerned are guaran
teed employment for 38 weeks per year. The employers post bond,
up to 10 per cent of their pay roll, to cover any liability arising out
of the guaranty to inside-shop employees. In addition, they pay a
small percentage of their pay roll into a fund to cover peak workers
and outside-shop workers who receive less than 38 weeks of employ
ment. Under this plan employees are entitled to one-half their
usual earnings for the difference between the number of weeks worked
and 38 weeks (the number of weeks of work guaranteed), but with
the provision that the employers shall not be liable beyond the limit
of the funds authorized for this purpose. Prior to January, 1931, the
number of weeks of work guaranteed was 40 weeks per year.
Two joint agreements providing out-of-work benefits for members
of the Cloth Hat, Cap, and Millinery Workers’ International Union,
both dating back to 1924, are now in effect, one in New York City
and the other in Philadelphia. Both plans provide for employers’
contributions of 3 per cent of the pay roll and for benefits of $10 per
week for men and $7 for women for a maximum of 7 weeks per year.
Under both plans the rates of benefit were temporarily raised during
years of business activity. However, since the onset of severe unem
ployment, not only has the rate of benefit been reduced in both cities
but it has been necessary to make further changes. Thus, in Phila
delphia the waiting period before benefits become payable was
lengthened in January, 1931, so that the worker must now accumu
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late two weeks of unemployed time before he is eligible for benefit
for one-half week (formerly he received benefit for one-half week
after losing one week).
In the straw-hat industry of New York City two joint plans are
maintained providing unemployment benefits for members of Locals
No. 3 and No. 45, respectively, of the United Hatters. Both plans
are supported by the employers’ contributions, equal to 3 per cent
of the pay roll. Benefits are paid at the rate of $10 per week for a
maximum of six weeks per year. No changes have been made in the
plan of Local No. 3 since the coming of the present depression, but
the administrators of the Local No. 45 fund have found it necessary
to pay benefits in individual cases beyond the period of six weeks for
which benefit is allowed under the terms of the joint agreement.
An out-of-work benefit fund was started for members of the Amer
ican Federation of Full-Fashioned Hosiery Workers in 1930. The
plan provides for contributions by the employers of 1 per cent of
the pay roll (beginning August 1, 1930) and contributions by the
employees of one-half of 1 per cent of wages (beginning September
1, 1931). As yet it is not known what the rate of benefit, duration
of benefit, etc., will be or when benefit payments will be made.
Plans Providing Against General Unemployment
In this group are included five joint plans in effect in the lace and
lace-curtain industry, which provide unemployment benefits for gen
eral as well as seasonal unemployment. These plans are based on
agreements between the Amalgamated Lace Operatives and the
employing firms in Kingston, N. Y., Philadelphia (two plans),
Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre.
The plan in force in Kingston was established in 1923. By the
terms of the agreement, the union members contribute 50 cents per
week if they earn $18 or over, and the sum so raised is matched by
the employer. Benefits are authorized at the rate of $15 per week,
or a sum sufficient to bring the week’s earnings up to that amount.
The benefit period is indefinite, the aim being to provide each worker
with a minimum wage of $15 per week throughout the year. Be
cause the depression has been so acute and of such long duration, it
has been necessary to reduce the $15 weekly benefit and the amount
now paid is prorated according to the relation the hours the mill
works bear to the normal working hours. At present, $13.50 per
week is authorized, and the lowest amount ever guaranteed was $6.90,
when the mill was on extremely short time.
In Philadelphia there are two joint plans in operation, one for
members of Branch No. 1 who are employed by the Bromley Manu
facturing Co., and the other for members of Branch No. 18 who are
employed by the Bromley Lace Co. These plans were established
in 1924 and 1926, respectively. The terms of benefit under both
plans are identical with those provided in Kingston. However,
both of the Philadelphia employers have temporarily discontinued
their financial support of the plans, owing to difficult business con
ditions. So far, the money left in the joint fund of Branch No. 1
has been sufficient to meet all demands for benefit. The members
of both branches have increased their contributions to the funds;
Branch No. 1 has done so in anticipation of the time when the joint
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
funds will be exhausted, and Branch No. 18 in order to keep up
benefit payments.
The Scranton joint plan between the union and the Scranton
Lace Co. dates back to 1923. The terms of the agreement provide
that any worker earning $15 or more per week shall contribute 50
cents a week and that this amount shall be matched by the employer.
The fund has always been adequate to cover the cost of the benefits
of $15 per week or enough to bring the week’s earning .to that amount
for an indefinite period. A considerable balance is now available
for further payments. •
By the agreement in force in Wilkes-Barre between the union and
the Wilkes-Barre Lace Co., it is stipulated that the union members
covered shall contribute $1 per week to the fund if they earn $17 or
more per week, and that this sum shall be matched by the employer.
Benefits are at the rate of $16 per week, or enough to bring the earn
ings for the week to that amount for an indefinite number of weeks.
These terms were included in the original agreement of 1924, and are
still in effect. The fund is in good condition.
New 'plan of pocketbook workers.—In June of this year, subsequent
to the making of the bureau’s survey, the Industrial Council of
Leather Goods Manufacturers (Inc.) and the International Pocketbook Workers’ Union entered an agreement whereby both employers
and workers contribute' like amounts (2% per cent of pay roll and
earnings, respectively) to an unemployment-benefit plan. Details as
to terms of benefit have not yet become available.
Trade-Union Plans
I n t i m e s of serious business depression practically all trade-unions
render assistance to their unemployed members. As a result many
so-called benefit or relief measures spring up during periods of severe
unemployment and are discontinued when conditions become more
normal. The present survey was limited to plans of a systematic and
more or less permanent character. The survey found plans of this
latter type being maintained by three international unions and by
45 local unions. Owing to the large number of local unions in exist
ence, it is possible that some local union plans were missed, although
it is believed that this occurred in only very few cases.
The total membership of the three international unions and 45
local unions having plans as reported in this survey at present is
slightly less than 45,000, or about 1% per cent of the total tradeunion membership in the country.
The_ unions represented by these 48 plans were 14 in number, but
the printing trades dominated, no less than 32 of the 48 plans being
maintained by unions connected with some branch of the printing
trade. As regards membership, the printing trades were still more
dominant.
National Union Plans
The three national unions which maintain unemployment benefit
plans are the Deutsch-Amerikanische Typographia, the Siderographers, and the Diamond Workers. All three are of small member
ship and of specialized craftmanship.
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The Deutsch-Amerikanische Typographia.is composed of printers
engaged on German publications. The demand for this type of work
has been steadily declining and the decrease in membership from
natural causes has about balanced the decline in demand. The
present membership of all locals is about 541, of whom, however, 120
are pensioners. The unemployment-benefit plan is rather modest,
paying only $6 a week for a total of 16 weeks during each year. The
cost is thus relatively small, and the plan has functioned very suc
cessfully, even during periods of depression.
The siderographers—in a specialized branch of engraving—are less
than 100 in number. There has been very little unemployment, and
the reserve of a few hundred dollars has been sufficient for the de
mands made upon it. The benefits are only $5 a week, but are granted
for a 26-week period.
The diamond workers are concentrated in New York City. The
unemployment benefits are $9 per week for 16 weeks in a year. The
trade has been seriously affected by the depression; the former re
serve fund (derived from a 50-cent weekly assessment) was exhausted
in 1930, and payments have since been made from the general fund
of the union.
Members of the United Wall Paper Crafts engaged as print cutters
in jobbing shops formerly had a trade-union unemployment-benefit
plan, but, according to the general secretary of the union, this was
discontinued in 1929.
The only other national unions which are known to have main
tained unemployment-benefit systems in the past are the cigar
makers and the lithographers. The former discontinued their plan
in 1920 and the latter in 1923.
Local Union Plans
The unemployment-benefit plans maintained by the local unions,
while extremely important, are very similar in principle to those of
the national union and do not require any detailed description. In
essence, the adoption of such a plan by a local union means that the
members as a body are willing to assess themselves, perhaps rather
heavily, in order to assist such of their members as may be thrown
out of work. The differences between the plans are largely con
cerned with the amount and duration of the benefits payable. In
some plans benefits are provided only for dull seasons in the trade,
but in the emergency of the present depression the tendency has
been to do away with this limitation.
The amount of benefit, in the plans under review, ranges from as
low as $5 per week to $35 per week. The duration of the benefit
ranges from eight weeks to an unlimited period. In general ben
efit periods are long, 17 plans having no limit and a number run
ning as high as 26 weeks per year. Moreover, in a number of unions
where the benefit plan formally limits the duration of benefit pay
ment, the period is extended in individual cases when an out-of-work
member is in need. Dovetailing with the benefit plans and serving to
reduce the benefit period for any given individual is the system whereby
available work is divided among union members. Thus, the member
on benefit during one week may take the place of an employed per
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1307]
44
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
son the following week, and the displaced member will accordingly
take on an unemployed status.
A few of the trade-unions have set aside and maintain rather con
siderable reserve funds. This is particularly true under the older
and better-established of the plans maintained by locals of the photo
engravers’ union. In one instance a reserve of $50,000 is provided,
with the further requirement that when the fund falls below $35,000
assessments shall be levied on the members until the original amount
of the reserve is again in hand. There are also locals among the
electrotypers, lithographers, and wood carvers that have established
reserves varying in size from as little as $500 to $25,000. By no means
are all of the funds in such healthy condition, however, there being
cases where it has become necessary to draw upon the defense funds
and the general treasuries in order to meet the demands for benefit
arising out of severe unemployment.
At the same time increases in the rates of assessment for support of
the benefit plans have been necessary. Sometimes this increase is for
a definite number of weeks and is recognized as a temporary measure.
In other instances the higher rate is instituted with no provisions as
to the time for which the new rate of payment will be required. The
rate of assessment varies from nothing, under the plans where money
to meet unemployment payments is drawn from the general union
treasury, to 10 per cent of earnings. Assessments of 50 cents, $1,
and $2 a week are common. Among the high rates of assessment are
those of the typographical union in New York City (4 per cent of
earnings), the bakery workers’ union of Spokane, Wash. (6 per cent
of earnings), and the photo-engravers’ union of San Francisco, Calif.
(10 per cent of earnings).
As illustrative of the trade-union plans, may be cited the plan of
the Printing Pressmen’s Local No. 51, in New York City, established
in 1927. To be eligible for benefits a member of the local must have
been in good standing for one year, “good standing” being taken to
mean that the member has not been in arrears for dues for more than
two months. An unemployed member must, further, report daily for
roll call at 9 a.m. and sign an unemployment card at noon daily. If
a member works as much as two days in the week at any job, he loses
his right to benefit for that week.
For the season beginning May 7, 1931, the benefit payment was
fixed at a maximum of $15 per week per member. Benefit payment
becomes due as soon as unemployment occurs. Originally the benefit
period (June to August, inclusive) was 7 weeks divided into two periods,
4 weeks and 3 weeks, respectively, with a waiting period of 2 weeks
between the 2 periods. This has been changed to make the 7 weeks’
benefit period continuous.
The fund is administered by a committee of five members appointed
by the president of the union. Financial support of the plan is as
sured by special assessments made on the membership. At the time
of the bureau’s survey the rate of assessment was fixed at $8 per
month. When the benefit plan was established, 50 cents was set
aside each month from union dues payments of members to cover
the costs of the plan.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1308]
UNEM PLOYM ENT IN SUK AN CE AND B E N E F IT PLANS
45
Tabular Comparison of Trade-Union Plans
The following table shows for each of the 48 plans the date of
establishment, the number of union members covered, the maximum
weekly benefits, the maximum period for which benefits are paid, and
the assessments made to cover costs of the plans. The statistics cited
are as of April, 1931, or latest available date. In a number of plans
the benefits vary according to marital conditions, length of member
ship, etc. Only the maximum benefits are shown in the table; this
is also true as regards length of benefit periods.
T R A D E -U N IO N U N E M P L O Y M E N T -B E N E F IT P L A N S IN O P E R A T IO N A P R IL , 1931
Trade-union
Present benefits
Ap
proxi
Pres m ate
ent union
M axim um
plan
em M axim um weekly duration
started mber
in 1 year
ship
Present maximum
assessments
National unions
1884
541
16 w k s ...
$1.85 per m o.1
1910
1912
73
300
$5-
26 wks 16 w ks.
$0.50 per wk.
Bookbinders:
San Francisco (No. 31-125) __ 1922
New Y ork C ity (No. 119)- — 1929
Chicago (No. 8)___________ 1930
700
900
1,070
$ 12 -
8 w k s____ 2 per cent of earnings.
10 w k s___ $0.50 per wk.
13 w k s___ $1 per m o., plus $1 per
wk.
D eutsch-A m erikanische Typographia.
Siderographers-----------------------D iam ond w orkers..........................
(2) .
Local unions
Electrotypers:
Chicago (No. 3 )_____
Philadelphia (No. 72)
Lithographers:
San Francisco (No. 17) _
P hiladelphia (No. 14)__.
C incinnati (No. 8)------N ew York C ity (No. 1)
1920
1921
1918
1918
1919
1923
Seattle (No. 45)_________—Photo-engravers:
Chicago (No. 5)---------------- -
1927
C incinnati (No. 13)------------
1916
Philadelphia (No. 7)----------New York C ity (No. 1)-----Boston (No. 3)____________
Cleveland (No. 24)— ------M inneapolis-St. Paul (No. 6)
San Francisco (No. 8 )------B altim ore (No. 2 ) . . ......... —
1917
1922
1922
1923
1924
1929
1929
M ilw aukee (No. 19)-. —---Indianapolis (No. 11)---------St. Louis (No. 10)---------------
1930
1930
1931
1914
$15—
$5.50.
No lim it — 2 per cent of earnings.
792 <£30
15 wks.,* $10 j-No lim it . . $1 per wk.
315 ($20~for
L for 30 wks.4------175
170
190
2, 450
10 w ks___ $0.85 per wk.
13 w ks___
50
days___
$6 ($1 per d a y )----$10_________ 20 w ks___ $1 per mo., plus assess
m ents.
8 w ks____
$5$15.
¡¡I20_
($12~for first 12 wks.,
195 \ $6 for next 12wks.,
[ $14 for 10 w ks.3
630 $20_________
2, 702 $25______________
321 $20_________
243 $35______________
70 $20_________
184 $25______________
102 $15_____ _____ —
1,466
26 w k s ...
>34 w ks__
No lim it..
26 w ks__
. . . d o _____
20 w ks__
12 w ks__
Indefinite
...d o .........
According to need.
($0.50 per mo.
($2 per wk.
$14 in M arch.s
$1 per wk.
Do.
$2 per w k.
$2 per mo.
10 per cent of earnings.
$2 plus one-third of
overtim e earnings.
$2.50 per wk.
$2 per mo.
$0.25 per day, 5 days
per wk.
218
$15.
$15.
—d o ____
No lim it.
26 w k s ...
Printin g pressmen and assistants:
Prin tin g pressm en—
1927 3,500
New York C ity (No. 51)
348
St. Louis (No. 6 )---------- 1930«
Prin tin g - press assistants —
2, 550
New York C ity (No. 23).
$15.
$7-
$8 per mo.
( 7)
N o lim it,_ 3 per cent of earnings.
165
110
$ 10 _
$15 for 5 wks., $1C . —d o —
thereafter.
According to need.
1 Covers all benefits.
2 N ot reported.
3 Regular benefit.
.
4 Emergency benefit; m ay ru n for longer period m special cases. .
s Emergency benefit; period given is approximate, th e benefit being $14 per week w ith a m axim um of
$138 in 1 year.
e Subject to change according to need.
7 No lim it on period, b u t am ount to be paid is lim ited.
3 O peration irregular since 1921.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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46
MONTHLY LABOE EE VIEW
T R A D E -U N IO N U N E M P L O Y M E N T -B E N E F IT P L A N S IN
C ontinued
Present benefits
ApproxiPres m ate
ent
plan union
em M axim um weekly M axim um
started mber
duration
in 1 year
ship
Trade-union
Typographical union:
N ew Y ork C ity (No. 6). . . .
1927
Chicago (No. 16)______ ____
Philadelphia (No. 2)__
Boston (No. 13). _ .
. .
B akery workers:
Buffalo (No. 16)____ ______
St. Louis (No. 4 ) . . . _____
1930
1930
1931
N ew York C ity (No. 22, Bo
hemian) .
W ashington, D . C. (No. 118).
Tacom a (No. 126) ___
San Francisco (No. 24)
Seattle (No. 9)___ ___
Spokane (No. 74) . .
M adison (No. 233)___
Brewery, flour, etc., workers:
New York C ity (No. 1)
W ood carvers: B oston____
Lace operatives:
W ilkes-Barre (No. 2 ) .. .
Philadelphia—
No. 1 (N orth American
Lace Co.)
No. 1 (Quaker Lace C o.).
No. 18 (N orth American
Lace Co.)
...
___
$20
f $1 first w k., $8 for
870 ] next 7 wks., and
[ $5 for next 8 wks.
5,400 $15 io
1,186 $6
1,971 $15
1924» 10,620
Cleveland (No. 53)____ _
T o tal.
O P E R A T IO N A P R IL , 1931—
Present m axim um
assessments
Indefinite . 4 per cent of earnings.
l 16 w k s ...
1
N o lim it
3 per cent of earnings.
do
1 per cent of earnings.
do
Do.
1910
152
18 wks
15 wks
$0.40 per m o.11
(subject
to maxi
m um of
$70).
$10______________ 12 w ks___
1914
1916
1917
1920
380
125
700
525
$12________
$10
__ _do_
$7.50
1924
1925
201
63
$12
$6
1906
1910
290
117
$12
12 wks
do
1924
21
$16
No lim it. _ $1 per wk.
1928
40
$10_________
1928
1925
86 ____do.. ________ _do_ _ _ $2 per wk.
24 $15______________ . . . d o ____
$1 per wk.
1896
1902
174 $4
1,200 $7
do
5 mos
7 mos
4 mos
7 mos
(12).
f$l per m o .'3
\1 d ay’s pay a w eek.'4
$0.50 per mo.
$3 per mo., plus assess
ments.
R m ns
6 per cent of earnings.
16 w ks___ $3.25 per mo.
__do.
1 per cent of earnings.
Do.
44, 648
6 An earlier plan was in existence for m an y years.
10 E x tra allowances in case of dependent children.
11 Plus all fines and receipts from entertainm ents.
12 Costs are m et from general treasury, w ith only occasional assessments.
13 Sum m er rate.
14 W inter rate.
P u b lic U n e m p lo y m e n t-In su ra n ce Sy ste m s in Foreign Co u n tries
HIS review of unemployment insurance in foreign countries is a
summary of material published in Bulletin No. 544 of the Bureau
of Labor Statistics and relates in most part to these insurance systems
as they were in operation about the middle of 1931. Since the
compilation of the data, certain important changes in contributions
and benefits have been made in Germany and Great Britain. An
account of the changes in the systems of these countries is given in
following articles.
Unemployment insurance under public control or authority has been
established by legislation in 18 foreign countries. In two of these—
Luxemburg and Spain—the legislation has not as yet been put into
effect. In the other 16 countries, unemployment-insurance systems
are in active operation. The operation of the unemployment-insur
ance system of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was suspended
in October, 1930.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1310]
UNEM PLO YM ENT IN SU R A N C E AND B E N E F IT PLANS
47
The systems established fall into two main groups, usually distin
guished by the terms ' ‘compulsory” and “ voluntary.” Compulsory
systems are those in which unemployment insurance is made obliga
tory for certain designated classes of workers and under definite con
ditions prescribed by law. Voluntary systems are those in which
unemployment insurance through private organizations is recognized,
encouraged, and even subsidized by the State, but the establishment
of such insurance is not obligatory.
The 18 countries having unemployment-insurance legislation are
almost equally divided between these two types, the legislation in 9
countries being compulsory in character and in 8 voluntary, while in
1 country—Switzerland—the Federal Government subsidizes funds
established by cantonal legislation, the cantonal legislation being in
some cases compulsory and in others voluntary. The distribution of
the 18 countries on this point and the date of the first legislation on
unemployment insurance in each country are as follows :
C om pulsory system :
A u stria ____________________ 1920
B u lg aria___________________ 1925
G erm an y __________________ 1927
G reat B ritain an d N o rth ern
Ire la n d __________________ 1911
Irish Free S ta te ____________ 1920
I ta ly ______________________ 1919
L uxem burg ________________ 1921
P o la n d ____________________ 1924
Q ueensland (A ustralia)------- 1922
V oluntary system :
B elgium ___________________
C zechoslovakia____________
D e n m a rk _____________
F in la n d .:__________________
F ra n c e ____________________
N e th e rla n d s_______________
N o rw ay ___________________
S p a in ______________________
S w itzerland________________
1920
1921
1927
1917
1905
1916
1915
1931
1924
As indicated above, legislation on unemployment insurance is a
recent development. Only two oi the existing systems antedate the
World War.
Coverage >f Systems
One of the most striking points of difference between the several
systems is the extent to which the working population is covered.
No system is complete as to coverage. In all of the compulsory
systems, certain classes of workers are excluded, and in the voluntary
systems, while practically all workers may be permitted and en
couraged to form the necessary unemployment-insurance funds, in no
case have anywhere near all the workers in the country taken advan
tage of this permission.
Under the compulsory insurance laws the following classes are as a
rule excluded: (a) Agricultural workers, (6) employees in small
establishments, (c) independent workers, (d) domestic servants, and
(e) casual and seasonal workers. These exclusions constitute a very
large proportion of the working population in some countries,
particularly where agriculture is the dominant or leading industry.
Table 1 shows the extent to which each of the systems includes or
excludes various industrial groups of employees, and also shows the
number of workers covered by unemployment insurance and, as far
as information is available, the proportion such insured workers form
(1) of all gainfully occupied persons and (2) of all industrial workers in
the country.
The table shows the wide variation m the proportion oi workers
actually insured. Thus, in France, with a voluntary insurance sys
tem, only about 1.5 per cent of all gainfully occupied persons, and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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48
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
probably less than 3 per cent of the industrial workers, are covered,
whereas in Great Britain and Germany, with compulsory systems, 75
per cent of the industrial workers are covered.
T a b l e 1 .— C O V E R A G E O F F O R E IG N U N E M P L O Y M E N T -IN S U R A N C E S Y S T E M S
C o m p u ls o r y s y s te m s
Insured
Country
Per cent in
sured form
of—
W orkers excluded
W orkers covered
N um ber
Australia: Q ueensland..
Population: 755,972.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
324,631.
Population: 6,704,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
3,084,000.
W orkers: 2,200,000.
B ulgaria______________
Population: 5,825,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ie d :
2,600,300.
G erm any------------------Population: 64,104,000.
G a in fu lly o ccu p ied :
32,008,800.
W orkers: 20,500,000.
All workers over 18
whose wage is fixed
b y aw ard or trad e
a g re e m e n t. (In
cludes
practically
ail workers except
as noted in next
column.)
All workers subject to
compulsory health
insurance.
All w orkers covered
by any other branch
of social insurance;
s a ilo rs in s u re d
a g a in st shipw reck;
p u b lic e m p lo y e es
not covered by pen
sion law.
W age earners earning
less th a n 6,000m arks
($1,428) a n n u a lly ,
and salaried em
ployees earning up
to 8 , 4 00 m a r k s
($1,999) a n n u a lly ,
subject to compul
sory health insur
ance.
G reat B ritain......... .........
Population: 45,833,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
19.357.300.
W orkers: 16,400,000.
Irish Free S ta te _______
Population: 2,945,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
1,301,600.
Ita ly _________________
Population: 41,506,000,
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
18.283.300.
All workers un d er
contract of em ploy
m ent or apprentice
ship.
Luxem burg___________
Population: 295,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ie d :
119,500.2
P o la n d .. . . . __________
Population: 30,737,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ie d :
13,523,200.
W age earners over 16
years.
l N o t in operation.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Persons aged 16 and
upw ards u n d e r con
tract of employ
m ent.
W age earners betw een
th e ages of 15 and 60
years.
All workers in indus
trial and commer
cial enterprises w ith
5 or more employees.
2 Y ear 1907.
G ain Total
fully
ork
occu wers
pied
R ural workers, except those
engaged in sugar and pas
toral industries.
170,000
A gricultural and forestry
workers, domestic serv
ants, and apprentices
prior to th e last year of
apprenticeship.
Domestic servants, agricul
tu ra l workers, other than
those employed on model
farms; civil-service em
ployees un d er pension law.
1,180,846
38.0
306, 603
12.0
Persons em ployed in agri 15,600, 000 48.7
culture, forestry, and in
land and coastal fishing,
who live on proceeds of
th eir work and are em
ployed b y other persons
less th a n 6 m onths a year;
and dom estic servants in
agriculture. A gricultural
and forestry w orkers hired
un d er w ritten contract for
a t least a year are obliged
to insure only 6 m onths
before expiration of con
tract.
Agricultural workers and 12,290, 000 63.5
domestic servants.
.d o .
A gricultural workers, home
workers, domestic serv
ants, casual workers, sea
sonal w orkers in estab
lishm ents in operation less
th an 6 m onths in a year.
No specified exclusion_____
75.0
75.0
282, 622
4, 250, 000
(0
(>)
A gricultural workers, do »1,206,000
mestic servants, seasonal
workers employed less
th a n 3 m onths a year,
home workers, and skilled
workers on railw ays or in
road making.
3 900,000 wage earners and 306,000 salaried employees.
[1312]
54.0
(0
■UNEMPLOYMENT
in s u r a n c e
and
b e n e f it
49
plans
T a b l e 1 .— C O V E R A G E OP F O R E IG N U N E M P L O Y M E N T -IN S U R A N C E S Y S T E M S —Con.
V o lu n ta r y s y s te m s
Insured
C ountry
Per cent in
sured form
of—
W orkers excluded
W orkers covered
N um ber
Belgium . . . .
Population: 8,060,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
3,205,200.
W orkers: 2,400,000.
C zechoslovakia___
Population: 14,637,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
6, 014, 400.
W orkers: 4,000,000.
D enm ark . . .
Population: 3,525,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
1,361,800.
W orkers: 800,000.
Finland
. . ___ __
Population: 3,370,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
1,498,000.
France
Population: 41,190,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
21,394,100.
N etherlands
________
Population: 7,833,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
2,722,400.
W orkers: 1,250,000.
N orw ay___ ___
_____
Population: 2,803,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
1,070,400.
Spain .
____ ____
Population: 22,761,000.
G a in fu lly o c cu p ied :
8,094,200.
Sw itzerland5______ __ _
Population: 4,060,000.
G a i n f u l l y o c cu p ied :
1,861,000.
W orkers: 800,000.
M em bers of uneniploym ent funds.
No specified exclusion, . __
641,499
20.0
25.0
1, 733,979
28.0
40.0
M ajority of seam en________
288,428
21.0
35.0
N o specified e x clu sio n ____
68,633
5.0
300.000
1.5
450.000
16.0
36, 000
3.3
«
«
M em ber of labor un- ____d o .—................. ....._
ions paying unem
ploym ent benefits.
W age earners em
ployed in industries
and trades organ
ized in to associa
tions.
M um hftrs of w o rk e rs’
G ain
fully T otal
occu w ork
ers
pied
unem ploym ent
funds.
Wage-earner members
of unem ploym ent
aid associations.
___do_________
_____ __
M e m b e rs of la b o r n n - ____do________ ______ _ _
35.0
ions,
do .
____do.......................... ..............
M em bers of w orkers’ ____do__________ _________
a s s o c ia t io n s a n d
jo in t committees.
M em bers of
ance funds.
insur- ____do__________ ____ _____
323,754
17.5
(<)
40.0
i System not yet in operation.
8 V oluntary as to th e Federal G overnm ent b u t compulsory in some Cantons.
Contributions
A l l unemployment-insurance systems provide for the payment of
regular benefits according to a fixed schedule as to amount and dura
tion. In addition, several systems provide that when the period of
regular benefits is exhausted and the worker is still without a job or
is still in need, special emergency benefits or allowances may be paid
for a further period of time.
Corresponding to this distinction between regular and emergency
benefits, there is a distinction between regular and emergency
contributions.
The funds for the regular benefits are made up by contributions
from at least two of the following parties—the workers, the employers,
and the public. These contributions are established on some form
of actuarial calculation, with the object of making contributions and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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50
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
benefits balance. Experience has frequently shown that the actuarial
calculation underestimated the number of unemployed in a period of
severe depression, but, in general, the more serious problem has been
that arising from the effort of certain systems to take care, under a
plan of emergency benefits, of beneficiaries who have exhausted their
claims under the regular benefit.
To meet such an emergency, special funds are formed either by re
quiring increased contributions from the regular contributors, or, as
has been done in the majority of the countries concerned, by placing
this added cost entirely upon the public treasury. If no special funds
are set up, the emergency benefits may be paid out of the regular
insurance funds, thereby causing a deficiency which must sooner or
later be met from the public treasury in the form of special grants,
subsidies, or “ loans” to the insurance funds. These public subsidies
and loans, whether granted at regular intervals or otherwise, are in
fact emergency contributions made by the public.
Most, but not all, of the foreign countries having unemploymentinsurance systems and experiencing prolonged and severe unemploy
ment provide emergency benefits in one or another form.
The character and rates of contributions under the various unem
ployment-insurance systems are shown in detail in Table 2.
Regular Contributions
As indicated in Table 2, the parties required to contribute to the
regular insurance funds differ, from country to country, as follows :
(1) The insured workers, the employers, and the public all con
tribute in Bulgaria, Denmark, Great Britain, Irish Free State,
Luxemburg,1 Poland, Queensland, and Switzerland (in a number of
Cantons).
(2) Only the insured workers and the employers contribute in
Austria, Germany, and Italy.
(3) Only the insured workers and the public contribute in Belgium,
Czechoslovakia, Finland, France (with the exception of one fund to
which the employers also contribute), Netherlands, Norway, and
Switzerland (in most of the Cantons).
The amount of regular contribution per insured worker represents—
(1) A percentage of wages or salary, in Austria, Germany, Italy,
and Poland.
(2) Flat or fixed rates in Belgium, Bulgaria, and Queensland, and
flat rates, varying with the age and sex of the insured worker, in
Great Britain and Irish Free State.
(3) Variable sums, in accordance with actual benefit expenditures,
in Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Netherlands, Norway,
and Switzerland.
As regards the relative amounts of contributions by the different
parties—
Equal contributions are made by the workers, employers, and the
public in Bulgaria, Luxemburg, Norway, and Queensland, and by the
insured workers and employers in Austria, Germany, and Italy.
Employers contribute more than the insured workers in Great
Britain, Irish Free State, and Poland, and less than the insured workers
in Denmark and Switzerland (in a number of Cantons).
1Insurance no t yet in effect.
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[1314]
UNEM PLO YM ENT IN SU R A N C E AND B E N E F IT PLA N S
51
The public contributes more than the insured workers in Belgium,
Czechoslovakia, Finland, Great Britain, Irish Free State, Netherlands,
Poland, and Switzerland, but less than the insured workers in Den
mark and France.
The amount of contributions as expressed in money units varies
greatly from country to country and in some cases from group to
group in the same country. For example, the workers’ weekly con
tribution, expressed in United States currency, varies from 0.72 cent in
Bulgaria to 12 cents in Queensland and 14 cents (for adult male
workers) in Great Britain.
Emergency Contributions
Emergency funds are provided (and in consequence emergency
contributions must be paid by one or more parties) in all countries
having unemployment-insurance systems, except Bulgaria, Finland,
Irish Free State, Italy, Luxemburg, and Queensland. Emergency
contributions are made by all three parties—the insured, the em
ployers, and the public-—in one country only, namely, in Austria.
The insured and the public contribute in Denmark, and employers
contribute in one Canton in Switzerland. In the rest of the coun
tries maintaining emergency funds, the public alone pays the emer
gency contributions. If emergency benefits are paid out of the
regular insurance funds, then any shortage caused thereby is covered
out of the public treasury, as, for instance, in Great Britain and
Germany.
T a b l e 2 . — C O N T R IB U T IO N S TO T H E P U B L IC U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN S U R A N C E F U N D S
IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S
C o m p u ls o r y s y s te m s
[Amounts of m oney are given in U nited States currency]
C ountry
Regular contributions
36 cents per insured per week, paid in equal shares
A ustralia:
Queensland.
b y insured, employers, and G overnm ent.
A ustria________ Wage earners: 90 per cent of w eekly contributions
for health insurance, paid in equal shares by
insured and employers—in lowest wage class,
7 cents, in highest wage class, 34 cents.
Salaried employees: 3.4 per cent of salary, paid in
equal shares b y insured and employers. Federal
G overnm ent contributes to adm inistrative costs
b y paying l/ s of expenses of district industrial
commissions and unem ploym ent offices.
BulgariaGerman y .
Great B ritain
and N orthern
Ireland.
Insured, employer, and G overnm ent, each 0.72
cents per insured per week.
6.5 per cent of basic wage or salary u p to $68.40 per
m onth, paid in equal shares b y insured and em
ployer. State covers a n y deficits.
W eekly contributions as follows:
Em
in - ploysured er State T otal
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
M ales—
21 and un d er 65 years . 14.2 16.2 15.2 45.6
18 and under 21 years. 12.2 14.2 13.2 39.5
7.1 8.1 7.6 22.8
U nder 18 years______
Females—
21 and under 65 years. 12.2 14.2 13.2 39.5
18 and un d er 21 years- 10.1 12.2 11.2 33.5
U nder 18 years.......... 6.1 7.1 6.6 19.8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1315]
Em ergency contributions
N o emergency fund.
C ontributions are divided as
follows: Insured, Yxv, em
ployers, 3/-[2 ; Federal G overn
m ent, Ÿ1 2 ; and Province, Y u .
For wage earners, em ployers’
and workers’ contributions
m ay not exceed 45 per cent
of sickness insurance prem i
ums; for salaried employees,
0.2 per cent of salary for each
5 per cent of contributions
made for wage earners.
N o provision.
State
Yu.
not
S tate
% and local government
Insured and employers do
contribute.
bears all expense.
52
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T a b l e 2 .—C O N T R IB U T IO N S TO T H E P U B L IC U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN S U R A N C E F U N D S
IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —Continued
C o m p u ls o r y s y s te m s -—C o n tin u ed
C ountry
Regular contributions
Irish Free State- W eekly contributions, as follows:
Em In- ploysured er
Total
Cts. Cts. Cts.
M en ......................................___ 12.2 14.2 26.4
W omen, ______ _ ._____ . . . . 10.1 12.2 22.3
Boys (16 to 18 years)____ ___
6.1
7.1 13.2
Girls (16 to 18 years)__ _ . . . .
5.3
6. 1 11.2
State: Three-sevenths of total contribution of
insured and employer.
Italy.
W eekly contribution, paid in equal shares b y in
sured and em ployer (State and provincial govern
m ents do no t contribute):
D aily wage:
C ontribution (cents)
U p to 21 cents___________ ____ _______ 1. 8
From 21 to 42 cents_________ _______ 3. 7
Over 42 cents_______________________ 5. 5
Luxem burg 1___ 25 per cent each b y insured, em ployer, State, local
governments, and m unicipalities (am ount no t yet
decided).
Poland.
Wage earners: T otal contribution, 3 per cent of
wages—insured, 0.5 per cent; employer, 1.5 per
cent; public, 1 per cent.
Salaried employees: T otal contribution, 2 per cent of
salary; on m onthly salaries un d er $6.73 employer
pays all; on salaries from $6.73 to $44.88 employer
pays j i and insured %; on salaries from $44.88 to
$89.76 employer and insured p ay in equal shares;
and on salaries over $89.76 em ployer pays % and
insured jo.
Em ergency contributions
No emergency fund.
Do.
Do.
Local governm ent
expense.
bears
all
V o l u n t a r y s y s te m s
Belgium ______ In sured, 2.78 cents per week; State, tw o-thirds of
fees of insured; local governm ent according to need;
employers do no t contribute.
Czechoslovakia— L abor union fees in am ounts actually needed. State
contributes from three to four tim es th e benefit
granted b y fund.
D enm ark__ . . .
Insured worker, am ount varying according to need
of fund (from 59 to 87 per cent of to tal contribu
tion) ; employer, per annum , 80 cents p er in d u s
trial worker, and 54 cents p er ru ral worker; State,
per cent of m em bership fees, varying from 40 (in
lowest wage class) to 10 per cent (in highest class) ;
local government, per cent of an n u al wage varying
from 30 (in low est wage class) to 5 p er cent (in
highest class).
F inlan d_______ Insured, am ount varying, according to need of fund,
from 1 to 2.5 cents per week; State, from one-half
to tw o-thirds of benefits paid, depending upon
n u m b er of dependents. Em ployers and local
governm ents do no t contribute.
France________ Insured, according to actual need of fund varying
usually from 2 to 12 cents per m onth; State, 33 per
cent of th e benefits p aid in case of sm all funds and
40 per cent in case of Federal associations (calcula
tion is based upon a m axim um benefit of 62.7 cents
per fam ily, m in u s an y am ount contributed by
local governm ent). E m ployers’ contributions
reported for only one fund.
N etherlands___ Insured, from 2 to 50 cents per week ; State and m unic
ipalities each 50 per cent of w orkers’ contributions.
Em ployers do no t contribute.
N orw ay_______
Insured, 4 to 53.6 cents per week, according to am ount
of benefit granted; State, one-sixth; local govern
m ent, two-sixths of am ount p aid in benefits. E m
ployers do no t contribute.
1 System no t yet in operation.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1316]
State, 90 per cent, local govern
m ent, 10 per cent of am ount
needed. Insured and em ploy
ers do not contribute.
S tate contributes in same propor
tion as for regular insurance.
S tate and local governm ent con
trib u te as for regular insurance.
No emergency fund.
State, 50 per cent of total emer
gency allowances granted b y
unem ploym ent funds m ain
tained b y provincial (depart
m ental) and local governm ents
W orkers and em ployers do not
contribute.
M unicipality takes initiative, b u t
S tate m ay p a y from 25 to 75 per
cent, depending upon financial
condition of m unicipality.
S tate and local governm ents bear
all expenses.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND B E N E F IT PLANS
53
T a b l e 2 . —C O N T R IB U T IO N S TO T H E P U B L IC U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN S U R A N C E F U N D S
IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
V o l u n t a r y s y s te m s — C ontinued
R egular contributions
C ountry
Switzerland 2___ Insured, 30 per cent, Federal G overnm ent 40 per cent,
and C anton or local governm ent 30 per cent of daily
benefits granted. E m ployers’ contributions vary
in different Cantons: 0.15 p e r cent of wage or sal
ary, in Basel-Land; $1.16 p er insured p er annum
in N euchâtel and Zug; 0.2 p er cen t of wages or
salary in Schaffhausen and G lams ; same as insured
in Valais, in case of joint, m utual, or factory funds.
Em ergency contributions
For emergency cases the follow
ing C antons increased their
contributions: Appenzell (O ut
er Rhodes), Solothurn, Valais,
Zug, Schwyz, U ri, and Bern,
b y 10 per cent of total contribu
tion per insured, and C anton
Tessin, b y 5 per cent. In C an
to n B asel-C ity th e employers
pay emergency contributions
am ounting to 0.2 per cent of
wages or salaries.
2 V oluntary as to Federal G overnm ent b u t compulsory in some Cantons.
Insurance Benefits and Emergency Allowances
Definition of “Unemployment”
T h e determination of just when a worker is to be regarded as
“ unemployed/’ and thus as eligible to insurance benefits, involves
at times points of difficulty. The prevailing definitions, as set forth
in the several laws, agree in holding that unemployment to be com
pensable must involve three major elements—ability to work, willing
ness to work, and inability to find work. As regards the question of
ability to work, there is no great difficulty, it being agreed that per
sons unable to work because of sickness, old age, or other reason are
not to be regarded as entitled to unemployment benefits. As regards
willingness to work and inability to find work, there is room, however,
for considerable difference of opinion. Is an unemployed person to
be required to accept any work offered him, or must the work be
“ suitable”? Is, for instance, a carpenter to be denied benefits if he
refuses to accept work as a common laborer? Again, how is a man’s
sincerity in searching for work to be measured? Questions such as
these can seldom be settled entirely by legislation, and in general it
may be said that the tendency is to make the legal definitions rather
broad and simple and leave the settlement of individual cases to the
judgment of the administrative authorities. All laws and rules,
however, agree in providing that insurance benefits are not to be paid
to workers involved in industrial disputes, and that benefits are not
to be denied workers who refuse to accept work in establishments
where industrial disputes are in progress.
Conditions for Receipt of Benefit
All unemployment-insurance systems prescribe two sets of condi
tions for the receipt of regular benefits. These are: (1) That the
applicant shall have been “ insured” for a prescribed length of time,
i. e., shall have been employed and thus have contributed to the insur
ance fund for a prescribed period, and (2) that there shall be a certain
qualifying or waiting period between the loss of employment or the
registry of unemployment and the beginning of benefit payments.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
L1317]
54
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Table 3 shows in detail the conditions prescribed for eligibility to
benefits, as well as the amount of benefit and the length of the benefit
period, in each of the unemployment-insurance systems.
Amount and Duration of Regular Benefit
As indicated in this table, a frequent requirement as regards length
of employment or “ insurance” is about one-half a year during the
year immediately preceding application, but variations from this
requirement are numerous. Thus, in Queensland, 2 weeks’ employ
ment is required; in Austria, 20 weeks’ employment during 12 months
prior to unemployment; in Belgium, uninterrupted payment of con
tributions, before unemployment, for at least one year; in Bulgaria,
1 year’s contributions during two years; in Czechoslovakia, 3 months’
membership in funds; in Denmark, 1 year’s membership in fund;
in the Irish Free State, 12 weekly contributions; in Italy, 48 weekly
contributions during 2 years; and in Luxemburg, 200 days of employ
ment during 12 months.
As a rule the qualifying period amounts to one week, but in Norway
and Germany it ranges from 3 to 14 days; in Poland it is 10 days;
and in Switzerland it is 3 days.
In some countries the insurance benefits are fixed as percentages of
wages or salaries; in others they are flat rates, either uniform for all
workers or graded according to age, sex, and family conditions.
In the following countries a specified percentage of the wage or salary
is paid: Austria, up to 80 per cent; Belgium, from two-thirds to threefourths; Czechoslovakia, up to two-thirds; Denmark, up to twothirds (of average wage) ; Germany, up to 80 per cent in the lowest
wage classes and up to 60 per cent in the highest classes; Luxemburg,
up to one-half;Norway,up to one-half (of normal wage); Poland, from
33 to 55 per cent, but with the special provision that a salaried em
ployee with a large number of dependents, may receive a benefit equal
to the full salary received by him previous to his unemployment.
Insurance benefits at straight or flat rates are paid in Bulgaria at
the rate of 12 cents to a family head and 7 cents to all others per day;
in France, the State subsidy is calculated on the benefit paid by the
fund, amounting to 34 cents a day to the insured and to 10 cents per
dependent per day, the State subsidy ranging up to 63 cents a day;
and in Switzerland in the majority of cases the benefits range from
$1.16 to $1.35 per day.
Insurance benefits at flat rates, but graduated according to age, sex,
and family connections, are paid in Great Britain, ranging from
$1.22 to $4.14 a week to the insured and from 49 cents to $2.19 a
week per dependent;2 in the Irish Free State, ranging from $1.46 to
$3.65 per week to the insured and from 24 cents to $1.22 per dependent
per week; and in Queensland, where the amount of benefit varies,
according to districts, from $3.41 to $4.14 to a single person per week,
from $5.84 to $7.18 to a married person per week, and from 97 cents to
$1.21 per child per week.
As to the period for which insurance benefits are paid, there exists
a greater variety of practice than in the case of the amounts of benefit.
2 These rates in G reat B ritain have recently been reduced.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1318]
UNEM PLOYMENT INSURANCE AND B E N E F IT PLANS
55
Great Britain is the only country which does not place a definite
limit upon duration of regular insurance benefit payments. In the
other countries the duration periods are as follows: About one-fourth
of a year (90 days or 12 to 13 weeks) in Queensland, Bulgaria, Norway,
and Poland ; one-third of a year (120 days) in France; one-half of a year
(26 weeks or 180 days) in Czechoslovakia, Germany, and Luxemburg;
30 weeks in Austria; 50 days in Belgium; 60 days in the Netherlands;
and 70 days in Denmark; while in the Irish Free State the number of
benefit-days is equal to the number of the weekly contributions
made in behalf of the claimant. In Poland, the period of benefit of
salaried employees amounts to six months (12 months for those who
have made 12 monthly contributions). In the Netherlands the
period for seasonal workers amounts to 36 days.
Most of the countries also define the period of time for which the
duration is set. As a rule, this period amounts to one year.
Amount and Duration of Emergency Benefit
Emergency benefits, as already noted, are paid to those unemployed
workers who have either exhausted their insurance or regular benefit,
or have not fulfilled the required conditions for receiving insurance
benefit, or who are not insured at all.
Most of the countries do not prescribe conditions for receiving
emergency benefit, except that the recipient must be unemployed and
in actual need. However, some countries, for instance Great Britain
and the Netherlands, require that the applicant for emergency benefit
must have been employed or have paid certain contributions p>rior
to his claim for relief. Thus, Great Britain requires 8 or more con
tributions during the 2 years previous to unemployment, or 30
contributions at any time, and the Netherlands requires 6 weeks’
employment in an industry or occupation specified by the Minister of
the Interior and Agriculture, during the 3 preceding months.
In a majority of the countries the amount of emergency benefit
is not specified, except that the amount is to correspond to need as
ascertained by local public authorities. In the following countries,
however, the amount of the emergency benefit is limited: In Austria
it may not exceed the regular insurance benefit; in Belgium and Great
Britain it equals the insurance benefit; in Czechoslovakia it is fixed at
about one-half of the insurance benefit; in Denmark it is placed at
two-thirds of the insurance benefit and in the Netherlands at 65 per
cent of what might be earned in a 48-hour week.
A number of the countries set a more or less definite limit for the
duration of the emergency benefit. The limit in Austria is one year;
in Belgium, 30 days; in Czechoslovakia, 13 weeks; in Denmark, 70
days; in France, 120 days; in Germany, from 32 to 45 weeks; and in
the Netherlands, from 18 to 24 weeks. The rest of the countries
appear to have no prescribed limit.
In general, it may be observed that the legal provisions regarding
emergency benefits are considerably less definite and rigid than those
relating to the regular insurance benefits. Much is left to the dis
cretion of local unemployment insurance and relief authorities.
87017°—31----- 5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[13191
Or
T a b l e 3 .— U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN S U R A N C E B E N E F IT S IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S
05
C o m p u ls o r y s y s te m s
[A m ounts of m oney given in U nited States currency]
Em ergency benefits
R egular insurance benefits
C ountry
Conditions
A u s t r a l i a : 2 weeks’ em ploym ent during preceding
Q ueensland. __ year. W aiting period: 1 w eek from
application to receiving benefit, or 3
weeks from com m encem ent of u n
em ploym ent to receiving benefit.
[1320]
B ulgaria.
Germ any.
P er w eek: Single, from $3.41 to $4.14;
m arried, from $5.84 to $7.18; cbild,
97 cents to $1.21.
M axim um : 13 weeks
per year, if benefici
ary w as em ployed
a t le a s t 26 w e e k s
during p r e v i o u s
year, otherwise less.
30 w e e k s .....................
Proportion of health insurance bene
fits: 1Vioto fam ily heads and inde
p en d ent persons living alone (G roup
1); % to all others (G roup 2); 5 per
cent for each child; plus 1 d a y ’s bene
fit extra, for ren t, per m onth.
A m ounts v a ry from 22.5 to 32.4 cents
per day, for G roup 2; and for G roup 1
from 29.5 cents for m arried persons
w ith no children to 33-8 cents for 3
children in wage Class V I to 40.8
cents and 49.3 cents, respectively in
Class X . T o tal benefits n o t to ex
ceed 80 per cent of la st wages.
52 weeks ’ contribution during 2 years. _ 11.6 cents per day to fam ily heads and 12 weeks per year.
7.2 cents to all others.
For first benefit, 52 weeks’ em ploy 75 per cent of basic wage or salary in 26 weeks; m ay be extended
to
39
lowest wage class ($1.90 per week)
m en t and contributions d uring pre
weeks.
and 35 per cent in highest wage classes
ceding 2 years; for subsequent bene
($10.71 to $14.99 p e r week), plus
fits, 26 weeks’ em ploym ent an d con
ab o u t 5 p er cent for each dependent.
tributions during preceding year.
T o tal benefit n o t to exceed 80 per
W aiting period: 14 days, if w ith o u t
cent of wages or salaries in lowest
dependents; 7 days, if 1 to 3 depend
wage classes and 60 per oent in high
ents; and 3 days, if 4 or more de
est wage classs.
pendents.
20 weeks ’ em ploym ent, during preced
ing year, in insurable in dustry.
W aiting period: 8 days.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Conditions
A m ount
D uration
N o provision.
N o special require N o t to exceed reg
ular benefit.
m ent.
1 year or longer
N o provision.
For persons who
have as yet no
claim to benefit
proper,
13
weeks’ em ploy
m ent (and con
tributions) in
insurable in d u s
try . I n other
cases, exhaus
tion of regular
benefit.
R egular benefits
are paid in wage
C la s s e s I - I V
a nd in wage
Class V, if w ith
dependents. If
w ith d e p e n d
ents, Class V I
receives benefits
of C l a s s V,
Classes V II and
V III benefits of
Class V I, and
Classes IX -X I
benefits of Class
V II; if w ithout
dependents,
Class V receives
benefits of Class
IV ; a n d Classes
32 weeks; m ay
be extended
to 45, for u n
em ployed
over 40 years
of age, if in
w ant.
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
A ustria.
A m ount
D uration
G re a t B rita in
and N orthern
Ireland.
30 contributions during preceding 2
years. W aiting period: 6 days.
W aiting
[1321]
Ita ly ..................... 48 weeks’ contribution during pre
ceding 2 years. W aiting period:
7 days.
Luxem burg 1___ Proof of 200 days’ em ploym ent during
preceding year.
Poland________
20 w eeks’ em ploym ent during preced
ing year, for wage earners, and 6
m o n th s’ em ploym ent im m ediately
preceding unem ploym ent, for sala
ried employees. W aiting period:
10 days.
$4.14
3.41
2.19
1.46
3.65
2. 92
1.82
1. 22
2.19
. 49
W eekly benefits:
$3.65
M en ---------------------Boys (16-18 years)________ 1. 83
W om en__________________ 2.92
Girls (16-18 years)________ 1.46
D ependents—
A d ult________________ 1. 22
C hild________________
.24
Benefit based on daily wage:
D aily benefit
(cents)
U p to 21 cents_____________ 6. 6
21 to 42 cents______________ 13. 2
Over 42 cents_____________ 19. 7
T o tal benefit not to exceed onehalf of daily wage.
U p to one-half of wage or salary, plus
4.2 cents per dependent; m axim um ,
41.7 cents per fam ily per day.
W age earners: 33 per cent of wages, if
single, 38.5 per cent if 1 or 2 depend
ents, 44 per cent if 3 to 5 dependents,
55 per cent if more th a n 5 depend
ents. Salaried employees: 30 per
cent of basic salary, if single; 10 per
cent added for each dependent, u p
to am ount of salary. Benefits com
p u ted on 14 basic salary groups,
ranging from $6.73 to $80.78 and over
per m onth.
No lim it, except th a t 8
a check is made,
every 3 m onths, as
to w hether claim ant
can show 30 contri
butions during pre
ceding 2 years. If
not, he is transferred
to “ tr a n s itio n a l”
benefit, and m ust
show th a t he has
paid 8 or more con
trib u tio n s d u rin g
preceding 2 years, or
30 or more contribu
tions a t any time.
N um ber of days equal . . .
to num ber of weekly
contributions made.
90 days per year, if at
least 48 contribu
tions p aid w ithin 2
last years; 120 days
if to ta l of 72 contri
butions has been
paid.
or more contri
butions during
preceding two
years, or 30 cont r i b u t i o n s at
a ny tim e.
No lim it.
N o provision.
.do.
26 weeks per year____
W a g e e a r n e r s : 13
weeks, w hich m ay
be extended to 17
weeks. Salaried em
ployees: 6 m onths;
12 m onths if 12
m onthly contribu
tions paid.
1 System no t yet in operation.
2 No provision fo i general emergency fund; destitute unem ployed m ust, after expiration of regular benefit, apply to com m unal or m unicipal welfare agencies for aid.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
«
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND B E N E F IT PLANS
Irish Free S ta te . 12 weeks’ contributions.
period: 6 days.
W eekly benefits:
M ales—
21 and under 65 y e a rs-_
18 and under 21 years- 17 and under 18 y ears. _
U nder 17 years________
Females—
21 and u nder 65 years. .
18 and under 21 y ears. _
17 and under 18,years_ .
U nder 17 years________
D ependents—
A dults_______________
C hildren_____________
V I-X I receive
benefits of next
lower class.
Same as regular
benefit.
Or
-I
Oi
00
T able 3 .— U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN S U R A N C E B E N E F IT S IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
V o l u n t a r y s y s te m s
Em ergency benefits
R egular insurance benefits
C ountry
C onditions
Belgium
Czechoslovakia. 3 m onths’ m em bership in good stan d
ing in labor union recognized by
G overnm ent. W aiting period: None,
if unem ploym ent lasts 7 consecutive
days.
[1322]
D e n m ark ______ A t least 1 y ear’s m em bership in good
standing; a t least 10 m onths’ em
ploym ent during preceding 2 years.
For first claim: 6 m onths’ m em ber
ship. W aiting period: M inim um ,
6 days; m axim um , 15 days. For
subsequent claims: 1 year’s contribu
tio n following receipt of benefit.
F rance________ 6 m onths’ m em bership in fund, and
m ay no t be active m em ber of more
th a n 1 association paying benefits
for sam e situation. In order to re
ceive State subsidy, fund m ust have
been in operation for 6 m onths, d u r
ing which m em bers’ contributions
am ounted to a t least one-third of
benefits paid.
N e th erla n d s___ 26 weeks’ contributions. W aiting pe
riod: 6 days.
F in lan d _______
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
D uration
Conditions
Tw o-thirds of daily wage to single
persons, three-quarters for fam ily
heads, plus special allowance for
large families (more th a n 4 children).
M inim um , 2.2 cents per day. A ddi
tional benefit p aid b y State not to
exceed 53.3 cents per day. T otal
benefit not to exceed tw o-thirds of
last wage.
M axim um : 50 days per N o special require
m ent.
year.
M inim um , 26.8 cents per day; maxi
m um , $1.07 for fam ily heads and
80.4 cents for single workers. T otal
benefit not to exceed tw o-thirds of
average wage.
M inim um , 7.6 cents; m axim um , 25.2
cents per day.
N ot less th a n 70 days,
or an average of 100
days.
A m ount paid b y individual fund is
not lim ited. S tate subsidy is based
upon benefits paid b y fund and is
calculated on 34.1 cents per day
plus 9.8 cents a day for each depend
ent, b u t not to exceed total of 62.7
cents per day.
M axim um : 120 days,
for S tate su bsidy.
V aries according to fund, size of com
m unities, fam ily responsibilities,
and age, from 48 cents to $2.13 a day,
for adults. T otal benefit not to ex
ceed 70 per cent of average daily
wages.
36 to 90 days per year.
U sual m axim um : 60
days per year, and
36 days in case of
seasonal workers.
26 weeks per year.
do.
A m ount
D u ratio n
Same as regular
benefit.
30 days.
M inim um ,
per
day: 1.1 cents
from fund, plus
4.7 cents from
S tate (6.2 cents,
if head of fam
ily) ; total, 5.9
cents if single,
7.4 cents if head
of family.
Tw o-thirds of reg
ular benefit.
13 weeks.
70 days.
N o provision.
60 days per year in
tw o c o n se c u tiv e
years.
27 cents per day
to a head of fam
ily; from 8 to
14 cents per
d a y to depen
dents. T o tal to
1 household not
to exceed 70
cents a day
6 w eeks’ employ Benefit m ay not
exceed 65per cent
m ent in a speci
fo r b re a d -w in
fied industry or
ners and 55 per
occupation du r
cent for board
ing preceding 3
ers of w h a t they
m onths.
m ight earn in a
All applications
passed upon by
central com m it
tee of local fund
and government
authorities.
120 days, w hich
m ay be ex
tended under
c e r t a i n cir
cum stances.
18 w e e k s f o r
boarders and
24 weeks for
m a r r i e d or
unmarried
bread-win
ners, a nd 15
MONTHLY LABOE E E V IEW
_____ A t least 1 y ear’s u n in terru p ted con
trib u tio n s.
«
A m ount
26 w eeks’ contributions. W aiting
period varies, according to funds,
from 3 to 14 days.
Sw itzerland 3___ 180 days’ contributions. W aiting period: 3 days.
U p to one-half of last norm al wage___
13 weeks per year - _
Varies according to fund and num ber
of dependents. Benefits usually
range from $1.16 to $1.36 per day,
plus 19.3 cents for each child. Bene
fit, after m axim um am ount of con
tribution, $1.64 per day if single,
and $1.85 per d ay if m arried. T otal
benefit not to exceed 50 per cent of
normal wage for single or 60 per cent
for m arried persons.
90 days during year,
w hich m ay be ex
tended b y Federal
decree.
[1323]
3 V oluntary as to th e Federal G overnm ent b u t compulsory in some Cantons.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
According to need.
w e e k s for
“ requalified”
boarders,
21 weeks for
“ requalified”
b r e a d - w in
ners.
According
need.
to
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND B E N E F IT PLANS
N o rw ay_______
48-hour
w ork
week in the
tra d e to which
they belong, and
60 per cent for
“ r e q u a lif ie d ”
b re a d -w in n e rs
and 50 per cent
for “ requalified”
boarders.
V aries according
to need.
Crr
ZD
60
m onthly
labor
r e v ie w
Administration
T h e machinery for administering the various unemployment in
surance systems in foreign countries is outlined in Table 4. As
there indicated, the compulsory systems are managed directly by the
central government, but, in many cases, with the aid of advisory
committees of varying degrees of authority. The voluntary systems,
on the other hand, are managed primarily by private agencies, such
as labor unions, joint organizations of workers and employers, etc.
The distinction between the two systems of administration is, how
ever, greatly moderated by the fact that voluntary unemployment
insurance funds, receiving subsidies from the public, are subject to a
more or less rigid public supervision and control, usually exercised
by both central and local governments. Under voluntary systems
certain conditions and methods of action are prescribed which the
private organizations must meet in order to receive public subsidies.
In this sense the voluntary insurance systems may be regarded as a
form of cooperative enterprise between private organizations and
the public.
In order to obtain public sanction a voluntary fund is required to
have a minimum number of members, amounting, for example, in
Denmark to 100, and in Finland and France to 50. Also, the con
stitution and by-laws of voluntary funds must be approved by the
Government. In the Netherlands an official guide to the formulation
of the constitution and by-laws of such funds has been issued.
In regard to the^ amount of contribution and benefits, considerable
freedom of action is left to the voluntary funds, although the maxi
mum limit of benefit is often prescribed by law. This amounts, for
instance, to two-thirds of the wages in Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and
Denmark, and to one-half of the wages in Norway.
The administration of a local voluntary unemployment fund is
simple and comparatively inexpensive, especially when the fund is
attached to an existing labor organization. Even when a fund is
separately organized, usually only a secretary and recording clerk
are required to conduct the routine business.
#Voluntary insurance systems, as a rule, have no intermediate pro
vincial or district offices. The central governmental administration
is also less elaborate than in the case of compulsory insurance. To
the central office, which is usually placed under the authority of the
Department of Labor, is attached an advisory commission for the
principal purpose of making the public supervision and control over
the voluntary unemployment funds as effective as possible. Such
commissions, sometimes termed councils, or joint committees, are in
operation, for instance, in Belgium, Denmark, France, and the
Netherlands.
The compulsory systems, in addition to the central administrative
office, have a series of local offices, and usually a number of inter
mediate or district offices. The local offices, in addition to their
insurance duties, usually conduct employment offices, direct vocational
guidance and training systems for the unemployed, and often direct
and supervise public works.
Larger countries with compulsory insurance have established sys
tems of intermediary provincial or district offices. The work of these
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1324 ]
UNEM PLOYM ENT INSURANCE AND B E N E F IT PLANS
61
consists in the administration and coordination of the activities of
the local offices within the limits of their jurisdictions. This, for
example, is the case in Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Poland.
The commission or council attached to the central office of a vol
untary system acts merely in the capacity of advisor to the public
agency, usually the Minister of Labor, in charge of insurance. How
ever, the similar councils (under various names) attached to the
central office of a compulsory insurance system have important ad
ministrative duties and are often empowered to issue regulations and
instructions to be followed by district and local insurance offices.
Private organizations, such as labor unions and employers’ associa
tions, are, as a rule, equally represented in these councils, and they
are, in practice, autonomous branches of the Government. By this
method it is hoped : (1) To place responsibility for the success or fail
ure of the insurance system upon the shoulders of all parties concerned ;
(2) to secure a closer touch with the actual conditions of employ
ment, unemployment financial resources, and trends of economic life
in the country ; (3) to insure impartiality and neutrality between the
conflicting interests of various groups of population; (4) to secure
thereby the confidence, good will, and a genuine cooperation of each
of the groups concerned in respect to the insurance system; and (5) as
far as possible to keep politics and bureaucratic methods and atti
tudes out of the system.
For the adjustment of grievances and disputes usually a special
system of courts or boards of appeal or referees is established within
the insurance system. These agencies are also usually composed of
representatives of the several parties.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1325]
Oi
T a b l e 4 .—U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN S U R A N C E A D M IN IS T R A T IO N IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S
to
C o m p u ls o r y s y s te m s
C ountry
Australia:
Queensland.
[1326]
Bulgaria.
G ermany.
Federal B ureau of E m ploym ent Exchanges and U n
em ploym ent Insurance, u n d er general supervision
of Federal M in istry of Labor. M anaging board,
adm inistrative council, a n d board of appeals, in
each of w hich th e re is equal representation of em
ployers, em ployees, an d public authorities.
G r e a t B r ita in M in istry of Labor. E m ploym ent and Insurance
and N o r t h
D ep artm en t. U nem ploym ent fund.
ern Ireland.
U m pire and 7 d e p u ty um pires, whose decision
is final.
Irish Free S tate. D ep artm en t of In d u s try and Commerce__________
Umpire.
Italy .
Provincial or district offices
M inistry of Corporations. N ational In s titu te for
Social Insurance.
N ational U nem ploym ent
F und. A ppeals to com m ittee for adm inistration
of unem ploym ent insurance, consisting of presi
dent a n d vice presidents of N ational In stitu te ,
and 1 representative each of M inistries of Corpora
tions, Finance, an d P ublic W orks, and ofem ploy-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
13 district offices, each w ith com m ittee of manage
m ent consisting of equal num ber of representatives
of workers, employers, and public. Board of ap
peals consists of 1 representative each from work
ers, employers, and public.
7 district or divisional offices. 294 courts of referees
each consisting of chairm an appointed b y the Gov
ernm ent and 1 em ployers’ and 1 workers’
representative.
N one____ _______ _________________________ _____
Provincial branches of N ational In stitu te for Social
Insurance.
Local offices
Local em ploym ent service offices collect contribu
tions, receive applications, and p a y benefits.
C ontributions are collected b y local health insurance
offices.
E m ploym ent offices, each w ith a court of conciliation
composed of local justice of peace and 1 representa
tive each of labor and of em ployers, a nd a labor
council consisting of local labor inspector, chief of
em ploym ent service, 1 m em ber of local govern
m ent, chief of technical service, local physician, 1
m em ber of local cham ber of commerce, a n d 3
representatives each of w orkers and of employers.
361 local offices, each w ith a com m ittee of m anage
m ent consisting of equal n u m b e r of representatives
of workers, em ployers, a nd public authorities. A r
b itratio n com m ittees consist of 1 representative
each from w orkers, employers, and public.
417 em ploym ent offices and 748 branch offices.
E m ploym ent exchanges. C ourts of referees, each
consisting of chairm an appointed b y th e G overn
m ent, and 1 representative each of insured a nd em
ployers.
C ontributions are collected through local post offices,
and benefits are paid directly through national
office and its provincial branches, and certain com
m unal officers designated for purpose.
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
A ustria.
C entral office
M in istry of Labor. System is u n d e r im m ediate None.
supervision of D irector of Labor.
T o th e M in istry is attached an unem ploym ent
council composed of M inister of L abor as chair
m an, R egistrar of Friendly Societies, D irector of
Labor, and 1 representative each of labor unions
and of em ployers’ associations. T h is council de
term ines and directs th e policies of insurance ad
m inistration.
M in istry of Social W elfare................................................ D istrict industrial commissions (11 in num ber) and
em ploym ent service offices, in each of which in
sured and em ployers are equally represented.
Each commission has an arbitration com m ittee
composed of equal representatives of insured w ork
ers and th eir employers. T his com m ittee decides
disputes. Decisions of district industrial commis
sions are final.
M in istry of Commerce, In d u stry , and Labor. Coun L abor inspector in each d istric t____ ______________
cil of L abor and Social Insurance, consisting of 16
representatives of public, 8 representatives of em
ployers, 8 representatives of w orkers, and 8 prom i
n en t stu d en ts of social problems, and 2 physicians.
Luxem burg 1__
ers and insured. Decision of M inister of C orpora
tions is final.
C entral C ontrol and V ocational Commission______
M inister of Labor. C entral U nem ploym ent In su r
ance B ureau, w ith board of m anagem ent of 18
members—chairm an a n d 2 m em bers appointed
b y th e M inister of Labor, 1 representative of M in
ister of Finance, 6 representatives of workers, 4 of
employers, and 4 of district and local governm ents.
Belgium.
M in istry of In d u stry , Labor, and Social Welfare.
N ational Crisis F u n d un d er N ational Crisis Com
mission, composed of 6 to 10 m em bers, one-half
representatives of lab o r unions, an d one-half of
em ployers’ representatives, u n d e r chairm anship
of M in ister of In d u s try , Labor, a n d Social Welfare.
M in istry of Social W elfare_____________ __________
M inistry of Interior. D irector of E m ploym ent
Service appointed b y th e K ing. E m ploym ent
com m ittee composed of 6 labor representatives
and 4 m em bers of Parliam ent.
M in istry of Social Affairs. State Exam iner of U n
em ploym ent Funds.
M in istry of Labor. U nem ploym ent aid association
com m ittee, composed of 1 Senator, 1 D eputy,
D irector of Labor, D irector of Social Aid, D irector
of B udget, a financial director, a b u reau chief of
L abor D irectorate, 5 representatives of unem ploy
m ent aid associations, and 1 expert on unem ploy
m ent problems.
D e partm ent of Labor, Commerce, a nd In d u stry .
Bureau of U nem ploym ent Insurance and Em ploy
m en t Service. A dvisory unem ploym ent insur
ance committee, consisting of a t least 12 members:
6 representing unem ploym ent insurance funds of
labor unions and 6 representing S tate a nd local
governments.
D epartm ent of Social Affairs. S tate Inspector of
L abor and U nem ploym ent Insurance.
Federal D epartm ent of L abor____________________
22 d istrict unem ploym ent insurance offices, each
w ith a board consisting of chairm an (director of the
S tate em ploym ent office), 3 representatives of
w orkers, 2 of employers, and 2 of d istrict and local
governments.
Local governm ent offices a nd em ploym ent offices.
Local jo in t commissions on unem ploym ent com
posed of equal num bers of representatives of local
governm ent, w orkers, a nd employers.
446 branch agencies, of w hich 221 represent higher
public authorities, 129 m unicipal com m unes, 89
ru ral com munes, and 7 sickness insurance offices.
V o lu n ta r y s y s te m s
Czechoslovakia,
D en m ark _____
[1327]
F in la n d _______
F ran c e ________
N eth erlan d s___
N o rw a y .......... .
Sw itzerland 2,_,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 System not y et in operation.
19 agencies of N ational E m ergency F u n d , located in
various parts of country.
U nem ploym ent funds of labor unions and syndicates,
and unem ploym ent funds set u p and m aintained
b y local governm ents.
N one..
----- do.
L abor union unem ploym ent insurance funds.
Do.
----- do............. .................................
U nem ploym ent aid associations.
U nem ploym ent funds formed b y labor unions or any
organization of workers.
B ranches of unem ploym ent aid associations.
None.
U nem ploym ent insurance funds of labor unions.
___ do........................................................................ ............
C antonal compulsory unem ploym ent insurance
funds, in 7 Cantons. C antonal subsidies to local
funds, which m ay be com pulsory, in 7 C antons.
C antonal subsidies to local v o luntary insurance
funds, in 8 Cantons.
Do.
P ublic unem ploym ent insurance funds of cantonal
and local governm ents, unem ploym ent insurance
fund of labor unions, labor political organizations,
religious societies, a n d join t factory unem ploym ent
insurance funds.
8 V oluntary as to Federal G overnm ent b u t compulsory in some Cantons.
UNEM PLO YM ENT IN SU R A N C E AND B E N E F IT PLANS
Poland.
None.
O i'
03
64
M ONTHLY LABO E R EV IEW
Financial Operations
T he available data regarding the financial operations of the unem
ployment-insurance system in foreign countries do not permit of exact
comparisons between countries, partly because the latest available
reports are not all for the same year and partly because the informa
tion is not always reported in the same form for all countries. Thus
a reported excess of income over expenditures or of expenditures over
income does not necessarily indicate an actual surplus or deficit in
the indicated amounts, as the matter of Government advances or
loans to the funds is not treated alike in all countries. ^ Also, the age
of the system makes some difference in financial showing. A newly
established system has certain initial and developmental expenses
which an older system does not have. Still again, in some countries
the administrative machinery of the unemployment-insurance system
carries only insurance proper while in other countries it may be charged
with expenses incident to the maintenance of employment offices,
retraining, etc., and the segregation of the costs of these activities is
not always clearly made.
In spite of these hindrances to exact comparisons between countries,
the quantitative relations of the various items within the same system
are significant, and the combined experience of all the systems gives a
general idea of the amount of assistance rendered, the proportional
distribution of costs among the contributors, and the interrelation
of various items of income and expenditures.
These data are shown in summary form in Table 5, for each of the
13 countries for which such data are available to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. All money amounts have been converted into United
States currency at the par value of the respective local currencies.
Practically all the figures shown are from Bulletin No. 544 of the Bureau
of Labor Statistics “ Unemployment-benefit plans in the United States
and unemployment insurance in foreign countries,” except that in a
few cases, information received after the bulletin was prepared has
been used.
Administrative costs vary greatly in the different systems, ranging
from 2.6 per cent of the total expenditures in Switzerland to 30.3 per
cent in Finland. In most cases, the increase in the proportion of the
funds spent for administrative expenses is in direct relation to the
proportionate number of beneficiaries, those countries in which the
beneficiaries form a small proportion of the insured having a relatively
high cost of administration. In Finland, for example, in which coun
try administration of the funds was most costly, only 4 per cent of the
insured workers received benefits, while in Denmark where nearly 42
per cent of the insured persons received unemployment benefits, the
administrative costs represented only 8.5 per cent of the total expenses.
The actual amounts spent for administration per insured person
ranged from 8 cents in Finland to $2.52 in Great Britain. The total
costs of administration were approximately the same in Great Britain
and Germany, the two countries having the most complete coverage
of workers.
The cost of the insurance systems to the public treasury ranged
from 14.1 per cent of the total expenditures in Poland to 60.6 per cent
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1328]
T
a b le
5 .— O P E R A T IN G A N D F IN A N C IA L S T A T IS T IC S , F O R E IG N U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN S U R A N C E S Y S T E M S
C o m p u ls o r y s y s te m s
C ountry
Y ear
Insured
workers
A ustralia: Q ueensland- ___
1929-30
1930
A u stria______ _____________________
G erm an y______ ___ _____________ ___
1930
1930-31
G reat B ritain
_ _ _____
1929-30
Irish Free S tate
- ____ __ _ _
1929
Ita ly
_______
1930
Poland (wage earners’ insurance o n ly ).
P er cent
benefi
expend
ciaries T otal income T otal
itures
Beneficia form of
ries
insured
i 55,903
170,000
2 1,180,846
208,370
4 15,600, 000
2,158,049
12,290, 000 3 2,154, 810
8 16, 237
1 282, 622
9 230, 000
4, 250, 000
900,000
ii 53,319
32.9
17.6
13.8
17.5
5.7
5.4
12 5.3
$2,387,000
3 21,924, 000
427, 947, 000
6 317,368, 000
4, 639, 000
9,141,000
is 5, 379, 000
Total
[1329]
$2, 519,000
29,189,000
428,318, 000
493,122, 000
2,273, 000
3,817, 000
12, 738, 000
$113,000
1, 779,000
28,871, 000
30,999, 000
681, 000
708, 000
1,018,000
$726, 000
5,352,000
18, 800
3, 263, 000
352, 000
3,327, 000
$453,000
5, 700
196,558
65, 000
86,000
Per cent A m ount
of total
per
expendi insured
tures
4.5
6.1
6.7
6.3
30.0
18.5
8.0
$0.66
1.51
1.85
2.52
2.41
0.17
1.13
Public expenditures
T otal
P er cent A m ount
of total
per
expendi insured
tures
$796, 000
10,524, 000
173,600, 000
172,614, 000
1,217, 000
(10)
1, 793,000
31.6
36.1
40.5
35.0
53.5
(10)
14.1
$4.68
8.91
11.13
14.05
4.31
(10)
1.99
$413,000
2,867, 000
7,296
1,849, 000
193, 200
1,350, 000
56.9
53.6
38.8
56.7
60.6
40.6
$0.24
9.94
. 11
4. 11
5.31
4.17
V o l u n t a r y s y s te m s
1928
1929-30
1928
1929
1929
1930
Czechoslovakia.
D e n m ark _____
F in lan d ______
N etherlands___
N o rw ay______
Sw itzerland 18_.
1,733,979
288,428
I®68, 633
is 450, 000
36,000
323, 754
76,591
119, 956
2,778
ii 48,395
5,900
73,941
1 Y ear ending M ar. 31, 1930.
2 L ast quarter, 1929.
3 N o t including $7,264,000 advanced b y Government.
4 February, 1931.
3 E stim ated, M arch, 1931.
6 N o t including “ loans” b y G overnm ent.
i October, 1930.
3 1930.
s M arch, 1931.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4.4
41.6
4.0
10.8
16.4
22.5
$726, 000
8,156, 000
41,400
4, 449, 000
431,000
4,114, 000
( 14)
( 14)
8.5
30.3
6.0
18.5
2.6
( 14)
$1.57
.08
.44
1.81
.27
40 No public expenditures.
11 1929.
12 Based on 1,004,913 insured in 1929.
1 3 N o t including paym ents by G overnm ent to m eet deficit,
ii D a ta n o t available.
i® December, 1928.
is E arly p a rt of 1931.
i? January, 1930.
is V oluntary as to Federal G overnm ent b u t compulsory in some Cantons.
UNEM PLO YM ENT IN SU R A N C E AND B E N E F IT PLANS
A dm inistrative cost
N um ber of—
07
Ol
66
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
in Norway. The actual cost per insured person in these two countries,
however, was only $1.99 and $5.31, respectively, while in Germany
$11.13 was spent out of public funds for each insured person and in
Great Britain $14.05. The lowest expenditure per person was 24
cents in Czechoslovakia.
The total expenditures for unemployment relief in the two most
comprehensive systems of compulsory insurance were approximately
$428,300,000 in Germany and $493,000,000 in Great Britain, of which
about $173,000,000 in each country was contributed by the State.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1330]
UNEM PLO YM ENT IN SU R A N C E AND B E N E F IT PLANS
67
R e ce n t C h a n ge s in th e U n e m p lo y m e n t-In su ra n ce S y s te m of
G erm any3
LTHOUGH considerable attention has been given to plans lor
consolidating the three different kinds of unemployment
relief in Germany—the regular benefit, the extended unemployment
benefit, and the welfare support—no such radical changes of the
existing unemployment insurance system in Germany have as yet
been put into effect. However, the emergency decree issued bv
the German Government on June 5, 1931, which became effective
on June 6, did involve several structural changes of the system,
which, to a certain degree, carry out the proposals made by the
Brauns Commission of Experts on Unemployment.
I t is believed th at the main reason for having the three systems.continue to operate separately is the desire not to abolish the difference in
attitude toward each of them on the part of the unemployed. I t
must be borne in mind th at the average citizen cherishes a certain
prejudice against being supported by the welfare benefit, which re
sembles a charitable relief more, than anything else. He usually
does not have this prejudice toward the regular unemployment
benefit, or even toward the extended benefit, as he himself has con
tributed to these prior to losing his job.
A
Extended Unemployment Benefit to be Paid as a Loan
I n t h e future, extended unemployment benefits will be paid in the
form of loans, as has already been the case with the municipal welfare
support. In both cases the extended benefits are to be repaid as soon
as the financial position of the recipient permits him to do so. _ How
ever, it need not be emphasized that considerable difficulties are
encountered in putting this stipulation into practice. It is practically
impossible to keep track of the recipient’s financial position after he
has once been dropped from the list of beneficiaries. The stipu
lation, however, appears to be justified to a certain extent by the
fact that a small percentage of those entitled to the extended benefit
or the welfare support may be restrained from filing application.
Federal Bureau Made Autonomous
A c h a n g e of considerable consequence is represented by the
establishment of the autonomy of the Federal Bureau for Employ
ment and Unemployment Insurance in accordance with the proposals
of the Brauns commission. The managing board of the bureau has
been empowered to fix the benefit rates as well as the premium rates
according to its own judgment. The bureau has not yet, however,
made use of its right to change the existing rates.
Change in Method of Handling Seasonal Workers
F o r m e r l y , such seasonal workers as were included in the system
received both the regular and the extended benefits just like any
one else. Hereafter they will be entitled to both of these classes of
3 From report of C. W . Gray, U nited States Consulate, Berlin, G erm any, dated Sept. 26, 1931.
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benefit, but only at the rates paid to the recipients of the extended
relief. _ In other words, even though a seasonal worker is classified as
receiving the regular benefit, he is only paid at the established rates
of the extended benefit. This is important, because in the higher
brackets of the extended benefit the rates are lower than those of the
regular ^benefit. In addition, the period in which the seasonal
worker is entitled to be classified as a recipient of the regular benefit
has been reduced from 26 to 20 weeks. A respective seasonal worker
entitled to the extended benefit does not lose the remaining six
weeks, as they are then added to the maximum period during which the
extended benefit is regularly paid. However, approximately 50
per cent of all seasonal workers are not entitled to the extended
benefit, as for instance persons engaged in agriculture, forestry and
fishing, household servants, and some constructional workers in small
towns and villages; these will lose the six weeks entirely. The perti
nent authorities have estimated the financial gain of these measures
at between 70,000,000 and 75,000,000 marks annually ($16,660,000 to
$17,850,000).4 It must be borne in mind, however, that a part of
these savings will be counterbalanced by increased payments of
extended benefit.
Raise of Age Limit
T h e age at which the unemployed is entitled to receive the benefits
of the system has been raised from 16 to 21 years. This is significant,
because not so very long ago the age was lowered from 17 to 16 years!
Unemployed persons under 21 years of age are not wholly cut off
from the system, as there is a special clause in the new regulations
which gives them a claim to certain support provided that the persons
who_would usually be responsible for their welfare are not in a position
to give assistance, or provided no such persons exist. I t is hoped to
save 50,000,000 marks annually ($11,900,000) by the raising of the
age limit, even allowing for the fact that 50 per cent of the unem
ployed below the minimum age limit are without family or other
kinds of support and will therefore be entitled to help from the system.
Voluntary Working Service
No t h i n g definite has as yet been decided regarding the so-called
“ voluntary working service” proposed by the Brauns Commission of
Experts on Unemployment. This suggestion contemplated the
voluntary enlistment of persons receiving unemployment benefits
into groups of workers who would perform labor of a public character,
such as road building and repair, etc., in return for the benefits given
to them under the system. This simply meant that the recipient of
benefits would give some return for the money given to him in the
form of relief; that instead of receiving the benefit and doing nothing
the recipient would voluntarily perform work of a character useful
to the country as a whole.
According to provisional plans, the unemployed person who goes
into the voluntary working service will receive the regular benefits
to which he is entitled. In addition to this, he will be given a book
4 Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents.
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UN EM PLO YM ENT IN SU R A N C E AND B E N E F IT PLANS
69
credit (but no money) amounting to the difference between the benefit
received and the current rate of wages for the work which is performed.
For example, if a worker in this service is entitled to a weekly benefit
of 10 marks ($2.38) and he is performing work which at current rates
would be remunerated with 20 marks ($4.76) weekly, this worker is
credited by the Government with the difference, or 10 marks. The
right of the worker to avail himself of these book credits will be entirely
dependent on authorization by the Minister of Finance. It is con
templated that these credits shall be used only for the purchase of a
building site or the building or furnishing of a private house for the
worker’s own use. During the period from January to April, 1931,
approximately 120,000 minors were enrolled in the voluntary working
service.
Check on Farm-to-City Movement
A f u r t h e r structural change of the system of recent date is
represented by the endeavor to check the migration of farm hands into
the cities. Those municipalities belonging to the special class and the
classes A and B of the German schedule of cities (which includes
practically all larger cities of Germany) will be obliged to take care,
for four weeks only, of those unemployed who moved to these cities
during the last year before their becoming jobless; after that period
the community in which their former residence was situated will be
responsible for their welfare.
Reduction in Benefits Paid
T he most important part of the retrenchment program is the very
considerable decrease of the benefit rates themselves, varying from 6
to 14 per cent, according to the respective classes of workers. I t will
be remembered that the regular unemployment-insurance benefit
consists of a basic benefit and a family allowance, each of which
amounts to a fixed percentage of the standard wage or salary of the
class in which the unemployed person has been placed. These
percentages have been reduced by five points, as may be seen by the
following table:
T a b l e 1 .— F O R M E R A N D P R E S E N T R A T E (P E R C E N T O F S T A N D A R D W A G E) P A ID
AS U N E M P L O Y M E N T B E N E F IT S IN G E R M A N Y
•
Wage or salary class
Class I
_
Class II
________ ________
Class I I I . . . . . . _______ _______
Class IV _____________________________
Class V and V I. -------------------------------Class V I I __________________ ________
Class V III -X I____ ____________________
Form er Present
rate (per rate (per
cent of
cent of
stan d ard standard
wage)
wage)
75.0
65. 0
55.0
47.0
40.0
37.5
35.0
70.0
60.0
50.0
42.0
35.0
32.5
30.0
The reduction of expenditure effected by this measure is esti
mated by pertinent authorities at approximately 100,000,000 marks
($23,800,000).
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Change of Method of Determining Wage Class
T he unemployed person was formerly placed in one of the 11 wage
classes on the basis of the average wage or salary earned during the
last 26 weeks preceding the date of registered unemployment. Under
the new regulations, however, the benefits will be based on the last
13 weeks only, the purpose being to prevent the unemployed person
from receiving a benefit which may equal or even exceed the wages
paid for the respective type of work at the time of unemployment.
Abuses of that kind have actually been reported recently, due to the
severe wage cutting practiced in certain trades.
Increase in Waiting Period
T he waiting period before the benefit is paid formerly amounted
to 14 days for unemployed persons without family members entitled
to additional family allowances; seven days for unemployed persons
with one, two, or three family members entitled to additional allow
ances; and three days for unemployed persons with four or more
family members entitled to additional family allowances. These
periods have been increased to 3 weeks, 2 weeks, and 1 week, respec
tively. This new regulation will mean an additional burden for
the municipal welfare system, as the majority of those affected will
not be able to support themselves during the prolonged waiting period.
“Need” Test Introduced for Married Women
. T he emergency decree contains provisions aiming at the elimina
tion of abuse of the unemployment insurance by married women.
A need test has now been introduced, and the legal claim of a
married woman will be canceled unless she can pass this qualification
test.
Standards of “Suitability” of Work Lowered
O r i g i n a l l y the insured unemployed person was not obliged to
accept or perform work, when the period of the regular benefit had
expired, unless the work was in line with his former occupation, and
his education or training. However, hereafter he must accept any
kind of work, provided his physical condition permits and the possi
bilities of his future advancement are not jeopardized. Also, benefit
payments may be suspended if it can be shown that the unemploy
ment is due to his own fault or that he is unwilling to work. Govern
ment pensions are now deducted from the benefit payments in so far
as they exceed 15 marks monthly ($3.57), instead of the former 30
marks ($7.14).
Recent Statistics
Number of contributors— The number of persons insured and con
tributing to unemployment insurance on July 31, 1931, was 12,565,000
as compared with about 16,000,000 at the beginning of the year and
about 17,000,000 in December, 1929. The decrease since December
1929, amounts to approximately 4,500,000. It is obvious that the
number of contributors will continue to decrease as long as the present
depression continues.
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UNEM PLO YM ENT IN SU R A N C E AND B E N E F IT PLANS
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Number of persons receiving regular benefits.—In January, 1931,
there were 2,554,000 persons receiving the regular benefit and at the
end of August this number had dropped to 1,281,000.
Number of persons granted extended relief.— The number of persons
receiving extended benefit amounted to 1,095,000 on August 31,
compared with 667,000 at the beginning of the year, and 210,000 at
the end of 1929.
Number of persons receiving welfare support from communes.—The
number of persons receiving welfare support from the communes,
towns, and cities is naturally increasing more rapidly than the two
above mentioned figures, owing to the fact that every unemployed
person eventually becomes dependent on this kind of relief after
having received the regular and extended benefits for a certain
length of time. The number receiving such support was approxi
mately 1,240,000 at the end of July, as compared with 877,000 at the
end of 1930, and an average of 569,839 in 1929, and is daily increasing
with such huge strides that it is feared the one and one-half million
mark will soon be reached.
Comparative statistics—A comparison of the number of unem
ployed receiving financial assistance under the three classes of
unemployment relief is shown in the following table. It shows how the
strain on the regular unemployment insurance has been lightened
since the beginning of the year to the disadvantage of the extended
relief and the welfare support.
T ™ U L ?;U N1kM B E R 0 F B E N E F IC IA R IE S o f u n e m p l o y m e n t b e n e f i t s i n g e r C E N T T H E S E F O R M E D OF T O T A L U N E M P L O Y E D , JA N U A R Y 1
AJNU A U G U ST 31, 1931
Beneficiaries, Jan. 1,
1931
T y p e of benefit
N um ber
Regular benefit. __ _ _
Extended benefit-., . .
Welfare support _
T o tal_________ ____
Per cent
of total
num ber of
unem
ployed
Beneficiaries, Aug. 31,
1931
N um ber
Per cent
of total
num ber of
unem
ployed
2, 554, 000
811, 000
953, 000
52. 3
16.6
19.5
1, 281, 000
1, 095, 000
1,240, 000
30.5
26.1
29.6
4, 318, 000
i 88.4
3,616, 000
' 86.2
1 T he rem aining percentages include those not yet entitled to benefit, persons still w ithin the waiting
period, and m arried women not entitled to benefit.
Outlook. The Federal Minister of Labor recently estimated the
outlay for the unemployed during the next seven months at approxi
mately 2,000,000,000 marks ($476,000,000), which would mean an
average monthly expenditure of about 280,000,000 marks ($66,640,000).
This amount is little less than 50,000,000 marks ($11,900,000) higher
than is at present required to meet the cost of unemployment support
for the three groups of jobless. Although the minister refrained from
giving an estimate of the presumable extent of unemployment during
the coming winter, the above figures indicate that an average of
4,500,000 unemployed receiving benefits is expected, taking into
account that the average cost of unemployment support per capita
87017°—31-----6
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
and month amounts to 62 marks ($14.76). It must be borne in mind,
however, that this figure represents an average and does not include
unemployed who, for some reason or other, are not entitled to the
benefits. At the end of August 3,600,000 unemployed were receiving
support while 4,200,000 were in search of employment; the figures
thus reveal that 600,000 were not eligible to support. Based on these
figures, the estimated average number of unemployed of 4,500,000
arrived at above would increase by about 600,000 to 5,100,000. The
estimated average being 5,100,000 and the lowest number of jobless
for the winter being 4,200,000 (September 1), it may be assumed that
the authorities are anticipating a peak of approximately 6,000,000
unemployed, although figures as high as 8,000,000 have been mentioned
by responsible persons.
Finances.—The annual report of the Federal Bureau for Employ
ment and Unemployment Insurance, for the fiscal year ending March
31, 1931, has just been published. It shows that expenditures ex
ceeded receipts by 612,804,742 marks ($145,847,529). Premium
receipts for the 12 months amounted to 1,190,000,000 marks ($283,220,000) with an average of 14,100,000 insured persons. Expendi
tures amounted to 1,821,000,000 marks ($433,398,000). The average
monthly expenditure per recipient of the regular benefit amounted to
82.37 marks ($19.60), of which 74.11 marks ($17.64) were paid as the
average unemployment benefit, the rest representing operating
charges. The average expenditure per recipient of the extended bene
fit is reported as having been 71.27 marks ($16.96), of which 70.43
marks ($16.76) represent the average benefit paid.
R ecent C h a n ge s in B ritish U n e m p lo y m e n t-In su ra n ce Sy ste m
legislation passed in August and September, 1931, the
unemployment insurance scheme of Great Britain has been
U NDER
modified in several respects, the changes being, in general, along
the lines recommended in the preliminary report of the royal commis
sion. The so-called “ anomalies” act, passed in August, deals with
the developments which the commission preferred to call anomalies
rather than abuses, while under the national economy act, which
received the royal assent September 30, benefits have been reduced,
contributions increased, and a distinction established between nor
mal and transitional benefits, the latter being regarded frankly as
relief payments and as having no connection with the unemployment
insurance scheme, though it is convenient to deal with them through
its medium.
Changes in Contributions and Benefits
T h e national economy act authorizes the Government to make, by
orders in council, such alterations as may be deemed expedient for
the purpose of effecting economies in various services, among which
the unemployment insurance system is specifically named. Up to
the beginning of November two orders had been issued affecting it.
The first deals with contributions and benefits, and establishes the
following weekly rates: The weekly contribution from employer and
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UNEM PLO YM ENT IN SU R A N C E AND B E N E F IT PLANS
73
employee for each employed worker is for men lOd. (20.3 cents),5 for
women and young men, 9d. (18.3 cents), for young women 8d. (16.2
cents), for boys 5d. (10.1 cents), and for girls, 4%d. (9.1 cents). The
order makes no reference to the Government’s contribution, but as
no change is made in the terms of the earlier bills, presumably the
Government continues to contribute one-third of the total. For nor
mal benefits the rates are to be as follows:
N e w w e e k ly r a te s o f u n e m p lo y m e n t b e n e fit
s.
M en aged 21 a n d u p w a rd _______________________
Y oung m en, 18 to 2 i _________
Boys, 17 a n d u n d er 18___________________________
B oys u n d er 17___________________________________
W om en aged 21 a n d u p w a rd ._______________
Y oung w om en, 18 to 21__________________________
Girls, 17 a n d u n d er 18________ ___________________
G irls u nder 17___________________________________
15
12
8
5
13
10
6
4
d.
3 ($3.71)
6 ($3.04)
0 ($1.95)
6 ($1.34)
6 ($3.28)
9 ($2.62)
9 ($1.64)
6 ($1.10)
The allowance for an adult dependent is reduced from 9s. ($2.19)
to 8s. ($1.95) a week, but the rate for a child dependent (2s. (48.7
cents) a week) is left unchanged. These rates became effective Octo
ber 5, 1931.
Changes Respecting Transitional Payments
T h e second order, which limits the duration of normal insurance
payments and establishes transitional payments upon an entirely
separate basis, is far more fundamental than the mere changes in
amount of contributions and benefits effected by the first order. The
text of this second order is not yet available, but the Manchester
Guardian, in its issue for October 16, gives a statement explaining its
terms, issued by the Ministry of Labor.
Under this order normal insurance benefits are payable for 26
weeks in one benefit year. If, after having drawn the full 26 benefits
within the prescribed period, the claimant is still unemployed, he
must prove that his circumstances are such that he is in need of
assistance, and, if he establishes his case, he becomes eligible for
transitional benefits.
T he am o u n ts of tran sitio n a l p a y m en ts to be m ade will be determ in ed th ro u g h
th e m achinery of th e public assistance a u th o rities, b u t th e a c tu a l p a y m e n ts will
be m ade a t th e em ploym en t exchanges a n d will be a charge on th e exchequer.
A rrangem ents for giving effect to th ese changes h av e to be m ad e n o t only by
th e em ploym ent exchanges b u t b y all th e public assistance a u th o ritie s th ro u g h
o u t th e country, a n d a n in te rv a l has necessarily to be allow ed for th is purpose.
T he earliest d a te a t w hich it will be practicab le to begin th e o p eratio n of th e
new arran g em en ts is N ovem ber 12, a n d th is is th e d a te fixed by th e order in
council for th e com ing in to force of these arran g em en ts.
Under the terms of the order the applicant for transitional payments
makes his claim in the usual way at the employment exchange,
whereupon it is referred to the public assistance authorities for investi
gation. These authorities decide whether his circumstances call for
such help, and if so, what the amount of the transitional payments
shall be, and report back their findings to the employment exchange,
which carries their decision into effect. The public assistance author
ities may fix the amount to be given at any sum, up to the normal
{ Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of shilling=24.33 cents and penny=2.03 cents.
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MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
insurance benefit, but may not exceed that figure. This arrangement
is credited with two advantages : It frees the insurance fund from the
burden of purely relief payments, and it prevents the latter, where
they are due solely to unemployment, from falling upon the particular
region where the unemployment occurs. If, instead of receiving
transitional payments from the general treasury, the applicant had
to fall back upon poor relief which is paid from local taxes, the tax
burden would be heaviest in those localities where unemployment is
most rife and where business is least able to bear the weight of in
creased taxes. Incidentally, it is hoped that owing to the reluctance
of many persons to subject themselves to the investigation of thè
public assistance authorities, and to the stricter standards of need
established by these authorities, the amount paid out in transitional
payments may be materially reduced.
Regulations Under the Anomalies Act
T h e anomalies act authorized the Minister of Labor, after consulta
tion with an advisory committee, to issue regulations affecting three
classes of workers so far as insurance rights are concerned : Seasonal
workers, part-time workers, and married women. (See Labor Review,
November, 1931, p. 70.) The regulations issued under its terms are
summarized in the Ministry of Labor Gazette for October, 1931.
Seasonal workers.—These are defined as persons whose normal
employment for a part or parts of the year is in a seasonal occupation.
It is provided that they shall be entitled to benefit for unemployment
during the “ off season” only if they can prove that for each of the
two preceding years they have had a substantial amount of insurable
employment during the off season, and that, considering the indus
trial condition of the district in which they live, they may reasonably
expect to obtain such employment during the off season. The term
“ off season” is carefully defined.
Part-time workers.—These are divided into two classes. The first
comprises those who are normally employed for not more than two
days in the week, and for these it is provided that they are not entitled
to benefit for unemployment on any days other than those on which
they are normally employed. The second group, believed to be small,
is thus defined, and the conditions affecting it are thus laid down in
the order:
In th e case of th e class of persons who h a b itu a lly w ork for less th a n a full week
an d b y th e practice of th e tra d e in w hich th e y are em ployed n evertheless receive
earnings or sim ilar p a y m e n ts of a n a m o u n t g re a te r th a n th e n o rm al earn in g s for
a full w eek of persons follow ing th e sam e occupation in th e sam e d istric t, th e
am o u n t of benefit otherw ise p ay ab le to persons of th e said class in resp ect of an y
benefit w eek shall be red u ced by th e a m o u n t b y w hich th e aggregate of th e
earnings or sim ilar p a y m e n ts received b y th e m in th a t benefit w eek a n d of th e
benefit aforesaid exceeds th e n o rm al earnings for a full week of persons following
th e sam e occupation in th e sam e d istrict.
These conditions are not to apply to a member of this class who has
worked for less than four weeks, or who has had an interval of four
consecutive weeks or longer since last being so employed.
Married women claimants.—There has been much complaint that
married women who, up to the time of their marriage were in an
insurable occupation, have been drawing insurance benefits although
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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND B E N E F IT PLANS
75
they have no expectation of reentering industry. In a number of
cases marriage is a cause for dismissal.
A woman dismissed on such a ground can not be refused benefit on
the ground that her lack of employment is due to her own misconduct,
and owing to the industrial situation it is in many cases impossible to
offer her a job, and thus apply the “ genuinely seeking work” test.
Consequently, she might continue to receive unemployment benefits
indefinitely. Under the new regulations limiting normal benefits to
26 weeks in one year she might, after that period had expired, be
referred to the public assistance authorities, who would probably re
fuse her transitional benefits, but it was felt that the situation needed
more direct treatment, and the following rules are laid down for the
treatment of married women claimants. They do not apply to mar
ried women whose husbands are incapacitated or unemployed and
not in receipt of benefit.
A married woman who since marriage has had less than 15 contributions paid
in respect of her, or who, if more than six months has elapsed since her marriage,
has had less than eight contributions paid in respect of her during the period of
three months preceding the beginning of her benefit quarter, shall be entitled to
benefit only if, in addition to satisfying the other requirements of the acts for the
receipt of benefit, she also proves:
(1) That she is normally employed in insurable employment and will normally
seek to obtain her livelihood by means of insurable employment, and (2) that
having regard to all the circumstances of her case, and particularly to her indus
trial experience and tire industrial circumstances of the district in which she
resides, she can reasonably expect to obtain insurable employment in that distri ct
Sen ate H earin gs on U n e m p lo y m e n t-In su ra n ce Sy ste m s
N ACCORDANCE with Resolution 483 passed by the Senate on
February 28, 1931, providing for an investigation of unemployment
insurance and benefit plans, a committee designated as the Select
Committee Investigating Unemployment Insurance Systems of Pri
vate Interests in the United States and by Foreign Governments,
composed of Senator Hebert (chairman), of Rhode Island, Senator
Glenn, of Illinois, and Senator Wagner, of New York, has been holding
a series of hearings in Washington.
One hearing was held April 2 when Brant A. Scott, vice president
of the United Mine Workers of West Virginia, was heard.
Beginning October 19, upon the return of two of the committee
members from a tour of European countries where the various un
employment-insurance plans were studied, further hearings were called.
The hearings closed on November 13. In the order of their appear
ance, the persons testifying before the committee were: Gerard Swope,
president of the General Electric Co.; M. B. Folsom, of the Eastman
Kodak Co.; James D. Craig, of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.;
Walter J. Kohler, of the Kohler Co., Kohler, Wis.; H. B. Tobias,
architect of Philadelphia, Pa.; Benjamin C. Alarsh, executive secre
tary of the People’s Lobby, Washington, D. C.; H. Neville Thompson,
of Washington, D. C.; Edward A. Filene, of William Filene Sons Co.,
Boston, Alass.; Sumner Schlichter, of Harvard University, Cambridge,
Alass.; Jacob Billikopf, of the Federation of Jewish Charities, Phila
delphia, Pa.; James L. Donnelly, executive secretary of the Illinois
I
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Association of Manufacturers, Chicago, 111.; Charles W. Baker, econo
mist, Montclair, N. J .; Malcolm C. Rorty, financial consultant, New
York City; P. Tecumseh Sherman, lawyer, New York City; and
Abraham Epstein, executive secretary, American Association for Old
Age Security, Philadelphia, Pa.
The testimony in general was in favor of some form of unemploy
ment benefit system, but opinions were not uniform as to whether
such system should be voluntary or compulsory,whether it should apply
to one concern, one industry, or be on a state-wide or Federal basis,
whether financial support should come from employer, employee, or
Government contribution, or from some combination of contributions.
For example, Mr. Swope and Mr. Folsom presented the plans of the
General Electric Co. and the Rochester plan, respectively, both of
which are voluntary and administered by individual companies for the
benefit of their own employees, the costs being shared by employers
and employees. Mr. Folsom, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Donnelly
expressed definite opposition to compulsory unemployment insurance
on either a State or Federal basis. Mr. Marsh suggested that aid be
given on a Federal basis, without regard to actuarial principles, owing
to the need that will exist this coming winter and as long as persons
are without work. Mr. Schlichter’s proposal was of still another na
ture, namely, that benefit systems be set up by individual corporations,
voluntarily as a part of the cost of production, under Government
supervision and that an incentive to such protection of employees be
furnished the individual employer by providing that a sum, perhaps
50 cents on each dollar, set aside for unemployment benefits be cred
ited against the employer’s Federal income tax. Mr. Filene advocated
a plan whereby corporations would insure their employees for a fixed
period of time, the plans to be under State supervision and further
provision to be made that when an employee has exhausted his right
to benefit the Federal Government should supply the necessary funds,
by taxation, to take care of the unemployed.
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EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND UNEM
PLOYMENT RELIEF
P rogram for P rom otion of E m p lo y m e n t
NDER the chairmanship of Harry A. Wheeler, of Chicago, the
committee on employment plans and suggestions of the Presi
dent’s Organization on Unemployment Relief has offered a series of
definite recommendations designed to promote employment in public
and private industry and thus hasten economic recovery.1 It is
brought out in the introductory statement to the program that the
desire for a resumption of normal business activity is the earnest wish
of all, and that even though complete recovery must await the re
moval of adverse conditions throughout the world we should cease
to delay improvement through passive acceptance of the situation
and should make a concerted and determined effort to correct domes
tic conditions.
U
Recommendations
T he recommendations made are 10 in number and are here quoted
in full. Although the program of the President’s Organization on
Unemployment Relief is primarily one of relief, it contains, in addition
to measures for direct relief, suggestions for the laying of a firm foun
dation for rebuilding a sound, permanent national prosperity.
“ 1. United national action to encourage every American citizen
now employed to resume normal buying—to use available income to
purchase goods normally needed and in the replacement of which
labor is employed—is a condition precedent to any hopeful program
to constructively increase employment; continued and further re
striction of consumption of goods and of expenditures for improve
ments and replacements inevitably will offset any and every effort for
emergency relief.
“ 2. Public confidence in our financial and credit structures must be
reestablished. Withdrawals of money from circulation for hoarding
seriously restrict credit and operate to delay business recovery. The
creation of the National Credit Corporation and such further agencies,
either public or private, heretofore suggested by the President to in
sure further and more certain fluidity of banking resources, will bring
ready response in increased activity in productive and distributive
forces of the country.
“ 3. In addition to expansion of basic credit facilities, including
those already instituted by the President, bankers of the United
States may make their effective contribution to the national program
for resumed normal activities, through assuming as liberal and en
couraging an attitude as possible toward the credit requirements of
their average customer.
P re s sre le a s e of Oct. 29, 1931.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1341]
77
78
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
“ In considering extension of credit lines, bankers now might give
due weight to intangibles, to broad conditions influencing credit re
ports, and to the related interests of the country and the general
public.
“ 4. The spreading of available work in industrial, commercial, and
professional enterprises still is the most fruitful field for immediate
unemployment relief. Workers have generously shared hours of
labor and a substantial proportion of employers have given earnest
and sincere cooperation, but abundant evidence is at hand that a
large number of employers has not responded. Therefore the com
mittee renews its recommendations of September 28 with an earnest
appeal that an immediate survey be made by each employer and that
application be made of the detailed and specific suggestions set up in
another part of this report.
“ 5. As distinguished from private employment, there is a vast
group in Federal, State, and local public service under civil service
appointment which in general has not felt the pinch of unemploy
ment, nor been called upon to share their hours of work.
“ If a truly concerted national effort is to be attained, this group,
representing one of the largest single blocs of labor, must be called
upon for their fair contribution.
“ This committee urges upon the elected and appointed officers of
the Federal, State, and municipal governments and the heads of all
departments to at once enter into an appraisal of the facts and to
make a definite effort to contribute to the general objective.
“6. The committee urges that nothing be omitted to make imme
diately available new additional employment represented by public
work already authorized and appropriated for but delayed or blocked
by removable legal obstacles and supervisory red tape.
“7. Special consideration in the effort to spread employment should
be given to provision of part-time employment, at least, for the
white-collar class, male and female, which heretofore has received
less than reasonable notice and which represents a need and a distress
often more acute than that of the industrial worker.
“8. In making effective the spread of employment, consideration
should be given by every unit of industry to the capacity of each
individual employee for self-help and to his personal and community
responsibilities. The committee views this recommendation as of
major importance.
“9. Community and district surveys to determine the extent of
made work available, whether of industrial, civic, or private origin,
and to allocate such work to best advantage in conjunction with
other local relief efforts, already are accomplishing material results.
These should be fostered and the endeavor made to extend them to
every section of the country, not only for the sustaining employment
thereby developed but also for their influence in bringing home to
the average citizen his part in the emergency.
“ 10. As a special emergency measure for this winter, a survey
should be made of the possibility for transfer of surplus labor from
cities to farms, on a work-for-keep and/or other basis, with a view
to supplying help needed in agrarian sections but unavailable because
of lack of financial strength, and to relieve pressure upon urban relief
agencies.”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1342]
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEM PLOYM ENT R E L IE F
79
Efforts to K eep C h ild re n and Y o u n g Persons in School
HE President’s Organization on Unemployment Relief, in press
releases of October 5 and 7, 1931, calls attention to the efforts
being made to keep children and young persons in school this coming
winter as an aid to the employment situation. It appears that in
many sections of the country the conscious effort made to increase
the enrollment of children in schools has met with success, and a
school enrollment in excess of last year has resulted.
T
Primary and Secondary Schools
I n v a r i o u s districts, funds additional to the regular appropria
tions have been made available in order that the public schools may
be brought within the reach of children for whose education the
parents could not provide. For example, in Pennsylvania special
funds have been provided and are being used to pay the tuition of
high-school students in neighboring communities, in cases where the
rural areas in which they live are unable to support the necessary
schools. In Spencer, Nebr., living quarters have been furnished for
school children whose parents could not otherwise send them, to
school and the school-teachers have subscribed money to buy food
for them. In Providence, R. I., a material increase has taken place
in the number of applications for and awards of high-school scholar
ships. The additional money needed for these scholarships has been
raised with the aid of the parent-teacher association, local organiza
tions, and foundations.
Colleges and Universities
R e p o r t s from more than 200 colleges and universities show in
creased attendance, according to the President’s Organization on
Unemployment Relief. Attention is called to the fact that these
larger enrollments serve to keep young persons from competing with
the heads of families for jobs, while at the same time they offer the
students opportunity for better preparation for later employment.
It appears that funds to finance needy students are raised in a
variety of ways, i. e., through special contributions, use of college
resources and credit, proceeds from football games, etc.
At Massachusetts Institute of Technology, student loans of nearly
$150,000 have been made available thus far. The faculty of the
College of the City of New York is contributing $1,500 monthly
for student aid. In other colleges loan funds are being increased
and the number of part-time jobs for students increased.
Efforts to Im prove E m p lo y m e n t C o n d itio n s in B altim ore
PPOINTMENT of a committee on unemployment in Baltimore
was made by the city administration in July, 1928, upon the
suggestion of a group of citizens. On May 12, 1930, a permanent
organization, the Municipal Commission on Employment Stabiliza-
A
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1343]
80
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
tion, was set up and this body in conjunction with the Municipal
Free Employment Service has recently made a report on organization
activities in unemployment matters.2
Program
T h e Municipal Commission on Employment Stabilization has
devoted itself to developing a variety of measures to improve em
ployment conditions. Among them is the development of an emer
gency code of employment practice under the terms of which it is
suggested that preference be given to heads of families in hiring
workers, that the number of working hours per week per person be
reduced to avoid lay-off and that extra repair work or plant extension
be undertaken where possible. The commission has also made a
campaign for temporary jobs, established the Municipal Free Em
ployment Service of Baltimore, and urged the undertaking and
speeding up of construction programs whenever possible.
Development of a plan for stabilizing employment in Baltimore
and keeping unemployment at a minimum in the future has also
claimed the attention of the commission. In this campaign the
cooperation of employers in the city has been sought and the experi
ence of employers who have developed stabilization programs has
been made available for the guidance of managements generally.
The commission has also submitted to employers a tentative plan
for the payment of unemployment benefits, the funds to be raised
by employer appropriations of 2 per cent of pay roll. In order that
workers, who have suffered the loss of then* positions through tech
nological and other industrial changes, may again enter industry,
the commission is cooperating with the school authorities to intro
duce a series of vocational training courses. Along with these
activities a fact-finding program is being carried on to ascertain
with accuracy what the trends in employment activity have been.
The Municipal Free Employment Service opened on December 22,
1930, and had on August 15, 1931, made placements of 1,757 persons
out of a total of 7,713 registrants, that is, 22.8 per cent of registrants.
The service superseded a former municipal employment bureau.
In closing its report the Municipal Commission on Employment
Stabilization urges: (1) Stabilization of business; (2) establishment of
unemployment benefit plans in industrial concerns so that workers
may be protected when unusual circumstances make lay-off neces
sary; and (3) employer support in coordinating activities in the
Baltimore labor market through the Municipal Free Employment
Service.
U n e m p lo y m e n t in Pen n sylvan ia, Ju n e , 1931
N ESTIMATE of the number unemployed and an analysis of
industrial employment and wage payments in Pennsylvania in
June, 1931, are made in Special Bulletin No. 33 of the bureau of sta
tistics of the department of labor and industry of that State, which is
entitled “ How many are jobless in Pennsylvania?”
A
2 Report of the M unicipal Commission on E m ploym ent Stabilization and the M unicipal Free E m ploy
m en t Service, Baltimore, M d., September, 1931.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1344]
81
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— TTNEMPLOYMENT R E L IE F
The United States census of unemployment, taken in April, 1930,
was used as a starting point and an estimate for two months after
was predicated on the following changes shown in the indexes of
volume of industrial employment in Pennsylvania from April, 1930,
to June, 1931:
Per cent
cf change a
In d u s try
Agriculture___________________________________________
Manufacturing________________________________________
Construction and contracting____________________
Anthracite coal mining________________________________
Bituminous coal mining_______________________________
Retail trade__________________________________________
Wholesale trade_______________________________________
4+ l. 9
—18. 7
—22. 8
—12. 5
—18. 5
—5. 9
—1.0
Each county in Pennsylvania was classified according to its pre
dominant type of industry—agriculture, mining, or manufacture.
The factors of the change in industrial employment from April, 1930,
to June, 1931, were then applied to the employment totals for the dif
ferent counties. Indexes for city areas were used in cases when such
indexes were considered to be more indicative than those for the State.5
The estimated total of unemployed in the State was 918,768 5 as of
June, 1931, or 24.7 per cent, of the normally occupied persons as
enumerated in the 1930 census.5
The following is the full text of the summary of the above-mentioned
bulletin:
“ The estimated number of unemployed in Pennsylvania for June,
1931, is believed to be approximately 919,000 persons, or nearly 25
per cent of the total working population.
“ The prevalence of unemployment in the principal industries of the
State is shown by a comparison of the employment and wage payment
indexes compiled for these industries.
E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O L L S FO R J U N E , 1931, C O M P A R E D W IT H J U N E , 1930, A N D
W IT H J U N E , 1929
E m ploym ent: Per cent
Per cent of de
of decrease compared Payrolls:
crease co .pared w ith—
w ith—
In d u stry
M anufacturing........... _
_
_
.
M e ta ls ..____________ _ ____________________
Textiles_______
. . .
A nthracite coal m ining_____________
_
_____
B itum inous coal m ining____
C onstruction a n d contracting. .
. . . . .
Wholesale trad e . ________ _ _____
_ . . _.
R etail tra d e _______ ____ ___ _________ . . . ________
June, 1930
June, 1929
June, 1930
38.6
23. 2
12.9
17. 1
12.1
34.7
1.6
4.8
24.9
31. 1
19. 2
22. 2
17.5
35.8
5.6
8.1
32.0
40.4
14.0
22.8
36.2
45.1
0
0
June, 1929
43. 2
52. 2
35.4
20.4
47.0
50.7
(9
0
1 No data available.
“ Employment and pay rolls in construction and contracting show
the largest decline in the past two years. The second largest reduc
tion is showm for manufacturing, with a preponderance of this reduc3 D ata compiled b y Philadelphia Federal Reserve B ank, in cooperation w ith State departm ent of labor
a nd industry.
♦ Index of U nited States D epartm ent of A griculture for M iddle A tlantic States—Jan. 1, 1930, to
Jan. 1, 1931.
5 T he estim ate does not take into account th e rapid increase of unem ploym ent in the counties of western
Pennsylvania most seriously affected b y the strike of the bitum inous coal miners.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1345]
82
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
tion in the metal and textile industries. Employment in anthracitecoal mining for June is shown to be 22 per cent lower than it was at
this period two years ago, a greater percentage decline than is shown
for the bituminous industry. Pay rolls in bituminous mining for
June, 1931, however, were only slightly more than half of their total
for the same month two years ago.
“ Employment in wholesale trade in the past two years has declined
nearly 6 per cent, while employment in retail establishments has
decreased more than 8 per cent.
“Average weekly earnings of workers in manufacturing have fallen
from a peak of $27.53 a week in May, 1929, to $21.25 in June, 1931,
a 22.8 per cent decline.
“Average hourly earnings of workers in manufacturing have shown
little variation in the four years prior to 1930 but have fallen from 60
cents an hour in June, 1930, to 55.9 cents an hour in June, 1931.
“ The prevalence of part-time employment is shown by the drop
in hours worked in manufacturing from an average of 50 hours a
week in the spring of 1929 to an average of 38 hours in June, 1931, a
24 per cent reduction.
“ Wage-rate reductions affecting approximately 15 per cent of the
total number of workers engaged in the manufacturing industry of
Pennsylvania have been reported during the last year and a half.
The average size of the wage cut was 10.8 per cent. This is the
record of wage reductions voluntarily reported by employers. It
does not include a record of reductions made and not reported, nor
does it include records of wage cuts affecting employees laid off at
one rate and rehired at a lower rate.
“ The ratio of applicants for employment to jobs open, as reported
from State public employment offices, reached a higher mark in June,
1931, than at any other period of the nine years for which comparative
records of public employment office activities are available. _ The
figure for June, 1931, was 409 applicants for every 100 available
jobs, or more than four to one. In June, 1930, the ratio was 320
applicants for every 100 openings.”
S ta b iliz a tio n P la n in W iscon sin L u m b e r In d u s tr y 6
HE lumbermen in the State of Wisconsin have inaugurated
what is said to be the first practical attempt of an entire indus
trial group to give a certain fixed amount of employment to the
workers of an industry.
The Wisconsin lumbermen signed a contract, approved by Governor
La Follette’s executive council in October, by which it was agreed to
maintain production at a fixed percentage of capacity in all of their
plants so as to avoid complete shutdowns. A committee, made up
of seven representatives of the lumbermen and of five persons ap
pointed with the approval of the State department of agriculture
and markets, will superintend the carrying out of the contract in
such a way as to increase the production evenly throughout the
industry if the demand warrants it. The agreement provides that
for the period July 1, 1931, to July 1, 1932, the production of each
T
6 T h e N ational L um ber B ulletin.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W ashington, N ovem ber, 1931, p. 6.
[1346]
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEM PLOYM ENT R E L IE F
83
plant will be set at 28 per cent of the annual average for the 3-year
period, 1927-1929, which were years of large production. In pre
senting the contract with the lumbermen to the executive council,
the governor stated that the agreement was a joint effort to stop the
complete shutting down of plants and to create order out of the
present disorganized methods of marketing and production.
U n e m p lo y m e n t in Foreign C o u n trie s
T
HE following table gives detailed monthly statistics of unem
ployment in foreign countries, as shown in official reports, from
January, 1930, to the latest available date.
S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S i
A ustralia
Trade-unionists
unemployed
D ate (end of m onth)
N um ber
Per
cent
Belgium
A ustria
Canada
C om pul
U nem ploym ent insurance societies
sory in
Per cent
surance,
num ber
of tradeW holly unem
P artially unem unionists
unem
ployed
ployed
unem
ployed
ployed
in receipt of
benefit
N um ber Per cent N um ber Per cent
1£30
Jan u a ry ____
F eb ru ary ___
M arch ______
A pril_______
M a y _______
J u n e _______
J u ly -----------A ugust_____
S e p te m b e r...
O ctober_____
N ovem ber__
D ecem ber__
(2)
(2)
63,144
(2)
(2)
80,595
(2)
(2)
90. 379
(2)
(2)
104,951
14.6
18.5
20.5
23.4
273,197
284, 543
239, 094
192,477
162, 678
150,075
153,188
156,145
163, 894
192, 778
237, 745
294,845
22, 542
16, 085
14, 030
13, 715
12,119
12, 226
15, 302
17, 747
23, 693
27, 322
38, 973
63, 585
3.5
2.6
2.2
2.2
1.9
1.9
2.4
2.8
3.8
4.3
6.1
9.3
25, 782
31, 222
28. 469
36, 605
38, 761
41, 336
48, 580
51, 649
61, 623
54,804
76,043
117,167
4. 0
4.9
4.5
5.8
6.1
6.5
7.7
8.2
9.9
8.5
12.0
17.0
10.8
11.5
10.8
9.0
10.3
10.6
9.2
9.3
9.4
10.8
13.8
17.0
331, 239
334,041
304, 084
246, 845
208, 852
191,150
194, 364
196, 321
202,130
228,101
77,181
81, 750
81, 305
70, 377
56, 250
62, 642
64,644
70, 893
74, 175
11.1
11.7
11.3
10.0
7.9
8.9
9. 1
9.9
10.3
112,734
121,906
125, 972
110,139
97, 755
101,616
116, 747
120, 669
119, 433
16.2
19.4
17.7
15.6
13.8
14.4
16.3
16.8
16.6
16.0
15.6
15.5
14. 9
16.2
16.3
16. 2
15.8
18.1
1931
J a n u a ry ...
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch ___
A pril____
M ay _____
Ju n e _____
J u ly -------A ugust___
September.
O c to b er...
(2)
(2)
113,614
(2)
(2)
118,424
(2)
(2)
120, 694
25.8
27.6
28.3
See footnotes a t end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1347]
84
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
Danzig
(Free
C ity of)
Czechoslovakia
D ate (end of m onth)
N u m b er
of unem
ployed
on live
register
T rade-union in
surance funds—
unem ployed in
receipt of benefit
N u m b er
P er
cent
N um ber
of unem
ployed
registered
D enm ark
Estonia
F inland
Trade-union unem
ploym ent funds— N um ber
unem N um ber
unem ployed
ployed of unem
remaining ployed
on live registered
N um ber P er cent register
1930
Jan u ary .
F e b ru a ry ___ __
M arch ______
A pril_________ ___ _
M a y . . _____ ___
Ju n e _________
J u ly ----------------------A u g u st...
______
Septem ber. . . .
October
N ovem ber _ . .
D ecem ber.. . . . . . .
73,891
86,156
88, 005
79, 721
77, 069
73, 464
77, 309
88,005
104, 534
122,379
155, 203
239,564
39,199
40, 550
45, 567
42, 664
41, 098
37, 853
46, 800
52, 694
57, 542
61, 213
65,904
93,476
3.6
3.6
4.0
3.7
3.8
3.4
4.1
4.7
5.3
5.5
5.9
8.3
19, 282
21,153
20, 376
18,371
16, 232
14,975
15, 330
15, 687
16, 073
17, 307
20, 272
24,429
55, 876
59, 363
47,109
33,471
27,966
24,807
26, 200
26, 232
27, 700
32, 880
44, 200
71,100
20.3
21.0
15.6
11.8
9.4
8.7
9.3
9.0
9.0
11.4
15.3
24.6
5, 608
4, 580
3, 575
2,227
2,065
910
762
1,039
b 414
3j 282
5,675
6,163
12,696
11,545
lOj 062
7,274
4' 666
3,553
4, 026
5, 288
7 157
10,279
10 740
9,336
1931
J a n u a ry ... __ ._ . . .
F ebruary . . . . .
M arch _
A p ril... ________ .
M a y . ____________
J u n e ...
Ju ly _______________
A ugust___
Septem ber . .
O ctober
313, 511
343,972
339, 505
296, 756
249, 686
220, 038
209, 233
214, 520
228, 383
253, 518
104, 580
117,450
119, 350
107, 238
93, 941
82, 534
82, 759
86, 261
384,671
9.5
10.0
10.0
8.9
7.6
6.6
6.6
6.9
6 8
27,081
28,192
27,070
24,186
20, 686
19, 855
20, 420
21, 509
22, 922
70,961
73, 427
67, 725
45, 698
37, 856
34, 030
36, 369
35, 060
35, 871
47,196
24.2
26.0
22.1
15.3
12.3
11.3
11.8
11.8
12.1
16.0
5,364
4,070
2,765
2,424
1, 368
931
634
933
2,096
11,706
11,557
11,491
12' 663
7, 342
6,320
6, 790
9,160
12,176
1
France
G erm any
Trade-unionists
D ate (end of m onth)
N um ber N u m b er of
of unem
unem
ployed
ployed
in receipt registered
of benefit
W holly unem
ployed
N um ber
N u m b er
unem
ployed
in receipt
Per cent N um ber P er cent of benefit
1930
J a n u a ry .. . . . . . .
F eb ru ary .
M a rc h ... . . . ___
A p ril.. ____ ..
M ay ____
June___
Ju ly --------------------------------A ugust_________
Septem ber__ . . .
O cto b er.. _____
N ovem ber.. .
D ecem ber______
1,484
1, 683
1,630
1,203
859
1,019
853
964
988
1,663
4,893
11,952
3, 217,608
3, 365, 811
3,040, 797
2, 786, 912
2,634, 718
2, 640, 681
2, 765, 258
2, 883, 000
3, 004, 000
3, 252, 000
3, 683, 000
4, 384,000
1, 004, 787
1, 076, 441
995, 972
926, 831
895, 542
896, 465
930, 777
984, 384
1,011,820
1,061, 570
1,167, 930
0
22.0
23.5
21. 7
20.3
19. 5
19.6
20. 5
21. 7
22. 5
23.6
26.0
31.7
1931
Jan u ary . . . . . _____
F eb ru ary ____ . . .
M arch___ . . .
A p r i l ...................
M ay .
June___
Ju ly --------------------------------A u g u st.. _ _____
Septem ber___ . . .
October .
N ovem ber . . .
. . .
28, 536
40, 766
50,815
49, 958
41, 339
36, 237
35,916
37, 673
38, 524
51, 654
481, 553
4,887,000
4,972, 000
4, 756, 000
4, 358, 000
4, 053, 000
3,954, 000
3, 976, 000
4, 215, 000
4, 355, 000
4, 622,000
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
0
0
0
34.2
34.5
33.6
31.2
29.9
29. 7
31.0
33. 6
35.1
1
See footnotes a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1348]
P artially unem
ployed
501,950
593, 380
576,153
553, 098
552, 318
578,116
631, 903
670, 466
677, 627
693, 379
721, 658
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
11. 0
13.0
12.6
12.1
12. 0
12.6
13.9
14. 8
15.1
15.4
16.1
16.9
2, 482,648
2, 655, 723
2 ,347| 102
2, 08b 068
1, 889, 240
1,834' 662
1,900, 961
1,947j 811
1, 965, 348
2,071, 730
2, 353' 980
2,822, 598
19.2
19. 5
18.9
18. 0
17.4
17. 7
19.1
21. 4
22.2
3,364, 770
3,496,979
3i 240’ 523
2, 789' 627
2, 507, 732
2 ,353' 657
2, 23lj 513
2, 376 589
2, 483, 364
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS----UNEM PLOYM ENT B E L IE F
85
S T A T E M E N T OE U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
Great B ritain and N orthern Ireland
Great
B ritain
Trade-unionists u n
employed
Compulsory insurance
N um ber
W holly unem
Tem porary sto p of persons
registered
ployed
pages
w ith em
ploym ent
exchanges
N um ber Per cent N um ber Per cent
D ate (end of m onth)
H ungary
Chris
tian
(B uda
pest)
Social-demo
cratic
N um
ber
Per
cent
1930
Jan u ary ___- _ -------F eb ru ary _______ _____
M arch __ . _________
A pril____ ____________
M a y _______ - ------------J u n e _____ _____ - -----J u ly ----------------------------A ugust____ _ ------------Septem ber........ ..................
October
____
N ovem ber_______
_ .
D ecem ber_____ ______
1,183, 974
1, 211,262
1, 284, 231
1, 309, 014
1, 339, 595
1, 341, 818
1,405,981
1, 500,990
1, 579, 708
1, 725, 731
1,836, 280
1,853, 575
9.8
10.0
10.6
10.8
11.1
11.1
11.6
12.4
13.1
13.9
14.8
14.9
336,474
371, 840
409. 785
451, 506
516, 303
569, 931
664, 107
618,658
608, 692
593,223
532, 518
646,205
2.8
3.1
3.4
3.8
4.2
4.7
5.5
5.1
5.0
4.8
4.3
5.3
1,491, 519
1, 539, 265
1, 677, 473
1, 698, 386
1,770,051
1,890, 575
2. 011,467
2, 039, 702
2,114,955
2, 200, 413
2,274. 338
2,392, 738
1,161
1,120
983
906
875
829
920
847
874
999
975
935
21, 533
21, 309
21,016
20. 139
19, 875
18, 960
19, 081
21, 013
22, 252
22, 914
23, 333
24,648
14.5
14.8
14.6
13.7
13.6
13.0
13.2
14.5
16.0
16.7
17.0
17.9
1931
J a n u a ry -----------------------F ebruary . _ _ _ --------M a rc h .. _______ _____
A p ril.. _______________
M a y ____ _
___ ______
J u n e ______ .
______
J u ly ___________________
A ugust
_________
Septem ber__ _______
October________________
2, 044, 209
2, 073, 578
2,052,826
2, 027, 896
2, 019, 533
2, 037,480
2, 073Ì 892
2,142, 821
2. 217, 080
2, 305, 388
16.5
16.7
16.5
16.3
16.3
16.4
16.7
17.3
17.9
18.1
618, 633
623, 844
612, 821
564.884
558, 383
669, 315
732| 583
670, 342
663, 466
487, 591
5.0
5.0
5.0
4.6
4. 5
5.4
5.9
5.4
5. 3
3. 8
2,613. 749
2. 627, 559
2, 581, 030
2, 531. 674
2, 596, 431
2, 629, 215
2, 662' 765
2, 732, 434
2 .879i 466
2, 755, 559
953
965
996
1,042
26,191
27,089
27. 092
27,129
19.1
19.8
(2)
(2)
D ate (end of
m onth)
1930
Ja n u a ry ____
F ebruary ___
M arch_____
A pril_______
M ay _______
Ju n e _______
Ju ly _______
A ugust_____
Septem ber.
O ctober.._ _____
N o v e m b e r___ . .
D ecem ber____
1931
Ja n u a ry ________ .
F ebruary ________
M arch __ . _
A pril_____ _____ _
M ay __ _ __ __
Ju n e. __ _
J u ly ______________
A ugust------- --------Septem ber___ ____
O c to b er._______ __
Irish Free State
Ita ly
Com pulsory in
surance—unem
ployed
N um ber of u n
employed regis
tered
Latvia
Per
cent
W holly
unem
ployed
P a r
tially
un em
ployed
31,592
11.1
466,231
456,628
385,432
372, 236
367, 183
322, 291
342, 061
375, 548
394, 630
446.496
534, 356
642,169
23,185
26, 674
28, 026
24, 305
22, 825
21. 887
24, 209
24, 056
22, 734
19, 081
22.125
21, 788
10, 022
722,612
765, 325
707,486
670, 353
635,183
673, 593
637, 531
693, 273
747, 764
799, 744
27.924
27,110
27. 545
28, 780
26, 059
24. 206
25,821
30, 636
9, 207
8.303
8.450
6,390
1,871
1,584
2,169
4,618
( 2)
26,027
9.2
( 2)
(2)
23.393
( 2)
(2)
20, 775
22,990
25,622
26,167
28,681
26,825
25,413
23.970
23, 016
21,427
21,647
21, 897
(2)
(2)
(21
( 2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
( 2)
(2)
( 2)
See footnotes a t end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1349]
N ew Zealand
U nem ploym ent Trade-unionists
N um ber insurance socie
unem ployed
u n em ties—unem ployed
ployed
rem ain
ing on
Per
Per
live
N um ber cent
cent
register N um ber
N um ber
(2)
N etherlands
9, 263
8,825
6,494
3,683
1,421
779
607
573
1.470
6.058
8.608
56, 535
50. 957
34, 996
28, 421
26, 211
23, 678
29. 075
32, 765
35, 532
41, 088
46, 807
72,191
103,728
99, 753
80, 525
68, 860
60,189
59. 573
69, 026
70, 479
3 69,458
13.9
12.5
( 2)
8.6
( 2)
6.9
6.3
5. 5
6. 7
7.6
8.2
4,348
( 2)
5,884
(2)
( 2)
7,197
11.8
16.5
(2)
23.4
22 . 2
17.7
14.3
12.2
11.7
13.3
15. 3
15.4
10.9
13. 5
( 2)
(2
)
8,119
9.6
8.5
( 2)
(2)
« 29,434
5 37, 598
« 36.921
5 42,523
5 46, 359
« 48, 396
* 51,018
15.5
86
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
S T A T E M E N T O F U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —C ontinued
D ate (end of
month)
Trade-unionists
(10 unions) u n
employed
N um ber
1930
Jan u ary _ _ ___ .
F e b ru a ry ,-- __
M arch ,.- _______
A p ril_____ _ M ay ___________
J u n e ____
J u ly _____________
A ugust _________
Septem ber. __ ___
O ctober____
N ovem ber
D e c e m b e r._____
1931
Ja n u a ry __ ___ ___
F eb ru ary _______
M arch .
_____
April
______
M ay . . ________
Ju n e __
_______
J u ly .
August ______ _
S e p te m b e r.______
October _.
....
P er
cen t
N um ber N um ber
unem
unem
ployed
ployed
rem ain registered
w ith em
ing on
ploym ent
live
register
offices
Industrial workers
E xtractive and
m anufacturing
industries—
w holly unem
ployed
er
N u m b er cPen
t
7,786
7,851
7, 503
6,701
5, 239
4,700
4, 723
5,897
7,010
8,031
9,396
lb 265
19.0
18.9
17.8
15. 8
12.2
10. 8
10. 8
13.4
15. 7
18. 0
21.4
25. 5
22, 549
22, 974
22, 533
19, 829
16, 376
13, 939
11, 997
12, 923
17,053
20, 363
24, 544
27,157
241, 974
274, 708
289, 469
271, 225
224, 914
204, 982
193, 687
173, 627
170,467
165,154
209, 912
299, 797
219, 333
251, 627
265,135
246, 670
201, 116
182, 600
170, 665
150, 650
146, 642
141, 422
(2)
(2)
11, 692
(2)
11, 213
(2)
26. 3
28, 596
29j 107
29' 095
28,477
25' 206
22, 736
20, 869
22, 431
27,012
29', 340
340, 718
358, 925
372, 536
351, 679
313| 104
274^ 942
255,179
246,380
251,608
253, 355
(2)
24. 9
Saar T e r
rito ry
R um ania
Poland
N orw ay
Sweden
24. 3
27. 5
28. 7
27. 0
23. 0
21. 6
20.5
18.3
17.8
17.5
N um ber
unem
M anufacturing
industries—par ployed
tia lly u n e m remaining
on live
ployed
register
P er
N um ber cent
108, 812
120, 058
120, 844
113, 594
104, 469
94, 375
70, 597
74, 289
74, 285
91, 854
106, 835
95, 637
24.8
28.4
28.9
26. 9
24. 2
22.2
17. 0
17.1
16.5
14.8
23. 6
23.1
12, 622
15, 588
13, 045
13,412
25, 096
22, 960
23, 236
24, 209
39,110
36,147
42, 689
36, 212
82, 717
92,838
23.8
27.1
38, 804
43, 270
48, 226
41,519
33, 484
28,093
29, 250
22, 718
22,969
Sw itzerland
Yugo
slavia
U nem ploym ent funds
D ate (end of m onth)
1930
Jan u a ry _______________
F e b ru a ry .. ___________
M arch _____ _________
A pril______ _________
M ay. . _
_ ______
June _____ . ________ _
Ju ly ___________________
A u g u st... - .
______
S e p te m b e r.__ _ ______
O ctober_____ ________
N ovem ber
....
D ecem b er... __
1931
Jan u a ry _________ ______
F e b ru a ry . _______ .
M a r c h ...
___ ______
A p ril.._ _
. _____
M a y ... -_ _ _ . ______
J u n e _______ . _______
J u ly ___________________
A u g u s t_______ ______ _
Septem ber
............... .
N u m b er
u n em
ployed
registered
T rade-unionists
unem ployed
N u m b er
Per
cent
W holly u nem
ployed
N u m b er
P er
c en t
P a rtially unem
ployed
N um ber
P er
cent
N um ber
of unemployed
registered
11, 307
11, 949
8,882
7, 522
7, 362
6, 330
7,095
7,099
7,527
9, 013
12,110
15, 245
45, 636
45, 460
42, 278
38, 347
28,112
28, 956
27,170
28, 539
34, 963
43, 927
57, 070
86,042
14.2
13. 2
12. 5
11.1
8.3
8. 1
7.8
8. 1
9.8
12.2
15. 3
22. 9
10, 523
9,971
7,882
5,203
5, 356
5, 368
4,751
5,703
7,792
7,399
11, 666
21, 400
4.4
4.1
2.6
2. 1
2.2
1. 7
1. 9
2.3
2.5
3.0
4. 7
6.6
10, 710
11,445
12, 642
12, 755
13,129
17, 688
15, 112
19, 441
26, 111
23, 309
25, 793
33, 483
4.4
4.7
4.2
5.3
5.4
5.7
6.2
7.9
8.3
9.4
10.5
10.4
8, 508
9,437
9,739
12,052
8, 704
6, 991
7,236
6, 111
5, 973
6, 609
7,219
9,989
18,921
20,139
18, 292
18,102
14, 886
15,413
17, 685
20, 205
21,741
69,437
66, 923
72, 944
64, 534
49, 807
45, 839
46,180
48, 590
54,405
19.8
18.4
19. 3
17. 5
13.2
12. 1
12.4
12. 7
13.7
20, 551
20, 081
18, 991
10, 389
9,174
12, 577
12, 200
9, 754
15,188
8.3
7.9
5.4
4.0
3.5
3. 6
3.3
3.6
4.0
30, 977
30, 879
41, 880
27, 726
26, 058
34, 266
39, 000
33, 346
(2)
12.5
12.2
12.4
10. 6
9.9
9.7
11.3
12.4
(2)
11, 903
14,424
12, 029
11, 391
6,929
4,431
6,672
7,466
7,753
1 Sources: League of N ations—M o n th ly B ulletin of Statistics; In ternational L abor Office—Intern atio n al
L abor R eview ; C anada—L abor G azette; G reat B ritain —M in istry of L abor G azette; A ustria—Statistische N achrichten; A ustralia—Q uarterly Sum m ary of A ustralian Statistics; G erm any—R eichsarbeitsb la tt, Reichs A rb eitsm ark t Anzeiger; Sw itzerland—W irt. u . Social. M itteilungen, L a Vie Econom ique;
Poland—W iedomosci Statystyczne; N orw ay—Statistiskp M eddelelser; N etherlands—M aandschrift;
Sweden—SocialaM eddelendenjD enm ark—StatistiskeE fterretninger; F inland—B ank of Finland M onthly
B ulletin; France—B ulletin due M arché d u Travail; H ungary—M agyar S tatisztikai Szemle; Belgium—
Revue d u Travail; N ew Zealand—M o n th ly A bstract of Statistics; U . S. D epartm ent of C o m m e rc eCommerce Reports; and U . S. Consular Reports.
2 N o t reported.
3 Provisional figure.
« N ov. 21,1931
5 N ew series of statistics showing unem ployed registered b y th e em ploym ent exchanges. Includes not
only workers w holly unem ployed b u t also those in te rm itten tly em ployed.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1350]
EM PLOYM ENT CONDITIONS— UNEM PLO YM ENT R E L IE F
87
C h a n g e s in E m p lo y m e n t an d U n e m p lo y m e n t in G r e a t B rita in
TABLE was published in the Monthly Labor Review for June,
1931 (p. 56), giving the number of employed and unemployed
workers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the beginning
of 1930 to the end of March, 1931. In its issue for October, 1931,
the Ministry of Labor Gazette gives a table bringing these figures
up to the end of September, 1931, with the following explanation of
how they are computed:
A
T h e figures in [the final] colum n h av e been o b tain ed b y d ed u ctin g from th e
to ta l e stim a te d n um bers insured, th e average n u m b ers recorded as unem ployed
a n d th e n u m b ers directly involved in tra d e disputes, to g e th e r w ith a n allow ance
of
p e r ce n t of th e n u m b ers insured in resp ect of absences from w ork th ro u g h
sickness a n d o th er form s of unrecorded n o n em ploym ent o th e r th a n recognized
holidays.
IN S U R E D W O R K E R S A N D N U M B E R U N E M P L O Y E D A N D E M P L O Y E D , W IT H I N D E X
N U M B E R S T H E R E O F , JA N U A R Y 1, 1930, TO S E P T E M B E R 30, 1931
E stim ated num ber
employed
T otal
insured,
aged
16 to 64
N u m b er
un em
ployed
N u m ber
not
recorded
as u n
em ployed
11, 995, 000
12, 115,000
12,197, 000
12, 290, 000
1, 552,000
1, 784, 000
2, 056, 000
2,317,000
1931
Ja n u a ry to M a rc h .._ --------------- _ . . . _. 12, 380, 000
A pril to J u n e ---- -------------------- _ ______ 12, 467, 000
Ju ly to S e p te m b e r...
_______ ______ . 12, 550, 000
J u ly ------- ------------- ------------------------------A u g u s t... ________ _______
. .
. . ____
S e p te m b e r-------------
Period
1930
Jan u a ry to M arch . ---- ------------- . _____
A pril to Ju n e _
...
Ju ly to Septem ber
O ctober to D ecem ber. . _ _
______ _
12, 525,000
12, 550, 000
12,575, 000
Including
persons
involved
in
trade
disputes
N ot in
cluding
persons
involved
in trade
disputes
10, 443, 000
10,331, 000
10,141, 000
9,973, 000
10,023,000
9, 907,000
9, 714, 000
9, 543,000
10, 021, 000
9,868, 000
9, 712, 000
9,540, 000
2, 595, 000
2, 550, 000
2, 758,000
9, 785,000
9,917,000
9,792, 000
9, 352, 000
9,480, 000
9,353,000
9,308, 000
9,474, 000
9,342, 000
2, 732,000
2, 738, 000
2,804, 000
9, 793, 000
9,812, 000
9, 771, 000
9,354,000
9, 373, 000
9, 331,000
9, 333, 000
9, 365, 000
9, 326, 000
Index numbers (1924=100)
1930
Jan u a ry to M arch ----------- ------- ------ -A pril to Ju n e _____________ ______ _____
J u ly to Septem ber_________ _ . . .
___
O ctober to D ecem ber_________ . . . . ___
108.3
109.4
110.2
111.0
136.5
156.9
180.8
203.8
105.1
104.0
102.1
100.4
105.0
103. 8
101.7
99.9
105.3
103.7
102.1
100.3
1931
Jan u a ry to M arch _______
A pril to June
---------- . . . _____ _____
J u ly to Septem ber---------- -----------------------
111.8
112.6
113.3
228.2
224.3
242.6
98.5
99.8
98.6
97.9
99.3
98.0
97.8
99.6
98.2
J u ly ___________________________________
A ugust---------------- ----------------- ---------S eptem ber... . . . .
..
___ _____
113.1
113.3
113.6
240.3
240.8
246.6
98.6
98.8
98.3
98.0
98.2
97.7
98.1
98.4
98.0
Up to the end of 1930, in spite of the rise in unemployment, the
number employed remained greater than it had been in 1924; in other
words, the growth of the insured population made possible a simul
taneous increase in employment and in unemployment, as compared
with the situation in 1924. From the beginning of 1931, however,
87017°—31----- 7
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1351]
88
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
the increase in unemployment caught up with and passed the in
crease in the insured population, so that the index figure for each
of the first three quarters of 1931 fell below 100.
Since these figures were assembled, however, there has been a
distinct improvement in the industrial situation, which is the more
noticeable as unemployment is apt to increase in October. The
Manchester Guardian for October 21 gives the following statement
of the position:
T he u n em p lo y m en t to ta l for G re a t B rita in ag ain show s a decrease: On
O ctober 12 th e red u ctio n on th e w eek w as 24,774, w hich, ad d ed to th e d ro p of
33,252 th e w^eek before, gives a n e t re d u ctio n of 58,000 in a fo rtn ig h t. T h e im
p ro v em en t w hich h a s se t in since th e suspension of th e gold sta n d a rd is very
largely in th e g re a t ex p o rtin g in d u stries, th e red u c tio n of u n em p lo y m en t in
w hich h as been big en ough to outw eigh th e seasonal increase in u n em p lo y m en t
in th e hom e tra d e s. T h e n o rth a n d m id lan d s h av e benefited m ost.
T h is w eek’s M in istry of L ab o r re tu rn show s t h a t on O ctober 12 th e re were
2,766,746 on th e reg isters of th e em p lo y m en t exchanges— 2,120,410 w holly u n
em ployed, 531,002 te m p o rarily stopped, a n d 115,334 norm ally in casual em
ploym ent.
U n e m p lo y m e n t in M exico in J u l y , 1931
A
CCORDING to an article appearing in El Universal of July 24,
L 1931, the National Statistical Office of Mexico states that the
number of persons unemployed in that country was 144,772 on July 23.
This figure is based on the results of an inquiry covering 2,500
municipalities. The State of Jalisco, a purely agricultural district
having 36,950 persons unemployed, and Michoacan, having 22,000
unemployed, rank highest in this respect.
U n e m p lo y m e n t R e lief M easures in N ew Z ea la n d
N JULY, 1931, the New Zealand Legislature passed an act chang
ing in several particulars the unemployment act which had been
adopted a year earlier. (See Labor Review, February, 1931, p. 85.)
As summarized in the English Ministry of Labor Gazette for October,
1931, the new act “ empowers the Minister of Finance to make
advances within specified limits from the consolidated fund in respect
of the Government subsidy to the unemployment fund, reconstitutes
the unemployment board, and provides for the imposition of an
unemployment relief tax, consisting of a general unemployment levy
and an emergency unemployment charge, in substitution for the
unemployment levy payable under the original act.”
The unemployment board, as reconstituted, is reduced from eight
to five members, and consists of the minister responsible for the
administration of the act, a commissioner of unemployment, and
three paid members appointed by the Governor-General for a term of
two years.
The original act provided for a levy of 30s. ($7.30) a year to be
imposed on all male persons aged 20 and upward, with certain speci
fied exemptions. The new act changes this levy to 20s. ($4.87) a
year, retaining the former exemptions and providing that others may
be made should this seem desirable on grounds of public policy, and
I
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1352]
EM PLO YM ENT CONDITIONS— UN EM PLO YM ENT R E L IE F
89
adds to the levy a special tax of 3d. (6 cents) in the pound ($4.87),
known as the emergency unemployment charge, which is to be assessed
as follows:
T h e em ergency unem p lo y m en t charge is p ay ab le a t th e ra te of Id . [2 cents]
fo r every 6s. 8d. [$1.62], or p a rt thereof, of—
(a ) T h e incom e from salary o r w ages (o th er th a n w ages received by a n y
w om an o r girl in resp ect of p riv a te dom estic service, o r wages received b y any
w orker in resp ect of em plo y m en t on relief w orks w here w ages a re p aid from th e
u n em p lo y m en t fund) received b y a n y person on o r a fte r A u g u st 1, 1931;
(b ) T w o -th ird s a n d one-th ird , respectively, of th e a m o u n t of th e incom e from
sources o th e r th a n salary or wages, derived by a n y person, n o t w holly ex em p t from
liab ility to p a y th e general u n em p lo v m en t levy, fo r th e y ears ended M arch 31,
1931 a n d 1932;
(c) T w o-thirds an d o ne-third, respectively, of th e a m o u n t of th e incom e
from sources o th e r th a n salary or wages derived for th e y ears ended M arch 31,
1931 a n d 1932, b y a n y w om an, o rd in arily resid en t in N ew Z ealand, w hose to ta l
incom e received from all sources was n o t less th a n £250 [$1,216.63] du rin g th is
year.
In its original form this act, like that of 1931, made no provision
for the care of unemployed women, but this omission was so strougly
attacked by the labor representatives in the legislature that a provision
was inserted requiring the unemployment board to appoint special
committees to deal with assistance to women and the questions of
land development.
No change was made in the terms of the original bill regarding the
sustenance allowances to be given unemployed persons.
In its issue for October 12, 1931, Industrial and Labor Information
(Geneva) gives some details as to the situation of the unemployment
relief work and the anticipated policy of the new board. On August
11 the number of unemployed registered at the employment exchanges
was 48,396, and the board was spending approximately £50,000
($243,325) per week, which is about the rate it will receive as revenue
during the year ending July 31, 1932, if the new provisions work out
as expected.
A sta te m e n t of th e policy of th e new u n em p lo y m en t b oard, th e personnel of
w hich w as announced on Ju ly 31, was m ad e by th e M in ister of L ab o r on A ugust
29. T h e b o ard on its estab lish m en t fo u n d th e u n em p lo y m en t fu n d o v erdraw n
b y £224,000 [$1,090,096], a n d w ill aim a t th e diversion of e x p en d itu re on unem
p lo y m en t relief in to m ore p ro d u ctiv e channels. I t proposes to e stab lish cam ps
in th e c o u n try d istricts w here single m en w ill be engaged on d ev elo p m en tal w ork,
such a s th e co n stru ctio n of ro ad s to rem o te d istricts, a n d th e p re p a ra tio n of lan d
for se ttlem en t. I t is expected th u s to em ploy 1,000 m en im m ed iately , a n d if
th e schem e is successful all th e single w orkers m a y u ltim a te ly be sim ilarly
em ployed, th u s reducing th e p resen t heav y ex p en d itu re on city w orks h aving
little com m unity value.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1353]
OLD-AGE PENSIONS
W idow s’ , O r p h a n s ’ , an d O ld -A g e Pensions, E n g la n d an d W ales,
1930-31
HE twelfth annual report of the English Ministry of Health,
covering the fiscal year ending March 31, 1931, contains a state
ment of the work done under the contributory pensions act. During
the year claims were made under the principal act of 1925 for 77,466
widows’ and 2,011 orphans’ pensions and awards were made in the
case of 59,365 widows and 1,711 orphans, and 14,333 claims for wid
ows’ and 265 claims for orphans’ pensions were disallowed or with
drawn as failing to satisfy the statutory conditions. At the end of
the year pensions were being paid to 287,162 widows, and in respect
of 251,110 children, of whom 13,633 were full orphans and 237,477
were half orphans. The following figures are given as to the amount
spent for these pensions :
T
A M O U N T S S P E N T F O R W ID O W S ’ A N D O R P H A N S ’ P E N S IO N S IN E N G L A N D A N D W A LES
Ai
IN S P E C IF IE D P E R IO D S
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of £ = $4.8665]
W idows’ pensions, in
cluding allowances for
children
O rphans’ pensions
Period covered
English
currency
£203, 000
9, 880, 000
38,177,
500
From com m encem en’t of scheme u p to M ar. 31,1931.
U nited States
currency
$987, 900
48, 081, 020
185, 790,804
English
currency
£4,400
263, 500
1,227, 000
U nited States
currency
$21,413
1,282, 323
5,971,196
These pensions first became payable on January 4, 1926, so that
the period from “ commencement of scheme up to March 31, 1931,”
represents five years and a quarter.
Contributory old-age pensions.—The following summary is given
of the work done during the year in connection with contributory oldage pensions for persons between the ages of 65 and 70 :
N u m b er
N u m b er
N u m b er
A m ount
of claim s received during th e y e a r----------------------------------------- 186, 373
of aw ard s d u rin g th e y e a r----------------------------------------------------- 167, 3UU
of beneficiaries, M ar. 31, 1931---------------- ;----------------------------- 637, oo /
p a id in resp ect of th ese pensions (approxi-
F o r w eek ending M ar. 31, 1931----------------------£276, 000
[$1, 343, 154]
F o r y e a r ending M ar. 31, 1931----------------------- £13, 799, 000 [$67, 15*2, 834]
F rom com m encem ent of schem e (Jan . 2, 1928)
_
nno,
to M ar. 31, 1931__________________________ £40, 243, 500 [$195, 844, 993]
Through failure to satisfy the statutory conditions 47,103 claims
were disallowed or withdrawn.
90
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1354]
OLD-AGE P E N SIO N S
91
Old-age pensions at age of 70, payable by virtue of contributory pensions
acts.—The number of such pensions current at March 31, 1931, was
449,119.
Widows’ pensions under act of 1929.—Under an act passed in 1929
(see Labor Review, February, 1930, p. 46) pensions were awarded to
widows aged 55 and over, whose husbands had died or had reached the
age of 70 before the act of 1925 came into force. July 1, 1930, was
the first date of payment under this act, and widows became eligible
at varying dates thereafter according to the age they had attained.
Up to March 31, 1931, the claims received under this act numbered
301,293, awards made were 236,666, the number of beneficiaries at
the close of the fiscal year was 221,812, and the total amount paid from
July 1, 1930, to March 31, 1931, was £3,700,000 ($18,006,050).
P e n s i o n s c u r r e n t M a r c h 3 1 , 1 9 3 1 .— On M arch 31, 1931, th e n u m b er of persons
in E n g lan d (or persons w ho h a v e gone to som e p a r t of th e B ritish D om inions
from E n g la n d ), to o r in resp ect of w hom pensions u n d e r o r b y v irtu e of th e con
trib u to ry pensions a c t w ere being p a id h a d reach ed a to ta l of 1,746,770. T his
to ta l (w hich rep resen ts a n e t increase of a p p ro x im ately 401,600 o v er th e figure
a s a t M arch 31, 1930) com prises 508,974 widows, 251,110 child ren (including
orphans), 537,567 persons betw een th e ages of 65 a n d 70, a n d 449,119 persons
over th e age of 70.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
fl355]
TRADE-UNION BENEFITS
Benefits of S ta n d a rd N a tio n a l an d In te rn a tio n a l U n io n s , 1930
HE accompanying table shows the benefit services of national
and international trade-unions for 1930. The figures are taken
T
from the report of the executive council of the American Federation
of Labor to the 1931 convention of that organization and are given
to the nearest dollar.
B E N E F IT
S E R V IC E S O F S T A N D A R D N A T IO N A L A N D IN T E R N A T IO N A L T R A D E U N IO N S , 1930
Benefits paid
Organization
Sick
American Federation of L abor--------------Actors an d artists-------------------- -----------0
Asbestos w orkers______________________
0
B akery a n d confectionery workers______ $112, 222
258, 730
B arbers______________________________
B ill posters a n d billers-------------------------(0
B lacksm iths a n d drop forgers___________
2,410
Boiler m akers a n d iron sh ip builders-----Bookbinders________________ ____ _____
58, 982
Boot a n d shoe w orkers_________________
Brew ery, flour, cereal, a n d soft d rin k
2 9,437
w orkers_____________________________
2 762
Bricklayers, masons, an d plasterers-------2 4, 250
B rick a n d clay w orkers________________
Bridge a n d structural-iron workers--------Broom a n d w hisk m akers______________
B uilding service employees_____________
(0
C arm en, railw ay______________________
C arpenters an d joiners_________________
Carvers, w ood________________________
Cigarmakers__________________________
48, 872
Clerks, post office_____________________
Clerks, railw ay_____________ ______ ___
Clerks, retail__________________________
5,361
Cloth, h a t, cap, an d m illinery w orkers___
Conductors, sleeping car.............— .............
Coopers______________________________
2,574
D iam ond workers_____________________
D raftsm en_____________ ,--------------------0
Electrical workers------- ------------------------Elevator constructors___________ ____
85, 812
Engineers, locomotive_________________
Engineers, o perating. _
_______ _ _
Engravers, m etal_________ _ ________
0
s 58, 514
Engravers, photo___ _ __ _____ ____
2 4, 315
Federal employees___ _________________
(>)
Fire lig h te r s ,._______________
___
1,218, 298
Firem en a n d enginem en, locom otive—
2, 500
Firem en an d oilers__ _____________
F ound ry p.mpioyees
________ _ _
F u r workers
______________________
G arm en t workers ( U n ite d ) .___________
19, 001
G arm ent workers, ladies’_______ _ __ __
Glass-bottle blowers____________
. . . - 2 5, 670
Glass cutters, window.
Glass workers, f l i n t .. .
1 N o international benefits.
2 Paid b y local unions.
3 Includes local unions’ benefits
92
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U nem Old-age
ploym ent pensions
D eath
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
0
0
$22, 957
107,106
C1)
11, 950
339,600
58, 900
29,632
213, 066
3 367, 296
3 15,100
61, 800
700
(0
131, 750
715, 977
5,800
D isabil M iscel
laneous
ity
$6,329
$2, 044
(9
(9
2,050
(9
$5,600
2 2, 438
* $768,913
21, 750
2,492
3,116
2 6,141
2 1, 310
2 1, 520
158, 425
(9
(9
458,100
(9
10, 400
55,550
816
101, 100
(9
2,841
1, 439
1, 368
38, 000
373, 450
4, 975
39, 480
33,815
1, 750
6,850
0
334, 800
3,585
4,600
16, 532
(9
3, 620, 960
119, 000
0
0
3 156, 425 2 739,976
(9
5 2,101,330
112, 837
382, 908
0
2,612
0
98, 796
(9
(9
0
2 2,100
0
1,133, 800
14,175
[1356]
(9
3,200
(9
268, 000
500
225, 250
2,500
1,000
900
24, 700
4,025
41, 074
4, 300
24, 600
2 20, 000
25, 700
(9
(9
38, 832
2 112, 000
9,145
* Includes disability.
6 Includes w idow s’ pensions.
6 No report received.
1,000
93
TRA D E-UN ION B E N E F IT S
B E N E E IT S E R V IC E S O F S T A N D A R D N A T IO N A L A N D IN T E R N A T IO N A L T R A D E U N IO N S , 1930—C ontinued
Benefits paid
Organization
Sick
D eath
U nem Old-age
ploym ent pensions
D isabil Miscel
laneous
ity
Glove w orkers____
_________________
0
0
0
0)
„ 0
/)
G ranite cutters _____________________
$64,647
$9, 278
$16,410
$4, 500
H a tte rs_____ _
...
. __ . . . __
32, 750
H odcarriers, building a n d common la
borers_________________ ___________ 2 $39,834
8 152,745
2 $34,992
H orseshoers__________ _ _ . _______
0
0
0
0
0
0
H otel a nd restau ran t e m p lo y e es.______
8 55,663
69, 602
8 346,125
Iron, steel, a n d tin w orkers... _ ________
10,192
39, 206
Jew elry workers _ . . .
___________
0
0
0
0
0
0
L athers, wood, wire, and m etal___ _____ 2 28,914
2 2, 790
8 54,466
L a u n d ry w orkers___
_______
72
376
3,750
L eather w orkers......... .
. . . . ________
200
639
L etter carriers.._ ______ . . . .
_ .
153, 305
156, 704
L etter carriers, ru ra l____ . .
_____
0
0
0
0
0
0
L ith o g ra p h e rs ..___ _______ . __ _
7,621
39, 730
Longshorem en___________________
(D
0
0
0
0
0
10, 000
M achinists__________ ________ _______
28,448
31,126
32, 497
250,183
222, 550
M aintenance of w ay employees ___
2 1, 710
8 10, 025 2 16,193
M arble, stone, and slate polishers, etc___
2 311
2 1, 930
M asters, m ates, a n d pilots_____________
2 680
2 427
M eat cutters a n d butcher workm en _
1, 992
25,150
M etal workers, sheet
.
________
58, 000
4, 713
M ine, mill, a n d sm elter w orkers_____
2 12,189
2 5,199
M ine workers (U n ited )________
2 1, 000, 000 2 600, 000
107, 933
17, 250
M olders_____ 1______ _______________ . 176,820
320, 773
146, 359
M usicians____________________________
0
0
0
0
0
0
2,000
Oil field, gas well, a n d refinery w orkers...
5,500
2171, 775
Painters, decorators, an d pap erh an g ers... 2 117,865
17,135
8 415, 280 2 108,647
6,126
P aper m akers. . . . ________
P a tte rn m akers .
3 6, 937
5,339
* 11,648
Pavers, ram m erm en, etc ___ . .
(>)
0
0
0
0
0
7, 072
__________ ____
Paving c u tte rs .. .
4,469
445
7, 800
680
Piano and organ w orkers________ _____
Plasterers . . . . .
_ _____________ _
5,080
3,200
72,225
145,104
185, 000
8 387, 000 2 100, 000
Plum bers and steam fitters _____.
25, 000
17, 000
7, 400
5,875
Polishers, m etal __________________ .
5,084
16,180
P otters, operative.
Pow der an d high-explosive workers- _
200
300
9,872
P rinters, plate and die stam ping_______
2 49, 722
8 235, 325 8 521, 508 8 82, 719 2 29, 396
20,399
P rin tin g pressm en_________ _______
2,000
P u lp , sulphite, an d paper m ill workers
1, 100
300
3, 625
27, 473
Q uarry workers
_ ____________ _.
359,600 1, 969, 829
495,578
2, 943, 668
165,445
R ailroad trainm en ________ _________
253, 370
81, 500
1, 740,102
R ailw ay conductors _____ _ ______
218, 817
116, 800
23, 350
25, 979
7 1, 016,451
R ailw ay employees, street an d electric__
124, 728
50,956
R ailw ay mail employees___ ______ _____
14, 600
Roofers, dam p and w ater proof workers
2 600
2 8, 907
2 8, 090
2 3,134
Seamer
______________________
Siderographers___________ __________
0
0
0
0
0
0
Stage employees a n d moving-picture m a
chine operators ___________ ________
0
0
0
0
0
0
Stereotypers and electro ty p ers.
27, 200
13,980
24, 000
Stonecutters
__
_ _____________
3, 735
7, 665
6,500
Stove m ounters
63, 750
152,625
Sw itch m en
2 4,000
8,274
3,500
8 17, 859
Tailors
T eachers_________
. ...
___ .
0
0
0
0)
0
C1)
1, 950
Team sters, chauffeurs, and stablemen
9, 535
296,454
Telegraphers, railroad
8 30,839
2 300
8 6,380 2 14,083
T el egraph ers, com m erei al
4,600
T extile w orkers (U nited)
82,467
450
Tobacco w orkers
2,400
8 628,816 2 783, 339 H,467,371 373, 234 2 154,884
2 86,679
Typographical union
_ _ _ _ _ ___
15, 876
TTp h ol st,erer s
289
5,200
961
Wall paper crafts
648
8
500
W eavers, wire
300
T o ta l_____________________
1 N o in tern atio n al benefits.
2 P a id b y local unions.
2 Includes local unions’ benefits.
i Includes disability.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3, 649, 703 8 18,527,095 3, 311, 280 5, 910, 995 3, 234, 067 2, 064,840
6 No report received.
7Includes local union’s benefits and disability.
8 N o t the sum of the item s b u t as given in the report.
[1357]
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
P rovisions R egard in g D isch arge of U n io n M em bers F ou n d in
C ollective A greem en ts
HE discharge of union members, except for just and sufficient
cause, without previous notice, is prohibited in a large number of
collective agreements received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The previous notice required by these agreements varies from one-half
hour to 15 days. Many agreements provide that if the employer
desires to discharge a member he shall notify the representative of the
union and give his reason for the intended discharge. If, after investi
gation by the union, it is found that the member has been unjustly
discharged, he must be reinstated and paid for all time lost. One
agreement provides that notice of discharge shall not be given during
vacation nor for two weeks preceding; another provides that no
worker shall be discharged in a week preceding a holiday week.
The majority of the agreements providing for previous notice of
discharge also provide that an employee desiring to quit his employ
ment shall give his employer previous notice. Members of the union
who violate this provision are disciplined or fined by the union and
in a number of these agreements it is provided that a member who
fails to give the required notice shall forfeit his pay. A few agree
ments provide that the employer shall discharge any employee who
is suspended or expelled from the union, after due notice from the
union giving the reason for suspension.
The railroad agreements contain provisions regarding the discipline,
suspension, or dismissal of employees after a service of 30 or 60 days.
Under the majority of these agreements the employee must be
advised of the reason for suspension or dismissal. If the employee
feels that he has been unjustly treated he may request a hearing. By
giving proper notice an employee may appeal his case to each succeed
ing higher official up to and including the highest officer of the com
pany. If the employee is found blameless he shall be returned to the
service and paid for actual loss in wages.
The following are examples of the provisions regarding the condi
tions under which union members may be discharged, as they appear
in the various collective agreements:
T
B a k e r y a n d c o n f e c tio n e r y w o r k e r s .— Should th e em ployer desire to d isch arg e a n
em ployee he shall give him one w eek’s no tice a n d his reaso n fo r th e discharge.
Should a n em ployee desire to q u it his jo b he shall give his em ployer one w eek’s
notice; on failu re to do so he will be fined $10 b y th e local union.
E m ployer shall n o t discharge a n y em ployee ex cep t d u rin g th e d a y tim e a n d
in th e presence of th e o th e r em ployees. N o em ployee shall be discharged du rin g
th e m o n th preceding th e tw o holidays of P asso v er a n d R osh H ashona.
N o m em ber shall lose his em p lo y m en t fo r refu sal to in v e st m oney o r p u rch ase
securities in his em ployer’s business, n o r because of w ork p erfo rm ed fo r th e
union.
J o u r n e y m a n b a r b e r s .— W henever a n em ployer discharges a jo u rn e y m a n on
S atu rd ay , a fte r he has w orked six days, th e jo u rn e y m a n shall be e n title d to onehalf d ay s’ e x tra salary.
94
[1358]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
95
T he em ployer agrees to discharge a n y a n d all help a t an y tim e u pon req u est of
th e union.
B i l l p o s te r s . — A n em ployee m u st give his em ployer tw o w eeks’ notice, if leaving
his em ploym ent. T h e em ployer will give em ployee tw o w eeks’ notice in e v e n t of
m ak in g a change. A ny m en used over th e stead y crew, who w ork tw o weeks o r
m ore, shall be considered as reg u lar m en a n d shall receive tw o w eeks’ n otice in
w riting, th e sam e as th e reg u lar crew.
B o o k k e e p e r s , s te n o g r a p h e r s , a n d a c c o u n ta n ts . — T h e union will com pel m em bers
to give tw o w eeks’ notice before leaving. T h e em ployer shall n o t dism iss his
em ployees except fo r ju s t a n d sufficient cause, n o r discharge a n y m em b er fo r
actio n s in behalf of th e union, a n d n o t dism iss a n y em ployee w ith o u t tw o w eeks’
notice. N otices of discharge m ay n o t be given during v acatio n o r during tw o
w eeks preceding it.
B u ild in g - s e r v ic e e m p lo y e e s — f la t j a n i t o r s . — E m ployer or his a g en t shall give th e
ja n ito r 15 d a y s’ notice in w riting in case of his discharge, provided, how ever, th a t
w here th e ja n ito r does n o t occupy q u a rte rs in th e b uilding th e no tice m ay be
1 d ay if accom panied b y 15 d ay s’ p a y an d , pro v id ed fu rth e r, t h a t w here th e
ja n ito r does occupy q u a rte rs in th e building he shall have p a r t or all of th e 15
d ay s of notice d u ring w hich to m ove therefrom . T h e ja n ito r shall give th e
ow ner o r a g e n t 15 d ay s’ notice in w ritin g before leaving his p osition, p rovided
how ever, t h a t if he finds i t necessary to leave before th e e x p iratio n of such 15-day
p eriod h e shall, upo n giving w ritte n n otice to his em ployer, h a v e th e rig h t to call
in a n o th e r ja n ito r w ith th e p rio r a p p ro v al of th e ow ner or ag en t, said su b s titu te
ja n ito r h av in g th e p ro p e r cred en tials in th e F la t Ja n ito rs’ U nion.
B u i l d i n g - s e r v i c e e m p lo y e e s — w in d o w c le a n e r s . — E m ployees who h av e w orked
fo r th e firm fo r tw o w eeks o r m ore shall n o t be laid off or discharged u n til th e
em ployer h as placed reasons fo r proposed discharge before th e union. H e m ay
n o t discharge for reason of insufficient w ork w ith o u t a hearin g to establish, th a t
fact.
B r i c k l a y e r s , m a s o n s , a n d p la s te r e r s . — If a m em ber is discharged before 10 a. m.
he shall receive tw o h o u rs’ p ay in ad d itio n to th e w orking tim e d u e him .
C a r p e n te r s a n d j o i n e r s . — A m em b er shall h av e one h o u r’s no tice of discharge
o r lay-off, such h o u r to be used in reconditioning h is tools; or he shall be allow ed
one h o u r’s p a y if he does n o t receive such notice.
C e m e n t f in i s h e r s . — A ny m em b er leaving a job causing loss of m a te ria l o r a
h a rd s h ip on o th e r m em bers, u p o n charges being preferred by h is em ployer, shall
b e fined in such sum a s th e executive b o ard m ay elect.
H o i s t i n g a n d o p e r a tin g e n g in e e r s . — If a n engineer is discharged no m em b er shall
ta k e his place only as a su b stitu te p en d in g in v estig atio n . If discharged th ro u g h
no fa u lt of his ow n or u n ju stly discharged he shall be re tu rn e d to his jo b a n d p aid
fo r lo st tim e, u p to one week.
F o u rteen d a y s’ notice shall be given by engineers o r firem en desiring to quit,
ex cep t on a c c o u n t of sickness.
F ir e m e n a n d o ile r s .— - I t is fu rth e r un d ersto o d t h a t all firem en a n d o th e r boilerroom help shall be obliged to give 24 h o u rs’ no tice before resigning th e ir p osition,
a n d shall receive 24 h o u rs’ no tice before being discharged.
H o d c a r r ie r s , b u i l d i n g a n d c o m m o n la b o r e r s . — A ny lab o rer w ho q u its his em
p lo y er w ith o u t notifying him th e previous sh ift shall be su b ject to discipline by
th e a rb itra tio n board.
M a r i n e p a i n t e r s — A n y em ployer who discharges a m em b er fo r u pholding th e
tr a d e rules of th e union shall be dep riv ed of union m en u n til th e m a tte r h as been
se ttle d a n d a ll expenses p a id to th e local union.
_O p e r a tiv e p la s te r e r s . — If em ployer fails to give a m em b er 30 m in u te s’ n otice of
discharge h e shall p a y h im fo r 2 h o u rs’ tim e.
P lu m b e r s a n d g a s f i tt e r s . — W hen a m em b er is to be discharged th e em ployer
m u s t n o tify him th e sam e d a y a n d give him one h o u r to collect th e tools fo r th e
em ployer a n d to g a th e r u p h is p erso n al belongings.
S i g n w r i t e r s . — E m plo y er w ishing to discharge a m em b er m u s t give him one
w eek’s n o tice; em ployee w ishing to q u it th e job m u s t give th e em ployer one
w eek’s notice.
S t r u c t u r a l a n d o r n a m e n ta l ir o n w o r k e r s . — N o m an shall be discharged betw een
th e h o u rs of 8 a. m . a n d 12 noon, o r betw een 1 p. m . a n d 5 p . m ., ex cep t fo r
ju stifiab le cause. Justifiab le cause shall n o t be co n stru ed to m ean lack of w ork.
R e ta i l c le r k s .— T h e firm agrees n o t to discharge a n y m em b er w ho h a s been
em ployed continuously fo r tw o w eeks o r longer ex cep t w ith th e co n sen t of th e
executive b o ard of th e union. If firm w ishes to discharge such a m em b er i t will
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give notice to th e union a n d unless th e firm is given w ritte n perm ission to dis
charge such m em ber he shall co n tin u e in th e em ploy of th e firm . If th e firm
em ploys m ore th a n one clerk a n d h as given n otice of th e w ish to discharge a,
clerk th e union shall decide w hich clerk shall be discharged.
B o o t a n d sh o e w o r k e r s .— T h e firm agrees t h a t no m em b er of th e union in th e ir
em ploy shall be discharged w ith o u t ju s t cause, such cause to be satisfacto ry to
th e re p resen tativ e of th e union.
C lo th h a t a n d c a p m a k e r s — T h e em ployer shall n o t discharge a n y em ployee
w ith o u t th e co n sen t of th e union. T h e em ployer shall file his charges a n d th e
union w ill m ake an in v estig atio n . If sufficient cause is show n th e union will
consent to th e discharge.
F u r w o r k e r s .— N o em ployee shall be discharged fo r union activ itie s or o th e r
reasons ex cep t fo r good cause. If th e em ployer is of th e opinion t h a t m em ber
should b e discharged a n d good cause exists h e shall suspend h im from perform ing
w ork a n d shall w ith in 24 h o u rs n o tify th e business a g en t. If th e business a g e n t
a n d th e em ployer can n o t agree u p o n th e q u estio n of cause fo r discharge th e y
shall a t once refer th e case to th e a rb itra tio n board.
N o w orker shall be discharged in a w eek p receding a h oliday week.
H o s i e r y w o r k e r s .— N o em ployer sh all discharge k n itte rs now o p eratin g single
m achines, solely for th e p u rpose of ta k in g a d v a n ta g e of th e red u ced ra te s affecting
th e 2-m achine sy stem of op eratio n . D ischarged w orker m a y a p p e a l h is case.
If th e executive b o ard feels, a fte r d u e hearing, t h a t th e discharge w as u n fa ir
such b o a rd m a y ta k e th e case to th e im p a rtia l chairm an . Should th e decision
be in fav o r of th e w orker, th e em ployer shall re in sta te him in his em ploy w ith
b ack p a y fo r th e tim e he w as out.
L a d i e s ’ g a r m e n t w o r k e r s .— N o em ployee who h as been in th e em ploy of th e
firm fo r a period of one w eek o r m ore shall be discharged unless a c o m p lain t is
first m ad e a g a in st such em ployee to th e un io n se ttin g fo rth th e reason a n d a n
o p p o rtu n ity given th e unio n to in v estig ate. A ny em ployee laid off o r discharged
in v iolation of th is a g reem en t sh all becom e e n title d to p a y fo r all tim e lost;
Should th e em ployer delay th e in v estig atio n of a w rongful discharge th e em ployee
shall be en title d to p a y fo r such discharge regardless of u ltim a te decision.
M e n ’s c lo th in g w o r k e r s .— I t is agreed t h a t discharges o r ex ten d ed lay-offs con
sidered b y th e m an a g e m e n t shall first be su b m itte d to th e union. T h e u n io n is
h erew ith g ra n te d th e rig h t to m ak e a th o ro u g h in v estig a tio n of th e m a tte r. If
th e union finds t h a t th e discharge o r lay-off is u n w a rra n te d a n d fails to reach a n
ag reem en t in conference w ith th e em ployer th e case m ay be b ro u g h t before a n
im p a rtia l a rb itra to r w hose decision shall be final a n d bind in g to b o th p a rtie s.
N e c k w e a r c u tte r s , m a k e r s , a n d ta c k e r s .— N o m a n to be discharged w ith o u t cause,
a n d u n til th e co m p la in t a g a in st h im h a s been in v e stig a te d a n d decided b y a
com m ittee of th e union. If discharged w ith o u t cause he shall be re in sta te d w ith
p a y fo r tim e lost.
J o u r n e y m a n ta i l o r s .— N o m em b er who h as w orked th ro u g h th e b usy season
shall be discharged d u rin g th e dull season.
A ny m em ber dism issed o r discharged a n d u pon in q u iry fo u n d n o t g u ilty shall
be re in sta te d a n d p a id fo r lo s t tim e. A ny m em b er whose services are incom pe
te n t, o r w ho uses profane language, or is in to x icated m ay be discharged a t an y
tim e.
C le a n e r s , d y e r s , a n d p r e s s e r s .— T he em ployer m ay discharge a m em b er a t an y
tim e w ithin th e first fo u r w eeks of em p lo y m en t. A fter t h a t p erio d no m em b er
shall be discharged w ith o u t a w eek’s notice, except fo r m isco n d u ct o r in su b o rd in a
tio n . W ith in th e first fo u r w eeks a m em b er m ay q u it. _A fter such p erio d a
m em ber m u st give h is em ployer one w eek’s no tice of h is desire to q u it. S hould a
m em ber be suspended o r expelled from th e unio n th e em ployer agrees to discharge
such m em ber w ith in a w eek of such notice.
C o o p e r s .—T he em ployer shall give one w eek’s n otice of his in te n tio n to dis
charge a m em ber a n d th e m em b er sh all give one w eek’s n otice of his in te n tio n to
q u it his job.
F is h e r m e n .—A ny m an signing u n d e r th is ag reem en t a n d discharged w ith o u t
his consent before sailing snail receive $75 as full com pensation to be p a id w ithin
48 h o u rs a fte r discharge.
A ny m a n w ho is discharged o r w ho q u its shall be p a id only one-half of his ru n
m oney a n d his o th e r earnings. I f no su b s titu te is h ired th e p a r t of th e ru n m oney
n o t p aid shall be d istrib u te d to needy fisherm en or th e ir d ep en d en ts, o r as th e
m a jo rity of th e fisherm en a t th e sta tio n m ay d irect. M en discharged sh all be
given free tra n sp o rta tio n to hom e p o rt, including m ain ten an ce.
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G la s s - b o ttle b lo w e r s . —Any o p e ra to r holding a place, a n d desiring to q u it w ork
m u s t give notice to th e m a n u fa c tu re r a n d con tin u e w ork for five consecutive
d a y s im m ediately th e re a fte r. I f a m an ag e r desires to discharge a n op erato r, he
m u s t give h im th e sam e notice w ith sam e rig h ts. P a rtie s giving o r receiving a n y
such no tice shall im m ed iately n o tify facto ry co m m ittee of sam e, a n d u n d er no
consideration shall card s be g ran ted or settlem en ts m ad e d u rin g th e y e a r unless
th is h a s been fully com plied w ith .
W i n d o w - g la s s c u t t e r s . —In case of discharge, seven d a y s’ w ritte n n otice m u st
be given b y th e em ployer a n d a n y c u tte r q u ittin g a p lace m u st give th e sam e
notice a n d faith fu lly w ork o u t sam e, unless released b y th e em ployer,
H o te l a n d r e s ta u r a n t e m p l o y e e s . —A fter th e first w eek o f em p lo y m en t no em
ployee shall be discharged by th e em ployer w ith o u t sufficient a n d good cause a n d
w ith o u t consent of th e union. M oreover th e em ployer sh all give tn e em ployee
n o t less th a n one w eek’s notice of his in te n tio n to discharge him . A ny em ployee
d esirin g to leave th e service of th e em ployer shall givo th e em ployer n o t less th a n
one w eek’s notice. T h e em ployer agrees to discharge from his em ploy a n y m em
b e r im m ediately u p o n receiving n otice from th e union th a t such em ployee has
ceased to be a m em ber of th e union.
L a u n d r y w o r k e r s . —I t is agreed a n d u n d ersto o d th a t all union m em bers sent
b y th e union, w ho pro v e u n satisfacto ry w ith in tw o weeks, th e p ro p rie to r h as th e
privilege to m ak e a change of th e ironer, b u t if no change h as been m ad e a fte r
tw o w eeks th e n no change can ta k e place unless th e case is p laced before a griev
an ce b oard. T he firm agrees to discharge a n y s h irt iro n er im m ed iately upon
receiving official notice from th e union tn a t such s h irt iro n er h as ceased to be a
m em b er of th e union.
T h e em ployer shall give tw o w eeks’ notice to th e union before discharging a
s h irt iro n er a n d one w eek’s notice before discharging a fam ily ironer.
L e a th e r w or-kers.- —N o m em ber sh all be discharged from his em p lo y m en t unless
h e be given one w eek’s notice, a n d no m em b er shall leave his em p lo y m en t -without
giving one w eek’s notice.
M e a t c u tte r s .—-A ny union m an m ay be discharged for reasons, b u t a n y union
m a n discharged for service to his o rg anization m u st be p aid off a t th e tim e of
discharge w ith a full w eek’s salary.
E m p lo y er shall n o t discharge a n y em ployee £ fter em ploying h im for a period
of tw o w eeks or m ore unless he sh all h av e given tw o w eeks’ notice to said union,
a n d unless he shall fully s ta te his reason. An em ployee shall give tw o w eeks’
notice to em ployer th ro u g h th e union of his wish to resign, unless for good a n d
sufficient cause he m a y leave w ith o u t notice.
B l a c k s m i t h s , d r o p f o r g e r s , a n d h e lp e r s . —A m em b er shall n o t be discharged
w ith o u t a c tu a l cause. If a fte r p ro p er investigation i t shall be found a n y m em ber
h a s been discharged w ith o u t ju s t cause he will be re in sta te d a n d p aid for all tim e
lo st th ro u g h discharge or suspension.
B o ile r m a k e r s a n d i r o n - s h i p b u ild e rs .- —N o b oilerm aker or a p p ren tice shall be
discharged w ith o u t ju s t a n d sufficient cause. I f a fte r p ro p er in v estig atio n it
shall be fou n d t h a t discharge or suspension w as u n ju s t th e m em b er shall be
re in sta te d w ith full p ay for all lost tim e.
T h e b ro th erh o o d will n o t p e rm it a n y m a n to q u it one job to go to a n o th e r job
unless he gives a t least one d a y ’s notice to em ployer.
M a c h in is ts .- —E m ploy er m u st give one w eek’s n otice of discharge, a n d if for
re d u ctio n of force m u s t observe seniority. M achinists leaving service of em
p lo y er m u s t give one w eek’s notice.
M o t i o n - p i c t u r e o p e r a to r s . — E m ployer agrees w hen desiring to dispose of th e
services of a n em ployee he will give such em ployee tw o w eeks’ notice, sa id n otice
to be considered as s ta rtin g w ith th e n ex t full p ay -ro ll w eek, or p a y tw o w eeks’
sa la ry in lieu thereof. T he union agrees t h a t in case a m em b er desires to leav e
his em ployer he shall give tw o w eeks’ notice, beginning w ith th e n ex t full pay -ro ll
week.
P a p e r - b o x m a k e r s . — No m em b er of th e union is to be discharged w ith o u t suffi
c ie n t cause, a n d if so discharged sh all be re in sta te d w ith full p ay for th e tim e lost.
P o c k e tb o o k w o r k e r s . — E m ployer will file co m p lain t w ith th e un io n before dis
charging a n em ployee, provided, how ever, t h a t th is will n o t be bin d in g u p o n th e
em ployer in e x trao rd in a ry cases w hen a n d w here a n in s ta n t discharge is ab so lu tely
w a rran ted . If em ployee is discharged th ro u g h discrim in atio n he shall be rein
s ta te d w ith back pay.
O p e r a tiv e p o tte r s . — A ny em ployer m ay discharge a n y w orkm an b y serving said
w orkm an w ith tw o w eeks’ notice of discharge a n d b y giving said w o rk m an his
usual em ploym ent durin g those tw o weeks. A ny w orkm an m ay resign his posi-
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tio n b y filing in w ritin g w ith th e p ro p er re p re se n ta tiv e of his firm a tw o w eeks’
notice of resig n atio n a n d b y w orking o u t th e full tw o weeks.
B o o k b in d e r s . — W hen a m em b er of th e union desires to te rm in a te his or h e r
em ploym ent, h e or she shall n o tify th e secretary of local N o. — , who shall m ak e
every effort to fill th e v acan cy w ith o u t in te rru p tio n to th e service of th e em ployer.
A n em ployee can n o t be discharged w ith o u t a reaso n ab le n o tice a n d th e ch a ir
w om an m u s t also be notified. A n em ployee w ho q u its h e r p o sitio n w ith o u t a
reasonable notice o r excuse to person in charge, o r w ith o u t p u ttin g on a com
p e te n t su b s titu te , sh all be su b je c t to discipline b y th e un io n or b y a fine.
L ith o g r a p h e r s . — N o m em b er sh all b e p e rm itte d to leav e h is p lace of em ploy
m e n t w ith o u t serving n otice to his em ployer a n d th e local office a t le a st 48 h o u rs
before leaving. T h e p e n a lty shall be a fine, re p rim a n d or expulsion, a t d irectio n
of council b oard.
P h o to - e n g r a v e r s . — N o jo u rn ey m an shall leave his positio n w ith o u t giving one
w eek’s notice to his em ployer, a n d no jo u rn ey m an shall be discharged or indefi
n itely laid off w ith o u t being given tw o w eeks’ n otice b y h is em ployer.
A notice of one full week shall be given to em ployee a n d to em ployer u p o n
severing th e ir relatio n s as such. If m em ber h as been p u t on red u ced h o u rs or
tim e, he h a s th e rig h t to q u it w ith o u t notice.
P r i n t i n g p r e s s m e n a n d a s s i s t a n t s . — A ny m em b er discharged except fo r b reach
of office discipline shall be given seven d a y s’ notice. T h e un io n will re q u ire
m em ber to give sufficient no tice of desire to q u it to en ab le th e un io n to secure a
co m p eten t m a n for his place, a n d th e union agrees to w ith h o ld tra v e lin g card
from a n y m em ber failing to give such notice.
S te r e o ty p e r s a n d e le c tr o ty p e r s . — N o m em b er shall be discharged w ith o u t one
w eek’s notice or one w eek’s p a y , ex cep t discharge is fo r gam bling, in to x icatio n ,
sm oking in w orking hours, or in su b o rd in atio n . A m em b er leav in g his p osition
m u s t give one w eek’s notice to th e fo rem an of shop w here he is em ployed.
T y p o g r a p h ic a l w o r k e r s . — N o office sh all discharge a m em b er w ith o u t giving
th re e d a y s’ notice. A ny m em b er fo u n d g u ilty of leaving a situ a tio n w ith o u t
giving th re e d a y s’ notice shall be fined n o t less th a n $5 n o r m ore th a n $25, or
expulsion, as th e unio n elects.
E m ployer shall be com pelled to give a reg u lar m em b er one w eek’s n otice of
discharge, o r in lieu thereof, one w eek’s pay . E m ployee m u s t give em ployer a
w eek’s notice, unless b y m u tu a l consent. A m em b er v io latin g th is provision
shall be fined one w eek’s pay .
S t r e e t- r a il w a y e m p lo y e e s . — N o em ployee shall be discharged w ith o u t tw o w eeks’
w ritte n notice or tw o w eeks’ pay . N o em ployee shall q u it th e service of th e com
p a n y w ith o u t giving th e c o m p an y tw o w eeks’ w ritte n notice, except in case of
accident, sickness, or o th e r u n av o id ab le cause. If a n y em ployee sh all q u it th e
service of th e com pany w ith o u t giving tw o w eeks’ notice, he shall fo rfeit tw o
w eeks’ pay . A n em ployee given tw o w eeks’ notice shall w ork a t reg u lar o ccu p atio n
except th e discharge is fo r d ish o n esty o r being d ru n k on d u ty .
A ny m em ber discharged a n d fo u n d a fte r in v estig a tio n to h a v e been u n ju s tly
tre a te d shall be re in sta te d a n d p aid for lo st tim e. A ny m em b er suspended from
th e association shall be suspended from service of th e co m p an y u p o n w ritte n
req u est from th e p resid en t of th e association sta tin g th e cause for th e suspension.
C o m m e r c ia l te le g r a p h e r s . — T elegraphers leaving th e service of th e ir ow n acco rd
shall be req u ired to give th e com pany 15 d a y s’ previous n otice in w riting, a n d
acknow ledgm ent of th e receip t of such no tice shall be se n t w ith o u t delay b y th e
pro p er a u th o rity . T h e com pany shall be req u ired in th e e v e n t of red u c tio n in
staff to give a m em b er 15 d a y s’ previous n otice in w riting, or 15 d a y s’ w ages,
inclusive of all allow ances, in lieu thereof.
T e a m s te r s a n d c h a u ff e u r s . — A ny em ployer desiring to discharge a n em ployee
shall give one w eek’s n otice in w ritin g ; failing to give n otice he sh all p a y $10 to
th e union. A ny em ployee desiring to q u it his position shall give th e em ployer
one w eek’s notice in w riting. T h e unio n agrees to p a y th e em ployer $10 on
dem and, for failure on th e p a r t of th e em ployee to give notice.
If firm shall discharge a d riv er m em b er of th e un io n such d riv er shall be a t
lib e rty to solicit th e tra d e a n d th e sam e list of custom ers solicited fo r such firm
for a n y o th e r firm w hich m a y em ploy him . B u t if d riv er leaves his em p lo y m en t
he shall n o t be p e rm itte d to solicit th e sam e list of custom ers, d irectly o r in d i
rectly , for a n y o th er firm fo r one y ear follow ing th e leaving of h is em p lo y m en t.
U p h o ls te r e r s .— N o discharge shall ta k e effect unless th e re p re se n ta tiv e of th e
union h as been called. S hould a m a n be discharged a n d i t is p ro v en b e y o n d a
reasonable d o u b t t h a t th e discharge w as u n ju s t th e in d iv id u al m em b er shall
suffer no financial loss.
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T ran sie n t Fam ilie s in A rizo n a and Florida
PON the request of the President’s Organization on Unemploy
ment Relief the National Association of Travelers Aid Societies
has made studies of transient families in Arizona and Florida. These
studies have recently been published in mimeographed form by the
President’s Organization on Unemployment Relief.1 Both studies
were carried on through direct interviews, and while no attempt at
statistical analysis was attempted for either State as a whole, the
number of persons helped and the cost of relief, as well as methods of
relief, are shown for certain of the major cities.
U
Arizona
I n A r i z o n a a large body of transient persons is the rule, as many
health seekers are attracted to the State because of the climate.
In studying transients, however, this group was not considered nor
were disabled ex-service men. Those studied, then, were that class
of workers and their families who were migrating in the hope of finding
employment and who, because of some exigency, were in need of assist
ance. In common practice a person who has been in the State less
than a year is regarded as a transient although the law stipulates no
such limit.
In the six Arizona cities surveyed the consensus was that 90 to 95
per cent of the transient families traveled by automobile and that
the remaining number were hitch-hiking. No organized plans exist
in the six cities for caring for these transients and the relief given is of
an emergency character only. From the figures supplied by agencies
the writer of the report under review estimates that 5,100 transient
families came to the attention of agencies during 1930 and 4,300
during the first six months of 1931, at a cost in relief furnished of
$23,000 in 1930 and $16,000 in the first half of 1931.
Phoenix.—During the winter of 1930-31 three canteens were
maintained in Phoenix, by different groups, for the benefit of tran
sients. Most transient families are cared for by the Social Service
Center. This organization estimates that 2,655 families, or 11,943
persons, were aided in 1930, and 2,655 families, or 11,165 persons, in
the first seven months of 1931. The proportion of transient cases
to resident cases is about 3 to 1.
I t is further stated that transient families in Phoenix have set up
temporary quarters under one of the city bridges. Here they have
built temporary shelter between the piers, using cartons, old tin, etc.,
for shelter. As many as 28 families were interviewed in these tem
porary shelters by the writer of the report under review. Automobile
camps are also numerous about the city, where cabins may be had for
from $10 to $12 per week, and camping places are let for 10 cents per
family per night.
The Salvation Army states that persons are so eager to secure em
ployment that they will accept jobs for which payment is made in
meals without any money payment. To curb the inflow of transient
workers the chamber of commerce has been advertising with regard
to the difficulties of the employment situation in Phoenix.
i
T ransient Fam ilies in Arizona, Oct. 27,1931; T ran sien t Fam ilies in Florida, N ov. 21,1931,
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
Globe.—In Globe the Red Cross is active in relief work. Aid was
extended to 547 families in 1929, to 426 families in 1930, and 398
families in the first six months of 1931. Owing to the fact that the
country surrounding Globe is mountainous, many of the transients’
cars break down and much of the relief money expended goes for car
repairs, parts, and tires.
Tucson.—Tucson has no social-service exchange, and the aid given
transients is purely of an emergency type. Assistance was extended
to 2,033 families in 1930 and 2,216 families in the first six months of
1931. In August resident registration of unemployed was 1,200 and
there was therefore no possibility of giving work to transients. The
Family Welfare Society allows one small emergency grocery order
to a transient family and in especially needy cases one night’s lodging.
The Arizona Children’s Home Association has, in some instances,
given temporary care to children of transients, and the Salvation
Army maintains a soup kitchen. Like Phoenix, Tucson gives pub
licity to employment conditions and advises against migration to the
city.
Nogales.—Relief work in Nogales is centralized. Being a boundary
city, part of which is American territory and the other part Mexican,
problems in this locality become especially complex. This _was
particularly true last winter when rumors circulated among Mexicans
in the United States to the effect that they must either become
American citizens or return to their native country. This rumor
resulted in an exodus of Mexicans from American soil to the Mexican
portion of Nogales and a very much expanded need for relief. Several
hundred needy persons soon assembled and an emergency canteen was
therefore set up on Mexican soil, but at the expense of American
charitable organizations. As these migrants have found their way
back to their homes the demand for relief has lessened but in August
there were still about 150 persons being cared for.
The number of transient persons assisted was 2,747 in 1929 and
3,348 in 1930. All publicity that might attract transients has been
discontinued.
Flagstaff.—I t is reported that the number of transient families in
Flagstaff is increasing steadily. Aid given is in th e form of food and
lodging, furnished by the Red Cross, and gasoline or transportation,
furnished by the county.
Yuma.—Both the county and the Charities Association of Yuma
buy gasoline and oil for transients and pass them on to other com
munities. Meals to the total of 18,000 were supplied between Decem
ber 15, 1930, and May 2, 1931.
Florida
I t i s stated that the rapid increase in number of transients coming
into Florida has served to focus attention on the problem arising in
connection with their relief. According to the commission of public
welfare of the State, transient dependents have increased by 200 per
cent. At the same time demands for relief among natives of Florida
have increased to such an extent that some local funds are inadequate
even to provide for resident needy.
Figures supplied from 29 private agencies and public departments
in 25 cities, covering the year ending June, 1931. show that a total of
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IN D U STRIA L AND LABOR CONDITIONS
1,156 transient families and of 25,739 individual transients were
helped at a cost of $22,297.
While the State of Florida has no state-wide social-work program,
the department of public welfare is developing a program as quickly
as possible and to the extent that funds are available. A social-service
exchange has been placed in operation to aid transient dependents,
and private agencies, such as the Salvation Army, are doing their part.
At the same time persons are being warned against making moves in
search of work and warnings against coming to Florida are being
printed.
Care of transients in various cities.—In surveying the machinery for
caring for transients in Daytona Beach, Fort Myers, Tampa, West
Palm Beach, Miami, Sarasota, Gainesville, Lake City, Lakeland,
Winterhaven, Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Jacksonville, it was found
that approximately half the cities had no community plans for han
dling relief among transients, and that in the other half responsibility
was fixed with one or more agencies, either because some plan had
actually been worked out or because there was only one agency in the
city in a position to supply relief and attend to the details incident
to the granting of relief. Without exception, regardless of whether a
city had a community plan or not, there was some agency in each
city dealing with relief of transients.
C o st of P rod u ction of C o al in G e rm a n y
ATA were recently published by the Federal Ministry of Econ
omy (Reichswirtschajtsministerium), showing the cost of produc
tion of coal per ton calculated from the figures of the three largest
mining concerns in the Ruhr District. On the basis of these figures
it was concluded that these concerns are operating with a loss of 0.32
mark (7.6 cents) on each ton of coal mined.2
The calculation was made for a period commencing with the year
1931, and the following items were listed :
D
A m o u n t3
W ages___________________ ________________________________ $1. 52
Salaries__________________________________________________
. 28
T im ber a n d lu m b e r_______________________________________
. 21
Iro n a n d m e ta ls__________________________________________
. 20
E xplosives_______________________________________________
. 03
B uilding m a te ria ls________________________________________
. 02
Oils a n d grease___________________________________________
• 02
O ther m a te ria ls__________________________________________
. 04
Steam , gas, electric c u rre n t_______________________________
. 01
Social in surance (em ployer’s sh a re )_______________________
. 30
In d em n ity for dam ages to buildings ab o v e g ro u n d -------------. 07
C o n tra c t w o rk ___________________________________________
■07
F re ig h t__________________________________________________
. 03
T ax es____ _______________________________________________
• 19
O ther expenses___________________________________________
• 10
. 01
Expenses of sh u td o w n s___________________________________
D eductions for d ep reciatio n ______________________________
3. 10
. 41
3. 51
2 R eport of Stephen B. V aughan, A m erican vice consul a t Breslau, G erm any, dated Aug. 29,1931.
3 Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8 cents.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
The Ruhr District coal-mining industry explains that the item
“ Deductions made for depreciation” is not a true picture of such
expenses and that this item is figured too low, for in reality it is much
higher, due to the strong curtailment of production. The industry
estimates that the amount would be more nearly correct if calculated
at a little above 2 marks (47.6 cents) instead of i.74 marks (41 cents).
Furthermore, in arriving at the above calculation no consideration
was given to storing of unsold quantities of coal, for reloading, loss
of interest on the invested capital, etc. These items, alone, it is
estimated by the industry, would amount to over 1 mark (23.8 cents)
per ton.
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RECREATION
T ra d e -U n io n H o lid ay H om es an d H o lid ay T ra v e l1
STUD Y has been made recently by the International Federation
of Trade Unions of the extent to which the trade-unions in the
different countries provide accommodations for their members for
their use during holidays or organize holiday travel.
The practice of giving vacations with pay to manual, as well as
nonmanual, workers has increased greatly in recent years, and with
the growth of the holiday movement there has been a movement
toward the establishment of holiday homes. These may belong to
the entire trade-union organization, in which case they are open to
all trade-unionists, or they may belong to individual unions, in which
case they are open usually only to the members of that particular
union. The holiday homes enable trade-unionists and their families
to pass their vacations cheaply, as low rates are charged, and they
also offer an opportunity for unionists to visit other countries than
their own at a moderate cost.
The countries in which vacation homes have been established by
different trade-unions and the number of such homes are: Austria, 3;
Belgium, 6; Estonia, 1; Finland, 2; France, 2; Germany, 24; Great
Britain, 1; Holland, 2; Hungary, 1; Latvia, 1 ; Palestine, 1 ; Poland, 1;
Sweden, 2; Switzerland, 4. In some cases these homes are open only
during the summer months, while in other cases they are open half
of the year, and in many instances they remain open throughout the
entire year.
Travel bureaus for their members are maintained by the unions in
Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Palestine, Poland, Sweden, and
Switzerland, while a workers’ travel association is planned for in
Spain, and the workers ’ educational center of the Social Democratic
Party in Austria arranges extensive tours each year which are open
to both socialists and trade-unionists.
A
i T he Intern atio n al T rade U nion M ovem ent, June-July, 1931, pp. 90-102.
87017°
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Trade-union holiday homes.
103
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
A n n u a l S a fe ty Co n gress, 1931
URING the twentieth annual congress of the National SafetyCouncil, held in Chicago October 12 to 16 and attended by
some 6,000 safety engineers and efficiency experts from all over the
country, the possibilities of reducing the enormous toll of accidents in
the United States were discussed in 127 specialized sessions with more
than 350 speakers. The council was originally organized to cope with
the industrial accident problem, but it has in recent years broadened
its activities to include street and highway accidents, as well as home
accidents, and the analysis of these subjects occupied important
positions on the program.
At the opening meeting a message from President Hoover to the
congress was read, in which the President pointed out that “ there
are still 99,000 accidental deaths a year in the United States as well
as a vast number of injuries. There is clearly a tremendous field
still for organized effort to promote accident prevention, especially
in the home and on the highways, and to a considerable extent in
industry, in spite of a decrease of one-third in industrial accidents in
the past two decades. The fact that there are 33,000 motor-vehicle
deaths annually in the United States is a challenge to the efforts of
safety organizations and the cooperation of every motor-vehicle
operator.”
In an address following the reading of the President’s message,
C. W. Bergquist, president of the National Safety Council, declared
that the appalling number of automobile accidents is largely due to
the irresponsibility of drivers. “ In most States there is no restriction
on who may operate a motor vehicle. Yet few machines used in
industry are potentially as dangerous as the automobile. This, then,
is the background of our 33,000 motor-vehicle deaths last year.
Under such conditions could we expect a different result?”
Considerable interest was taken in the subject of mental causes of
accidents and the methods used in various establishments to eliminate
such causes.
A resolution was adopted by the session of governmental officials,
requesting the establishment of a permanent section on governmental
officials in the National Safety Council, with Ethelbert Stewart,
United States Commissioner of Labor Statistics, as chairman for 1932!
. Another resolution, adopted by the congress, covered public safety,
industrial safety, home safety, and safety education, as follows:
D
. Y 1' kereas o u r n atio n a l a c cid en t d e a th ra te , while show ing m a rk e d im p ro v e m e n t
in in d u stry , reflects b u t little change in hom e fa ta litie s a n d in ju ries d u rin g th e
la s t y e a r a n d show s a decided in crease in h ig h w ay c asu alties; a n d
W hereas d u rin g th e y e a r 1930 a to ta l of 99,500 lives w ere sacrificed in accion nnn
U a p a ra d e of tra g e d y , in cluding 33,000 m o tor-vehicle d eath s,
30,000 hom e d eaths, a n d 19,000 in d u stria l fa ta litie s; a n d
104
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IN DUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
105
W hereas th is unnecessary w aste rep resen ts a financial loss of m ore th a n
$3,250,000,000 a n n u ally a n d a social loss im m easu rab le in te rm s of m oney; a n d
W hereas th is huge econom ic loss, even in n o rm al tim es, is_ a staggering load
to carry , b u t d u rin g these d a y s of ¡economic distress o u r N atio n , o u r industries,
a n d o u r people can ill afford to shoulder th is b u rd e n : T herefo re be i t
R e s o lv e d , T h a t th e m em bers of th e N atio n al S afety C ouncil assem bled a t th e
tw e n tie th a n n u a l safety congress a n d exposition do h ereb y pledge^ o u r u n tirin g ,
w hole-hearted assistance in a d eterm in ed effort to rem ed y th ese conditions th ro u g h
a n in ten siv e p ro g ram of safety edu catio n . A nd we h ereb y a sk th e full cooper
a tio n of all public-spirited organizations a n d in d iv id u als in directin g a tte n tio n
to th e u rg e n t necessity of a solution of th is g rav e p roblem ; a n d be it
R e s o lv e d , T h a t th e activ ities of th e N atio n al S afety C ouncil fo r th e com ing
y e a r be c o n c en trated m ore especially in th e follow ing specific channels: ^
1. P u b l i c s a f e t y .— C on tin u ed w ork for stro n g d riv ers’ license law s in every
S ta te ; uniform traffic law s for all S ta te s a n d cities; s ta n d a rd traffic signs a n d
signals; sta n d a rd accid en t-rep o rtin g sy stem s; a b ro ad er co n sid eratio n of safety
in highw ay engineering; s tric t enforcem ent a n d observance of all traffic law s;
fairness a n d courtesy on th e highw ays; a m ore in ten siv e effort to reach th e
in d iv id u al d riv er; th e teac h in g of highw ay safety in th e schools a n d hom es; th e
e stab lish m en t of co m m u n ity safety councils in m ore A m erican cities.
2. I n d u s t r i a l s a f e t y .— T h e safeguarding of all m echanical e q u ip m e n t a n d th e
c o n sta n t use of such devices; th e revision of h azard o u s m a n u fa c tu rin g processes;
a w idening of o u r fields of engineering p u rsu its in in d u s try ; re g u la r a n d com plete
safety inspections a n d research in all in d u stries, followed b y p ro m p t a p p licatio n
of ap p ro v e d rem edial m easures; m ore psychological stu d ies of th e m e n ta l asp ects
of accid ents; extension of th e sa fety -co n test p la n ; a w ider reco g n itio n of th e close
relatio n sh ip betw een in d u stria l h e a lth a n d safety ; a n d full coo p eratio n w ith th e
N atio n al S afety C ouncil a n d affiliated c o m m u n ity safety councils in carry in g
on in d u stria l safety.
3. H o m e s a f e t y .—B roadening our ed u catio n al w ork, p artic u la rly w ith th e
schools, th e N a tio n al F ederation of W om en’s C lubs, th e N a tio n a l A ssociation of
P a re n ts a n d T eachers, a n d k in d red groups; a n e arn est effort to reach th e in d iv id
u a l housew ife w ith an ed u catio n al program on h o m e hazard s.
4. P r o p a g a n d a .— In acknow ledging a splendid cooperation d u rin g 1930 b y th e
press, th e radio, a n d o th e r d istrib u tiv e channels, w e urge contin u o u s p ro p ag an d a
th ro u g h th ese m ed ia d u rin g th e com ing y ear in a n effort to arouse o u r citizens
to th e ir tru e sense of responsibility in a problem wPich m u s t be sh ared b y all.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:
P r e s i d e n t, C arl W . B ergquist, W estern
S e c r e ta r y a n d m a n a g in g d ir e c to r , W . H .
T r e a s u r e r , W ill Cooper, m ech an ical
E lectric Co., Chicago, 111. (Reelected.)
C am eron, Chicago, 111. (Reelected.)
su p erin te n d e n t, T h e S tevens H otel,
C hicago.
.
V ic e p r e s id e n t f o r f in a n c e , J. I. B anash, consulting engineer, Chicago, 111.
(R eelected.)
V ic e p r e s id e n t f o r e n g in e e r in g , J. E . C ulliney, B ethlehem Steel C orporation,
B ethlehem , P a.
V ic e p r e s id e n t f o r p u b lic s a f e ty , E d w ard D an a, B oston E le v a te d R ai.road,
B oston, M ass. (Reelected.)
.
V ic e p r e s id e n t f o r b u s in e s s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , G. T . H ellm u th , Chicago, N o rth
Shore & M ilw aukee R ailro ad Co., C hicago, 111. (R eelected.)
V ic e p r e s id e n t f o r t e r r i t o r i a l c o u n c ils , Jo h n E . Long, T he D elaw are & H udson
R ailro ad C orporation, A lbany, N . Y. (R eelected.)
V ic e p r e s id e n t f o r m e m b e r s h ip , H o w ard B. F o n d a, B urro u g h s W ellcome & Co.,
N ew Y ork, N . Y.
V ic e p r e s id e n t f o r i n d u s t r i a l s a f e ty , A rth u r M . Tode, T h e T exas Co., N ew Y ork,
V ic e p r e s id e n t f o r e d u c a tio n , A lb ert W . W hitney, N a tio n a l B ureau of C asu alty
a n d S u rety U nderw riters, N ew Y ork, N . Y. (Reelected.)
V ic e p r e s id e n t f o r h e a lth , C .-E . A. W inslow, Y ale M edical School, N ew H aven,
C onn. (Reelected.)
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106
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
Revised S a fe ty Code for In d u strial Illu m in a tio n
HE revised code for lighting of factories, mills, and other work
places has been published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as
its Bulletin No. 556 and is now available for distribution to interested
parties. This code, which applies to practically all industries, is
intended as a guide for improvement of lighting conditions in indus
trial establishments, for the purpose of reducing accidents and eyestrain, improving workmanship, and increasing production.
The revision was prepared under the sponsorship of the Illuminating
Engineering Society, and officially approved as American standard
by the American Standards Association. It follows the general
principles of the original code, but has been modified to conform to
modern requirements and improved as a result of the experience
accumulated since the original code was adopted in 1921.
Explanation of the importance of adequate electrical wiring has
been included, and a chapter added, containing suggested minimum
regulations to be established by State authorities.
T
R e d u ctio n of A ccid e n ts in C e m e n t M a n u fa c tu r in g in 1930
of accidents occurring in the cement manufacturing
industry in 1930, compiled by the Portland Cement Association
STATISTICS
and published in its Accident Prevention Magazine for the second
quarter of 1931, show a reduction in frequency rates of 40.8 per cent,
as compared with 1929.
The following table presents data from the report, covering the
5-year period, 1926-1930, converted to conform to the standard meas
urement of 1,000,000 man-hours’ exposure for frequency rates and
1,000 man-hours’ exposure for severity rates.
T a b l e 1 .— N U M B E R OF A C C ID E N T S A N D A C C ID E N T F R E Q U E N C Y A N D S E V E R IT Y
R A T E S IN C E M E N T M A N U F A C T U R IN G , 1926 TO 1930, BY Y E A R S
[Frequency rates are based on 1,000,000 hours’ exposure, severity rates on 1,000 hours’ exposure]
Y ear
1926_____________
1927_____________
1928_____________
1929_____________
1930_____________
N um
ber of
estab N u m b er
lish
of m an
m ents
hours
report
ing
124
136
136
138
128
97,380,785
93,871,081
85, 796, 645
75, 739,429
69, 727, 954
F a ta l cases
N onfatal cases
T otal cases
F re
Fre Sever N u m
Fre Sever
N u m quen Sever N u m
quency ity
quency ity
ity
ber
ber
ber
cy
rate
rate
rate
ra
te
ra te
ra te
45
30
33
37
18
0. 46
.32
.38
.49
.26
2. 78
1.92
2. 31
2. 93
1. 55
2,172
1,339
877
686
420
22.31
14. 26
10. 23
9. 06
6. 02
1.19
1.07
1.41
1.28
.92
2,217
1,369
910
723
438
22. 77
14. 58
10. 61
9.55
6. 28
3. 97
2. 99
3. 72
4.21
2.47
The table shows a marked decline in frequency rates for the period,
though fatal cases increased somewhat in 1928 and 1929. Severity
rates also increased in these two years but dropped below previous
figures in 1930.
The relation of accidents to length of service has been published for
several years by the association and affords a limited study of the
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IN D U STRIA L ACCIDENTS
liability of inexperienced workers to accidental injury. In Table 2
are shown the figures for 1930 compared with figures for preceding
years, taken from previous reports.
T a b l e 2 .—N U M B E R O F F A T A L A N D
N O N F A T A L A C C ID E N T S IN C E M E N T M A N U
F A C T U R IN G , A C C O R D IN G TO L E N G T H OF S E R V IC E , 1926 TO 1930
1926
Length of service
658
243
314
496
218
119
Less th a n 6 months.
6 m onths to 1 y ear..
1 year to 2 y ears---2 years to 5 y e a r s ...
6 years to 10 y e a r s ..
10 years and o v e r...
2,048
T o tal_______
1927
347
139
170
250
151
86
1,143
1928
1929
1930
273
97
119
208
153
97
205
69
87
130
100
92
38
52
76
56
57
947
701
371
110
The table following shows the cause of injury and the nature of
injury of the 438 accidents which occurred in 1930:
T a b l e 3 .— D IS T R IB U T IO N
O F A C C ID E N T S , B Y N A T U R E O F IN J U R Y A N D C A U SES OF
A C C ID E N T S , IN 1930
Item
N a tu re of injury:
M inor cuts, bruises,burns, etc..
E ye injuries, tem p o rary ---------Infections___________________
Severe cuts, bruises, burns, etc.
F ractures___________________
Perm anent p artial disabilities..
F a talities------ ------ ---------------
N um
ber
of
cases
127
42
21
98
84
48
18
T o ta l_____________________
438
Causes of accident:
A nim als____________________
C aught betw een objects______
3
27
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Item
Causes of accident—C ontinued.
C em ent d u st_____________
Explosions_______________
Falling objects___________
Falls____________________
Flying m a te ria l__________
H e at____________________
H ot substances___________
M achinery_______________
Objects h a n d led __________
Strains from lifting_______
O ther causes........ .................
[18711
Total.
N um
ber
of
cases
14
12
77
73
22
1
35
44
38
19
73
438
LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
T ext o f L a w R elative to C o lle ctio n of E m p lo y m e n t S ta tis tic s
HE Seventy-first Congress, by Public Act No. 537, approved
July 7, 1930 (ch. 873, 46 Stat. L. 1019), enacted a law enlarging
the duties of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. This act
was an amendment to section 4 of an act of March 4, 1913 (37 Stat. L.
736) entitled “An act to create a Department of Labor.” By the
provisions of the amendment the bureau is directed to collect and
publish complete statistics each month on the number of persons
employed, aggregate wages paid, and total hours of labor in several
enumerated groups of industries. Mention of this law was made in
the resume of labor legislation of 1930, published in the March, 1931,
issue of the Labor Review. Due to a large demand for copies of this
amendment it lias been deemed advisable to print the complete law.
The provisions of the act are as follows:
“ The Bureau of Labor Statistics shall also collect, collate, report,
and publish at least once each month full and complete statistics of
the volume of and changes in employment, as indicated by the number
of persons employed, the total wages paid, and the total hours of
employment, in the service of the Federal Government, the States,
and political subdivisions thereof, and in the following industries and
their principal branches: (1) Manufacturing; (2) mining, quarrying,
and crude petroleum production; (3) building construction; (4) agri
culture and lumbering; (5) transportation, communication, and other
public utilities; (6) the retail and wholesale trades; and such other
industries as the Secretary of Labor may deem it in the public
interest to include. Such statistics shall be reported for all such
industries and their principal branches throughout the United States,
and also by States and/or Federal reserve districts and by such
smaller geographical subdivisions as the said Secretary may from
time to time prescribe. The said Secretary is authorized to arrange
with any Federal, State, or municipal bureau or other governmental
agency for the collection of such statistics in such manner as he may
deem satisfactory, and may assign special agents of the Department
of Labor to any such bureau or agency to assist in such collection.”
T
R ig h t to U n p a id W ages M a y be A ssigned in Illin o is
A
N EMPLOYEE has the right to assign his wages as security for
l. a debt, and a contract of an employee with his employer not to
assign his wages without the latter’s consent is not binding on the
assignee who is not a party to the contract, according to the decision
of the Illinois Supreme Court in State Street Furniture Co. v. Armour
& Co. (177 N. E. 702).
108
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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
109
From the facts in the case it appears that an employee of Armour
& Co. assigned part of his wages to the State Street Furniture Co. as
security for a debt. As a defense to an action brought by the furni
ture company, under its wage assignment, A rm our^ Co. stated that
the employee whose wages were involved had, prior to the date of
the assignment, entered into a written contract whereby he agreed
not to “ sell, transfer, set over, or assign * * * any right to or
claim for wages or salary, * * * due or to become due from
Armour & Co. * * * without the consent in writing of Armour
& Co. * * * and that any attempted sale, transfer, or assign
ment without such written consent shall be nidi and void.’7
Prior to the date of the assignment, Armour & Co. had given
written notice to numerous firms, including the State Street Furni
ture Co., that it had entered into such a contract with all of its
employees and would no longer honor wage assignments. I t was
therefore the contention of the employer that because of such contract
and notice the subsequent assignment of wages without its consent
was null and void.
The municipal court of Chicago rendered judgment in favor of the
assignee. On appeal the judgment was affirmed by the appellate
court and because of the importance of the questions involved
an appeal was allowed to the Illinois Supreme Court.
In regard to the right of an employee to make an assignment of his
wages the court said:
T h e rig h t of an em ployee to m ak e a n assig n m en t of his w ages h a s long been
recognized in th is S tate, a n d th e privilege of using a n d c o n tra c tin g fo r th e d is
po sal of w ages is b o th a lib e rty a n d a p ro p e rty rig h t. [Cases cited .] t h e
relatio n sh ip betw een em ployer a n d em ployee w ith re sp e c t to u n p a id w ages is
t h a t of d e b to r a n d credito r, a n d th e rig h t of th e em ployee to th o se w ages is a
chose in actio n a n d as such m ay be assigned. (M o n arch D isc o u n t C o. v . C h esa
p eak e & Ohio R ailw ay C o., 120 N . E . 743.) T h is c o u rt h a s n o t o nly h e ld t h a t
assignm ents of w ages m a y be enforced a s to p a s t services, b u t h a s also sa n c
tio n e d such assignm ents as to w ages to be e a rn ed in th e fu tu re u n d e r a n existing
em p lo y m en t if such, assignm ent is m ad e for a v alu ab le consid eratio n a n d u n ta in te d w ith fraud.
As to the effect of the written contract entered into by the employee
the court said in part as follows:
T he c o n tra c t relied upon to d efeat th e ju d g m e n t in th is case co n tain ed no
a b so lu te denial of th e em ployee’s rig h t to m ak e a n assig n m en t of h is w ages. I t
only specified t h a t such w ages should n o t be assigned w ith o u t th e w ritte n con
se n t of A rm our & Co., a n d t h a t unless such co n sen t w as o b ta in e d th e assig n m en t
sh ould b e n ull a n d void. I t is n o t necessary to h a v e th e co n sen t of a n em ployer
to m ak e a v alid assignm en t of w ages w here th e assig n m en t is of th e e n tire claim .
Section 18 of th e p ra ctice a c t (S m ith -H u rd R ev. S t. 1929, ch. 110, sec. 18) m akes
no re q u irem en t t h a t th e d e b to r shall consent to th e assig n m en t before th e assignee
can b rin g his actio n to recover th e d e b t d u e th e assignor, n o r is s u c h a re q u ire
m e n t to be fou n d in th e decisions of th is co u rt. [Cases cited.] T h e rig h t of th e
assignee to in s titu te su it to recover th e salary or w ages of an em ployee is th e
sam e as t h a t of th e em ployee him self.
The defense was also made that a partial assignment of a debt due
or to become due can not be made without the consent of the debtor.
In this case, however, the court found the assignment was of the
entire claim, and in conclusion affirmed the judgment of the appellate
court, saying, in part, as follows:
W here th e em ployer owes th e em ployee fo r w ages earned, th e c o n tra c t of
em ploym ent has, as to th e w ages earned, ceased to be a b ila te ra l c o n tra c t w ith
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mutual rights and duties. It has then become a unilateral contract or debt, with
an absolute obligation on the part of the employer to pay and an absolute right
on the part of the employee to receive his pay. (Ginsburg v. Bull Dog Auto
hire ins. Assn., supra.) When one has incurred a debt, which is property in
the hands of the creditor, the debtor can not restrain its alienation as between the
creditor and a third person any more than he can forbid the sale or pledge of
other chattels. A debt is property, which may be sold or assigned, subject to
tPe ordinary rules of the common law in determining the rights of the assignee,
> when untainted with fraud, its sale offers no ground for complaint by the
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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
T im e L im ita tio n for F ilin g C o m p e n sa tio n C la im H eld A b so lu te
in New M exico
HE requirement of the New Mexico workmen’s compensation
law that an employee must file a compensation claim within 60
days was held, by the supreme court of that State, to be an absolute
limitation on the right of action and not subject to pleas of waiver or
estoppel. (Taylor v. American Employers’ Insurance Co. of Boston,
Mass., et al., 3 Pac. (2d) 76.)
The requirement of the New Mexico workmen’s compensation act
(Laws of 1917, ch. 83 (as amended)), is that the employee must file
his claim for compensation in the office of the clerk of the district
court not later than 60 days after the failure or refusal of the employer
to pay compensation. This provision was used as a defense in an
action brought by Will Taylor against the insurance carrier, American
Employers’ Insurance Co., of Boston, Mass. The employee claimed
that he was led by the representations of the insurance company to
believe that payment of the claim was not refused, that it would be
paid, and relying upon such representation and belief, he did not file
his claim within the time required by statute.
The district court, Eddy County, N. Mex., dismissed the claim and
the employee thereupon appealed to the New Mexico Supreme Court,
contending that the facts alleged were sufficient to remove the statu
tory bar of limitations and to prevent the company from pleading
such statute as a defense. Regarding this allegation the court said,
in part, as follows:
T
T his really involves tw o questions. I t is conceded th a t, if th e doctrin e of w aiver
o r estoppel m ay n o t be invoked in resp ect to th e lim ita tio n s of tim e fo r ta k in g
ce rta in steps by th e in ju red w orkm an, th e n th e decision in C ato n v. G illiland Oil
Co., 33 N . Mex. 227, 264 P ac. 946, is controlling. In th a t case we said : “ A n em ployer h av in g know ledge of th e in ju ry , m u st, w ithin 31 d ay s a fte r its occurrence,
p a y th e first in stallm en t of com pensation. If th e em ployer fails o r refuses so to
do, th e w orkm an m ust, w ith in 60 d ay s th e re a fte r, file his claim fo r com pensation.
If h e does n o t, his claim , h is rig h t, a n d his rem edy are forever b a rre d .”
In discussing the general scheme of the New Mexico workmen’s
compensation act, the court said:
T he whole schem e of th e w orkm en’s com pensation a c t is designed to w ork o u t
a speedy a d ju s tm e n t an d p a y m e n t of claim s fo r in d u stria l accid en ts in a su m m ary
a n d sim ple m anner. T he a c t shall be construed as creatin g a new rig h t a n d special
procedure for th e enforcem ent of th e sam e. T h e a c t is rem edial a n d to be liberally
co n stru ed ; b u t n o t unreasonably or co n tra ry to legislative in te n t. [Cases cited.]
T he public generally is affected by th e a c t an d its a d m in istratio n . [Cases cited.]
‘ T he scheme is to charge upon the business through insurance, the losses caused
by it, making the business and the ultim ate consumer of its product, and n ot the
injured em ployee, bear the burden of the accidents incident to the business. The
statute contem plates the protection, not only of the em ployee, but of the employer,
at the expense of the ultim ate consumer.” (Schneider, workmen’s compensation
law, sec. 1.)
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Several cases were considered, supporting the judgment of the dis
trict court in dismissing the claim; and in conclusion the court quoted
from a case decided by the Supreme Court of Connecticut (Walsh
v. A. Waldron & Sons, i53 Atl. 298), which held that a failure to give
notice of claim within the statutory period precluded further relief
under the statute. The court quoted, in part, as follows:
“ T h e liab ility of a n em ployer * * * w as n o t fixed b y th e sim ple fa c t of
in ju ry to th e em ployee arising o u t of a n d in th e course of his em p lo y m e n t,”
b u t th e elem ent of n otice a n d th e tim e w ith in w hich i t m u st be given, e n te r “ in to
th e v ery essence of th e in ju re d p a r ty ’s claim a n d th e e x te n t of it. * * * T h e
m aking of th e claim a n d th e tim e th ereo f are m a tte rs going to m a in ten an ce of th e
rig h t of action. * * * W here a s ta tu te gives a rig h t of a ctio n w hich does n o t
exist a t com m on law a n d fixes th e tim e w ith in w hich th e rig h t m u s t be enforced,
th e tim e fixed is a lim ita tio n o r co n d itio n a tta c h e d to th e rig h t— i t is a lim ita tio n
of th e liab ility itself as cre a te d a n d n o t of th e rem ed y alone. B eing a lim ita tio n
upon th e rig h t of actio n it m u s t be stric tly com plied w ith .” [C iting cases.] T h e
s ta tu te specifically forbids th e m ain ten an ce of proceedings before th e com m issioner
w ith fo u r exceptions, unless th e s ta tu to ry no tice of claim fo r co m p en satio n h a s
been given, a n d th e giving of th is notice, a n d th e tim e w ith in w hich i t m u s t be
given, becom e ju risd ictio n al req u irem en ts. N o t being m erely a p ro ced u ral m a tte r,
th e d octrine of w aiver, u p o n w hich th e c la im a n t relies, c an n o t avail, since ju ris
diction can n o t be w aived, n o r can i t be conferred b y ag reem en t. [C iting cases.]
The judgment of the district court dismissing the claim for compen
sation was therefore affirmed.
V e rm o n t C o m p e n sa tio n Law H eld a Bar to S u it in New
H am p sh ire
CONTRACT made in Vermont, subject to the provisions of the
Vermont workmen’s compensation act, bars an action for negli
A gence
in New Hampshire, according to the decision of the circuit court
of appeals, first circuit, in the case of Bradford Electric Light Co.
(Inc.) v. Clapper (51 Fed. (2d) 992).
The action was brought under the Lord Campbell Act of New Hamp
shire (Pub. Laws 1926, ch. 302, secs. 9-14) to recover for injuries
resulting in the death of an employee and alleged to have occurred
through the negligence of the Bradford Electric Light Co. (Inc.),
the employer.
The employing company is a public utility organized under the
laws of Vermont and having its principal place of business in Bradford,
Vt. It is engaged in furnishing electric current for public use in both
Vermont and New Hampshire. The employee was a resident of
Bradford and the contract of employment was entered into in Vermont
but the employee received his injuries in the course of his employ
ment in the State of New Hampshire while performing the duties of
an emergency man sent out to repair a sudden break in the line. While
in the course of his work he came in contact with high-tension wires
and received the injuries which caused his death.
The action was originally brought in the New Hampshire Superior
Court and was removed to the Federal district court on the ground of
diversity of citizenship. The third trial before a jury resulted in a
verdict for the employee’s administratrix for $4,000. The case was
thereupon appealed to the circuit court of appeals for the first circuit.
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W ORKM EN’S COMPENSATION
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The defense set up in the suit was that the Vermont workmen's
compensation act provided a remedy, which excluded any action at
law to recover damages. The court pointed out that the Vermont
workmen’s compensation act had an extraterritorial effect, and said
that—
I n th is case, as n eith er th e d efe n d a n t co rp o ratio n n o r th e p lain tiff’s in te sta te
gave notice of a refusal to asse n t to th e V erm ont a ct, b o th w ere b o u n d b y it, a n d
its provisions becam e a p a r t of th e c o n tra c t of em p lo ym en t a n d covered all
injuries, w h eth er received in V erm o n t o r N ew H am p sh ire, a n d fo r w hich u n d er
th e V erm ont a c t no actio n a t com m on law based on negligence w ould lie.
T h ere can be no d o u b t, th erefo re, if th e proceedings h a d been b ro u g h t u n d e r th e
V erm ont sta tu te , th e p lain tiff’s in te s ta te could h a v e recovered o nly th e sum
p rovided w here th e re are no d ep en d en ts; a n d h erein lies th e reaso n fo r th is action.
T h e deceased h a d no depen d en ts, an d , as is pro v id ed in all such acts, including t h a t
of N ew H am pshire, in such cases only a co m p arativ ely sm all sum to pro v id e for
bu rial expenses is allowed.
The real question before the court for decision in this case, as the
relation between the employer and employee was contractual, was
whether the law of the lex loci contractus should govern under the
well-recognized principles of comity, or the law of the State where the
injury occurred. “ There is a clear tendency," the court said, “ for
the courts to settle down on the policy of enforcing contracts accord
ing to the law of the State in which they were made." Many cases
were cited in support of this view.
The contention was raised, however, that the Vermont law differed
from the New Hampshire law and therefore could not be applied in
this case, as such provisions were against the public policy of New
Hampshire. The court, in answering this, said that details of each
act have never been regarded as establishing a definite public policy
as to each detail, for such a view would cause much confusion among
the courts. Continuing, the court said:
T h e num erous decisions of th e c o u rts giving th ese a c ts e x tra te rrito ria l effect
w ould th en be of little value, as a n in ju re d em ployee, w henever h is c o n tra c t of
em ploym ent w as in one S ta te w here h e h a d accep ted a com p en satio n a c t, a n d he
w as in ju red in an o th er, m ig h t in ev ery such case, if to h is a d v a n ta g e , b rin g a com
m on-law actio n in th e S ta te w here in ju re d , p ro v id ed th e a c t of th e S ta te of em
p lo y m en t differed in a n y im p o rta n t provision from th e a c t of th e S ta te w here th e
in ju ry occurred; b u t no c o u rt h a s y e t so held.
T h e S ta te c o u rts h a v e re p e a te d ly h eld th a t, because a s ta tu te of one S ta te
differs in som e of its provisions from t h a t of th e S ta te of th e forum , i t does n o t
follow t h a t th e co u rts of th e S ta te of th e fo ru m w ould n o t enforce c o n tra c ts en tered
in to in th e o th er S ta te a n d v alid u n d e r its law , th o u g h n o t in com pliance w ith th e
lex fori, especially w here b o th s ta tu te s w ere en acted w ith th e sam e p u rpose in
view.
In conclusion the court vacated the judgment of the district court
and returned the case for further proceedings, saying, in part, as
follow s :
W e are of th e opinion t h a t th e re is n o th in g in th e c o n tra c t en tered in to betw een
th ese p a rtie s in V erm ont t h a t is c o n tra ry to th e m ain p u rp o se of th e N ew H a m p
shire a c t, o r inim ical to th e w elfare of its citizens, a n d , according to th e tre n d of
re c e n t decisions in o th e r ju risd ictio n s, th e c o n tra c t of h ire u n d e r th e V erm ont
a c t, u p o n th e principles of com ity, c o n stitu te s a good defense to a n a ctio n u n d er
th e N ew H am pshire d e a th sta tu te , th e re h av in g been no c o n tra c t of h ire in. New
H am pshire.
Circuit Judges Anderson and Wilson each delivered strong dissent
ing opinions, holding the view that the New Hampshire law must be
strictly complied with, and that “ the public policy of New Hampshire
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
is not subject to determination by this court 'in the light of the deci
sions of other jurisdictions.’”
Following this decision the case was carried to the United States
Supreme Court for final determination and is, at this time, on the
docket for hearing before that court.
New W o rk m e n ’ s C o m p e n sa tio n L e g isla tio n in M exico
workmen’s compensation provisions of the new Mexican
Federal Labor Code, which went into effect August 28, 1931,
T HE
superseding the various State laws, are given below.
Occupational Hazards
284. O ccupational risks are th e accidents or diseases to w hich th e
w orkers are exposed arising o u t of or in th e course of th e ir em ploym ent.
A rt . 285. An industrial accident is any injury requiring medical or surgical
treatm ent, or any m ental or functional disturbance, of a perm anent or temporary
nature, taking place im m ediately or a t a later tim e, or death, caused by the sudden
action of an external force which m ay have occurred during the work, arising out
of or as a consequence thereof, and A ny internal injury caused by a violent ex
ertion brought about under similar circumstances.
A rt . 286. An occupational disease is any pathological condition which occurs
from a cause repeated for a long period of tim e as a necessary consequence of the
kind of work performed by th e worker, or from th e environm ent in which he is
compelled to work and which causes an injury or permanent or temporary func
tional disturbance in th e body. T his occupational disease m ay have been caused
by physical, chemical, or biological agents.
I n ad d itio n to th e diseases t h a t a re covered b y th is article, th o se referred to in
th e schedule in article 326 shall be considered as o ccu p atio n al diseases.
A r t . 287. W hen a c cid en ts a n d o ccu p atio n al diseases occur th e y m ay cause:
(1) D eath , (2) p e rm a n e n t to ta l d isab ility , (3) p e rm a n e n t p a rtia l d isa b ility , an d
(4) te m p o rary disability.
A r t . 288. P e rm a n e n t to ta l d isab ility is th e to ta l loss of th e facu lties o r abilities
w hich m ake i t im possible fo r an in d iv id u al to p erform a n y k in d of w ork d u rin g
th e rem ain d er of his life.
A r t . 289. P e rm a n e n t p a rtia l d isab ility is th e d im in u tio n of th e faculties of an
in d iv id u al on acco u n t of th e loss o r paraly sis of an y lim b, organ, o r fu n ctio n of th e
body.
A rt . 290. Temporary disability is the loss of faculties or abilities which make
it totally or partially im possible for an individual to be able to work for a period of
time.
A r t . 291. E m ployers, even th o u g h th e y m ay h av e c o n tra c te d th ro u g h in te r
m ediaries, are liable fo r th e o ccu p atio n al h a zard s suffered b y th e ir w orkers.
A r t . 292. T h e provisions of th is p a r t a re applicab le to ap prentices.
A r t . 293. T h e d aily w age w hich th e w orker is receiving a t th e tim e o f th e
accid en t shall be ta k e n as th e base in calc u latin g com pensation referred to in th is
p a rt.
As regards w orkers w hose w age is calcu lated on a piecew ork basis, th e av erag e
daily w age fo r th e m o n th preceding th e a c cid en t shall be ta k e n as th e base.
T h e low est w age t h a t a w orker receives in th e sam e o ccu p atio n al class shall be
ta k e n as th e base in fixing th e com pensation fo r appren tices.
In no case m ay a n a m o u n t less th a n th e m in im u m w age be ta k e n as th e base fo r
com pensation.
A r t . 294. W hen th e w age exceeds 12 pesos a d a y only th is a m o u n t shall be
ta k e n in to co nsideratio n in fixing th e com pensation, since fo r-th e p u rp o ses of th is
c h a p te r th is sum is considered as th e m ax im u m wage.
A rt . 295. Workers who suffer from an occupational hazard shall be entitled
to (1) m edical assistance, (2) medicines and supplies necessary for recovery, and
(3) the com pensation fixed in this part.
A r t . 296. W hen th e h a z a rd re su lts in th e d e a th of th e w orker th e com pensa
tio n shall include (1) one m o n th ’s wage fo r fu n e ra l expenses, a n d (2) p a y m e n t of
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th e am o u n ts specified in article 298 to th e persons w ho w ere econom ically d ep en d
e n t u p o n th e deceased, in accordance w ith th e follow ing article.
A r t . 297. T he follow ing shall be e n title d to receive th e com p en satio n in cases
of d e a th :
(1) T h e wife a n d leg itim ate o r illeg itim ate child ren who are u n d e r 16 y e ars of
age a n d th e ascen d an ts unless i t is p ro v ed t h a t th e y are n o t econom ically d ep en d
e n t u p o n th e w orker. T h e com pensation shall be d istrib u te d equally am ong said
persons; a n d
(2) I f th e re are no children, spouse, a n d ascen d an ts w ith in th e te rm s of th e
preceding p ara g ra p h , th e com pensation sh all be d ivided am o n g th e persons who
a re p a rtia lly o r to ta lly d e p e n d e n t upo n th e w orker a n d in th e p ro p o rtio n in w hich
th e y a re d ep e n d e n t u p o n him , according to th e ju d g m e n t of th e b o ard of concilia
tio n a n d a rb itra tio n in view of th e proofs rendered.
A rt . 298. I n case of th e w o rk er’s d e a th th e com p en satio n to be p aid to th e
persons referred to in th e preceding a rtic le sh all be a n a m o u n t e q u iv a le n t to 612
d ay s’ wages, w ith o u t ded u ctin g th e com pensation w hich th e w orker m ay have
received d u rin g th e tim e h e w as in ca p a c ita te d .
A rt . 299. T h e p a y m e n t fo r com pensation in case of d e a th m u s t be a p p ro v ed
b y th e p ro p e r b o ard of conciliation a n d a rb itra tio n , w hich sh all a c c e p t th e s ta te
m e n t m ade b y th e wife a n d children w ith o u t su b jectin g th e m to th e leg al proofs
w hich are re q u ired u n d e r th e g eneral law s fo r verification of th e relatio n sh ip , b u t
i t sh a ll n o t ignore th e records of th e civil c o u rt in th is co nnection if th e y are
presen ted . T h e decision of th e b o ard ordering p a y m e n t of th e com pensation
h as no o th e r legal effects.
A rt . 300. If an accident or occupational disease results in the worker’s perma
nent or temporary, to ta l or partial, disability, only the injured worker shall be
entitled to the com pensation fixed in the following articles. If a worker, through
a n occupational hazard is totally or permanently incapacitated by m ental derange
m ent, th e com pensation shall be paid only to the person who in accordance with
th e law represents him.
A r t ; 301. W hen th e in d u stria l accid en t or o ccu p atio n al disease leaves th e
w orker p e rm an en tly a n d to ta lly in ca p a c ita te d , th e co m pensation sh all consist of
a n a m o u n t e q u iv alen t to 918 d a y s’ wages.
A rt . 302. I n case of p e rm a n e n t p a rtia l d isab ility resu ltin g from a c cid en t th e
com pensation sh all a m o u n t to th e p ercen tag e fixed in th e schedule of disab ility
v alu atio n s, calcu lated o n th e a m o u n t w hich w ould h a v e been p a id if th e disab ility
h a d been p e rm a n e n t to ta l. A percen tag e sh all be ta k e n b etw een th e established
m axim um a n d m inim um , ta k in g in to co n sid eratio n th e age of th e w orker, th e
im p o rtan ce of h is d isab ility a n d if i t is to ta l as reg ard s h is o ccupation, even th o u g h
h e is qualified to do o th e r w ork, o r if i t h a s sim ply dim inished h is a b ility fo r th e
perform ance of his w ork. If th e em ployer h as pro v id ed o ccu p atio n al reed u catio n
a n d h a s fu rn ish ed artificial arm s o r legs, th is sh all be ta k e n in to consideration.
A rt . 303. W hen th e o ccu p atio n al h a z a rd h a s re su lte d in th e w o rk er’s te m
p o ra ry d isab ility , th e com pensation sh all consist of th e p a y m e n t of 75 p e r c e n t of
th e w ages w hich h e fails to receive w hile u n ab le to w ork. T his p a y m e n t sh all be
m ad e fro m th e first d ay of th e sam e.
W hen a w orker is u n ab le to re tu rn to th e service a fte r th re e m o n th s’ d isability,
h e him self o r th e em ployer m ay re q u e st th a t, in view of th e m ed ical certificates,
th e re p o rts su b m itte d , a n d th e proofs show n, i t be decided w h e th e r th e in ju re d
w orker o u g h t to co n tin u e to receive th e sam e m edical tr e a tm e n t a n d receive th e
sam e com pensation o r to h av e h is d isab ility declared p e rm a n e n t, w ith th e com
p e n satio n to w hich h e is en title d . T hese ex am in atio n s m a y be re p e a te d ev ery
th re e m o n th s. I n e ith e r case, th e tim e d u rin g w hich th e w orker is to receive 75
p e r c e n t of h is w ages sh a ll n o t exceed one y ear.
A rt . 304. C om pensation w hich th e w orker receives in cases of p e rm a n e n t to ta l
o r p e rm a n e n t p a rtia l d isab ility sh all be p a id in full, a n d no d ed u ctio n s m a y be
m ad e fo r th e w ages w hich he m ay h a v e received d u rin g th e healing period.
A rt . 305. E m ployers m ay com ply w ith th e obligations im posed u p o n th e m in
th is p a r t b y insuring a t th e ir ow n expense th e w orker who is to receive th e com
p ensation, on th e condition th a t th e a m o u n t of insurance be n o t less th a n th e
com pensation.
T h e insurance policy m u st be ta k e n o u t w ith a n a tio n a l com pany.
Shipow ners a re req u ired to c a rry th e in su ran ce referred to in th is article,
w henever th e c o n tra c t is d raw n fo r a n indefinite perio d of tim e.
If i t is th e fa u lt of th e em ployer t h a t in su ran ce benefits a re n o t o b tain ed , he
shall be req u ired to com pensate [the w orker] according to th e te rm s of th e law.
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A rt . 306. T h e em ployer m ay e n te r in to a n ag reem en t w ith th e person or
persons w ho are en title d to com pensation, by w hich he s u b s titu te s a te m p o ra ry
or life a n n u ity w hich is eq u iv a le n t to th e com pensation referred to in th is p a rt,
if in th e ju d g m e n t of th e p ro p e r b o ard of conciliation a n d a rb itra tio n th e necessary
g u aran ties h a v e been given.
A rt . 307. W ith in a y e a r follow ing th e d a te on w hich th e co m pensation referred
to in th is p a r t h as been fixed b y a n ag reem en t o r b y a n a w ard of th e b o ard , th e
in te re ste d p a r ty m ay re q u e st a revision of th e ag reem en t o r a w ard in th e e v en t
t h a t a fte r th e d a te th ereo f, a n ag g ra v a tio n or a d im in u tio n of th e d isability
caused b y th e h a z a rd h a s been p roved.
A rt . 308. In case of accid en ts from occu p atio n al hazard s, em ployers a re
req u ired to fu rn ish im m ed iately th e necessary m edicines a n d supplies a n d m edical
assistance. F o r th is p u rp o se:
(1) All em ployers m u s t h a v e in th e ir factories or w orkshops th e necessary
m edicines fo r u rg e n t cases.
(2) All em ployers w ho h a v e from 100 to 300 w orkers in th e ir service m u st
estab lish a first-aid sta tio n eq u ip p ed w ith m edicines a n d supplies necessary for
u rg e n t m edical a n d su rgical a tte n tio n . T h is sta tio n shall be a tte n d e d b y a
co m p e te n t personnel u n d e r th e d irectio n of a surgeon-physician a n d if in his
ju d g m e n t i t is n o t possible to give th e re q u ire d m edical a tte n tio n in th e w ork
place, th e in ju re d w orker sh all be tra n sp o rte d to th e n e a re s t to w n , h o sp ital, o r
place w here he can receive th e p ro p e r a tte n tio n . T h e em ployer is liable fo r
th e costs involved.
(3) All em ployers w ho h av e m ore th a n 300 w orkers in th e ir service m u st h av e
a t le a st a n infirm ary o r h o sp ita l u n d e r th e care of a p h y sician ; a n d
(4) In in d u stries w hich a re situ a te d in places w here th e re a re h o sp itals or
san ato riu m s o r w here th e re a re su ch in stitu tio n s, w ith in a d istan ce of tw o h o u rs
or less, using th e o rd in a ry m ean s of tra n sp o rta tio n av ailab le a t a n y tim e, th e
em ployers m a y com ply w ith th e o bligation estab lish ed b y th is a rtic le b y h av in g
c o n tra c ts _w ith such h o sp itals o r san a to riu m s so t h a t th e ir w orkers m ay be
a tte n d e d in case of in d u s tria l accid en ts or o ccu p atio n al diseases.
A r t . 309. T ra n sp o rta tio n com panies a re re q u ired to c a rry in th e ir vehicles
first-aid supplies fo r a n y accid en t. T h e y , a s well as m ining com panies, are
req u ired to tr a in a p a r t of th e ir personnel so t h a t th e y m ay re n d e r a id a t a n y
accident, a n d th e p ersonnel in tu r n a re re q u ired to re n d e r assistance.
A rt . 310. O nly su rg eo n -p h y sician s w ho a re legally au th o riz e d to p ractice
th e ir profession m a y be called to a tte n d th e w orkers.
A rt . 311. If th e in ju re d o r sick w orker refuses to receive th e m edical a tte n tio n
p rovided b y th e em ployer, w ith a ju stifiab le reason, he shall n o t lose th e rig h ts
g ra n te d him in th is ch ap te r.
A rt . 312. E m plo y ers a re re q u ire d to re p o rt accid en ts w hich occur to th e
p ro p er b o a rd of co n ciliation a n d a rb itra tio n , a n d if th e re is no b o ard , to th e
m unicipal executive o r to th e F e d e ra l la b o r in sp ecto r, as th e case m ay be, w ith in
72 hours. W ithin th is tim e o r la te r h e sh all fu rn ish such d a ta a n d p a rtic u la rs
as he is ab le to o b tain , in o rd er to fix th e cause of each accident.
A rt . 313. F o r th e pu rp o ses of th e preceding article th e em ployer shall fu rn ish
th e follow ing d a ta : (1) N am e; (2) o ccu p atio n ; (3) tim e a n d place; (4) th o se w ho
w itnessed th e accid e n t; (5) residence of th e in ju re d w orker; (6) place w here he
w as ta k e n ; (7) w age; (8) nam es of persons to w hom co m pensation is to be p aid
in case of d e a th , if a n y ; a n d (9) firm n am e or n am e of th e com pany.
A rt . 314._ I n case of im m ed iate d e a th , th e em ployer sh all n o tify th e a u th o ritie s
referred to in a rtic le 312 as soon as h e h a s know ledge of th e accident.
A rt . 315. E m plo y ers’ p h y sician s a re re q u ired (1) u p o n th e occurrence of th e
accident, to certify w h eth er th e w orker is ab le o r u n ab le to p erfo rm his w ork;
(2) u p o n te rm in a tin g th e m edical a tte n tio n , to c ertify w h e th e r th e w orker is in
a condition to resum e his w ork; (3) to d eterm in e th e d isab ility resu ltin g th e re
fro m ; a n d (4) in case of d e a th , to issue a d e a th certificate a n d a n y d a ta o b tain ed
a t th e au to p sy .
A rt . 316. T h e em ployer shall be ex em p t from th e obligations im posed upon
him b y th is p a r t as reg ard s com pensation, m edical a tte n tio n , a n d th e fu rnishing
of m edicines a n d supplies fo r h is cure.
(1) W hen th e ac c id e n t occurs w hen th e w orker is in to x icated o r u n d e r th e
influence of som e n arco tic o r en e rv a tin g drug. In th is case he sh all only be re
q u ired to fu rn ish first-aid tre a tm e n t;
(2) W hen th e ac c id e n t is d elib erately caused b y th e w orker him self or by
ag reem en t w ith a n o th e r person. In th is case th e o bligation shall cease th e m o
m e n t th e g u ilt of th e w orker is show n;
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(3) W hen th e acciden t is due to force m ajeu re foreign to th e n a tu re of th e w ork.
F orce m ajeu re foreign to th e n a tu re of th e w ork is a n y n a tu ra l force w hich has
no relatio n to th e exercise of th e said o ccupation a n d w hich does n o t ag g rav ate
th e h az ard s in h e re n t in th e w ork; an d
(4) W hen th e disability is th e re su lt of some q u arrel or suicidal in te n t.
A r t . 317. E m ployers are n o t exem pt from th e obligations im posed u pon th em
by th is p a rt:
(1) W hen th e w orker explicitly or im plicitly has assum ed th e risks of his
occupation.
(2) W hen th e acciden t h as been caused by carelessness or negligence of a n y
fellow w orker of th e in ju re d w orker; a n d
(3) W hen th e accid en t h as occurred th ro u g h th e negligence or stu p id ity of th e
in ju red w orker, p rovided th e re w as no p re m e d ita tio n on his p a rt.
In th e cases in p a ra g ra p h s (2) a n d (3) th e w orker who h a s v io lated th e lab o r or
safety regulations shall be su b je c t to th e p en alties estab lish ed in th is law, in th e
w ork rules, an d in th e co n tracts.
A r t . 318. E v ery em ployer is req u ired to re in sta te a n y w orker who h as h ad to
give u p his w ork on acco u n t of h av in g suffered a n in d u stria l accid en t o r occu
p a tio n a l disease, as soon as he is ab le to re tu rn , p ro v id ed he h as n o t received
com pensation for p e rm a n e n t to ta l disab ility a n d t h a t n o t m ore th a n one y ear
h as elapsed from th e d a te w hen he w as in cap a citated .
A rt . 319. If the worker is unable to fill his former position but can do other
work, the employer is required to furnish it, if possible, and for this purpose he is
authorized to make any changes in the personnel th at m ay be necessary.
A rt . 320. When the employer, in accordance w ith article 318, is required to
reinstate a worker in his original position, he m ay dismiss the substitute worker
w ithout the latter having any right to demand compensation.
A r t . 321. T he existence of a previous co ndition (idiosyncrasies, cacochym ia,
poisonings, chronic diseases, etc.), is no cause to decrease th e com pensation.
A r t . 322. In no case, even if th e re a re m ore th a n tw o disabilities, shall th e em
ployer be req u ired to p a y a larg er a m o u n t th a n th a t for p e rm a n e n t to ta l d is a
bility.
A rt . 323. T he S ecretary of In d u s try , C om m erce, a n d L ab o r shall issue th e
regulations for accident p rev en tio n m easures in cooperation w ith th e d e p a rtm e n t
of public h ealth , w ith o u t preju d ice to th e provisions co n tain ed in o th e r law s on
th is sub ject.
In like m anner, th e p ro p er secretary is a u th o rized to am plify th e schedule of
o ccupational diseases a n d th a t of d isab ility v alu atio n s as th e progress of science
requires it.
A r t . 324. In each enterp rise th e re shall be estab lish ed th e safety com m ittees
w hich are deem ed necessary, com posed of a n eq u al n u m b er of rep re se n ta tiv e s of
em ployers a n d of w orkers, to in v e stig a te th e causes of accidents, to propose
m easures to p re v e n t them , a n d to see t h a t th e y a re com plied w ith. T hese com
m issions shall be perform ed g ratu ito u sly w ith in th e w orking hours.
A rt . 325. In all cases of death by accident or occupational disease an autopsy
m ust be performed to determine the cause of said death.
A r t . 326. F o r th e purpose of th is c h ap te r, th e law a d o p ts th e follow ing:
S C H E D U L E O F O C C U P A T IO N A L D IS E A S E S
I n f e c tio u s a n d p a r a s i t i c d is e a s e s
(1) A n th rax : T anners, rag han d lers, wool com bers, shep h erd s a n d furriers,
han d lers of horsehair, bristles, horns, flesh, a n d bones of c attle.
(2) G landers: G room s, stab le boys, stockm en.
(3) A nkylostom iasis: M iners, brickm akers, p o tte ry m akers, e a rth w orkers,
gardeners, a n d sand w orkers.
(4) A ctinom ycosis: B akers, m illers of w heat, barley, oats, ry e; ru ra l w orkers.
(5) L eishm aniosis: Chicle w orkers, ru b b e r gath erers, v an illa w orkers, a n d
w oodcutters in tro p ical districts.
(6) Syphilis: G lass blow ers (first a tta c k : m o u th chancre) physicians, nurses,
operatin g-room a tte n d a n ts (in th e han d s).
(7) A nthracosis: M iners (in coal m ines), charcoal w orkers, firem en using coal,
chim ney sweepers.
(8) T e ta n u s: G room s, b u tch ers, stableboys, a n d c a ttle tenders.
(9) Silicosis: M iners (in m ineral a n d m etal m ines), sto n ecu tters, lim e w orkers,
w orkers in cem en t w orks, grinders a n d m asons, san d w orkers, p orcelain fa cto ry
w orkers.
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(10) T uberculosis: P hysicians, nurses, operatin g -ro o m a tte n d a n ts , b u tch ers,
a n d m iners, w hen silicosis h a s preceded it.
(11) Siderosis: Iro n w o rk ers (filers, la th e op erato rs, a n d th o se h an d lin g iron
oxide).
(12) T abacosis: W orkers in th e tobacco in d u stry .
(13) O th er konioses: C arp en te rs, w orkers in th e c o tto n , wool, ju te , silk,
hair, a n d fe ath er in d u stries, blowers, p a in te rs a n d cleaners using com pressed
air (air g u n s).
(14) D erm atosis: S ugar-cane h arv esters, vanilla w orkers, linen spinners,
gardeners.
(15) D e rm a titis cau sed b y physical a g en ts: H e a t: B lacksm iths, sm elters,
glassw orkers, chauffeurs. C old: W orkers in cold sto rag e room s. Solar ra d ia
tio n : O u td o o r w orkers. E lectric ra d ia tio n : X -ra y w orkers. M ineral ra d ia
tio n : R ad iu m w orkers.
(16) O th er d e rm a tite s: W orkers h andling p a in ts m ad e of v egetable coloring
m a tte r having a base of m etalic sa lts or aniline dyes; cooks, dishw ashers, la u n
dresses, m iners, bleachers of cloth, w orkers in spices, p h o to g ra p h e rs, m asons,
stone c u tte rs, cem e n t w orkers, cab in e tm ak ers, v arn ish ers, ra g cleaners, fullers,
bleachers of fabrics b y m eans of su lp h u r fum es, (skin) ta n n e rs, sp in n ers a n d
g ath erers of wool, m ak ers of chlorine b y electrical decom position of sodium
chloride, w orkers h an d lin g p etro le u m a n d gasoline.
(17) Influences of o th e r p h y sical a g e n ts in causing diseases:
D am pness: In d iv id u a ls w ho w ork in places w here th e re is m uch w ater, as for
exam ple, rice p lan ters.
C om pressed a ir a n d a ir in inclosed places: D ivers, m iners, w orkers in poorly
v e n tila te d places, o th e r th a n th o se places w here in ju rio u s gases are produced.
D is e a s e s o f s ig h t a n d h e a r in g
(18) E lectric o p h th a lm ia : A utogenic solderers, a n d electricians.
(19) O th er o p h th a lm ia s: W orkers in high te m p e ra tu re s; glaziers, tin sm ith s,
blacksm iths, etc.
(20) Sclerosis of th e m iddle ear: C opper p late rollers, m ineral crushers.
O th e r a ffe c tio n s .
(21) H y g ro m a on th e kn ee: W orkers w ho u su ally w ork in a kneeling position
(22) O ccupational c ram p s: W riters, p ian ists, violinists, a n d telegraphers.
(23) O ccupational d eform ities: Shoem akers, carp en ters, m asons.
(24) A m m onia: W orkers in th e d istillatio n of b itu m in o u s coal, in th e p re p a ra
tio n of fertilizers for a g ric u ltu ra l lands, cleaners of la trin e s a n d sewers, m iners,
m akers of ice, a n d stam p ers.
(25) H ydrofluoric acid : G laziers, engravers.
(26) C hlorous vap o rs: P re p a ra tio n of calcium chloride, w hitew ashers, p re p a ra
tio n of hydrochloric acid, chloride, or soda.
(27) S ulphur dioxide: M akers of sulphuric acid, dyers, colored-paper w orkers,
a n d stam pers.
(28) C arbon m onoxide: Boiler m akers, sm elters of m inerals a n d m etals (b last
furnaces), a n d m iners.
(29) C arbonic acid : T h e sam e w orkers listed u n d e r carb o n m onoxide, a n d in
ad d itio n , sew er a n d la trin e cleaners.
(30) A rsenic: A rsenic poisoning, w orkers in arsenic p lan ts, in m ineral a n d m etal
sm elting, dyers, a n d o th ers h an d lin g arsenic.
(31) L ead, lead poisoning: W orkers in m ineral a n d m etal sm elting, p a in te rs
using w hite lead, p rin te rs, m ak ers of recep tacles for sto rin g a n d h a n d lin g of lead
a n d its derivatives.
(32) M ercury, chronic m ercu rial poisoning: M iners in m ercu ry m ines a n d
others han d lin g th e sam e m etal.
(33) S u lp h u reted h y d ro g en : M iners, cleaners of cisterns, sewers, furnaces,
in d u stria l pipe lines, re to rts, a n d gas m eters, w orkers in illu m in atin g gas p la n ts
a n d w ine shops.
(34) N itro u s vap o rs: W orkers in n itric-acid factories, a n d stam pers.
(35) C arbon sulphide: W orkers em ployed in th e m a n u fa c tu re of th is p ro d u c t,
in vulcanizing ru b b e r, a n d in e x tra c tio n of greases a n d ods.
(36) H y d ro cy an ic acid : M iners, sm elters of m inerals a n d m etals, p h o to g
rap h ers, dyers using blue dyes, a n d w orkers in soda w orks.
(37) C oloring essences, h y d ro carb o n s: W orkers in perfu m e p la n ts.
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(38) H ydrogencarbons: Coal a n d oil distillation, p re p a ra tio n of v arn ish es a n d
all uses of p etro leu m a n d its d eriv ativ es: C oal m iners, w orkers in th e p etro leu m
in d u stry , chauffeurs, etc.
(39) A lkaline ch ro m ates a n d bich ro m ates: W orkers in ch ro m iu m p a in t p la n ts;
m akers of colored p ap e r; w orkers in colored-pencil factories, in in k a n d dye
factories, in th e p re p a ra tio n of chrom ium a n d of its com ponents, in th e m a n u
factu re of fuses, explosives, pow der, sm okeless pow der, Sw edish m atch es; in th e
tex tile in d u s try for w aterproofing m aterials.
(40) E p ith elial cancer caused b y paraffin, ta r , a n d analogous substances.
A r t . 327. F o r th e purposes of th is p a r t th e law a d o p ts th e following:
S C H E D U L E O F V A L U A T IO N S O F D IS A B IL IT IE S
U p p e r e x tr e m itie s — L o s s e s
P er cent
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
A m p u tatio n a t th e sho u ld er---------------------------------------------------------- 65-80
Loss of a n a rm betw een th e elbow a n d th e sh o u ld er------------------------ 60-75
A m p u tatio n a t th e elbow __________________________________________ 55-70
Loss of forearm , b etw een th e w rist a n d th e elbow ----------------------------50-65
T o ta l loss of h a n d _________________________________________________50-65
Loss of four fingers of th e h a n d , in clu d in g th e th u m b a n d th e co r
responding m etacarp u s, ev en th o u g h th e loss th ereo f is n o t com
p le te __________________________________________________________ 50-60
Loss of four fingers of a h an d , leaving th e th u m b ---------------------------- 40-50
Loss of th u m b w ith its m e ta c a rp u s-------------------------------------------------20-30
Loss of a th u m b o n ly ____________________________________________ 15-20
10
Loss of a distal ph alan g e of th e th u m b ----------------------------------------Loss of th e index finger w ith its m e ta c a rp u s o r a p a r t th e re o f--------- 10-15
Loss of index finger______________________________________________ 8-1 2
Loss of distal phalange, w ith m u tila tio n o r loss of th e m iddle
phalange of th e index finger-----------------------------------------------------6
Loss of m iddle finger, w ith m u tila tio n o r loss of its m eta c a rp u s or
p a r t th e re o f___________________________________________________
8
Loss of a m iddle finger___________________________________________
6
Loss of distal phalange, w ith m u tila tio n of th e m iddle ph alan g e of
th e m iddle finger_______________________________________________
4
Loss of d istal phalan g e o n ly of th e m iddle finger-------------------------1
Loss of a ring finger o r a little finger, w ith m u tila tio n o r loss of its
m etacarp u s o r a p a r t th e re o f------------------------------------------------7
Loss of a ring finger o r a little finger-------------------------------------------5
Loss of th e d istal phalange, w ith m u tila tio n of th e m iddle p h alan g e
of th e ring finger o r little fin g er---------------------- ---------------------------3
Loss of th e d istal p h alan g e of th e rin g finger o r little finger-----------1
I f th e in ju re d m em b er is th e less useful of th e tw o, th e com
p en satio n com p u ted in accordance w ith th is schedule shall be
reduced 15 p e r cent.
L o w e r e x tr e m itie s — L o s s e s
(22) C om plete loss of a low er e x trem ity , w hen a n artificial m em ber can
n o t be u sed ___________________________________________________ 65-80
(23) Loss of a th ig h , w hen a n artificial m em b er ca n be u se d --------------------- 50-70
(24) A m p u tatio n a t th e k n ee----------------------------------------------------------------- 50-65
(25) M u tilatio n of a leg betw een th e knee a n d th e a n k le -------------------------45-60
(26) C om plete loss of a fo o t (a m p u ta tio n a t th e a n k le )-------------------------- 30-50
(27) M u tilatio n of a foot, th e heel rem ain in g ----------------------------------------- 20-35
(28) Loss of th e big to e, w ith m u tila tio n of its m e ta ta rs u s -------------------- 10-25
(29) Loss of th e little toe, w ith m u tila tio n of its m e ta ta rsu s ------------------- 10-25
(30) Loss of th e big to e -------------------------3
(31) Loss of th e second p h alan g e of th e big to e ------------------------------------2
(32) Loss of a to e o th er th a n th e big to e -----------------------------1
(33) Loss of th e second p h alan g e of a n y to e o th e r th a n th e big to e -------1
87017°—31-----0
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1383]
120
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
A n k y l o s i s o f a n u p p e r e x tr e m ity
Per cent
(34) A nkylosis of th e shoulder, affecting propulsion a n d a b d u c tio n _____ 8-3 0
(35) C om plete ankylosis of th e sho u ld er, w ith m o b ility of th e shoulder
b lad e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20-30
(36) C om plete ank y lo sis of th e shoulder, w ith im m o b ility of th e shoulder
b la d e ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25-40
(37) C om plete an kylosis of th e elbow , in clu d in g all th e jo in ts of th e
sam e, in po sitio n of flexion (favorable) betw een 75° a n d 110°___ 15-25
(38) C om plete ankylosis of th e elbow, in cluding all th e jo in ts of th e same,
in position of extension (unfavorable) betw een 110° a n d 180°____3 0-40
(39) A nkylosis of th e w rist, affecting its m o v em en ts a n d according to th e
degree of m o b ility of th e fingers________________________________ 15-40
THUMB
(40) A nkylosis of th e c a rp o m etacarp al jo in t___________________________
(41) A nkylosis of th e m etacarp o p h alan g eal jo in t_______________________
(42) A nkylosis of th e in terp h a la n g e a l jo in t____________________________
5- 8
5-10
2- 5
IN D EX FIN G E R
(43)
(44)
(45)
(46)
(47)
A nkylosis
A nkylosis
A nkylosis
A nkylosis
A nkylosis
of
of
of
of
of
th e m etacarp o p h alan g eal jo in t_______________________
th e jo in t betw een th e first a n d second p h alan g e s______
th e jo in t b etw een th e second a n d th ird p h ala n g e s_____
la s t tw o jo in ts ______________________________________
th re e jo in ts _________________________________________
2- 5
4- 8
1 -2
5-10
8-12
MIDDLE FIN G E R
(48)
(49)
(50)
(51)
A nkylosis
A nkylosis
A nkylosis
A nkylosis
of
of
of
of
th e m etacarp o p h alan g eal jo in t_____ 2 ________________
th e jo in ts b etw een th e first an d second p h a la n g e s_____
th e la s t tw o jo in ts __________________________________
th re e jo in ts _________________________________________
(52)
(53)
(54)
(55)
(56)
A nkylosis
A nkylosis
A nkylosis
A nkylosis
A nkylosis
of
of
of
of
of
th e m e tacarp o p h alan g eal jo in t_______________________
th e jo in t betw een th e first a n d second p h ala n g e s_____
th e jo in t b etw een th e second a n d th ird p h a la n g e s____
th e la s t tw o jo in ts __________________________________
th e th re e jo in ts _____________________________________
3
1
6
8
RING AND LITTLE FIN G E R
2
3
1
4
5
A n k y l o s i s o f a lo w e r e x tr e m ity
(57) A nkylosis of th e hip a n d th ig h jo in t______________________________ 10-40
(58) A nkylosis of th e h ip a n d th ig h jo in t, in b a d positio n (flexion, a b
d u ction, ro ta tio n )____________________
15-55
(59) A nkylosis of b o th h ip a n d th ig h jo in ts ____________________________40-90
(60) A nkylosis of th e knee in a fav o rab le p osition, in com plete o r nearly
com plete extension, u p to 135°_________________________________ 5-15
(61) A nkylosis of th e knee in a n u n fav o rab le position, w ith flexion from
135° up to 30°_________________________________________________ 10-50
(62) A nkylosis of th e knee, bow -legged o r k n o c k -k n e e d ________________ 10-35
(63) A nkylosis of th e fo o t a t rig h t angle, w ith o u t d efo rm ity th ereo f, w ith
sufficient m o v em en t of th e to e s__________________________________ 5-10
(64) A nkylosis of th e fo o t a t rig h t angle, w ith d efo rm ity o r a tro p h y
w hich in terfe res w ith th e m o v em en t of th e to e s_________________ 15-30
(65) A nkylosis of th e fo o t in a n u n n a tu ra l p o sitio n ____________________ 20-45
(66) A nkylosis of th e to e jo in ts _______________ :________________________
1
P s e u d a r th r o s is — U p p e r e x tr e m ity
(67) P seu d arth ro sis of th e shoulder (following extensive resections or con
siderable losses of b o n y su b sta n c e )_____________________________ 8 -35
(68) P seu d arth ro sis of th e hum erus, com pressed______________________
5-25
(69) P seu d arth ro sis of th e hum erus, loose_____________________________ 10-45
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1384]
W O RK M EN ’S COMPENSATION
121
Per cent
(70) Pseudarthrosis of *the elbow____________________________________
(71)
(72)
(73)
( 74 )
(75)
P seu d arth ro sis of th e forearm in one bone only, com pressed_____
P seu d arth ro sis of th e forearm in tw o bones, com pressed_________
P seu d arth ro sis of th e fo rearm in one bone, loose_________________
P seu d arth ro sis of th e fo rearm in tw o bones, loose_______________
P seu d arth ro sis of th e w rist (following extensive resections o r con
siderable losses of bon y su b sta n c e )_____________________________
(76) P seu d arth ro sis of all th e m e ta c a rp a l bo n es_______________________
(77) P seu d arth ro sis of one m e ta c a rp a l b o n e_______ _________________ ”
5-25
5
10-15
10-30
10-45
10 -20
10 -20
1-5
PSEUDARTHROSIS OP UNGUAL PHALANX
(78) Of th e th u m b ___________________________________________________
(79) Of th e o th e r fingers______________________________________________
4
1
PSEUDARTHROSIS OP OTHER PHALANGES
(80) Of th e th u m b ___________________________________________________
(81) Of th e index finger______________________________________________
(82) Of an y o th e r finger______________________________________________
g
5
2
P s e u d a r th r o s is — L o w e r e x tr e m ity
(83) P seu d arth ro sis of th e h ip (following extensive resections w ith con
siderable losses of bony su b sta n c e )_____________________________ 20-60
(84) P seu d arth ro sis of th e fe m u r___________________________________ ~" 10-40
(85) P seu d arth ro sis of th e knee w ith leg h an g in g loose (following a resec
tio n of th e k n e e )______________________________________________ 10-40
( 86 ) P seu d arth ro sis of th e kneepan, w ith a long fibrous c a llu s___________ 10 -20
(87) P seu d arth ro sis of th e kneepan, w ith a sh o rt bon y o r fibrous c a llu s. _
5 -10
(88 ) P seu d arth ro sis of th e tib ia a n d of th e fib u la_____________________ 10-30
(89) P seu d arth ro sis of th e tib ia o n ly _________________________________ 5_15
(90) P seu d arth ro sis of th e fibula o n ly __________________________________ 4_ io
(91) P seu d arth ro sis of th e first or la s t m e ta ta rsa l b o n e...................._ H H _ 3 - 5
R e tr a c tile c ic a tr ic e s
(92) Of th e a rm p it, w hen th ere is com plete a b d u ctio n of th e a rm ______20-40
(93) I n th e bend of th e elbow w hen flexion can ta k e p lace betw een 110°
a n d 7 5 °----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15-25
(94) I n a cu te flexion betw een 45° a n d 7 5°______________________________ 20-40
(95) Of th e aponeurosis of th e p a lm of th e h a n d w ith rig id ity in ex ten
sion or flexion_________________________________________________ 5 _ g
(96) Of th e aponeurosis of th e p a lm of th e h a n d w ith rig id ity in p ro n a
tio n o r su p in a tio n ________________
5 -1 0
(97) Of th e aponeurosis of th e p alm of th e h a n d w ith rig id ity in b o th
p ro n atio n an d su p in a tio n ______________________________________ 10 -20
(98) C icatrices in th e space back of th e k n ee-jo in t in extension from 135°
to 180°__--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10-25
(99) C icatrices in th e space b ack o f 't h e k n ee-jo in t in flexion betw een
135° an d 3 0°__________________________________________________ 10-50
F u n c tio n a l d if fic u ltie s o f th e f in g e r s a s r e s u lt o f i n j u r i e s n o t to j o i n t s h u t
to s e c tio n s o r lo s s o f s u b s ta n c e i n th e e x te n s o r o r fle x o r te n d o n s ,
a d h e s io n s , o r s c a r s
PERM ANENT FLEX IO N OF A FIN G E R
(100) T h u m b __________________________________________________________
(101) A ny o th er finger_________________________________________________
5-10
3_ 5
PERM ANENT EX TEN SIO N OF A FIN G E R
(102) Thumb______________________________________________________
g-12
(103) In d ex finger_____________________________________________________
(104) A ny o th er finger_________________________________________________
5_ g
3- 5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1385]
122
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
E x te n s iv e c a llu s e s o r p o o r c o n s o lid a tio n s
P e r cent
(105)
(106)
(107)
(108)
(109)
(110)
(111)
(112)
(113)
(114)
(115)
(116)
(117)
(118)
Of th e hum eru s, w hen defo rm ity a n d m u scu lar a tro p h y is p ro d u c e d . 5-2 0
Of th e olecranon, w hen sh o rt bony a n d fibrous callus is p ro d u c e d —
1- 5
Of th e olecranon, w hen long fibrous callus is p ro d u c e d ------------------ 5-15
Of th e olecranon, w hen a noticeab le a tro p h y of th e tric e p s is p ro
duced b y v e ry long fibrous callu s______________________________ 10-20
Of th e bones of th e fo rearm w hen in terfe ren ce in th e m o v em en ts of
th e h a n d is p ro d u ced ---------------------------------------------------------------- 5-15
Of th e bones of th e forearm w hen th e se pro d u ce a lim ita tio n o f p ro . n a tio n o r su p in a tio n ___________________________________________ 5-15
Of th e clavicle, w hen th is p roduces rig id ity of th e sh o u ld er------------ 5-15
Of th e h ip , w hen th e low er ex tre m ity is le ft stiff----------------------------- 10-40
Of th e fem ur, w ith sh o rten in g of from 1 to 4 cen tim eters, w ith o u t
in ju ries to th e jo in ts o r m u scu lar a tr o p h y ---------------------------------- 5-10
Of th e fem ur, w ith sh o rten in g of from 3 to 6 c en tim eters w ith
m u scu lar atro p h y , w ith o u t rig id ity of th e jo in ts ------------------------ 10-20
Of th e fem ur, w ith sh o rten in g of from 3 to 6 cen tim eters, w ith
p erm an en t rig id ity of th e jo in ts ------------------------------------------------ 15-30
Of th e fem ur, w ith sh o rten in g of from 6 to 12 cen tim eters, w ith
m uscular atro p h y a n d rig id ity of th e jo in ts ------------------------------- 20-40
Of th e fem ur, w ith sh o rten in g of from 6 to 12 cen tim eters, w ith
ex tern al an g u la r d ev iatio n , p e rm a n e n t m u scu lar a tro p h y , a n d
flexion of th e knee n o t exceeding 135°-------------------------------------- 40-60
Of th e neck of th e fem ur, surgical or an ato m ical, w ith sh o rten in g of
m ore th a n 10 cen tim eters, e x tern al a n g u lar dev iatio n a n d rig id ity
of th e jo in ts ___________________________________________________ 50-75
OF TH E T IB IA AND FIB U L A
(119) W ith shortenin g of from 3 to 4 cen tim eters w ith a large a n d p ro
tru d in g callu s_________________________________________________ 10-20
(120) A ngular consolidation w ith d ev iatio n of th e leg, e ith e r to w a rd th e
outside o r inside, secondary d ev iatio n of th e fo o t w ith shorten in g
of m ore th a n 4 cen tim eters, if w alking is possible---------------------- 30-40
(121) A ngular consolidación o r considerable sh o rten in g a n d in a b ility to
w alk__________________________________________________________ 4 5 - 6
MALLEOLAR
(122) W ith th e foot tu rn e d in w a rd -------------------------------------------------------- 15-35
(123) W ith th e foot tu rn e d o u tw a rd ____________________________________ 15-35
C o m p le te p a r a l y s i s d u e to i n j u r i e s to th e p e r ip h e r a l n e r v e s
(124)
(125)
(126)
(127)
(128)
(129)
(130)
(131)
(132)
(133)
(134)
(135)
(136)
(137)
(138)
(139)
(140)
T o ta l paralysis of a n u p p e r e x tre m ity ______________________________50-70
In ju ry to th e su b scap u lar n e rv e --------------------------------------------------- 5-10
Of th e circum flex n e rv e __________________________________________ 10-20
Of th e m usculocutaneous n e rv e __________________________________ 20-30
Of th e m edian n e rv e ______________________________________________ 20-40
Of th e m edian n erv e w ith cau salg ia------------------------------------------------ 40-70
Of th e cu b ital, if th e in ju ry is to th e elbow ________________________ 20-30
Of tn e cu b ital, if th e in ju ry is in th e h a n d ________________________ 10-20
O f th e rad ial, if th e in ju ry is ab o v e th e b ra n c h of th e tric e p s--------- 30-40
O f th e radial, if th e in ju ry is below th e b ran ch of th e tric e p s --------- 20-40
T o ta l p araly sis of a low er e x tre m ity _______________________________ 30-50
In ju ry of th e e x tern al p o p liteal n e rv e ------------------------------------------- 15-25
In ju ry of th e in te rn a l p o p liteal n e rv e ____________________________ 15-25
Of th e in te rn a l p o p liteal n erv e w ith cau sa lg ia ______________________ 30-50
C om bined in b o th ex tre m itie s_____________________________________ 20-40
Of th e c ru ra ______________________________________________________ 30-40
I f th e in ju re d m em b er is th e less useful of th e tw o , th e com pensa
tion co m p u ted in accordance w ith th is ta b le shall be red u ced 15
p er cent.
(141) In, case th e in ju re d m em b er w as n o t w hole before th e accident,
e ith er physiologically or an ato m ically , th e com pensation shall be
reduced p ro p o rtio n ately .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1386]
W O RK M EN ’S COMPENSATION
123
Per cent
(142) I n th e loss, ankylosis, p seu d arth ro sis, paraly sis, cicatricial re tra c
tio n , a n d rig id ity of th e m iddle, rin g , a n d little fingers of m usi
cians, ty p ists, a n d lin o ty p ists, a s w ell as in cases of re tra c tio n s of
th e aponeurosis of th e palm of th e h a n d w hich affects such fingers,
com pensation shall be increased up to 200 p er cent.
H ead
SKU LL
(143) In ju ries of th e skull w hich do n o t leave m e n ta l d eran g em en t or p h y si
cal or fu n ctio n al disab ilities shall be given m edical a tte n tio n an d
m edicines only. In ju rie s causing fra c tu re of th e sk u ll sh all be
com pensated according to th e d isab ility resulting.
(144) W hen causing com plete m onoplegia o f a n u p p e r e x tre m ity ............... 50-70
(145) W hen causing com plete m onoplegia of a low er e x tre m ity ___________30-50
(146) F o r com plete p arap leg ia of a low er e x tre m ity w ith o u t sp h in c te ra l
com plications_________________________________________________ 60-80
(147) W ith sp h in ctera l com plications____________________________________ 60-90
(148) F o r com plete hem iplegia__________________________________________ 60-80
(149) W hen a p h asia a n d a g rap h ia re s u lt_______________________________ 10-50
(150) F o r tra u m a tic epilepsy n o t cu rab le b y a n o p eratio n and~ w hen, in
spite of th e a tta c k s, i t is fully p ro v en t h a t h e is still cap ab le of
doing som e w o rk __________________ ______________________________ 40-60
(151) F o r tra u m a tic epilepsy, w hen th e frequency of th e a tta c k s a n d
o th e r p henom en a p e rm an en tly a n d t o t a ll y . in c a p a c ita te "him,
n o t p e rm ittin g h im to p erform a n y w o rk _______________________
100
(152) F o r in ju ries of th e com m on oculom otor n erv e o r of th e ex te rn a l
oculom otor n erv e-w h en a n y d isab ility is p ro d u ced _____________10-20
5-20
(153) F o r in ju ries of th e facial o r of th e trig em in u s n erv es______________
(154) F o r in ju ries of th e pn eu m o g astric n erv e (according to th e degree of
th e fu n ctio n al d isorder p ro v e d )________________________________
0-40
(155) Of th e hypoglossal nerve, w hen i t is u n ila te ra l_____________________ 5-10
(156) W hen i t is b ila te ra l_______________________________________________ 30-50
(157) F o r d iabetes, m ellitu s o r in sip id u s________________________________ 5-30
(158) F o r chronic d em e n tia ____________________________________________
100
FACE
(159) F o r extensive m u tilatio n s, w hen em bracing th e 2 superior m axillaries an d th e nose, according to th e loss o f su b stan ce of th e soft
p a r ts --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 80-90
(160) P seu d arth ro sis of, sup erio r m axillary, m a k in g m a s tic a tio n . im
possible----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40-50
(161) W ith m asticatio n possible bub lim ite d ____________________________ 10-20
(162) I n case of prosthesis im p ro v in g m a stic a tio n _______________________ 0 -1 0
(163) Losses of p a la ta l su b stan ce, according to th e lo catio n a n d th e e x te n t
an d , in case of prosthesis, fu n ctio n al im p ro v e m e n t______________ 5-25
(164) In ferio r m axillary, p seu d arth ro sis w ith o r w ith o u t loss of su b stan ce,
a fte r surgical o p eratio n s h av e failed, w hen th e p se u d a rth ro sis is
so loose a s to im p a ir m asticatio n o r re n d e r i t v e ry defectiv e, o r
com pletely p re v e n t i t ___________________________________________ 40-50
(165) W hen th e ra m u s ascendens is com pressed________________________
1- 5
(166) W hen th e ram u s ascendens is loose_______________________________ 10-15
(167) W hen i t is pressed dow n on th e ra m u s h o rizo n talis_______________
5 -10
(168) W hen i t is loose on th e ra m u s h o rizo n talis________________________ 15-25
(169) W hen i t is com pressed a t th e sy m p h y sis__________________________ 10-15
(170) W hen i t is loose a t th e sy m p h y sis________________________________ 15-25
(171) In case of prosth esis resu ltin g in fu n ctio n al im p ro v em en t, 10 p er
c e n t less.
(172) D efective consolidations, w hen th e te e th or m olars do n o t a rtic u la te ,
re s trictin g m astic a tio n _________________________________________ 10-20
(173) W hen articu latio n is p a rtia l______________________________________ 0-10
(174) W hen m asticatio n is co rrected b y p ro sth e tic a p p a ra tu s __________
0- 5
(175) Loss of 1 to o th , rep lacem en t.
(176) C om plete loss of te e th ___________________________________________ 10-20
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1387]
124
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Per cent
(177) W hen b rid le'c ic a tric e s re s tric t th e opening of th e m o u th , im pairing
m o u th hygiene, p ro n u n ciatio n , o r m asticatio n , o r p e rm it th e
escape of sa liv a ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10-20
(178) Irred u cib le dislo catio n of th e tem p o ro m ax illary jo in t, according
to th e degree of fu n c tio n a l o b stru c tio n _________________________ 10-25
(179) M ore o r less ex ten siv e a m p u ta tio n s of th e to n g u e, w ith adhesions
according to th e degree of in terfe ren ce w ith speech a n d swallow
in g __________________________ __________________________________ 10-30
EYES
100
(180) C om plete loss of sig h t of b o th e y es----------------------------------------------45
(181) E x tra c tio n of 1 e y e ---------------------------------------------------------------------(182) C oncentric n arro w in g of th e field o f . vision of 1 eye, w ith 30°
0
rem ain in g _____________________________________________________
(183) Of b o th eyes-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10-20
(184) C oncentric narro w in g o f th e field of vision of 1 eye, w ith vision
of only 10° o r le s s . ____________________________________________ 10-15
(185) Of b o th eyes-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50-60
P E R M A N E N T D IM IN U T IO N O F V ISU A L A C U IT Y (W H E N IT CAN NOT BE
IM P R O V E D W IT H GLA SSES)
[W hen 1 norm al eye is th e unit]
P er cent of incapacity in
occupation—
W hen 1 affected eye has—
(186)
(187)
(188)
jjl8Q)
( 190 )
( 19 1 )
(192)
(193)
N o vision
________________________________________________
0 06 of normal vision _____________________________________________
0 1 of norm al vision __________________________________ - _______
0 2 of norm al vision
_ _ ____________________________
0 8 of norm al vision ____________________________________________
0 5 of norm al vision ____________________________________________
0 6 of norm al vision ____________________________________________
_________________________ ______________
0 7 of normal vision
N o t requir
R equiring
specified
ing specified
visual acuity visual acuity
25
20-25
20
15
10
5
0
0
35
30
25-30
20
15
10
15
0
(194) In cases w here th e re is a b ila te ra l d im in u tio n of visu al a c u ity , th ere
shall be ad d ed th e p ercen tag e of in c a p a c ity fo r each eye, w hich
shall b e calc u lated a s if th e o th e r eye h a d vision e q u al to th e u n it
(norm al visio n ).
(195) I n accepting em ployees in to th e service i t shall be considered, for
fu tu re claim s fo r loss of vision, t h a t th e y h a v e th e u n it (norm al
vision) even w hen th e y h av e sev en -te n th s of no rm al in each eye.
V ERTIC AL H E M IA N O PSIA
(196) H om onym ous hem ianopsia, rig h t o r le f t--------------------------------------- 10-20
(197) H etero n y m o u s n asa l h em ian o p sia------------------------------------------------- 5-10
(198) H etero n y m o u s te m p o ra l h em ia n o p sia ------------------------------------------- 20-40
HO RIZONTAL H EM IA N O PSIA
(199)
( 200 )
(201)
(202)
(203)
(204)
(205)
(206)
(207)
S u p erio r_______________________________________ _________________
In fe rio r__________________________________________________________
Q u a rte r (of th e field of v isio n )-----------------------------------------------------D ip lo p ia_________________________________________________________
O phthalm oplegia, in te rn a l, u n ila te ra l-------------------------------------------O phthalm oplegia, in te rn a l, b ila te ra l---------------------------------------------D ev iatio n of th e edges of th e eyelids (en tro p io n , e ctro p io n , Symble
pharon) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------E p ip h o ra ________________________________________________________
L ach ry m al fistu las_______________________________________________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1388]
5-10
40-50
5-10
10-20
5 -10
10-20
0 -10
0 -10
10-20
W O RK M EN ’S COMPENSATION
125
N O SE
Per cent
(208) M u tilatio n s of th e nose w ith o u t n asa l stenosis____________________ 0 - 3
(209) W ith n asal sten o sis______________________________________________ 5-10
(210) W hen th e nose is red u ced to a cicatricial stu m p , w ith severe nasal
sten o sis_______________________________________________________ 10--40
EA R S
(211)
(212)
(213)
(214)
(215)
(216)
(217)
(218)
C om plete u n ilate ra l d eafness_____________________________________
20
C om plete b ila te ra l deafness______________________________________
60
5-10
P a rtia l u n ila te ra l d eafn ess_______________________________________
P a rtia l b ila te ra l d eafn ess________________________________________ 15-30
C om plete deafness in 1 e a r a n d p a rtia l in th e o th e r________________ 20-40
T ra u m a tic la b y rin th in e vertigo, d u ly p ro v e d -------------------------------- 20-40
Loss o r excessive d efo rm ity of th e e x tern al ear, u n ila te ra l_________ 0 - 5
B ila te ra l_____ ___________________________________________________ 3-10
S p i n a l c o lu m n — D i s a b i l i t i e s d u e to tr a u m a t i s m w ith o u t m e d u lla r i n j u r i e s
(219) P e rsiste n t d ev iatio n s of th e h ead a n d th e tru n k , w ith severe in te r
ference w ith m o v em en ts_______________________________________ 10-25
(220) W ith p e rm a n e n t rig id ity of th e sp in al colum n ____________________ 10-25
(221) T ra u m a tism w ith m ed u llar in ju ry , w hen i t m ak es w alking im pos
sible a n d sp h in cter disorders e x ist______________________________
100
(222) W hen w alking is possible w ith c ru tc h e s____________________________ 70-80
L a r y n x a n d tr a c h e a
(223) C icatricial stric tu re s w hich cause d y sp h o n ia ______________________
5-15
(224) W hen d y sp n ea is p ro d u ced _______________________________________ 5-10
(225) W hen because of d y sp n ea i t is necessary to use a c a n n u la p erm a
n en tly in th e tra c h e a __________________________________________ 40-60
(226) W hen b o th dysphonia a n d d y sp n ea e x ist__________________________ 15-40
T horax
(227) F o r d isab ility w hich re su lts from in ju ries of th e stern u m . W hen a
d eform ity or fu n c tio n a l o b stru c tio n is p ro d u ced in th e th o racic or
abdom inal org an s_____________________________________________
(228) F ra c tu re of th e rib s w hen som e fu n ctio n al o b stru c tio n in th e th o
racic or abdom in al organs re su lts______________________________
1-20
1-60
A bdom en
(229) W hen th e occupational h a z a rd s p roduce in th e organs co n tain ed in
th e ab d o m en in ju ries w hich cause som e d isab ility a s a conse
quence, these shall be co m p en sated fo r a fte r proof of th e d isa b ility . 20-60
(230) Irreducible dislocation of th e p u b ic b one o r in te rn a l ru p tu re of th e
sym physis p u b is_______________________________________________ 15-30
(231) F ra c tu re of th e ischiopubic o r th e h o riz o n ta l sectio n s of th e pu b ic
bone w hen som e d isab ility is le ft o r vesical d iso rd er o r (difficulty
in) w alk in g _____________________________________________________ 30-50
(232) F o r vicious cicatrices of th e w alls of th e ab d o m en w hen a n y d isa
bility re s u lts________________________________________
1-15
(233) F o r fistulas in th e digestive tu b e o r its connections, w hich c a n n o t
be o p erated upon, a n d w hen a n y d isab ility re s u lts ______________ 10-50
G e n ito u r in a r y s y s te m
(234) F or stric tu re of th e u re th ra a fte r a n in ju ry , w hich is in c u ra b le a n d
w hich necessitates u rin a tio n th ro u g h a p e rin eal o r h y p o g astric
m e a tu s_________________________________________________________ 50-80
(235) T o ta l loss of th e penis, w h ich n ecessitates u rin a tio n th ro u g h a n a r ti
ficial m e a tu s____________________________________________________ 50-90
(236) F o r th e loss of b o th testicles in p ersons u n d e r 20 y e ars of a g e -------90
(237) In persons over 20 y ears of a g e _________________;--------------------------20-60
(238) F o r prolapse of th e u te ru s d u e to an in d u s tria l accid en t, d u ly proved,
a n d im possible of cure th ro u g h a n o p e ra tio n --------------------------------40-60
(239) Loss of a b re a s t_________________________________________________ 10-20
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
V a r i o u s c la s s if ic a tio n s
Per cent
(240) F o r m e n ta l d e ran g em en t resu ltin g from a n accident, a n d w hen it
ap p ears w ith in six m o n th s, co u n tin g from th e d a te of th e occu
p a tio n a l h a z a rd -----------------------------------------------------------------------(241) Loss of b o th eyes, b o th a rm s ab o v e th e elbow , a m p u ta tio n of b o th
legs a t th e h ip, o r of one a rm ab o v e th e elbow a n d one leg above
th e knee on th e sam e side, m ed u llar in ju ry fro m a n y tra u m a tism
w hich causes com plete p araly sis of th e low er e x trem ities w ith
sp h in cter disorders, a n d in cu rab le in sa n ity sh all be considered as
p erm a n e n t to ta l d isa b ility -------------------------------------------------------(242) P u rely aesthetic disfigurem ents sh all b e co m p en sated according to
th e ir n atu re, in th e ju d g m e n t of th e p ro p er b o a rd of conciliation
a n d a rb itra tio n , b u t o nly in th e e v e n t t h a t th e y red u ce in an y
w ay th e w orking c a p a c ity of th e in ju re d person, ta k in g in to con
sideration th e o ccu p atio n Id w hich he or she is engaged.
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100
COOPERATION
D evelopm ent of Cooperative M a rk e tin g in th e U n ite d S ta te s,
1930-31
RECENT press release of the Federal Farm Board places the
number of cooperative marketing associations in the United
States at 11,950, of which 71.7 per cent are in the North Central
States. Their membership is estimated at 3,000,000 and their busi
ness during the 1930-31 marketing season at $2,400,000,000.
The leading States in point of number of societies are Minnesota
and Wisconsin, in point of membership Minnesota and Iowa, and as
regards business California, Minnesota, and Illinois.
The table following shows the distribution of the associations as
regards geographic divisions and commodities handled.
A
N U M B E R , M E M B E R S H IP , A N D B U S IN E S S O F C O O P E R A T IV E M A R K E T IN G A SSOCIAT IO N S , 1930-31, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N A N D C O M M O D IT Y H A N D L E D
Associations
M em bership 1
Geographic division and commodity
group
Geographic divisions:
W est N o rth C entral____________
E ast N o rth C en tral___ _ _________
Pacific__ _________ _ ______ _____
W est South C entral________________
M iddle A tlantic______ _______ _________
South A tlantic_____________
M ountain_________________
E ast South C en tral____
___
N ew E ngland______ __________
T o tal___________ _____ ______ ______
C om m odity group:
G rain. . . . . _ _________ _____ _ .
Dairy products______________________
L i v e s to c k ..________ ____ _ _______
F ru its a n d vegetables_____ ____________
M iscellaneous selling__________________
C otton_____ _ _. . . . . __ . . . __ ___
Poultry . .
... _
W ool.. _ _
. . .
N u ts_______________
Tobacco__ _______ _ . . _____________
F o r a g e .____ ___ _ ________________
M iscellaneous b u y in g __________________
T o tal________ _ _ _____ _
______
E stim ated business,
1930-31 m arketing
season
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um ber
Per
cent
5,265
3,301
838
619
478
472
460
309
208
44.1
27. 6
7. 0
5.2
4.0
4. 0
3.8
2.6
1.7
1,191, 550
774,010
162, 230
195, 860
190,130
134, 590
118, 280
145,450
87,900
39.7
25.8
5.4
6.5
6.3
4.5
4. 0
4.9
2. 9
$780,470, 000
523,670, 000
351, 550, 000
132,515, 000
244, 080, 000
119,070,000
97,395, 000
60, 380, 000
90, 870, 000
32. 5
21.8
14. 6
5. 5
10. 2
5. 0
4.1
2. 5
3.8
11,950
100. 0
3, 000, 000
100. 0
2, 400,000, 000
100.0
3,448
2, 391
2,014
1,386
474
261
160
136
71
13
8
1,588
28.9
20. 0
16. 8
11. 6
4. 0
2. 2
1. 3
1.1
.6
.1
.1
13.3
775,000
725, 000
400, 000
182, 000
132, 000
190, 000
82, 000
64, 000
17,000
40, 000
1,000
392, 000
25.8
24. 2
13. 3
6.1
4.4
6.4
2. 7
2.1
.6
1.3
(2)
13. 1
621,000, 000
620, 000, 000
300, 000, 000
319, 000, 000
61, 800, 000
130, 000, 000
86,000, 000
26,000, 000
13, 000, 000
7,000, 000
1,200, 000
215, 000, 000
25.9
25.8
12.5
13.3
2.6
5.4
3.6
1.1
.5
.3
(2)
9.0
11,950
100.0
3, 000, 000
100. 0
2, 400, 000,000
100.0
A m ount
1 Includes members, contract mem bers, shareholders, shippers, consignors, and patrons.
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 p er cent.
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Per
cent
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
W orkers’ P rod u ctive A sso cia tio n s in F ran ce
T THE congress of the French workers’ productive associations,
held in Paris, September 1-7, 1931, data were given showing the
development of these cooperative workshops.1
The year 1931 marks the centenary of this type of cooperative asso
ciation in France, the first such association having been formed in
1831. After the establishment of this first society few other associa
tions were formed in the period up to 1848; during this time only
about a dozen such societies were started. With the advent of the
Second Republic and the enunciation of the social philosophy of such
men as Fourier, Buchez, and Louis Blanc, interest in cooperation
increased and a number of cooperative workshops were started. Most
of these lasted only a short time and the fall of the Second Republic
found only a few still surviving.
A new period of development began in 1864, but the War of 1870
caused the end of most of the associations. Beginning about 1882,
renewed interest in this type of cooperative effort began and has con
tinued up to the present, especially in such centers as Paris, Lyon,
and Marseille. Workers’ productive associations have been formed in
many industries, but notably in the construction industry.
In 1885 the organizations federated into a central organization
called the Chambre Consultative. Beginning with a membership of
29 associations, it now has in affiliation 340 societies. The World
War caused the disappearance of a certain number of societies, but
these were more than counterbalanced in number by the new societies
formed after the end of the war.
The report given at the congress pointed out the changed attitude
now found in the trade-union movement toward cooperative produc
tive societies. Before the World WTar cooperative workshops were
looked upon with suspicion and hostility by unionists. Of recent
years, however, the labor movement has come to regard these asso
ciations with sympathy as being “ the worker’s sole means of eman
cipation from the employer.” This change of attitude, it is stated,
has given new impetus to the cooperative productive movement and
has shown itself in an increase in the number of societies and of
cooperators.
There are now successful cooperative organizations in all of the
following industries: Quarrying, horticulture, food, furniture, tan
ning, textile, clothing, printing and publishing of books, glass, produc
tion of objects of art, jewelry, watchmaking, metal (principally
machinery and telephone), transport and supplies, and especially in
construction and public works. All of the important cities of France
have workers’ productive associations, those with the greatest number
of associations of this type being Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Limoges,
Toulouse, Morlaix, Rennes, Poitiers, Bordeaux, Troyes, Amiens,
Auxerre, Reims, Lille, Tourcoing, and Roubaix.
The following table shows the development of the societies affiliated
to the Chambre Consultative since 1928, when the last previous
congress was held. During the period 1928-1931, the number of
affiliated associations rose from 280 to 340 and their combined mem
bership from 16,000 to 23,000.
A
1 L ’lnform ation Social© (P aris), Oct. 1 5 ,1931.
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COOPERATION
D E V E L O P M E N T O F W O R K E R S ’ P R O D U C T IV E A SSO C IA T IO N S IN F R A N C E IN 1928
A N D 1931
[Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of franc=3.92 cents]
1931
1928
Item
French cur
rency
Francs
A m ount of business done------- -------------------------------- 140,000,000
11,000,000
Profits on business_____ ____________ _______ _____
700,000
A m ount paid on c ap ital.- - ----------- -------------4.000.
A m ount placed in r e s e r v e s . -----------------------3, 000, 000
A m ount retu rn ed in bonus to w orkers.. . _-.
A m ount retu rn ed in bonus to supervisory force,
300, 000
technical employees, etc___ - ____________ -3.000, 000
A m ount retained for general welfare purposes
U nited
States
currency
French cur
rency
U nited
States
currency
$5,488,000
431, 200
27,440
000156,800
117, 600
Francs
210,000, 000
18,000, 000
1, 000, 000
6,000,000
5, 500,000
$8, 232,000
705, 600
39, 200
235, 200
215, 600
11, 760
117, 600
500, 000
5, 000, 000
19,600
196, 000
D evelop m ent of C o n su m e rs’ Co op eration in Ja p a n
T THE end of 1929, according to a survey made by the Central
Cooperative Union of Japan, the results of which are given in
Cooperative Information (Geneva), No. 12 (125), 1931, there were
10,188 cooperative purchasing societies in Japan. These had a com
bined membership of 3,014,992, paid-in share capital of 113,264,848
yen ($56,632,424),2 and annual sales of 163,919,105 yen ($81,959,553).
Most of these societies are farmers’ organizations formed for the
cooperative purchase of raw materials.
The report states that lately there has been distinct progress in the
consumers’ cooperative movement in the urban districts. Societies
of this type registered under the cooperative law in 1929 numbered
159. The membership of 149 of these societies which reported to the
central union numbered 133,036, their paid-in share capital amounted
to 1,832,904 yen ($916,452), and their annual sales aggregated
21,684,581 yen ($10,842,290). Of these 149 societies, 91 were organi
zations whose membership was drawn from the general public, 12
were societies organized by workers, and 40 were organized by
Government employees or teachers in schools and colleges.
The development of the trade-union movement has brought with
it an increased interest among the workers in cooperation. In Feb
ruary, 1931, there were 16 workers’ societies registered under the
cooperative law; many societies have not registered, however, and it
is estimated that there are altogether some 130 societies of this type.
Among the workers’ societies there is often a very close connection
between the union and the society. In some cases, indeed, the coop
erative society is really an autonomous branch of the trade-union and
has the same membership. There are about 53 trade-union societies,
with a combined membership of 122,118.
The other workers’ societies have been formed by the cooperators
themselves, without any connection with labor organizations, though
in some of these societies the members are also trade-unionists.
A
2 Y en = approxim ately 50 cents.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
New Cooperative Law of S p a in 3
HE development of the cooperative movement of Spain has been
hampered by the absence of the legal protection afforded by a
cooperative law. Various commissions had been appointed, from time
to time, charged with the drafting of such a measure but no legislative
action was taken. Upon the accession of the new Republican Govern
ment in that country, increased agitation for a cooperative law
occurred and on July 4,1931, the new Government issued a decree de
fining a cooperative organization, setting up standards to which it must
conform, and establishing definite classes of cooperative societies.
A cooperative organization is defined as follows: “A cooperative
society is an association of persons, natural or corporate, who
submit to the provisions of the present decree in matters of organiza
tion and operation, and, striving to eliminate profit, aim at meeting
certain common needs by developing the economic and social welfare
of the members through active collaboration in a collective under
taking. ”
I t must conform to the following principles: (1) Self-government,
through general meetings; (2) equal voting rights;4 (3) business
managed and directed by the membership; (4) shares non transferable
(except to another member), and bearing interest at a fixed rate not
exceeding the regular legal rate; (5) distribution of surplus savings
among the members in proportion to their patronage.
At least 10 per cent of the trading surplus each year must be placed
in a reserve fund, until this equals in amount the paid-in share
capital.
Societies are prohibited from using the name “ cooperative” unless
conforming to the provisions of the decree.
The following classes of societies are recognized under the act: (1)
Consumers’ societies (including also those distributing water, gas, and
drugs, or operating chemical laboratories, buildings, transport sys
tems, or schools); (2) employees’ organizations, i. e., those formed for
the purpose of improving working conditions; (3) occupational socie
ties, i. e., societies of persons following the same occupation, i. e.,
agricultural societies, workers’ productive societies, small traders’
organizations, etc.; and (4) credit and thrift societies. A special com
mittee is to be appointed to report on an act for agricultural societies.
All existing societies are required to register under the law within
three months after its publication.
It is expected that this decree, along with the opening of new schools
and the spread of education, will result in a great development of
cooperation. “At present there are vast tracts of country where
cooperation is totally unknown, and Spanish cooperators consider
that one reason for the comparatively slow growth of their movement
has been the low standard of education.” Even where the cooperative
movement has taken root the multiplicity of small societies, each
with its administrative and other expenses, has kept the movement
weak. Another characteristic of the movement has been the tendency
to develop mutual-aid features, perhaps to the detriment of the
commercial phase of cooperation.
T
3
D ata are from In tern atio n al L abor Office (Geneva), Cooperative Inform ation No. 13 (126), 1931; and
Review of In tern atio n al Cooperation (London), Septem ber, 1931.
4
Except in so-called “ occupational societies” in w hich m em bers especially active in the work of the
society m ay be allowed u p to 3 votes each.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[189.4]
LABOR AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
AND CONGRESSES
W orld Social E co n o m ic Congress, 1931
HE following is an outline of the program (final edition) of the
World Social Economic Congress, held in Amsterdam, August
23 to 29, 1931, under the auspices of the International Industrial
Relations Association.
1. The present paradox. Unemployment in the midst of economic
progress, including a discussion on the significance of world-wide
unemployment with an interpretation of reports on fluctuations in
employment and unemployment, 1920-1930, in Australia, Canada,
China, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics, and the United States. Scheduled for the same morning
were an address and discussion on the recent growth of the world’s
productivity.
2.
Principles and practicability of economic planning. Under this
subject the principles and practices of scientific management in the
United States and Europe were presented and the problem of planned
economy considered.
3.
Agricultural and industrial experience in national economic
planning in the Soviet Union.
4.
The necessity and means for international economic planning.
The subtopics in this section of the program were: (1) International
planning by industries, (2) mass distribution and higher standards of
living, (3) the functioning of the international financial system in the
economic world, (4) economic service of the League of Nations, and
(5) experience and potentialities in international economic treaties.
5.
Standards of living—the resultant of productive capacity and
buying power. In connection with this subject special consideration
was given to the subject of international agreement on labor standards
and to the economic policy of the international labor movement.
6. Round table conference on the workshop.
7.
The necessity for world social economic planning—report of
committee on findings.
The chairman of the congress was C. H. Van der Leeuw, president
of the International Industrial Relations Association, The Hague.
Among the principal speakers or contributors of papers were Albert
Thomas, director, International Labor Organization, Geneva; Max
Lazard, economist, Paris; Otto Neurath, director Social Economic
Museum, Vienna; H. S. Persons, managing director of The Taylor
Society, New York; Hugo von Haan, International Management
Institute, Geneva; Lewis L. Lorwin, Institute of Economics of the
Brookings Institution, Washington, D. C.; Valery V. ObolenskyOssinsky, economist, member of Editorial Collegium of Isvestia,
Moscow; M. Palyi, economist, Berlin; Edward A. Filene, William
T
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
Filene’s Sons’ Co., Boston; Rudolf Broda, president League for the
Organization of Progress, Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio;
Joseph P. Chamberlain, Columbia University, New York; F. Naphtali
director of economic research for trade-unions, member of National
Economic Council, Berlin; and Miss Mary van Kleeck, director of
industrial studies, Russell Sage Foundation, New York, and vice
president, International Industrial Relations Association.
At the final session Miss van Kleeck, the chairman of the program
committee, described as follows the double theme running through
the proceedings of the congress:1
T he p resen t econom ic crisis, w ith its suffering for m illions of persons th ro u g h
o u t th e w orld, d em an d s th e exercise of th e m o st e x p ert intelligence w hich th e
w orld’s in tellectu al a n d tech n ical resources can bring to b e a r u p o n a com m on
w orld task .
T he com m on w orld ta s k is to m a in ta in a n d to raise th e sta n d a rd s of living of
all people, first b y dealing w ith th e im m ed iate critical questions, a n d second by
directing th e resources of intelligence to w ard th e co n stru ctiv e u pbuilding of
social econom ic life.
She also suggested the need of a world social economic center “ to
coordinate the efforts of the technicians, to direct their attention to
the common problems, to agree upon uniformity in statistics bearing
upon economic planning, and to develop greater precision in the
methods of economic and social research.”
According to Miss van Kleeck, the world social economic center
might perform the following functions:
(1) Centralize the planning of research which would preferably be
conducted by national and international research agencies. The
center, however, would not extensively develop research of its own
but “ would bring to bear the results of investigations wherever they
might be made.”
(2) Focus research upon practice. The engineer, for example, in
studying how to build a bridge takes over scientific discoveries and
makes them applicable to the building of a bridge which will bear the
traffic. Those who are at present responsible for industry and busi
ness must become aware of the certain effects of given practices.
Furthermore, they must learn from economics and scientific manage
ment the methods of reaching a desired end.
C a n a d ia n Trades an d Lab or Congress, 1931
HE forty-seventh Trades and Labor Congress of Canada was
held at Vancouver, September 21-25, 1931. Over 250 delegates
were in attendance.2 The secretary-treasurer reported that the paidup membership of the organization for the fiscal year ending August
31, 1931, was 191,137.
Included in the report of the executive council were the legislative
program presented to the Dominion Government by the council; a re
view of the regular and special sessions of the Canadian Parliament
since the last annual meeting of the congress, mention being made of
legislative measures of direct interest to labor; a summary of the legis-
T
1 M ultigraphed statem en t from office of vice president, In tern atio n al In d u strial R elations Association,
N ew York City.
2 Labor Gazette, O ttaw a, October, 1931, pp. 1082-1093.
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LABOR AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND CONGRESSES
133
lative changes made by the legislatures of various Provinces; the
reports of provincial executive committees and federations of labor of
certain Provinces, affiliated with the congress; and the relations of the
congress with national and international bodies; reports of the activ
ities of certain welfare associations, including the Canadian Council
on Child and Family Welfare and the Dominion Council of Health.
The council made a special report on employment and under
employment, issued in a separate pamphlet, which the committee on
officer’s reports commended to the careful attention of the delegates.
A dozen resolutions on unemployment were also referred to the abovementioned committee, which made the following recommendations
or took the positions here indicated :
(1) C oncurrence in th e sta te m e n t in reg ard to red u ctio n of h o u rs a n d h olidays
w ith p a y , (2) in d o rsem en t of th e m ain ten an ce of w age sta n d a rd s, (3) a p p ro v a l of
th e recom m endation reg ard in g p a rtic ip a tio n b y th e w orkers th ro u g h th e ir tra d e unions in th e m an ag e m e n t of in d u s try ; (4) rein d o rsatio n of th e policy of pub lic
ow nership a n d control of p ublic u tilitie s; (5) in d o rsem en t of free em p lo y m en t
b u reau s; (6) urging t h a t C an ad ian in d u stria l w orkers w ho desire to se ttle on
v a c a n t la n d s be given sim ilar assistance a s h a s in th e p a s t been given to im m i
g ra n ts; (7) ad v o catin g co ordination of seasonal o ccu p atio n s w ith a view to
pro v id in g steadiness of em p lo y m en t; (8) em phasizing th e need fo r p ro p e r co n tro l
of tariff-p ro tected in d u strie s to p re v e n t unreaso n ab le prices; (9) ratific a tio n of
th e conventions of th e In te rn a tio n a l L a b o r O rganization; (10) fav o rin g th e p u b
licatio n of th e in fo rm atio n g ath e re d in th e la s t census re u n em p lo y m en t a n d
also t h a t sim ilar in fo rm atio n be p ro cu rab le a t m o re fre q u e n t in te rv a ls th a n th e
decennial census; (11) in d orsing th e esta b lish m e n t of a n e x p e rt body in connec
tio n w ith th e N a tio n al R esearch C ouncil a n d also t h a t a n ad v iso ry co m m ittee
b e a tta c h e d to such b o d y ; (12) a p p ro v a l of carry in g on p u b lic c o n stru ctio n a n d
re p a ir w ork d u rin g tim es of depression a t fa ir w ages a n d a m ax im u m 8-h o u r d ay
a n d 5-day w eek; (13) rein d o rsatio n of th e policy of th e congress reg ard in g u n em
plo y m en t in s u ra n c e ;3 (14) su p p o rtin g th e sta te m e n t of th e executive council
w ith resp ect to d ire c t relief to th e d e s titu te unem ployed.
The committee stressed the growing number of industries which
are putting their workers on short time for protracted periods, thus
adding to the underemployment problem, and held that not only
must aid and relief work be granted to the jobless, but any scheme
devised should apply equally to these part-time workers not receiving
enough for an adequate standard of living.
Adopted Resolutions
A m o n g t h e r e s o lu tio n s a p p r o v e d b y th e c o n v e n tio n w e re th o s e
t h e fo llo w in g e ffe c t :
to
Dismissal of married women.-—Instructing the executive officers of
the congress to urge upon the Dominion and Provincial Governments
to issue instructions forthwith that no married woman whose husband
is in the employment of the Government a t a fair wage may continue
to be employed, otherwise her husband should be liable to immediate
dismissal.
Wages and hours.—Favoring the 5-day week and 6-hour day as a
partial solution of the existing economic depression; reiterating the
policy of the congress regarding shorter hours and higher wages, in
order to provide employment for greater numbers and expand their
purchasing power; protesting against workers in certain establish
ments being obliged to labor 7 days a week ; calling for an 8-hour day
3
Favoring a national system of unem ploym ent insurance, based on contributions from th e State, the
employers, a n d th e employed.
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for persons employed in penitentiaries; asking the various govern
ments to pass legislation compelling all employers having more than
12 permanent employees who have been employed by them for a year
or more to give such employees at least one week’s holiday with full
pay each year.
M i n i m u m w age. —Asking amendments to the Quebec minimum
wage act, in order to insure adequate protection for all industrial
and commercial female workers; and urging that amendments be
requested to minimum wage acts similar to the amendments adopted
in Manitoba “ in so far as the employment of male labor displacing
female labor coming within the scope of the several acts is concerned.”
G overnm ent contracts. —Requesting the insertion of a penalty clause
in all Government contracts that will make the parties violating these
contracts liable to prosecution under the Criminal Code and also the
permanent barring of such parties from working or tendering any
future Government contracts; asking the Domhiion Government to
have inspectors on Government undertakings report violations of
provisions concerning fair rates of wages and working conditions as
set forth in the specifications of the various contracts.
H e a lth in s u r a n c e a n d old-age p e n s io n s . —Favoring national health
insurance and asking the various governments to take steps at once to
adopt legislation for this purpose; calling on the Dominion Govern
ment to adopt old-age pensions as a Federal measure, including all
the Canadian Provinces; protesting against contributory old-age pen
sions; in favor of the lowering of the age a t which persons become
eligible for pensions to 65 years and the fixing of 15 years’ residence as
a qualification for such benefits.
M o th e r s ’ a llow ances. —Asking that the government of Ontario be
requested to amend the mothers’ allowance act of that Province so
that the law be applicable to a mother with one child; and that the
government of Quebec be requested to enact legislation making
provision for mothers’ allowances and maternity benefits.
T ra n sp o rta tio n . —Urging the regulation of motor transportation; in
favor of legislation to protect the railway transportation companies
against unfair competition over highways; expressing resentment at
the attacks by members of the present Dominion Parliament on the
Canadian National Railways; and in favor of requesting the Dominion
and provincial Governments to do all in their power to induce the
Canadian Pacific Railway to restore thousands of its laid-off employees
to the company’s service.
F in a n c ia l m e a su re s. —Proposing that the officers in each Province be
urged to take up with their respective governments the matter of
adequate protection for workers’ homes which are being lost by the
foreclosure of mortgages; in favor of legislation which will permit the
payment of dividends on active capital only, invested in industrial,
commercial, and public utility corporations; also favoring legislation
to prevent stock watering and of requesting the Dominion Govern
ment to take the initiative with a view to canceling war debts and
suggesting, in case of failure in this connection, a reduction in the
interest on such debts.
M isc e lla n e o u s. —Asking that the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec
be urged to adopt enabling legislation to allow the operation of the
Canadian industrial disputes investigation act in such Provinces;
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LABOR AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND CONGRESSES
135
requesting that the congress urge public ownership and the demo
cratic management of public utilities; asking for the complete abolition
of fee-charging, private employment agencies; urging every possible
moral aid to the organized musicians in their endeavors to secure the
performance of their members in theaters instead of the present use
of mechanical music; expressing opposition to the existing penal reform
system under which prisoners are used on construction work; and in
favor of treating the applications of Japanese for naturalization on an
equal basis with similar applications from other aliens.
Officers for 1931-32
T o m M o o r e was reelected president of the congress and P. M .
Draper will continue as secretary-treasurer of the organization. The
1932 convention will meet in Hamilton, Ontario.
Congress of F re n ch G en eral C o n fe d e ratio n of Lab o r, 1931
HE twenty-first national congress of the Confédération Générale
du Travail 1 was held in Paris, September 15-19, 1931. The
congress was attended by 1,341 delegates, representing 2,359 tradeunions, and by several delegates from trade-unions in foreign coun
tries. The questions which occasioned the most discussion in the
congress were trade-union unity, disarmament and peace, social
insurance, the economic crisis and labor action, and reform of teaching
and labor education.
The general report of the officers and the question of trade-union
unity occupied much of the time of the congress. Trade-union unity
has been a troublesome question since 1921, when the extremist
members of the federation seceded and formed the Confédération
Générale du Travail Unitaire (C. G. T. U.). A committee of propa
ganda for trade-union unity, called the “ Committee of 22,” which was
made up of representatives of the regular and the Communist or
ganizations, was organized before the congress to try to formulate a
basis for compromise. A resolution was submitted by this committee,
pointing out the necessity for national and international reconstruc
tion of the trade-union movement for the purpose of securing unity
of action and proposing that the C. G. T. should unite with other
organizations in a national reconstruction congress which should
have for its purpose the establishment of a single organization uniting
the General Confederation of Labor and the radical and other tradeunion organizations. This resolution was defeated by a large ma
jority and a resolution was subsequently adopted which expressed the
wish of the congress for unity of action on the part of all tradeunionists since it was evident that the need for united forces was more
urgent than ever in view of the present economic situation. The
resolution asserted, however, that this unity could be realized only
through the medium of the principal organization—the C. G. T.—
and called upon all those who deplored the present situation to work
for its termination. To this end it was recommended that all syndi-
T
1 L ’Inform ation Sociale, Paris, Sept. 24, Oct. 1, 8 ; L a Voix d u Peuple, P aris, Septem ber, 1931.
87017°—31----- 10
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cates, departmental unions, and national federations should show a
conciliatory attitude and that no conditions should be placed upon
the return yf seceding unions to the General Confederation of Labor.
The social insurance system was indorsed in a resolution which
stated that the first year’s operation of the act had shown its vitality,
but the resolution called for certain reforms, which included clarifying
the provisions relating to home workers; continuing, in the interest of
the public health, the medical and pharmaceutical benefits to persons
whose sickness lasted more than six months; continuing the unem
ployment-guaranty provisions of the present law after January 1,
1932, whileywaiting for a vote upon an unemployment insurance iaw;
and increasing the wage limit for compulsory and voluntary insurance
to 25,000 francs. The resolution affirmed the right of all insured
persons to belong to funds of their own choice, which, the resolution
stated, is often violated.
It was considered that labor action in face of the economic crisis
should take the form of demands for various measures designed to
relieve the unemployment situation. Chief among these measures
were establishment of a 40-liour 5-day working week, paid vacations,
improvement and extension of unemployment insurance funds pre
paratory to the institution of unemployment insurance, extension of
the school period, and lowering of the age limit for pensions. The
congress estimated that these measures would insure the reemploy
ment of large numbers now unemployed, thus restoring a considerable
portion of the lost purchasing power of the workers, while they would
also afford resistance to the lowering of wages by reestablishing a
certain equilibrium between supply and demand upon the labor
market. The development and improvement of the present system
of employment so as to secure a better distribution of labor in the
industries and centers where it is most needed was recommended, as
was also the advance planning of public works.
The congress declared that the reduction of armaments which
weigh so heavily on all peoples is essential to the improvement of the
economic condition of the world, to the development of international
security, and the reestablishment of confidence between nations.
The labor organizations pledged themselves, therefore, under all cir
cumstances to use their strength and influence in the service of peace.
The resolution on the reform of education reaffirmed one passed by
previous congresses stressing the necessity for an entire reorganization
of the educational system in order that both children and adults of the
working classes should have the opportunity to secure better edu
cational and cultural advantages.
The committee on social legislation reported upon a number of
measures which were pending in one or both of the houses of Parlia
ment, and recommended reforms in certain of the existing laws.
The report dealt with the application of the 8-hour day in France,
and with the operation of the workmen’s compensation law. Im
provements were demanded in the enforcement of the laws relating to
the payment of the dismissal wage, the weekly rest period, and safety
and sanitation of work places, while the enactment of the laws relating
to family allowances and vacations with pay was urged.
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M e e tin g of B ritish T ra d e s-U n io n Co n gress, 1931
HE sixty-third annual assembly of the British Trades-Union
Congress was held a t Bristol, September 7-11, 1931, with 589
delegates in attendance, representing a trade-union membership of
3,719,401. The Ministry of Labor Gazette gives, in its issue for
October, 1931, a summary of the action of this congress, from which
the following details are taken.
The number of organizations represented and their membership, for
1930 and 1931, were as follows:
T
O R G A N IZ A T IO N S A N D M E M B E R S H IP R E P R E S E N T E D A T T R A D E S -U N IO N C O N G R E S S
1930
G roup of organizations
N um ber
of organi
zations
A griculture__ _. _ ____ . . . . . .
_ . . . . _________ .
M ining an d qu arry in g _______ . . . . . . . .
....
__________ . . .
M etals, m achines, conveyances . . .
Textile__________ . .
_
.
____
C lothing_____________________ _
______________
W oodworking an d fu rn itu re________________ . . . .
Paper, printing, etc_______________ __________ ____
Building, public works contracting, etc____ ________
Food, pottery, a n d other m anufacturing in d u stries.. .
R ailw ay service________________ _ ____________ . . .
O ther tran sp o rt an d general labor
____
Commerce, distribution, finance____ __ ______. . .
G overnm ent, national and local
. . . . _____
E ntertainm en ts, sport, and miscellaneous____________
T o ta l___ _ _
____________ ______ ____ _____
1931
N um ber of
members
6
8
6
8
30, 000
629, 025
507, 640
460, 222
154, 881
58, 376
140, 925
288, 300
43, 573
411, 505
764, 531
187, 358
32, 249
35, 735
169
3, 744, 320
1
8
49
29
8
8
12
9
14
3
N um ber
of organi
zations
N um ber of
members
6
8
6
8
30, 000
628, 541
498, 946
431, 979
149, 206
58, 886
150, 898
276, 660
48, 200
427, 698
755, 871
195, 532
34,628
32, 356
169
3, 719,401
1
8
49
28
8
8
14
8
14
3
These figures show a slight falling off in the membership represented,
but no striking changes. The textile trades have had the largest de
crease (28,243, or 6 per cent), while the railway service group, with
an increase of 16,193, or 4 per cent, shows the largest growth.
The main interest of the session centered in the political and eco
nomic situation of the country as it affected the mass of the workers,
and the methods by which it might be improved. The general council
submitted a special supplementary report dealing with the financial
situation as of August 31.
T he re p o rt deals w ith th e financial a n d political situ a tio n a n d w ith th e n eg o tia
tio n s w hich to o k place b etw een th e g eneral council a n d th e la te G o v ern m en t; it
also sets o u t w h a t th e gen eral council believe to be th e definite problem s in th e
c o u n try ’s econom ic situ a tio n . T hese difficulties th e y believe to be d u e to th e
failu re of in d u s try to a d a p t itself to th e new conditions, to th e u n so u n d m o n etary
policy p u rsu ed b y successive G overnm ents, a n d to th e re p a ra tio n s a n d w ar d e b ts
settlem en ts. T h e rem edies th e council suggest a re th e cessation of th e deflation
policy, th e reco n stru ctio n of basic in d u strie s o n m odern lines a s p u b lic u tility
services, a n d a n in te rn a tio n a l policy aim ing a t w orld peace a n d th e rev isio n of
in te rn a tio n a l d e b ts a n d rep aratio n s. T h ey fu rth e r urge th e raisin g of th e w orld
level of w holesale prices. T h ey suggest t h a t th e w eakness of th e exchanges is
d ue to th e lack of balance b etw een o u r im p o rts a n d exports. T h e y stren u o u sly
oppose w age red u ctio n s a s a rem ed y fo r th e situ a tio n , a n d a d v o c a te “ d e v alu a
tio n .” T h ey pronounce no opinion u p o n th e q u estio n of a rev en u e ta riff, b u t
recom m end t h a t a fu ll in v estig atio n should fo rth w ith be m ad e in to th e whole
question of fiscal policy, a n d t h a t a re p o rt should be su b m itte d la te r to a special
conference of trad e-u n io n executives.
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The council also offered the following resolution dealing with the
question of planning and regulating the country’s economic develop
ment:
T his congress, being in accord w ith th e tra d itio n a l policy of th e trad e -u n io n
m ovem ent, w elcomes th e p re se n t ten d en c y to w ard a p lan n ed a n d re g u lated
econom y in o u r n a tio n a l life.
H av in g reg ard to th e seriousness of th e econom ic situ atio n , congress expresses
th e view t h a t only b y a com prehensive p lan n in g of o u r econom ic d ev elo p m en t
a n d re g u lated tra d in g rela tio n s c an th e needs of th e p re se n t d a y be m et.
C ongress th erefo re in s tru c ts th e g en eral council boldly to ad v a n c e th is policy
b o th n atio n ally a n d in te rn a tio n a lly , keeping in m in d th a t, in o rd e r to m a in ta in
a n d im p ro v e th e s ta n d a rd of living, th e people as consum ers m u st be p ro te c te d
from ex p lo itatio n b y p u b lic co n tro l a n d regulation.
This, after discussion, was carried by a card vote of 2,866,000
to 749,000.
Several resolutions were presented calling for public control or regu
lation of different industries. The Iron and Steel Trades Confedera
tion presented a resolution emphasizing the national importance of the
iron and steel industry, and urging that it should be brought under
control as a public utility, managed by a central board. Some oppo
sition was roused by one paragraph reading as follows:
T he c e n tra l b o ard w ould a c t fo r th e in d u s try as a whole in fo rm u la tin g agree
m en ts w ith o th e r co u n tries in re g a rd to in te rtra d in g relatio n s, a n d w ould have
a u th o rity to reg u late, re stric t, o r p ro h ib it im p o rts if th e n a tu re of th e co m p eti
tio n a n d o th e r circu m stan ces ju stified t h a t course, a n d to fix p rices of iro n a n d
steel in th e hom e m a rk e t, w ith d u e reg ard to th e necessity of stim u la tin g th e
a c tiv ities of im p o rta n t using tra d e s.
The opposition to this was based on the belief that it might be used
to impose a tariff, but the resolution was carried by a card vote of
1,794,000 to 1,434,000. Other resolutions, calling for the organization
of transport under a national authority, and for the introduction of a
measure to secure the nationalization of mines and minerals and by
products were carried.
Among the other resolutions carried was one protesting against the
institution of training centers when the trades concerned are already
suffering from unemployment; a composite resolution calling for a
working week of 40 hours, without any reduction in the weekly wage,
and with no overtime except on work of agreed urgency; and one pro
posing that all statutory and customary holidays, in addition to two
weeks of annual vacation, should be paid for. Others called for im
provement in the present workmen’s compensation legislation, for the
reestablishment of the national agricultural wages board and a na
tional rural housing board, for safeguards against the introduction of
a 7-day working week in places of entertainment, and for the ratifica
tion of the Geneva convention regulating hours of work in commerce
and offices, with omissions rectified.
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WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
T hree Labor S u m m er S ch ools, 1931
BRIEF account of several summer schools for workers is given
in the October, 1931, Journal of Adult Education (pp. 476-478),
from which the following information is taken:
Bryn Mawr School of 1931.—As a result of the prevailing unem
ployment the number of applications received for the Bryn Mawr
Summer School was greater for the 1931 sessions than for any previous
term. There were 80 applications from New York City alone, al
though only 20 places are allowed for that city. Later on, however,
before the sessions began, many applications were withdrawn as the
prospective students dared not risk the loss of a job during the sum
mer. The final enrollment for the 8-weeks course was 99, represent
ing various trades and national backgrounds. Textile workers and
garment workers were in the majority. Of the four students from
Europe, one was a textile worker and another a printer—both from
England, one was a garment worker from Denmark and one a metal
worker from Sweden.
Unemployment was selected as the main subject for discussion.
After taking psychological tests of the students, they were divided
into five instruction units. The study program of each unit was
based on some phase of the unemployment situation, and the sub
ject was linked up with the work in English, history, science, or
psychology. Each unit studied international relations, the history
of the labor movement, economic history, government, and social
reorganization. The whole school program was correlated by forums
on unemployment, on the necessity for political action, and on types
of community organization. The faculty’s report states that the
students in general kept up a high standard of work and made real
progress.
The main problem of the school term was that of the health of the
students. Notwithstanding the preliminary medical examination,
a large number of them showed conditions resulting from under
nourishment and fatigue. The health department’s intensive efforts
were successful in many cases, and there was steady improvement
in the standard of health. “ The whole situation seemed to reflect
conditions of the industrial world, where unemployed workers are
suffering from the effects of nervous strain and lack of sufficient food.
The small fund for emergency medical cases allowed by the school
was severely taxed. No funds are available for the necessary follow
up work demanded in the most serious cases.”
According to the article under review, the workers who attended
the school last summer have gone forth with the determination to
make practical use of their newly required knowledge in their own
industrial situations.
Wisconsin Summer School.—A study of the worker in his community
was selected as the plan to be followed for the 1931 session of the Uni-
A
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
versity of Wisconsin Summer School for Workers in Industry. One
morning was given over to the analysis of the students’ suggestions as
to the most serious difficulties they had faced in the few weeks before
they entered the school. These problems were then divided into two
groups—one under the head of “ the worker and government,” and
the other under the caption “ the worker and the social problems in
his community.”
E ach s tu d e n t th e n chose th e pro b lem u pon w hich he w a n te d to w ork. E ach
group stu d ied its pro b lem in d ep en d e n tly , d ividing in to sm aller u n its of one or
several stu d e n ts w ho ta c k le d v ario u s a sp ects of th e su b je c t in h a n d . A fter
in d ep en d e n t reading, co n su ltatio n , a n d discussion, th e gro u p o u tlin e d its su b je c t
an d p resen ted its re p o rt to th e w hole s tu d e n t body. In h e a te d sessions o ften
lastin g th re e h o u rs th e re p o rts w ere to rn to pieces, defended, realig n ed , a n d if
necessary ta k e n back fo r fu rth e r stu d y . In th is w ay a ll th e s tu d e n ts becam e
fam iliar w ith th e issues inv o lv ed in th e v ario u s problem s, a n d o b ta in e d a n o u tlin e
a n d bibliography b y m ean s of w hich th e y could follow u p th e su b je c ts in w hich
th e y w ere especially in terested . D u rin g th e 6-week s tu d y course, how ever,
each stu d e n t co n ce n tra te d on one pro b lem only, a n d becam e fairly fam iliar w ith
th e m ain outlines of th a t.
Several lectures in economic geography, followed by a series of talks
on social history, served to provide a background for a study of prob
lems in economics. The writing of theses and reports for their other
classes and the preparation of their material for oral presentation to
the whole school gave the students training in English composition
and in public speaking. Opportunity for dramatic expression was
afforded by scenes from The Steel Strike, by Paul Peters, and by the
dramatization of one or two of the problems before the workers An
evening program was given by four Negro students, and another
evening was made interesting by a special poetry study group.
During the entire 6-week session of the school, and particularly
toward the close of the term, both the faculty and the students
endeavored to evaluate the teaching plan, to estimate its benefits and
drawbacks, and to make recommendations for the next year. It was
generally agreed that this year’s scheme was sufficiently stimulating
and valuable to be tried out again with certain modifications; that the
freedom and flexibility of this method of learning, the concentration
of the students on the matter under discussion without regard to the
clock; the integration of subjects, and the opening up of the students’
minds in various directions had justified this experiment.
S o u th e rn S u m m e r S c h o o l .—The fifth term of the Southern Summer
School for Women Workers in Industry opened in July, 1931, at
Arden, near Asheville, N. C. Included in the student body made up
of workers from six Southern States were representatives of the follow
ing industries: Tobacco, textiles, clothing, hosiery, meat packing, jam
packing, candy, and telephone. One student from England repre
sented the Yorkshire woolen industry.
The purpose of the school’s courses was to prepare southern workers
to understand present industrial conditions and to endeavor to improve
them. A discussion of the industries from which the students came
was an introduction to economics. The study of English composition,
public speaking, and dramatics was closely linked up with the work in
economics. New health habits were learned from the health educa
tion work, and a considerable number of the students who began the
session physically below par were very much benefited by the instrue-
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141
tion given along these lines, and also by the proper kind of food and
restful sleep.
The main winter office of the school, located at Linthicum Heights,
Md., carries on correspondence with those who have attended the
summer session and with others interested in organizing classes for
workers in the South. Such classes not only prepare prospective
students for the summer school but provide the means by which
former students may make further progress. These classes also con
stitute channels through which extension education is being brought
to southern workers.
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INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Strikes and L o ck o u ts in th e U n ited S ta te s in O cto b e r, 1931
ATA regarding industrial disputes in the United States for
October, 1931, with comparable data for preceding months are
presented below. Disputes involving fewer than six workers and
lasting less than one day have been omitted.
Table 1 shows the number of disputes beginning in 1927, 1928, 1929,
and 1930, the number of workers involved and man-days lost for
these years and for each of the months, January, 1930, to October,
1931, inclusive, as well as the number of disputes in effect at the end
of each month and the number of workers involved. The number of
man-days lost, as given in the last column of the table, refers to the
estimated number of working days lost by workers involved in dis
putes which were in progress during the month or year specified.
D
T a b l e 1 .— IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D O F E A C H
M O N T H , JA N U A R Y , 1930, TO O C T O B E R , 1931, A N D T O T A L N U M B E R O F D IS P U T E S ,
W O R K E R S , A N D M A N -D A Y S L O S T IN T H E Y E A R S 1927 TO 1930
N u m b er of disputes
M o n th a n d year
^Q9,7■ fTot.ai
1928- T o tal
1929: T o tal
1930: T otal
_ _.
__________ .
______ ______
1930
Ja n u a ry --------- ------------ ------------ --- - F e b ru a ry .. ________ _____ . . . ______
M arch____ __________________________
A p ril___
. ________________________ M a y .. . ______ ______ . -----------------June ...................
......
J u ly ___________________________________
A ugust______________
.. Septem ber _ . .
...
. -----October___ __ _ ___________
--------N ovem ber.. _________ . . . . ---------------D ecem ber_________________ . . . . .
1931
Ja n u a ry _____
_______. . . . . . — . . .
F eb ru ary ____________ . . .
--------M arch _________ _
____
A p r i l . . _______ _ ____ ____ . . . . . ..
M ay ____ _
. ------- ------ ---------- -- .
J u n e ... _____ . ___________ . ____ . . .
J u ly .. ____ ___
. _ ______ . . . . . .
A ugust.
..
. . . ___
. .
Septem ber 1 _____ .
. .. ..
------ O cto b er1. . ________ _ _________ ____ .
Beginning
in m onth
or year
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
349, 434
357', 145
230,463
158,114
734
629
903
653
45
52
49
64
66
59
78
51
72
47
44
26
56
52
45
60
106
81
67
76
112
49
1 Prelim inary figures subject to change.
142
In effect
a t end of
m onth
[1406]
N um ber of w orkers in N um ber of
volved in disputes
m an-days
lost in dis
putes exist
ing in
Beginning
In effect
in m onth
m onth or
a t end of
m onth
or year
year
21
40
38
41
29
34
30
33
44
36
29
7
20
34
27
39
49
51
54
43
77
62
37, 799, 394
31, 556', 947
9,975, 213
2, 730, 368
9, 240
37,480
15, 017
6,379
9, 329
14, Oil
14, 308
15, 902
16, 337
10, 858
4,390
4,863
5, 957
5, 840
4,386
8, 311
4,815
7,131
13, 778
16, 007
7, 759
5,144
5,316
184, 730
438, 570
291,127
189, 828
185, 448
144, 117
141, 647
142, 738
208,184
335, 916
273, 608
194,455
10,147
19,984
26,121
26.442
27, 588
18, 437
49, 574
10, 977
36,465
34, 345
2,927
12,512
28,139
22, 604
15, 735
17, 071
58,995
17, 003
40, 425
34, 241
181, 031
228, 329
422, 545
769, 720
402, 437
506, 097
666, 309
1, 213, 120
559, 137
1,146, 071
6 , 683
143
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
Occurrence of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 2 gives, by industry, the number of strikes beginning in
August, September, and October, 1931, and the number of workers
directly involved.
T a b l e 2 —IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A U G U ST , S E P T E M B E R , A N D O C T O
B E R , 1931
N um ber of disputes beginning N um ber of w orkers involved
in—
in disputes beginning in—
In d u strial group
Septem
ber
August
A uto, carriage, and wagon workers
Bakers
_ _
___
__. .
Barbers
- - Broom a nd b ru sh workers __
Building trad es___
Chauffeurs and team sters ..............
C lothing.
_____
Firem en
_____ . . ___
Food w orkers. _
Furniture
_ __
Glassworkers
_ _ ________
Jew elry workers . .
-------------Leather
__
Light, h eat, power, a n d w ater
Longshoremen an d freight handlers _.
L um ber, tim ber, an d millwork
___ ____
M etal tra d e s.
.
M iners
_____
__
M otion-picture operators, actors, and
theatrical w orkers.
____
P aper workers
P rinting a n d publishing___ . ____ ___
Steam boatm en
S to n e .- . .
M unicipal w o rk ers.. _ . . .
T extiles.
..............................
Tobacco
O ther occupations..
_ .
T otal
_
1
2
2
1
15
4
19
1
4
3
October
18
4
20
1
3
5
3
2
2
11
3
13
1
1
2
2
2
3
1
1
3
i
3
2
2
12
4
1
8
1
1
1
1
2
3
A ugust
Septem
ber
35
156
1,009
70
1,016
369
5, 203
913
840
1,869
84
341
725
187
535
22
27
76
113
323
102
2, 898
10
60
305
20
44
440
60
48
1, 229
150
146
785
22,030
400
356
69
20
125
26
5, 712
34
1,475
6
14
11
42
1
1
8
2
1
October
200
1
2
49
600
720
43
30
10,977
6 , 775
23,000
105
36,465
34, 345
Size and Duration of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 3 gives the number of industrial disputes beginning in
October, 1931, classified by number of workers and by industries.
T a b l e 3 .—N U M B E R O F IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN O C T O B E R , 1931, C LA S
S IF IE D BY N U M B E R OF W O R K E R S A N D BY IN D U S T R IA L G R O U P S
N u m b er of disputes beginning in October, 1931, involving—
In d u strial group
Barbers
Broom and brush w orkers _ .
Building trades
C hauffeurs an d team sters
Clothing
__ ___
Food w orkers_______
Glass w orkers.
Jew elry workers
Longshoremen and freight handlers
M etal trades
M iners
__
______________
M otion-picture operators, actors, and
theatrical workers
P aper workers
Printing and publishing
Steam boatm en
Textiles___________________________ ___
T o ta l_____________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
500 and
6 and
20 and
100 and
un d er 20 under 100 un d er 500 under
1,000
workers workers workers workers
1
1,000 and
under
5,000
workers
Over
5,000
workers
1
2
3
2
i
i
i
8
1
6
1
1
6
1
1
2
i
1
1
2
9
2
i
i
i
1
1
13
[1407]
21
3
1
144
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
In Table 4 are shown the number of industrial disputes ending in
October, 1931, by industries and classified duration.
T a b l e 4 —N U M B E R
O F IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN O C T O B E R , 1931, BY
IN D U S T R IA L G R O U P S A N D C L A S S IF IE D D U R A T IO N
Classified duration of strikes ending in October,
1931
In d u stria l group
One-half
m onth or
less
Barbers
___
___
Broom and brush w o rk e rs ____ _ ____ .
B uilding trad es. ___________ _____ _ .
Chauffeurs and team sters . . . . . .
C lothing_____ ____________ _ _
Glass w orkers.
. .
.
_
Jew elry workers. .
_
. . .
Leather w orkers.
Longshoremen an d freight handlers.
Lum ber, tim ber, a n d mill w ork ____ .
M iners . . .
. . . ____
M otion-picture operators, actors, and theatrical workers
Prin tin g and p u b lis h in g ___
_ ______
Steam boatm en. .
___
Stone___ _ . . .
____
. .
Textiles______ __ _. . . . . _
O ther occupations____________ ________
T o ta l. ____________
Oyer onehalf and
less than
1 m onth
1 m onth
2 m onths
and less
than 2
m onths
and less
than 3
m onths
2
i
7
2
1
7
i
3
2
1
1
i
i
i
i
i
4
1
3
2
i
i
1
i
2
1
i
9
1
2
23
5
4
1
32
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Beginning in October, 1931
Tailors, Chicago.—Reports received by the bureau show that 454
journeyman tailors struck on October 1 against the proposal of mer
chant tailors to adopt a wage scale on a piecework basis. It was stated
that the tailors, prior to this date, had been working on a year-to-year
contract at the rate of $1 per hour and felt that the piece rate would
not furnish a living wage. No settlement of this strike has been
reached.
Longshoremen.-—On October 1 a strike threatening the whole
Atlantic seaboard and involving an estimated number of 60,000 long
shoremen was partially averted, according to reports, through the
signing of an agreement affecting shipping companies and members
of the International Longshoremen’s Association, in New York,
whereby the rate of 85 cents per hour for regular time was continued
and a cut of 10 cents per hour in the overtime rate was adopted, reduc
ing the latter to $1.20 per hour. These rates were also reported as
being acceptable to the union at Portland, Me.
In Boston, however, the union members were unwilling to accept
the New York agreement as a whole, demanding, it is stated, that the
$1.20 rate for overtime be restricted to four hours and that double
rates be paid for work during the noon or night meal hour.
On October 22, according to press notices, the steamship owners
issued an ultimatum declaring their willingness to take the strikers
back, but only under the terms of the New York agreement; other
wise they would refuse further dealings with the union. Subsequent
reports stated that on October 26 the International Longshoremen’s
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1408]
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
145
Association served notice on the steamship owners that it would not
be responsible for continuance of work on ships a t any port along the
North Atlantic coast unless strike breakers were discharged. About
the 13th of November it was reported that the longshoremen had
made a proposal to the operators for arbitration of their differences.
Reports under date of December 6 indicate that the men returned
to work on that date.
In Galveston, Houston, Corpus Christi, and Texas City, where
some 2,500 longshoremen were involved, a flat rate of 65 cents, a
reduction of 20 cents per hour from the 1930-31 wage scale, _was
refused by the union and a strike was called, beginning at midnight
of October 1.
On October 21 it was reported that the longshoremen would return
to work on the following day, under an agreement with the ship
owners adopting a rate of 70 cents an hour for regular time, $1.05 for
overtime, and 13 cents per bale on cotton. The new agreement, it is
said, will be in effect for a period of 17 months, the former agreement
having been for a period of one year.
Textile workers, Massachusetts.—On September 26 reports stated
that practically every textile mill in Lawrence and vicinity had
announced its purpose of putting into effect a 10 per cent wage cut
to begin on October 13. On October 5, in protest against this cut
in wages, part of the employees of several mills struck and five days
later practically all employees, numbering some 20,000 operatives
in Lawrence, Andover, North Andover, Dracut, and Lowell, were
out on strike. The dispute covered, as reported, five mills of the Amer
ican Woolen Co., two Stevens mills, and the Arlington, Monomac,
Kunhardt, and Pacific Mills.
On the 5th of October the strikers conferred with a citizens’ com
mittee and requested that the latter ask the mill owners to meet
with the employees either collectively or “ mill by mill.”
The mill owners were reported as having agreed to a proposal of the
committee for a minimum wage of $18 per week, and Governor Ely
addressed a letter to the companies, emphasizing the return to
normal conditions of employment as “ the most essential thing in
the rebuilding of economic prosperity,” and suggesting that the
employers recognize “ the necessity, both from a humanitarian and
economic viewpoint, of sharing the profit by a suitable increase in
the wages of employees as conditions improve and reasonable profits
become possible,” and assure the employees “ that their desire for
better wages will be so considered in the future.” He^ recommended
further conferences of the employers with representatives chosen by
the workers, and offered to consider the advisability of appointing a
commission for a general survey of wage conditions in the textile
industry to the end that a stabilization of base wage rates and working
hours may be established, such commission to have access to the
company’s books and records.
The strikers continued, however, to picket the mills, and otherwise
demonstrate their dissatisfaction until about November 4, when those
from the Monomac and the M. T. Stevens & Sons mills voted by a
large majority to return to work. By October 10 all of the mills
except the Pacific Mills it was said were operating at about 50 per
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1409]
146
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
cent capacity, with approximately 10,000 workers, and that other
workers would be taken on as soon as the plants were able to get back
to normal in all departments.
The reported loss in wages to the strikers, as estimated by mill
officials, amounted to about $2,500,000.
C o n c ilia tio n W ork o f th e D ep a rtm e n t of Lab or in O cto b er, 1931
By H
ugh
L. K
e r w in
, D ir e c t o r o f C o n c il ia t io n
HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer
cised his good offices in connection with 52 labor disputes during
October, 1931. These disputes affected a known total of 39,199 em
ployees. The table following shows the name and location of the
establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred, the nature
of the dispute (whether strike or lockout or controversy not having
reached the strike or lockout stage), the craft or trade concerned, the
cause of the dispute, its present status, the terms of settlement, the
date^ of beginning and ending, and the number of workers directly
and indirectly involved.
On November 1, 1931, there were 34 strikes before the department
for settlement and in addition 26 controversies which had not reached
the strike stage. The total number of cases pending was 60.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1410]
L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N T H OF O C T O B E R , 1931
W orkers
involved
D uration
C om pany or in d u stry and location
N atu re of
dispute
Craftsm en con
cerned
[1411]
A. Shurm an
N . J.
(Inc.), Bloomfield,
W . T . M cL aughlin Co., Indianapolis, Ind.
G irard T ru st Building, Philadelphia, Pa.
G eneral Engineering and E quipm en t Co., G arland, Ariz.
B uilding laborers, Union, N . J __
Strike_____
C arpenters, e tc .. .
"Lookout
T heater workers
T h reaten ed
strike.
Strike
Asbestos w orkers. _
Controversy
Strike
Ironworkers and
elevator construetors.
Em ployees_______
- - Laborers
T ow boat and scow men, New Threatened
Y ork H arbor.
strike.
C ourthouse, Elizabeth, N . J ____ S tr ik e __
Boatm en
S t r u c t u r a l - i ron
workers.
Silberm ann, K ohn & W allenstein, ____do_ ___ Jewelers ______
N ew Y ork C ity.
___do ____________
R o th m an & Baden, N ew Y ork C ity . ___ do ___
Axel B ros., N ew Y ork C ity ______ ____ do_____ ____do___________ M . J . B ernstein, N ew Y ork C ity ... ___ do__
N av al A ir Station Building, San
Diego, Calif.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Controversy
____do__.......... .........
Building trad es___
Pending _ ___________________
W ages
________________ .
do _____ __
_________
Wage cuts, w orking conditions _
Wages and conditions to prevail A djusted. Agreed to settle all
questions b y arbitration.
during construction of airw ay
beacons.
Wages cut IS cents per hour______ A djusted. C ontinued w ork on
reduced wages.
Proposed cut from $1.30 to $1.05 A djusted. Agreed on $1.20 per
hour for night and 85 cents for
per hour for night shift and from
day shift; 44-hour week.
85 to 75 cents per hour for day
Begin
ning
Ending
1931
Oct. 1
Sept. 28
Oct. 2
1931
D i In d i
rectly rectly
454
5, 000
30
Oct.
7
Sept. 29
Oct.
9
5
Sept. 1
Sept. 30
4,000
Oct. 16
30
Asked th a t local m en be em ployed. A djusted. Local men and foremen Oct.
employed.
Oct.
R eduction in num ber of operators P e n d i n g . . __ _______________
in booths.
A
djusted.
Agreed
to
arbitrate
Oct.
Alleged breach of c o n tra c t______
tem porarily.
Sept.
A
djusted.
Subcontractors
agreed
C arpenters and laborers doing
to use ironworkers and elevator
work claimed b y ironworkers
and elevator constructors.
constructors.
Refusal to pay prevailing wage___ Unclassified. Job finished before Oct.
arrival of commissioner.
N onresidents em ployed_________ A djusted. Agreed to em ploy 50 Oct.
per cent local men.
Proposed wage cuts and working A djusted. Renewed agreement Oct.
w ithout change.
conditions.
A djusted. Settled b y parties in Oct.
D ispute between un io n s_______
interest.
Asked restoration of wage cut a nd A djusted. Compromised; all re- Sept.
change in piecework.
turned.
Compromised wage Sept.
Asked restoration, of wage c u t____ A djusted.
rates; all returned.
Asked increase in wages a nd union A djusted. Recognition not al- Oct.
recognition.
lowed; increase granted; all returned.
Discharge of contract w orkm en__ A djusted. C ontract system abol- Sept.
ished; discharged w orkmen reemploved.
Alleged prevailing rates not being P ending. _________ ____ ______ Aug.
paid.
1
3
55
72
4
1
Oct.
1
8
27
Oct.
6
40
30
1
Oct.
2
50
125
7
Oct.
8
22
100
1
Oct. 16
4, 500
7
Oct.
8
30
90
26
Oct. 12
31
7
30
Oct.
1
11
3
5
Oct.
8
20
5
28
Oct.
5
18
5
1
12
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
S trike
Tailors
Con trovers y B uilding
M cC orm ick C onstruction Co., ____ d o _____ Electricians, steel
workers, and laW inslow, Ariz.
borers.
A m erican F ix tu re & Show case Co., ........ d o _____ M etal polishers___
St. Louis, M o.
TAvngshnromon
Tn turn at,ion al 1VTer nan tile !\Tarin e
do
Co. e t al., Philadelphia, Pa.
Cause of dispute
Present statu s and term s of
settlem ent
LA B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N T H O F O C T O B E R , 1931—C ontinued
h-t
OO
W orkers
involved
D uration
C om pany or in d u stry and location
Laird Bros.
Erie, Pa.
C onstruction
Co.,
Longshoremen, Boston, Mass.
Ind.
Brenizer Co., Blairsville, Pa
m
£
Ins
N atu re of
dispute
C raftsm en con
cerned
S tr ik e _____ B uilding tra d e s___ N onunion cem ent finishers and
truck drivers.
__do ___
Longshoremen
Controversy
M iners
S tr ik e ___ -
__ do________ _
U nited States Glass Co., Glass- ------do _____
port, Pa.
Barbers in 67 shops, M cKeesport, ____do _____
Pa.
Clay, glass, and
stone workers.
Journeym an barbers.
G irard Clothing Co., Lansford, P a . ____do _____
C lothing workers
Lockout _
Longshoremen, Texas ports
__do
M iners, Richmond, Mo
Post-office building, Portland, M e Controversy
Post-office building, South Bend, Threatened
Ind.
strike.
Do . .
__ _ do
Building, Fort B enning and vi- Controversy
cinity, Ga.
Plasterers, Columbus, Ohio
____
Building, Seattle, W ash
M iners, Excelsior Springs, M o
A lum inum Co. of America, Oakland, Calif.
A rlington Underw ear Co., New
Y ork City.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cause of dispute
Longshoremen
M iners ___
Laborers . _
Iron workers
Present statu s and term s of
settlem ent
A djusted. F irm unable to complete buildings; m ay be finished
b y th e city or school board.
P ending_______________________
Objection to w eight of sling load;
working conditions.
D ispute relative to upkeep of 4 ____ do_ .......................................... .......
miles of railroad track.
Loaders cut from $ 1 to 90 cents per A djusted. Accepted wage c u ts. . .
wagon load; m otorm en cut from
$4.48 per day to $3.79.
Wages c u t from 6 to 15 per cent— Unclassified. Accepted cut before
commissioner’s arrival.
Unci assified. G uaranteed $21 per
C uts in commission; alleged imposweek and 60 per cent of all over
sible to make a living wage.
$30 per week before arrival of
commissioner.
Wages cut from 10 to 40 per c en t— Unclassified. P la n t removed; new
com pany w ill hire former employees of G irard Co.
Wages cut 15 cents per hour; larger A djusted. Allowed 8 -hour day;
70 cents per hour; $1.05 for overcuts on bale rate for loading and
tim e, holidays, a nd Sunday; 13
unloading.
cents per bale for cotton.
Pending.
. ________________
Wage cut
.
..
_ __do ________________________
P avm ent of prevailing wage
___ do __
___ do _________________________
Begin
ning
E nding
1931
Oct. 9
1931
N ov. 9
___
3,200
Oct. 10
0)
Unclassified.
C om pany signed
union agreem ent before arrival
of commissioner.
..........
g
O
500 ..........
H
w
t-1
*1
1
Oct.
Oct.
5
Oct. 15
125
300
___do___ —.d o ___
85
20
- - .d o ___
Oct.
1
4
20
Oct.
Oct. 20
Oct. 21
Sept. 28
69 ..........
Oct. 10
Oct. 16
Oct.
6
£
¡>
w
o
w
2,500
500 ..........
75
25
55
Oct. 15
Oct. 5
Oct. 10
R odm en
___ _ . ___ do _________________________
B rick masons, car- ____ do_ _
penters.
U nderw ear m akers. U nionization of shop ___________
40
Aug. 30
. . do _______________________ _ do_
A djusted. Agreed to p ay brick Sept. 29
masons $ 1 per hour; carpenters,
50 cents; a nd laborers 20 cents.
S tr ik e _____ P lasterers________ Alleged employees were required A djusted. C om pany agreed to Oct. 15
comply w ith regular term s.
to refund*$15 of weekly wages.
Oct. 13
Controversy B uilding ________ Asked 25 per cent increase in wages. Pending _ ______
__do _______________ _
Oct. 12
M iners ________ Asked union recognition_____
Strike
__ do
M olders
____
Wages cut 10 per cent
___ do __________ _ _ ___ _____ Oct. 1
__do
D i In d i
rectly rectly
12
88
75
22
10
7,000
75
26
125
152
2
<
F a b rik a n t Shop (Inc.), New York ____do_____
C ity.
D ependable Sportswear Co., New ------ do _____
Y ork C ity.
H a ttie Carnegie (Inc.), N ew York T h reaten ed
C ity.
strike.
Jewelers__________
S trik e........... Ferry workers.
Asked wage increase and im
proved conditions.
Asked 40-hour week and adjust
m ent of piece-work system.
Force reduced 20 per cent; wages
cut 20 per cent; changes in per
sonnel.
Wages cut 10 per c e n t.....................
Controversy Laborers____
Asked prevailing wage.
L e a th e r - c lo th e s
makers.
D ressm akers_____
P en d in g _________________ ____ _
A djusted.
Oct.
9
Allowed as asked_____ Oct. 13
6
5
Oct. 17
5
4
Sept. 15
Oct. 12
270
50
Oct. 15
Oct. 20
42
19
A djusted. Allowed prevailing
scale—45 cents per hour.
A djusted_______________________
Oct.
Oct. 24
25
85
Oct. 14 --_do___
30
80
A djusted. C om pany agreed to
abide b y union contract.
Bangor
M anufacturing
Co., Strike.
Clothing w o rk e rs.. Wage cut 10 per c e n t ...................... A djusted. Accepted cut and re
Bangor, Pa.
turned.
B uilding, Flint, M ich____________ Controversy B uilding_________ Proposed wage c u t________ _____ P en d in g _____________ ____ _____
H . Tiffin Iron Co., Canandaigua, T hreatened Iro n w o rk e rs on Laid off union men contrary to A djusted. U nion men reem
N . Y.
V eterans’ H ospi
agreement.
strike.
ployed.
tal Building.
P ato k a Strip M ine, Patoka, In d . .. Controversy M iners__________
(R eport not yet received)________ P ending______ _______________ _
M iners, Appanoose, and W ayne ____do _____ ----- d o . . .................. Renewal of agreement; wage scale. ------d o _________ ______ __________
C ounties, Iowa.
V eterans’ H ospital, Lexington, ____do _____ Building tra d e s___ Objection to 10-hour day; alleged ___ d o ........... ................................ .......
prevailing wage not being paid.
K y.
Lingerie manufacturing, 70 shops, T hreatened S i l k u n d e rw ear A sked union shop, 42-hour week
A djusted. Allowed 5-day week,
N ew Y ork C ity.
strike.
workers.
and wage adjustm ents.
42 hours; some increases.
K allm an & M orris, New York C ity. Strike_____ G arm ent w orkers.. Asked 40-hour week a nd union A djusted. Allowed 40-hour week
and recognition of union.
recognition___________________
F u r workers, Brooklyn, Newark, L ockout___ F u r workers
Asked workers to accept wage cuts; P en d in g ..... ..........................................
and Bronx, N . Y.
alleged to be contrary to existing
agreement.
Oct.
25
85
Brooklyn & Richm ond Ferry Co.,
Brooklyn a n d Staten Island,
N . Y.
B uchan Co., Fo rt W ayne, In d ___
W ade A m spaugh Co., Fo rt W a y n e ,____ do _____ ____do
Ind.
B uchan Co., F o rt W ayne, I n d _________ do _____ Carpenters.
[1413]
Total
do
Alleged violation of contract.
9
9
Oct. 15
Oct. 19
Oct. 26
200
Oct. 27
(i)
30
Oct. 24
Oct. 22
(I)
2, 500
Oct. 28
Oct. 26
50
Sept. 1
Sept. 7
Oct.
Oct. 26
5
Oct. 26
100
4,000
300
30
1, 400
37,629
INDUSTKIAL D ISPUTES
A djusted. C om pany agreed to
changes in conditions; employees
accepted 10 per cent wage cut.
A djusted. Wage cut w ithdraw n..
1, 570
1 N o t reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CQ
150
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
S e ttle m e n t of Labor D isp u te in Norw ay 1
GENERAL wage dispute which has been in progress in Norway
since April, 1931, has just been settled.
The dispute began with the failure, on April 8, 1931, of the negotia
tions between the unions involved and the Norwegian Employers’
Association for a renewal of the agreements which had expired March
31. On the same date (April 8) about 45,000 union workers were
locked out in the iron and steely textile, clothing, shoe, building, woodworking, and chemical industries. On April 15 additional groups of
union workers, numbering about 25,000, were locked out^ in the
chemical industry, in the tobacco, milk and chocolate factories, and
in the breweries. A stoppage in the paper industry involving 12,500
workers had occurred on March 15, 1931, and the transport workers
struck in sympathy. Thus, the total number of workers involved m
the dispute numbered about 85,000 unionists, or nearly the entire
labor-union membership of Norway.
_.
The employers’ association demanded that minimum wages be
reduced by from 12 to 15 per cent, the time rates by the same per
centage, and the contract or agreement wages by from 15 to 25 per
A
The workers asked a reduction in the working week from 48 to 42
hours, with weekly earnings unchanged, a restriction of overtime
work and an increase in the payment for such work, and in nearly all
instances an increase in wages of from 10 to 20 per cent. The Nor
wegian Federation of Labor refused to consider any reduction in
minimum wage.
On June 12, 1931, the proposal of the State conciliator, that wages
be reduced by from 6 to 7 per cent and that the wage schedule even
tually adopted should remain in effect for a period of two years regard
less of any change in the cost-of-living index, was rejected by both
parties, who then were urged to enter into direct negotiations.
About the middle of September, 1931, the conflict came to an end,
both parties to the conflict having accepted the award of the State
conciliator, which they had previously rejected a number of times.
The accepted award provided for an average wage cut of 6 per cent.
Thus ended the long-drawn-out struggle, the extent and intensity
of which has never before been known in the history of Norway. The
labor unions were not able to prevent lowering of their wages, while
their employers were compelled to accept a wage decrease amounting
to about 6 per cent instead of 12 to 25 per cent.
According to the International Labor Office, it is estimated that
this dispute resulted in a loss of 10,000,000 working-days, and of
about 100,000,000 crowns ($26,800,000) in wages, to which should be
added the relief payments by the unions amounting to 20,000,000
crowns ($5,360,000). The loss to the employers is estimated at about
450,000,000 crowns ($120,060,000). These are very large sums m
view of the small size of the country, as Norway had an estimated
population of only about 2,800,000 in 1929.
1 D ata are from Arbeidernes Faglige Landsorganisasjon i Norge, August, 1931, pp. 261-267; and Industrial
and Labor Inform ation, Geneva, October 19, 1931, pp. 71, 72.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1414]
LABOR AWARDS AND DECISIONS
C lo th in g C u tte r s — New Y o rk C ity
services of the impartial chairman for the New York clothing
market were requested in a dispute between the Amalgamated
T HE
Clothing Workers of America and the Howard Clothes Shops (Inc.),
involving the issue of the firm’s employment of cutters not in good
standing as members of the union.
At a hearing on October 7, 1931, the union charged that the firm
had since September 5 been employing cutters not in good standing
in the union, and as the firm produced no evidence to the contrary ,
on October 15, 1931, the impartial chairman made the following
decision:
In accordance with the agreement of the New York Clothing Manufacturers’
Exchange, of which this firm is a member, with the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers of America, the Howard Clothes Shops (Inc.) must employ members of
the union in good standing. The request, therefore, of the Amalgamated Cloth
ing Workers of America is granted, and the chairman orders the discharge within
48 hours of those cutters employed by the Howard Clothes Shops (Inc.), who,
at the expiration of the said 48 hours, will not be members in good standing of
the union.
Jo u r n e y m a n
Tailors — Denver, C o lo .
On October 1, 1931, Fahey-Brockman Co., Denver, Colo., notified
the industrial commission of its intention to make a 20 per cent
reduction in the salaries and wages of its employees, effective October
31, 1931. Later the Journeyman Tailors’ Union No. 3, representing
the employees, filed a protest.
A hearing was held on October 21, 1931, at which the employer
expressed his regret at having to reduce the wages of his employees;
he claimed, however, that the falling off of business and the smaller
profits due to the necessary reduction in the prices of the company’s
product made it impossible to pay the present scale and continue in
business. The union stated that other business houses were paying
the union scale and contended .that the employer in this case could
do so.
The commission in its decision, rendered October 28, 1931, dis
approved the reduction of wages proposed by the company.
87017°—31-----11
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1415]
151
LABOR TURNOVER
Lab or Turnover in A m erican Factories, O cto b er, 1931
CTOBER labor turnover rates for manufacturing as a whole and
for 10 separate manufacturing industries are presented here
with.
The form used for compiling turnover rates by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics is the weighted arithmetic mean. The indexes for
manufacturing as a whole were compiled from reports mailed to the
bureau from representative establishments in over 75 industries
employing approximately 1,250,000 people. In the 10 industries for
which separate indexes are presented reports were received from
representative plants employing approximately 25 per cent of the
employees as shown by such industries by the Census of Manufac
tures of 1927. In the automobile industry schedules are received
from firms employing over 250,000 people; plants reporting for boots
and shoes employ nearly 100,000 people; for brick, nearly 18,000
people; for cotton, nearly 125,000 people; for furniture, nearly 30,000
people; for iron and steel, over 200,000 people; for men’s clothing,
about 40,000 people; for sawmills, about 40,000 people; and for
slaughtering and meat packing, over 75,000 people.
In addition to the quit, discharge, lay-off, total separation, and
accession rates the bureau presents the net turnover rate. Net
turnover means the rate of replacement. It is the number of jobs
that are vacated and filled per 100 employees. In a plant that is
increasing its force the net turnover rate is the same as the separation
rate, because while more people are hired than are separated from their
jobs, the number hired above those leaving is due to expansion and
can not be justly charged to turnover. On the other hand, in a
plant that is reducing its number of employees, the net turnover rate
is the same as the accession rate, for while more people are separated
from the pay roll than are hired, the excess of separations over acces
sions is due to a reduction of force and therefore can not be logically
charged as a turnover expense.
Previous to September, 1931, the bureau had been presenting turn
over rates on both a monthly and an equivalent annual basis. Begin
ning with September, 1931, however, monthly rates only will be shown.
To determine the equivalent annual rate, multiply the monthly rate
by the number of times that the days of the current month is con
tained in the 365 days of the year. That is, in a 31-day month, to
obtain the equivalent annual rate multiply the monthly rate by
11.77; in a 30-day month multiply the monthly rate by 12.17; and
in a 28-day month multiply the monthly rate by 13.04. To obtain
the equivalent annual rate for October multioly the monthly rates as
shown in Tables 1 and 2 by 11.77.
O
152
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1416]
153
LABOR TURNOVER
Table 1 shows for all industries the total separation rate sub
divided into quit, discharge, and lay-off rates, together with the acces
sion rate and the net turnover rate.
T
able
1.—A V E R A G E L A B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S E L E C T E D F A C T O R IE S IN 75
IN D U S T R IE S
M onthly Rates
Separation rates
Accession
rate
M onth
Jan u a ry _______
February ___
M arch________
A p ril-.- ............
M a y ...............
Ju n e __________
J u ly ...............
A ugust________
Septem ber_____
October_______
N ovem ber_____
D ecem b er
Average..
Quit
Lay-off
Discharge
N et tu rn
over rate
Total
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1.85
1.60
1.94
0.74
.74
.94
1.14
2.70
2.50
2.83
2.57
1.95
1.75
1. 75
1.96
2.43
3.84
3.32
2.40
4.22
5.01
0.54
.62
.60
.53
.48
.46
.32
.36
.36
.32
.24
0.19
2.88
3.95
3. 94
4.15
3.55
3.28
2.92
2.51
2.71
3.27
2.56
2.05
2.13
2.97
2.82
3.67
3.06
2.79
2.41
3.02
2.60
3.58
2.75
.2 1
5.09
4.72
5.37
5.21
5.17
5.31
5.84
5.75
5.00
4.49
3.91
3. 79
3.95
3.94
4.15
3. 55
3.28
2.92
2.51
2.71
3.27
2.56
2.05
2.13
.42
4.97
2 .11
2 .0 1
1.85
1.35
1.40
1.50
1.29
.90
.84
1 .1 2
1.0 2
1.1 0
2.68
1.05
1.16
3.00
4.17
3.99
3.14
1.0 0
2.88
1.55
2.77
2.74
3.00
.2 0
.26
.31
.28
.23
.25
.2 2
.24
.2 1
2.69
2.95
3.41
3.83
5.09
4.67
3.67
5.62
6 .2 2
3.08
1931
2.88
2.69
2.95
3.06
2. 79
2.41
3.02
2.60
3.58
2.75
3.08
Comparing October, 1931, turnover rates with those of September,
1931, there was a decrease in the quit rate, the discharge rate, and the
accession rate. There was, however, a large increase in the lay-off
rate. Comparing October, 1931, rates with those of October, 1930,
there was a decrease in the quit and the discharge rates. The lay-off
rate was much larger than a year ago, and there was a slight increase
in the accession rate as compared with a year ago.
The charts following show in graphic form the data presented in
Table 1.
Table 2 shows the quit, discharge, lay-off, accession, and net turn
over rates for automobiles, boots and shoes, cotton, iron and steel,
foundry and machine shops, furniture, sawmills, and slaughtering
and meat packing for the months of October, 1930; September, 1931;
and October, 1931; and for brick and men’s clothing for the months
of September, 1931, and October, 1931.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1417]
154
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
IN D E X E 5 OF AVERAGE MONTHLY
L A B O R T U R N O V E R R A T E S , I9 3 0 & I 9 3 1 .
J. F. M. A. n . J. J. A. S. 0. N. D.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1418]
J. F. n. A. n. vj. 0. A. S. 0. N. D.
IN D E X E S OF AVERAGE MONTHLY LABOR TURNOVER R A T E S . 1930 & 1931.
SEPA R A T IO N
Q U I T
7.00
R A T E S .
LAY-OFF.
DISCH ARGE.
TOTAL.
7 00
/
6.00
6.0 0
f" \ T ~
[1419]
,N,
4.00
/
J \
1
1930 \
----- /_L_\ /
W
/\
V
V *j
3.00
\
1930.
.1931.
. 1930__/
'
\j
\
5.00
\
\
— V;
3.00
1931
Z.OO
/\
/■ v
1.00
1931,
\
\
Z.OO
\
\ \
1.00
1930.
I9 3 U
'v--R!
0
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4.00
J . F. M. A. M. J . J . A. S. 0. N. D.
J . F M. A. M. 0. J
A. S. 0. H. D.
0. F M. A. M. 0. J . A. 5. 0. N. D.
0. F M. A. Fl. J . J . A. S. 0. N. D.
o
LABOR TURNOVER
/. /
TVv
/ '
5.00
156
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T able 2 .—A V E R A G E M O N T H L Y T U R N O V E R R A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S
Class of turnover rates
Q uit........... ............................. —
Discharge ____________ - Lay-off----------------------------T o tal separations____
Accession_________________
N et tu rn o v er---------- -----------
Oc
Oc
Sep
tober, tember, tober,
1931
1930
1931
Oc
Sep
Oc
tober, tember, tober,
1931
1931
1930
Sep
Oc
Oc
tober, tember, tober,
1931
1931
1930
Automobiles
Boots and shoes
Brick i
1.19
.25
5.39
12.54
0.85
.29
19.47
6.83
13. 75
20 . 61
4. 23
4. 23
4. 02
4. 02
1.0 0
.2 1
5.16
5.16
C otton m anufacturing
Q uit__________ ____ ______
D ischarge_______________
Lay-off___________ _____ T o tal se p a ra tio n s___
Accession________________
N et tu rn o v er______________
1 . 20
.2 2
6.02
8.66
0.49
.14
10.04
4.91
5. 67
7.44
10.33
10.67
2.05
2.05
2 .00
2.00
1 .0 1
1 .0 1
4.39
4.39
5.06
5.06
Foundries and machine
shops
0.85
.47
4. 01
0.70
.30
3.13
1.65
.36
2.38
1.42
.35
3. 70
3. 98
4. 39
5.47
5.33
4.13
4.34
3. 98
4.36
4. 36
3. 84
3. 84
2.27
2. 27
3. 04
3.04
1.41
.48
2.09
1.34
.33
2.30
.43
2.94
1.71
.47
2.73
Furniture
1.03
.45
3. 61
0.94
.26
2.95
0.96
.29
3.88
5.17
5.09
4.15
5.13
2.36
2.36
3. 72
3. 72
5.77
4.15
4. 36
4. 36
0.56
.16
4.45
Sawmills
M en ’s clothing 1
Iron and steel
1.45
.49
8.09
1.23
.51
7.69
9.56
10.03
9.43
8.32
8. 32
5.95
5.95
7. 43
7.43
Q u i t . . . .......... ................ ..........
D ischarge. ________ ____
Lay-off..
_____________
1.13
.20
0.79
.08
.12
1.6 6
0.78
.06
1.41
1. 27
2. 25
1.26
0.
.13
1. 50
2.2695
.72
6.58
T o tal separations_____
3. 58
2.53
2. 25
2. 65
2. 58
Accession__________ ______
N et tu rn o v er. ------------------
1. 74
1.74
1. 41
1.41
1. 51
1. 51
1. 74
1.74
2. 10
2. 10
Slaughtering and m eat
packing
Quit
"Discharge
Lay-off
Total separations
Aeeession
N et turnover
1. 27
.36
3.78
1.06
.37
4. 43
7.10
5.41
5.86
7. 62
7.10
5. 73
5.41
7. 39
5.86
1. 70
.73
4.67
i D ata not collected in 1930.
Cotton manufacturing showed the highest quit rate (1.42) of any
of the 10 industries for which separate indexes are shown. The lowest
quit rate (0.49) was shown in the brick industry. The highest dis
charge rate (0.51) occurred in the sawmill industry, and the lowest
discharge rate (0.06) in the iron and steel industry. Automobiles
had the highest lay-off rate (19.47). The lowest^ lay-off rate (1.41)
was shown by the iron and steel industry. Sawmills had the highest
accession rate (7.43). The lowest accession rate (1.01) was registered
by the boot and shoe industry.
In view of the great demand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is
reprinting the standard procedure advocated for compiling turnover
statistics.
This procedure was first printed in the Labor Review for June, 1931.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 4 2 0 ]
LABOR TUR NO VER
157
A S ta n d a rd Procedure for C o m p ilin g Lab or Turnover S ta tis tic s
ABOR turnover is a constant cause of loss to industry. When
a new employee is hired to take the place of one who leaves, there
is an expense involved in interviewing and hiring the new man. There
is always an uncertainty as to his ability and efficiency that entails^ a
greater amount of supervision than is given to an employee long in
service. The new man can not be trusted fully until his capacity is
known. The new man must learn the ways of the factory and he may
frequently spoil material in his work.
So serious has been, and is, the subject of labor turnover that the
Bureau of Labor Statistics is now collecting and publishing monthly
figures relating thereto from about 4,200 manufacturing^ establish
ments to the end that the public may be informed of conditions, and
that employers may have the opportunity to compare their turnover
with that of manufacturing industry as a whole, and with that of
certain particular lines of manufacture. It is believed that the pub
lication of these figures will aid in stabilizing employment and reduc
ing the cost of turnover.
The information is issued by the bureau in the form of turnover rates
or indexes, computed from the average number of employees and the
number of accessions and separations in the month.
A general rate is published each month for manufacturing industries
as a whole, based on reports received at present (October, 1931) from
about 2,000 employers in 75 different lines of manufacture. A bal
anced proportion is given to the several industries included in this
general rate.
In addition, the bureau has expanded its monthly inquiry to such
an extent in 10 industries that separate rates are now being published
for them. These 10 industries collectively represent approximately
3,000 establishments. A due proportion of the establishments in these
several lines are included in the general index.
The bureau has adopted the following definitions and methods in its
handling of labor turnover statistics:
Labor turnover means the replacements in a working force made
necessary by employees leaving the service.
An accession means the hiring of a new employee or the rehiring of
an old employee.
'
#
.
A separation means an employee leaving the service. Separations
are classified in three groups—quits, lay-offs, and discharges.
A quit is termination of employment, generally initiated by the
worker because of his desire to leave, but sometimes due to his
physical incapacity.
A lay-off is a termination of employment at the will of the employer,
without prejudice to the worker. A permanent lay-off, a long lay-off ,
and an indefinite lay-off are counted by the bureau as lay-offs, but a
short, definite lay-off with the name of the worker remaining on the
pay roll is not counted as such.
A discharge is a termination of employment at the will of the em
ployer, with prejudice to the worker because of some fault on the part
of the worker.
L
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1421]
158
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
A quit on the part of a worker may be due to—
a. Dissatisfaction as to wages, hours, working conditions, or
labor policies.
b. The opportunity to get a more desirable position.
c. A desire not to work anywhere.
d. Sickness, disability, old age, or death.
A lay-off of the worker may be due to—
a. Lack of orders.
b. Lack of material.
c. Change in product.
d. Breakdown of plant.
e. Reorganization of force.
/. Release of temporary help.
g. Introduction of labor-saving machinery.
A discharge of a worker may be due to his—
a. Incompetence.
b. Insubordination.
c. Violation of rules.
d. Dishonesty.
e. Misfit—physical or mental.
/. Laziness.
The above enumeration lists at least the main causes.
Each month the bureau sends out a questionnaire and gets from its
correspondent establishments the following information for the month
just closed:
1. Number of separations during period—
a. Number of quits.
b. Number of discharges.
c. Number of lay-offs.
d. Total separations.
2. Number of accessions during period.
3. Number of factory workers on pay roll—
a. At beginning of period.
b. At end of period.
The purpose of the last two questions is to get an approximate
number on the pay roll. This is determined by adding the number
at the beginning of the period and at the end of the period and dividing
by two. Some plants are able to furnish the average of daily counts
of the number on the pay roll. Others can furnish an average of the
number on the weekly pay roll.
The items of separation and accession are divided by the average
number on the pay roll to get the rate per 100 employees for the
month. In compiling the rates the actual numbers for the several
establishments are added and the rates computed from the grand
total. Thus each establishment has an influence or “ weight” in the
rate in proportion to its size.
To obtain the equivalent annual rate the monthly rate is multiplied
by 11.77 if the month has 31 days; by 12.17 if it is a 30-day month;
by 13.04 if it is a 28-day month; and by 12.62 if it is a 29-day month.
In comparing monthly rates the number of the days in the month
should be considered as no adjustment is made in the monthly rate
because of the number of its days. With the adjustment in the equiv
alent yearly rate this latter figure affords a more exact comparison as
between months.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1422 ]
LABOR TURNOVER
159
When an establishment is growing in size it hires new employees
for two reasons—first, to fill the places of employees who separate
from the service, and, second, to increase the force. The replace
ment is a turnover, but the additional hiring is not a part of turnover
proper. Hence, in this instance the turnover rate is equal to the
separation rate. However, when an establishment is decreasing in
size only a part of the vacancies occurring are filled. Here the net
turnover rate is equal to the accession rate.
The reporting establishments are requested to omit office employees,
when practicable, so as to limit the figures to factory workers. The
establishments are also asked to include temporary help, part-time
workers, and employees in training, in the figures reported. This
inclusion is desired in order to show the degree of stability of employ
ment as it affects all workers.
Pay rolls sometimes carry names of persons for a considerable time
after the end of employment, and the bureau advises that such dead
names be cleared from the pay roll at frequent intervals to insure the
proper base in the computation of rates.
There is difficulty at times in getting correct statements of causes
of separation. A cause may be stated which in fact is only a nominal
one, with the real cause concealed. The bureau does not attempt to
ascertain causes in detail, but personnel managers will find it helpful
to make careful inquiry concerning causes in their efforts to reduce
labor turnover.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[14231
HOUSING
B u ild in g P erm its in P rin cip a l C itie s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s ,
O cto b e r, 1931
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Depart
ment of Labor received building-permit reports from 343 identical
cities having a population of 25,000 or over for the months of Septem
ber and October, 1931, and from 292 identical cities for the month
of October, 1930, and October, 1931.
The cost figures as shown in the following tables apply to the cost
of the buildings as estimated by the prospective builder on applying
for his permit to build. No land costs are included. Only building
projects within the corporate limits of the cities enumerated are shown.
The States of Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and
Pennsylvania, through their departments of labor, are cooperating
with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in the collection
of these data.
Table 1 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings^ of
new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs,
and of total building operations in 343 identical cities of the United
States by geographic divisions.
T
T a b l e 1 .— E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F N E W B U IL D IN G S , O F A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S ,
A N D R E P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 343 ID E N T IC A L
C IT IE S AS SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS SU E D IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931, BY
G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
N ew residential buildings
Fam ilies provided for
in new dwellings
E stim ated cost
Geographic division
N ew nonresidential build
ings (estim ated cost)
Per
Per Septem Octo
Septem
Septem October, cent
cent of ber, 1931
ber,
of ber,
1931
ber, 1931
1931 change
change 1931
Per
October, cent
of
1931
change
+14.4 $15, 309, 998 $3, 033, 962
+44.5 10,448, 277 18,114,901
- 6 . 3 7,468, 204 3, 959, 738
+ 1 .0 2,889, 964 1, 547,553
-1 5 .3 5, 248, 033 4, 535,151
-1 5 .8 3,046,634 4, 505,150
- 1 1 .6 2,415,327 3, 293,282
-8 0 .2
+73.4
-4 7 .0
-4 6 .5
-1 3 .6
+47.9
+36.3
N ew E n g lan d .- ------- $2, 991,865 $2,838, 300
M iddle A tlantic ------- 12,955,873 16, 203, 545
E a st N o rth C en tral__ 3,690, 308 3, 088,869
W est N o rth C e n tra l.. . 1, 798,890 1, 732, 350
South A tlan tic.............. 2, 780, 770 2,179,239
South C en tral_______ 2 , 10 2 , 886 1, 374,619
M ountain and Pacific.. 4,603, 050 4,254, 972
- 5 .1
+25.1
-1 6 .3
-3 .7
- 2 1.6
-3 4 .6
-7 .6
564
2,646
749
486
600
647
1,434
645
3,823
702
491
508
545
1,267
T o tal__________ 30,923,642 31,671,894
+ 2 .4
7,126
7,981 + 12 .0 46,826,437 38,989,737 -1 6 .7
Additions, alterations, and repairs
(estim ated cost)
T o tal construction (estim ated cost)
Per
cent of
change
Per
cent of
change
Geographic division
Septem ber,
1931
October,
1931
Septem ber,
1931
October,
1931
N um
ber of
cities
N ew E n g la n d .. ..........
M iddle A tlan tic______
E a st N o rth C entral . .
W est N o rth C e n tra l.-.
S outh A tlan tic_______
S outh C en tral_______
M ountain and Pacific..
$1, 380,630
4,606,885
2,911, 061
1, 049, 598
2,442, 005
890, 335
1,822, 953
$1,105, 582
6,025, 657
2,647,407
677, 082
1,631, 792
1,031, 856
1,558, 510
-1 9 .9
+30.8
- 9 .1
-3 5 .5
-3 3 .2
+15.9
-1 4 .5
$19,682,493
28, Oil, 035
14,069, 573
5,738,452
10,470, 808
6 , 039, 855
8,841, 330
$6,977,844
40, 344,103
9,696, 014
3,956, 985
8, 346,182
6,911, 625
9,106, 764
-6 4 .5
+44. 0
—31.1
—31.0
- 2 .3
+14. 4
+ 3 .0
51
69
92
24
38
34
35
T o tal.....................
15,103, 467
14,677,886
- 2 .8
92,853, 546
85, 339, 517
- 8 .1
343
160
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1424]
161
HOUSING
The estimated cost of building operations for which permits were
issued in these 343 cities for the month of October, 1931, was
$85,339,517. This was a decrease of 8.1 per cent compared with the
estimated cost of total building operations for which permits were
issued during the month of September.
There was an increase of 2.4 per cent in the indicated expenditures
for new residential buildings in these cities, and a decrease of 16.7 per
cent in estimated cost of new nonresidential _buildings. Additions,
alterations, and repairs decreased 2.8 per cent in estimated cost.
Permits were issued during October, 1931, for new residential
buildings to provide for 7,981 families. This is an increase of 12 per
cent in the number of family dwelling units provided, compared with
September, 1931.
The entire increase in residential buildings occurred in the Middle
Atlantic States. All other geographic divisions registered decreases
in this class of building. The decreases ranged from 3.7 per cent in
the West North Central States to 34.6 per cent in the South Central
States. The increase in the Middle Atlantic States amounted to
nearly $4,000,000.
Three of the seven geographic divisions registered increases in
estimated expenditures for new nonresidential buildings, the Middle
Atlantic States showing the largest percentage of increase. The New
England States showed the greatest decrease for estimated expendi
tures for new nonresidential buildings.
Two geographic divisions, the Middle Atlantic and South Central,
showed increases in indicated expenditures for additions, alterations,
and repairs. Decreases were shown in the other five divisions. The
smallest decrease occurred in the East North Central States and the
largest in the West North Central States.
Increased expenditures for total building operations occurred in
three of the geographic divisions, comparing permits issued in October
with those issued in September. These increases ranged from 3 per
cent in the Mountain and Pacific States to 44 per cent in the Middle
Atlantic States. There were decreases in the other four geographic
divisions ranging from 2.3 per cent in the South Atlantic States to
64.5 per cent in the New England States.
Table 2 shows the number of new residential buildings, of new
nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs, and
of total building operations in 343 identical cities of the United States
by geographic divisions.
T a b l e 2 .—N U M B E R O F N E W B U IL D IN G S , OF A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D R E
P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 343 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S , AS
SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS SU E D IN S E P T E M B E R , 1931, A N D O C T O B E R , 1931, B Y G E O
G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
N ew residential
buildings
Geographic division
N ew E ngland_______
M iddle A tlan tic. - . . .
E a st N o rth C e n tra l...
W est N o rth C e n tra l...
S outh A tlan tic______
S outh C e n tr a l______
M ountain a n d Pacific.
T o ta l...................
Per cent of change
N ew nonresidential A dditions, alterations, T otal construction
and repairs
buildings
Septem October, Septem October,
ber, 1931
1931
ber, 1931 1931
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
1,142
2,691
2,699
1,224
889
764
1,674
11, 083
+ 6 .3
2,297
4,909
4,023
1,388
2,936
2,034
4,289
21,876
2,365
5,244
3,691
1,237
3,295
2, 047
4,069
21,948
+ 0 .3
448
1,414
661
427
441
573
1,086
5,050
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
406
1,455
572
432
438
465
966
4, 734
- 6 .3
1,1 2 2
2,384
2,638
1,159
880
659
1,589
10,431
I 14251
Septem October,
ber, 1931
1931
3,867
8,707
7,322
2,974
4,250
3,266
6,964
37, 350
3, 913
9,390
6,962
2,893
4, 622
3, 276
6, 709
37, 765
+ 1.1
162
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
Permits were issued during October, 1931, for 37,765 buildings in
these 343 cities. This is an increase of 1.1 per cent as compared with
the number of building operations for which permits were issued
during September, 1931. The number of residential buildings de
creased 6.3 per cent while the number of nonresidential buildings
increased 6.3 per cent. The number of additions, alterations, and
repairs made during October, 1931, increased three-tenths of 1 per
cent as compared with the number of repairs for which permits were
issued during September, 1931.
Table 3 shows the index number of families provided for and the
index numbers of indicated expenditures for new residential build
ings, for new nonresidential buildings, for additions, alterations, and
repairs, and for total building operations. These indexes are worked
on the chain system with the monthly average of 1929 equaling 100.
T a b l e 3 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S O F F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R A N D O F T H E E S T IM A T E D
COST O F B U IL D IN G O P E R A T IO N S AS SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN P R IN C IP A L
C IT IE S O F T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S , JA N U A R Y , 1930, TO O C T O B E R , 1931, IN C L U S IV E
[M onthly average, 1929=100]
E stim ated cost of—
M onth
Families
provided
for
N ew resi
dential
buildings
N ew non
residential
buildings
64.3
51.8
87.1
1930
Ja n u a ry --- --------- -----F ebru ary -. ------------- -------------M arch___ _
. - . - ------- -- -.
A p r i l . _________ ... ------------------- . .
M ay ________________________________
. - - - - - - June____ - - - - - - J u ly ________________________________
A u g u st_________________ __________
Septem ber—
. ------ - --_ --------O c to b e r... ------- -N ovem ber___ __________ _
D ecem ber____ ____ _ _ -----------------
34.2
43.0
57.1
62.0
59.6
54.4
49.9
48.7
51.3
58.3
52.9
45.0
29.4
34.7
47.2
51.0
48.5
45.1
44.1
43.4
44.4
44.9
42.5
37.6
1931
J a n u a ry ____________________________
F ebru ary_____ . . ---------------- . .
M arch____ - . -----------------------------A p r i l . ________
. . ______
____
M ay ------- ----------- ----------------- -------Ju n e ________________________________
J u ly ________________________________
August ___ _
- -_ ______ _ . --_
Septem ber____ . -------------------O ctober----- ---------------------- ----------- .
39.1
40. 3
53.4
64.6
51.7
43.4
35.8
36.6
30.1
33.7
30.8
30.3
40.7
48.6
39.8
33.4
27.6
33.5
24.8
25.4
Additions, Total b uild
alterations, ing opera
and repairs
tions
90.7
82.5
86.7
67.2
73.8
53.5
54.4
64.3
55.1
57.5
77.5
81.8
84.5
74.6
77.4
58.6
64.2
58.1
37.8
53.5
46.1
44.1
66.4
73.8
69.3
63.3
64.8
54.4
58.2
49.7
46.3
50.1
43.4
43.8
76.4
73.9
58.5
41.7
53.7
63.9
41.8
34.8
55.5
48.6
58.0
65.2
53.0
56.5
57.8
48.3
41.0
39.8
38.9
37.9
57.1
60.6
48.8
39.4
41.7
47.3
33.5
30.8
10 0 .1
The index number of families provided for and the index number
of new residential buildings both showed an increase as compared with
September. The index numbers for new nonresidential buildings, for
additions, alterations, and repairs, and for total building operations
were lower than for either September, 1931, or October, 1930. The
charts on pages 165 and 167 show in graphic form the information
contained in this table.
Table 4 shows the number and value of contracts awarded for
public buildings by the different agencies of the United States Gov
ernment during the months of September, 1931, and October, 1931,
by geographic divisions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1426]
163
HOUSING
T atut? 4 —C O N T R A C T S L E T F O R P U B L IC B U IL D IN G S B Y D IF F E R E N T A G E N C IE S OF
T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S G O V E R N M E N T D U R IN G S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931,
BY G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
October, 1931
Septem ber, 1931
Geographic division
Cost
N um ber
Cost
N um ber
25
18
16
$1,497, 791
1,675, 811
802, 896
334,004
4,108, 816
2,023,689
909, 391
30
$429,782
1,102,127
690, 056
2 10 , 218
4,401, 280
878, 501
2,637, 534
119
11,352, 398
120
10, 349,498
N ew E ngland . .
----------M iddle A tla n tic .-. ------E ast N o rth C en tral----------W est N o rth C entral----------South A tla n tic ----------------South C entral .. - ---------M o u n tain and Pacific---------
13
23
13
T o ta l_______________
11
5
15
13
7
28
22
During October, 1931, 120 contracts were awarded by the various
agencies of the United States Government for building operations
throughout the United States to cost $10,349,498. The following
Federal agencies issued these contracts: United States Capitol Ar
chitect; Office of Quartermaster General, War Department; Bureau
of Yards and Docks, Navy Department; the Supervising Architect,
Treasury Department; the United States Veterans’ Bureau; and the
Office of Public Parks and Public Buildings.
Table 5 shows the value of contracts awarded by the different
State governments for public buildings during the months of Sep
tember, 1931, and October, 1931, by geographic divisions.
T a b l e 5 .— C O N T R A C T S A W A R D E D
F O R P U B L IC B U IL D IN G S B Y T H E D IF F E R E N T
S T A T E G O V E R N M E N T S D U R IN G S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931, BY G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S
Geographic division
N ew E n g lan d -------------------------M iddle A tlantic -------------------E ast N o rth C en tral-----------------W est N o rth C entral____________
South A tlan tic-------------------- -South C entral----- -------------M ountain an d Pacific--------------T o ta l___________________
September,
1931
October,
1931 i
$1.054,779
5,135, 800
690, 362
555, 525
328,583
682,024
620, 879
$725,409
2,226,771
281, 599
760, 849
418, 352
419, 585
437, 605
9,067, 952
270,170
1 Subject to revision.
During October, 1931, contracts were awarded by the various
State governments for buildings to cost $5,270,170. Whenever a
contract is awarded by the Federal Government or by a State govern
ment for buildings in cities having a population of 25,000 or over the
number or cost of such buildings is included in the number or cost as
shown in the several tables presented herewith.
Table 6 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings,_of
new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs,
and of total building operations in 292 identical cities having a popula
tion of 25,000 or over for October, 1930, and October, 1931, by
geographic divisions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
£1427]
164
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
T a b l e 6 — E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F N E W B U IL D IN G S , O F A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S ,
A N D R E P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 292 ID E N T IC A L
C IT IE S , AS SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN O C T O B E R , 1930, A N D O C T O B E R , 1931, BY
G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
N ew residential buildings
Fam ilies provided for
in new dwellings
E stim ated cost
Geographic division
Octo
Per
October, October, cent
of ber,
1931
1930
change 1930
T o tal................. .
Octo
Per
ber, cent of October,
1930
1931 change
-2 9 .9
-3 6 .3
-7 1 .7
-1 7 .3
-1 1 .9
-6 6 .7
-3 3 .6
638
5,425
1,859
548
548
1,086
1,909
624
3,820
601
491
486
501
1,169
53,088,125 30, 699,479 -4 2 .2
12, 013
7,692
;, 929,700 $2, 755,000
N ew E n g lan d _______
M iddle A tlantic-------- 25, 421, 335 16,195, 545
9,419, 771 2, 663,869
E ast N o rth C entral__
W est N o rth C entral--. 2, 094, 511 1, 732, 350
South A tlan tic_______ 2,432, 402 2,141, 929
3, 901, 086 1, 299, 739
South C en tral_______
M ountain aad Pacific- 5,889,320 3,911,047
A dditions, alterations, and repairs
(estim ated cost)
Geographic division
October,
1930
October,
1931
N ew nonresidential build
ings (estim ated cost)
-
2 .2
-29.
-6 7 .7
-1 0 .4
-1 1 .3
-5 3 .9
-3 8 .8
Per
October, cent
of
1931
change
$4,863,650 $2,913,750
11,045,975 18,094,136
16,885, 566 3,832, 375
4, 067,159 1, 547,553
3,853, 010 4,476,413
6 , 900,477 4, 093, 316
7,227, 688 3,168, 736
-4 0 .1
+63.8
-7 7 .3
-6 2 .0
+16.2
-4 0 .7
-5 6 .2
-36.0 54,843, 525 38,126,279 -3 0 .5
T o tal construction (estim ated cost)
N um
ber of
Percent
Percent cities
of
October, 1930 October, 1931
of
change
change
N ew E n g lan d ________
M iddle A tlan tic--------E a st N o rth C entral___
W est N o rth C entral___
South A tlan tic________
South C en tral________
M o u n tain a n d Pacific--
$1,811,512
7,835, 776
3,679,807
1,093,446
1, 707, 773
981, 649
2,193, 882
$1, 053,195
5,992, 670
2,446, 285
677, 082
1, 585, 302
942, 950
1,497, 210
-4 1 .9
-2 3 .5
-3 3 .5
-3 8 .1
- 7 .2
- 3 .9
-3 8 .2
$10, 604,862
44,303, 086
29, 985,144
7,255,116
7, 993,185
11,783, 212
15, 310,890
$6, 721, 945
40,282, 351
8, 942, 529
3, 956, 985
8 , 203, 644
6,336, 005
8 , 576, 993
-3 6 .6
-9 .1
-7 0 .2
-4 5 .5
+ 2 .6
-4 6 .2
-4 4 .0
47
65
72
24
33
24
27
T o tal___________
19,303,845
14,194, 694
-2 6 .5
127,235,495
83,020,452
-3 4 .8
292
There was a decrease of 42.2 per cent in the estimated cost of new
residential buildings comparing permits issued during October, 1931,
with those issued during October, 1930, in these 292 cities. Non
residential buildings decreased 30.5 per cent; additions, alterations,
and repairs, 26.5 per cent; and total building operations, 34.8 per cent,
in estimated cost comparing permits issued in these two periods.
The number of family dwelling units provided in October, 1931,
decreased 36 per cent compared with those provided during October,
193°.
All geographic divisions showed decreases in indicated expenditures
for new residential buildings. The greatest decrease, 71.7 per cent,
occurred in the East North Central States; the smallest, 11.9 per cent,
in the South Atlantic States.
The number of family dwelling units provided also decreased in
erach of the seven geographic divisions. The decrease in dwelling
units was 2.2 per cent in the New England States, but reached a
peak of 67.7 per cent in the East North Central States.
Comparing October, 1931, permits with October, 1930, permits,
there were increases in the estimated cost of new nonresidential
buildings in two geographic divisions—the South Atlantic and the
Middle Atlantic. Decreases occurred in the other five geographic
divisions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1428]
165
HOUSING
IN D EX ES OF COST OF BUILDING OPERATIONS.
MONTHLY
A U tR A O t
l# Z 9
=■ I O O .
100
75
50
25
0
100
75
50
_
25
TOTAL - INCLUDING ALTERATIONS fr REPAIRS. , QQ
15
75
IS30 / '
A
50
//
s.
V
v )531
\>
\
SO
25
25
•V
o
ui
Q
r
<
“D
cfl
aJ
U
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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[1429]
5
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166
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
All seven geographic divisions showed decreases in projected
expenditures for additions, alterations and repairs.
The South Atlantic States was the only group showing an increase
in expenditures for total building operations. The decreases in the
other six geographic divisions ranged from 9.1 per cent in the Middle
Atlantic States to 70.2 per cent in the East North Central States.
Table 7 shows the number of new residential buildings, of new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs, and of
total building operations in 292 identical cities having a population
of 25,000 or over for October, 1930, and October, 1931.
7 . —N U M B E R O F N E W B U IL D IN G S , OF A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D
R E P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N I N 292 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S ,
AS S H O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN O C T O B E R , 1930, A N D O C T O B E R , 1931, B Y
G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
T able
N ew residential
buildings
N ew nonresidential
buildings
A dditions, altera
tions, a nd repairs
T o tal construc
tion
Geographic division
O ctober, O ctober, October,
1930
1931
1930
October,
1931
October,
1930
O ctober,
1931
October, O ctober,
1930
1931
New E ngland,
___
M iddle A tlan tic_____
E ast N o rth C e n tra l...
W est N o rth C en tral.
South A tlantic . . . .
South C e n tra l... . .
M ountain a n d Pacific-
473
1, 878
1,161
451
484
874
1,117
385
. 1, 452
495
432
416
421
878
1, 262
3,143
3, 919
1, 287
1,036
720
2,058
1, 090
2,645
2,445
1, 224
854
530
1,579
2,261
5,256
4,076
1,396
3,181
2,158
4,623
2,324
5,103
3,463
1,237
3, 217
1,762
3,848
3, 996
10, 277
9,156
3,134
4,701
3, 752
7,798
3, 799
9,200
6,403
2,893
4,487
2,713
6,305
Total _ _______
6,438
4,479
-3 0 .4
13,425
10,367
-2 2 .8
22,951
20,954
-8 .7
42,814
35,800
-1 6 .4
Per cent of change
The number of buildings for which permits were issued in October,
1931, reached a total of 35,800. This was 16.4 per cent less than the
number of buildings for which permits were issued during October,
1930. Decreases were shown in the number of new residential build
ings, of new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and
repairs, and of total building operations comparing October, 1931,
permits with October, 1930, permits.
Table 8 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, of total building operations, together
with the number of family-dwelling units provided in new buildings
in each of the 343 identical cities for September, 1931, and October,
1931.
Reports were received for September, 1931, and October, 1931, from
51 cities in the New England States; from 69 cities in the Middle
Atlantic States; from 92 cities in the East North Central States;
from 24 cities in the West North Central States; from 38 cities in the
South Atlantic States; from 34 cities in the South Central States; and
from 35 cities in the Mountain and Pacific States.
Permits were issued for the following important building projects
during the month of October, 1931: In Cambridge, Mass., for a court
house to cost $300,000; in Albany, N. Y., for a grain elevator to cost
$1,750,000; in Newark, N. J., for a church to cost $330,000; in the
Borough of the Bronx, for apartment houses to cost $2,700,000 and
for three school buildings to cost $1,710,000; in the Borough of Man
hattan,for a public-school building to cost $3,500,000; in Philadelphia,
for an institutional building to cost over $1,000,000; in Pittsburgh,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1430]
167
HOUSING
for an institutional building to cost $1,400,000; in Fort Worth, Tex.,
for an office building to cost over $1,000,000.
Contracts were awarded by the Supervising Architect of the Treas
ury Department for a post-office building in Waterbury, Conn., to
cost $352,000, and in Altoona, Pa., for a post office to cost $343,000,
A contract was let by the Capitol Architect for a wing of the SenateOffice Building in Washington, D. C., to cost nearly $2,200,000.
IN DEXES OF FAM ILIES PROVIDED F O R .
M ONTHLY
19 2 9 =
AVERAGE.
lO O .
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75
75
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No reports were received from New London (Conn.), Bangor (Me.),
Nanticoke (Pa.), Anderson (Ind.), Pontiac (Mich.), Newark and Zanes
ville (Ohio), Savannah (Ga.), Fort Smith (Ark.), Lexington and New
port (Ky.), Meridian (Miss.), Muskogee (Okla.), Corpus Orristi,
Laredo, and Port Arthur (Tex.), and San Bernardino and Santa
Barbara (Calif.).
87017°—31----- 12
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1431]
168
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
T a b l e 8 . — E S T IM A T E D CO ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931
N e w E n g la n d S ta te s
N ew residential buildings
E stim ated cost
State an d city
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
N ew nonresidential
b u ild in g s (e s ti
m ated cost)
T otal construction,
including altera
tions a nd repairs
(estim ated cost)
Septem
ber, 1931
O ctober,
1931
Sep
te m
ber,
1931
Octo
ber,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
$143,150
28, 400
76, 000
29,150
13, 300
0
69,000
79, 200
62, 000
25, 500
34,000
$114, 200
14, 000
21, 000
29, 000
16, 700
28, 200
89, 800
96, 600
53, 000
11,500
16,000
40
7
9
6
3
0
13
14
9
6
9
29
4
5
6
4
6
17
15
10
4
4
$16, 352
9,852
287, 650
1,419, 768
619, 968
3,075
2,964, 335
10,160
3,150
3,685
23,255
$83, 978
110, 532
21,500
94,605
138,370
5,175
97, 576
9,600
38,000
925
436,792
$199, 632
45, 352
383, 675
1,520, 823
643, 043
12,153
3,064, 835
110,112
76, 795
35,195
70,055
$215,133
130,359
96,950
221,421
161,440
48,958
208,226
122,280
105,800
13,435
458,642
6,300
32,850
3,000
40,600
2
10
1
9
42, 525
26, 715
0
15,935
50,125
87,146
4,050
74,358
21,200
484, 500
39, 800
228,400
198,500
0
5,500
9, 600
3, 800
2,000
5,600
43,000
5,000
29, 300
59, 285
54, 500
117,100
5,000
152, 300
69, 000
123, 200
17,000
50,400
17, 700
69,080
3, 500
26, 700
35, 700
127, 600
47,300
977,000
16, 250
97,000
0
5,000
0
6,000
3,500
6, 500
8, 300
17,500
0
45, 050
22,300
33, 500
84,100
4, 500
141, 500
77, 700
95, 000
1,000
41,000
12,000
44,600
5,700
17, 700
29, 500
77,800
6
122
9
20
2
0
2
3
1
1
10
264
5
6
0
1
0
2
1
5,062
4,220, 613
85, 505
22,565
999,910
1,000
3,075
54,150
1,430
4,800
2
3
3,615
2
21,600
9,875
0
2
7, 935
8,175
5
6,900
8
23
5,890
1
5,000
16
8,006
18
44,450
28
125,025
1
1, 300
8
10,300
2
2, 925
14
680,598
3
888
111, 700
3
5
7, 725
12 2, 508, 280
4,755
400,477
4,215
7,280
443,625
2,060
5, 550
21, 800
23,554
1,806
3,585
7, 750
45,850
3,885
15,545
7,080
82,120
5, 550
21,010
37, 300
31,060
200
13,135
111, 440
61,200
1,530
4,035
35, 550
387,125
38,184
5,172,682
135,136
255,290
1,233, 635
31, 877
10, 975
69, 250
22, 509
29, 640
17, 090
83,450
22,075
47,110
84, 256
84, 385
126, 435
31, 750
186, 900
126, 325
269, 830
29, 700
94, 603
31,146
759,628
13,237
149,250
47, 525
2,661, 536
97,605
1,605,355
31,500
111, 765
462,576
17,945
14,950
29,525
47,275
10,816
19,357
41,250
63,000
56,615
57,315
51, 420
173,160
26, 760
177, 572
125,950
171,091
9,825
68,039
139, 699
116,425
15,228
24,235
89, 250
490,100
9,000
25,700
10, 500
17,300
3
9
3,250
20,830
4,000
4,105
12,500
76,873
14, 500
52,556
4, 500
68,050
33,450
27, 050
17, 800
199, 700
3, 500
5,000
120,450
31,200
26, 350
12, 700
163,900
0
2,280
12,130
71,350
80,370
219, 910
491, 791
9,300
3,790
17,625
35,472
9,050
5,710
104,860
6,290
9,530
82,320
114,920
110, 420
252,840
839,900
18,840
10,555
143, 590
78,330
40, 550
25; 410
396,978
8,720
T o tal__________ 2,991,865
Per cent of change___
2,838,300
—5.1
3, 033,962 19, 682,493
—80.2
6,977,844
—64.5
Connecticut:
B ridgeport______
B ristol__________
Greenwich______
H artford________
M erid en ________
New B rita in _____
N ew H a v en ___._
N orw alk________
Stam ford________
Torrington______
W aterb u ry ______
M aine:
Lew iston________
P o rtla n d ......... .......
M assachusetts:
B everly_________
Boston i ------------Brockton ______
B ro o k lin e .......... .
Cam bridge______
Chelsea_________
Chicopee—. _____
E v e re tt_________
Fall R iver _____
F itch b u rg _______
H av erh ill________
Holyoke ________
Law rence________
Lowell____ ______
L y n n ___________
M alden_________
M edford____ ____
N ew Bedford _ .
N ew ton________
P ittsfield________
Q uincy__________
Revere__________
Salem___________
Somerville______
Springfield........ .
T a u n to n ________
W alth am ................
W atertow n______
W orcester...... .........
N ew H am pshire:
C oncord_________
M anchester______
R hode Island:
C entral F alls____
C ranston________
E a st P ro v id en ce..
N ew port________
P a w tu c k et-........ .
Providence..........
W oonsocket............
2
3
1
7
15
12
23
1
19
15
28
4
9
5
18
2
5
7
21
3
5
1
2
16
28
6
5
8
7
4
24
1
564
3
34
0
645 15,309,998
+14.4
i Applications filed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1432]
October,
1931
169
HOUSING
T a b l e 8 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931—C ontinued
M i d d l e A t l a n t i c S ta te s
N ew residential buildings
E stim ated cost
State and city
N ew Jersey:
A tlan tic C ity ........
B ayonne________
B elleville...........
B lo o m field _______
C am den.............. .
C lifto n .......... ........
E a st O range_____
E lizab eth _______
G arfield.................
H oboken________
Irv in g to n ........... .
Jersey C ity --------K earn y ...................
M ontclair_______
N ew ark_________
N ew B runsw ick...
Orange__________
Passaic__________
P aterson________
P e rth A m boy----Plainfield_______
T ren to n _________
U nion C ity _____
W est N ew York
N ew York:
A lbany_________
A m sterdam _____
A u b u rn_________
B ingham ton____
Buffalo____ _____
E lm ira__________
Jam estow n______
K ingston________
Lockport........... .
M ou n t V ernon__
N ew burgh______
N ew Rochelle___
N ew York—
T h e Bronx L.
Brooklyn 1__
M an h a tta n
Q ueens1____
Richm ond L .
N iagara F alls___
Poughkeepsie___
Rochester______
Schenectady____
S y ra c u s e .............
T roy.......................
U tica......................
W atertow n_____
W hite P lains____
Y onkers________
Pennsylvania:
A llentow n______
A ltoona________
B ethlehem ______
B u tle r____ ____ _
C h este r.________
E asto n ...... ............
E rie........... ............
H arrisburg............
H azleton...............
John sto w n ______
L ancaster_______
M cK eesport.........
Fam ilies pro
vided for in
new dwellings
New nonresidential
b u ild in g s (e s ti
m ated cost)
T o tal construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Sep
tem
ber,
1931
Octo
ber,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
$2,500
0
88, 800
130, 000
0
98,100
11, 000
37, 000
13,100
0
5,500
44,000
44, 000
57, 500
103,000
7,000
5,900
0
64,300
0
49,000
27, 500
38,000
0
0
$5,500
4,000
70,000
0
115, 000
8, 500
35,000
0
0
42, 000
160,400
34, 000
53, 500
53,000
0
12,000
0
38, 575
0
47,000
28, 500
0
30,000
1
0
12
28
0
23
2
8
4
0
1
12
7
6
17
2
1
0
15
0
8
4
16
0
0
2
1
14
0
29
1
7
0
0
11
48
8
5
14
0
2
0
11
0
7
4
0
13
$560
6,471
11,180
20,000
6,525
8, 450
18, 985
16, 000
3,850
3, 400
33, 649
13,175
69, 579
6,225
49,120
1,200
1,300
3,450
17, 050
9, 680
4, 775
787, 655
18, 500
450
$6,150
725
5,100
5,000
9,275
13, 590
50,426
79, 000
2,385
5, 500
8, 525
13,025
10,425
4,550
419,410
4,160
3, 920
45,335
32,427
7,484
22,914
189,815
2, 900
12, 200
$22,020
17,112
109, 738
151, 500
17, 670
116,995
94, 670
53, 000
19, 875
23, 260
45, 219
97, 802
119, 254
71, 676
267, 295
20, 350
24, 300
39, 990
128, 007
12, 405
92, 765
824, 730
70, 925
8,325
$45,278
23,155
15,150
81,000
21,130
134, 990
89,453
114, 000
5,785
13, 860
56,245
257, 325
45,500
74, 018
723,414
13, 994
26, 635
75, 050
115, 615
10,264
80, 589
241, 763
32,700
56,390
154,800
0
32,000
13,800
168,100
18, 800
26, 000
14, 700
0
35, 000
0
195,500
241, 600
4,000
25, 600
22,100
242,025
7, 250
25, 700
21,200
4,000
59, 800
6,000
213, 300
20
0
6
5
54
4
7
3
0
4
0
13
20
1
5
6
95
2
7
6
2
9
1
14
142, 500 2,141, 650
1, 700
4, 800
3, 335
18, 975
10,121
11, 279
465, 802
447, 673
6, 257
37, 640
20, 975
42, 330
236, 080
3,420
1,690
957
12, 545
3, 500
4,000
4, 650
209,899
4,175
385, 629
14,450
63,803
73, 618
729, 597
73,140
72, 320
35, 944
2,347
60, 509
14, 762
207,239
2,440,446
6,300
39, 755
61, 792
801,437
20,178
49, 692
272, 579
10, 845
96, 555
10,900
436, 224
1, 932, 500 3,140, 000
1, 779, 900 4,147, 300
410, 000
995, 000
2,253,150 4,904, 000
302, 450
' 184, 600
68, 850
47, 400
28,000
48,500
72, 050
69,100
49,000
61, 900
112, 800
110, 500
54, 390
334, 000
53,000
27,500
6,000
5,225
86, 000
100, 000
411,100
1,318,800
437
424
233
488
48
15
7
13
9
20
11
7
3
10
248
1, 896, 800 2,749,647
373, 371 5, 097,422
4, 918, 500 4,110, 470
800,165 3,832, 509
278, 937
208, 200
109,434
15, 512
67, 548
6, 850
238, 947
43, 955
271, 300
37, 600
139, 325
847, 869
353, 7G0
48, 395
285, 750
30, 350
19,102
14,425
139,230
10,200
42,670 1, 373, 315
5,287, 645
5, 612,731
7,178, 740
6,190,885
603,925
136, 315
49,125
159,688
128, 050
1,040, 795
120, 300
83,950
27,115
108, 340
486,510
26,000
11,150
4,500
0
0
6,000
75', 200
21, 958
11,181
4, 950
2,800
27,500
4
4
1
0
3
0
38
9
2
1
2
3
128,350
47, 396
13,650
375
186,600
12, 700
464, 808
654, 600
30,468
14,650
45, 770
39,078
55,370
367,657
9,460
6,550
18, 825
17,009
325, 615
451,064
25,530
22,573
16, 810
44,242
23,000
15| 400
9,500
0
4, 700
0
125, 300
593 ; 000
10, 998
6, 000
7, 000
29,000
1 Applications filed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
552, 385
731
1,023 2, 767, 610
141 1,811, 527
1,182 1,174, 364
42, 046
87
32, 521
12
3,125
4
139, 940
17
191, 000
11
13, 850
23
5, 400
10
243,150
9
2,105
2
20, 355
8
15, 975
62
L1433]
4
3
1
0
0
1
24
5
3
1
1
6
93,550
4, 652
1,850
0
181, 900
4,345
293, 965
51,015
6,958
1,975
1,000
2,565
15,580
349,497
3,910
3,750
17,025
6,415
19,165
221,006
7,433
11, 670
7,650
3,300
October,
1931
170
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T a b l e 8 — E S T IM A T E D C O ST O P B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931—Continued
M i d d l e A t l a n t i c S ta te s — C o n tin u ed
N ew residential buildings
E stim ated cost
State a n d city
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
N ew nonresidential
b u ild in g s (e s ti
m ated cost)
T otal construction,
including altera
tions a n d repairs
(estim ated cost)
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Sep
tem
ber,
1931
Octo
ber,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
$5, 300
550
551,850
680, 600
50, 600
55, 300
5, 700
11, 000
0
31, 000
$4, 000
12, 000
212, 500
257, 700
0
28, 516
6,700
0
5, 000
18, 500
1
2
135
163
9
3
3
3
0
4
1
1
45
52
0
2
2
0
2
2
$2, 675
8, 366
337, 665
250, 910
47, 850
102,159
127, 515
1, 900
42, 395
34,586
$2, 065
9, 376
2,489, 630
1,515,190
11, 590
15, 340
7,745
3,100
26,242
5,065
$12, 670
39, 664
1,173, 257
1,243, 157
128, 667
198, 247
152, 300
25, 616
59, 313
90, 712
$11, 340
23, 536
2,983, 900
1,911,577
29, 972
59,550
32,804
31, 360
37, 238
48, 001
T o ta l_______ . 12,955, 873 16, 203, 545
Per cent of change___
+25.1
2, 646
Pennsylvania—Con.
N ew C astle______
N orristow n..........
P hiladelphia_____
P ittsb u rg h ______
Reading _______
Scranton______ _
W ilkes-Barre____
W ilkinsburg_____
W illia m sp o rt____
Y ork____________
3,823 10,448,277 18,114,901 28, 011,035 40, 344,103
+44.5
+'73.4
+44.0
E a s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s
Illinois:
A lto n___________
A urora__________
Belleville________
B erw yn_________
Bloom ington_____
Chicago_________
Cicero___________
D anville........ .........
D ecatur_________
E a st St. Louis____
E lgin___________
E v an sto n _______
G ranite C ity ------Joliet____________
M ayw ood_______
M oline__________
Oak P a rk _______
Peoria..... ................
Q uincy..... .......... . .
Rockford________
Rock Islan d _____
Springfield_______
W aukegan_______
Indiana:
E ast Chicago____
E lk h a rt...... ............
E v ansville_______
P o rt W ay n e_____
G ary .------- --------H am m o n d _______
Indianapolis_____
K okom o_________
Lafayette________
M arion__________
M ichigan C ity ___
M ishaw aka______
M uncie_________
R ichm ond_______
South B end_____
Terre H a u te .........
M ichigan:
A nn A rb o r............
B attle Creek_____
B ay C ity ................
D earborn________
D etro it__________
F lin t................... .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$2, 000
12, 800
25, 000
21, 500
25, 000
463, 600
7, 500
2,100
12, 500
18, 950
10, 3C0
55, 000
0
12, 000
0
7,000
0
78, 600
0
4,000
18, 050
108. 500
4,000
0
$7, 865
9, 300
11, 000
12, 000
225,100
8, 500
2,100
0
16, 700
13,100
8, 000
3,000
18, 000
0
30, 000
10, 500
85, 900
15, 300
13. 000
14, 300
36, 700
9,000
1
3
6
3
6
54
1
1
2
12
2
3
0
2
0
2
0
21
0
1
5
29
1
0
3
2
2
2
32
1
1
0
7
2
1
1
3
0
8
1
19
4
3
6
11
2
$608
6,955
6, 580
6,834
14, 000
1, 072, 600
540
1, 400
156, 330
14, 885
2,650
143, 000
26, 000
2,100
1, 095
10,145
93, 620
39,185
1,910
9, 377
1,090
10, 960
31, 475
$1, 000
8,615
615
3, 360
0
485,768
8, 300
15, 300
48, 650
11, 835
158, 250
109, 750
0
2,225
26, 639
2,840
43, 995
7, 815
2,640
2,475
1,815
22,798
28,027
$9, 967
60, 626
32, 580
32, 334
41, 000
1.969, 543
12, 690
8, 600
172, 580
57,135
18, 720
247, 000
26, 000
33, 200
4,070
27, 419
103,185
117, 785
1,910
20, 472
41,228
200, 426
40,025
1,234, 467
19, 300
64, 650
49, 700
34, 635
181, 000
142, 250
3, C00
43, 858
29, 100
39, 587
69,970
158,930
18,040
25, 370
25,173
84, 207
42, 742
0
2,500
17, 500
59, 410
26, 900
18, 200
104, 725
5, 000
7,500
0
6,000
4,000
2, 000
0
12,725
2,950
2,200
17,0C0
11,910
44, 200
1,000
0
120, 750
0
3, 300
1, 780
14, 5C0
2,000
5,000
7,000
21, 600
3,000
0
1
5
10
7
4
29
1
3
0
2
1
1
0
3
2
1
2
5
11
1
0
26
0
2
1
4
1
1
2
7
1
40, 350
2,162
5,822
493, 913
2,000
131, 077
1,888,319
2,640
3,400
225
6,890
915
27, 690
600
37, 020
1,825
980
9, 550
16, 600
10, 698
4,830
2,371
125, 304
3,400
0
15, 098
250
1,480
4,277
7, 650
8, 620
1,675
42, 500
10,610
36. 603
573, 071
38, 975
154, 247
2, 062,921
11,161
10, 900
2,279
17, 240
5,040
36, 384
10,100
58, 590
16, 258
5,630
31,172
48, 754
99, 527
15.115
10, 090
310, 223
5, 835
6,400
22,138
16, 875
4,180
21, 070
22, 000
43, 460
31, 281
45, 500
800
25, 500
38, 500
547, 035
98, 867
48, 700
2, 000
9,700
126, 300
488, 088
19, 476
6
1
8
8
117
10
7
1
3
36
130
4
1,950
67, 225
362, 550
248,000
171,146
27,162
1,960
18,470
8,550
3,635
564, 378
53, 043
110, 790
70, 569
399,835
296,695
1, 637, 910
158, 914
75, 860
25, 795
26, 250
132, 760
1, 360,750
84,514
[ 1434]
$15, 317
22, 094
12.115
16,190
12, 000
171
HOUSING
T a b l e 8 . — E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931—Continued
E a s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s — C ontinued
N ew residential buildings
E stim ated cost
S tate and city
M ichigan—Contd.
G rand R apids___
H am tram ck ____
H ighland P a rk ___
Jackson. _______
K alam azoo______
Lansing_________
M uskegon_______
P o rt H u ro n ______
S a g in a w ________
W yandotte______
Ohio:
A kron___________
A shtabula_______
C anton ----------C incinnati_______
C le v e la n d ______
Cleveland Heights
Colum bus _____
D a y to n _________
E a st C levelandE lyria. . ---------H am ilto n . --------L a k e w o o d ______
L im a____________
L orain__________
M a n s fie ld ._____
M arion ________
M assillon_______
M iddletow n. ---Norw ood. ______
Portsm o u th _____
Springfield______
Steubenville_____
Toledo__________
W arren . . ______
Y oungstow n__ .
W isconsin:
A p p le to n ____ . .
E a u Claire . . . . . .
F ond d u Lac____
Green B a y --------K enosha________
M a d is o n ______
M ilw aukee______
O shkosh________
R acine___. . .
Sheboygan______
Superior _______
W est A llis_______
T otal . . . .
.
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
N ew nonresidential
b u ild in g s (e s ti
m ated cost)
T otal construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Sep
tem
ber,
1931
Octo
ber,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
$18,800
0
0
13, 400
14, 500
10,700
7,500
4, 000
7,400
23, 650
$38,700
4,500
0
0
1,800
12, 500
0
1,400
0
12,100
6
0
0
2
4
4
3
3
4
6
11
1
0
0
1
4
0
2
0
3
$48, 060
800
525
11,970
41, 960
7,960
16, 525
175, 600
3,574
3, 938
$34,730
9, 260
550
820
11,920
11,970
2,630
435
8,160
3,437
$92,805
6,350
3,150
29,800
75, 875
28, 735
27,100
189, 800
17,124
34, 378
$97, 500
15,325
2,075
4, 516
25, 497
36, 545
8, 350
1,835
14,124
24, 552
38, 700
6, 300
5,000
481, 900
265, 500
71, 700
30, 000
82, 200
0
0
0
0
0
4,500
43,650
0
1,500
0
10,000
0
7,500
9, 500
3,000
4, 800
34, 750
48, 350
3, 600
0
359,400
245, 000
86, 800
83, 400
6,000
0
6, 500
0
27,500
0
3,000
29, 500
0
1, 500
0
0
0
0
0
2,000
0
11,100
6
2
1
91
53
10
7
14
0
0
0
0
0
1
9
0
1
0
2
0
2
3
2
2
8
8
2
0
76
50
14
16
3
0
2
0
2
0
1
7
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
4
39,991
1,810
4, 920
566, 470
173,949
35,735
23, 300
46, 576
1,575
1,835
6,870
4, 720
1,165
1,685
1,795
3,230
50
300
16, 220
2, 500
4, 950
925
14,952
1,135
29,650
114,678
1,790
3, 360
818, 930
93,325
3, 790
35, 250
293,348
1,115
6,745
2,125
6,140
365
1,606
3,470
250
1,450
2,470
8,825
200
1, 550
890
51,887
1, 435
2,430
155,123
14, 240
12, 230
1, 265, 510
629, 249
109,160
82, 400
138, 904
5,785
4,165
17,450
6,135
9,275
8,235
49,824
3,345
2,100
3,245
33,945
2,975
15, 580
17, 600
27, 850
26,745
93, 864
208,368
13, 268
11, 625
1, 244, 555
548, 000
95,950
177, 500
325, 023
3,144
15,755
12, 630
38, 740
15, 865
5,586
33, 463
1, 850
4, 513
8,670
12, 965
3,020
7,460
1, 590
121,807
8, 785
19, 661
58, 200
5,800
7, 800
22, 800
9, 600
87,100
287, 900
10, 246
27, 000
27, 500
11, 300
20,600
26, 400
23, 000
7,000
45, 200
3, 600
98, 900
313,150
14, 200
12, 500
34,100
0
27, 300
11
3
3
7
2
20
62
5
3
5
3
5
6
7
2
15
1
18
67
5
3
7
0
5
2,930
51,050
1,413
17, 540
2, 405
105, 080
783, 987
8,329
8,284
3,871
3,985
5,890
2,510
1,600
2,075
52, 580
3,095
16,131
371, 245
8,200
66,170
32, 250
2,925
4,095
90, 315
56, 850
12,108
56, 450
18,747
205, 085
1,177,091
23.480
44,194
52,044
21, 866
31, 205
124, 320
33, 558
11, 525
109, 447
29, 454
154,071
1, 073, 433
28, 726
83, 770
88, 959
8, 425
36,840
3, 690, 308
3,088, 869
-1 6 .3
749
702
- 6 .3
7, 468, 204
3, 959, 738 14, 069, 573
-4 7 .0
9, 696, 014
—31.1
$9, 215
100, 636
46, 300
95, 938
247, 605
35, 757
35, 250
90, 825
34, 175
$23,550
71, 626
36, 600
43, 324
70, 635
50,924
8,800
77, 705
37, 230
October,
1931
W e s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s
Iowa:
B urlington______
C edar R ap id s-----Council B luffs----D aven p o rt..............
Des M o in es...........
D u b u q u e .......... ..
O ttu m w a ..............
Sioux C i t y . . . ........
W aterloo.................
$7, 000
44,535
6,000
34,400
70, 350
13, 350
27,250
60, 750
15,200
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$12,000
27,050
23,000
18,800
42, 950
32, 700
4,500
56, 350
18, 200
1
12
1
8
16
4
8
17
10
[1435]
$1,065
40,029
4, 300
35, 946
75,945
14,496
3,550
25,475
8,975
$8,000
19,458
3,600
4,332
18,965
5,624
4,000
10, 705
14,890
172
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
T able 8 —E S T IM A T E D CO ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931—C ontinued
W e s t N o r th C e n tr a l S ta te s — C ontinued
New residential buildings
E stim ated cost
S tate and city
K ansas:
H u tch in so n______
Kansas C ity _____
T o p ek a.................
W ichita...... ............
M innesota:
D u lu th _________
M inneapolis_____
St. P a u l.________
M issouri:
J o p lin ...
_____
K ansas C ity _____
St. Joseph_______
St. Louis.................
Springfield______
N ebraska:
Lincoln........ - .........
O m aha....................
South D akota:
Sioux F alls______
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
New nonresidential
b u ild in g s (e s ti
m ated cost)
T o tal construction,
including altera
tions a nd repairs
(estim ated cost)
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Sep
te m
ber,
1931
Octo
ber,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
$12, 275
7,900
19, 200
56,500
$13, 600
19,600
15,700
80,300
8
6
4
16
7
11
9
20
$160
5, 398
515, 725
26,143
$7, 575
9,545
953,835
12, 785
$16, 740
18, 608
549, 390
95, 705
$22,125
35,155
975, 655
137, 745
34,800
312,025
209, 970
46,500
468, 825
191, 040
10
83
42
15
128
31
8,115
515, 790
497, 754
18, 380
63, 715
63,892
106,834
961,121
1, 070, 385
92, 622
638,154
318, 828
8,000
144,000
9,000
537, 900
18, 750
8,400
81, 500
14, 500
376, 350
20, 000
1
46
3
141
6
2
24
8
114
4
700
35,900
725
732, 658
10,510
2,200
97,000
4,655
86, 975
5,125
18, 685
215,400
16, 617
1,423, 230
38, 685
21, 630
297,200
24, 040
580,055
34,010
32,400
77,025
27,050
99, 250
9
19
7
22
100,411
114,090
9, 360
18,497
143,011
207, 365
60,445
158,052
October,
1931
40,310
34,185
15
8
116,105
104,440
160, 975
140,875
T o ta l__________ 1, 798,890
1, 732, 350
—3. 7
486
491
+ 1 .0
2, 889, 964
1, 547,553
-4 6 .5
5, 738,452
3, 956,985
-3 1 .0
$39, 531
$98, 055
$280,142
S o u th A t l a n t i c S ta te s
Delaware:
W ilm ington_____
$21, 000
D istrict of Columbia:
W ashington_____ 1, 559, 209
Florida:
26,100
Jacksonville........__
M iam i........ .............
100,450
0
O rlando.. . ..............
96,500
St. Petersburg___
3,600
T a m p a .....................
Georgia:
A tla n ta _________
93, 050
8,908
A ugusta..................
0
C olum bus_______
750
M aco n ................
M aryland:
318, 000
B altim ore_______
13,135
C u m b erlan d_____
1,750
H agerstow n_____
N o rth Carolina:
300
A sheville............
81, 600
C harlotte................
2,250
D u rh a m .................
15, 540
Greensboro______
27, 700
H igh P o in t___ . . .
7,100
R aleigh...... .............
11,000
W ilm ington_____
27, 800
W inston-Salem___
S outh Carolina:
30, 913
C harleston-........ .
50, 545
C olum bia.............
29,800
Greenville_______
900
S p artan b u rg ..........
Virginia:
63, 300
Lynchburg______
6, 596
N ew port N ew s___
86, 850
N orfolk...................
225
P e te rsb u rg ............
15, 900
P o rtsm o u th_____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$167, 200
4
44
$67, 661
883, 700
302
176
2, 733, 392
3, 229, 201
4,456, 948
4,441,614
57, 350
48, 700
3,060
7, 500
5,550
11
12
0
7
4
14
15
4
2
4
12, 270
1, 073, 205
1,200
9,200
5,730
405,165
61, 810
845
3,300
4,475
92, 635
1, 232, 276
16, 960
122, 000
33,652
489, 940
188, 919
15, 025
31, 500
36,972
109, 850
10, 552
13, 000
1, 800
30
7
0
1
32
8
2
2
273, 625
301, 935
47, 575
6,225
23, 087
25, 000
300
24,150
490, 679
321, 766
53, 652
15,171
200, 776
64, 891
17, 980
57,143
458, 000
4,000
5,000
59
3
1
63
1
2
332, 200
16, 075
1,000
225,400
3,635
755
1,263,219
30,110
9,825
1, 332, 700
8, 735
6,005
1,400
58,418
22,450
1,000
33, 050
1,200
9,800
6,900
1
19
1
3
23
4
4
3
1
14
17
1
16
2
4
6
50
18. 710
302, 700
3,191
9,275
6,517
4,200
6,450
24, 780
3,335
13,200
10,135
0
1,925
200
39,285
5,745
109, 477
308, 825
24, 235
46, 200
18,542
24,050
56, 220
34, 350
75, 878
51,475
27, 390
35,500
10, 075
16, 600
68,072
16, 250
30, 998
25, 500
0
3
21
6
1
3
16
4
0
200
14, 210
575
80
4,973
49, 794
125
4,345
37, 773
81, 326
42, 545
3,645
26, 290
92, 707
36, 265
22, 305
5,600
19, 700
62,100
0
10,500
6
2
21
1
4
2
7
17
0
3
3, 983
36, 596
32, 092
5,500
1,885
1, 285
4,000
22,640
0
8,330
80, 041
65, 444
152, 944
6, 575
26, 615
57, 431
36, 609
105, 985
2,400
30,142
[1436]
173
HOUSING
T able 8 —E S T IM A T E D CO ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931—Continued
S o u th A t l a n t i c S ta te s — C o n tin u ed
New residential buildings
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
E stim ated cost
State and city
Virginia—C ontinued.
R ichm ond___ _ .
R o a n o k e .__ ____
W est Virginia:
C harleston______
C larksburg___ . .
H u n tin g to n _____
Parkersburg_____
W heeling________
T o ta l_________
N ew nonresidential
b u ild in g s (e s ti
m ated cost)
T otal construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Sep
tem
ber,
1931
Octo
ber,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
$40,400
25, 875
$35, Oil
15,000
12
6
8
5
$308,000
86, 624
$170, 236
3, 848
$397, 868
120,997
$240,466
22,666
37, 274
15, 250
11,800
2,800
9,900
19,800
4,000
3,500
0
21,800
8
6
5
2
3
6
2
2
0
3
4,875
457,340
33, 525
34,045
15,200
5,250
5,745
53, 750
51, 623
9,693
97, 754
472, 590
60,245
39, 655
34, 590
31, 836
11, 585
59, 700
59, 633
38, 480
2, 780, 770
2,179, 239
-2 1 .6
600
508
-1 5 .3
5, 248, 033
4, 535,151 10, 470,808
-1 3 . 6
8, 346,182
- 2 .3
$92, 780
162, 254
46,162
$53,248
40, 015
43, 915
October,
1931
S o u th C e n tr a l S ta te s
A labam a:
B irm ingham _____
M obile _______
M ontgom ery____
A rkansas:
L ittle R o ck ______
K entucky:
A shlan d .
. . . __
C ovington_______
Louisville__ ___
P ad u cah ________
Louisiana:
B aton Rouge____
M onroe_____ - N ew Orleans___
S h re v e p o rt_____
M ississippi:
Jackson. _ _ ____
Oklahoma:
E nid _____ ____
O klahoma C i t y .. .
O k m u lg e e .._____
Tulsa __________
Tennessee:
C hattanooga------Johnson C ity ____
K n o x v ille ______
M em phis______ N ashville________
Texas:
A m arillo________
A ustin _________
B eau m o n t_______
Dallas
_______
E l Paso_____ __
Port W orth .
___
G alveston _____
H ouston _______
San A n g e lo _____
San A ntonio_____
W aco __________
W ichita F alls. . .
T otal
P er cent of change-----
$43,150
104,800
19,800
$10,025
14,000
5,600
0
14,146
1,830
53,109
10,967
0
3
9
2
50,100
8,250
93,425
22,825
7,400
80, 035
260,485
750
51, 650
24,475
158, 825
27,025
12, 950
104, 910
490, 935
2,950
18
4
22
10
8
4
32
7
28,585
3, 200
349,830
6,250
3,695
1,415
2,415
4,732
54,808
19,835
514, 700
54,380
23,493
7,515
118, 580
35, 579
5
8
2,425
750
25,680
26,402
8,565
1, 001,464
150
187, 269
$10,000
24, 650
14,600
$5,000
14, 700
19,300
7
13
11
3
9
6
22,750
0
7
1,550
10, 500
49,500
4,200
0
11, 500
50,000
2,200
2
3
8
4
14,525
8,950
95, 650
23,050
13,983
4,300
69,900
3,400
11,450
12,630
0
464, 225
0
109, 519
3,000
126,700
0
35,925
0
59
0
32
1
44
0
13
1,000
401,281
0
195,295
300
726,195
150
124, 999
7,596
898,896
250
321, 980
14, 700
4, 700
25,200
19, 500
56, 750
15,600
1,000
24,120
20,150
57, 725
12
3
8
8
20
6
1
11
9
18
59,200
15,000
246,310
29, 770
32,960
50,200
223,181
121,409
540, 800
279, 535
125, 557
19,700
276, 646
143, 217
108,320
147,970
224, 581
156,040
681,330
364,134
30,645
64,097
15,000
122, 590
18, 850
160,458
31, 590
529,000
24,850
69, 646
2, 700
107, 975
10,600
86,100
26, 850
445, 400
2,000
92, 965
13,900
500
21
37
6
67
6
45
12
131
20
44
3
71
. 3
29
12
117
1
42
8
1
213, 264
5, 872
2,919
87,584
1,360
187, 827
50, 731
260, 580
330
62, 580
14, 733
431, 252
66, 673
67, 721
20,154
62, 852
11, 515
1, 201, 950
205,100
253, 405
10, 540
137,414
7,325
600
248, 769
91,134
33, 088
354,414
45, 676
379, 596
117, 034
820, 730
5,430
252, 076
61, 709
442, 354
92, 733
155,154
35, 275
245,178
31, 926
1,328, 580
240, 840
740,108
12, 790
250, 888
32, 350
2,841
1,374, 619
-3 4 .6
647
545
-1 5 .8
3,046, 634
4, 505,150
+47. 9
6,039,855
6,911, 625
+14.4
0
116, 020
28, 667
0
2,102,886
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0
60
6
0
[1437]
174
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
T a b l e 8 . — E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D
IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931—Continued
M o u n t a i n a n d P a c if ic S ta te s
N ew residential buildings
E stim ated cost
State and city
Septem
ber, 1931
Arizona:
Phoenix_______ _
$29, 725
Tucson__________
19,450
California:
A lam eda________
15, 500
A lham bra_______
91, 050
Bakersfield______
15, 300
B erkeley________
72, 890
Fresno___ . . _
60,150
Glendale________
269, 850
Long Beach______
221, 025
Los Angeles_____ 1,827, 576
O akland.
. ...
161,089
Pasadena ______
35, 800
Riverside . _____
4,000
S a c ra m e n to .____
109, 000
San Diego_______
132,005
San Francisco____
653, 665
San Jose _
.
72,100
Santa A n a _______
45, 750
Santa M onica____
65, 900
Stockton________
59, 925
Vallejo__________
16,150
Colorado:
Colorado Springs..
12, 700
D en v er. _______
205, 600
P u e b lo ______. . .
9,650
M ontana:
B u tte ________ _
0
G reat Falls
3,500
N ew Mexico:
34, 800
A lbuquerque____
Oregon:
P o rtlan d________
161, 850
Salem___________
8,600
U tah:
Ogden__________
7,000
Salt Lake C ity ___
66, 250
W ashington:
Bellingham ______
8,100
E v e r e tt...............
2,000
Spokane_________
68,100
Tacom a_________
37, 000
T o ta l____ _____ 4, 603, 050
P er cent of change.......
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
N ew nonresidential
b u ild in g s (e s ti
m ated cost)
T otal construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estim ated cost)
October,
1931
Sep
te m
ber,
1931
Octo
ber,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
$32, 650
50, 450
8
9
9
15
$20, 060
16,927
$3,235
44, 091
$60, 275
42, 617
$44, 900
109, 766
7,500
37, 600
6, 400
39, 250
24,450
172, 550
233, 950
1,541, 200
170, 650
80,424
16, 500
90,450
191,140
741, 077
92, 400
20, 600
54, 600
53, 583
5,150
4
32
3
19
11
59
88
666
45
10
2
21
44
178
19
8
18
14
5
3
14
2
11
7
41
92
506
42
21
10
19
41
199
26
6
14
8
2
3,100
5, 600
2,197
7, 875
5, 530
21, 280
53, 690
672, 962
68, 998
9,490
14, 215
6,550
247, 016
687,441
23, 740
0
20, 985
13,880
550
2,460
22,100
910
14, 605
4, 551
21, 850
89,130
1,353, 718
57,157
147, 330
32, 550
29,130
33,430
456, 924
168,495
25, 924
8, 272
30,094
300
32, 625
101, 700
26, 295
152,090
95, 297
306, 925
338, 110
3,097,453
327, 655
125, 082
37, 678
155, 629
466, 082
1,512, 706
108, 875
58, 899
90, 240
110,871
27,075
26, 650
62, 300
19, 737
72, 259
69,488
206, 950
379, 835
3,459, 905
340, 217
297, 006
6i; 267
156, 769
313, 015
1, 339,438
282, 220
47, 737
68; 147
120,476
9,225
4,600
235,000
900
5
54
5
2
55
1
2,045
40, 575
2,900
76, 245
424,116
81,065
50, 971
353,275
19, 515
85, 753
733, 691
93, 080
0
19, 500
0
2
0
7
830
29,775
3,025
1,205
1,745
37,110
3,400
25,170
October,
1931
21, 500
7
8
3,490
10, 650
58,999
41,853
96, 200
14,175
29
2
22
3
230,810
84, 598
94, 090
2,290
532, 020
101,847
276, 320
21, 780
9,000
122, 973
4
19
4
54
300
11,163
1,000
11,960
11, 500
104,445
17,100
152,375
0
0
40, 550
28, 000
3
2
24
15
0
0
13
10
60, 500
2,570
37, 680
6, 005
20, 275
780
18,020
2,305
79, 024
12, 690
14i; 710
62, 300
23,010
18, 790
74, 795
52,340
4, 254, 972
-7 . 6
1,434
1,267
-11. 6
2,415, 327
3, 293, 282
+36.3
8,841,330
9,106, 764
+ 3 .0
$137, 006
+42.2
$626,435
$329,066
-4 7 .5
H a w a ii
H onolulu__ _________
Per cent of change___
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$493, 006
$160, 925
-6 7 .4
105
68
—35. 2
$96, 379
1
[1438]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W ages and H ou rs o f Lab or in th e M a n u fa c tu r e o f S ilk an d R a y o n
G o o d s, 1931
N THIS article are presented, in summary form, the results of a
study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of hours and earnings,
in 1931, of 49,036 wage earners of 340 representative mills engaged
in the manufacture of silk, rayon, or mixed silk and rayon goods in
the United States. Detailed data will be available later in bulletin
form.
The study revealed that in 1931, full-time hours for these employees
averaged 50.7 per week; that they earned an average of 40.6 cents
per hour; and that their full-time earnings per week averaged $20.58.
I
Trend of Hours and Earnings, 1910 to 1931
T he averages in Table 1 for the years from 1910 to 1914 and for
1919 are for the wage earners in the selected o cc u p a tio n s in the industry.
The averages for these years are comparable one year with another,
but are not comparable with those for 1914 and 1931 which are for
the wage earners in a ll o ccu p a tio n s in the industry.
Average full-time hours per week for wage earners in all occupations
in the industry in 1931 show a decrease of 7.1 per cent since 1914,
when the average was 54.6. During the same period the hourly
earnings have more than doubled, rising from 19.7 to 40.6 cents.
Average full-time earnings per week have not increased to quite the
same extent as hourly earnings, due to the decrease in hours, but have
risen from $10.79 in 1914 to $20.58 in 1931.
The index numbers in the table are for the purpose of furnishing
comparable figures for the specified years from 1910 to 1931. The
index for any year for selected occupations only is the per cent that
the average for the year is of the 1913 average. The index for 1931
was computed by increasing or decreasing the 1914 index for selected
occupations by the per cent that the 1931 average for all occupations
is in excess of or less than the 1914 average for all occupations.
Average full-time hours decreased from an index of 101.3 in 1910
to 100.0 in 1913, to 92.6 in 1919, and to 91.0 in 1931.
Average earnings per hour increased from an index of 86.5 in 1910
to 100.0 in 1913, to 199.0 in 1919, and to 215.8 in 1931.
Average full-time earnings per week increased from an index of
88.6 in 1910 to 95.7 in 1912, to 186.2 in 1919, and to 198.2 in 1931.
Average full-time earnings per week did not change in the same pro
portion as average earnings per hour because of the change in average
full-time hours per week.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1439]
175
176
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
T a b l e 1 —A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S W IT H IN D E X N U M B E R S , 1910 T O 19311
[1913=100]
Year
Index numbers of—
Num
Average Average Average
ber of Number full-time
full-time
estab of wage hours per earnings earnings
Full-time
Full-time
lish earners
week per hour per week hours per Earnings earnings
ments
week per hour per week
Selected occupations:
1910______________
1911______________
1912.........................__
1913-____________
1914 2_____________
1919______________
42
42
51
59
63
33
7,779
11,105
11, 762
12,002
18,293
9,415
56.4
56.4
55.9
55.7
54.6
51.6
$0.167
.172
.182
.193
.202
.384
$9.43
9.70
10.18
10.64
11.06
19.81
101.3
101.3
100.4
100.0
98.0
92.6
86.5
89.1
94.3
100.0
104. 7
199.0
88.6
91.2
95.7
100.0
103.9
186.2
1914______________
1931.............................
63
340
22,344
49,036
54.6
50.7
.197
.406
10.79
20.58
91.0
215.8
198.2
All occupations:2
1 A n article in th e Decem ber, 1930, Labor Review gave th e wages and hours in mills m anufacturing
rayon fiber. ‘ T h is article relates to wages and hours in mills m anufacturing goods from silk, rayon, o r
mixed silk an d rayon fiber.
2 2 sets of averages are show n for 1914 for th e in d u stry ; 1 for selected occupations and the other for all
occupations in th e in d u stry . T h e 1910 to 1919 averages for selected occupations only are comparable one
year w ith another, as are those for all occupations, for 1914 and 1931.
The study was limited to mills whose principal- products were
broad goods, dress goods, ribbons, linings, shirtings, satins, geor
gettes, pongees, crepes, taffetas, chiffons, and tie goods, made of si lb
and/or rayon.
The number of wage earners (49,036) included in the study in 1931,
based on the 1927 figures of the Census of Manufactures, is approxi
mately 30 per cent of the total in the industry in the United States.
Except for a very few mills, the 1931 hours and earnings of the
wage earners were taken by agents of the bureau directly from the pay
rolls of the mills included in the study for one representative pay
period in March, April, May, or June and therefore reflect the condi
tions of the industry in those months. The length of pay periods
varied in different mills from one to two weeks or more. Those of
more than one week were converted by the bureau to a 1-week basis.
The earnings in this report include earnings at basic rates and any
bonuses or premiums earned in the week covered in the study of the
industry.
Average Hours and Earnings, 1931, by Occupation and Sex
T a b l e 2 shows for males and for females separately, in each speci
fied occupation in the industry, average full-time hours per week,
earnings per hour, and full-time earnings per week in 1931, and also
for a group designated in the table as “ Other employees.” The
group includes all wage earners in other occupations, each too few in
number to warrant separate tabulation as an occupation.
Average full-time hours per week for males at 46.8 for reelers
were less and at 58.9 for doublers were more than the average for the
wage earners of that sex in any of the other specified occupations in
the table, and for females at 48.2 for ribbon weavers were less and
at 52.5 for rayon winders were more than the average for the wage
earners of that sex in any other specified occupation in the industry.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1440]
177
WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOE
Average earnings per hour for males ranged in the various occu
pations from 19.7 cents for redrawers to 74.6 cents for loom fixers, and
for females frorn 24.3 cents for redrawers to 47.6 cents for warpers.
Average full-time earnings per week for males ranged by occu
pations from $10.38 for redrawers to $38.05 for loom fixers, and for
females ranged from $12.25 for redrawers to $23.99 for warpers.
T a b l e 2 .— A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S , 1931, B Y O C C U P A T IO N A N D SE X
Occupation
W inders, hard silk ________
D oublers______
Spinners________
Reelers___________
Laborers, dye house_____
W inders, rayon _______ _
W inders, soft silk ________
R edraw ers. __ _____
W arpers. _ . . .
Quillers
Goners.
. . ______
...
E nterers___ _ . . .
E n te re r’s helpers. _
Twisters-in, h a n d _______
Twisters-in, m achine..
Loom fixers___ ____
B obbin boys
Weavers, broad s ilk .. .
W eavers, rib b o n _______
Smash hands_____________
Pickers, clo th__________
Inspectors, clo th_____ _
Packers.
________
O ther employees_____________
All employees______________
Sex
N um ber N um ber Average
Average Average
of
full-time earnings
full-time
of
estab
hours
earnings
wage
per
lish
per
per
hour
m ents earners
week
week
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Female
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Female .
M ale___
do
Fem ale..
M ale___
F em ale..
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Female .
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
do
do
Fem ale..
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Fem ale..
M ale___
Fem ale..
14
183
6
33
109
104
6
31
13
2
23
6
126
13
113
166
164
62
238
7
18
20
73
15
39
145
61
94
40
234
88
224
203
15
12
29
9
21
183
68
57
36
23
282
208
61
5,105
52
372
1,794
2,346
19
237
464
30
372
22
1,554
63
1,887
993
1,974
299
1,934
161
528
41
376
30
154
407
228
198
97
1,518
460
0 796
5,904
332
272
116
16
64
1,062
160
208
81
70
4, 724
2,455
51.9
50.1
58.9
50.3
54.2
50.2
46.8
49.8
52.0
$0. 267
. 293
.350
.287
.344
.289
.319
.287
.479
$13. 86
14. 68
20. 62
14. 44
18.64
14. 51
14. 93
14. 29
24. 91
52.5
57.3
49.2
52.7
50.4
51.1
50.4
54.2
50.0
52.1
50.4
51.7
50.8
51. 5
50.8
49.7
50.6
50.7
51. 5
51.0
61 4
61 2
49.6
47.3
48.2
51. 5
52. 1
52.0
49.8
51.1
50.6
49.8
49. 5
51. 5
50.0
. 295
.319
.340
. 197
.243
.648
.476
.250
.265
.323
.278
.414
.387
.246
.260
.634
.428
.615
.440
.746
15. 49
18. 28
16. 73
10.38
12.25
33.11
23.99
13. 55
13.25
16. 83
14.01
21.40
19. 66
12. 67
13. 21
31. 51
21. 66
31.18
22. 66
38. 05
.422
.558
.444
.536
.409
.260
.270
.538
.327
.355
.263
.434
.276
20. 93
26. 39
21. 40
27. 60
21 31
13. 52
13. 45
27. 49
16. 55
17.68
13. 02
22.35
13.80
M ale__
Fem ale..
340
340
21,885
27,151
51.5
50.0
.485
.335
24.98
16. 75
340
49, 036
50.7
.406
20.58
All employeees, male and female________
Average Hours and Earnings, 1931, by Sex and State
T a b l e 3 shows for males and females separately and also for both
sexes combined by States, average full-time hours per week, earnings
per hour, and full-time earnings per week, in 1931. Averages are
shown for Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina as a group, to avoid
showing figures for one plant alone. The table makes easy the com
parison of the averages of one State with another.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1441]
178
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Average full-time hours per week for males ranged from 47.5 for the
State with the lowest, to 56.8 for the one with the highest average,
and for all States covered in the report averaged 51.5 per week. Aver
ages for females ranged from 46.9 to 56.1 and for all States included
in the report averaged 50.0 per week or 1.5 hours per week less than
for males. Averages for both sexes combined, or the industry as a
whole, ranged from 47.2 to 56.4 per week.
Average earnings per hour for males ranged by States from 21.8 to
59.7 cents and for all States averaged 48.5 cents. Averages for females
ranged from 18.1 to 41.8 cents and for all States averaged 33.5 cents
or 15 cents per hour less than for males. Averages for both sexes
combined, or the industry, ranged from 19.6 to 50 cents per hour.
Average full-time earnings per week for males ranged by States
from $12.38 to $28.36, and for all States averaged $24.98. Averages
for females ranged from $10.15 to $20.77, and for all States averaged
$16.75 or $8.23 less than for males. Averages for both sexes, or the
industry, ranged by States from $11.05 to $24.75.
T a b le 3 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S , 1931, BY SE X A N D ST A T E
N um ber N um ber Average Average Average
of estab of wage full-time earnings full-time
earnings
hours
lish
earners per
week per hour per week
m ents
Sex and State
Males
13
3
12
97
37
10
131
20
5
6
6
1, 546
132
734
3,331
1,780
1,378
10,349
1,403
447
311
474
51.0
56.0
50.2
47.5
51.3
55.3
52.2
50.3
55.1
56.8
53.8
$0. 522
.310
.459
.597
.502
.419
.474
.553
.294
.218
.323
$26. 62
17. 36
23.04
28. 36
25.75
24. 97
24.74
27. 82
16. 20
12. 38
17.38
--------------------
340
21,885
51.5
.485
24.98
C onnecticut___________ - ------- ------------------------M ary lan d__ _
-------- - - - - - - - M assachusetts - ________
- . ---------- -------N ew Jersey_____________________________________
N ew Y o rk .. - __
- - ---- ------------- -----N o rth C arolina._______ ------Pennsylvania - - - - - - - ___
___ —R hode Islan d___
____
.
----------South Carolina, A labam a, and Georgia - ------T ennessee..
-- ---- ---------------- Virginia___________________________ ______ _______
13
3
12
97
37
10
131
20
5
6
6
1,429
381
776
3,764
3,047
809
14,250
1,170
428
511
586
49.3
50.0
47.6
46.9
48.7
55.2
50.5
49.7
55.6
56.1
54.1
.385
.230
.278
.410
.335
.314
.324
.418
.240
. 181
.265
18. 98
11.50
13. 23
19. 23
16.31
17. 33
16. 36
20. 77
13.34
10.15
14. 34
340
27,151
50.0
.335
16.75
13
3
12
97
37
10
131
20
5
6
6
2,975
513
1,510
7,095
4, 828
2,187
24, 618
2, 573
875
822
1, 060
50.2
51.5
48.9
47.2
49.7
55.2
51.2
50.0
55.4
56.4
54.0
.459
.253
.367
.500
.400
.382
.392
.495
.268
. 196
.292
23.04
13.03
17.95
23.60
19. 88
21.09
20.07
24. 75
14. 85
11.05
15. 77
340
49,036
50.7
.406
20. 58
C onnecticut----------------------------------------------- -------M ary lan d -. _ ------ - . -- -- - ------------------M assachusetts_______________ ____________ -- -N ew Jersey— ----------------------------------------------------N ew Y ork-------------- ------------------ -------------N o rth Carolina
---------- -- - P e n n sy lv a n ia _______ ------------ -Rhode Island - ..
----- ——
South Carolina, A labam a, and Georgia-----------T e n n e s s e e .___ - - - - - - --------- ---------Virginia___________ _____________________________
T o tal________ . .
------
Females
T o tal_____________________________________
Males and females
C onnecticut----------- -----------------------------------------M ary lan d ----------- ------------- ------------- -- _ M assachusetts____
________
______
- --N ew Jersey .. ___________________________________
N ew York .......................
_ _ _________ ____
N o rth Carolina .
------------------Pennsylvania_______________________
___ --R hode Is la n d ... ____ - ____ _ ________ ____ South Carolina, A labam a, and G eorgia.. - - - - T ennessee.. - ------------- ------ - - .
----Virginia__________ ____ _____________________ --T o tal_________ _____ _
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-
-_ _ _ _ ----------
[14421
179
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Average Hours and Earnings for Nine Occupations, 1931, by Sex and State
T he averages in Table 4 are limited to the wage earners in nine of
the most representative occupations in the industry. They illustrate
the variations in average full-time hours per week, earnings per
hour, and full-time earnings per week of the wage earners in each
State in all of the occupations in Table 2.
Average full-time hours per week for hard silk winders, male, the
first occupation in the table, ranged by States from 44 to 57, and for
females ranged from 48 to 57.5. Average earnings per hour for males
ranged from 19.7 to 40 cents and for females ranged from 16.8 to
37.5 cents. Average full-time earnings per week for males in this
occupation ranged from $10.95 to $20 and for females ranged from
$9.27 to $18.38.
T a b le 4 .— A V E R A G E
H O U R S , A N D E A R N IN G S F O R
SEX AND STATE
N u m N um A v er Aver
age
ber
ber
age
full earn
of
of
tim
e
estab wage
ings
lish earn ho u rs per
per
ments ers
week hour
State
Aver
age
N u m N um A v e r Aver
age
full
ber
ber full
age
of
tim e
of
earn
earn estab wage tim e
ings
u rs per
ings
lish earn hoper
per
ments ers
hour
week
week
W inders, hard silk, male
Connecticut________________
M aryland ______
___ _
M assachusetts___ _ _
New Jersey, _ . . . __
New Y o rk -, ____
- N orth C arolina__ _
. _
Pennsylvania- __ ____
Rhode Island . _ _____
South Carolina, Alabam a, and
Georgia _
______
Tennessee. _ ._ _ .
Virginia . _______ __________
T o t a l ___ _____
N IN E O C C U P A T IO N S , 1931, B Y
Winders, hard silk, female
1
1
2
2
0
in
15
9
8
9
C)
44.0
50.0
55.6
53.3
(D
$0. 300
.400
. 197
.292
(>)
$13. 20
20.00
10. 95
15. 56
1
1
18
0)
57.0
(>)
.205
(>)
11. 69
0)
14
61
51.9
.267
13. 86
5
149.
2
140
6
158
25
449
33
771
94
3
92 3,034
9
111
50 0
48.0
48.2
49. 1
55.0
50. 3
51.9
997
.222
.344
.337
.273
.284
.276
10. 66
16. 58
16. 55
15. 02
14. 29
14. 32
19
91
96
57 5
55.2
54.0
9.37
. 168
.238
13 63
9. 27
12. 85
183 5,105
50.1
.293
14.68
1
4
3
Spinners, male
C onnecticut______________ .
M aryland . . . . .
M assachusetts . ___
New Jersey
...
N ew York ______
N orth C arolina. ____
Pennsylvania . _____ ____
Rhode Isla n d . ____ . ..
South Carolina, Alabam a, and
Georgia
___________
Tennessee _
V irginia... ________ ____ _
Total
...
_____ ____
3
49
3
56
54
3
17
162
11
202
4
24
59 1,117
3
32
$0. 426
.323
.282
.433
.406
.295
.330
.381
$22. 75
18. 73
14.69
22. 30
22.29
16. 84
17.89
20. 38
6
33
59
57.5
56.9
54.7
.220
. 172
.275
12. 65
9. 79
15.04
109 1, 794
54.2
.344
18.64
1 Less th a n 3 wage earners; d ata included in total.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Spinners, female
53.4
58.0
52. 1
51.5
54.9
57.1
54.2
53.5
1
3
2
[1443]
Aver
age
full
tim e
earn
ings
per
week
3
64
3
47
3
99
20
208
12
415
3
55
54 1,314
1
4
48.2
50.0
48.0
47.9
48.8
55.0
50.6
48.0
$0. 386
.246
. 184
.346
.333
.271
. 278
. 237
$18.61
12. 30
8. 83
16. 57
16. 25
14. 91
14. 07
11 38
12
70
58
57.5
55.1
55.0
.210
. 192
.265
12. 08
10. 58
14.58
104 2,346
50.2
.289
14. 51
1
3
1
180
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T able 4 —A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S F O R N IN E
S E X A N D S T A T E —C ontinued
State
N u m N um
ber
ber
of
of
estab wage
lish earn
m ents ers
A ver A ver
age
age
full
tim e earn
ings
hours per
per
week hour
A ver
ver A ver
N u m Num Aage
age
age
ber full
ber
full
earn
of
of
tim e
tim
e
ings
earn estab wage lo u rs
per
lish earn per
ings
hour
ments ers week
per
week
C onnecticut________________
1
1
Pennsylvania____ _____ _____
R hode Island - - -- ---South Carolina, Alabam a, and
2
1
Tennessee . . -------------- - -Virginia.......................... ..............
T o tal- -------------- ------
«
0
0
5
49.5
$0. 389
$19. 28
9
64.7
(')
.341
0
22. 06
0
.1
4
55.0
.167
9.19
6
22
57.3
.319
18. 28
0
0
9
4
61
3
2
36
6
125
28
445
35
53
715
117
49.0
47.7
46.4
47.2
55. 0
50.5
48.9
$0.364
.327
.409
.390
.308
.304
.351
$17.84
15.60
18. 98
18.41
16. 94
15. 35
17.16
2
1
2
7
9
20
55.0
57. 5
55.0
.235
.196
.174
12. 93
11.27
9. 57
126 1, 554
49. 2
.340
16. 73
Redrawers, female
Redrawers, male
C onnecticut______________ M aryland__________ --- ---
i
i
(0
0
N ew Y ork. ___
____
N orth C arolina___
P e n n sy lv an ia-. - - - - -
i
i
8
South Carolina, Alabam a,
and Georgia_____
0)
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
54
50. 0
0
52.6
$0.193
0)
. 194
$9.65
0
10. 20
1
3
57.5
.213
12.23
13
63
52.7
. 197
10.38
Virginia.........................................
T o tal_________________
29
3
3
61
33
4
174
16
257
11
1
0
64 1,215
21
3
49.0
50. 0
47.2
48.3
48.9
0
50. 9
48.8
$0. 331
. 252
.267
.269
.270
0
.229
.233
$16.22
12. 60
12.60
12. 99
13.20
0
11.66
11.37
14
18
63
57.1
57. 1
53.1
. 194
. 187
.281
11. 08
10.68
14.92
113 1,887
50.4
.243
12.25
2
2
4
W arpers, female
W arpers, male
Connecticut........................ .
M assachusetts______ ___ _
New Jersey__ _______ ___ _
N ew Y ork_________
N orth C arolina____
--Pennsylvania___
R hode Island- ________ ____
South Carolina, Alabam a,
and Georgia___________ -Tennessee______ - ------------Virginia................... ....................
8
10
53
21
5
54
9
34
26
218
125
50
477
23
1
3
2
6
15
19
T o tal_________________
166
993
51.7 $0.616
49.4
.613
47.9
.893
.701
51. 1
.416
55. 2
.588
51.8
.627
50.9
$31. 85
30. 28
42. 77
35. 82
22. 96
30.46
31. 91
57.5
56.9
55.0
.253
.361
.299
14.55
20. 54
16.45
51.1
.648
33.11
50.6
47.8
45. 7
48.6
55.0
50.7
49.4
$0.477
.497
. 545
.551
.413
.465
.665
$24.14
23. 76
24. 91
26. 78
22. 72
23. 58
32. 85
27
28
41
56.7
56.6
55.0
.269
. 174
.334
15. 25
9.85
18. 37
164 1,974
50.4
.476
23.99
135
9
50
10
231
38
58
15
128
5
62 1,113
14
163
3
4
4
Quillers, female
Quillers, male
C onnecticut.............................
M aryland_____________ -M assachusetts__ ________ N ew J ersey____
___
N ew Y ork_______________ -.
N o rth Carolina
___Pennsylvania
_ ___ _ _
R hode Island- ____ -- ____
South Carolina, Alabam a,
and Georgia _____
___
T e n n e ss e e .______ _ .
V irg in ia ...________ - ----T o tal________________
3
1
6
1
2
3
36
2
12
(i)
25
3
7
31
136
3
54.1
0
52.6
49.5
53.8
55.5
53.8
53.3
$0. 233
0
.247
.285
.258
.244
.256
.327
$12.61
(0
12. 99
14.11
13.88
13.54
13. 77
17.45
10
1
11
76
24
6
84
15
158
(‘1
96
316
129
60
906
94
3
2
3
63
9
9
55.0
57.1
55.0
.224
.192
.422
12. 32
10.96
23.21
3
3
5
91
26
57
62
299
54.2
.250
13. 55
238 1, 934
i Less th a n 3 wage earners; d a ta included in total.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1444]
Aver
age
full
tim e
earn
ings
per
week
W inders , soft silk, female
W inders, soft silk, male
New Jersey _____________ --
O C C U P A T IO N S , 1931, BY
50.4 $0. 314
0
0
.193
46.3
.345
46. 3
.291
48. 4
.238
55.0
50.4
.240
.305
50.1
$15.83
0
8. 94
15. 97
14.08
13. 09
12. 10
15.28
55.3
56. 9
54.8
.222
.154
.275
12. 28
8. 76
15. 07
50. 0
.265
13.25
181
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 4 —A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S E O R N IN E O C C U P A T IO N S , 1931, BY
S E X A N D S T A T E —Continued
State
v er Aver
N u m N u m Aage
ber
ber full
age
of
of
earn
estab wage tim e
ings
h
o
u
rs
lish earn per
per
ments ers week
hour
A ver
N u m N u m A ver Aver
age
age
full
ber
ber full
age
tim e
of
of
tim
e earn
earn estab wage
ings
ings
lish earn hours per
per
per
ments ers
week hour
week
W eavers, broad silk, male
C onnecticut________________
M assachusetts___________ .
N ew Jersey_____________ . . .
N ew Y ork____ _______ . . .
N orth Carolina_____ ______ .
Pennsylvania_____________ _
R hode Isla n d _______________
South Carolina, Alabama,
and Georgia______________
Tennessee______ ____ _______
Virginia__________________
T o tal_________________
Weavers, broad silk, female
52.2
50.4
47.9
51.0
55.0
51.7
50.6
$0. 517
.456
.544
.496
.474
.504
.534
$26. 99
22. 98
26. 06
25. 30
26. 07
26.06
27.02
169
101
201
54.6
56. 5
52.7
.325
.247
.294
17. 75
13.96
15.49
224 9,796
51.2
.499
25. 55
10
779
12
477
70 1,669
25
796
8
710
70 3,964
17
930
4
4
4
10
486
7
203
62 1,078
23
528
6
76
69 2,831
13
351
5
4
4
T o tal___________ _____
o
6
3
(>)
46
0)
(>)
44.0 $0. 600
50.5
.449
(')
(')
.221
53. 1
$20.68
17. 28
23.42
20. 24
21. 78
20.59
24.75
55.4
56.6
53.8
.278
.221
.319
15. 40
12.51
17.16
203 5,904
49.6
.422
20.93
Pickers, cloth, female
9
1
3
3
1
11
49.0 $0. 422
48.0
.360
47.5
.493
47.3
.428
55.0
.396
50. 1
.411
49.4
.501
108
117
126
Pickers, cloth, male
C onnecticu t............. .............
M assachusetts____________
N ew J e rse y .. . . ______
N ew "i o rk ........ ........... _ ____
N o rth C arolina. . . . .
Pennsylvania
...
...
R hode Isla n d _______________
South Carolina, Alabam a,
and Georgia______ ____ _
Tennessee________ . . . . .
Virginia...................................... .
Aver
age
full
tim e
earn
ings
per
week
0)
$26. 40
22.67
(>)
11. 74
1
4
50.0
.290
14. 50
1
3
55.0
.165
9.08
21
64
52.0
.260
13. 52
47
24
4
62
14
74
66
193
124
13
442
85
4Q 7
46. 7
46.2
49.0
55.0
51.1
49.3
4
4
4
16
20
29
183 1,062
49.8
h
$0 309
.229
.351
.279
.238
.242
.307
10 69
16.22
13.67
13.09
12. 37
15.14
55.0
.208
11. 44
55.0
! 165
9.08
.270
13. 45
Loom fixers, male
C onnecticut_____________ . . .
M assachusetts______ _______
N ew Jersey_____________ . . .
N ew Y ork__________________
N orth Carolina_____ ______
Pennsylvania____ __ . . . . . .
R hode I s l a n d _____ _ . . . . .
South Carolina, Alabam a,
and Georgia_____ _________
Tennessee________ ________
Virginia____________ ________
T o tal_________________
10
12
73
29
8
73
16
138
58
210
126
104
672
104
5
4
4
46
20
40
54.7
56.8
53.4
.409
.399
.499
22.37
22.66
26.65
234 1,518
51.0
.746
38.05
49.6 $0. 769
49.2
.767
47. 1
.934
49.4
.790
55.0
.564
51.9
.753
50.3
.794
$38. 14
37.74
43. 99
39.03
31.02
39. 08
39.94
1 Less th a n 3 wage earners; d a ta included in to ta l.
H ou rs and E arn in gs in Five D ep artm e n ts of th e Iron and Steel
In d u stry , 1931
HIS article presents average hours and earnings in 1931 for the
wage earners in all occupations combined in each of five depart
ments in the iron and steel industry in the Unite’d States, in compar
ison with like averages for 1929 and for each of the preceding years,
back to 1913, in which studies of the industry have been made by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor. The five depart
ments covered are puddling mills, blooming mills, plate mills, bar
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1445]
182
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
mills, and rail mills. Index numbers of these averages are shown for
the wage earners of each department by years, the base year being
1914 for the puddling mill department and 1913 for each of the other
departments. (Wage figures for puddling mills were not col
lected by the bureau prior to 1914.) This article also shows 1931
and 1929 averages for the wage earners in each of the principal
occupations in each of the five departments of the industry.
Averages and index numbers of the averages for three departments
(blast furnaces, Bessemer converters, and open-hearth furnaces)
were published in the November, 1931, Monthly Labor Review.
Similar figures for wage earners in two_ departments (sheet mills
and tin-plate mills) will appear in a later issue of the Review. These
will be followed by a bulletin of the bureau, showing for the 10 de
partments of the industry the hours and earnings in much more detail
than can be shown here.
Hours and Earnings, 1929 and 1931, by Departments
W a g e earners in 'puddling mills earned an average of 59.2 cents per
hour in 1931, as compared with 68.6 cents per hour in 1929, a decrease
of 13.7 per cent. Their average full-time hours per week were 53.0
in 1931 and 50.3 in 1929, an increase of 2.7 hours per week, or 5.4 per
cent. The increase was due in part to the loss in 1931 of five mills
that were included in 1929. They were not in operation and substi
tutes could be obtained for only two of them, leaving a net loss of
three mills between 1929 and 1931. Their average full-time earnings
per week were $31.38 in 1931 and $34.51 in 1929, a decrease of 9.1
per cent. The percentage decrease in earnings per week was less
than the decrease in earnings per hour because of the increase in
average full-time hours per week between 1929 and 1931.
Wage earners in blooming mills earned an average of 66.4 cents per
hour in 1931 as against 66.6 cents in 1929, a decrease of less than
1 per cent. Their average full-time hours per week were 52.6 in
1931 and 55.0 in 1929, and their average full-time earnings per week
were $34.93 in 1931 and $36.63 in 1929.
Wage earners in plate mills earned an average of 62.7 cents per hour
in 1931 and 63.9 cents in 1929, a decrease of 1.9 per cent. Their
average full-time hours per week were 56.7 in 1931 and 58.0 in 1929,
and their average full-time earnings per week were $35.55 in 1931 and
$37.06 in 1929.
Wage earners in bar mills earned an average of 58.8 cents per hour
in 1931 and 62.5 cents in 1929, a decrease of 5.9 per cent. Their aver
age full-time hours per week were 55.0 in 1931 and 55.6 in 1929 and
their average full-time earnings per week were $32.34 in 1931 and
$34.75 in 1929.
Wage earners in standard rail mills earned an average of 61.3 cents
per hour in 1931 and 62.8 cents in 1929, a decrease of 2.4 per cent.
Their average full-time hours per week were 54.9 in 1931 and 56.0 in
1929, and their average full-time earnings per week were $33.65 in
1931 and $35.17 in 1929.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1446]
183
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Scope of Study
T h e basic wage figures for this report, except for a very few mills,
were taken for the half-monthly pay period ending March 31, 1931,
and are for the following number of mills and wage earners:
N um ber of
wage earners
P uddling d e p a rtm e n t (8 m i ll s ) ----------------------------------------Bloom ing d e p a rtm e n t (33 m i l l s ) --------------------------------------- 5,
P late d e p a rtm e n t (17 m i ll s ) ______________________________ 4,
B ar d e p a rtm e n t (43 m i l l s ) ----------------------------------------------- 7,
R ail d e p a rtm e n t (8 m i l l s ) ------------------------------------------------ 2,
980
285
090
104
897
These mills and wage earners are sufficient in number to represent
fairly the conditions in each of the five departments of the industry
for the country as a whole, and also for each locality.
Data were collected in 1931 from the same mills as in 1929, if still
in operation and representative. A few were not operating or had
ceased to be representative. Substitutions were made when available
to continue the representative character of the figures. I t was not
possible to obtain a substitute in each locality for each puddling mill
that had been included in the 1929 report, because such mills were not
in operation in all of the localities during the period of the 1931 study
of the industry. Consequently the 1931 wage figures are for 8 pud
dling mills, as compared with 11 for 1929. The loss of the three mills,
as already stated, is responsible in part for the increase shown in the
average full-time hours per week between these two years.
Trend of Hours and Earnings since 1913
T a b l e 1 show s, fo r each of th e five d e p a rtm e n ts co v ered in th is
article, th e tre n d of h o u rs a n d e a rn in g s since 1913.
T a b l e 1.— A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S , A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S T H E R E O F , F O R
S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S, 1913 TO 1931, F O R A L L E M P L O Y E E S C O M B IN E D , IN P U D D L IN G ,
B L O O M IN G , P L A T E , B A R, A N D R A IL M IL L D E P A R T M E N T S
D epartm ent and year
P uddling mills:
1914__________________________________________
1915__________________________________________
1920__________________________________________
1922__________________________________________
1924__________________________________________
1926__________________________________________
1929__________________________________________
1931__________________________________________
Blooming mills:
1913__________________________________________
1914__________________________________________
1915__________________________________________
1920__________________________________________
1922__________________________________________
1924__________________________________________
1926__________________________________________
1929__________________________________________
1931__________________________________________
i Except for puddling mills, for which 1914= 100.
87017°—31----- 13
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1447]
Index num bers
(1913=100)1
Average
fulltim e
hours
per
week
A ver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Aver
age
full
tim e
earn
ings
per
week
Full
tim e
hours
per
week
53.2
52.2
53.9
52.1
55.7
52.1
50.3
53.0
$0. 328
.315
.885
.496
.721
.657
.686
.592
$17.45
16.44
47.70
25.84
40. 16
34.23
34.51
31.38
100
98
101
98
105
98
95
100
100
96
270
151
220
200
209
180
100
94
273
148
230
196
198
180
73.0
70.5
71.0
67.5
68.0
54.6
54.2
55.0
52.6
.265
.269
.268
.659
.472
.613
.627
.666
.664
19. 35
18. 96
19.03
44. 48
32.10
33. 47
33. 98
36. 63
34. 93
100
97
97
92
93
75
74
75
72
100
102
101
249
178
231
237
251
251
100
98
98
230
166
173
176
189
181
E a rn F ull
tim e
ings
earn
per
per
hour ings
week
184
T
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
1 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S , A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S T H E R E O F , F O R
S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S , 1913 TO 1931, F O R A L L E M P L O Y E E S C O M B IN E D , IN P U D D L IN G ,
B L O O M IN G , P L A T E , B A R , A N D R A IL M IL L D E P A R T M E N T S —C ontinued
able
D ep artm en t and year
Index num bers
(1913=100)
Aver
age
full
tim e
hours
per
week
Average
earn
ings
per
hour
Aver
age
full
tim e
earn
ings
per
week
F ull
tim e
hours
per
week
69. 9
69. 0
69. 8
68.8
66. 2
57.2
55.8
58.0
56. 7
$0. 255
.258
.270
.671
.476
. 562
. 606
.639
.627
$17. 82
17. 80
18. 58
46.16
31.51
32.15
33. 81
37.06
35. 55
100
99
98
98
95
82
80
83
81
100
101
106
263
187
220
238
251
246
100
100
104
259
177
180
190
208
199
61. 5
61. 7
61.4
61. 8
61. 2
55. 6
54. 7
55. 6
55.0
.288
. 278
.266
. 713
.486
. 585
. 591
. 625
.588
17. 71
17.15
16. 33
44.06
29.74
32. 53
32. 33
34.75
32. 34
100
100
100
100
100
90
89
90
89
100
97
92
248
169
203
205
217
204
100
97
92
249
168
184
183
196
183
70. 9
70. 1
70. 9
61. 2
61. 5
57.4
55. 5
56. 0
54.9
.254
.252
. 246
. 632
.470
.573
. 595
. 628
.613
18. 01
17. 67
17.44
38. 68
28. 91
32. 89
33. 02
35.17
33. 65
100
99
100
86
87
81
78
79
77
100
99
97
249
185
226
234
247
241
100
98
97
215
161
183
183
195
187
P late mills:
1913__________________________________________
1914
_____________________________
1915__________________________________________
1920. _______________________________________
1922 _______________________________________
1924__________________________________________
1926_________ ______________________________
1929__________________________________________
1931 _________________________________________
B ar mills:
1913
______________________________________
1914 ________________________________________
1915__________________________________________
1920__________________________________________
1922__________________________________________
1924__________________________________________
1926__________________________________________
1929________________________________________
1931_________________________________________
Standard rail mills:
1913
________________________________
1914________________________________________
1915________________________________________
1920 _________________________
____
1922________________________________________
1924_____________________________________
1926____________________________________
1929____________________________________
1931______________________________________
ull
E a rn Ftim
e
ings
earn
per
per
hour ings
week
Hours and Earnings, 1929 and 1931, by Department and Occupation
T a b l e 2 shows average hours and earnings and the per cent of
wage earners at each classified group of full-time hours per week in 1929
and 1931, in each of the specified occupations in each department.
Similar figures for each of the occupations in the table for the specified
years from 1907 to 1929 in bar mills, from 1910 to 1929 in blooming
mills and plate mills, from 1914 to 1929 in puddling mills, and from
1926 to 1929 in rail mills appear in Bulletin No. 513. Figures for
level-handed bushelers and heaters and for squeezer men in puddling
mills were collected in 1931 only.
Puddling mills.—Average full-time hours per week were more in 9
and less in 6 of the specified occupations in this department in 1931
than in 1929, in 2 there was no change, and in 3 occupations averages
are shown for 1931 only. Hours ranged in 1929, by occupation, from
an average of 46.3 for level-handed puddlers, to 62.1 for roll engineers,
and in 1931 from 49.2 to 65.6 respectively for the same occupations.
The increase in hours from 62.1 in 1929 to 65.6 in 1931 for roll engineers
was more than for the wage earners in any other occupation in the
department.
Average earnings per hour were more in 6 and less in 11 occupations
in 1931 than in 1929; they ranged in 1929 by occupation from 38.9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1448]
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
185
cents for laborers to $1,374 for heaters, and in 1931 from 30.0 cents
for “ other roll hands’’ to $1,084 for level-handed bushelers. Otherroll
hands had average earnings per hour of 47.9 cents in 1929. Average
earnings for shearmen’s helpers increased from 46.4 cents per hour
in 1929 to 51.1 cents in 1931—a greater increase than was shown for
any other occupation. Heaters earned an average of $1,374 in 1929
and 90.7 cents in 1931; their loss was more than that of the wage
earners in any other occupation in puddling mills.
Average full-time earnings per week were more in 6 and less in
11 occupations in 1931 than in 1929. Averages in the various
occupations ranged in 1929 from $21.20 for laborers to $69.80 for
heaters, and in 1931 from $16.80 for other roll hands to $56.91 for
level-handed bushelers. Other roll hands averaged $26.49 in 1929.
Blooming mills.—Average full-time hours per week were less in
each of the 12 specified occupations in this department in 1931 than
in 1929, and ranged in 1929 from 53.4 for rollers to 57.0 for laborers,
and in 1931 from 51.3 for bottom makers to 55.6 for laborers.
Average earnings per hour were more in 2 and less in 10 occupations
in 1931 than in 1929 and ranged in 1929 from 46.3 cents for laborers
to $1,542 for rollers, and in 1931 from 46.0 cents for laborers to $1,438
for rollers. Table men earned an average of 65.6 cents in 1929 and
74.5 cents in 1931, and manipulators earned an average of $1,010 in
1929 and $1,028 in 1931. Of the 10 occupations in which earnings
were less in 1931 than in 1929, the loss by heaters (from $1,358 to
$1,234) was more than for any other occupation in blooming mills.
Average full-time earnings per week were more in 1 and less in 11
occupations in 1931 than in 1929. The average for table men was
$38.29 in 1931 and $36.08 in 1929. Heaters, the occupation showing
the largest decrease, averaged $74.55 in 1929 and $64.79 in 1931.
Plate mills.—Average full-time hours per week were more in 6
and less in 10 of the specified occupations in this department in 1931
than in 1929, and ranged by occupations in 1929 from 55.4 for screw
men, main rolls, universal mills, to 63.0 for screw men, sheared plate
mills, and in 1931 from 55.5 for laborers to 63.2 for screw men, side
rolls, universal mills.
Average earnings per hour were more in 2 and less in 14 of the speci
fied occupations in 1931 than in 1929 and ranged by occupation in
1929 from 40.9 cents for laborers to $1,595 for rollers, sheared plate
mills, and in 1931 from 43.3 cents for laborers to $1,554 per hour for
rollers, sheared plate mills.
Average full-time earnings per week were less in 1931 than in 1929
in each of the 16 specified occupations, even though average earnings
per hour in two occupations were more in 1931 than in 1929. Earn
ings per week were less for the two occupations because their average
full-time hours per week were less in 1931 than in 1929. Averages
for rollers, sheared plate mills, were $97.30 in 1929 and $89.20 in
1931. This loss or difference was more than for any other occupation.
Bar mills.—Average full-time hours per week were more in 10 and
less in 7 of the 18 specified occupations in this department in 1931
than in 1929. Roll hands, other, averaged 55.1 in 1929 and in 1931.
Averages by occupations ranged in 1929 from 53.3 for bundlers to
60.1 for roll engineers, and in 1931 from 53.5 for shearmen to 59.3
for roll engineers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1449 I
186
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
Average earnings per hour were more for chargers and helpers in
1931 than in 1929 and less for each of the other specified occupations.
Averages in 1929 ranged by occupations from 39.9 cents for laborers
to $1,822 for rollers, and in 1931 from 39.4 cents to $1,542 per hour,
respectively, for the same occupations.
Average full-time earnings per week were less in each of the specified
occupations in 1931 than in 1929, and ranged by occupations from
$22.34 for laborers to $100.21 for rollers in 1929, and from $21.35
for laborers to $85.43 for rollers in 1931.
Rail mills.—Average full-time hours per week were more in 8 and
less in 13 of the 21 specified occupations in this department in 1931
than in 1929, and ranged in 1929 from 49.8 for roll engineers to 60.1
for table men, and in 1931 from 51.1 for roll engineers to 58.0 for
laborers.
Average earnings per hour were more in 4 and less in 16 occupations
in 1931 than in 1929. Averages for straighteners’ helpers were 62.5
cents per hour in 1929 and 1931. Averages by occupations ranged
from 40.0 cents for laborers to $1,676 per hour for rollers in 1929, and
in 1931 from 40.6 cents to $1,596 per hour, respectively, for the same
occupations.
Average full-time earnings per week were more in 3 and less in 18
of the specified occupations in 1931 than in 1929 and ranged by occu
pations in 1929 from $23.92 for laborers to $89.67 for rollers, and in
1931 from $23.55 for laborers to $85.71 for rollers.
T a b le 2 .— A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S A N D P E R C E N T OP E M P L O Y E E S W O R K
IN G E A C H C L A S S IF IE D N U M B E R O F F U L L -T IM E H O U R S P E R W E E K IN S P E C IF IE D
O C C U PA T IO N S IN P U D D L IN G , B L O O M IN G , P L A T E , B A R , A N D R A IL M IL L S
P u d d l i n g m il l s
Occupation
Stockers................................ _
P ud d lers______________ _
Puddlers, level h a n d e d .. . . .
P ud d ler’s helpers _________
Bushelers, level handed _ ..
H e ate rs..1_________________
Heaters, level h anded___
H eaters’ h e lp e rs.. ________
Squeezer m en___ __________
Bloom boys.____ _______
Roll engineers...........................
Rollers__ ________________
Roughers.
. . _________ .
Catchers________ ____ _ . _
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Aver
N u m age
N u m ber of full
Y ear ber of em- tim e
plants P a y hours
per
ees
week
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1931
1929
1931
1931
1929
1931
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
11
8
7
6
9
7
8
6
1
3
4
1
2
2
1
10
6
9
8
9
7
8
6
11
7
86
47
169
124
702
218
191
137
6
5
10
4
4
5
3
21
10
16
11
19
11
23
16
30
14
Aver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Per cent of e mplojrees whose ave -age full-t me h ours per 'vreek
V ere—
A ver
age
full
Over
Over
tim e
Over
weekly 48 48
60
72
earn and and 60 and 72 and 84
un
ings u n u n
un
der der
der
der
60
72
84
51.1 $0. 524 $26. 78
51.4
.547 28. 12
52.1
.784 40. 85
.793 43. 06
54.3
.880 40. 74
46.3
49.2
.691 34.00
51. 7
.519 26. 83
54. 3
.540 29. 32
52.5 1.084 56. 91
50.8 1.374 69. 80
53. 1 .907 48.16
58.0
.654 37.93
52.9
.611 32. 32
52.9
.618 32. 69
53.0
.619 32. 81
51.3
.479 24. 57
50.7
.439 22. 26
62.1
.540 33. 53
65.6
.469 30. 77
51. 7 1.235 63. 85
50.5
.956 48. 28
48.1
.753 36. 22
51.1
.615 31. 43
50.4
.806 40.62
51.4
.604 31.05
[1450]
19
32
7
1
55
51
12
1
33
40
31
25
36
48
25
33
29
63
45
93
99
45
49
88
99
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
62
60
6
27
70
64
43
75
63
71
15
23
3
5
25
18
5
9
3
13
9
9
13
36
13
187
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 2 .—A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S A N D P E R C E N T O P E M P L O Y E E S W O R K
IN G E A C H C L A S S IF IE D N U M B E R OF F U L L -T IM E H O U R S P E R W E E K IN S P E C IF IE D
O C C U P A T IO N S IN P U D D L IN G , B L O O M IN G , P L A T E , B A R , A N D R A IL M IL L S —Contd.
P u d d l i n g m i l l s — C o n tin u ed
Occupation
Aver
N u m age
N u m ber of full
Year b er of em time
plants ploy hours
ees
per
week
1929
1931
1929
1931
H otbed m en . _____________ 1929
1931
Shearm en______________
1929
1931
Laborers__________________ 1929
1931
Shearm en’s helpers________ 1929
1931
Hook-ups_________________
Roll hands, other__________
10
8
3
1
9
6
10
8
9
8
10
8
28
19
5
1
45
27
16
12
78
36
28
19
A ver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Pe cent of e mplojrees whose av
e rage ull-t ime h ours per veek
Vrere—
A ver
age
full
Over
tim e
Over
Over
weekly 48 48
60
72
earn and and 60 and
and
ings u n u n
u n 72 u n 84
der der
der
der
60
72
84
52.3 $0. 541 $28.29
51.0
.484 24.68
55.3
.479 26. 49
56.0
.300 16.80
50.9
.572 29.11
50.9
.459 23. 36
54.1
.573 31.00
52.9
.603 31.90
54.5
.389 2 1 .2 0
54.3
.386 20. 96
54.0
.464 25. 06
51.0
.511 26.06
14
32
40
79
68
40
7
20
100
24
15
13
25
37
73
85
69
75
72
94
75
58
$50. 91
44.11
74. 55
64. 79
48.11
42.83
46.44
43. 86
35. 60
33.00
56.94
51.12
82. 34
75. 35
54. 84
53. 97
36.08
38. 29
46. 22
42.31
34.15
30.95
26.39
25.58
13
29
13
21
9
25
18
31
28
23
12
27
34
43
33
43
25
48
35
53
28
55
32
29
70
64
75
75
75
61
65
65
52
69
65
51
49
37
45
33
56
36
51
31
47
20
33
17
20
29
17
23
7
2
19
26
6
14
3
4
5
B lo o m in g m ills
P it c ra n e m e n _____________
1929
1931
_ __ 1929
1931
H eaters’ helpers___________ 1929
1931
B ottom m akers____________ 1929
1931
B ottom m akers’ helpers____ 1929
1931
Roll engineers.. __________ 1929
1931
Rollers_______ ______ ______ 1929
1931
M anipulators_____________ 1929
1931
Table m en_______ ______ 1929
1931
Shearm en___ _____________ 1929
1931
1929
Shearm en’s helpers . .
1931
Laborers_____________ ____ 1929
1931
H eaters______________
30
32
30
33
18
19
29
31
25
25
22
20
30
33
29
32
15
12
29
29
25
24
28
30
217
211
151
165
79
61
136
131
164
153
65
51
87
86
91
84
48
33
91
91
134
103
423
340
55.4 $0. 919
52.2
.845
54.9 1.358
52.5 1.234
56.4
.853
54.7
.783
54.0
.860
51.3
.855
53.7
.663
52.8
.625
56.6 1.006
53.7
.952
53.4 1.542
52.4 1.438
54.3 1.010
52.5 1.028
55.0
.656
51.4
.745
53.5
.864
51.6
.820
54.9
.622
52.1
.594
57.0
.463
55.6
.460
4
2
1
4
15
5
16
9
17
14
21
13
1
8
1
9
2
10
1
17
6
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
8
5
3
7
1
1
4
3
3
3
2
1
2
5
1
6
13
9
7
14
14
20
20
51
6
4
1
4
3
12
1
5
17
21
13
15
5
24
9
32
18
31
24
23
16
13
26
25
5
31
10
26
23
8
4
11
8
1
1
2
1
2
4
2
2
P la t e m i l l s
Charging-crane and charg
ing-machine operators
1929
1931
1929
1931
H eaters’ helpers________ _ 1929
1931
Roll engineers___________ . 1929
1931
Rollers, sheared-plate mills __ 1929
1931
Screw men, sheared-plate
mills ________________ _ 1929
1931
T able operators, shearedplate m ills ........................... 1929
1931
H eaters. ________________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
17
17
17
17
14
14
11
11
12
13
91
96
72
75
92
81
31
28
29
34
59.6 $0. 756 $45.06
56.9
.722 41.08
57.9 1. 220 70. 64
55.8 1. 140 63.61
62.4
.671 41.87
61.8
.629 38. 87
62.2
.675 41.99
.664 41.50
62.5
61.0 1.595 97. 30
57.4 1.554 89. 20
7
32
18
21
15
26
28
47
51
38
35
10
11
21
44
11
12
39
40
63.0
57.8
1.023
1.025
64.45
59. 25
15
18
28
43
12
13
38
48
60.0
57.4
.873
.788
52.38
45.23
16
21
34
40
[1451]
5
10
20
32
7
6
5
4
4
3
23
14
18
16
5
14
13
14
21
12
7
—
188
T
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
2 . —A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S A N D P E R C E N T OF E M P L O Y E E S W O R K
IN G E A C H C L A S S IF IE D N U M B E R OF F U L L -T IM E H O U R S P E R W E E K IN S P E C IF IE D
O C C U P A T IO N S IN P U D D L IN G , B L O O M IN G , P L A T E , B A R , A N D R A IL M IL L S —C ontd.
able
P la t e m i l l s — C ontinued
AverN u m age
N u m ber of fullY ear ber of em tim e
p lants ploy- hours
ees
per
week
Occupation
Hook men, sheared-plate
m ills- ________ - ______ 1929
1931
Roll hands, other, shearedplate mills---------------------- 1929
1931
Rollers, universal m ills-- - - 1929
1931
Screw men, m ain rolls, uni1929
versal m ills________ _____
1931
Screw men, side rolls, universal m ills______________ 1929
1931
R oll hands, other, universal
mills _ _______________ 1929
1931
1929
Cl
» u i
Laborers
-
1929
1931
........ 1929
1931
A ver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Per cent of employees whose av
erage full-time hours per week
were—•
A ver
age
full
Over
Over
Over
tim e
60
72
weekly 48 48
earn and and 60 and 72 and
u n 84
un
ings u n u n
der
der
der der
84
72
60
12
13
76
95
60.2 $0.776 $46. 72
56.4
.755 42.58
16
22
37
46
11
8
16 —
12 —
21 —
12 —
11
11
6
5
44
50
15
12
60.7
60.5
56.7
58.8
.821
.737
1.323
1.174
49.83
44. 59
75.01
69.03
20
4
20
__
20
36
40
50
11
20
13
17
39 —
34 __
13 —
17 —
9
6
13
17
6
5
17
14
55.4
58.8
.917
.834
50.80 35
49.04 ___
35
43
6
29
12 —
14 —
12 —
14
5
4
15
14
61.2
63.2
.704
.639
43.08 20
40.38 ___
20
43
20
14
27 —
21 —
13 —
21 —
4
4
17
12
8
123
58.9
60.2
58.0
568
524
225
357
57.3
58.3
59.3
55.5
34.34 42
31.97
50. 05 20
47 02 31
36. 10 21
33.64 19
24. 25
7
24.03 41
25 ___
38 25
28 24
25 21
26 29
32 24
21 46
12 37
17 ___
13 ___
15 14
13 11
7
16
14 10
24 (0
1
10
17 —
25 ___
17
17
15
16
.583
.531
.863
822
1630
.577
.409
.433
$28. 36
24. 66
59. 69
51. 77
37. 67
35 09
31. 08
30 90
30. 97
30. 96
33.84
31 67
100. 21
85 43
31
33
31
17
30
17
24
31
36
19
13
14
26
25
49.49
21
44
39
20
24
29
31
44
37
14
28
37
34
42
38
41
31
35
37
38
38
44
29
22
27
54
39
53
39
42
34
40
32
47
45
58
41
5
5
34
2
27
14
8
17
12
5
2
19
5
7
9
31
16 10
2
12
6
11
3
5
4
12
6
2
18
12
2
7
6
2
13
4
11 0 )
1
1
7
4
1
9
4
8
2
5
6
6
8 (B
1 0)
0)
—
__
—
—
__
1
B a r m ills
1929
]Q31
1929
H eaters ___________ 1Q31
1929
Vie1pe*’c'
1931
________ j
____
onaig ers and neipers---------- 1929
1931
1929
down'?
1931
Roll engineers------- ------------ 1929
1921
1929
Rollers
1931
1929
Roughers
- Stockers
1931
Clfltoliers
Strenders
Finishers
Hook-ups
Roll han d ‘d nttipr
TTnfhed men
Shearmen
Shearm en’s h e lp e r s __
B undlers
T¿ehorpvs
1929
1Q31
1929
1Q31
1929
1931
1929
1Q31
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
30
38
37
43
33
38
32
33
24
21
20
18
39
43
31
32
31
30
30
32
34
38
27
27
28
31
36
35
304
244
174
175
198
202
242
181
132
86
68
50
127
122
195
175
155
128
307
2.80
147
143
172
161
320
284
545
472
163
1Q 2
34
35
19
22
38
39
534
438
131
147
607
637
53.5 $0.530
54 2
. 455
56.1 1.064
57 4
.902
.675
5 5 .8
56 5
. 621
.5 5 4
56.1
54 5
. 567
.5 5 4
55 ! 9
56 5
.548
.563
60.1
.534
59 3
5 5 .0 1.822
55 4 1 542
.887
5 5 .8
56 7
.791
.874
5 5 .8
56 1
781
! 820
5 4 .3
55 8
701
.952
5 3.9
.864
54.4
.650
5 5 .3
55 2
645
5 5 .1
5 5 .1
5 4 .5
.7 9 7
54 1
.712
.601
578
5 4 .4
.7 3 5
52 5
5 4 .7
5 4 .3
5 3 .3
5 4 .3
56. 0
54.2
1 Less th a n 1 per dent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1452]
594
.542
.529
.543
.513
.399
.394
44. 85
48. 77
43 81
16
25
17
44.53 28
39. 12 19
51.31 30
47.00 32
35. 95 31
35. 60 27
43.91 18
39.23 25
32. 75 22
31 27 27
39. 98 27
31 78 38
29. 65 24
28. 72 29
28. 94 40
27. 86 30
22. 34 11
21.35 35
21
24
13
32
19
36
16
29
27
47
6
26
19
31
25
47
24
40
15
31
18
33
31
42
17
36
17
30
21
25
26
34
7
19
22
22
O
3
1
__
___
__
___
__
189
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 3 . —A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N IN G S A N D P E R C E N T O P E M P L O Y E E S W O R K
IN G E A C H C L A S S IF IE D N U M B E R OP F U L L -T IM E H O U R S P E R W E E K I N S P E C IF IE D
O C C U P A T IO N S IN P U D D L IN G , B L O O M IN G , P L A T E , B A R , A N D R A IL M IL L S —Contd.
R a i l m ills
Occupation
C harging-machine operators________
R eheaters_________________________
R eheaters’ helpers________________ _
Roll engineers_____________________ _
Rollers. .
______ _______ _
_ _
A ssistant rollers______ ___________ .
Table lever m en____ . . . _________ .
_____________ _
Table m en
Guide setters,.-
___________
H ot-saw m en_____ . ______ _
..
Hot-saw helpers . . ___________
H otbed lever m en,
H otbed m en__ .
_________ _
_ ...
____
Straighteners, gag press________
Straighteners’ h e lp e rs.. _______
C hippers__________
D rillers and punchers____. . . .
Cold-saw m en______ ... . . . . .
Cold-saw helpers
..
Inspectors
Laborers
. . . .
.
_.
A ver
A ver age
full
age
earn tim e
ings earn
per
ings
hour
per
week
N um
N u m ber of
Year ber of em
plants ploy
ees
Aver
age
full
tim e
hours
per
week
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
54.5 $0.718 $39.13
54.6
.637 34.78
51 3 1 073 55 04
50.5 1.117 56.41
54.9
.651 35.74
52.9
.633 33.49
49 8
705 35 11
51.1
.922 47 ! 1 1
53.5 1.676 89. 67
53.7 1.596 85.71
54.6
.993 54. 22
55.6
.954 53.04
52. 7
.770 40. 58
52.2
.816 42.60
fif) 1
070
57. 8
.577 33. 35
55.0
.835 45.93
55.5
.816 45. 29
53.3
.681 36.30
54.0
.653 35.26
56.0
.519 29.06
53.1
. 496 26. 34
53.3
.601 32. 03
54.0
.565 30.51
53.9
.571 30. 78
52. 1 .525 27.35
54. 1 1.229 66.49
52. 7 1. 131 59. 60
54. 1 .625 33.81
53.5
.625 33.44
56.2
.741 41.64
54.3
.655 35. 57
55.7
.717 39.94
55.1
.649 35. 76
54.1
.532 28. 78
57.1
.489 27. 92
54.6
.481 26. 26
53.4
.472 25.20
56.0
.617 34. 55
55. 7
.587 32. 70
59.8
.400 23. 92
58.0
.406 23.55
3
4
4
5
4
5
2
4
6
7
6
6
7
8
2
2
7
8
7
8
6
7
7
7
6
7
7
8
7
7
6
7
7
8
7
7
6
6
7
8
6
8
13
20
13
18
15
23
9
18
15
15
16
15
70
81
14
16
34
38
21
24
34
32
58
52
87
136
146
134
183
138
121
119
231
210
21
14
70
50
102
88
245
225
Per cent of employ
ees whose average
full-time hours per
week were—
Over
48 Over
60
and 48
u
n
60
un
un
der
der der
60
72
46
60
31
50
27
48
67
67
33
40
19
20
41
53
69
50
47
35
33
Ì7
40
27
56
40
43
27
38
15
24
24
38
15
22
28
21
14
18
31
24
37
20
26
25
29
12
57
21
44
42
23
15
20
20
56 12
32 29
57 10
29 25
59
47 13
59
3
46 19
82
69 10
49
8
56 20
38
5
51 29
40
8
35 39
29 12
43 45
19
36 43
46
4 54
40 18
36 43
44
20 60
23
15
31
25
13
17
13
13
20
13
27
10
15
17
13
13
13
13
6
5
63
18
16
10
8
26
19
10
13
5
3
13
19
25
30
24
10
20
6
36
W a g e -R a te C h a n ge s in M a n u fa c tu r in g In du stries in O ctober,
1931
F THE 16,250 manufacturing establishments from which data
concerning wage changes were requested, 15,664 establishments,
or 96.4 per cent of the total, reported no wage-rate changes during
the month ending October 15, 1931. The 15,664 establishments
employed 2,638,709 workers in October, 1931, or 94.4 per cent of the
2,794,588 employees in all establishments from which wage-rate
changes were requested.
Two establishments reported wage-rate increases during this
period, averaging 9.4 per cent and affecting 165 employees; 584 estab-
O
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1453]
190
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
lishments, or 3.6 per cent of the total number of establishments sur
veyed, reported wage-rate decreases. These decreases, averaging
10.9 per cent, affected 155,714 employees, or 5.6 per cent of all
employees in the establishments reporting.
W A G E C H A N G E S R E P O R T E D IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S B E T W E E N S E P
T E M B E R 15 A N D O C T O B E R 15, 1931
In d u stry
All m anufacturing industries_________________
Per cent of total_____
E sta b
lish
m ents
report
ing
Total
num ber
of em
ployees
16,250
2,794, 588
100.0
N um ber of establish
m ents reporting—
N um ber of employees
having—
No
Wage Wage
de
in
wage
changes creases creases
No wage
changes
584
3.6
2, 638,709
100.0
15, 664
96.4
2
o
94.4
Wage Wage
in
de
creases creases
165
(>)
155, 714
5.6
Slaughtering and m eat packing
Confectionery____________ __
Ice cream
_
_
Elour
. . _____
Baking
_ __ _
209
310
357
413
829
82,053
37j 738
11,777
15, 770
64,115
198
306
355
404
819
11
4
2
9
10
76, 284
37, 376
11,756
15, 456
63, 567
5,769
362
21
314
548
Sugar refining, cane
C otton goods
Hosiery and k n it goods__
Silk goods
- ___
Woolen and worsted goods- _
13
521
339
251
184
6, 477
185^ 882
86, 407
50; 705
47; 474
12
472
321
246
175
1
49
18
5
9
5, 979
166,182
81’, 555
49, 379
43,544
498
19, 700
4, 852
1,326
3, 930
C arpets and rugs
D yeing and finishing textiles.
Clothing, m en’s
Shirts and collars
___
Clothing, wom en’s _ _ _ _ _
30
126
337
108
363
16, 759
33', 855
59; 462
17 ; 768
25, 323
30
121
332
106
363
5
5
2
16, 759
32', 107
59; 042
16; 920
25, 323
1,748
420
848
M illinery and lace goods__
Iron and steel
______
______
Cast-iron pipe
Structural-iron work
____
F oun d ry and machine-shop
products
_ ________
126
194
38
169
12, 865
8,114
21, 236
125
130
38
150
1
64
1,073
154, 875
1,021
194 ; 654
25
62, 506
19
12, 840
I 32 ; 148
8,114
17 ; 454
52
150,141
4,734
3, 782
H ardw are______
M achine tools - _ __
Steam fittings and steam and
h o tw a te r heating a p p a ra tu s..
Stoves _
. . .
_____
Lum ber, sa w m ills___________
101
147
25, 030
17, 315
95
139
6
8
24,135
Hi 078
895
237
103
124
662
23, 559
16, 554
83,653
101
121
627
2
3
35
23,144
16,258
76, 535
415
296
7,118
Lum ber, millwork
F u rn itu re.
Leather.
Boots and shoes.
Paper and p u lp ..
_________
_
__..
___________
__________
336
426
144
286
344
19, 284
48, 306
24, 461
97, 574
65, 460
320
415
130
280
338
16
11
14
6
6
18, 594
47, 583
22, 907
96; 403
60, 775
690
723
1,554
i; 171
4, 685
Paper boxes. ____
Printing, book and job . _ _
Prin tin g ’ newspapers and periodicals ___
__ _____
Chem icals. __ _____________
Fertilizers___
____________
302
621
24, 036
52,161
295
607
7
14
23, 828
51, 398
208
763
430
162
208
72, 619
32, 762
Í, 238
428
160
193
2
2
15
72, 594
32; 510
6, 489
25
252
749
Petroleum refining. ___ _____
C em ent.
_
____
Brick, tile, and terra co tta.
P o ttery . _ _
. _________
Glass. . ___
102
114
706
111
186
46, 632
17, 431
24, 698
16, 481
40, 807
99
105
682
109
177
3
9
24
2
46, 172
12 ; 667
23, 448
16, 278
40, 393
460
4, 764
L 250
203
414
Stam ped and enameled ware
Brass, bronze, and copper products.
. .
. .
Chewing and smoking tobacco
and snuff
Cigars and cigarettes
Automobiles .
.
80
13, 222
77
3
12, 356
866
160
27, 318
154
6
27, 031
287
27
187
210
8, 586
5fi 318
193. 381
27
185
204
2
6
8, 586
50, 668
189; 723
650
3. 658
1Less th an one-tenth of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1454]
9
191
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W A GE C H A N G E S R E P O R T E D IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S B E T W E E N S E P
T E M B E R 15 A N D O C T O B E R 15, 1931—C ontinued
In d u stry
Carriages and w agons. _ . . . .
C ar building and repairing,
electric-railroad
Car building and repairing,
steam-railroad
Agricultural im p lem en ts..
Electrical m achinery, apparatus and supplies
______
E sta b
lish
ments
report
ing
T otal
num ber
of em
ployees
N um ber of establish
m ents reporting—
No
Wage Wage
in
wage
de
changes creases creases
N um ber of employees
having—
No wage
changes
Wage Wage
in
de
creases creases
47
649
47
649
434
24,040
434
24,040
509
74
80, 564
6,855
507
69
2
5
80, 476
6,526
88
329
210
131, 241
202
8
129, 804
1, 437
_____
Pianos and organs.
R ubber boots and shoes.
__
Automobile tires and inner
tubes
. ________
Shipbuilding
_. . ______ _
Aircraft . _______ _
57
9
3,955
11.755
56
8
1
1
3,922
Ik 531
33
234
37
83
42
43, 716
32^ 013
6, 964
36
83
42
1
43, 706
32, 013
6,964
10
A lum inum m anufactures.. ._
Beet sugar
. . _______
Beverages
. ____
Bolts, nu ts, washers, and rivets.
B u tter
.. .
16
56
284
66
236
2,620
14', 716
10, 236
8, 455
5,922
14
56
281
58
233
2
920
14, 716
10; 163
6; 939
5,854
1,700
3
7
3
47
15,816
44
3
15,460
356
25
26
24
94
7,516
4, 691
1, 375
7; 644
24
26
24
90
1
7,216
4, 691
1, 375
7; 523
300
C utlery (not including silver
and plated cutlery) and edge
tools. _
________________
Forgings, iron and steel
Fur-felt hats
Gas and electric fixtures, lamps,
lanterns, and reflectors.
Jew elry ________ _______
113
37
25
8,006
4, 046
4, 726
109
34
25
4
3
7,852
3, 870
4, 726
154
176
49
150
5, 562
13; 048
43
149
6
1
4,880
13; 037
682
11
M arble, granite, slate, and other
stone p roducts___ _ _
_
M en’s furnishing goods ..
P aint and v a r n is h _____
P lated ware .
_______
P lum ber’s supplies
_______
202
69
339
54
66
6,811
5,097
16; 054
ll', 736
5, 211
196
66
326
53
65
6
13
1
1
6, 770
4, 907
15; 510
11, 327
5,193
41
190
544
409
18
C ash
r e g i s t e r s , a d d in g
machines, and calculating
m achin es... . .
__
Clocks, time-recording devices,
and clock m ovem ents. _. . .
Corsets and allied g arm en ts.. .
Cottonseed oil, cake,and m e a l..
C otton small wares
_____
1
4
3
144
73
1,372
68
121
R adio__
______
R ayon_________________ ._ _
R ubber goods other th a n boots,
shoes, tires, and inner tu b e s..
Smelting and refining copper,
lead, and zinc__ _____
___
Soap__________________ ___
40
20
26,071
25; 084
40
20
103
18,884
100
3
18,489
395
15
56
2,198
8; 707
13
50
2
5
1,731
7; 050
467
1,636
Tools (not including edge tools,
machine tools, files, or saw s)..
T in cans and other tinw are
T urpentine and rosin
Typew riters and s u p p lie s ____
W ire w o r k ___________ ___ ___
123
52
23
16
53
7,838
7; 311
i; 190
8, 818
4, 242
114
51
21
15
48
9
1
2
1
5
7,054
7; 280
b 132
8; 788
3; 991
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1455]
26,071
25; 084
1
21
784
31
58
30
251
192
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
W age C h a n g e s Reported b y T ra d e -U n io n s Sin ce A u g u s t, 1931
NION and municipal wage and hour changes reported to the
bureau during, the past month and occurring during the past
four months are shown in the following table. The tabulation shown
covers 17,338 workers, 350 of whom were reported to have gone on
the 5-day week.
In addition to wage changes tabulated below renewals of existing
agreements were reported in the case of printers in Atlanta, Ga.;
commercial telegraphers of the United Press System, division 47, of
International News Service, No. 61, and of Universal Service; and
cleaners and window washers in Chicago, 111.
U
R E C E N T W A G E C H A N G E S, B Y IN D U S T R Y , O C C U P A T IO N , A N D L O C A L IT Y , A U G U ST
TO N O V E M B E R , 1931
H ours per week
R ate of wages
D ate of
change
In d u stry or occupation, and locality
Before change
Building trades:
Plasterers—
D u lu th , M in n _____________ ___ ____
M iddletow n, Ohio___________ ____ Plum bers—
Buffalo, N . Y ____________________
Oil C ity, P a ______ _ - ___
R oad workers, Lim estone C ounty, A la_
Clerks:
Coal company, Pittsb u rg h , P a _________
D epartm ent stores, H arrisburg, Pottsville, Reading, and W ilkes-Barre, Pa__
Clothing:
W aterproof-garment workers, New Y ork,
N . Y.
M etal trades:
W ire workers, Buffalo, N . Y ., Clinton,
Palm er, and W orcester, M ass.
M iners, coal:
C larksburg, Fairm ont, and
tow n, W . Va.
Sept. 1
Oct. 5
Per day
1 $2. 50
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1. 50
1. 12 H
Per day
i $2. 25
40
40
40
40
44
44
40
44
60
50
Sept. 1
Oct. 26
(2)
(2)
(3)
(2)
(2)
45J^>
(2)
42
Sept. 1
f(2)
(4)
40
40
__.do.......
(2)
(3)
(
\
Sept. 10
M ill A
Boss machine m en____ __________ Aug. 1
M achine tenders_________________ ___do___
Back ten d ers__________ _ _ _ _____ __do___
_ _ d o___
T h ird hands ______
F o u rth h an d s_______________ ____ _ _do___
B eater e n g in e ers__ _ _ _ _ ______ ___do___
B eater men
_
_
______ __do____
Size m akers ______________ ______ ___do___
Shredder m en_________________ __ ___do___
Paper h a n d l e r s .__ ___________ _ _ _do___
_do___
A ssistant pap er handlers.
_______
_ _ __ ___do___
Engine m en a n d o ile rs __
T rack m e n .. _______ ____ ____ _ __d o ___
______________ _. _ __do___
Electricians
M illw rights
__________ ____ ___do__
Inspectors, fire lines_______ ______ __do____
F irst firemen .. __ ______
______ __do___
Firem en _
______________ _ __do____
Team sters______________________ _ ___do___
C hauffeurs_____ __________________ -_-do___
1 Average.
2 N o t reported.
Before After
change change
P er hour
$1. 25
1. 25
1. 37^
1. 25
Oct. 10
M organ-
Saginaw, M ich., and v icinity__________
P aper and paper goods workers:
H udson Falls, N . Y .—
Per hour
$1. 50
1. 50
Oct. 1
Sept. 21
A fter change
(2)
Per hour
$0.45
5.30
Per hour
$0. 3394
6 . 22J4
48
48
48
48
Per day
$5. 92
Per day
$5.00
48
48
Per hour
6 $0. 97
0.91
0.73
6.57
6.50
6.77
6.47
6.43
6.47
6.47
6.43
6.63
6.55
«.88
6.69
6.51
6.63
6.57
6.44
6.57
Per hour
$0. 91
.86
.69
.54
.47
.72
.44
.40
.44
.44
.40
.59
.51H
.83
.65
.48
.59
.54
.41
.54
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
s 10 p er cent reduction.
4 15 p er cent increase.
[1456]
(2)
5 P er ton.
6 C om puted.
193
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
R E C E N T W A G E C H A N G E S, B Y IN D U S T R Y , O C C U P A T IO N , A N D L O C A L IT Y , A U G U ST
TO N O V E M B E R , 1931—C ontinued
H ours per week
R ate of wages
In d u stry or occupation, and locality
D ate of
change
Before change
After change
Before After
change change
P aper and paper goods workers—Continued.
H udson Falls, N . Y .—Continued.
Per hour
e $0. 48
0.47
6.43
6.48
6.44
6.37
Per hour
$0.45
.44
.40
.45
.41
.35
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
6.72
6.69
6.78
6.83
6.69
6.57
6.79
6.69- 72
.68
.65
.73
.78
.65
.54
.74
. 65-, 68
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
___do___
. .. d o ___
-__do___
__ _do___
_ do___
-_-do___
_ _do___
_ _do___
___do___
__ _do___
. do___
___do___
_ _ _ d o __
.do
__do_
6 1. 22
6.98
6.80
6.48-. 69
6 1. 01
6.83
6.48-, 70
6.78
6.47
6.47
6.43
6.47
6.50
6.47
6.47
1.15
.92
.75
. 45-. 65
.95
.78
. 45-. 66
.73
.44
.44
.40
.44
.47
.44
.44 ¡4
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
_.do
_ _do
- _do
_ .do
_ _do___
_ . d o __
_ ..d o ___
0.69
6.60
6.69
6.69
6.47
6.69
6.59
.65
.56
.65
.65
.44
.65
.55
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
__do___
_ _ d o __
__do_
...d o ___
6.64
6.59
6.52
6.51
.60
.55
.49
.48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
Specialty factory—
C arpenters__ ________________ _ _do___
M ach in ists.. ________________ __do___
R epair m en ---------------------------- _ _do_ _.
6.69
6.69
6.69
. 65
.65
.65
48
48
48
48
48
48
__do___
___do_ ._
. . . d o -----
Per week
6 $42. 00
6 35. 75
6 38.80
Per week
$39. 50
33.60
36. 50
48
48
48
48
48
48
Oct. 1
. .. d o ___
51.00
54.50
52. 00
55. 50
44
44
44
40
-__do___
___do ._
Nov. 1
51. 00
54.00
(2)
48.00
51.00
45
45
47
45
45
46
-__do___
. .. d o -----
46. 00
50.00
47. 00
51. 00
48
48
48
48
Oct. 1
. .. d o -----
49. 00
52.00
40. 83
43. 33
46
46
38 Vi
38 f’i
N ov. 1
. . . d o -----
53.00
52.00
54.00
53.00
c Com puted.
45
42
45
42
M ill A —Continued
R eam trim m er men __
_
___ Aug. 1
R ew inder m en____ ___________ __do___
A ssistant rew inder m e n ___- ____ _ __do___ _
H ead cu tte r men
. _ ___________ __do___
A ssistants______________________ - . .. d o ___
C u tte r girls _____________________ __do____
M achine shop—
__do___
Roll grinder men __ _________
M ill m achinists. ______________ __do____
_
Carpenters _____________ ___ _do___
B lacksm iths
_______ ______ __do____
_ _do___
Auto mechanics_____________
R epair helpers _________ _____ _ do___
_do___
P a tte rn makers _. _ _ _____
Factory m achine shop_______ _ . .. d o ___
M ill B
Boss machine tenders _ __________
No. 1 paper machine tenders----------No. 1 m achine back tenders-----------No. 1 machine hands _____ ______
"NJn 2 maghine tenders . _______
No. 2 machine back ten d ers-----------No 2 m achine h a n d s______ _ ____
B eater engineers ______ _. - ___
B eater men
_______________
Broke hands
_
__- ___ __
Size m akers and color ______ ___ Shredder m an __
- __
H ead weighers
_
__ __ ____
A ssistant weighers and loaders.
Trolley m otor m en ______________
Oilers—
D ay men
__________ - - N ight men ____________
M otor m en
__ __ ____
Electricians __ _________ _
Tractor men
M illwrights and mechanics. .
R epair helpers______________ Steam plant—
First firem en. _ ________ . .
Firem en
_ . ___ ______
W ater tenders. _ ________ -Ash handlers_________________
Foremen
_______________ - M ach in ists._ _ _ _ ___
___
Grocer factory, foremen m achinists. .
Printin g and publishing:
Compositors—
Sacramento, Calif.—
Job work, d a y _______________
Job work, n ig h t_____________
Tucson, Ariz.—
N ewspaper, d a y ___________ __
Newspaper, night
______
Vincennes, fn d ., n e w s p a p e r--------Electrotypers, D ayton, Ohio—
D a y w o rk _ _________ _ _______
N ig h t work
________ ________
Pressmen, Indianapolis, In d .—
Newspaper, d a y --------------- --------Newspaper, n ig h t...................................
Stereotypers—
Paw tucket, R. I -------------------- - -Providence. R. I ---- ----- ---------- * N ot reported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1457]
(2)
194
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
R E C E N T W A G E C H A N G E S, BY IN D U S T R Y , O C C U P A T IO N , A N D L O C A L IT Y , A U G U ST
TO N O V E M B E R , 1931—C ontinued
R ate of wages
In d u stry or occupation, and locality
R ailroad workers:
Boston, Revere Beach, & L y n n R . R.
Co.—
Officials--. - ________________
Sept. 1
O ther employees 7_. ___________ . . Oct. 1
C incinnati & Lake E rie R . R . Co.,
officers, clerks, and others _________ Aug. 15
St. Louis-San Francisco R . R ., officers
and clerks.............................. .....................
W estern Pacific R . R . Co., officers and
clerks ............................ .............. ..............
Street railw ay workers:
St. Louis, M o.—
Bus operators, conductors, and motormen—
First y ear____________________
Second year
T h ird year
- .
F o u rth year and thereafter_____
M aterial yards—
Leaders _________ ________
L a b o r e r s __ ______
- ___ . .
C ar cleaners. __ __ ________
R epairm en, car stations
R epairm en, m otor an d tru ck departm e n t ___
____
Storeroom employees__
Trackm en _
_
...
Power-house w orkers. _ .
Steubenville, Ohio, and W heeling, W.
Va.—
M otorm en and conductors_______
One-man car operators.. ..........
M unicipal:
Astoria, Oreg., teachers and other school
employees ________ _
Centralia, W ash., light and w ater
departm ent employees_____ _______
H ours per week
D ate of
change
Before change
A fter change
Per week
(2)
(2)
Per week
0
0
0
1
Per month
8 $250. 00
Sept. 1
8 300. 00
Aug.
Oct. 16
do__
_ do
___do___
Per hour
if $0. 52
10.58
1°. 64
1 0 .6 9
__ do
__do_ _
__do
__do
. 56-. 63
. 41-. 47
. 44-, 49
. 55-. 72
__ do
do
__ do
__do_ .
. 53-. 78
.56- 65
.42-. 61
. 42-, 74
Oct. 1
d o __
Before After
change change
48
48
48
48
44
0
44-54
Per month
0
0
0
0
0
0
Per hour
0
(3)
(3)
0
(3)
0
0
0
(ii)
(11)
(ii)
(U)
12 9
12 9
12 9
12 8
(“ I
(11)
(H )
(11)
12 9
12 9
12 9
12 8
(3)
(3)
48
48
48
48
12 9
12 9
0
12 8
12 8
50-60
50-60
50-60
56-60
0
.57
. 63
.50
. 55
Sept. 21
0
(13)
0
0
Oct.
0
( 3)
0
0
48
12 12
48
12 12
54
54
1
Taft, Calif., clerks, executives, street
Per month
Per month
laborers, refuse collectors. .
Sept. 1 $105. 00-$275. 00 $100. 00-$234. 00
Texarkana, A rk ,, firemen and policemen.
d o ___
125. 00
100. 00
Textiles:
Cotton-m ill workers, Somersworth, N .
H _________________________________ Oct. 5
0
0
2 N o t reported,
3 10 per cent reduction.
7 Over $18 per week.
8 M inim um .
6 5 per cent reduction.
101-man car and bus operators receive 7 cents more per hour.
11 H ours irregular.
12 H ours per day.
13 10 per cent reduction for 3 m onths.
F a rm W age and Labor S itu a tio n on O ctober 1, 1931
AVERAGE farm wage rates per month and per day, with and
XJL without board, together with index numbers of farm wages, for
the years 1928 to 1930, and for the months of January, April, July,
and October of 1929, 1930, and 1931, are given in Table 1, compiled
from figures issued by the United States Department of Agriculture.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1458]
195
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 1 .— F A R M W A G E R A T E S A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S , 1928 TO 1931
Average yearly farm wage 1
Per m onth
Year and m onth
W ith
board
1928
_____________________________________
1929
__________ _ _ _ _________ . . . .
1930 - - ____________________________________
1929—J a n u a ry __ ___ _ _ ________ ________ _ _
A p ril-- _____
- ____
J u ly ___________________________________
O ctober.
. ____ ____ . . . .
____
1930—Ja n u a ry __ .
. . . _____
_ . _ _______
A p ril_______ __
__ __________ _
Ju ly
________________________________
October _____________________ _____ .
1931—J a n u a ry ______________________ _______
A p ril_______
______
...
J u ly ___________________________________
O ctober___ ______ _ _
_____ _______
W ithout
board
$34. 66
34.74
31.14
33.04
34.68
36.08
35.90
32.29
33.83
33.47
31.23
26.03
25.99
25. 35
23. 31
num bers
of farm
wages
(1910-1914
=100)
W ithout
board
Per day
$48. 65
49.08
44. 59
47.24
49.00
50.53
50.00
46. 80
47.81
47.24
44. 28
39. 04
38.37
37.00
34.22
W ith
board
$1.88
1.88
1.65
1. 78
1.79
1.89
1.92
1. 73
1.72
1. 72
1.61
1. 38
1.33
1.29
1.18
169
170
152
162
167
173
174
159
162
160
150
129
127
123
113
$2.43
2.42
2.16
2. 34
2. 34
2.43
2. 46
2. 27
2. 27
2. 23
2.12
1.87
1.80
1. 73
1.59
1 Y early averages are from reports b y crop reporters, giving average wages for the year in their localities,
except for 1928-1930, w hen the wage rates per m onth are a straight average of quarterly rates, April, July,
and October of the current year, and Jan u ary of the following year, and the wage rates per day are a w eighted
average of q uarterly rates.
Table 2, reproduced from a press release of the United States De
partment of Agriculture, dated October 14, 1931, shows farm -wage
rates and farm labor supply and demand in the various States
and geographic divisions on October 1, 1931.
T able 2 . — F A R M W A G E R A T E S A N D F A R M L A B O R S U P P L Y A N D D E M A N D , B Y S T A T E S
A N D G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S , O C T O B E R 1, 1931
F arm labor supply and
dem and
Wage rates
S tate and division
m onth, Per day,
Per m onth, Perithout
w ith
w ith board wboard
board
M aine - ____
___
N ew H am pshire ----------V erm ont
- - - - - - -M assachusetts
------------Rhode Island
------C onnecticut. . . .
______
N ew Y ork. .
_______
N ew J e r s e y --------------------Pennsylvania . . . . . . ----
$38. 50
35.25
32.25
41.75
45.00
38.00
35.25
36.50
29.50
P er day, Supply, D em and, Supply,
w ithout per cent per cent per cent
board
of normal of norm al of demand
$56. 50
59.75
50.75
72.50
78.00
62.50
53. 50
60.75
46.00
$2.10
2.00
1.70
2.25
2.40
2.20
2.10
2. 00
1.80
$2. 80
2.90
2. 50
3.20
3.00
3.10
2.75
2.70
2.40
114
113
117
117
106
117
110
113
112
79
91
83
79
90
77
75
85
78
144
124
141
148
118
152
147
133
144
N o rth A tla n tic _____
34.50
54.34
2.00
2. 70
112.4
78.4
143.3
Ohio_____ . . . . . --------- -Indiana . . ________ _ . .
I llin o is ___ ________ _____
M ic h ig a n _________ _____
W isconsin. ________ _____
26.00
26.00
30. 25
23. 50
28.00
37.75
36. 50
40. 25
36. 50
42. 25
1.45
1.40
1.50
1. 30
1.40
1.95
1.75
1.90
1.80
2.00
114
121
116
126
124
71
70
67
61
69
161
173
173
207
180
E a st N o rth C e n tra l..
27.15
38.89
1.42
1.89
119.5
67.9
176.1
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1459]
196
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
T a b l e 2 . —F A R M W A G E R A T E S A N D F A R M LA B O R S U P P L Y A N D D E M A N D , B Y ST A T E S
A N D G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S, O C T O B E R 1, 1931—C ontinued
F arm labor supply and
dem and
Wage rates
State and division
m onth, P er day,
Per m onth, Per
w ithout
w ith
w ith board
board
board
Per day, Supply, D em and, Supply,
w ithout per cent per cent per cent
of normal of normal of demand
board
121
121
116
114
125
123
127
63
68
63
49
42
58
59
192
178
184
233
298
212
215
1.87
120.6
60.5
199 4
1.88
120.1
64.1
187.3
1. 70
1. 30
1.00
1.10
.85
.55
.60
.80
2. 05
2.00
1. 35
1. 55
1.05
.75
.75
1.20
107
102
107
107
110
101
106
114
82
87
79
69
69
75
65
68
130
117
135
155
159
135
163
168
23.88
.82
1. 08
1C6.4
71.9
148 0
29.50
23. 25
16.00
18.75
21.00
24.00
26. 90
27. 75
1.05
.85
.50
.55
.75
.80
.95
.90
1.40
1.05
.80
.75
1.00
1.10
1.20
1.20
103
111
116
106
108
114
110
100
75
73
65
62
62
68
73
75
137
152
178
171
174
168
151
133
$27. 90
31. 75
25. 75
25.25
24.50
28.50
25. 50
$39.60
41. 50
34.90
34. 75
36.00
40. 40
37. 75
$1. 55
1. 50
1.15
1.10
1.20
1.45
1. 30
$2.15
2.05
1.55
1.60
1.85
2. 00
1. 80
W est N o rth C en tra l. _
27. 51
38.15
1. 35
N o rth C entral . . . .
27. 33
38.51
1.39
21.50
27. 25
22.00
23. 25
16. 00
11.00
11.00
17. 25
40. 00
40. 50
32.00
34.50
23.10
16. 25
16.50
28.00
___
16. 07
K e n tu c k y .. . ----------------T ennessee.. . . . . . . . .
A labam a. . . ___________
M ississippi . ____________
A rkansas. ._ ----------------Louisiana . . . . -----. . .
O klahom a. --------------------T e x a s ______
_________
21. 25
17.00
11.00
12.00
15. 00
15. 75
18.50
18. 75
M in n e s o ta ______________
Iow a___ _________
- ___
M issouri _
. ----------N orth D akota
_________
South D akota __________
N ebraska
. . . ----------K ansas_________ . . .
D e la w a re ______________ _
M ary lan d___________ ____
Virginia _____________ __
W est V irg in ia.. _______ .
N orth Carolina ______ . . .
South C arolina___ _
___
Georgia . . ------------Florida_____________ _____
South A tlan tic.
South C en tral______
16. 40
23. 78
.80
1.07
107.4
69.9
153. 7
M o n tan a . . . . . . _ .
Idah o . .
. .
W yom ing. . . ---C olorado..
N ew M exico. ____. _____
Arizona . . .
. -----U tah
------ --------------- . . .
N evada. ____ . . . . -----W ashington___ . . . . . . . .
Oregon. _________________
California______________ _
31.00
36.75
35.50
29. 50
26.75
40. 00
40. 80
43.25
29.50
31.75
44.00
45.00
54.25
50. 50
46. 75
40.25
52.00
57. 75
63.75
49.00
49. 25
67.00
1. 50
1.65
1. 65
1.40
1.10
1.70
2.00
1. 75
1. 70
1.60
1.90
2.20
2. 20
2.00
2.00
1.50
2.00
2. 50
2. 55
2. 60
2. 25
2.60
131
134
135
135
120
120
139
134
142
133
119
41
62
68
60
70
70
51
61
62
66
72
320
216
199
225
171
171
273
220
229
202
165
W e s te rn ___________
36.95
55.83
1. 69
2. 32
127.5
65.1
195.8
____
23.31
34. 22
1.18
1.59
113.4
68.9
164.6
U nited S tates.
W ages an d H ou rs in th e G r a y -Ir o n F o u n d ry In d u stry ,
O cto b e r, 1931
HE average hourly wage rates paid in the gray-iron foundry in
dustry of the United States and Canada in October, 1931, and
the number of workers employed are shown in Table 1 following, by
occupation and district. Comparative wage rates for February, 1931,
are given for all districts combined. The data are from wage reports
of the Gray Iron Institute (Inc.), Cleveland, Ohio, based on informa
tion furnished by 118 foundries, with 5,629 employees, for October,
1931, and by 187 foundries, with 10,189 employees, for February,
1931.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1460]
197
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
1. — A V ER A G E H O U R L Y W A G E R A T E S IN T H E G R A Y -IR O N F O U N D R Y IN D U S T R Y
O F T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S A N D CA N A D A , BY O C C U P A T IO N A N D D IS T R IC T ,
O C T O B E R , 1931
T able
Canada, New
York, New
Jersey, and
N ew England
States
Pennsylvania,
Wisconsin,
M ichigan,
Illinois, and all
Ohio, Indiana, territory
west of
and all
M ississippi
territory to
R
iver
and
south
south, and
to southern
west to
border
of
M ississippi
country
River
H ourly
wage
rate,
all dis
tricts
com
H ourly bined,
Feb
N u m H ourly N u m H ourly N u m H ourly N um wage
ruary,
ber of wage
ber of wage
ber of wage
ber of
rate
1931
work
work
work
w ork Octo
rate
rate
rate
ers
ers
ers
ers
ber,
1931
Occupation
M olders:
Bench _ __________ .
Floor______ ______ _
Loam ____
M achine
______
H elpers____ _ _ __
A pprentices________
Foremen _______ _
Coremakers:
M e n ___ ______ .
W omen
______
M achine men__ ___
M achine w o m e n ___
H e lp e rs _______ ______
A pprentices _ ___
Foremen..__ _ _ _ _ _
Patternm akers:
Wood _ __ _„_
M etal___ ____ _
___
A pprentices___
__ ___
Forem en.
__ ______
Chippers _ _ _
_ ___
Crane operators. _ _____
Cupola tenders________ _
Flask m akers.__ __ ______
Grinders, rough________ _
Inspectors, c astin g s_______
Laborers, co m m on... __ _ _
M aintenance m en __ _ _
Pourers _ _ ___ _____
Sand blasters______ _____
W elders:
A cetylene______ _
Electric__ __ __ __ _
Combination _ ______
186
269
16
163
130
20
23
$0. 772
.833
. 661
.632
.543
.459
1.010
164
300
6
153
90
58
28
$0.827
.870
660
.669
.443
.544
.985
230
242
$0. 707
.787
284
30
28
33
.634
.423
.598
1.000
158
2
4
.764
.470
.705
144
3
.696
.383
191
14
5
18
28
15
.476
.523
.880
28
23
12
.411
.498
.903
44
18
5
12
120
40
66
23
57
39
198
46
.743
.675
.402
1.030
.547
.588
.581
.639
.500
.497
.486
.575
31
.527
43
14
16
6
109
34
62
27
76
37
383
39
12
33
4
1
1
.625
. 500
.600
All districts
combined
580
811
22
600
250
106
84
$0. 762
.833
$0. 753
.819
.642
.493
.542
1.000
.666
.497
.530
. 997
.634
.422
.430
493
19
.692
.421
.552
.708
.419
36
15
23
.412
.514
.884
82
66
50
.426
.512
.887
443
.446
.536
.885
.715
.702
.449
.936
.475
.533
.571
.621
.471
.496
.443
.636
488
.491
31
31
4
6
84
14
74
32
97
43
325
60
15
27
.819
.694
.432
.908
.505
.540
.556
.585
.460
.472
.457
.579
444
.479
118
63
25
24
313
88
202
82
230
119
906
145
27
91'
.752
.690
.437
.976
.511
.559
.569
.612
.474
.487
.457
.593
.765
.726
.472
.977
.519
.549
.574
.641
. 494
.521
.474
.633
!500
. 516
4
.512
12
4
8
.663
.615
.690
750
.720
.608
4
4
3
3
.652
.719
Table 2 gives wage rates for a number of the more important occu
pations in February and August, 1930, and February and October,
1931, as given in a circular letter from the Gray Iron Institute (Inc.),
dated October 30, 1931.
T a b le 3 . —C O M P A R A T IV E W A G E R A T E S IN S E L E C T E D O C C U PA T IO N S IN T H E G RAY -
IR O N F O U N D R Y IN D U S T R Y , ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S
February,
1930
Occupation
Molders:
B e n c h ___
. _
Floor
__ _ _ _ _ _
Loam __________ _ _ _ _
M achine_____
Coremakers:
M en_______________ ___ _ _ _ _ _
Women _______ _ _
Patternm akers:
W ood________________________________________
M e ta l_ _ _____
_ _____________________ ____
Chippers _ ____________________________ _ _ ____
Common laborers- __ ___ _________ ______ _ ______
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1461]
August,
1930
February,
1931
October,
1931
$0. 814
.830
.780
.746
$0.798
.841
.711
.709
$0.753
.819
.782
.666
$0. 762
.833
.661
.642
.737
.439
.714
.427
.708
.419
.692
.421
.829
.729
.533
.484
.847
.767
.526
.471
.765
.726
.519
.474
.752
.690
.511
.457
198
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Fifty-four of the 118 foundries reporting had an 8-hour day, 46
a 9-hour day, and 6 a 10-hour day, the workday of the remaining 12,
with the exception of 3 which did not report on hours, ranging from
7 to 9&
W age R ates and E arn in g s of B itu m in o u s C o al M in ers in the
A lle gh en y D istrict
HE Bureau of Statistics, Department of Labor and Industry, of
the State of Pennsylvania has issued a report 1 on existing wage
rates and earnings of workers employed in a selected group of bitumi
nous coal-mining operations in the Allegheny district. Wage rates
and earnings for a group of workers in 49 mines located in Allegheny,
Greene, Washington, Armstrong, and Westmoreland Counties are
included in the sample. The survey covers the period preceding the
strike in the district; that is, May, 1931.
T
Wage Rates and Earnings
F or a total of 15,688 workers engaged in 15 representative occu
pations the average wage rate per day in the last half of May was found
to be $3.98, and the range was $3.71 for outside labor to $7.56 for
cutters and scrapers. The average working time for workers in these
occupations amounted to 9.2 days out of a possible 12 working-days,
or 77 per cent of full time.
Actual earnings averaged 78.7 per cent of possible full-time earnings
under the existing scale. The average return for the half month was
$37.59 and per week it was $17.09. Machine loaders, who comprise
66 per cent of all workers represented in the sample, averaged approxi
mately $16.55 per week. Grouping all the employees in the sample
by average weekly earnings, it is found that 40.5 per cent of the total
number of workers earned less than $35 in the half month under
consideration and 20.9 per cent earned $50 and over.
Earnings in 1929 and 1931 Compared
P a s s in g to a comparison of earnings in the last half of May, 1931,
and a typical half month in 1929, the study under review shows the
figures that are reproduced in the table following. Wherever possible
it is stated that comparisons are made with data published by the
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics covering bituminous mines
in Pennsylvania during a typical half month in 1929.
A V E R A G E E A R N IN G S IN
S P E C IF IE D O C C U PA T IO N S D U R IN G M A Y , 1931, A N D A
T Y P IC A L M O N T H IN 1929
Occupation
Last half of
M ay, 1931
Pick m ining______ ________
_ . . . . _________
C utting and scraping___________ _
. _ . _____________
M otorm en____ . ________ . . . ___
. . . ______ _____
Tracklayers. . . ___________________________
_ _ _
Drivers __________ _ _____________ _
T im b e rm e n ____________ _ ______________ . . . ___. . . .
Laborers, inside _. _________ _______ _ _ _ . ______ _.
Carpenters and car repairm en_____ . . .
Laborers, outside_________ . . . __ _________ ____ _____
1 Labor and In d u stry , H arrisburg, Ju ly , 1931, p p. 18-34.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1462]
$34.89
68.08
50.25
44. 29
42. 22
42. 39
35.91
43.26
29. 92
Typical half Per cent de
m onth in
crease in 1931
1929
$52. 91
87. 67
65. 79
62.92
57. 89
64.66
51.56
59.10
46. 95
34.1
22.3
23.6
29.6
27 1
34.4
30.4
26.8
36.3
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
199
The table shows that the decrease in average earnings was least
severe for two groups of underground workers, namely, persons en
gaged in cutting and scraping (22.3 per cent) and motormen (23.6
per cent), and most severe for outside laborers (36.3 per cent) and
timbermen (34.4 per cent) who are engaged in underground work.
Earnings in Strike-free Mines and in Mines Affected by the Strike
F u r t h e r comparison is made of the earnings of workers in the
mines that were not involved in the strike of 1931 and those engaged
in the mines affected by the strike. The earnings figures quoted are
for the last pay period in May, 1931, as are the other figures shown,
and it is stated that at that time few, if any, of the mines were affected
by strike conditions. For the 5,122 workers subsequently on strike,
the average earnings in the last half of May amounted to $27.44 and
for a week, $12.47. During the same pay-roll period 6,812 workers
employed in mines not on strike had average earnings of $51.24 or
$23.29 a week. This indicates that workers in mines on strike were
earning only slightly more than half as much as the workers who were
not affected by the strike in the second pay-roll period of May, 1931.
Number of Starts Made
A g a i n classifying the workers according to whether or not they were
subsequently on strike, the study under review shows the number of
starts made by workers in the pay-roll period ending May 31, 1931.
As has been mentioned, there were 12 working days in this pay-roll
period. It is also of interest to know that the average number of
starts for all 49 mines was 9.4 as compared with 8 starts in 20 mines
where a strike later took place and 10.3 starts in 22 mines where
strike conditions did not obtain.
The study of days worked led to the conclusion that the mines
working the fewest number of days had the highest percentage of
strikes.
Number on Pay Rolls
T h e final comparison made was one of numbers on the pay rolls of
these 49 mines. The dates chosen were the last half of May, 1931, and
the year 1930, and the comparison disclosed that only 5.3 per cent
fewer persons were on the respective pay rolls of the mines in May,
1931, than during 1930.
R ed u ctio n of O fficial Salary S cale in N ew S o u th W ales
ITS issue for August 31, 1931, the New South Wales Industrial
Gazette announces the passage of an act continuing until August 5,
IN1932,
the cuts in official salaries made effective by the act of 1930
(see Labor Review, November, 1930, p. 43) and increasing the reduc
tions for the higher salaries. The original act, which was due to
expire June 30, 1931, reduced the salaries of public officials, with
certain exceptions, by 8}i per cent. The present act continues this
reduction for officials whose salaries do not exceed the amount of the
declared living wage for adults now in force but provides for further
87017°—31----- 14
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1463]
200
MONTHLY LABOK E E V IEW
reductions upon higher salaries. The arrangement is rather compli
cated, since the percentage of reduction varies for different parts of
the salary. Thus, the reduction is to be 15 per cent upon that part of
the salary which does not exceed £200 ($973) per annum, 17.5 percent
upon that pare of the salary over £200 and up to £400 ($1,947) per
annum, and so on, up to 32.5 per cent on that part of the salary over
£1,500 ($7,300) per annum. It is provided, however, that the salary
shall not be reduced by the operation of this act below £197 ($959)
per annum for men and £107 ($521) per annum for women, and cer
tain remissions are made in the case of those having a dependent child
or children.
A ctu a l E arn ings of Coal M iners in G erm an y
HE following two tables show the actual earnings of coal miners
and lignite miners in Germanyin January and July, 1930 and 1931,
as reported by the coal mine operators’ associations to the German
Federal Statistical Office.1
It is seen that in coal (Steinkohl) mining, the earnings of underground
pick miners per shift decreased by 19 cents from January, 1930, to
July, 1931, and the earnings of “ others” by 8 cents. During the same
period the earnings of adult male surface workers decreased per shift
by 12 cents, those of young workers by 4 cents, and the earnings of
female workers were the same on both dates.
In the lignite (.Braunkohl) fields during the same period the earnings
of surface miners per shift showed a decrease by 15 cents and those of
underground miners by 17 cents. The earnings of laborers decreased
by 14 cents; of young workers, male, by 11 cents; and of female
workers by 6 cents.
T
T able 1.—A C T U A L E A R N IN G S O F C O AL M IN E R S IN G E R M A N Y , JA N U A R Y A N D JU L Y
1930 A N D 1931
[Weighted averages for W est U pper Silesia, Lower Silesia, R u h r D istrict, Aachen, and Saxony.
versions in to U nited States currency on basis of m a rk =23.8 cents]
Con
Earnings per shift
U nderground workers
Y ear and m onth
Pick m iners
Ger
m an
cur
rency
1930:
M arks
Jan u ary — ____
9.97
J u ly .. _______
9.91
1931:
9.25
Jan u ary ____ .
J u ly __________
9.14
1 Germany.
Surface workers
All others (ex
cluding haulers)
A dults, male
Young workers,
male
Female
workers
U nited
States
cu r
rency
Ger
m an
cur
rency
U nited
States
cu r
rency
Ger
m an
cur
rency
U nited
States
cur
rency
Ger
m an
cur
rency
U nited
States
cur
rency
Ger
m an
cur
rency
$2. 37
2.36
M arks
7.42
7. 55
$1.77
1.80
Marks
7.63
7.64
$1.82
1.82
M ayks
2.'41
2.39
$0. 57
.57
M arks
3.45
3.47
$0. 82
.83
2. 20
2.18
7.17
7.09
1.71
1.69
7.24
7.15
1.72
1.70
2.28
2. 22
.54
.53
3.29
3.45
.78
.82
Statistisches R eichsam t. W irtschaft u n d Statistik, Oct. 1,1931, pp. 698-700.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1464]
U nited
States
cur
rency
201
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able 3 .—A C T U A L E A R N IN G S O F L IG N IT E M IN E R S IN G E R M A N Y , JA N U A R Y A N D
JU L Y , 1930 A N D 1931
[Weighted averages for M iddle-G erm an Kernreviere I, Lower Lausitz, M iddle-G erm an Rondreviere, and
E ast-E lba Rondreviere I and II. Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of m ark=23.8
cents]
Earnings per shift
Coal miners
Young workers,
male
Laborers
Y ear and m onth
Surface
U nderground
Female
workers
Ger
man
cur
rency
U nited
States
cur
rency
Ger
m an
cu r
rency
U nited
States
cur
rency
Ger
m an
cu r
rency
U nited
States
cur
rency
Ger
m an
cur
rency
U nited
States
cur
rency
Ger
m an
cur
rency
1930:
M arks
Jan u a ry _______
8.43
J u ly ---------------8.15
$2.01
1.94
M arks
9.14
9.09
$2.18
2.16
M arks
8.01
8.11
$1.91
1.93
M arks
3.93
3.84
$0.94
.91
M arks
4.16
4.12
$0.99
.98
1.91
1.86
8. 72
8. 46
2.08
2. 01
7.98
7. 44
1.90
1.77
3.71
3. 47
.88
.83
4. 15
3. 89
.99
.93
1931 •
J a n u a ry ...
J u ly ----------------
8. 04
7. 80
U nited
States
cur
rency
W ages in Ja p an e se M in es, L a st Q u arter of 1929
HE following table shows the average wages per day, including
bonuses and benefits, of workers in Japanese mines in the last
quarter of 1929. The figures are taken from the Statistical Resume
of the Empire of Japan, Tokyo, 1931 (p. 108).
T
A V E R A G E D A IL Y W A G E S (IN C L U D IN G B O N U SES A N D B E N E F IT S ) O F W O R K E R S IN
JA P A N , LA ST Q U A R T E R OF 1929
[Conversions on basis of yen=50 cents]
M etal mines
Sex and age of workers
M ales:
U nder 16 years ___
Over 16 years__ _ _ _____ _ .
Average____ _ _______
F em ales:
U nder 16 y e a rs._
. . . . _____ . _
Over 16 y ears________ . _ _ ____ _ .
Average
. . .
General average __
_ ....
___ . _ _______ .
Coal mines
Japanese
currency
U nited
States
currency
Japanese
currency
U nited
States
currency
Yen
Cents
Yen
Cents
0. 621
2 .0 0 3
3 1 .2
1 0 0 .2
0.
1. 910
9234 6 .2
9 5 .5
1 .9 7 0
9 8 .5
1 .8 9 4
9 4 .7
.4 7 1
.7 4 6
2 3 .6
3 7 .3
.9 4 4
1 .2 4 3
4 7 .2
62. 2
.7 3 8
1 .8 5 7
3 6 .9
9 2 .9
1 .2 3 5
1. 789
6 1 .8
8 9 .5
The statistics on the hours of labor in Japanese mines (including
oil wells) given in the above-mentioned publication, are for October
10, 1927 (p. 98), the distribution of workers according to their fixed
maximum hours being as follows: About 10 per cent work 8 hours,
9 per cent 9 hours, 32 per cent 10 hours, 23 per cent 11 hours, and 26
per cent 12 hours.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1465]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
S u m m a r y for O ctober, 1931
MPLOYMENT decreased 2.7 per cent in October, 1931, as
compared with September, 1931, and pay-roll totals decreased
0.9 per cent.
The industrial groups surveyed, the number of establishments
reporting in each group, the number of employees covered, and the
total pay rolls for one week, for both September and October, together
with the per cents of change in October, are shown in the following
summary :
E
SU M M A R Y O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S, S E P T E M B E R A N D O C TO
B E R , 1931
N u m b er on p ay roll
E stab
lish
ments
I n d u s tr ia l grou p
1. M a n u f a c t u r i n g
2. C o a l m i n i n g ____
___________
16,652 2,9 5 9 ,2 9 8 2 ,864,801
324,509
1,507
312,887
118,719
205, 790
263
3. M e t a l l i f e r o u s m i n i n g . . . __
4. Q u a r r y in g a n d n o n m e t a lli c
m i n i n g __________________
779
5. C r u d e p e tr o le u m p r o d u c in g
266
6. P u b l i c u t i l i t i e s ________________ 11,642
36,168
35,100
29,557
23,660
672,607
28,620
23,363
662,161
301, 315
230,650
297, 941
225,845
7. T r a d e _______
.
_
7.925
3,228
489
140, 642
138, 375
_ 13,333
396,175
407,278
72, 061
324, 114
71, 250
336, 028
146,758
103,919
42,359
10,395
143,329
62,377
41,806
10,273
48,434 4 ,7 3 3 ,7 8 3 4 ,603,617
W holesale______________ . 2, 494
10, 839
R e ta 'l__________________
2,190
1,024
536
242
8. S l o t e l s ______________ __________
9. C a n n i n g a n d p r e s e r v i n g . .
10. L a u n d r i e s ______ ____
. ...
11. D y e i n g a n d c l e a n i n g .
.. _
T o t a l _______________________
R e c a p it u l a t io n
G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N
by
Percent
of
of
109, 390
203, 497
Telephone a n d telegraph___
Power, light, and w ater. . .
Electric railroad operation
and m aintenance, exclusive of car shops_________
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
Septem October, change September,
1931
ber, 1931
1931
160
1, 347
A nthracite_______________
B itum inous— _ ________
Percent
October,
1931
change
1 - 3 .3
+ 3 .7
$61,847,232
6 ,089,575
$60,650,705
7 ,301,050
1 - 3 .- 1
+ 1 9 .9
+ 8.5
2, 575, 722
3,513, 853
3, 617, 307
3,683, 743
+40.4
796,303
745,332
+ 4 .8
- 6 .4
- 3 .2
- 1 .3
- 1 .6
- 1. 1
- 2 .1
601,741
787,199
2 0,339,154
572,952
776,267
2 0,087,288
- 4 .8
- 1 .4
- 1 .2
8,819, 363
7,160, 502
8,771, 032
7,076, 700
- 0 .5
- 1 .6
+ 2 .8
- 1 .1
4, 359,289
+ 1 .1
- 3 .0
- 1 .2
4,239,556
- 2 .7
9,778, 722
9,8 3 8 ,3 3 5
2,136, 853
7, 701,482
+ 0 .6
- 1 .8
+ 3.7
2,176, 229
7, 602,493
+ 1.3
-2 .3
- 4 0 .0
-1 .3
- 1 .2
2 2,27 6 ,4 2 9
1,356,278
778,997
227,394
2 2 ,2 1 4 ,7 4 5
814,290
758,022
224,281
- 2 .7
-4 0 .0
- 2 .7
- 1 .4
- 2 .7
104,879,024
103,983,267
- 0 .9
G e o g r a p h ic
D iv is io n s
3
N ew E n g lan d __________________
M iddle A tlantic
- - - E ast N o rth C entral____
_ W est N o rth C entral
South A tlantic E ast South C en tral..
_____-W est South C en tral-- .
_ _
M ou n tain ___ _
__ _
Pacific_________ _
______ _
All divisions. _______
8, 0C3
545,558
527,145
7,867 1, 384,444 1, 380, 977
9, £64 1,263,199 1,180, 243
4,924
299, 901
295,494
503, 825
500, 029
4, 966
2, 484
192, 061
193, 546
3,107
172. 566
169, 209
1,956
91, 742
96, 379
262, 080
5,173
279,002
48,434 4,73 3 ,7 8 3
4 ,603,617
- 3 .4 $12, 013, 673 $11,640,376
- 0 .3 33, 022, 513 33,693,239
- 6 .6 28, 028, 169 27,442,434
- 1 .5
6, 853, 782
6, 687,260
8,953, 533
- 0 .8
9,073, 281
3, 050, 995
3, 041, 004
- 0 .8
- 1 .9
3, 866, 083
3, 795, 034
2,183,488
+ 5.1
2,268, 606
6,787, 040
6,461,781
- 6 .1
- 2 .7
104,879,024
103,983,267
- 3 .1
+ 2 .0
-2 . 1
- 2 .4
-1 .3
-0 .3
- 1 .8
+ 3 .9
- 4 .8
-0 .9
1 W eighted per cent of change for the combined 54 m anufacturing industries, repeated from Table 1, p,
207; the rem aining per cents of change, including total, are unweighted.
2 Cash paym ents only; see note 3, p. 221.
3 New England: C onnecticut, M aine, M assachusetts, New H am pshire, Rhode Island, V erm ont. Middle
Atlantic: N ew Jersey, N ew Y ork, Pennsylvania. East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, M ichigan, Ohio,
W isconsin. West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, M innesota, M issouri, Nebraska, N orth D akota, South
D akota. South Atlantic: Delaware, D istrict of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, M aryland, N orth Carolina,
South Carolina, Virginia, W est Virginia. East South Central: Alabam a, K entucky, M ississippi, Tennes
see. West South Central: A rkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas. Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho,
M ontana, New Mexico, N evada, U tah, W yoming. Pacific: California, Oregon, W ashington.
202
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1466]
203
TREN D OF EM PLOYM ENT
The per cents of change shown for the total figures represent only
the changes in the establishments reporting, as the figures for the
several industrial groups are not weighted according to the relative
importance of each group.
Three of the fifteen industrial groups surveyed reported gains in
employment and earnings over the month interval. Anthracite
mining reported an increase of 8.5 per cent in employment in October
and a gain of 40.4 per cent in pay-roll totals. The usual seasonal
activity in retail trade in October was reflected by an increase of_3.7
per cent in employment and 1.3 per cent in earnings, while the bitu
minous-coal-mining group also reported a seasonal increase of 1.1
per cent in number of workers and 4.8 per cent in employees’ earnings.
The greatest loss in employment and earnings in the 12 remaining
industrial groups was shown in the canning and preserving industry,
which reported decreases of 40.0 per cent in both employment and
pay roll, due to the regular seasonal closing cf many vegetable canning
factories in October. Employment declined 3.3 per cent in manu
facturing industries, 3.2 per cent in quarrying and nonmetalhe mining,
and 3.0 per cent in metalliferous mining. Hotels reported a falling
off in employment of 2.3 per cent, due to the seasonal closing cf a
number of resort establishments, and power, light, and water plants
reported 2.1 per cent fewer employees. The remaining groups (crudepetroleum producing, telephone and telegraph, electric-railroad oper
ation, wholesale trade, laundries, and dyeing and cleaning) reported
decreases of less than 2 per cent.
The Mountain geographic division alone of the nine geographic
divisions reported both increased employment and pay-roll totals.
These increases were due largely to the expansion in the beet-sugar
industry at this time of year.
Employment in the Middle Atlantic division showed a slight falling
off from September to October, but pay-roll totals in this division
showed a gain over the month interval due to the large increase in
earnings in the anthracite-mining industry, which affected the com
bined pay-roll aggregate for this division. The remaining geographic
divisions reported declines in both employment and earnings, the
East North Central and the Pacific divisions reporting the greatest
losses in number of employees—b.6 per cent and 6.1 per cent,
respectively.
P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN O C T O B E R , 1931, A N D
S E P T E M B E R , 1931, A N D O C T O B E R , 1930
Per cent of change
October, 1931, com
Per capita
pared w ith —
weekly
earnings in
October,
September, October,
1931
1930
1931
Industrial group
1 M anufacturing (54 industries^
______ ____________
2. Coal mining:
\ nthraeite
____ _
__ _ _ ----------B itum innns
_____ - -- —
- - 3 Metal lifer fins m ining
______ _____
- — -
- -
6. Public utilities:
'Pplppj'inno qnd tele graph
______ —
Power light, and w ater
__
__ _____ Electric railroads__ ___________- ------------------------- -------------
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
C O M P A R IS O N W IT H
[1467]
$21. 07
+ 0 .3
-1 3 .7
30.47
17. 90
21. 23
20 02
33. 23
+29.5
+ 3 .6
- 3 .6
- 1 .8
- 0 .1
-1 1 .3
-2 0 .1
-2 1 .8
-1 9 .3
- 7 .0
29. 44
31.33
30.64
+ 0.5
+ 0.9
- 1 .2
+ 2 .0
- 0 ,3
- 2 .3
204
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN O C T O B E R , 1931, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H
S E P T E M B E R , 1931, A N D O C T O B E R , 1930—Continued
Per cent of change
Per capita
October, 1931, com
weekly
pared w ith—
earnings in
October,
1931
September, October,
1931
1930
Industrial group
7. Trade:
WTiolesale___________________ _____
_ ________ _
R etail___ _
. Hotels (cash paym ents only) i ___ ________ _
9. Canning and preserving________ _ _____ _
10. L a u n d rie s ___
11. D yeing and cleaning _ _
____ _____ ____
8
___
T o ta l_______ _______________
$29. 99
22. 92
15. 45
13. 05
18.13
21.83
- 0 .7
- 2 .3
- 0 .3
(2)
- 1 .4
- 0 .2
22. 59
- 1 .9
1 T h e additional value of board, room, and tips can not be com puted.
2 No change.
-4 .9
- 5 .4
-8 .0
-1 5 .5
(3)
(3)
(3)
3 D ata not available.
Per capita earnings for October, 1931, given in the preceding table
must not be confused with full-time weekly rates of wages; they are
actual per capita weekly earnings computed by dividing the total
number of employees reported into the total amount of pay roll in the
week reported, and the “ number of employees” includes all persons
who worked any part of the period reported—that is, part-time
workers as well as full-time workers.
Comparisons are made with per capita earnings in September,
1931, and with October, 1930, where data are available.
For convenient reference the latest data available relating to all
employees, excluding executives and officials, on Class I railroads,
drawn from Interstate Commerce Commission reports, are shown in
the following statement. These reports are for the months of August
and September, instead of for September and October, 1931; conse
quently the figures can not be combined with those presented in the
summary table.
E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S, CLASS I R A IL R O A D S
N um ber on p a y roll
In d u stry
Class I railroads____
Aug. 15,
1931
Sept. 15,
1931
1, 272, 739
1, 239,118
Per
cent of
change
- 2 .6
A m ount of pay roll in
entire m onth
Aug., 1931
Sept., 1931
$170, 857, 555
$163,429, 525
Per
cent of
change
- 4 .3
The total number of employees included in this summary is
5,842,735, and their combined earnings in one week amount to
approximately $142,000,000.
E m p lo y m e n t in Selected M a n u fa c tu r in g In du stries in O ctober,
1931
C o m p a riso n o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o ta ls in M a n u fa c tu r in g I n d u s
tr ie s in O cto b er, 1931, w ith S e p te m b e r , 1931, a n d O cto b er, 1930
MPLOYMENT in manufacturing industries decreased 3.3 per
cent in October, 1931, as compared with September, 1931, and
pay-roll totals decreased 3.1 per cent. Measured by changes in the
E
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1468]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
205
indexes of employment and earnings over the year interval, the level
of employment in October, 1931, was 14.4 per cent below the cor
responding month of the previous year and pay-roll totals were 26.1
per cent lower than in October, 1930.
These per cents of change in employment and earnings from
September to October, 1931, are based upon returns made by 14,054
establishments in 54 of the principal manufacturing industries of the
United States, having in October 2,583,436 employees, whose com
bined earnings in one week were $54,436,682.
The index of employment in October, 1931, is 67.3, as compared
with 69.6, for September, 1931, 70.0 for August, 1931, and 78.6 for
October, 1930; the index of pay-roll totals for October, 1931, is 53.7, as
compared with 55.4 for September, 1931, 58.5 for August, 1931, and
72.7 for October, 1930. The monthly average for 1926 equals 100.
Two of the twelve groups of manufacturing industries included in
the bureau’s indexes of employment and pay-roll totals showed
improved employment conditions over the month interval, the paper
and the tobacco products groups reporting slight increases in number
of workers, combined with more pronounced gains in earnings. The
remaining 10 groups showed a falling-oil in employment in October
as compared with September, the greatest decline (11.8 per cent)
being reported in the vehicles group. Employment in the leather
products group declined 6 per cent from September to October, the
stone-clay-glass group reported 4.5 per cent fewer employees, and
the iron and steel and the textile groups reported losses of 2.9 per
cent over the month interval. The decreases in employment in the
remaining groups were 1.8 per cent or less.
Comparing October, 1931, with October, 1930, employment and
earnings in each of these 12 groups of industries in October, 1931,
were below the level of the corresponding month of the preceding
year. In each instance pay-roll totals have declined to a greater
extent than the decrease in number of employees. The leather,
food, and textile groups of industries showed the least change in
employment over the year interval, while the greatest losses in num
ber of employees were shown in the vehicles, iron and steel, and
lumber groups.
,
Sixteen of the fifty-four manufacturing industries on which the
bureau’s indexes of employment and pay-roll totals are based reported
gains in employment in October, as compared with September, and
18 industries^reported increased earnings. _
The greatest increase in employment in the September-October
comparison was shown in the silk-goods industry, which reported a
gain of 5.1 per cent. The steam-fittings industry reported an in
crease of 4.6 per cent in employment; confectionery, 3.9 per cent;
hosiery and knit goods, 3.6 per cent; and the agricultural implement
and the chewing and smoking tobacco industries reported increases
of 3.1 per cent each over the month interval. The largest decrease
in employment from September to October in these 54 industries
was shown in the automobile industry, in which a loss of 20.9 per
cent in number of workers was reported. Earnings in this industry,
however, showed but slight change, due to the fact that several
plants reporting largefdecreases in number of workers oyer the pre
ceding month reported an improvement in plant operating time m
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1469]
206
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
October, which stabilized the" amount of earnings in this monthly
comparison. The woolen and worsted goods industry reported a
decline in employment of 15.7 per cent from September to October;
the ice-cream industry reported 11.6 per cent fewer employees; brick,
7.9 per cent; carriages and wagons, 7.7 per cent; boots and shoes,
6.5 per cent; women’s clothing, 6.1 per cent; millinery, 5.5 per cent;
and structural ironwork, 5.4 per cent.
Comparing the indexes of employment and earnings in October,
1931, with the index numbers of October, 1930, for each of the 54
industries, decreased employment and pay-roll totals are shown in
each industry, with the single exception of the men’s clothing industry
in which the index of employment showed no change over the year
interval. Employment in the cotton goods industry in October,
1931, was 0.5 per cent below the level of the corresponding month of
the year previous, and comparatively little change in employment
was registered in the confectionery, hosiery and knit goods, and news
paper and periodical printing industries. The boot and shoe in
dustry showed a falling-off of 3.4 per cent in number of workers in this
yearly comparison, and the employment in the chewing and smokingtobacco industry was 4.0 per cent below the level of October, 1930.
The outstanding decrease in both employment and earnings was
shown in the agricultural implement industry, in which employment
declined 54.7 per cent over the year interval and pay-roll totals
decreased 59.1 per cent. Decreases in employment, ranging from
39.2 per cent to 30.2 per cent, were shown in the fertilizer, piano,
machine tool, carriage and wagon, and brick industries. Employ
ment in the automobile industry showed a decline of 27.4 per cent
over the year interval, with a corresponding decrease in pay-roll
totals. The iron and steel industry reported 18.9 per cent fewer
employees in October^ 1931, than in October, 1930, and employment
in foundries and machine shops decreased 25.7 per cent over the same
period.
In the following table are shown the number of identical establish
ments reporting in both September and October, 1931, in the 54
manufacturing industries on which the bureau’s indexes of employ
ment and pay-roll totals are based, together with the total number of
wage earners on the pay rolls of these establishments during the pay
period ending nearest October 15, and the amount of their weekly
earnings in October, the per cents of change over the month and the
year interval, and the index numbers of employment and pay-roll
totals in October, 1931.
. The monthly per cents of change in employment and earnings for
each of the 54 separate industries are computed by direct comparison
of the total number of employees and the amount of weekly earnings
in identical establishments for the two months considered. The
per cents of change over the year interval in the separate industries,
the group indexes, and the general indexes are computed from the
index numbers of employment and pay-roll totals. The per cents
of change over the month interval in the several groups and in the
total of the 54 manufacturing industries are computed from the index
numbers of these groups, which are obtained by weighting the index
numbers of the several industries in the groups by the number of
employees or wages paid in the industries.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1470]
207
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
1 — C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1031, P E R
C E N T OF C H A N G E O V ER A Y E A R IN T E R V A L , A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S OF E M P L O Y
M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L TO T A L S, O C T O B E R , 1931
T able
M A N U F A C T U R IN G
In d u stry
Pay-roll totals
Em ploym ent
Index num
bers, OctoEstabber, 1931 (Av
lishPer cent of
Per cent of'
erage 1926=
ments
change
change
100)
report
ing in
A m ount
both N um ber
roll
Sep
Octo of(1pay
on pay
week)
Sep Octo
tember roll, Octo Sep
ber,
ber,
and ber, 1931 tember 1930, October, tember 1930, E m P ay
to
Oc to Oc ploy roll
to
Oc
1931
Octo
to
Oc
tober, tober,
tober, tober, m ent totals
ber,
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c t s .
2, ICG
Slaughtering a n d m eat
packing— --------------C onfectionery.---------------Ice cream ______________
Flour _ _
Baking . . . . .
Sugar refining, c a n e _____
211
318
361
419
844
13
T e x tile s a n d th e ir p r o d u c t s
C otton goods___ . _____
Hosiery and k n it goods___
Silk goods. _______
Woolen and worsted goods
C arpets and ru g s .. . . . .
Dyeing and finishing tex
tiles__ _____ _____ _
Clothing, m en’s . _______
Shirts and collars. . . .
Clothing, w om en’s . _____
M illinery and lace goods...
I r e n a n d ste el a n d th e ir
p ro d u cts
________ _ _____ _
2,413
522
350
251
186
30
221,901
-1 2 .8
89.0
83.6
- 5 .4
- 2 .4
- 8 .8
- 8 .9
-6 . 2
- 8 .6
2,063, 430 - 0 .5
648, 166 +1. 0
368, 062 -1 2 .8
393, 438 + 0 .8
1, 648, 473 - 1 .8
183, 415 - 5 .4
-1 3 .0
-1 0 .6
-1 4 .3
-15. 5
-12. 3
-1 6 .3
89.0
93.0
76.7
88.5
90.1
79.8
84.9
83.4
71.8
84.0
85. 1
75.4
- 5 .1
8 , 731,165 - 5 .1
2, 351, 386 - 3 .8
1, 394, 978 + 4 .7
891, 047 + 5 .5
895, 277 -1 4 .9
324, 220 - 3 .2
- 1 6 .3
76.0
61.7
- 0 .5
- 2 .9
- 8 .5
- 7 .4
- 6 .3
-1 0 .0
-1 8 .2
-1 7 .8
-1 4 .2
-1 6 .4
74.1
84.5
73.0
68.6
69.5
60.1
70.6
62.4
58. 1
50.9
- 3 .6 - 9 . 3
- 3 .5
(i)
+ 1 .7 - 2 .8
- 6 .1 -1 7 .2
- 5 .5 - 9 .5
735,439 - 7 .4
1, 052,402 - 7 .5
221, 335 - 3 . 3
616, 922 - 8 .4
248, 159 -1 2 .2
-1 8 .4
- 8 .7
-1 6 .4
-2 8 .3
-1 9 .4
82.9
77.0
75.9
80.2
75.2
70.9
54.8
67.0
67.4
60.0
- 0 .4
83, 950 + 0 .8
38, 248 + 3 .9
11, 934 -1 1 . 6
15, 904 - 0 .4
65, 388 - 1. 1
6,477 - 3 .6
542,472
- 2 .9
185, 901 - 1 .8
90, 277 + 3 .6
50, 705 +5.1
47, 624 -15. 7
16, 759 - 0 .4
126
346
108
368
126
33, 855
60, 918
17, 768
26,800
12,865
- 5 .8
$5,304,984
- 1 .8
1,987
470,111
- 2 .9
-2 2 .3
9,241,946
- 2 .7
- 4 1 .6
60.3
40.0
196
...
Iron and steel____ _
38
Cast-iron p ip e__________
174
Structural ironwork. ___
Foundry and machineshop p ro d u c ts ________ 1,096
102
H ardw are.
__________
148
M achine tools
_____
Steam fittings and steam
and hot-w ater heating
106
apparatus
. . _____
127
Stoves_____________ _____
195,059
8,114
21,817
- 3 .3 -1 8 .9
- 4 .1 -2 1 .5
- 5 .4 -2 5 .2
3, 551, 900
135,406
487, 628
- 5 . 2 -4 5 .5
- 2 .7 -4 1 .3
- 9 .5 -4 1 .3
63.5
51.1
65.6
38.3
36.7
49.0
161, 511
25, 052
17, 713
- 3 .3 -2 5 .7
+ 0 .4 -1 6 .1
- 2 .4 -3 6 .7
3, 319, 494
456, 664
404,485
- 1 .8 -4 0 .7
+ 7 .2 -3 1 .0
+ 1 .0 -4 4 .1
58.1
61.8
54.4
39.9
42.2
40.2
23, 630
17,215
+ 4 .6 -1 5 .1
+ 0 .7 -1 3 .0
500, 691 +11.7 -3 1 .9
385, 678 + 1.3 -2 5 .1
53.4
64.3
38.3
48.7
1,492
159,124
- 5 .3
- 3 6 .9
49.8
37.4
86,146
22,154
50,824
- 1 .8 -2 2 .2
- 2 .8 -26. 1
- 2 .7 -1 8 .5
+ 0.1 -1 5 .5
2,645,202
692
358
442
1,322, 256
407. 583
915, 363
- 8 .2 -4 2 .3
- 5 .6 -33.1
- 1 .1 -2 9 .8
45. 7
48.0
61.5
33.2
36.6
46.3
- 6 .0 - 4 .7
- 3 .7 -1 0 .3
- 6 .5 - 3 .4
2,100,961
+ 0 .7
L u m b e r a n d its p r o d u c t s
Lum ber, sawmills _____
Lum ber, millwork _____
F urnitu re ___ ... . ____
-1 9 .0
78.3
54.6
567,139 - 7 .1 -1 7 .3
1,533, 822 -1 9 .4 -1 9 .5
74.6
79.2
65.6
51.5
-1 6 .5
442
120,8G7
146
296
25, 483
101, 384
P a p e r a n d p r i n t i n g .. . ________
1,773
228,007
- 7 .3
6,683,957
+ 1 .2
-1 3 .1
89.0
84.9
Paper and p u lp __________
Paper boxes. . .
____
Printing, book and jo b ___
Printing, new spapers and
periodicals... _ ___ ...
393
305
629
77, 298
24,430
52, 676
+0.1 - 8 .5
+ 1.9 - 7 .4
- 0 .7 -1 0 .8
1, 687,191
523, 990
1, 635,171
+ 1 .9 -21.1
+ 6 .5 -1 3 .0
- 1 .3 -1 7 .1
79.6
84.7
85.3
65.4
82.8
79.8
446
73,603
+ 2 .0
- 2 .9
2, 837,605
+ 1 .8
- 5 .0
105.1
105.0
C h e m i c a l s a n d a llie d p r o d u c t s _______________ _ _ _ _ _ _ . . .
472
86,632
- 0 .5
-1 7 .2
2,406,437
- 0 .4
-2 0 .8
73.9
71.5
Chemicals
___________
Fertilizers. _ ___________
Petroleum refining _. ___
162
208
102
32, 762
7, 238
46, 632
+ 0 .4 - 9 .5
- 2 .2 -39. 2
- 1 .6 -2 0 .2
869, 953
109,176
1,427, 308
+ 2.1 -1 1 .4
- 6 .1 -4 6 .7
- 2 .6 -2 6 .1
85.5
49.0
68.8
82.2
41.3
66.6
S t o n e , c la y , a n d g la s s p r o d u c t s ____________________________________
1,119
99,447
- 4 .5
1,999,839
- 5 .1
-3 3 .8
57.1
43.1
114
708
111
186
17,431
24, 728
16, 481
40, 807
- 2 .2 -2 3 .2
- 7 .9 -30. 2
- 0 .4 -10. 1
- 4 .1 - 9 .3
406, 619 - 5 .9 -3 7 .3
407, 610 -1 0 .5 -4 9 .3
318, 379 + 6.7 -2 3 .4
867, 231 - 5 .6 -2 0 .2
56.9
43.2
73.5
69.3
45.3
27.6
55.2
58.0
L e a t h e r a n d its p r o d u c t s
L e a th e r.. . .
_________
Boots and shoes . . ______
C em en t. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brick, tile, and terra cotta.
P o ttery __ ____ . . . -----G l a s s . . . ------- ------ --------1 No change.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1471]
-1 9 .4
208
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
1.— C O M P A R IS O N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
M A N U F A C T U R I N G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931, P E R
C E N T OF C H A N G E O V ER A Y E A R IN T E R V A L , A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S OF E M P L O Y
M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S, O C T O B E R , 1931—C ontinued
T able
In d u stry
M e ta l p r o d u c ts ; o th e r t h a n
ir o n o r s te e l ______________
E m ploym ent
Pay-roll totals
Index num
Estabbers, Octolishber, 1931 (Av
Per cent of
Per cent of
erage 1926=
ments
report
change
change
100)
ing in
A m ount
both N um ber
roll
Sep
Octo of(1pay
on pay
week)
Sep Octo
tem ber roll, Octo Sep
ber,
ber,
and ber, 1931 tember 1930, October, tember 1930, E m P a y
to Oc to Oc
1931
to Oc to Oc ploy roll
Octo
tober, tober, m ent totals
tober, tober,
ber,
1931
1931
1931
1931
1931
253
43,909
- 1 .8
-1 1 .8
$863,633
- 2 .0
-2 6 .6
65.2
49.1
87
16, 359
- 2 .2
- 6 .7
311, 529
- 3 .1
-2 1 .2
69.2
54.5
166
27, 550
- 1 .6 -1 4 .2
552,104
- 1 . 4 -2 8 .8
63.3
47.0
T o b a c c o p r o d u c t s ________________
221
60,007
+ 0 .5
- 9 .1
855,333
+ 3 .2
-1 7 .0
81.8
Chewing and smoking to
bacco and snuff_______
Cigars and cigarettes_____
68.5
27
194
8,586
51,421
+ 3.1
+ 0 .1
- 4 .0
- 9 .8
130,513
724,820
+ 3.9 - 2 .1
+ 3 .0 -1 8 .7
84.9
81.4
78.0
67.3
306,035 -1 1 .8
-2 3 .7
Stam ped and enameled
w are__ ______ _ _ _ __
Brass, bronze, and copper
products
_________
V e h ic le s fo r l a n d t r a n s p o r
t a t i o n ______________ ______________
Autom obiles___ . ______
Carriages and w agons__
Car building and repairing
electric-railroad.. ______
Car building and repairing
steam -railroad.__ .
..
M is c e lla n e o u s in d u s tr ie s .
Agricultural im p lem en ts.. .
Electric m achinery, appa
ratus, and supplies. . _.
Pianos and organs. _ . . .
R ubber boots and sh o es...
A utomobile tires and inner
tubes ________________
Shipbuilding____________
1,223
216
48
198,175 -2 0 .9 -2 7 .4
675 - 7 .7 -3 6 .5
7.889.514
5,044,442
13,530
- 0 .4 -2 9 .0
- 9 .1 -3 9 .7
52.2
43.7
51.7
33.6
40.3
33.2
+ 1 .6 -1 8 .0
72.0
67.5
- 2 .4
-2 8 .8
51.4
45.5
- 0 .9
- 2 9 .5
24, 748
- 0 .5
-1 5 .1
722,602
516
82,437
- 2 .9
-2 0 .6
2,108, 940
493
238,924
- 1 .8
-1 9 .6
5, 713, 711
80
8, 728
+3.1 -5 4 .7
173, 699
222
58
10
135,877
3,979
13,196
38
85
44, 822
32, 322
443
T o t a l — 54
in d u s tr ie s
u s e d in c o m p u t i n g
in d e x n u m b e r s o f
e m p lo y m e n t
and
p a y r o ll_____________________ 14,054 2,583,436
- 1 .4
-2 8 .5
69.9
57.3
+ 1.6 -5 9 .1
32.0
23.5
-1 9 .9
-3 7 .3
- 8 .2
3, 343, 962
95,861
251, 655
- 2 .4 -3 1 .6
- 4 .4 -46. 1
- 0 .2 -1 1 .2
75.6
31.4
69.5
62.7
23.6
57.0
- 2 .7 - 6 .3
- 0 .8 -1 8 .8
979, 921
868,613
- 2 .0 -2 0 .4
+ 5.9 -2 2 .7
65.5
89.8
47.1
82.0
- 3 .1
67.3
53.7
- 2 .1
- 2 .5
~ ( 2)
- 3 .3
-1 4 .4
54,436,682
-2 6 .1
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
The trend of employment and earnings in 31 additional manufac
turing industries, surveyed but not yet included in the bureau’s
weighted indexes of employment and pay-roll totals, is shown in
Table 2, following. The combined total of these industries shows an
increase of 2.1 per cent in number of employees from September to
October and a gain of 3.8 per cent in pay-roll totals. The per cents
of change for the combined total of these industries are unweighted
and represent only the changes in the total number of establish
ments reported. These 31 industries have been added to the bureau’s
employment survey at various times since February, 1929. Infor
mation for the base year (1926) however is not available and there
fore they can not be combined with the 54 manufacturing industries
upon which the bureau’s indexes of employment and earnings
are based.
Ten of the thirty-one industries in this group reported gains in
number of employees in October, as compared with September, and
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1472]
209
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
20 industries showed increased weekly pay-roll totals. The out
standing increases in employment over the month interval were
seasonal gains in the beet sugar and cottonseed products industries.
The men’s furnishing goods industry reported a gain of 8.9 per cent
in employment and the copper, lead, and zinc smelting and refining
industry reported a gain of 4.8 per cent. The rayon industry showed
practically unchanged employment from September to October.
Decreases in employment of slightly more than 7.0 per cent were
shown in the aircraft, butter, and turpentine and rosin industries.
A comparison of employment and pay-roll totals over the year period
is available for 9 of these 31 industries. Employment in 8 of these
industries was below the level of the corresponding month of the
previous year. The rayon industry alone showed a slight gain in
employment in this year-to-year comparison; the outstanding de
crease in employment in the remaining industries (44.0 per cent)
was reported in the radio industry.
T a b l e 2 .—C O M P A R IS O N OP E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN O C T O B E R ,
1931, W IT H S E P T E M B E R , 1931, A N D O C T O B E R , 1930, IN S P E C I F I E D M A N U F A C T U R I N G
IN D U S T R IE S , F O R W H IC H D A T A F O R T H E IN D E X -B A S E Y E A R (1926) A R E N O T A V A IL
ABLE
In d u stry
A ircraft. _______ _____ _ . _ - - . .
A lum inum m an u factu res..---------Beet sugar_________________ _ _ ------Beverages________________ _ ----------Bolts, nu ts, washers, and rivets_________
B u tte r_________ _______ _____ - Cash registers, adding machines, and cal
culating machines____________________
Clocks, time-recording devices, and clock
movements- _ _______ ________ ____
Corsets and allied garm ents. -------------Cottonseed oil, cake, and m e a l____ . . .
C otton, sm all w ares____ ______ _
_ _
C utlery (not including silver and plated
cutlery) and edge tools. . . . . . . - ___
Forgings, iron and steel_____ . . . _
Gas and electric fixtures, lamps, lanterns,
and reflectors___ _____________ . . . . . .
Jew e lry ... __________ _________ ____
H ats, fur-felt . . . . --------------------- __
M arble, granite, slate, and other stone
products________ _ ______________
M en’s furnishing goods_______________ .
P ain t and varnish_____________________
Plated w are___ ____ . . . .
.
.
- ...
Plum bers’ supplies____ ______ . . . . . .
R a d i o .. .. . --------------- . ______ _____
R ayon___
_______________ _____
R ubber goods, other th a n boots, shoes,
tires, and inner tu b es__________ :-------Smelting and refining copper, lead, and
zinc ______________ .
_______
Soap. . .
________ . ------- -----------Tools (not including edge tools, machine
tools, files, or saw s)-------------------- .
T in cans and other tinw are_____. . .
T urpentin e and rosin____
. . .
----T ypew riters and supplies-----------------. . .
Wire w ork_____________________________
T o ta l.
_______________________________________
1 D ata not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
E sta b
E m ploym ent
lishm ents
Per cent of
report N um ber
change
ing in on pay
both
roll,
Oct.,
Sept. October,
Sept,
to
and
to Oct., 1930,
1931
Oct.,
Oct.,
1931
1931
1931
Pay-roll totals
A m ount
of pay
roll (1
week),
October,
1931
P er cent of
change
Oct.,
Sept,
to Oct., 1930,to
Oct.,
1931
1931
6,984
- 7 .8
2,917
- 1 .2
14, 719 +223. 7
- 6 .2
11,570
8,459
+ 0 .6
5, 922
- 7 .2
-2 7 .2
0
-1 0 .8
- 7 .4
0
0)
47
15,816
-1 .8
-1 4 .0
406,967
+ 5 .6
25
26
24
94
7,516
4,691
1,375
7,644
+ 1 .3
- 1 .7
+32.3
- 1 .5
0
0
(>)
0
147, 354
81,407
19,891
137,463
+ 0 .6
+9. 1
+28. 1
+ 1.5
0
0
0
(0
113
38
8,006
4,123
+ 0 .5
-2 .0
0
0
155,205
74,695
+ 9.2
+ 2 .8
0
0
50
150
25
5, 670
13,048
4, 726
-4 .0
- 0 .6
-8 .7
0)
-1 8 .3
0
142,274
281, 781
81, 699
- 3 .2
+ 1 .4
-2 6 .1
0
-2 6 .1
(0
220
77
348
55
66
41
20
7,299
5,621
16,569
11, 755
5,211
26, 757
25,084
- 5 .1
+ 8 .9
- 0 .9
+ 0 .4
+ 2 .5
-2 .3
-0
(0
0
- 8 .3
(0
(0
-4 4 .0
+ 0 .7
195,042
92, 643
420, 709
272, 319
104, 847
624,845
491,166
- 3 .1
+12.7
- 1 .5
+ 6.2
+ 6.2
+11.9.
+ 2.6
0)
0
-1 5 .9
0
0
-5 1 .4
- 0 .8
103
18,884
- 0 .6
- 6 .4
407,989
+ 5.1
-1 5 .6
0
0
43
19
57
304
67
236
$225,833
- 6 .1
57, 314 -1 6 .2
282,217 +132.4
322,415 -1 1 .1
- 0 .2
156, 931
142, 248
- 8 .1
-2 9 .5
0
-1 5 .9
-1 3 .3
0
0
-2 7 .2
15
61
2,198
9,041
+ 4 .8
- 1 .1
0
0
46, 763
232,875
+ 8 .0
+ 0 .8
123
52
23
16
00
7,838
7, 311
1,190
8,818
4, 603
-1 .6
- 5 .7
- 7 .8
- 3 .9
+ 0 .9
0
0
(0
(0
150, 428
161, 760
19,092
173, 501
104, 350
+ 5 .8
- 7 .6
- 3 .9
+ 2 .3
+ 3.2
0
0
(0
0
0
2,598
281,365
+ 2 .1
0
6,214,023
+ 3 .8
«
(>)
2 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
r14731
210
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
The total number of employees and amount of earnings in the
October, 1931, comparison shown in Table 2 have been combined
with the totals of the 54 manufacturing industries shown in Table 1,
in presenting the total of all manufacturing industries in the summary
table, page 1.
In the following table is presented a recapitulation by geographic
divisions of this total number of reporting establishments in the
combined 85 manufacturing industries. Employment in the Moun
tain geographic division showed a marked increase in October as
compared with September, due to the usual seasonal activity in the
beet-sugar industry in that section. A slight increase in number of
workers oyer the month interval was also reported in the West North
Central division. In the remaining 7 divisions, decreased employ
ment was reported, the East North Central division reporting the
greatest falling-off in employment from September to October (7.8
per cent), this division being affected to a great extent by the fluctua
tions in the automobile industry. The level of employment and
earnings in each of these 9 divisions in October, 1931, as compared
with October, 1930, shows a considerable decrease over the year
interval, the decrease in earnings in each instance being more pro
nounced than the decline in employment.
T a b l e 3 .— T R E N D OP E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S BY G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S, N U M B E R OF E S T A B L IS H M E N T S
R E P O R T IN G FO R B O T H S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931, N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S
ON PA Y R O L L A N D A M O U N T OF W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN O C T O B E R , 1931, A N D P E R
C E N T S OF C H A N G E O V ER T H E M O N T H A N D Y E A R IN T E R V A L
Geographic division
New E n g lan d ___ ___ ___
M iddle A tlan tic______ ___
E ast N o rth C entraL.
W est N o rth C entral
South A tlan tic____ _
E ast South C entraL . . .
____
W est South C e n tra l..
M o u n tain _______ _
Pacific________________
A l l d iv is io n s
.. .
Per cent of
N um
Per cent of
change
ber of
change
estab
lish
ments N um ber
A m ount of
report on
payroll Sep
pay roll (1
ing in October,
Sep
Octo
week)
Octo tember,
Octo
both
tember, ber, 1930,
1931
Sep
1931, to to Octo ber, 1931
1931, to ber, 1930,
to
Octo
tember
Octo
Octo
and
ber, 1931 ber, 1931
ber, 1931 ber, 1931
Octo
ber, 1931
2, 063
3, 933
3, 963
1,763
1, 959
700
837
434
1,000
372, 064
841, 674
827, 795
159, 592
340, 993
106, 022
80, 239
33, 636
102, 786
- 3 .6
- 1 .1
- 7 .8
+ 0 .1
- 0 .6
- 0 .2
- 1 .8
+15.6
- 1 .9
-1 1 .0
-1 5 .4
-19. 5
-1 2 .5
- 6 .3
-1 1 .1
-1 9 .0
-1 9 .1
-17. 5
$7,441,914
19,128, 504
18, 706,199
3,450, 528
5, 535, 540
1,611,318
1, 646, 250
755, 640
2,374,812
- 3 .6
- 1 .7
- 1 .7
- 2 .7
- 1 .9
+ 1 .2
- 3 .6
+ 7.3
- 3 .3
-2 0 .7
-2 7 .4
-2 9 .5
-2 2 .2
-1 8 .2
-2 3 .6
-28. 5
-21. 3
-30. 5
16, 653
2,864, 801
1 - 3 .3
1 -1 4 .4
60, 650, 705
i - 3 .1
i —26. 1
1 W eighted per cent of change for the combined 54 m anufacturing industries, repeated from Table 1
m anufacturing industries.
’
P er C a p ita E a r n in g s in M a n u fa c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s
A c t u a l per capita weekly earnings in October, 1931, for each of the
85 manufacturing industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics, together with per cents of change in October, 1931, as com
pared with September, 1931, and October, 1930, are shown in Table 4.
Per capita earnings in October, 1931, for the combined 54 chief
manufacturing industries of the United States, upon which the bu-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1474]
211
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
reau’s indexes of employment and pay rolls are based, were 0.3 per
cent higher than for September, 1931, and 13.7 per cent less than for
October, 1930.
The actual average per capita weekly earnings in October, 1931, for
the 54 manufacturing industries were $21.07; the average per capita
earnings for all of the 85 manufacturing industries surveyed were
$21.17.
Per capita earnings given in Table 4 must not be confused with
full-time weekly rates of wages. They are actual per capita weekly
earnings, computed by dividing the total number of employees re
ported into the total amount of pay roll in the week reported, and the
“ number of employees” includes all persons who worked any part
of the period reported—that is, part-time workers as well as full
time workers.
T a b l e 4 .— P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S IN
O C T O B E R , 1931, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H S E P T E M B E R , 1931, A N D O C T O B E R , 1930
Per cent of change
Per capita
com pared w ith—
weekly
earnings
in October, September,
October,
1931
1931
1930
In d u stry
Food and k indred products:
Slaughtering and m eat packing. _______
Confectionery____________ _ _ ___ _
Icecream _____________
_ ...
F lour.. _________ _ . . .
_____________ _
Baking
Sugar refining, cane_____ ____________ . . .
Textiles and their products:
C otton g o o d s .___________ _____
Hosiery and k n it goods______
Silk goods_________________
_ _____ .
Woolen and worsted goods_______ . . . . . . ______. . .
_
_______
Carpets and r u g s ... I . . . ___ . . .
D yeing and finishing textiles___ _ ._ _________
Clothing, m en’s ___ __________ _______________
_______ __
Shirts and collars _______
Clothing, wom en’s________ ___________
._
___
M illinery and lace goods_____ . ________
______ _
Iron and steel and their products:
Iron and steel______ ____ ___
_____ _
Cast-iron p ip e_________ ____ _
Structural ironw ork_____________ ____ _
Found ry and m achine-shop products_____
H ardw are______________ 1.2____ _
M achine tools_____ ________. . .
Steam fittings and steam and ho t w ater heating apparatus . . .
Stoves.. ______________________
Lum ber and its products:
Lum ber, saw m ills____________ .
___________________ . . .
Lum ber, m illw ork____ ______
F u rnitu re____________________
Leather and its products:
L eather. ______ _________ .
Boots and s h o e s ..________ _______ _
Paper and printing:
Paper and p u lp______ ______ ______ ______________________
Paper boxes__________________
Printing, book and jo b .......... .
.
Printing, new spapers and periodicals__
. . _____________
Chemicals and allied products:'
Chemicals______ ______ __________
_ _. . . . .
Fertilizers______________________________ _ _ _
Petroleum refining___ _____________________ _
Stone, clay, and glass products:
C em ent_________________________
. . .
Brick, tile, and terra c o tta _______
.
. ___
P ottery ____ _____ _______________
_ .
____ ________
Glass_________ ________________
________ _ _____________
M etal products, other th a n iron and steel:
Stam ped and enameled w are.
.
______
Brass, bronze, a n d copper p ro d u c ts ......................... ....................—
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11475]
$24.58
16.95
30.84
24. 74
25.21
28.32
—1.3
—2.8
—1. 3
+ 1 .2
—0.7
—1.8
—8. 2
- 8 .1
- 6 .1
- 7 .5
- 6 .6
- 7 .1
12. 65
15. 45
17.57
18.80
19.35
21. 72
17. 28
12.46
23. 91
19. 29
- 2 .1
+ 1 .1
+ 0 .3
+ 1 .0
—2.8
—4.0
—4.2
—4.9
- 2 .4
- 7 .1
- 9 .4
-1 5 .5
-1 0 .3
—7. 7
—10 9
—10. 2
-8 .8
-1 4 .0
—13 7
—10.9
18. 21
16. 69
22.35
20. 55
18. 23
22.84
21.19
22.40
—1.9
+ 1 .5
—4.4
+ 1 .6
+ 6 .7
+ 3 .5
+ 6 .8
+ 0 .6
-3 2 .7
-2 5 .4
-2 1 .7
—20 3
-1 7 .9
-1 1 .6
-19. 6
—13.8
15.35
18.40
18.01
- 5 .5
—3.0
- 1 .2
—22.0
-1 8 .2
-1 7 .2
22.26
15.13
—3.5
—13.8
—7.8
—16.9
21.83
21.45
31.04
38.55
+ 1 .9
+ 4 .6
- 0 .6
- 0 .1
-1 3 .6
—5.6
- 7 .2
-2 .0
26. 55
15.08
30.61
+ 1.6
- 4 .0
- 1 .0
-2 .0
—12.5
-7 .4
23.33
16.48
19.32
21.25
- 3 .8
- 2 .8
+ 7 .2
- 1 .6
-1 8 .3
-2 7 .3
-1 4 .5
-1 2 .0
19.04
20.04
-0 .9
+ 0 .1
—15.4
-1 7 .2
212
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T a b l e 4 .— P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S I N
O C T O B E R , 1931, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H S E P T E M B E R , 1931, A N D O C T O B E R , 1930—Con.
Per cent of change
Per capita
compared w ith—
weekly
earnings
in October, September,
October,
1931
1931
1930
In d u stry
Tobacco products:
Chewing and smoking tobacco and s n u f f___ _____ _________
Cigars and cigarettes.................................... ......................
........
Vehicles for land transportation:
Automobiles__________ ____________ _______________________
Carriages and wagons______________________________________
C ar building and repairing, electric-railroad___
_____
Car building and repairing, steam -railroad________
___
Miscellaneous industries:
Agricultural im plem ents__________________________
__ __
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and supplies_____
________
Pianos and organs____ _____ _______ ________ _ -----------R ubber boots and shoes---------------------- ___ ----------------Automobile tires and inner tubes______________________
_ _
Shipbuilding________________ ______ _ _______________ ____
Industries added since February, 1929, for which d ata for the index
base year (1926) are no t available:
Aircraft
_ __________
____
__ ______ ___
A lum inum m anufactures__ _ _____ ____ _ _ __ ______ __
Beet sugar
_________ _ _______
_ ___
Beverages
_ ___ _ __ _______ _____ ___ ____
Bolts, nuts, washers, and rivets-------------- -------------------- _ ___
B utter
_ _ _______
______ _ __ ______
Cash registers, adding machines, and calculating machines_____
Clocks, time-recording devices, and clock m o v e m e n ts________
Corsets and allied garm ents__________________________ _ ___
Cottonseed oil, cake, and m eal______________________ ______
Cotton, small wares___ ________ __________________
_ _ ___
Cutlery (not including silver and plated cutlery) and edge tools __
Forgings, iron and steel_____ __________ _________ _______
Gas and electric fixtures, lamps, lanterns, and reflectors _____
H ats, fur-felt_____ ______ _______________________ ___ ------Jew elry________________________ _________ _
M arble, granite, slate, and other stone products-_ _ _ ______
M en’s furnishing goods___________ _________________________
P a in t and varn ish __________________ ____________________
Plated w are____________ ____________
_
__________
Plum bers’ supplies __
.... __ _ _ ___________ ___________
R adio_______ _____________________ ___________ ___ ___
R ay o n ..
__ _ _ ______________ ______
_____
_ ____
R ubber goods, other th a n boots, shoes, tires, and inner tu b es-----Smelting and refining, copper, lead, and zinc__________________
Soap____ ___________________________ .... _ ____
____
Tools (not including edge tools, m achine tools, files, or saws)------T in cans and other tin w are____________ _______ _ _________
T u rp en tin e and rosin ______ _______ __ _ _ _ _ _______ _
T ypew riters and supplies_____ __________________________ _
W irew ork_______________ _______ . . . .
_ _
$15. 20
14.10
+ 0.8
+ 2 .8
+ 1 .9
-1 0 .0
25.45
20.04
29. 20
25.58
+25.9
-1 .6
+ 2.1
+ 0 .6
- 2 .7
- 5 .4
- 3 .5
-1 0 .3
19.90
24. 61
24.09
19. 07
21.86
26.87
- 1 .4
- 0 .3
- 2 .0
- 0 .1
+ 0 .7
+ 6 .7
- 9 .5
-1 4 .4
-1 4 .3
-3 .3
-1 5 .1
- 4 .7
32. 34
19. 65
19.17
27.87
18. 55
24.02
25. 73
19.61
17.35
14.47
17.98
19. 39
18.12
25. 09
17.29
21.60
26. 72
16.48
25. 39
23.17
20.12
23. 35
19.58
21. 61
21.28
25. 76
19.19
22.13
16.04
19.68
22. 67
+ 1 .9
-1 5 .2
-2 8 .2
- 5 .2
- 0 .8
-1 .0
+ 7 .5
- 0 .7
+10.9
-3 .2
+ 3 .0
+ 8 .7
+ 4 .9
+ 0 .8
-1 9 .0
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .0
+ 3 .5
- 0 .6
+ 5 .8
+ 3 .6
+14. 6
+ 2 .6
4-5.8
+ 3.1
+ 1 .9
+ 7 .5
-2 .0
+ 4 .2
+ 6 .5
+ 2.3
- 3 .0
- 5 .6
- 6 .5
(>)
(i)
-1 5 .2
(>)
(>)
(i)
0)
(!)
(■)
0)
0)
- 9 .6
(>)
(>)
- 8 .0
(0
0)
-1 3 .3
- 1 .3
- 9 .5
(>)
(!)
«
(>)
(>)
C1)
(>)
i D ata not available.
In d ex N u m b e r s o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o ta ls in M a n u fa c tu r in g
,
In d u str ie s
T
5 shows the general index of employment in manufacturing
industries and the general index of pay-roll totals, by months, from
January, 1923, to October, 1931, together with the average indexes
of each of the years 1923 to 1930, inclusive.
In computing these general indexes of employment and earnings
the index numbers of the separate industries are weighted according
to the relative importance of the 54 industries included.
a b l e
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1476]
213
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
T able 5 .—G E N E R A L IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO O C T O B E R , 1931
[M onthly average, 1926=100]
E m ploym ent
Pay-roll totals
1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
J a n __
Feb-._
M ar
A p r ...
M a y ..
J u n e ..
J u ly ..
A ug.._
S e p t..
O c t...
N o v ...
D e c ...
106.6 103.8 97.9 100.4
108. 4 105.1 99.7 101.5
110.8 104. 9 100.4 102.0
110.8 102.8 100. 2 101.0
110.8 98.8 98.9 99.8
110. 9 95.6 98.0 99.3
109.2 92.3 97.2 97.7
108.5 92.5 97.8 98.7
108.6 94.3 98.9 100.3
108.1 95.6 100.4 100.7
107. 4 95.5 100.7 99.5
105.4 97.3 100.8 98.9
97.3
99.0
99.5
98.6
97.6
97.0
95.0
95. 1
95.8
95.3
93.5
92.6
91.6
93.0
93.7
93.3
93.0
93.1
92.2
93.6
95.0
95.9
95.4
95.5
95.2
97.4
98.6
99. 1
99.2
98.8
98.2
98.6
99.3
98.3
94.8
91.9
90.2
90.3
89.8
89.1
87.7
85.5
81.6
79.9
79.7
78.6
76.5
75.1
73.1
74.1
74.8
74.5
74.1
72.2
70.4
70.0
69.6
67.3
95.8 98.6 93.9 98.0 94.9
99.4 103.8 99.3 102.2 100. 6
104. 7 103.3 100.8 103.4 102.0
105. 7 101.1 98.3 101.5 100.8
109.4 96.5 98.5 99.8 99.8
109.3 90.8 95.7 99.7 97.4
104.3 84.3 93.5 95.2 93.0
103.7 87.2 95.4 98.7 95.0
104.4 89.8 94.4 99.3 94.1
106.8 92.4 100.4 102. 9 95.2
105. 4 91.4 100.4 99.6 91. 6
103.2 95.7 101.6 99.8 93.2
89.6 94.5
93.9 101. 8
95. 2 103.9
93.8 104.6
94.1 104.8
94.2 102.8
91.2 98.2
94.2 102.1
95.4 102.6
99.0 102.3
96. 1 95.1
97.7 92.0
87.6
90.7
90.8
89.8
87.6
84.1
75.9
73.9
74.2
72.7
68.3
67.4
62.3
67.0
68.5
67.4
66.6
62.5
59.1
58. 5
55.4
53.7
A v _ _ 108.8 98.2 99.2 100.0 96.4 93.8 97.5 83.7 172.0 104.3 94.6 97.7 100.0 96.5 94.5 100.4 80.3 >62.1
1 Average for 10 m onths.
Following Table 5 are two charts, made from index numbers, which
represent the 54 separate industries combined and show the course of
pay-roll totals as well as the course of employment for each month of
the years 1926 to 1930, and January to October, 1931, inclusive.
T im e W orked in M a n u fa c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s in O cto b er, 1931
R e p o r t s as to working time of employees in October were received
from 12,268 establishments in 64 manufacturing industries. Two per
cent of the establishments were idle, while employees in 52 per cent
were working full time, and employees in 46 per cent were working
part time.
Employees in the establishments in operation in October were
working an average of 88 per cent of full time, this percentage showing
no change from the percentage reported in September.
Employees in the 46 per cent of the establishments working part
time in October were averaging 74 per cent of full-time operation.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11477]
214
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
MANUFACTURING
MONTHLY IN D EX ES
MONTHLY
A VERA G E!
INDUSTRIES.
1926 - 1931.
192.6=100.
EMPLOYMENT
05
00
192.7
95
90
193a
65
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
JAN.
FEB.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MAR.
APR.
M AY
JU ttE JULY
[1478]
AUG. SEPT
OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
215
TREND O F EMPLOYMENT
MANUFACTURING
MONTHLY
IN D E X E S
INDUSTRIES.
1926- 1931.
105
100
95
90
6S
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
JAN.
FEB.
MAR.
87017°— 31----- 15
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
APR. MAY
JUNE JULY
[1479]
AUG. SEPT. OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
216
M ONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
T able 6 .— P R O P O R T IO N OF F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S
B Y E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN O C T O B E R , 1931
E stablishm ents
reporting—
Per cent of es
tablishm ents in
which employ
ees w orked—
Average per cent of
full tim e reported
by—
In d u stry
Total Per cent
num ber
idle
F o o d a n d k in d re d p r o d u c ts __________
Slaughtering and m eat packing______
Confectionery_____ _________
Ic e crea m __ . . . _______ _
_ ____
F lo u r________________ . _________
B aking___________ ____ __________
Sugar refining, cane______________ _
1,751
167
266
276
365
666
11
T extiles a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts ___ _____
C otton goods___ ____________ ______
Hosiery and k n it goods_________ . . .
S ilk g o o d s... _ _______ ______ _____
Woolen and w orsted g o o d s .. ______
Carpets and rugs__________ ________
D yeing and finishing textiles____. . . .
Clothing, m en’s________ ______ _ .
Shirts and collars_______________ .
Clothing, w om en’s . . .
M illinery and lace goods__ _ . . . .
1,926
465
288
235
158
22
117
261
79
214
87
Ir o n a n d steel a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts ____
Iron and steel____________ _ _ _ .
Cast-iron pipe______ _ . . .
S tru ctu ra l ironw ork___ . . .
F o undry and machine-shop pro d u cts..
H ard w are.. ________ _ . _
M achine tools______________
Steam fittings and steam and hotw ater heating ap p aratu s__________
Stoves_____________________ _ .
1,663
141
34
157
930
57
125
L u m b e r a n d its p r o d u c ts ________
Lum ber, sawmills . . . _______ _
Lum ber, m illw ork____ ______
F u rn itu re _____ _______________ .
1,146
509
304
333
L e a th e r a n d its p r o d u c ts .. ________
L eath er.
_ . . . ___
_____
Boots and shoes______ _______ .
381
122
259
P a p e r a n d p r i n t i n g ____ ________
Paper and p u lp __
____________
Paper boxes . .
__ ______ ____
Printing, book and job
....
Printing, newspapers and periodicals..
C h e m i c a l s a n d a llie d p r o d u c t s
Chem icals____ ________ _____
Fertilizers___________
Petroleum refining.
S t o n e , c l a y , a n d g la s s p r o d u c t s
______
Cem ent
. _ ___
Brick, tile, and terra co tta_____ . . .
P o tte r y .. ________ . ____
Glass_________ ____ ____
M e t a l p r o d u c t s , o t h e r t h a n ir o n a n d
s te e l__________ ________
Stam ped and enameled w are.
Brass, bronze, and copper products__
T o b a c c o p r o d u c t s _____ . .
Chewing and smoking tobacco, and
snuff
Cigars and cigarettes________________
0
P a rt
tim e
All oper E stablish
ating es
m ents
tablish
operating
ments
p a rt tim e
78
74
61
72
73
91
45
21
26
38
27
25
9
55
96
97
93
96
94
99
92
82
89
81
85
76
84
61
52
61
76
54
41
44
67
71
73
52
36
44
36
23
42
55
56
30
28
20
46
91
88
92
94
89
87
88
94
95
95
89
76
75
78
75
74
78
78
80
84
75
77
22
24
6
27
23
9
17
77
70
82
73
76
Q1
82
74
75
55
84
73
66
67
52
64
73
67
20
26
80
74
73
67
2
3
1
1
38
34
34
46
61
63
65
53
82
80
83
85
71
70
73
72
41
56
35
58
44
65
83
90
80
71
l
69
1
1
0
3
3
3
1
4
5
3
1
7
2
x
6
12
1
2
102
117
0)
1,514
309
267
552
386
0
1
0
60
41
47
55
91
40
58
52
45
9
92
85
91
80
75
82
99
90
351
128
153
70
1
1
3
68
65
60
89
31
34
37
u
93
92
91
99
78
78
77
90
723
92
407
103
121
12
10
16
3
5
52
79
42
42
72
37
11
42
55
23
88
96
85
85
95
72
70
70
73
81
1
31
40
25
69
60
74
83
89
80
75
81
73
206
75
131
(»)
204
0
26
178
1 Less th an one-half of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
Full
tim e
[1480]
1
33
67
84
77
54
30
46
70
93
83
84
76
217
TREN D OF EMPLOYM ENT
T a b l e 6 .— P R O P O R T IO N O F F U L L T IM E W O R K E D IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S
BY E S T A B L IS H M E N T S R E P O R T IN G IN O C T O B E R , 1931—C ontinued
E stablishm ents
reporting—
Per cent of es
tablishm ents in
which em ploy
ees w orked—
Average per cent of
full tim e reported
by— •
Industry
Total Per cent
num ber
idle
V ehicles fo r la n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ____
A utom obiles_____________________ ...
Carriages and wagons_______________
C ar building and repairing, electricrailroad__________________________
C ar building and repairing, steamrailroad__________________________
1,012
M isc e lla n e o u s in d u s tr ie s ........ ..................
A gricultural im plem ents___________ .
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and
supplies_________ ________________
Pianos and organs__________________
R ubber boots and shoes_____________
A utom obile tires and inner tubes____
Shipbuilding________ ______________
396
72
164
39
0
47
1
3
357
452
I n d u s tr ie s a d d e d in 1929 a n d 1930____
R adio_____________________________
R ayon_______________ ___________
A ircraft_______________ ___________ _
Jew elry_________________________ _
P a in t and varnish______ _____ ______
R ubber goods, other th a n boots, shoes,
tires, and inner tu b e s______ _______
B eet sugar_________________________
Beverages___________________ _____ _
Cash registers______________________
T ypew riters and supplies.......................
93
50
269
40
12
T o t a l____________________________
12,268
995
36
12
42
126
315
29
46
P a rt
tim e
All operating establishments
Establishments
operating
p a rt time
52
88
76
70
51
76
87
66
75
74
26
96
86
33
67
85
77
2
31
67
8
31
84
76
61
82
74
1
18
17
43
18
71
82
83
57
82
28
82
77
95
78
95
78
72
91
73
82
C1)
159
46
7
33
79
Full
tim e
0
2
2
2
63
37
91
75
58
67
40
60
25
42
31
60
40
75
96
92
91
85
91
85
82
70
74
77
49
92
75
53
50
51
6
25
48
50
88
98
93
87
78
76
70
72
72
57
52
46
88
74
1 Less th a n one-half of 1 per cent.
E m p lo y m e n t in N o n m a n u fa ctu r in g In du stries in O cto ber, 1931
N THE following table are presented, by geographic divisions, data
for 14 groups of nonmanufacturing industries, the totals for which
also appear in the summary of employment and pay-roll totals, page 1.
Three of these groups reported increased employment and pay-roll
totals in October, as compared with September. In continuation of
seasonal expansion, employment in anthracite mining showed a gain
of 8.5 per cent, coupled with an increase of 40.4 per cent in earnings.
This considerable gain in pay-roll totals was due to the increased pro
duction during the October pay period, together with the fact that the
September pay period included the general Labor Day shutdown.
The bituminous coal mining industry also reported gains in both
items, 1.1 per cent in employment and 4.8 per cent in earnings.
Retail trade reflected the usual seasonal trend with a gain of 3.7 per
cent in number of employees in October as compared with September,
and an increase of 1.3 per cent in employees7earnings. The remaining
11 industrial groups reported both decreased employment and pay
roll totals from September to October, the greatest decreases being
shown in the canning and preserving industry, which, due to the closing
of the vegetable-canning season, reported a decline of 40 per cent in
both employment and pay-roll totals. The metalliferous-mining and
I
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1481]
218
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
the quarrying and nonmetallic-mining groups reported losses in
employment of slightly more than 3 per cent, while the decreases in
the remaining 8 groups were 2.3 per cent or less.
Following this monthly comparison of employment and earnings in
September and October, 1931, will be found a tabulation showing the
per cent of change in these nonmanufacturing industrial groups over
a year interval, where data are available.
T able 1 .—C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
J V O N M A N U F A C T U R I N G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931,
B Y IN D U S T R IE S
N um ber on pay roll
Geographic division
Establishments
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Per
cent of
change
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Per
cent of
change
A n th r a c ite m in in g
160
M id d le A t l a n t i c ......................
109,390
118,719
+ 8 .5
$2,575,722
$3,617,307
+ 4 0 .4
B it u m i n o u s c o a l m in in g
M iddle A tlan tic__________
E ast N o rth C e n t r a l______
W est N o rth C en tral_____ South A tla n tic ----------------E ast South C entral_______
W est South C entral—. —
M o u n tain _____ __________
Pacific_________ ______________
418
161
54
328
231
23
121
11
57,090
31, 007
4.655
50, 940
42,916
1.655
13, 663
1, 571
57,148
31,345
5,113
51, 644
42, 273
1,471
15, 262
1,534
+ 0.1
+1.1
+ 9 .8
+ 1 .4
- 1 .5
-1 1 .1
+11.7
- 2 .4
$873, 521
599, 464
84, 714
934, 194
624, 754
26, 678
330, 802
39, 726
$940, 637
614,066
99,098
950, 575
611, 640
25, 326
403, 551
38, 850
+ 7.7
+ 2.4
+17.0
+ 1 .8
- 2 .1
- 5 .1
+22.0
-2 . 2
A ll d iv is io n s ........ ...........
1,347
203,497
205,790
+ 1 .1
3,513,853
3,683,743
+ 4 .8
M e ta llif e r o u s m i n i n g
M iddle A tlan tic, — ............
E ast N o rth C entral --------W est N o rth C entral ---------E ast South C entral_______
W est S outh C entral -----------M o u n tain __ _______ _________
P a c ific -............... .........- ,
6
45
56
10
32
90
24
542
10,003
6,006
2,214
1,286
13, 946
2,171
526
9,875
5,724
2,167
1,243
13, 448
2,117
- 3 .0
- 1 .3
- 4 .7
-2 . 1
- 3 .3
- 3 .6
- 2 .5
$10, 325
160, 944
148, 944
33, 692
23, 951
357, 794
60, 653
$10, 556
150, 665
134, 110
30, 372
22, 443
336, 718
60,468
+ 2 .2
- 6 .4
-1 0 .0
- 9 .9
- 6 .3
- 5 .9
- 0 .3
y i l d iv i s i o n s .. --------
263
36,168
35,100
- 3 .0
796,303
745,332
- 6 .4
Q u a r r y in g a n d n o n m e ta lic m i n i n g
N ew E n g l a n d -------------------M iddle A tla n tic __________
E ast N o rth C entral, ------W est N o rth C e n tra l. ---------South A tlantic ______ ___
E ast South C entral . ------W est South C en tral -----------M o u n tain ------ ----------------Pacific. -------------------------
100
125
194
106
96
65
46
6
41
4,026
6,595
6,040
1,929
5,025
3,084
1,606
68
1,184
3,887
6, 343
5,982
1, 890
4,689
2,993
1,607
71
1,158
- 3 .5
- 3 .8
- 1 .0
- 2 .0
- 6 .7
- 3 .0
+0.1
+ 4.4
-2 .2
$94, 003
143, 888
131, 628
43,124
78, 394
42, 410
34, 845
2,231
31, 218
$92,175
133, 818
123, 394
40, 250
70, 408
43,158
36, 328
2,565
30,856
- 1 .9
- 7 .0
- 6 .3
- 6 .7
-1 0 . 2
+ 1 .8
+ 4.3
+15.0
- 1 .2
A l l d iv is io n s ------------
779
29,557
28,620
- 3 .2
601,741
572,952
- 4 .8
C r u d e 'p e tro le u m p r o d u c in g
M iddle A tlan tic . . . -----------E ast N orth C entralW est N o rth C e n t r a l --------South A tla n tic .- .
----E ast South Central
----W est South C en tral -----------M o u n tain ___________ ________
Pacific -_ ----------------------------
25
20
27
9
8
126
33
38
404
298
924
391
188
16, 205
252
4, 998
413
300
926
449
182
15,644
264
5,185
+ 2 .2
+ 0.7
+ 0 .2
+14.8
-3 .2
- 3 .5
+ 4.8
+ 3.7
$11, 235
5,987
22, 860
9,839
4, 040
536, 417
8,199
188, 622
$11, 705
6,070
23, 286
11,138
3, 834
536,193
8,528
175, 513
+ 4 .2
+ 1.4
+ 1.9
+13.2
- 5 .1
A ll d iv is io n s , ----------
366
33,660
23,363
- 1 .3
787,199
776,267
- 1 .4
See footnotes a t end of tab le.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[14821
+ 4 .0
- 6 .9
219
TREND OF EMPLOYM ENT
T able 1.—C O M P A R IS O N O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
N O N M A N U F A C T U R I N G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S I N S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931,
B Y IN D U S T R IE S —Continued
N um ber on p ay roll
Geographic division
E stab
lish
m ents
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Per
cent of
change
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Per
cent of
change
T e le p h o n e a n d te le g r a p h
N ew E nglan d _________ __
M iddle A tlantic
_____
E ast N orth C en tral-- W est N orth C entral------South A tlantic- ___ _ E ast South C entral____ _
W est South C entral_____ M ou n tain ________ - - __
Pacific___________________
A ll
divisions_____
731
1,266
1,373
1,250
558
654
696
506
891
27, 540
96, 323
66, 696
27. 912
19,656
9,701
17, 200
6,919
29, 368
27,189
95, 516
66,189
27, 345
19, 370
9,526
16, 885
6,912
29, 009
- 1 .3
- 0 .8
- 0 .8
-2 .0
- 1 .5
- 1 .8
- 1 .8
-0 . 1
-1 .2
$875, 939
3,166, 858
1,832, 257
704, 661
545, 927
216,121
396, 660
174, 480
906, 460
$865, 769
3,152, 742
1, 827, 259
696, 677
539, 099
212,126
394, 800
174,421
908, 139
-1 .2
- 0 .4
- 0 .3
- 1 .1
- 1 .3
- 1 .8
-0 .5
+ 0 .2
7,925
301,315
297,941
- 1 .1
8,819,363
8,771,032
- 0 .5
- A 1)
P o w e r , lig h t, a n d w a te r
N ew E nglan d___________
M iddle A tlan tic__________
E ast N orth C entral- ____
W est N orth C entral - ____
South A tlantic _______ _
E a st South C entral—
W est South C entral______
M o u n tain ________________
Pacific— ______________ _
A ll
divisions_____
255
327
352
418
272
168
556
133
747
21,977
59,874
55,659
25, 045
21, 207
6, 515
16, 227
5,837
18, 309
21, 730
59, 075
53, 502
24,543
20, 838
6,288
16, 051
5,862
17, 956
- 1 .1
- 1 .3
- 3 .9
- 2 .0
- 1 .7
- 3 .5
- 1 .1
+ 0 .4
- 1 .9
$704, 794
1, 971, 958
1,763, 776
709, 231
648, 450
161,859
433, 377
175, 213
591, 844
$695,150
1, 966, 464
1, 722, 914
704, 847
636,188
161, 185
430, 284
180, 030
579, 638
- 1 .4
- 0 .3
- 2 .3
-0 . 6
- 1 .9
- 0 .4
- 0 .7
+ 2 .7
- 2 .1
3,228
230,650
225,845
- 2 .1
7,160,502
7,076,700
- 1 .2
E le c tr ic r a ilr o a d s
N ew E n g l a n d - . ___
M iddle A tlantic- - E a st N orth C entralW est N orth C entralSouth A tlan tic- _ _
E ast South Central
W est South C entral-M o u n ta in .. _______
Pacific______________
-All
___
_ ...
_ ..
divisions_____
2
41
147
99
51
54
12
31
16
38
13,618
37,059
40, 567
13; 302
11, 537
2,487
<817
2,027
15, 228
13, 396
36, 352
39, 986
12, 993
11, 229
2,453
<769
2,058
15, 139
- 1 .6
- 1 .9
—1.4
- 2 .3
- 2 .7
- 1 .4
- 1 .0
+ 1 .5
- 0 .6
$485, 416
1,170, 997
1, 276,113
392, 867
313, 971
66, 255
125, 966
53, 611
474, 093
$476,156
1, 110,475
1, 240, 451
' 390; 751
311, 679
63, 797
125, 295
53, 848
467,104
- 1 .9
-5 . 2
- 2 .8
- 0 .5
-0 . 7
- 3 .7
- 0 .5
+ 0 .4
- 1 .5
489
140,642
138,375
- 1 .6
4,359,289
4,239,556
- 2 .7
W h o le s a le tr a d e
N ew E n g la n d .. __________
M iddle A tlantic
______
E a st N orth C entral.
W est N orth C entral.
South A tlan tic. ________
E a st South C entral _____
W est South C entral
___
M ountain ..
______
Pacific _______________
A ll
divisions ____
632
329
326
235
221
69
314
93
275
14,987
9, 806
11, 541
13,083
4,094
1,683
5,917
1,978
8, 972
14, 812
9,749
11, 405
12, 880
4, 109
1,684
5,943
1,939
8,729
- 1 .2
- 0 .6
- 1 .2
- 1 .6
+ 0 .4
+0)
+ 0 .4
- 2 .0
- 2 .7
$450,085
316,073
343,457
380, 570
118, 808
45, 370
170, 108
63, 570
288,188
$440, 208
311, 941
335, 954
373, 588
117, 400
44, 666
167, 557
62, 756
282, 783
- 2 .2
- 1 .3
-2 .2
- 1 .8
- 1 .2
-1 .6
-1 .5
- 1 .3
- 1 .9
2,494
72,061
71,250
-1.1
2,176,229
2,136,853
-1.8
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r14831
220
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
T able
1.— C O M P A R IS O N
O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
A N D O C T O B E R , 1931,
N O N M A N U F A C T U R I N G E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN S E P T E M B E R
B Y IN D U S T R IE S —C ontinued
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
N um ber on pay roll
Geographic division
E stab
lish
m ents
Septem
ber, 1931
Per
cent of
change
October,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Per
cent of
change
R e ta i l tr a d e
New E n g lan d ____________
M iddle A tlantic_________
E ast N o rth C entral_______
W est N o rth C en tral__ __
South A tlantic _ __ ___
E ast South Central __ _
W est South Central __ __
M ountain
Pacific _ ___________ ___
3,941
451
2,471
512
1, 047
373
232
332
1, 480
56,905
77,897
80,138
20, 764
20,700
7,299
13, 730
6, 973
39, 708
57,772
83,086
80, 716
21,482
22, 365
7,623
13, 634
7, 242
42,108
+ 1 .5
+ 6 .7
+ 0 .7
+ 3 .5
+ 8 .0
+ 4 .4
- 0 .7
+ 3.9
+ 6.0
$1,355,938
1,984,308
1, 910, 772
439, 798
434, 471
135,840
268, 287
146,440
926, 639
$1, 362, 653
2, 063, 594
1, 875, 990
439.010
459,701
137,482
272,353
145, 813
944, 886
+ 0 .5
+ 4 .0
- 1 .8
-0 .2
+ 5.8
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .5
-0 .4
+ 2.0
A H d iv is io n s . _________
10,839
324,114
336,028
+ 3 .7
7,602,493
7,701,482
+ 1 .3
$130, 876
766, 303
478,257
188, 914
159, 238
66, 424
99, 747
54, 316
270, 670
-1 7 .0
-1 .2
- 1 .5
+ 3 .8
+ 2.4
- 1 .4
- 2 .8
-1 1 .3
- 6 .5
2,214,745
- 2 .7
H o te ls
New E n g lan d ____________
M iddle A tlantic . _______
E ast N o rth C en tral. _ . . .
W est N o rth C en tral______
South A tlantic
_____
E ast South C entral_____
W est South C en tral_______
M o u n tain ___ _ ________
Pacific _________________
154
430
429
276
185
103
147
112
354
10,406
47,288
30,142
13,662
11,164
5,973
8, 324
3,666
16,133
8,275
47, 868
29, 461
13,880
11,444
5, 939
8, 163
3,320
14,979
-2 0 .5
+ 1.2
+ 1.6
+ 2.5
- 0 .6
- 1 .9
- 9 .4
- 7 .2
$157, 644
775, 321
485, 320
181, 937
155, 563
67,400
102, 577
61, 230
289, 437
A ll d iv is io n s . _________
2,190
146,758
143,329
- 2 .3
2,276,429
- 2 .3
C a n n in g a n d p r e s e r v in g
83
98
286
79
137
47
33
56
205
New England __________
M iddle A tlan tic__________
E ast N orth C entral _____
W est N orth C entral___ _
South A tla n tic . _ _______
E ast South C entral__ ___
W est South C entral _____
M o u n tain . ______________
Pacific _______________
A l l d iv is io n s . _________
n, m
5,848
16,356
23, 518
7,023
8,889
2,482
2,077
5,108
32, 618
3,699
9,869
14, 237
3,155
5,763
2,170
1,783
4,193
17, 508
-3 6 .7
-3 9 .7
-3 9 .5
-5 5 .1
-3 5 .2
-1 2 .6
-1 4 .2
-1 7 .9
-4 6 .3
$79, 780
261, 984
303,094
91, 720
72,455
21, 817
11, 783
66,471
447,174
$46, 404
178,494
176,338
41,294
47, 340
17, 575
10, 436
52, 533
243,876
-4 1 .8
-3 1 .9
-4 1 .8
-5 5 .0
-3 4 .7
-1 9 .4
-1 1 .4
-2 1 .0
-4 5 .5
103,919
62,377
-4 0 .0
1,356,278
814,290
- 4 0 .0
L a u n d r ie s
New E n g la n d .. . ________
M iddle A tlan tic__________
E ast N o rth C entral.
W est N o rth C e n t r a l .. ____
South A tla n tic . _ _______
E ast South Central ______
W est South C en tral. _____
M o u n tain ________________
Pacific.. _ ___________
64
118
104
64
63
27
17
24
55
3,101
12,931
6,709
5,079
6,142
2,027
1,256
1,861
3,253
3,083
12,927
6, 627
4,953
6,026
1,956
1, 248
1,839
3,147
- 0 .6
0)
-1 .2
- 2 .5
- 1 .9
- 3 .5
- 0 .6
- 1 .2
- 3 .3
$62, 513
263, 209
126,284
85,145
98,057
25, 481
18, 491
31,429
68, 388
$60, 490
258, 550
121,121
83, 269
94,814
24,084
18, 236
30,424
67,034
A ll d iv is io n s ___________
536
42,359
41,806
- 1 .3
778,997
758,022
See footnotes a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1484]
-3 .2
- 1 .8
- 4 .1
-2 .2
- 3 .3
- 5 .5
- 1 .4
-3 .2
-2 .0
- 2 .7
221
TREND OF EM PLOYM ENT
1.— C O M P A R IS O N O P E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN ID E N T IC A L
E S T A B L IS H M E N T S IN S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931.
B Y IN D U S T R IE S —C ontinued
T able
N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G
N um ber on pay roll
Geographic division
E stab
lish
m ents
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Per
cent of
change
A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Per
cent of
change
D y e in g a n d c le a n in g
N ew E ng lan d.........................
M iddle A tla n tic ______ _.
E ast N orth C entral ____
W est N orth C entral _
South A tlantic . _ _____
E ast South Central .
W est South C entral.
M ountain
_____________
Pacific _ _______
29
34
41
33
37
17
17
20
14
1,262
1, 730
2,841
1,012
1,138
790
634
336
752
1,238
1, 712
2,823
1,018
1, 110
785
529
333
725
- 1 .9
- 1 .0
- 0 .6
+ 0.6
- 2 .5
- 0 .6
- 0 .9
- 0 .9
- 3 .6
$29, 595
42, 578
63, 363
21, 791
21, 111
13,647
9,978
7, 853
17,478
$28, 581
42,149
63, 756
21, 638
20, 413
13, 343
9, 786
7,463
17, 152
- 3 .4
- 1 .0
+ 0 .6
- 0 .7
- 3 .3
- 2 .2
- 1 .9
- 5 .0
- 1 .9
A ll d iv is io n s ____________
242
10,395
10,273
- 1 .2
227,394
224,281
- 1 .4
1 Less th a n one-tenth of 1 per cent.
2 N ot including electric car building and repairing; see m anufacturing industries, Table 1, p. 208.
3 The am ount of pay roll given represents cash paym ents only; the additional value of board, room, and
tips can no t be computed.
4 Included in the total of 1,024 establishm ents reporting in October were 16 establishm ents which were
closed in Septem ber b u t had resumed operation in October, and 10 establishm ents which were operating
in Septem ber and reported a seasonal closing in October, 1931. There were also 36 additional canning estab
lishm ents, whose reports were not included in th e to tal num ber of reporting establishm ents, as the plants
had been seasonally closed for a period of 2 or more months.
T a b l e 2 .— C O M P A R IS O N OP E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN N O N M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S , O C T O B E R , 1931, W IT H O C T O B E R , 1930
Per cent of change
October,
1931,
compared w ith
October, 1930
Per cent of change
October,
1931,
compared
w ith
October, 1930
In d u stry
A nthracite m ining_______
B itum inous coal m ining___ _
M etalliferous m in in g__ .
Q uarrying and nonmetallic
m ining_____ _____________
C rude petroleum producing. _
Telephone and telegraph
Power, light, and w ater__ _
In d u stry
N um ber
on pay
roll
A m ount
of pay
roll
-1 2 .3
-1 1 .4
-3 0 .3
-2 2 . 3
-2 9 .2
-4 5 .5
-2 3 .8
-2 9 .1
-1 1 .0
-11. 5
-3 8 .6
-3 4 .1
- 9 .2
-1 1 .7
N um ber
on pay
roll
Electric railroads___
_____
Wholesale tra d e . . . .
___
R etail tra d e . . . . . ______
Hotels
.
. . .
C anning and preserving_____
L a u n d ries..
D yeing and cleaning___
- 9 .1
- 9 .6
- 6 .0
- 9 .2
-3 4 .4
0)
0)
A m ount
of pay
roll
-1 1 .1
-1 4 .0
-1 1 .0
-1 6 .5
-4 4 . 6
(>)
0
1 D ata not available.
In d e x es o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o ta ls fo r N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g
In d u str ie s
T a b l e 3 shows the index numbers of employment and pay-roll
totals for anthracite, bituminous coal, and metalliferous mining,
quarrying, crude-petroleum producing, telephone and telegraph,
power, light, and water, electric railroads, wholesale and retail trade,
hotels, and canning and preserving, by months, from January, 1930,
to October, 1931, with the monthly average for 1929 as 100. Index
numbers for the laundering and the dyeing and cleaning groups are
not presented as data for the base year, 1929, are not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11485]
able
3 .—IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S F O R N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y ,
1930,
TO O C T O B E R , 1931
[M onthly average, 1929=100]
A nthracite B itum inous M etallifer
m in in g
coal mining ous mining
Q uarrying
and nonmetallic
mining
Crude
petroleum
producing
Telephone
and tele
graph
Power,
light, and
w ater
Y ear and m o n th
Operation
and m ain
tenance
of electric
railroads 1
Wholesale
trade
R etail
trade
Hotels
222
T
Canning
and pre
serving
Em- Pay- Em - Pay- Em - Pay- Em - Pay- Em- Pay- Em- Pay- Em - Pay- Em - Pav- Em - Pay- Em - Pay- Em - Pay- Em - Payploy- roll ploy- roll ploy- roll ploy- roll ploy- roll ploy- roll ploy- roll ploy- roll ploy- roll ploy- roll ploy- roll ploy- roll
m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m eut totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals m ent totals
95.7
92. 3
90.9
92.7
92. 5
90.8
79.6
79.8
83.0
71.9
73. 5
80.0
92. 7
90.8
89.3
94.0 101.6 105.1
88.6 100.2 101.9
91.3 99.4 105. 8
114861
99.6 99.7
98.8 100. 4
99.7 102.1
97.1
95.1
94.4
97.8 100.0 100.0
95.7 98. 5 98.3
95.4 97.7 99.7
98.9
94.4
93.9
99.7 100.4 100.3
96. 0 102.4 103.8
95.5 102.4 104.4
46.1
45.7
49.7
50.3
51.5
50.8
74.8
65.7
83.0
72.6
66.9
81.5
A pril_______ ______
M ay ______________ -June__ ________ _____
84.1
93.8
SO. 8
75.0
98.8
94.3
94.4
90.4
88.4
81.7
77.5
75.6
89.3
87.5
84.6
b8. 3
85.6
81.6
87.4
90.8
90.3
85.4
90.2
90.9
86.8
89.8
90.2
86.6
85.4
87.1
98.9 . 103. 4 . 100. 7 102.6
99.7 103.2 103.4 104.5
99.8 103. 4 104.6 107.8
95.2
95.2
94.8
97.1
96.0
97.0
97.3
96.8
96.5
97.9
97.4
98.6
97.3
96.7
93.9
97.5 100.1 100.3
97.3 98.0 98.4
96.8 98.0 98.1
Ju ly _________________
A ugust__________ ___
Septem ber___________
91.6
80.2
93.8
84.0
78.8
91.6
88.0
89.2
90.5
68.9
71.1
74.9
80.5
79.0
78.1
71.9
71.0
69.9
89.9
89.3
87.7
85.5
85.8
82. 5
89.9
87.7
85.0
88.5 100.0 106. 6 105.9 106.7
86.0 98.8 102.5 106.4 106. 6
84.0 96.8 102.2 105.2 106.1
95.3
92.9
91.8
95.6
92.1
90.5
96.0
95.0
94.8
96.0
93.6
93.6
89.0
85.6
92.0
91.7 101.3
87.6 101.5
92.4 100.1
99.8 126.3 112.7
98.6 185.7 172.0
97.1 246.6 214.8
October ____
___
N ovem ber_____ _____
D ecember____________
99.0 117.2
97.2 98.0
99.1 . 100.0
91.8
92.5
92. 5
79.4
79.1
77.7
77.2
72.8
70.1
68.6
63.4
59.9
84.7
78.3
70.2
79.3
66.8
59.9
85.2
83.6
77.4
82.6
80.0
77.2
94.5 100.9 104.8 105.6
93.0 97.9 103.4 103.7
91.6 . 101. 3 103.2 106.3
91.0
89.3
88.8
88.9
87.7
88.6
94.2
92.6
92.0
92.9 95.5 95.1
91.0 98.4 96.8
91.3 115.1 107.7
97.5
95.2
93.5
95.5 164.7 140.0
93.6 96.7 82.9
91.5 61.6 57.4
95.3
93.4
81.3
83.2
78.0
84.3
79.3
87.4
85.9
97.9 102.9 103.0 104.3
03.4
93.5
96.0
95.9
95.9
96.2
99.2
98.5 103.9
96. 1
1931
January
. . _______
F eb ru ary _____ _ _ _
M arch_______ .
90.6 89.3
89.5 101.9
82.0 71.3
93.9
91. 5
88.8
73.3
68.3
65.2
68.3
65.3
63. 5
55.0
54.6
52.8
64.4
o6. 6
70.0
50.4
54.4
58.2
74.8
73.2
72.2
71.5 90.5
70. C 89.2
73.2 88.6
96.3
94.8
97.9
99.2 98.6
97.8 99.7
96.7 102.4
86.9
86.6
86.4
85.6
87.1
88.1
89.5
88.2
87.4
87.5
88.4
89.1
90.0
87.1
87.8
89.4
86.7
87.5
95.0
96.8
96.8
91.0
93.7
93.4
48.9
48.3
53.0
46.1
48.6
50.3
April__ ___
. ___
M ay _________ ____
Ju n e _____________
85.2
80.3
76.1
75.2
76.1
66.7
85.9
82.4
78.4
58.6
54.4
52.4
63.9
62.4
60.0
51.4
49.3
46.1
76.1
75.0
72.3
62.6
62.3
60.1
69.8
67.8
65.0
66.3
64.7
62.7
88.1
87.4
86.9
95.0
94.1
95.0
97.1
97.6
97.2
97.6
98.7
98.3
86.8
85.9
85.3
86.6
85.1
84.8
87.4
87.1
87.1
85.2
84.7
84.1
90.1
89.9
89.1
88.3
88.0
87.6
95.9
92.5
91.6
89.9
87.7
85.4
59.6
56.0
70.6
57.1
56.0
58.6
Ju ly _________________
August
______ Septem ber.
__ _____
October______________
05.1
67.3
80.0
86.8
53.7
56. 4
64.9
91.1
76.4
77.0
80.4
81.3
50.4
50. 6
53.6
56.2
56.2
55.8
55.5
53.8
41.3
40.2
40.0
37.4
71.0
68.9
66.6
64.5
57.3
55.1
51.2
48.7
65.3
62.4
61.2
60.4
59.2
56.3
55.2
54.4
86.6
85.9
85.0
84.1
93.3
92.3
92.1
91. 6
96.7
95. 9
94.7
92.7
97.4
96.2
94.3
93.2
85.6
84.8
84.0
82.7
83.3
81.9
81.2
79.0
86.8
86.5
86.1
85.2
83.3
82.1
81.4
79.9
83.9
81.8
86.6
89.8
83.3
80.3
83.5
84.6
93.3
92.8
90.6
88.5
85.2
83.8
81.9
79.7
A v erag e_________
93.4
1 N ot including electric-railroad car building and repairing; see vehicles group, m anufacturing industries, Table 1, p. 208.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
102.2 74.2
142.9 104.7
180.1 129.4
108.1 77.6
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
1930
J a n u a r y __________ _ 102.1 105. 8 102.5 101.4
February
__ _
. 106.9 121. 5 102.4 102.1
M arch_______________ 82.6 78.5 98.6 86.4
TREND OF EM PLOYM ENT
223
Elm ploym ent in B u ild in g C o n s tr u c tio n in O cto b er, 1931
NFORMATION as to changes in volume of employment and pay
roll totals in building construction for each of the 30 cities covered
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics appears in the following table.
Similar data, furnished by 3 cooperating State bureaus, covering the
city of Baltimore and the States of Massachusetts and Wisconsin are
also presented.
The table shows the number of identical firms reporting for both
months, the number of employees, and the amount of earnings in one
week in September and October, 1931, together with the per cents of
change over the month period.
In the 30 cities covered by the Federal bureau, reports were received
from 5,392 identical contractors who had a total employment for a
week ending near October 15 of 60,279 as compared with 64,540 for a
similar period in September. While this is a decrease of 6.6 per cent,
8 cities showed increased employment in October over that of Sep
tember. These increases ranged from 0.6 per cent for Salt Lake City
to 22.3 per cent for Memphis. The combined pay roll of all reporting
firms for a week ending near October 15 was $1,723,784. This is a
decrease of 6.5 per cent when compared with $1,844,327, the amount of
pay roll for a similar period ending near September 15. When these
cities are considered separately increased pay rolls are noted in 6 cities.
These increases ranged from 3.8 per cent for Wheeling to 25.2 per cent
for Memphis.
When the information supplied by cooperating State bureaus is
combined with that of the Federal bureau, the number of identical
firms reporting is increased to 6,243. These firms had a combined
total of 73,756 employees on their rolls for a week ending near October
15 as compared with 79,711 employees for a similar period in Septem
ber. This is a decrease of 7.5 per cent. These same firms had a com
bined pay roll of $2,125,971 for a week ending near October 15, which
is 9.4 per cent less than the $2,345,434 reported for a similar period in
September.
I
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1487]
224
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
C O M P A R IS O N O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN T H E B T T I L M N « - C O N
S T R U C T I O N IN D U S T R Y IN ID E N T IC A L F IR M S , S E P T E M B E R A N D O C T O B E R , 1931
Locality
N um
ber of
firms
report
ing
N um ber on pay roll
week ending near—
Sept. 15
Oct. 15
Per cent
of
change
A m ount of pay roll
week ending near—
Sept. 15
A tlan ta. ___________
B irm ingham _ ___
C harlotte, N . C_
C incinnati L _
___
C le v e la n d .___
. . ____
D a lla s _________ _ . . . _
D enver_____
_ .
Des M o in e s _____
D etroit
_______ _____
H artfo rd ..
_____
Ind ian ap o lis.. .
Jacksonville. . ______
Kansas C ity 2 . . . _____
Louisville___ . . . . . . .
M em p h is..
________
M in n e a p o lis .____ . . . .
New O rlean s.__ . . . ____
Oklahoma C ity ___________
O m aha____ ______
Portland, M e . . . ____
.
Portland, Oreg________ __
P ro v id e n c e ___
______
R ic h m o n d ____
. _ ...
St. Louis
. . .
...
Salt Lake C ity ___ _____
S e a ttle ... . .
W ashington. . . . . . .
W heeling. . . .
____. . .
W ichita. . . . ______
W ilm ington, D e l_________
124
75
34
478
418
110
182
66
465
236
170
46
197
118
93
232
121
91
110
80
184
218
145
461
85
171
474
54
54
100
1,869
898
332
3,745
5, 357
1,075
1, 061
725
5,853
2,247
1, 852
287
2,315
1,171
957
3, 014
3,085
1,461
1,009
719
1,457
2,449
1,783
4,133
469
1,694
10, 941
315
531
1, 736
1,485
690
345
3,556
4,871
986
976
668
6,097
2,082
1, 618
265
2,197
991
1,170
2,676
2,715
1,489
1,172
739
1,385
2,542
1,552
3,899
472
1,488
9,684
307
474
1,688
Total, 30 c itie s ______
5, 392
64, 540
60, 279
Baltimore, M d .J. _________
M assach u setts3. . . ______
W isconsin 3_________
68
714
69
1, 574
10, 657
2,940
1,390
9,375
2, 712
Total, 3 cooperating
S tate bureaus.
851
15,171
13,477
-1 1 .2
Total, all localities___
6,243
79, 711
73, 756
- 7 .5
Oct. 15
Per cent
of
change
$30, 348
16, 438
7, 206
116, 283
194, 392
25, 626
32, 635
18, 998
169, 713
72, 297
57, 767
5, 797
77, 466
25, 020
20, 982
80, 366
62, 670
37, 815
28, 515
22, 750
43, 764
76, 580
42, 250
141, 667
10, 324
51, 304
309, 702
7, 713
10, 621
47, 318
$25,456
13, 278
6,930
109, 576
171, 358
22, 905
29,442
18, 015
184,164
69, 657
50,101
5,043
72,114
21,539
26, 269
76, 369
55, 981
37, 297
32, 077
21,811
41,492
72, 035
37, 438
130,128
11, 268
43, 846
273, 979
8, 003
11, 089
45,124
-6 .6
1, 844, 327
1, 723, 784
- 6 .5
-11. 7
-12. 0
- 7 .8
38,864
389, 291
72, 952
32,849
301,844
67,494
-1 5 .5
-2 2 .5
- 7 .5
501, 107
402,187
-1 9 .7
2, 345,434
2,125, 971
- 9 .4
-2 0 .5
-2 3 .2
+ 3 .9
-5 .0
-9 . 1
-8 .3
- 8 .0
- 7 .9
+ 4 .2
- 7 .3
-1 2 .4
- 7 .7
- 5 .1
-1 5 .4
+22.3
-1 1 .2
-1 2 .0
+ 1.9
+16.2
+ 2 .8
-4 .9
+ 3.8
-1 3 .0
-5 . 7
+ 0.6
-12. 2
-1 1 .5
-2 . 5
-1 0. 7
- 2 .8
-1 6 .1
-1 9 .2
- 3 .8
- 5 .8
-1 1 .8
-1 0 .6
- 9 .8
- 5 .2
+ 8 .5
-3 . 7
-1 3 .3
-1 3 .0
-6 .9
-1 3 .9
+25.2
-5 .0
-10. 7
- 1 .4
+12.-5
-4 . 1
- 5 .2
- 5 .9
-1 1 .4
-8 . 1
+9. 1
-14. 5
-1 1 .5
+ 3 .8
+ 4.4
- 4 .6
1Includes Covington and N ew port, K y.
2Includes both Kansas C ity, K ans. and Kansas C ity, M o.
3D ata supplied b y cooperating S tate bureaus.
Data concerning the building-construction industry appearing in the
foregoing table have not been included in the summary table shown
at the beginning of this trend of employment article.
The several industrial groups in the summary table are not weighted
according to their relative importance, and the bureau’s monthly
employment survey of the building-construction industry, while being
steadily expanded, has not yet attained sufficient volume to represent
its proper proportion in comparison with the other 15 industrial groups
in the summary table.
E m p lo y m e n t on C lass I S te a m Railroads in th e U n ite d State s
HE monthly trend of employment from January, 1923, to Sep
tember, 1931, on Class I railroads—that is, all roads having
operating revenues of $1,000,000 or over—is shown by the index
numbers published in Table 1. These index numbers are constructed
from monthly reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission, using
the monthly average for 1926 as 100.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1488]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
225
T able :L.—IN D E X O P E M P L O Y M E N T ON CLASS I S T E A M R A IL R O A D S IN T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO S E P T E M B E R , 1931
[M onthly average, 1926=100]
M cn th
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
J a n u a ry ___ _______
February _________
M arch___ ________
A p ril______ ______
M ay ____ _____
J u n e ...
. _ ... _
J u ly --------------------A ugust. _.
- ...
S eptem ber...
. _
O c to b e r ___ ______
N ovem ber___
D ecem ber_____ _ .
98.3
98.6
100.5
102.0
105.0
107. 1
108. 2
109.4
107.8
107.3
105. 2
99.4
96.9
97.0
97.4
98.9
99.2
98.0
98.1
99.0
99.7
100. 8
99.0
96.0
95.6
95.4
95.2
96.6
97.8
98.6
99.4
99.7
99.9
100. 7
99.1
97.1
95.8
96.0
96.7
98.9
100.2
101.6
102.9
102.7
102.8
103.4
101. 2
98.2
95.5
95.3
95.8
97.4
99.4
100.9
101.0
99. 5
99.1
98.9
95. 7
91.9
89.3
89.0
89.9
91.7
94.5
95.9
95.6
95.7
95.3
95. 3
92.9
89.7
88.2
88.9
90.1
92. 2
94.9
96.1
96.6
97.4
96.8
96. 9
93. 0
88.8
86.3
85.4
85.5
87.0
88. 6
86. 5
84.7
83.7
82.2
80 4
77 0
74.9
73.7
72.7
72.9
73. 5
73.9
72.8
72.4
71.2
69.3
Average_____
104.1
98.3
97.9
100.0
97.5
92.9
93.3
83.5
1 72.5
1928
1929
1930
1931
1 Average for 9 m onths.
Table 2 shows the total number of employees on the 15th day each
of September, 1930, and August and September, 1931, and pay-roll
totals for the entire months.
In these tabulations data for the occupational group reported as
“ executives, officials, and staff assistants” are omitted.
T able 2. —E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S O F R A IL R O A D E M P L O Y E E S , S E P T E M B E R
1930, A N D A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R , 1931
[From m onthly reports of In te rsta te Commerce Commission. As d ata for only the more im portant occu
pations are shown separately, th e group totals are not th e sum s of th e item s under th e respective groups]
N um ber of employees a t m id
dle of m onth
Septem
ber, 1930
A ugust,
1931
Professional, clerical, and general____ 247, 693
('le rk s ____ ________ ________ 137, 595
Stenographers a n d ty p ists______
22,892
M aintenance of w ay and stru ctu res. _ 356,484
Laborers, extra gang a n d w ork
tr a in ____ _______________ . .
48,409
Laborers, tra c k , an d roadw ay
section.......... ................................... 186,028
M aintenance of equipm ent and stores. 387,879
C arm en. . . . . . . . . ------ . ..
81,727
M achinists---- -- --------- -------- . . .
49,175
Skilled trad es h elp ers_________ .
85,235
Laborers (shops, engine houses,
power p lan ts an d stores). . _.
32,235
Common laborers (shops, engine
houses, power p lan ts a n d stores)
42,681
T ransportatio n , other th a n train , engine, a n d y a rd ___________________ 178,742
S tation ag en ts... _ __________ .
28,580
Telegraphers, telephoners, and
to w e rm e n ______________
21,345
Truckers (stations, warehouses,
and platform s)______ ______ _
28,236
Crossing an d bridge flagmen and
gatem en________________ ____
19,830
T ransportatio n (yardm asters, switch
tenders, an d hostlers)____________
19,849
T ransportation, tra in a n d engine____ 278,874
R oad conductors_________
31,503
R oad brakem en a n d flagmen. ._
61, 424
Y ard brakem en an d y a rd helpers.
47,047
R oad engineers a n d m o to rm e n ...
37, 576
R oad firemen an d helpers ______
38,286
220,245
119, 588
20, 576
296,024
T otal earnings
Septem September,
ber, 1931
1930
A ugust,
1931
Septem
ber, 1931
216, 936 $36, 350, 646 $32, 355,982 $31, 555,178
117, 522 19,009,186 16, 557,387 16, 052,521
2,986,240
20, 267
2,686,308
2,628, 693
282, 946 32,581,625 26,620, 773 24, 754, 216
33,809
28,119
3,463,891
2,299, 296
1,817,905
157,933
337, 519
69,839
45,025
73,790
153, 824
326. 679
67, 628
43, 605
71, 268
12, 741,144
49, 789, 665
11,865,142
7,428,103
9,178,943
10, 554,588
40,839,471
9,506, 407
6, 219, 613
7,421,339
9, 735,198
38, 893, 055
9, 008, 210
5, 963, 904
7,015,639
27,698
26, 908
3,010,561
2,541,951
2,403, 203
36,395
34, 911
3,173,414
2,561,413
2, 412,130
158,639
27,599
157,411
27,369
22,388,733
4,534,547
20,073, 674
4,367,236
19, 536, 232
4, 274, 650
19,417
19,117
3,291,761
3,039,232
2, 913, 544
22,590
23,080
2, 620,781
2,076,388
2,077,407
18,907
18,885
1,539, 232
1,459, 879
1,452,551
17,548
242, 764
27, 765
53, 596
40,943
32, 805
33, 664
17,118
238,028
27, 190
52, 204
40, 616
32, 013
32, 746
3,851,844
55, 855,459
7, 581,038
10,699,123
8,047,184
10,101,657
7,370, 256
3,376,658
47, 590, 997
6,617,017
8,986,809
6, 712,018
8, 741,962
6, 324, 677
3, 205,503
45,485, 341
6,325, 606
8, 632,082
6, 379,903
8, 385, 782
6, 055, 605
All em ployees.. _____________ 1,469,521 1, 272, 739 1,239,118 200,817,972 170,857, 555 163,429, 525
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1489]
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
R etail Prices of Food in O ctober, 1931
HE following tables are compiled from simple averages of the
actual selling prices 1 received monthly by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics from retail dealers.
Table 1 shows for the United States retail prices of food October
15, 1930, and September 15 and October 15, 1931, as well as the per
centage changes in the year and in the month. For example, the
retail price per pound of hens was 33.8 cents on October 15, 1930;
30.9 cents on September 15, 1931; and 29.9 cents on October 15,
1931. These figures show decreases of 12 per cent in the year and 3
per cent in the month.
The cost of various articles of food combined shows a decrease of
17.5 per cent October 15, 1931, as compared with October 15, 1930,
and a decrease of 0.3 per cent October 15, 1931, as compared with
September 15, 1931.
T
T able 1.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O F IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E O C T O B E R 15, 1931, C O M P A R E D W IT H S E P T E M B E R 15,
1931, A N D O C T O B E R 15, 1930
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Average retail price on—
U nit
A rticle
Sirloin steak_____________________
R ound s te a k __ ________________
R ib roast
_______ - - __ __
Chuck roast_____________________
Plate b e e f _____________________
Oct. 15,
1930
Sept. 15,
1931
Oct. 15,
1931
Oct. 15,
1930
Cents
44.5
39.3
32.5
25.4
17.2
Cents
39.4
34.4
28.3
20.9
13. 5
Cents
38.6
33.6
28.0
20.7
13. 5
-1 3
-1 5
-1 4
—19
—22
-2
-2
-1
—1
0
__do_______
. do_______
__do__
do___
_ _do__ _ _
37.9
42.6
53.1
32.8
33.8
32.2
36. 2
45.6
28.8
30.9
29.3
34.3
44.2
27.5
29.9
—23
-1 9
-1 7
-1 6
-1 2
-9
-5
-3
—5
-3
__do__ _ _
Q u art.
.
.
16-oz. can_
P o u n d _____
34.0
14.0
9.9
47.8
31.3
12.1
8. 7
36.8
30.3
12. 0
8.8
39.9
-1 1
-1 4
—11
-1 7
+1
+8
__do______
do
do ______ _ _
_do_________
D ozen __________
Pound ______
25.0
34. 2
17.7
24.1
44.8
8.6
18. 3
27.0
12.6
23.0
33.8
7.3
18.8
27.1
12.4
22. 7
37.9
7.3
-2 5
—21
-3 0
-6
-1 5
-1 5
Pound
_do__
_ do__
_do__
_ do
Pork chops
_____________ -Bacon, sliced_______________
H am , sliced- _ _ ___________ _ _
Lam b, leg of _____
_________
_
H ens _______________ _______
__ Salmon, red, canned. . __________
M ilk, fresh . .
____________
M ilk, evaporated- _ _ _ ______ __ _
B u tte r___
.
___
Oleomargarine (all b u tte r substitu te s )__ ________ ______ .
C h e e s e _______________
- ___ - - - L a rd _____ ___________
_________ _______
Vegetable lard su b stitu te ________________
Eggs, stric tly fresh __________________________
B r e a d _____ ________ _____________
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) Oct. 15,1931,
com pared w ith —
__
.
.
Sept. 15,
1931
-3
-
1
+3
+ 0.4
-2
-
1
+12
0
0
F lo u r____________________________ ___ do_........ .
4.3
3.3
-2 3
3.3
___ d o _______
4.4
-1 7
Corn m eal_____________________
5.3
4.5
-2
do____ _
0
Rolled oats „ ___________________
8.6
7.9
-8
7.9
-4
Corn flakes_______________________ 8-oz. package. _
8.9
0
9.3
8.9
- 0 .4
W heat cereal.____________________ 28-oz. package.
25.4
23.4
23.3
-8
1 In addition to m o nth ly retail prices of food and coal, the bureau publishes periodically the prices of
gas and electricity for household use in each of 51 cities. A t present this inform ation is being collected
in June and D ecember of each year.
226
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W HOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
T able 1.—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O P S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O F IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E O C T O B E R 15, 1931, C O M P A R E D W IT H S E P T E M B E R 15,
1931, A N D O C T O B E R 15, 1930—Continued
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Average retail price on—
Article
U nit
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) Oct. 15, 1931,
compared w ith—
Sept. 15,
1931
Oct. 15,
1930
Sept. 15,
1931
Oct. 15,
1931
Oct. 15,
1930
M acaroni___ _ _________________ Pound ___
R ice_______
_ _ _ _ _________ _ __do__
Beans, n a v y . ___ ______________ __ _do_____
__________ _ _ __do______
Potatoes _
__do_____
O n io n s .__
__________________
Cents
19.1
9.5
11.3
3.1
4.2
Cents
16.4
8.0
7.6
2.0
4.3
Cents
16.3
7.8
6.7
1.8
4.3
-1 5
-1 8
-4 1
-4 2
+2
-1
-3
-1 2
-1 0
0
C a b b a g e - __ _____ _ ________
Pork and b ean s______ _________ __
Corn, canned_ Peas, canned, ______ ____
___do______
No. 2 c an ___
do___ _
_ __do_____
3.6
10.8
15.2
16.0
3.6
10.4
13.0
13.8
3.2
10.3
12.6
13.7
-1 1
-5
-1 7
-1 4
-1 1
-1
-3
-1
Tom atoes, canned_______________
S u g a r.. ______________ _______
T e a __________________ _ _ __
Coffee... _ __________________ _
__do_____ _
P o u n d ______
do____ _
__ _do______
12.1
5.8
77.2
39.1
9.9
5.7
75.8
32.4
9.8
5.6
75.6
32.1
-1 9
-3
-1 8
-1
-2
-0 .3
-1
Prunes__________ _______________ ____do...............
__do___
Raisins __ ____ ____________ _
B ananas__ ______________________ Dozen_______
Oranges _
________________ ____ do______
14.5
11.7
29.4
66.8
11.6
11.3
23.9
36.5
11.1
11.4
24.0
37.3
-2 3
-3
-1 8
-4 4
+ 0 .4
+2
-1 7 .5
- 0 .3
W eighted food index
-2
-4
Table 2 shows for the United States average retail prices of specified
food articles on October 15, 1913, and on October 15 of each year
from 1925 to 1931, together with percentage changes in October of
each of these specified years compared with October, 1913. For
example, the retail price per pound of round steak was 23.1 cents in
October, 1913; 35.4 cents in October, 1925; 36.0 cents in October,
1926; 37.9 cents in October, 1927; 44.6 cents in October, 1928; 44.5
cents in October, 1929; 39.3 cents in October, 1930; and 33.6 cents in
October, 1931.
As compared with October, 1913, these figures show increases of
53 per cent in October, 1925; 56 per cent in October, 1926; 64 per
cent in October, 1927; 93 per cent in October, 1928 and 1929; 70 per
cent in October, 1930; and 45 per cent in October, 1931.
The cost of the various articles of food combined showed an increase
of 14.6 per cent in October, 1931, as compared with October, 1913.
Table 3 shows the trend in the retail cost of three important groups
of food commodities, viz, cereals, meats, and dairy products, by years,
from 1913 to 1930, and by months for 1929, 1930, and 1931. The
articles within these groups are as follows:
Cereals: Bread, flour, corn meal, rice, rolled oats, corn flakes,
wheat cereal, and macaroni.
Meats: Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate
beef, pork chops, bacon, ham, hens, and leg of lamb.
Dairy products: Butter, cheese, fresh milk, and evaporated milk.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
T a b l e 2 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F S P E C IF IE D FO O D A R T IC L E S A N D P E R C E N T
O F IN C R E A S E OR D E C R E A S E O C T O B E R 15 O F C E R T A IN S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S C O M
P A R E D W IT H O C T O B E R 15, 1913
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
P er cent of increase Oct. 15 of each
specified year compared w ith Oct.
15, 1913
Average retail prices on October 15—
Article
1913 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
Sirloin s te a k ..p o u n d -.
R ound steak ___ do___
R ib ro ast______ do ___
Chuck roast___ do ___
P late beef---------do ___
Pork chops____ do ___
Bacon, sliced___do ___
H am , sliced____do ___
Lam b, leg of___ do___
H ens__________ do___
Salmon, red, canned
. . _ _ _ pound _
M ilk, fresh ., 'q u a r t ..
M ilk, evaporated
_ ___ 16-ounce c a n ..
B u tte r_______p o u n d -.
O leom argarine
(all
b u tter substitutes)
_ ____ .p o u n d .
Cheese________ do___
L a rd __________ do___
Vegetable lard substit u t e . . _____p o u n d ..
Eggs, strictly lresh
........................ d ozen..
B read_______ p o u n d ..
F lo u r__________d o___
Corn m eal_____ do___
Rolled oats____ do___
Corn flakes
__ 8-ounce package..
W heat cereal
. 28-ounce package..
M acaroni__ p o u n d ..
Rice___________do___
Beans, n a v y ___ do___
Cts.
25.7
23.1
20.0
16.4
12.3
Cts.
41.2
35.4
30.0
22.0
14.1
Cts.
41.5
36.0
30.6
22.8
14.6
Cts.
43.7
37.9
31.9
24.3
15.8
Cts.
50.3
44.6
36.8
30.2
20.8
Cts.
50.3
44.5
37.0
30.0
21.0
Cts.
44.5
39.3
32.5
25.4
17.2
Cts.
38.6
33.6
28.0
20.7
13.5
60
53
50
34
15
61
56
53
39
19
70
64
60
48
28
96
93
84
84
69
96
93
85
83
71
73
70
63
55
40
50
45
40
26
10
22.6
27.8
27.6
18.4
21.2
39.1
49.6
54.3
38.4
36.5
42.6
51.7
59.8
38.3
37.6
41.5
46.6
53.6
38.2
35.7
37.6
45.3
55.6
38.8
37.9
38.9
43.7
55.1
38.5
38.4
37.9
42.6
53.1
32.8
33.8
29.3
34.3
44.2
27.5
29.9
73
78
97
109
72
88
86
117
108
77
84
68
94
108
68
66
63
101
111
79
72
57
100
109
81
68
53
92
78
59
30
23
60
49
41
35. 5 35.6 34.4 32.6 31.9 34.0 30.3
9.0 14.3 14.0 14.2 14.2 14.4 14.0 12.0 59
56
58
58
60
56
33
11.5 11.4 11.5 11. 3 10.6 9.9 8.8
38.2 59.4 54.3 55.7 57.5 55.7 47.8 39.9 55
42
46
51
46
25
4
30.9 30.3 27.9 27.6 27.0 25.0 18.8
22.4 37.2 36.7 38.3 38.8 37.9 34.2 27.1 66
16. C 24.1 21.9 19.6 19.5 18.3 17.7 12.4 51
64
37
71
23
73
22
69
14
53
11
21
122
40
68
73
65
36
66
67
68
31
63
58
71
39
59
58
71
8
54
30
71
19
30
0
42
33
21
14
11
9
GO
111
67
22
111
72
0
29
42
71
31
42
60
25
42
67
22
42
65
5
42
32
2
39
8
25.9 25.7 25.2 24.9 24.7 24.1 22.7
41.6 60.3 58.2 56.6 54.3 58.0 44.8 37.9 45
5.6 9.4 9.4 9.3 9.1 8.9 8.6 7.3 68
3.3 5.9 5.7 5.5 5.2 5.2 4.3 3.3 79
3.1 5.3 5. 1 5.2 5.3 5.3 5.3 4.4 71
9.2 9.1 9.0 8.9 8.8 8.6 7.9
11.0 10.9
P otatoes_______do. . .
1.8 3.7 3.8
5.8 5.0
O nions.. ____do____
Cabbage .
. .. d o ___
4.2 4.0
Pork and beans
______ .N o. 2 c a n ..
12.3 11.7
Corn, canned__ do___
17.4 16.3
Peas, canned___do___
18.2 17.4
Tom atoes, canned
________ No. 2 c a n ..
13.1 12.1
Sugar, granulated
----------------- p o u n d .. 5.5 6.8 7.1
T e a ___________ do___ 54.5 75.8 77.3
Coffee_________ do ___ 29.7 51.1 50.9
Prunes_______ do . _
17.2 16.9
Raisins___ . . . do___
B a n a n a s... _ dozen..
Oranges_______ do___
9.7
9.5
9.5
9.3
8.9
25.1 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.5 25.4 23.3
20. 5 20.1 20. 1 19. 7 19. 7 19. 1 16.3
8.7 11.3 11.6 10.5 9.9 9.7 9.5 7.8 30
10.0 9.1 9.6 12.5 14.2 11.3 6.7
3.0
5.0
3.9
2.2
6.1
4.3
3.8
5.3
4.5
3.1
4.2
3.6
1.8 106
4.3
3.2
11.5 11.6 11.7 10.8 10.3
15.7 15.9 15.8 15.2 12.6
16.7 16.7 16.7 16.0 13.7
11.9 11.8 12.6 12.1
9.8
7.2 6.9 6.7 5.8 5.6 24
77.5 77.5 77.6 77.2 75.6 39
47.4 49.6 49.1 39.1 32.1 72
14.6 13.8 17.1 14.5 11.1
14.3 14.8 14.2 12.4 12.2 11.7 11.4
35.1 34.9 33.9 33.1 32.4 29.4 24.0
64.6 56.0 57.8 64.2 44.9 66. 8 37.3
All articles combined 2.
55.5 54.1 50.3 51.0 54.5 39.0 14.6
1 Decrease.
2 Beginning w ith January, 1921, index num bers showing the tren d in the retail cost of food have been
composed of th e articles shown in Tables 1 and 2, weighted according to the consum ption of the average
family. From January, 1913, to D ecember, 1920, the index num bers included the following articles: Sirloin
steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate beef, pork chops, bacon, ham , lard, hens, flour, corn meal,
eggs, bu tter, m ilk, bread, potatoes, sugar, cheese, rice, coffee, and tea.
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W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
T a b l e 3 — IN D E X
N U M B E R S O P R E T A IL C O ST OF C E R E A L S , M E A T S , A N D D A IR Y
P R O D U C T S F O R T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S , 1913 TO O C T O B E R , 1931
[Average cost in 1913=100.0]
Y ear and m onth
1913: Average for year___
1914: Average for year___
1915: Average for year___
1916: Average for year___
1917: Average for year___
1918: Average for year___
1919: Average for year___
1920: Average for year___
1921: Average for year___
1922: Average for year___
1923: Average for year___
1924: Average for year___
1925: Average for yei»r___
1926: Average for year___
1927: Average for year___
1928: Average for year___
1929: Average for year___
J a n u a r y ___________
F eb ru ary __________
M arch ____________
A pril__ __
______
M a y _________ Ju n e. _
J u ly _______________
A ugust___________ _
Septem ber________O ctober__________ _
N ovem ber____ - ,
D e c e m b e r,______ _
Cereals M eats
100.0
106. 7
121.6
126.8
186.5
194.3
198.0
232.1
179.8
159.3
156.9
160.4
176.2
175.5
170.7
167.2
164. 1
164.1
164.1
164.1
164.1
163. 5
163. 0
163. 5
164.7
165.2
163.5
163.6
162.9
100.0
103.4
99.6
108.2
137.0
172.8
184.2
185.7
158.1
150.3
149.0
150.2
163. 0
171.3
169.9
179.2
188.4
180. 9
180. 3
182.8
187. 5
191. 2
192.4
195. 9
196.0
194. 2
189.2
184.1
181.8
D airy
prod
ucts
100.0
97.1
96.1
103.2
127.6
153.4
176.6
185.1
149.5
135.9
147. 6
142.8
147.1
145.5
148.7
150.0
148.6
151. 9
152.6
152.4
148. 9
147. 5
146.8
146. 8
147.1
148.1
149.3
147.0
144.9
Y ear and m onth
1930: Average for year___
Jan u a ry ,, _______ _
F e b r u a r y ____ , , ,
M a rc h ., ,
, ,
A pril-----,
M ay ______ , , ,
J u n e ,,,
.. ..
J u ly _______________
A ugust______ _____
Septem ber____ _ , ,
October ______ ___
Novem ber ,
December .
1931:
Jan u ary ---- ------------F eb ru ary __________
M a r c h .., _ _ ____
A pril______________
M ay
. . ____ _
J u n e ,,
. _
July
August
Septem ber. _
October
Cereals M eats
D airy
prod
ucts
158.0
162.9
161.6
160.9
160.3
159.8
160.1
158.6
156.9
156.4
154.4
152.4
151.6
175.8
183.6
183.1
183.0
183.3
181.5
179.9
175.2
169.9
173. 3
171.1
164.0
161.6
136.5
138. 9
138.5
137.6
138.9
137.0
133.7
133.9
137.4
138.8
137.8
135.3
129.8
147.1
144.6
142.4
138. 9
137. 7
136.3
134.3
132. 0
130.2
129.8
159.5
153.4
152.5
151.4
149. 3
145. 7
147.8
149.1
147.7
142.7
123.6
120.2
120.5
116. 5
110. 3
108. 3
109. 6
111.9
114. 3
117.0
In d ex N u m b e r s o f R e ta il P r ic e s o f F o o d in t h e U n ite d S ta te s
I n T able 4 index numbers are given which show the changes in
the retail prices of specified food articles, by years, for 1913 and 1920
to 1930,2 by months for 1930 and 1931. These index numbers, or
relative prices, are based on the year 1913 as 100.0 and are computed
by dividing the average price of each commodity for each month and
each year by the average price of that commodity for 1913. These
figures must be used with caution. For example, the relative price
of sirloin steak for the year 1930 was 182.7, which means that the
average money price for the year 1930 was 82.7 per cent higher than
the average money price for the year 1913. As compared with
the relative price, 196.9 in 1929, the figures for 1930 show a decrease
of 14.2 points, but a decrease of 7.2 per cent in the year.
In the last column of Table 4 are given index numbers showing
changes in the retail cost of all articles of food combined. Since
January, 1921, these index numbers have been computed from the
average prices of the articles of food shown in Tables 1 and 2, weighted
according to the average family consumption in 1918. (See March,
1921, issue, p. 25.) Although previous to January, 1921, the number
of food articles varied, these index numbers have been so computed
as to be strictly comparable for the entire period. The index num
bers based on the average for the year 1913 as 100.0 are 119.4 for
September, 1931, and 119.1 for October, 1931.
2 F or index num bers of each m onth, Jan u ary , 1913, to December, 1928, see B ulletin No. 396, pp. 44 to
61; and B ulletin No. 495, pp. 32 to 45. Index num bers for 1929 are published in each Labor Review, F eb
ruary, 1930, to F ebruary, 1931.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T a b l e 4 . —IN D E X N U M B E R S O F R E T A IL P R IC E S O F P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D
B Y Y E A R S , 1913, 1920 TO 1930, A N D B Y M O N T H S F O R 1930 A N D 1931
[Average for year 1913= 100.0]
Year and
m onth
1913__________
1920
___
1921
___
1922
___
1923
___
1924
___
1925
___
1926
___
1927
___
1928
___
1929
___
1930
___
Jan u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry . _
M arch___ _
A pril_____
M a y _____
J u n e ______
J u ly . ____
A ugust___
Septem ber.
October___
N ovem ber.
D ecem ber. .
1931:
Jan u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry . _
M arch _.
A pril____
M ay . . . _
Ju n e ......... .
J u ly --------A ugust. __ _
Septem ber.
October___
Y ear and
m onth
1913__________
1920
___
1921__________
1922
___
1923
___
1924
___
1925
___
1926
___
1927
___
1928
___
1929
___
1 9 3 0 .-.............
Jan u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry . _
M arch . ._
A pril__ ..
M a y .. . .
J u n e _____
J u ly ______
A ugust___
Septem ber.
O ctober___
N ovem ber.
D ecem ber..
1931:
Jan u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry . _
M arch ____
A pril___
M a y ______
Ju n e ______
J u ly ______
A ugust. . .
S eptem ber.
O ctober___
Sirloin Round Rib
steak steak roast
Chuck P late
roast beef
Pork
chops Bacon H am
Lam b, H ens
leg of
M ilk B utter
100.0
172.1
152.8
147.2
153.9
155.9
159.8
162.6
167.7
188.2
196.9
182.7
192.9
191. 3
190. 6
190. 2
190.2
18». 6
182.3
175. 6
177.2
175. 2
170. 5
168.9
100.0
177.1
154.3
144.8
150.2
151.6
155.6
159.6
166.4
188.3
199.1
184.8
195.5
194.2
192.8
193.3
192.8
191.5
184.3
176.7
178.0
176.2
170.9
169.1
100.0
167.7
147.0
139.4
143.4
145.5
149.5
153.0
158.1
176.8
185. 4
172.7
183.3
181.8
181.3
181.3
179.8
177.3
171.7
163.1
166. 7
164.1
160.6
159.6
100.0
163. 8
132.5
123.1
126.3
130.0
135.0
140.6
148.1
174.4
186.9
170.0
184.4
184.4
182.5
182.5
179.4
175.6
166.3
155.6
160.0
158. 7
154.4
153. 8
100.0
151.2
118.2
105.8
106.6
109.1
114.1
120.7
127.3
157.0
172.7
155.4
172.7
171.9
170.2
168.6
164.5
160.3
149.6
138. 8
142.1
142.1
139.7
139. 7
100.0
201.4
166.2
157.1
144.8
146.7
174.3
188.1
175.2
165.7
175.7
171.0
168.1
167. 6
171.9
176.7
171.9
174.3
173.8
174.8
186.2
180.5
156. 2
149.5
100.0
193. 7
158.2
147.4
144.8
139.6
173.0
186.3
174.8
163.0
161.1
156.7
157.0
157. 8
157.8
157.4
156.7
156.7
156.7
155. 6
158.1
157.8
155.9
153.0
100.0
206.3
151.4
181.4
169.1
168.4
195.5
213.4
204.5
196.7
204.1
198.5
199.3
200.7
201.1
200.4
200.7
200.7
200.0
198.1
198.9
197.4
193. 7
191.4
100.0
207.9
178.3
193.7
194.2
196.3
204.2
206.3
205.8
208.5
212. 2
185. 7
206.9
201.6
193.7
189.4
189.9
193. 7
188.9
178.3
179.9
173.5
166.1
164. 6
100.0
209.9
186.4
169.0
164.3
165.7
171.8
182.2
173.2
175.6
186.4
166.7
178.4
179.3
179.8
179.3
175. 6
167.6
161. 5
158.7
159.6
158.7
153.1
150.2
100.0
187. 6
164. 0
147.2
155.1
155.1
157.3
157. 3
158. 4
159.6
160.7
157. 3
159.6
158.4
157. 3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157. 3
157.3
157.3
151.7
100.0
183.0
135. 0
125.1
114.7
135.0
143.1
138. 6
145. 2
147.5
143.9
120.4
121.9
122.7
121.9
125.6
120.9
113.1
114.1
123.8
127.2
124.8
118.5
111.0
167.3
161.4
158. 7
157.5
155.5
152.4
154.3
155.5
155.1
152.0
168.2
161.0
157.8
156. 5
154. 7
151.1
154. 3
155. 2
154.3
150. 7
159.1
154.0
153.0
150. 0
147.0
142.9
142.9
143.9
142.9
141.4
152.5
145. 6
141. 9
139.4
135.6
130.6
130.0
130.0
130.6
129.4
138.0
131.4
128.1
124.8
119.8
112.4
110.7
109.9
111.6
111. 6
141.9
131.4
140.0
141.4
143.3
140.0
151. 4
158.6
153.3
139.5
148.9
145. 2
143.0
141.1
139.3
136.7
137.0
135. 6
134.1
127.0
188.1
183.3
178.4
175. 5
172.9
170.6
171.4
171.4
169.5
164.3
166.1
164. 6
164.0
165.6
165.1
161.9
158. 7
156.6
152.4
145. 5
153.5
148.8
150. 2
153.1
148.8
146.0
144. 6
145.1
145.1
140.4
149.4
146.1
144.9
141. 6
138.2
134. 8
136. 0
136.0
136.0
134.8
98.4
94.8
97.4
91.9
81.5
80.7
82.8
89.8
96.1
104. 2
Cheese Lard
Eggs
Bread Flour
Corn
meal
Rice
Pota Sugar
toes
100.0
188. 2
153.9
148. 9
167. 0
159.7
166.1
165.6
170.1
174.2
171.9
158.8
169.2
167. 0
164.7
162.9
162.0
157.9
155. 2
153. 4
154. 8
154. 8
152. 9
150.2
100.0
186.7
113.9
107.6
112.0
120.3
147. 5
138.6
122.2
117.7
115.8
107.6
108. 9
108.2
107.0
106.3
105. 7
105.1
103.2
104.4
110.8
112.0
110.8
105.7
100.0
197.4
147.5
128.7
134.8
138.6
151. 0
140.6
131.0
134.5
142.0
118.8
160.6
136.8
102.3
100.0
97.7
97.4
101.7
112.5
124.9
129.9
140.3
120.6
100.0
205. 4
176.8
155.4
155. 4
157.1
167.9
167.9
166.1
162. 5
160.7
155. 4
153.9
157.1
157.1
157.1
157.1
157.1
157.1
155.4
155.4
153.6
151. 8
151.8
100.0
245.5
175.8
154.5
142.4
148.5
184.8
181.8
166.7
163.6
154.5
142.4
154.5
154.5
151.5
148.5
145. 5
145.5
139.4
136.4
133.3
130.3
127.3
124.2
100.0
216.7
150.0
130.0
136.7
156.7
180.0
170.0
173. 3
176. 7
176. 7
176.7
180.0
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
173.3
173.3
100.0
200.0
109.2
109.2
109.2
116.1
127.6
133.3
123.0
114.9
111. 5
109.2
110.3
110.3
109.2
110.3
109.2
109.2
109.2
109.2
110.3
109.2
106.9
105.8
100.0
370. 6
182.4
164.7
170.6
158.8
211.8
288.2
223.5
158.8
188. 2
211.8
229.4
229.4
229.4
241.2
252. 9
247.1
194.1
182.4
188. 2
182.4
170.6
170.6
.0
352.7
145. 5
132.7
183.6
167.3
130.9
125. 5
132.7
129.1
120.0
112.7
120.0
118.2
116.4
114.5
114. 5
110.9
110.9
110.9
107.3
105. 5
107.3
107.3
100.0
134.7
128.1
125.2
127.8
131.4
138. 8
141.0
142.5
142.3
142.6
142.5
143.4
143.2
142. »
142. 5
142.5
143.0
142.6
142.3
142.1
141.9
141.4
141.4
100.0
157. 7
121.8
121.1
126.5
145. 3
172.8
171.1
162.1
165.1
164. 8
136.2
147.0
143.3
140. 6
138.9
137.2
136.2
135. 6
134.6
132.6
131.2
129.9
129.2
100.0
,203. 4
153.3
141.6
146.'2
145.9
157. 4
160.6
155.4
154.3
156.7
147.1
155.4
153.0
150.1
151.2
150.1
147.9
144.0
143.7
145.6
144.4
141.4
137.2
145.2
141.2
137.1
132.6
124.0
119.9
118.6
119.9
122.2
122.6
99.4
91.8
89.9
89.9
85.4
82.3
82.3
81.0
79.8
78.5
104.6
78.8
82.6
79.4
71.9
74.8
82.9
92.5
98.0
109.9
146.4
142.9
141.1
137.5
137.5
135.7
133.9
132.1
130.4
130.4
121.2
121.2
118.2
115.2
112.1
112.1
109.1
103.0
.0
100.0
170.0
166.7
166. 7
163.3
153.3
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
146. 7
102.3
102.3
98.9
96.6
95.4
94.3
93.1
93.1
92.0
89.7
170.6
158.8
158.8
164.7
164. 7
141.2
135. 3
129.4
117.6
105.9
107.3
107.3
105.5
103.6
101.8
101.8
101.8
103.6
103. 6
101. 8
141.0
140.6
139.7
138.2
136.9
136.8
137.3
138.6
139.3
139.0
126.8
125.2
121.8
116.1
112.4
111. 1
109.1
108.7
108.7
107.7
132.8
127.0
126. 4
124.0
121.0
118.3
119.0
119.7
119.4
119.1
100
i 22 articles in 1913-1920; 42 articles in 1921-1931.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1494]
100
Tea
ll ar
Coffee A
ticles *
231
W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
The curve shown in the chart below pictures more readily to the
eye the changes in the cost of the food budget than do the index
numbers given in the table.
C o m p a r iso n o f R e ta il F ood C o sts in 51 C itie s
T a b l e 5 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
in the retail cost of food3 in October, 1931, compared with the aver
age cost in the year 1913, in October, 1930, and September, 1931.
For 12 other cities comparisons are given for the 1-year and the
1-month periods; these cities have been scheduled by the bureau at
different dates since 1913. The percentage changes are based on
JAN
F E B. MAR. APR. MAY JU N. JU L
AUG- S E P
OCT NOV,
DEC.
actual retail prices secured each month from retail dealers and on the
average consumption of these articles in each city.4
Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have all sched
ules for each city included in the average prices. For the month of
October schedules were received from 99.4 per cent of the firms in
the 51 cities from which retail prices of food are collected.
Out of about 1,500 food reports 9 were not received—1 each in
Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Portland (Oreg.), and St.
Louis, and 3 in Seattle.
Out of about 350 bread reports 3 were missing—1 each in Colum
bus, Jacksonville, and Scranton.
A perfect record is shown for the following named cities: Atlanta,
Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Bridgeport, Buffalo, Butte, Charles
ton (S. C.), Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Fall River, Houston,
3 For list of articles see note 2, p. 228.
4 T he consum ption figures used for January, 1913, to December, 1920, for each article in each city are
given in the Labor Review for November, 1918, pp. 94 and 95. T he consum ption figures w hich have been
used for each m onth beginning w ith Jan u ary , 1921, are given in the Labor Review for M arch, 1921, p. 26.
87017°—31
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-16
[1495]
232
m onthly
labor
r e v ie w
Indianapolis, Kansas City, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville,
Manchester, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Mobile, Newark,
New Haven, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Omaha, Peoria,
Philadelphia, Portland (Me.), Providence, Richmond, Rochester,
St. Paul, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Savannah, Springfield (111.),
and Washington.
T able 5 —P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E IN T H E R E T A IL C O ST O F FO O D IN O C T O B E R , 1931,
C O M P A R E D W IT H T H E C O ST IN S E P T E M B E R , 1931, O C T O B E R , 1930, A N D W IT H T H E
A V E R A G E C O ST IN T H E Y E A R 1913, BY C IT IE S .
C ity
P ercent Percentage decrease
October, 1931,
age in
compared w ith—
crease
October,
1931
com
Sep
October, tem
pared
ber,
1930
w ith 1913
1931
U nited S t a t e s - ___
19.1
17.5
0.3
A t l a n t a ___
Baltim ore
B irm ingham . ____
B oston__________
B rid g e p o rt_____
15.3
24.2
14.6
25.1
20.8
16.9
22.3
16.0
14.8
2.0
0.4
1.0
11.1
1 0.4
Buffalo_____
B u tte . - ___ _
C harleston, S. C -_Chicago.- _______
C in c in n a ti - .____
23.3
17.5
11. 2
17.2
16.1
17.9
10.3
0 9
0.3
1.9
0.3
19.8
19. 2
21.6
14.8
19.1
1.8
0. 4
» 0.2
0.1
3.0
1 0.9
0 4
0.9
0.3
0.0
1.1
1.5
0.3
1.1
0.0
23.6
31.3
25.6
C leveland_______
C olum bus__ - .
D allas__ - ____
D enver___
D etro it______ __ -
11.8
11.8
9.5
18.1
Fall R i v e r ___ . .
H ouston____ _
Indianapolis_____
Jacksonville___ _
Kansas C ity __ ___
13.8
11.2
■17.4
18.0
20. 7
19.7
19.2
16.0
L ittle R o c k , , ____
Los Angeles _
Louisville- _
M anchester,-M em p h is--. _____
9.1
8.6
10.9
20.6
10.0
21.9
17.7
20.1
15.7
20.0
17.5
City
M ilw aukee___
M inneapolis___ _
M obile
_ ,
N ew ark
N ew H aven ..........
22.1
19. 7
24.4
26.0
N ew Orleans __
N ew Y ork_____
Norfolk________
Omaha ______ _
Peoria -- ______
14.6
28.1
P h ilad elp h ia.- - __
P itts b u r g h ______
Portland, M e ..
Portland, Oreg____
P ro v id en c e ____
27.4
17.6
11.7
7.5
24.5
R ichm ond________
Rochester .
St. Louis. _ . _____
St. P a u l.. _____
Salt Lake C ity .. _
21.5
San Francisco.
Savannah...
___
Scranton. __ ___ .
Seattle
Springfield, 111____
W ash in g to n _____
20.3
1Increase.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per eent- Percentage decrease
October, 1931,
age in
compared w ith—
crease
October,
1931,
com
Sep
October, tem
pared
ber,
1930
w ith 1913
1931
[1496]
19.8
4.7
27.6
15.5
28.3
16.7
17.8
19. 8
13.1
15.4
0.9
0.5
1. 1
1 1.6
0.1
19.8
14.2
18.1
18.3
21. 3
0.9
1 1.0
0. 0
0.9
1. 0
13.4
19.7
15. 3
16.3
15.2
1 0.4
1.7
0. 7
0.5
1 0.1
19. 1
19. 3
18.4
18.9
16.1
16. 7
19. 7
15. 5
15.2
24.3
17.5
0.0
' 0.3
1.1
0. 7
0.5
1 0.7
0.2
1 0.3
>0-2
2.6
.1
1
W HOLESALE AND D ETA IL PRICES
233
R e ta il Prices o f C o a l in O cto b e r, 19311
HE following table shows the average retail prices of coal on
October 15, 1930, and September 15 and October 15, 1931, for
the United States and for each of the cities from which retail food
prices have been obtained. The prices quoted are for coal delivered
to consumers, but do not include charges for storing the coal in cellar
or coal bin where an extra handling is necessary.
In addition to the prices for Pennsylvania anthracite, prices are
shown for Colorado, Arkansas, and New Mexico anthracite in those
cities where these coals form any considerable portion of the sales
for household use.
The prices shown for bituminous coal are averages of prices of the
several kinds sold for household use.
T
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OP C O AL P E R T O N OP 2,000 PO U N D S , F O R H O U S E H O L D
U SE, ON O C T O B E R 15, 1930, A N D S E P T E M B E R 15 A N D O C T O B E R 15, 1931
1930
1931
1930
C ity, and kind of coal
Oct.
15
U nited States:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove—
Average p rice-_
Index (1.913= 100) ______
C hestnut—
Average price. Index (1913=100)_____
B itum inous—
Average price__ _______
Index (19’l3=100)_______
Sept.
15
$15.13 $14. 97
195.8 193.8
Oct.
15
$15.0
194.2
$14. 87 $14. 93 $14.97
187.9 188.7 189.1
$8.88
163.3
$8.17
150.3
1931
C ity, and kind of coal
$8.22
151.3
C incinnati, Ohio:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile. ___ _ _
Low volatile___ _ . .
Cleveland, Ohio:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_______ _ _ _____
C hestnut . . . _____
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_____ _
Low volatile....................
Columbus, Ohio:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_________
Low volatile____ ___
Dallas, Tex.:
A rkansas anthracite—E g g ..
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Denver, Colo.:
Colorado anthracite—
Furnace, 1 and 2 m ixed. _
Stove, 3 and 5 m ixed. . .
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
D etroit, M ich.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—•
.. . . _
Stove________
C h estn u t. ___________
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High v o la tile ..___ _
Low volatile______
R u n of mine—
Low volatile____ . .
Fall R iver, Mass.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________
C hestnut _______. . . .
Houston, Tex.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Indianapolis, Ind.:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile..................
Low volatile__ _______
R u n of mine—
Low volatile_________
Oct.
15
Sept.
15
Oct.
15
$6. 30
8. 53
$5.50
7. 90
$5. 75
8. 00
14.50
14.25
14. 38
14. 25
14. 38
14. 31
6.86
6. 58
6. 64
A tlanta, Ga.:
9.80
9.29
9.32
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. $7.47 $6. 74 $6. 78
Baltimore, M d.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
6.02
5.29
5.27
Stove__ __________ ___ 14. 25 14.00 14.00
7. 75
6.92
7.25
C hestnut ____________ 13. 75 13. 75 13. 75
Bitum inous, ru n of mine—
15.00 13.00 13. 50
H igh volatile______ . .
7. 36
7. 50
7.89
12. 58 10. 50 10.83
Birm ingham , Ala.:
6.41
6. 46
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 7. 51
Boston, Mass.:
15. 25 14. 75 14.63
Pennsylvania anthracite—
15. 25 14. 75 14.63
Stove____ _____________ 16. 25 15.10 15.10
10. 29
8. 14
8.13
15. 75 15.10 15.10
C h e s tn u t..................... .
Bridgeport, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
15.00 14. 50 14. 50
Stove
. . . . . .
14. 75 14.00 14. 00
15.00 14. 50 14. 50
C h estn u t...................... ...... 14. 75 14. 00 14.00
Buffalo, N . Y .:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
8.00
6. 78
6. 50
Stove_________ _ ____ 13. 79 13. 40 13.40
9. 77
7.96
8. 12
C hestnut _________ . 13. 29 13. 40 13.40
B utte, M ont.:
7.83
6.88
7.19
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 10. 70 10.11 10.13
Charleston, S. C.:
9. 50
9.50
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 9. 67
16. 50 15.50 16. 00
Chicago, 111.:
16. 25 15. 50 16. 00
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove______________ . . 16. 38 16. 75 16. 75
12. 20 10.60 10.60
C h estn u t______________ 16. 28 16. 75 16. 75
B itu m in o u s Prepared sizes—
High volatile_________ 8. 09
7.89
5. 90
7.89
5. 79
5. 73
8. 75
8.29
8. 25
Low volatile_________ 11.96 10.88 11.36
R un of mine—
7. 05
7.48
6.65
6. 60
Low volatile.................... 8.00
7.47
1
Prices of coal were formerly secured sem iannually and published in the M arch and Septem ber issues
of the Labor Review. Since June, 1920, these prices have been secured and published m onthly.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1497]
234
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F C O A L P E R T O N O P 2,000 P O U N D S , F O R H O U S E H O L D
U SE , ON O C T O B E R 15, 1930, A N D S E P T E M B E R 15 A N D O C T O B E R 13, 1931—Continued
1930
C ity, and kind of coal
Jacksonville, Fla.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Kansas C ity, Mo.:
Arkansas an thracite—
Furnace — ------- -- --. -Stove No. 4___
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
L ittle Rock, Ark.:
Arkansas anthracite—Egg__
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Los Angeles, Calif.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Louisville, K y.:
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_________
Low volatile ______M anchester, N . H .:
Pennsylvania anthracite—•
- S to v e ..
...
---------
Oct.
15
1931
Sept.
15
1930
City, and kind of coal
Oct.
15
$10. 00 $10.00 $10.00
12.44
13. 58
6.93
11. 38
12.92
6.30
11.38
12.83
6.12
13.00
9. 70
11.50
8.61
11. 50
8. 72
10. 50
15.75
16. 25
6. 37
8.75
5.03
7.75
5. 05
8.00
16.83
16.83
M emphis, Tenn:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 7.87
M ilwaukee, Wis.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove. . . .
------ --- 15.75
15.41
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
7.68
High volatile________
10. 63
M inneapolis, M inn.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
Stove. ------- ------- - 16.92
C hestnut. .
. ------- 16.83
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_________ 9.81
Low volatile_____ _ . 12.63
Mobile, Ala.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 9. 23
Newark, N . J.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
13.90
Stove _____. . . .
C hestnut . . .
. . . . . 13.40
N ew H aven, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stovft
14.90
---------- 14.90
C h e s tn u t._ . .
N ew Orleans, La.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 10.43
N ew York, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania an thracite—
14. 08
Stove
C hestnut
13. 58
Norfolk, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v e ..
_____
____ 15.00
15.00
C h e s tn u t----- ------------B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile
7.38
10.00
Low volatile
R u n of mine—
7.00
Low volatile ._ . .
Omaha, N ebr.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 9.79
Peoria, 111.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes
6.44
Philadelphia, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove___ . . . __________ 13.90
13. 46
C h e s tn u t... _______ . . .
16.17
16.17
16. 33
16. 33
6.93
6. 89
16.05
16.05
16. 05
16.05
7. 51
9.96
7. 48
10. 01
18.05
18.05
18.05
18.05
9.87
12.43
9. 88
12. 54
8. 25
8. 84
13. 55
13. 55
13. 55
13. 55
14. 65
14. 65
14. 80
14. 80
8.07
9.93
13.92
13.92
13. 88
13.88
14. 50
14.50
14. 50
14. 50
7.00
9.00
7. 00
9. 00
7.00
7.00
8.89
9. 00
6.09
6.12
13. 25
13. 25
13. 50
13. 50
Oct.
15
P ittsburgh, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
C h estn u t_______ . . . . . $14. 50
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 4.91
Portland, Me.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________
. - 16.80
16.80
C hestnut
____ .
Portland, Oreg.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 13.27
Providence, R . I.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
_______ - ___ 116. 00
U 6 .00
C hestnut____
..
Richmond, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
15. 00
S to v e .. ____
15.00
C h estn u t____ _
....
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes8.75
H igh v o la tile _____
Low volatile_______ . 9.37
R u n of mine—
7. 25
Low volatile _
Rochester, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
14.75
Stove
______ _
14.25
C hestnut _ ___ _
St. Louis, Mo.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
.
. . . . 16. 23
15.98
C hestnut . .
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 6.29
St. Paul, M inn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove____ _
....
16.90
C hestnut __
16.90
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile.. _____ _ 9. 75
12.80
Low v o la tile .. . . . .
Salt Lake C ity, U tah:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 8.41
San Francisco, Calif.:
New Mexico a n th racite—
Cerillos egg____________ 26.00
Colorado anthracite—
25. 50
Egg
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 16.88
Savannah, Ga.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 2 9.87
Scranton, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
10.18
Stove
________
9. 88
C hestnut
Seattle, W ash.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 10. 68
Springfield, 111.:
Bitum inous,,prepared sizes. 4. 34
W ashington, D . C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove . _______ ____ . 515. 73
515.23
C h estn u t___ ______
B itum inous—
Prepared sizes—
3 8.63
High volatile.. .
Low v o la tile ... . . . ... 311.43
R u n of mine—
3 7.81
M ix ed .. ________
1931
Sept.
15
Oct.
15
$13.75 $14.00
4.82
4. 86
16.80
16.80
16.80
16. 80
12.63
12. 51
115.75 115.75
U5.75 U5.75
14.50
14.50
14.50
14.50
8.17
8.81
8.17
8.81
7.25
7.25
14. 50
14.50
14. 38
14. 38
16. 66
16.60
5. 70
16. 72
16.66
5. 70
18.05
18.05
18.05
18. 05
9.53
12.45
9.60
12. 56
7.63
7.63
26.00
26. 00
25.50
17.50
25.50
17.00
29 .28 2 9.28
10. 30
10.28
10. 30
10.28
10.62
10. 62
4.34
4. 34
315.40 315. 40
315.40 315.40
3 8.46 3 8.46
3 11.04 3 11.04
3 7.75 3 7.75
1 T he average price of coal delivered in bins is 50 cents higher th a n here shown. Practically all coal is
delivered in bin.
2 All coal sold in Savannah is weighed b y th e city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made. This
additional charge has been included in th e above price.
3 Per to n of 2,240 pounds.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1498]
235
W HOLESALE AND R ET A IL PRICES
Index N u m b ers of W holesale Prices in O cto b e r, 1931
HE index number of wholesale prices as computed by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor
shows a decrease for October. This index number, which includes 550
commodities or price series weighted according to the importance of
each article and based on the average prices for 1926 as 100.0, declined
from 69.1 in September to 68.4 in October, a decrease of a little more
than 1 per cent. When compared with October, 1930, with an index
number of 82.6, a decrease of 17 per cent has been recorded.
Decreases in the prices of corn, cows, hogs, cotton, peanuts, lemons,
oranges, white potatoes, tobacco, and wool caused farm products as a
T
T R E N D OF
DEC.
JA N .
F EB .
P1AR.
W H OLESALE.
APR.
EAY
JUNE JULY
P R IC E S .
AUG. .SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
group to average 2% per cent lower in October than in September.
On the other hand, the prices of oats, rye, wheat, eggs, hay, and onions
were higher than in the month before.
Among foods price decreases were reported for lamb, fresh pork,
bacon, ham, dressed poultry, cured fish, corn meal, rice, and vegetable
oils, resulting in a decrease of about one-half of 1 per cent for the
group as a whole. Butter, fresh and cured beef, lard, oleomargarine,
rye and wheat flour, and bananas averaged higher than in September.
A marked decline in the general average price of hides and skins
and leather during October forced the hides and leather group as
a whole down slightly more than 3 per cent. Boots and shoes and
other leather products showed little or no change from the month
before.
In the group of textile products cotton goods, woolen and worsted
goods, silk and rayon, and other textile products showed further price
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1499]
236
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
decreases from September to October. The textile group as a whole
declined about 2/ per cent.
With gasoline and crude petroleum advancing slightly and with
minor decreases reported for anthracite and bituminous coals, prac
tically no change was shown in the fuel and lighting group as a whole.
Coke remained at the same level as for the month before.
Up and down fluctuations in the prices of the items composing the
metals and metal products group produced little change on the group
as a whole, but with a downward tendency. Iron and steel showed
slight change and nonferrous metals and agricultural implements
decreased, while automobiles and other metal products showed no
change.
Lumber, cement, paint materials, and other building materials
continued their downward movement in October. No change was
shown for structural steel, with a minor increase reported for brick.
The group as a whole showed a decrease of less than 1 per cent.
Further price recessions during October for chemicals, mixed ferti
lizers, and fertilizer materials caused the chemicals and drugs group
to decline about 1 per cent. No change was shown for drugs and
pharmaceuticals. Both furniture and furnishings in the group of
house-furnishing goods continued to decline in the month.
Paper and pulp and other miscellaneous articles advanced slightly
during the month, whereas cattle feed rose sharply in price and crude
rubber showed further declines. No change was reported in the price
of automobile tires.
Raw materials as a whole averaged lower than in September, as did
also semimanufactured articles and finished products.
In the large group of nonagricultural commodities, including all
articles other than farm products, and among all commodities other
than farm products and foods, the October prices showed a downward
movement from those for the month before.
Between September and October decreases took place in 104
instances, increases in 190 instances, while in 256 instances no change
occurred.
IN D E X
NUM BERS
O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S B Y
C O M M O D IT IE S
GROUPS AND
SU B G R O U P S OF
[1926 = 100.0]
October,
1930
G roups and subgroups
All co m m o d ities___
_
_______ _____ ___
Septem
ber, 1931
October,
1931
Purchasing
power of
the dollar,
October,
1931
82.6
69.1
68.4
$1. 462
F a rm p ro d u c ts._____ __________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G rains__________ ______ ___________ _ . . . ___
Livestock and p o u ltry____ . . . . . . . . . . ____ _
O ther farm p roducts_______________ ______ . . .
82.6
72.1
82.4
86.3
60.5
44.2
61.0
65.4
58.8
44.3
57.6
64.2
1. 701
2.257
1. 736
1.558
Foods______________________________ . . .
. ... .
B u tte r, cheese, and m ilk..
. . . . . _ ...
M eats____________ ________ _______ ____ . . . .
.......
_ ..
O ther foods................ . . . .
88.6
98. 7
96.7
79.8
72.9
84.8
73.6
67.6
72.6
86.4
71.1
67.7
1. 377
1.157
1. 406
1. 477
H ides and leather products____ ______ ____ . . . . . .
H ides and s k i n s . ______
.
.
__ _
L eath er__________ ___________________________
Boots and shoes_____ _ ___________________ . . .
O ther leather p ro d u cts_______ _______ .
_____
96.5
83.6
96. 7
100.3
104. 2
84.8
58.6
83.4
93.5
82.2
50.0
80.7
93.1
2.000
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 1500 ]
101.0
101.0
1. 217
1. 239
1. 074
.990
237
W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
IN D E X
N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S B Y G R O U P S
C 0 M M O D IT IE S—C ontinued
AND
SU BG RO U PS
OF
[1926 = 100.0]
October,
1930
G roups and subgroups
September,
1931
October,
1931
Purchasing
power of
the dollar,
October,
1931
Textile products________________ _____ . . .
C otton goods ______ __ _
Silk and rayon
_.
.
Woolen and w orsted goods____. . . __ _ _
O ther textile p roducts_________ __ __ _
73.8
81.6
52.1
83.6
59.0
62.9
67.7
44.8
73. 5
50.8
61. 5
66.2
43.9
72.4
47.3
1. 626
1.511
2.278
1. 381
2.114
Fuel and lighting m aterials__ _____
A n thracite coal___________ __ .
B itum inous coal________ _ __
Coke_________ _______
G as___________ _ _______ --_
P etroleum p roducts________ _ _
75.1
89.6
89.2
83.9
99. 7
59.4
63.3
94.3
83.9
81.5
103.4
38.9
63.4
94.2
83.6
81.5
(>)
39.2
1. 577
1. 062
1.196
1.227
2. 551
90.4
88.6
67.8
94.9
100.2
98.4
87.2
86.6
56.8
94. 5
99.7
90.5
86.5
86.2
53. 7
92.3
99.7
90.5
1. 156
1. 160
1. 862
1. 083
1. 003
1.105
M etals and m etal products________ - Iron and steel- - ______
Nonferrous m etals _ - ______
A gricultural im plem ents___
A utom obiles__________ _____
O ther m etal p roducts________
>
Building m aterials__________ _
L u m b er..
_______
B ric k .. _____ . -_ _ -.
C em ent...............
. . . __ _
Structural steel__________ _ ___
P ain t m aterials______ _ . .
O ther building m a te r ia ls .____
85.8
80.2
82. 5
91.7
81.7
75.9
97.3
74.9
65. 5
79.8
75.8
81. 7
64. 9
89.0
74.3
64.5
79.9
75. 1
81.7
63.8
88.6
1. 346
1. 550
1. 252
1. 332
1. 224
1. 567
1.129
Chemicals and d ru g s__________
Chem icals. ... _
D rugs and pharm aceuticals___
Fertilizer m a te ria ls .________
M ixed fertilizers_________
86.0
89.6
66. 8
83.6
92.9
74.8
77.8
61. 1
74.2
77.6
74.1
77. 7
61. 1
70.2
77.2
1. 350
1. 287
1. 637
1. 425
1.295
U ouse-furnishing goods__________
F u rn itu re . __ ______ ____
F urnishings. __ ______ ____
95.3
96.5
94.2
84.7
87.3
82.4
83.2
84. 7
82.0
1. 202
1. 181
1. 220
M iscellan eo u s______________
_ . _'
C attle feed ..
_________ . . .
Paper and p u lp _____
R u b b er_______ __ ________ . .
A utomobile tires............... .
O ther m iscellaneous_____ _ ______
68.8
89.6
83. 5
16. 9
52. 0
91. 5
58.4
44.4
80.3
10.6
45.7
76.9
59.0
49.4
80.4
10.2
45.7
77.9
1. 695
2. 024
1.244
9.804
2.188
1.284
R aw m aterials_____ _ ________ _
Sem im anufactured articles______ .
Finished p roducts_____
N onagricultural commodities.-. .
All commodities, less farm products and foods.........
80.0
75.5
85.6
82.8
81.5
62.7
66. 3
74.0
71.7
72.0
61. 5
64. 7
73. 7
71. 2
71.4
1. 626
]. 546
1. 357
1. 404
1. 401
1 D ata no t yet available.
W holesale Prices in the U n ited S ta te s and in Foreign C o u n trie s,
1923 to Septem ber, 1931
THE following table the more important index numbers of
wholesale prices in foreign countries and those of the United States
INBureau
of Labor Statistics have been brought together in order that
the trend of prices in the several countries may be compared. The
base periods here shown are those appearing in the sources from which
the information has been drawn, in most cases being the year 1913
or some other pre-war period. Only general comparisons can be made
from these figures, since, in addition to differences in the base periods,
there are important differences in the composition of the index
numbers themselves.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1501]
238
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A N D IN C E R T A IN
F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S
nited
C o u n try ___ UStates
B ureau
C om puting of Labor
Statis
agency
tics
Czecho
C anada A ustria Belgium slovakia
D en
m ark
D om in Federal M inis
try of
ion B u Statis
In d u s
reau of
tical
Statis Bureau
try and
tics
Labor
Statis Central General Federal
tical
Bureau Statis Statis
D e
Sta
tical
tical
p a rt of
tistics Bureau B ureau
m ent
Base period-
1926
1926
C o m m o d i
ties_____
550
502
100. 6
98.1
103. 5
100.0
95.4
97. 7
96. 5
86.3
98.0
99. 4
102. 6
100.0
97.6
96.4
95.6
86. 6
Year and
month
1923_______
1924_______
1925_______
1926_______
1927_______
1928_______
1929_______
1930_______
1923
J a n u a r y __
A pril.
Ju ly _______
O ctober___
1924
Ja n u a ry -.
A pril____
Ju ly . . . . -O ctober____
1925
J a n u a ry .. _
A p ril...
Ju ly ______
October____
1926
J a n u a ry ...
A p ril... __
July . . . . . .
O ctober____
1927
Jan u ary ____
A pril______
Ju ly _______
October-----1928
Jan u ary ____
A pril___
Ju ly ----------October........
1929
J a n u a ry ...
A p ril...
Ju ly ----------October____
1930
J a n u a ry ...
A pril___. . .
Ju ly ----------October........
1931
J a n u a ry ...
F e b r u a r y ...
M arch
A pril. .
M a y --------J u n e ---------Ju ly ----------A ugust____
S ep tem b er..
Jan u ary - April,
June,
1914
1914
47
126
C entral
B ureau
of Sta
tistics
Finland
France
Ger
m any
Italy
Riccardo
Bachi
July,
1914
1913
1926
1913
1913
1913
69
118
139
45
400
140
497
573
558
744
847
843
851
744
977
997
1008
955
979
979
924
2 118. 5
102. 0
103. 9
98.4
99.4
434
480
504
515
991
1012
949
960
387
415
407
421
516. 1
525. 7
503. 9
499. 6
99. 6
97.3
95. 6
98.2
580
555
566
555
974
1008
953
999
494
450
481
497
504. 4
510. 3
497.4
522.0
102.9
101 9
104. 3
103. 6
559
538
559
575
1045
1020
1009
989
243
230
.212
179
514
513
557
572
568. 2
570. 1
612 0
617.1
634
650
836
751
135. 8
132. 7
133.1
136.2
608 0
590 0
618. 2
596. 7
124
136
136
123
133
130
130
117
210
163
153
153
150
130
100
101
102
98
90
419
488
551
703
617
620
611
532
137. 3
141. 8
134.4
137.6
140.0
137.2
124.6
i 503. 9
1 497. 4
1 612. 0
i 618. 2
i 466. 7
i 453.1
i 439. 7
383.0
103. 6
100.1
99. 5
99.4
103.0
101. 2
100. 2
98.1
122
119
126
125
560
621
876
856
966
923
948
972
172
157
158
178
96.6
93.7
94.1
97.0
97. 8
97.5
98.6
97.2
130
135
140
129
856
846
845
839
979
979
992
966
157
152
152
154
100
100
101
101
622
636
621
587
135.9
134.8
137.6
139.8
558. 2
521. 3
466.7
467.5
96.3
97.4
98.3
97.8
96.9
98.3
96.2
95.4
129
131
133
129
851
847
841
835
982
984
979
971
153
154
155
150
102
103
103
101
607
624
624
617
138.7
139.5
141. 6
140.1
463.5
464.4
453. 1.
463.3
97.2
96.8
98.0
96.3
93.7
94.1
96.0
96.7
128
134
132
127
867
862
858
838
953
963
922
895
151
150
149
149
100
99
97
96
630
627
613
590
138.9
137.1
137. 8
137.2
461. 2
455.0
439. 7
435. 8
93.4
90.7
84.0
82.6
95.3
91.2
85.3
81.0
125
119
119
112
808
777
739
705
2 124. 3
2 120. 3
2 118.2
2 112. 7
143
135
129
123
94
92
90
86
564
548
538
508
132.3
126. 7
125. 1
120.2
417.4
396.1
374.9
364.4
77.0
75.5
74. 5
73.3
71.3
70.0
70.0
70.2
69.1
76. 7
76.0
75.1
74.4
73.0
72.2
71.7
70.9
70.0
105
107
107
108
107
110
114
110
108
661
658
660
652
640
642
635
616
597
2 108. 9
2 108. 8
2 110. 5
2 110. 3
2 108. 7
2 112.1
2 107. 8
2 105. 2
2 104. 6
118
117
116
115
113
110
110
109
109
86
86
86
85
84
83
82
81
79
484
482
482
484
470
467
456
446
428
115.2
114.0
113. 9
113. 7
113.3
112.3
111. 7
110.2
108.6
341. 7
338.1
339.3
337.0
331. 7
326. 5
324.3
321. 6
319.1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
i July.
2 In gold.
[1502]
230
W HOLESALE AND R ETA IL PRICES
IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S IN T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S A N D IN C E R T A IN
F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S —Continued
N eth N or
er
lands w ay
Spain
Swe
den
Cen Cen
tral
tral
B u
B u
C om puting
reau
reau
agency----of
of
Sta
Sta
tistics tistics
In sti
tu te
of
Geog
raphy
and
Sta
tistics
C ham
ber of
Com
merce
C o u n try -----
Sw it U nited
King
zer
dom
land
Aus
tralia
New
Zea
land
South
India
Africa Japan China
N a
tional
B ureau Cen Office
F ed
B ank Tariff
of
sus
of
eral B oard
Com
of
Census and Census
Labor
of
Sta
and Japan, mis
and
D e
Sta tistics Sta Tokyo sion,
p a rt Trade
Shang
tistics Office tistics
m ent
hai
Labor
Office,
Bom
bay
Base period-
1913
1913
1913
1913
July,
1914
1913
July,
1914
1913
1913
1913
1926
July,
1914
Commodit i e s ___ -
48
95
74
160
118
150
92
180
188
56
155
44
151
156
155
145
148
149
142
117
232
268
253
198
167
161
153
143
172
183
188
181
172
168
171
172
163
162
161
149
146
148
140
122
157
156
145
148
223
229
231
235
170
174
170
171
156
154
151
161
251
263
265
273
160
151
155
154
_
Year and
month
1923
1924
1925
1926_______
1927_______
1928_______
1929_______
1930_______
1923
p jly
1924
1925
1926
Ja n u a ry .----
1927
J a n u a ry .-. _
April___ __
J u l y ___ -O ctober____
1928
Jan u a ry ____
A pril-..
Ju ly _______
October____
1929
January____
April ____
Ju ly _______
October____
1930
Jan u a ry ____
A pril______
Ju ly _______
O ctober____
1931
Jan u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry .. .
A pril_____
y
Ju ly ___
August_____
Septem ber—
158. 9
166. 2
159.1
148.1
141.4
140.3
136.5
119.5
170
165
162
161
159
157
158
140
158
165
161
154
146
147
147
143
127
129
128
123
124
121
116
103
199
206
202
179
170
171
166
137
163
168
162
161
157. 0
162.0
156. 5
158.1
163
167
180
171
,
131
126
124
125
184
196
192
212
187
180
178
181
178
184
182
186
161
161
157
167
165.4
164. 7
162.6
170.0
174
166
163
163
131
126
125
133
211
207
195
213
188
184
184
181
279
273
254
223
191
190
188
187
169
163
161
154
171.1
161. 9
156. 9
153.9
163
158
162
163
166
162
161
162
130
130
127
124
214
202
198
200
173
165
158
158
153
148
141
143
214
199
192
198
186
179
178
179
153
150
148
148
153
145
145
144
151.3
143. 6
148.7
152.1
161
168
162
154
159
156
156
153
124
120
122
127
192
181
179
174
154
151
149
147
145
143
151
150
174
164
165
165
184
177
168
169
146
143
146
147
141
140
140
145
143.6
139.8
141.1
141.4
154
151
161
173
151
147
146
146
128
126
120
122
170
170
170
170
103.2
105. 2
104. 5
104.9
146
145
147
146
153
153
148
146
164
162
162
157
166
166
164
174
148
151
150
145
145
146
144
145
141.1
142.9
141. 1
137.9
163
162
157
152
150
147
148
149
123
121
119
120
169
170
169
174
101.0
102.9
100. 8
101.2
141
142
147
150
146
144
141
140
154
154
152
154
171
174
169
172
144
141
140
138
143
140
143
142
138.3
138.8
137.4
136.1
157
158
159
161
147
146
147
148
120
117
115
113
172
170
166
163
101.7
103. 1
103.4
107.4
148
144
145
146
131
122
115
111
150
145
142
140
172
172
170
175
131
124
121
118
136
129
126
122
131.0
123. 7
119.2
113.0
151
146
144
130
147
146
144
142
107
104
100
99
152
147
134
124
108.3
111. 2
120.4
115.4
139
134
124
117
105
104
103
102
102
135
133
131
130
128
127
127
126
f23
173
175
174
172
169
169
175
177
178
115
114
113
112
1)1
110
110
109
107
115
115
114
112
111
110
109
108
106.9
106.2
105.9
105. 7
104. 4
103.2
102. 2
99.5
99.2
127
127
128
127
126
125
123
122
140
137
136
134
133
132
131
102
120
119
120
119
116
114
116
115
119. 7
127.4
126. 1
126.2
127. 5
129.2
127.4
130.3
129.2
111
112
11L
110
106
106
1C8
107
97
94
91
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
181
175
162
145
142
145
141
126
[1508j
99
98
100.0
104.4
101.7
104. 5
114. 8
181
182
163
149
147
146
145
126
COST OF LIVING
Stan d ard of L iv in g o f 400 Fa m ilie s in A m a lg a m a te d H o u sin g
Co rp o ratio n D w ellings
N ITS report covering 1930, the State Board of Housing of New
York has published the results of a survey of standard of living
among 400 families living in the Amalgamated Housing Corporation
dwellings. The choice of this particular group of individuals for study
was regarded as especially desirable because the persons involved are
living under model housing conditions, have small incomes, a common
cultural background, and a community of interest arising out of the
cooperative features of the dwelling proj ect. For the general informa
tion of the reader, it should be stated that the Amalgamated Housing
Corporation is supplying model apartments at reasonable cost to
wage earners and that in addition the dwellings are provided with
cooperative stores, laundries, recreation rooms, etc.
In making the investigation two sources of material were available:
(1) Questionnaires filled out by experienced investigators who made
inquiry as to the size of family, age of members, country of birth,
place of previous residence, rent paid in previous residence and num
ber of rooms occupied, occupation, earnings, clothes bought, etc.,
and (2) the records of the cooperative stores from which, were obtained
figures as to the quantity of food, milk, etc., purchased, by apartments.
Both phases of the investigation were carried through to cover the
year 1930. The report here reviewed is of a preliminary nature and
it is stated that it will be followed by a special monograph giving a
comprehensive account of the standard of living as found.
I
Size and Composition of Families
Of 417 schedules obtained, 17 were discarded, owing to some lack
of basic information. According to the returns shown on the remain
ing 400 schedules, the average size of a family was 3.74 persons.
Two-fifths of the families were composed of three persons or less, 36
per cent of four persons, and 23 per cent of five or more persons.
Sons of 15 years of age and under numbered 244, and daughters of
this age group, 216. Taken together these children comprised 68
per cent of the total 679 sons and daughters living at home. The
average age of all children was 12 years. The ages of mothers and
fathers were also ascertained, 50 per cent of the fathers and 65 per
cent of the mothers being under 40 years old when the survey was
made. The average age of fathers was 41.4 years and of mothers,
38.4 years.
Country of Birth and Occupation
W h i l e 91.8 per cent of all the children covered were born in the
United. States only 8.9 per cent of the fathers and 1Î per cent of
the mothers were found to be native born. Three-fifths of the
parents were Russian born, and the next most important countries
of origin were Austria and Poland, each represented by 10 per cent
of the total number of parents.
240
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1504]
241
COST OF L IV IN G
The occupations of heads of families were varied, 30 per cent being
garment workers, 10 per cent persons in professional services, 8 per
cent building workers, 8 per cent shopkeepers, jobbers, and other
business men, etc.
Time Lost, Earnings, and Income
T a b l e 1 shows the amount of time lost by the chief wage earner
on account of unemployment, part-time work, and disability. The
average loss of time during 1930 for 368 persons was 9.9 weeks.
T able
1.—N U M B E R
O F W E E K S LO ST B Y C H IE F W A G E E A R N E R S B E C A U S E O F
U N E M P L O Y M E N T , P A R T -T IM E W O R K , A N D D IS A B IL IT Y
N um ber of
of wage
earners
N u m b er of weeks idle
Per cent
distribu
tion
N one___________ ________ - _ U n d e r5 w e e k s ...
_
___
5 to 9 weeks
_ ___ . -- _ ___
10 to 14 weeks- __________________
15 to 19 w eeks--- ____ __ _______
20 to 24 weeks_______ . ... _
25 to 30 w eeks_______ 30 weeks and over________________
148
It)
34
57
38
21
33
21
40.3
4.3
9.2
15.5
10.3
5.7
9.0
5.7
T o ta l____________ _____
368
100.0
_ _-
Practically one-fourth of the breadwinners earned less than $40
per week when fully employed and 85.1 per cent earned under $65
per week. The average estimated weekly earnings for a week of full
employment were $52.88. The average income of the chief bread
winners in 1930 amounted to $2,275.28. A classification of incomes
shows that 39.3 per cent of the total had incomes of under $2,000 for
the year and 2 per cent had $5,000 and over.
When the total family income, including earnings of father, mother,
and children, in 390 families, was considered, the number of families
with less than $2,000 was reduced to 26.6 per cent of the total, the
number with $5,000 and over rose to 3.3 per cent of the total family
earnings. Of the contribution to total family earnings 87.6 per cent
was contributed by the chief breadwinner and 12.4 per cent by other
members of the family.
Expenditures
O f t h e major items of expense for all 400 families, food constituted
33 per cent, or the largest single item. The distribution of expendi
tures by major groups appears in Table 2.
T a b l e 3 .—D IS T R IB U T IO N O F E X P E N D IT U R E S B Y M A JO R CLA SSES
Average
expenses
per fam ily
Item
Food - - -- - _ _ _
________
Clothing .
____
__ ___ _
R ent- _ _ _ _
H ouse operation. - - - _________
All o th ers______________________ _-
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T o ta l--
-
[15051
- .
P e r cent
of to ta l ex
penses
$949. 35
309. 38
531. 53
206. 24
883.19
33.0
10.7
18.4
7.2
30. 7
2,879. 69
100.0
242
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
With regard to the item of rent, it is stated in the report under
review that for 314 families an average of $68.66 less per year was paid
in the Amalgamated dwellings than in their previous dwellings.
A distribution of expenditures by major items and according to
size of expenditures appears in Table 3.
T
a b l e
3 —P E R C E N T O F T O T A L E X P E N S E S S P E N T F O R M A JO R IT E M S . C L A S S IF IE D
B Y A M O U N T O F F A M IL Y E X P E N D IT U R E
F am ily expenditure
$1,000 to $1,499_________________________
$1,500 to $1,999_________________________
$2,000 to $2,499_________________________
$2,500 to $2,999_________________________
$3,000 to $3,499_________________________
$3,500 to $3,999_________________________
$4,000 to $4,499_________________________
$4,500 to $4,999_________________________
$5,000 and over_______________ _ _ ____
Average____
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
. _______ _ _ . .
Food
Clothing
R ent
House
operation All others
T otal
34.5
37.8
37.0
35.8
32.9
31.2
30.2
28.6
25. 2
6.2
7.7
8.9
9.9
11.3
11. 9
13. 7
14.0
11.7
33.1
25. 8
22.4
19.2
16.6
15.9
14. 8
13.1
12. 4
7. 7
8.1
7.0
6.8
6.6
7.3
6. 7
6.8
8.1
18. 5
29.1
24.7
28.3
32. 6
33. 7
34. 6
37.5
42. 6
100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
33. 0
10. 7
18.4
7. 2
30.7
100.0
[15061
100. 0
IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
S ta tis tic s of Im m ig ra tio n for S ep tem b er, 1931
B y J. J . K
unna
, C h i e f S t a t is t ic ia n U n it e d S t a t e s B u r e a u o f I m m ig r a t io n
HE statistics for September, 1931, show a total of 25,957 aliens
admitted to the United States, the largest number for any one
month since October, 1930, when 37,246 aliens entered the country.
The admissions in September last, classified according to last or in
tended period of residence in this country, included 5,017 immigrants
and 20,940 nonimmigrants.
During the three months from July to September, 1931, a total of
12,281 immigrants was admitted from all countries, compared with
45,931 for the corresponding period of the previous year, a decrease
of 33,650, or 73 per cent. Certain sources show a larger proportionate
decline in immigration, particularly the Irish Free State and Ger
many, the decrease for the former being 94 per cent and for the latter
79 per cent. The percentage of decrease for Italy since a year ago
was 66; for Scandinavia, 68; for Canada, 75; and for Mexico, 60.
A comparison of the number of quota immigrants admitted during
the first quarter of the past fiscal year—July to September, 1930—and
during the same period of the current fiscal year shows a decrease from
26,394 to 4,204. In other words, only one alien of this class is now com
ing to the United States, whereas six came a year ago. The drastic
decrease in immigration, particularly of quota immigrants, is the
result of restricting the influx of aliens during the time of widespread
unemployment in the United States through the strict enforcement
of the “ likely to become a public charge’’ provision of the immigra
tion laws.
T
IN W A R D A N D O U T W A R D P A S S E N G E R M O V E M E N T , JU L Y , A U G U ST, A N D S E P T E M
B E R , 1931
O utw ard
Inw ard
Period
1931
Ju ly
____
August
Septem ber___
T o ta l__
Aliens
Aliens
de
de
Aliens departed
Aliens adm itted
U nited
ported
barred
States
U nited
after
from
citi
States
enter
enter
zens T otal ing 2
citizens Total ing 1 E m i NonN on
Im m i im
de
emi
T
otal
Total arrived
m
i
grant grant
grant grant
parted
3,174 12,361 15, 535
4,090 16,580 20,670
5,017 20, 940 25, 957
7,428 20,450 27,878 46, 961 74,839
9,541 23,009 32,550 65,895 98, 445
8, 733 20, 393 29, 126 42, 247 71, 373
1,681
1,584
1, 446
2,102 25, 702 63, 852 89, 554 155,103 244, 657
4, 711
761
657
684
30, 944 46,479
59, 372 80, 042
62,581 88, 538
12,281 49, 881 62,162 152,897 215,059
1 These aliens are no t included among arrivals, as th ey were not perm itted to enter the U nited States.
2 These aliens are included among aliens departed, th ey having entered the U nited States, legally or
illegally, an d later toeing deported.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1507]
243
PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
O fficia l— U n ited S ta te s
( M a r y l a n d ) . — Municipal Commission on Employment Stabiliza
tion and Municipal Free Employment Service. R e p o r t. B a ltim o r e , 1 9 3 1 .
B a l t im o r e
1 5 p p . , c h a r ts .
H
Reviewed in this issue.
a w a i i .— Board of Trustees of Employees’ Retirement System.
r e p o r t, J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 0 .
H o n o lu lu , 1 9 3 1 .
F if th a n n u a l
58 pp.
O h i o .— Industrial Commission.
Division of Safety and Hygiene. P r o c e e d in g s
o f f o u r th a ll-O h io s a f e t y c o n g r e s s , C o lu m b u s , A p r i l 2 1 - 2 3 , 1 9 3 1 .
C o lu m b u s ,
1931. 561 p p .
P e n n s y l v a n i a .— Department of Labor and Industry. S p e c i a l B u l l e t i n N o . S 3 :
H o w m a n y a r e jo b l e s s i n P e n n s y l v a n i a ?
A n e s tim a te o f th e n u m b e r u n e m
p lo y e d a n d a n a n a l y s i s o f i n d u s t r i a l e m p lo y m e n t a n d w a g e p a y m e n t s i n P e n n s y l
v a n ia , p r e p a r e d b y th e B u r e a u o f S t a t i s t i c s . H a r r is b u r g , 1 9 3 1 .
3 2 p p . , c h a r ts .
Reviewed in this issue.
P r e s i d e n t ’s C o n f e r e n c e o n H o m e B u i l d i n g a n d H o m e O w n e r s h i p .— Com
mittee on Farm and Village Housing. B i b lio g r a p h ie s , c o m p ile d b y J o s i a h
C . F o ls o m : H o u s in g i n la b o r c a m p s , 1 6 p p . ; H o u s i n g o f M e x ic a n s a n d
I n d i a n s , 1 2 p p . ; H o u s in g i n t o u r i s t c a m p s , 2 3 p p . ; H o u s in g o f m i g r a t o r y
a g r ic u ltu r a l la b o r e r s , 2 1 p p . W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
{ M im e o g r a p h e d .)
P r e s i d e n t ’ s O r g a n i z a t i o n o n U n e m p l o y m e n t R e l i e f .— A b r i e f r e p o r t o n
t r a n s ie n t f a m i l i e s i n A r i z o n a , p r e p a r e d b y th e N a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o f T r a v e le r s
A i d S o c ie tie s o n in f o r m a t i o n s u b m itte d b y M r s . F r a n c e s G . B l a i r , T u c s o n
c h a p te r , A m e r i c a n R e d C r o s s , T u c s o n , A r i z .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
18 p p .
{ M i m e o g r a p h e d .)
------
A b r ie f r e p o r t o n tr a n s ie n t j a m i t i e s i n F lo r id a , p r e p a r e d b y th e N a t i o n a l
A s s o c i a t i o n o f T r a v e le r s A i d S o c ie tie s o n i n f o r m a tio n s u b m itte d b y M i s s
M a r g a r e t H a tc h o j D u n e d i n , F la .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
11 p p .
{M im e o
g r a p h e d .)
These studies of transient families in Arizona and Florida are reviewed in this
issue of the Labor Review.
U n i t e d S t a t e s .— Department of Agriculture.
M is c e lla n e o u s P u b l i c a t i o n N o .
1 0 5 : A g r a p h ic s u m m a r y o f A m e r i c a n a g r ic u ltu r e b a s e d l a r g e ly o n th e C e n s u s ,
c o m p ile d b y O . E . B a k e r .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
2 2 8 p p . , m a p s , c h a r ts .
Includes a section on farm labor, with a series of maps showing distribution of
persons engaged in agriculture and forestry, of farmers hiring labor, and of cash
expenditure for labor.
------ Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. B u l l e t i n N o . 5J)0:
U n io n s c a le s o f w a g e s a n d h o u r s o f la b o r , M a y 1 5 , 1 9 3 0 .
32j pp.
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
Summary data covering that part of the survey relating to time-work trades
were published in the Labor Review for November, 1930 (pp. 176-186).
-----------------——• B u l l e t i n N o . 5 j S : W h o le s a le p r ic e s , 1 9 3 0 .
W a s h in g to n ,
1931.
103 pp.
—
------ - — —- B u l l e t i n N o . 5 j 9 : L a b o r l e g is la tio n o f V e n e z u e la .
1931.
W a s h in g to n ,
19 pp.
------ ----- --------- B u l l e t i n N o . 5 5 6 : C o d e o f lig h tin g : F a c to r ie s , m i l l s , a n d o th e r
w o r k p la c e s .
{ R e v is io n o f 1 9 3 0 .)
244
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W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
[1508]
2 2 p p ., illu s .
245
PUBLICATIONS RELA TING TO LABOR
U n i t e d S t a t e s .— D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r, W om en’s B ureau.
B u lle tin N o . 9 1 :
W o m e n i n i n d u s t r y ; a s e r ie s o f p a p e r s to a i d s t u d y g r o u p s , b y M a r y E l i z a b e th
P id g e o n .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 . 7 9 p p .
■
------ Federal B oard for V ocational E d u catio n . B u l l e t i n N o . 4 1 , T r a d e a n d
I n d u s t r i a l S e r ie s N o . 1 1 : C o a l- m in e v e n tila tio n — te c h n ic a l in f o r m a t i o n f o r u s e
i n v o c a tio n a l t r a i n i n g c la s s e s .
W a s h in g to n , 1 9 3 1 .
9 0 p p . , d ia g r a m s , i l l u s .
{ R e v is e d e d itio n .)
—-—• •— —- M is c e lla n e o u s 1 1 0 8 : R e p o r t o f th e th ir te e n th a n n u a l n o r th c e n tr a l r e g io n
c o n fe re n c e , a g r ic u ltu r e , C h ic a g o , M a r c h 2 4 ~ 2 7 , 1 9 3 0 .
88 pp.
{ M im e o g r a p h e d .)
W a s h in g to n , [1 9 3 1 ? ].
A collection of rep o rts on th e activ ities of special co m m ittees a n d of th e p ap ers
or sum m aries of th e discussions of m em bers of th e conference.
O fficial— Foreign C o u n trie s
A m sterdam
( N e t h e r l a n d s ) . — B ureau
1930.
A m s te r d a m , 1 9 3 1 . 3 5 2 p p .
v an
S tatistiek .
S ta tis tis c h
ja a rb o e k ,
C ontains sta tistic a l info rm atio n in reg ard to th e city of A m sterd am for 1930
a n d earlier years. T h e su b jects covered include social w elfare w ork, em ploy
m en t a n d unem ploym ent, em p lo y m en t service, la b o r unions, in d u stria l disputes,
w ages, in d u stria l accidents, u n em p lo y m en t in su ran ce a n d relief, old-age an d
in v alid ity insurance, h e a lth insurance, etc.
A u s t r a l i a .— Pensions an d M a te rn ity Allowance Office.
I n v a l i d a n d o ld -a g e
p e n s io n s : S ta te m e n t f o r th e 1 2 m o n th s e n d e d J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 3 1 .
C a n b erra , 1 9 3 1 .
12 p p .
D uring th e year, 28,844 claim s for old-age pensions were g ra n te d , a n d th e
nu m b er of such pensions c u rre n t on J u n e 30, 1931, w as 172,177, a n increase of
16,981 over th e n um ber a t th e corresponding d a te in 1930; 10,006 in v a lid ity
pensions w ere g ran ted , a n d th e n u m b er c u rre n t on Ju n e 30 w as 68,343, m ak in g
th e to ta l nu m b er of pensioners in th e tw o groups 240,520. T h e a m o u n t p aid in
these pensions d u ring th e y ear w as £11,549,828 ($56,207,238), a n d th e average
fo rtn ig h tly pension w as 38s. 4d. ($7.38). A t th e close of th e y ear th e re w ere 266
old-age a n d 105 in v alid pensioners p er 10,000 of th e pop u latio n .
-------------- M a t e r n i t y a llo w a n c e s : S ta te m e n t s h o w in g n u m b e r o f c la im s g r a n te d
a n d re je c te d , e x p e n d itu r e , a n d c o s t o f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n d u r in g th e
ended J u n e 30, 1931.
C a n b e r r a , 1 9 3 1 . 4 VP-
1 2 m o n th s
D uring th e y ear covered 126,149 allow ances were g ra n te d th ro u g h o u t th e
C om m onw ealth a n d 770 claim s were refused. T h e am o u n t p aid o u t d u rin g th e
y e a r in allow ances w as £630,652 ($3,069,068), a n d th e cost of a d m in istra tio n
w as £15,322 ($74,154), or £ 2 8s. 7d. ($11.82) for each £100 ($487) p aid in m a te r
n ity allowances.
B u r m a ( I n d i a ) .— [Labor D ep artm en t?]
R e p o r t o n w a g e s i n r ic e ? n ills i n B u r m a ,
b y A . J . P a g e , d ir e c to r o f s ta t i s t ic s a n d la b o r c o m m is s io n e r .
9 4 P P -, m a p .
R angoon, 1931.
C a n a d a .— D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.
B u l l e t i n N o . 1 1 , I n d u s t r i a l R e la tio n s S e r ie s :
G o v e r n m e n t i n te r v e n tio n i n la b o r d i s p u t e s i n C a n a d a .
O tta w a , 1 9 3 1 .
27 pp.
A discussion, in chronological order, of th e pro v in cial s ta tu te s on in d u stria l
disputes, w hich is followed by a n a c co u n t of th e D om inion legislation along
sim ilar lines. T he final section of th e b u lletin deals w ith th e w ork of th e com
m issions a p p o in ted u n d er th e inquiries a c t to in v e stig a te th e causes of p a rtic u la r
controversies betw een em ployers a n d em ployees.
E g y p t .— M inistry of Finance.
S ta tistic a l a n d C ensus D e p a rtm e n t. I n d u s t r i a l
a n d c o m m e r c ia l
A r a b ic .)
cen sus,
1927.
C a ir o ,
1931.
371
pp.
{In
E n g lis h
and
Shows nu m b er of estab lish m en ts in each b ran ch of in d u stry or com m erce,
variously classified by in d u stry , to ta l n u m b er of em ployees, lo cality , etc.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1509]
246
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
E s t o n i a .—-Bureau C e n tra l de
r é tr o s p e k tif .
T a ll i n n , 1 9 3 1 .
S tatistiq u e.
E s to n ie
( I n F r e n c h .)
405 pp.
de
1 9 2 0 -1 9 8 0 — résu m é
C ontains sta tistic a l in fo rm atio n in reg ard to E sto n ia fo r th e decade 1920 to
1930, th e su b jects covered including th e cooperative m o v em en t, housing, p ublic
education an d h ealth , em p lo y m en t a n d unem p lo y m en t, w ages of a g ric u ltu ra l
w orkers, insurance a g a in st sickness a n d accidents, lab o r inspection, in d u stria l
disputes, th e bu d g ets of w orkers’ fam ilies, etc.
F r a n c e .— B ureau de la S ta tistiq u e G énérale.
R é s u lta ts s t a t i s t iq u e s d u r e c e n s e
m e n t g é n é r a l d e la p o p u l a t i o n e ffe c tu é le 7 M a r s 1 9 2 6 .
p a r tie .
P a r is , 1 9 3 1 .
98 pp.
T o m e 1 — Q u a tr iè m e
T h e fo u rth section of volum e 1 of th e F ren ch census of 1926, giving th e
division of th e p o p u la tio n acco rd in g to occu p atio n , b y age, sex, a n d m a rita l
s ta tu s .
—— ------ S t a t i s t i q u e a n n u e lle d e s i n s t i t u t i o n s d ’a s s is ta n c e , 1 9 2 8 . P a r i s , 1 9 3 1 .
Ix iv , 6 9 p p .
T he an n u a l re p o rt of w elfare a n d aid in stitu tio n s in F ra n c e fo r th e y e a r 1928.
T he re p o rt covers cost an d e x te n t of assistance fo r old age a n d in v a lid ity a n d in fa n t
welfare, as well as t h a t given b y h o sp itals a n d sim ilar in stitu tio n s.
G e r m a n y .— S tatistisch es R eich sam t.
S t a tis tis c h e s J a h r b u c h f ü r d a s D e u ts c h e
R e ic h , 1 9 3 1 .
B e r lin , 1 9 3 1 .
[ V a r i o u s p a g i n g .]
C h a r ts .
T he subjects covered in th is sta tistic a l yearb o o k for G erm any include wages,
prices, em ploym ent, social insurance, w elfare w ork, in d u stria l associations, etc.
G r e a t B r i t a i n .— M ines D e p a rtm e n t.
S afety in M ines R esearch B oard. N i n t h
a n n u a l r e p o r t, 1 9 3 0 .
London, 1931.
8 6 p p ., d ia g r a m s , illu s .
T he re p o rt outlines th e progress of th e researches of th e b o a rd a n d of th e
h e a lth advisory com m ittee in such q uestions as coal-dust a n d fire-dam p explosions,
spontaneous com bustio n of coal, safety lam p s a n d m echanical appliances, falls of
ground, a n d m ine te m p e ra tu re s a n d ven tilatio n .
——- M in istry of H ea lth . T w e lf th a n n u a l r e p o r t, 1 9 3 0 - 3 1 . L o n d o n , 1 9 3 1 . 3 2 4
pp.
( C m d . 3 9 3 7 .)
S um m ary d a ta from th is re p o rt, relatin g to w idow s’, o rp h a n s’, a n d old-age
pensions, a re given in th is issue of th e L ab o r Review.
—-—• R egistry of F rien d ly Societies. R e p o r t f o r th e y e a r 1 9 3 0 . P a r t I : G e n e r a l.
London, 1931.
4& PP-
I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r O f f i c e .— T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r
fir s t decade.
L o n d o n , G eo rg e A l l e n & U n w in ( L t d .) , 1 9 3 1 .
P e a c e F o u n d a tio n , B o s to n , A m e r i c a n d is t r i b u to r .
O r g a n i z a t i o n — th e
382 pp.
( W o r ld
T his volum e, w hich is th e w ork of v arious officials of th e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r
Office, h as a preface b y A lb ert T hom as, d irecto r of th e office. In a d d itio n to
describing th e w ork a n d accom plishm ents of th e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r O rganiza
tion d u ring th e p a s t 10 years, th e difficulties w hich h av e been m e t in achieving
resu lts are show n a n d th e re is som e suggestion of th e lines of fu tu re developm ent.
I r i s h F r e e S t a t e .—-D ep artm en t of In d u s try a n d Com m erce.
C e n su s o f p o p u la
tio n , 1 9 2 6 .
V o lu m e V , P a r t I I : A g e s a n d c o n ju g a l c o n d itio n s c la s s if ie d b y
o c c u p a tio n s a n d i n d u s t r i e s .
D u b lin , 1 9 3 0 . 3 0 5 p p .
J a p a n .— C ab in et Im p érial.
B u reau de la S ta tistiq u e G énérale. R é s u m é s t a t i s
tiq u e d e l ’E m p i r e d u J a p o n .
T okyo, 1931.
161 p p . , m a p , c h a r ts .
(In
F r e n c h a n d J a p a n e s e .)
A su m m ary of th e fo rty -n in th sta tistic a l a n n u a l of th e E m p ire pu b lish ed in
Jap an ese in D ecem ber, 1930. One section of th e su m m ary is d ev o ted to lab o r
subjects— u n em ploy m en t, placem en t, in d u stria l controversies, wages, bonuses,
etc. S ta tistic s on w ages a n d h o u rs of m iners from th is résum é are p resen ted in
th is issue of th e L ab o r R eview .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1510]
247
PUBLICATIONS RELA TING TO LABOR
L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s .— E conom ic
e c o n o m ic a d v i s o r y o r g a n iz a tio n
G en eva, 1 9 3 1 .
92 pp.
( W o r ld
tr ib u to r .)
M i l a n ( I t a l y ) . — Officio
d a ti s ta tis tic i m e n s ili.
a n d F in an cial Section.
A sch em e f o r a n
in I n d ia .
R e p o r t b y S i r A r t h u r S a lte r .
P e a c e F o u n d a tio n , B o s to n , A m e r i c a n d i s
S tu d i e S tatistica.
M ila n , 1 9 3 1 .
M ila n o n el 1 9 3 0 : R ia s s u n to
x ix , 2 9 p p . , c h a r ts .
dei
A su m m ary of sta tistic a l d a ta a p p earin g in th e m o n th ly s ta tistic a l review
published b y th e city . C o n tain s sta tistic s on u n e m p lo y m en t a n d w ages in
M ilan d u rin g th e y ear 1930.
N e t h e r l a n d s .— R ijksverzekeringsbank.
le n d e r ja a r 1 9 2 9 .
A m s te r d a m , 1 9 3 1 .
O n g e v a lle n s ta tis tie k b e tr e ffe n d e h et k a l^ l* , 1 1 5 p p . , c h a r ts .
C ontains sta tistic s of in d u s tria l accid en ts in th e N e th e rla n d s fo r 1929, classified
by in d u stry , occupation, a n d estab lish m e n t; in su ran ce a g a in s t accid en ts b y th e
S ta te In su ran ce B ank, b y tra d e associations, a n d b y em p lo y ers; w ages of th e
insured, etc.
N o r w a y .— C hefinspektdren for
r â d e t o g F a b r i k k t i ls y n e t , 1 9 3 0 .
F a b rik k tilsy n e t. A r s b e r e tn in g e r f r a
O s lo , [ 1 9 3 1 ].
A r b e id s -
8 6 p p . , c h a r t, U lu s .
A nnual re p o rt on th e a c tiv itie s of th e w orks councils a n d on fa c to ry inspection
in N orw ay d u rin g 1930, in clu d in g p rev e n tiv e m easures a g a in s t in d u s tria l a c c i
d en ts a n d diseases, first aid , h o u rs of lab o r, w ork of w om en a n d children, fa cto ry
legislation, law violations, etc. T h ere is a F ren ch résum é a n d som e of th e titles
a n d ta b le heads are in French.
S tatistisk e
O s lo , 1 9 3 1 .
C en tralb v râ .
15 pp.
¿4r b e ic ls l/n n e n i j o r d b r u k e t, d r if ts à r e t
{ N o r g e s O ffis ie lle S t a t i s t i k k , V I I I , 1 5 8 .)
1 9 3 0 —3 1 .
C o n tain s w ages of ag ric u ltu ra l w orkers in N orw ay d u rin g 1930-31.
------ —
N o r g e s b e r g v e r k s d r if t, 1 9 3 0 .
S t a t i s t i k k , V I I I , 1 5 5 .)
O slo , 1 9 3 1 .
42
pp.
(N orges
O ffis ie lle
C ontains sta tistic a l in fo rm atio n in reg ard to th e m ining in d u s try in N orw ay
for 1930, including n u m b er of w orkers em ployed in m ines a n d a n n u a l re p o rts of
th e m ine inspectors.
T he ta b le of co n ten ts a n d th e h ead s of several of th e tab les a re in b o th N o r
w egian a n d F rench.
S w i t z e r l a n d .— B ureau F éd éral de S ta tistiq u e .
L e s e x p l o ita tio n s in d u s t r i e ll e s et
c o m m e r c ia le s d a n s le s c a n to n s .
R e c e n s e m e n t d e s e n tr e p r is e s 1 9 2 9 .
V o l. I I .
B e rn , 1 9 3 1 . 431 p p .
( I n G e r m a n a n d F r e n c h .)
T h is re p o rt co n tain s th e re su lts of th e Swiss in d u s tria l census of 1929. I t covers
th e n u m b e r of persons em ployed a n d th e n u m b e r a n d ty p e s of in d u stries. A sep
a ra te ta b le is given fo r hom e in d u stries.
------ C aisse N atio n ale Suisse d ’A ssurance en C as d ’A ccidents.
c o m p te s p o u r l ’e x e r c ic e 1 9 3 0 .
[B ern ? ] 1 9 3 1 .
R a p p o r t a n n u e l et
5 2 p p . , c h a r ts , i l l u s .
T he a n n u a l re p o r t of th e Swiss N a tio n a l A ccident In su ra n c e F u n d fo r th e y ear
1930.
U n i o n o f S o u t h A f r i c a .— Office of C ensus a n d S tatistics.
O ffic ia l y e a r b o o k o f
th e U n io n a n d o f B a s u to la n d , B e c h u a n a la n d P r o te c to r a te , a n d S w a z i l a n d .
N o.
12, 1 9 2 9 -3 0 .
P r e t o r ia , 1 9 3 1 .
1 1 2 8 p p ., m a p s , d ia g ra m s , illu s .
Includes sections on un em p lo y m en t a n d its relief ; conciliation bo ard s, in d u stria l
councils, trad e-u n io n s, em ployers' o rganizations, e tc .; a p p ren ticesh ip ; th e wages
a c t (1925) a n d th e union-w age b o a rd ; w ages; p rices; h ousing; old-age pensions;
m iners’ p hthisis, etc.
87017°—31----- 17
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1511]
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
248
U n o fficial
A r i z o n a U n i v e r s i t y . L ib rary .
U n e m p lo y m e n t in s u r a n c e : A l i s t o f re fe r e n c e s
i n th e U n i v e r s i t y o f A r i z o n a l i b r a r y , c o m p ile d b y A l v a n W . C la r k .
T u cso n ,
1931.
17 p p .
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
B e r g e n g r e n , R oy F.
C r e d it u n io n — a c o o p e r a tiv e b a n k in g b o o k .
N e w Y o rk ,
B eek m a n H ill P ress, 1 9 3 1 . 3 0 0 p p .
A book designed, n o t fo r th e re search w orker, b u t " f o r folks who m ay be in te r
ested to organize a n d o p e ra te c re d it unio n s.” W ith th is as his purpose, th e a u th o i de
scribes ju s t w h a t th e c re d it union is a n d ju s t how i t w orks (its o rg an izatio n , by-law s,
an d p ra c tic a l ex am p le s of p ro ced u re, ru les of p ra c tic e , e tc ., fo r new groups).
Illu stra tiv e cases a n d sta tis tic s a re g iven on th e m ain p o in ts covered. A sh o rt ac
co u n t of th e d ev elo p m en t of th e c red it-u n io n m o v em en t in each S ta te is also given.
B o n v o is in , M .
R a p p o r t m o r a l p r e s e n te a u X I e C o n g r e s N a t i o n a l d e s A llo c a tio n s
F a m i l i a l e s e t d e s A s s u r a n c e s S o c ia le s .
P a r i s , [ C o m ité C e n tr a l d e s A llo c a tio n s
F a m ilia le s , (1 9 3 0 ? )].
20 pp.
A m ong th e p rin cip a l to p ics discussed in th is re p o rt a re th e dev elo p m en t of th e
system of fam ily allow ances in F ra n c e , th e a c tiv ity of fu n d s fo r such allow ances
the dem ographic re su lts of th e sy stem , th e p ro p o sa l to m ak e fam ily allow ance,
com pulsory, a n d th e a p p lic a tio n of th e social in su ran ce law .
B r o o k l y n C o n f e r e n c e o n A d u l t E d u c a t io n .
T h e m a k i n g o f a d u lt m i n d s i n
cl m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a .
N e w Y o r k , M a c m il l a n C o ., 1 9 3 1 .
215 pp.
B r o w n , E m i l y C l a r k . B o o k a n d j o b p r i n t i n g i n C h ic a g o : A s t u d y o f o r g a n i z a
t i o n s o f e m p lo y e r s a n d t h e ir r e la tio n s w i t h la b o r .
C h ic a g o , U n i v e r s i t y o f
C h ic a g o P r e s s , 1 9 3 1 . 3 6 3 p p .
( S o c i a l S c ie n c e S t u d i e s N o . X X I , S o c i a l
S c ie n c e R e s e a r c h C o m m itte e , U n i v e r s i t y o f C h ic a g o .)
B u r s k J . P a r k e r . S e a s o n a l v a r i a ti o n s i n e m p l o y m e n t i n m a n u f a c tu r in g i n d u s
tr ie s .' P h ila d e lp h ia , U n iv e r s ity o f P e n n s y lv a n ia P r e s s , 1 9 3 1 .
1 9 7 p p .,
c h a r ts .
( R e s e a r c h S t u d i e s X I V , I n d u s t r i a l R e s e a r c h D e p a r tm e n t, W h a r to n
S c h o o l o f F in a n c e a n d C o m m e r c e .)
A n an aly sis of seaso n al v a ria tio n s in em p lo y m en t in six m a jo r g roups of in
dustries, b ased o n th e B u reau of th e C ensus figures of e m p lo y m en t fo r th e y ears
1904, 1909, 1914, 1919, 1921, 1923, a n d 1925.
C o o p e r a t i v e L e a g u e o f t h e U. S. A.
C o n s u m e r s ’ c o o p e r a tio n i n th e U n ite d
S ta te s , b y C e d r ic L o n g .
r e v is e d e d i t i o n .)
N e w Y o r k , 1 6 7 W . 1 2 th S tr e e t, 1 9 3 0 .
23 pp.
( F if th
A brief acco u n t of th e co n su m ers’ cooperative m o v em en t, in its different phases,
giving successful exam ples of each of th e v ario u s ty p e s of societies.
____ H o w to s t a r t a n d r u n a c o o p e r a tiv e s to r e o n th e R o c h d a le p l a n . N e w Y o r k ,
1 6 7 W . 1 2 th S t . , 1 9 3 1 .
3 9 p p . , U lu s .
C ontains d irectio n s on su ch im p o rta n t p o in ts as th e first step s to w a rd th e
fo rm atio n of th e so ciety , c o n stitu tio n , m em bership, c ap ital, sto re lo catio n a n d
operation, m an ag e r a n d em ployees, com m ittees, bookkeeping a n d au d itin g ,
business policies, ed u c a tio n , etc.
F é d é r a t io n S u is s e d e s O u v r ie r s d u C o m m e r c e , d e s T r a n s p o r t s e t d e
l ’A l i m e n t a t i o n .
R a p p o r t d e l a c a is s e d e c h ô m a g e p o u r l e x e r c ic e , 1 9 3 0 .
Z u r ic h , 1 9 3 1 . H p p .
R e p o rt of th e o p eratio n of th e u n em p lo y m en t fu n d of th e Swiss fe d e ra tio n of
com m erce, tra n sp o rta tio n , a n d food w orkers fo r 1930.
F r y b e r g e r , H a r r i s o n E . T h e a b o litio n o f p o v e r ty .
N ew Y o rk , A d va n ce P u b
l i s h i n g C o ., 1 9 3 1 . 1 5 2 p p . , m a p .
G a s s e r E l s a F. D i e A r b e ts lo s ig k e it i n d e r S c h w e i z , u n d i h r e B e k ä m p f u n g . B e r n ,
[ 1 9 3 1 ]. 2 5 p p . ( S e p a r a ta b d r u c k a . d . “ S c h w e i z . Z e its c h r if t f ü r B e tr ie b s w ir ts c h a f t
u . A r b e i t s g e s t a l t u n g ” .)
C o n tain s a review of th e u n em p lo y m en t situ a tio n in S w itzerlan d a n d of th e
proposed m easures to c o m b a t it , such a s decrease of w om en s w ork, decrease of
foreign la b o r in th e c o u n try , sh o rten in g of h o u rs of la b o r, sh o rten in g of dead
seasons” in c e rta in seasonal in d u strie s, b e tte r v o catio n al guidance, in crease of
exports, a n d decrease of im p o rts, etc.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r iK i2 i
249
PUBLICATIONS RELA TING TO LABOR
G o l d b e r g , R o s a m u n d W . O c c u p a tio n a l d is e a s e s i n r e la tio n to c o m p e n s a tio n a n d
h e a lth in s u r a n c e . N e w Y o r k , C o lu m b ia U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 8 1 . 2 8 0 p p .
T h e w riter review s th e prin cip al occup atio n al h e a lth h a z a rd s a n d th e e x te n t to
w hich w orkm en’s com pen satio n is in force fo r specific o ccu p atio n al diseases in th e
different S tates, w ith a view to determ in in g w h eth er a sy stem of h e a lth insurance
could be p u t in to ap p lica tio n to cover th e p rin cip al causes of o ccu p atio n al disease
a n d in d u stria l poisoning.
G r o s s m a n n , C h a r l e s J. R u d o l p h . T h e e c o n o m ic i m p o r ta n c e o f m a n u f a c tu r in g
a n d o f i t s l e a d in g l i n e s i n T e x a s . A u s t i n , B u r e a u o f B u s i n e s s R e s e a r c h , U n i
v e r s i t y o f T e x a s , 1 9 3 1 . 3 9 p p . , m a p s , c h a r ts .
C om pares th e im p o rta n c e of m a n u factu rin g w ith t h a t of ag ric u ltu re a n d m in
ing, c o n tra sts th e several lines of m an u factu rin g , describes th e c h a ra c te r of m an
u factu rin g in T exas, a n d show s th e d istrib u tio n of m a n u fa c tu rin g estab lish m en ts
b y counties. W hen th e 1930 C ensus figures becom e av ailab le, a revision of th e
bulletin is plan n ed , w hich will em body a stu d y of in d u s try from th e p o in t of view
of em ploym ent.
H a y c r a f t , G . F. C o a l- m in e r s ’ n y s ta g m u s .
L o n d o n , O x fo r d
1 9 3 1 . 1 5 p p . ( O x fo r d M e d i c a l P u b lic a tio n s .)
U n iv e r s ity P re ss,
E a rly n y stag m u s is freq u en tly difficult to diagnose a n d th e p a m p h le t is de
signed as a n aid in recognition of th is disease, w hich, in a d d itio n to p resen tin g a
d istin ct h a z a rd to th e sufferer a n d his fellow w orkers, is p ro d u c tiv e of m uch
suffering.
I n d u s t r i a l A c c i d e n t P r e v e n t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n s . R e p o r t o f th e 1 9 3 1 s a f e ty
c o n v e n tio n a n d a n n u a l g e n e r a l m e e tin g , T o r o n to , A p r i l 2 3 a n d 2 f , 1 9 3 1 .
T o r o n to , 1 9 3 1 .
135 pp.
I n s t it u t I n t e r n a t io n a l e d e S t a t is t iq u e .
B u lle tin ,
T o m e X X V , 3 èmi
liv r a i s o n : R a p p o r t s e t c o m m u n ic a tio n s p r é s e n té s à l a X I X ème s e s s io n , T o k io ,
1930.
T he H ague, 1931.
8 8 7 p p . , c h a r ts .
T his re p o rt of th e n in e te e n th conference of th e In te rn a tio n a l S ta tistic a l In sti
tu t e is divided in to th re e sections, dealing, respectively, w ith p o p u la tio n and
v ita l sta tistics, econom ic sta tistic s, a n d social statistics.
L a n d s o r g a n i s a t i o n e n s i S v e r g e . B e r a tte ls e , 1 9 3 0 .
c h a r t.
S to c k h o lm ,
1 9 3 1 . 3 5 8 p p .,
A nnual re p o rt of th e Swedish fed eratio n of la b o r u n ions fo r 1930, including a
h isto rical review of th e g row th of th e tra d e -u n io n m o v em en t in Sw eden from
1899 to 1930, a n d ch ap te rs on th e conditions of la b o r in Sw eden, such as collec
tiv e agreem ents, w ages, hours, d isp u tes, legislation, etc.
------ T io n d e o r d i n a r i e k o n g r e s s i S to c k h o lm , 9 - 1 5 a u g u s t i 1 9 3 1 .
a r b e ts o r d n in g , m o tio n e r .
S to c k h o lm , 1 9 3 1 .
D a g o r d n in g ,
121 p p .
Proceedings of th e Sw edish lab o r-u n io n co nvention h eld A u g u st 9 to 15, 1931,
in Stockholm .
M in e I n s p e c t o r s ’ I n s t it u t e o f A m e r ic a .
1931.
[ P itts b u r g h ] , 1 9 3 1 .
138 pp.
P r o c e e d in g s , R i c h m o n d , V a ., M a y
C ontains a list of officers a n d m em bers of th e in s titu te , a n d m in u tes of th e
a n n u a l m eeting, including p a p e rs re la tin g to a c cid en ts a n d safety in coal m ines,
p resen ted a t th e m eeting.
M it c h e l l , G e o r g e S in c l a ir .
T e x tile u n i o n i s m a n d th e S o u th .
U n i v e r s i t y o f N o r th C a r o lin a P r e s s , 1 9 3 1 . 9 2 p p .
C h a p e l H ill,
A s tu d y of th e te x tile in d u s try of th e S o u th a n d th e efforts of th e U nited
T extile W orkers’ U nion to unionize th e operatives.
N a t i o n a l A u t o m o b i l e C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e . F a c ts a n d f ig u r e s o f th e a u to
m o b ile i n d u s t r y , 1 9 3 1 e d itio n .
N e w Y o rk , 3 6 6 M a d is o n A v en u e , 1 9 8 1 .
9 6 p p .,
m a p s , c h a r ts .
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