Full text of Monthly Labor Review : December 1944, Vol. 59, No. 6
The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
In this Issu e...
Reconversion problems in Buffalo area . .
Effect of escape clause . . Wages in rayon
industry . . Prices, third quarter 1944 =.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR • BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
fü
[UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
F r a n c e s P e r k in s ,
Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
I sador L tjbin , Commissioner (on leave)
A. F. I I in r ic h s , Acting Commissioner
H e n r y J. F itzg er ald , Chief, Business
Management Branch
H
N . A rnold T o llés , Chief, Working
Conditions and Industrial Relations
Branch
S. H anna , Chief, E d ito ria l an d
R esearch
ugh
W a lter G. K e im , Director of Field
Operations
H u gh B. K illo u g h , Acting Chief,
Employment and Occupational Out
look Branch
A r y n e ss J oy W ic k e n s , Chief, Prices
and Cost of Living Branch
S id n e y W. W ilco x , Chief Statistician
J ohn H. G. P ie r s o n , Consultant on Post-War Adjustment
F a ith M. W illia m s , Consultant on Prices and Living Standards
DIVISIONS
Construction and Public Employment,
Herman B. Byer
Consumers’ Prices, Ethel D. Hoover
Industrial Relations, Florence Peter
son, assistant chief, Working Condi
tions and Industrial Relations Branch
Cost of Living, Dorothy S. Brady
Labor Information Service, Boris Stern
Employment Statistics,
Sturges (acting chief)
Alexander
General Price Research (vacancjO
Machine Tabulation, Joseph Drager
Occupational Outlook, Charles Stewart
Industrial Hazards, Max D. Kossoris
Productivity and Technological De
velopment, W. Duane Evans
Industrial Prices, Jesse M. Cutts
Wage Analysis, Robert J. Myers
Copies of Bureau of Labor Statistics publications and further information may
be obtained from the several field offices, a list of which appears on the inside
back cover of this issue. The services of the Bureau’s Regional Directors and
their technical staffs are available to labor organizations, management, and the
general public for consultation on matters with which the Bureau deals, as, for
example, employment, prices, wages, absenteeism, labor turnover, and industrial
accidents.
The M onthly L a bo r R e v ie w is for sale hy the Superintendent'of Documents,
U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. Price, SO cents a copy
Subscription price per year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, $3.50, other
countries, $4.75.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.
1
MONTHLY
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR • BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
+
HUGH
S. H A N N A ,
CONTENTS
EDITOR
+
*+ + + **+ *+ + + *+
DECEMBER 1944, Vol. 59, No. 6.
Cover illustration: R eh a b ilita tio n — U sing an artificial arm .
Special articles:
Page
R econversion problem s in th e Buffalo in d u strial a re a -----------------------E ffect on union m em bership of “ escape p erio d ” in renew ed m aintenance-of-m em bership a g reem en ts----------------------------------------------W ages in th e ray o n in d u stry , M ay 1944-------------------------------------------
1117
Employment conditions:
C u rren t developm ents in m anpow er req u irem en ts an d lab o r s u p p ly .M easures relating to lab o r in I ta ly --------------------------------------------------In d u stria l em ploym en t in Mexico, 1943------------------------------------------U nem ploym ent in Spain, F eb ru ary 1944------------------------------------------
1158
1162
1163
1165
Wartime policies:
W M C program to reduce m igration of la b o r-----------------------------------P rocedure for borrow ing w orkers in N ew Y ork a re a -------------------------F ull m ilitary s ta tu s for A rm y N urse C orps--------------------------------------L an d for w orkers in C olom bia---------------------------------------------------------
1167
1168
1169
1169
Industrial injuries:
1170
1180
In ju rie s an d acciden t causes in th e fo u ndry in d u stry in 1942
In d u s tria l injuries, Ju ly 1944----------------------------------------------
Social security:
1183
B ritish G overnm ent social-insurance p ro p o sals--------------------
Labor organizations:
1190
1195
C onvention of hosiery w orkers, 1944----------------------------------U n ited M ine W orkers’ convention, 1944------------------------------
Industrial relations:
1203
U nion agreem ents in fru it and vegetable canning
Industrial disputes:
1217
1219
Strikes in O ctober 1944----------------------------------------------A ctivities of U. S. C onciliation Service, S eptem ber 1944
Cooperation:
1220
S ta tu s of lab o r banks, Ju n e 30, 1944
Labor laws and decisione:
1222
1223
L egislative sessions in 1945------------R ecen t decisions of in te re st to lab o r.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
I
Contents
II
Women in industry:
Page
W om en in w artim e lab o r force in Illinois, Ju ly 1944_________________
W om en’s expanding em p lo y m en t in Iow a, 1940-44__________________
O ccupations of w om en w orkers in ju red in M ichigan in d u strie s______
1234
1234
1235
Education and training:
T rain in g of w ar w orkers u n d er various p ro g ra m s____________________
Schools for skilled w orkers in D om inican R ep u b lic__________________
B ritish E d u catio n Act, 1944________________________________________
1237
1238
1238
Immigration and emigration:
Im m ig ratio n a n d em igration, 1943-44______________________________
1240
Wages and hour statistics:
E arnings in D e tro it tool a n d p ro d u c t engineering p la n ts, A pril 1944__
U nion wages an d hours of m o to rtru c k drivers a n d helpers, Ju ly 1, 1944_
T ren d of facto ry earnings, 1939 to S eptem ber 1944_________________
P er cap ita incom e of w age-earner fam ilies, 1939. ____________________
Chile— W ages of textile w orkers in Province of C oncepcion_________
H u n g ary — W artim e ag ricu ltu ral w ages_____________________________
1242
1245
1252
1254
1255
1257
Cost of living and retail prices:
Prices in th e th ird q u a rte r of 1944__________________________________
C ost of living in large cities, O ctober 1944__________________________
R etail prices of food in S eptem ber 1944_____________________________
Prices of electricity a n d gas, S eptem ber 1944_______________________
Prices an d cost of living in B razil___________________________________
W artim e prices an d wages in S w itzerland___________________________
1258
1268
1271
1277
1280
1282
Wholesale prices:
W holesale prices in O ctober 1944___________________________________
1283
Labor turnover:
L ab o r tu rn o v e r in m an u factu rin g , m ining, a n d public utilities,
Septem ber 1944_________________________________________________
1289
Building operations:
B uilding construction in u rb a n areas, O ctober 1944_________________
1294
Trend of employment, earnings, and hours:
S um m ary of rep o rts for O ctober 1944_______________________________
In d u stria l an d business e m p lo y m en t___________________________
Public em p lo y m e n t_______________
C o nstructio n e m p lo y m e n t_____________________________________
D etailed rep o rts for in d u strial an d business em ploym ent, S eptem ber
1944:
E stim ates of n o n ag ricu ltu ral em p lo y m e n ts_____________________
In d u s tria l a n d business em p lo y m e n t___________________________
Indexes of em plo y m en t a n d p ay rolls______________________
A verage earnings a n d h o u rs_______________ ________________
C ivilian labor force, O ctober 1944____ ______________________________
1297
1297
1298
1299
1301
1301
1302
1311
1315
Labor chronology:
C hronology of lab o r events, Ju ly -S e p te m b e r 1944__________________
Labor conditions in Latin Am erica _____________
Recent publications of labor interest__________________________________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1316
1163, 1169, 1238, 1255, 1280
1323
This Issue in B rief
Reconversion problems in Buffalo industrial area.
M an ufacturing p lan ts in th e Buffalo (N . Y.) area, a cen ter of diversified heavy
industries, will face a v a rie ty of problem s in resum ing civilian pro d u ctio n , b u t
m ost com pany officials foresee no serious reconversion difficulties if th e tr a n
sition from w ar to peace prod u ctio n is m ade in an orderly m anner. C om pany
officials generally recom m end grad u al reductions in w ar orders, ad v an ce notice of
c o n tra c t revisions, quick settle m e n t of financial claim s, a n d p ro m p t rem oval of
unusable G overnm ent-ow ned equipm ent. U nion rep resen tativ es urge p lanning
to insure full em ploym ent. M ost com panies have already m ade som e plan s for
p o st-w ar operations. A bout half a n ticip ate th e sam e volum e of business as before
th e w ar, some expect m o d erate gains, a n d only a few foresee su b sta n tia l increases.
P resen t plan s im ply a po st-w ar em ploym ent to ta l, for th e in d u stries rep resen ted ,
ab o u t 30 p ercen t higher th a n th e 1939 figure, if th e surveyed p la n ts are typical.
Page 1117.
Wages in the rayon industry, M ay 1944.
In M ay 1944, according to a survey by th e B u reau of L ab o r S tatistics, firstshift facto ry w orkers in th e ray o n in d u stry h ad stra ig h t-tim e earnings averaging
84.0 cents p er hour. T h e h ighest earnings were those of lead b u rn ers ($1,472 p er
hour) and th e low est those of cleaners (59.1 cents). Office w orkers’ hourly e arn
ings ranged from 83.1 cents for class A stenographers to 49.6 cents for office boys
a n d girls. Page 1141.
Effect on union membership of "escape” clause.
U nion m em bers have n o t ta k e n ad v a n ta g e of “ escape p erio d s” ordered by th e
W ar L ab o r B oard following a y e a r’s experience u n d er a m ain tenance-of-m em ber
ship agreem ent. T his conclusion is based on a field stu d y , m ade a t th e req u est
of th e B oard, to d eterm in e th e effect on union m em bership of “ escape p erio d s”
g ra n te d by B oard actio n in connection w ith th e renew al of m aintenance-ofm em bership aw ards. In th e m a jo rity of cases, resignations rep resen ted less th a n
1 p ercen t of th e to ta l u n io n ’s stre n g th in th e p la n t; a n d in no case over 6 p ercen t.
Such resignations as occurred a p p e a r to have been due to p ersonal grievances of
th e in dividual em ployees, while in only 1 case were resignations p ro m p te d by th e
organizing efforts of a riv al union. P age 1137.
Injuries and accident causes in the foundry industry, 1942.
F o u n d ry w ork, especially th e casting of iron an d steel, has long been considered
one of th e m ost hazardous m an u factu rin g activities. T y p ify in g th e experience
of th e industr} , th e frequency of disabling in d u stria l injuries has consistently been
m ore th a n double th a t for all m an u factu rin g . An article on page 1170 gives an
analysis of in d u stria l inju ries in th ree g ro u p s of foundries-—ferrous job, nonferrous
job, a n d non-job (i. e., fo u ndry d e p a rtm e n ts in o th e r industries)-— a n d of th e
accident causes.
Proposed social-insurance plan in Great Britain.
T he B ritish G overnm en t has fram ed proposals for a liberalized social-insurance
sy s te m w hereby em ployers, em ployees, a n d th e Exchequer, in vary in g proportions,
s h a re th e cost of broadened p ro tectio n ag ain st h azard s arising betw een b irth and
d e ath . U nder th e term s of th e plan, coverage is extended to th e en tire p o p u latio n ;
benefits are stan d ard iz e d a t th e sam e level fo r single m en an d w o m en ; a n d allow
ances are prescribed for all b u t th e first child— for w hom th e fam ily is norm ally
expected to m ake financial provision. C om pensation for in d u stria l injuries an d
specific in d u stria l diseases is to become th e responsibility of em ployers, em ployees
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
III
IV
This Issue in B rief
an d th e G overnm ent, an d n o t solely th a t of th e em ployer; fla t-ra te benefits are
advocated to replace those based on e stim ated loss of earning capacity. Page 1183.
Vocational training under various programs.
N early 13% m illion w orkers have been tra in e d for w ar work, since th e beginning
of th e w ar, u n d er six tra in in g p rogram s carried o u t by th e W ar M anpow er Com
m ission and U. S. Office of E d u catio n . T hese program s include pre-em ploym ent
tra in in g of less-than-college level, ag ricu ltu ral tra in in g for food production,
engineering science, tra in in g w ith in in d u stry , ap p ren ticesh ip tra in in g , an d N YA
vocational training. P age 1237.
Earnings in Detroit tool and product engineei'ing plants.
Because of its responsibility for designing m achine tools a n d o th e r im p le
m ents necessary fo r m an u factu rin g m etal products, tool a n d p ro d u c t engineering
is of g reat im p o rtan ce in th e organization of w ar p ro d u ctio n as well as in th e p o st
w ar reconversion of in d u stry . T he special skill and long tra in in g a n d experience
required in th is in d u stry places it am ong th e highest paid in m an u factu rin g . A
stu d y of 44 establish m en ts in th e D e tro it area reveals th a t wages for m ale w orkers
(except apprentices) ran g ed from $1.35 an h o u r fo r to o l detailers to $2.43 for
p ro d u c t checkers. W om en were em ployed in only one key o ccupation stu d ied —
tool d etailer— an d th e ir av erage earnings were $1.12 a n hour. Page 1242.
Union wages and hours of motortruck drivers, J u ly 1, 1944.
A verage hourly w age ra te s on Ju ly 1, 1944, were 98.3 cents for union m o to r
tru c k drivers, 8 i.4 cents for helpers, an d 96.0 cents for th e com bined groups.
T his represented a n ad v an ce in wage ra te s of 1.7 p ercen t for d rivers an d of 2.5
p ercen t for helpers, com pared w ith Ju ly 1, 1943. N orm al w orkweeks provided
in union agreem ents averaged 46.0 hours for drivers a n d 45.3 for helpers. P aid
v acations were provided in agreem ents covering over th ree-fo u rth s of th e union
m em bers. Page 1245.
Prices in the third quarter of 1944.
T he general level of prices showed little change in th e th ird q u a rte r of 1944.
R etail prices of living essentials rose 0.9 p ercen t a n d prices in p rim a ry m ark ets
dropped 0.3 percent. T he principal increases were for textiles an d for retail costs
of clothing and fu rn itu re. Im p ro v ed supplies b ro u g h t low er prices for som e
in d u strial goods, such as scrap steel an d chemicals. Problem s of reconversion
pricing policies an d of supplies of c ertain kinds of consum er goods claim ed a tte n
tio n during th e q u a rte r .T hese problem s, as well as th e m o st significant price
changes in recen t m o n th s, are discussed in th e article on page 1258.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
9
y
Current Labor Statistics
Current Statistics of Labor Interest in Selected Periods 1
1944
Item
U n it
1943:
Octo
ber
1939:
average
for
year
Octo
ber
Sep
tem ber
A u
gust
Thousands.
___d o ------___ d o ____
___ d o ____
___ d o ____
___ d o ____
___ d o ____
___ d o ____
___ d o ____
52,870
34,410
18,460
52,240
34,100
18,140
43,490
8,750
630
53,030
34,590
18,440
52, 250
34,190
18,060
43,580
8,670
780
54,010
35, 570
18,440
53,170
35,140
18,030
44,600
8,570
840
53,080
35,310
17, 770
52,170
34,820
17, 350
43,770
8,400
910
2 54,230
2 40,950
2 13,280
2 46, 930
2 35,600
2 11,330
2 37,430
2 9,500
2 7,300
____do_
____d o .
____d o .
____do_
____do____do_
____do_
38,481
15,724
813
637
3, 768
7,172
4,433
38, 593
15,873
826
679
3,793
6,996
4,480
38, 741
16,020
834
700
3,818
6,918
4,582
39,718
17,194
873
3,689
7,076
4,037
30,353
10,078
845
1,753
2,912
6,618
4,160
___ do------
5,934
5,946
5,869
5,847
3,988
_do-do_
12, 660
343
12,802
348
12,942
352
13,965
373
8,192
371
_do_
1, 410
2,911
1,428
2,817
1,449
2,694
1,367
3,104
6 3,280
40.2
44.9
42.0
41.8
40.1
45.2
44.0
43.3
40.0
« 44.7
e 39.4
« 40.3
39.7
37.7
27.1
43.0
32.4
$53.42
$46. 25
$50.95
$27.09
$53. 71
$45.86 6$44.39
$52. 22 6$45.96
$27. 64 «$25.35
$52. 90 $50.54
$23.86
$23.88
$21.17
$30.24
$1. 016
$1.190
$0. 706
$1.323
$0.993
$1.168
$0.684
$1. 273
$0. 633
$1.329
$1.031
$1. 216
$0.712
$1.339
$0. 961
0. 944
$0.925
$0. 622
$0.886
0.871
$0.843
$0.622
$3.51
« $1. 57
Em ploym ent
C ivilian labor force: T otal (B C ).
M ale_____________________
Fem ale___________ ________
E m ployed________________
M a le .- _______________
Fem ale________________
N onagricultural_______
A gricultural___________
U nem ployed, to ta l------------E m p lo y m en t in nonagricultural establishm ents:
T otal 3________________ ______ ____________
M anufacturing__________________________
M in in g ------ ----------- l------------------------------C onstruction *_________________________ _
T ransportation and public u tilities-----------T ra d e __________________________________
Finance, service, and m iscellaneous----------Federal, State, and local governm ent, ex
cluding Federal force-account construction.
Wage-earner em ploym ent:
M anufactu rin g __________________________
Bitum inous-coal m ining-------------------------Class I steam railroads, including salaried
employees (IC C )--------------------------- -----H ired farm workers (B A E )______________
_do-
1,002
Hours of labor
Average hours per w eek of wage earners:
M anufactu rin g ----------------------------Bitum inous-coal m in in g ___________
R etail tra d e ------ --------------------------B uilding construction (private)-------
H ours.
___d o .
___d o .
___d o .
Weekly earnings
Average w eekly earnings of wage earners:
M anufactu rin g -------------------------------Bitum inous-coal m ining_____________
R etail tra d e ---------------- -------------------Building construction (private)---------Hourly or daily earnings
Average hourly earnings of wage earners:
M anufacturing--------------------------------------Bituminous-coal m in in g .---------- -------------R etail tra d e ________________________ ____
B uilding construction (private)----------------Average straight-tim e hourly earnings in
m anufacturing, using—
C u rren t em ploym ent b y in d u s try ------E m ploym ent b y in d u stry , as of Ja n u
a ry 1939-------- -------------------------------Q uarterly farm wage rate, per d ay w ithout
board (B A E )____________ —... ......................
$ 0.
886
$0. 536
$0.933
Industrial injuries, labor turnover, and absences
from work
Industrial injuries in m anufacturing, per m il
lion m an-hours w orked------------------------------Labor turn o v er in m anufacturing:
T o tal separations, per 100 employees--------Quits, per 100 employees--------------------Lay-offs, per 100 employees----------------T otal accessions, per 100 em ployees----------Absence rates (w orkdays lost as percent of
total scheduled) :
M anufacturing, selected industries-----------Bitum inous-coal m in in g --------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
i 19.6
7.5
6.0
0.6
6.0
6.2
12.5
6.3
12.1
7.8
6. 2
0.5
6.3
6.6
11.5
i
20.8
« 8 .16
«6.29
6 0.53
6 7.73
6.2
11.1
15.4
(8)
(8)
( 8)
(8)
<8)
( 8)
VI
Current Labor Statistics
Current Statistics of Labor Interest in Selected Periods—Continued
1944
Item
U nit
Octo
ber
Sep
tem ber
Au
gust
1943:
Octo
ber
1939:
average
for
year
Strikes
Strikes beginning in m onth:
N um ber of strikes_______________________
N um ber of w orkers involved_____________ T h ousands..
M an-days idle during m o n th (all strikes):
N u m b e r________________________________ --_do _____
P ercent of available w orking tim e..................
440
220.
390
185
485
190
287
121
218
98
690
0.09
660
0. 09
935
0.12
1,013
0.14
1,484
0. 28
1935-39 = 100
1935-39 = 100
1935-39 = 100
1935-39=100
1935-39 = 100
1935-39 = 100
1935-39 = 100
126.4
136.4
141.7
109.8
141.3
122.7
126. 5
137.0
141.4
108.2
109.8
140. 7
122.4
126.4
137.7
139.4
108.2
109.8
109.3
122.3
124.4
138.2
133.3
108.0
107.8
126.7
117.6
99.4
95.2
100.5
104.3
99.0
101.3
100.7
1935-39 = 100.
1935-39 = 100.
1935-39=100.
1935-39=100.
1935-39 = 100.
1935-39 = 100.
1935-39 = 100.
1935-39=100.
1935-39 = 100.
136. 4
108.6
129.4
133.7
179.0
162. 9
124.3
123.1
126.4
137.0
108.6
129.0
133.6
168.0
169.9
124.3
123.0
126.3
137.7
108.5
129.0
133.6
159. 4
175.7
124. 3
122.7
126.5
138.2
108.3
130.6
133.5
190.1
166.4
125.1
126.5
126.8
95.2
94.5
96.6
95.9
91.0
94.5
95.5
87.7
100.6
1926=100___
1926=100....
104. 1
99.8
104.0
99.7
103.9
99.7
103.0
98.7
77.1
79.5
1926 = 100___
1926 = 1 0 0 ....
1926 = 1 0 0 ....
98.7
123.4
104.2
98.6
122. 7,
104.2
98.6
122.6
104.8
97.3
122.2
105.1
81.3
65.3
70.4
Cost of living
Cost-of-living index (wage earners in large
cities):
All ite m s 9______ ____ __________________
P o o d ___________________________________
C lothing________________________________
R e n t___________________________________
Fuel, electricity, and ic e .________________
H ousefurnishings__________ _____________
M iscellaneous_____________ _____________
Ftetail food prices (large cities)
R etail price index: All foods_____________
Cereals and bakery p ro d u c ts.._________ __
M ea ts__________________________________
D airy p ro d u cts_________________
Eggs----------------------------------------------------F ru its and vegetables_________________ . . .
Beverages_______________________________
F ats and oils____________________________
Sugar and sweets________________________
Wholesale prices
Wholesale price index: All com m odities______
All commodities other than farm products __
All commodities other th a n farm products
and foods_____________________________
F arm products____________ ____________
Foods__________________________________
National income and expenditures
N ational income paym ents, total (B F D C )____ M illions . . .
C onsum er expenditures for goods and services,
total ( B F D C )__________________________ [
do____ __
R etail sales, total (B F D C )__________________ I -_-do_______
$13, 659 $12,605 «$12,452 « $6, 092
$8, 298
$5,899
$8,015 «$7,672
$5, 645 «$5,457
234
250
146
50,010
235
251
147
54,180
249
269
140
49, 303
109
109
106
32,905
$407
$81
10, 400
150
$428
$85
12, 300
146
$571
$115
28,600
147
« $631
(8)
« 42, 900
101
« $5, 293
®$3,647
Production
Indu strial production index, unadjusted (F R ):
T o ta l________________________ ______ . . . . . . .
M an u factu rin g .___ _____________________
M inerals________________________
Bitum inous coal (B M )______________________
1935-39 = 100.
232
1935-39 = 100.
248
1935-39 = 100.
145
Thousands
51, 500
of short tons
C onstruction expenditures, all types (excluding
m aintenance except in farm construction) i°__ M illions . . .
$393
B uilding construction started in urb an areas___ . .. d o _______
$91
N ew family-dwelling un its in nonfarm areas___
11, 200
Carloadings index, unadjusted (F R )__________ 1935-39=100.
148
1 Source: B ureau of Labor Statistics unless otherwise indicated. A bbreviations used: BC (B ureau of the
Census); IC C (Interstate Commerce Commission); B A E (B ureau of A gricultural Economics): B F D C
(B ureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce); F R (Federal Reserve); B M (B ureau of M ines). M ost of
the current figures are prelim inary. Copies of this table are available upon request.
9 10-month average—M arch to December 1940.
, 3 Differs from employed nonagricultural workers in civilian labor force above, m ainly because of exclusion
of such groups as self-employed and domestic and casual workers.
4 Includes workers employed by construction contractors and Federal force-account workers (nonm ain
tenance construction workers em ployed directly by the Federal G overnm ent). O ther force-account nonm aintenance construction em ploym ent is included under m anufacturing and the other groups.
“ October.
6 September.
i C um ulative frequency rate, Jan u ary to August.
« N ot available.
9 For the coverage of this index, see p. 1268
10 D a ta for 1943 and 1944 revised because of new B A E farm construction data.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
DECEMBER 1944
R eco n v ersio n P rob lem s in the B uffalo In d u strial A r e a 1
Summary
ANTICIPATED reconversion problems and post-war production and
employment plans of manufacturers in the Buffalo (N. Y.) area were
studied recently by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Buffalo is a
center of diversified heavy industry which has faced a labor shortage
throughout the war period. The survey, covering 40 companies which
now provide about half of all jobs in manufacturing in the area, brings
into relief many types of readjustment problems which must be met
in the future.
More than half of the surveyed plants can resume civilian produc
tion without delay, as their war products are substantially the same
as their peacetime items. In the case of such firms, the principal
delay in providing employment may arise from market deficiencies
rather than technical reconversion problems. Only about one-fifth
of the plants will have to do a great amount of retooling, but some of
the largest employers are in this group. However, even where retool
ing may take from 6 to 9 months, partial production can continue in
some instances.
Most company officials prefer that war orders be reduced gradually,
believing that this procedure will facilitate the orderly resumption of
civilian production and reduce the number of lay-offs necessary during
reconversion. About three-fourths of the plants can utilize economi
cally, for the supply of civilian demands, any capacity released by
small cuts in war orders, but a few must be released from all war con
tracts before conversion can be undertaken. All companies plan to
reduce working hours when the war is over, and only one small firm
contemplates a workweek in excess of 40 hours. Plants with sub
contractors will cushion the impact of declines in production by cur
tailing or eliminating such outside work.
More than a third of the companies have formulated marketing plans
or completed designs for civilian products. Six are planning entirely
new products, but in no case will pre-war items be entirely supplanted.
Although only a few plants need additional plant space to carry on
peacetime production, about half need some new machinery or equip
ment, and several companies are definitely interested in purchasing
Government-owned equipment now in use.
Nearly all the companies expect production costs to be below presen t
levels but higher than during 1940. It is believed that wage rates will
1 Prepared b y Celia Star G ody and Allan D . Searle, of the B u reau ’s P rod u ctiv ity and Technological
D evelopm ent Division.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1117
1118
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
remain at or near wartime figures but that overtime payments will
decline. Wartime increases in material prices are considered less
important than increased labor costs. At the same time, a number of
technological improvements which will partially offset higher labor
costs are reported.
About half of the companies anticipate the same volume of business
as before the war, some expect moderate gains, and only a few foresee
substantial increases. The outlook for several plants constructed
during the war is doubtful.
The surveyed companies were principally in the transportation
equipment, machinery, metals, chemicals, and stone, clay, and glass
industries. In 1939 these industries employed 74,000 workers in the
Buffalo area. Jobs for about 96,000 in these same industries after
the war are implied by the post-war plans of the surveyed companies,
as they are now formulated. This figure represents a substantial
increase from the pre-war level, but it is 26,000 under the goal of
122,000 jobs in the same industries set as an objective by the Niagara
Frontier Post-War Planning Council to insure full employment.
Women now constitute about one-third of the labor force in the
plants surveyed, but after the war the proportion is expected to be
only slightly above the pre-war level of 11 percent. Plants which
did not employ women before th*e war will generally not retain them
afterwards. Many women are expected to leave the labor market
voluntarily, and others will be displaced by returning veterans or laid
off in accordance with company and union seniority agreements.
All companies are planning to reemploy the men now with the
armed services. Some firms intend to go beyond legal requirements
in giving veterans special training, relaxing seniority rules, and making
special placement efforts, but many problems will arise. In several
plants, the number of former employees now in the armed services
exceeds total pre-war employment. Companies which have had
experience with returned veterans state that careful placement and
follow-up are necessary.
The firms surveyed are unanimous in recommending substantial
advance notice of contract reductions or revisions. All agree that
quick settlement of financial claims is essential; those with subcontracts
are especially concerned over possible delays. Prompt removal of
unusable Government-owned equipment and materials is urged.
Rapid but orderly removal of price, rationing, material, and manpower
controls is also recommended. Union representatives in the area
urge planning to insure full employment, including use of industry’s
tax refunds to meet this objective, and unemployment-insurance
programs to meet interim needs. They also suggest credits to foreign
nations to aid heavy industry in the United States.
Companies in the area will face a variety of problems in converting
to civilian production. Nevertheless, management officials state that
serious reconversion difficulties will not arise if the transition from war
to peace production is planned in an orderly manner. At the same
time, post-war employment may fall short of full-employment levels
if present company plans are not modified. Since this area is one of
diversified industry, its post-war position will probably be more
favorable than that of many other areas. This case study, therefore,
indicates the need for immediate Nation-wide planning if the generally
accepted goals of full employment of labor and resources are to be
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Reconversion Problems in Buffalo Area
1119
achieved. Evidently, full employment will not be attained without
a departure from thinking in terms of pre-war production volume and a
concerted attempt to develop policies which will promote a high level
of post-war production.
Buffalo Industrial Area
Manufacturing employment in the Buffalo region has doubled
during the war period. The area is a center of heavy industry and
produces a variety of basic products vital to the war program. In
addition, the automobile industry, always an important segment of
the area’s economy, has expanded greatly as a consequence of its
conversion to the manufacture of war goods—aircraft engines and
parts for aircraft, ships, tanks, trucks, and shells. Finally, two very
large aircraft plants are situated in the area.
Because of the great expansion in employment during the war period
and because of the diversification of industry, this region furnishes
an interesting case study of the problems which will be faced during
reconversion and afterwards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics,
therefore, at the request of the Statistics Division of the War Produc
tion Board, undertook in June and July 1944 a study of the reconver
sion problems and post-war outlook anticipated for the area.
Information was supplied by executives of 40 important manufac
turing plants, representing about half of all manufacturing employ
ment in the area, and by officials of trade-unions, employers’
associations, and Government agencies.
The Buffalo industrial area, consisting of Erie and Niagara Counties
in New York State, had a population of 958,000 in 1940. About 60
percent (576,000) of the total was in the city of Buffalo, which is an
important center for the manufacture of steel, automobiles, and
machinery. Niagara Falls (population 78,000), with its abundance
of electric power, has large chemical and electrometallurgical plants.
Other communities in the area are Lockport (24,000), Lackawanna
(24,000), North Tonawanda (20,000), Tonawanda (13,000), and
Kenmore (19,000).
IN D U S T R IA L C O M P O S IT IO N O F T H E A R E A
In peacetime, manufacturing enterprises provided nearly 40 percent
of all employment in this area. Most important were the manufacture
of iron and steel, which employed about 25,000 workers in 1939;
chemicals (13,000); machinery, including electrical (12,000); and
automobiles (10,000). Employment was also substantial in the
manufacture of paper products and stone, clay, and glass products.
Buffalo is a large flour-milling center and has other sizable food in
dustries.
In 1940, more than 40 percent of the workers in the area were
employed in trade and service industries serving local needs, and
nearly 10 percent were in transportation and utilities. Agriculture
was relatively unimportant and accounted for less than 4 percent of
total employment in 1940.
_
Although local residents take pride in the fact that Buffalo’s
industries are not “ war babies,” the employment in new war plants
is very large. The area’s two largest aircraft plants alone employ a
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1120
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
substantial proportion of the total in all manufacturing and, in addi
tion, there are several smaller new war plants which manufacture
machine guns, landing craft, and other direct war products.
WARTIME CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR FORCE
Figures compiled by the New York State Department of Labor
from unemployment-insurance reports show that total insured employ
ment in manufacturing industries jumped from an average of 138,000
during the year 1940 to 256,000 for the year 1943. No adequate
statistics are available for nonmanufacturing employment, but the
indications are that the increase during the war period has been small.
Despite the great advance in employment from peacetime levels,
there has been scarcely any increase in the civilian population of the
area. Estimates of the civilian population in November 1943, based
on registrations for War Ration Book 4, were only 4,000 above the
figure reported in the 1940 Census of Population. It is believed that
persons moving into the area have numbered about 70,000, of whom
30,000 were in the labor force. The U. S. Employment Service
estimates that about half of these in-migrants will remain in the
area after the war.
The Negro population of this region is small, but there has been
some increase during the war period. In 1940 the number was 21,000.
The latest available estimate (generally considered a maximum) is
27,000, or less than 3 percent oi the total.
Buffalo has expanded its industrial activity largely by recruiting
women into the labor force, and its record in this respect is noteworthy.
In March 1940, about 26 percent of all women over 14 were in the
labor force. The U. S. Employment Service estimates that, in March
1944, 51 percent of all women over 14 were gainfully employed.
Women have gone into lighter work in war plants, for the most part.
The heavy industries have not been able to draw on this source of
labor to the same extent, but some women are employed even in the
open-hearth and blast-furnace departments of steel mills, and sub
stantial numbers are in chemicals, rubber, and machinery plants.
LABOR SUPPLY AND DEMAND
The Buffalo area has suffered an acute labor shortage throughout
the war period, and the War Manpower Commission established a
controlled-referral plan as early as July 1943. Women were exempt
from the original plan, but were included after June 4, 1944, when
labor controls were tightened to provide a system of labor priorities
with definite plant employment ceilings.
The local U. S. Employment Service office estimates that in June
1944 the labor shortage amounted to 12,000 workers, excluding the
requirements of agriculture and construction. This figure is somewhat
less than those given for earlier months, and there are other indications
that the situation is becoming less critical. The shortage is more
pronounced in the heavy industries—especially steel foundries and to
some extent chemicals plants—than it is in the so-called “ glamor
plants” (such as aircraft) where the work is light and wages are
relatively high. Most of the manpower reserves—the unemployed,
women, in-migrants, and older workers—have already been utilized
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Reconversion Problems in Buffalo Area
1121
and some workers are transferring to nonwar occupations or leaving
the labor market. The Employment Service estimates that approxi
mately 700 women per month are currently leaving war industries,
about half for nonwar jobs and the other half to return to their homes.
Composition of Sample Covered in Study
This report is based largely on interviews with representatives of
40 manufacturing plants, 36 of which were in existence in 1939. In
that year, the 36 plants accounted for 39 percent of the total number
of employees in manufacturing establishments reported by the Census
of Manufactures for the area. The 40 sample plants represented
approximately half of total manufacturing employment in May 1940.
The plants in the sample employed nearly 60 percent of all the
workers in the important metals and machinery industries in 1939.
The study’s coverage, in terms of 1939 employment, was virtually
complete for the automobile industry and amounted to 46 percent for
other transportation equipment. In the manufacture of iron and
steel, normally the largest industry group in the area, the sample
plants represented 56 percent of total 1939 employment; in nonferrous
metals, 47 percent; and in machinery (including electrical), 42 percent.
There was also substantial coverage in the manufacture of chemicals
(57 percent of 1939 total employment), and stone, clay, and glass
products (55 percent).
No companies were included in industries producing goods largely
for local use or in industries (such as those producing food, clothing,
leather, and wood products) in which wartime conditions have not
required substantial changes. Most of the plants canvassed were
fairly large employers. Among the sample plants, as in the area as a
whole, there were few producers of consumer durable goods other
than automobiles. Since reconversion problems for such producers
are different from those of plants producing basic materials and from
those of new war plants, the problems anticipated in this area may
not be completely typical of those which will arise in other sections
of the country.
Current Production and Production Plans
TYPE OF PRODUCT
Practically all of the plants included in the survey are producing
goods which directly or indirectly are for war use. Prime contractors
manufacture aircraft, guns, aircraft engines, and landing craft.
Other companies manufacture components for war items or supply
industrial equipment vitally needed in war plants. Among such
products are steel ingots and rolled steel, copper and copper-base
alloys, ferro-alloys, heat-transfer units (for ships, aircraft, and tanks),
aircraft parts, basic industrial chemicals, and war chemicals.
Although the products manufactured are essential in the war pro
duction program, in the majority of plants they are similar to those
produced before the war. In general, plants producing chemicals,
rubber, stone, clay, and glass products, and basic metal products
have not changed their output substantially. Fabricators of metal
products and producers of machinery have changed specifications
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1122
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
somewhat, but are not making entirely new types of product. In
many cases, designs have been changed or war goods have been added
to other production.
The greatest changes in output have occurred in establishments
which produced automobiles and other transportation equipment
before the war and in the one plant which produced radios. Two
automobile plants are producing aircraft engines; a manufacturer of
automobile accessories has continued the manufacture of its peace
time product but is also producing gun components. The radio
company is now producing radio transmitters and receivers for mili
tary use instead of receivers for automobiles and homes.
EXPECTATIONS AS TO WAR PRODUCTION
Most of the plant officials interviewed believed production schedules
would remain unchanged through the end of 1944. Commitments
were extremely variable, however, since some companies had long
term contracts while others had a number of small contracts ending
at different dates. In many plants, definite production schedules
are not set in advance.
In six plants it was expected that production would decline sub
stantially during 1944 or early in 1945. Most of these plants, which
together employ about 7,500 workers, are engaged in the manufacture
of components for ships. The largest company of the group, a pro
ducer of aircraft parts, had already experienced cutbacks in produc
tion schedules and anticipated further reductions.
Although most plants expected no substantial change in production
schedules during the remainder of 1944, the outlook for 1945 was, in
many cases, uncertain at the time of the interviews. However, two
producers of basic metals expected that there would be no change in
the volume of output for some time to come and a number of plants
producing nonwar commodities (paper, rayon, stone,' clay, and glass
products) also expected that production levels would remain unaltered.
Many plants reported that more war business was available to them
than could be handled with their facilities, and frequently the lack
of manpower was the most important factor limiting production.
Reconversion Plans
RESUMPTION OF CIVILIAN PRODUCTION
Approximately three-fourths of the plants included in the sample
can utilize economically, to supply peacetime markets, the capacity
released by any small cut in war orders. The majority of these plants
are making their pre-war products, and hence no problem of allocation
of capacity between war and peace production is involved. A few
plants which have devoted all or part of their capacity to new war
items would also be able to schedule some civilian production if war
production declined even a small amount. One manufacturer of
automobile components could use the manpower freed by a 10 to 15
percent cutback in war orders to establish 3-shift operation on its
commercial assembly line. If the reduction in war output at this
plant amounted to 25 to 40 percent, however, civilian production
could not be undertaken for 90 days, and if the cut were larger, for
8 or 9 months.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Reconversion Problems in Buffalo Area
1123
One-fourth of the plants would not find it financially profitable to
convert any part of their facilities to civilian production unless war
production were substantially reduced. In one case, a 75-percent
reduction in war demand would be necessary to make feasible the
production of peacetime items, as the entire plant would have to be
rearranged and new equipment acquired. Two shipbuilding com
panies would not “break even” with less than a 50-percent drop in
war work, but would undertake the production of civilian goods with
a smaller decline in war output in order to obtain good will. In two
plants whose continued operation after the war is uncertain, all war
production would have to cease before civilian items could be
scheduled.
INDUSTRY PLANS
The managements of almost all plants visited have devoted some
thought to problems that may arise as war demand tapers off. There
is considerable variation, however, in the degree to which actual plans
have been formulated for resumption of peacetime production. More
than half of the plants need no definite programs for reconversion,
since their war products are essentially the same as their pre-war
products. In some of these companies, although no definite plans
have been made for post-war production, research staffs are engaged
in developmental work on new products. The principal firms in this
category are the chemicals plants, whose major post-war problem will
be that of markets. Establishments normally dependent on the
automobile industry will generally have to retool in order to resume
civilian production, but they are unable to make definite reconversion
plans until tne situation in the automobile industry is clarified. They
are proceeding on the assumption that the first post-war cars will be
replicas of pre-war models.
Approximately a third of the plants have taken definite steps either
to develop new products or to plan marketing methods and develop
sales outlets. Only 6 companies expect to enter into the production
of brand-new items, and in no case will new items entirely supplant
pre-war products. Engineeiing is well advanced for such items as
steel desks, automatic window raisers for automobiles, and air-con
ditioning equipment. Among other items planned are aluminum bus
and passenger-car bodies, and specialized cargo vessels and tugs.
Reconversion plans are not limited to the development of new types
of products, however. One radio company has completed a survey
of pre-war material suppliers to ascertain possible post-war prices.
Another plant has completed engineering on a new type of diesel
engine for post-war use and is attempting to get orders for post-war
deliveries of this and other engines. A small shipyard is designing a
line of power cruisers similar to its pre-war pleasure craft; it expects
to begin experimental building soon, having already obtained clearance
on materials. Marketing plans have been discussed and plans made
to level off seasonality of production and to maintain steady employ
ment and high weekly earnings.
RECONVERSION PROBLEMS
Retooling will be a significant factor in only about a fifth of the
plants included in the sample, but some of the largest employers are
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1124
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
included in this group. Most of the plants in the automobile industry
will be compelled to do considerable retooling before production of
automobiles or parts can be resumed to any significant extent. Other
plants will have to retool before new products can be made.
In addition, there are problems involving disposition of Governmentown ed material, equipment, and facilities; acquisition of scarce materi
als and components; and recruitment of sufficient manpower. In one
large war plant, almost all facilities are owned by the Defense Plant
Corporation, a factor which inhibits post-war planning. Several
other companies, including two shipyards, have Government-owned
machinery or materials which will have to be removed before civilian
production can be resumed. Availability of such materials as rubber,
steel, tools, fractional-horsepower motors, lumber, and boat accessories
will determine when some companies can resume peacetime operations.
Apparently, advance notice concerning availability of materials
would facilitate planning of civilian production. Recruitment of
manpower is expected to be a problem only if civilian production is
resumed during the war; adequate labor supplies will be available
afterward.
Company officials generally emphasized that reconversion will not
present serious problems if there is a gradual transition from war to
peace production. If all war production were ended suddenly,
difficult readjustment problems would arise.
TIME REQUIRED FOR RECONVERSION
Plant estimates of the time required to reconvert vary, ranging up
to several years. Average reconversion time, in cases in which re
tooling is necessary, will probably be about 6 to 9 months, but some
plants could continue production during this period. Plants in the
automobile group can reconvert in from 3 to 9 months. Production
of certain new items contemplated by a few companies would require
a consideiably longer period. In general, reconversion for the
manufacture of pre-war items will require substantially less time than
the change to production of new products; for example, one plant
which can produce its pre-war item in 3 weeks would require 6 months
for a new product—steel desks.
Plants manufacturing their pre-war items during the war could, of
course, schedule civilian deliveries without delay and production
would be limited primarily by markets. Almost all plants in the
heavy industries (steel and chemicals), as well as several others, can
continue uninterrupted production. The shipbuilding companies can
resume normal producción about 2 weeks after the yards are cleared
of Government-owned materials. The producers of nonferrous
metals would require a few weeks for reconversion, but one of them
could make the transition to civilian production with no delay if
foundry patterns for civilian products were made while war produc
tion continued.
1
COMMUNITY PLANNING
Post-war planning on a community basis has been initiated by
business and civic organizations and by several labor unions. The
Niagara Frontier Post-War Planning Council includes representatives
of local government, business, and social agencies, and has prepared
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Reconversion Problems in Buffalo Area
1125
a comprehensive study of the employment goals necessary for each
industry if full employment is to be attained. The Buffalo Chamber
of Commerce has a post-war planning committee which works closely
with the Niagara Frontier Planning Council and the local Committee
for Economic Development. Some city improvements are also being
considered, and a study of housing needs has been made.
Post-war planning by labor unions takes the form of adapting
national plans to local conditions. The national office of one C. I. O.
union is distributing questionnaires to all locals, requesting informa
tion on reconversion and post-war problems. The locals in Buffalo
are cooperating and, in addition, have formed a subcommittee to work
with the union’s New York State committee on post-war planning.
Other union plans include the drive to obtain annual wage guaranties
and efforts to maintain weekly “take-home” pay after the length of
the workweek is reduced. The Industrial Union Council of the
C. I. O. was contemplating the organization of a post-war planning
committee, but plans were still in the initial stages at the time of the
survey.
Post-W ar Production Prospects
As already indicated, the types of products which will be manu
factured in the post-war period will generally be the same as those
made before the war, and only a few companies plan to enter into
the manufacture of completely new items. New designs and new
models will, however, eventually be introduced, and several companies
report that improvements will be made in the quality of their products.
SPACE AND EQUIPMENT
Very few of the companies surveyed expect to expand plant space
after the war, and, in these, the additions will apparently be modest.
On the other hand, 22 of the 35 companies which are in a position to
assess their post-war needs report that some new equipment will be
acquired. In some cases, these purchases will represent only normal
or accumulated replacement needs. A few companies, however, plan
fairly extensive additions. One metals plant expects to install a
new bar mill; another may add a rod mill. Other plants will purchase
machine tools, foundry equipment, and welding instruments.
A number of companies indicated that they would have a definite
interest in purchasing some of the Government-owned equipment now
in their plants, if prices were satisfactory. One large company would
prefer to rent Government-owned equipment, with the fee based on
the number of hours the equipment is used, since it would not be in a
position to pay full rental value immediately following the war.
LEVEL OF PRODUCTION
Among the plants which provided estimates of the level of post-war
production, those whose normal products are automobiles and parts,
machinery, and radios were the most optimistic on the probable
outlook. An automobile company, for example, indicated that opera
tions may be maintained at the present rate, even though employment
has nearly doubled during the war period. Plants manufacturing
chemicals and metal products foresee moderate advances in produc
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1126
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
tion over pre-war records. Companies in the remaining industry
groups generally anticipate that post-war operations will be at about
the same rate as in 1940.
In all, 31 plants were able to furnish rough estimates of post-war
production levels. Sixteen of these plants anticipate that production
will be about the same as in the pre-war period, and 13 expect increases
of varying amounts: 3 anticipate advances of 20 to 25 percent over
pre-war levels, 5 expect even larger increases, and 5 state only that
production will be “greater” than in 1940. Two plants which were
not in operation in 1939 expect to continue production after the war,
with sharply reduced volume.
Three of the plants visited may not remain in operation when war
production ends. The plant space used by one small company is
leased and will be returned to the owner company after the war. In
the other two cases, all facilities are Government-owned, and the
prospects for post-war operations are indefinite.
PRODUCTION COSTS
Nearly all the plant officials interviewed expressed the opinion
that post-war production costs would be above pre-war levels, but
few were able to estimate the extent of the increase. The most
important factor contributing to higher costs is expected to be the
rise in wage rates. It is generally believed that there will be no decline
in wage rates after the war, and several management representatives
expressed the opinion that there should be no such reductions. Costs
of materials were also reported to have advanced substantially,
although the increase is generally considered to be less important
than the rise in wage rates. In several cases, administrative expenses
have risen during the war period.
In most plants, production costs will probably be below present
levels, however. Premium payments for overtime work and for the
second and third shifts will be eliminated or substantially reduced.
In addition, company officials believe that the efficiency of the avail
able labor force will be increased. On the other hand, a few plants
reported that the expected reduction in volume will result in higher
costs per unit of output, since overhead costs are a significant pro
portion of total costs. These companies maintain that prices will
have to rise above present levels.
In only 4 plants is it anticipated that costs will be below the 1940
level, and in only one of these is a substantial reduction foreseen.
The declines are expected because of improvements in efficiency made
during the war period.
WARTIME TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS
Part of the increase in wage rates and materials costs over peace
time levels will be offset by improved efficiency resulting from wartime
technical developments. Although not all wartime developments will
be applicable to civilian production, moderate advances in efficiency
are expected in some instances. The improvements reported have
reduced labor requirements, lowered the costs of materials, or made
possible an improvement in the quality of the product.
Most significant have been the innovations in metalworking.
Improvements in welding techniques and substitution of welding for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Reconversion Problems in Buffalo Area
1127
riveting have resulted in improved efficiency. Alloys have been
improved and experience has been gained in welding alloyed materials.
Several companies state that quality control has been improved by the
use of electronic devices, including magna flux, gamma ray, and X-ray.
Experience gained in working to the close tolerances necessary on war
items will probably also prove of benefit in post-war production. Other
developments mentioned include greater use of tungsten carbide
cutting tools, stack drilling, the installation of automatic safety
devices on presses, the elimination of metal top dies by the use of rubber
forming blocks, and increased use of automatic machinery. In one
machinery plant which is producing essentially the same type of prod
uct as in peacetime, output per man-hour lias advanced 15 percent
since 1940. The rise is attributed to improved tooling, more complete
jigging, and the use of tungsten carbide cutting tools, as well as to
improved training of workers.
Knowledge of methods of working the light metals has made great
strides during the war period. A magnesium company reports that
labor requirements have been reduced and the amount of scrap
decreased by the development of superior molding machines and better
sand mixtures. In addition, better methods have been developed to
control the hazard of fire.
Improvements have also been made in processes other than metal
working. Several chemicals plants, for example, report that there
have been technical developments which will carry over into peace
time production, but few details are available.
A few companies stated that no significant technical developments
had occurred in their plants during the war period, but that they
hoped to make progress in this respect after the war. Some company
representatives believe that the machine tools available after the war
will be more efficient than those they now have, and expect increased
efficiency when new equipment is purchased. Research work being
conducted in some plants is expected, eventually, to be of benefit. In
at least one establishment, normal technical progress has been inter
rupted during the war period because of the shortage of technical per
sonnel and the difficulty of obtaining equipment and materials.
Not all wartime developments will be applicable to peacetime pro
duction, however. Thus, very substantial gains have been made in
output per man-hour at one war plant, but most of the advance is
attributed to the large scale of production.
SUBCONTRACTING
A large number of the plants canvassed have been subcontracting
some of their work. In most cases, subcontracting will be eliminated
or sharply reduced after the war, and only two companies plan to
maintain the present proportion of subcontracting. Wherever pos
sible, companies expect to reduce subcontracting, to weaken the impact
of future cutbacks, and some have already effected such reductions.
In many plants, subcontracting plays but a minor role in present
operations. The work sent out is usually machine-shop work which
could and would be done in the plant if facilities and manpower were
available. Such subcontracting will generally be discontinued or sub
stantially curtailed when war production ends. Even some com
panies which now subcontract a substantial part of all work will retain
618627— 44------ 2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1128
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
only an inconsequential volume of subcontracting when war production
ends. Thus, one company which had subcontracted 70 percent of all
work, at the height of its production program, had reduced the pro
portion to 30-40 percent as cutbacks were made; it is improbable that
any subcontracting at all will be continued by this plant after the
war. Similarly, a plant which now subcontracts work accounting for
75 percent of all expenditure on labor will continue very little sub
contract work after the war.
Two companies expressed an interest in taking subcontract work for
new items after the war, if such work were available. In neither case,
however, had any definite plans for such work been made.
Post-W ar Employment Problems
SIZE OF THE POST-WAR LABOR FORCE
Estimates of post-war employment prepared by plant officials are
necessarily tentative, depending as they do on expectations as to
general business conditions. Some of the company officials inter
viewed were prepared to make rather definite estimates of their post
war work force. Others, particularly those whose product is manu
factured for sale to industrial users rather than to ultimate consumers,
were reluctant to express any judgment on the size of their post-war
labor force.
Rough estimates of post-war employment were available for 35 of
the 40 plants included in the sample survey. Plants in the transpor
tation-equipment group (including automobiles and aircraft) expect
the greatest rise over 1939 employment—63 percent—although
employment in aircraft will, of course, drop sharply from present levels.
Large advances over peacetime employment are also expected by
companies in the machinery (except electrical) group (49 percent) and
the stone, clay, and glass group (42 percent). The chemicals, nonferrous-metals, and electrical-machinery plants expect increases of 20
to 25 percent over 1939 employment levels. Iron and steel, the area’s
largest manufacturing industry in peacetime, will apparently have a
post-war labor force only 7 percent larger than before the war.
Spokesmen for local groups are generally optimistic about the
post-war employment outlook for the area. It is assumed that the
“war babies” will present the only serious adjustment problems and
that the departure of women from the labor force will be sufficient to
prevent any widespread unemployment. Many other plants have
expanded enormously during the war period, however, and most of
them anticipate substantial reductions in force after the war.
It is interesting to compare the views on probable post-war employ
ment expressed by plant officials with the estimates made by the Nia
gara Frontier Post-War Planning Council on the employment goals
needed in manufacturing to provide full employment.2 The Planning
Council stated that 175,000 jobs would be required in manufacturing
if full employment were to be achieved, and presented a distribution
by major industry groups.
In several of the industry groups, the surveyed plants represented
a substantial proportion of total 1939 employment. For each of these
groups, the relative change in employment from 1939 to the post-war
2 N iagara F rontier Post-W ar E m ploym ent Goals (Buffalo, M ay 1943).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1129
Reconversion Problems in Buffalo Area
period, as judged on the basis of the plant interviews, was applied to
the total 1939 employment figure for the entire industry group as
given by the Census of Manufactures. The resulting estimates of
the numbers of post-war jobs implied by the present plans of employers
in each industry group, compared with 1939 employment and with
the Niagara Frontier full-employment goals, are shown in the accom
panying table.
Employment in Manufacturing, in Buffalo Industrial Area
[All figures in thousands]
In d u stry
Em ploym ent
in 1939 i
Post-w ar
em ploym ent
implied by
p lant inter
views 2
Full-em ploy
m ent goals 3
T ransportation equipm ent (automobiles and other)
Electrical m achinery____________________ . . .
...
M achinery, except electrical. .
...... ...................
.
Iron and steel___________________________ _________
Nonferrous m etals__ _ _ . . . ___ . . . _____ ______
C hem icals. . . .
_
__
.....
Stone, clay, and glass. . . . . . . . . . „ ________________
15.6
4.9
6.9
24.9
2.9
12.8
5.6
25.5
5.9
10.3
26.8
.3.5
16. 1
8.0
29.1
9.0
12. 2
31.9
8.5
20.4
11.0
T o tal________________________________________
73.6
96.1
122.1
O ther industries:
Paper
P rin tin g and publishing__
Food __ _
Textiles and apparelW ood products .
R ubber
Petroleum , coal, and leather
M iscellaneous
__________________ ___________
5. 5
6.3
13.7
6.3
3.3
2.8
2.0
3.7
6.2
6.4
15.7
6.3
4.7
4.1
2.7
7.2
43.6
53.3
T o ta l______
________ . . . ___ ______________
1 Census of M anufactures, 1939.
2 O btained b y applying to the figures shown in the preceding column the relative change in em ploym ent,
betw een 1939 and the post-war period, expected by the sample p lants in each indu stry group. The sample
plants in the m achinery (except electrical) group accounted for 28 percent of total em ploym ent in the group
in 1939. In the other in d u stry groups em ploym ent in the reporting plan ts ranged from 46 to 65 percent of
the group totals reported by the Census of M anufactures for 1939.
3N iagara Fro n tier Post-W ar E m ploym ent Goals (Buffalo, M ay 1943).
It is apparent that the current plans of manufacturers, if carried into
effect without change, will yield greater employment in each industry
group than was recorded in 1939. For the surveyed industries taken
together, the estimated post-war figure is 96,000 compared with a
1939 total of 74,000. On the other hand, it does not appear that in
any of the groups will present plans lead to employment totals as
great as those considered necessary by the Niagara Frontier PostWar Planning Council to insure full employment.
Several qualifications regarding these comparisons should be noted.
First, the plants were combined in broad industry groups and only a
sample number was canvassed in each. To the extent that other
plants may have differing plans and expectations, the comparisons
maybe unrepresentative. New plants may come into existence after
the war which will provide additional employment opportunities not
taken into account above. On the other hand, there is some evidence
that the estimates made by plant officials tended to be optimistic and
that the plants with the best post-war prospects were those most
willing to furnish estimates. Finally, all the estimates are based on
company plans as they are now formulated, and these plans may be
modified at any time as circumstances justify such changes.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1130
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
Even with these limitations, however, it appears clear that post
war employment in the industries represented by the sample plants
is likely to exceed substantially the pre-war level. Whether this
increase will meet the objective of jobs for all those in the area seeking
employment is less certain. The Niagara Frontier Post-War Planning
Council estimates of the number of jobs required in these industry
groups are interrelated with its estimates of employment goals for
trade and service and for other manufacturing industries. The goal
set for total employment is based on assumptions regarding the number
of persons withdrawing from the labor force and migrating from the
area. To the extent that these assumptions are realized, current
plans may have to be revised, if the desired goals are to be reached.
EMPLOYMENT DURING RECONVERSION
The technical problems of reconversion will not be serious in most
of the plants visited. Most companies envision the possibility, even
the probability, of a smooth transition in employment from wartime
to post-war operations. A few companies, however, anticipate sub
stantial reductions in force for periods varying from a few weeks to
several months. One company, for example, estimates that during
a 60-day reconversion period employment will be only 700, compared
with a full-production total of 2,200. Reductions in force of 50
percent are foreseen by a few other companies which will have to do
a great amount of retooling. Technical requirements will not be the
sole determiners of the size of the work force during reconversion,
however. In several plants the volume of employment immediately
following the completion of war production may depend more on the
amount of business in sight than on the technical problems of retooling.
LAY-OFF PROCEDURE
As lay-offs become necessary, seniority will generally determine the
order of termination. It is probable, however, that seniority will
be much less important in the chemicals industry than in other in
dustries, as most of the chemicals plants in the survey either have no
union agreements or have agreements with independent unions that
do not stress seniority to the same degree as do nationally affiliated
unions.
Practically all of the plants included in the survey are covered
by union agreements. Of the 40 plants, 22 have agreements with
C. I. O. unions (2 were being negotiated); 4 have agreements with
A. F. of L. unions; 7 with independent unions; 2 with District 50
of the United Mine 'Workers of America; 1 has a C. I. O. union in the
office and an A. F. of L. union in the plant; and 1 plant recognizes
both an independent and an A. F. of L. union. In general, the agree
ments with nationally affiliated unions specify that seniority shall
determine lay-offs, while those with independent unions give manage
ment more latitude to use qualifications or ability as a criterion,
although a few of the companies concerned have adopted seniority as
a matter of management policy.
Almost all plants will reduce hours before significant lay-offs are
made; only one small company expressed a desire to maintain the
48-hour week to provide high “ take-home” pay. Other companies will
return to a workweek of 40 or fewer hours as soon as permitted, as
an economy measure and to sustain employment.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Reconversion Problems in Buffalo Area
1131
SKILLS AND RETRAINING
When reductions in force occur, there will be many transfers from
job to job, and some retraining will be necessary. Management
officials anticipate few difficulties in effecting the transfers. On-thejob training will probably be the primary method used, and retraining
is expected to require from a few days to several months.
The skills required for post-war operations will be essentially the
same as those needed at present, since the nature of the product will
not change radically in most of the plants with the shift to civilian
production. Plants which have to do extensive retooling for peace
time production will, of course, require toolmakers and skilled ma
chinists, but in most cases the necessary workers are available. Where
shifts in skill requirements occur, they will sometimes be in the direc
tion of greater skill, sometimes of lesser skill.
Although no special retraining of the work force will generally be
necessary, a number of plants expect to continue training programs
introduced during the war period. Some are planning to maintain the
essential features of the Training Within Industry courses after the
war, and some will continue other training programs. A number of
companies anticipate the need for special training programs for re
turning veterans. One plant expects to retrain veterans in the war
time training school established in the pattern shop. This school
has been used very successfully during the war to train vocationalschool graduates as patternmakers and machinists.
EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN
Women employees constituted 32 percent of the work force in the
40 sample plants in May 1944. In those plants in operation in 1939,
the proportion was only 11 percent. Among the plants in the sample,
the change between 1939 and May 1944 in the percentage of women
was from 15.3 to 38.6 in transportation equipment, from 6.5 to 18.1
in chemicals, from 2.0 to 16.2 in iron and steel, from 3.3 to 13.2 in
nonferrous metals, from 5.7 to 19.3 in machinery (except electrical),
from 17.3 to 37.5 in stone, clay, and glass, and from 33.9 to 37.5 in
electrical machinery.
Practically all companies expect very great reductions in the
employment of women after the war. In nearly half the plants,
management officials would prefer to have a smaller proportion em
ployed after the war than at present. In these establishments,
management officials generally consider the work performance of
men superior to that of women. The work involved in the manufac
ture of chemicals, metals, and machinery is believed to be too heavy
for women, except as a war-emergency measure. Other deterrents to
employment of women are also noted. Most important is the fact
that while women are suitable for certain operations, they cannot be
transferred easily from one job to another if the necessity arises.
If the size of the labor force is reduced substantially after the war, it
will be necessary to have employees who can perform several different
jobs. A few plants pointed out that turnover or absenteeism was
higher among women than among men. State laws setting up
special standards relating to the employment of women are also cited
as reasons for discontinuing their use, particularly in chemicals, where
heavy lifting or use of dangerous chemicals is involved.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1132
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
Even in companies which report that the performance of women
has been satisfactory, a reduction in the proportion of women is ex
pected because of voluntary withdrawals from the labor market and
the return of veterans. In some of these plants, the percentage of
women will probably remain somewhat above the pre-war figure,
particularly where new operations have been developed during the
war to make possible a greater utilization of women. The manage
ment of one company would like to have women employees to the
extent of 25 percent of the total and will keep this proportion if the
union will agree. A company whose peacetime product is automo
bile accessories finds that women are better than men on small
assemblies.
It seems clear that many women will be released as the labor force
is cut and as veterans return, whether as a result of management
policy or seniority arrangements. Most of the women employees
have little seniority and, in addition, a few of the union agreements
permit or require the release of women regardless of seniority. One
agreement states that women are to be employed in the plant only
for the duration. Another permits the employment of women on
men’s jobs only during the war, and thereafter the consent of the
union is required. At a few plants, the union agreements provide
for separate seniority lists for men and women.
The proportion of women employees after the war, therefore, may
be only slightly greater than in the pre-war period. Of the plants
sampled, the most favorable employment opportunities will exist in
those industries which employed substantial numbers of women in
peacetime—paper, electrical machinery (especially radio), and, to a
less extent, automobiles. The Niagara Frontier Post-War Planning
Council estimates that after the war 34 percent of all women over 14
will be in the labor force, as compared with 26 percent in 1940.
Apparently, the manufacturers canvassed do not expect to offer very
greatly increased employment opportunities for women.
EMPLOYMENT OF NEGROES
Although the Negro population of this area is small, several plants,
particularly foundries and chemicals plants, employ substantial num
bers. In some companies, no Negroes were employed before the war
and, in others, the number has increased during the war period.
These employees generally have little seniority and may be displaced
by returning veterans. Most plant officials reported that the work
performance of the Negro employees was satisfactory and that it
would not be company policy to release them. Of 11 management
representatives who ventured to make estimates of post-war employ
ment of Negroes, 5 stated that there would be no great change and the
other 6 expected some decreases because of the necessity for reemploy
ing veterans.
EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS
Local agencies and company officials are devoting increasing
attention to the problem of reemploying veterans. Since a satis
factory employment adjustment is not always reached immediately,
the local office of the U. S. Employment Service has been working
with employer groups on the problem. Conferences of employment
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Reconversion Problems in Buffalo Area
1133
managers with a pyschiatrist, who speaks on the problems of reem
ploying ex-servicemen, have been arranged. Practically every plant
official interviewed was emphatic in his conviction that everything
possible would be done to reemploy veterans when they returned.
A number of plants expect to go beyond any legal requirements in
rehiring employees who return from the service. In some cases, the
company will not insist that the application for reemployment be
made within 40 days after discharge, as provided by law, or it will be
favorably disposed toward hiring veterans even if they are not
former employees of the company. The union local at one plant ex
pressed its desire to help rehabilitate any veterans who might need
aid, even to the extent of abrogating seniority arrangements. Plans
are being made by another company not only to rehire veterans but
to train them for better jobs if they are qualified, since the manage
ment recognizes that morale problems may arise if men with good
service experience are placed in menial tasks.
An example of detailed advance planning on reemployment of
veterans is provided by a company which is considering the employ
ment of a full-time coordinator to place and follow up war veterans.
A card index is being prepared, giving the case history of each man
in service and including any new skills learned since he entered the
armed forces.
It is recognized that a number of problems will arise. In some
plants, the number of employees in the armed forces is equal to or
greater than the total pre-war employment; in others, as many as 6
or 7 men now in the armed forces held the same job prior to induction.
In some establishments most of the work is heavy, and the jobs which
disabled veterans can fill are limited iu number. Plants which have
already had experience with returning veterans agree that careful
placement and follow-up are essential, and many companies expect
that some retraining program will be necessary for returning veterans.
In one company, it was anticipated that very serious problems
would arise if the Selective Service Act were interpreted to give
veterans absolute preference. Management here believes that vet
erans should accumulate seniority while in the service but should
have no other special preference. It was reported that the union’s
position agreed with that taken by management.
Effects of Cutbacks
R E C E N T E X P E R IE N C E
While cutbacks in war production have not yet been serious, the
experience thus far serves to indicate the problems which may arise
when war production generally declines. At the time of the survey,
16 of the plants included in the sample of 40 had already had cutbacks
in production owing to cancellation or revision of war contracts.
(One company had had no cutback in the usual sense, but had finished
a large war program and reverted to its normal peacetime activity.)
Of the 16 plants, 11 were compelled to lay off workers; the others were
able to avoid terminations by transferring employees to other work.
In all, some 5,000 workers had been laid off by June 1944. About
two-thirds of those terminated had been working in 5 plants produc
ing items for the aircraft program. Over 60 percent of the workers laid
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1134
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
off were women. Most of the lay-offs were temporary (for retooling)
and some workers had already been recalled by June 1944.
Notice of cutbacks varied from advance warning of several months to
orders for immediate cessation of work. In one instance, a subcon
tract for half-tracks was eliminated almost entirely, without advance
notice from the prime contractor, who had himself received no notice
from the procurement agency. Plant officials generally expressed the
opinion that advance notice should be given whenever possible, and
the indications are that those plants which received notice a month or
more in advance were able to readjust both employment and pro
duction more effectively.
LAY-OFFS AND TRANSFERS
Ten of the 11 plants in which lay-offs were necessary selected the
workers to be terminated on the basis of seniority. Plant-wide
seniority was the criterion used in half of these plants, and depart
mental seniority or seniority by noninterchangeable occupational
groups in the rest. In nine cases seniority provisions were incor
porated in union agreements; one company used plant-wide seniority
as a matter of company policy. In addition, one company laid off
workers as the operations on which they were engaged were completed,
in accordance with the provisions of a master contract with various
A. F. of L. unions.
Transfers of workers usually followed the same plan as lay-offs; in
some plants transfers were an important part of the employmentadjustment process. One plant eliminated its third shift, laid off
50 workers, and transferred 400; another laid off 100 and transferred
100; a third laid off 400 and transferred 200. In most instances,
transfers were made at the same rates of pay. In two plants in which
wage decreases were the rule, there was a tendency for workers to
quit rather than to accept lower wages, as further lay-offs were an
ticipated and little security could be offered.
Transfers required training of workers in some instances. On-thejob training was most prevalent, lasting from 2 or 3 days up to 5
months. In general, no new skills were required and in most plants
the training period took only a few weeks.
Notice of lay-offs was inadequate in a number of plants, partly
because the employer had received insufficient advance notice of cut
backs. Some of the plants gave only 1 day’s notice and one plant
gave notice at the beginning of the shift that lay-offs were effective
at the end of the shift. On the other hand, two companies gave a
week’s notice whenever possible.
Unions generally received notice of lay-offs farther in advance, and
in some cases the unions participated in implementing the lay-off
procedure. Most companies discussed the cutbacks and lay-off
procedures with the unions or with the labor-management committees,
but one company merely informed the union that there would be
lay-offs.
Effect on morale.—The effect of cutbacks on the morale of workers
apparently varied both with the nature of the cutback—whether
temporary or permanent—and with the degree of union-management
cooperation attained. In two plants with labor-management com
mittees, morale did not suffer and at one of these plants production
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Reconversion Problems in Buffalo Area
1135
per worker actually increased. The most serious effect of cutbacks
on morale was found at a plant where there had been no word to
workers concerning the cutbacks, the union did not participate, and
there was no labor-management committee.
Effect in the community.—There are indications that the cutbacks
already experienced have resulted in some decrease in community
purchasing power, as well as in withdrawal of workers from the labor
market. Union representatives expressed the opinion that lack of
planning for transfers of workers from plants which had reduced
production to plants which needed workers had resulted in lower morale
and the return of women to their homes.
Suggestions for Government Action
Plant suggestions.—Management representatives were unanimous
in their emphasis on the desirability of speedy audit or settlement
of contract claims; one subcontractor recommended settlement on a
plant-wide rather than on an individual contract basis. Companies
also indicated the need for adequate advance notice from Government
to prime contractors, and from prime contractors to subcontractors,
of changes in specifications and of contract terminations. In general,
gradual tapering off of war demand was considered preferable to
abrupt termination. Such gradual reduction would alleviate surplus
material problems, allow adequate notice to subcontractors, unions,
and workers, and permit more orderly planning for civilian produc
tion. Two companies suggested that cutbacks be made first in plants
which are able to convert to other production.
Generally, wherever Government-owned equipment or material
cannot be utilized for peacetime production, plants desire its removal
from the premises as soon as possible. Sale of usable Government
property at reasonable prices is desired by plants having such equip
ment, but one plant would prefer to rent the plant space and equip
ment from the Defense Plant Corporation. Some plants believe that
the price of Government-owned equipment should be maintained, as
its cheap disposal to competitors would foster “unfair competition.”
Almost all of the plants making suggestions recommend that war
time material, manpower, and price controls be removed as soon as
possible, but that relaxation be gradual. Rapid release of materials
to plants receiving cutbacks was suggested, and one plant recommended
that certain standard surplus materials be earmarked for post-war use.
Among other suggestions were recommendations for Federal aid
for municipal public works, improvement of the New York State
Barge Canal, and relaxation of restrictions on industrial and municipal
power projects. In addition, interest was expressed in modification
of present policies of contract renegotiation, so that the normal
product of a company would be exempt. Elimination of the excessprofits tax was recommended, to enable industry to accumulate
reserves with which to finance reconversion.
Union suggestions.—Union representatives, like management offi
cials, stressed the importance of a smooth transition from war to
peace production. A C. I. O. union suggested closer integration of
Army and Navy plans for cutbacks with manpower controls, so that
persons released in one plant could be quickly transferred to plants
where workers were needed. A representative of an A. F. of L. union
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1136
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
suggested that the Government make immediate plans for reemploy
ment of workers laid off by small plants—particularly machine shops—
since these workers may be laid off before the large prime contractors
are cut back.
Practically all union representatives emphasized the need to plan
for full employment. Legislation was urged to provide for adequate
unemployment compensation during reconversion, retraining pro
grams, and payment of travel costs of workers from war centers to
their homes. The need of heavy industry for post-war markets was
stressed, and long-term reconstruction credits to other nations to
stimulate demand for steel and other products of basic industry were
suggested. The regional office of one union expressed the opinion
that industries should be able to finance reconversion from tax refunds
and that the Government should see that such funds are used to
assure maximum employment.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
FCmyiCTORY
BUY
U N IT E D
STATES
WAR
BONDS
AND
STAMPS
Effect on U nion M em bership of "Escape P e rio d ” in
Renewed M aintenance-of-M em bership A greem ents1
Summary
UNION membership losses as a result of “escape periods” recently
ordered by the National War Labor Board to be incorporated in
renewed union agreements of those plants which have already operated
a year or more under maintenance-of-membership clauses have been
negligible. Out of a total reported union membership of about 75,000
in the 21 plants visited, only 395, or about one-half of 1 percent, re
signed from the union during the escape period.
These findings are the result of a survey made by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics during August and September 1944, on behalf of
the National War Labor Board, to determine the effect on union
membership of “escape periods” established by Board action in
connection with the renewal of maintenance-of-membership awards.
In 17 of the 21 cases, this represented the parties’ second experience
with an escape period; in 4 of these cases the first escape period'had
been voluntarily agreed upon, while in 13 both escape periods had been
ordered by the Board. In the remaining 4 cases, the parties were
operating under the first escape provision.
The study covered plants in the shipbuilding and ship-repair,
textile, radio, automobile-parts, chemical, electrical-machinery, steelproducts, transportation-equipment, and cigar industries. Ten
unions—7 affiliated with the C. I. ()., 1 with the A. F. of L., and 2 inde
pendent—were parties to the agreements containing these provisions.
At each plant visited, interviews were held with company and union
officials. In addition, wherever possible, the union membership
rolls or books were checked to verify statements on union member
ship, and copies of the local union’s official journal or company organ
were examined.
Resignations During Escape Period
In no case did resignations exceed 6 percent of the total union
membership at the time of the award, and in only 3 cases did resigna
tions exceed 1 percent of the union membership.
No resignations were reported in 7 instances. In 11 cases (in
cluding that in which resignations accounted for 6 percent of the
union membership), the maximum number of resignations ranged
from 1 to 15 persons, and in one other, 23 persons. In the 2 remain
ing cases, covering large shipyards, the number of resignations totaled
122 and 200, respectively, and accounted for about 1 percent of the
total union membership.
Comparable figures on the number of resignations were available
in 14 of the 17 cases in which the escape period represented the second
opportunity to resign, under the maintenance-of-membership clause.
The total number of resignations during each of the escape periods
was about the same. In 7 of these cases, the number of resignations
during the second escape period exceeded that during the first period;
1 Prepared in th e B u reau ’s In d u strial R elations D ivision by A braham Weiss, assisted b y B ettina C onant.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1137
1138
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
in 3 cases, the reverse was true; and in 4 instances, no resignations
occurred during either escape period.
Notification of Employees
In almost all cases the parties followed the procedure outlined in
the directive orders of the Board with respect to giving notice of the
escape provision. Copies of the Board’s order and/or its explanatory
statement were posted on plant bulletin boards. In a few instances
a brief notice was carried in union journals.
In two cases, notice of the maintenance-of-membership award and
escape provision was not posted, and no resignations were reported.
In one case, the company had agreed with the union to omit such
notification; in the other, failure to post the notice was due to un
certainty over the effective date of the award, since part of the
directive order had been appealed.
Resignation Procedure
Resignations of union members were usually effected by sending
written notices to the union, although a number of workers also
notified the company.
In a number of instances the Board found that, although mainte
nance of membership had been provided for under the old agreement,
delinquent members had been allowed to work because of nonenforce
ment of the clause. Although the Board granted a new escape
clause, it did not absolve delinquents of their obligations under the
old agreement, nor consider their union membership terminated by
such delinquency. In 13 of the 21 cases, the Board’s directive order
required delinquent members to pay up back dues before they could
resign, and it was found that the unions generally enforced payment
of back dues before honoring resignations during the escape period.
Reasons for Resignation
In general, resignations within any single plant did not represent
any single group of employees or job classification. Unions could
not provide sufficient information to determine whether resignations
were primarily those of delinquents or of members in good standing.
In the majority of instances, the reasons given by union officials to
account for the resignations were based on personal and petty griev
ances. In 1 case, resignations were prompted by the desire of some of
the members to seek affiliation with another union which was conduct
ing an organizing campaign. In one other case, it was stated that
internal union friction and poor administration were responsible for a
number of resignations. Promotions to supervisory positions outside
the bargaining unit accounted for some withdrawals. Encouragement
from supervisors was cited in 2 instances as responsible for resignations.
Check-Off of Dues
Twelve of the 21 plants were operating under an automatic dues
check-off system—10 as the result of WLB directives and 2 others as a
result of collective bargaining. Voluntary dues deductions, upon the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
"Escape Periods” in Renewed Union Agreements
1139
written request of individual workers, were found in 6 plants, while 3
others had no provision for check-off of union dues.
The check-off was seldom listed as a reason for withdrawals, and
initial objections tended to die out after the practice had been in
operation for some time.
Where the previous maintenance-of-membership awrard contained
no check-off or a voluntary check-off, delinquencies in several cases
were considerable. In one case the number of delinquencies (12,000)
represented almost 2% times the total good-standing membership.
The unions in most of these cases were experiencing great difficulty in
collecting back dues from members who had become delinquent under
the old agreement, although their current dues, under the new agree
ment, were automatically deducted by virtue of the Board’s directive
order. In one plant, however, an agreement had been reached whereby
the company agreed to check off back dues in small amounts.
Activity in Connection With Escape Period
In addition to the number and effect of resignations during the
“escape period,” the Bureau sought information with respect to activi
ties by the union which would tend to hinder resignations, as well as to
employer activities which would tend to encourage withdrawals,
during the escape period.
In no case did management representatives claim that the union had
engaged in any unusual activity during the escape period, and in only
two instances did the union charge that the company had provided
some form of direct encouragement to resignations. In one case, the
union alleged that the company furnished mimeographed forms and
advice to employees who came to the company’s office to resign. The
company denied preparing resignation forms, but foremen had been
instructed to advise men who wished to resign and direct them to the
office. Although the number of resignations at this plant was the
highest of all those reported in the plants visited, they accounted for
less than 1.5 percent of the union membership. In the other case, the
union claimed that various company employees (but not those on the
supervisory level) canvassed the members on company premises during
the escape period to encourage withdrawals.
Several unions reported that they had conducted special membership
drives, and had lowered or waived initiation fees or had cancelled back
dues in order to facilitate and encourage reinstatement of delinquent
members.
Attitudes and Opinion
Without exception, management representatives supported the
inclusion of an escape period at the beginning of each maintenance-ofmembership agreement, as a matter of principle; namely, to permit
their employees to exercise the “democratic right” of free choice. The
unions, with but 2 exceptions, were opposed to a second (or, for that
matter, any) escape period. In one of the exceptions, a very small
plant, 100 percent organized, the local union president stated that the
escape period served as a test and proof of the union’s strength—in a
sense, a “vote of confidence”—and he was willing to have an escape
period at any time. I d the other case the union representative
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1140
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
expressed no opposition to the escape period, because no resignations
had occurred during either of the escape periods.
The objection to a second escape period most frequently voiced by
the union officials was that it is, or could be, a threat to the union's
security either through the organized opposition of a rival union or antiunion pressure exerted by the company. Also, union representatives
argued that a second escape period allowed a person to drop his mem
bership after he had taken advantage of the benefits gained by the
union during both the old and new contracts.
Among the reasons given for retention of membership, even though
the individual might wish to withdraw, were the disapproval of other
union members with whom the person worked (which might take the
form of social ostracism), refusal of assistance on the work, and “un
explained” loss of tools. Some company representatives expressed the
opinion that employees would rather pay monthly dues than submit to
union pressure. A long local tradition of unionism, in the town in
which the plant was situated, was another factor cited.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W ages in th e R ayon In d u stry, May 1 9 4 4 1
Summary
FACTORY workers on the first shift in the rayon industry had
straight-time average hourly earnings of 84.0 cents in May 1944.
These earnings are based on data for 30,605 factory workers in 58
representative occupations in 25 plants. Earnings varied from 59.1
cents for women working as cleaners to $1,472 for men working as
lead burners. The earnings of office workers varied from 49.6 cents
an hour for office boys and girls to 83.1 cents for class A stenographers.
Nature of the Industry
Rayon is by far the most important of the synthetic textile fibers,
from the standpoint both of production and of number of workers
employed. The survey that is summarized in the present article was
limited to plants engaged principally in the manufacture of rayon
filaments 2 and rayon staple fiber,3 from cellulose or a cellulose base.
The manufacture of nylon, the next most important synthetic textile
fiber, is controlled by a single- company. Synthetic textile fibers
other than rayon and nylon are as yet comparatively unimportant
commercially.
Rayon is a synthetic fiber or yarn made by extruding a solution of
modified cellulose through minute perforations into an acid bath or
warm air, which causes the solution to coagulate. Cellulose, the basic
raw material of rayon, is derived principally from wood pulp and
cotton linters,4 although straw, grass, bamboo, vegetable cells, etc.,
are other .sources of cellulose. Wood pulp is much more extensively
used in the manufacture of rayon than are cotton linters, the ratio
being approximately 3 to 1.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDUSTRY
Although European scientists predicted, nearly 300 years ago, that
silk filaments similar to those produced by silkworms would be pro
duced artificially, it was not until the middle of the 19th century that
practical experiments were actually undertaken. Rayon did not
become a commercial success until near the close of the 19th century.
In the United States, the manufacture of rayon was first introduced
at the turn of the century, but it was not a successful commercial
enterprise until 1910. In that year a plant was established at Marcus
Hook, Pa., to produce a rayon-filament yarn by the viscose method.
The industry developed rapidly during the first World War, owing
largely to the heavy demand for textile fibers, and the United States
assumed a leading role in world production of rayon. By 1923 this
country was producing about a third of all rayon-filament yarn. The
growth of the industry in this country during the last two decades
1 Prepared in th e B ureau’s Division of Wage Analysis by Willis C. Q uant, under the supervision of
Victor S. Baril. A dditional detail will appear in th e bulletin which will be published later on the find
ings of this survey. T he results of an earlier survey of the industry appear in B ulletin N o. 587: Wages and
H ours of Labor in R ayon and O ther Synthetic Y arn M anufacturing, 1932.
2 1. e., threadlike fibers.
3 R ayon tow , cut into short lengths.
4 Short fibers obtained after th e second ginning of cottonseed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1141
1142
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
has been phenomenal, indicating wide acceptance of this new synthetic
yam by the textile industry. In 1943, rayon represented fully 10
percent of all textile fibers consumed in the United States.
Rayon was first produced in the form of filament yarn and was
used either by itself or in combination with other yarns to produce a
wide variety of textile products. When used in combination with
other yarns, rayon-filament yarns remained clearly distinguishable.
Rayon staple fiber was developed and extensively used in Germany
as a substitute for cotton during the first World War. Unlike rayonfilament yarn, staple fiber is combined with other textile fibers to
produce a mixed yarn, and in the process loses its identity. Pro
duction of rayon staple fiber increased rapidly after the war, Germany
accounting for over two-thirds of the world output in 1930. The
manufacture of rayon staple fiber was started on a small scale in the
United States in the late twenties, but increased slowly until the
middle thirties. Since then production of staple fiber has increased
rapidly in this country. Despite this increase, however, rayon staple
fiber produced in this country in 1942 accounted for only one-fourth
of the domestic production. In that same year, slightly more than
half of all rayon produced abroad was staple fiber.
Practically all rayon-filament yarn and staple fiber produced in the
United States lias been for domestic consumption. Despite the
superior quality of American-made rayon, its exports have been
limited, because of the lower prices in other rayon-producing countries.
American-manufactured rayon finished products are preferred in
foreign markets, even though the foreign-made rayon products may
be had at lower prices. Imports of rayon-filament yarn dropped
sharply after 1929, declining from somewhat more than a tenth of the
total domestic consumption in that year to less than a tenth of 1
percent of the total in 1939. Imports of staple fiber have also fallen
off sharply in recent years.
Since the beginning of the rayon industry in the United States, the
most important consumers of its products have been manufacturers
of hosiery, knit goods other than hosiery, and broad woven goods. At
the start, the hosiery industry consumed the greatest amount of
rayon, but was displaced in the early twenties by the knit-goods
industry. During the past two decades, manufacturers of broad
woven goods have accounted for from one-half to three-fourths of the
rayon consumed. The present war has developed many new uses for
rayon, principally in the manufacture of tires, parachutes, insulating
materials, filters, linings, belts, and other materials needed in modern
warfare.
Much of the success of rayon in this country is undoubtedly due
to the very sharp drop in the price of that product since the first
World War, a drop made possible by technological improvements
and mass-production techniques. In 1919, the average spot price of
rayon was $4.77 per pound. By 1924, rayon had dropped to $2.11
per pound, and by 1930 it had dropped to $1.06 per pound. In 1941,
the average spot price of rayon was 54 cents a pound. During the
same period, the spot price of silk dropped from $9.64 to $2.94. Despite
this decline, the price of silk was still \5% times as high as that of
rayon in 1941. Between 1919 and 1941 the average spot price of
cotton dropped from 32.5 to 13.9 cents per pound and that of wool
from $1.74 to $1.09.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wages in Rayon Industry, M a y 1944
1143
AMERICAN RAYON INDUSTRY TODAY
At the time of the present study, May 1944, there were 28 plants
engaged in the manufacture of rayon-filament yarn and rayon staple
fiber in the United States. These plants employed approximately
55,000 workers in all departments and occupations. Since 1925, the
first year for which the Census of Manufactures reported separate
figures for the rayon industry, the number of rayon plants has doubled
and the number of workers nearly trebled.
There is a very marked concentration of production facilities in
this industry. Four companies own and operate more than half of
all the plants and employ slightly more than two-thirds of all the
workers in the industry.
The rayon plants are situated in 13 States in the eastern half of the
United States, extending from Massachusetts in the North to Georgia
in the South and as far ’West as Ohio and Tennessee. The greatest
concentration of plants is in Virginia, where there are 6 rayon-pro
ducing establishments. Other concentrations are in Tennessee with
4 plants, and in Pennsylvania and Ohio with 3 plants each.
Of the 28 plants, 12 have collective-bargaining agreements with the
Textile Workers of America (a C. I. O. affiliate), 3 have agreements
with the United Textile Workers (an A. F. of L. affiliate), and 3
additional plants have agreements with both of these unions. Five
plants have agreements with independent unions and 5 are unor
ganized. Approximately three-fourths of all workers in the rayon
industry are employed in union plants.
Twenty of the 28 rayon-producing mills use the viscose process, 5
use the acetate process, 2 use the cupra-ammonium process, and 1 uses
both the viscose and acetate processes. Until 1934, rayon was also
produced by the nitrocellulose method. This method is now extinct
as far as the production of rayon for commercial purposes is concerned.
The viscose and cupra-ammonium processes accounted for about
two-thirds of all the rayon yarn produced in this country in 1943, the
remaining third being made by the acetate process. Figures are not
available for the viscose and cupra-ammonium processes separately
because of the limited number of plants using the latter process.
Rayon staple fiber, which represented approximately one-fourth of
all the rayon produced in the United States in 1943, is generally made
by the viscose process, although a small amount is produced in mills
using the acetate method.
In principle, the three rayon-production methods or processes in
use in the United States today have much in common. Each includes
the conversion of wood pulp or cotton linters to a chemical solution
(cellulose or cellulose base), the extrusion of the chemical through
minute perforations, the coagulation of the liquid in an acid bath or
in warm air, and the finishing of the solid substance into filament
yarn or staple fiber. In actual practice, however, the mechanics of
the operations are quite different, resulting in substantially different
occupational structures in the processing departments. These differ
ences are indicated in the description of each of the three processes in
the following paragraphs.
Viscose process.—This process involves the use of two basic cellulose
raw materials, namely, wood pulp and cotton linters. As a rule,
these two materials are mixed or blended according to established
618627— 44------- 3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1144
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
formulas. The wood pulp is obtained primarily from spruce and
hemlock logs and is of a higher grade than that ordinarily used by
paper mills. Cotton linters are the short fibers obtained after the
second ginning of cottonseed.
Under the viscose method, the raw materials are first converted
into an alkali-cellulose by steeping them in a caustic solution. The
alkali-cellulose is shredded, aged, and then mixed with carbon bisul
phide to form a cellulose-xanthate solution. This solution is then
forced or extruded through the fine openings of the spinning cup, com
monly referred to as the “spinneret,” into an acid bath which causes
the extruded liquid to coagulate into a threadlike fiber or filament.
This filament is then wound on a bobbin or spun in “cake” form in a
pot or spinning box.
The filament is then finished as a yarn by washing, skeining, drying,
bleaching, re-drying, spooling, twisting, coning, inspecting, and pack
ing. Some of these operations may be eliminated or may take place
in a sequence differing from that outlined.
Extruded filaments which are to be finished as staple fiber are
handled somewhat differently from filament yarn. The spun fila
ments are not wound onto bobbins or in pots, but are collected in
rope-like form, treated (washed, bleached, and dried) and then cut
into pieces of desired length or, in certain plants, first cut into lengths
and then treated.
The viscose method includes three distinct systems of spinning,
namely, the pot system, which is the most common; the spool system,
which is the next most common; and, finally, the continuous system
found in only two mills. In the pot spinning system, the filament
passes over a wheel and into a pot, which spins at a high speed. A
twist is imparted to the yarn as it enters the pot and the yarn is forced
against the inside wall of the pot to form a cake. The spool system
differs from the pot system in that the filament is wound directly
onto a spool or bobbin and no twist is imparted to the yarn; the twist
ing is done later in a separate operation. Under the continuous
system the filament is spun, washed, bleached, twisted, dried, and
wound onto spools, in a single continuous operation.
Acetate process.—This process is the most recent of the three
processes now in use and is steadily increasing in importance. For
merly, cotton linters were used exclusively in this operation, but
recent developments now also permit the use of wood pulp. The
acetate process differs from the viscose process in that the extruded
spinning solution coagulates as it passes through a flow of warm air,
making it unnecessary to wash, bleach, or dry the filament after
spinning. The viscose spinning solution, it will be recalled, coagulates
in an acid bath, with the result that the filament must be washed,
bleached, and dried before it can be finished.
The initial step in the acetate method is the chemical preparation
of the cellulose-acetate, which involves washing, extracting, and
drying into a flake form. This is followed by the dissolution of the
flake cellulose acetate in pure acetone, and then by spinning. The
rayon yarn is next either twisted and packaged for fabric-making mills
or cut to form staple fiber which is shipped to other mills to be made
into spun rayon yarns by much the same method as is used in spinning
cotton, wool, etc.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W ages in Rayon Industry, M a y 1944
1145
Cwpra-ammonium process.-—In this process, cotton linters are the
basic raw material used. After washing and bleaching, the cotton
linters are dissolved in a copper-oxide solution and filtered to produce
the spinning solution. This solution is then forced through the
spinneret into an acid bath, which neutralizes the copper oxide and
produces a continuous cellulose fiber which, in the case of yarn, is
generally wound on reels, although some mills use the bobbin system,
similar to that used in the viscose method. The yarn is then washed,
dried, and prepared for packing either in skein form or on bobbins,
cones, etc. Some of the yarn may also be twisted, depending on the
needs of the trade, but most of the cupra-ammonium yarn is sold
untwisted. Rayon processed by the cupra-ammonium method may
also be finished as a staple fiber in the same manner as in the viscose
process.
The Labor Force
The skill requirements in the rayon manufacturing industry are, on
the whole, comparatively high. In the chemical-preparation depart
ment, great care must be taken at all times in order to insure the proper
preparation of the spinning fluid. The timing of operations and the
temperature control are all-important in this department. Equally
exacting are the various operations in the spinning and finishing of
rayon filaments. Manual dexterity and alertness are prime requisites
in the textile department, where the yarn is twisted, wound, inspected,
wrapped, and packed for shipment.
Among the more highly skilled workers are the chemical-department
workers, who prepare the spinning solution, the various maintenance
crafts, powerhouse engineers, and generator-switchboard operators.
Of the moderately skilled occupations, the more important, numer
ically, are the following: Spinners, who regulate the flow of the spin
ning solution through the spinneret, the coagulation of the solu
tion in an acid bath or in warm air, and the winding of the filament on
bobbins or into cakes; doffers, who remove cakes and bobbins of
filament from the spinning machine; operators of washers, wringers,
and driers in the treating department; product inspectors and routine
laboratory testers, who inspect and test the product at various stages
of production; reelers, throwers, and winders, who prepare the yarn for
shipment; and craftsmen’s helpers in the maintenance department.
Among the least-skilled jobs in the industry are those of hand
truckers, clean-up workers, and general laborers, accounting for a
substantial number of workers. New workers with no particular
experience in the rayon industry are generally placed in one of these
unskilled occupations and advanced to the more skilled and respon
sible occupations as they become more experienced.
Slightly more than three out of every five workers in rayon plants
are men. This rather high ratio is due to the nature of the industry,
which, in the early stages of manufacture, involves working with
chemicals. Somewhat more than four-fifths of all the women covered
in the Bureau’s study were, employed in the finishing department and
well over half were either throwers (twisters) or yarn winders. In
plants using the viscose and cupra-ammonium processes, virtually all
workers who were employed in the chemical preparation and spinning
departments were men, but more than a third of the workers in the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1146
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
treating department were women. In acetate plants, no women were
found in the chemical-preparation department, but approximately 20
percent of the workers in the spinning department were women. In
the latter department, women worked as ¿offers and jetmen. A sub
stantial number of women also worked as hand truckers, routine
laboratory testers, and cleaners. Men constituted virtually the entire
force in the maintenance department as well as in the powerhouse.
The workers are concentrated in comparatively few occupations.
Thus, four-fifths of the workers were in 18 of the 58 representative
occupations for which figures are presented. One-fourth of the
workers were either throwers (twisters) or yarn winders, while
slightly over 15 percent were spinners, doffers, or topmen, and nearly
10 percent were in the broad group of chemical-department workers.
Of the 58 occupations, 18 had fewer than 100 workers and 5 fewer
than 50 workers.
Variations in occupational structure.—The occupational structure
varies considerably from plant to plant, owing to differences in process,
product, and type of equipment. As was pointed out earlier, certain
occupations are peculiar to specific processes. For example, the
occupations of washer operator, drier operator, and wringer operator
found in the viscose and cupra-ammonium processes do not have
counterparts in acetate plants, as acetate yarn is not treated. Sim
ilarly, plants producing staple fiber have fewer occupations than do
yarn mills; for instance, staple-fiber plants do not have textile depart
ments. Finally, variations in type of equipment exert a profound
influence on the occupational structure as well as on the content of the
jobs. Some mills are only partially mechanized and retain a number
of hand operations, whereas other mills are highly mechanized, and a
few even employ the continuous spinning process in which spun
filaments are washed, bleached, twisted, dried, and wound onto spools
in one continuous operation.
Equally wide variations among plants are found in their method
of work assignment. For example, in the chemical-preparation de
partments of some plants workers are assigned to specific tasks;
among these are the acetone recovery man, acid-correction man,
churn man, filter man, shredder operator, soda dialyzer, etc. In other
plants, the entire chemical-preparation department force works as a
group, performing all of the duties incidental to the preparation of
the spinning fluid. For that reason, it was necessary in this study to
combine all chemical-department workers and to present a single
figure for the group as a whole.
The plants also showed substantial variations in the duties of work
ers in certain occupations in the production departments, particularly
in the spinning department. In 10 of the 20 viscose and cupra-am
monium plants, spinners did nothing but tend the spinning machines;
in 8 plants they also doffed the machines. Similarly, in the acetate
plants, some spinners tended the spinning machines only; others
performed the work of both the spinner and the topman, and still
others combined the duties of spinner, topman, and doffer. Because
of these variations, the wage data which appear later in this report
are presented separately for production workers under each process
and for each significant occupational group.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wages in Rayon Industry, M a y 1944
1147
Scope and Method of Survey
The figures presented in this report are based on data obtained
from 25 of 28 rayon mills in operation at the time of the survey. Of
the 3 mills not represented in this study, 1 is a comparatively small
New England mill and 2 are medium-size Southern mills. The
omission of the two Southern plants from the survey does not appre
ciably influence the general level of wages indicated by this survey.
It is estimated that the general level indicated by the 25 plants actually
studied is approximately 1 cent higher than it would have been had
all Southern rayon plants been studied. Owing to the small size of
the New England plant, its omission has but a negligible effect on the
figures presented.
Occupational wage-rate data and general plant information were
obtained from each of the 25 plants studied. Field representatives
of the Bureau visited over half of the establishments and obtained
the desired information directly from pay rolls and other pertinent
records. Data for the remaining plants were compiled by the firms
themselves, under the direction of representatives of the Bureau.
The data for these plants were carefully checked by Bureau repre
sentatives to insure the accuracy and representative character of the
figures.
Wage data were obtained for 58 selected key occupations, which
are believed to be fully representative of the different skill and earnings
levels in the industry. These occupations account for approximately
two-thirds of all plant workers in the 25 establishments studied.
In order to insure as full comparability of occupational wage data
as possible among the plants, standard job descriptions were used.
Any significant deviations from the duties listed in these descriptions
were reported in detail.and were given careful consideration in classify
ing workers in the proper occupation. Full information on job con
tent made it possible to overcome, to a large extent, interplant varia
tions in duties of workers and to arrive at significant occupational
classifications. In a number of cases, it was possible to refine further
the data for certain occupations in which substantial interplant varia
tions in job content were found.
The occupational wage data presented in this report for selected
key occupations are straight-time average hourly earnings of firstshift workers and, as such, reflect the basic wage structure of the
industry. Premium-overtime and shift-differential payments were
excluded from these earnings. • Incentive earnings, however, whether
based on piecework or production bonuses, are included in the earn
ings. The averages were also adjusted to reflect payments for lunch
periods. The earnings data relate to May 1944.
It should be pointed out that two types of occupational averages
are presented in this report. The first are straight-time average
hourly earnings, which were arrived at by weighting the individual
rates of qualified workers in each occupation by the number of workers
receiving each rate. These figures reflect the rates actually received
by first- or day-shift workers. The second set of occupational figures
represents the “going rates” of the various selected key occupations.
For purposes of this survey, the “going rate” was defined as. the rate
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1148
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
paid to a fully qualified worker who has served the required time in
an occupation. In union plants, this rate is also known as the
“union rate” for the job. In plants having a rate range in occupa
tions, the going rate is the upper limit of that range, while in plants
having a single rate, the going rate is the rate paid to all workers in
the occupation. In arriving at the average going rate for an occupa
tion for the industry, the going rate for each occupation was weighted
by the total number of workers in that occupation in each plant.
Hourly Earnings
FACTORS AFFECTING EARNINGS LEVEL OF WORKERS
The level of earnings of workers in the rayon industry is determined
not only by the basic rates of pay for the various occupations, but
also by a number of other factors, such as entrance rates, provisions
for automatic advancement, extra pay for overtime work and for
work on late shifts, incentive methods of wage payment, and paid
lunch periods. In addition, most workers in the rayon industry not
only receive paid vacations, but also benefit from a number of other
plans, such as insurance plans financed wholly or in part by the
companies, sick-benefit plans, and retirement plans. These various
factors are discussed briefly in the following paragraphs.
Entrance rates.—Entrance rates of adult male common laborers
varied from 47.5 cents in one plant to 78 cents in another plant
(table 1). Thirteen of the 25 plants had entrance rates of 70 cents or
more an hour, while 4 plants had entrance rates below 55 cents an
hour. Three of the 4 companies operating plants in both North and
South paid somewhat lower entrance rates in their southern plants
than in their northern plants. A fourth firm paid the same rate in
both regions.
T a b l e 1.— Entrance Rates of Adult Male Common Laborers and Automatic Advancement
Provisions in the Rayon Industry, M ay 1944
Entrance
rate
N um ber of plants
1 p la n t___ . . . _____
___________
1 p l a n t __ _ . . . _______________ _
1 p la n t___________________________
$0.78
.75
.75
1 p la n t___ . .
... . ...
1 p la n t.
_________________
6 p la n ts .. _ _ . . ______ . . . ____
1 p la n t____________ ___________ .
1 p la n t___________ . ________ . . .
1 p la n t.. _ .
______ ______
1 p la n t___ __________________ _____
1 p la n t_____________________ _____
1 plant
. . . . ..
___ .
.75
.745
.73
.70
.70
.645
.633
.60
.58
2 p la n ts____ _
______________
.55
. . . . . ______
.55
1 p la n t____
___ .
1 p l a n t ____ _____________________
.55
1 p la n t_____ _______
.53
1 p la n t. . .
.
1 p la n t______
. _.
1 p la n t___ ___________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
...
.
._
_
__
________
.505
.495
.475
Provision for autom atic increases
None.
None.
Increased to 85 cents after 6 weeks and to 95.5 cents
after 4 months.
None.
None. '
None.
None.
M erit increases only.
Increased by 10 percent of base rate, after 2 weeks.
M erit increases only.
Do.
Increased to 63 cents after 4 weeks, to 68 cents after
8 weeks, and to 70 cents after 12 weeks.
Increased to 60 cents after 3 m onths and to 67 cents
after 6 months.
Increased by 5 cents after 6 weeks and b y another 5
cents after 12 weeks; m erit increases thereafter.
Increased to 60 cents after 12 weeks and to 65 cents
after another 12 weeks.
Increased to 56 cents after 2 m onths, to 60 cents after
3 m onths, and to 63 cents after 6 m onths.
Increased to 55 cents after 2 m onths.
Increased to 54.5 cents after 3 m onths.
Increased to 51 cents after 13 weeks a nd to 62 cents
after 26 weeks.
Wages in Rayon Industry, M a y 1944
1149
Advancement beyond the common-labor entrance rate in most
plants was on a merit rather than an automatic basis. In only 11 of
the 25 plants reporting on advancement provisions did workers
receive automatic increases. These increases varied from a 3.0-cent
an hour increase after 2 months of service in one plant to two increases
aggregating 14.5 cents an hour after 6 months of service in another
plant. Most of the plants having automatic-advancement provisions
also had substantially lower entrance rates than the plants which
had no automatic-advancement provisions beyond the entrance rate.
Occupation rate range.—Most rayon plants have rate ranges, rather
than single rates, for certain jobs. Workers generally advance auto
matically within these ranges. The spread of the rate range and the
rate of advance vary by occupation and also among plants. For
example, in Plant A, doffers start at 86 cents an hour, advance to 91
cents after 6 months and to 96 cents after 12 months. In Plant B,
truck drivers start at 74 cents an hour and, over a period of 48 weeks,
receive three automatic advances to reach a going rate of 89 cents
an hour.
Overtime provisions.—Twenty-three of the 25 plants paid for overtime
at the rate of time and a half after 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week.
One plant paid day workers time and a half after 8 hours a day and
40 hours a week and paid late-shift workers time and a half after 6 hours
a day and 36 hours a week. Another plant paid time and a half after 40
hours a week.
Most plants paid time and a half for work on recognized holidays and
double time for work on the seventh consecutive day. In most cases,
the holidays on which premium rates were paid were the six holidays
specified in Executive Order No. 9240.5 Two plants paid premium
rates for work on the following day when a holiday fell on Sunday.
Incentive-wage plans.-—A relatively small number of workers in the
rayon industry are paid on an incentive basis. Piece work, although
found in 16 of the 25 plants studied, was almost invariably limited to
the textile departments and generally applied to such operations as
coning, winding, reeling, and, in a few plants, to inspecting, wrapping,
and packing.
Only four plants had production-bonus plans; in three of these,
most workers participated in a plan under which a bonus was paid for
production above fixed standards, while in the fourth plant only a
few workers participated in such a plan. Two plants (one with
piece work and one with production bonus) also reported so-called
“ make-up for outage’' plans, under which workers in any processing
group may elect to work short-handed and receive all or part of the
potential earnings of absent workers. In one of these plants, the
working members of the group were paid the full potential earnings of
the absent members; in the other plant they received only two-thirds
of such earnings, the remaining third being retained by the company.
Shift differentials.—Because of the continuous nature of rayon manu
facturing operations, a high proportion of workers in this industry
work on shifts, most of whom rotate from one shift to another. Vary
ing shift differentials were paid in 21 of the 25 plants studied. In a
number of plants, the differentials were averaged over all three shifts
5 C hristm as, N ew Y ear’s D ay, Labor D ay, F o u rth of Ju ly , T hanksgiving D ay, and either M emorial
D ay or one other such holiday of greater local im portance.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1150
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
and workers on these shifts received the same rate of pay. Thus, all
workers on rotating shifts received a 10-percent differential above day
rates in 11 plants and in 6 plants they were paid amounts varying from
4 to 7 cents for men and from 2% to 5 cents for women. Workers on
oscillating day and evening shifts received amounts varying from 3
percent in 7 plants to 10 percent in 2 other plants. In other plants, dif
ferentials were paid only to workers on the second and third shifts.
These differentials varied from 3 cents to 10 percent for second-shift
workers and from 5 cents to 20 percent for third-shift workers. In
arriving at straight-time average hourly earnings, differentials averaged
over all three shifts were eliminated from the rates paid to workers on
the first shift. Thus, if shift workers in a given occupation, whether or
not on rotating shifts, received $1.10 per hour and this rate reflected
a 10-percent shift differential, the rate was reduced by one-eleventh in
order to eliminate this differential and the rate of $1.00 instead of $1.10
was used. In plants paying a differential only to second- and thirdshift workers, the rate for day-shift workers was used.
Paid lunch periods.—Workers on rotating shifts were granted paid
lunch periods in 23 of the 25 plants studied. The lunch period of dayshift workers or of most workers on oscillating day and evening shifts
was not paid for. Of the 23 plants having paid lunch periods, 2 had a
15-minute period, 5 had a 20-minute period, 1 a 25-minute period,
14 a 30-minute period, and in 1 plant women had a 30-minute period
and men a 20-minute period. Seven plants also paid workers for travel
to and from the lunchroom, this time having been determined by com
pany and union representatives. In the earnings presented in this
report, correction has been made for paid lunch periods. Thus, if a
worker with a rate of $1.00 an hour was paid for 8 hours on a shift but
actually worked only T%, the other half-hour representing a paid lunch
period, the hourly rate of this worker was adjusted upward to $1,067
(his average hourly earned rate for 7}{ hours of work at $8.00) and the
rate of $1,067 was used.
Paid vacations.—-Paid vacations were granted to factory workers
in all but one of the 25 plants studied. The length of the vacation
period, the conditions under which granted, and the number of plants
with each type of paid vacation are listed below:
Provisions for paid vacations
10 p la n ts _______ 1 w eek a fte r 1 y ear of service a n d 2 weeks a fte r 5 y ears of
service.
4 p la n ts ________ 2 weeks a fte r 1 y e a r of service w ith satisfacto ry a tte n d a n c e
record.
4 p la n ts ________ 1 week a fte r 1 y ear of service.
2 p la n ts ________ 1 week a fte r 1 y ear of service an d 2 weeks a fte r 2 y ears of service.
1 p la n t_________ 1 week a fte r 6 m o n th s of service.
1 p la n t_________ 1 week a fte r 1 y ear of service; p ro p o rtio n a te am o u n t a fte r 3
m o n th s of service.
1 p la n t_________ 1 week for less th a n 5 y ears of service a n d 2 weeks a fte r 5 years
or m ore of service.
1 p la n t_________ 1 week for over 1 y ear b u t less th a n 5 y ears of service an d 2
weeks for 5 years or m ore of service.
1 p la n t_________ N one (plan p ending before regional W ar L ab o r B oard).
Workers generally received vacation pay for their scheduled hours
of work at their regular rate of pay or, in some cases, at their straighttime average hourly earnings over a specified period of time. Some
plants paid a percentage of the worker’s earnings for the previous year.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wages in Rayon Industry, M a y 1944
1151
Insurance and related plans .—Workers in the rayon industry also
derive substantial benefits from insurance and related plans 6 in effect
in many plants. Perhaps the most common of these plans is the
insurance plan-—either life or accident and health. Twenty of the
25 plants have life-insurance plans, the cost of which is borne wholly
or in part by the plants. Seven plants assumed the entire cost of the
premiums after 6 months of service, one plant after 3 months of service,
and four other plants after 1 year of service. Group health and acci
dent plans paid for in part by the employees and in part by the firm
were found in 18 plants. Twelve plants had pension and retirement
plans which were largely maintained by the companies.
E A R N IN G S O F F A C T O R Y W O R K E R S
The straight-time average hourly earnings of factory workers in the
rayon industry amounted to 84.0 cents an hour in May 1944 (table 2).
These earnings are based on data for 58 representative occupations in
which two-thirds of the workers were employed. These occupations
are believed to be representative of the skill and earnings levels found
in the industry as a whole.
As a group, men earned an average of 91.8 cents an hour, or 20.5
cents more than women. This difference is due largely to the fact
that men were generally employed in the better-paid processing,
maintenance, and service occupations, while women were very largely
confined to the finishing or textile department, where the lowest
wages were generally paid. Wherever both men and women were
employed in the same occupation in any one plant and performed the
same duties, they received, as a rule, the same rate of pay. There
fore, substantially different wage levels indicated for males and females
within the same occupation (e. g. 91.5 cents for male doffers and 76.5
cents for female doffers in acetate plants) typically reflect interplant
variations in wages paid and not sex differentials within occupations
in the same plant.
Wide variations are found in the average hourly earnings of male
workers, the range being from 69.1 cents for clean-up workers to
$1,472 for lead burners. Within this range, there are definite con
centrations at certain wage intervals which reflect in general the
respective levels of pay in the various departments. Skilled main
tenance men and engineers, firemen, and generator-switchboard
operators in the powerhouse averaged $1.00 or more an hour, whereas
virtually all workers in the chemical-preparation and spinning depart
ments had earnings within the 20-cent range from 85 cents to $1.05.
Maintenance helpers and such miscellaneous occupations as stock
clerks, stockmen, truck drivers, and watchmen earned between 80
and 90 cents an hour. Earnings below 80 cents an hour were reported
for a majority of the textile occupations as well as for hand truckers,
clean-up men, and general laborers.
There was much less dispersion in the earnings of women than in
those of men. The lowest earnings, 59.1 cents an hour, were for
clean-up workers, and the highest, 84.3 cents, were for wringer opera
tors. Nine-tenths of these workers were in occupations averaging
between 65 and 80 cents an hour. Throwers (twisters) and yarn
6 These'-plans w ill be discussed in greater detail in a later report.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1152
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
T a b l e 2.S tr a ig h t-T im e Average Hourly Earnings and Going Rates of First-Shift
W orkers in Selected K ey Occupations in the Rayon Industry, M ay 1944
Going job rate
H ourly earnings
O ccupational classification byprocess, departm ent, and sex
T otal sp.lootod oooupations
N u m N u mof
ber of berork
plants wers
t aver
t aver
In P lanage
In P lanage
N um dus
N um ber
dus
of
ber of w ork try
try
aver M in M ax plants ers a v e r M in Max
age im um im um
age imum imum
25 23,290 $0.883
25 30,605 $0.840
Viscose process 1
Chemical preparation—M ale workers *
Chemical d e p artm e n t______
F ilter c le a n e rs___ __ ________
P u lp handlers_____ . ________
Spinning—M ale workers:
Doffers___________ ________ _ -Jetm en ___ ______ . ------ - S p i n n e r s . ______ _ ----------Spinners, including doffers_____
Spinners, including doffers, continuous p ro c e s s .................... .......
W ashing, bleaching, and drying:
M ale workers:
Oakp, w rappars
D rier operators___ ____ . . .
W asher operators---------------W ringer operators_____ ____
Fem ale workers:
Cake w rappers_____________
D rier operators------------------W ringer operators_______ __
20 1,849
13
88
16
142
.940 $9. 825 $1.126
.884 .745 1.061
.824 .665 1.065
8
18
10
8
985 .999
123 .940
844 1.025
848 .965
.866
.641
.875
.886
2
129 1.012
(2)
19 1,817
12
80
142
16
.956 $0. 825 $1.136
.874 .745 1.000
.838 .665 1.065
1.110
1.287
1.239
1.080
7
15
10
4
971 1.010
91 .947
844 1.027
177 .957
.943
.641
.875
.924
(2)
2
129 1.012
( 2)
1.112
1. 242
1.239
1.003
(2)
3
11
13
7
49
62
885
96
.933
.913
.886
.873
.755 .966
.787 1.135
.787 .954
.688 .915
11
11
6
62
653
92
.913
.925
.885
.787 1.135
.787 1.008
.688 .960
12
4
4
518
18
79
.811
.672
.843
.600 .970
.569 1. 135
.687 .951
5
3
2
124
9
65
.839
.666
.867
.600 .945
.569 1.133
5 1,005 1.002
.993 1. 073
5 1,005 1.014
.994 1.095
229
30
385
.915
.957
.915
.850 .991
.870 1.022
2
4
3
2 1,036
.942
(2)
3
2
407
30
.765
.775
.753
(2)
2
8
16
13
6
6
4
55
48
65
183
469
22
192
18 1,060
247
10
9
114
983
9
11 2,541
21 4, 666
8
100
( 2)
( 2)
Acetate process
Chem ical preparation—M ale workers •
Chemical dep artm en t.....................
Spinning:
M ale workers:
Doffers____ ______________
Jetm en ___ .
_ _
Spinners, including to p m e n ..
Spinners, including topm en
and doffers
__. . _____
Fem ale workers:
Doffers____________________
. ..
J e tm e n ... . . . ____ .
2
4
3
229
30
385
.934
.956
.979
( 2)
(2)
2 1,036
.983
( 2)
.870
(2)
3
2
.922
.730
.856
.794
.754
.874
.745
(2)
(2)
.489 .870
.749 1. 250
.548 1.015
.735 .944
.736 1.023
.741 .795
2
8
14
13
2
5
2
.708
.687
.636
.706
. 722
.701
.676
.623
.617
.510
.603
.612
.608
.580
( 2)
(2)
.850 .991
.960 1.025
(2)
407 .824
30 1.005
.811 1.024
( 2)
(2)
55
48
63
183
190
20
87
.923
.774
.858
.828
.776
.868
.751
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
13
667
193
6
79
7
3
1
7 2,167
5 1,933
94
7
.724
.648
.651
.630
.625
.570
.919
.690
.710
( 2)
( 2)
.756
.730
.675
.645
.645
.580
( 2)
Viscose1 and acetate processes
Finishing:
M ale workers:
Inspectors, p ro d u c t_____ . . .
Packers___________________
Shippers______ ___________
Shipping laborers__________
Throw ers (tw isters)________
Weighers _______ ______ _
Y arn w inders___________ . _
Female workers:
Inspectors, p ro d u ct_________
Inspectors and w rappers____
Packers. __ . . . ___________
Reelers__ ______ _ ______
Throw ers ("twisters) __ __ ___
Y arn w inders____ _ . _
Y a rn w ra p p rs______ _ ___
M aintenance— M ale workers:
B lacksm iths_____________ ____
B lacksm iths’ helpers___________
C arpenters, class A
.
C arpenters, class B ________ __ .
C arpenters’ helpers_____ _____ _
Electricians, class A . . . .
Electricians, class B
Electricians’ helpers__ _______
H u m id ity men __ . . . . _ _
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
15
10
17
16
11
25
li
20
15
18
14
188!
5c
42
2641
66:
127
99!
.898
.957
.760
.818
.779
.806
. 81C
1.097 .897 1.292
.815 .726 . 91C
1.111 1.000 1.210
1.067 .835 1. 285
.842 . 721 1.09£
1.147 . 833 1. 55C
1.010 .725 1.285
.822 .630 1.000
1.043 .847 1.425
15
1C
17
15
1C
24
18
19
14
18
14
188
52
40
26S
56
126
94
.620 .870
.750 1.040
.620 1.015
.736 1.023
.939
.782
.693
1.117 .897 1.280
.827 .726 .930
1.117 1.000 1.295
1.C81 .835 1.285
.851 .750 1.108
1.155 .800 1. 550
1.035 .800 1.285
.832 .750 1.015
1.061 .847 1.425
Wages in Rayon Industry, M a y 1944
1153
T able 2.—-Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings and Going Rates of First-Shift
Workers in Selected Key Occupations in the Rayon Industry, May 1944—Continued
H ourly earnings
O ccupational classification by
process, departm ent, and sex
N um N u m
ber of ber of
plants work
ers
Going job rate
In P lan t aver
In P lan t aver
age
age
dus
N um N u m dus
ber
of
try
ber of
try
aver M in M ax plants w ork aver
ers
M in M ax
age imum im um
age im
um im um
Viscose 1 and acetate processes—Con.
M aintenance—M ale workers—Con.
Lead burners_____
M achinists, class A_ ___
M achinists, class B___
M achinists’ helpers _.
M echanics, maintenance, class A .
M echanics, maintenance, class B .
M echanics’ helpers, maintenance.
M illw rights, class A _
M illw rights, class B
O ilers_______________
Pipe fitters, class A . . .
Pipe fitters, class B . .
Pipe fitters’ helpers
W ater filterers. ____
Pow er— M ale workers:
A shm en_____
Engineers, statio n ary_____
Firem en, stationary boiler___
Generator-switchboard operators.
General:
M ale workers:
Clean-up w orkers____
L aboratory testers, ro u tin e ...
Laborers, general____
Stock c le r k s .___
Stockm en. . . _
Tool clerks. ________
T ru ck drivers. .
...
Truckers, h a n d ______
W atchm en____
W orking leaders__ . . .
Female workers:
Clean-up workers . . .
Laboratory testers, ro u tin e ...
Truckers, h a n d ________
idividuafplants
14
24
15
12
22
21
22
12
9
2C
21
16
20
19
97 $1.472 $1,090 $1,750
270 1.143 1.027 1.400
87 .973 .834 1.172
77 .807 .729 .885
455 1.124 .975 1.343
833 1.012 .775 1.280
748 .807 .682 1. 096
208 1.118 .988 1.291
144 1.C06 .864 1.285
191 .896 .688 1.006
278 1.110 .976 1.417
55 1.083 .725 1.280
231 .822 .710 1.000
58 1.017 .645 1.196
14
23
14
12
23
20
21
12
8
19
21
15
19
17
97
269
85
77
455
820
744
208
142
187
278
53
228
54
9
20
23
13
55 .713 .544 1.035
86 1.214 1.040 1.391
116 1.038 .720 1.223
54 1.154 .720 1.347
7
18
21
13
43 . 646
550 1 015
77 1 209 1 040 1 400
720 1 223
106 1. 021
54 1.155 .730 l! 347
23
534 .691
10
116 .852
25 1,329 .699
16
90 .854
13
61 .889
12
16 .897
19
118 .834
20 1,177 .733
21
297 .842
16
430 1.050
.548
.735
.548
.750
.730
.780
.636
.574
.574
.856
13
16
9
.514 .917
.507 1.003
.539 .826
201
204
536
.591
.796
.685
.968
.997
.903
1.100
1.015
.995
1.082
.954
.978
1.242
$1.478 $1.090 $1. 750
1.162 1.037 1 400
1.000 . 870 1 198
750
885
.819
975 1 348
1.137
1.025 *775 1 280
. 847
750 1 110
1.140 1.088 1 295
1.015 .875 1. 285
.907 . 701 1 015
1.122 .976 1 417
1. 087 . 750 1 285
.836 .750 1 015
1.038 .821 1.196
21
491
6
106
24 1, 311
15
88
13
61
12
16
18
117
18 1.153
9
78
. 707
. 927
.709
.865
.894
.906
. 851
. 787
. 811
602
884
. 552
. 750
. 730
. 780
. 636
. 587
. 616
12
10
8
. 627
.850
.702
917
. 559
672 1 008
.570 .855
183
166
532
968
1 008
955
1 100
1.015
995
1 173
904
976
viscose and cuPra-amm°nium plants combined in order not to disclose identity of
2 N um ber of plants and/or workers insufficient to justify presentation of figures.
winders, which together accounted for well over half of all the women
earned 72.2 and 70.1 cents #n hour, respectively.
The general range in plant occupational straight-time Hourly
earnings is on the whole quite wide. Thus, of the 71 occupational
classifications for which such figures are shown, 10 had a spread in
plant earnings of less than 20 cents; for 37 the spread was between 20
and 40 cents; for 12, between 40 and 50 cents; and for 12, 50 cents or
more. In general, the differences between the minimum and maximum
plant earnings were somewhat greater for maintenance and powerhouse
occupations than for processing occupations. It should be borne in
mind, however, that these figures indicate the greatest possible
difference in interplant earnings, and that many of the plants actually
pay wages within a more limited range. For example, the total
spread in plant averages for class A electricians was from 83.3 cents
m one plant to $1.55 in another. Actually, for 22 of the 25 plants,
the spread in earnings was less than 40 cents (between 95 cents and
$1.35) and for 16 it was less than 15 cents (between $1.05 and $1.20).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1154
Monthly Labor Review— December 1944
On the basis of the data obtained from the 25 plants studied, there
appears to be no consistent regional pattern of variation in wages.
The highest wages are not confined to plants in the Northern States,
neither are the lowest wages paid only in southern plants. Although
some firms operating plants in both Northern and Southern States
pay somewhat lower wages in their southern plants, others have the
same basic wage structure in all their plants, regardless of location.
A comparison of earnings in occupations in which both time and
incentive methods of wage payment were found reveals somewhat
more dispersion in earnings as well as a slightly higher wage level for
incentive than for time workers. In 16 plants in which women
winders were paid on a piece-work basis, earnings varied from 56.0
cents in one plant to 80.6 cents in another, while in 5 plants in which
winders worked on a time basis, earnings varied from 64.1 to 71.5
cents. Seven of the 16 plants paying on an incentive basis had aver
ages which were higher than the highest average for plants paying
winders on a time basis. It should be remembered, however, that
these differences in earnings of time and incentive workers may also be
due in part to interplant variations in wage levels.
GOING JOB RATES
In addition to straight-time average hourly earnings the going
hourly rate is also shown in table 2 for most of the selected key occupa
tions. As previously pointed out, this rate, or the “union rate” as it
is called in union plants, is the time rate paid to a fully qualified worker
who has served the required time in a given occupation. It is gen
erally the highest rate when more than one rate is paid within an
occupation, and in rate ranges it is generally the upper limit of the
range.
The going rate is to be distinguished from the straight-time average
hourly rate. The former is generally a single rate in a given plant,
whereas the latter may be an average of several rates. In such
cases the going rate will usually be higher than the weighted average
of the several rates within the range. No going rate is shown for
occupations in which workers are primarily paid on an incentive or
salaried basis. For this reason, the going-rate figures presented in
table 2 are generally based on fewer plants and fewer workers than are
the straight-time average hourly earnings. These differences in
coverage should be kept in mind in comparing hourly earnings and
going rates.
The average going job rate in the rayon industry in May 1944
was 88.3 cents an hour. This compares with an average straight-time
rate of 84.0 cents an hour for the same month. The 4.3-cent variance
between the two rates is only an approximate measurement of their
difference, because of differences in the size of the groups covered.
The straight-time hourly rate is based on data for 30,605 workers,
whereas the average going rate is based on data for 23,290 workers in
occupations which are primarily on a time basis of wage payment.
The same is true for individual occupations, as in most cases the going
job rate is based on data for fewer plants and fewer workers than the
average straight-time hourly rate.. This is especially true of occupa
tions in the textile department in which incentive methods of pay are
often found.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wages in Rayon Industry, M a y 1944
1155
In general, the differences between the average going rate and the
average straight-time rate were small. In 65 of the 73 occupational
classifications for which these two figures are shown the variation was
less than 5 cents, and in 52 classifications less than 2.5 cents. These
observations lead to the conclusion that the pay of a large proportion
of the workers actually equaled or closely approached the going rate.
In 60 of the 73 cases, the average going rate was higher, and in only
11 was it lower; in two cases there was no difference. The inclusion
of incentive earnings in the straight-time average hourly rate for a
few occupations undoubtedly reduced the difference between the
two rates and may account for the fact that in a few cases the straighttime average hourly earnings were higher than the going rate of the
job. Variations in coverage may also affect the results in some
instances, particularly when the two figures are based on substantially
different groups of plants and workers.
As in the case of straight-time average hourly earnings, the total
range in average plant going rates is rather wide. The difference
between the minimum and maximum going rates varied from less
than 10 cents in three occupations to 75 cents in another occupation.
On the whole, the differences were much larger for maintenance and
powerhouse occupations than for most processing occupations. Of
the 65 occupational classifications for which minimum and maximum
going job rates are presented in table 2, 56 had a spread in average
plant going rates of more than 10 but less than 55 cents, and 37 had a
spread in plant rates of more than 20 but less than 40 cents an hour.
TREND IN EARNINGS OF FACTORY WORKERS
The general level of wages in the rayon industry was substantially
higher during the summer of 1944 than in January 1941. According
to data compiled by the Bureau’s Employment Statistics Division
from reports submitted monthly by cooperating firms in the industry,
gross average hourly earnings (including .premium payments for
overtime and shift differentials) increased from 69.9 cents in January
1941 to 90.2 cents in July 1944, an advance of 29 percent (see table 3).
Most of the increase occurred prior to June 1943 and was due very
largely to a number of general wage increases granted by most plants
in the industry. Automatic increases in a number of plants and
individual merit increases in other plants also account for part of the
increase in earnings. Premium payments for overtime have also had
some influence on the general level of gross hourly earnings, partic
ularly during 1943 and 1944, as the average time worked increased
by approximately 3 hours during that period.
Straight-time earnings increased by 26 percent between January
1941 and April 1944—from 68.4 to 86.2 cents. These earnings do not
include premium payments for overtime, but do include shift-differ
ential earnings. The actual increase in straight-time earnings of firstshift workers would be somewhat lower/1
Gross weekly earnings, which rose from $27.40 in January 1941 to
$39.45 in May 1943, primarily reflected changes in gross hourly earni
T he over-all straight-tim e average hourly earnings based on d ata for w orkers in the selected key jobs
studied are rem arkably consistent w ith th e adjusted average based on th e m onthly reports from cooperating
firms, th e respective figures being 84.0 and 85.9. The slightly higher average based on the m onthly reports
is due p a rtly to th e fact th a t this figure includes shift-differential paym ents, whereas th e average based
on the current survey excludes shift-differential earnings. Differences in p la n t coverage m ay also account
for some of the difference.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1156
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
mgs, although the lengthening of the workweek also resulted in higher
weekly earnings. Throughout 1941 and most of 1942, weekly hours
remained practically unchanged, averaging slightly less than 40 per
week. Weekly hours increased slowly in 1943 and 1944, reaching a
high of 43.4 in May of the latter year.
T a b l e 3 . — Weekly Hours and Hourly and Weekly Earnings of Workers in Manufacture
of Rayon and Allied Products, by Months, January 1941 to July 1944 1
Y ear and m onth
1941:
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 -----------------------------------------------S ep tem b er.. ___________ . . . __________
October........ ................... . . . . . . . . ______
N ovem ber.
. _____ _ .
_____ . _
D ecem ber_____________ ___________ ____
1942:
J a n u a ry ... --------------. .. .. .
F e b ru a ry ____ ______ _. ___ _____ ____
M a rc h .. . . . ____ __________ _______ _ _
A pril.. ___ ___ ._ . . . ___
M a y .. _____________________ ____ ______
J u n e __________________ . ________ . . . .
J u ly ___________________________________
A ugust__________ ________ ________ _
Septem ber ________ . _____ . _________
O ctober.. . . _________________ __ . . .
N o v e m b e r... __________ . . . . . . . ___
D ecem ber-------- . . . . . . _____
...
...
Average
weekly
hours
39.2
38.4
38.9
39.0
39.5
39.3
39.8
39.3
39.2
39.4
39.4
39.1
Average hourly earnings
U n a d ju ste d 2
Cents
69.9
70.2
70.0
70.6
71.2
72.2
72.9
72.8
74.6
77.3
77.5
79.7
A djusted 3
Cents
68.4
68.9
68.6
69.2
69.6
70.6
71.1
71.2
73.0
75.6
75.8
78.0
Average
weekly
earnings
$27.40
26.94
27.28
27.54
28.16
28.35
29.06
28.60
29.29
30.42
30.50
31.13
39.6
80.0
78.2
31.71
3 9 .3
3 9 .6
3 9 .5
3 9 .8
3 9 .7
39.1
3 9 .7
3 9 .5
3 9 .5
3 9 .4
4 0 .7
81 .2
8 1 .2
81 .2
8 0 .3
8 0 .8
82 .4
82 .7
8 4 .5
8 3 .4
8 2 .9
84 .0
7 9 .4
79 .3
79.3
7 8 .3
7 8 .9
8 0 .7
8 0 .7
8 2 .6
81.5
81.1
81.3
31.95
3 2 .15
3 2 .05
32.13
32 . 07
32 . 20
32.85
33.38
32 . 96
3 2 .68
34 .1 8
4 0 .5
4 0 .9
4 1 .3
4 1 .4
4 2 .4
41 .4
4 2 .7
42 .5
42 .2
42 .2
4 2 .7
4 1 .8
8 4 .6
84 .5
84 .8
86 .3
86 .6
90.1
88.0
8 8 .3
9 0 .5
88 .2
8 8 .4
88 .6
82 .0
81 .6
81 .6
8 2 .9
8 2 .5
86 .6
8 3 .7
84.1
86 .4
84 .2
84.1
8 4 .9
34 .2 7
34 . 54
35 . 01
35 . 73
36 . 74
37.32
37 .5 7
37 . 50
3 8 .1 5
3 7 .2 2
37.76
37 . 07
4 2 .2
42 .5
4 2 .8
42 .6
4 3 .4
43 .2
4 3 .0
8 9 .4
8 9 .4
9 0 .0
9 0 .5
9 0 .9
90 .5
9 0 .2
85 .4
85.1
85 .5
8 6 .2
8 5 .9
85 .6
8 5 .5
37 .6 8
38.01
3 8 .56
38 .5 9
3 9 .4 5
3 9 .1 2
38.78
1943 :
Jan u ary .
._ ..................... ........................
F e b ru a ry _____ ____________ ______ . . .
M a rc h ____________ _________________
A pril_______. . . ______ ________________
M’a y ______________ . ________________
J u n e ____________ _________ _______ .
Ju ly ----------------------------------------------------A ugust. . . .
____
.....
S ep tem b er.. . . ______ _ _______ . .
October____________ ________ . . . .
N ovem ber______________________ ____
D ecem ber____ _________________________
1944 :
Jan u a ry _________ _________________ . . .
F e b ru a ry ___________________ ______ . . .
M arch ----------- ------------------------------- . . .
A p r il.................. ................. .
. ._ _ _.
M a y _________________ ___________
J u n e ________________________ _______
J u ly ___________________________________
1 Compiled b y th e B ureau’s Division of E m ploym ent Statistics from em ploym ent, m an-hour, and pay
roll totals su b m itted m onthly b y cooperating firms.
2 Gross earnings including both prem ium -overtim e and shift-differential earnings.
3 N et earnings excluding prem ium -overtim e earnings b u t including shift-differential earnings.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wages in Rayon Industry, M a y 1944
1157
Earnings of Office Workers
During the course of the survey, wage data were collected also
for 1,307 office workers in 10 selected key occupations. All of these
occupations are below the top executive and administrative levels.
Most of the workers in these occupations are" women, and for that
reason it is not feasible to show separate figures by sex.
The average hourly earnings of office workers varied from 49.6
cents for office boys or girls to 83.1 cents for class A stenographers,
(table 4). Despite this wide range, nearly a half (48.6 percent) of
the workers studied were in three occupations averaging 80 cents or
more an hour, and nearly another fifth were in three other occupations
which averaged between 70 and 80 cents an hour.
Individual plant averages indicate wide interplant variations in
earnings. Accounting clerks show the greatest spread in earnings
(from 59.0 cents in one plant to $1,051 in another) and office boys
and girls show the least spread (from 40.7 cents in one plant to 60.0
cents in another). For 3 of the 10 selected occupations, the total
spread in plant average hourly earnings was over 40 cents; for 3, be
tween 30 and 40 cents; for 3, between 20 and 30 cents; and for 1,
slightly less than 20 cents.
T a b l e 4 . — Straight-Time Average H ourly Earnings of Workers in Selected K ey Office
Occupations, May 1944
H ourly earnin gs
Occupation
N um ber of N um ber of
plants
workers
Industryaverage
P la n t average
M inim um
A ccounting clerks- _____ ____ __ .
C lerk-typists__________
_____
General clerks- _____ __ ____ ___
Office boys or girls_____________________
Order clerks_____________________
Pay-roll clerks_________ ________
Stenographers, class A ___ . . _______ _
Stenographers, class B _____ _ __ __
Sw itchboard operators___ _______ _
T y p ists_____________ __________ _____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
17
12
8
15
9
13
14
19
14
14
345
133
213
53
50
157
77
138
40
101
$0. 816
.608
.800
.496
.708
.719
.831
.678
.723
.623
$0. 590
.500
.608
.407
.572
.591
.665
.558
.575
.481
M axim um
$1,051
.798
.832
.600
.907
.923
1.093
.804
.978
.873
Em ploym ent Conditions
C urrent D evelop m en ts in M anpow er R eq u irem en ts
and Labor Su pply 1
Summary
APPRAISAL of current manpower needs in the munitions industries
and of the personnel demands of the armed forces indicates that
there is no general manpower shortage but there are urgent needs
for workers in certain types of war production.
The decline in employment in the munitions industries of approxi
mately 10 percent between the peak in November 1943 and September
1944 was due largely to downward revisions in many programs and
increased output per worker in many industries; there is no indication
that any appreciable part of this decline was due to voluntary shifts
to nonwar work. The critical production shortages from now until
the end of the war in Europe will be due in most cases to rapidly
increased demands for certain products.
The total labor force, including the armed forces, expanded in the
12 months ending in September 1944 by half a million more than the
normally expected increase. During every month of 1944 the number
of women in nonagricultural activities was greater than that in the
same month of 1943.
The armed forces, according to present plans, will cause a net
withdrawal of 400,000 persons from civilian activities during th e 6month period between November 1944 and March 1945. Th ese
withdrawals should have no appreciable effect on the labor force now
employed in war activities.
Recent Changes in M unitions Production and Employment
November 1943 marked the peak of both output and employment
in the munitions industries. Thereafter, production declined about
5 percent, from an annual rate of 66.7 billion dollars in November to
63.6 billion dollars in September. During the same period employ
ment dropped b}^ 10 percent, from 10.4 million to 9.3 million workers.
This decrease in production followed largely the downward revisions
in many of the major programs. The more than proportionate de
crease in employment was due primarily to the increased output per
worker as a result of improved utilization of labor and growing ex
perience in munitions production. In some specific segments of muni
tions production, manpower problems continue to be serious. With
the exception of foundries, many of the production bottlenecks have
1 T h is is th e sixth of a series of periodic statem ents on m anpow er requirem ents and labor su p p ly published
jointly b y th e B ureau of L abor Statistics of th e U nited States D ep artm ent of L abor and the R eports and
Analysis Service of th e W ar M anpow er Commission. T h e present figures were released on N ovem ber 11,
1944.
1158
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Employment Conditions
1159
arisen not because of labor shortages but because of schedules that
were accelerated at an extremely rapid rate as, for example, in heavy
field artillery and ammunition. Some of the so-called labor bottle
necks were actually caused by frequent changes in design, such as
air-borne radar, which made it impossible for such programs to reach
scheduled production levels.
Although total output in the munitions industries since November
1943 has declined 5 percent, there have been significant differences
in the trend of both production and employment in certain compo
nents of the munitions industries. One of the most impressive devel
opments is that which has occurred in the aircraft industry where
the combined effects of sharp increases in output per worker and
reductions in program have resulted in significant declines in employ
ment. After November 1943, employment decreased continuously,
so that by the end of September 1944 it was lowered by more than
300,000, or approximately 15 percent. Production, on the other
hand, continued upward until March 1944 and then started to decline
as a result of program cuts. However, in September 1944, output
in these industries was still 5 percent above the November 1943 level.
In the shipbuilding industry employment in September 1944 was
under that of November 1943 by about 200,000, or approximately
11 percent. The decrease in production in this industry between
these 2 months was 12 percent. In line with program reductions,
production of small-arms ammunition in September 1944 was almost
two-thirds less than that of November 1943.
As the result of combat experience, major upward revisions were
made in the programs for a number of items. For example, after a
decrease in production of heavy artillery in the early part of 1944,
production was pushed up in the latter half of the year. The pro
duction of large-size ammunition and aerial bombs, reflecting the
increased use of such ammunition in combat, was over one-fourth
greater in September 1944 than in November 1943.
Labor Requirements in the M unitions Industries
Official production schedules, based on the continuation of the war
in Europe, call for continuing sharp decreases in aircraft employment,
small rises in communication and electronic equipment, and large
rises in artillery ammunition, aerial bombs, new model tanks, and
heavy trucks. Employment in shipbuilding in March 1945 is sched
uled to be at current levels.
If these schedules are maintained, and if they are met, there will be
no net change in munitions employment before March 1945. Attain
ment of many of the scheduled goals in the critical items may well be
considered problematical in view of shortages of facilities and needed
components for new products which are wanted in large volume.
Numerous technical difficulties also stand in the way of sharp increases
in the production of specific items needed. These problems are now
hampering the production of such items as heavy artillery, artillery
ammunition, aerial bombs, and air-borne radar. Therefore, although
the present downward trend in total munitions employment may
continue, the basic reason will not be a general manpower shortage.
Nevertheless, shortages of workers for certain types of production will
continue to present a problem.
618627— 44------- 4
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1160
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
,
Labor-Force Changes September 1943-September 1944
Except for seasonal changes, the total labor force (including the
armed forces) continued to increase from the high level reached in
1943. The increase of 1.1 million workers from September 1943 to
September 1944 (see table) was about double the “normal” increment
in the labor force that could have been expected during this period.
Although the total labor force increased, the civilian labor force
showed a net loss of 900,000 workers from September 1943. The ad
dition of 1.1 million workers to the total labor force was not sufficient
to offset an increase of 2 million in the net strength of the armed
forces, from 9.8 million to 11.8 million.
The September, 1944 level of 800,000 persons reported as unememployed equaled the low point reached in April 1944. This repre
sented a decline of 200,000 from September 1943.
Employment in September 1944 in nonagricultural activities showed
a net decline of 300,000 persons from September 1943. Employment
of men in these activities was 800,000 under that of September 1943,
but there was an increase of 500,000 women in such emplovment.
Agricultural employment declined by 400,000 in this period. "
It is significant to note that every month during 1944 the number of
women in nonagricultural activities was greater than that of the same
month in 1943. It is apparent that the number of women entering the
labor force has been sufficiently large to more than offset the with
drawals of women from the labor market.
For certain components of nonagricultural activities, significant
changes in employment were shown between September 1943 and
September 1944. The decrease in munitions employment amounted
to 900,000 during this period (1.1 million between November 1943 and
September 1944). Other manufacturing activities decreased by
400,000. Similarly, there was a 400,000 drop in construction employ
ment. These declines were partially offset by an increase of 500,000
in trade and service; the greater part of this rise.was in service
activities.
The data are not sufficiently refined to permit a clear indication as
to the movement of workers leaving the munitions industries. It is
clear, however, that the reduction in munitions employment was not
the result of a mass exodus from the labor force. Large numbers of
those who left munitions industries employment went into the military
services. In view of the large differences in weekly earnings between
the munitions industries and those which gained in emplojunent, it is
questionable whether any large numbers of workers left the munitions
industries for such employment voluntarily.
,
The Armed Forces September 1944-M arch 1945
The effect of military needs, September 1944 to March 1945, will be
mostly that of a continued drain of young men from civilian employ
ment and schools. On September 1 , 1944, the armed forces included
11.8 million persons. Present plans call for an additional 700,000
persons to be withdrawn from civilian life in the next 6 months at a
monthly rate of approximately 115,000. The Army, which appears
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Employment Conditions
1161
to have reached peak strength, plans to utilize its new additions as
replacements for anticipated battle casualties and attrition. The
Navy, in addition to needs for replacements, will recruit personnel to
bring its net strength up to a goal of 4 million by July 1, 1945.
It is estimated that 50,000 veterans will continue to return to the
labor force each month until YE-day and will constitute a partial
offset to the new recruits into the armed forces. Thus, the net with
drawals from civilian activities during the next 6 months into the
armed forces will not be more than 400,000 persons.
As the Army and Navy approached their goals and sufficient
strength was built up for the invasions, sharp curtailments took
place in the numbers of those who went into the armed forces. The
rate of withdrawals in the latter part of 1943 and the early months
of 1944 was over twice the present monthly rate of 115,000.
Armed force withdrawals between September 1944 and March 1945
should have no appreciable effect on the labor force employed in war
activities. About 60 percent of the new recruits, or over 400,000
men, to meet the stated requirements will come from enlistments or
inductions of those 17-18 years old. An additional 50,000 will be
female enlistments. The remaining 250,000 are available from among
Selective Service registrants 18-26 years of age now classified in 1-A.
On the basis of these military requirements, there appears to be no
need for the induction of any substantial number of males over 26
years of age or the reclassification of those presently deferred because
of essentiality in industry.
Growth and Distribution of the Labor Force, September 1940-September 1944 1
N um ber of workers (in millions)
Classification
Septem
ber 1944
Septem
ber 1940
Septem
ber 1941
Septem
ber 1942
Septem
ber 1943
T otal labor force, including arm ed forces---------------M ale s.-- _ -.
.
----------------------------------- --------------------F e m a le s ------ -- --------
54.9
41.3
13.6
57.0
42.7
14.3
59.0
43.5
15.5
63.7
45.4
18.3
64.8
46.2
18.6
Arm ed forces.
------- -----------------------•-----Civilian labor force__________ . . . -- ---------- -- U nem ployed_____ . . . ------------------ -E m ployed________________ - - ------- --A g ricu ltu ral..
------- --------- -- .
-. N onagricultural------------ ---------------------- -M unitions industries 2________________
O ther m an u factu rin g 2________________
Federal w ar agencies__________________
O ther g o v ern m en t4_____________
T ransportation and public utilities_____
C onstruction______________ —
-----M ining______________________________
T rade and service_________________ -O ther L _____
_____
___ _____
.5
54.4
6.2
48.2
10.3
37.9
4.4
6.9
.1
4.0
3.1
2.0
.9
11.4
5. 1
2.0
55.0
4.2
50.8
9.3
41.5
6.1
7.9
.3
4.0
3.4
2.6
1.0
12.0
4.2
4.6
54.4
1.5
52.9
8.9
44.0
8.4
7.8
1.1
4.0
3.5
2.3
1.0
11.5
4.4
9.8
53.9
1.0
52.9
9.0
43.9
10.2
7.4
1.6
3.8
3.7
1.1
.9
11.0
4.2
11.8
53.0
.8
52. 2
8.6
43.6
9. 3
7.0
1.6
3.9
3.8
.7
.8
11. 5
5.0
1 Sources: D ata for civilian labor force, unem ploym ent, and agricultural and nonagricultural em ploym ent
are from M o n th ly R epoit on the Labor Force, B ureau of the Census; d ata for components of nonagricultural
em ploym ent, from B ureau of L abor Statistics.
.
2 Includes all metal-using industries, rubber industries, and selected chemical industries and Governm ent
m anufacturing arsenals and n av y yards.
.
2 Includes tobacco, paper and allied products, printing, publishing, lum ber, furniture, finished lum ber
products, stone, clay and glass industries, food, textiles, apparel, leather, and parts of chemicals and miscel
laneous m anufacturing.
4 Includes State and local governm ent; Federal G overnm ent (except w ar .agencies, navy yards and m an
ufacturing arsenals).
, .
s Includes self-employed, proprietors, domestic servants, and adjustm ent for statistical dinerences between
B ureau of L abor Statistics and Census series.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1162
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
M easures R elatin g to Labor in I ta ly 1
AFTER the Allied penetration of Italy, conditions affecting the
workers were placed under the supervision of the Allied Military
Government, the Allied Control Commission, and the Ministry of
Industry, Commerce, and Labor of the newly created Italian Govern
ment. A Directorate of Labor was established to organize and
develop a labor program. Through the cooperation of these agencies,
by September 1944, collective agreements and labor and wage laws
and regulations had been reestablished and enforced. The labor
policy of the Italian Government, in areas under its control, is under
the supervision of the Allied Control Commission. Labor reforms,
instituted by the Allied Control Commission and the Italian Govern
ment, are being carried out on the basis of military orders in Com
mission-controlled territory and by agreement of the Italian Govern
ment in Italian-controlled territory.
Fascist control over labor and Fascist labor syndicates have been
abolished, and the rights of the workers to organize, hold meetings,
and select representatives for collective bargaining have been estab
lished. Labor disputes are settled by arbitration or conciliation
without the use of compulsion. Regional and Provincial offices have
been created, to provide placement service and to serve as field offices
for the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Labor in industrial
relations, collection of statistics, and performance of other adminis
trative functions. Fascist officials in charge of the social-security
agencies have been removed from office, and the agencies themselves,
with their functions and procedures revised, have been coordinated
with the labor offices. The social-security system is operating, but
the Italian Government has appointed a committee to reform it.
An attempt has been made to curb inflation and raise wages in
order to balance the workingman’s budget. Supplementary rations
of food have been provided for laborers on heavy work.
A general Confederation of Italian Labor has been organized in
Rome by three political parties under which unions and federations
had previously been formed. A few* new and independent unions
have been organized, but in other cases the members of the dissolved
Fascist syndicates have merely elected new leaders and changed the
names of the organizations, which now function as unions. Another
important labor confederation is the so-called Party for Action. All
of these groups have been invited to join the General Confederation
of Italian Labor.
German-Controlled Northern Italy
The part of Italy still controlled by the German Nazis is known as
the Italian Social Republic. Governmental labor functions are under
the Ministry for Corporative Economy, under which the National
Commissariat for Labor functions. Industry has been nationalized.
Publishing firms and newspapers were the first to come under such
control. A legislatiye decree of February 12, 1944, which nation
alized industry, went into effect on June 30, 1944. The Minister
of Corporative Economy was given the responsibility of administer1 D ata are from advance release of Office of W ar Inform ation (NB-2838) for F riday afternoon papers
October 27, 1944; D er B und (Bern, Switzerland), June 5, 1944.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Employment Conditions
1163
ing the decree, but reports indicate that some difficulty was en
countered in carrying out its provisions.
In order to relieve the food situation, Mussolini on June 2 sent the
heads of the Provinces a telegram containing a number of instruc
tions, the most important of which were as follows: The representa
tives of the workers and employees, together with the local Provincial
authorities, were to deal with the food supply in all the Provinces;
employers were to open communal kitchens in the various cities, with
uniform prices for meals; all workers were to be entitled to buy the
most necessary foodstuffs at special canteens inside the factories or
workplaces; restaurants in hotels were in future to serve low-priced
“standard meals,” and penalties were authorized for violations of
this provision; in all Provinces, workers were to form cooperatives to
supply their families with foodstuffs. These instructions were
followed by further measures to take care of specific food shortages
and excessive prices in various industrial centers.
In the early part of September 1944 the Commissariat for Labor
worked out the first wage regulations for metallurgical engineering,
cotton, silk, chemical, and building industries. Under these regula
tions, wages for unskilled workers are placed on an hourly basis, and
the principle of the guaranteed wage is confirmed in relation to the
wage rates of the various categories. As soon as wage regulations
for all vocations have been prepared, the remainder of the labor
agreements will be subject to examination, especially as to holidays,
dismissal, and indemnities.
*# # # # # <
In d u strial E m p loym en t in M exico, 1 9 4 3 1
INDUSTRIAL employment in Mexico increased 28 percent in 1943,
the number of workers employed in 129 industries rising from 406,986
on December 31, 1942, to 520,712 on the same date of 1943. The
number of enterprises increased from 8,497 to 15,191, or by 78.8 per
cent, during the year.
The accompanying table shows, for the 23 industries employing
more than 5,000 persons each at the close of 1943, the number of
enterprises, the total number of workers, and distribution by sex (with
comparable figures for 1942, except for distribution by sex).
In 1943, by far the largest number of enterprises were found in the
grain-milling and bakery industries, but these were small establish
ments, with an average labor force per plant of only 2.6 and 6.5 persons
respectively, as compared with 34.3 persons for all 129 industries
covered and 37.1 persons for the 23 industries having the largest total
employment. Railways, metal mines, cotton fabric and yarn manu
facture, sisal-hemp processing, and the manufacture of sugar, alcohol,
etc., together accounted for 245,333 workers, or 47.1 percent of all
employees in the 129 industries. Moreover, the 1,059 enterprises in
these 5 industries employed an average of 231.7 persons each.
i
Data are from special report No. 5 from W. K. Ailshie, second secretary, United States Embassy a t
Mexico City, September 15, 1944.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1164
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
Of the larger industries, building construction showed the greatest
increase in employment from 1942 to 1943—from 381 to 5,266, or
1,282 percent; highways and paving an increase from 1,430 to 10,356,
or 624 percent; forestry products an increase from 6,700 to 14,636, or
118 percent; and bakeries and pastry an increase from 4,147 to 8,420,
or 103 percent; chemicals, an increase of 57 percent; and printing,
bookbinding, and related industries, also 57 percent. The greatest
increase in the smaller industries not separately shown in the table
occurred in truck and autobus transportation, in which employment
rose from 239 in 1942 to 2,391 in 1943, or 900 percent; other industries
in this group showing considerable increases were carpentry (91 per
cent) and fishing (73 percent).
Employment in Mexican Industrial Enterprises, as of December 31, 1943
N um ber of
enterprises
Em ploym ent
In d u strial groups
1943
1942
1943
1942
T otal
M en
W omen
All groups__________________________________
8,497
15,191
406,986
520, 712
470, 350
50,362
Bakeries and p a stry ______________ __________
Bananas (cultivation, exploitation and process
ing)—
Building construction_______________________
C hem icals___________ . _____________________
Clothing m a n u fa c tu re ...__________________
C onstruction m aterials______________________
C otton fabrics and y arn s_____________________
Electrical energy (generation)_______________
Footw ear___________________________________
Forestry p roducts_______________________
"
G rain m ills__________________ ____ _________
H ighways and p a v in g ..__________________ ~~I~
M etal m ines______ _________________________
M etalw are___ _________________________~~~~~~
M illinery________________________________
Petroleum and derivatives______________ I.
Printing, binding, and related industries______
R ailw ays___ ______________________
Sisal hem p processing__________________
Sm elters______________________________
Sugar, alcohol, e tc ___ ______ __________
Telephone, telegraph, and radio broadcasting
(unofficial) ____ _________________________
Wool fabrics and y a rn s______________
O ther____ ____ ____________________
383
1, 300
4,147
8, 420
7,487
933
3
105
369
146
295
291
172
84
3,243
5
104
442
123
1
205
21
202
10
157
2
10
204
508
266
360
397
351
163
5,312
12
219
752
148
1
354
24
199
41
257
381
3, 575
7, 345
5, 373
52, 630
10, 076
3,355
6,700
9, 260
1,430
44, 827
9,820
4,644
16, 999
3, 724
58,164
44, 986
4, 034
25,006
5,266
5,600
8,884
6,540
54, 794
10,130
5,317
14, 636
13, 653
10,356
58,162
12,620
5, 087
16,999
5,865
58, 770
44,815
5,910
28, 792
5,255
3,195
2,752
6,440
50, 224
9,681
4,460
13, 701
8,711
10, 342
57,848
11,813
1,646
16, 826
5,134
58,010
44,156
5,862
28, 424
11
2,405
6,132
100
4, 570
449
857
935
4,942
14
314
807
3, 441
173
731
760
659
48
368
5
99
2,032
59
109
4,143
60
8, 779
81, 671
5,396
8,317
111, 264
4,426
7,035
91,819
970
1,282
19,445
Industries employing a greater number of women than men were
clothing manufacture and millinery. In these, women constituted
69.0 and 67.6 percent, respectively, of the total.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Employment Conditions
1165
U n em p loym en t in Spain, February 1 9 4 4 1
THE Spanish Interministerial Board for Unemployment-Relief Works
(Junta Interministerial de Obras para Mitigar el Paro) reported as of
February 1944 that 211,140 persons were registered as unemployed.
(The total population of Spain is estimated at about 26,000,000.)
Although this figure indicated an increase in unemployment of 3.4
percent over that recorded in January, by the end of March the same
reports showed only 194,000 unemployed. The registered unemployed
reported at the end of 1940 totaled slightly over 511,000, and at the
end of 1941 approximately 405,000. No information is available
regarding the interpretation in Spain of the terms “unemployment”
and “unemployed”—whether they refer strictly to persons without
jobs, or whether they include those both employed and unemployed
who register for jobs at the employment exchanges.
A system of employment exchanges, which provided for the regis
tering of all applications for work in the mayoralty offices of the various
municipal councils, was inaugurated by a law of November 27, 1931.
According to legislation of June 25, 1935, these local registers were to
be used in obtaining employees for public works. The numbers of
unemployed reported under this system on December 31, 1934, and
December 31, 1935, respectively, were 687,930 and 674,161. The
regulations “hitherto in force” for the local registers and employment
exchanges were continued by a law of May 3, 1940, which, however,
placed the local organization under the direct supervision of the Trade
Union Office of the Traditionalist Spanish Phalanx and the NationalSyndicalist Shock Brigades.
The unemployed persons registered in the Province of Madrid,
in February 1944, numbered 78,579, or 37.2 percent of all registered
unemployed in the country; in the Province of Seville the number was
16,890, or 8.0 percent of all unemployed. Next to these Provinces
came Cádiz; Málaga, and Barcelona, each having only about half
as many registered unemployed as were shown for Seville. These
five provinces accounted for a total of 122,025 unemployed, or 57.8
percent of all registered unemployment in Spain.
The total registered unemployment in February 1944, classified
by age and sex, was as follows:
Num ber
T o ta l u n em ployed_____________________________ 211, 140
M ales_____________
U nder 20 years.
20 to 50 y ears..
O ver 50 y e a rs ..
F em ales______ _____
U nder 20 years.
20 to 50 y ears..
O ver 50 y e a rs ..
152,
13,
115,
23,
58,
5,
47,
4,
629
910
570
149
511
855
718
938
Percent
of total
100. 0
72. 3
6. 6
54. 7
11. 0
27. 7
2. 8
22. 6
2. 3
1 D ata are from Spain, Boletín del M inisterio de Trabajo, Sanidad, y Previsión (M adrid), Ju ly 1935,
January, February, and M arch 1936; Anuario de Legislación Social (Dirección General de Trabajo, M ini
sterio de Trabajo, Sanidad, y Prevision, M adrid), vol. I, 1935; Revista de Trabajo (M inisterio de T ra
bajo, M adrid), April 1944; Portugal, Commissariado do DesemprSgo, M inistério das Obras Públicas e
Comunicagóes, Boletim N úm ero 23, ano de 1941 (Lisbon, 1942) and M ay and June 1942; International Labor
Office, Legislative Series, 1931-Spain 17, 1935-Spain 3, and 1940-Spain 3; and report of R obert E. W hedbee,
economic analyst, U nited States Em bassy, M adrid, A ugust 22, 1944 (No. 192).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1166
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
The following table shows unemployment in February 1944, by
industry and sex.
Number of Unemployed in Spain, February 1944, by Industry and Sex
In d u stry
All in d u s trie s _____
Total
num ber Males
Fe
males
211,140 152,629
58,511
A griculture and forestry.. 41,969
M aritim e___________
1,627
Food______
11,108
E xtractive_____________
1,915
M etallu rg y_______ _ _
1,730
Small m etal works .
4,560
Electrical a n d scientific
m aterials. . . . . . . .
593
C hem icals.._ _ _ . . . _.
5,337
C onstruction . .
44,125
W o o d w o rk in g ... . . __
3,637
Textiles_____ ..
4,323
Ready-to-wear clothing
and m illin ery .. . . . .
5,758
38,624
1,403
6,186
1,836
1,427
4,104
3, 345
124
4,922
79
303
456
383
1, 511
43,908
3,411
1,078
210
3,826
217
226
3,245
1,789
3,969
In d u stry
T otal
num ber Males
G raphic a rts. ___ . . .
2,049
Railw ay transportation. _
853
O ther land transportat i o n . . . ____
8,088
Sea and air transporta
tion
2,461
W ater, gas, electricity__
1,400
Communications
211
Commerce in general___
7,951
H otels, restaurants, e tc ..
7,276
H ealth services. . .
16,233
Banks, insurance, and
offices____ . . .
16, 990
Amusem ents
3,403
Other industries and
professions____
17, 643
Fe
males
1,693
597
356
256
7,991
97
2,452
1,377
111
5,133
5,954
1,439
9
23
100
2,818
1, 322
14, 794
11,016
2,363
5,974
1,040
6,843
10, 800
Placement statistics as recorded by the exchanges in February 1944
are presented below.
A pplications, to ta l_____________________________
M ales-------------------------------------------------------F em ales------------------------------------------------------P lacem ents, to ta l_______
M ales------------------------------------------------------ 1
F em ales____________________________________
Excess of p lacem ents over a p p licatio n s____________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
040
32^ 214
2 ,826
3 7 t 265
33,’ 218
4 047
2 , 225
35
W artime Policies
WMC Program to R educe M igration o f Labor 1
THE War Manpower Commission has developed a program to reduce
migration from labor-shortage areas and to encourage the movement of
workers from surplus-labor regions into sections having a shortage of
manpower. The program has two aspects: (1) Conducting publicity
on a normal and area basis, and (2) tightening the procedures for the
referral of in-migrants under existing regulations.
The publicity programs are to emphasize the fact that all migrant
workers now require a statement of availability in order to be referred
in the area of in-migration. Workers are to be urged to consult local
offices of the U. S. Employment Service in the area they are leaving, in
order to facilitate their referral when they reach their destination.
For a person who does not normally require a statement of avail
ability in his present work,2publicity is to be directed toward stimulat
ing him to consult the local employment office, before he migrates, in
order to obtain information about employment opportunities and to
procure the necessary evidence of his availability. In addition, every
effort is to be made to induce such a prospective migrant to take a
local job in essential industry. If this cannot be done, effort is to be
made to persuade him to go to an area where there is a shortage of
workers. If such an individual finally decides to migrate, the local
office is to issue a “ statement of availability” after such investigation
as may be necessary or feasible to establish the facts as presented by
the worker. When such a statement is issued, it is not to be limited
in any way to a specific area even though the worker himself has
indicated the community to which he is going.
After reaching his destination, a worker who was employed in an
essential or locally needed activity during the preceding 60 days must
present a statement of availability from his employer or the USES in
the area he left. In the absence of this statement, or other evidence of
availability, no referrals are to be made of such workers unless they
have migrated to labor-shortage areas. In such case a temporary
referral may be made if the worker is willing to accept it, pending
receipt of information from the area he left concerning his availability
for referral. If this statement is not forthcoming the USES is to re
quire the worker’s immediate release from employment, and he may
not be referred, except as the result of a successful appeal for such a
statement, for 60 days from the date of leaving his last employment
in essential or locally needed activity.
If the worker is unwilling to accept temporary referral to a job
opening, he is to be offered any other referral either temporary or
otherwise until he furnishes a statement of availability or until the
1 W ar M anpow er Commission, Field Instruction No. 552, Septem ber 30, 1944.
2 B y reason of being in less-essential em ploym ent, of being a new en tran t, etc.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1167
1168
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
expiration of 60 clays from the date of leaving his last employment in
essential or locally needed activity, whichever occurs first.
In the area of in-migration, the worker who has been in less-essential
employment or who for other reasons has not been required heretofore
to have a statement of availability, is to be offered immediate referral
upon furnishing the statement required under the new program.
P roced u res for B orrow in g W orkers in N ew Y ork A r e a 1
BORROWING employees for “ must” war plants is covered by an
agreement made recently between the Regional War Manpower
Commission and the Regional War Labor Board for the New York
area. The Commission is to furnish the Board with a certification
that a specified “ borrowing” employer suffers from a war manpower
shortage which cannot be met by the available supply of workers in
his area or through clearance.
In addition, the Board is to receive from the Commission a docu
ment signed by each “ lending” employer. That paper is to list the
name of each “ available” employee, his job classification, and rate of
pay, and must state that after the “ loan” each worker shall be
reemployed by the lending employer at his listed rate, with full
seniority for the period of the loan, which in no case is to exceed 90
days. Also necessary for the completion of this phase oil the under
taking is the written assent of each available employee to his proposed
loan. The Commission is also to furnish the Board with a second
document, signed by each borrowing employer, covering the same
points (where applicable) as that of a lending employer.
The Board is also to receive from the Commission a statement signed
by an authorized representative of a duly recognized or certified
collective-bargaining agent of the “ lending” employer’s employees
consenting to each “ loan.” A similar statement is to be furnished by
the collective-bargaining agent of a “ borrowing” employer with regard
to each “ borrowing.” It also is to include assent to the right of each
borrowed employee (if he is a member) to maintain the union mem
bership he held immediately preceding the borrowing, without inter
ference from such agent.
On receipt of the foregoing data from the Commission, the Board is
to authorize the borrowing employer to pay to each borrowed em
ployee, during the period of the loan, the wage rate properly established
in the plant for employees of similar skill and productive ability within
the classification in which the borrowed worker is employed, or the
wage rate he was receiving just prior to the loan, whichever is higher.
However, the borrowing employer is not authorized to increase, with
out prior Board approval, the rates paid his other employees nor is he to
be warranted, in seeking such approval, to cite the action of the Board
as a precedent to justify increases in such rates.
W M C -W L B (Region 2) A greement W ith Reference to “ M u st” Program s.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wartime Policies
1169
F u ll M ilitary Status for A rm y N u rse C o rp s1
SOME 40,000 nurses have become officers, with full military status, in
the United States Army, in accordance with an Executive order based
on Public Law 350, 78th Congress, approved June 22, 1944. The
net effect of the new law was to eliminate the last of a series of legisla
tive limitations which had prevented the Army Nurse Corps, an Army
auxiliary, from becoming a coordinate branch of the Army. Army
nurses now have the same standing as members of the WAC.
Under the Executive order, commissions in their existing grades will
be issued to all Army Corps nurses unless appointment is expressly
declined. Through the law of June 22 and the Executive order,
women dietitians and physical-therapy aides of the Medical Depart
ment of the Army will be commissioned similarly.
When Pearl Harbor was attacked, the nurses in the Army Nurse
Corps numbered only 403. Within a year there were 10,000 and by
July 1944 there were 40,000, with more needed. Authorization has
been given for 50,000.
In December 1942, Army nurses wrere given the same pay as male
officers of equivalent rank. In October 1943, a new plan of organiza
tion made it possible for members of the Nursing Corps to receive more
rapid promotions. The Superintendent of the Corps is a colonel.
Land for W orkers in C o lo m b ia 2
A COLOMBIAN decree for the development of agricultural produc
tion and land colonization issued (under emergency powers of the
President) on October 4, 1944, contains provisions designed to put
land into the possession of workers.
A tenant renting land is given the right to a contract of at least 2
years; if he is to perform labor for the landlord, an additional contract
is to be presumed to exist, under the labor decree of September 30,
1944 (regarding maximum hours for agricultural workers).
Workers may purchase plots of arable land, ranging generally from
25 to 100 hectares 3 in size, which may be paid for at one time, in in
stallments, by amortization, or by quotas from crop income, according
to terms of the contract. Each such plot is to constitute a family
estate which, when all members of the family have reached their
majority, may be awarded to one heir, on his application, provided he
makes a settlement with the other heirs. Implements, houses, and
other equipment are to be procured by the Government directly or
through the Agricultural, Industrial, and Mining Credit Fund.
The allotment of land is to be made by the Minister of National
Economy by means of administrative orders registered in the land
registry offices, such registrations to constitute part of the legal title.
Public documents used in the procedure are to be free from registration
and stamp taxes, etc., and the first 5,000 pesos of value of land and
equipment are to be free from income, inheritance, and excess profits
taxes. Mines and deposits of petroleum on or under the lands allotted
are excluded from adjudications affecting these plots of land.
1 W ar D epartm ent, B ureau of P ublic Relations, Press B ranch, Release (W ashington), Ju ly 12, 1944.
2 D ata are from report of John A. H opkins, agricultural adviser, U nited States Em bassy, Bogota, Colom
bia, October 7, 1944 (No. 433), enclosing decree No. 2365 of October 4, 1944.
3 H ectare=2.47 acres.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Injuries
In ju ries and A ccid en t Causes in th e F ou n d ry Industry
in 1 9 4 2 1
The Industry Record
IT HAS long been recognized that foundry work includes some of
the most hazardous operations found in any manufacturing activity.
Reflecting these occupational hazards, the frequency of disabling
industrial injuries in independent 2 iron and steel foundries, for which
the Bureau of Labor Statistics regularly compiles accident statistics,
has consistently been more than double the national average for all
manufacturing. A comparison of the records for this group and for
all manufacturing, for the 5 years 1939 to 1943, follows:
Injury-frequency rates 1
Independent iron
A ll
and steel foundries
manufacturing
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
___________________________________
35.
36.
47.
49.
47.
9
1
0
7
6
14. 9
15. 3
18. 1
19. 9
20. 0
1 Average num ber of disabling injuries per million man-hours worked.
In 1942, the year selected for detailed study, nearly 50 workers in
independent iron and steel foundries experienced disabling industrial
injuries in the course of every million employee-hours worked. This
rate, which represents about 1 disabling injury for every 9 full-year
employees, was exceeded in only 4 of the 109 other manufacturing
industries for which data were available.3
Coverage, in the present detailed study, was extended to include
not only the independent iron and steel foundries, but also foundries
using nonferrous metals and the foundry departments of establish
ments which are normally considered part of other industry groups.
The participating foundries were classified into three major groups:
Ferrous job foundries, nonferrous job foundries, and other than job
(or non-job) foundries. For more specific comparisons the ferrous
job foundries were further divided into gray-iron foundries, malleableiron foundries, steel foundries, and cast-iron pipe foundries.
1 Prepared in the B ureau’s In d u strial H azards Division by P ran k S. M cE lroy and George R. M cC or
mack. A detailed report of the B ureau’s study, of which this is a sum m ary, will appear in a forthcoming
bulletin. T h e bulletin will contain all statistical tables on which this text is based.
2 Independent in the sense th a t they are exclusively foundry establishm ents. B oth job and production
foundries are included, b u t foundry departm ents which constitute a p a rt of a larger m anufacturing estab
lishm ent are no t included in this group.
8 M anufacturing industries w ith 1942 frequency rates higher th an th a t of iron and steel foundries were
logging 89.6, sawmills 61.7, fiber boxes 55.3, and wooden containers 50.2. (See B ureau of Labor Statistics
B ulletin No. 758: In d u strial Injuries in the U nited States D uring 1942.)
1170
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Injuries
1171
The reporting units included 850 ferrous job foundries, 441 nonferrous job foundries, and 897 non-job foundries, most of which were
departments of larger manufacturing plants. In the aggregate these
2,188 foundries had nearly 246,000 employees who worked more than
553 million employee-hours in the course of the year. The total
volume of disabling injuries reported was 25,363, of which 92 resulted
in death, 30 resulted in permanent total disabilities which will prevent
the injured persons from ever again engaging in any normal occupation,
680 caused permanent physical impairments, and 24,561 resulted in
temporary disabilities involving an average time loss of 15 days each.
In the ferrous job foundries, approximately 1 in every 8 employees
experienced a disabling injury during the year. In the nonferrous
job foundries and also in the non-job foundries the ratio was about
1 disabling injury for every 12 employees.
Reflecting the inclusion of additional types of operations, the
average injury-frequency rate for the entire group of reporting found
ries was 45.8, as compared with the previously mentioned frequency
rate of 49.7 for independent iron and steel foundries. For purposes of
analysis, however, the variations among the different types of foundry
operations are much more enlightening than the general averages.
The nonferrous job foundries, with an average of 35.3 disabling
injuries for each million employee hours worked, had the best injury
record among the several groups. It should be noted, however, that,
even though this was the lowest of the foundry averages it was still
75 percent higher than the average for all manufacturing.
The non-job foundries, consisting mostly of foundry departments
of plants primarily devoted to other activities, had the next highest
average frequency rate, 37.3. It was characteristic of the depart
mental foundries that those which were attached to industries which
normally have low injury-frequency rates had better safety records
than similar foundry departments of the industries with higher rates.
As the operations performed were generally quite comparable, it
stems reasonable to infer that these differences were the result of
variations in the amount of attention devoted to safety rather than
differences in the prevailing hazards.
The entire group of ferrous job foundries included in this study
had an average frequency rate of 52.0. Within this group, however,
the gray-iron foundries had an average of 55.8 disabling injuries per
million employee-hours worked, the highest for any type of foundry
operations; the steel foundries had an average of 50.8, the malleableiron foundries 49.3, and the cast-iron pipe foundries 46.2.
In addition to reporting the lowest injury frequency, the nonferrous
job foundries also reported a much lower proportion of fatal cases than
either of the other foundry groups. In part, the lower frequency rate
as well as the lower proportion of serious injuries in the nonferrous
job foundries probably was due to the lighter type of work done
there. The highest proportion of serious injuries, both fatalities and
permanent impairments, occurred in the non-job foundries, but no
specific reason for this tendency was noted. As between the ferrous
job foundries and the non-job foundries, there was little difference in
frequency rates for serious injuries. The ferrous job foundries, on the
other hand, had a much higher frequency of temporary disabilities
ban the non-job foundries.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1172
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
A possible explanation of the difference in the frequency of injuries
causing temporary total disability is that many of the non-job
foundries were departments of larger plants which have medical units
that give treatment for injuries on the premises and on company time.
In such plants many injured workers have their injuries treated and
return to work without chargeable absence from the plant.. Such
injuries would not be reported as disabling under the standard
definition of a disabling injury, as they involve no lost time beyond the
day of injury. Among the ferrous job foundries, on the other hand,
many are of insufficient size to maintain a medical office, and treat
ment for injuries must be obtained outside the plant. As a result, in
numerous cases injuries which merely need redressing or observation
on days following the day of injury may require the employee to
remain away from work in order to obtain treatment. Consequently,
certain injuries must be counted as disabling and therefore be included
in the frequency rates of some plants, whereas identical cases in other
plants are classed as nondisabling and are excluded from the frequency
rates, depending entirely upon the availability of medical attention
at the workplace. It is possible therefore that, as the frequency of
fatalities and permanent impairments (which is not affected by the
factor of lost time) was approximately the same for both the ferrous
job foundries and the non-job foundries, the considerable difference
in the frequencies of temporary total disabilities for the two groups
may have been due at least in part to differences in plant medical
facilities and not entirely to differences in the actual number of
injuries.
Although the group averages present a relatively unfavorable
picture of safety achievement in the foundry industry, the individual
plant records indicate that safety is not an impossible goal in any
foundry. Over 24 percent of the ferrous job foundries, 63 percent of
the nonferrous job foundries, and 29 percent of the non-job foundries
had no disabling injuries in 1942. It is true that most of the plants
which had zero frequency rates were small, but among them tli6re
were a number of plants which regularly employed over 250 workers
each. An additional 10 percent of the ferrous job foundries, 6 percent
of the nonferrous job foundries, and 14 percent of the non-job foundries
had frequency rates which Vere lower than the 1942 national average
of 19.9 for all manufacturing.
In sharp contrast, a considerable number of plants in each of the
groups had frequency rates of over 100. Most of these plants were
also small, but there were some plants which employed over 500
workers in this extremely high rate group. Generally speaking,
however, the very small foundries with fewer than 24 employees and
large foundries employing 500 or more employees had the lowest
average frequency rates.
In all three classes of foundries the most hazardous departments
were shake-out, melting, and cleaning, chipping, and finishing. The
record of the molding departments was about average in each group.
Pattern shops and core rooms had the lowest injury-frequency rates
among the principal operating departments.
In addition to providing summary reports, which were included in
the general study of injury-frequency rates, 66 of the ferrous job
foundries also supplied details concerning each of their reported
accidents. The 4,600 cases reported were analyzed according to the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Injuries
1173
“American Recommended Practice for Compiling Industrial Accident
Causes” as approved by the American Standards Association. Strictly
speaking, the conclusions drawn from this analysis apply only to
gray-iron, malleable-iron, and steel job foundries, as no other types
of foundries participated in this part of the study. In general,
however, it appears safe to say that the experience of these three
types of job foundries is fairly representative of all ferrous foundries
and, to a somewhat less extent, may be considered as similar to that of
the nonferrous foundries.
The detailed analysis indicated that 26 percent of the disabling
foundry injuries were foot and toe cases, 23 percent were hand and
finger injuries, 10 percent were eye injuries, 12 percent were back
injuries, and 10 percent were other trunk injuries. The greater part
of the injuries to toes, feet, hands, and fingers consisted of cuts,
sprains, bruises, or fractures resulting from mishandling of heavy
materials. Most of the eye injuries were cuts or lacerations inflicted
by flying particles, and nearly all of the back injuries were strains or
sprains resulting from lifting excessive weights or lifting improperly.
Burns, however, were quite numerous and affected all parts of the
body.
Accident Causes
It is generally recognized that every accident may be traced to the
existence of an unsafe working condition, to the commission of an
unsafe act by some individual, or to a combination of these accidentproducing factors. The correction of unsafe working conditions
generally is entirely within the powers of management. The avoid
ance of unsafe acts, on the other hand, requires cooperation and under
standing by both management and workers. Management must
take the lead, however, by providing safety-minded supervision and
by making sure that all workers are acquainted with the hazards of
their operations and are familiar with the means of overcoming those
hazards.
Over 90 percent of the foundry accidents which were analyzed in
this study were found to involve both an unsafe working condition
and an unsafe personal act. It is apparent, therefore, that any
successful foundry safety program must include measures designed
to eliminate both of these accident-producing factors.
UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS
Foundry operations undoubtedly present a wide variety of inherent
hazards, and the problem of achieving safe working conditions in
foundries may seem more difficult than in most other industries.
There are, however, obvious and well-known methods of overcoming
practically all foundry hazards, and the existence of unsafe working
conditions generally may be taken as an indication of slack super
vision.
The great majority of the unsafe conditions revealed by the accident
analysis fell into five general categories. Within individual plants
the relative importance of these categories of unsafe conditions varied
widely. It is apparent, however, that foundries generally should—
(1)
Improve housekeeping conditions in and around all work
places;
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1174
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
(2) Provide and require the use of adequate personal safety equip
ment in all operations presenting hazards which such equipment can
overcome;
(3) Provide mechanical equipment or sufficient assistance when
heavy or bulky materials are to be lifted or moved;
(4) Regularly inspect all tools, material, and equipment for defects,
and immediately repair or replace all defective items; and
(5) Provide and require the use of proper guards for machinery
and equipment.
Hazardous Arrangements or Procedures
The importance of good housekeeping and of the closely allied
condition of safe plant lay-out as a means of avoiding accidents cannot
be overemphasized in any foundry safety program. Thirty percent
of ah the foundry accidents for which full details were available were
directly related to poor housekeeping conditions or unsafe work lay
out. In the gray-iron and steel foundries this group of unsafe condi
tions outranked all others, and in the malleable-iron foundries it was
the third most important category of unsafe conditions.
Materials and equipment placed in irregular and unstable piles,
stored materials which encroached upon aisles and workplaces, loose
materials and equipment left in aisles and workplaces, and congestion
of materials in small spaces were outstanding among the poor house
keeping conditions which led to accidents. Many workers were
struck by materials which fell from improperly built piles; others
bumped into the projecting corners of uneven or improperly placed
piles of materials; and still others slipped on loose sand on the floor or
tripped over tools, materials, vehicles, and debris lying in walkways
or workplaces. A not unusual example of the accidents included in
this group was described in a report covering an injury experienced
by a worker in the course of taking a coreplate from a pile. The
pile, which extended above his head, was composed of various sizes of
plates and at the time of the accident a small plate was on top. This
small plate, however, was pushed back and was not visible to him.
As the worker pulled off what he thought was the top plate, the small
plate slid from the pile and struck his head. In another instance
three flasks, weighing approximately 10 tons, had been piled on rails,
which were resting upon a large casting, bearing upon the cement
core of the casting which had not been removed. Vibrations from
an air drill caused the cement core to crumble and the flasks toppled
on the worker who was using the drill.
Lack of adequate plant space, arising from expanded wartime activi
ties, was the source of many of the poor housekeeping conditions.
Similarly, lack of space was the underlying reason for many of the
unsafe conditions which were classified as hazardous procedures or
poor plant lay-out. The latter group primarily included such unsafe
conditions as the placement of workers in close proximity to one
another so that they interfered with each other’s movements, or to
the placement of operations so that the workers were exposed to the
danger of being struck by cranes, crane loads, or passing vehicles.
Lack of Personal Safety Equipment
Many foundry operations involve inherent hazards which cannot
be successfully eliminated or guarded at the point of operation, but
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Injuries
1175
which can be overcome through the use of proper personal safety
equipment. In these circumstances the use of such equipment is
recognized as an essential condition for the safe performance of the
work, and its absence constitutes an unsafe working condition.
About 1 in every 4 of the disabling injuries in the gray-iron and mal
leable-iron foundries, and 1 in every 6 in the steel foundries, resulted
from unsafe working conditions of this type.
The most common unsafe condition in this group was the lack of
goggles in the performance of work which presented obvious eye
hazards, such as grinding, chipping, or handling molten metal. There
were, however, many instances of unsafe conditions which involved a
lack of other types of safety equipment, such as handling hot materials
without gloves, handling molten metal without leggings or molder’s
shoes, handling acid or alkaline chemicals without gloves or other
protective clothing, and other operations performed without specifi
cally prescribed safety equipment.
Unsafe Lifting Conditions
In this category of unsafe working conditions are included accidents
resulting from manual lifting of objects which should have been lifted
mechanically, from individuals lifting objects which should have been
lifted by a team, and from the lifting of objects in cramped or crowded
quarters which should have been cleared before the operation started.
In a few instances there was some question whether the injury might
not have occurred because of (a) improper lifting procedure rather than
because of (b) lifting excessive weight. When this question could not be
specifically answered, the case was included as an unsafe lifting
condition (b).
Unsafe lifting conditions constituted a much more prominent source
of accidents in the malleable-iron foundries than in either the grayiron or steel foundry groups. Comparatively, these unsafe conditions
were involved in 1 out of every 3 of the malleable-iron foundry injuries
for which details were available, slightly less than 1 in every 4 of the
gray-iron foundry injuiies, and 1 in every 8 of the steel foundry injuries.
Unsafe conditions of this type are due primarily to inadequate
supervision. In all work that involves lifting, the immediate super
visor can be required to see that proper space is provided for the
operation and that adequate teams or proper mechanical lifting
equipment are available.
Defective Agencies
The general need for more adequate inspection and immediate
repair or replacement of imperfect equipment, tools, and materials was
strongly indicated by the fact that over 10 percent of the analyzed
accidents in each of the three foundry groups involved defective
material or equipment.
Defective hand tools, such as shovels with loose or split handles,
hammers with loose heads, and chipping hammers with loose chisels
were particularly common sources of injury which could have been
eliminated very readily through regular tool inspection and repair.
Uneven or broken flooring resulted in many slips and falls and caused
many wheelbarrows and hand trucks to tilt and spill their contents.
These conditions are particularly dangerous in foundries, since the
workers frequently carry heavy materials or molten metal which can
618627— 44------ 5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1176
Monthly Labor Review— December 1944
inflict severe injuries if they are dropped or spilled as a result of a slip
or fall. Such hazards generally are quite obvious and are seldom
difficult to repair. Their continued existence is very definitely an
indication of slack supervision.
Other defective agencies, which caused fewer but nevertheless
substantial numbers of accidents, included defective molds which
broke in pouring, defective chains, cables, and sheaves which caused
crane loads to spill on workers, defective ladders and scaffolds which
caused serious falls, and defective electrical equipment and wiring
which caused electric shocks and burns. Nearly all of these unsafe
conditions were such that they should have been noticed in the course
of a normal inspection. The fact that they were permitted to exist
until they caused accidents indicates that adequate inspections were
not made.
Unguarded Agencies
About 7 percent of the injuries in the gray-iron and malleable-iron
foundries and over 8 percent of those in the steel foundries were di
rectly related to the absence of needed guards. Considerable numbers
of these were due to the lack of guardrails around openings or at the
edge of elevated walkways or working surfaces. The majority,
however, were cases of unguarded machines or mechanical equipment.
Stationary grinders, power saws, jointers, punch presses, drill
presses, and sanders were frequently listed as causing injuries because
there were no guards at the point of operation. Open gears, open
belts, and unfenced conveyers also were responsible for a number of
injuries.
UNSAFE P E R S O N A L A C TS
For the purpose of accident analysis an unsafe act is defined as “ a
violation of a commonly accepted safe procedure.” 4 Literally, this
definition means that no personal action shall be designated as unsafe
unless there was a reasonable and less-hazardous alternative method of
procedure. There is, however, no implication that the alternative
safe procedure must have been known to the person who acted in an
unsafe manner, nor that his unsafe act was the result of a considered
choice between the two possible procedures. In many instances,
such as that of the grinder who elects to do a small grinding job without
his goggles rather than take the time to go get them from his locker,
it is apparent that the worker knew the safe procedure but consciously
decided not to follow it. In a great many other instances, however,
it is apparent from the circumstances that the person who acted un
safely did so not as a matter of choice, but simply because he did not
know an alternative safe method. Strict safety-minded supervision
is essential to eliminate this type of unsafe act. Thorough safety
training for both workers and supervisors can do much to abolish
unsafe acts which are committed unknowingly.
The great majority of the accidents analyzed in each of the three
types of foundries involved one of four general groups of unsafe acts:
(1) Using unsafe equipment or using equipment unsafely; (2) taking
an unsafe position or posture; (3) failure to use safe attire or personal
safety equipment; and (4) unsafe lifting. Together these four groups
of unsafe acts contributed to 93 percent of the accidents for which
4 American Recommended Practice for Compiling In d u strial Accident Causes, approved by the American
Standards Association, A ugust 1,1941.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Injuries
1177
details were available in the malleable-iron foundries, 87 percent of the
gray-iron foundry accidents, and 83 percent of the steel foundry
accidents. The fundamental approach to the elimination of unsafe
personal acts in foundries, therefore, must stress measures to—
(1) Provide training in the safe methods of handling and using tools,
materials, and equipment, and enforce the use of those methods
through close supervision;
(2) Train both workers and supervisors to recognize and to avoid
unsafe positions;
(3) Make sure that both workers and supervisors understand and can
recognize the circumstances in which different kinds of safety equip
ment are necessary, and that the supervisors require the use of such
equipment in those circumstances; and
(4) Provide thorough instruction in the proper methods of lifting
heavy objects, particularly in the proper method of lifting with the
legs instead of the back, and have the supervisors continue to empha
size such instructions during actual operations.
Use of Unsafe Equipment or Unsafe Use of Equipment
The unsafe acts of this general group were factors in the occurrence of
over 28 percent of the steel foundry injuries and of about 23 percent of
the gray-iron and malleable-iron foundry accidents. The outstanding
type of unsafe act in this group was the simple one of taking an incor
rect hold or not maintaining a good grip upon objects being handled.
Specifically, these included many cases in which materials or tools
slipped from the worker’s hands because there was oil or grease on the
material or on his hands; or because the worker grasped the material
at a sharp or rough spot which caused him to release his grip; or simply
because the material or tool was not held firmly enough to control its
movements. Particularly dangerous was the practice of using hands
or feet to guide suspended crane loads into position or to adjust the
chains holding the loads instead of using taglines or poles. Pinched
and crushed fingers or feet were the most common injuries resulting
from these practices.
Lack of skill and the lack of a full realization of the hazards involved
in handling heavy materials undoubtedly had much to do with the
occurrence of these accidents. Wider use of safety shoes would greatly
reduce the resulting volume of foot and toe injuries. The elimination
of the unsafe acts and the prevention of the actual accidents, however,
can be achieved only by thorough training in safe procedures and close
supervision of individual operations by safety-conscious supervisors.
Unsafe Position or Posture
In 23 percent of the steel foundry accidents, 13 percent of the grayiron foundry accidents, and 10 percent of the malleable-iron foundry
accidents, it was found that the injured person had unnecessarily
placed himself in an unsafe position or posture.
Most prominent of the specific unsafe acts in this general group
was that of unnecessarily working or standing under or in the path of
cranes, hoists, and suspended loads. Other unsafe acts in this group
included working, standing, or walking in front of moving vehicles;
unnecessarily working or walking too close to other workers who were
performing hazardous operations such as carrying or pouring molten
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1178
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
metal; walking, standing, or working on beams, girders, piled mate
rials, or makeshift scaffolds, instead of using proper ladders or scaf
folds; taking shortcuts instead of using the provided walkways;
and working in cramped positions. Most of these practices can be
overcome through intensified safety instruction and better supervision.
Failure to Wear Safe Attire or Personal Safety Equipment
About 30 percent of the gray-iron foundry accidents, 28 percent of
the malleable-iron foundry accidents, and 20 percent of the steel
foundry accidents were directly associated with the failure to wear
safe clothing or proper personal safety equipment.
The cases involving failure to wear safe clothing included workers
who wore loose clothing which caught on projections or was caught in
machines or in sling chains; workers who wore cuffed or frayed trousers,
which tripped them; and workers who wore shoes with worn soles
which permitted puncture wounds and burned feet. In the aggre
gate, however, the failure to wear safe clothing was of much less importance than was the failure to use proper personal safety equipment.
Primarily, the cases of failure to wear proper personal safety equip
ment consisted of the failure to use goggles while grinding, chipping,
sandblasting, or handling chemicals or molten metal; to wear gloves,
leggings, and molder’s shoes while pouring molten metal; and. to wear
gloves while handling hot molds or castings. In all of the analyzed
cases included in this category the necessary safety equipment was
available on the premises, but for one reason or another was not being
used.
It is obvious from these data that the plant which simply provides
the various necessary items of personal safety equipment and invites
the employees to use them has only partially solved the problem of
overcoming the hazards which this equipment can guard against,
nor does the issuance of shop rules requiring its use accomplish the
purpose unless those rules are strictly enforced. The two most
common excuses for not using the provided safety equipment were
that it was uncomfortable and that it hampered the user’s activities.
Particularly in respect to the use of goggles considerable objection was
raised because of the tendency of goggles to “fog” when the wearers
were working with hot metal. This condition, however, can generally
be overcome easily through the application of “anti-fog” chemicals
to the goggles. These chemicals are available commercially in a
variety of forms. In other cases, the excuse was that the safety equip
ment was not conveniently at hand and the workers felt that it was not
worth the time and effort to go get it. In still other instances it was
apparent that the employee did not realize his need for the equipment.
A common example of the latter group of cases was that of the laborers
who move material into and out of grinding rooms or sandblast rooms
without wearing goggles. Many of these workers failed to appreciate
the fact that every one who approaches such operations is exposed to
flying particles just as are the actual operators.
When both supervisors and workmen have been fully instructed in
the need for safety equipment, and the equipment is available, there
can be no question as to their joint responsibility for any injuries
which occur because the equipment was not used. Management,
however, can establish and maintain a definite program concerning
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Injuries
1179
the use of safety equipment. Such a program should include, as a
minimum, the following measures:
(1) Maintenance at convenient locations of an adequate supply of
safety equipment which has been selected with due consideration not
only for its effectiveness but also for the ease and comfort of the
worker who must wear it;
(2) Maintenance of every piece of safety equipment in good con
dition and making sure that it is properly fitted to the wearer;
(3) Making sure that all supervisors and workmen are fully ac
quainted with the hazards which require the use of safety equipment
and that they are familiar with the type of equipment needed in
each instance; and
(4) Establishment of rules requiring the use of safety equipment
where it is necessary and requiring supervisors to prohibit the per
formance of hazardous operations unless the proper safety [equipment
is used.
Unsafe Lifting
Injuries resulting from manual lifting of heavy objects present a
serious problem in foundries. In essence, every accident of this type
is a case of lifting excessive weight—that is, excessive under the
existing circumstances for the individual involved. Variations in the
strength and skill of different individuals, however, make the determi
nation of what is a safe maximum weight to be lifted by one person
very difficult if not impossible. There can be no question, however,
that a knowledge of and the strict application of proper lifting pro
cedure—e. g., lifting with the legs instead of with the back—will
render safe the handling of much greater weights than can be safely
lifted by the hit-or-miss method of grabbing and jerking. In classi
fying the lifting accidents, an effort was made to exclude from this
unsafe-act classification those cases in which individuals attempted
to lift weights which obviously should have been handled mechanically
or by a team. As far as possible, the cases included represent injuries
which resulted from lifting weights generally handled by individual
foundrymen and normally considered to be within the lifting ability
of most workers. These cases represented 31 percent of the accidents
analyzed in the malleable-iron foundries, 20 percent of those in the
gray-iron foundries, and 11 percent of the steel-foundry accidents.
It is frequently impossible to specify exactly what was done incor
rectly in certain lifting accidents. In most cases the injured person
can report only that he was lifting and suddenly felt pain, and only
rarely is there a witness who was observing the operation with suffi
cient care to identify accurately the specific fault3r procedure. It is
well known, however, that strains, sprains, and hernias frequently
result from lifting with the back muscles instead of the leg muscles,
from lifting in cramped or awkward positions, or from lifting while
standing on irregular or insecure surfaces. Most of the accidents in
this group undoubtedly resulted from one or the other of these unsafe
procedures.
The complete elimination of manual lifting, which would avoid all
accidents of this type, is an impossible goal. Many foundries, how
ever, could do much to reduce the volume of lifting accidents by
extending the use of mechanical handling equipment and by giving
all employees thorough training in the safe methods of manual lifting.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1180
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
In d u strial In ju ries, July 1 9 4 4
REPORTS from 12,493 manufacturing plants listed 26,777 disabling
injuries experienced by employees during July 1944. The reporting
plants employed about 6,970,000 workers, or nearly 44 percent of the
total manufacturing employment for the month. Assuming that the
reporting establishments constitute a representative sample, the total
number of disabling injuries experienced by workers in all manufac
turing plants of the United States during July, therefore, may be
estimated as about 61,500.
The actual record of the days lost from work because of these work
injuries is not available because many of the injured persons had not
recovered at the time the August reports were prepared. Twenty
days, however, is a conservative average time loss for each disabling
injury. Using this average, the July injuries represent the direct loss
of 1,230,000 man-days of production without any allowance for the
continuing economic loss resulting from the many deaths and perma
nent physical impairments included in the totals. This direct loss
alone is equivalent to a month of full-time employment for over
47,000 workers.
The reports indicated that 0.3 percent of the injuries had resulted in
death and 4.4 percent had caused permanent physical impairments.
Later information, however, probably will show that other injuries,
which appeared to be only temporary at the time the reports were
submitted, have since developed into additional deaths and permanent
impairments.
In comparison with the previous month, the estimated total number
of disabling injuries for July shows a decrease of about 2,500. The
number of workers employed in July, however, was somewhat less
than in June so that in terms of frequency rates the July record was
actually less favorable than the June record. The unweighted all
manufacturing injury-frequency rate for July was 20.4 as compared
with the June rate of 19.8 disabling injuries for every million employeehours worked. Forty-four of the 88 industries surveyed had July
frequency rates which were 1 or more frequency-rate points higher than
in June. Twelve of these increases were rises of 5 or more points.
There were, however, 20 other industries which had decreases of 1
or more points in their July frequency rates, of which 5 were decreases
of 5 or more points. For 20 industries the July frequency rates were
the highest monthly rates thus far recorded in 1944, and for 4 others
the July rates were lower than those for any previous months.
Cumulative injury-frequency rates for the first 7 months of 1944,
which present a more accurate picture of safety conditions in the
various industries than do the rates for particular months, ranged
from an average of 5.7 disabling injuries for each million employeehours worked in the women’s clothing industry to 55.4 in the sawmill
industry. Other manufacturing industries with cumulative frequency
rates of less than 10 were: Explosives, 5.8; small-arms ammunition,
6.5; rayon and allied products (chemical), 6.5; radios and phonographs,
8.9; sighting and fire-control equipment, 9.0; soap and glycerin, 9.5;
aircraft, 9.6; and iron and steel, 9.8.
At the other end of the scale, in addition to the sawmill group,
there were eight industries which had cumulative frequency rates of
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1181
Industrial Injuries
over 40: Miscellaneous lumber products, 40.1; enameling and gal
vanizing, 41.6; foundries, iron and steel, 43.2; boatbuilding, 43.9;
sheet-metal work, 47.5; planing mills, 48.4; plate fabrication and
boiler-shop products, 54.1; and wooden containers, 54.1.
Industrial Injury-Frequency Rates 1 for Selected Manufacturing Industries, July 1944
with Cumulative Rates for 1944
Ju ly 1944
I n d u s tr y 2
Frequency rate
1944:
Jan u ary - 1943:12m onth
July
cum u
cum u
lative
*
lative 3
N um ber
of estab
lish
m ents
Fre
quency
rate 3
A gricultural m achinery a n d tr a c to r s ___
__________ ___
A ircraft . . ______
______ . . _ ______ ______ ________
.
_ ____ _ _
A ircraft parts ________________ __
A m m unition, 20 m m . and over_______ __ . . . ............ .............. .
A m m unition, sm all-arm s______________ .
_ _ ___ _
B oatbuilding _ . _____ __________________ .
Bolts, nuts, w ashers, and riv e ts ________________ ____
55
54
284
341
23
18
37
23.2
9.6
11.4
27.6
7.7
38.6
30.0
22.7
9.6
12.2
25.5
6.5
43.9
30.0
18.9
9.7
14.6
24.8
16.0
(5)
(5)
Book a nd job
_______
__. . . _________
Boots and shoes, other th a n ru b b er_______
Canning a nd preserving. ______
...
Chemical products, notTelsewhere classified Chemicals, in d u stria l_____________________
C lothing, m en’s. ____________________
C lothing, w om en’s _________ _______ . . .
___
_ __ . .
___
______
__
______ _ _ __
.. ___ .
... .
44
306
48
76
351
517
383
12.1
14.4
31.7
11.5
15.9
10.5
6.8
11.9
15.0
24.1
12.5
15.7
11.1
5.7
(')
Commercial a n d household m achines_________
. . ... . ...
Concrete, gypsum , and plaster p ro d u c ts ___ ______
Confectionery_____ . . . _____ . . .
.......................
C onstruction and m ining m achinery . . .
___
C otton goods .
___
.
.. .
C utlery a nd edge tools
_______ . . . .
Drugs,*toiletries, an d insecticides___
. . . . . . ______ ..
D yeing and finishing______________ . . . . . . ________
53
113
7
113
208
30
74
55
21.6
35.1
19.6
27.3
16.3
32.0
17.2
26.8
19.5
36.8
17.0
28.2
15.0
28.0
19.4
25.3
(!)
0)
(5)
31.8
16.0
24.1
22.2
(5)
Electrical equipm ent and supplies____ . . .
Enam eling, galvanizing, e t c _______
_ ____
______
. . . _________ . ..
Engines and turbines __________
Explosives .
.
. . ___ . . .
Fabricated stru ctu ral s te e l..
...
___
Food products, not elsewhere classified. . . .
. . . ___
_ . _____ . . .
Food-products m achinery________ ___
Forgings, iron a n d steel____________ . .
. . ___
588
15
57
86
110
38
27
150
9.8
39.6
10.4
7.0
38.7
35.9
31.0
35.3
10.9
41.6
11.8
5.8
35.5
25.3
32.0
34.6
11.1
(5)
18.3
11.9
33.0
(5)
34.5
39.9
Foundries, iron an d s te e l__________
..
. . . ____
F urniture, except m e t a l ________ . . .
._ . ___ _.
General industrial m achinery________
.
__ ___
Glass . . .
___ ___ _ ___ ___________
. . . . . . ___ . .
G uns and related eq u ip m en t__________
..
. . . . ____
. . ..
___
. . . . . . ________
H ardw are........... .....
H eating equipm ent, not elsewhere classified____
576
68
670
43
105
38
54
46.6
18.8
22.8
25.8
11.9
17.8
35.1
43.2
28.3
23.4
19.4
17.1
19.4
31.2
42.1
28.1
24.3
17.9
17.6
24.3
34.2
Iron and steel___ _________ ___ ___ __________ . . . __ _
Iron and steel products, no t elsewhere c la ssifie d ____________
K n it goods_________________________ ______ . . .
L eather___
. __________________ . ___. . . _ . .
Leather products, no t elsewhere c la ssifie d ____ . . ___ ___
M achine shops, general______________________ _______ ____ _
M etalw orking m achinery__________________________________
207
294
83
24
28
198
684
10.9
40.5
12.8
40.8
16.3
22.6
19.8
9.8
28.5
11.1
30.2
22.3
27.1
18.0
9.8
0)
(5)
(5)
(»)
26.2
18.9
Miscellaneous lum ber products, no t elsewhere classified__ __
M iscellaneous m anufacturing . . ___ ____________ __
M otor vehicles
________ ________________ _______ . .
M otor-vehicle p a rts . . _________ _ . ___________ . . . ._
Nonferrous m etal products.
. . . . __ ______ ___
Ordnance and accessories______________
. _____ . _____
40
388
109
65
579
39
39.5
15.9
17.3
31.1
30.5
24.2
40.1
16.4
13.3
27.5
26.8
24.5
(*)
(«) .
12.4
25.5
23.7
(!)
P ain ts and varnishes _____
..
.
______ _________
P a p e r. _ _________ ____________ ______
____________
P aper boxes and containers___ _
_ __ .. _______ ______ _
P aper products, not elsewhere classified.. _______ __________
P aper and pulp (integrated)_____
_________ _____ __
Planing mills
- _____ ____
- - ___________ ____
P late fabrication and boiler-shop p ro d u c ts -------- . _______
72
235
417
34
88
46
103
19.2
31.5
24.0
30.3
26.2
68.6
64.1
19.7
29.9
25.2
21. 5
26.3
48.4
54.1
20.2
31.7
26.7
(8)
26.4
53.8
44.0
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
14.0
19.4
(«)
18.3
8.5
5.4
1182
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
Industrial Injury-Frequency Rates 1 for Selected Manufacturing Industries, July 1944
with Cumulative Rates for 1944— Continued
July 1944
In d u stry 2
_____ __
Plum b ers’ supplies___
P o tte ry _______ ______
P u lp __________ __ _
Radios and p h o nographs________. . . . .
R ailroad eq u ip m en t________ . . . . .
R ayon and allied p ro d u cts. _
R ubber boots and shoes.. _______ . . .
__
..
. ___
.. _
...
R ub b er and ru bber products, not elsewhere classified
R ubber tires_________ ____ _
.
Sawmills
Screws and screw-machine products.
Sheet-metal w o rk__
Shipbuilding_________ . . . .
Sighting and fire-control eq u ip m en t__________ . . .
Silk and rayon products, not elsewhere classified ..
Slaughtering and m eat packing____ . . .
Small arms
_ ... .
____
Soap and glvcerin___ __ _____ _
Special in d u stry m achinery, not elsewhere classified
Stam ped and pressed m etal products. __
Steam fitting and apparatus
. .
Stone, clay, and glass products, not elsewhere classified
T a n k s______________________
.
T an k p a rts____________
Textile m achinery_____ . . . .
Textile and textile-mill products, not elsewhere classified.
T in cans and other tinw are___ _ .
Tools, except edge tools__
W ire and wire products _. . .
W ooden containers.. .
Woolen g oods.. _. _ __ __ . .
/
Frequency rate
1944:
Jan u ary - 1943:12month
July
cum u
cum u
lative
4
lative 3
N um ber
of estab
lish
m ents
F re
quency
rate 3
23
36
24
196
41
24
16
17.1
17 7
38 8
9.1
23.6
7.7
10.2
16.8
18 3
35 6
8.9
22.3
6.5
14.4
0)
96
33
44
71
42
263
38
52
540
17.7
17.0
57 2
27.9
41.4
27.2
9.0
14.1
39.8
18.9
14.1
55 4
28.3
47. 5
25.3
9.0
14.3
34.7
(s)
13.7
fi2 4
0)
(*)
28.7
6.6
(5)
35.7
57
10
15.4
13. 7
23.9
35.5
23.8
19.1
16 0
19.8
13.9
9.5
23.7
31.8
26.2
14.3
13 0
24.6
11.5
8.5
22.7
31. 1
33.6
(5)
12 fi
18.3
13.5
21.2
27.9
21.8
25.6
54.7
19.7
26.1
19.7
19.7
26.1
23.2
54.1
19.0
(«)
(5)
18.3
25.5
21.7
(5)
(5)
95
241
56
85
12
47
10
184
22
65
149
58
158
( 5)
18.2
7.6
20.5
7.8
1 T he frequency rate represents the average num ber of disabling industrial injuries for each million em
ployee-hours worked.
2 A few industries have been o m itted from this table because the coverage for the m onth did not am ount
to 1,000,000 or more employee-hours worked.
3 C om puted from all reports received for the m onth; not based on identical plants in successive m onths.
4 Prelim inary rates for the year, subject to revision on basis of th e more comprehensive annual survey.
C om puted from all reports received w ithout weighting. N o t based upon identical plants in successive
m onths.
5 N o t available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Social Security
B ritish G overnm ent Social-Insurance Proposals
PLANS for a general system of social insurance (covering sickness,
invalidity, unemployment, and retirement, and family allowances),
and for a separate system of insurance against industrial injuries, were
recently issued by the British Government, and are summarized below.
General Social-Insurance System 1
In formulating the general program, outlined in a White Paper
(Cmd. 6550), Sir William Beveridge’s report 2 on social insurance and
allied services was reviewed. In some respects the benefits sponsored
by the Government are more liberal than those proposed by the
Beveridge report (notably, benefits for aged persons); in others (for
example, child allowances), the Government is less generous. The
system is intended to supplement the previously announced employ
ment policy and national health plan.3 Legislative and other action
based on these reports will have the objectives of promoting the growth
of the national power to produce and earn and preventing cases of
poverty over which individuals have little control.
c o v e r a g e o f s o c ia l i n s u r a n c e
Under the proposed scheme, insurance would be compulsory for the
entire population, the 47,500,000 people being divided into six classes,
as follows:
Number
I.
II.
III.
IV .
V.
V I.
E m ployees_____________________________ 18,
Self-em ployed_________________________
2,
H ousew ives____________________________ 9,
A dults who do n o t e a rn ____ _____________ 2,
C hildren _______________________________ 10,
People over w orking ag e____________
4,
100,000
600,000
650,000
250,000
100,000
800,000
Large groups not previously covered would be insured, such as those
living on earnings received other than from salary or wage, on earnings
exceeding £420 a year, or on private income, as well as those employed
in professions or industries that have been exempted from the existing
social-insurance system.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Employers and their employees, the self-employed, and adults who do
not earn would contribute toward the fund, the rate of contribution
1 D a ta are from Social Insurance, P a rt I (Great B ritain, M inistry of Reconstruction, London, 1944,
C m d. 6550); Economist (London), September 30, 1944; and daily press.
2 See M onthly L abor Review, F eb ru ary 1943 (p. 272).
3 F or a sum m ary of the report on em ploym ent policy (Cm d. 6527) see M onthly Labor Review, A ugust
1944 (p. 296), and for th a t on health service (Cm d. 6502) see September 1944 issue (p. 540).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1183
1184
Monthly Labor Review— December 1944
varying for the different groups and also according to age and sex, as
shown in table 1. Contributions for employees cover industrialaccident insurance as well as the general social insurance.
T a b l e 1.—Proposed Scale of Weekly Social-Insurance Contributions in Great Britain
[Exchange rate of shilling (12 pence) = 20.2 cents]
W eekly contributions for —
Employees •
Sex and age
B y in
sured
person
Total
Males:
18 years of age and over_______________________
16 and under 18 years of age______________ ____
Females:
18 years of age and over______________________
16 and under 18 years of age___________________
B y em
ployer
Self-em
ployed
A dults
who do
not earn
s. d.
6 11
4 6
s. d.
3 10
2 5
s. d.
3 1
2 1
s. d.
4 2
2 9
s.
3
2
d.
4
2
5
3
3
2
2
1
3
2
2
1
8
10
5
7
0
0
S
7
6
5
1 These contributions cover industrial-accident insurance also.
The contributions shown above are expected to cover 44 percent of
total costs under Government proposals; interest on existing funds,
another 2 percent; and expenditures to be met from Exchequer or
local taxation, the remaining 54 percent. The cost of family allow
ances will be provided from the proceeds of taxation, the Government
view being that such payments are “outside the bounds of the scheme
of social insurance properly so called.” With that exception, the
proposals adhere to the principle that “freedom from want must be
achieved in the first instance by social insurance—that benefits must
be earned by contributions.”
BENEFITS
Principal benefits.—The weekly rates of sickness, invalidity, and
unemployment benefits, and of retirement pensions for men and
women, will be as shown in table 2, varying according to marital and
working status and including allowances for dependents when these
are payable. These rates are to be increased by 5s. if the beneficiary
has a single dependent child (if more than one, additional benefits
are to be provided through family allowances). 4
The standard benefit rates provided for a married couple (40s.
weekly) and those allotted to a single man or woman (24s.) will be
identical for sickness and for unemployment; lower rates will be fixed
for persons under the age of 18 years. An additional allowance of
16s. weekly (15s. when an invalidity benefit is concerned) is payable
to those on a single benefit—for sickness, invalidity, or unemploy
ment—who have an adult dependent. Duration of benefit for sick
ness will be 3 years; thereafter invalidity benefit at the standard re
tirement-pension rate is to be substituted. Persons working on their
own account will not receive sickness benefit during the first 4 weeks
of any illness. Unemployment benefit is to end after 30 weeks, but
may be extended somewhat if the individual has a good employment
1 “ C hildren” as defined for purposes of paym ent of family allowances (discussed hereafter) are those below
the up p er age lim it for compulsory school attendance and those above th a t lim it who are still attending
school full-time, or are apprenticed, u p to Ju ly 31 following th eir sixteenth birthday. Above these ages,
a child is not reckoned as a m em ber of the family.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1185
Social Security
record. (Periods covered by training allowance are not to be taken
into account.) Further contributions are required before an insured
person can requalify for unemployment benefit.
Standard weekly retirement-pension rates of 35s. for a married
couple and 20s. for a single person, at age 65 for men and age 60 for
women, will be subject to reduction if more than 20s. a week is earned
during retirement. A joint pension will be payable when the husband
reaches retirement age, whatever the wife’s age, provided the wife is
not gainfully employed. Pensions will be based on the contributions
made during the working life of applicants. If persons postpone
retirement beyond the pensionable age, weekly pensions will be in
creased, for each added year of work, by 2s. in the case of a joint
pension and Is. in the case of a single pension.
T a b l e 2 . —Proposed Scale of Weekly Social-Insurance Benefits in Great Britain
[Exchange rate of shilling (12 pence) =20.2 cen tsj
W eekly rate of benefits for—
Class
Sickness
Single m an or w o m a n .. . _ . _ ____________ _
M arried m an w ith wife gainfully occupied___________ }
M arried m an w ith wife no t gainfully o c c u p ie d ____ _
M arried wom an gainfully occupied__ ______________
D ependent’s allowance (when payable)__ __________
s.
24
40
16
16
d.
0
0
0
0
In v alidity
s.
20
35
16
15
d.
0
0
0
0
U nem ploy Retirem ent
m ent
pension
s.
24
40
20
16
d.
0
0
0
0
s.
20
35
20
d.
0
0
0
Family allowances.—A weekly cash allowance of 5s. will be payable
for each child after the first. This sum is to come out of the proceeds of
general taxation.
On the assumption that one child can be maintained from family
earnings, no family allowance is provided for the first child. However,
when the head of a family is on benefit, an allowance of 5s. is to be
payable weekly from the social-insurance fund, as already stated. Free
services in kind, for children, will include meals and milk at school.
Every child both of whose parents are dead will receive 12s. weekly, of
which 5s. is to be met from taxation and the remaining 7s. from socialinsurance funds.
Training allowance.—For persons undergoing training in an ap
proved course, special allowances are to be provided, at rates higher
than those provided for unemployment. Such allowances will not
reduce the number of days for which unemployment benefit is due.
They will continue for a period up to 4 weeks after completion of the
training course, in order to cover any short interval between the end
of the course and the beginning of a new job. If the person who re
ceives training is then transferred to a job away from home, he will be
qualified for a settling-in grant for the first few weeks.
Special benefits for women.—In childbirth, a maternity grant of £4 5
is provided. To this sum a maternity benefit at the rate of 36s.
weekly for 13 weeks is added for gainfully occupied women who give
up their occupation for that period; women not eligible for maternity
benefit will receive an attendant’s allowance of £1 a week for 4 weeks.
* Exchange rate of pound (20 shillings)=$4,035,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1186
Monthly Labor Review— December 1944
Married women may insure for a personal retirement pension of 20s.
a week in lieu of their share in a joint retirement pension. If they earn
over 20s. weekly they may also insure for sickness benefit (after the
first 4 weeks, if self-employed) at the rate of 16s. a week, and for un
employment benefit at the rate of 20s. a week. If a woman is living
apart from her husband and can get no support from him, benefit
will be at the rate of 24s. weekly.
For women widowed under the age of 60 years, and for those wid
owed over that age whose husbands had not qualified for retirement
pensions, 36s. is payable weekly for the first 13 weeks of widowhood
plus 5s. for the first child (if any). Thereafter, a guardian’s benefit
of 24s. is paid weekly if there is a dependent child (with 5s. added for
the first or only child), and a pension of 20s. a week will be granted to
widows who are 50 years of age or over at the time of the husband’s
death or when the children cease to be dependent, provided that at
least 10 years have elapsed since the marriage. These benefits will be
reduced when the husband’s contribution record shows a deficiency
and will terminate on remarriage; guardian’s benefit and widows
pension are subject to reduction if earnings are substantial.
Death grants.—Death grants will be £6 if death occurs under the age
of 3 years; £10 if between 3 and 6 years; £15 if between 6 and 18; and
£20 at higher ages.
Special provisions.—During maintenance in a hospital6 and after
25 days of such maintenance, a reduction of 10s. a week will be made in
sickness and invalidity, maternity, widow’s, and guardian’s benefits,
and in widow’s and retirement pensions. Only one social-insurance
benefit or pension is payable at one time. Some adjustment will be
made in the benefit paid when a war or industrial pensioner becomes
eligible for a social-insurance benefit. The plan also provides for
adjusting benefits for persons who have not complied with prescribed
contribution conditions or who qualify for certain benefits before the
scheme here discussed comes into operation.
ADMINISTRATION
Provision is made for establishment of a Ministry of Social In
surance 7 which will have responsibility for the entire social-insurance
system. Administration of assistance is to be kept separate from social
insurance, but the Minister of Social Insurance is to be responsibile to
Parliament for both. Existing responsibilities of public assistance
authorities for cash payments are to be transferred to the Assistance
Board in their entirety, and the Assistance Board is to be responsible
to the Minister of Social Insurance. The Government has concluded
that it is impracticable to retain “approved societies” as independent
financial units or as agents in administering the scheme.
A single weekly contribution is to cover all the benefits to which
an insured person is entitled. A stamp covering the amount contrib
uted is to be placed on a single document. Payment of benefits may
be made by postal draft or in cash at the local social security offices.
If neither is feasible, payment will be made at the home of the insured.
eU nder th e proposed N ational H ealth Service.
7 Sir W illiam Jo w itt was appointed to th e office early in October 1944, pending legislative enactm ents
T h e M inister is to be responsible for th e legislative and other prelim inary work in launching the unified
social-insurance plan. Existing schemes are to be transferred to him pending adoption of the broadened
program.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Social Security
1187
Insurance Against Industrial Injuries 8
The Government workmen’s compensation proposals, covering in
dustrial accidents and specific industrial diseases, would broaden the
present system of industrial-injury insurance and would replace em
ployer’s liability for financial support by a central fund composed of
contributions from employers, employees, and the Exchequer. The
plan wast outlined in a White Paper (Cmd. 6551). If adopted, the
principle of compensation for loss of earning capacity will be replaced
by industrial-injury insurance treated as a social service. Instead of
benefits based on estimated loss of earning capacity, flat-rate benefits
are advocated, with supplements for injured persons having family
responsibilities. The system would be administered as a separate
insurance scheme having a special insurance fund, but, like the general
scheme, would be under the Minister of Social Insurance.
COVERAGE
According to the plan, all persons working under a contract of service
or apprenticeship will be included in the coverage. Those under the
school-leaving age will be excepted, but otherwise the intention will
be to include all classes of persons covered by existing workmen’s
compensation legislation. Nonmanual workers will be covered,
without any income limit. It is not contemplated to provide
for “ contracting-out” schemes such as are permitted under the
existing laws. Although the Government is aware of criticisms made
of the phrase “ arising out of and in the course of employment,” official
opinion is that no other form of words would be found to be more
satisfactory in defining the injury coverage.
CONTRIBUTIONS
If the system is adopted, weekly contributions to the central fund
at the rate of 6d. for adult men and 4d. for women will be shared
equally between employers and employees. For juveniles under the
age of 18 years the rate of contribution will be reduced by one-half.
No contribution will be required from a workman incapacitated for
work or unemployed. Calculating that the annual cost of benefits
would be approximately £20,000,000 and that administration would
cost another £3,000,000, the Government has estimated that the
joint employer-employee contributions at the rates mentioned would
cover five-sixths of the required amount, the remaining one-sixth to
be made up by the Exchequer.
BENEFITS
For disablement, the proposed benefits would be fixed at uniform
rates for both sexes, as shown in table 3. Benefits would not be
dependent on the payment of a fixed number of contributions.
Women would receive the same basic rates of benefit as men.
However, the allowances covering dependents would be paid in respect
of male workers mainly, as they are generally heads of families, and
because of this, the rate of contribution for women is lower than the
» D ata are from Social Insurance, P a rt II (G reat B ritain, M inistry of Reconstruction, London, 1944,
C m d. 6551) : and Econom ist (London), September 30, 1944.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1188
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
rate specified for men. For persons under the age of 18 years, benefits
(and contributions) would be fixed at lower rates than for adults.
Special financial aid would be provided only for the first child of the
disabled worker; any additional children would be provided for under
the proposed family-allowance system.
T a b l e 3 . —Proposed Scale of Weekly Workmen’s Compensation Benefits in Great Britain
[Exchange rate of shilling (12 pence) =20.2 cents]
.
W eekly rate of benefits
In ju ry allowances
Class
F irst 13
weeks
Single m an or wom an w ith o u t dependent_________________
Single m an or w om an w ith adult d e p en d e n t,. _____________
M arried m a n _____ _______________ _____ __________
M arried m an and first child _______________________________
s.
35
43
43
48
Pension for
100-percent
disablem ent
and if u n
employable
After 13
weeks i
d.
0
9
9
9
s.
40
50
50
57
d.
0
0
0
6
s.
50
60
60
67
d.
0
0
0
6
1 Includes pension rate for 100-percent disablement.
In case of a fatal accident, the widow would receive, first, a tem
porary benefit provided under the general scheme (36s. weekly for
13 weeks), and then a pension. The amount of the pension payable
to a widow aged 50 years or over—or of one under 50 years of age
having a dependent child, or incapable of self-support—would be 30s.
weekly; in other cases it would be 20s. weekly. An allowance of 7s.
6d. weekly would be paid in respect of a first child; and for a child
becoming a full orphan through the death of the workman, an allow
ance of 12s. weekly would be paid (5s. of which would be provided
by the Exchequer). Should a parent of the deceased workman be
incapable of self-support, 20s. weekly would be paid, and in the case
of two such dependent parents, 30s. weekly. In case no pension were
payable to a widow or a parent, one other adult member of the
deceased workman’s family who was residing with and was mainly
dependent upon him would be eligible for a maximum pension of 20s.,
if incapable of self-support.
If no pension was payable under the foregoing provisions, temporary
benefit would be authorized for a woman who was residing with the
workman at the time of the injury and had the care of the deceased
person’s child or children. The maximum rate, 20s. weekly, would
be payable as long as at least one child came within the qualifying
age for allowance. Any adult member of the deceased worker’s
family not eligible for any pension under the plan but who had been
mainly dependent upon him, would be eligible for a temporary allow
ance of 36s. weekly for 6 weeks.
ADMINISTRATION
Administration of the industrial-injury insurance scheme would be
integrated to the fullest possible extent with that of social insurance,
both under the Minister of Social Insurance. An advisory committee
or council is recommended, on which employers and workers would
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Social Security
1189
have equal representation, with the purpose of advising the Minister
on important questions of policy and administration referred to it.
Questions as to insurability and liability to contribute would be
settled by the Minister, who, in special circumstances might submit
the question to the High Court (in Scotland, the Court of Session)
for decision. A party aggrieved by a decision of the Minister could
appeal on questions of law to the one of these courts having juris
diction in his locality.
Contributions would be collected by stamp, with the contributions
under the general social-insurance system. Payment of employer
and worker contributions would be handled by the employer, who
would be empowered to deduct the employee’s share of the contribu
tion from his wages. Employer, employee, and Exchequer contribu
tions would be paid into an Industrial Injury Insurance Fund estab
lished to disburse all benefits and administrative charges.
Procedures for Settling Claims
Claims, under the proposed plan, are to be dealt with by a pensions
officer, subject to appeal to local tribunals having equal employer and
employee representation. The pensions officer will have the option
of referring a question to the local appeal tribunal without making a
decision himself. If a medical question is involved or is likely to arise,
provision may be made for one or more medical practitioners to join
the tribunal as members or as advisers.
Appeal may be made to an Industrial Injury Insurance Commis
sioner whose decision will be final. The Commissioner will be ap
pointed by the Crown. Either the chairman of the local appeal
tribunal or the Commissioner himself may grant the right to appeal
on questions of law or on such other questions as may be prescribed.
When the worker’s condition warrants it, the medical assessment
for pension is to be made by a medical board. Appeal on final assess
ments, or in certain cases on interim assessments, may be taken to a
tribunal consisting of a chairman of a local appeal tribunal and two
medical practitioners.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Organizations
C on ven tion of H osiery W orkers, 1 9 4 4 1
POST-WAR plans for the hosiery industry, including provisions for
the reemployment of the union's 4,000 members in the armed services,
and the expansion of the union social-welfare program were the
leading subjects before the thirty-third annual convention of the
American Federation of Hosiery Workers (C. I. O.) 2 held in Atlantic
City, September 11 to 15, 1944. The convention was attended by
145 delegates from 65 branches in 36 States, and represented a paid-up
membership of approximately 32,000 workers in 56 communities.
One section of the report of the executive board pointed out that,
owing to the exigencies of war, the industry has been faced with two
major problems: (a) An ever-tightening yarn supply, resulting from
the diversion of silk and nylon almost exclusively to war needs and
from the cessation of fine-spun cotton-yarn imports from England,
and (b) a continually shrinking labor supply caused by the exodus of
workers into the armed services and into the higher-paid war indus
tries. The decline in employment in the industry as a whole between
April 1943 and April 1944 was estimated at about 10 percent.
Post-W ar Program
The convention made the following decisions on the problems that
will confront the union and the industry after the termination of
hostilities:
1. All men and women in the military services were exempted from
payment of initiation fees. At a previous convention, the union
arranged to maintain all members in the armed forces in good standing
without payment of dues.
2. A special clause is to be included in all future agreements, pro
viding a 6-weeks retraining period for returning servicemen, during
which time they are to be guaranteed an income not less than the
average earnings in the particular branch of the trade. The national
executive board was instructed (a) to negotiate with employers'
associations for the payment of adequate dismissal pay to all workers
laid off in the reconversion period, and (b) to explore with employers
the possibilities for hosiery-industry cooperation in the work of
rehabilitating veterans and the extent of possible employment for
such veterans in hosiery mills.
1 Prepared in th e B ureau’s L abor Inform ation Service, b y Boris Stern and John L. Afros.
2 T h e American Federation of Hosiery W orkers was organized in 1913 b y hosiery w orkers who w ithdrew
from the U nited Textile W orkers of America (A. F . of L.). In 1923 the Federation returned to the U. T .
W . A. I t participated in th e formation of th e Textile W orkers Organizing C om m ittee in 1937 and affiliated
w ith th e Textile W orkers U nion of America, w hen th e la tte r became a p a rt of the O. I. O. in 1938.
1190
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Organizations
1191
cL All branches were urged to participate in post-war planning com
mittees in their communities or to take the initiative in launching
committees where such have not yet been established.
4. The convention instructed the national officers to seek the
establishment of post-war planning committees with each of the
employers’ collective-bargaining associations, and to arrange similar
conferences with major independent manufacturers; and, further,
to urge that these various planning conferences be brought into co
ordination through joint meetings of the various associations and
independent manufacturers.
5. The pledge in the preamble to the union’s constitution to secure
a 6-hour day and a 5-day week as a means of providing full employ
ment in the industry was reaffirmed, and the national executive board
was instructed “to exercise extreme vigilance in watching for the
earliest possible moment” in which to incorporate the 30-hour week
in future agreements.
6. The program for post-war reconstruction adopted by the Inter
national Reconstruction Conference convened by the Cooperative
League of the U. S. A. in Washington, D. C., in January 1944, was
endorsed.3
Welfare and Education
The convention recommended measures to broaden the Federa
tion’s welfare program which now includes employer-financed accident
and health insurance. The recommended measures include (1) life
insurance to be financed by employers’ contributions of 1 percent of
their gross pay roll, (2) 2 weeks’ vacation with pay for all workers
with 3 years of service and 1 week’s vacation for those with less than
3 years, (3) full service credit toward vacations for those returning
from the armed forces, and (4) a social-security department to be
created in the national office, to administer all social-security provi
sions in the union’s agreements with employers and to supply infor
mation on the subject to the various branches of the Federation.
Although attributing the recent decline in the union’s educational
work in part to the pressure of the war, the convention expressed
concern over it and voted to engage a full-time educational director.
It urged the branches to establish “ new members’ classes,” to enable
them to learn the rights and duties of union membership and the
techniques for adjusting grievances. The delegates also renewed the
union’s endorsement of the Harvard University trade-union fellow
ships and decided to recommend the selection of one of its members
for a year’s study. They authorized the national executive board to
provide him a weekly stipend, equal to his straight-time earnings on
his job, in order to defray his expenses and reimburse him for the loss
of earnings during the school year.
W age Demands for 1945 Agreement
Full-fashioned hosiery.—The convention had before it 10 resolutions
which sought to correct various alleged inequities in the rate structure
affecting the workers in individual shops or in several shops within an
area. To deal with these demands, the delegates adopted a general
3 See Co-ops P lan for th e Post-W ar W orld, p. 1323 of this issue.
6 1 8 6 2 7 — 44-------6
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1192
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
statement of policy to serve as a guide in the negotiation of the 1945
agreement between the union and employers. The statement de
clared (1) that the rate structure in the national hosiery agreement
was designed to apply uniformly throughout the full-fashioned section
of the hosiery industry, (2) that “ freezing” of the uniform wage scale
without any flexibility is bound to continue certain inequities be
tween mills as well as between departments, (3) that the employers’
associations have refused to deviate from the uniform wage schedule,
regardless of circumstances that might warrant an adjustment, (4)
that rejection by the employers’ associations of attempts to correct
local inequities has had a disturbing effect on the morale of the mem
bers. The national executive board was therefore directed to study
the problem of uniform rate structure and report to the next conven
tion on how to make its operation more effective.
The national executive board was also instructed to enter into
negotiations with the manufacturers’ association to secure a clause in
the 1945 agreement providing that, if the employer is unable to
obtain either male or female helpers (apprentices) on long-section,
full-fashioned knitting machines, the toppers shall receive an extra
payment, amounting to 50 percent of the helpers’ rate, to compensate
them for the loss of the helpers’ aid. This rate will apply irrespective
of whether the employer has followed the practice of engaging helpers
on long-section machines.
Seamless hosiery.—It was pointed out to the delegates that the
workers in the seamless section of the hosiery industry, a very large
part of which is working exclusively on Government contracts to
supply the armed forces, “ are at the bottom of the list among the 10
million American workers existing on incomes below a maintenance
level.” Based upon calculations presented to the convention, it was
concluded that, after deductions for social security and withholding
tax, the average seamless-hosiery worker had in May 1944 a net takehome pay amounting to less than $1,000 per year. The delegates
therefore directed the national executive board to take necessary
steps through proper Government agencies to secure (1) a correction
of “ the present lamentable wage situation” in the seamless section of
the hosiery industry, (2) an increase in ceiling prices on Government
contracts for hosiery that would absorb the increased labor costs, and
(3) a corresponding rise in OPA ceiling prices for civilian goods.
The national executive board received instructions to demand the
following additional provisions in the 1945 agreement for both seam
less and full-fashioned hosiery: (1) Increases in hourly wage rates from
the present minimum of 40 cents to 65 cents; (2) a night-shift differential
(the request, if refused by the employers to he referred to an arbitrator
or taken to the War Labor Board as a dispute case); (3) rate adjust
ments to correct existing inequalities in the looping department which
has not shown an increase in earnings since 1942; and (4) wage raises
for maintenance workers in hosiery mills now being paid less than
workers doing comparable jobs in other plants.
Resolutions
A prolonged discussion developed on a resolution contesting the
application of the seniority rule as a basis for promotion and lay-offs.
The resolution charged that the impartial chairman’s formula pro
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Organizations
1193
viding that, “ all things being equal,” the employee with the longest
record of service shall be the one entitled to promotion—or preferred
for employment in cases of lay-off—is being misused by employers in
their interpretation of the word “ equal.” They construe it to mean
that before an employee can qualify for a promotion his production
must be equal in quantity to the production average for the shop.
Since this interpretation of the production element of “ equal” often
results in discrimination—practically prohibiting a worker from get
ting a promotion, regardless of how high the quality of his work is,
if he does not measure up to average production—the resolution con
tended that “ equal” should be interpreted “ as allowing a deviation
up to 10 percent from the average in production.” The national
executive board was instructed to obtain acceptance of the union’s
interpretation by the manufacturers’ association, or, failing in this,
to seek the elimination of the industry arbitrator’s formula from the
next agreement.
In other resolutions the convention—
1. Endorsed pending Senate Resolution 48, introduced by Senator
Pepper, which would direct the War Labor Board to peimit the rais
ing of all wages over which the Board has jurisdiction to a minimum
of 65 cents per hour, and to declare substandard all rates below this.
2. Called for modification of the “ Little Steel” formula and pledged
all possible support to other labor unions in their fight to change the
formula, so that wage increases can be granted commensurate with
increases in the cost of living.
3. Endorsed the Wagner-Murray-Dingell bill for an improved and
expanded social-security program.
4. Protested the enactment of restrictive ordinances in many
southern conmunities which seek to bar union organization, and
pledged the Federation to contest such legislation by every possible
legal means.
5. Pledged itself to work closely with bona-fide consumers’ coop
eratives and credit-unions and called upon the national executive
board and the locals to collaborate with church, farm, and educational
groups interested in promoting consumers’ cooperation.
6. Commended the Treasury Department for its pay-roll savings
plan, which the Federation regards not only as a valuable contribu
tion to the war effort and a preventive of inflation, but also as help
ful to organized labor. It urged continuance of the plan after the
war is over.
7. Instructed the national executive board to resume the “ white
list” and union-label promotion by initiating an intensive campaign
for union-made hosiery.
Union Finances
Since 1938 the American Federation of Hosiery Workers has fol
lowed the practice of giving an annual public accounting of the finan
cial operations of the national organization and of each of its branches.
The 82-page report which secretary-treasurer William Smith sub
mitted to the convention for the year ending June 30, 1944, indicated
a combined net worth of the A. F. H. W. and its branches, amounting
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1194
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
to $1,000,000. It gave detailed figures on quarterly receipts from
per capita dues, assessments, income from interest on savings accounts
and bonds, sale of supplies, profits on sale of bonds, cost of adminis
tration (including salaries and expenses of officers, organizers and
clerical staffs), auditing fees, expenditures for education, research, and
publications, legal fees, court and arbitration costs, conventions,
relief and strike costs, printing and stationery, telephone and tele
graph, postage, office equipment, rent, janitorial services, electricity,
and water bills.
Also included in the report was a series of charts showing in per
centage form the various types of revenue and expenditures. In ad
dition to the annual report, the union furnishes confidential monthly
statements on its finances to each of its local affiliates.
Officers
The following officers were reelected for the ensuing term of 2 years:
General President, Alexander McKeown; First Vice President, Alfred
Hoffmann; Second Vice President, Edward F. Callaghan. A national
executive board, consisting of 14 members in addition to the general
officers, and a board of trustees, composed of 3 members, both bodies
serving for a term of 1 year, were also elected by the convention.
According to the constitution, 70 percent of the members on the
executive board must be employed as wage earners in the mills to
insure rank-and-file representation on the board.
To maintain continuity and “to guard against any confusion that
might result from a complete change of administration in any one
election,” the union’s constitution provides for the election of the presi
dent and vice presidents in even-numbered years, and the secretarytreasurer in odd-numbered years. William Smith is the incumbent
secretary-treasurer.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1195
Labor Organizations
U n ited M ine W orkers’ C on ven tion , 1 9 4 4 1
SOME 2,800 delegates, representing approximately 600,000 bitumi
nous-coal and anthracite miners, convened in Cincinnati, September 12
through September 20, to review the record of the United Mine
Workers of America during the past 2 years and to chart its course
for the future.
Since the last convention in 1942, substantial gains have been re
corded by the mine workers’ organization on several fronts. Accord
ing to the officers’ report, the union had on hand the largest funds in
its history, amounting to over $10,000,000, as of July 1. Member
ship, although depleted by withdrawals into the armed forces and the
war industries, included an overwhelming majority of the miners
employed in the United States. Significant gains in collective bargain
ing, following 16 months of negotiation 2included the establishment of
the first national basic wage agreement in the history of the bitumi
nous-coal industry and attainment of portal-to-portal pay for miners.
The greatest achievement reported was the miners’ production re
cord, accomplished despite several work stoppages and the loss of
the younger skilled men to the armed services. That the miners in
the United States and Canada have also contributed substantially to
the war in terms of manpower and money was indicated in a special
report, covering the period from December 1941 through July 1 , 1944,
as follows:
Serving in arm ed fo rc e s_______________________ ____
137, 259
K illed, died, a n d m issing in a c tio n _________________
2, 544
W ounded in a c tio n . _____________ _________________
4 ,3 9 1
V alue of w ar b on d p u rch ases______________________ $170, 617, 000
$3, 603, 000
C o n trib u tio n to w ar relief agencies____ ____________
Production Record
In total volume and in tons per man per day and per yqar, the pro
duction of bituminous and lignite coal broke all records in 1943.
Comparative data for 1918 and for each year of the present war, for
bituminous-coal and lignite mines producing over 1,000 tons annually,
are shown below.
Production
1918_____________________ 5 7 9 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0
1941
_________________ 5 1 4 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0
1942
_________________ 580, 000, 000
1943
_________________ 589, 000, 000
M en employed
615,300
45 7 ,0 0 0
460, 000
1 415, 000
Tons per man
per day
3 .7 8
5 .2 0
5. 30
♦ 1 5. 50
i
E stim ates, as given in the union officers’ report; a more recent estim ate b y K . C. A dams, editor of the
U nited M ine W orkers’ Journal, gives the m an-day o u tp u t for 1943 as 5.75 tons.
In addition to the bituminous coal and lignite shown above, 60,327,000 tons of anthracite were mined in 1943, bringing the grand total of
coal production in the United States to 649,327,000 tons. At the
present rate of production, the 1944 total, according to President
Lewis, will amount to nearly 700,000,000 tons, or more than the com
bined production of all other countries in the same year. The esti
mated increase of 45,000,000 tons in total coal production, as compared
1 Prepared in the B ureau’s Inform ation Service b y Boris Stern and Eleanor Finger.
2 A 184-page appendix to the officers’ report is devoted entirely to an analysis of the 1942-44 wage negotia-'
tions for th e bituminous-coal fields.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1196
Monthly Labor Review— December 1944
with the war year of 1918, will be achieved with nearly 300,000 fewer
men and with a working force the average age of which has increased
from 32 to 45 years since December 1941.
Accidents and Safety
This production record was not attained without a tragic loss of
life and productivity through fatal and nonfatal accidents, as indicated
in the figures below, taken from the officers’ reports.
Total accidents
1940
1941
1942
1943
_______________________ 61, 089
_______________________ 64,731
_______________________ 73,482
_____________________ 1 78, 064
Fatal
1, 308
1,266
1,482
1, 394
Nonfatal
59, 781
6 3 ,465
7 2 ,000
i 76, 670
1 E stim ated.
In October 1943, Secretary of the Interior Ickes, who is also Solid
Fuels Administrator, reported that casualties in the coal mines up to
that month exceeded numerically the casualties in the armed forces
since the attack on Pearl Harbor. The union officers’ report com
mented on this high loss as follows:
W hy is it th a t we kill an d m aim more m ine w orkers th a n an y o th er coal-m ining
co u n try in th e world? N o t because m ining here is m ore h azard o u s; n o t be
cause of financial stress; n o t because we lack in science or research; b u t due in th e
m ain to placing p ro d u ctio n problem s first, a n d th e com plete lack of o rganization
am ong th e m ine ow ners for concerted actio n to a tta c k th e basic ills of th e in d u s
tr y w hich b ear directly upon th e u nderlying causes. T h e d irect a n d in direct
m oney cost to life an d p ro p e rty of ap p ro x im ately 20 cents p er to n will a m o u n t to
a b o u t $140,000,000 in th e y ear 1944. T his cost is p aid for by th e consum ers of
coal.
Occupational diseases have likewise taken a serious toll from the
miners. According to Secretary-Treasurer Thomas Kennedy, who
quoted from a Government study of the Pennsylvania anthracite
region, 25 percent of the men working in the anthracite industry have
been affected to some extent by silicosis.
English experience.—The English experience in coal mining was
described by Ebby Edwards, a fraternal delegate to the U. M. W.
convention from the Miners’ International Federation of Great
Britain. The loss of 30,000 skilled miners yearly, food shortages,
5 years of intensive war, and the lack of mining equipment have
resulted in a drop in British coal production. The average daily
output per British miner (covering all employées, whether under
ground or surface) decreased from 1.12 tons in 1938 to 1.03 tons
in 1943. Comparison of statistics on fatal accidents in 1941 reveals
that the United States, employing 150,678 fewer men, had 341 more
mining fatalities than Great Britain, in spite of the fact that the
1941 record in the United States was the lowest in 8 years. Nonfatal
accidents were numerically greater in Great Britain, and occupational
diseases there were far in excess of the rate in other British industries.
Mine safety.—Mine inspection in the United States is carried out
by both State and Federal mine inspectors, but the latter have no
power of enforcement. Discussing the deficiencies in State safety
legislation, President Davis of District 31, told the delegates:
In all of our S tates, generally speaking, we h av e a n tiq u a te d m ining laws, laws
th a t were b u ilt up over th e years u n d er hand-loading a n d h and-m ining m ethods.
T hose laws do n o t cover m echanized m ining. T hey co n tra d ic t each o th e r from
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Organizations
1197
S ta te to S tate, th ere is no u niform ity, a n d th e only possible w ay th e re can be
u n iform ity of enforcem ent of know n safety m ethods is th ro u g h F ed eral legisla
tion. * * * T he F ed eral inspector reports on violations of know n safety
practices th a t have proven th e ir w orth. T he S ta te inspectors can only re p o rt
on violations of S ta te law, a n d th e only enforcem ent agency in all of o u r m ining
d istricts is th e S ta te m ining d ep a rtm e n t.
President Lewis, in supplementing the previous speaker’s remarks,
commented:
E xplosions in coal m ines are unnecessary. W hen explosions occur, it m eans
t h a t safety p recaution s were ignored, th a t chances were ta k e n , th a t im perfect
v en tilatio n existed, th a t m en were p e rm itte d to w ork u n d er conditions w here
an explosive m ixture of atm osphere was a hazard th a t could h av e been rem oved
by pro p er inspection a n d by p roper m an ag em en t a n d by th e e x p en d itu re of a
few dollars for th e pro tectio n of h u m an life. * * * And, le t me say to th e
officers of our local unions, a n d to our delegates in rep o rtin g to th e ir local unions,
m ake it clear th a t a t no tim e, and u n d er no circum stances a n d u n d er no con
ditions are our m en obligated to w ork in any m ine th a t th ey know is unsafe.
Action by the convention.—The delegates voted to establish a general
safety council within the union for research and investigation for the
purpose of making safety recommendations to the various State
mining departments, the United States Bureau of Mines, the State
legislatures, and the Congress of the United States. The convention
also recommended increased funds to permit employment of additional
Federal inspectors, and the passage of legislation “giving the Federal
mine inspectors power to force operators to remedy immediately”
any dangerous conditions found. In the case of mines temporarily
seized by the Government, the convention recommended that the
Secretary of the Interior order a Federal mine inspection, the findings
of which would then be enforced.
Demands for 1945 Wage Contract
A new wage contract for the mining industry is scheduled to be
negotiated in the spring of 1945. The miners’ demands to be made
at that time were broadly outlined in the report of the scale committee.
It noted that all resolutions and business dealing with the anthracite
wage agreement were to be referred to the Anthracite Tri-District
Convention, which is scheduled to meet prior to the expiration of
the wage agreement. For the bituminous-coal agreement the|scale
committee’s report recommended the following: (1) The establish
ment of a national policy committee, composed of the International
officers, the International executive board, the executive officers of
each bituminous district, and 61 district wage-scale committee mem
bers to be selected by the districts. (2) Continuation and improve
ment through collective bargaining of a basic national wage agreement
for the bituminous-coal industry. (3) Adjustment of unsatisfactory
local conditions either through the basic wage-scale conference or by
referral back to the districts involved. (4) “The abolition of all
discriminatory tonnage or day-wage differentials existing within and
between districts and * * * uniformity of rates by classifications
for work performed on mechanized units and proper differentials
between the various classifications of such labor.” (5) Provision of
blasting material at the employer’s expense; limitation on the number
of supervisory and technical employees exempt under the wage agree
ment, and provision for their proper classification in the wage sched
ules; employers to be required to furnish union-made tools and ex
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1198
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
plosives; and mine workers to be permitted to cease work in order to
prevent shipment of coal to a consumer whose employees are engaged
in a legal strike. (6) A contract provision to assist and protect
returning veterans in the coal industry. (7) Reduction in hours of
employment at the close of the wartime emergency, the maximum
for underground workers to be not more than 7 hours per day from
portal to portal, with a 5-day week of 35 hours; time and a half after
7 hours per day and 35 hours per week, and for work on Saturday;
double time for Sunday; full time for travel from portal to portal.
“ The working time of all outside employees shall be coordinated with
the underground working time.” (8) Wage increases to be deter
mined by the union policy committee with full authority. President
Tetlow, of District 17, in his discussion of these wage terms, made
it clear to the delegates that should the “ Little Steel” formula be
revised at any time, the officers of the U. M. W. A. would immediately
reopen the mine contracts to press for a wage adjustment.
Matters of Internal Organization
d is t r ic t a u t o n o m y
The most controversial issue before the convention during the 7
days it was actually in session involved the restoration of autonomy
to districts now under a provisional government appointed by the
executive board of the United Mine Workers. Of a total of 31 dis
tricts, 21 have no power to elect their officers and field organizers.
The fight for district autonomy is an old issue at United Mine Workers
conventions. This year, however, for the first time, the delegates
favoring home rule were organized, under the leadership of Ray
Edmundson, formerly the appointed director of District 12 (Illinois)
who resigned in order to lead the fight and later to oppose John L.
Lewis for the presidency of the U. M. W. A.
In his opening speech, President Lewis attacked the opposition’s
attempt to defeat him “in his own organization and in his own con
vention.” That afternoon the partial report of the credentials com
mittee showed Ray Edmundson and three of liis supporters to be
among those whose credentials had been disputed. Pending a hear
ing, they were denied official delegate status, and were thus deprived
of an opportunity to participate in the discussion on district autonomy.
The first resolution submitted to the delegates by the committee
on resolutions dealt with autonomy. Of the 138 resolutions considered
by the committee on this subject, 86 opposed and 52 favored home
rule in the districts. These resolutions were combined by the resolu
tions committee into a statement reaffirming the policy adopted by
the international conventions in 1938, 1940, and 1942, to the effect
that—
U pon proper p resen tatio n of su b sta n tia l requests for au to n o m y in a n y d istric t or
districts, th e In te rn a tio n a l executive b o ard shall ta k e in to consideration such re
quests a n d w ith due consideration for th e p ro tectio n a n d a d v an cem en t of th e
rights of our m em bers in such d istricts an d th e sta b ility a n d efficiency of th e o r
ganization, shall be au th o rized a t its discretion to in s tru c t a n y such d istric t th a t
su b sta n tia l au to n o m y is g ra n te d a n d th a t such d istric t shall th e n proceed as
follows:
U nder th e precise supervision of th e In te rn a tio n a l executive b oard, th e d istrict
shall m eet in d istrict convention a n d a d o p t a c o n stitu tio n p io v id in g for th e p roper
conduct of th e affairs of th e d istric t: provide for th e no m in atio n a n d election of
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Organizations
/
1199
d istrict officers, except p resid en t an d se c retary -treasu rer; a n d otherw ise provide
for d istrict self-governm ent. All such d istric t laws shall be co n sisten t w ith th e
provisions of th e In te rn a tio n a l c o n stitu tio n an d n o t in conflict th ere w ith , a n d shall
be su b ject to ap p ro v al of th e In te rn a tio n a l executive board.
T he only exceptions to th e above recom m endation are th e offices of presid en ts
an d secretary -treasu rers in such d istricts, who shall co ntinue to be selected by th e
In te rn a tio n a l executive board an d designated to hold such offices su b ject to
In te rn a tio n a l and d istric t laws, u n til such tim e as th e In te rn a tio n a l executive
board shall provide otherw ise.
We believe th a t th e above suggestions fully m eet th e needs of th e situ a tio n , are
p ro tectiv e of th e rights of th e m em bership a n d a t th e sam e tim e give to th e
In te rn a tio n a l organization th a t sm all m easure of advisory supervision t h a t is
conducive to th e proper discharge of th e obligations restin g upon th e In te r
n atio n a l organization.
In the lengthy debate that followed, 20 delegates spoke in favor of
the committee’s report and 12 opposed it. President Lewis closed
discussion with a statement outlining case histories of districts which
had suffered financial insolvency and poor administration under
autonomy. In the final standing vote, the committee report was
overwhelmingly adopted.
The next day the convention by a large majority passed a resolution
condemning the leader of the autonomy movement. Following its
adoption, President Lewis appointed a committee of three Inter
national executive board members “ to digest the evidence and make
a report to the board at its meeting following this convention on the
question of whether or not this autonomy organization * * * is
or is not a dual union under the constitution of the U. M. W. A.” 3
For the same reasons that the convention later voted to deny Mr.
Edmundson delegate status, President Lewis ruled he could not be a
candidate for an International office. With one dissenting vote,
this interpretation of the constitution was upheld.4
Like the resolutions committee, the committee on constitution,
appeals, and grievances received a number of resolutions designed to
increase home rule within the districts through constitutional revision.
Sixty-five resolutions proposed a time limit to provisional or appointed
government in districts, 75 resolutions asked for the election or the
approval of appointed organizers or field workers by the district in
which their membership is held; 61 resolutions sought to substitute
district presidents for executive board members in the International
executive board with the further provision that the International
president “ fill by appointment all vacancies occurring in any Inter
national office except district president, who shall be elected by the
districts in which the vacancy occurs.” Opposition was likewise
expressed to the practice of having appointed officers and field repre
sentatives either serve as delegates to the convention or have a vote if
present. The committee’s recommendation of nonconcurrence in all
such propositions was uncontested by the delegates.
A move for greater independence on the local level was also con
tained in a number of resolutions advocating a more equal distri
bution of dues for International, district, and local purposes. (For
example, of monthly dues of $1.50, 90 cents goes to the International
union office, 30 cents to the district, and 30 cents to the local union.)
All such resolutions were defeated.
3 A t the meeting of th e general executive board, following the close of the convention, R ay E dm undson
was found guilty of organizing a dual union. T he constitution provides expulsion as the penalty, b u t the
board took no action a t th a t tim e to enforce the measure.
4 Edm undson later appealed to the U. S. D istrict C ourt in W ashington, D . C., for an injunction to prevent
the rem oval of his nam e from the ballot. His p etition was denied.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1200
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Certain amendments to the U. M. W. A. constitution were adopted,
the most important of which were the following: (1) Opportunity for
amendment of the union constitution every 4, instead of every 2,
years (delegates will continue to meet biennially, however, for the
International scale and policy convention); (2) 4-year (instead of
2-year) terms for International and district officers; (3) 2-year
(instead of 1-year) terms for local officers; and (4) to qualify for
candidacy in a local election, attendance required in at least half of the
local union meetings each month for 6 months immediately preceding
nomination of delegates (previously only at half of all meetings
during a 6-month period).
Important Resolutions
Social security.—The executive officers were authorized to prepare
amendments to be submitted to Congress, reducing the age-limit
requirement in the old-age provision of the present social-security
law. Further, each district, in cooperation with the legal department
of the International union, was urged to improve the workmen’s
compensation law of its State by broadening the coverage to include
occupational diseases, and by increasing allowances. The delegates
also voted for a liberalization of unemployment compensation, with
benefits to be continued until employment is obtained.
Health.—Numerous resolutions asking for free wash houses at mines
brought forth a recommendation from the resolutions committee
that adequate, sanitary bathhouses be provided and maintained by
coal companies at all coal mines and that such provision be required
through legislation in those States where no law yet exists.
Racial discrimination.—The delegates denounced the poll tax and
went on record against N egro discrimination in the armed forces and
at the production front. Requests for Negro representation among
district and International officers were referred to the respective
bodies for further consideration.
Wartime agencies.—The War Labor Board was censured for its
handling of the 1942-44 coal-wage negotiations. The War Man
power Commission and the “ Little Steel” formula likewise received
severe criticism in an adopted resolution, which read in part: “ We
condemn the freezing of wage rates at arbitrary levels and the binding
of men to their jobs as destructive to the advancement that has been
enjoyed by our union since its formation.”
Labor unity.—The officers’ report carried a full account of the
negotiations between A. F. of L. officials and President Lewis con
cerning the move of the U. M. W. A. to reaffiliate with the Federation.
In conclusion, the report stated:
W e reg ret exceedingly th a t o u r efforts failed. W e know th e fu n d am en tals
involved require unification of la b o r’s forces an d w hen we feel th a t re s tra in ts are
rem oved an d organized lab o r is free to a c t by itself, we will, a t th e first o p p o rtu n ity ,
tr y again to w ork for consolidation an d u n ity w ithin th e ra n k s of labor.
The desire to unify the large labor groups in the country received
further expression in a resolution adopted unanimously by the con
vention, directing the officers to work toward this end.
Post-war program.—In a briefly worded resolution, the convention
supported uniform, adequate unemployment insurance for returning
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Organizations
1201
veterans and war workers, during the period of reconversion. On
the international front, labor representation at the peace conference
was demanded. The delegates further voted to excuse members in
the armed forces from all union dues and assessments. Veterans’ re
employment rights also received consideration in the previously men
tioned report of the scale committee.
Concern for the future of the bituminous-coal industry led to the
adoption of a resolution proposing a new bituminous-coal law in place
of the Guffey Act which Congress allowed to expire on August 26,
1943. The proposed bill would provide for a commission of five,
three to represent the public and one each for the industry and the
mine workers.
Political action—A statement by the resolutions committee con
demned President Roosevelt’s labor policies and his alleged bias
against the mine workers’ union, while favorably citing the labor
plank in the Republican party platform and Governor Dewey’s record
in New York. The resolution adopted by the convention concluded,
however, with the statement that “the U. M. W. A. should not depart
from its traditional political policy and its constitutional provisions
and indorse a candidate or party in the 1944 campaign.” Four out
of nine speakers supported President Roosevelt, but in the final stand
ing vote, only about 200 delegates voted against the committee’s
repoit.
U. M . W. A . District 50
District 50, organized 8 years ago by 12 local unions in the city of
Boston, has as its motto “Organize the unorganized.” Under its
U. M. W. A. charter, its jurisdiction encompasses workers in all indus
tries, with special emphasis placed on the chemical, paper, railroad,
and dairy industries. The last two are separate divisions within the
district.
In a 2-day meeting, held on September 8 and 9, in Cincinnati, just
prior to the U. M. W. A. convention, the problems of District 50 were
reviewed by 454 delegates, representing approximately 200,000 work
ers under contract in 903 local unions in 415 cities and 43 States.
Aware of the big organizational problems ahead, the delegates voted
to form voluntary organizing committees within their locals, to co
ordinate the organization of the unorganized in their communities, and
to conduct a survey of unorganized industries within their territory.
Discussion arose over the advisability of creating advisory councils
within cities and regions. Detroit delegates, who have already or
ganized an informal council, strongly advocated such a step; but the
convention, on the recommendation of the organizing committee,
voted to refer the problem of sanctioning such councils to District 50
executive officers for further study. A resolution to grant autonomy
to District 50 to elect its own officers and board members was likewise
voted down.
The major organizing effort of District 50 in the near future will be
concentrated in the chemical industry, which thus far has remained
largely unorganized. Recognizing this fertile field for unionization,
the U. M. W. A. officers’ report stated: “Of special importance in the
post-war adjustment is the chemical industry because of its direct
relation to the coal industry. It is of importance to every coal miner
in the country to do his part in furthering organization in this industry
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1202
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
for his own interests as well as for the interests of the organization.”
Secretary Kennedy, in his address before the convention of District
50, pointed out the significance of this tie-up of coal with chemicals:
Oil, coal, an d chem icals are going to be one g re a t in te g ra te d in d u stry in th is
N ation. * * * Oil will pro b ab ly ta k e up th e slack of th e coal in d u stry , be
cause th e coal in d u stry itself is going to be th e basis for th e m aking of syn th etic
oils an d chem icals, w hich, in m y ju d g m en t, will develop in to th e g re a te st in d u stry
in th is N ation. T h a t is one reason w hy th e U n ited M ine W orkers of Am erica
approaches th e problem of u n ity in th e lab o r m ovem ent. I t believes it is neces
sary to p ro te c t jurisd ictio n , especially in these chem ical an d b y -p ro d u cts in d u s
tries, because essentially th e y are all going to be one in d u stry .
Two methods were proposed whereby the miners might materially
assist District 50 in its organizational drive; both were to be incor
porated in the 1945 wage-contract demands. One would give miners
the right to cease work under their collective agreement, to prevent
shipment of coal to a consumer whose employees were engaged in a
legal strike. The other, requiring employers to furnish tools and ex
plosives bearing the union label, was foreshadowed in President Lewis’
opening address as follows: “I want to serve notice on the great man
ufacturers of chemicals and explosives in this country that the time
is coming after this war when union men in the coal mines of this
country will use no powder or explosive that do not bear the brand of
this organization.”
The final action of the District 50 convention was the passage* of a
set of rules and bylaws for District 50, to be submitted later, for final
approval, to the International executive board of the United Mine
Workers of America.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Relations
U n io n A greem ents in F ru it and V egetable C a n n in g 1
Summary
ABOUT 40 percent of the estimated 200,000 workers employed at the
seasonal peak in the canned fruit and vegetable industry are covered
by union agreements. Approximately 75 percent of these workers,
chiefly on the West Coast, are under agreements with federal labor
unions directly affiliated with the American Federation of Labor.
Another 20 percent are under agreement with the United .Cannery,
Agricultural, Packing and Allied Workers of America (C. I. O.), and
the remaining 5 percent are represented by various other unions.
The outstanding agreement in the industry is that negotiated by
the California State Council of Cannery Unions and the California
Processors and Growers, Inc., the latter being an employer associa
tion formed in 1936 to handle labor relations for the industry. The
first agreement negotiated by these two groups, which was also the
first area-wide agreement in the industry, was signed in July 1937.
The California Processors and Growers, Inc., now bargains for its 34
members whose 64 canneries, in northern and central California,
produce nearly 80 percent of all canned goods processed in California.
Some 35 independent canneries also have subscribed to the terms of
this agreement, except for the provisions covering the grievance
machinery.
Coverage and Duration of Agreements
This report analyzes the provisions of 32 union agreements, on file
with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, covering over 85 percent of the
workers in the canned fruit and vegetable industry who were under
agreement during the 1943 and 1944 peak seasons. The agreement
with the California Processors and Growers, Inc., covers about twothirds of all the workers under the agreements analyzed. Other
agreements which cover over 2,500 workers at the seasonal peak are
those with the Campbell Soup Co. (plants at Camden, N. J., and
Chicago, 111.); H. J. Heinz Co. (Pittsburgh, Pa.); and Libby, McNeill
& Libby (Portland, Oreg.). Four agreements cover between 1,000
and 1,500 workers each, 19 cover between 100 and 1,000, and 5 cover
less than 100 workers.
All but 2 of the 32 agreements were initially negotiated for 1 year,
but all are automatically renewable, usually from year to year, in the
absence of notice. The California Processors and the Campbell Soup
Co. (N. J.) agreements were signed for 2-year periods, but both permit
1
Prepared by Ju d ith P. Zander of the B ureau’s Industrial Relations D ivision.
are given in B ulletin No. 794.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M ore complete data
1203
1204
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
modifications of specified sections at yearly intervals—wages, hours,
and working conditions in the former, and wages only in the latter.
In all of the agreements the union bargains for all production,
maintenance, and service employees and in half of the agreements for
watchmen as well. Office and administrative workers, on the other
hand, are always excluded, as are foremen also in all but 3 of the smallcompany agreements.
Regulations covering foremen .—Although workers classified as fore
men are generally excluded from both the union’s jurisdiction and the
provisions of the agreements, about half of the agreements, partic
ularly those which vest in foremen the right to hire and fire, regulate
their productive activities. According to 9 agreements, foremen may
do routine productive work only when a “special emergency” arises;
and 2 permit them to do maintenance work in the nonprocessing
season. Five other agreements, all with closed-shop clauses, allow
foremen to do routine production work, provided they obtain a work
ing permit and pay dues to the union while engaged in such work.
The line of demarcation between foremen and production workers
is less distinct in the California Processors and Libby, McNeill &
Libby agreements and in one small-company agreement. Under
these three agreements, in contrast with most of those previously
mentioned, foremen “customarily” supervise the work of others and
may only “recommend” hiring and firing. These agreements spe
cifically permit the assignment of foremen to routine duties, both
during and after the processing season, as long as they spend most
of their time supervising and are paid a specified minimum wage.
Union Status
Membership requirements.—The Libby, McNeill & Libby agreement
and 11 of the agreements with smaller companies establish closed-shop
conditions under which all workers must be members of the union and
all new employees must be hired through the union. The California
Processors and 8 other agreements establish union shops which re
quire all employees to become members of the union, but allow the
employer to obtain new employees from any source, provided such
workers join the union within a specified time, ranging from 5 days
to 1 month. The California Processors agreement also states that
“the employer will give preference of employment to unemployed
members of the local union.” 2
The 2 Campbell agreements, the Heinz agreement, and 2 others
provide “maintenance of membership” for employees who are or who
become union members.3 Of the 6 remaining agreements, 1 provides
that union members shall be given preference in hiring, while the
other 5 do not require union membership as a basis for hiring or con
tinued employment.
2 A supplem entary emergency agreem ent negotiated in Ju ly 1943 provided th a t w hen it was necessary
to hire workers other than present or former union members, such workers could obtain an emergency card
and would not be required to complete their affiliation w ith the local unless they so chose. Em ergency
cards m u st be renewed weekly. If, however, these employees work more than 24 days or work all regular
shifts when work is available during 4 pay-roll periods, th ey are deemed to be in the same category as other
cannery workers and are required to join the union unless they are doing cannery work in addition to their
regular em ploym ent. Emergency workers do not acquire seniority rights unless they join the union, in
which case seniority is retroactive to the date of hiring.
3 T h e C am pbell agreem ents provide th a t the “ question of union security” should be subm itted to the
N ational W ar L abor Board. On A ugust 9, 1943, the Board ordered the parties to incorporate a standard
voluntary m em bership-m aintenance clause in their agreem ent and to provide for the check-off of union
dues upon individual authorization.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Relations
1205
Check-off of union dues.—Some provision for the check-off of union
dues by the company is made in 10 of the 32 agreements. In the
Heinz agreement and those of 2 smaller companies, the check-off is
automatic for union members; in the other 7, including the Campbell
agreements, dues are checked off only on individual authorization
by the employee.
Wage Provisions
With but 2 exceptions the agreements indicate the basis on which
wage payments are calculated. Hourly rates are specifically provided
in every case for all regular employees and in most cases for seasonal
employees as well. However, 10 agreements, all but 2 of which are
with plants on the West Coast, provide piece-work rates for certain
seasonal workers.
Minimum wage rates.-—Of the 30 agreements with wage provisions,
16 (including all the large companies but Campbell) have both plant
wide minima and occupational wage rates for men and women.
Five of these, all with small companies, provide lower minimum rates
for seasonal workers than for regular employees. Eight other agree
ments list minimum rates for regular employees and 2 more ha,ve
plant minima for seasonal workers only. All of the agreements with
plant-wide minima, either for regular or seasonal workers or for both,
establish lower rates for women than for men. Since nearly all of the
agreements specify that women shall receive men’s rates when put on
men’s jobs, it may be inferred that most of these differences are based
on differences in jobs rather than on sex alone. The 2 Campbell
agreements and the 2 remaining ones list occupational rates but no
plant minima. Eleven agreements have lower minima for minors.
Hiring rates.—About two-thirds of the agreements—including
those of all the major companies except California Processors and
Libby, McNeill & Libby—prescribe hiring rates below the minimum
for new, inexperienced workers for a stipulated period, ranging from 3
weeks to 6 months. Hiring rates apply to all new workers in 11 agree
ments while in 8 others, all with plants in the State of Washington,
hiring rates apply only to boys and girls under 18 years of age. In
the Campbell agreements, which indicate that an incentive system
is in force, a new employee advances from the hiring rate to the base
rate which is guaranteed after he has met the production standard for
5 consecutive days, even though he may later fail to maintain
production.
Interim wage adjustment.—Provisions for general wage changes
during the life of the agreement are found in 5 agreements, 2 of which
were signed for periods exceeding 1 year and the others for a 1-year
period with provisions for automatic yearly renewal. The Heinz,
California Processors, and Campbell (N. J.) agreements permit
either party to request a reconsideration of the wage level upon
specified notice. An agreement with a smaller company permits
wage changes if the cost of living rises 5 percent but makes actual
changes in wages dependent on the state of company profits; another
specifies that wage changes will be made automatically in the event
of a “general rise in wages” or a raise of pay in certain classifications
in any 2 of 5 other designated California plants.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1206
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
Incentive-wage system.—Of the 10 agreements which mention piece
rates, all but 1 provide minimum guaranties.4 Combination groupindividual incentive systems are provided in 7 agreements with West
Coast companies. In the California Processors agreement, for ex
ample, a “guaranteed average rate” of 80 cents an hour is established
for piece-work crews. In any week in which the average actual earn
ings of the group fall below the guaranteed rate, a percentage adjust
ment “sufficient to produce a group average of 80 cents an hour” is
paid to each worker in the group, regardless of whether his individual
earnings were above or below the guaranteed rate. A similar
adjustment is made in the other agreements when less than 50 percent
of the workers in the group earn the guaranteed minimum. The 2
remaining agreements specify that piece workers are to be paid at
least the guaranteed hourly rate set for their specific jobs.
Specific provisions for rate setting and rate adjustment are outlined
in 2 agreements. Under the California Processors agreement, piece
rates may be changed to compensate for variations in products or
processes or for other reasonable causes, provided the employer gives
advance notice to the union and to the employer’s committee of the
change and the reason. If the union disapproves of the change it
may submit the matter to the grievance machinery within 10 days.
The second agreement provides that piece rates shall be established
by the end of 5 working days but that the method of determining
such rates shall be discussed with the union before the rates are
instituted. Job analysis and grading by a joint union-management
committee are provided under the Heinz agreement and one other.
Iniraplant transfer rates.—A third of the agreements mention wage
rates in connection with temporary transfers. About half of these
agreements (including California Processors) provide for the payment
of the higher rate to all employees transferred to higher-rated jobs,
and the payment of the employee’s old rate when he is transferred to
a lower-rated job. The remainder provide that the rate for the job
to which the worker is transferred shall apply only if he remains on
the job to which transferred a given length of time—from 3 days to
2 weeks.
Minimum call pay .—All but one of the agreements provide for the
payment of a minimum amount to employees who are called to work
or who report for work at the regular time but for whom no work is
available. The minimum guaranty varies from 1 to 4 hours’ pay,
with 2 hours most common. Two-thirds of these agreements, in
cluding those of all the larger companies except H. J. Heinz, guarantee
additional pay if some work is done after reporting. The minimum
guaranty under these circumstances varies from 2 to 4 hours, with
the latter the most common.
Stand-by pay and split shifts.—Under the Heinz agreement and 5
others, full pay is awarded to all workers for time lost when
operations are halted for lack of materials or other specified causes
within the control of the employer. The Heinz agreement provides,
however, that piece workers will receive such stand-by pay only
when the delay exceeds 15 minutes. Another agreement provides
4
In any in dustry, w hen the actual hourly earnings of piece w orkers fall below the m inim um established
under the F air L abor Standards Act or State laws, whichever is higher, the em ployer is required to m ake up
the difference. T h e “ guaranties” referred to above were set considerably higher th a n the legal m inim a in
every case.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Relations
1207
that workers are to receive pay for half of such waiting time unless
the employer calls a recess of 3 hours or more.
Six other agreements make no provision for stand-by pay and
allow split shifts without overtime pay when work is halted for reasons
beyond the employer’s control. Four of the 6 agreements limit the
length of these “splits.” In the California Processors and Libby,
McNeill & Libby agreements and one other, the work recesses may
be called for not less than a half hour nor more than a total of 2 hours
per week, while the other agreement specifies that 8 hours of work may
be spread over 12 consecutive hours during the processing season.
Shift differentials.—To permit rapid processing of fresh produce
when large quantities are brought to the plant, 11 agreements,
including most of the larger companies, allow for multiple-shift
operations. Of these, the California Processors and 5 others grant
no differentials over day rates for night work, simply stating that
shifts shall be instituted where necessary.
The other 5 agreements which mention shifts stipulate different
rates for work between 6 p. m. and 6 a. m. In the 2 Campbell agree
ments the differential is 10 percent of the day rate; in the Heinz
agreement and 1 other it is 5 cents and 10 cents an hour, respectively.
The Heinz agreement, however, limits payment of a shift premium
to the nonprocessing periods.
Miscellaneous pay provisions.Several agreements with large West
Coast companies permit the employer to adjust the wages and hours
of an employee who cannot accomplish a satisfactory day’s work
because of age or physical disability. In the Heinz agreement, an
employee sent to the plant hospital because of an industrial injury
is paid his regular rate for the time he is required to remain there,
while employees sent to the hospital because of illness are paid for
the first hour only. Another agreement provides that an employee
who receives, on the job, an injury not compensable under the State
law is to receive a full day’s pay.
Four agreements require the company to furnish, free of cost, the
apparel and safety devices necessary for the job. Another states
that the employee and the company shall share equally the expenses of
uniforms, but the employee’s share is not to exceed 75 cents a week.
Hours and Overtime
All but 1 of the 32 cannery agreements contain hours and overtime
provisions. Twenty-four distinguish between the processing and
nonprocessing season by allowing additional hours of work at straighttime rates during seasonal peaks known as exemption periods;5 7 of
these refer to 2 separate exemption periods. Although the 7 remain
ing agreements establish a basic 8-hour day and 40-hour week, with
time and a half for work in excess of these limits throughout the year,
» Canneries m ay take advantage of 3 types of hour exemptions permissible under the F air L abor Standards
A ct, b u t it is no t possible to tell from the agreements the num ber or type of exemptions taken. T he exemp
tions w hich m ay apply to canneries are as follows: (1) A total exem ption from both wage and hour provisions
throughout th e year is allowed “ a n y individual employee w ith in the area of production (as defined by
the A dm inistrator), and engaged in * * * canning of agricultural or horticultural commodities for
m a rk e t” (sec. 13-a-10). (2) A total exemption from the hour provisions of the act for 14 weeks of the year
is provided for employees of employers engaged in “ th e first processing of, or th e canning of * * * perish
able or seasonal fresh fruits or vegetables” (see. 7-c). (3) A lim ited exem ption from the hour provisions of
12 hours per d ay and 56 per week m ay be granted for 14 weeks to persons engaged in any in dustry found by
th e A dm inistrator to be of a seasonal nature (sec. 7-b-3). Canneries outside the “ area of p roduction” m ay
take advantage of (2) or (3) or both.
618627— 44------- 7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1208
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
several specify some exemptions: 1 limits these hours to regular
employees while seasonal employees are subject to the exemptions of
the Fair Labor Standards Act; and another allows an additional hour
daily at straight-time rates but stipulates that if more than 9 hours
are worked, time and a half shall be paid for all work in excess of
8 hours. Five of the seven 40-hour-week agreements cover companies
whose plants are in or near large cities, where they compete with other
industries for a labor supply; the other 2 are with firms not entitled
to the statutory seasonal exemptions.6
In 22 of the 24 agreements with different seasonal standards, the
basic hourly overtime standards during the nonprocessing season are
time and a half for work in excess of 8 hours per day or 40 hours per
week, although one agreement requires male employees to work 9
hours before daily overtime begins. Six of these agreements provide
for double time for work in excess of 12 hours daily. Of the 2 remain
ing agreements, 1 requires time and a half after 40 hours weekly but
contains no daily overtime provisions, and the other simply states
that provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act shall govern overtime
pay.
Ten of the 24 agreements which refer to seasonal exemptions specify
neither the number nor the kinds of exemptions taken, simply stating
that during the processing season hours and overtime pay shall be
determined by the Fair Labor Standards Act. On the other hand, 14
explicitly establish a limit on the number of hours per day and/or
week which may be worked at straight-time rates, although it is not
always possible to determine which or how many of the 3 allowable
exemptions are referred to in these cases. Of the latter group of
agreements, 9 establish longer straight-time hours for men than for
women, most commonly providing time and a quarter after 8 hours
daily for women; for both men and women, they provide time and a
half after 10 hours daily or 60 hours weekly, and double time after
12 hours daily.
In the other 5 agreements men and women are covered by identical
hours and overtime arrangements. In 2 of these, time and a half is
paid after 8 hours daily or 48 hours weekly, in 2 others after 56 hours
weekly, and in the remaining agreement after 12 hours daily or 72
hours weekly; the first 2 of these agreements also provide for double
time after 12 hours daily.
In addition to the seasonal tolerances described above, 7 agreements
also establish special hours standards for the “ pea canning” or “ tomato
processing” seasons or refer to the “ unlimited hours” exemption. The
overtime-pay requirements during this second exemption period are
less generous than during the seasonal exemptions described above.
Of the 7 agreements having these special hours standards, only 3 pro
vide premium pay for overtime (1 of these, for women only). No
limit is placed on straight-time hours for men in 5 of the agreements
and for women in 4. Of the 2 remaining agreements with provisions
for men, one specifies time and a half after 66 hours and the other after
70 hours weekly. The 3 agreements with provisions for women specify,
respectively, (1) time and a half after 9 hours daily or 54 hours weekly,
(2) time and a half after 11 hours daily, and (3) time and a quarter
after 8 hours daily, time and a half after 70 hours weekly, and double
time after 12 hours daily.
• These firms are engaged in dried-fruit packing, w hich is no t considered eligible for an exemption under
the F a ir L abor Standards Act.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Relations
1209
Week-end and Holiday P a y
Most of tlie agreements with premium rates for week-end work were
negotiated in conformity with Executive Order No. 9240,7 but also
provided Saturday and Sunday rates which were to be substituted
when the order no longer applied to the industry. The California
Processors agreement and 6 others specify that time and a half is to
be paid for all Saturday work; another specifies time and a half for
work on Saturday after 1 p. m.; and 1 other, for work on “ Saturday
night.” The Heinz agreement and both the Campbell agreements
(negotiated in conformity with Executive Order No. 9240) have
retained the premium rates for sixth- and seventh-day work instead of
Saturday and Sunday per se.
All of these agreements in which seasonal exemptions are taken
specify that the premium rate is to apply only during the nonprocessing
season. In the California Processors agreement the Saturday rate
applies during this season only in case the employer does not give the
employee and the union notice at the earliest possible date, or if the
work is not of an emergency nature.
Payment of the premium rate for all Sunday or seventh-day work
throughout the year is required by 9 agreements, half of which provide
for seasonal exemptions. On the other hand, 10 agreements waive
these premium rates during the exemption periods. In the California
Processors agreement and 1 other, time and a half is provided for work
on either Sunday or the seventh day when specified commodities are
being processed. Another agreement specifies that the premium rate
applies to all but 6 Sundays in the year; and the remaining agreement
does not mention whether the rate applies during the processing season.
Holidays.—Pay for holidays not worked is allowed in only 2
agreements, both with the Campbell Soup Co.; the agreement with the
Illinois plant allows pay for Christmas, and that with the New Jersey
plant, for Thanksgiving, to employees who work on the workday
immediately preceding and immediately following the holiday.
Premium pay for work on holidays (generally 6 in number) is
established in 26 of the 32 agreements; 23 require payment of time
and a half and 3 of double time. Only 3 small-company agreements
specify that premium rates shall not apply if the holiday occurs during
an exempt week. Payment of overtime after 32 hours (instead of 40)
during a holiday week is specifically provided in 3 agreements.
Vacation Provisions
Paid vacations ate provided for regular employees under 21 agree
ments, including all the major companies; 2 of these grant vacations to
seasonal workers as well, fourteen of the agreements establish a
maximum paid vacation of 1 week, generally after a year of service.
In 12 of the 14 agreements with a maximum of 1 week’s paid vacation,
this is the only vacation; the others allow 3 days’ paid vacation after
6 months and 1 year, respectively.
More extensive vacation plans are provided by 7 agreements. In 5
of these the maximum is 2 weeks after periods of service ranging from
7 Executive O rder No. 9240 prohibits prem ium p ay for Saturday and Sunday work as such for “ all work
relating to th e prosecution of the w ar,” and makes the paym ent of double tim e m andatory for the seventh
consecutive day of a regularly scheduled workweek. On A ugust 23, 1943, the Secretary of Labor issued a
determ ination stating th a t “ in the case of an employer engaged in the first processing of, or in canning or
packing, perishable or seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables th e provisions of Executive Order No. 9240 shall
not apply to his employees in any place of em ploym ent where he is so engaged.”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1210
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
1 year to 8 years. One of the 2 remaining agreements allows “60
hours’ vacation with pay” after 5 years’ service, and the other provides
2 weeks’ vacation after 5 years of service for both men and women and
3 weeks after 15 years for women and after 20 years for men. The
former also allows “20 hours’ vacation with pay” to seasonal workers
with 8 months’ service.
The service requirement is qualified in about half the agreements by
a provision that the employee must have actually worked a minimum
period during the service year. Hourly minimum work requirements
range from 1,600 straight-time hours to 2,295 total hours, with the
former the most common. One agreement permits an employee to
accumulate the 1,800 hours of required service over a 2-year period
if necessary. The Heinz agreement, which allows 1 week of vacation
after 1 year and 2 weeks after 8 years, requires that the employee shall
have worked at least 200 days in the preceding calendar year. How
ever, employees who have worked more than 150 but less than 200
days are entitled to half the vacation allowed to employees who have
met the service requirement.
Method of computing vacation pay .—Most commonly the agreements
with paid vacations (including some with single and some with gradu
ated plans) calculate 1 week’s vacation pay at 40 times the employee’s
basic hourly rate, although one stipulates that employees are to receive
56 hours’ pay. In the Heinz agreement and one other, vacation pay is
calculated on the basis of average hourly earnings. In another agree
ment the vacation pay amounts to 3 percent of the employee’s total
annual compensation.
Pay in lieu of vacation is prohibited in all the agreements except
one, which permits the employer to grant vacation pay but no time
off for the duration of the war, if “sufficient help is not available.”
All the agreements prohibit the accumulation of vacation periods. In
all of the agreements with vacation provisions, the company reserves
the right to designate the vacation period. Nearly all the agreements
specify that vacations shall be taken during the nonprocessing period.
Leaves of Absence
With the exception of the Heinz agreement and those of 2 smaller
companies, all of the agreements provide for leave of absence for
personal reasons. Most of these establish no limits on the amount of
leave granted, although 5 specify a 3-month limit, subject to extension
and the 2 Campbell agreements limit leave of absence to 60 days.
The Campbel] (N. J.) agreement also prohibits workers from taking
other jobs during such leave unless “such work'is requested by the
United States Government in an ordnance plant.” About half of the
agreements with leave provisions, including those of all the larger
firms, require company consent and union approval before such leave
is taken. The Campbell agreements and 2 others specify that leave of
absence may not be taken during the peak season.
Leave for union business.—Provisions for leave of absence for union
business are found in 14 agreements covering nearly 75 percent of the
workers. The extent of leave varies from 15 days in any 6-month
period to an indefinite period, with most of the provisions in the latter
category. Most of the agreements allow such leave “without loss of
seniority rights” ; the California Processors and one other agreement
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Relations
1211
specifically provide that seniority shall accumulate during leave for
union business.
Seniority Rules
Detailed seniority rules recognizing length of service as the basis
for preferential consideration in lay-off and rehiring, and occasionally
for promotions, are found in all but one of the agreements; the exception
states “seniority rights shall prevail in all cases.” The right to acquire
seniority is limited to regular employees in 10 of the agreements,
while the others extend the privilege to both regular and seasonal
workers. Separate seniority rosters for regular and seasonal workers
are established under 12 agreements which include all the major com
panies; the others provide for one seniority list arranged in order of the
last date of hiring. The California Processors and Libby, McNeill &
Libby agreements and one other specify that workers may have
places on both lists, so that when a regular worker is laid off he may
reclaim his standing on the seasonal list. The Heinz agreement
establishes separate seniority lists for men and women.
About a third of the agreements, including those of all the major
companies, require both regular and seasonal employees to serve a
probationary period before seniority can be acquired, with seniority
rights retroactive to the date of hiring. Most of these set the same
probationary requirements for regular and seasonal employees, most
commonly 30 days. Several agreements which have separate sen
iority rosters for regular and seasonal employees have separate
requirements for these groups. Most of these provide that employees
must work 30 out of 52 weeks in order to qualify as regular workers,
while employees who have worked 60 percent of the operating days
during the processing season may qualify as seasonal workers.
Seniority for special groups.—Four agreements provide that shop
stewards and committeemen shall have top seniority during their
term of office, with the understanding that they shall return to their
original place on the seniority list at the expiration of such tenure.
All of the agreements with West Coast companies and many of
those with Midwestern firms allow the employer to select a person
to fill a supervisory or technical position without regard to the sen
iority lists if he feels a qualified person is not available. In most of
these agreements the company also reserves the right to disregard
seniority rules on hiring and transfer when training students for
managerial positions. Such students may not accumulate seniority,
however, nor may they displace any regular worker. In contrast,
students who are part of the regular seasonal force are to become
union members and may exercise full seniority rights.
Loss of s e n i o r i t y Clauses safeguarding seniority rights during
periods of enforced lay-off are found in about two-thirds of the agree
ments, although the length of time during which such protection is
afforded varies considerably. The maximum period of lay-off before
seniority is lost is most frequently specified for regular employees
only, and varies from 60 days to a year, although 2 provide for indef
inite retention of seniority rights during lay-off.
In the case of seasonal employees, whose seniority is generally
computed on the number of consecutive seasons worked, seniority
rights are presumably lost only if the worker fails to report for the
next operating season.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1212
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
Most of the agreements establish time limits (generally 3 days)
within which an employee must report when recalled to work; his
seniority is lost unless he can furnish a justifiable excuse for not
reporting when recalled. All of the agreements specifically state
that seniority shall terminate upon discharge or voluntary separation.
Lay-Off and Rehiring
Twenty-four of the agreements with detailed seniority rules, includ
ing those of all the major companies, provide that lay-offs shall be
in strict accordance with seniority. Three agreements, on the other
hand, state that seniority shall govern only if skill and ability are
equal; and 4 others provide that “ length of service in the plant as
well as skill and efficiency of the workers shall be taken into con
sideration when hiring or lay-offs occur.” All the agreements which
provide for separate listing of regular and seasonal employees specify
that seasonal workers (and probationary employees) shall be laid off
before workers on the regular force.
In 21 agreements, seniority is acquired and exercised on the basis
of plant service only, although in 2 of these maintenance employees
may exercise departmental seniority only. One agreement with a
company operating several plants uses company-wide seniority as
the basis for lay-off and rehiring, for all workers covered by plants
in the same community. In 4 agreements the order of lay-off and
rehiring of all employees is determined solely by departmental sen
iority. Another agreement allows employees to accumulate seniority
on the basis of total plant service, but they may exercise this right
only in the department to which they are assigned.
Under the Heinz agreement, production workers acquire seniority
on the basis of total plant service but apply their seniority to both
the department and the plant. For example, in a temporary reduc
tion of forces (i. e., a lay-off of less than 2 weeks) total plant service
is applied within the department only; in a general reduction, total
plant service is applied throughout the plant.
Two other agreements allow employees to accumulate and exercise
seniority on a plant-wide basis except during temporary lay-offs,
when^employees with insufficient seniority to remain in their own
departments are permitted to displace workers in other departments
with less total plant seniority.
The remaining agreement allows seniority rights to be accumulated
and exercised on a plant basis for lay-off. In rehiring, however,
preference is given to those employees who have worked on specific
products in preceding years.
Work sharing.—Two small-company agreements have provisions
for reducing the workweek to 32 hours before lay-offs of regular
workers are made, while the Campbell agreements state that the
question of work sharing will be discussed when the average work
week falls below 35 hours.
Promotions and Transfers
Consideration of seniority in making promotions is stipulated in
over half the agreements, covering 90 percent of the workers. Eleven
of these, all negotiated by West Coast or Midwestern companies,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Relations
1213
provide thatMseniorityfalone shall govern promotions/but-7 of7these
also stipulate that the senior employee must serve a trial period to
prove his ability to perform the higher-grade work. Seniority is a
secondary factor in determining promotions in 7 agreements which
' give first consideration to skill and ability and, occasionally, physical
fitness. In every case the seniority unit for promotion is the same as
that for lay-off and rehiring.
Only the Heinz agreement and one other mention the effect of a
transfer on an employee’s seniority status. Under the Heinz agree
ment an employee who is transferred to a “new department” cannot
acquire seniority in that department for a year, but retains seniority
in his former department. Should a lay-off of more than a week
occur in the new department within the year period, the employee
may exercise his former seniority to “bump” back into his old depart
ment. After 1 year his total service is applied to the new depart
ment only. In the other agreement, in which seniority is accumulated
on a departmental basis, an employee temporarily transferred by the
company to another department retains seniority in his former
department; but if the employee desires to make the transfer per
manent, he automatically loses seniority in his former department
and is placed at the bottom of the list in the new department.
M ilitary Service and W ar Jobs
Clauses protecting the seniority and reemployment rights of em
ployees who entered the military service are found in all but three of
the small-company agreements. About a third of these specifically
provide for the accumulation of seniority by employees on military
leave, but in the others it is not clear whether seniority is accumulated
or frozen.
Five of the agreements provide that a bonus shall be given to
workers entering military service, and one provides for company
payment of “National Service Life Insurance” premiums up to the
amount of company insurance the employee carried at the time he
entered military service.
References to the effect of transfers to war jobs in other plants on
an employee’s seniority rights are found only in a few agreements,
which state that in the event of a Federal labor draft, employees
affected shall accumulate seniority.
Health and Safety
Most of the agreements allow relief periods, usually of 10 minutes
at 2- or 2%-hour intervals; the Heinz, Libby, NcNeill & Libby, and
Campbell (111.) agreements simply provide that adequate periods will
be granted (but in the Campbell agreement, to workers on continuous
operations only). Several other agreements have a variety of health
and safety provisions, including physical examinations at company
expense and restrictions on weight lifting by women. One agree
ment provides for the establishment of a joint safety committee of
union and company officials, to meet regularly for the purpose of
promoting safety in the plant.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1214
Monthly Labor Review— December 1944
Adjustment of Disputes
All but 1 of the agreements outline the specific steps in the presen
tation and negotiation of grievances and all but 6 of the 32 agree
ments provide some form of arbitration as the final step in settling
disputes.
Grievance machinery:—The agreements vary widely with respect to
the methods used in the initial presentation of grievances. In a
majority of the agreements, including California Processors and
Libby, McNeill & Libby, the shop committee or union representative
discusses the grievance with the foreman or other representative of
plant management. In the next largest group of agreements, the
employee has the option of discussing the grievance with the foreman
or of having his union representative take up the grievance for him.
Several agreements specify that the individual employee is to take up
the grievance with the foreman himself, while in a few others the
employee involved must accompany the union representative. In
the remaining agreements the employee may present the grievance
himself or have the steward accompany him.
The agreements generally provide that if grievances are not satis
factorily settled at the first step, members of the shop committee or
the union representative must take up the dispute with the plant
manager. In the California Processors agreement and one other,
disputes thereafter go to a permanent committee on which manage
ment and the union are equally represented. In the Libby, McNeill &
Libby agreement and one other disputes not settled by the union
executive committee and the management may likewise be sub
mitted to a permanent bipartisan board.
Under the California Processors agreement, the permanent biparti
san committee (called the Central Adjustment Board) is composed of
four regular business agents (including one woman), and two alter
nates, elected by the California State Council of Cannery Unions,
and a like number of representatives elected by the California Proc
essors and Growers, Inc. No member of either organization involved
may participate on the Central Adjustment Board in his own case.
Employers who have signed the master agreement but who are not
members of the California Processors and Growers, Inc., may resort
to one of three designated grievance procedures: (1) Appeal to the
Central Adjustment Board established by the master agreement,
(2) establishment of a board composed of four union representatives
and four representatives of the independent employers to function in
the same manner as the Central Adjustment Board, or (3) establish
ment of a bipartisan plant committee composed of three company
and three union representatives to act on the grievances affecting
only the plant of the individual employer.
The California Processors agreement is the only one of the cannery
agreements which gives the employer an equal right to present
grievances to the shop committee and/or Central Adjustment Board.
Under this agreement interpretations and adjustments made in the
settlement of local disputes may be reversed by the Central Adjust
ment Board. Employer members of the California Processors or
local unions affiliated with the council who fail to comply with decisions
of the Central Adjustment Board may be expelled from their respec
tive organization.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Relations
1215
To expedite the settlement of disputes, 22 agreements, covering
80 percent of the workers, impose time limits on most stages of the
grievance procedure, and 4 of these provide for regular meetings of
the plant grievance committee and the management. The California
Processors agreement provides for monthly meetings of the Central
Adjustment Board, although it has no provision for regular meetings
within thefindividual plants.
Payment during adjustment meetings.—Although several agreements
specify that shop stewards shall be allowed time off to settle grievances
at the initial stage of the dispute, only the Heinz agreement specifically
allows stewards pay for time lost, the company reserving the right to
discontinue such payment “in case of abuse.” However, the two
Campbell agreements provide that union representatives shall be
paid for time lost if it is necessary to call a special meeting during
working hours to settle a dispute of an “emergency” nature. In the
California Processors agreement, union representatives on the Central
Adjustment Board are full-time paid union officials.
Arbitration
All but 1 of the 26 agreements which provide for arbitration as the
final step in the settlement of disputes, state that arbitration may be
invoked at the request of either party. The Heinz agreement re
quires mutual consent for submission to arbitration. In all cases
the arbitrator’s decision is explicitly declared to be final and binding.
The 2 Campbell agreements and 14 others establish tripartite
arbitration boards consisting of one or two representatives chosen by
each side at the time of the dispute, together with a jointly selected
impartial chairman. Under the California Processors, Libby, McNeill
& Libby, and 6 other agreements, on the other hand, the dispute is
referred to a single arbitrator (in one case, to the Massachusetts
State Board of Conciliation and Arbitration) for final disposition.
In the California Processors and Libby, McNeill & Libby agreements,
and one other, the arbitrator is appointed only when the bipartisan
board fails to agree.
In all but 4 of the agreements the arbitrator or arbitration board
is chosen for particular disputes; in the others, all with small com
panies, the arbitrator is designated to settle all disputes arising during
the term of the agreement. A third of the agreements provide that
if the company and the union are unable to agree upon the selection
of an impartial person, a designated public agency, usually the U. S.
Conciliation Service, shall make the selection.
Only 10 of the agreements establish time limits for various stages
of the arbitration proceedings, generally in connection with the selec
tion of the arbitrator, although some have set time limits for the
arbitration hearings and the rendering of the decisions. Time limits
for the selection of the arbitrator vary from 2 to 7 days after arbi
tration has been requested.
Provisions Governing Discharge
Most of the agreements simply state that discharges may be made
for “good” or “sufficient” reason. Specific causes for discharge,
including incompetency, theft, intoxication, and violation of safety
rules, are found in 4 agreements.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1216
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
All the agreements provide for the appeal of discharge cases through
the regular grievance machinery, although in the California Processors
agreement an extra step is added, in that discharge disputes are
referred to the union executive committee and a company official
before they can be submitted to the Central Adjustment Board.
This step is inserted both to hasten a decision and to obviate the
need and expense of convening the members of the Central Adjust
ment Board. Special time limits are established for various stages
of the discharge procedure in 8 of the agreements.
About half of the agreements specifically provide that back pay
shall be granted to employees found discharged without justification.
In 13 agreements the employee receives pay for all time lost, while
in the California Processors, Libby, McNeill & Libby, and 2 other
agreements the amount of back pay is left to the discretion of the
arbitrator.
Strikes and Lockouts
All the agreements, except those of 6 small companies, either
absolutely forbid strikes and lockouts during their term or permit
such action only after every effort has been made to settle the dis
pute. If final and binding arbitration is provided, a restriction on
work stoppages pending resort to the grievance machinery is tanta
mount to a prohibition, unless, of course, there is undue delay at any
stage of the grievance machinery. All of the agreements which either
prohibit or restrict strikes provide for arbitration of unsettled dis
putes ; on the other hand, none of those which do not prohibit strikes
and lockouts provides for arbitration.
Eight of the agreements with A. F. of L. unions which ban work
stoppages within the plant, pending resort to final stages of the
grievance machinery, also express disapproval of sympathy strikes.
Four of these prohibit union participation in such strikes, but also
specify that the employer shall not require his employees to cross a
legitimate A. F. of L. picket line. A few of the remaining agreements
have provisions for sympathy strikes when the approval of the local
union has been obtained. These were negotiated with companies
in which various unions bargain for different groups within the plant,
or with companies operating more than one cannery.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Disputes
Strikes in O ctober 1 9 4 4
THERE were 440 strikes in October 1944, involving 220,000 workers,
and 690,000 man-days of idleness, according to preliminary estimates
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Idleness was 0.09 percent of the
available working time.
The Bureau’s strike statistics include all known strikes in conti
nental United States which involve as many as six workers and last
as long as a full day or shift. The term “strike” is used to include all
stoppages of work resulting from labor disputes, regardless of whether
the workers or employers initiate or are responsible for them. As
in the past, the figures include all workers in any plant who were
made idle because of a strike in that plant, regardless of whether or
not they were all directly involved in the dispute.
Strikes in October 1944, with Comparative Figures for Earlier Periods
Strikes beginning in
m onth
M an-days idle during
m onth (all strikes)
M onth
N um ber
W orkers
involved
N um ber
Percent of
available
working
tim e
October 1944 i . _______ _________________ . . .
Septem ber 1944 1............................ ..........................
440
390
220,000
185,000
690,000
660,000
0.09
.09
O ctober
O ctober
October
O ctober
October
287
207
432
267
205
121, 253
61, 593
197,803
71, 997
106,628
1,012, 534
243, 756
1,925, 328
915,014
1, 508,120
.14
.04
.27
. 15
.27
1943_______________________________
1942__ . ___________________ _____
1941____ _ _ ________
.. ... _ ..
1940_______
______ ____________
1939_____________ . . . _______ ____
i Prelim inary estimates.
'
Maintenance Workers’ Strike in Detroit
A demand that the National War Labor Board appoint a fact
finding panel to investigate the question of reconciling wage differences
between C. I. O. maintenance workers and A. F. of L. members doing
similar work precipitated a strike on October 4. As a result, approxi
mately 50,000 workers in 20 automotive plants in the Detroit area
were idle. The workers directly involved were affiliated with the
Maintenance, Construction and Powerhouse Workers’ Council of the
U. A. W.-C. I. O,, but the stoppage was not authorized by the inter
national executive board of the union.
The question of unsatisfactory wage rates for maintenance workers,
many of whom belong to skilled or semiskilled groups, has been re
sponsible for other strikes recently (i. e., at the Packard Motor Car Co.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1217
1218
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
in August and at the Briggs Manufacturing Co. in September).
The question has become particularly disturbing during the war pe
riod. Maintenance workers claim that they have been barred from
production work for which the pay is higher, because they perform
an indispensable function in maintaining plant machinery and equip
ment, and that there is increased use of A. F. of L. contract workers,
most of whom are paid on the basis of building-trades scales which
are higher than maintenance scales. Several individual cases in
volving requests for wage increases for maintenance workers were
pending before the War Labor Board when the strike occurred, as was
a request for an increase of 11 cents per hour for certain of these
workers, which had been brought to the Board in July by the National
Maintenance Conference of the U. A. W.-C. I. O.
In accordance with its usual policy, the Board refused to take any
action while the workers were out on strike. Workers in a majority
of the plants returned to work on October 6 and the War Labor Board
then referred all disputes regarding wage rates for maintenance workers
to the Automotive Section of the Eleventh Regional War Labor Board
at Detroit, directing it to give the cases immediate consideration, to
hear all parties interested, and to make its recommendations to the
National Board.
,
M . E. S. A . and U. A . W .-C . I. 0 . Dispute in Toledo Ohio
A dispute between the Mechanics’ Educational Society of America
and the United Automobile Workers (C. I. O.), somewhat similar to
the one which had caused a large amount of idleness in Ohio and
Michigan in February 1944, was responsible for several strikes in
Toledo (Ohio) plants in October and for a sympathy strike in Detroit
in early November.
The dispute started at the Electric Auto-Lite Co., where the
U. A. W.-C. I. O. is the bargaining agency for production employees,
although considerable numbers of workers are members of the
M. E. S. A. TheU. A. W. demanded the discharge of several employees,
members of the M. E. S. A., stating that they were causing unrest
among the workers. Because a strike was threatened, the case was
certified to the National War Labor Board on October 6, but the next
day about 7,000 workers struck, claiming that the Board had taken
jurisdiction before negotiations under the grievance machinery had
been exhausted. They returned to work on October 13, pending
WLB hearings on the case.
Late in October, the management at the Electric Auto-Lite Co.
discharged six M. E. S. A. employees in accordance with the maintenance-of-membership provisions of the U. A. W. contract and about
500 M. E. S. A. members struck in protest. M. E. S. A. members in
about 20 Toledo plants went out in sympathy, followed by those
in another 20 plants in the Detroit area early in November. After
unsuccessful attempts by the War Labor Board to induce the two
unions to agree on an arbitration panel, the Board referred the dispute
to the President on November 3, and the next day several Toledo
plants were taken over by the Army under presidential order. On
November 5, officials of the M. E. S. A. ordered the men back to work,
and the majority returned on November 6.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Disputes
1219
A c tiv itie s of U . S. C on ciliation Service, Septem ber 1 9 4 4
DURING the month of September 1944, the U. S. Conciliation Service
disposed of 2,290 situations as compared with 2,487 situations in
August 1944 and 2,036 in September 1943.
Of the 304 strikes and lockouts handled in September 1944, 267
were settled successfully; 37 cases in which strikes occurred during
negotiations were certified to the War Labor Board, but in 19 of these
a Commissioner of Conciliation had effected a return-to-work agree
ment prior to certification of the case. The records indicate that 265
situations were threatened strikes and 1,521 were controversies in
which the services of conciliators were requested by the employer,
employees, and other interested parties. Altogether, 456 disputes
were certified to the War Labor Board during September and in 2 cases
Federal agencies other than the War Labor Board assumed jurisdic
tion. The remaining 200 situations included 82 arbitrations, 17
technical services, 17 investigations, and 84 requests for information,
consultations, and special services.
Cases Closed by U. S. Conciliation Service, September 1944, by Type and Disposition
Total
M eth o d of handling
Strikes
and
lockouts
T h rea t
ened
strikes
C ontro
versies
____ __________
2,290
304
265
1,521
Settled b y conciliation
_
_
_ _____
Certified to N ational W ar Labor B oard 1--------------Referred to other Federal agencies
Decisions rendered in arb itratio n
Technical services com pleted
________ _
Investigations, special services
__________
1,632
456
2
82
17
101
267
37
251
14
1,114
405
2
All situations
.
-
______
1 Of these, 19 were settled prior to referral.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
O ther
situa
tions
200
82
17
101
Cooperation
Status of Labor B anks, Jun e 3 0 , 1 9 4 4
LABOR banks in the United States on June 30, 1944, again numbered
four, as a result of the inclusion in the group of the Brotherhood State
Bank of Kansas City, Kans. The number had fallen to three in the
previous year, with the dissolution of the Telegraphers National Bank
of St. Louis, Mo., in September 1942. As['of June 30, 1944, the capital,
surplus, and undivided earnings of the four banks exceeded 3 million
dollars, deposits amounted to nearly 58 million dollars, and total
resources were over 61 million dollars.
Comparing figures shown for the three banks.which were in the group
in both years, capital, etc./rose 45.2 percent, deposits'22.6’percent, and
total resources 28.1 percent.
Data on these three points for the individual banks during the past
10-year period are shown in table 1.
T a b l e 1.— Development of Individual Labor Banks, 1935-44 1
B an k and y e a r3
A m algam atedT rust
& Savings B ank,
Chicago:
1934193519361937193819391940194119421943-
35...........
36.......
37_____
38_____
39_____
40_____
41_____
42_____
43_____
44_____
C a p ita l,
surplus,
and u n Deposits
divided
e arn in g s
Total
resources
$263,635 $4,225,094 $4,779, 391
290,000 6,131,090 6, 748,675
350,000 7,397,983 8,099,097
650,000 7,056, 297 7,804, 243
694, 227 8,456, 246 9,297, 724
786,934 9,448, 530 10,393,324
852, 361 10,600, 336 11,615 305
1,015, 337 11,678, 229 12, 737,679
1,082,475 15, 598 769 16, 748,109
1,146,852 19, 612,646 20,828, 305
U n io n N a t i o n a l
Bank, Newark, N. J.:
1934- 35.....
1935- 36.... .
1936- 37_____
1937- 38_____
1938- 39_____
1939- 40......
1940- 41....... .
1941-42........ ...
457, 414
466,984
473,747
469,743
473,867
474,183
492, 341
522,463
2,730,661
2,677, 272
2,948,186
3, 443,320
3,105,280
3,035,006
4, 292,957
4,640, 586
3,198, 559
3,154, 261
3,436,754
3,927,852
3,605, 066
3,533, 792
4,830, 414
5,179, 551
B an k and year 3
C a p ita l,
surplus,
T otal
and u n Deposits resources
divided
earn in g s
U nion N a t i o n a l
B ank, N ew ark,
N . J.—Con.
1942-43________ $543,683 $6,332, 788 $6,890,239
1943-44________
576, 590 7,742,386 8,334, 746
A m algam atedB ank
of New Y ork,
N . Y.:
1934-35-.........
673,970 5,807,859 6, 547, 224
1935-36________
660,913 7,085,614 7,828,138
1936-37....... ......... 663,184 6, 565,205 7,324,807
1937-38________
681,580 5,893,029 6,698, 733
1938-39________
670,747 6,701, 582 7,509,653
1939-40________
704,652 7,150,670 8,032,754
1940-41________
759,677 7,829,351 8,768, 609
1941-42________
720, 905 8,389, 356 9, 235,648
1942-43________
763, Oil 13,427,031 14, 306,833
1943-44________ 1,029, 236 18,324,120 19,443,369
B rotherhood State
B a n k , K an sas
C ity, K ans.:
1943-44________
437, 580 12,129,803 12, 567,383
1 D a ta supplied b y In d u stria l R elations Section, Princeton U n iversity.
3 Y ear ending Ju n e 3d.
As table 2 indicates, the high point of the labor-bank movement
occurred in 1925 and 1926. Then began a decline that was greatly
accelerated when the depression began. By the end of the “bank
holiday” of 1933 only four labor banks remained. With the exception
of a slight recession in 1938, this group of banks showed a continuous
1220
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1221
Cooperation
growth through 1942. The decline in number in 1943 was caused
by the voluntary dissolution of the Telegraphers National Bank as
a result of a combination of wartime factors.
The growth of the surviving labor banks is indicated by the fact
that in 1943-44 this small group of banks together had deposits
amounting to over half those of the 35 that were in operation at the
peak (1926) and nearly half the sum of their resources.
T able 2.—Development of Labor Banks in the United States, 1920—44 1
D ate
Dec. 31—
1920-.1921...
1922...
1923...
1924...
1925 21926...
1927...
1928...
Ju n e 30—
1929...
1930-..
1931...
C apital,
N u m surplus,
and u n
ber divided
earnings
2 $1,154,446
4 1,535,869
10 2,793,162
18 5, 575,252
26 8,333,024
36 12,536,901
35 12,751,885
32 12,029,676
27 11,358,705
D eposits
Total
resources
$2,258,561
9,970,961
21,901,641
43,324,820
72,913,180
98,392, 592
108,743,550
103,290,219
98, 784,369
$3,628,867
12,782,173
26,506,723
51,496,524
85,325,884
115,015, 273
126,533,542
119,818,416
116,307,256
22 10,495,079 92,077,098 108,539,894
14 7,217,836 59,817,392 68,953,855
11 6,865,378 50,949, 570 59,401,164
D ate
Ju n e 30—
1932...
1933...
1934...
1935...
1936...
1937.1938...
1939...
1940.-.
1941...
1942...
1943.._
1944...
C apital,
N u m surplus,
un
ber and
divided
earnings
D eposits
7 $3,443,396 $22,662,514
4 2,161,010 14, 728,079
4 2,038,433 15,899,849
4 2,051,943 17, 262, 281
4 2,101,676 20,302,297
4 2,189,671 21, 679,590
4 2,503,899 21,013,099
4 2,544, 538 22,923,861
4 2,684,911 23,847,294
4 2,851,116 26,914,510
4 3,024,185 28,967,173
33 2,389,168 35,358,588
4 4 3,190,257 57,808,954
T otal
resources
$28,564, 797
18,186,216
19,168, 718
19,692,385
22,858,772
24,359,340
23, 785,086
25,813, 638
26,931, 651
30,192,066
32,217,469
37,945,182
61,173,804
1 D a ta supplied b y In d u strial R elations Section, Princeton U niversity.
2 N ot including A m algam ated B ank of Philadelphia.
3 N ot including Telegraphers N ational B ank, w hich w ent ou t of business in Septem ber 1942.
« Including B rotherhood State B ank, K ansas C ity, K ans., more th a n 50-percent control of w hich has been
acquired b y labor unions.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Laws and Decisions
V
L egislative Sessions in 1 9 4 5
IN 1945, regular legislative sessions will be held in all States except
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia. The legislatures of
Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico will also meet. In the majority of
the States the legislatures hold biennial sessions and assemble in oddnumbered years. At present only 4 States meet annually (New Jer
sey, New York, Rhode Island, and South Carolina).
The 79th Congress will convene on January 3, 1945, unless the
date of meeting is previously changed by act of Congress.
Most of the State legislatures convene in January. The Florida
Legislature, however, will meet on April 3. The Alabama Legisla
ture convenes on May 1, but a preliminary session (at which no
business can be transacted except general organization) is held on
the second Tuesday in January, and may continue not longer than
10 consecutive calendar days. In Georgia, although the statute
specifies July 16 as the date of convening the regular session, a session
is held on the second Monday in January for the election of officers
and the introduction of bills. At this time the date of the regular
session may be changed. In practice, the regular session usually
follows the preliminary January session immediately.
In about one-third of the States the length of the session is limited.
The usual time limit is 60 days, but in a few States it is 90 days or
more, and in Wyoming the legislature must adjourn after 40 days.
In the other States there is no limit on the length of a session. How
ever, the fact that in some of the States the pay of legislators ceases
after the session has extended beyond a specified period frequently
results in limiting the length of the sessions.
The accompanying table shows for each State the date of assembly
and the length of session.
Date Set by Law for Convening of State Legislatures
D ate of
conven
ing, 1945
session
Length of
session
Jan. 9.
Jan. 8-_do
do
Jan. 3
do
60 days.
No lim it.2
60 days.3
No lim it.1
Do.
5 m onths.
F irst Tuesday in Jan u ary .
. . .
Jan. 2___
T uesday after first M onday in April
Apr. 3
Second M onday in Jan u ary 5 _
_____ _ _ _ Jan. 8 . ..
First M onday after Jan u ary 1. . .
do
W ednesday after first M onday in J a n u a r y __
Jan. 3
T h u rsd ay after first M onday in Jan uary.'
Jan . 4 . ..
No lim it.2
60 days.
Do.
No lim it.2
Do.
61 days.
State
Tim e of assembly
A labam a .....................
Second Tuesday in Jan u ary i____ . . .
_____
A rizona.
.
. . _____ Second M onday in Jan u ary . _
_ ______
do _ . . . ______________
A rk a n s a s ________
California _
M onday after first day in Jan u ary . . .
Colorado
. . .
First W ednesday in Jan u ary _
C onnecticut____ . . . . . .
W ednesday after first M onday in January
D elaw are________ ______ .
Florida
Georgia____________________
Idaho.
.
Illinois ..
. . .
In d ian a____________________
See footnotes a t end of table.
1222
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1223
Labor Laws and Decisions
Date Set by Law for Convening of State Legislatures—Continued
State
Tim e of assembly
I o w a ..................... ........... ....... ..... .
Second M onday in Jan u ary .
K ansas__ _
_ _ .
____ Second T uesday in Ja n u a ry ..
M aine _____ . . . . . .
_ .
First W ednesday in January
__ do_______
_
M ary lan d ______ . .
___ __
_
_ _ d o _______
M assachusetts . . . .
. . . .
M ic h ig a n . _________ __
__do_______
M innesota
M issouri.. .
M ontana
N ebraska .
N e v a d a ...
.
. .
N ew H am pshire .
N e w J e rs e y ... . . .
N ew Mexico . . . .
N ew Y o r k ____ __
N orth C aro lin a..
N o rth D a k o ta . .
Ohio
O klahoma . . .
Oregon . . . .
Pennsylvania___
R hode Island. _
South Carolina . .
South D a k o ta ___
.
.
.
_____
.
.
... ._
...
.
. . .
_ _
.
T e n n e ss e e __
Texas .
U tah
V erm ont
W ashington
W est Virginia
W isconsin
W yoming
U nited States Congress.
D ate of
con veil
ing, 1945
session
Length of
session
Jan. 8 . . No limit.
.......................... ... Jan. 9. _
Do.
Jan. 3 _
Do.
_
_____
___do___ 90 days.
_ _ _ _
___
___do______ No lim it.
do _ _
Do.
T uesday after first M onday in J a n u a r y ____ _____
W ednesday after Jan u ary 1____
First M onday in Jan u ary ______ __
F irst Tuesday in Jan u a ry ________________ . _
T h ird M onday in Jan u ary . . ■ .
First W ednesday in Jan u ary
Second T uesday in Jan u a ry _______
______ _
__
_
. do . ___________ ____
. . . . . . .
_ __
F irst W ednesday in Jan u a ry . __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Jan. 2 _
Jan. 3 .
Jan. 1 ...
Jan. 2 ...
J a n . 15. .
J a n . 3. .
Jan. 9 . ..
___do___
Jan. 3___
90 days.
No limit.
60 days.
N o lim it.
60 days.
No lim it.
Do.
60 days.4
No lim it.
W ednesday after first M onday in Jan u ary
Tuesday after first M onday in Jan u ary _____
First M onday in Jan u ary _ .
. . . .
___________
Tuesday after first M onday in J a n u a r y ___ __
. . .
_
Second M onday in Jan u ary . ______
First Tuesday in Jan u ary .
_ _
do.
. . . .
Second Tuesday in Jan u ary . . . .
_
______
T uesday after first M onday in J a n u a ry .. . .
___do___
Jan. 2. _
J a n . 1___
Jan. 2 . .
Jan. 8 .
Jan. 2__
__do_ __
J a n . 9. _
Jan. 2 .
Do.*
60 days.
No lim it.
Do. »
No lim it.7
Do.
D o.2
No lim it.7
60 days.
First M onday in J a n u a ry .. . . ______ _______
Second T uesday in J a n u a ry .. . . . . _________
Second M onday in January
W ednesday after first M onday in Jan u ary . . _
Second M onday in Jan u ary
______ . . _
Second W ednesday in Jan u ary
do
.
Second Tuesday in Jan u a ry . ______ .
____
Jan u ary 3 annually__ . . . . .
. _
______
J a n . 1__
Jan. 9.
Jan. . .
Jan. 3.
Jan. 8. _
Jan. 10
__ d o __
Jan. 9
J a n . 3. .
No lim it.8
D o.9
60 days.
No lim it.
60 days.
D o.8
No lim it.
40 days.
No lim it.
8
1Meets for organization. Regular session will be held on May 1.
2 Pay of legislators limited to 60 days.
2The session may be extended by a two-thirds vote.
4There is a recess of approximately 30 days between the period in which bills are introduced and the
period in which action is customarily taken.
5 Meets for organization and fixes a time for regular legislative session, usually several days thereafter.
6 Pay of legislators reduced after 60 days.
7Pay of legislators limited to 40 days.
8 Pay of legislators limited to 75 days.
8 Pay of legislators reduced after first 120 days.
W W W #
R ecen t D ecisio n s of In terest to L a b o r1
Unemployment Compensation
C A U SE of leaving work under unemployment-compensation act.—The
Unemployment Insurance Act of California makes an employee ineligi
ble for benefits if he leaves his work because of a “trade dispute.”
In Bunny’s Waffle Shop, Inc. v. California Employment Commission
(151 Pac. (2d) 224) the Supreme Court of California applied this law
to a number of different situations. An association of employers had
been seeking to compel several unions within the restaurant field to
enter into a master contract. The unions had refused because only a
1Prepared in the Office of the Solicitor, Department of Labor. The cases covered in this article represent
a selection of significant decisions believed to be of special interest. No attempt has been made to reflect
all recent judicial developments in the field of labor law nor to indicate the effect of particular decisions in
jurisdictions in which contrary results may be reached based upon local statutory provisions, the existence
of local precedents, or a different approach by the courts to the. issue presented.
618627— 44------ 8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1224
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
small proportion of restaurant owners was represented. The owners
then posted notices of a wage cut, increase in work schedule, and
institution of split shifts, to be effective unless the unions negotiated
on the master-contract basis. The wage reduction was put into effect
and many employees quit work and their employers shut down; and
later the other associated employers shut down.
The Supreme Court made a distinction between quitting work in
the course of a labor dispute and because of a labor dispute. It held
that a worker who left his job because of a reduction in wages and
changed conditions of work (which had not been under discussion
prior to the notices) did so because of the employer’s use of an eco
nomic weapon and not because of a trade dispute. The employer’s
motive—to settle the dispute through the use of this weapon—does
not change the situation of the employee, nor is it altered by the fact
that a central union agency had approved a possible strike, since in
fact the employees who quit because of a wage cut did not act under
this license. The workers concerned were therefore entitled to
benefits under the law.
Other employees who were out of work because their employers,
who had not reduced wages, had nevertheless closed down were also
entitled to unemployment compensation because they were locked
out.
In regard to a further provision of the act penalizing one who volun
tarily left his job without “good cause,” the Commission’s finding
that a 25-percent wage cut was good cause was sustained.
Fair Labor Standards Act
Building-service employees and Wage and Hour Law.—A case recently
before a New York court (Schinek v. 886 Fourth Ave. Corporation,
49 N. Y. Supp. (2d) 872) involved the use, by tenants, of building
facilities such as freight elevators, to acquire goods from out-of-State
suppliers and distribute them in substantial quantities to customers
outside the State. The ground floor was used by other tenants as a
trucking terminal in the continuous movement of goods between outof-State mills and plants within the State. The court held that,
under such circumstances, the services rendered by building-service
employees are so closely related to the physical movement of the goods
as to be part of the interstate commerce involved in all these activities
and therefore are subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Railroad wage contract modified by Fair Labor Standards Act.—In
the case of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees v. Nashville,
Chattanooga, etc., Ry.2 a United States District Court in Tennessee held
that a minimum-wage order for wages of 36 cents an hour under the
Fair Labor Standards Act superseded an earlier agreement for 33
cents plus board. However, “wage” under that act is defined to
include the reasonable cost of board customarily furnished by an
employer, and the employer had been in the custom of supplying
board: It was agreed that 33 cents plus the reasonable cost of board
would equal or exceed 36 cents. Therefore, the court decided that
the award of the National Railroad Adjustment Board that the rail
road could not take credit for board and must pay 36 cents and supply
board would not be enforced by the court.
. A 5 6 F e d . S u p p . (2 d ) 559 ( A u g . 1 4 ,(1 9 4 4 ).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Laws and Decisions
1225
Labor Relations and the Wagner Act
Discharge of “wildcat” strikers not unfair labor practice.—The Circuit
Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, in the case of a petition to
enforce an order of the National Labor Relations Board ordering back
pay for certain discharged employees, whose dismissal the Board
considered an unfair labor practice, refused to agree with the Board’s
conclusions (National Labor Relations Board v. Draper Corporation 3).
The court decided that the employees in question were entitled to no
protection under the National Labor Relations Act.
A collective agreement for 1 year had been made by the employer
with the union which was the recognized bargeining agent. The
negotiations as to the new contract encountered difficulties and lasted
from August into October. In the latter month a conference appoint
ment was postponed because of the illness of a company representative.
Questioning the genuineness of the illness, a number of employees
refused to work, in order to force action, and persisted in the refusal
even though threatened with discharge. This group took a strike
vote, decided to strike, and left the plant; all its members were dis
charged. The union which the employees had chosen as bargaining
representative did not call, authorize, or sanction the strike. Through
the efforts of the U. S. Conciliation Service, the discharged strikers
(whom the company had meanwhile refused to rehire) were reinstated.
Their right to back pay was the question before the court.
The facts also showed that the employer’s action in dismissing the
group was not aimed at discouraging membership in the union, the
majority of whose members had continued at work. The employer
continued to recognize the union and deal with it.
The court decided that the wildcat strike was not a concerted
activity protected by section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act,
but a strike in violation of the purposes of the act by a minority of
employees in an effort to interfere with bargaining by their chosen
representative. This the court characterized as “destructive of that
collective bargaining which it is the purpose of the act to promote.”
It pointed out that the chosen union is to be the exclusive representa
tive of all the employees for bargaining purposes. A minority has
no more right to interfere with the chosen union’s course of bargaining
than it has to bargain separately. When the union was selected as
the majority choice and w7as recognized, not only did the company
agree to bargain only with the union but the employees agreed to
bargain only through the union. The court considered this “agree
ment” broken by the wildcat strike.
The decision distinguished this case from those in which an unjusti
fied strike is called by the chosen union. Without saying that a strike
can be called only by a bargaining union, or that there is no protection
for a strike involving less than a majority of employees if called in
protection of their rights, the court decided that this particular strike
violated rights established by the National Labor Relations Act.
That act, therefore, gives such strikers no protection from discharge
and the employer, having a right (apart from the Federal statute)
to discharge for insubordination, was not guilty of an unfair labor
practice as to the discharged employees. The order for back pay was
held to be unfounded and would not be enforced by the court.
a -------F e d . ( 2 d ) ---------( C . C . A . , 4, O c t . 6, 1 944).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1226
Monthly Labor Review—.December 1944
_Discharge of strikers to protect property rights not unfair labor practice.—Among other questions raised by a petition to enforce an order
of the National Labor Relations Board against the Clinchfield Coal
Corporation, a Federal Circuit Court of Appeals recently considered
the background of the discharge of certain strikers, in order to deter
mine whether their dismissal was justified.4 The National Labor
Relations Board had found, on substantial evidence, that the employer
discriminated against union miners by refusing them rock cars wdiich
would have made their work easier. It appeared that when this
question of rock cars was presented as a grievance to the mine super
intendent, he refused to supply the cars, whereupon the miners con
cerned decided not to work. A strike leader moved an electric motor
over to the key switch of the mine so that cars could not move in or
out. It was kept there, preventing other miners from working, while
fruitless attempts were made to settle the grievance. After a day or
so, in which another mine was similarly blocked, the supposed strike
leaders were discharged and were warned off the property.
The decision of the court distinguished among the employees
involved, enforcing the order for reinstatement as to those who were
not shown to have taken part in blocking the switch but refusing
reinstatement to those who had been active in or responsible for that
action. Without determining whether the strike was a sit-down strike
or a wildcat strike, the court found that what the leaders began and
persuaded other employees to join was more than a work stoppage..
It amounted to a temporary seizure of the control of the mines, to
the extent that they could not be operated by the employer or entered
by other miners not interested in the strike. In such a situation, the
employer may properly discharge the persons responsible without
committing any unfair labor practice.
Ordinance licensing labor organizers changes appropriate bargaining'
unit. The National Labor Relations Board had previously decided
that the employees at one of two plants owned by a single employer
in the same locality would not be an appropriate unit for employee
representation. The other plant was in a city which passed an ordi
nance requiring union organizers to be licensed and making the grant
of the license discretionary even though the applicant had the required
12 months’ residence and $5,000 fee.5 Taking notice of the obvious
fact that organization of that plant would not be “feasible within a
reasonable time,” the National Labor Relations Board reversed itself
and ordered an election in the single plant outside the city (In re
Newman Cotton Mills, 58 N. L. R. B. No. 128, September 29, 1944).
Group leaders not foremen.—In a plant manufacturing machinery for
underground mining, the question arose (In re Goodman Manufactur
ing Co., 58 N. L. R. B. No. 105) whether group leaders were to be
included in a unit of production and maintenance employees. The
National Labor Relations Board decided in favor of their inclusion.
Though they had attended courses on the handling of employees and
occasionally substituted for foremen when the latter were on vaca
tion or attending conferences, they were paid on an hourly basis like
other employees in the bargaining unit. They were not permitted to
attend the foremen’s school or the conferences for foremen and had
no effective authority as to promotions of other employees.
4N a t i o n a l L a b o r R e l a ti o n s B o a r d v . C lin c h fie ld C o a l C o r p . t -------F e d . ( 2 d ) —
( O c t . 3 1944.)
5 F o r d e c is i o n o n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f s u c h a n o r d i n a n c e , s e e M o n t h l y L a b o r R e v i e w fo r N o v e m b e r 1944
\P# 1 U Z Z ) .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Laws and Decisions
1227
Employer interference in election ordered by National Labor Relations
Board enjoined.—The National Labor Relations Board, having di
rected an employer to cease discouraging unionization and having
obtained the reinstatement of an employee discharged because of
union activity, acted on a petition to determine representation, by
ordering an election. To safeguard this election, the National
Labor Relations Board asked the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
for a temporary injunction against the employing company, to prevent
its interference with the proper conduct of the election. The injunc
tion, as issued, restrained interference with the employees’ freedom
by enjoining the employer from participation in the campaign and
from issuing instructions as to time or manner of voting contrary to
those issued by the agent of the National Labor Relations Board
conducting the election (National Labor Relations Board v. Servel,
Inc., — Fed. (2d) — September 27, 1944).
Free speech and unfair labor practices.—The constitutional guaranty
of free speech was held by the National Labor Relations Board 6 as
not saving from condemnation as improper labor practices certain
statements, editorials, cartoons, and special rules, which were pub
lished by the employer as part of a course of conduct begun at the
outset of an organizing campaign, which was designed and did in
fact operate to coerce the employees not to organize. The publica
tions not only reflected the employer’s unwillingness to bargain col
lectively but misled the employees by representing (falsely) that they
were already enjoying their rights under the Wagner Act. The edi
torial in the company news bulletin contained an implicit threat of
loss of employment if the employees found fault with the employer.
A rule, posted after the union’s organization meeting, prohibited union
solicitation within the plant even in the employees’ free time. The
Board held that this provision encroached upon the employees’ liberty,
without any evident need based on discipline or efficiency, and was
applied one-sidedly to prevent pro-union but not anti-union discussion.
Union recognition obtained by strike not conclusive with National
Labor Relations Board.—In a case in which a union obtained exclusive
recognition and a closed-shop contract as a result of a strike and
picketing (instead of using the procedure of the National Labor Re
lations Act), and in which the employer later refused to bargain
with the union, the National Labor Relations Board considered the
recognition thus coerced from the employer not conclusive of the
question whether the union represented a majority of the employees.
The record showed no substantial proofs on this point. The fact
that a majority of the employees did not work during the strike could
have occurred for many reasons other than their choice of the union as
representative, and did not make the necessary showing. Moreover,
any bargaining authorizations obtained by the union under the closedshop situation could not be regarded as evidence of a free and un
coerced choice of that union, since the employees’ jobs depended on
union membership. Further, the employer’s refusal to bargain
occurred more than a year after the strike and after a 50-percent
turnover in the employees. The National Labor Relations Board,
on this basis, refused to call the employer’s refusal to bargain an unfair
labor practice {In re McGough Bakeries Corp., 58 N. L. R. B. No.
,
October 10, 1944).
6
I n re T o m li n s o n v . H ig h P o i n t , I n c . (5 8
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N.
L. R.
B.
N o .188 O c t . 14, 1 944).
1228
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
State courts in relation to War Labor Board dispute cases.—In Illinois,
the Appellate Court affirmed, in the case of Frank Foundries Corp. v.
Creager,1 a decision that courts of that State cannot take jurisdiction
over a dispute case on which the National War Labor Board has
acted under the War Labor Disputes Act. The case involved a
union contract requiring arbitration, and a dispute as to the meaning
of an award of arbitrators, which was certified to the National War
Labor Board. After ordering final clarification of the award, the War
Labor Board required the employer to comply with it. The Appellate
Court concluded, after examining the War Labor Disputes Act and
Executive Order No. 9017, that the War Labor Board has exclusive
jurisdiction of labor disputes which may lead to substantial interfer
ence with the war effort, since the Executive order provides “ it shall
finally determine the dispute.” Therefore, in view of the relation
of the steel industry to the war effort, it became immaterial whether the
State court selected would otherwise have had jurisdiction of an
award of arbitration.
Decisions Under State Labor Laws
Votes of eligible voters in union election.—The Massachusetts Labor
Relations Commission, acting under the Labor Relations Act of that
State, decided (In re Rebecca Packer, Case No. CR 776, August 14,
1944) that an employee has a right to have a challenge to his vote
determined and, if he is found eligible, to have the vote counted, in
a representation election. An agreement between an employer and
a union that the Commission should ignore a challenged vote will
therefore not be given effect by the Commission.
Court enforcement of closed-shop agreement.—The case of Corpuz v.
Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ International Alliance 8 came before
the Arizona Supreme Court on appeal from a court order enjoining an
employer, who had signed a closed-shop contract, from continuing
to employ nonunion employees. The appellate court affirmed the
judgment, deciding incidentally that the entry of an injunction in
such a situation is not prohibited by an Arizona act which provides
that no injunction shall be granted in any case between an employer
and an employee involving a dispute concerning terms or conditions
of employment unless necessary to protect property or a property
right from irreparable injury. This statute was found inapplicable to
the situation. The applicable doctrine as applied by the court is
that the purpose of a labor union to improve conditions under which
its members work justifies an interest in the wages of nonmembers
even to the extent of action to organize an entire trade; that what can
lawfully be done by strikes and picketing can, of course, lawfully be
done by a closed-shop contract. Hence the enforcement of such a
contract is contrary to neither the public policy nor law of Arizona.
Order to conduct referendum of employees not reviewable by court.—An
order to conduct a referendum to learn whether the necessary number
of employees desire an “all-union agreement,” issued by the Wiscon
sin Employment Relations Board, was held by the Supreme Court of
Wisconsin not to be subject to court review under that act, because the
order is an administrative step in fact finding, in which the board acts
7 56 N . E . (2 d ) 649 ( S e p t . 1 9 ,1 9 4 4 ).
8 151 P a c . (2 d ) 705 ( S e p t . 25,11944).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Laws and Decisions
1229
in a ministerial and not an adjudicative capacity. It determines no
legal rights, duties, or privileges of any party, and no “aggrieved”
party with a right to review by a court can result. (United Retail and
Wholesale Department Store Employees v. Wisconsin Employment
Relations Board,------N. W. (2d)----- , October 10,1944.)
Jurisdiction of Wisconsin Employment Relations Board in dispute
submitted to the National, War Labor Board.—A circuit court in
Wisconsin, considering its authority to enforce an order of the Stale
Employment Relations Board to arbitrate a dispute, found that its
powers were restricted to the review of questions raised before that
board. Therefore it refused to consider the contention that the
reference of the dispute to the National War Labor Board, after
commencement of proceedings before the Wisconsin Board, ended the
latter’s jurisdiction. Since the fact that the National War Labor
Board had taken jurisdiction of the case had not been called to the
attention of the Wisconsin Board, it could not be a ground for the
court’s refusing to enforce the order. (Wisconsin Employment Re
lations Board v. International Union, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Mil
waukee County, September 25, 1944.)
The case of International Brotherhood v. Wisconsin Employment
Relations Board9 came before the Wisconsin Supreme Court on appeal
from the judgment of a lower court which had confirmed the State
board’s order to delete a closed-shop clause from a contract. The
Wisconsin act permits the establishment of a closed shop only on
a vote of tliree-fourths of the employees, which had not been obtained.
By stipulation the parties called the supreme court’s attention to the
fact that, after the decision by the lower court, the National War
Labor Board had ordered the employer to include the closed-shop
clause in the contract. The Wisconsin Supreme Court recognized
the superior authority of the National War Labor Board based on the
war powers of the Federal Government, and suspended the State
proceeding until the order of the National War Labor Board ceases
to be effective.
Jurisdiction of State and National labor relations boards.—In affirm
ing the judgment of a lower court enforcing a reinstatement order
under the Wisconsin Employment Peace Act, in the case of Inter
national Brotherhood of Electrical Workers v. Wisconsin Employment
Relations Board,™ the Supreme Court of Wisconsin decided that the
State labor act involved is applicable to a resident employer and res
ident employees, on a claim of improper discharge, even though the em
ployer is a utility engaged in interstate commerce and has a system
extending beyond the State borders. The National Labor Relations
Board had found that a system-wide unit was the appropriate bargain
ing agency but had not certified the union (which was already recog
nized) and had dismissed the proceedings. Although the subject
company is a Wisconsin public utility which sells a third of its electricity
in another State, and although some of the employees covered by its
all-union agreement were not residents of Wisconsin, the court
held that the discharge of nonunion Wisconsin employees was cor
rectly dealt with under the Wisconsin law as an improper labor practice
because of failure to show a three-fourths vote for the all-union shop,
as required by the Wisconsin law.
*---- N. W. (2d)----- (Oct. 10, 1944).
ia---- N. W. (2d)----- (Oct. 10,1944).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1230
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
The policy of not prohibiting closed-shop agreements exists in the
Wisconsin and Federal laws alike; the method of choosing the bar
gaining agent differs. The State Board retains its jurisdiction (based
on the police power) until, in a proper proceeding, the National Labor
Relations Board has declared a specific activity an unfair labor practice
which obstructs interstate commerce. When conflict is claimed,
the provisions of the two acts must still be considered in relation to
the particular case to see if conflict exists; but where conflict exists in a
particular case, if the National Labor Relations Board takes juris
diction, its determination prevails over that of the State board.
State housing authority may bargain with employees.—The Attorney
General of California, in an opinion rendered on August 29, 1944,
expressed the opinion that the California Housing Authority is free to
bargain collectively with its employees. The persuasive facts, from
his viewpoint, were that the statute creating the Authority gives it
the power to make contracts, without any limitation; that the public
policy of California as expressed in section 923 of its Labor Code
favors collective bargaining;11 that no sound distinction in this regard
exists between the government as an employer and private employers,
or indeed between the State as operator of housing or of a bus line
and the State in its purely governmental capacity. The right or
lack of right of public employees to strike is not involved; collective
bargaining is the antidote for strikes. The answer does not depend
on the validity of closed-shop or preferential-hiring clauses; collective
bargaining relates to the much wider field of hours, wages, and con
ditions of employment.
War Labor Board Decisions
Seniority rule defined by National War Labor Board.—In deciding
an appeal from the Regional Board at Kansas City {In re U. S
Gypsum Co. Case No. 111-4670-D, August 22, 1944), the National
War Labor Board amended the clause establishing the seniority rule
in promotions, increases, and decreases of working forces by the follow
ing explanation: “Seniority, as herein used, shall consist of the follow
ing factors: (a) Length of service, (b) qualifications and ability,
(c) physical fitness. When (b) and (c) are relatively equal, length of
continuous service shall govern.”
Post-emergency workweek established in contract.—Regional War
Labor Board X II at Seattle, at the request of a union, granted a change
in a contract to provide that after the War Manpower Commission’s
order for an emergency 48-hour week ceases to be effective, the schedule
for the union shall be 40 hours per week, spread over 5 consecutive
days, which was shown to have been the former standard practice
in optical manufacture in the area {Western Association of Wholesale
Opticians, Case No. 111-6648-D, September 7, 1944). A minority of
the Board argued that the Board should not decide matters affecting
only the post-war situation. This contention was not persuasive
because every present decision affects post-war bargaining relation
ships to some degree; because labor contracts are generally entered
into for a year or other fixed term and should provide for the entire
" T he proposed constitutional am endm ent, declaring the right to seek, obtain, or hold em ploym ent w ith ’
ou. abridgem ent because the w orker “ does or does not belong to or pay any m oney to a labor organization.’
was defeated a t the polls on N ovem ber 7, 1944.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Laws and Decisions
1231
period; and because settlement of basic issues in advance will reduce
the burden of unresolved questions in a period of transition and will
facilitate necessary planning for industry as well as labor.
War Labor Board review as to industry and area practice.—The
N ational War Labor Board, in dealing with an appeal from the decision
of the Non-Ferrous Metals Commission granting a wage differential
for night work, refused to reverse on the general question, even though
it was demonstrated that a night differential was neither area nor
industry practice. From a series of concurring opinions, it appears
to be generally conceded that night work is deserving of extra re
muneration; that in continuous industries there is a presumption,
particularly if shifts are rotated, that this burden is compensated for
in the base pay; but that no such inference is applicable to the nonferrous-metals industry from the area considered by the Commission in
this case, in which continuous operation is a matter not of necessity,
but of choice.
The primary consideration, therefore, as to allowance of a shift
differential is whether it violates stabilization policy by an appreciable
increase in production costs which might furnish a basis for an increase
in prices. Granted that stabilization policy will not be violated, the
matters of industry and area practice are secondary considerations
but important if a change would put a particular employer to an
economic disadvantage or if it would threaten to create a movement of
unrest in the area, or, from the opposite viewpoint, if the existing
exception displays a greater inequity because it differs from established
practice. It was further suggested that in cases in which a large
segment of an industry is to be dealt with, the relevance of industry
and area practice is lessened. The Board recognized that the regional
agency, being in direct contact with the problems, has a feeling for all
of the facts, which a reviewing body cannot obtain in the review
process. (In re Non-Ferrous Metals Industries, Case No. 111-4116-D,
July 27, 1944.)
Woman’s change oj mind not ground for discharge.—The Regional
War Labor Board at Detroit in the case of Paragon Products Co. (Case
No. 111-7919-D, August 29, 1944) found that the employer had not
been harmed by a change of mind of two women before the expiration
of their notices of resignation. The employer had discharged them and
was ordered to reinstate only one, since the other, who had incited a
strike while her case was being properly handled as a grievance under
the contract procedure, had thereby lost the right she would have had.
Seniority rules and reductions informs.—Although the union involved
in the case of Procter dc Gamble Mfg. Co. (Case No. 111-6042-D)
asked for strict seniority rules in lay-offs, the War Labor Board for
Region X permitted the employer to maintain separate seniority
ratings for men and women, provided that no man employed on July
1, 1941, is to be laid off while any woman hired later than that stays
on the job. Further, the Board directed that jobs which are now
considered as men’s jobs, although at present subdivided to enable
them to be handled by women, shall at the end of the war emergency
still be regarded as men’s jobs, subject to a later agreed change of
view on the point.
Employment terms for intrastate employer refusing to bargain with
union.—The National War Labor Board’s decision in re The Polk
Sanitary Milk Co. (Case No. 111-1826-D, September 6, 1944), on
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1232
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
appeal from the action of Regional Board YI at Chicago, was that in
the case of an intrastate company which is not within the jurisdiction
of the National Labor Relations Board and which refuses to bargain
with a union, claiming the support of the Indiana law, the Regional
Board must fix the terms of employment with respect to any dis
puted issues. Although the issue of representation cannot be dealt
with by a War Labor Board in such case, the Regional Board erred
in confining its action to a mere recommendation in favor of collective
bargaining.
Veterans’ reemployment rights.—The Regional War Labor Board at
Cleveland, dealing with a case involving disabled veterans, honorably
discharged and seeking reemployment, found them entitled to em
ployment at light work if such jobs exist, when they are unable to work
at their regular classification. The problem of whether such positions
at light work exist, if causing disagreement, is to be handled as a
grievance. (Columbia Machinery <& Engineering Corp., Case No.
111-7191-D, Regional Board V, August 22, 1944.)
Court review of War Labor Board directive order — In a proceeding
asking an injunction or declaratory judgment against a “ directive
order” of the National War Labor Board, the Court of Appeals of the
District of Columbia in National War Labor Board v. United States
Gypsum Co.12 reversed the District Court and dismissed the proceed
ing, on the basis of its prior decision 13 that such orders are merely
advisory and not decisions subject to review by a court. The situation
was not considered to be altered by the fact that the employer’s noncompliance had, in this case, actually been reported to the Director of
Economic Stabilization and the President.
The Supreme Court has also refused review of the decision against
Montgomery Ward & Co. made by the Court of Appeals of the District
of Columbia in a similar attempt by that company to have the court
reverse the order of the War Labor Board.
Miscellaneous Decisions
Libel in organization campaign of rival unions.—Under section
876-A(6) of the New York Civil Practice Act, several points were
decided by a lower court of New York State, in the case of Subliner v.
ReinlibN A union president may sue on behalf of the union if it is
libeled. Neither a union nor its members may be sued, criminally or
civilly, for libel in connection with a labor dispute (and attempts by
locals of different internationals to organize the employees of a single
employer form such a dispute) except in case of actual participation in,
authorization of, or ratification of the wrongful acts. The president of
a union may be subject to legal action if he personally wrote or pub
lished libelous documents. As to any protection or excuse existing
for libel under the special circumstances, the court pointed out that the
constitutional privilege of free speech stops short of protecting libel.
Moreover, although unions have been allowed some leeway on the
basis of the heat of a dispute, when seeking to persuade the public to
shun a company against which peaceful and lawful union activity is
directed, the same considerations do not apply in attempts by rival
i2 ---- Fed. (2d)----- , (D. C., Oct. 23, 1944).
is E m p lo y e r s G ro u p o f M o to r F reight C a rriers v. N a tio n a l W a r
denied, October 9,1944.
u ---- N. Y. Supp. (2d)----- (N. Y. Sup. Ct., Sept. 28, 1944).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
L a b or B o a rd ,
143 Fed. (2d) 145, certiorari
Labor Laws and Decisions
1233
unions to organize employees. In such a situation there is a greater
premium to be placed upon truthful, responsible, and accurately in
formative statements than in most strike and picketing situations.
Injunction in internal dispute oj union .—The sovereign authority of
an international union over the local it had chartered, which included
legislative, executive, and judicial powers, is such that no court has a
right to interfere if there is a fairly debatable issue as to the legitimate
exercise of any power reserved by the international. In the case of
Canfield v. Moreschi, 49 N. Y. Supp. (2d) 903, however, a county court
in New York State applied the exception to the rule, based on the
fundamental requirement that the power must be exercised in good
faith and for valid purposes. On proof of a conspiracy among certain
officers of the international and local to take over illegally the manage
ment of the union local and to deprive the members of the local of the
privilege of self-government, the court, on application by the president
and other members of the local, issued an injunction preventing inter
ference by those shown to have taken part in the conspiracy.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
FCMyiCTORY
BUY
U N ITED
STATES
DE FEN SE
/b o n d s
AND
STAMPS
Women in Industry
W om en in W artim e Labor Force in I llin o is , July 1 9 4 4
WHEN the March 1940 census was taken in Illinois, 746,933 women
were reported as employed and 107,343 as seeking work. At that
period women constituted a fourth of the labor force of the State.
Tentative estimates by the Illinois Department of Labor indicate that
in July 1944 approximately 1,246,000 women were employed, over
10,000 were in military service, and only 20,000 to 30,000 were looking
for work.1
In July 1944 women constituted about 36 percent of the employed
workers in Illinois, while in nonagricultural occupations the proportion
was nearly 40 percent.
The increase of women in the labor force in that State as compared
with the United States is shown in the accompanying table. The
number of women engaged in nonagricultural employment in July
1944 was 64 percent above the number in March 1940; the correspond
ing expansion for the United States in the same period was 53 percent.
Women in tiie Labor Force in Illinois and the United States, 1940 and 1944
U nited States 2
Illinois 1
Item
N um ber of women
P er
cent
of in
crease
M arch
1940
Ju ly
1944
854,000
747,000
1,271,000
1,246,000
49 13,010, 000
67 11,240,000
O O
O O
O O
Per
cent
of in
crease
47
65
741,000
1, 214,000
64 10,730,000 16,440,000
53
M arch
1940
July
1944
2 |
oTco
W omen in to ta l civilian labor force. ___ . .
W omen em ployed . .
. . . ............
W om en in nonagricultural employm ent
____
____ _________
N um ber of women
1 E stim ates b y D ivision of Statistics and Research, Illinois D ep artm ent of Labor.
2 M o n th ly R eport on the L abor Force, No. 26 (U. S. D epartm ent of Commerce).
W om en ’s E xp an d in g E m p lo y m en t in Iow a, 1 9 4 0 - 4 4
IN May 1944, the number of females employed by 395 firms in Iowa
in various industries reached 28,394, as compared to 15,288 in that
month of 1940—a rise of 85.7 percent. Among the most striking in
creases within the period under review was that in the iron-and-steelproducts group in which the number of women in May 1944 was
5,268—over 7 times the May 1940 figure, as indicated in the accom
panying table from the Iowa Employment Survey of May 1944, pub
lished by the Bureau of Labor of that State.
]iD ata are from th e Illinois L abor B ulletin, Illinois D ep artm en t of Labor, Chicago, A ugust 31, 1944.
1234
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Women in Industry
1235
In the “various industries” group, the record was 1,820 females
employed in 1940 and 3,823 in May 1944—an upward swing of 110.1
percent. While the number of women in railway-car shops has been
small in the war period, the 153 employed in May 1944 was 9% times
the number in such shops in May 1940.
Increase in Female Employment in Various Industry Groups in Iowa, in M ay of Years
1940 to 1944
N u m b er employed in M ay—
In d u stry
Of
firms
port-
1944
Total
1943
ToFemales tal
1942
ToFemales tal
1941
Females
Total
1940
ToFemales tal
Females
All industries_________________
395 84,037 28, 394 81, 289 24,703 76,645 18,828 73,013 16,695 66, 219 15, 288
Food and kindred products. . . .
Textiles________ --- -Iron and steel products_______
L um ber products___ _______
L eather p r o d u c ts .---- -------- . . .
P aper products, printing and
p u b lish in g ... . . . . . . ____ _
P a te n t medicines, chemicals,
and com pounds_____________
Stone and clay p roducts____ _
Railw ay-car shops_____
____
V arious industries_____
___
P ublic u tilities____________
Wholesale and retail tra d e . .
78 24,586 6,876 23, 568 5,763 23,488 4,693 20, 259 3,942 19,868 3,829
24 3,137 2, 509 3,469 2,765 3, 526 2,685 3, 292 2, 389 3,024 2, 234
82 24, 221 5,268 22,662 4,013 18, 526 1, 381 17,989
780 14,482
688
25 3,682
729 4, 420
668 4, 239
255 4,813
260 4,348
244
941
10
865
631
676
979
631
657
975
818
528
30 3,265 1,059 3, 211
7
22
11
51
15
40
979 3, 279
668
437
680
428
70 2,303
59
1,920
3,402
153 3, 358
61
6, 787 3,823 5, 801 2,964
7,027 4,143 6,730 3,673
4,477 2,757 4,327 2,593
830 3,423
848 3, 301
558
330
510
300
2,566
15 2, 575
13
12 2,698
2,984
14
5,436 2,562 5,318 2,243
6, 702 3, 150 6,891 3,095
4,181 2, 258 4, 270 2,180
832
453
253
2,463
12
2,504
16
4, 362 1,820
6,606 2,844
3,990 1,988
**# # # *#
O ccu pations of W om en W orkers Injured in M ichigan
In d u stries
THE occupational distribution of 2,538 cases involving compensable
injuries to Michigan women workers which were closed in the first
half of 1944 is given below: 1
Num ber of
closed cases
All o ccupations_________________________________________________________ 2, 538
M an u factu rin g in d u strie s_______________________________________________ 1, 731
M etalw orking tra d e s _______________________________________________
924
T ra n sp o rta tio n eq u ip m e n t_________________________________________
195
O th e r_________________________________________________ ____________
612
N o nm anufacturing in d u strie s___________________________________________
807
W aitresses, cooks, a n d k itch en w orkers_____________________________
215
O ther service w o rk ers_______________________________ ______________
181
C lerical w orkers___________________________________________________
131
Salesw om en_______________________________________________________
94
Professional, sem iprofessional, a n d m an ag erial w orkers, a n d officials_
61
O th e r______________________________________________________________
125
Of the closed cases, 68 percent are reported in manufacturing
occupations, over half of the latter group being in the metalworking
trades. Of the 924 compensable injuries to women in such trades, 100
are reported for filers, grinders, buffers, and polishers of metals and
223 for those engaged in the mechanical treatment of metals. Of the
1 M ichigan Labor and In d u stry (M ichigan departm ent of L abor and In d u stry , Lansing), October 1944.
T h e cases analyzed were reported to th e departm ent since 1942.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1236
Monthly Labor Review— December 1944
612 injuries reported in “other manufacturing occupations,” 461 were
distributed as follows:' In the manufacture of food products, 92; in the
manufacture of lumber and lumber products, 80; among inspectors,
136; in automobile manufacture, 68; and in the manufacture of
aircraft, 85.
These statistics, the report points out, should not be interpreted as
showing that a disproportionate number of industrial accidents have
occurred among women workers. In the 6 months under review
14,795 cases of compensable injuries to men were closed. The 2,538
cases of injury to women constituted less than 15 percent of all cases
closed. In manufacturing, however, women comprised 23 to 24 per
cent of the total wage earners.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.VICTORY
BUY
U N ITED
STATES
W AR
BONDS
AND
STAMPS
Education and Training
T rain in g o f War W orkers un der V arious P ro g ra m s1
BY September 1, 1944, over 13,760,000 workers in the United States
had been specially trained for war production under six wartime
training programs conducted by or coordinated with the War Manpower
Commission’s Bureau of Training, in cooperation with the U. S.
Office of Education. According to the Chairman of the War Man
power Commission, ‘‘special industrial training for war production
has enabled millions of war workers to reach peak production in the
shortest possible time. It is reasonable to believe that these wartrained workers will play an important part in an expanding peace
time production.”
Information on the six training programs is summarized below.
(1) Vocational training jor war production.—This program has in
cluded 6,756,339 men and women who have received either pre
employment training or supplementary training. The U. S. Office of
Education, in cooperation with State and local vocational schools,
has been definitely designated to give training of less-than-coliege
level to war production workers. This agency’s program of vocational
training for war production workers, operating through public voca
tional schools, makes available (1) preemployment training for
definite pay-roll jobs in war industries; (2) preproduction training
in the performance of specific operations; (3) supplementary courses
in skills, techniques, and special knowledge; (4) conversion training
in specific operations and related knowledge; and (5) refresher courses
in manipulation skills and related knowledge. Operating through
State boards for vocational education, this agency also makes avail
able short-unit courses in supervision for the training of industrial
supervisors.
Of those who received training in local or State vocational schools,
2,604,187 persons were given preemployment courses, and 4,152,152
were given supplementary courses. Of these, 1,313,220 were women.
Negro workers numbered 323,496.
(2) Food production war training program.—This is a training plan
which functions through vocational agricultural schools. By Septem
ber 1, 1944, the enrollments under this scheme had reached 3,207,205.
This training is of less-than-college grade and makes available pro
duction training for employed farmers and preemployment training
for farm workers and war industry workers.
(3) Engineering science and management war training.—This
program has a record of over 1,583,000 enrollments. (A brief report
on it was published in the October 1944 issue of the Monthly Labor
Review, p. 818.)
i Office of War Information. Press release, Washington, October 27, 1944.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1237
1238
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
(4) Training within industry.—With enrollees aggregating 1,440,494
men and women supervisors, this program has been carried on in
about 1,500 plants throughout the United States.
Once th e th re e com ponents of tra in in g w ithin in d u stry have been m astered by
th e supervisor, * *
he can tra in a n y w orker in a n y p la n t fo r a n y opera
tio n al p a rt in an y p ro d u ctio n skill of w hich he him self is m a ster.
T he th ree com ponents are (1) job in stru c to r tra in in g (train in g superv iso rs to
tra in new w o rk ers); (2) job m ethods train in g (training supervisors to tra in persons
alread y a t w ork to do th e ir job b e tte r); (3) job relatio n s tra in in g (train in g su p er
visors to tra in em ployees to w ork m ore sm oothly w ith each o th e r a n d w ith m a n
agem ent) .
(5) Apprentice-training service.—This service, which cooperates
with industry in establishing organized programs of apprentice or
advancing-worker training, aided 43,050 plants from July 1, 1940, to
June 30, 1944. Statistics as to the total number of persons trained
under this service are not available but a conservative estimate
places the number at considerably more than a million.
(6) National Youth Administration.—In the fiscal years 1942 and
1943, this agency (no longer in existence) cooperated with the U. S.
Office of Education and local vocational schools in providing in
dustrial training for 772,756 persons.
Visual aid for war training.—In addition to the six training pro
grams listed above, this unit of the U. S. Office of Education has
produced approximately 150 motion pictures and film strips.
Sch ools for S k illed W orkers in D o m in ica n R e p u b lic 1
THE Dominican Republic has taken measures to overcome its almost
complete lack of skilled technicians, one of the principal obstacles to
the industrialization of that nation. To remedy that shortcoming,
the Government has undertaken the operation of “school workshops”
for the training of skilled workers in the textile industry. At the
same time, widespread!instruction in the operation of hand looms
has been given in order to provide a source of livelihood and a source
from which unskilled workers may be drawn. In addition, during
1943, courses were begun in the University of Santo Domingo to
prepare skilled technicians for work in the chemical industries.
B ritish E d u cation A ct, 1 9 4 4 2
UNDER the terms of the British Education Act, assented to on
August 3, 1944, provision is made for raising the school-leaving age
and for reconstruction of the educational system. The law super
sedes existing legislation and is officially stated to be “the greatest
advance in education in Britain since the Education Act of 1902.”
It is based on “the principle of retaining diversity of choice for the
individual child within a coordinated system of education in progres
sive stages from the nursery school to adult education.” ’
1 D ata are from report by Jam es G. M cC argar, third secretary, U nited States E m bassy a t Ciudad Trujillo,
April 20, 1944.
2 D ata are from G reat B ritain, M in istry of Labor, Gazette, A ugust 1944, and B ritish Inform ation Services,
The F u tu re of E ducation in E ngland and Wales, ID 540, A ugust 1944; and Local G overnm ent Chronicle
(London), A ugust 26 and Septem ber 9, 1944.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Education and Training
1239
School-Leaving Age
Prior to adoption of the 1944 act, school attendance was coni'
pulsory between the ages of 5 and 14 years. The school-leaving age
was to have been raised to 15 years in 1939, but owing to war condi
tions, the change was not made. Under the original provisions of
the 1944 legislation, the 15-year limit was to become effective on
April 1, 1945. However, because of the shortage of both teaching
staff and school accommodations, the Government has again, by
order (S. R. & O., 1944, No. 979) postponed introduction of the
higher school-leaving age. The 14-year maximum for compulsory at
tendance is being retained for an undetermined period, but by 1947,
at the latest, the age limit must be raised to 15 years in compliance
with the provisions of the law, which also requires that as soon as
possible thereafter it is to be further raised to 16 years.
For children who leave school before reaching 18 years of age,
part-time attendance at county colleges will be compulsory. They
must attend either 1 whole day or 2 half days weekly for 44 weeks
each year or, if continuous attendance is more suitable, for 8 weeks or
for two 4-week periods a year.
Administration of A ct
Part I of the Education Act provided for establishment of the Min
istry of Education in place of the Board of Education. The Minister
of Education, who was appointed by order in council dated August
10, 1944, stated, on taking office, that the terms of the legislation
necessitated local and central administrative changes and that in
order to achieve the extensive reforms envisaged by the law the
partnership between local governments and the central organization
would have to be maintained and strengthened.
618627- 44-
9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Im m igration and Em igration
Im m igration and E m igration , 1 9 4 3 - 4 4
ALIENS admitted into the United States in the fiscal year closing
June 30, 1944, numbered 142,192. Of these, 113,641 were nonimmi
grants. The number of immigrants—28,551—exceeded by 4,826 the
number admitted in the last preceding fiscal year, but was 54,447 less
than the number reported admitted for the year ended June 30, 1939.
Emigration in 1943-44 totaled 84,409. Of this number, 78,740
were nonemigrant aliens and 5,669 were emigrant aliens who left the
country without intending to return.
In table 1, are given immigration statistics for 3 fiscal years, 1939,
1943, and 1944: 1
T able 1.— Immigration and Emigration, Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 1939, 1943 and
1944
1939
Class
Aliens a d m itte d ____________________________________
Im ig ra n t___ _____ ____ _________________________
N onim m igrant . . . ____ ________________ _________.
Aliens d eparted_______________ _ _ ________ _______
E m ig ra n t__________________________________ ___
N o n em ig ran t.-- - - - - - - - - ------
1943
1944
104,842
23, 725
81, 117
58, 722
5,107
53,615
268, 331
82, 998
185,333
201,409
26,651
174, 758
142,192
28, 551
113, 641
84,409
5,669
78, 740
Six out of 10 of the immigrant aliens admitted in the fiscal year
1943-44 were women. The median age of the newcomers was 31.2
years, as compared with an estimated median age of 51.7 years for the
country’s total alien population and of 29.5 years for the whole popu
lation. Among these immigrants were 4,192 children under 16 years
of age, and 2,041 aliens were over 60. The sex and age distribution
largely explains why over 50 percent of those admitted were reported
to have no occupation.
T able 2.— Immigrant Aliens Admitted to United States, by Occupational Groun, Fiscal
Years Ended June 30, 1942-44
1942
1943
1944
O ccupational group
All groups_______ -_ _____
______
Professions-.............. .
____________
Commercial occupations_______ ____ ___
Skilled w orkers. . . . ________ _______
F a r m e r s ___ . . . . . . .............. . . . .
Servants.
____ ___________
Laborers..
_ _ ___ _________
M iscellaneous_____ ____________________
No occupation rep o rted ._________ _____ _
N um ber
Percent
N um ber
Percent
N um ber
28,781
100.0
23, 725
100.0
28, 551
100.0
3, 496
2,753
3, 179
254
782
547
962
16,808
12.1
9.9
11.0
.8
2.7
1.9
3.2
58.4
2, 673
1,311
3,982
235
654
820
992
13,058
11,3
5.5
16.8
1.0
2.8
3.4
4.2
55.0
2,593
1,137
5, 528
349
987
1,168
1,167
15, 622
9.0
4.1
19.4
1.2
3.4
4.1
4.1
54.7
Percent
1 D ata are from M onthly Review (U. S. Im m igration and N aturalization Service, W ashington), October
1944.
1240
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1241
Immigration and Emigration
Before the outbreak of World War II the great majority of the
immigrant aliens admitted into the United States came directly from
he countries in which they were born. However, the proportion of
those born in Europe who have come in from countries outside of
Europe has greatly increased as a result of the displacement of peoples
under the impact of war, as will be noted from table 3, which compares
the number of alien immigrants admitted during 3 fiscal years, by
country of birth and by country of last permanent residence.
T able 3.— Immigrant Aliens Admitted to United States by Country of Birth and of Last
Permanent Residence, Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 1939, 1943, and 1944
1939: C ountry of—
C ou n try of b irth or last residence
B irth
Resi
dence
1943: C ountry of—
B irth
Resi
dence
1944: C ountry of—
B ir th ,
Resi
dence
..
82,998
82, 998
23, 725
23, 725
28, 551
28, 551
E u ro p e_______________________________
Albania
___
_____________
B elg iu m ..
-------------------------B ulgaria_______________ ____
___
C zechoslovakia.- --------------------- --D em ark
------------ ---------E sto n ia--------------- ------ -- ------- -F in lan d ___ . ________ _______ .
F rance_________ . .
... ...
- G erm any__________________________
G reat B ritain:
England_______________________
Scotland_______________________
W ales_________________________
Greece . . _ ____
. . - ----------H u n g ary ------------------------------------ -Ireland (E ire)_____________ ______
I ta ly --------------------------------------------L a tv ia -------------------------------------L ith u an ia _______ ____ ____ _________
N e th e rla n d s.. . . __________ _______
N orthern Ire la n d .. . ------- ----------N orw ay ___________________________
P olan d . ________________ . . ------Portugal ------- -- ------------------R u m a n ia ________ _____________ Soviet R ussia
. . . . _____ -____
Spain__________________
Sw eden___________________________
Sw itzerland-----------------------------------Y ugoslavia_____ ________________ . .
O ther E urope---- ------ ------------------A sia___ ___________ ___ _______ -C h in a ............................ . . ...............
Ja p a n _____
_______- - - - - ----P alestin e__________
_______ ____
Syria----------------- ------------------------O ther A sia_____________ _________
C a n a d a ... _____________ ____________
N ew foundland______ ______________ -Mexico
_______ ______ ______ _____
W est In d ies.___ _____________________
C entral A m erica_____________
. . . --South A m erica________________________
A frica_________ ____. ----------------------A ustralia-------------------------- ---- . . . --N ew Zealand______. . . . . . . . . _______
O ther countries______________________ _
68, 198
217
329
117
3,127
303
112
514
923
33, 621
63,138
229
683
129
2, 896
306
93
411
1,907
33, 515
8,953
3
210
11
375
142
21
113
524
1,295
4, 920
120
3
102
100
14
49
1, 201
248
8,694
10
135
23
341
119
28
72
232
1, 360
4, 509
1
126
6
136
61
26
29
387
238
2, 423
619
92
841
1,321
1,494
6, 780
241
418
674
187
575
7,315
484
679
1,901
379
378
639
1,050
445
1,304
317
78
255
190
464
8,151
342
2,265
1,192
450
625
167
151
59
94
2, 739
277
42
907
1,348
1,101
6, 570
168
290
1,259
88
527
3,072
422
421
59
257
342
1,237
1,090
753
2,162
642
102
1,066
207
145
10,501
312
2,640
2.231
530
915
218
159
54
138
1,114
287
43
309
167
227
81
65
139
199
112
123
1,647
301
230
444
318
113
127
99
114
353
56
16
47
36
198
7, 235
194
3,985
1, 116
1.181
474
83
82
28
41
901
71
2
229
75
132
49
21
43
77
33
71
394
395
45
32
254
58
123
29
49
334
65
20
107
9
133
9,571
190
4,172
2,312
1, 218
693
141
97
23
54
1,135
357
47
292
227
146
177
66
105
217
92
195
1,420
429
249
433
291
90
50
178
178
349
72
9
35
42
191
7,023
363
6, 399
2, 299
1,876
899
75
425
108
41
1, 210
96
15
226
87
68
120
24
37
71
44
127
292
431
70
41
271
58
33
93
85
227
50
4
45
8
120
9, 821
322
6,598
3,198
1,985
1,160
112
461
116
42
All countries-------
---- -------------------
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wage and Hour Statistics
E arnings in D e tro it T ool and P rod u ct E n g in eerin g
P lan ts, A p ril 1 9 4 4 1
Summary
TOOL engineering and designing constitutes an important phase in
the manufacture of metal products and many other articles. This
segment of industry, which is responsible for the designing of ma
chine tools and other essential implements, merits a share of the credit
for the efficiency of American production. Its importance in the or
ganization of war production and in the post-war reconversion of
industry can scarcely be exaggerated. Because of its requirements of
special skill and long training and experience, tool engineering and
designing is one of the highest-wage divisions of manufacturing
industry.
In April 1944 average straight-time hourly earnings for men in the
key occupations studied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 44
Detroit plants ranged from $1.35 an hour for tool detailers to $2.43 for
product checkers. Earnings of male apprentice tool detailers, however,
fell far below this range and averaged 77 cents. Women were employed
in only one of the key jobs studied, that of tool detailer, with average
earnings of $1.12. A single shift was common to most of the companies;
the normal workweek ranged from 43% to 71 hours, with a concentra
tion of plants in the 58-hour group.
Scope of Survey
The chief function of the industry is to design tools, dies, jigs, and
fixtures for use by various manufacturers in fabricating their products.
In many large establishments, of course, this is done in their own
engineering and designing departments. The Bureau’s study, the
findings of which are here given, excluded such “ captive” depart
ments and covered only specialized establishments that design tools
and other implements on a jobbing basis. These establishments
study the needs of their customer, design appropriate tools and
equipment to meet these needs, and prepare the blueprints essential
for the manufacture of the equipment. The actual manufacture of
tools and equipment is typically performed not by the engineering and
designing establishment but by a tool and die job shop or the customer
manufacturer himself. “Product designing” is also undertaken by
some engineering and designing establishments but is currently much
less important than tool designing.
' Prepared in the B ureau’s Division of Wage Analysis b y Randle E . D ahl, regional wage analyst
D etroit regional office.
* ’
1242
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wage and Hour Statistics
1243
As a concomitant of its leading position in tlie metalworking
industries, Detroit has become an important center of tool engineer
ing and designing. The Bureau’s survey of the industry in that city
was made at the request of the Regional War Labor Board in con
nection with the wage-stabilization program. This survey, based on
pay-roll periods in April 1944, covered 44 establishments in the Detroit
metropolitan wage area. These establishments, varying in size from
19 to 443 employees, are believed to include virtually all of the tool
qid product engineering and designing firms in the Detroit area.
' Practically all of the 44 firms covered were engaged in the designing
and engineering of tools, dies, jigs, and fixtures on a jobbing basis.
A few of them also manufactured tools, jigs, and special machinery,
but occupations pertaining to actual fabrication were not covered.
About a dozen of the establishments studied were also engaged in the
designing and engineering of other products.
Tlie Bureau’s study was made by trained field representatives, who
used standard job descriptions in all establishments and obtained the
data directly from pay rolls and other official records of the plants
surveyed. As is customary in Bureau studies, the wage data shown
exclude premium payments for overtime and night-shift work. None
of the plants studied operated on incentive systems of wage payment,
and only one was unionized. Wages were paid on an hourly basis
in all but one of the firms, which paid its employees on a monthly
basis.
Average Hourly Earnings
Except for the apprentice tool detailers, the workers in the 12 key
occupational groups covered in this survey were highly skilled, and
hence in the upper wage brackets. Aside from custodial jobs, in
fact, there appear to be no jobs of truly low skill in the industry.
As might be expected, men were employed almost exclusively in the
jobs studied. In only one job, that of tool detailer, were women em
ployed. The highest-paid male workers studied were product
checkers, whose straight-time average hourly earnings were $2.43;
the lowest-paid occupation was that of tool detailer, with average
earnings for men of $1.35 an hour, and for women of $1.12 an hour.
Male apprentice tool detailers averaged 77 cents an hour.
Wide ranges occurred in establishment averages for several occu
pations, the most notable being those of product designers and tool
designers, where the difference between high and low plant averages
amounted to 98 and 91 cents, respectively. It seems probable that
these wide ranges were due to historical or fortuitous factors or, in
some cases, to the special talents of individual workers, since a
comparison of the earnings in small and large establishments failed
to show corresponding differences. It should be noted that the high
est and lowest plant averages do not necessarily coincide with the
limits of the range in earnings of individual workers. For example
the low and high establishment averages for the occupation of tool
designer were $1.55 and $2.46, although individual tool designers
earned as little as $1.30 and as much as $3.00 an hour.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1244
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
Average Hourly Earnings1for Selected Occupations in 44 Tool and Product Engineering
Establishments, Detroit, A pril 1944
Straight-tim e hourly earnings
O ccupation and sex
M ale workers:
Checkers, p ro d u ct__________ _____ _ _ _ ___ .
Checkers, t o o l ____ __
_ - _____. . . . . _
Designers, p ro d u c t_____________ ____________
Designers, tool ____ __________ _____ _ _ ____
Detailers, product
. ____ . .
Detailers, tool______ . . . . . . ______ _______
Detailers, tool, apprentice_____________________
L ayout men, tool____________________________
Loftsm en.-. _ ___________ _____ . . ______ _
Plant-layout m en______ . . _________ . . - _
Process engineers
. . . . ____
___ ______
Female workers:
D etailers, to o l- .. - -_ .
_________________
N um ber N um ber
of estab
of
lish
workers
m ents
General
average
Lowest H ighest
estab
estab
lishm ent lishm ent
average
average
3
38
10
43
4
41
24
4
6
6
18
7
407
81
943
17
546
142
89
189
31
220
$ 2 .4 3
2. 32
2 .1 5
2. 07
1 .4 5
1 .3 5
.7 7
1 .8 5
2 .1 8
2. 26
2. 26
$ 2 .3 5
2 .0 0
1 .6 0
1 .5 5
1. 24
.8 8
.5 0
1 .4 0
1 .9 7
2. 00
2. 00
$ 2 .5 0
2 .6 3
2 .5 8
2. 46
1 .6 7
1 .6 3
.9 3
1 .9 2
2. 40
2. 45
2 .6 0
11
39
1 .1 2
.8 5
1 .3 3
1 Exclusive of prem ium paym ents for overtim e and night-shift work.
Hours and W orking Conditions
Most of these engineering companies operated only one shift.
The normal working hours per week ranged in the several establish
ments from 43% to 71 hours. Within this range the greatest con
centration of establishments was at 58 hours per week. Most of the
plants followed the practice of paying time and a half for overtime
after 8 hours a day and after 40 hours a week. Practically all paid
time and a half for the sixth consecutive day and for major holidays,
and double time for the seventh consecutive day.
Few of the firms studied granted their employees paid vacations.
Of the 44 establishments, 36 made no provisions for paid vacations;
1 gave 1 day for each month of service; 4 gave 1 week after 1 year;
1 gave 2 weeks after 1 year; 1 gave a half day for each month, up to a
maximum of 40 hours; and 1 gave 1 week after 1 year, 60 hours after
1%years, and 80 hours after 2 years of service.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wage and Hour Statistics
1245
U n io n W ages and H ours o f M otortruck D rivers and
H elp ers, July 1, 1 9 4 4
Summary
ON JULY 1, 1944, the average hourly wage rate for union motor
truck drivers was 98.3 cents per hour in 75 cities surveyed by the
Bureau of Labor Stetistics; the average for helpers was 81.4 cents
and for the combined groups, 96.0 cents. Wage rates for drivers
advanced 1.7 percent, and for helpers 2.5 percent, during the period
July 1, 1943, to July 1, 1944, as indicated by comparable quotations
obtained for both years. San Antonio, Tex., with the lowest composite
average for all of the 75 cities surveyed, showed the greatest percentage
increase over 1943—16.9 percent.
Union agreements provided normal workweeks averaging 46.0 hours
for drivers and 45.3 for helpers. Over two-fifths of both drivers and
helpers were covered by provisions calling for a 48-hour week. No
change in weekly hours was recorded during the year for most (97
percent) of the drivers and helpers.
More than three-fourths of the union members were covered by
agreements providing paid vacations, and about two-fifths received
pay for a limited number of holidays not worked.
Scope and Method of Study
This study is one of a series of annual surveys made by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, covering union scales in various trades in 75
principal cities of the United States. The data were collected by
field representatives of the Bureau, who called upon the officials of
the local unions in each city to obtain the rates provided in their
agreements with employers and the number of persons working under
each wage scale. Scales in negotiation or before the National or
Kegional War Labor Boards or their designated agencies at the time
the Bureau’s representatives called were further checked before the
data were tabulated, in order that changes retroactive to July 1, 1944,
would be reflected in this report.
The figures are for city trucking primarily, although over-the-road
drivers were included when they were paid on an hourly rather than
a mileage basis. Included in the report are 3,237 wage quotations
covering 215,662 union members, of whom 86 percent were diivers
and 14 percent were helpers. The averages presented are weighted
according to the number of union members receiving each rate and
thus reflect not only the actual rates provided in union agreements
hut also the number of members benefiting from those scales.
The term “ truck drivers” covers a heterogeneous group of workers,
such as drivers of building and excavating trucks, coal trucks, ice
trucks, general hauling and transfer trucks, delivery trucks hauling
various and miscellaneous commodities, and express and freight trucks.
In each of the many classifications of hauling, different types and
sizes of trucks are commonly used. Each branch of the trucking
industry, as well as each size and type of truck, usually has a different
wage rate. Furthermore, there is great variation among the different
cities, not only in commodities handled and types of trucks but also
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1246
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
in the terminology used to describe the different kinds of trucking.
For these reasons it would be difficult to make an intercity classifi
cation by types. All truck driving in each city studied is treated
as one trade, division being made only between drivers and helpers.
Usually the union agreements specify hourly rates as the basis of
wage payment for drivers doing local hauling or making local deliveries
which do not involve sales functions, although daily or weekly wage
scales are not uncommon. For purposes of this study the daily and
weekly wage scales have been converted to an hourly basis whenever
the agreements specified the number of hours for which the scales
applied; otherwise they have been omitted. Some trucking agree
ments, although specifying wages on an hourly basis, do not state
the number of hours which constitute full time; these quotations
necessarily have been omitted in the computation of average full
time hours and in the table showing the distribution according to
hours per week.
Agreements covering route drivers, particularly those handling
bakery products, beer, laundry, and milk, commonly classify the
drivers as salesmen. Ordinarily, the compensation of these drivers
is specified as a weekly guaranty, plus various commissions based
upon the volume of deliveries or collections. Similarly, the agree
ments covering over-the-road drivers commonly specify either trip
or mileage rather than hourly wage scales. All quotations specifying
such commission, trip, or mileage wage scales which could not be
converted to an hourly basis have been excluded from the computa
tions in this report.
Trend of Union Wage Rates and Weekly Hours
On the basis of comparable quotations for July 1, 1943, and July
1, 1944, hourly wage rates showed an advance of 1.8 percent for all
union motortruck drivers and helpers during the year (table 1). This
is the smallest increase recorded since 1936, the first year for which
comparable quotations for the trucking industry are available. This
small increase indicates the effectiveness of wartime Government
controls over wage rates. The very slight decrease in weekly hours
is due to the approval by the National War Labor Board of a few
cases in which the normal straight-time weekly hours were reduced.
T a b l e 1.— Indexes of Hourly Wage Rates and Weekly Hours for Union Motortruck
Drivers and Helpers, 1936-44
[1939=100]
D rivers and helpers
D rivers
Helpers
Y ear
Wage
rates
1936___________________________________
1937___________________________________
1938_______________________________ .
1939___________________________________
1940___________________________________
1941___________________________________
1942___________________________________
1943______________________________
__
1944__________________________________
88.5
94.4
97.8
100.0
102.0
106. 1
113.6
119.8
121.9
i Inform ation not com puted separately in 1936.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
H ours
101.8
100.9
100.9
100.0
99.1
98.5
98.8
98.6
98.5
Wage
rates
(>)
94.5
97.9
100.0
102.1
105.9
113.1
119.2
121.2
H ours
0)
100.8
100.8
100.0
99.2
98.5
98.6
98.4
98.3
Wage
rates
(>)
94.2
97.5
100.0
102.0
107.0
116.4
123.0
126.1
H ours
(0
101.2
101.2
100.0
98.7
98.1
100.0
99.8
99.8
1247
Wage and Hour Statistics
This does not mean that the union members worked shorter time,
but merely that some hours previously worked at straight time are
now worked at overtime rates.
Drivers received wage-rate increases averaging 1.7 percent during
the year, raising the index to 121.2, a total increase of slightly more
than 21 percent since 1939. Normal hours have decreased 1.7 percent
during the same period.
Increases for helpers during the 12-month period averaged 2.5 per
cent, bringing the index to 126.1, an increase of more than 26 percent
in base rates after 1939. Average weekly hours for helpers remained
unchanged during the year and have dropped only slightly since 1939,
the base year of the index.
Distribution of Members by Hourly Wage Rates
Motortruck drivers’ wage rates average 98.3 cents per hour on
July 1, 1944, in the 75 cities surveyed; helpers averaged 81.4 cents
and, the combined groups, 96.0 cents (table 2). Almost half of the
drivers had hourly rates ranging from 85 cents to $1.05 per hour.
Only 17 percent earned less than 85 cents, while over a third had rates
exceeding $1.05. The lowest scale, 39.5 cents, was reported in Des
Moines for meat-truck drivers employed less than 6 months. Opera
tors of dump trucks with a capacity of 8 cubic yards or over in St.
Louis had the highest scale, $2.00 per hour.
T a b l e 2 .—Percentage Distribution of Union Motortruck Drivers and Helpers, by Hourly
Wage Rates, July 1, 1944
Classified hourly rate
U nder 50 cen ts--------- -50 and un d er 55 cents___
55 and un d er 60 cents___
60 and un d er 65 cen ts___
65 and un d er 70 cents___
70 and un d er 75 cents___
75 and under 80 cents___
80 and under 85 cents___
85 and un d er 90 cents___
90 and un d er 95 cents----95 cents and under $1.00_.
$1.00 and under $1.05___
$1.05 a nd un d er $1.10___
D rivers
and D rivers H elpers
helpers
Percent Percent Percent
2.2
0.4
0.1
.1
.5
2.8
.6
3.5
1.0
1.6
1.4
2.8
6.7
1.9
2.6
3.0
2.0
9.0
15.3
5.2
3.6
20.2
7.6
9.4
12.5
8.9
12.0
13.3
10.5
12.8
9.9
10.7
5.0
11.9
11.2
7.0
3.6
8.3
9.1
Classified hourly rate
$1.10 and
$1.15 and
$1.20 and
$1.25 and
$1.30 and
$1.35 and
$1.40 and
$1.45 and
under
under
under
u nder
under
under
under
over.
$1.15___
$1.20___
$1.25___
$1.30___
$1.35___
$1.40___
$1.45___
_____
D rivers
and D rivers H elpers
helpers
Percent Percent Percent
6.5
7.5
0.5
4.9
5.6
.6
4.5
5.1
.6
3.4
3.8
.8
1.2
1.0
1.1
1.2
.1
.1
.6
.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
Average hourly rate - - - - $0.960
$0. 983
$0.814
T o tal_____
_____
More than a third of the helpers reported rates ranging from 75 to
85 cents per hour, and 1 of every 10 helpers received between 90 and
95 cents. Over a quarter of the helpers received less than 75 cents
per hour, while about 13 percent earned in excess of $1.00. Laundry
drivers’ helpers in Atlanta received the lowest scale, 29.2 cents per
hour, and beer drivers’ helpers in New York had the highest rate,
$1.27.
Weekly Hours and Overtime 1944
,
Normal weekly hours established by union agreements in 75 cities
averaged 46.0 for all union truck drivers on July 1, 1944 (table 3);
helpers averaged 45.3 hours, and drivers and helpers combined, 45.9.
Slightly more than two-fifths of the drivers and over 45 percent of the
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
248
DISTRIBUTION OF UNION MOTORTRUCK DRIVERS AND HELPERS
ACCORDING TO HOURLY RATES
JULY I, 1944
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
UNDER
.50
AND UNDER
$•50
.60
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.60
AND UNDER
.7 0
.70
AND UNDER
.80
.80
AND UNDER
.9 0
.90
AND UNDER
1.00
1.00
AND UNDER
1.10
1.10
AND UNDER
1.20
1.20
AND UNDER
1.30
1.30
AND UNDER
1.40
1.40
AND
OVER
1249
Wage and Hour Statistics
helpers had a basic workweek of 48 hours. More than a fourth of
both the drivers and helpers reported a basic workweek of 40 hours,
while 11 percent of the drivers and 12 percent of the helpers worked
on a 44-hour basis. Hours in excess of 48 per week were worked by
16 percent of the drivers and 10 percent of the helpers. The shortest
workweek, 30.8 hours, was reported for night city newspaper drivers in
Duluth, while bread drivers in St. Louis had the longest, 65.0 hours.
The Fair Labor Standards Act, which limits straight-time working
hours to 40 per week in interstate commerce, is not a governing factor
in the trucking industry, as is indicated by the extent of weekly hour
scales that exceed 40 per week. The vast majority of these workers
are in strictly intrastate commerce to which the act does not apply,
or they are drivers of common, contract, or private motor carriers
engaged in transportation in interstate commerce which are exempt
from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The
latter are subject to the regulations of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission which has jurisdiction over all trucking occupations in inter
state commerce affecting the safety of operations.1 The Interstate
Commerce Commission has ruled that employers of drivers operating
vehicles in interstate commerce may not require drivers in their em
ploy to remain on duty for more than 60 hours in a period of 168
consecutive hours. There are various exceptions allowed regarding
daily and weekly hours.2
T
able
3 . —Percentage Distribution of Union Motortruck Drivers and Helpers, by Normal
Hours Per Week, July 1, 1944
N orm al hours per week
40_____________________
Over 40 and un d er 44___
44
O ver 44 and under 48____
48
Over 48 and un d er 51 . . .
51_____________________
Over 51 and under 54
D rivers
and
Drivers Helpers
helpers
Percent Percent Percent
1.4
0.7
0.8
25.4
26.9
26.7
.3
.5
.5
12.0
11.0
11.1
5.2
4.0
4. 1
45.4
40.9
41.5
1.2
.4
.5
1.6
6.1
5.5
.2
.2
0
1 Less th an a ten th of 1 percent.
N orm al hours per week
Drivers
and
Drivers Helpers
helpers
5 4 ____________________
Over 54 and under 60 - 60_____________________
Over 60_ . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percent Percent Percent
5.1
5.0
4.7
.2
.4
.3
4.0
2.4
3.8
0
0
______
100.0
100.0
100.0
Average weekly hours___
45.9
46.0
45.3
T o ta l..
,
Changes in W age Rates and Hours From 1943 to 1944
Wage rates.—About 28 percent of the total union members for whom
comparable quotations were obtained for both 1943 and 1944 received
increases in wages during the year (table 4). Over three-fourths of
those benefiting from increases obtained raises of less than 10 percent.
The only decrease in hourly wages reported was caused by an increase
in the normal straight-time weekly hours for fur drivers in New York
> T he courts have generally ruled in cases where employees have brought suits for paym ent of overtime
due under th e Wage and H our Law th a t drivers, drivers’ helpers, mechanics, and even body builders w ork
ing for trucking firms w hich operate in interstate commerce are covered b y regulations of the Interstate
Commerce Commission and not by provisions of the Fair L abor Standards Act.
2
An essential difference betw een the hour regulations of the In terstate Commerce Commission and of
the F air L abor Standards Act should be noted. W hereas the In terstate Commerce Commission regula
tions specify m axim um hours which m ay not be exceeded, the regulations under the Fair Labor Standards
A ct m erely specify the m axim um hours th a t m ay be worked a t straight-tim e rates, and do not lim it the
num ber of total hours th a t m ay be worked provided tim e and a half is paid for all hours in excess of th e
specified norm al week. See In terstate Commerce Commission: “ M otor C arrier Safety Regulations
R evised.”
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1250
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
City, without sufficient addition to the weekly wages to compensate
for the change in hours.
A majority (54 percent) of the drivers whose scales were increased,
received advances of 5 but less than 10 percent. Increases of less than
5 percent were obtained by over 25 percent of these drivers, and 5 per
cent received raises of 15 percent or more.
The wage scales of almost four-fifths of the helpers who received
increases are at least 5 but less than 15 percent higher than in 1943.
Over a third of these are earning between 10 and 15 percent more than
in the previous year. Almost 4 percent of all union helpers (13 per
cent of those receiving increases) had raises of 15 percent or more.
Extent of Increases in Wage Rates of Motortruck Drivers and Helpers and
Percent of Members Affected, J u ly 1 , 1944, Compared with July 1 , 1943
T a b l e 4.
D rivers and helpers
E x ten t of increase
N um ber of
quotations
Drivers
Percent of
um ber of
m embers N
quotations
affected
Helpers
Percent of
Percent of
m embers N um ber of members
affected quotations
affected
All increases_________ __ . . .
867
27.8
694
27.7
173
Less than 5 p e rc e n t.. _
5 and under 10 percent.
10 and under 15’ percent____
15 and un d er 20 percent .
20 ana under 25 p ercen t. . .
25 and u nder 30 p e rc e n t...
30 percent and over____ .
211
416
138
60
21
14
7
6.5
15.0
4.0
1.5
.4
.1
.3
180
333
105
43
19
10
4
7.1
15.1
3.5
1. 5
.4
31
83
33
17
2
4
3
Co
.i
28.8
(1)
2
IS
6
1
8
2
9
Q
4
1.6
1 Less th an a te n th of 1 percent.
Maximum weekly hours.— Ninety-seven percent of the quotations,
covering about the same proportion of the union members, indicated
no change in maximum full-time weekly hours during the period July 1,
1943, to July 1, 1944. Less than 1 percent had their hours increased,
whde less than 3 percent of the drivers and almost 5 percent of the
helpers reported slight decreases in hour scales.
Overtime P a y
Time and a half was reported as the initial overtime rate for prac
tically all of the union members (90.4 percent of the drivers and 93
percent of the helpers). Over 6 percent of the drivers and 4 percent
of the helpers worked without extra pay for overtime work. In some
of these cases, overtime was prohibited by agreement or by Interstate
Commerce Commission regulations. Double time as an initial over
time rate was very seldom reported. It covered less than 0.4 percent
of the drivers and helpers combined. A few of the drivers (3 percent)
and helpers (2.8 percent) were covered by other penalty scales such
as a fixed monetary rate, time and one-third, or time and one-fourth.
A small number of union agreements provided a daily or weekly
tolerance under which a limited amount of overtime could be worked
before the penalty rate became effective. This tolerance usually
ranged from 3 to 6 hours per week.
A substantial number of agreements guaranteed a few overtime
hours each week at the rate of time and a half. Such a guaranty in
effect substantially increases the “take home” pay without changing
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wage and Hour Statistics
1251
the basic rates. These guaranties are usually on a weekly basis and
are not effective if the member takes time off for his own convenience.
P a y for Sundays and Holidays
Work on Sunday or the seventh consecutive day called for rates of
either time and a half or double time for almost 90 percent of the
union members. About half of both drivers and helpers received time
and a half for work on this day, while two-fifths received double time.
Only 1 of every 10 drivers or helpers did not receive any special rate
for work on Sunday or the seventh consecutive day.
About two-fifths of the union motortruck drivers and helpers
worked under agreements calling for regular pay for holidays not
worked. More than 18 percent of the members received 6 holidays
with pay while an additional 18 percent received pay for seven or
more holidays not worked. About 3 percent are included under
agreements providing pay for one to five holidays.
Vacations
Vacations with pay are provided in the union agreements covering
over 78 percent of the union members included in this survey. A
similar check in 1942 indicated that only about 65 percent of the
union drivers and helpers benefited by paid vacations. About 44
percent of the union members (56 percent of those receiving vaca
tions) were required to work 1 year to earn 1 week’s vacation, while
about 12 percent received 2 weeks after 1 year of service. Agree
ments providing 1 week of vacation after 1 year and 2 weeks after 2
years covered 4 percent of the total union membership. Vacations
of 1 week after 1 year and 2 weeks after 5 years were specified for more
than 6 percent of the union members. About an eighth of the union
members were covered by other miscellaneous vacation provisions.
Average Wage Rates and Changes by City 3
New York City led all other cities included in the survey with a
composite average rate for union truck drivers of $1,181 per hour
(table 5). Seattle was second with an average of $1,163, followed by
Newark with $1,154. In addition to Seattle, averages exceeding
$1.00 were found in all the other West Coast cities covered: San
Francisco ($1,122), Spokane ($1,115), Portland, Oreg. ($1,057), and
Los Angeles ($1,051). Three other cities—Detroit ($1,060), Butte
($1,028), and Cleveland ($1.008)—also fell in this group. No other
city had rates as high as the average for all cities, 98.3 cents. Fortyone cities had averages exceeding 80 cents, and only 22 had averages
below this rate. San Antonio’s average was lowest (64 cents per hour).
Percentage changes.4—The greatest increase in wage rates (16.9
percent) during the period of the survey, July 1, 1943, to July 1, 1944,
* T he average rate shown for each city is a composite of all rates quoted for each different type of truck
driver, weighted b y the num ber of union members earning each rate.
4 The percentage changes are based on specific rates weighted b y the n um ber of members w orking a t each
rate. Only those quotations showing comparable d ata for both 1943 and 1944 are included. Specific in
creases during the 12-month period of this stu d y will reflect larger percentage changes among those classi
fications w ith com paratively lower scales; e. g. if freight drivers in city A increase their scale 10 cents per
hour from 70 to 80 cents, an average increase of 14.3 percent is registered, while in city B if the same increase
raises the rate from $1.10 to $1.20 per hour the change is only 9.1 percent. F or this reason those cities which
have lower scales tend to show greater percentage increases th an those which have higher scales.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
1252
was recorded for San Antonio; but in spite of this large increase, San
Antonio, for the second successive year, had the lowest composite
average of all the cities surveyed. El Paso, Tex., had the next
highest increase (10 percent). Only nine other cities had average
increases of 5 percent or more. Thirty additional cities had increases
in wage scales that exceeded the average increase for all cities (1.7
percent). In 21 cities increases of less than 1 percent were recorded,
and in 2 cities there was no change in scales.
T a b l e 5 . —Average Hourly Rates of Union Motortruck Drivers, by City, July 1, 1944,
and Percent of Increase over Previous Year 1
C ity
N ew Y ork, N . Y . _ _ .
Seattle, Wash___ __ _____
N ew ark, N . J
_
San Francisco, Calif - __
Spokane, W ash. _ ______ .
D etroit, M ich _____________
Portland, Oreg . . .
Los Angeles, C alif_____ _ . . .
B utte, M o n t_______ _ . . . _
Cleveland, Ohio_____ ____ .
Average, all cities........................
Chicago, 111.
. .. .. . . . . .
P ittsburg h , P a
.
......
Boston, M a s s .. . _
____
Phoenix. A riz. .
... ..
Toledo, Ohio __________
Colum bus, O h io .. _______
M ilw aukee, W is .
C incinnati, Ohio _ ___. . . _
Youngstown, Ohio______ . . .
Philadelphia, P a ________. . .
N ew H aven, C onn.
M inneapolis, M in n .. ___ ._
M obile, Ala ________ ____ _
St. Paul, M in n .
___ _
Buffalo, N . Y . . ___. . . .
W ashington, D . C ._ ______
South Bend, In d . ________
St. Louis, Mo .
D ayton, Ohio___ ____ ______
Tam pa, F la ___________ _ __
Charleston, S. C
. . . .
Providence, R. I
Peoria, 111__________________
Springfield, M ass___________
Rochester, N . Y __________ _
D enver, Colo_______________
Average
hourly
rate
$1.181
1.163
1.154
1.122
1.115
1.060
1.057
1.051
1.028
1.008
.983
.979
.968
.949
.949
.946
.930
.929
.913
.913
.909
.908
.903
.899
.899
.889
.889
.888
.878
.876
.875
.873
.870
.867
.865
.864
.858
Percent
of
increase
0.7
.1
2.5
.4
1.9
4.0
1.4
.1
5.7
4.1
1.7
1. 6
1.5
.3
1.2
3.5
5.7
2.9
5.1
2.5
.7
4.5
1.8
.7
2.7
.5
1.9
3.8
2.6
3.9
1.2
2.3
.2
3.1
.5
1.3
.5
C ity
Scranton, Pa
Baltim ore, M d .2
G rand R apids, M ich
Indianapolis, Ind
Charleston, W . Va
L ittle Rock, A rk
M adison, Wis
W orcester, M ass
Salt Lake C ity, U tah
Erie, Pa
Kansas C ity, Mo
Jacksonville, Fla
Portland, M aine
Reading, Pa
B ingham ton, N . Y
C harlotte, N . C
Des Moines, Iowa
D u lu th , M inn
Rock Island (111.) district 4___
W ichita, K ans
Louisville, K y
Omaha, N ebr
M em phis, T en n
M anchester, N . H
Y ork, Pa
A tlanta, Ga
Oklahoma C ity, O kla_______
Jackson, Miss
D allas, Tex
Norfolk, Va
Birm ingham , Ala
Richm ond, Va
N ew Orleans, La
H ouston, Tex
E l Paso, Tex
Nashville, T e n n _____ ____
San Antonio, Tex _. _______
Average
hourly
rate
$n 856
855
849
848
846
840
829
.824
.822
.820
819
809
808
806
.804
784
784
782
.775
. 766
. 762
. 754
.744
738
. 736
. 725
.720
716
713
. 706
683
672
.669
. 666
. 660
.646
.640
Percent
of
increase
4
5
6
2
6
0
5
3
(3)
15
1Q
7
3 1
4
3 7
19
1
20
8
6 1
2 5
5
3.6
3
3 1
5
4 1
2
1
5 6
4.1
12
70
0
1 1
o
50
4 7
10 0
3.9
16.9
1 Does no t include drivers paid on a commission or mileage basis. Averages are weighted according to
num ber receiving each different rate. Helpers are not included in this table.
2 D a ta obtained for only about tw o-thirds of the union drivers and helpers in Baltim ore.
3 Less th a n a te n th of 1 percent.
4 Includes Rock Island, 111., D avenport, Iowa, and Moline, 111.
T rend of Factory E arnings, 1939 to Septem ber 1944
THE published average earnings of factory workers are summarized
in the accompanying table for selected months from January 1939 to
September 1944.1 The earnings shown in this table are on a gross
basis (i. e., before deductions for social security, income and victory
taxes, bond purchases, etc.).
1
Compare T rends in Factory Wages, 1939-43, in M onthly Labor Review, N ovem ber 1943 (pp. 869-884),
especially table 4 (p. 879). For detailed d ata regarding weekly earnings, see D etailed Reports for In d u s tria l
and Business E m ploym ent, Septem ber 1944, table 6 (p. 1311), of this issue.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1253
Wage and Hour Statistics
Weekly earnings in all manufacturing averaged $46.25 in September
1944—99.4 percent above the average in January 1939, 73.6 percent
above January 1941, and 18.9 percent above October 1942. Such
factors as longer hours of work, merit increases for individual workers,
premium pay for overtime worked, changing composition of the labor
force within plants, shifts in the distribution of workers among plants
and among industries, as well as wage-rate increases, account for the
rise in earnings.
Gross hourly earnings in all manufacturing averaged 103.1 cents in
September 1944—63.1 percent above the average in January 1939, 51.0
percent above January 1941, and 15.5 percent abo\^e October 1942.
Straight-time average hourly earnings, as shown in columns 7 to 9,
are estimated to exclude premium pay at time and a half for work in
excess of 40 hours. The effect of extra pay for work on supplementary
shifts and on holidays is included. For all manufacturing, the straighttime average in September 1944 was 96.1 cents per hour; this was 54.3
percent higher than in January 1939, 44.7 percent above January 1941,
and 14.5 percent above October 1942.
Earnings of Factory Workers in Selected Months, 1939 to September 1944
Average weekly
earnings
M onth and
year
Average hourly
earnings
Estim ated straighttime average
hourly earnings 1
E stim ated straighttim e average hour
ly earnings w eight
ed b y January 1939
em p lo y m en t2
N on
All
N on
N on
All
All
All
ura dura
u ra dura
u ra dura
u ra dNuon
m anu Dble
m an u Dble
ra m anu Dble
m an u Dble
ble
factur goods
ble
ble factur goods
factur goods
ble
factur goods
goods
ing
goods
goods
ing
ing
goods
ing
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
J a n ____ $23.19 $25. 33 $21. 57 $0.632 $0. 696 $0. 583 $0. 623 $0. 688 $0. 574 $0.623 $0.688
.644
.635
.697
.717
.598
.703
.589
.655
J a n ......... 24.56 27. 39 22.01
.648
. 722
.711
.749
.610
.664
.601
.683
J a n ------ 26.64 30.48 22. 75
.810
.670
.729
.688
.762
.835
.801
.890
33.40 38.98 26. 97
Jan
.846
.885
.701
.759
.949
. 725
.809
.856
J u ly ___ 36.43 42. 51 28.94
. 782
.869
.839
.919
.723
.990
.751
.893
O c t____ 38.89 45. 31 30.66
.794
.941
.886
.733
.919 1.017
.768
.859
1943: J a n ____ 40.62 46.68 32.10
.808
.897
.878
.957
.751
.944 1.040
.790
A pr- _ _ 42.48 48. 67 33. 58
.919
.981
.766
.899
.823
.806
.963 1.060
J u ly ___ 42. 76 48.76 34.01
.929
.781
.836
.824
.916
.997
.988 1.086
O ct____ 44.86 51.26 35.18
.942
.788
.846
.832
.995 1.093
.927 1.011
D ec____ 44.58 50.50 35.61
.945
.850
.838
.931 1.013
.793
1944: J a n ____ 45.29 51. 21 36. 03 1.002 1.099
. 862
.955
.806
.850
.942 1.023
A p r___ 45. 55 51.67 36.16 1.013 1.110
.874
.973
.815
.862
.950 1.035
45. 43 51.07 37. 05 1.018 1.116
J u ly ..960
.871
.944 1.024
.817
.865
A ug.345.86 51.82 37.15 1.016 1. I ll
.979
.886
.829
.961 1.046
.876
Sept.3. . . 46. 25 52.18 37. 67 1.031 1.131
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
(12)
$0. 574
.589
.600
.667
.694
.716
.724
.741
.750
.765
.773
.778
.792
.799
.803
.815
1 Average hourly earnings, excluding the effect of prem ium pay for overtime.
2 Average hourly earnings, excluding prem ium pay for overtime, weighted b y man-hours of em ploym ent
in the major divisions of th e m anufacturing ind u stry for Jan u ary 1939.
3 Prelim inary.
The shift of workers from relatively low-wage to relatively highwage industries since 1939 would have raised the average earnings of
factory workers, even if no other influences had been present. The
effects of such interindustry shifts have been eliminated from the
averages shown i<n columns 10 to 12 of the table. If employment had
been distributed between industries as it was in January 1939, the
straight-time hourly earnings of factory workers would have averaged
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1254
M onthly Labor Review—December 1944
88.6 cents in September 1944, or 42.2 percent above the corresponding
average in January 1939, 36.7 percent above January 1941, and 13.3
percent above October 1942. Between August 1944 and September
1944 the rise in straight-time hourly earnings, after eliminating the
influence of shifting employment, amounted to 1.7 percent. Even
this latter series of averages exaggerates the rise in wage rates, because
it includes the influence of interplant shifts of employment, merit
increases for individual workers, and premium rates for work on
extra shifts and on holidays.
P er Capita"Incom e of W age-Earner Fam ilies, 1939
THE economic load which a large family constitutes is indicated in
an analysis of family income by the Bureau of the Census.1 In a
typical American wage-earner family of 6 persons, the father of
which was under 35 years of age, the median wage or salary income
in 1939 was only $147 per capita. In contrast, for a family of 2
(a married couple), the husband being under 35 years of age, the
median income per member was $660.
Per Capita Wage or Salary Income in 1939, by Sex, Marital Status, Age of Head, and
Size of Family
Per capita wage or salary income of families
w ithout other income, by size of family
M arital statu s and age of family head
per 2 per 3 per 4 per 5 per 6 per 7 per
T o tal 1son
sons sons sons sons sons sons
All families_________________ ____
Families w ith male head:
Wife present, husband aged—
U nder 35 years___________ __ ______ _
35-44 years _____________ ________ _
45-54 years ____ . ___ _______ _____
55 years and over_______ __ _______ . . .
O ther m arital s tatu s______ _ . . . ______
Fam ilies w ith female head_______________
___
$310
304
302
332
332
376
238
$487
$591
$439
$349
$269
$208
$137
591
377
660
759
681
428
483
350
397
535
539
427
421
278
288
399
433
388
337
222
202
287
334
331
280
190
147
207
256
275
227
162
98
123
167
194
157
112
“As a measure of economic well-being, per capita family income
is only an approximation, because it does not take into account the
difference in living costs per family member in large families as com
pared with smaller ones. However, the differences in economic status
of the various family types are so great that an approximate measure
is adequate to indicate the relationships involved.”
For all families without other income, the median wage or salary
income per member in 1939 was about $310, while for the 2-person
family, usually composed of a man and wife without children, it
was $591. For families of 7 or more, the median per capita income
was only $137. The low median income per member in large families
with heads under 35 years of age is explained, in most cases, by the
fact that the head of the family is the only breadwinner.
1 U. S. B ureau of th e Census.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Population—Special reports, Series P. 44, No. 19. W ashington, Septem ber
1255
Wage and Hour Statistics
Wages of T extile W orkers in Province of Concepción,
C h ile 1
DAILY wages in the woolen and cotton mills of the Province of
Concepción, Chile, early in 1944, ranged from a maximum of 74 pesos 2
in the machine shop and 48 pesos in the weaving section, to a minimum
of 27 pesos in the carding and spinning sections. More than 6,000
persons were employed in the textile industry of the Province, which
provides from 65 to 70 percent of the Chilean output of cotton and
woolen textiles.
Wages and Hours
The figures in the accompanying table are said to represent ac
curately the wage scale for workers in the woolen mills, and that scale
is practically identical with the scale in the cotton mills.
D aily Wage Scale in Woolen-Textile Plants in Province of Concepción, Chile
Occupation
D aily wage
W eaving section:
W eavers_____________________
A pprentices _ _ ______________
S u b a p p re n tic e s____ ________
M aster w arpers_______________
W arpers’ h e lp e rs ____________
W orkmen:
_____________
Range __
Average -- ______________
Dyeing section:
W orkmen:
Range . _ . __ __________
A verage__________________
Stockroom: W orkm en_________ __
Gatem en:
___________
H ead gatem en
P orters______ - ____________
W orkmen:
Range .......................... ..... __
A v e ra g e _____________ ____
Blending section:
W orkmen:
Range . . _____ _____ __
A verage__________________
Wool warehouse:
W orkmen:
R ange___________________
A verage__________________
Carding section:
A pprentices -___________
Subapprentices_______________
W o rk m e n _____
_____ ___
Spinning section:
A pprentices________________
Subapprentices--------------------
Pesos
40.75
38.00-48.00
35.00-38.00
33.00-39.00
36.40
27.50-44. 00
i 29. 00
29.00-42.00
i 33.00
28.00-37.00
54.00
43.20
28. 00-41. 00
1 31.00
29. 00-35.00
i 31.00
28.00-34.50
i 30.00
41.00-42.00
33. 50-35.60
27.00-38.40
33.00-42.00
31.80-35.00
Occupation
Spinning section—C ontinued.
W orkmen:
R ange_____ ___ - - Average .
____ ______
M achine shop:
T u rn ers_____ ____ ___________
P lu m b ers_______ ______ ______
Plum bers’ helpers ____ ___
Welders .
_ ___
W elders’ helpers______________
M echanics____ - ___________
M echanics’ helpers ________
Firem en:
R a n g e .___________
- ..
A verage_______ ________
A lternate firemen
E lectricians_______________ .
C arpenters. ________________
C arpenters’ helpers___________
Stokers.............................................
M aintenance: W o rk m e n .______ _
Finishing section:
A pprentices__________________
Fullers:
Range__ _________________
A verage__________________
Cleaners:
Cleaners:
R a n g e ___________________
A verage. . . ____________
W orkmen:Range.................. .....................
Average_____ __________
D aily wage
Pesos
27.00-35.00
» 31.00
41.00-74. 00
46. 30
27. 50
49. 20
38.00
41.00-44. 30
33.50-38.00
40.00-49. 30
i 44.00
41. 00
40.00
43.00
32. 30
34.30
27. 50-49.30
40. 50
36. 00-40.00
i 38.00
31.00-34. 50
i 32.00
27.00-40.00
i 30.00
1 A pproxim ate.
Textile workers in the Province of Concepción receive, in addition
to wages, a monthly rental allowance (<asignación de arriendo) of
60 pesos in lieu of a house furnished by the employer, a monthly
family allowance (asignación familiar ) of 60 pesos for a wife and 50
pesos for each child under 16 years of age; an annual gift of 2 pieces of
1 D ata are from report of C aspar D . Green, U nited States vice consul, Concepción, Chile, M arch 1,1944,
enclosing wage scale.
3 Average exchange rate of peso in F ebruary 1944 = 5 cents.
6 1 8 6 2 7 -4 4 -
10
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1256
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
woolen cloth (of 3 meters3 each); and 2 pieces of denim for overalls.
The textile firms furnish medical attention, pay 1,500 pesos or its
equivalent for funeral expenses of an employee dying in their service,
and maintain social workers.
Operatives in establishments employing 25 or more persons are re
quired to form a union, in which membership is compulsory. These
unions are members of the Provincial Confederation of Textile Work
ers (Confederación Textil Provincial). At the beginning of the calen
dar year, each union presents any petition it may have, requesting
modifications of wages or working conditions. The petitions are
considered under a standard procedure, and a union-company agree
ment is signed for the ensuing year. It is reported that the wage
demands of the unions are generally identical and that the entire
woolen-industry settlement is reached in a single negotiation. In
practice, the settlements differ only in minor details.
The usual workweek is 48 hours, and, although the length of shift
varies from plant to plant, a day of 8% hours is common. Most of the
plants carry out the entire process from raw wool or cotton to the
finished product, and some plants work 2 or 3 shifts in certain depart
ments in order to maintain a balance in the process.
Whereas textile plants in the United States figure on an average
of one employee per loom, the mills here described have twice that
number. This has been attributed to lack of certain trained person
nel. Local technical schools are reported to be training mechanics.
Employment and Production
The largest textile mill in the Province employs about 2,000 workers,
two plants employ more than 1,000 each, and the others employ from
less than 100 to 800 each. The proportion of women to men is high.
The number of looms in the woolen mills varies from 22 to 150; the
principal cotton mill has 1,008 looms.
Though the woolen goods produced range all the way from heavj^
blanket and overcoat materials to men’s suitings, the bulk of the
woolen production consists of coarse fabrics. The main cotton prod
ucts are low-priced sheeting {tocuyo) and shirt materials. The cotton
yarn is used to supply not only the textile mills but also a small twine
and rope factory and a knitting factory which employs about 150
operatives and produces “low quality” socks, stockings, and under
wear. Raw cotton for manufacture in Concepción is imported almost
exclusively from Peru; wool is bought by the manufacturing firms
directly from producers in the central and south central areas of Chile.
Although the textile industry of the Province dates from about 1875,
most of the buildings are modern one-story, reinforced concrete
structures (designed to be earthquake-proof). The industry has
increased only slightly during the war years, but is growing. Accord
ing to one estimate, 10 years ago production was at the rate of only
40 percent of the present output; 5 years ago it had risen to 80 percent.
The market for the finished goods is largely domestic.
3 A m eter is equivalent to 39.37 inches.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wage and Hour Statistics
1257
W artim e A gricultural Wages in H u n g ary 1
UP TO the present war, the general wage level in Hungary had
remained relatively low, primarily as a result of a continual oversupply
of labor in both industry and agriculture. Under the impetus of the
war, which brought a more rapid growth in industrialization, the
surplus of workers was gradually absorbed. As a result, money wages
generally tended to rise, although “real” wages lagged, because of a
steady rise in the cost of living.
The shortage of agricultural labor which resulted from the migration
of workers into war industries caused agricultural wages to rise
substantially above the maximum wage rates fixed by the Government
in 1941. According to a survey undertaken by the Hungarian
Ministry of Public Supply in 191 communities, daily wages for
agricultural workers increased from 3.80 pengos2 in January 1942
to 4.98 pengos in January 1943, and from 5.06 pengos in December
1942 to 7.41 pengos in December 1943. Average wages for July rose
from 5.44 pengos in 1942 to 8.14 pengos in 1943, an increase of 50
percent. Thus, actual wages exceed the ceiling wage rates by per
centages ranging from 18.0 for September to 65.0 for December. In
July and August 1943, the actual wages were the same as those fixed
by the Government, as the official wage rates were calculated in
July and were based on wages actually paid.
The official daily rates declined from 8.10 pengos in July to 4.40
pengos in December, largely as a result of-their being calculated on the
customary decline in daily working hours from 13% in July to 7% in
December. However, this decline did not occur in 1943, for conditions
in agriculture had changed. Many employers sought to make up,
during fall and early winter, work which had been postponed in the
summer. Furthermore, at the end of the harvesting season many
agricultural workers went into factories, thus reducing the labor sup
ply. As a result of the continued long hours thus necessitated, actual
agricultural wages per day declined only 9 percent between July and
December, whereas the official rates had provided for a decrease of
44 percent. Wages actually paid in December exceeded those fixed
by the Government by 65 percent.
Agricultural wages in Hungary vary with the different districts.
They are lowest in the territory beyond the Tisza River and highest
in the territory between the Danube and the Tisza, in the southern
parts of former Slovak territory annexed by Hungary in 1940, in the
southwestern parts of Transdanubia, and in southern Hungary. In
the higher-wage districts cattle raising and viniculture predominate.
1 D a ta are from an article in Siidost Economist (B udapest), of Jan u ary 21, 1944.
2 In 1929 th e exchange value of th e pen go was 17 cents in U nited States currency. Since th e n it has fluctu
ated considerably. D uring the first 6 m onths of 1941 (the latest period for which d ata are available) the
pengo was quoted at 19.8 cents.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cost of Living and R etail Prices
Prices in th e T h ird Q uarter of 1944
Summary
THE third quarter of 1944 brought little change in the general level
of prices, either in retail markets or at the producers’ level. Problems
of reconversion pricing policies and of supplies of certain kinds of
consumers’ goods claimed the center of attention.
At retail, costs of clothing, household textiles, and some furniture
continued to rise, while food prices moved almost wholly in response
to seasonal influences. The net rise for the quarter in prices of living
essentials was 0.9 percent.
Most industrial prices were stable, and there was little evidence of
continuation of the rising trend in markets for industrial goods noted
earlier in the year, except for an advance of about 4 percent in pro
ducers’ prices of cotton products required by the Stabilization Exten
sion Act of 1944. Scattered advances were reported for some farm
machinery, waste paper, asphalt roofing, and a few other products^
Some weakness developed for steel scrap and certain chemicals as
war demands tapered off.
Trend of Prices
September 1944 marked the end of nearly 18 months without any
significant change in the general level of prices. This stability is
attributable to the magnificent production record of American farm
ers, industrial workers, processors, and manufacturers, and the general
effectiveness of price and rationing controls. The principal problems
of supply and of price that affect the American public continue to be
in the field of love- and medium-priced cotton clothing and housefurnishings, discussed at length elsewhere in this report. Supplies
of foodstuffs were adequate, and acute scarcities were reported for
only a few foods, notably American cheese, butter, good grades of
beef, veal, and lamb, canned salmon, and certain kinds of canned
fruit, all of which are in demand by the military services. As a
whole, the record of price and supply is proof of America’s ability
in this war to produce “guns and butter too.”
Recent trends in prices can be illustrated best by comparison with
September 1943, when prices were affected by the same seasonal
influences as in September of the present year. The price rise during
the year in primary markets amounted to about 1 percent, and the
rise in prices paid by consumers at retail for living essentials, to slightly
over 2 percent. During the same period, the general level of indus
trial production (including military production) dropped 5 percent,
1258
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cost of Living and Retail Prices
1259
while total employment in nonagricultural establishments showed a
decline of 3 percent.
The statement below summarizes price changes during the third
quarter of 1943, and since September 1943 and August 1939, both at
retail and in primary markets, for selected groups of commodities.
June
19U to
September
19U
W holesale prices: All com m odities__________
F arm p ro d u c ts_______
F o o d s_______________
All o th e r comm odities.
C ost of liv in g ----------------------------------------------
Percent of change from—
September
August
194S to
1939 to
September
September
19U
19U
—0. 3
+0. 9
+38. 7
- 1.8
-.3
+ 101.1
- 2 .2
+. 1
-.8
+ 1 .4
+ 5 5 .1
+ 2 3 .1
+2. 1
+28. 3
+ .9
Reconversion prices.—For a time during the summer and early
autumn of 1944, as France was liberated and there was hope for an
early end to the European war, discussion was active on problems of
reconversion pricing. The Office of Price Administration is establish
ing general standards for fixing maximum prices for consumer
durable goods and other civilian products which have been out of the
market, in order that uncertainty over prices shall not be a bar to
production after victory in Europe. The OPA has announced that,
in general, its objective will be to maintain 1942 price levels where
possible, but in all cases ceilings will be fixed high enough to “yield
good profits for business, large or small, on the basis of high-volume
production,” along with “continued payment of high wage rates,”
and to “encourage maximum production,” at the same time “dis
couraging general increases in the cost of living.” 1
The principal problems will, of course, center in consumer durable
goods and their parts and certain heavy goods manufactured for
producers. In October 1944 the OPA began to hold conferences and
conduct inquiries to determine the nature of cost and price problems
which will be faced after V-E (Victory in Europe) day. Preliminary
studies conducted by the OPA and by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
for the OPA indicate that in a number of lines no price increases, or
only moderate price increases above 1942 levels, will be required.
It is recognized, of course, that the situation may change before the
beginning of the reconversion period. However, some producers of
automobiles and certain other major consumer durable goods,
such as washing machines and radios, have publicly announced their
need for higher prices. Others have announced an intention to
produce at 1941 or 1942 prices.
Meantime, some civilian goods of pre-war types have begun to
appear in retail markets. This trend was accelerated in the autumn
quarter, particularly for all-wool apparel and furniture containing
steel springs. These products recently returned to civilian markets
in large quantities after an absence of a year and a half or more.
In the case of both types of goods, prevailing prices are above 1942
levels, partty because of higher production costs and partly because of
changes in construction and styling, for furniture. Limited pro
duction of consumer durable goods, such as electric irons, has been
i M em orandum (Our Pricing Objectives in the Reconversion Period) from C hester Bowles, A dm inis
trato r, to all members of O PA A dvisory Committees, October 1944.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1260
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
authorized under the “WPB spot authorization program” or under
orders issued prior to the establishment of that program. Most of
these products approved in the autumn of 1944 were scheduled to
sell at 1942 ceilings, although in some cases requests for upward
adjustments were made to the OPA by individual firms and were
granted. In general, the largest production of electric irons has
been in the moderate- to high-priced fields rather than in the lowest
price lines previously on the market.
Cost of Living
The advance of slightly less than 1 percent during the third quarter
of 1944 brought the level of retail prices for living essentials in large
cities up 28 percent above that prevailing in August 1939, just before
the outbreak of war in Europe. Since the President’s “hold-the-line”
order in the spring of 1943, however, there has been little over-all
movement, amounting to a rise of only 1.1 percent since the peak in
May 1943. The largest advances were in costs of clothing and
housefurnishings, which rose 2.5 percent and 1.7 percent, and a
seasonal rise of 1 percent in food prices. The rise in clothing again
has been due almost wholly to the scarcity in retail stores of low-priced
and moderate-priced clothing, particularly cotton work clothing,
children’s clothing, knit underwear of all kinds, inexpensive dresses,
and cotton household textiles such as sheets and pillowcases. These
shortages remain acute (see Textiles, p. 1264). In housefurnishings,
the return to the market of living-room furniture of steel-spring con
struction at higher prices than prevailed in 1942, as already noted,
contributed to the advance. There have also been steady advances,
almost uninterrupted since 1940, in the cost of services, many of
which are exempt from OPA control. Illustrations are the services
provided by beauty and barber shops, hospitals, physicians, and
movie theaters. This trend continued in the quarter ended with
September 1944.
Although the housing situation remained serious in most of the
large cities surveyed during the quarter by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, there were no significant changes in rents. In 8 cities there
were slight increases in the average rental bill—none greater than 0.5
percent—as the result of the curtailment of services ordinarily pro
vided, additional charges for services, changes in the number of
occupants, and other reasons. In four cities there were slight de
creases. The average rental bill in all large cities rose 0.1 percent,
and was still 1.5 percent below its level in May 1942, when OPA con
trols were initially established. Utility rates remained substantially
unchanged during the quarter, as did prices of fuel also. There were
minor adjustments in OPA ceilings on coal, and scattered changes in
electricity and gas rates.
Changes in retail prices of goods and services in large cities are
summarized in table 1 and the chart on page 1262. Changes in prices
of consumer goods in primary markets are shown in table 2.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1261
Cost of Living and Retail Prices
.
T
able
].—Percent of Change in Cost of Living in Specified Periods, by Commodity Group
Percent of change—
C om m odity group
In last
quarter
In last
year
From 1943
peak
From
beginning
of OPA
control
From
start of
war
August
June 1944 September
M ay 1943 M ay 1942
1943 to
1939 to
to Septem September
to Septem to Septem
September
ber 1944
ber 1944
ber 1944
1944
1944
All item s______________________________
+ 0 .9
+ 2 .1
+ 1.1
+ 9.1
+28.3
F o o d _________________ _____ ________
C lothing_____ ____________________
.
R en t. ____ ____ _ _
. ........ ............
Fuel, electricity, and ice________________
H ousefurnishings.- . . ________________
M iscellaneous________________ ______ . . .
+ 1 .0
+ 2.5
+ •1
+ .2
+ 1 .7
+ .6
- .3
+ 6.7
+• 2
+ 2 .0
+ 11.4
+ 4 .6
-4 .2
+ 10.6
+ .2
+ 2 .0
+ 12.5
+ 6 .2
+12.7
+12.0
-1 . 5
+ 4.7
+15. 1
+10.4
+46.5
+41.0
+ 3.7
+12.6
+39.9
+21.9
T able 2.—Percent of Change in Prices of Consumer Goods in Primary Markets in
Specified Periods
Percent of change—
In last
quarter
C om m odity group
In last
year
From be
ginning of
OPA con
trol
From start
of w ar
A ugust
June 1944 September
M ay 1942
1943 to
1939 to
to Septem September
to Septem Septem
ber
ber 1944
ber
1944
1944
1944
F arm products - . _ ________ _____ _
_ _____
Foods______________________________
H ides and leather products . .
. _______________
.
_ __________________
Textile products____
-1 .8
-2 . 2
- .3
+ 1 .4
-0 .3
-.8
-1 .5
+ 1 .7
+17.5
+ 5 .4
-2 .4
+ 1 .2
+101.1
+55.1
+25. 1
+46.3
FOOD PRICES
Retail food prices rose 1 percent in the third quarter of 1944, while
prices for farm products and foods in primary markets declined 1.8
and 2.2 percent, respectively. In retail markets, large seasonal in
creases in the price of eggs, amounting to a 30-percent advance
between mid-June and mid-September, more than offset lower prices
of fresh fruits and vegetables and meats. Primary-market prices of
farm products and foods declined steadily during the quarter,♦as the
prices of most grains, cereal products, fresh fruits and vegetables,
and dairy products moved lower or remained unchanged, offsetting
increases in the prices of livestock, poultry, and eggs.
For eggs, seasonal advances at both the wholesale and retail levels
were somewhat greater than those for the corresponding period in
1943 or in pre-war years. Although supplies were abundant in most
markets during this period, prices generally followed the seasonal
pattern allowed by OPA ceilings. The retail prices increased steadily
throughout the quarter, from an average of 45.7 cents in June to 59.6
cents per dozen in September. However, the September 1944 price
was more than 5 percent below, and prices at wholesale from 10 to 18
percent below, those of September 1943.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1262
COST OF LIVING
INDEX
SEPTEMBER 1 9 3 9 * 1 0 0
INDEX
150
130
120
110
100
90
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
140
Cost of Living and Retail Prices
1263
Prices for fresh fruits and vegetables declined about 3 percent at
retail and 16 percent in primary markets from June to September.
Substantially larger crops of apples, onions, potatoes, and sweetpotatoes in 1944 than in 1943 resulted in large seasonal decreases for
these commodities during August and September. In the latter part
of the quarter the retail prices of green beans, carrots, lettuce, and
spinach increased as the drought materially reduced the yield of
these crops. The reduction in fresh fruit and vegetable crops in
Florida by the hurricane and freeze was not reflected in prices in the
third quarter, but is expected to result in some price advances in the
last quarter of the year.
For apples, part of the decrease in the average retail price, from
12.1 to 9.7 cents per pound, resulted from the establishment of lower
ceilings for the 1944 crop than for the 1943 crop. Considerably
larger crops than in 1943 contributed to a 15-percent decline in the
retail prices of onions and a 38-percent drop in wholesale markets.
The retail price of white potatoes was 8 percent lower in September
than in June, although an increase was permitted by OPA in July
and August to compensate for the reduction in the crop yield caused
by drought. Sharp seasonal declines in the prices of sweetpotatoes,
from a high in July, resulted in a 32-percent reduction during the
quarter in average retail prices and a 29-percent decrease at wholesale.
Changes in prices of foods in retail and in primary markets are
shown in table 3.
T able 3.—Percent of Change in Retail and Wholesale Prices of Food, in Specified Periods
Percent of change—
C om m odity G roup
In last
quarter
In last
year
From be
ginning of
OPA con
trol
From start
of war
A ugust
June 1944 September
M ay 1942
1943 to
1939 to
to Septem September
to Septem September
ber 1944
ber 1944
1944
1944
Retail markets
All foods__________________________________________
+ 1 .0
- 0 .3
+12.7
+46.5
Cereals and bakery p roducts___________________ ____
M eats_____ ______ ________________________________
Beef and veal____________ ____ ____ _______ _____
P o rk _______________________________ __________
L am b _________________________________________
C hickens_______________ ______________________
Fish, fresh and canned__________________________
D airy products__ ____ _____________________________
Eggs----------- ------------------------------ --------- ---------------F ru its and vegetables........................................ ......................
F resh _________________________________________
C anned_________ ____ _____ ____________________
D rie d _________________________________________
B everages..- ____________________ ____ ___________
F a ts and oils_____________________________ _________
Sugar and sweets........... ..........................................................
+ .3
-.6
-.4
+ .2
1
- 3 .1
+ 1 .9
+• 1
+30.1
- 2 .4
- 2 .8
+ .2
+ .7
0
-.1
-.2
+ .5
- .7
-.5
- 1 .6
-.2
+ 1 .2
- 3 .9
+ .1
- 5 .4
+ 1.7
+ 2 .0
-.5
+ 3 .5
- .7
- 2 .8
- .4
+ 3.3
+ 3 .8
- 4 .7
- 8 .9
+13.9
+31.7
+32.8
+ 8.4
+45.6
+32.0
+38.0
+ 5 .5
+25.9
-.2
+ .5
-.6
+16.4
+34.8
+18.8
+27.5
+36.2
+57. 8
+101. 2
+43.5
+85.2
+83.9
+93.3
+41.3
+82.9
+31.0
+45.6
+32.1
Primary markets
All foods__________________ ______ _________________
- 2 .2
-.8
+ 5 .4
+55.1
D airy products_______ _____ _______________________
Cereal pro d u cts_______________________ ____ ________
F ru its and vegetables__________ ________ ______ _____
M eats_____________________________________________
O ther foods_________________________ ______________
+ .4
- .3
-1 5 .8
-. 1
+ 2 .7
+ 1.7
0
-.7
0
- 3 .5
+18.4
+63.0
+31.3
+98.1
+43.8
+58.4
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+19.9
- 7 .7
+ 5 .4
1264
Monthly Lahor Review—December 1944
Weakening grain markets, caused by bumper crops of wheat and
downward adjustments in the price ceilings in primary markets for
oats and barley, brought the general level of grain prices down 4.3
percent. Livestock and poultry prices at primary markets increased
seasonally almost 4 percent during the quarter, while prices of dressed
poultry and meats at wholesale and retail remained stable. Slaughter
of veal calves and lower grades of cattle (grass fed) was at record
levels, but lamb and hog marketings were inadequate to meet demand
as supplies continued to be below those of 1943.
Although food supplies in general were ample, civilian supplies of
a number of important foodstuffs became more limited during the
quarter, notably canned fruits, canned salmon, pork, and butter.
Butter was informally rationed by almost all retailers in September
and October. Even with sales limited to one-fourth or one-half
pound per customer, butter supplies lasted only a few hours in many
stores. However, fresh fruits and vegetables and lower grades of
veal and beef were plentiful, according to the Department of Agri
culture. Much of the better-grade beef was shipped to the armed
forces. The supply situation from June to October for some of the
items that were particularly short is shown in table 4. This informa
tion was obtained by Bureau of Labor Statistics’ representatives from
independent retail groceries and markets in 56 cities.
T able 4.—Percent of Independent Stores with No Stocks of Selected Foods on Specified
Dates
Item
Beef, steaks and roasts 1_______________ . . . ______
Veal____________________________________________
Lam b, steaks, chops, roasts 2__ _ _________________
Pork __ __ _
_______
_______ ___
Salmon, canned_________ _ _________ ____ _ ___
American cheese
___ _
_ _
B u tte r___ _____ _ __
_ __
___ _ _
Peaches, canned. _ ______ _ _________ ____ _____
Pineapple, canned___________ ____ ______________
June 13,
1944
Ju ly 18,
1944
Aug. 15,
1944
Sept. 12,
1944
24
42
37
11
46
47
1
26
31
29
37
29
18
73
45
2
38
46
22
31
25
31
80
47
5
48
55
28
37
30
32
85
46
27
52
54
Oct. 17,
1944
42
31
22
49
84
49
32
43
55
1 D a ta for June through Septem ber based on all grades; October based on grades AA, A, and B.
2 Ju n e d a ta Include all grades and cuts; Ju ly through October based on rationed steaks, chops, and roasts.
TEXTILES AND APPAREL
Advances in costs of textiles and apparel during the quarter were
coupled with increasing shortages, as military needs expanded sub
stantially and production remained appreciably below the levels of
1943 for a number of critical items. Thus, in order to meet essen
tial military needs, the WPB, in September, ordered the partial
conversion of certain cotton mills to production of duck and related
fabrics by looms ordinarily operating on bedspread fabrics, drapery,
upholstery, and pile fabrics, table damask, colored yarn suitings,
corduroy and denims, drills, and twills used for work clothing. In
retail markets the shortage of lower-priced merchandise has become
increasingly pronounced. As previously noted, the fact that con
sumers could buy only higher-priced merchandise than they ordinarily
purchase was largely responsible for raising retail clothing costs for
consumers in large cities by 2% percent during the quarter, to a level
41 percent above that prevailing in the summer of 1939, Additional
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cost of Living and Retail Prices
1265
factors raising the cost of clothing during the quarter were the return
to civilian markets of all-wool apparel at prices higher than when last
available, and the increased excise tax on fur garments.
The most important price increases between June and September
were for men’s shorts (6 percent), women’s house dresses (5 percent),
and men’s pajamas (4 percent). The dropping of lower price lines
was chiefly responsible for the increases between September 1943 and
September 1944 of 19 percent for men’s wool jackets, 13 percent for
women’s sport coats, 12 percent for men’s sweaters and girls’ coats,
and 6 percent for men’s heavy-weight cotton union suits.
Some types of merchandise have been difficult to find in recent
months in any popular-priced grade. A Bureau of Labor Statistics
survey conducted in July in 21 large cities disclosed the most acute
shortages to be for work clothing, men’s and boys’ underwear (espe
cially shorts), infants’ clothing, percale yard goods and sheets and
pillowcases, as shown in the accompanying tabulation.
Percent of stores
out of stock
Percale y a rd goods_____________________
B oys’ k n it sh o rts ______ _____________________________
M en’s o v eralls_____________________________________
M en’s ch am b ray w ork s h irts _____ __________________
M en’s w oven sh o rts ________________________________
M en’s co v ert w ork s h irts ___________________________
M en’s u n d e rs h irts_______________________
D iapers, b irdsey e___________________________________
B ed sh eets_________________________________________
Fine y a rd goods____________________________________
M en’s k n it sh o rts__________________________________
M en’s k h ak i drill w ork p a n ts _______________________
W om en’s a n k le ts ___________________________________
Pillow cases_________________________________________
In fa n ts ’ train in g p a n ts _____________________________
77
41
38
34
33
30
28
29
28
26
25
25
22
21
21
A survey conducted in September and October to determine the
amount of stocks retailers had on their shelves at the end of August
showed that the supply situation was not improving. Sales of most
cotton products were substantially below those of the corresponding
period in the preceding year, reflecting the unavailability of many
items such as men’s and boys’ underwear, work clothing, and yard
goods in many stores. In order to alleviate these shortages, WPB
had instituted a program for the allocations of specified quantities of
cotton yard goods for the production of low-priced shorts and business
shirts for men and house dresses and slips for women. However, only
a few retailers had received any merchandise manufactured under this
program for sale in the late summer and early autumn, and the short
ages persisted. The majority of retailers do not expect the situation
to improve substantially, §ince the yardage available for allocation is
relatively small. The work-clothing supply situation, also, had not
improved, although WPB had ordered manufacturers to produce
not less than 90 percent of the volume of work clothing that they
produced in the third quarter of 1942, and to put back into production
any of the specified essential items of which production had been
discontinued since 1942.
Prices of basic textile materials in primary markets had remained
relatively stable since early 1942, when most of these products were
brought under OPA control, although trade reports have indicated
some up-grading and black-market dealings. In July, August, and
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1266
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
September 1944, however, substantial advances were ordered by the
OPA, in compliance with the Stabilization Extension Act of 1944,
which directs that ceilings on “major cotton items" be high enough
to reflect parity prices of cotton to growers. The OPA ordered up
ward revisions, retroactive to June 30, for combed and carded cotton
yarns, major types of sheets and pillowcases, denims, 3.60 yard
sanforized chambray, most combed yarn fabrics, and knit cotton
heavy underwear. These items account for about a third of the total
cotton consumption. Revised ceilings were extended to sheetings
early in September, but were not retroactive. Trade representatives,
however, have requested that the list of items so handled be extended,
especially to include additional finished products. Although the
price increases allowed during the third quarter were not as yet fully
reflected in the Bureau of Labor Statistics indexes, reports up to
September showed increases ranging from slightly less than 3 to more
than 11 percent at manufacturers’ levels. They raised the BLS price
index for cotton goods at wholesale by 4.2 percent and the more
comprehensive index for textile products by slightly more than 1
percent. In October, there was an additional advance of about
percent for textile products, as further increases ranging from 8 to 14
percent were reported for cotton yarns. Continued advances in
succeeding months are virtually certain. The OPA has already
announced that higher ceilings will shortly be established for duck,
flannel, and toweling and that the need for similar upward revisions
for certain other textile products was being considered.
Prices of Producer Goods
Prices of most producer goods were unchanged in the third quarter
of 1944. For a few products improved supplies or reduced demand
brought some lowering of prices. Thus, weakness appeared in the
scrap-steel markets for the first time in 4 years, with the No. 1 heavy
melting grade selling at $4 per ton below the OPA ceiling, and there
was some further reduction for quicksilver. In chemical markets,
lower prices were reported for methanol, glycerin, formaldehyde and
certain of its derivatives, nitrocellulose, oleic acid, and several vita
mins-—-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), riboflavin (B2), and thiamine
hydrochloride (Bi). Prices of formaldehyde and the vitamins, for
which demand has expanded tremendously during the war period,
were at all-time lows. Ceiling prices for several petroleum products
were lowered by the OPA. A reduction in the octane rating of
regular gasoline was coupled with a cut of one-eighth cent per gallon
in the refiners’ price. Reductions in transportation costs made
possible decreases in the ceiling prices of gasoline, kerosene, and fuel
oils in several eastern areas.
On the other hand, OPA maximum prices were raised slightly for
one grade of alloy steel, several types of farm machinery, and certain
other commodities. Higher costs, in a few cases resulting from
higher unit overhead on a smaller volume of business or the need for
stimulating greater supply, were the cause of these price increases.
As war orders assigned to the farm-machinery industry have been
falling off in recent months, a moderately higher profit margin has
been requested on regular business. The OPA ceiling for asphalt
roofing east of the Rocky Mountains was raised by 3 percent, and
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cost of Living and Retail Prices
1267
minor increases were permitted for brick in several areas. Upward
adjustments were also allowed for scarce waste paper and second
hand paperboard containers, in order to encourage collection. Sup
plies of both paper and lumber remained critically short in the third
quarter. However, a WPB order controlling the distribution of
nearly all lumber became effective in August and brought prompt
relief to essential users. Changes in prices of producer goods are
summarized in table 5.
T able 5.—Percent of Change in Prices of Producer Goods in Prim ary Markets, in
Specified Periods
Percent of change—
C om m odity group
In last
quarter
In last
year
From be
ginning of From start
O PA con
of w ar
trol
June 1944 to September M ay 1942 to A ugust 1939
September 1943 to Sep September to Septem
1944
tem ber 1944
1944
ber 1944
Fuel and l i g h t i n g , . ____________
M etals and m etal products_______
Building m a te ria ls.. . __________
Chem icals and allied products___
M iscellaneous com m odities. _______
- 0 .4
+ .1
+ .1
- .3
+ .1
+ 2 .5
+• 1
+ 3.1
+ 4 .6
+ .6
+ 6 .4
- .1
+ 5 .4
+ 7 .8
+ 3.4
+14.3
+11.4
+29.5
+41.4
+27.7
Prices During Year 1944
Barring radical changes in the military situation in November and
December, it is likely that, as regards the behavior of prices throughout
the year, 1944 will rank with the more stable years of the war period.
From December 1943 to September 1944, the general level of wholesale
prices rose 0.8 percent. During the same period, living costs in large
cities rose 1.7 percent. Throughout the course of the war, the rise in
wholesale prices was 39 percent and in the cost of living, 28 percent.
The statement below compares price changes during the first 9 months
of 1944 with those in preceding years.
Percent of increase in—
Wholesale
Cost of
prices
living
D ecem ber
D ecem ber
D ecem ber
D ecem ber
D ecem ber
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
to D ecem ber 1940______________
1
to D ecem ber 1941______________ 17
to D ecem ber 1942______________
8
to D ecem ber 1943______________
2
to S eptem ber 1944_________ : ____ 0 .8
1
10
9
3
1 .7
Some further advances in the closing months of 1944 are to be ex
pected, as for example, upward adjustments in OPA ceilings for tex
tiles, perhaps somewhat higher average costs for services, and some
increase in prices of fruits as the result of the Florida hurricane.
However, these should not greatly affect the general price level.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1268
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
Cost o f L ivin g in Large C ities, O ctober 1 9 4 4
LOWER prices of fresh fruits and vegetables brought the average
cost-of-living essentials down slightly (by 0.1 percent) in the month
ending October 15, 1944. Prices of clothing, housefurnishings, and
miscellaneous items continued to rise moderately, but utilities and
fuel costs remained stable. The Bureau of Labor Statistics index
of the cost of living in October 1944 was 126.4 percent of the 1935-39
average, and 28.2 percent above the level of August 1939.
The cost of the food budget of moderate-income families dropped
0.4 percent between mid-September and mid-October, as marked
decreases in the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables more than offset
seasonal]}7 higher prices of eggs. Contrary to the usual large seasonal
declines, prices for most meats remained unchanged or increased
slightly, reflecting limited civilian supplies. Fresh fish prices increased
for the fourth consecutive month.
Record harvests of fall vegetables, 14 percent above the 1933-42
average, were reflected in large decreases in the prices of sweetpotatoes
(18 percent), green beans (14 percent), onions (13 percent), spinach
(12 percent), and potatoes and cabbage (over 5 percent).
Clothing prices rose 0.2 percent during the month. There were
scattered increases in prices of men’s overcoats and sweaters and
women’s wool-felt hats, resulting in some cases from the restocking
of all-wool garments in stores which sold blended fabrics last year.
There was a slight net increase resulting from widespread small
price changes in work clothing, as dollar-and-cent ceilings at the
retail level were established by the OPA, causing price decreases in
some stores and permitting increases in others. Christmas shoppers
found the supply of men’s white business shirts extremely limited.
Women’s cotton house dresses cost more than in September because
of the continued disappearance of lower-priced lines.
Average prices of furniture and cook stoves available in midOctober were slightly higher than a month ago, and the supply of
cotton blankets was extremely limited in most large cities of the
country. Higher charges for beauty-shop services in some cities
reflected increased costs of labor and materials. Popular brands of
cigarettes were scarce and many dealers limited sales to one pack
per customer, with a consequent small rise in average cigarette prices
resulting from loss of the saving entailed in the purchase of two
packs at a time.
In connection with the figures herein given, it should be borne in
mind that the Bureau of Labor Statistics index indicates average
changes in retail prices of selected goods, rents, and services bought
by families of wage earners and lower-salaried workers in large cities.
The items covered represented 70 percent of the expenditures of
families who had incomes ranging from $1,250 to $2,000 in 1934-36.
The index does not show the full wartime effect on the cost of
living of such factors as lowered quality, disappearance of low-priced
goods, and forced changes in housing and eating away from home.
It does not measure changes in total “ living costs”—that is, in the
total amount families spend for living. Income taxes and bond subscrip
tions are not included.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1269
Cost of Living and Retail Prices
T able 1.— Cost of Living in Large Cities, October 15, 1944, and Previous Dates
Indexes 7 (1935-39=100.0) of cost of—
D ate
All items
1939: A ugust 15_________
1941: Jan u ary 15. ________
1942: M ay 15_____________
Septem ber 15_______
1943: October 15... __ . . . .
1944: Septem ber 15_______
October 15__________
98.6
100.8
116.0
117.8
124.4
126. 5
126.4
Clothing
Food
93.5
97.8
121.6
126.6
138.2
137.0
136.4
Fuel,
electricity,
and ice
R ent
100.3
100. 7
126.2
125.8
133.3
141.4
141. 7
104.3
105.0
109.9
108.0
108.0
108.2
(2)
Housefurnish
ings
97.5
100.8
104.9
106.2
107.8
109.8
109.8
100.6
100.1
122.2
123.6
126.7
140.7
141.3
M iscella
neous
100.4
101.9
110.9
111.4
117.6
122.4
122.7
1 Based on changes in cost of goods purchased by wage earners and lower-salaried workers.
2 R ents surveyed at q u arterly dates: M ar. 15, June 15, Sept, 15, and Dec. 15.
T able 2 .—Percent of Change1 in Cost of Living in Large Cities in Specified Periods,
by Groups of Items
All
items
Food
C loth
ing
R e n t2
S ep t.15,1944, to Oct. 15,1944____________
- 0 .1
Oct. 15,1943, to Oct. 15,1944_____________ + 1 .6
Sept. 15, 1942, to Oct. 15, 1944__________
+ 7 .3
M ay 15, 1942, to Oct. 15, 1944___________
+ 9.0
Jan. 15, 1941, to Oct. 15, 1944___________ +25.4
Aug. 15, 1939, to Oct. 15, 1944___________ +28.2
- 0 .4
- 1 .3
+ 7 .7
+12.2
+39.5
+45.9
+ 0 .2
+ 6 .3
+12.6
+ 12.3
+40.7
+41.3
(3)
+ 0 .2
+ .2
- 1 .5
+ 3 .0
+ 3 .7
Period
Fuel, elec Housetricity,
furnish
and ice
ings
0
+ 1 .9
+ 3 .4
+ 4 .7
+ 8 .9
+12.6
+ 0 .4
+ 11.5
+14.3
+15.6
+41.2
+40.5
M is
cella
neous
+ 0 .2
+ 4 .3
+10.1
+10.6
+20.4
+22.2
1 Based on changes in cost of goods purchased by wage earners and lower-salaried workers.
1 Changes through Septem ber 15,1944.
* R ents n o t surveyed in October.
T able 3. —Percent oj Change in Cost of Living,1 September 15 to October 15, 1944,
by Cities
All
item s
Food
C loth
ing
Fuel,
elec
tricity,
and ice
A verage: Large cities___________
2 - 0 .1
3 - 0 .4
4 + 0 .2
'0
4 + 0.4
4 + 0 .2
N ew E ngland: B oston_______ . . .
M iddle A tlantic:
B uffalo____________________
N ew Y o rk_________________
P hiladelp h ia_______________
P ittsb u rg h _________________
E a st N o rth C entral:
Chicago___ _______ ____ ____
C incinnati_________________
C leveland______ ___________
D e tro it__________ __________
W est N o rth C entral:
Kansas C ity ________________
M inneapolis________________
St. L ouis____ ______ ________
South A tlantic:
B altim ore__________________
S avannah__________________
W ashington, D . C __________
E a st South C entral: B irm ingham
W est South C entral: H o u sto n___
M ountain: D en v er_____________
Pacific:
Los Angeles________________
San Francisco_______ _______
Seattle_____________________
- .5
- 1 .4
+ .1
0
+ 3 .0
«0
-. 1
0
7- .4
- .3
-. 1
-. 1
8-.9
- 1 .0
+ .1
+. 1
0
+ .2
0
0
0
0
0
+ .1
-. 1
0
-. 1
0
+ .1
+ .5
-.2
-.6
-.2
-.2
- 1 .1
- 1 .8
-.6
- .9
+ .4
+ .5
-. 1
+ .9
0
+ .1
0
0
0
+ .5
0
+ .5
+ .9
~K 1
+ .2
+ .1
-.2
+ .2
- .5
- .9
+ .5
-1 .3
+ .2
+ .6
0
0
0
0
+ .2
0
0
0
0
0
+ .4
-.4
0
-.2
-.2
+ .2
+ .9
-1 .2
-.4
-.6
-.7
- .1
+ .2
+ .6
+ .1
0
+ .1
+ .2
-. 1
0
-. 1
+ .3
0
0
+ .3
+ .3
0
0
+ .3
+ .9
0
0
+ .4
0
0
+ 1 .2
+ .5
+ .8
+ .5
+ 1.1
+ 1.3
+ 1.1
+ .1
+ .7
0
+ 1 .4
0
0
0
+ .5
0
C ity
0
0
0
Housefurnish Miscella
neous
ings
1 Based on indexes of cost of goods purchased by wage earners and lower-salaried workers.
1 R ents n o t surveyed in October.
3 Based on prices for 56 cities collected on Tuesday nearest 15th of m onth.
4 Based on d ata for 21 cities
s Based on d ata for 34 cities.
8 Index for Septem ber 1944, revised to 117.2.
7 Index for Septem ber 1944 revised to 125.5.
8 Index for Septem ber 1944 revised to 134.7.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1270
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T a b l e 4 . —Percent of Change 1 in Cost of Living in Specified Periods, by Cities
Aug. 15,
1939, to
Oct. 15,
1944
Oct. 15,
1943, to
Oct. 15,
1944
C ity
Average: Large cities_______________ __
N ew England: B oston__________________
M iddle A tlantic:
Buffalo____________________________
N ew Y o r k _____ ___________ . . .
P hiladelphia_______________________
P itts b u r g h .. ________________ _____
E a st N o rth C entral:
C h ic a g o .._____________________ ____
C in cin n ati__ . . __________ _____
C leveland__________________________
D e tro it______ . _________ . . . _
W est N o rth C entral:
K ansas C ity __ _____________________
M inneapolis_____________ ______ ._
St. L ouis___________________________
South A tlantic:
B altim ore_____ ____ __________ ____
S av an n ah_______ ________ . . . . . . _
W ashington, D . C __________________
E ast South C entral: B irm in g h a m ______
W est South C entral: H ouston _____ . . .
M ountain: D enver_____________________
Pacific:
Los Angeles________________________
San Francisco______________________
Seattle ____________________________
Jan, 1,
1941, to
Oct. 15,
1944
M ay 15,
1942, to
Oct. 15,
1944
Sept. 15,
1942, to
Oct. 15,
1944
+ 1 .6
+28.2
+25.4
+ 9 .0
+ 7 .3
+ .9
+26.4
+23.8
+ 8 .2
+ 5 .6
+. 7
+ 2 .1
+ 1. 1
+ 2 .0
+28.9
+28.4
+27.8
+29.6
+24.6
+25.8
+26.0
+26.0
+ 5 .4
+ 12.2
+ 9 .0
+10.1
+ 5 .4
+ 9 .3
+ 6.9
4"8. 5
-f“l. 6
+ 1.3
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .8
+27.5
+29.1
+30.1
+29.1
+24.3
+26.1
+27.5
+25.9
+ 8 .0
+ 8 .4
+ 9 .5
+ 7.1
+7. 2
+ 6 .4
+ 8.8
+ 7 .4
+ 1 .8
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .5
+25.8
+23.3
+27.0
+26.0
+20.7
+23.4
+ 8.7
+ 6.0
+ 7 .8
+8.1
+ 5 .2
+ 6.9
+ 1 .0
+ 1.5
+ .5
+ 1 .9
+. 9
+ 2 .7
+29.9
+35.4
+26.6
+31.7
+23.6
+27.0
+27.3
+32.6
+24.9
+27.7
+22.1
+25.2
+ 8 .5
+11.2
+ 8.8
+ 9 .3
+ 7.1
+ 8.3
+ 7.0
+10.2
+ 6 .6
+ 9 .2
+ 5 .5
+ 6 .8
+ 1 .9
+ 3 .2
+ 1 .8
+28.1
+31.8
+30.1
+25.6
+28.6
+27.8
+ 9 .0
+11.3
+ 7.7
+ 5 .8
+ 8 .3
+ 6 .4
i Based on indexes of cost of goods purchased b y wage earners and lower-salaried workers.
P5
f T a b l e 5 . —Indexes of Cost of Living in Large Cities, 1935 to October 1944
Indexes 1 (1935-39=100) of cost of—
Year and m onth
All
items
1935_____________________
1936_____________________
1937_____________________
1938_____________________
1939_____________________
1940_____________________
1941_____________________
1942_____________________
1943_____________________
1944:
Jan. 1 5 - ___ __________
Feb. 15______________
M ar. 15___ ______ _ A pr. 15______________
M ay 15. . __________
June 15______________
Ju ly 15______________
Aug. 15 ___
Sept. 15______________
Oct. 15_______________
Food
Clothing
R ent
Fuel, elec
tricity, and
ice
Housefurnish
ings
M iscel
laneous
98.1
99.1
102.7
100.8
99.4
100.2
105.2
116.5
123.6
100.4
101.3
105.3
97.8
95.2
96.6
105. 5
123.9
138.0
96.8
97.6
102.8
102.2
100.5
101.7
106.3
124.2
129.7
94.2
96.4
100.9
104.1
104.3
104.6
106.2
108.5
108.0
100.7
100.2
100.2
99.9
99.0
99.7
102.2
105.4
107.7
94.8
96.3
104.3
103.3
101.3
100.5
107.3
122.2
125.6
98.1
98.7
101.0
101.5
100.7
101.1
104.0
110.9
115.8
124.2
123.8
123.8
124.6
125.1
125.4
126.1
2 126.4
126.5
126.4
136.1
134.5
134.1
134.6
135.5
135. 7
137.4
137.7
137.0
136.4
134.7
135.2
136.7
137.1
137.4
138.0
2 138.3
2 139. 4
141.4
141.7
108.1
108.1
108.1
108.1
108.1
108.1
3 108. 2
3 108. 2
3 108. 2
(4)
109.5
110.3
109.9
109.9
109.8
109.6
2 109.7
109.8
109.8
109.8
128.3
128.7
129.0
132.9
135.0
138.4
2 138.7
2139.3
140.7
141.3
118.4
118.7
119.1
120.9
121.3
121.7
2 122.0
2 122.3
122.4
122.7
1 Based on changes in cost of goods purchased b y wage earners and lower-salaried workers.
2 Revised
3 Based on rents in 20 large cities in September 1944 and assuming no change in rents in cities not surveyed
in September.
4 R ents no t surveyed in October.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cost of Living and RetaiVPrices
1271
R etail Prices of Food in Septem ber 1944
PERCENTAGE changes in retail food costs on September 12, 1944,
as compared with costs in the previous month and in September 1943,
are shown in table 1.
T a b l e 1.— Percent of Change in Retail Costs of Food in 56 Large Cities Combined,l by
Commodity Groups, in Specified Periods
Aug. 15,
1944, to
Sept. 12,
1944
C om m odity group
Sept. 14,
1943, to
Sept. 12,
1944
Sept. 15,
1942, to
Sept. 12,
1944
Jan. 14,
1941, to
Sept. 12,
1944
Aug. 15,
1939, to
Sept. 12,
1944
All fo o d s.-........ ........................
- 0 .5
- 0 .3
+ 8.2
+40.1
+46.5
Cereals and bakery products
M eats____________________
Beef and veal__________
P o rk ______ ___________
L a m b _________________
C hick en s._____________
F ish, fresh and c an n e d ..
D airy p ro d u c ts ..____ ______
Eggs--------------------------------F ru its and vegetables............
F resh_________________
C an n ed _______________
D rie d ...............................
Beverages............ .............. .......
F ats and oils______________
Sugar and sweets...... ..............
~+.1
0
+ .4
-.7
-.5
- 1.6
-.2
+ 3 .0
+14.4
+27.6
+ 8.1
+30.3
+ 36.4
+53.6
+16.3
+34.8
+18.8
+27.5
+36.2
+57.8
+ 68.8
+101.2
+27.1
+72.5
+82.1
+92.1
+41.6
+43.5
+85.2
+83.9
+93.3
+41.3
+83.1
+31.0
+45.6
+32. 1
- .3
+.2
-.1
- .3
+ 1.2
+ 1.2
- 3 .9
+.1
0
+5.4
- 3 .3
- 3 .9
+.1
+ .2
0
+ .2
- 5 .4
+ 1 .7
+ 2.0
- .5
+ 3 .6
-.7
-
-.2
2.8
-.4
-
1.2
-
6.1
-9 .5
+• 7
+11.7
+19.1
+ 4 .6
+8.2
+31.0
+37.7
+ 4 .5
+15.3
+.4
+ 1 .9
-.6
+ 66.0
+36.7
+53.2
+32.5
1
T he n um ber of cities included in the index was changed from 51 to 56 in M arch 1943, w ith the necessary
adjustm ents for m aintaining com parability. A t th e same tim e th e n u m ber of foods in the index was in
creased from 54 to 61.
T a b l e 2.- —Indexes of Retail Costs of Food in 56 1 Large Cities Combined,2 by Commodity
Groups, on Specified Dates
[1935-39=100]
1944
1943
1942
1941
1939
Sept. 14
Sept. 15
J a n . 14
Aug. 15
C om m odity group
Sept. 12
Aug. 15
All foods________ ____ _________________
137.0
137.7
137.4
126.6
97.8
93.5
Cereals and bakery products ............... .......
M e a ts ....................... ................ ........................
Beef and veal______________________
P o r k .._______ _____________________
L a m b ______________________ ______
C hickens_________ ____ _____ ______
Fish, fresh and canned______________
D a iry p ro d u cts____ ____ _______________
E g g s ..------- ----------------------------------------F ru its and vegetables_______ _____ _____
F resh _____________________________
C an n ed _________________ . . . _____
D r i e d ____________________________
B everages.____________________________
F a ts and oils......................................................
Sugar and s w e e ts ................................ ...........
108.6
129.0
118.3
112.2
134.6
149.3
200.4
133.6
168.0
169.9
179.4
129.4
165.3
124.3
123.0
126.3
108.5
129.0
118.6
112.0
134.7
149.8
198.0
133.6
159.4
3 175.7
3 186. 7
129.3
165.0
124.3
122.7
126.5
108.2
129.9
118.9
114.0
134.9
147.5
208.5
133.5
177.5
167.0
175.8
130.0
159.6
125.2
126.5
126.8
105.4
130.6
126.0
124.0
133.7
133.7
168.2
127.7
155.2
129.7
130.3
123.8
143.4
123.8
120.7
127.0
94.9
101.1
109.4
86.1
98.7
97.2
118.7
105.1
97.4
93.3
93.4
91.4
99.6
90.9
80.3
95.3
93.4
95.7
99.6
88.0
98.8
94.6
99.6
93.1
90.7
92.4
92.8
91.6
90.3
94.9
84.5
95.6
1 Indexes based on 51 cities combined prior to M arch 1943.
2 Aggregate costs of 61 foods (54 foods prior to M arch 1943) in each city, w eighted to represent total p u r
chases of families of wage .earners and lower-salaried w orkers, have been combined w ith the use of population
weights.
3 Revised.
618627— 44-
-11
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1272
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T able 3. —Average Retail Prices of 78 Foods in 56 Large Cities Combined,1 September
1944 Compared with Earlier Months
1944
1943
1941
1939
A u g . 15
A r t ic l e
C e r e a ls a n d b a k e r y p r o d u c t s :
C e r e a ls :
F l o u r , w h e a t ____________________ - . 1 0 p o u n d s . .
M a c a r o n i . .^ ------------------------------ ______ p o u n d . .
W h e a t c e r e a l 2__________________ ___ 28 o u n c e s . .
C o r n f l a k e s ____________________ - ____ 8 o u n c e s . .
C o r n m e a l _______________________ ______ p o u n d . .
R i c e 2- _ . ________________________ _________d o ____
R o l l e d o a t s ______________________ ................. d o -----F l o u r , p a n c a k e 2------------------------ - - . 2 0 o u n c e s . .
B a k e r y p r o d u c ts:
B r e a d , w h i t e ____________________ ______ p o u n d - .
B r e a d , w h o l e - w h e a t --------- -------- ________ d o ____
B r e a d , r y e . . ____________ ______ _________d o -----V a n i l l a c o o k i e s . ............. .................... _________d o ____
S o d a c r a c k e r s ----------------------------- ________ d o ____
M e a ts:
B eef:
................. d o ____
R o u n d s t e a k __________________
R i b r o a s t . ___________ _______- - . _________d o ____
C h u c k roast
__________ ________ ..................d o ____
S t e w m e a t 2- ----------------------------- _________d o ____
L i v e r ________ _____ _____________ _________ d o
H a m b u r g e r _____________________ _________d o ____
V e a l:
_________d o __
___________ __________
C u tle ts
R o a s t , b o n e d a n d r o ll e d 2____ _________d o ____
P ork:
C h o p s _________ _________________ _________d o ____
B a c o n , s l i c e d ___________________ _____ _ _ d o ____
H a m , s l i c e d ------------------------------- _________d o ____
H a m , w h o le
— ---------------------- _________d o ____
S a l t p o r k - -------------- ------------------ _________d o ____
L i v e r 2_____
- _______________ _________ d o
S a u s a g e 2_______________________ _____ _ _ _d o . . .
B o l o g n a , b i g 2__________________ _________ d o ____
L am b:
L e g ______________________________ _____ . . . d o _____
R i b c h o p s ______ __ ___________ _________ d o ____
P o u l t r y : R o a s t i n g c h i c k e n s ______ ............ _ . d o ____
F is h :
F i s h ( fr e s h , f r o z e n ) ............ ........... _________d o ____
S a l m o n , p i n k . _________________ - .- 1 6 - o z . c a n . .
_______ d o ____
S a l m o n , r e d 2_______________ .
D a ir y p r o d u c ts:
B u t t e r _________________ . . . ------ ...............p o u n d .
C h e e s e . . . - ____________ __________ .......... ......... d o ___
M i l k , fr e s h ( d e l i v e r e d ) . . _________ ________q u a r t . .
M i l k , fr e s h ( s t o r e ) _____ ___________ _________ d o ------M i l k , e v a p o r a t e d ........ ............................ - 1 4 )^ -o z . c a n . .
E g g s : E g g s , f r e s h ___________ _____ ______ ________ d o z e n . .
See footnotes a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
S e p t . 12
A u g . 15
S e p t . 14
J a n . 14
C e n ts
6 4 .4
1 5 .7
2 3 .2
6 .5
6 .3
1 2 .8
1 0 .0
1 2 .2
C e n ts
6 4 .6
1 5 .8
2 3 .2
6 .5
6 .3
1 2 .9
9 .9
1 2 .2
C e n ts
6 2 .1
1 5 .7
2 3 .4
6 .6
5 .9
1 2 .7
8 .7
1 0 .6
C e n ts
4 1 .4
1 3 .8
2 3 .5
7 .1
4 .2
7 .9
7 .1
( 3)
C e n ts
3 5 .8
1 4 .0
2 4 .2
7 .0
4 .0
7 .5
7 .1
( 3)
8 .8
9 .6
9 .9
2 7 .8
1 8 .9
8 .8
9 .6
9 .9
2 8 .1
1 9 .0
8 .9
9 .7
1 0 .1
2 8 .8
1 8 .5
7 .8
8 .7
9 .0
2 5 .1
1 5 .0
7 .8
8 .8
9 .2
4 0 .9
3 2 .9
2 8 .5
3 0 .6
3 7 .2
2 7 .5
4 1 .2
3 3 .1
2 8 .7
3 1 .0
3 7 .2
2 7 .7
4 1 .5
3 3 .8
2 9 .0
3 0 .9
3 6 .3
2 8 .5
3 8 .6
3 1 .5
2 5 .2
(3)
M
(3)
(3)
( 4)
( 3)
4 4 .7
3 5 .4
4 5 .2
3 5 .0
4 5 .8
3 5 .2
4 5 .2
(3)
(3)
3 7 .3
4 0 .9
5 0 .3
3 5 .3
2 2 .1
2 1 .9
3 8 .2
3 4 .1
3 7 .3
4 0 .9
5 0 .4
3 5 .3
2 2 .1
2 1 .9
3 8 .1
3 4 .1
3 7 .9
4 2 .0
5 2 .2
3 6 .0
2 2 .7
2 2 .2
3 8 .2
3 4 .5
2 9 .1
3 0 .1
4 5 .1
2 6 .2
1 6 .7
( 3)
( 3)
(3)
3 9 .9
4 5 .1
4 4 .6
4 0 .0
4 5 .3
4 4 .6
4 0 .2
4 6 .0
4 4 .8
2 7 .8
3 5 .0
3 1 .1
( 5)
2 2 .9
4 0 .4
( 6)
2 3 .6
4 0 .4
( 5)
2 3 .6
4 1 .7
( 5)
1 5 .7
2 6 .4
5 0 .0
3 6 .1
1 5 .6
1 4 .5
1 0 .0
5 9 .6
5 0 .0
3 6 .1
1 5 .6
1 4 .5
1 0 .0
5 6 .5
5 0 .5
3 7 .0
1 5 .5
1 4 .4
1 0 .1
6 2 .7
3 8 .0
2 7 .0
1 3 .0
1 1 .9
7 .1
3 4 .9
•
(9
1 4 .8
3 6 .4
2 8 .9
2 2 .5
4 2 .5
3 0 .9
3 0 .4
4 6 .4
2 7 .4
1 5 .4
( 3)
(3)
(3)
2 7 .6
3 6 .7
3 0 .9
( !)
1 2 .8
2 3 .1
3 0 .7
2 4 .7
1 2 .0
1 1 .0
6 .7
3 2 .0
Cost of Living and Retail Prices
1273
T able 3. — A v e r a g e R e ta il P r ic e s o f 78 F o o d s in 5 6 L a r g e C itie s C o m b in e d f S e p te m b e r
1 9 4 4 C o m p a r e d w ith E a r lie r M o n th s — Continued
1944
1943
1941
1939
Aug. 15
Article
Aug. 15
Sept. 14
J a n . 14
Cents
9.7
11.1
50.6
11.0
Cents
11.0
11.2
50.9
10.4
Cents
10.7
12.3
51.8
10.1
Cents
5.2
6.6
27.3
(6)
Cents
4.4
6.1
31.5
(6)
17.2
5.0
8.9
12.2
5.5
72.4
12.9
8.7
7.7
14.1
4.9
8.7
10.8
6.5
80.1
11.6
12.3
7.3
15.3
4.9
9.0
13.1
7.3
60.6
12.5
10.2
8.3
14.0
3.4
6.0
8.4
3.6
29.2
7.3
5.0
(3)
7.2
3.9
4.6
8.4
3.6
34.4
7.8
5.5
(3)
28.0
27.3
14.3
27.7
27.3
14.4
26.7
28.0
14.4
16.5
20.9
(6)
(6)
13.1
14.5
13.2
12.0
13.4
17.3
13.2
14.5
13.1
12.0
13.4
17.3
14.6
14.0
14.4
12.5
12.8
16.5
10.0
10.7
13.2
8.4
(3)
9.6
10.9
3.6
10.8
3.6
10.2
3.7
(3)
30.2
23.9
10.4
30.1
23.9
10.3
30.0
23.5
9.1
10.0
10.4
13.6
8.6
(3)
6.5
5.8
(3)
20.7
17.6
9.1
22.3
17.2
8.6
18.7
18.6
18.9
9.3
9.9
20.2
24.8
25.8
24.0
28.4
30.6
20.2
24.8
25.6
24.0
28.4
30.7
20.0
24.8
25.3
24.0
33.4
30.5
11.3
18.3
20.1
15.6
17.9
11.7
20.2
«
6.7
15.8
15.8
13.4
6.7
15.8
15.8
13.3
6.8
15.9
15.9
13.2
5.1
13.6
13.4
(3)
1 D ata are based on 51 cities combined prior to Jan u ary 1943.
2 N o t included in index.
3 F irst priced, F eb ru ary 1943.
<N o t priced.
5 Composite price no t com puted.
8 F irst priced, October 1941.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
17.1
21.0
00
00
F ru its and vegetables:
F resh fruits:
A pples__________________ ............... p o u n d ..
B an an as____ ____ ________ -------------- do___
Oranges_______ __________ ________ dozen..
G rapefruit 2__. _________ ________ .e a c h ..
Fresh vegetables:
Beans, green_ ___________ ___ ____ p o u n d ..
C abbage_________________ -------------- do ___
C arro ts__________________ . ______b u n c h ..
L e ttu c e __ - ............................. -------------h e a d ..
Onions__________________ _______ p o u n d ..
Potatoes_________________ ____15 p o u n d s..
Spinach__________ _______ _______ p o u n d ..
Sw eetpotatoes____________ -------- ___do___
Beets 2.............................. ....... . _____b u n c h ..
C anned fruits:
Peaches----------- ------ -------- ___N o. 2J-S c a n ..
Pineapple________________ _________ do ___
G rapefruit j u i c e - .- ______ ____ No. 2 c a n ..
C anned vegetables:
Beans, green_____________ _________ do___
C orn____________________ __ _______ do___
P eas____________________ _________ do___
T om atoes________________ ............... _.do___
Soup, vegetable 2_________ ____ ll-oz. c a n ..
D ried fruits: P ru n es_________ _______ p o u n d ..
D ried vegetables:
N av y beans--------------- ----- _________ do ___
Soup, dehydrated, chicken noodle L .o u n c e ..
Beverages:
Coffee............................. ............. ________ p o u n d ..
T e a _________________ ____ ___ ..........H pound-.
Cocoa 2______________________ _____IS p o u n d ..
F ats and oils:
Lard- ______________________ _______ p o u n d ..
Shortening other th a n lard —
In cartons ______________ _______ _do____
______ do___
In other containers ______
Salad d ressin g ... ____________ _________ p in t..
O leomargarine_______________
_____p o u n d ..
P ean u t b u tter ______________ ____ ___ do . . .
Oil, cooking or salad 2. _______ _________ p in t..
Sugar and sweets:
Sugar_______________________ _______ p o u n d ..
Corn sirup __ ______________ ____ 24 ou n ces..
Molasses 2 _____ ____________ . ...1 8 o u n ces..
Apple b u t t e r 2. _____________ ..........16 ounces..
Sept. 12
(4)
16.5
17.9
«
5.2
13.7
13.6
(3)
1274
RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD TO C ITY WORKERS
A V ER A G E
FOR
LARGE
C IT IE S
1935-39 =100
INOEX
200
INDEX
200
160
140
120
■ 100
80
1913 1914 1915
1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
■ 60
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
180
Cost of Living and Retail Prices
1275
RETAIL PRICES FOR GROUPS OF FOOD
AVERAGE
FOR
LARGE
C IT I E S
160
CE R E A LS
AND
00
>
1 9 3 5 - 3 9 = 100
KEF Y
F ROE)U C ' rs
140
160
140
120
120
\v-AL . FOC OS
100
/
100
80
80
60
60
160
140
120
100
80
60
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1276
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T a b l e 4 . — I n d e x e s o f A v e r a g e R e ta il C o sts o f A l l F o o d s , b y C itie s ,1 on S p e c ifie d D a te s
[1935-39 = 100]
1944
1943
1941
1939
Aug. 15
C ity and regional area
U nited States
______
____ ___ _______________
N ew England:
B oston_______ _ _ . . . _________ . . . ___
B ridgeport__ ___
______ _________ ________
F all R iv er.
.. . .
__________ _________
M anchester ___________ _____________________
N ew H aven
_ - _________________________
Portland, M aine
. . . ______________
Providence __ . ____ ________ _____________
M iddle A tlantic:
Buffalo _____
_________ _____ ___________
N e w a rk ..
. ___ ._ _. ._ ______ ___
New Y ork
__ _ ._ _________________
P hiladelphia
. .. .
______ _________
P ittsb u rg h . .
. . . ______ _______________
R ochester__ ._
. _______ ____ _ _______
Scranton . . .
______ _
. . . . . _______
E a st N o rth Central:
Chicago______ . ___________________________
C in cin n ati. .
. ______________________ . .
C leveland.
__
__ _ . . __________
Colum bus, Ohio . . . . . __________________
D e tro it.._ .
. _______ ________ _______
__ ___ _____________________
Indianapolis
M ilw aukee
_________ - _______________
Peoria
. _____ ______
Springfield, 111.
_____ . . ___________ . . .
W est N o rth C entral:
C edar R a p id s 2
. .
. . . . __________
K ansas C ity .
__ _ ___________________
M inneapolis____
_________________________
O m aha. . . . . .
. _______ _____________
St. Louis. . .
. . . . ____ ____ ____
St. P a u l... . . .
______ ________ . ____
W ic h ita 2
. . ___________________
South A tlantic:
A tla n ta . ____
___ _____________________
Baltim ore .
.
_______________________
Charleston, S. C . _____________ __________
J a c k s o n v ille .__
_________ - - - - _______
Norfolk 3______
_________________________
Richm ond . . .
. . . . ___________ _____
Savannah .
..
. _____ _____ ______
W ashington, D . C . . _______ __________ _
W inston-Salem 2
. . . _________________
E a st South C entral:
B irm ingham
. . . . _____________ _______
Jac k so n 2
. . . _______________ ____
K noxville2
..
____ _ ________
Louisville___ _ .
. _ ___________ ___ _____
M em p h is... .
__ _____ _________________
M o b ile.. . . .
_________________________
W est South C entral:
D a lla s ____
. . . ______ _______________
H ouston.
_______________________
L ittle Rock
. . . _______ ___ ______
N ew Orleans
.
____ ____________________
M ountain:
B u tte .
.
. ______ _________________
D enver.
. ____ _ . . _________ _____
_________________________
Salt Lake C ity . Pacific:
Los Angeles .
. . . ____________________ . .
Portland, Oreg . _________ ________________
San Francisco
___________ ____________
Seattle
__
__ ____________________
Sept. 12
Aug. 15
Sept. 14
Jan. 14
137.0
137.7
137.4
97.8
93.5
132.9
135.1
132.4
134.2
136.3
133.6
135.9
132.2
135.1
132.3
135.0
136. 0
136. 5
136.8
131.0
136.0
133.4
133.9
136.6
132.7
135.5
95.2
96. 5
97.5
96.6
95.7
95.3
96.3
93.5
93.2
95.4
94.9
93.7
95.9
93.7
134.8
138. 5
137.3
134.7
138.0
133. 8
138.1
134.0
138.4
138.9
136. 1
138. 7
133.0
138.8
137.3
139.6
138.4
135.2
137.4
132.1
137.2
100.2
98.8
99.5
95.0
98.0
99.9
97.5
94.5
95.6
95.8
93.0
92.5
92.3
92.1
137.3
135.8
142.8
129.4
134.0
134. 3
135.5
140.6
142.5
137.1
136.8
144. 3
130.2
134.4
134.4
136.4
141.1
142.5
137.0
136.2
143.9
130.9
133.6
134.6
133.6
140.6
141.6
98.2
96.5
99.2
93.4
97.0
98.2
95.9
99.0
96.2
92.3
90.4
93.6
88.1
90.6
90.7
91.1
93.4
94.1
139.0
130.9
129.7
129.9
139.8
127.9
147.0
139.1
131.2
130.5
129.7
140.1
128.5
147.8
136.1
132.6
130.4
131.6
139.1
128.7
146.8
95.9
92.4
99.0
97.9
99.2
98.6
97.2
91.5
95.0
92.3
93.8
94.3
137.8
140.7
134.7
148.1
141. 1
134.1
152.8
135.2
137.4
139. 2
143.5
135.4
148.9
144.8
136.5
154. 7
136.7
138.8
139.9
145.3
136.4
150.0
149.7
136.7
152.5
138. 5
138.6
94.3
97.9
95.9
98.8
95.8
93.7
100.5
97.7
93.7
92.5
94.7
95.1
95.8
93.6
92.2
96.7
94.1
140.3
(<)
157.9
131.7
146.5
146.6
145.4
142.9
158.6
133.4
148.3
147.1
142.9
148.7
157.9
134.9
148.2
147.9
96.0
105.3
97.1
95.5
94.2
97.9
90.7
132.9
137.5
137.4
153.1
133. 5
137.8
137.7
152.7
134.8
138. 7
135.0
151.7
92.6
102.6
95.6
101.9
91.7
97.8
94.0
97.6
133.1
136.4
140.3
133.7
137.1
139.9
136.0
134.8
138.6
98.7
94.8
97.5
94.1
92.7
94.6
141.4
144.8
143.3
141.7
141.1
145.3
142.4
141.6
141.8
144.8
139.9
142.4
101.8
101.7
99.6
101. 0
94.6
96.1
93.8
94.5
92.1
89.7
95.5
1 Aggregate costs of 61 foods in each city (54 foods prior to M arch 1943), w eighted to represent total p u r
chases of wage earners and lower-salaried workers, have been com bined for the U nited States w ith the use
of population weights. P rim a ry use is for tim e-to-tim e comparisons, rath er th a n place-to-place comparisons.
2 June 1940=100.
3 Includes P o rtsm o u th and N ew port News.
* D a ta n o t y et available for Septem ber 1944.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1277
Cost of Living and Retail Prices
T able 5.— I n d e x e s o f R e ta il F o o d C o sts in 5 6 L a rg e C itie s C o m b i n e d 1 9 1 3 to S e p te m b e r
1944
[1935-39=100]
Y ear
All-foods
index
Year
All-foods
index
1913________
1914___
1915
1916________
1917_______
1918 _____
1919
1920_____
79.9
81.8
80.9
90.8
116.9
134.4
149. 8
168.8
1929 ______
1930
_____
1931
1932________
1933, _____
1934.
1935
1936________
132.5
126. 0
103.9
86.5
84.1
93.7
100. 4
101.3
1921________
1922________
1923________
1924_______
1925________
1926________
1927________
1928________
128.3
119.9
124.0
122.8
132.9
137.4
132.3
130.8
1937________
1938________
1939________
1940 ______
1941________
1942________
1943________
105. 3
97.8
95.2
96. 6
105. 5
123.9
138.0
Year and
m onth
All-foods
index
ms
J a n u a ry ____
February __
March_-_
A pril. _____
M ay _____
J u n e . ___J u ly _______
A ugust .
September-October __
N ovem ber. _
D ecem ber__
Y ear and
m onth
All-foods
index
19U
133.0
133.6
137.4
140.6
143.0
141.9
139.0
137. 2
137.4
138.2
137.3
137.1
J a n u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry .-.
M a r c h ____
A pril___ _
M ay ______
June ____
J u ly _______
A u g u s t . ___
S eptem ber...
136.1
134.5
134.1
134.6
135.5
135.7
137.4
137.7
137.0
1 Indexes based on 51 cities combined prior to M arch 1943.
P rices o f E lectricity and Gas, Septem ber 1 9 4 4
Electricity—Price Changes Between March and September 1944
THE net monthly bills of domestic consumers for electricity in 51
cities averaged about seven-tenths of 1 percent higher in September
1944 than in June. The September prices were at the same level as
in March. There has been very little change in these composite
prices since September 1942 because increases in some cities have been
offset by decreases in others.
Between March and June 1944, costs of electricity to domestic
consumers decreased in 3 cities and increased in 2. One of these
cities (New York) reported a reduction retroactive to August 1, 1943.
Between June and September, costs decreased in 2 cities and increased
in 4. The changes which were reported between March and Septem
ber are shown in detail in table 1.
Changes in fuel costs continue to result in fluctuations in charges
for electricity in cities having steam generation of power, such as
New York, where increased bills in all five boroughs in this 6-month
period were due to operation of fuel clauses. In May 1944, an 8percent reduction in domestic electric bills in Richmond Borough,
ordered by the New York State Public Service Commission on May
27, 1943, was upheld and made retroactive to August 1, 1943.
The rate reduction in Newark accompanied the initiation of a new
method of rate fixing for the utility company concerned, which related
the utility’s net income to the market value of its securities. The
“reduction” of 86 percent of June bills in Portland, Oreg., was in
fact a rebate intended to distribute equitably the excess earnings
during the previous year of one of the two utilities involved; the other
took similar action, voluntarily. Both returned to previous billing
levels in July.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
1278
T
able
1.— C h a n g es in N e t M o n th ly B ills f o r 2 5 ,1 0 0 , a n d 2 5 0 K ilo w a tt- h o u r s o f E le c
tr i c i t y , M a r c h 1 5 - J u n e 1 5 a n d J u n e 1 5 - S e p te m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 4
N et m o n th ly bill for—
Region, city, and d ate
Cause of change
25 kw h
100 kw h
250 kw h
$1.50
1.42
$4.90
4.88
1.70
1.65
4. 35
4.15
8.60 1
8.15 /
1.38
1.38
3.74
3.76
6.68 1
6.73 /
1.69
1.70
4.85
4.87
8.29 1
8.33 /
1.12
1.18
4. 20
4.41
.98
1.02
3.40
3.57
7.50 1
7.88 1^Utilities com m odity tax of 5 percent effec
6.25 1 tive A pril 1, 1944.
6.56 J
1.25
1.35
4.25
4.35
7.50 \
8.60 j
1.25
1.35
4. 25
4. 35
7.50 1
8.60 /
1.45
1.22
4.20
3.90
6.95 1
6.65 I
.88
.12
.88
3.00
.42
3.00
5.30 I
.74
5.30 |
.88
.80
2.95
2. 72
5.20 jlla
1 te reduction.
5.10 /
N ew England
Fall River:
June IS________________
Septem ber 15____ _____
$9.05 \jlla te reduction.
9.03 /
Middle Atlantic
N ew ark:
Jun e 15________________
Septem ber 15_________ _
N ew York:
C om pany 3 : 12
M arch 15___________
Ju n e 1 5 . . __________
C om pany 1 :4 2
Ju n e 15_____________
Septem ber 15......... .
East North Central
Colum bus:
C om pany 1:
M arch 15___________
Ju n e 15_____________
C om pany 2:
M arch 15___________
Ju n e 15_______ _ . —
South Atlantic
Norfolk:
June 15________________
Septem ber 15_____ ____ _
R ichm ond:
Ju n e 15_______ ______ _
Septem ber 15___________
Savannah:
M arch 15______________
Jun e 15________________
Pacific
P ortlan d , Oreg., Companies
1 and 2:
M arch 15.._____ _______
Jun e 15________________
Septem ber 15____ ____ _
Seattle:
M arch 15______________
June 15_____ __________
1 Serving R ichm ond Borough.
2 Bills include 1 percent city sales tax.
3 These bills were also affected b y a reduction of 8 percent on both n e t and gross charges announced in
M ay 1944, which was retroactive to A ugust 1, 1943. Bills for Septem ber and D ecem ber 1943, adjusted to
reflect th is reduction, were th e same as in M arch 1944.
4 Serving Boroughs of th e Bronx, B rooklyn, M an h a tta n , and Queens.
Gas—Price Changes Between March and September 1944
Composite prices of gas for domestic consumers in 50 cities were
about the same in September 1944 as in March, because increases in
some cities were offset by decreases in others. Between March and
June, increases were reported in 2 cities and decreases in 4, and
between June and September, increases were reported in 2 cities and
decreases in 6. The changes are shown in table 2.
In Boston, Manchester, Fall River, and Portland (Maine), where
manufactured gas is used, adjustments in charges during the 6-month
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cost of Living and Retail Prices
1279
period were due to the operation of fuel adjustment clauses in the
rate schedules.
In New Orleans and in a small section of Houston served by one
company, an increase in the heating value of the natural gas with a
corresponding decrease in the number of cubic feet per therm lowered
the cost. Rate reductions occurred in Pittsburgh and Mobile,
where natural gas is used, and in Minneapolis, where the gas is a
mixture of manufactured and natural gas. These decreases in charges
to domestic consumers, through actual rate reductions or through
increases in the heat value of gas, continued a trend already well
established in the natural-gas industry.
T able 2. — Changes in Net Monthly Bills for 10.6, 19.6, 30.6, and 40.6 Therms of Gas,
March 15—June 15 and June 15—September 15, 1944
M ANUFACTURED GAS
Region, city, and
date
H eating
value per
N et m onthly bill for—
cubic
foot in
B ritish
10.6
therm al
19.6
30.6
40.6
un its
therm s therm s therm s therm s
Cause of change
N ew England
B oston, C om pany 2:
M arch 15______
June 15________
Septem ber 15. ._
Fall R iver:
June 15________
Septem ber 1 5 ...
M anchester:
M arch 15______
June 15________
Septem ber 15. __
P ortland , M aine:
M arch 15...........
June 1 5 ....'____
Septem ber 1 5 ...
535
535
535
$2. 40
2. 38
2. 42
$4.43
4.39
4. 47
$5.97
5. 91
6.03
528
528
3.04
3.00
4.69
4.62
6. 72
6.60
8.55
8.40 }
Do.
525
525
525
3.23
3.24
3.24
4.88
4.91
4.91
6. 53
6. 56
6. 57
7. 99 1
8. 04 I
8.04 1
Do.
525
525
525
3. 36
3.40
3. 36
5.56
5.64
5. 56
6. 77
6. 89
6. 77
8.37 }
8. 58 j
8.37 J
Do.
540
540
2.28
2.28
4.22
3. 96
6. 59
5.51
8. 73 1Seasonal reduction under rates effective
6.91 / M ay through October.
5.82 j
4. 55 ¡•Rate reduction and discontinuation of
4. 52 1 “ Objective R ate P la n .”
$7. 58 1
7. 50 1A djustm ents for costs of fuel.
7.65
Middle Atlantic
N ew York, Company
1:12
M arch 15______
June 15...........
East South Central
*
Birm ingham :
June 15—
Im m e d ia te
ra te _____
O b je c t iv e
ra te _____
Septem ber 15. __
520
1.63
2.93
4. 47
520
520
(3)
1.62
2.69
2. 66
3.78
3. 75
NATURAL GAS
Middle Atlantic
P ittsburg h , Com
pany 2:
June 1 5 _______
Septem ber 1 5 ...
1,100
R100
$1.39
1.18
$1.93
1.72
$2. 58
2.37
1.064
1.064
1.70
1.60
2. 54
2.31
3.58
3.19
$3.17 jR a te reduction.
2.96
East North Central
Mobile:
June 15___
Septem ber 15....
See fo o tn o te s a t e n d o f ta b le .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4.15 }
3.70
Do.
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
1280
T able 2. — C h a n g e s in N e t M o n th ly B ills f o r 1 0 .6 , 1 9 .6 , 3 0 .6 , a n d 4 0 .6 T h e r m s o f G a s,
M a r c h 1 5 - J u n e 1 5 a n d J u n e 1 5 - S e p te m b e r 1 5 , 1 9 4 4 — Continued
NATURAL GAS—Continued
H eating
N e t m onthly bill for—
value per
cubic
foot in
B ritish
30.6
40.6
19.6
10.6
therm al
therm s therm s therm s therm s
units
Region, city, and
d ate
Cause of change
West South Central
H ouston, Company 3:
M arch 15______
June 15________
New Orleans:
M arch 15______
June 15_______
1,030
1,071
$0.90
.87
$1.38
1.34
$1.96
1.90
1,055
1,066
1.11
1.10
1.71
1.70
2. 44
2. 42
$2. 50 jlncrease in heating value of gas.
2. 41
3.10 }
3.08
Do.
M IXED MANUFACTURED AND NATURAL GAS
West North Central
M inneapolis:
June 15-. _____
Septem ber 1 5 -..
800
800
$1.70
1.65
$2.44
2.31
$3.32
3.15
$4.07 jR a te reduction.
3.84
1 Serving boroughs of the Bronx, Brooklyn, M an h attan , and Queens.
* Bills include 1 percent city sales tax.
a T h e Objective rate was no t applicable to customers using 10.6 therm s since the bill w ould have been
higher th a n th a t com puted under the Im m ediate rate.
P rices and C ost o f L ivin g in B razil
,
Food Costs in Sao Paulo 1943-44 1
PRICES of various staple foods consumed by families having a
monthly income of 417 to 834 cruzeiros ($25 to $50, U. S. currency)
in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, showed increases ranging up to 150
percent between August 1943 and August 1944. Thirteen of the
25 items listed by the municipality as staples were under price control.
Of the 13, only salt and beef were quoted at the same price in 1944 as
in 1943. Increases in prices of the other dontrolled foods ranged from
10 percent for salad oil to 115.4 percent for potatoes. Of the 7 staple
foods which increased 100 percent or more during the year, only
potatoes appeared on the controlled list.
Broad price-fixing powers had been conferred upon a Coordinator
of Economic Mobilization under a Brazilian decree law of September
28, 1942. Regulations issued when the Coordinator first set prices in
January 1943 set forth the organization and duties of price commis
sions in each municipality, including State capitals.
Prices per unit of the 25 staple food items in August 1943 and in
July and August 1944, as reported by the statistical office of the city
i D a ta are from reports of W alter J. D onnelly, counselor for economic affairs, U nited States E m bassy at
R io de Janeiro, Jan u ary 11, 1943 fNo. 9748), and Jan u ary 13, 1943 (No. 9781), and of D uW ayne Q. Clark,
U nited States consul a t Sao Paulo, September 13, 1944 (No. 387); and from Boletim do M inistgrio do Trabalho, In d u stria e Comgreio (Rio de Janeiro), October 1942 (p. 43).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1281
Cost of Living and Retail Prices
■I Sao Paulo, are shown in table 1.
Sao Paulo, with a rapidly grow
ing population (it had reached 1,330,000 in 1940), is the chief indus-
;ial city of Brazil.
T
able
1.— F o o d P r ic e s in S a o P a u lo , A u g u s t 1 9 4 3 a n d J u l y a n d A u g u s t 1 9 4 4
Article and u n it
Sugar, refined 2_________________________ ______ kilogram 3_
Lard, b u lk _________________________________________do —
B ee f2_______________________________________
d ed o ...
Sait bacon______________________________
Fresh p o rk ________________________________________ d o ...
Sausages___________________________________________do—
M ac a ro n i2_________________________________________do—
Fresh b u tte r,2 bulk J4---------------------------------------------- d o ...
do—
Beans 2________________________
Rice 2_____________________________________________ do—
do—
O nions___- ---------------------------Potatoes 2------------------------------------------------------------- do —
Eggs, co u n try __________________________________ -dozen.
Coffee, powdered 2____________________________ ..k ilo g ram .
Bread, Ita lia n ty p e 2-------do—
M ilk, pasteurized 2------------------------------------------ ..- .lite r 4.
Flour, w h e a t2_________________________________ kilogram .
Salad o il2___________________________
do—
p air.
L ettuce_______________________________________
Tom atoes___________
kilogram .
C ollard____ _____________________________________ bu n ch .
Cabbage----------------------------------------------------------------.eaeh.
B ananas_______________________________
dozen.
O ranges______________________________________ - - - - - do - -.
Salt, common 2___________________
kilogram .
A ugust 1943
Ju ly 1944
Cruzeiros 1
Cruzeiros 1
2. 40
9.00
3.50
8. 00
8.00
10.00
2.60
4. 70
1.80
3.40
4. 00
3.00
6. 50
7.20
2.20
1.60
2.00
6.60
2.00
4.00
.50
.2.50
1.20
1.50
.70
2.00
7.50
3. 50
6.00
5. 50
5. 00
2. 10
1.20
2. 30
1.30
3.00
5. 60
1.60
1.30
1.60
6 . 00
.80
1.40
.40
2.00
.60
1.20
.70
A ugust 1944
Cruzeiros 1
2. 40
10.00
3. 50
8.50
8.00
10.00
3.00
4. 70
1.60
3.20
2.80
6.60
7. 20
2.50
1.60
2. 40
6.60
2.00
3. 00
.80
2.50
1.20
1.20
.70
1 Average exchange rate of cruzeiro in 1943 and in Ju ly and A ugust 1944=6 cents.
2 Commodities which are under price control.
3 A kilogram =2.2046 pounds.
4 A lite r=1.0567 quarts.
Middle-Class Cost of Living in Federal District
A Brazilian Government report shows that the cost of living of a
middle-class family of 7 persons in the Federal District, comprising
mainly the city of Rio de Janeiro, rose 112 percent from the year 1933
to June of 1943.2 During this period, the total cost per month of
food, house rent, clothing, fuel and light, servants, and housefurnishings for such a family increased more than twofold.
Table 2 gives the average monthly cost of living by classes of
expenditures. There was a gradual, almost uniform, rise from 1933
to 1940, then a sudden increase between 1940 and the end of 1942.
Although another rise was apparent from 1942 to 1943, cost of living
tended to remain almost stationary for the first 6 months of 1943,
possibly as a result of the application of Government controls.
When the separate classes of expenditures are considered for the
10K-year period, the greatest increase (363 percent) is seen to have
occurred in housefurnishings, and the smallest (41 percent) in fuel
and light. The rise in cost of food was exactly the same as the
general increase—-112 percent.
2 Boletim do M inisterio do T rabalho, In dustria, e Comercio, Rio de Janeiro, F ebruary 1944 (p. 346).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1282
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T able 2.— C o st o f L iv in g in F e d e r a l D is tr ic t, B r a z i l , 1 9 3 3 to J u n e 1 9 4 3
[Average exchange rate of milreis from 1933 to 1935=8 cents, from 1936 to 1937= 9 cents, from 1938 to 1942- 1
cents; average exchange rate of cruzeiro in 1943=6 cents. T h e official designation of the Brazilian currene
u n it was changed, effective N ovem ber 1, 1942, from “ milreis” to “ cruzeiro.”]
Year
T otal
Food
H ouse
rent
and Servants
Clothing Fuel
light
F u rn i
ture,
utensils
bed and
table
linen, etc
M ilreis
M ilreis
M ilreis
Milreis
M ilreis
M ilreis
Milreis
1933____________
1,609
647
460
162
140
120
80
1934______
1,735
716
500
190
127
120
82
1935__________
1,828
235
747
500
126
120
100
1936________
2.099
846
600
250
127
139
137
1937________
____________
2,260
935
620
250
127
171
157
1938___________________
2, 354
935
635
259
127
187
211
1939___________________
2,416
953
650
261
127
200
225
1940________________
2,511
1,007
665
268
134
210
227
1941____ . .
2,803
1,088
760
299
167
220
269
1942_____
3,134
1,224
810
321
191
240
348
1943:
Cruzeiros Cruzeiros Cruzeiros Cruzeiros Cruzeiros Cruzeiros Cruzeiros
Ja n u a rv ________ __
3,403
1,358
810
386
239
240
370
F eb ru ary ___. . .
3,409
1,364
810
386
239
240
370
M a r c h ..........
. _
3,414
1,369
810
386
239
240
370
A pril_____________ .
3,401
1,366
810
386
229
240
370
M a y _____ ________
3,404
1,369
810
386
229
240
370
J u n e . . . ___________
1,372
3,407
810
386
229
240
370
W artim e P rices and W ages in S w itzerla n d 1
WAGES in Switzerland have not risen during the present war to the
same extent as the cost of living, although Government controls have
kept the price advance proportionately smaller than in the last war.
The Government has advised and encouraged industry to increase
wages as much as possible within the limits of the increased cost of
living. In many cases an increase in wholesale prices is permitted
only if the factory management has advanced the wages of its workers
by a certain percentage. Export licenses are not granted to firms
which fall behind in wage increases. Control of prices is exercised
in various ways. The Swiss Price Control Office has the right to
enforce price ceilings, although it usually exercises its power flexibly,
permitting price rises when increased costs threaten to eliminate the
margin of profit. Rationing of all staple foods except fruits and
vegetables also has been introduced and is a basic factor in keeping the
average food-price increase low relative to that in the last war. In
addition, “compensation” funds have been established for the purpose
of averaging the cost of production of similar articles in various parts
of Switzerland; part of the profits of manufacturers with low produc
tion costs—owing, for example, to modern equipment—are given to
factory owners whose costs are high.
1 D ata are from a report b y R obert T . Cowan, vice consul, American C onsulate General, Zurich, A ugust
22, 1944 (No. 79).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wholesale Prices
rj=.
v
W h olesale P rices in O ctober 1 9 4 4
‘A FURTHER increase of 0.1 percent was recorded in commodity
prices at the primary m arket1 level during October. Higher prices
for agricultural products, such as grains, cotton, citrus fruits, and
eggs, together with an extension of increased ceiling prices on brick
and tile to additional areas, brought the Bureau of Labor Statistics
index of all commodities up to 104.1 percent of the 1926 average.
The index was 1.1 percent higher than in October 1943 and nearly
39 percent higher than in August 1939.
Except for an increase of 0.6 percent in average prices for farm
products in October, changes in the group indexes amounted to less
than one-half of 1 percent. Building materials rose 0.3 percent;
hides and leather products and textile products, 0.2 percent; and
chemicals and allied products, 0.1 percent. The indexes for fuel and
lighting materials and for metals and metal products declined 0.1
percent, while foods, housefurnishing goods, and miscellaneous com
modities remained unchanged at the September level.
Largely as a result of the increase in prices for agricultural com
modities, the Bureau’s index of raw material prices rose 0.4 percent
in October. Semimanufactured and finished products advanced 0.1
percent during the month.
Average prices for farm products in primary markets advanced 0.6
percent in October, led by an increase of 2.8 percent in grain prices.
Oats and wheat rose over 4 percent and rye more than 7 percent.
Cotton prices advanced 0.7 percent and domestic wool prices about
0.5 percent. Eggs advanced seasonally by more than 6 percent.
Substantial increases were also reported in prices for hay. Quotations
for livestock averaged about 0.4 percent lower than in September
because of declining prices for cows, hogs, lambs, and live poultry.
Prices for calves and ewes, on the contrary, advanced. Lower prices
were reported for apples and for onions and potatoes.
In the foods group a decline of 2.8 percent for fruits and vegetables
was counterbalanced by higher prices for flour, eggs, and pepper, with
the result that the group index remained unchanged at the September
level. In addition to lower prices for most fresh fruits and vegetables
and for dried apricots and peaches, canned tomatoes declined.
Oranges, which had been selling below ceilings, and lemons advanced
sharply on news that the hurricane had destroyed a substantial por
tion of the new crop. Pepper prices were raised by OPA from 6%
to 10 cents a pound in order to bring stocks into normal trade channels.
1 T he B ureau of Labor Statistics wholesale price data for the most p a rt represent prices prevailing in the
“ first commercial transaction.’’ T h ey are prices quoted in prim ary m arkets, a t principal distribution
points.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1283
1284
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
Quotations for sheepskins continued to advance and in October
were more than 8 percent above the September price. A further
decline of 0.7 percent was recorded in prices for goatskins.
The effect of the Stabilization Extension Act of 1944 continued to
be reflected in prices for men’s and boys’ underwear and for work *
clothing. The index for hosiery and underwear rose 1 percent and
for overalls nearly 4 percent.
Minor declines in prices for anthracite and for bituminous coal
occurred in some areas.
The index for metals and metal products dropped 0.1 percent in
October because of further weakness in scrap steel markets. Prices
for mercury again advanced and at the end of October it was quoted
at $115.00 per flask, an increase of more than 17 percent over the low
level of $98.00 to which it fell in June and July of this year. Fractional
declines were reported in prices for some types of farm machinery
because of the elimination of certain equipment such as tools and
grease guns.
Higher prices for building brick and for rosin and linseed oil brought
the index for the building materials group up 0.3 percent during
October to the highest level since 1920. In an effort to maintain
current production by allowing for increases in costs, OPA extended
higher ceilings to producers of building brick in additional areas east
of the Rocky Mountains. Cement prices advanced 0.6 percent.
Average prices for lumber dropped 0.1 percent as a result of lower
quotations for Douglas fir and western pine. Slightly higher prices
were reported for most types of southern pine lumber.
The elimination of seasonal discounts on potash fertilizer materials
brought the index for chemicals and allied products up 0.1 percent.
A minor increase occured in quotations for stearic acid while those for
glycerine declined fractionally.
Average prices for furniture and furnishings were steady in October
and the housefurnishing goods group index remained unchanged at
104.4 percent of the 1926 average.
Prices for most commodities have moved within a very narrow
margin, if at all, during the 12-month period October 1943 to October
1944. As may be expected, most of the increases were the result of
Government action in increasing taxes or in allowing higher ceilings
to stimulate production. Chemicals and allied products rose 4.6
percent, principally because of the effect of higher taxes on alcohol.
OPA action in making upward adjustments in ceiling prices for brick
and tile, cement, and lumber accounted for an increase of 3.2 percent
in average prices for building materials. Higher ceiling prices for
coal and coke caused the fuel and lighting materials index to rise 2.3
percent above the October 1943 index.
Textile products and housefurnishing goods advanced 1.8 percent
during the year largely as a result of the effect of the Stabilization
Extension Act in raising prices on cotton goods, and the increase in
prices of furniture allowed by OPA early in 1944.
Average prices for farm products rose 1.0 percent during the 12month pePiod, principally because of higher grain markets. Sharp
declines in prices for sheepskins and goatskins brought the index for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wholesale Prices
1285
the hides and leather products group down 1.4 percent. Food prices
averaged nearly 1 percent lower than in 1943, owing to a decrease of
2.1 percent in prices for fruits and vegetables.
Small increases in prices for farm machinery and for certain heating
equipment were offset by a break in the mercury market during the
year and the metals and metal products group index remained un
changed at 103.7 percent of the 1926 level.
Marked increases have taken place in prices for most commodities
since the war began. Between August 1939 and October 1944 prices
for industrial fats and oils advanced 151 percent, grains rose nearly
143 percent, and cattle feed 133 percent. In the war period, now
stretching over a little more than 5' years, prices for livestock and
poultry and for fruits and vegetables have advanced more than 90
percent; cotton goods, more than 80 percent; lumber, over 70 percent;
and dairy products, more than 60 percent. Increases of from 30 to
50 percent have been recorded in prices for cereal products, meats,
hides and skins, clothing, woolen and worsted goods, anthracite,
paper and pulp, and crude rubber. Since the outbreak of the war,
prices for raw materials have risen about 70 percent, while semimanu
factured commodities and finished products have advanced approxi
mately 27 percent.
Percentage comparisons of the October 1944 level of wholesale
prices with September 1944, October 1943, and August 1939, with
corresponding index numbers are given in table 1.
T
1.—Indexes of Wholesale Prices by Groups and Subgroups of Commodities,
October 1944, Compared With September 1944, October 1943, and August 1939
able
[1926 = 100]
G roup and subgroup
All com m odities_.
Sep Percent October Percent
October tem
A u g u st Percent
ber
of
of
of
1944
1943 change
1939 change
1944 change
_____________ _________
104.1
104.0
+ 0.1
103.0
+ 1.1
75.0
+38.8
F arm products____________ ______________
G rains_______________________________
Livestock and p o u ltry .. . . . .
___
O ther farm pro d u cts__________________
123.4
125.1
127.1
119.9
122.7
121.7
127.6
119.2
+ 2 .8
-. 4
+ .6
122.2
122.5
126.1
118.9
+ 1 .0
+2.1
+ .8
+ .8
61.0
51.5
66.0
60.1
+102. 3
+142. 9
+92.6
+99.5
Foods____ _ ______ __________ _________
D airy p roducts_______ ____ _
_ _____
Cereal p ro d u c ts.. . .
......................
._
F ru its and vegetables.......................
M e a ts ..
. . ________________ ______
O ther foods___ _____ _________ _______
104.2
110.7
94.7
112.7
100. 0
96.8
104.2
110.7
94.4
115.9
106.0
95.5
0
0
+ .3
- 2 .8
0
+ 1 .4
105.1
109.1
94.7
115.1
106. 2
99.6
-.9
+ 1.5
0
- 2 .1
-.2
- 2 .8
67.2
67.9
71.9
58.5
73.7
60.3
+55.1
+63.0
+31.7
+92.6
+43. S
+60.5
H ides and leather p ro d u c ts __ ___________
Shoes ...................
......
Hides and s k in s... __________________
L eath er.
.
.
... . . . . . . _
O ther leather p ro d u c ts.. .
______ ____
116.2
126.3
107.3
101.3
115.2
116.0
126.3
106. 1
101.3
115. 2
+ .2
0
+ 1.1
0
0
117.8
126.4
116.0
101.3
115.2
- 1 .4
-. 1
- 7 .5
0
0
92.7
100.8
77.2
84.0
97.1
+25.4
+25.3
+39.0
+20.6
+18.6
Textile products ______________
______
C lothing___________________________
C otton g o ods.. _____ . . ._ _______
Hosiery and u n d e rw e ar.. _ ___
. ___
R a y o n .. .
................. _
Silk__________________ . . . .
Woolen and w orsted goods___ _____ ..
O ther textile products____ ______ . . .
99.4
107.4
118.8
71.5
30.3
(0
112.9
100.9
99.2
107.0
118. 7
70.8
30.3
0)
112.9
100.9
+ .2
+ .4
+ .1
+ 1 .0
0
97.6
107. 0
112.9
71.4
30.3
(>)
112.5
99.2
+ 1 .8
67.8
81.5
65.5
61.5
28.5
44 3
75.5
63.7
+46.6
+31.8
+81.4
+16.3
+ 6 .3
i P a ta no t yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0
0
+ 5 .2
+ .1
0
+■4
+ 1.7
+49.5
4-58.4
1286
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
a b l e 1.— Indexes of Wholesale Prices by Groups and Subgroups of Commodities,
October 1944, Compared With September 1944, October 1943, and August 1939—Con.
T
G roup and subgroup
Sep P ercent October Percent A u g u st Percent
October tem
of
of
of
ber
1943 change
1939 change
1944
1944 change
+14.2
+32.0
+25.5
+25.4
+ .5
72.6
72.1
96.0
104.2
75.8
86.7
51.7
0
+ .6
+ .5
0
0
-.2
+ 2 .4
93.2
93.5
94.7
95.1
92.5
74.6
79.3
+11.3
+ 4 .3
+ 4.1
+ 2.1
+21.9
+15.0
+16.5
112.7
99.0
93.6
146.6
102.8
90.2
107.3
102.2
+ 3 .2
+ 5.9
+ 4 .2
+ 4.9
+3.1
+ 2 .4
0
+1.1
89.6
90.5
91.3
90.1
82.1
79.3
107.3
89.5
+29.8
+15.8
+ 6 .8
+70.7
+29.1
+16.5
0
+15.4
+ .1
0
0
+ .7
0
0
100.4
96.4
165. 2
81.3
86.1
102.0
+ 4 .6
-.4
+31.5
+ .6
+ .6
0
74.2
83.8
77.1
65.5
73.1
40.6
+41.5
+14.6
+181. 7
+24.9
+18.5
+151. 2
104.4
107.4
101.4
0
0
0
102.6
107.1
98.1
+ 1 .8
+ .3
+ 3 .4
85.6
90.1
81.1
+22.0
+19.3
+25.0
93.6
73.0
159.6
107.2
46.2
97.0
93.6
73.0
159.6
107.2
46.2
97.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
93.1
73.0
159.6
105.6
46.2
96.4
+ .5
0
0
+ 1 .5
0
+ .6
73.3
60.5
68.4
80.0
34.9
81.3
+27.7
+20.7
+133. 3
+34.0
+32.4
+19.3
113.2
94.8
101.0
99.8
112.8
94.7
100.9
99.7
+ .4
+ .1
+ .1
+ .1
111.9
92.9
100.0
98.7
+1. 2
+ 2 .0
+ 1.0
+ 1.1
66.5
74.5
79.1
77.9
+70.2
+27.2
+27.7
+28.1
98.7
98.6
+ .1
97.3
+ 1 .4
80.1
+23.2
+ 2 .3
+ 5 .9
+ 3 .5
+ 6 .8
0
81.0
89.9
116.4
122.4
57.8
77.2
63.5
- .1
0
0
-.1
0
0
0
103.7
96.9
98.1
97.1
112.8
86.0
90.2
116.0
101. 5
96.9
154.0
105.5
92.4
107.3
103.3
+ .3
+ 3 .3
+ .6
-. 1
+ .5
0
0
0
105.0
96.0
217.2
81.8
86.6
102.0
104.9
96.0
217.2
81. 2
86.6
102.0
H ousefurnishing goods
..................... ...........
Furnishings_________ - _ - ---------------F u rn itu re _____
___________________
104.4
107.4
101.4
M iscellaneous—. ------ ------------ -------------A utomobile tires and tu b es. ------ - . . .
C attle feed___________ . . --------------P ap er and p u lp _______________________
R ubber, cru d e________________ ______
O ther miscellaneous-------- -----------------R aw m aterials___ _ __________
. . ----Sem im anufactured articles________________
M anufactured p ro d u c ts ..------ ---------------- All commodities other th an farm p ro d u cts__
All commodities other th a n farm products
_________
and foods_____________
Fuel and lighting m aterials- ____________
A n th racite_____________________ ______
B itum inous coal _______ ____________
Coke__________ ____ __________ ________
E lectricity
__ _________
Gas
-- -- __ ______
Petroleum and p ro d u cts------ --------- ------
82.9
95.2
120.5
130.7
(i)
(i)
63.8
83.0
95.4
120.6
130.7
(!)
76.8
63.8
- 0 .1
-.2
-. 1
0
M etals and m etal p ro d u c ts -------------------- A gricultural im plem ents___ ___________
F arm m achinery_____
_____ _____
Iron and steel - - - - - - _- --------- -M otor vehicles______
______________
Nonferrous metals ----------P lum bing and h e a tin g ., _______ _____
103.7
97.5
98.6
97.1
112.8
85.8
92.4
103.8
97.5
98.6
97.2
112.8
85.8
92.4
Building m a te ria ls..- ----------- ----------------B rick and tile______ - ----- --------C em ent
_______ ... - ----------L u m b e r _____ . __________ ____
P a in t and p a in t m aterials
_________
Plum bing and h eatin g _________________
Structural stee l________ .- ---------- --O ther building m aterials---- -----------
116.3
104.8
97.5
153.8
106.0
92.4
107.3
103.3
Chemicals and allied p ro d u c ts-. - - - - - - Chemicals
- - - - - _____ - ---------- -D rugs and p h arm aceu ticals.-.
-----Fertilizer m aterials------------------------- --M ixed fertilizers. ___- --- - - --------Oils and fats______________________ - -
1 D ata not yet available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+23.4
Wholesale Prices
1287
,
Index Numbers by Commodity Groups 1926 to October 1944
Index numbers of wholesale prices by commodity groups for selected
years from 1926 to 1943, and by months from October 1943 to October
1944, are shown in table 2.
T
able
2 . — Index
Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Groups of Commodities
[1926=100]
Y ear and m onth
1926____________
1929________________
1932________________
1933____________
1936_______________
1937________________
Hides
Fuel
Chem
and
Tex
and M etals B uild icals House- MisFarm
and
furleath
tile
light
ing
celprod Foods
metal m ate and
er
prod ing
allied nishlaneucts
prod
ing
prod ucts m ate
rials
prod
ous
ucts
ucts
rials
ucts goods
All
com
modi
ties
100.0
104.9
48.2
51.4
80.9
86.4
100.0
99.9
61.0
60.5
82.1
85.5
100.0
109.1
72.9
80.9
95.4
104.6
100.0
90.4
54.9
64.8
71.5
76.3
100.0
83.0
70.3
66.3
76.2
77.6
100.0
100.5
80.2
79.8
87.0
95.7
100.0
95.4
71.4
77.0
86.7
95.2
100.0
94.0
73.9
72.1
78.7
82.6
100.0
94.3
75.1
75.8
81.7
89.7
100.0
82.6
64.4
62.5
70.5
77.8
100.0
95.3
64.8
65.9
80.0
86.3
1938____________
68.5
1939____________ . . 65.3
1940___ _________
67.7
1941
.
82.4
1942._______________ 105.9
1943____________
122.6
73.6
70.4
71.3
82.7
99.6
106.6
92.8
95.6
100.8
108.3
117.7
117.5
66.7
69.7
73.8
84.8
96.9
97.4
76.5
73.1
71.7
76.2
78.5
80.8
95.7
94.4
95.8
99.4
103.8
103.8
90.3
90.5
94.8
103.2
110.2
111.4
77.0
76.0
77.0
84.6
97.1
100.3
86.8
86.3
88.5
94.3
102.4
102.7
73.3
74.8
77.3
82.0
89.7
92.2
78.6
77.1
78.6
87.3
98.8
103.1
1943
O ctober________
.
N ovem ber
D ecem ber_________
122.2
121.4
121.8
105.1
105.8
105.6
117.8
116.5
117.0
97.6
97.7
97.7
81.0
81.2
82.1
103.7
103.8
103.8
112.7
113.1
113.4
100.4
100.3
100.4
102.6
102.8
102.8
93.1
93.2
93.3
103.0
102.9
103.2
19U
Jan u a ry , _ _ _ _ _
February
M arch,
A pril____
______
M a y _______________
121.8
122.5
123.6
123.2
122.9
104.9
104.5
104.6
104.9
105.0
117.2
116.9
116.9
116.9
117.0
97.7
97.7
97.8
97.8
97.8
82.3
83.1
83.0
83.0
83.2
103.7
103.7
103.7
103.7
103.7
113.5
113.6
114.2
115.2
115.7
100.4
100.4
100.4
105.4
105.4
104.5
104.2
104.3
104.3
104.3
93.2
93.4
93.5
93.5
93.5
103.3
103.6
103.8
103.9
104.0
Ju n e ____________ _
J u ly -----------------------A ugust_________
_
Septem ber. ___ . . .
O ctober_______ . . . .
125.0
124.1
122.6
122.7
123.4
106.5
105.8
104.8
104.2
104.2
116.4
116.2
116.0
116.0
116.2
97.8
98.0
98.4
99.2
99.4
83.3
83.2
83.2
83.0
82.9
103.7
103.7
103.8
103.8
103.7
115.9
115.9
116.0
116.0
116.3
105.2
105.3
105.3
104.9
105.0
104.3
104.3
104.4
104.4
104.4
93.5
93.6
93.6
93.6
93.6
104.3
104.1
103.9
104.0
' 104.1
The price trend for specified years and months since 1926 is shown
in table 3 for the following groups of commodities: Raw materials,
semimanufactured articles, manufactured products, commodities
other than farm products, and commodities other than farm products
and foods. The list of commodities included under the classifications
“ Raw materials,” “ Semimanufactured articles,” and “ Manufactured
products” was shown on pages 10 and 11 of Wholesale Prices, July|to
December and Year 1943 (Bulletin No. 785).
6 1 8 6 2 7 — 44-
-12
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1288
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T able 3. —Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Special Groups of Commodities
[1926= 100]
Year
R aw
m ate
rials
Semi
in anufactured
a rti
cles
M an
ufac
tured
prod
ucts
All
com
m odi
ties
other
th an
farm
prod
ucts
All
com
m odi
ties
other
th an
farm
prod
ucts
and
foods
1926____________ 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1929 ___________ 97.5 93. 9 94.5 93.3
1932
55.1 59. 3 70. 3 68.3
56.5 65.4 70.5 69.0
1933 . . . 1936____________ 79.9 75.9 82.0 80.7
1937____________ 84.8 85.3 87.2 86.2
72. 0
1938
1939 ___________ 70.2
1940
71. 9
83. 5
1941
1942 .................
100.6
1943 _____
112.1
75. 4 82.2
77.0 80.4
79.1 81.6
86. 9 89.1
92.6 98.6
92.9 100.1
80.6
79.5
80.8
88.3
97.0
98.7
100.0
91.6
70.2
71.2
79.6
85.3
81.7
81.3
83.0
89.0
95.5
96.9
Raw
Y ear and m onth m ate
rials
Semimanufactured
a rti
cles
All
com
M an m odi
ufac ties
tured other
prod than
ucts farm
prod
ucts
All
com
m odi
ties
other
than
farm
prod
ucts
and
foods
1943
O ctober. - ___ 111.9
N ovem ber__ - - 111.3
December
_ __ 112.1
92.9 100.0
92.9 100.2
93.1 100.2
98.7
98.8
99.0
97.3
97.4
97.6
1944
J a n u a ry ________
F e b ru a ry _______
M arch _________
April
_____
M a y ___________
J u n e ___________
J u ly ___________
A u g u st_________
Septem ber___ _
October________
93.2
93.4
93.7
93.6
93.7
93.8
93.9
94.1
94.7
94.8
99.1
99.3
99.3
99.6
99.7
99.6
99.6
99.7
99.7
99.8
97.8
98.0
98.1
98.4
98.5
98.5
98.5
98.6
98.6
98.7
112.2
112.8
113.4
113.2
113.0
114.2
113.6
112.7
112.8
113.2
100.2
100.4
100.5
100.8
100.9
100.9
100.9
100.9
100.9
101.0
Weekly Fluctuations
Weekly changes in wholesale prices by groups of commodities
during September and October 1944 are shown by the index numbers
in table 4. These indexes are not averaged to obtain an index for the
month but are computed only to indicate the fluctuations from week
to week.
T able 4. — Weekly Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Commodity Groups, September
and October 1944
[1926=100]
C om m odity group
Sep Sep Sep Sep
Oc Oc Sep tem
Oc
Oc
tem tem te m
to b e r to b e r to b e r to b e r tem
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
21
14
28
7
2
30
23
16
9
All com m odities________ _ ________________ 103.9 103.8 103.8 103.9 103.8 103.7 103.6 103.6 103.6
F arm p ro d u cts__________________ ________
Foods__________ ________________________
H ides and leather pro d u cts_____ . . ______ ___
Textile p ro d u cts__________________________
Fuel and lighting m aterials. _______________
123.3 122.8 122.7 123.3 122.8 122.8 122.1 122.2 122.0
104.1 103.9 103.8 104.1 103.9 104.3 103.8 103.9 104. 1
116.7 116.7 116.7 116.8 116. 5 116.5 116.6 116.5 116.5
98.9 98.9 98.8 98.8 98.5 98.3 98.3 98.2 98. 1
83.5 83.6 83.8 83.8 83.7 83.7 83.7 83.8 83.7
M etals and m etal products_____ . . . . _____
B uilding m aterials ___ .
. ___________
Chemicals and allied p roducts___ _____ _ . .
Housefurnishing goods..
. . __________
M iscellaneous_____________________________
103.8
116.4
104.9
106.1
93.4
R aw m a te r ia ls ._________ _______ ____ . .
Sem im anufactured articles . . •_____. . . . . .
M anufactured products. . . . _____ . . . -----All commodities other th a n farm p ro d u cts___
All commodities other th a n farm products and
fo o d s_________ __________ ______ _____
113.5 113.2 113.2 113.7 113. 2 113.3 112.8 112.8 112.7
94.7 94. 7 94.6 94.6 94.3 94. 1 94.1 94. 1 94.1
101.1 101.2 101.2 101.2 101. 1 101. 1 101. 1 101.1 101. 1
99.6 99.7 99.7 99.7 99.6 99.6 99.6 99.6 99.6
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
98.8
103.8
116.3
104.9
106.1
93.4
98.9
103.9
116.1
104.9
106.1
93.4
98.9
103.9
116.1
104.9
106.1
93.4
98.9
103.8
115.9
104.9
106.1
93.4
98.8
103.9
115.9
104.9
106.1
93.3
98.8
103.9
116.1
104.9
106.1
93.3
98.8
103.8
116.0
104.9
106.1
93.3
98.8
103.8
116.0
104.9
106.1
93.3
98.7
Labor Turnover
Labor T urnover in M anufacturing, M inin g, and P u b lic
U tilitie s , Septem ber 1 9 4 4
FOR every 1,000 workers on factory pay rolls in September, 75 either
changed jobs or left manufacturing work. The rate of accessions,
60 per 1,000, was slightly below the August rate and was accompanied
by a similar decline in the separation rate.
The military separation rate, 3 per 1,000, was the lowest since the
war began. In addition to those leaving to enter the armed forces,
60 per 1,000 quit, 6 were discharged, and 6 were laid off.
A slight decline was reported in the quit and discharge rates for
manufacturing as a whole. The discharge rate for all 20 major
manufacturing groups and the quit rates in 12 of these either declined
or remained the same. Comments from employers indicate that the
return of students to school accounted for the majority of quits.
Leaving the locality to seek permanent post-war employment was fre
quently advanced as a reason for quitting.
Although the lay-off rate for manufacturing as a whole was only
slightly above the August rate, half of the major industry groups
reported a greater rate of lay-off in September than in August. The
highest lay-off rate, 17 per 1,000 employees, was reported by the nonferrous-metals group. Five of the 6 industries composing this group
reported increased lay-off rates. Larger cutbacks in the production
of aluminum and magnesium resulted in more than doubling the rate
of lay-offs in the aluminum smelting and refining industry, while
curtailed production of shell casings for chemical warfare accounted
for the increase in the lay-off rate from 7 to 35 per 1,000 in nonferrousmetal foundries.
The ordnance group reported lay-offs of 8 for every 1,000 employees
in September, which compares with 5 per 1,000 in August. Part of
this increase was probably a result of conversion to peacetime products
by several firms in the guns and howitzers industry.
Total separation rates increased slightly for both anthracite and
metal mining. The latter reflects the large number of lay-offs in
the miscellaneous metal-mining industry, which comprises aluminumore mines.
The accession rates for both men and women were exactly the same
as their quit rates. Although the quit rate for women was consider
able higher than that for men, separations other than quits (i. e. lay
offs, discharges, and miscellaneous separations) were the same for
both—15 per 1,000 workers. The total separation rate for women
was 93 per 1,000 as compared with 62 for men.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1289
1290
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T able 1.— Monthly Labor-Turnover Rates {per 100 Employees) in Manufacturing1
Class of turnover
and year
Total separation:
1944
1943____________
1939____________
Quit:
1944
1943____________
1939____________
Discharge:
1944
1943____________
1939____________
Lay-off:3
1944
1943____________
1939____________
M ilitary and miscellaneous:4
1944
1943____________
Accession:
1944
1943____________
1939____________
J a n Feb
uary ruary M arch April M ay June
July
A u
gust
Sep
N o D e
cem
tem Octo
ber vem
ber
ber
ber
6 7
7.1
3.2
6.6
7.1
2.6
7.4
7.7
3.1
6.8
7.5
3.5
7.1
6.7
3.5
7.1
7.1
3.3
6.6
7.6
3.3
7.8
8.3
3.0
2 7.5
8.1
2.8
7.0
2.9
6.4
3.0
6.6
3.5
4. 6
4.5
.9
4. 6
4.7
.6
5.0
5.4
.8
4.9
5.4
.8
5.3
4.8
.7
5.4
5.2
.7
5.0
5.6
.7
6.2
6.3
.8
2 6.0
6.3
1. 1
5.2
.9
4.5
.8
4.4
.7
.7
.5
.1
.6
.5
.1
.7
.6
.1
.6
.5
.1
.6
.6
.1
.7
.6
.1
.7
.7
..1
.7
.7
.1
2.6
.6
.1
.6
.2
.6
.2
.6
.1
.8
.7
2.2
.8
.5
1.9
.9
.5
2.2
.6
.6
2.6
.5
.5
2.7
.5
.5
2.5
.5
.5
2.5
.5
.5
2.1
2.6
.5
1.6
.5
1.8
.7
2.0
1.0
2.7
.6
1.4
.6
1.4
.8
1.2
.7
1.0
.7
.8
.5
.8
.4
.8
.4
.8
2.3
.7
.7
.6
.6
6. 5
8.3
4.1
5. 5
7.9
3.1
5.8
8.3
3.3
6.4
5. 5
7.4
7.2
2.9 - 3.3
7.6
8.4
3.9
6.3
7.8
4.2
6. 3 2 6.0
7.6
7.7
6.2
5.1
7.2
5.9
6.6
4.1
5.2
2.8
1 M onth-to-m onth em ploym ent changes as indicated b y labor-turnover rates are not precisely comparable
to those shown b y the B ureau’s em ploym ent and pay-roll reports, as the former are based on data for the
entire m onth while the latter refer, for the m ost part, to a 1-week period ending nearest the m iddle of the
m onth. In addition, labor-turnover data, beginning in Jan u ary 1943, refer to all employees, whereas the
em ploym ent and pay-roll reports relate only to wage earners. T he labor-turnover sample is not so extensive
as th a t of the em ploym ent and pay-roll survey, proportionately fewer small plants are included; printing
and publishing and certain seasonal industries, such as canning and preserving, are not covered.
2 Prelim inary.
3 Including tem porary, indeterm inate, and perm anent lay-offs.
4 Miscellaneous separations comprise not more th a n 0.1 in these figures. In 1939 these d ata were included
w ith quits.
T able 2. —Monthly Labor-Turnover Rates {per 100 Employees) in Selected Groups and
Industries,1 September 1944
T otal
separa
tion
D is
charge
Q uit
Lay-off
M ilitary
and
miscel
laneous
Total
accession
G roup and industry
Sep Au Sep A u Sep Au Sep A u Sep Au Sep A u
tem
tem
tem
tem
tem
tem gust
ber 2 gust b e r 2 gust ber 2 gust ber 2 gust ber 2 gust
ber 2
Manufacturing
O rdnance_________________________
9.0 8.9
Guns, howitzers, m ortars, and
8.0 6.9
related e q u ip m en t____________
A m m unition, except for small
arm s___ _____ __ ____ _____ 10.4 10.6
T anks 3_ _ . . . _____ . . . .
8.6 8.5
Sighting and fire-control equip
3.9 4.5
m e n t________________________
7.0
7.0
0.9
1.1
0.8
0.5
0.3
0.3
7.4
7.8
4.7
5.2
.6
.8
2.5
.6
.2
.3
4.4
5.3
8.5
5.9
8.4
6.5
1.1
1.0
1.3
1.1
.5
1.4
.5
.6
.3
.3
.4
.3
9.4
6.1
9.7
7.6
2.9
3.2
.4
.7
.3
.3
.3
.3
2.5
2.3
Iron and steel and their products_____ 5.6 6.0 4.4 4.7
B last furnaces, steel works, and
4.0 4.1 3.2 3.4
rolling mills. .
7.8 8.9 6.6 7.1
Gray-iron castings--------------------6.4 6.8 4.9 5.8
Malleable-iron castings_________
Steel castings_________________ _ 6.8 8.0 5.5 6.5
Cast-iron pipe and fittings_____
5.7 7.1 5.1 5.8
T in cans and other tin w a re .__ . . . 20.0 16.3 16.0 13.8
3.4 3.2 2.8 2.4
W ire products________ _____
C utlery and edge tools_________
(4)
(4)
(4)
«
Tools (except edge tools, machine
6.9 6.6 5.7 5.4
tools, files, and saw s)_________
5.4 5.5 4.5 4.4
H ardw are. _ ___. . . . . ______
Plum bers’ supplies . ________
9.3 7.5 7.3 5.6
Stoves, oil burners, and heating
e q u ip m e n t3__________________ 9.0 9.7 7.4 7.8
Steam and hot-w ater heating ap
paratus and steam fittings___ _ 5.4 7.5 4.2 5.9
Stam ped and enameled ware and
galvanizing__________________
9.4 9.6 8.0 8.2
.4
.5
.5
.4
.3
.4
4.3
5.0
.2
.2
.3
.1
.4
1.0
.4
.3
.7
.9
.2
.2
.4
.1
.5
1.7 1. 1
.2
.2
.2
.3
(4)
(4)
(4)
.3
.3
.3
.3
.2
.3
.2
0)
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.2
.8
.5
.8
.3
2.6
.2
(4)
.6
.3
.6
.8
.3
1.2
.3
.2
1.1
.1
.4
.3
.3
1.0
1.0
.3
.5
.5
.7
.4
.3
.8
.7
.3
.2
.3 2.8 3.5
.4 8.0 8.8
.3 6.3 5.8
.4 6.5 6.6
.4 4.7 5.4
.6 15.2 15.7
.3 3.2 4.2
(4)
(4)
(4)
5.7
4.3
5.8
5.9
3. 1
7.9
.3
.4 10.2
9.2
.3
.6
3.3
5.5
.3
.5
8.7 10.6
.4
.3
.3
.4
.4
1291
Labor Turnover
T able 2. —Monthly Labor-Turnover Rates (per 100 Employees) in Selected Groups and
Industries,1 September 1944—Continued
T otal
separa
tion
Q uit
D is
charge
Lay-off
G roup and industry
M ilitary
and
miscel
laneous
T otal
accession
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
tern I A u tem A u tem Au tem-’! A u tem A u tem Au
ber gust ber gust ber gust ber gust ber gust ber 2 gust
M anufacturing—C ontinued
Iron and steel and their products—Con.
F a b r i c a t e d structural-m etal
products_______ _____ ____
Bolts, n u ts, washers, and riv ets. __
Forgings, iron and steel_________
Firearm s, 60 caliber and u n d e r...
Electrical m achinery_________
Electrical equipm ent for indus
trial use_________________
Radios, radio equipm ent, and
phonographs_________________
C om m unication equipm ent, ex
cept radios. ____________ ____
M achinery, except electrical______
Engines and tu rb in es______
A g r i c u l t u r a l m achinery and
tracto rs_______
_ ____ . . .
M achine tools ___________ ____
M achine-tool accessories_______
M etalw orking m achinery and
equipm ent, not elsewhere clas
sified____________
Textile m achinery_____ . . .
General industrial machinery, except pum p s_______________
P um ps and pum ping equipm ent..
T ransportation equipm ent, except
autom obiles__ ____ ____________
A ircraft_________________
Aircraft p a rts___________
Shipbuilding and repairs_______
A utom obiles___________ . _________
M otor vehicles, bodies, and trail
ers__________________________
M o tor-vehicle p arts and acces
sories........... ................... ............. .
9.4
7.1
5.1
6.1
9.9
5.5
6.4
8.2
6.4
4.8
6.4
3.8
4. C
4.
7.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
O.f
6.1
5.2
4.9
.e
4.7
3.8
3.5
.2
.4
.8
l.
.7
.5
.6
1.'
2.7
.4
l.C
1.0
.1
1.0
2.3
.6
.3
.3
.5
.4
.4
0.4
.3
.3
.2
0.5
.3
.4
.4
6.2
3.3
3.5
5.3
.3
.3
4.7
4.5
.3
.3
3.2
3.2
6.0
6.8
3.8
3.6
6.0
7.8
8.2
6.6
6.8
.8
.9
.2
.2
.2
.3
5.8
6.4
4.8
5.2
3.7
.5
.4
.2
.3
.5
.4
4.4
3.6
5.5
6.1
5.9
6.7
4.1
4.7
4.5
4.6
.6
.5
.6
.8
.5
.6
.4
.9
.3
.3
.4
.4
3.7
4.0
4. 1
4. 7
5.5
4.2
4.6
7.2
4.0
5.4
4.3
2.9
3.0
6.0
2.9
3.8
.5
.5
.6
.5
.6
.8
.3
.5
.8
.3
.2
.4
.4
.3
.2
.4
.3
.4
4.5
2.8
3.1
5.8
2.9
3.7
4.6
(4)
5.7
4.5
(4)
6.3
3.4
(4)
4.4
3.3
(4)
4.9
.6
(4)
.6
.5
(4)
.7
.2
(4)
.4
.3
(4)
.3
.4
(4)
.3
.4
(4)
.4
3.1
(4)
3.6
3.5
(4)
3.9
6.5
5.1
4.9
4.0
.7
.6
.6
.1
.3
.4
4.3
4.4
8.8 8.9
8.3 8.5
6.8 6.3
10.2 10.8
6.2
6.0
4.8
7.0
6.0
6.1
4.4
6.9
1.2
.7
.7
1.9
1.3
.7
.8
2.1
1.0
1. 2
1. 1
.9
1.1
1.2
.8
1.3
.4
.4
.2
.4
.5
.5
.3
.5
6.0
4.8
4.2
7.8
6.2
4.9
4.4
8.1
6.1
6.5
4.6
4.8
.8
1.0
.4
.4
.3
.3
6.4
6.8
5.5
5.6
4.2
3.8
.7
1.0
.3
.5
.3
.3
6.2
7.1
6.3
7.2
4.8
5.5
.8
1.1
.4
.3
.3
.3
6.6
6.7
Nonferrous m etals and their products
8.1 8.3 5.4 6.1
P rim ary sm elting and refining, ex
cept alum inum and magnesium . 4.1 5.1 3.3 4.0
A lum inum and m agnesium sm elt
ing and refining _____________ 17.5 15.6 10.7 11.5
Rolling and draw ing of copper and
copper a llo y s__________ ____
4.5 4.8 3.8 4. 1
A lum inum and magnesium prod
ucts ____________________ ____
8.1 8.9 5.2 6.0
Lighting e q u ip m en t___________
7.8 8.0 5.8 6.4
Nonferrous-metal foundries, ex
cept alum inum and m agnesium . 10.5 7.9 6.1 6.2
.6
.8
1.7
1.0
.4
.4
4.5
5.5
3. 1
L um ber and tim ber basic products . .
Sawmills_______________ _______
Planing and plywood m ills_____
9.8 10.5
9.7 10.3
9.0 9.0
F u rn itu re and finished lum ber prod
u cts________________ _______ _____
F urnitu re, including mattresses
and b ed sp rin g s............................
9.6 10.2
8.5
8.7
.6
.6
.3
.6
.2
.3
8.3
8.5
9.4 10.1
8.2
8.6
.7
.6
.2
.6
.3
.3
8.2
8.4
Stone, clay, and glass products____
Glass and glass p roducts______
C em ent_______________________
Brick, tile, and terra c o tta _______
P o ttery and related pro d u cts____
5.9
6.2
4.0
6.4
6.4
6.7
7.4
3.5
8.6
7.3
4.9
4.9
3.3
5.2
5.7
5.3
5.4
2.9
7.0
6.1
.3
.4
.4
.2
.2
.4
.6
.2
.6
.3
.3
.4
.1
.6
.2
.6
.9
.2
.6
.5
.4
.5
.2
.4
.3
.4
.5
.2
.4
.4
4.7
5.3
3.5
4.2
5.7
5.3
5.2
4.1
6.6
5.7
Textile-m ill products_______________
C o tto n .________ _______________
Silk and rayon goods____________
Woolen and w orsted, except dye
ing and finishing________ ____ _
Hosiery, full-fashioned........ ............
Hosiery, seam less........................ .
7.3
8.4
7.2
6.9
7.8
7.5
6.3
7.3
6.3
6.0
6.8
6.2
.4
.5
.5
.4
.5
.6
.4
.4
.2
.3
.2
.3
.2
.2
.2
.2
.3
.4
5.9
6. S
6.6
5.6
6.4
6.8
4.3
5.1
6.5
4.7
5.7
7.1
3.6
4.7
6.0
3.8
5.1
6.4
.2
.1
.2
.3
.3
.3
.3
.2
.2
.4
.2
.2
.2
.1
.1
.2
.1
.2
3.9
3.8
5.7
3.1
3.9
6.1
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8.7
8.6
7.6
9.0
8.9
7.2
.3
.4
.2
.4
.3
.3
3.0
.5
.6
5.6
2.6
.7
.9
4.3
6.7
.3
.3
.2
.1
.2
.3
3.9
5. 2
.8
.6
1.0
.7
1.7
1.2
1.4
.5
.4
.2
.5 4.2
.4 10.1
5.0
8.6
.6
.7
3.5
.7
.3
.3
5. 0
6.4
.3
.3
.5
.5
.4
.8
.5
.5
.6
.6
.6
.6
.3
.3
.3
.4
.4
.4
7.6
7.3
7.7
8.8
8.9
7.2
1292
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T able 2.—Mouthy Labor-Turnover Rates (per 100 Employees) in Selected Groups and
Industries,1 September 1944—Continued
Total
separa
tion
D is
charge
Q uit
M ilitary
and
miscel
laneous
Lay-off
Total
accession
G roup and in d u stry
Sep Au Sep A u Sep A u Sep Au Sep A u Sep Au
tem gust tem gust tem gust tem gust tem gust
tem gust
ber 2
ber 2
ber 2
ber 2
ber 2
ber 2
M anufacturing—C ontinued
Textile-mill products—C ontinued.
----------K n itted underw ear.
D yeing and finishing textiles, ineluding woolen and w orsted----A pparel and other finished textile
products_________________________
M en ’s and bovs’ suits, coats, and
overcoats------------ --------M en ’s and boys’ furnishings, work
clothing, and allied g arm en ts—
L eather and leather products----------L eather _____
____
___
Boots and shoes----------- ------ -----Food and kindred p roducts-------------M eat products--- -------------Grain-mill products-------------------
7.6
6.5
6.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
l.i
0.1
0.1
5.2
5.7
4.1
4.2
.3
.7
.2
.5
.3
.3
4.0
3.8
7.2
7.1
6.2
6.5
.2
.2
.7
.3
.1
.1
5.6
5.6
4.6
5.3
4.3
4.8
.1
.2
.1
.3
.1
4.6
4.5
7.3
7.3
6.9
6.7
.2
.3
.1
.2
.1
.1
5.6
5.5
6.8
4.5
7.2
7.7
6.4
8.0
6.2
3.7
6.6
6.8
5.3
7.1
.3
.3
.3
.3
.3
.3
.1
.2
.1
.3
.5
.3
.2
.3
.2
.3
.3
.3
5.7
3. 4
6.1
6.5
4. /
6.9
9.6 10.9
8.7 11.5
9.6 11.0
.6
.6
.6
.7
.7
.8
.3
.4
.i
.6
.7
.8
.3
.3
.3
.4
.5
.4
9.9 10.5
8. 2 10. 5
9.8 9. 5
6.9
4.9
10.8 12.6
10.0 13.4
10.6 13.0
(5)
4.6
Tobacco m anufactures...... .............. .......
8.0
7.8
7.5
7.2
.3
.4
,i
.1
.1
.1
7.6
8.3
Paper and allied products----------------Paper and p u lp .
____________
Paper boxes.......................................
8.0 8.0
7.5 7.3
9.0 10. 1
7.0
6.5
8.1
6.9
6.2
9.0
.4
.4
.5
.5
.5
.6
.3
.3
.2
.2
.2
.2
.3
.3
.2
.4
.4
.3
7.1
6. 7
9. 2
6.7
6. 3
8. 6
Chemicals and allied pro d u cts_______
P aints, varnishes, and colors____
R ayon and allied products______
In d u strial chemicals, except ex. . . _______
plosives______
E xplosives6. . . . _ ____________
Small-arms a m m u n itio n ................
6.3
4.7
6.4
5.7
5.3
4.8
4.8
3.9
4.8
4.4
4.3
4.0
.6
.4
>.4
.6
.6
.3
.6
.1
.9
.3
.1
.2
.3
.3
.3
.4
.3
.3
5.7
3.4
5.1
6.5
5. 3
4. 6
5.3
7.2
8.0
5.2
6.3
6.7
4.2
6.2
5.3
4.1
4.7
4.9
.5
.6
.8
.6
.9
.8
.2
(5)
1.7
.1
.2
.4
.4
.7
.2
.4
.5
.3
4.2
8. 5
7.4
4.7
9. 3
9.9
Products of petroleum and coal. . . . .
Petroleum refining______ _______
4.0
3.9
3.8
3.7
3.2
3.1
3.0
2.9
.3
.3
.4
.4
.2
.2
.
.
1
1
.3
.3
.3
.3
3.2
3. 2
3.7
3. 5
R ubber products___________________
R ubber tires and inner tu b e s____
R ubber footwear and related
products_____________________
M iscellaneous rubber industries __
7.5
6.8
8.0
7.4
6.6
6.0
6.7
6.1
.4
.4
.5
.5
.
.2
1
.4
.5
.3
.3
.4
.3
6.0
6. 3
7.1
7. 9
7.8
8.3
9.:
8.4
7.1
7.2
8.2
7.1
.3
.4
.5
.6
.2
.4
.2
.2
.2
.3
.4
.5
6. y
5. 5
6.7
6. 2
M iscellaneous industries____________
5.9
5.1
4.8
4.0
.4
.5
.4
.3
.3
.3
4.9
3.9
6. a
3.7
7.
7.:
5.
3.2
5.9
5.2
4.
2."
5."
.3
.7
.3
.4
.3
.£
.a
.6
.5
.7
.5
.7
5A
.4
.2
.5
.4
.4
.
.3
A
3.7
l.i
4.4
4.
3.9
2.1
4.4
4. 9
9.7
8A
7.2
A
.8
3.:
A
A
5.
6.1
.
.2
.
1.
3.
1.4
3.4
.
.
2.
4.
3.
3.
Nonmanufacturing
M etal m ining____ .
_ _
..
___ 6.7
Iron ore_____ _________________ 4.:
7.
Copper ore___ ______ _____ __ . .
6.
Lead and zinc o re .. . . .
_ ____
M etal m ining, not elsewhere
classified, including alum inum
ore__________________________ i3.c
Coal mining:
1
A nthracite ................................ .......................
4.
B itum inous_____ ____________________
Public utilities:
4.:
T elephone____________________
4.
Telegraph 3_..................................
1.'
4.:
1.'
3.
1.
3.
3.
3 .'
4.0
3.:
3.
.
.
.2
.]
.
.2
.2
( 5)
0)
.2
•
.]
A
l.C
1 Since Jan u ary 1943 m anufacturing firms reporting labor turnover have been assigned indu stry codes
on th e basis of current products. M ost plants in the em ploym ent and pay-roll sample, comprising those
which were in operation in 1939, are classified according to their major activity a t th a t time, regardless of
any subsequent change in major products.
2 Prelim inary figures.
3 Previously published rates have been revised as follows:
Tanks, February 1943 to June 1944.— Revised d ata available upon request.
Stoves, oil burners, and heating equipment, September 1943 through June 1944-—Q uit rates to 6.8, o.7, 6.1,
5.9, 5.2, 4.9, 5.6, 7.3, 8.1, and 7.5; lay-ofl rates to 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 0.5, 0.7, 1.4, 1.9, 0.8, 0.2, and 0.2.
Telegraphy Jan uary 1944 through M a y 1944.—T otal separation rate to 3.5, 3.3, 3.4, 3.4, and 4.0; quit rates
to 3.1, 2.9, 2.9, 3.0, and 3.6; total accession rates to 3.6, 3.4, 3.4, 3.4, and 3.6.
4 N ot available.
5 Less th a n 0.05.
3 D ata not strictly comparable to those published previous to July.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1293
Labor Turnover
T able 3.—-Monthly Labor-Turnover Rates (per 100 Employees) 1 for Men and Women
in Selected Industries Engaged in War Production, September 1944 2
Total separa
tion
G roup and in d u stry
M en
All m anufacturing .
.
___________
.
Women
Q uit
M en
Total accession
W omen
M en
W omen
6.2
9.3
4.7
7.8
4.7
7.8
O rdnance__________________ ____
G uns, howitzers, m ortars, and related equipm ent
A m m unition, except for small arms _
T a n k s .. _____
_
Sighting and fire-control equipm ent________
7.6
6.5
9.2
7.1
3.0
11.4
13.4
11.8
15.3
5.5
5.5
3.9
6.9
5.6
2.2
9.4
7.5
10.4
7.4
4.3
5.7
3.7
7.4
6.0
1.6
10.2
7.0
11.7
6.5
4.1
Iron and steel and th eir p roducts. ___
B last furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills
Gray-iron eastin g s__________ _. _.
M alleable-iron castings ____________
__________
Steel castings______
Cast-iron pipe and fittin g s________
Firearm s, 60 caliber and u n d e r. _____
5.0
3.6
7.7
6.0
6.6
5.6
5.0
10.1
8.4
7.8
10.1
9.4
6.7
9.4
3.8
2.7
6.3
4.8
5.4
5.0
3.3
8.2
7.5
6.8
5.8
6.9
6.3
6.8
3.8
2.6
7.5
6.3
6.3
4.5
3.4
8.1
5.8
9.8
6.0
8.0
6.9
9.1
Electrical m achinery___ ________ _______
Electrical equipm ent for in d u strial use .
Radios, radio equipm ent, and phonographs
Com m unication equipm ent, except radios
4.6
3.6
5.0
4.8
8.6
7.1
10.0
7.7
3.3
2.6
3.7
3.5
7.3
5.9
8.8
6.6
3.3
2.1
4.3
3.1
6.2
5.0
6.7
5.5
M achinery, except electrical.. . . . . . . .
E ngines a n d 'tu rb in e s ..
. . . . ............. ...
M achine tools _______ __
M achine-tool accessories___ . . . . .
M etalw orking m achinery and equipm ent, not
elsewhere c l a s s i f i e d _____ . . . _
General in d u strial m achinery, except pum ps _
Pum ps an d pum ping equipm ent . . . . . . . .
4.6
5.3
3.5
4.2
8.6
8.5
7.9
6.3
3.3
3.8
2.3
2.5
6.7
6.9
6.2
4.7
3.0
3.5
2.1
2.4
5.8
5.3
6.5
5.6
4.1
4.6
5.6
7.3
8.8
10.0
2.9
3.4
4.4
5.9
7.2
7.1
2.6
3.0
3.9
4.9
5.3
6.2
T ransportation equipm ent, except automobiles _
A ircraft_________ _______ _____
A ircraft p a r t s ___________ ____ _ ._
Shipbuilding and repairs______ ________________
8.1
6.7
5.4
10.1
10.8
10.4
9.6
13.2
5.4
4.7
3.6
6.6
8.2
8.0
7.0
10.1
5.4
3.6
3.2
7.5
5. 5
Nonferrous m etals and their products______
_ _
P rim ary sm elting and refining, except alum inum
and m agnesium _________________
A lum inum and magnesium smelting and refining
Rolling and draw ing of copper and copper alloys..
A lum inum and m agnesium p ro d u c ts.. . . .
Nonferrous-metal foundries, except alum inum and
m agnesium . __ _ _____ _
7.3
10.7
4.9
7.2
3.8
6.9
3.8
17.3
3.7
7.4
7.5
19.4
7.0
10.7
3.0
10.6
3.0
4.8
6.5
11.4
6.4
6.7
2.7
4.2
2.6
3.9
7.3
5.6
8.2
5.3
8.5
15.1
5.2
8.2
4.4
6.6
5.1
4.7
6.3
6.1
8.3
7.3
9.9
8.2
3.9
3.7
5.2
4.0
6.8
6.2
8.9
6.4
4. 5
4.0
7.4
4.6
8. 4
5.2
11. 2
10.5
Chemicals and allied products . . . _______
In du strial chemicals, except explosives
Explosives 3____ . . . ______
Slmall-arms am m u n itio n . . . . . . . . . _
7.7
6.6
12.3
1 These figures are presented to show comparative turnover rates a n d should not be used to estim ate
employment.
2 D ata are prelim inary.
3 E'ata no t strictly comparable w ith those published previous to July.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
B uilding Operations
B u ild in g C on stru ction in U rban A reas, O ctober 1 9 4 4
BUILDING construction started in urban areas of tlie United States
during October was valued at 91 million dollars, exceeding the Sep
tember total by 12 percent. Both Federal and non-Federal building
values increased in October. Federal building construction rose by
36 percent, reflecting the installation of large and important naval
facilities, while non-Federal building increased 4 percent. The total
value of new nonresidential construction started during this month,
both Federal and non-Federal, rose 29 percent over September as
compared with a 2-percent increase in new residential building and
additions, alterations, and repairs.
The volume of work started this month was 21 percent less than in
October a year ago, with declines in both Federal and non-Federal
construction. The sharp drop of 57 percent in new residential build
ing, however, was partially offset by an increase of 24 percent in
addition, alteration, and repair values this October as compared with
October 1943.
T able 1.— Summary of Building Construction in A ll Urban Areas, October 1943,
September and October 1944
N um ber of buildings
Percent of
change, from—
Class of construction
October
1944
Sep
tem ber October
1943
1944
Valuation
October
1944
(in thou
sands)
Percent of
change from—
Sep
tem ber October
1943
1944
All building construction. . . _______________
56, 509
+10.1
- 5 .0
$91,056
+12.1
-2 0 .8
N ew residential. .
.
.........
N ew nonresidential. . . . _____ . . .
A dditions, alterations, and re p a irs.. . .
6,490
8,159
41,860
+11.3
+24.1
+ 7 .5
-5 2 .7
+ 4 .6
+10.4
21,855
39,170
30,031
+ 1 .7
+29.2
+ 2.1
-5 6 .8
- 2 .5
+24.1
___
___
The total of 7,573 family dwelling units for which permits were
issued or Federal contracts awarded during October 1944 was 13
percent above the September figure but 56 percent below that for
October 1943. Over nine-tenths of the new dwelling units, or 6,878,
were privately financed; 695 were in Federal war housing projects.
In October a year ago Federally financed units accounted for over
three-tenths of the total.
1294
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1295
Building Operations
T able 2. —Number and Valuation of New Dwelling Units in A ll Urban Areas, by
Source of Funds and Type of Dwelling, October 1943, September and October 1944
N um ber of dwelling units
Percent of
change from—
Source of funds and type of dwelling
October
1944
All dw ellings______________
V aluation
___
P riv ately financed____________ __ __
1-family- . . . . . . _ . .
2-family >___________
M ultifam ily 2____ ______ ____
Federally fin an ced ... ________ .
Sep
tem ber
1944
Octo
ber
1943
7,573
+13.3
-5 5 .9
6,878
. 5,284
733
861
695
+10.2
+ 6 .5
+27.5
+22.1
+56.9
-4 1 .9
-2 4 .7
-5 9 .3
-7 1 .5
-8 7 .0
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings w ith stores.
Percent of
change from—
October
1944 (in
thousands)
Sep
tem ber
1944
$21, 784
Octo
ber
1943
+ 5 .2
-5 6 .7
19, 690
-.4
15,225
-1 .8
1,881
-8 .4
2,604 +15.8
2,094 +127.1
-4 8 .0
-3 6 .4
-6 5 .0
-6 9 .7
-8 3 .2
2 Includes m ultifam ily dwellings w ith stores.
Comparison of First 10 Months of 1943 and 1944
Permit valuations and contract values for all building construction
as reported in the first 10 months of 1944 are compared with similar
data for 1943 in tables 3 and 4. The cumulative value of building
construction started thus far in 1944 was nearly 918 million dollars,
T able 3.— Valuation of Building Construction in A ll Urban Areas, by Class of Con
struction, First 10 Months of 1943 and 1944
Valuation (in thousands of dollars)
T otal construction
Federal construction
Class of construction
F irst 10 m onths of—
1944
1943
Percent
of
change
F irst 10 m onths of—
1944
1943
Percent
of
change
All construction______________
917,914
1,076,000
-1 4 .7
273, 226
498,327
-4 5 .2
N ew residen tial.. __ ________ . __
N ew nonresidential_________
Additions, alterations, and repairs____
297,825
360,333
259, 756
490,255
390,826
194,919
-3 9 .3
- 7 .8
+33.3
41,461
219, 787
11,978
172,844
310,833
14,650
-7 6 .0
-2 9 .3
-1 8 .2
T able 4.— Number and Valuation of New Dwelling Units in A ll Urban Areas, by
Source of Funds and Type of Dtvelling, First 10 Months of 1943 and 1944
N um ber of dwelling units
Source of funds and type of dwelling
F irst 10 m onths of—
1944
All dwellings__________________ ________
1943
V aluation (in thousands of
dollars)
P e r F irst 10 m onths of— P e r
cent of
cent of
change
change
1944
1943
96,355
177,087
-4 5 .6
294,088
478,197
-3 8 .5
P riv ately financed________ __
81,388
1fam ily_____ _________ ___________.
..
62,461
2-fam ily i _________ _ __
8,258
M ultifam ily 2- - _ _____________ .
10, 669
F ederal_____________ ______
14, 967
101,840
65,603
13, 932
22,305
75,247
-2 0 .1
-4 .8
-4 0 .7
-5 2 .2
-8 0 . 1
254,615
195,333
27,863
31, 419
39, 473
316, 584
216, 215
38,985
61, 384
161,613
-1 9 .6
- 9 .7
-2 8 .5
-4 8 .8
-7 5 .6
1 Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings w ith stores.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2 Includes m ultifam ily dwellings w ith stores.
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
1296
15 percent less than the valuation of 1}U billion dollars for the same
period of 1943. Non-Federal building was 12 percent higher, how
ever, while Federal building had decreased in valuation by 45 percent.
The 10-month cumulative value of new residential building was nearly
two-fifths less this year than in 1943; as compared with a drop of only
8 percent for new non residential building and an increase of one-third
for additions, alterations, and repairs.
,
Construction from Public Funds October 1944
The value of contracts awarded and force-account work started
during September and October 1944 and October 1943 on all con
struction projects, excluding shipbuilding, financed wholly or partially
from Federal funds and reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics is
shown in table 5. This table includes construction both inside and
outside the corporate limits of cities in urban areas of the United
States.
T able 5.— Value of Contracts Awarded and Force-Account Work Started on Construc
tion Projects 1 Financed From Federal Funds, October 1944
Value (in thousands) of contracts aw arded and
force-account w ork started in—
Source of funds
October 1944 2
All Federal funds
______________
_______ -
-
W ar public works _
______________________ _
R egular Federal appropriations 1 __________________
Federal P ublic H ousing A u th o rity
_____ _____
September
1944 3
October 1943 3
$61, 726
$94, 479
$183,260
5, 351
54,185
2,190
7,066
84,990
2,423
4,919
146, 507
31,834
1 Excludes th e following am ounts for ship construction: October 1944, $29,697; Septem ber 1944, $37,722;
October 1943, $190,439.
2 Prelim inary; subject to revision.
3 Revised.
Coverage and Method
Figures on building construction in this report cover the entire
urban area of the United States which by Census definition includes
all incorporated places with a 1940 population of 2,500 or more and,
by special rule, a small number of unincorporated civil divisions.
Valuation figures, the basis for statements concerning volume, are
derived from the estimates of construction cost made by prospective
private builders when applying for permits to build, and the value
of contracts awarded by Federal and State governments. No land
costs are included. Unless otherwise indicated, only building con
struction within the corporate limits of cities in urban areas is included
in the tabulations.
Reports of building permits which were received in October 1944
for cities containing between 80 and 85 percent of the urban popula
tion of the country provide the basis for estimating the total number of
buildings and dwelling units and the valuation of private urban
construction. Similar data for Federally financed urban building
construction are compiled directly from notifications of construction
contracts awarded, as furnished by Federal agencies.
The contracts awarded for Federally financed building construction
in urban areas were valued at $27,895,000 in October 1944, $20,516,000 in September 1944, and $42,372,000 in October 1943.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Treiid o f Em ploym ent, Earnings, and Hours
Sum m ary o f R eports for O ctober 1 9 4 4
THE total number of employees in nonagricultural establishments
was 38,481,000 in October 1944, over 110,000 less than in September
and about a million and a quarter less than in October 1943, but the
armed forces took almost 2,000,000 men and women during the year.
Employment in each of the major industry divisions, with the excep
tion of trade, declined over the month. The increase of 176,000
employees in trade was necessitated primarily by the increased fall
volume of retail sales, due in part to gift buying for servicemen.
Industrial and Business Employment
Wage-earner employment in all manufacturing industries declined
142,000 over the month to 12,660,000, as compared with 13,965,000
in October 1943. Employment in each of the durable-goods groups
and in all but two of the nondurable-goods groups is below that of a
T able 1.—Estimated Number of Wage Earners and Indexes of Wage-Earner Employ
ment in Manufacturing Industries, by Major Industry Group 1
Estim ated num ber of wage
earners (in thousands)
W age-earner
indexes
(1939 = 100)
In d u stry group
Sep August October October Sep
October tem
ber
ber
1944 2
1944
1943
19442 tem
1944
1944
All m anufacturing_____ __ __ _ . . . . .
--------- 12,660
7,460
_ . . . --------------- _ . .
D urable goods______
5,200
N ondurable goods............ .
.
12,802
7, 570
5, 232
12,942
7,690
5, 252
13,965
8, 389
5, 576
154.5
206.6
113.5
156. 3
209.6
114.2
Iron and steel and th eir p ro d u cts........................ ............
Electrical m achinery ... ------ -. . -------------------___ . . . . .
M achinery, ot her . . . . . . . .
T ransportatio n equipm ent, except autom obiles_____
A utom obiles____ ____________ ___________________
N onferrous metals and their products-------------- . . . .
L um ber and tim ber basic p ro d u cts____ ____________
F u rn itu re and finished lum ber p roducts___
.. ...
Stone, clay, and glass products--------------------------------
1,633
701
1,127
1,913
662
365
408
330
321
1,647
711
1,137
1,948
676
369
423
333
326
1,662
716
1,151
1,992
684
378
434
342
331
1,731
734
1, 255
2,324
751
422
463
359
350
164.7
270.4
213.3
1205. 2
164.6
159.0
97.2
100.6
109.5
166.1
274.2
215.2
1227.1
168.2
161.1
100.6
101.6
111.0
Textile-m ill products and other fiber m an u factu res.. .
A pparel and other finished textile p ro d u cts_______ _
L eather and leather p roducts. ___ ____ __________ .
F ood____________________________________________
Tobacco m anufactures______ _ ---------------------------P aper and allied products--------------------------------------Printing, publishing, and allied industries_____ _____
Chemicals and allied pro d u cts______ ______ _ . . . . .
Products of petroleum and coal__________ _. --------R ubber products---------- ------------------------------- . .
M iscellaneous industries___________ _________ . .
1,072
766
303
1,053
83
298
330
604
133
189
369
1,077
763
303
1,097
82
296
325
595
134
191
369
1,084
765
307
1,092
82
302
332
590
135
191
372
1,187
825
314
1,045
89
313
336
740
126
195
406
93.8
97.0
87.4
123.3
89.2
112.2
100.8
209.7
125.6
156.6
150.7
94.2
96.6
87.3
128.3
88.1
111.6
99.2
206.6
126.2
157.6
150.7
1 T he estim ates and indexes presented in this table have been adjusted to final d ata for 1941 and prelim i
n a ry d ata for th e second q u arter of 1942 m ade available b y the B ureau of E m ploym ent Security of the Federal
Security Agency.
2 Prelim inary.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1297
1298
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
year ago. The transportation equipment group declined by more
than 400,000 and in the chemicals, machinery, textile, and iron and
steel groups, by 100,000 or more. Only the food and petroleum groups
employed more wage earners in October 1944 than in October 1943,
and in each the increase was less than 10,000.
Further curtailment in many of the war industries is primarily re
sponsible for a decline between September and October of 110,000
wage earners in the durable-goods group as a whole. A greaterthan-seasonal decline in the lumber group, owing in part to the diffi
culty of recruiting labor, also contributed to the over-all decrease.
|g| The decline of 32,000 wage earners in the nondurable-goods group
as a whole was brought about by seasonal decreases in the food group,
primarily in the canning industry.
pit Employment in bituminous-coal mining was 343,000 in October—■
5,000 less than in September and 30,000 less than in October 1943.
Each of the important mining States reported fewer coal miners in
October than in September. The number of metal miners also de
clined, reflecting in part the curtailment in aluminum mining.
Public Employment
Regular Federal — Employment in the executive branch of the
Federal Government declined 23,000 in October 1944 to a total of
3,271,000. An increase of approximately 2,000 occurred in the Post
Office Department, but declines of 12,000 and 6,000 occurred in the
War and Navy Departments, respectively, and smaller declines in a
number of the other agencies. Employment outside the continental
limits of the United States showed an increase of 5,000 in war agencies
but remained practically the same (16,000) in other agencies.
In the Washington metropolitan area, employment declined 5,500
in October 1944 to a total of 259,000. This was 29,000 below the peak
in March 1943 and 64,000 above the level in November 1941. Three
of every five persons on full-time jobs in October 1944 were women.
Although total employment in Government corporations showed
slight change between September and October 1944, the Panama Rail
road Co. expanded its activities, while employment in the Federal
Reserve Banks and banks of the Farm Credit Administration declined.
Shipbuilding and repair.—Employment on the Federal shipbuilding
program declined 23,000 in October 1944 to a total of 1,477,000. Half
the decline occurred in the North Atlantic region; the other half was
distributed throughout the other regions. Pay rolls did not show
proportionate changes because of the fact that in many of the ship
yards five workweeks ended during October—instead of the usual four.
Sources of data.—Data for the Federal executive service are reported
to the Civil Service Commission, whereas data for the legislative and
judicial services and Government corporations are reported to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (table 2). Employment and pay rolls on
shipbuilding and repair projects (table 3) are received directly from
all shipyards within continental United States. Employees in the
United States navy yards are included both in the data for the Federal
executive service and in those for shipbuilding and repair.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Trend of Employment, Earnings, and Hours
1299
T able 2.— E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls in R e g u la r F e d e ra l S e rv ic e s, a n d in G o vern m en t
Corporations, October 1944
[Subject to revision]
E m ploym ent
P a y rolls
Service
October Septem October
1944
ber 1944
1943
T o ta l___________________________
October
1944
Septem ber
1944
October
1943
. 3, 315,851 3, 338, 350 3, 227,138 $708,104,839 $713, 292, 650 $681, 674, 000
E x e c u tiv e 2. .
...
__________
3, 270, 519 3, 293, 408 3,181, 084 700, 237,000 705, 285,000
W ar agencies 3_____ . . . ______ . . 2, 426, 755 2, 445,954 2,363,983 531, 662,000 535, 297, 000 518, 0)
200,000
C ontinental U nited S tates___. . .
2,053, 019 2,076, 973 2,025,039
0)
(0
0)
O utside continental U nitedStates A 373, 756 368, 981 338,944
(>)
0)
0)
O ther agencies............ .......................... 843,744 847, 474 817,101 168, 575, 000 169, 355, 000 163, 474, 000
C ontinental U nited States.
827,920 831, 525 799,336
(0
(0
(0
Outside continental U nited S ta te s4
15,824
15, 949
17, 765
0)
(>)
(9
Judicial_____________
2,633
2,641
2,651
754,771
776,729
768,235
Legislative_____________________
6, 240
6,272
6,135
1,522,068
1, 526, 921
1,502, 366
G overnm ent corporations 5________
36,459
36,029
37,268
5, 591, 000
5, 704, 000
0)
1 D a ta no t available.
2 Includes employees in U nited States n av y yards'w ho'are'alscTincluded under shipbuilding (table 3)
and employees on force-account construction who are also included under construction projects (table 4)
P a y rolls are estim ated.
3 Covers W ar and N av y D epartm ents, M aritim e Commission, N ational Advisory C om m ittee for Aero
nautics, the P an am a Canal, Office for Em ergency M anagem ent, Office of Censorship, Office of Price A d
m inistration, Office of Strategic Services, Selective Service System, the Petroleum A dm inistration for
W ar, W ar Refugee Board, and C om m ittee for Congested Production Areas.
4 Includes Alaska and the P an am a Canal Zone.
9 D a ta are for employees of the P anam a Railroad Co., the Federal Reserve B anks, and banks of the Farm
C redit A dm inistration, who are paid o u t of operating revenues and not out of Federal appropriations.
D ata for other G overnm ent corporations are included under executive service.
T able 3. — Total Employment and P ay Rolls in United States N avy Yards and Private
Shipyards Within Continental United States, by Shipbuilding Region, October 1944
Em ploym ent (in thousands)
P a y rolls (in thousands)
Shipbuilding region
All regions.. . ________ _______ .
U nited States n av y yards 2_____
P rivate sh ip y ard s... ________ . . .
N o rth A tlan tic_________
South A tlan tic__________ . .
G ulf......................... . . .
Pacific_______________
G reat L akes___________ _ .
In la n d ........................
..
October
1944 1
Septem
ber 1944
October
1943
October
1944 i
Septem
ber 1944
1,476. 9
320.7
1,156. 2
1,500.0
322.0
1,178. 0
1, 715.3
325.7
1, 389. 6
$432, 616
90, 406
342, 210
$437,815
90,815
347, 000
527.9
130.0
195.7
510.4
54.8
58.1
540.2
132.0
198.2
513.5
56.4
59.7
634.4
152.7
232.9
577.5
66.6
51. 2
156, 235
35, 231
57,966
150,740
17,324
15,120
158, 269
36,435
60, 777
150,672
16, 360
15, 302
October
1943
$451,288
90, 506
360; 782
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
1 Prelim inary.
2 Includes all n av y yards w ithin continental]jUnitedi!StatesIeonstructing or repairing ships, including
the C urtis B ay (M d.) Coast G uard Yard.
3 Break-down no t available, j
Construction Employment
Employment on Federally financed projects constituted 55 percent
of the total site employment of 913,000 in October 1943, but a decline
of 289,000 owing to the completion of war facilities brought it to 35
percent of the 609,000 total in October 1944. Site employment on
non-Federal projects, on the other hand, showed little change from
October 1943 to October 1944 in its level of approximately 400,000.
There was a marked shift, however, from residential to nonresidential
building projects.
During the month of October 1944, employment on nonresidential
building construction increased 5,200 on Federal projects and 4,800
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
1300
on non-Federal projects. Early declines on the construction and
maintenance of State roads (starting in September) indicate disturb
ance of the usual seasonal pattern by wartime conditions. Monthly
changes on the other types of projects were relatively small.
Source of data.—For construction projects financed wholly or par
tially from Federal funds, the Bureau of Labor Statistics receives
monthly reports on employment and pay rolls at the construction
site, directly from the contractors or from the Federal agency sponsor
ing the project. Force-account employees hired directly by the
Federal Government are also included in table 2 under Federal
executive service.
Estimates of employment on non-Federal construction projects
(except State roads) are obtained by converting the value of work
started (compiled from reports on building permits issued, priorities
granted, and from certain special reports) into monthly expenditures
and employment by means of factors which have been developed from
special studies and adjusted to current conditions. For State roads
projects, data represent estimates of the Public Roads Administration.
T able 4.—Estimated Employment and P ay Rolls on Construction W ithin Continental
United States, October 1944
E m ploym ent (in thousands)
T y p e of project
N ew construction, t o t a l 2 . . . _______________
A t th e construction site__________________
Federal projects 4_ . ____ ___________
A irports____
_________________
B uildings____ ________________ . .
R esid e n tia l.. . _______
____
N o n resid en tial5 __________ _
Electrification. _ ________________
R eclam ation______ ______ _ . . .
R iver, harbor, and flood control ..
Streets and highw ays. ______ . . .
W ater and sewer system s___ . . . _
Miscellaneous. _ _______ _______
N on-Federal projects. . . _______ ____
B uildings____ _________________
R esidential___ _______________
N onresidential_______________
F a rm _____________ _____________
P ublic utilities___________________
Streets and highw ays_____________
S ta te ______________ ________
C ou n ty and m unicipal________
M iscellaneous___ __ ____________
O ther 6 . . ____________ ____ ______ _ . . .
M aintenance of S tate roads 7_________________
P ay rolls (in thousands)
October Septem October O ctober Septem October
1944 i ber 1944
1944 i ber 1944
1943
1943
747.6
609.3
215.1
11.4
137.5
16.4
121.1
.6
11.0
19.5
16.4
5.5
13.2
394.2
200. 7
94.3
106.4
53.5
88.0
35.6
17. 1
18.5
16.4
138.3
90.5
760.1
614.4
216.2
15.0
133.6
17.7
115.9
.6
12.6
19.4
16.3
5.9
12.8
398.2
199. 7
98.1
101.6
54.4
90.6
36.1
17.6
18.5
17.4
145. 7
92.0
1,083. 3
913.1
504.5
53.4
348.4
58.1
290.3
.5
18.8
27.8
31.4
6.9
17.3
408.6
213.0
143.4
69.6
52.0
91.5
43.5
22.4
21. 1
8.6
170.2
89.8
(3)
(3)
$47,039
2, 448
30,891
3, 348
27, 543
91
2,434
4, 059
3, 467
943
2,706
(3)
46, 763
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
$43, 631
2, 989
27, 271
3, 673
23, 598
96
2,848
3, 698
3,307
962
2, 460
(3)
46, 730
(3)
(3)
(?)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
$99, 664
9, 386
71, 347
11,685
59,662
85
3,916
5,743
5, 502
1,156
2,529
(3)
47, 286
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
1 Prelim inary.
2 D a ta are for all construction w orkers (contract and force-account) engaged on new construction, a ddi
tions, and alterations, and on repair w ork of the type usually covered b y building perm its. (Force-account
employees are w orkers hired directly b y the owner and utilized as a separate work force to perform construc
tion work of th e type usually chargeable to capital account.) T he construction figure included in the
B ureau’s nonagricultural em ploym ent series covers only employees of construction contractors and on Fed
eral force account, and excludes force-account workers of State and local governments, public utilities, and
private firms.
3 D a ta no t available.
i Includes the following force-account employees hired directly b y the Federal G overnm ent; October
1943, 43,470; Septem ber 1944, 28,403; October 1944, 25,885. These employees are also included under the
Federal executive service (table 2); all other workers were em ployed b y contractors and subcontractors.
s Includes the following employees and p ay rolls for Defense P la n t C orporation (R F C ) projects: October
1943, 121,000, $26,791,000; Septem ber 1944, 24,900, $5,793,000; October 1944, 20,400, $4,700,000.
6 Includes central office force of construction contractors, shop employees of special trades contractors,
such as bench sheet-m etal workers, etc., and site employees engaged on projects which, for security reasons,
cannot be shown above.
i D a ta for other types of m aintenance not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1301
Trend of Employment, Earnings, and Hours
D e ta ile d R ep orts for In d u stria l and B u sin ess E m p lo y
m en t, Septem ber 1 9 4 4
Estimates of Nonagricultural Employment
ESTIMATES of employment in nonagricultural establishments are
shown in table 1. The estimates are based on reports of employers
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, on unemployment-compensation
data made available by the Bureau of Employment Security of the
Federal Security Agency, and on information supplied by other
Government agencies, such as the Interstate Commerce Commission,
Civil Service Commission, Bureau of the Census, and the Bureau of
Old-Age and Survivors Insurance. The estimates include all wage
and salaried workers in nonagricultural establishments but exclude
military personnel, proprietors, self-employed persons, and domestic
servants.
Estimates of employees in nonagricultural establishments, by
States, are published each month in a detailed report on employment
and pay rolls.
T able 1.—Estimated Number of Employees in Nonagricultural Establishments, by
Industry Division
E stim ated num ber of wage earners
(in thousands)
In d u stry division
Septem
ber 1944
A ugust
1944
T otal estim ated e m p lo y m e n t1______________________________
38,593
38, 741
38, 731
39,678
M anufacturing __ . . . . . _____________________ .
M in in g _________________________________ .
C ontract construction and Federal force-account con stru ctio n ..
T ransportatio n and public utilities_____ _ __ _____________
T rad e _______ _____ _____________ . . .
Finance, service, and m iscellaneous... _____
. .
Federal, State, and local government, excluding Federal forceaccount construction. _
. . . ______
15,873
826
679
3, 793
6,996
4,480
16,020
834
700
3,818
6,918
4,582
16,013
833
686
3,809
6,942
4,618
17,136
880
1,091
3,688
6,936
4,079
5,946
5,869
5,830
5,868
July
1944
Septem
ber 1943
1 Estim ates include all full- and part-tim e wage and salary workers in nonagricultural establishm ents who
are em ployed during the p ay period ending nearest the 15th of the m onth. Proprietors, self-employed
persons, domestic servants, and personnel of th e arm ed forces are excluded.
Industrial and Business Employment
Monthly reports on employment and pay rolls are available for 154
manufacturing industries and for 26 nonmanufacturing industries,
including water transportation and class I steam railroads. The
reports for the first 2 of these groups—manufacturing and nonmanu
facturing—are based on sample surveys by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The figures on water transportation are based on esti
mates prepared by the Maritime Commission, and those on class I
steam railroads are compiled by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The employment, pay-roll, hours, and earnings figures for manu
facturing, mining, laundries, and cleaning and dyeing, cover wage
earners only: but the figures for public utilities, brokerage, insurance,
and hotels relate to all employees except corporation officers and execu
tives, while for trade they relate to all employees except corporation
officers, executives, and other employees whose duties are mainly
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1302
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
supervisory. For crude-petroleum production they cover wage earn
ers and clerical field force. The coverage of the reporting samples for
the various nonmanufacturing industries ranges from about 25 percent
for wholesale and retail trade, cleaning and dyeing, and insurance, to
about 80 percent for public utilities and 90 percent for mining.
The general manufacturing indexes are computed from reports sup
plied by representative establishments in the 154 manufacturing in
dustries surveyed. These reports cover more than 65 percent of the
total wage earners in all manufacturing industries of the country and
about 80 percent of the wage earners in the 154 industries covered.
Data for both manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries are
based on reports of the number of employees and the amount of pay
rolls for the period ending nearest the 15th of the month.
IN D E X E S O F E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S
Employment and pay-roll indexes, for both manufacturing and
nonmanufacturing industries, for July, August, and September 1944,
and for September 1943, are presented in tables 3 and 5.
The figures relating to all manufacturing industries combined, to
the durable- and nondurable-goods divisions, and to the major in
dustry groups, have been adjusted to conform to levels indicated by
final data for 1941 and preliminary data for the second quarter of 1942
released by the Bureau of Employment Security of the Federal Secu
rity Agency. The Bureau of Employment Security data referred to are
(a) employment totals reported by employers under State unemploy
ment-compensation programs, and (6) estimates of the number of
employees not reported under the programs of some of these States,
which do not cover small establishments. The latter estimates were
obtained from tabulations prepared by the Bureau of Old-Age and
Survivors Insurance, which obtains reports from all employers, regard
less of size of establishment.
Not all industries in each major industry group are represented in
the tables since minor industries are not canvassed by the Bureau.
Furthermore, no attempt has been made to allocate among the
separate industries the adjustments to unemployment-compensation
data. Hence, the estimates for individual industries within a group
do not in general add to the total for that group.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
618627- 44-
EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
ALL MANUFACTURING IN DU STRIES
INDEX
1939s IOO
INDEX
Trend of Employment, Earnings, and Hours
CO
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGE EARNERS AND WAGE EARNER PAY ROLL
1303
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
1304
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T able 2.—Estimated Number of Wage Earners in Manufacturing Industries
E stim ated num ber of wage earners (in
thousands)
In d u stry
Septem
ber 1944
•
All m anufacturing_______________________________________ _ 12,802
D urable goods_________________________________________ 7,570
N ondurable goods. _____ _______ __________ ____ _____ 5,232
A ugust
1944
Ju ly 1944 Septem
ber 1943
12,942
7,690
5, 252
12,924
7,726
5,198
13,935
8,319
5,616
Durable goods
Iron and steel a n d th eir products_____ _ . _____ ___________
B last furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills -- - .
Gray-iron and semisteel eastings_______ _________ - ____
_________ _____ M alleable-iron castings___________
Steel castings___________ - ------- ------------- -- -- ---- -Cast-iron pipe and fittings_____
- - ....................................
- _____
T in cans a nd other tinw are ................. .....
W ire draw n from purchased rods . . .
........................
___ . . . . . . .
. . .
...
W irew ork
C utlery and edge tools__________________
_____ _ _ _ .
Tools (except edge tools, machine tools, files, and saw s)___
H a rd w are... _________ . . . . _________ ________ ____
Plum bers’ supplies.. _________________________________ _
Stoves, oil burners, and heating equipm ent, not elsewhere
_______ ___ . .
classified________________ ______
Steam and hot-w ater heating apparatus and steam fittin g s..
Stam ped and enam eled ware and galvanizing_____
F abricated stru ctu ral and ornam ental m etalw ork
M etal doors, sash, frames, molding, and trim . .
_____
Bolts, n u ts, washers, and riv ets___
_____________ . . .
Forgings, iron and steel . . . .
.
................
W rought pipe, welded and heavy r iv e te d ..______________
Screw-machine products and wood screw s... _ . . . _____
Steel barrels, kegs, and d ru m s__________________ ____ . . .
Firearm s 2_. .
___________________ ________________
1,647
476.7
72.6
25.0
72.3
15.3
41.9
32.6
35.5
23.0
27.0
45.6
22.7
1,662
482.0
73.1
24.7
73.5
15.5
42.0
32.5
35.3
22.7
27.2
46.2
23.0
1,657
481.0
72.6
24.3
73.5
15.5
41.2
32.9
35.5
22.8
27.1
45.8
22.7
1,721
511.7
78.6
25.7
81.6
15.2
35.1
35.4
32.9
21.6
27.0
45.5
23.2
63.3
55.1
88.3
73.9
12.8
25.7
35.0
25.3
43.4
7.3
43.6
64.0
55.5
89.6
74.5
13.5
26.2
35.1
25.8
44.2
7.4
43.7
63.7
55.5
89.0
76.1
13.2
26.3
35.0
26.2
45.0
6.9
44.5
57.2
59.2
91.5
71.7
13.2
29.6
40.0
26.7
48.8
8.5
66.4
Electrical m achinery. ________________ __________________
Electrical equipm ent____ . ______ _____ _____ ____
R ad io san d phonographs.._
_________ . . ____ . . . .
C om m unication eq u ip m en t____________________________
711
444.4
124.6
110.2
716
449.6
124.5
110.4
720
449.8
127.1
112.3
725
467.2
119.3
113.2
M achinery, except electrical__________________ _ __________
M achinery and machine-shop products_________ _______
Engines and turbines 2 ________ __________ ___________
T racto rs___________________________________ ____ . . . .
A gricultural m achinery, excluding tractors______ ____ . . .
M achine tools.. . . . . ____________ _________ . . . ___
M achine-tool accessories________
...
. . . . ...
Textile m achinery____________ . . _______ . . _____ . .
P u m p s and pum ping equipm ent. . . . _ ____ _______ . . .
T ypew riters.
. . . .
_
.........
__________
Cash registers, adding and calculating m achines__________
W ashing machines, wringers, and driers, dom estic__ ____
Sewing machines, domestic and in d u strial____ . ____ ._
Refrigerators and refrigeration eq u ip m en t___ ___ . . .
1,137
454.2
69.3
57.5
44.2
75.6
65.5
27.0
75.2
11.7
31.9
12.9
9.8
51.0
1,151
460.3
70.3
58.7
44.5
76.0
66.5
26.6
77.0
11.4
32.2
13.2
9.5
52.2
1,161
462.2
70.2
60.0
45.4
77.0
67.8
26.8
79.0
11.3
32.2
13.6
9.4
52.2
1,248
495.5
69.5
55.3
40.4
100.9
85.4
28.2
78.3
11.6
35.8
14.5
10.7
56.4
______
T ransportation equipm ent, except automobiles _ _
Locom otives________ . ___ ____ ________ _____________
Cars, electric- and steam -railroad . . .
.
______
Shipbuilding and boatbuilding 2 . . . . _________ . . . ___
M otorcycles, bicycles, and p a rts. . . . . . . . . _ _______
1,948
35.3
57.7
1, 074.2
8.9
1,992
35.8
58.1
1,092.0
9.3
2,027
35.6
58.7
1,116. 7
9.4
2,299
34.4
58.9
1,270. 2
9.9
A utom obiles_______________________________ ________ ____
676
684
678
734
Nonferrous m etals and their p ro d u cts_______
. . . ______ . . .
Smelting and refining, prim ary, of nonferrous m etals. ____
Alloying and rolling and draw ing of nonferrous metals,
except a lu m in u m ____ ______ _____________________
Clocks and watches
____________ __________•__________
Jew elry (precious metals) and jewelers’ findings_______ _.
Silverware and p lated w are____________________ _______
Lighting eq u ip m en t_______________ ________ ________
A lum inum m anufactures_____ _________ . . . . . . _____
Sheet-metal w ork, no t elsewhere classified .
_________
369
44.1
378
47.2
379
48.3
417
58.9
69.2
26.0
13.5
10.9
27.1
66.4
32.8
69.5
25.9
13.8
10.7
27.1
69.6
32.8
68.1
25.5
13.7
10.6
26.5
72.7
32.3
75.7
25.1
15.3
11.6
25.5
84.8
28.2
Lum ber and tim ber basic products_____________ ______. . . .
Sawmills and logging cam p s.. .
.
Planing and plywood mills .
. _____ _____ _______. . . .
423
233.5
69.7
434
240.1
71.0
431
237.5
71.3
467
256.1
78.7
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1305
Trend of Employment, Earnings, and Hours
T able 2.— E s tim a te d N u m b e r o f W a g e E a r n e r s in M a n u f a c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s 1— Con.
E stim ated num ber of wage earners (in
thousands)
In d u stry
Septem
ber 1944
A ugust
1944
F u rn itu re a n d finished lum ber products_____________________
M attresses and bedsprings_____________ ____ ___________
F u rn itu re ________________________________________ ____
W ooden boxes, other th a n cigar _______________
_____
C askets and other m orticians’ goods______________ _____
W ood preservings -------------------- ----------- ---------- . . . -W ood, tu rn ed and shaped_______________________ _____
333
17.6
153.4
27.4
12.3
9.8
21.2
342
17.4
157.2
28.1
12.7
10.4
22.0
340
16.9
156.5
28.2
12.7
10.2
21.9
356
19.3
167.0
29.1
11.6
10.0
21.5
Stone, clay, and glass products_________________________ . .
Glass an d glassware___ ___ _ __ _____________ ____
Glass products m ade from purchased glass ___ _________
C em ent______________________________ _ _ ____________
Brick, tile, and terra co tta_______ - __________________
P o ttery and related products___________________________
G y p su m ______________________________________________
W allboard, plaster (except gypsum ), and m ineral w ool.___
Lime . . .
. . . . __
M arble, granite, slate, and other products_______________
A b ra siv e s ______ ______. . . . . . ________ . . . _ _ _ .
Asbestos products . . _ ________________________ ____
326
88.3
10.2
17.3
41.9
40.5
4.0
9.6
8.0
13.4
21.1
19.9
331
90.0
10.1
17.5
43.0
41.1
4.0
9.9
8.3
13.5
21.1
20.5
333
91.3
10.3
17.4
42.8
41.4
4.1
9.7
8.2
13.1
21.3
20.6
352
89.4
10.8
22.8
48.0
42.2
4.5
11.1
9.2
12.6
23.9
21.6
Textile-mill products and other fiber m anufactures ____ . ..
C otton m anufactures, except small wares________________
C otton sm allw ares------------------------------------------------------Silk and rayon g o o d s ..______________ ________________
W oolen and worsted m anufactures, except dyeing and
finishing_________ ____ _____________________________
H osiery_________________________________________ _____
K n itte d c lo th .. _ _
_ _
K n itte d outerw ear and k n itte d g lo v e s ._____ . _____ ..
K nitted underw ear________________ ____
____ ___ ___
D yeing and finishing textiles, including woolen and worsted.
C arpets and rugs, wool_____________ __________________
H ats, fur-felt______ ___________ ___ ______ _______ _____
Ju te goods, except felts____ __________________________ .
Cordage and tw in e .___________________________________
1,077
427.5
13.0
88.3
1,084
431.4
13.0
88.7
1,089
434.2
13.1
88.5
1,185
471.0
15.7
93.9
145.8
102.9
10.1
28.4
34.3
59.4
20.1
9.2
3.3
15.1
144.8
104.4
10.3
28.5
35.2
59.5
20.2
9.1
3.3
15.1
145. 9
104.7
10.4
28.8
35.2
60.1
19.9
9.2
3.2
15.3
160.3
113.2
11.5
31.9
39.4
65.2
21.1
9.9
3.6
16.4
A pparel and other finished textile products____________ _____
M en ’s clothing, not elsewhere classified___ ______ _____
Shirts, collars, and nightw ear
. ______________________
U nderw ear and neckwear, m en’s . . . ___________________
W ork sh irts__________________ _______ ______________
W om en’s clothing, no t elsewhere classified. _____________
Corsets and allied garm ents._ ______________________ . . .
M illinery . . . ________ ________ _____________________
H andkerchiefs. --------------------------------------- __ ________
C urtains, draperies, and bedspreads_____________________
H ousefurnishings, other th a n curtains, e tc .____ _________
Textile b a g s.._ ____
. . .
__ ____________________
763
208.0
51.7
12.2
14.7
216.4
14.4
19.3
2.8
13.1
10.9
13.6
765
210.5
52.1
12.1
15.0
214.6
14.4
19.0
2.8
13.3
10.6
14.0
747
208.2
53.2
11.9
15.1
205.0
14.4
17.4
2.9
13.3
10.4
14.0
822 221.2
56.5
12.8
17.8
231.2
16. 1
19.3
3.6
15.9
13.4
13.9
L eather and leather products___ . . __________ . . . _____
Leather. ______ _______________ _______________..-----Boot and shoe cu t stock and findings.. __________ ___..
Boots and s h o e s ._____ ____ . . . . ____ ____________
Leather gloves and m itten s__ __________ ___ . _____ .
T run k s and suitcases___ _________________________ —
303
39.4
15.5
172.0
12.5
12.3
307
40.0
16.0
173.8
12.6
12,3
307
40.0
16.1
174.0
12.6
12.1
315
41.9
16.4
178.4
13.6
12.1
Food
_ _ .
...
.. - . ___ . . . . .
. ...
Slaughtering and m eat packing.............. ...........
............ . . .
B u tte r____ . . . ____________ _________ ______ _____
Condensed and evaporated m ilk ______________ . . --------Ice cream _____________________________________________
Flour
.
.
. . . . . . __________ .. ____ . .
Feeds, prepared_________________________ ______ ____
Cereal preparations_______ _________ _____ _______ .
B aking_______________________________________________
Sugar refining, cane. _____ ______________________ ____
Sugar, b eet__ . _________________________ _____ . . . . .
Confectionery_____________________________ . . . ---------Beverages, nonalcoholic________________________________
M alt liquors__________________________________________
C anning and preserving________________________________
1,097
150.6
22.3
14.2
15.4
27.8
19.8
8.5
255.6
14.9
6.7
56.5
29.8
52.9
242.7
1,092
156.3
24.0
15.1
17.3
28.1
20.3
9.1
258.5
15.4
4.6
56.6
31.6
53.5
219.7
1,052
158.7
24.8
15.8
18.0
29.0
19.9
9.3
258.4
15.2
4.0
54.2
32.2
53.3
177.2
1,102
159.3
22.4
13.4
15.6
28.9
21.4
10.1
250.5
14.7
7.7
53.5
29.7
48.0
247.6
Ju ly 1944 Septem
ber 1943
Durable ¿roods—C ontinued
/
Nondurable goods
See fo o tn o te s a t e n d o f ta b le .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1306
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T able 2. — E s tim a te d N u m b e r o f W a g e E a r n e r s in M a n u f a c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s 1— Con.
E stim ated num ber of wage earners (in
thousands)
in d u stry
Ju ly 1944 Septem
ber 1943
Septem
ber 1944
A ugust
1944
Tobacco m anufactures-------------------- ------ ---------------------------C igarettes------- ----------- _ -----------------------------------------Cigars----- --------- -- _ _ ------------ - ---------------------------Tobacco (chewing and smoking) and snufL ------------------
82
34.6
34.4
8.0
82
34.9
34.4
7.9
83
35.0
34.7
7.8
88
34.5
40.1
8.3
Paper an d allied p roducts. . . . ____________ _______ ______ P aper and p u l p ----. . . . ------- -- ----------------- ----------Paper goods, o th e r ... ___________ . -------------- . . . . .
E n v e lo p e s ____ _ ______ ________________ . . . . . . . Paper bags______________________________________ ____
P ap er b o x e s . .. ---------- ------------------------------ . --------------
296
144.5
42.4
9.5
13.1
77.7
302
146.8
44.8
9.5
13.6
78.5
304
146.3
45. 9
9. 5
13. 6
79.3
311
148.5
47.3
10.2
12.3
83.0
Printing , publishing, and allied in d u strie s... _____ ______ ___
N ewspapers and periodicals_______ ______________ ____
P rinting, book and job. ----------------- . . ---------------------L ith o g rap h in g .___________________________ ___________
B ookbinding_________________________ ____________ . .
325
109.3
130.3
24.0
27.1
332
110.2
133.3
24.8
27.9
333
109.7
135.0
25.1
28.2
330
112.4
128.8
25.3
29.0
Chemicals a n d allied p roducts............................... ..................... .......
P ain ts, varnishes, an d colors .......... ............ ....................... .......
D rugs, medicines, and insecticides---------------- ----------- Perfum es and cosmetics. . . ............. _ -------------------------Soap
- _ ______________________________ R ayon a n d allied p roducts____ _______ . . ----------------Chemicals, no t elsewhere classified------------------- -- . . . . .
Explosives and safety fuses 2. . . . . ------------- -------------Compressed and liquefied gases_________________________
A m m unition, small-arms 2_____
___________ . . .
-----Firew orks 2________________ _____ _____ __________ . . .
C ottonseed oil_______________ ____ . . -------------------- . . .
Fertilizers___ _______________________________ ____ _ . .
595
29.5
49.0
12.0
13.5
52.7
117.0
83.8
5.9
49.8
28.5
16.7
19.1
590
30.0
50.0
12.2
13.5
53.1
118.3
81.2
6.1
47.3
30.1
12.3
19.1
584
30.0
50.5
11.9
13.5
52.7
118.9
76.0
6.1
48.1
30.5
11.3
18.6
738
29.5
46.4
11.2
13.2
52.4
119.0
86.3
6.3
157.9
29.8
20.3
19.8
Products of petroleum a n d coal----- --- ------------------------- -----Petroleum refining______________ _ . ........ ...........................
Coke and b y p ro d u cts_____ _____ ______________ ________
Paving m aterials._. ------- ------ -------------------------------------Roofing m aterials--------------------- -----------------------------------
134
90.7
22.9
1.7
9.5
135
91.4
23.2
1.8
9.6
134
90.5
23.1
1.8
9.7
126
82.3
24.0
1.7
9.7
R ubber products____ ._. _____________________ ___________
R u b b er tires and inner tu b es. _ ___________ . __________
R u b b er boots and shoes________________________________
R ubber goods, o th er--------------------------------------------- --------
191
92.3
18.5
70.4
191
91.2
19.5
71.2
190
89.6
19.6
71.9
195
91.3
21.4
72.7
M iscellaneous industries---------------------------------------------------Instru m en ts (professional and scientific) and fire-control
eq u ip m en t2________________________ ___________ _____
Photographic apparatus . . . . . __________________ . . .
Optical instrum ents and ophthalm ic goods 2__________ .
Pianos, organs, and p a rts________ . . . --------------------------Games, toys, and dolls------------------ . _________________
B u tto n s.
_____ ______________________________ _____
Fire extinguishers_______ __________________ ____ _______
369
372
375
404
Nondurable goods—C ontinued
61.5
27.9
23.4
6.8
16.9
9.0
5.0
61.6
28.8
23.8
6.3
17.0
9.1
5.6
62.2
29.6
23.9
6.1
16.4
9.2
5.6
71.4
30.7
27.5
10.4
15.7
10.1
7.3
1 E stim ates for th e major in d u stry groups have been adjusted to final d ata for 1941 and prelim inary data
for th e second q u arter of 1942 m ade available b y th e B ureau of E m ploym ent Security of the Federal Security
Agency. E stim ates for individual industries have been adjusted to levels indicated b y the 1939 Census of
M anufactures, b u t not to Federal Security Agency d ata. For this reason, together w ith th e fact th a t this
B ureau has no t prepared estim ates for certain industries, th e sum of th e individual in dustry estim ates will
not agree w ith totals shown for th e major in d u stry groups.
2 C om parable d ata for th e m onths from Jan u ary 1939 through June 1944 are available upon request.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Trend of Employment, Earnings, and Hours
1307
T able 3.— I n d e x e s o f W a g e -E a rn e r E m p lo y m e n t a n d W a g e -E a r n e r P a y R o ll in M a n u
f a c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s 1
[1939 average=100]
W age-earner employm ent
•
In d u stry
All m anufacturing_______ _______________ . . .
D urable goods__________________ _______ . . .
N ondurable goods__________ ________
___
Sep Au
tem gust
ber
1944 1944
W age-earner pay roll
Sep Sep
tem tem A u
ber gust
ber
1943 1944 1944
Ju ly
1944
July
1944
Sep
tem
ber
1943
156.3 158.0 157.8 170.1 313.1 314.0 310.7 328.0
209.6 213. ( 214.0 230.4 428.6 432.6 428.5 460.7
114.2 114.6 113. 5 122.6 200.2 198.0 195. 6 198.3
Durable goods
Iron and steel and their p roducts________________
Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling m ills____
Gray-iron and semisteel castings______________
M alleable-iron castings_____
____________
Steel castings________________________________
Cast-iron pipe and fittings________ ________
T in cans and other tinw are___ .
____
W ire draw n from purchased rods. __ __ . . . .
W irework 3_________________ ___________
C utlery and edge tools____ ____ _
___
Tools (except edge tools, machine tools, files, and
saw s)__________ __ . ___________ ______
H a rd w a re ... _ _________________ ______ .
Plum bers’ supplies_________________ _______
Stoves, oil burners, and heating equipm ent, not
elsewhere classified_________________________
Steam and hot-w ater heating apparatus and
steam f ittin g s ________ ... . . . _____ _____
Stam ped and enam eled ware and galvanizing _..
F abricated stru ctu ral and ornam ental m etal
w ork_____ _________________ _____ _____
M etal doors, sash, frames, molding, and trim .
Bolts, nuts, washers, and riv e ts___________
Forgings, iron and Eteel... . . . ____________
W rought pipe, welded and heavy riveted______
Screw-machine products and wood screws .
Steel barrels, kegs, and d ru m s_____ ________
Firearm s 3........ ............
..
208.0
165.0
179.4
227.5
302.5
256.4
119.4
871.5
209.8
173.9
182.8
228.2
308.3
261.1
121.2
873.5
214.1
171.0
184.0
227.7
313.3
265.7
113.8
889.7
Electrical m achinery. . . .
_ ______ . .
Electrical e q u ip m e n t...
. _. _____ _
Radios and p h o n o g ra p h s .______________
Com m unication eq u ip m en t__________ . .
274.2
245.9
286. 4
343.2
276.2
248.7
286.2
343.7
277.8
248.8
292.2
349.6
279.8
258.5
274.1
352.3
500.9
457.7
547.0
561.8
493.1
455.6
534.1
551.9
494.2
450.6
542.4
558.3
487.7
457.6
508. 8
531.4
M achinery, except e le c tric a l________ ._ . . . _. .
M achinery and machine-shop products____ . .
Engines and turbines 3_____________________
T ractors___ . _____________ ______ ._
A gricultural m achinery, excluding tractors____
M achine tools_________________
M achine-tool accessories___________ ____ _
Textile m achinery_________________
P um ps and pum ping eq u ip m en t_________
T ypew riters_______ ______________ _ .
Cash registers, adding and calculating machines
W ashing machines, wringers, and driers, do
m estic_____ ________ . _ ________
Sewing machines, domestic and industrial___
Refrigerators and refrigeration equipm ent . .
215.2
224.5
371.3
183.8
159.0
206.5
260.4
123.3
310.2
72.3
162. 2
217.8
227. 5
376.8
187.5
160.1
207.4
264.2
121.3
317.9
70.5
103.4
219.8
228.4
376.3
191. 7
163.2
210.2
269.5
122. 3
326.0
69.4
163.6
236.2
244.9
372.5
176. 7
145.4
275.5
339.4
128.7
322.9
71.7
181.8
403.1
411.8
772.6
291.0
332.7
366.8
449.6
226.3
665.6
144.4
317.0
406.2
416.5
786.3
291.0
319.1
369.2
449.8
220.6
669.3
140.1
319.6
403.5
408.6
783.7
293.4
334. 0
370.6
457.9
225.7
676.1
140.2
315.2
435.2
440.5
773.4
269. 5
283.8
455.3
550.1
227.4
678.2
143.4
366.1
166.1
122.7
124.3
138.8
240.3
92.4
131.8
148.4
116.9
149.2
167.6
124.1
125.2
136.7
244.4
93.7
132.1
148.1
116.1
147.5
167.1
123.8
124.2
134.8
244.4
93.6
129.7
149.9
116.7
148. C
173.6
131.7
134.6
142.5
271.2
91.7
110.6
161.3
108.2
140.0
312.0
226.7
250.8
292.5
452.0
180. 5
224.8
247.5
237.5
310.0
309.2
222.7
244.2
279. 7
455.9
178.4
221.5
243. 5
231.5
304.6
306.2
224.9
243.6
273.5
434.4
177.0
212.1
240.3
236. 5
304.2
312.8
232.7
249.5
275.4
475.8
165.0
177.9
262.8
203.3
282.0
176.3 177.4 177.2 176.4 328.6 331. 4 327.8 324.6
128.0 129.7 128.4 127.7 261.1 261.8 257.6 254.0
92.0 93.4 92.3 94.0 166.9 169.9 164.2 156.8
137.2 138.7 138.1 124.0 262.5 256.2 252.3 219.2
181.9 183.2 183.1 195.3 341. 3 344.9 338.4 363.6
159.0 161.3 160.2 164.6 326.6 324.4 319.8 314.5
201.8 406.6
170. 7 302.6
206.8 347.3
260.0 455.2
319.6 586.2
288.5 502.8
140.2 234.6
1328. 2 2002. 6
411.2 417.6 372.1
319.6 315.4 325.2
354. 3 340.5 386. 2
433.5 434.2 488.8
604.1 600.6 567.7
512.1 507.7 549.0
241.6 214.7 263.8
1995. 6 1998. 0 2943. 3
172.3 177.4 182.1 193.9 306.1 310.7 326.9 335. 9
125.5 120.8 120.2 136. 7 261.8 249. 4 246.9 300.2
145.2 148.3 148. 5 160.6 251.0 267.8 248.8 288.3
T ransportation equipm ent, except automobiles. . . 1227.1
Locomotives__________. . .
______ _
546.0
Cars, electric- and steam -railroad_________ _.
235.3
Shipbuilding and boatbuilding 3______ .
1551. 4
M otorcycles, bicycles, and p a rts__ _____
127.9
1255. 3
552.8
236.9
1577.1
133.8
1277.0
550. 7
239.4
1612. 7
134.5
1448. 6 2569. 4 2606.1 2602. 4 2933.1
531. 0 1222.9 1279.0 1183. 3 1116. 2
240.2 454.2 463.3 466.9 431.9
1834. 4 3399. 3 3379. 1 3386. 5 3907. 7
142.5 244.7 242.7 249.4 252.1
Autom obiles_________________ ___ _
164.6 169.9 168.4 182.5 299.9 308.2 302.8 339.3
N onferrous m etals and their products. .
Sm elting and refining, prim ary, of nonferrous
m etals________________ _ ______
Alloying and rolling and draw ing of nonferrous
metals, except alum inum
Clocks and w a tch e s.. _ ___ . _ _______
Jew elry (precious m etals) and jewelers’ findings..
Silverware and p lated w are.. . . . _ _____
Lighting eq u ip m e n t.. ____
. ....
A lum inum m anufactures .
Sheet-metal work, not elsewhere classified_______
161.1 164.8 165.2 181.8 299.1 306.0 304.7 336.8
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
159.5 170.8 174.7 213.1 297.8 315.1 324.8 389.8
178.4
128.4
93.4
89.8
132.3
282.1
175.0
179.0
127.7
95.2
88.5
132.6
295.6
175.2
175.5
125.9
94.9
87.6
129.4
308.9
172.1
194.9
123.9
105.6
95.8
124.7
360.0
150.2
330.1
268.5
155.2
162.6
222.7
506.3
323. 5
336.6
265.8
149.0
157. 8
234.0
521.9
321.7
320.1
255.4
149. 4
158.2
218.9
550.5
322.5
367.0
242.3
158.7
161.1
223.0
644.6
273.6
1308
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T able 3. — I n d e x e s o f W a g e -E a r n e r E m p lo y m e n t a n d W a g e -E a r n e r P a y R o ll in M a n u
f a c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s
1— C ontinued
[1939 average=100]
W age-earner em ploym ent
In d u stry
Sep A u
tem gust
ber
1944 1944
Ju ly
1944
Wagfc-earner pay roll
Sep Sep
tem tem
ber
ber
1943 1944
A u
gust
1944
July
1944
Sep
tem
ber
1943
Durable goods—Continued
___________
L um ber and tim b er basic p ro d u cts.
Sawmills and logging cam ps__________ ________
Planing and plyw ood m ils_____ _____________
100.6 103.2 102.4 111.0 188.1 197.8 185.1 197.7
81.1 83.4 82.5 88.9 154.3 164.8 151.5 162.1
95.9 97.7 98.2 108. 3 167.2 167.4 165.5 175.7
F u rn itu re and finished lum ber p ro d u cts___________ 101.6 104.1 103.5
95.9 94.8 92.0
M attresses and bedsprings__________ ____ ___
F u rn itu re __ ____ _ . ______
. _____ . . 96.3 98.8 98.3
W ooden boxes, other th a n c ig a r ______________ 108.3 110.9 111. 1
Caskets and other m orticians’ goods....................... 99.2 102.0 101.8
87.4 92.8 90.3
W ood preserving________ _____________ . _____
W ood, tu rn e d and sh ap ed . _______ ______ _ 96.4 99.8 99.7
Stone, clay, and glass groducts______________ _____
Glass and g la ssw a re ________ ____ ___ ________
Glass products m ade from purchased glass ._ . . .
C em en t. _ _. . ______ . __ ______ . _
B rick, tile, and terra co tta_____________ ______
P o ttery and related p ro d u cts__________________
G y p su m ______ ___________________________ _
W allboard, plaster (except gypsum ), and mineral wool ___________ ____________________
Lim e
________
M arble, granite, slate, and other p ro d u cts______
A brasives_____ . . .
...
..
... .
Asbestos p ro d u cts. ___________ _ __________
111.0
126.5
101.5
72.6
73.9
122.4
80.6
112.9
129.0
101.3
73.4
75.7
124.1
80.0
113.4
130.7
103.4
73.2
75.5
125.0
82.7
108.6
105.1
104.9
114.7
93.2
88.7
98.0
186.2
167.5
175.0
217.7
172.4
190. 1
174.1
191.4
161.3
181.0
222.0
177.8
201.0
180.6
183.8
155.2
173.9
213.7
162.0
193.0
176.2
183.2
168.9
176.7
205.3
143.2
178.0
159.2
119.8
128.1
107.5
95.7
84.5
127.5
90.2
187.1
200.7
172.6
115.8
119.3
189.1
137.3
189.0
204.3
169.8
117.8
124.1
193.0
140.7
184.1
197.1
165.5
112.8
121. 5
187.0
140.9
188.5
193.3
160.5
139.9
128.3
185.8
147.8
118.2 121.9 119.1 136.7 224.9 218.8 217.6 232.2
84.4 87.2 86.4 96.8 164.8 171.1 167.3 172.0
72.2 72.9 70.7 68.2 107.2 112.6 105.8 94.3
273.0 273.0 275. 3 308.8 487.3 453.4 452.6 494.4
125.2 128.7 129.4 135.9 252.5 253.1 253.2 260.2
Nondurable goods
Textile-m ill products and other fiber m anufactures.. 94.2 94.8 95.2
C otton m anufactures, except sm allw ares___ _ _ 108.0 108.9 109.6
C otton smallw ares___
.
.
. . . .
97.9 97.3 98.1
Silk and rayon g o o d s.. _ ____ _________ ____
73.7 74.1 73.9
W oolen and w orsted m anufactures, except dyemg and finishing________ __________________ 97.7 97.0 97.8
H osiery. . . . . ___ __ _ _ . . .
64.7 65.7 65.8
K n itte d cloth____________ ____ _________ _
_ 92.7 94.1 95.2
K n itte d outerw ear and k n itte d glo v es.. . . . . 101.0 101.5 102.4
K n itte d un d erw ear.. ____ ________ . . . . . .
89.0 91.3 91.4
D yeing and finishing textiles, including woolen
and w orsted______________________________
88.8 88.9 89.9
C arpets and rugs, wool . . . _________________
78.6 78.9 77.9
H ats, fur-felt . . .
....
63.4 62.9 63.4
Ju te goods, except felts____ _ _ _____________
92.2 92.5 89.3
Cordage and tw in e________________ _________ 124.7 124.9 126.1
103.6
118.9
118.0
78.3
169.1
204.4
173.9
132.8
168.2
203.7
173.9
133.7
168.5
206.6
174.7
130.7
172.0
204.8
195.6
131.5
107.4
71.2
105. 0
113.5
102.3
185.1
103.6
164. 5
184.5
162.5
181.1
105.5
160.0
181.9
163.3
184.3
101.6
160.9
180.9
159.4
194.9
105.0
169.0
190.5
171.9
97.4
82.5
68.3
101.3
135. 8
148. 3
135.4
119.2
179.7
232.7
146.2
134.5
112.6
173.7
229.3
147.0
132.1
109.3
167.7
231.2
150.6
131.0
116.7
181.6
231.2
A pparel and other finished textile products
. . .. 96.6 96.9 94.6
95.1 96.3 95.2
M en ’s clothing, n o t elsewhere classified—
Shirts, collars, and n ig h tw e a r..
.
.. ...
73.4 74.0 75.5
U nderw ear and neckw ear, m en’s ______ ________ 75.6 74.6 73.7
W orkshirts______ ___ ______ .
109. 3 111.8 112.1
W om en’s clothing, no t elsewhere classified ____
79.6 79.0 75.5
Corsets and allied garm ents______________ . . .
76.5 76.7 76.5
M illinery
. . .
79.4 78.1 71.6
H andkerchiefs.. ._ _______ _ ________ ____ 58.0 58.8 59.4
C urtains, draperies, and bedspreads_________
77.5 78.5 78.4
Housefurnishings, other th a n curtains, e tc .........._ 102.3 100.1 98.2
Textile bags___________ _ . . . . .
. . . ______ 113.1 117.2 116.7
104.1
101. 1
80.2
79.2
132.2
85.1
85.8
79.5
73.3
94.2
126.4
116.3
174.4
165.9
128.4
151.2
216.2
148.4
131.0
137.1
104.7
149.9
189.7
191.1
167.1
160. 6
127.5
143.3
208.5
139.6
128.7
129.3
103.8
142.3
183. 5
192.3
156. 6
154.6
133.4
142. 3
183.2
125.6
126.4
103.2
104.1
149.4
178.3
190.1
163.4
153.8
129.9
140.5
223.5
136.1
139.6
113.7
116.5
163.3
229.4
179.2
L eather and leather p ro d u cts_____ _____________ _ 87.3 88.3 88.5 90.8 155.4
L e a th e r _____________________________________ 83.5 84.6 84.6 88.6 146.2
Boot and shoe cu t stock and findings.. . _
_.82.4 85.1 85. 5 86.8 141. 6
Boots and shoes______________________________ 78.9 79.7 79.8 81.8 143.1
L eather gloves and m itten s ___. . . ___________ 124. 6 125.7 126.2 136.6 223.0
T ru n k s and suitcases_______ . . ____ ________ 147.9 147.7 145.7 145.0 224.7
153.4
146.2
140. 4
140.2
221.8
230.6
153.1
146.5
141.5
139.8
214.5
228.2
143.1
135.3
129. 5
131.1
215.5
215.3
F ood______________
Slaughtering and m eat p ack in g .. ................. .......
B u t t e r ____ __________ ________ ___________
Condensed and evaporated m i l k ______ ______
Ice cream ____________________________________
F lo u r_______________________________________
200.1
210. 7
205.2
255.3
157.9
190.2
196.5
219.6
215.7
271.0
163.5
195.3
184.8
192.4
180.3
208.1
129.2
179. 5
See fo o tn o te s a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
128.3
125. 0
124.4
146. 6
98.2
112.1
127.8
129. 7
133.5
155.7
110.1
113.6
123.1
131.7
137.9
162.7
114.4
116.9
129.0
132.2
124.9
138.0
99.4
116.6
199.8
200.3
191.6
240.4
139.3
197.3
1309
Trend of Employment, Earnings, and Hours
T able 3.— I n d e x e s o f W a g e -E a rn e r E m p lo y m e n t a n d W a g e -E a r n e r P a y R o ll in M a n u
f a c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s — Continued
[1939 average=100]
Wage-earner employment
Wage-earner p ay roll
July
1944
Sep
tem
ber
1943 '
221.5
208.3
167.5
172.5
64.2
188.3
206.4
223.9
306.2
224.3
216.2
168.0
168.4
55.7
178.2
213.0
225. 5
242.8
221.0
227.1
155.3
167.2
100.3
164. 3
172.3
186. 5
304.4
163.1
202.3
137.6
143.8
157. 6
195.9
133.4
135.6
157.1
196.9
132.3
132.7
154.1
179.8
139. 5
132. 1
July
1944
Sep Sep Au
tem tem gust
ber
ber
1943 1944 1944
129.5
125.2
112.0
107.2
38.7
108.9
151. 6
147.8
131.8
138.8
135.3
108.6
104.1
73.6
107.6
139.5
132.9
181.2
225.9
201.4
168.7
171.7
86.2
191.6
188.3
216. 1
334.6
88.1 88.3 88.6 94.8
Tobacco m anufactures---------------------------------- -----C igarettes___ , . . ---------------------------------- -- 126.1 127.2 127.7 125. 6
C igars,, ____________________________________ 67.6 67.6 68.2 78.8
Tobacco (chewing and smoking) and snuff_____
87.4 86.0 84.6 90.5
In d u stry
Sep A u
tem gust
ber
1944 1944
Nondurable goods—C ontinued
Food—C o n tin u ed .
Feeds, prepared______ . ---------------------------Cereal p re p a ra tio n s,., . . .
. ,, ,, , , ,
------- , ----------------B aking, _________ _
Sugar refining, cane-------- --------------- ------Sugar, b e e t_________ , -------------------------------C o n fe ctio n ery _______ , ---------- ------- --------Beverages, nonalcoholic. ------------- --------------M alt liquors-------- ----------------- . ----------------Canning and preserving______________________
128.3
114.6
110.8
105.6
64.0
113.5
140.1
146.5
180.5
132.0
122.0
112.0
108.9
44.6
113.8
148.8
148.2
163.4
P aper and allied p ro d u cts_______ _____ ______ Paper and p u lp ------- ---- -- --------------P aper goods, other,
.
,,
. .
Envelopes_____ ________ _________
_____
Paper bags__________
____ , -----------------P aper boxes . ______ , ----------- ------- --
111.6
105.1
112. 7
109.4
118.5
112.4
117. 1
108.0
125.6
117. 7
111.0
120.0
184.6
179. 1
181. 1
166.3
201.6
180.0
186. 0
180.6
187.3
165.4
199. 6
178.8
184.9
178.6
194.1
167.2
194.4
175.8
176.7
168.4
183. 6
170.1
175.0
177.4
Printing, publishing, and allied industries_________
Newspapers and periodicals___________ _______
Printing, book and jo b__ _ . . . . , . .............
L ithographing______
_____ . . . ---------- , ,
B o o k b in d in g ,.______ . , ... .......... . . . , ,
99.2 101.1 101. 6 100.7
92.1 92.9 92.5 94.7
103.2 105.5 106.9 102. 0
92.2 95.2 96.5 97.3
105.3 108.4 109.3 112.4
139.0
119.6
151.5
132.8
177.1
137.9
118.4
149.4
132.3
182.9
138.0
117.1
151.9
132. 4
181.3
128.9
114.5
133.1
126.1
179.8
Chemicals and allied products______________
, ,,
Paints, varnishes, and colors___________ _____
Drugs, medicines, and insecticides_____________
Perfum es and c o s m e tic s ...---------- -------------Soap ___ . - , . . --------- --------------- -R ayon and allied p ro d u cts_____ . ------- -- . . .
Chemicals, no t elsewhere classified . .
--------Explosives and safety fuses 3___ ___. . .
"Compressed and liquefied gases__ . . .
A m m unition, sm all-arm s3 ________ ___ . .
F irew o rk s3,, _____
_____ ______
_____
Cottonseed oil , _ . .
---------- ----------, ,.
F ertilizers.. . .
___ _ . . ------. . . ------
206.6 204.7 202.7 256.1
104.9 106. 4 106. 8 104.8
178.8 182. 4 184.4 169.2
116.2 117.5 115.1 107.8
99. 1 99.5 99. 5 97.4
109.2 110.0 109.2 108.5
168.1 170.0 170. 9 171.1
1155.4 1119.1 1048. 3 1190.2
148.5 153.8 154. 0 159.4
1168.8 1109.6 1126.9 3702.6
2458. 5 2596. 5 2632.8 2574.8
109.7 81.0 74.6 133.6
101.7 101.5 99.1 105.3
113.9
106.8
119.0
109.5
122.4
113.5
114.4
106.4
122.0
109.6
122.4
114.6
362. 6 357. 7 355.5 438.4
166. 0 169.1 167.1 156. 2
265. 0 265. 2 267. 2 242. 2
164.9 159.2 160.9 150.6
171.3 165.8 162.9 156.3
176.1 175.7 174.0 170.3
292.8 295.1 297.6 285.5
1781.6 1725. 0 1646.0 1855. 2
262. 9 271.7 270.4 266. 3
2332. 2 2224.8 2271.1 7134. 7
6727. 2 6949. 5 6957. 9 6588. 7
224.3 154. 2 143.6 243. 5
232.3 226.6 224.7 214. 2
Products of petroleum and coal. . . . .
__________
Petroleum refining . . . _____ ____ . . . ______
Coke and b vproducts______ . . . . . _ _____
Paving m aterials ._
______ ___ . . . .
Roofing m aterials- _____ ___ ____ . . . . . . . .
126.2
124.6
105.5
69. C
117.9
127.3
125.5
107. C
74. S
119.7
126.7
124.3
106. 5
75.5
120.6
119.0
113.0
110.5
70.9
120.3
221.0
213. 3
189.9
142.6
219.0
220. 7
214.0
186.8
152. 5
218.0
223.0
215.6
191. 7
156. 0
218.6
195.0
182.4
187. 1
122.8
207.8
R ubber p ro d u cts-------------- --------- -----------------------R ub b er tires and inner tu b e s_________________
R ubber boots and shoes------ --------- ----------------R ubber goods, o th e r_________________________
157.6
170. 6
125. C
136.0
158.1
168. 5
131.4
137.5
157.4
165.6
132. 1
138.9
161.2
168.6
144.1
140.4
288.8
300.8
226.6
248.3
285. 4
294.3
233. 4
247. 1
277.2
280.9
237.0
245.2
273.4
277.2
246.8
238.7
M iscellaneous in d u stries___ . . . .
----------------Instru m en ts (professional and scientific) and
fire-control e q u ip m e n t3___ ___ ________ . .
Photographic ap p aratu s. _____ . . .
...
Optical instrum ents and ophthalm ic goods3 _ _.
Pianos, organs, and p arts. _ . _ ___________ .
Games, toys, and dolls . ___________________
B u tto n s____________________________ _______
Fire extinguishers__________ . _____________
556.6
161.6
201.7
89.
90.3
82.0
549.1
150.7 152.0 153.5 165. 1 289. 7 286.0 288.9 297.1
557.1
166.6
205. 2
83.3
91.2
82.7
560.0
562.3
171.7
205. 5
79.8
88. (
84.2
561.3
645.4
177.6
236.8
137.
84.
92.2
732.6
1038.6
268.4
344.0
180.4
181.8
167.7
1126.3
1031. 9 1082. 0 1167.0
270.8 271.9 270.9
341.3 337.8 379.0
158. 5 144.3 260.9
181.5 169.8 141.7
153.8 159.6 164.4
1076. 2 1126. 2 1318. 0
1 Indexes for th e m ajor in d u stry groups have been adjusted to final d a ta for 1941 and prelim inary d a ta for
the second q u arter of 1942 m ade available b y the B ureau of E m ploym ent Security of the Federal Security
Agency. Indexes for individual industries have been adjusted to levels indicated by th e 1939 Census of
M anufactures, b u t no t to Federal Security Agency data.
2 Revisions have been m ade as follows in the indexes published for earlier m onths: Wirework.—June 1944
pay-roll index to 230.7.
3 Com parable indexes for th e m onths from Jan u ary 1939 through June 1944 are available upon request.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1310
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T able 4. — E s tim a te d N u m b e r o f W a g e E a r n e r s in S e le c te d N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s
E stim ated n um ber of wage earners
(in thousands)
In d u stry
Coal mining:
A n th racite___________
B itu m in o u s__________
M etal m in in g____________
Iro n _________________
C opper______________
Lead and zinc.................
Gold and silver_______
M iscellaneous________
Telephone 12_____________
Electric light and power 2__.
Street railw ays and b u sse s2.
H otels (year-ro u n d )2______
Pow er laundries________ _
Cleaning and dyeing______
Class I steam ra ilro ad s3___
Septem
ber 1944
A ugust
1944
67.5
348
72.7
26.4
22.5
15.0
5.6
3.2
407
201
230
352
241
79.9
1,428
64.5
352
75.4
27.1
23.8
15.4
5.6
3.5
412
203
230
353
246
79.9
1,449
Ju ly 1944 Septem
ber 1943
64.5
351
77.3
27.4
25.2
15.5
5.7
3.5
412
203
230
352
253
82.6
1, 443
70.0
374
95.7
32.5
31.4
18.8
6.5
6.5
410
209
229
348
250
80.1
1,373
1 D a ta are available upon request back to Jan u a ry 1937.
2 D a ta include salaried personnel.
3 Source—In te rsta te Commerce Commission. D a ta include salaried personnel.
T able 5 — In d e x e s o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls in S e le c te d N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g
I n d u s tr ie s
[1939 average=100]
I E m ploym ent indexes
In d u stry
Coal m ining:
A n th racite___
B itu m in o u s..
M etal m in in g__
Iro n _______
Copper_______ _
Lead and zinc. . . . .
Gold and s ilv e r... ___
M iscellaneous..
Q uarrying and nonm etallic m ining
Crude-petroleum production 1
P ublic utilities:
T e lep h o n e2___
Telegraph 3. . .
Electric light and power _
Street railw ays and busses..
Wholesale tra d e ___
R etail tra d e ___
F ood________
General merchandise
A p p a re l4. _
F u rn itu re and housefurnishings
A u to m o tiv e..
L um ber and building m aterials
Hotels (year-round) *_
Pow er laundries. . . . . .
Cleaning and d y e in g ..
Class I steam railroads *
W ater tran sp o rtatio n 8__
Sep A u
tem gust
ber
1944
1944
Ju ly
1944
Pay-roll indexes
Sep Sep
te m tem A u
ber
ber gust
1943 1944 1944
81.5 77.9 77.9 84.5 150.1 145.8
93.9 95. C 94.7 101.0 207.8 215.6
82.4 85.5 87.6 108.5 130.8 136.6
131.3 134.6 136. 2 161.3 212.0 219.9
94.2 100.0 105.6 131.7 153.3 161.5
96.3 98.9 99.8 121.1 176.7 182.8
22.7 22.7 23.0 26.3 28.7 29.9
81.1 87.6 88.3 164.3 136.7 148.6
84.3 86.7 86.4 95.6 158.2 165. 3
83.0 84.1 84.1 81.7 136.4 132.7
128.2
122.2
82.4
118.7
95.0
96.6
106.3
109.6
108.2
62.5
65.7
90.0
109.0
106.8
118.4
144.6
258.7
129.6
122.8
83.1
118.9
95.5
94.1
104. 6
102.8
97.6
62.8
66.9
92.6
109. 4
109.0
118.4
146. 7
255. 3
129.7
123.9
83.2
118.8
95.1
95.5
106. 4
104. 5
101.8
63.4
66. 6
92.1
109.2
112.1
122.3
146.1
249.1
129.0
128. 2
85.5
118.0
93.9
97.4
104.5
110.6
108.4
65.5
62.9
92.2
108.0
110.5
118.7
138.9
170.3
159.4
177.9
115.4
169.7
136.4
128.1
139. 2
139.0
146. 6
86.9
96.8
131.3
159.0
159.5
185.5
0
602.6
156.6
177.9
115.3
171.5
136.3
126.8
141.7
132.8
133. 3
86.9
98. 2
133.9
158.8
159.8
178.6
0
585.2
Ju ly
1944
Sep
tem
ber
1943
130.6
194.4
135.1
211.9
168.4
177.0
28.2
144.7
160. 7
136.5
144.2
202.4
171.6
260.5
219.3
212. 4
33.3
266.5
ifis n
124.4
156.8
179.3
114. 6
170.3
135.9
128.3
142.4
136.7
139. 2
88.4
97. 5
131.8
157.4
165.1
187.3
0
585.6
149.9
164.3
111. 4
157. 6
127.9
120.2
129. 5
130.5
133 fi
85.3
Rfi 1
126. 2
143.7
146.2
170.6
0
384.4
1 Does n o t include well drilling or rig building.
2 D a ta are available upon request back to Jan u a ry 1937.
E¡¡eludes messengers and approxim ately 6,000 employees of general and division headquarters and of
cable companies.
4
Revisions have been m ade as follows in indexes previously published: Retail trade—A pparel group.—
Pay-roll index Ju n e 1944 to 145.4.
* 1
8 Cash paym ents only-—additional value of board, room, and tips, not included.
®Source—In terstate Commerce Commission.
' N o t available.
8 Based on estim ates prepared b y th e TJ. S. M aritim e Commission covering em ploym ent on steam anu
m otor m erchant vessels of 1,000 gross tons or over in deep-sea trade only.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1311
Trend of Employment, Earnings, and E[ours
AVERAGE EARNINGS AND HOURS
Average weekly earnings and liours and average hourly earnings for
July, August, and September 1944, where available, are given in table
6 for both manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries. The
average weekly earnings for individual industries are computed by
dividing the weekly pay rolls in the reporting establishments by the
total number of full- and part-time employees reported. As not all
reporting establishments supply information on man-hours, the aver
age hours worked per week and average hourly earnings shown in that
table are necessarily based on data furnished by a slightly smaller
number of reporting firms. Because of variation in the size and com
position of the reporting sample, the average hours per week, average
hourly earnings, and average weekly earnings shown may not be
strictly comparable from month to month. The sample, however, is
believed to be sufficiently adequate in virtually all instances to indicate
the general movement of earnings and hours over the period shown.
The average weekly hours and hourly earnings for the manufacturing
groups are weighted arithmetic means of the averages for the individ
ual industries, estimated employment being used as weights for weekly
hours and estimated aggregate hours as weights for hourly earnings.
The average weekly earnings for these groups are computed by multi
plying the average weekly hours by the corresponding average hourly
earnings.
T a b l e 6 .— E a r n in g s a n d H o u r s in M a n u f a c tu r in g a n d N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s
MANUFACTURING
Average weeklyearnings 1
In d u stry
All m anufacturing
D urable goods
N ondurable goods
.................
Sep A u
tem gust
ber
1944 1944
July
1944
Average weekly
hours 1
Sep A u
tem gust
ber
1944 1944
$46. 25 $45. 86 $45.43
52.18 51.82 51.07
37. 67 37.15 37.05
44. 9
46. 1
43.0
45.2
46. 7
43.0
51. 24 50. 25 50.01
July
1944
Average hourly
earnings >
Sep A u
tem gust
ber
1944 1944
July
1.944
Cents Cents Cents
44.6 103.1 101. 6 101.8
45. 7 113.1 111. 1 111.6
43.0 87.6 86.5 86.2
Durable goods
Iron and steel and their p ro d u cts____ _______
B last furnaces, steel works, and rolling
55.43 53.80
51.94 50. 23
G ray-iron and semisteel castings___ - . M alleable-iron castings___ _ _ _ .......... 52.16 50. 62
__ _____
- __ 52. 64 52.16
Steel castings__
Cast-iron pipe and fittings________ _____ 41.34 40.44
T in cans and other tinw are ______ - -- 40. 36 39. 54
W ire w ork____ _
______ _________ __ 51.10 49.89
44.07 43. 64
C utlery and edge tools. __ _
....
Tools (except edge tools, machine tools,
files, and saws) __ __________________ 45.27 45.36
H a rd w a re ___
________ _
____ 45.57 44.85
Plum b ers’ s u p p lie s ________
47. 56 47.67
Stoves, oil burners, and heating equip
47.64 45.98
m ent, no t elsewhere classified _____
Steam and hot-w ater heating apparatus
and steam fittings__ ______ - ________ 48. 38 48. 41
Stam ped and enameled ware and galva
nizing ______ ____ _ _ _________ - - 47. 50 46. 60
F abricated stru ctu ral and ornam ental
m etalw ork __ ____ __
. ______ 54.70 54.83
M etal doors, sash, frames, molding, and
trim ________________
_______ ____ 49.60 49.68
Bolts, nuts, washers, and riv ets_________ 48. 46 ¡ 48.61
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
46.6
46.7
46.0 110.0 107.5 108.6
54.58
50. 77
50.44
49. 54
40.07
38. 51
50. 69
43. 59
46.3
47.6
48.7
46.6
46.7
45.1
47.8
45.9
46.4
47.3
48.4
46.7
46.3
45.0
47.6
46.1
45.9
47.4
48.1
44.1
45.8
44.1
48.1
46.2
44.83
44.64
46.59
46.2
46.4
45.4
47.0
46.8
46.2
46.6 98.1 96.6 95.3
46. 5 98.2 95.7 95.9
45.4 104.2 102.5 102.1
119.8
109.9
107.6
113.0
88.6
89.6
107.0
95.9
116.3
106.9
105.2
111.7
87.3
87.9
104.8
94.6
99.7
118.9
107.1
104.9
112.4
87.4
87.3
105.4
94.3
45.66
46. 2
46.1
45.9 102.9
47. 52
47.0
48.1
46.8 102.8 100.7 101.6
99.5
46.20
45.2
45.6
45.0 105.0 102.2 102.7
54. 56
48.1
48.8
48.5 113.8 112.3 112.6
49.86
46. 57
47.0
46.0!
47.1 47.3 105.5 105.4 105.6
47.2| 44.4 105.4 103.0: 104.9
1312
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T a b l e 6 .— E a r n in g s a n d H o u r s in M a n u f a c tu r in g a n d N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s —
Continued
MANUFACTURING— Continued
Average weekly
earnings 1
In d u stry
Sep A u
tem gust
ber
1944 1944
Ju ly
1944
Average weekly
hours 1
Sep A u
tem gust
ber
1944 1944
July
1944
Average hourly
earnings 1
Sep A u
tem gust
ber
1944 1944
July
1944
Durable goods—C ontinued
Iron and steel and their products—Con.
Forgings, iron and steeL _______________
Screw-machine products and wood screwsSteel barrels, kegs, and d ru m s__________
Firearm s_____ _____ __________ ____
$59. 95
50. 34
42. 62
60.38
$56. 93
50.41
43. 27
59. 95
$56. 79
49.14
40.95
58.94
47.3
48.3
43.2
45.8
46.8
48.6
45.6
46.7
Cents Cents
46.2 127. C 121.7
47.6 105.0 103.9
42.7 98.6 94.9
45.6 131.8 128.3
Electrical m achinery. _ _ ______ _______
Electrical eq u ip m en t. . . . Radios and phonographs___
_ _ ___
Com m unication equ ip m en t____
- ___
48.46
50. 96
41.62
45. 93
47. 75
50. 42
40. 68
44. 97
47. 22
49. 76
40. 56
44. 72
46.1
46.4
45.9
44.9
46.3
46.7
45.5
45.5
45.7 105.1 103.1 103.2
46.0 110.2 108.0 108.2
45.3 90.5 89.4 89.5
45.1 101.1 98.4 98.4
M achinery, except electrical_____ __ _ ____
M achinery and machine-shop productsEngines and tu rb in e s .. - _
_______
T racto rs______ -. . __________
A gricultural m achinery, excluding tractors. . - _ _
-------M achine tools_______________
„ „ _
M achine-tool accessories. ..........
Textile m a c h in e ry ...............
T y p ew riters-.
------- _
Cash registers, adding and calculating
machines
_ . ___
W ashing machines, wringers, and driers,
dom estic_________ ___________
Sewing machines, domestic and industria l_____
__________________
Refrigerators and refrigeration equipment-_ .
___
54.44
53. 21
58. 79
53. 46
54.15
53. 05
58. 96
52.40
53. 33
51.85
58. 84
51.65
48.0
47.6
47.3
46.8
48.4
48. 2
48.0
46.6
47.5
46,8
47.3
46.0
55. 27
57.07
59. 31
47. 73
48. 09
52.68
57. 33
58. 35
47. 37
47. 87
54. 09
56.80
58. 44
48.10
48. 64
47.7
49.8
49.1
48.5
48.7
47.1
50.4
49.0
48.4
48.9
47.6 115.9 111.9 113.6
50.2 114.4 113.8 113.1
49.3 120.9 119.3 118.8
48.6 98.4 97.9 99.0
49.5 98.7 98.0 98.3
T ransportation equipm ent, except autom obiles____ _____ _ __________
Locom otives.. _________ ____
Cars, electric- and steam -railroad.
A ircraft and parts, excluding aircraft
________ _ _
en g in es.-. _ _____
A ircraft engines .
___
Shipbuilding and boatbuilding__ . .
Motorcycles, bicycles, and parts
A utomobiles. _ . . ________
_____ ____ _
Nonferrous m etals and their products.- Smelting and refining, prim ary, of nonferrous m etals____ __________ .
Alloying and rolling and draw ing of nonferrous metals, except alum inum ____
Clocks and w atches_____________
Jew elry (precious metals) and jewelers’
findings. .
. . . ____
Silverware and p lated w are. .
Lighting e q u ip m en t_______
...
A lum inum m a n u fa c tu re s __ _ _
113.5
111. 6
124. 6
114.3
112.0
110.0
123.1
112.4
Cents
123.5
103.2
95.9
129.3
112.3
110.5
124.9
112.4
59.19 59. 23 58. 34
48.9
49.3
49.1 122.0 121.0 119.7
47. 08 46. 45 47. 53
45.0
45.3
45.4 104.7 102.4 104.6
56. 35 55.81 55.59
51.2
50.1
50.6 111.5 112.2 110.8
49. 09 51.26 47. 56
45.1
47.3
44.4 108.7 108.3 107.1
60.85 60.32 59. 29
63. 55 65. 66 60.97
50. 91 51.59 51.45
47.0
47.2
44.4
47.5
49.3
45.7
46.8 129.4 127.1 126.7
45.7 134.5 133.2 133.4
44.9 114.4 112.6 114.5
54. 73
61. 51
63. 96
50. 31
46.4
45.7
47.9
49.2
47.2
46.8
47.8
47.4
47.2
44.9
47. 1
47.8
54.37
60. 86
65. 40
53. 05
54.43
59. 21
62. 69
51.30
117.1
133.5
136.8
107.8
115.7
131.7
133.9
106.2
115.5
131.8
133.1
107.4
55. 96 56. 92 56. 43
43.5
45.2
43.7 128.6 126.0 129.1
48. 77 48.69 48. 34
46.3
46.5
46.0 105.4 104.7 105.1
49. 53 48. 96 49. 33
46.2
46.0
45.8 107.3 106.4 107.6
53.35 54.18 52. 55
43.69 43.63 42.48
47.4
46.8
48.1
46.7
47.1 112.5 112.6 111.6
46.1 93.7 93.5 92.1
43. 23
47. 46
43. 87
49. 38
40. 97
47. 55
44.23
49.01
44.4
46.7
42.2
46.4
43.0
46.7
45.3
46.0
43.3 96.3 93.1 93.2
47.0 102.3 100.8 101.4
43.1 104.3 101.9 102.7
46.1 106.5 105.6 106.4
Lum ber and tim ber basic p r o d u c ts ..........
Sawmills and logging cam ps. __.
Planing and plywood m ills_____
34.89 35.78 33.74
33. 85 35. 21 . 32. 73
38.19 37. 53 37.05
43.4
42.6
46.0
44.7
44.4
45.6
42.4
41.5
45.3
80.4
79.4
83.3
80.1
79.3
82.7
79.6
78.8
81.9
F urn itu re and finished lum ber p ro d u c ts ..
F u rn itu re ___________
Caskets and other m orticians’ goods. .
Wood preserving______
36. 58
36.92
40.14
34.76
36. 70
37.24
40.25
34. 62
35. 39
35. 94
36. 75
34.15
44. 1
43.7
45.1
43.9
44.9
44.8
45.3
44.9
43.6
43.4
42.8
43.9
82.9
84.8
89.1
79.2
81.7
83.6
89.1
77. 1
81.2
83.2
85.9
77.8
Stone, clay, and glass pro d u cts........
Glass and g la ss w a re .--____
Glass products m ade from purchased glass
C em ent________
Brick, tile, and terra c o tta __
P o ttery and related products _
G ypsum __________ ____
L im e____ ______
M arble, granite, slate, and other p ro d u cts2
Abrasives_________________ .
Asbestos p roducts____
.
____
See fo o tn o te s a t e n d o f ta b le .
39.65
39. 77
35. 35
42. 89
33. 39
35.80
44.11
38. 32
39.13
50.13
48.26
39. 35
39. 60
34.84
42. 98
33. 74
36. 06
45. 49
38. 49
40. 71
46.64
47.05
38.12
37. 66
33. 48
41.28
33. 06
34.58
44.13
38.02
39. 44
46. 26!
46.85
43.5
41.3
44.3
45.3
41.5
41.2
47.6
48.1
43.3
49.3
48.5
44.0
42.2
44.5
46.2
42.7
41.4
48.5
49.6
45.1
47.3
48.2
42.4 91.2
39.7 96.1
43.1 80.3
44.2 94.6
41.7 79.8
39.4 88.2
48.3 92.6
48.7 79.5
44.1 91. 1
46.8 101.7
48.2 99.4
89.5
93.9
78.7
93.0
78.6
88. 1
93.8
77.7
90.2
98.7
97.6
89.9
94.9
77.8
93.3
78.9
88.7
91.4
78.4
89.1
98.9
97.3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
40. 71
46.98
46.12
48. 54
Trend of Employment, Earnings, and Hours
T a b l e 6.
1313
E a r n in g s a n d H o u rs in M a n u fa c tu r in g a n d N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s —
Continued
M ANUFACTURING—Continued
Average weekly
earnings 1
In d u stry
Average weekly
hours 1
Average hourly
earnings 1
Sep
tem
ber
1944
A u
gust
1944
Ju ly
1944
$30.00
27. 2t
33.27
28.85
$29. 71
26.9(
33. 3(
28. 95
$29. 61
27.15
33.18
28.33
41.
42.5
42.'
41.5
41.8
42.2
43.0
41.9
41.'
42.
43.:
40.
35. 47
29.23
33.22
30.38
26.83
34.95
29.34
31.87
29.91
26. 36
35.35
28.16
31. 60
29. 51
25.68
41.8
38.
44.3
40. (
40.5
41.6
38.8
43.2
40.1
40.6
42.
37.4
84.0
76.
84.
75.8
40.
40.0
75.
65.0
73 9
64.8
34. 66
39. 73
43. 50
34. 7C
33.15
34.08
39.31
42.8i
33. 45
32.65
33.87
39.13
41.31
33. 44
32.57
44.9
43.0
41.3
45.0
45.4
44.7
43.3
40.7
43.7
45.1
44.
77.
76 3 76 2
43.4 92.9 91.1 90 4
40. 0 106.6 106. 0 104. 2
44.6 77.
76. 5 75 0
45.3 73.0 72.2 71.7
A pparel and other finished textile p ro d u c ts.. .
M en ’s clothing, no t elsewhere classified.
Shirts, collars, and nightw ear
U nderw ear and neckwear, m en’s
W ork sh irts______
W om en’s clothing, no t elsewhere classified
Corsets and allied garm ents
M i l l i n e r y .,- ______
H andkerchiefs___
C urtains, draperies, and bedspreads,
Housefurnishings, other th a n curtains, etc.
Textile bags___ . . .
31.77
32.83
24. 14
26. 98
21.80
39.92
29. 93
42.01
23. 45
25. 83
32.59
29. 40
30. 44
31.65
23. 87
25.88
20. 55
37. 77
29. 12
40.26
23. 12
24.24
32.23
28.54
29.28
30.86
24.42
25.98
18.01
35. 46
28. 75
35.10
22.91
25. 63
31.80
28.29
38.2
38.8
36. 5
37.6
38.2
37.2
39.9
34.6
37.4
36.4
41.9
42.3
37.7
38.3
36. 7
36.6
36.8
36.8
40.0
33.7
37.0
36.1
41.6
41.7
37.3 83. 2 80 7
38.0 84. 7 82 3
37. 2 66 1 65 1
36.7 71.6 70. 6
32.8 55 2 54 1
36.2 104. 2 100 8
39.8 74.8 72. 9
32.4 99. 1 96. 2
36. 9 62 8 62 6
37.4 70. 4 66 9
41. 5 77. 7 77. 4
42.0 70.0 68.8
78 5
81 1
65 5
70 9
53 4
96 3
72 4
89 8
62 1
68*3
76 6
67.7
L eather and leather products
L eather.
Boot and shoe cut stock and findings
Boots and shoes_____
Leather gloves and m itte n s.
T ru n k s and su itcases,.
34.05
43. 53
34.83
32.20
31.23
32. 37
33.16
43. 02
33. 40
31.18
30.76
32.48
33.01
43.09
33. 48
30. 99
29. 65
32.69
41.5
45.7
43.9
40.7
38.3
40.1
41.2
45.5
42.9
40. 3
38.6
40.2
41.2
45.6
42.7
40.3
37.6
40.5
80.1
94 6
79 5
76 5
79 4
F ood_____________ .
Slaughtering and m eat packing___
B u tte r__________ .
Condensed and evaporated m ilk
Ice cream ________
Flour , ______
Cereal p re p a ra tio n s ____
B aking____
Sugar refining, cane____
Sugar, b e et________
Confectionery _ . _
Beverages, nonalcoholic
M alt liq u o rs..
C anning and preserving _
37.71
43.98
34. 37
37. 30
39. 04
44.26
44.84
38. 93
39.08
33. 70
31. 30
35.44
52.15
30. 05
37.95
44. 69
34. 13
37.28
39. 42
42.08
43.58
38.31
37. 94
36.06
30. 49
36. 50
53. 56
30.27
38. 52 44.5 45.0
45. 87 47.9 48.6
34. 58 47.6 48.1
38. 06 50.3 50.6
39.27 45.6 47.8
41.96 51.1 49.7
44. 05 47. 1 46.0
38. 42 45.9 45. 7
37.63 45.3 44.6
36. 05 34. 5 37.5
30.08 42.1 42.2
37.09 43.8 45.7
53. 96 46.3 47.3
29. 75 39.5 39.9
45.6 84. 7 84 4 84 5
49.9 92.1 92. 2 92.1
48.4 72. 0 71 0 70 7
50.7 74. 5 74. 0 75. 1
47.9 81.2 79.3 79.1
49.6 86. 7 84 8 84 8
46.7 95.3 94. 7 94. 3
45.8 85.0 83. 9 83 9
43.8 85.9 85. 1 85. 9
35.8 97.7 96. 2 100. 6
41. 6 73 9 72 4 72 5
46.2 80.8 79.8 80 7
47.3 112.8 113. 5 114 2
40.3 76.5 76.5 74.3
Tobacco m anufactures
C igarettes_______
Cigars___ ______
Tobacco (chewing and smoking) and snuff.
31.43
34.15
29.12
29. 08
30. 27
32. 79
28.20
27.86
30.04
32.84
27. 67
27.71
43.4
44.3
42.7
42.3
42.3
43.1
41.7
41.2
42.4
43.2
41. 9
41.0
72.4
77.0
68. 5
68.7
71.5
76.0
67 7
67.6
70.9
76.0
66 2
67.6
P aper and allied products
P aper and p u lp .
Envelopes_______
Paper bags______
P aper boxes_______
39. 67
43.00
36. 62
34.59
35.28
39.10
42.67
36. 58
33.18
34.71
38.72
42.42
36. 66
32.31
33.76
46.3
48.3
44.3
44.7
43.8
46.2
48.2
44.5
43.4
43.9
45.7
47.9
44.9
43.0
42.9
85.8
89.2
82.3
77.8
80.6
84. 7
88.4
81.8
76.7
79.3
84. 7
88. 6
81. 7
75. 5
79.1
Printing, publishing, and allied in d u s trie s ...
Newspapers and periodicals
Printin g , book and jo b .,..
Lithographing____ ____________________
45. 60
49. 92
44.26
46.98
44. 43
48.88
42. 67
45.31
44.12
48. 65
42. 70
44. 76
41.4
39.0
42.6
45. l|
41.1
38.5
42.3
44.3
41.2
38.3
42.5
44.2
110.1
126.5
103.0
104.7
Sep
tem A u
ber gust
1944 1944
Ju ly
1944
Sep A u
tem gust
ber
1944 1944
July
1944
Nondurable goods
Textile-mill products and other fiber m an u
factures_____ ______
C otton m anufactures, except smallwares.
C otton small wares
Silk and rayon goods
Woolen and worsted m anufactures, except
dyeing and finishing, .
H osiery,, ________
-Knitted cloth __ _
K n itte d outerw ear and k n itted gloves, _
K n itte d u n d e rw e ar,, .
D yeing and finishing textiles, including
woolen and w orsted..
C arpets and rugs, wool.
H ats, fur-felt___ .
Ju te goods, except felts__
Cordage and tw in e___
See fo o tn o te s a t end o f table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cents Cents Cents
71 0
72.
71.
64 i 63
63 Q
78.
77.
77.0
70.
68.0
69.3
82.0
95.1
80. 7
79. 0
82.2
79.4
80. 6
94 6
79. 0
77 1
80. 4
79.8
84.0
75.5
72.4
73 0.
63.9
79.8
108 0 107 2
125 8 125 3
100.1 99. 7
102.7 10 1.4
1314
Monthly Labor Review—December 1944
T a b l e 6 . — E a r n in g s ancl H o u rs in M a n u f a c tu r in g a n d N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g I n d u s tr ie s —
Continued
M ANUFACTURING—Continued
Average weekly
earnings 1
In d u stry
Sep
tem Au
ber gust
1944 1944
Nondurable goods—Continued
Chemicals and allied p ro d u cts_____________
P ain ts, varnishes, and colors_________ _
Drugs, medicines, and insecticides_____
Soap_________________________ _______
R ayon and allied p ro d u cts_____ _____ _
Chemicals, no t elsewhere classified--- . .
Explosives and safety fuses. _. _________
A m m unition, sm all-arm s_______________
Cottonseed o i l . . _______ . . . _____ ___
Fertilizers____________________ _______
Ju ly
1944
$44.03 $43. 82 $44. 00
46.15 46.44 45.66
35.21 34. 37 34.42
49. 26 47. 47 46. 65
39. 22 38. 85 38.78
52.31 51. 88 52.15
47. 27 47. 25 48. 13
45. 03 45.31 45. 55
27. 80 25.88 26.18
32. 52 31. 65 32. 05
Average weekly
hours 1
Sep
tem A u
ber gust
1944 1944
July
1944
Average hourly
earnings 1
Sep
tem A u
ber gust
1944 1944
July
1944
45.7
47.4
42.6
48.8
43.0
46.8
45.9
46.2
52. 1
45.3
45.6
47.9
42.4
47.8
43.1
47.0
46.5
46.6
47.9
44.8
Cents Cents Cents
45.5 96.4 96.2 96.6
47.2 98.1 97.2 96.9
42.0 82.7 81.7 82.2
47.6 101.0 99.3 97.9
43.0 91.2 90.2 90.2
46.8 111.9 110.6 111.4
46.7 103.0 101.7 103.0
46.8 97.6 97.3 97.3
48.1 53.3 53.9 54.3
45.7 71.7 70.6 70.1
Products of petroleum and c o a l..
______
Petroleum refining
___. . .
_____
Coke and byproducts. ________________
Roofing m aterials_____________ ______
55. 67
58.24
49. 29
47. 78
55.27
58.06
47.80
46.83
56. 27
59. 08
49.24
46. 65
46.4
45.9
46.5
49.8
46.9
46.7
46.3
49.5
46.9 120.1 117.9 119.9
46.8 126.8 124.5 126.5
46.4 106.1 103.3 106.2
49.1 96.0 94.6 95.0
R ubber pro d u cts__________________ ______
R u b b er tires and inner tu b e s. . . _ _____
R u b b er boots and shoes_______ ______
R u b b er goods, o t h e r ________________ _
50. 99
59. 33
40.83
42. 77
50.24
58. 62
39. 99
42. 28
49.17
57. 01
40.40
41.48
45.7
46.5
44.5
44.8
45.6
46.4
43.9
45.0
45.0 111.7 110.2 109.4
45.5 127.3 126.4 125.6
44.4 91. 7 91.0 91.0
44.5 95.7 94.0 93.6
M iscellaneous in d u s trie s _______________
Instru m en ts (professional and scientific)
and fire-control eq u ip m en t_____ . . .
Pianos, organs, and p a rts __________ ____
44.17 43.10 43.23
45.4
45.1
45.2
55.02 53. 79 55.74
49.12 46.11 43. 85
49.0
48.7
48.4
46.9
49.9 112.7 111.5 112.1
44.2 101.1 98.8 99.6
39.9
42.0
43.9
46.8
45.9
40.8
44.0
44.7
47.9
46. 1
35.8
39.5
42.9
46.3
45.3
43.0
46.5
43.9
50.4
42.9
41.8
40.5
36.6
38.1
44.1
46.3
43.5
44.0
43.9
44.5
(6)
(“)
40.1
42.6
46.8
44.0
51.0
43.1
43.3
42.7
38.2
39.0
44.2
46.8
43.7
44.4
43.8
43.9
(•)
C)
40.0
42.6 92.1 90.2 90.3
46.5 81.2 80.2 80.5
42.7 111.3 110.4 111.8
50.7 94.3 93.9 93.5
42.8 99.4 98.1 98.9
43.2 71.2 70.6 70.6
42.4 72.0 71.2 71.2
38.6 60.9 60.5 60.5
38.6 81.8 80.3 81.0
44.2 87.6 87.0 87.0
46.6 92.0 90.9 90.9
43.8 88.8 87.9 87.1
44.4 51.7 50.8 50.5
44.1 63.7 62.6 62.1
44.4 73.7 71.9 72.2
(«)
(«)
(6)
(6)
(«)
(6)
(6)
<»>
40.6 133.9 132.3 130.2
97.4
95.7
95.5
NONMANUFACTURING
Coal mining:
A nthracite-- ........
- ___ _______ _
B itum inous_____ ______ ____ ... ...
M etal mining... __________ ______ ______
Q uarrying and nonm etallic m ining__ _______
C rude-petroleum pro d u ctio n - _ _________ Public utilities:
T elephone3__________ ________ . . . .
Telegraph 4_____ _ ____ ___ _______
Electric light and pow er________________
Street railw ays and b u s s e s . . . ______
Wholesale t r a d e ____ __ _ . . .
_______
R etail trade 2-_- _______ _______________
Food 2________________________________
General m erchandise___________ ______
A p p a re l2_____________________________
F u rn itu re and housefurnishings 2_______
A utom otive__ __________ . _____ . . .
Lum ber and building m aterials_________
Hotels (year-round) 3_____________________
Pow er laundries. _________________________
Cleaning and dyeing____ ____ __________
Brokerage--------- ------------ ------ - .- ______
Insurance.-. . --------------- ---------------------P rivate building construction____ . . . ___
$47.45 $48. 21 $43. 22
50.95 52. 22 47. 20
44. 75 44. 99 43.46
40. 51 41. 16 40. 33
55. 42 53.24 54.85
39.41 38. 33
37. 72 37. 54
49. 06 48.91
48. 26 . 48. 53
42.61 42. 34
27. 09 27.64
31.36 32.57
22. 39 22. 81
28.24 28.56
37.93 37. 68
41.68 41.36
37. 74 37. 50
22.89 22. 72
27. 72 27.17
31.70 30. 62
54.25 55.30
43.88 44.51
53.71 52. 90
38. 33
37.48
48.12
48.12
42. 36
27.83
32.15
23. 09
28. 67
37. 93
41.73
37.15
22. 51
27.19
31.08
56. 65
45.01
52.81
Cents
118.7
121.6
101.6
87.1
117.2
Cents
117.9
119.0
100.3
86.1
113.0
Cents
119.4
119.9
101.0
87.1
118.7
1 These figures are based on reports from cooperating establishm ents covering both full- and part-tim e em
ployees who worked during any p a rt of one pay period ending nearest the 15th of the m onth. As not all re
porting firms furnish m an-hour d ata, average hours and average hourly earnings for individual industries
are based on a sm aller sample th a n are weekly earnings. D a ta for the current and im m ediately preceding
m onths are subject to revision.
2 Revisions have been made as follows in d a ta published for earlier m onths:
Marble, granite, slate, and other products.—M ay 1944 average weekly earnings to $39.85.
jj Retail trade total.—A pril and M ay average weekly hours, 40.0 and 39.9; average hourly earnings, 71.5 cents
and 72.3 cents.
Food group.—Average hourly earnings, M arch, 70.3 cents; April, 70.9 cents; M ay, 71.3 cents.
A pparel group.—Feb ru ary through M ay , average weekly hours, 36.7, 36.5, 36.4, 36.6; M arch through
M ay, average hourly earnings, 73.9 cents, 75.5 cents, 75.7 cents.
Furniture group.—F eb ru ary average hourly earnings, 83.7 cents.
3 D ata available upon request back to Jan u ary 1937.
4 L and lines, excluding general and division headquarters personnel and messengers.
« Cash paym ents only; additional value of board, room, and tips not included.
« No t available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Trend of Employment, Earnings, and Hours
1315
C ivilian Labor F orce, O ctober 1 9 4 4
THE civilian labor force declined by 160,000 persons between Sep
tember and October 1944 to a total of 52,870,000, according to the
Bureau of the Census sample Monthly Report on the Labor Force.
During the 1-month interval, employment declined by 10,000 persons,
while unemployment went down by 150,000 to a record low of 630,000.
The reduction in civilian empJoyment between September and
October was the resuit of divergent movements in agricultural and
nonagricultural activity. The number of persons employed in agri
culture increased by 80,000 as fall harvesting continued. This was
more than offset by a decline of 90,000 in nonagricultural employ
ment which closely followed the pattern between September and
October of the past 2 years.
Considering that the net strength of the armed forces increased by
almost 2,000,000 during the past year, the volume of civilian employ
ment has been well sustained. Nonagricultural employment declined
by only 280,000 between October 1943 and October 1944, a decrease
of 750,000 men being partially offset by an increase of 470,000 women.
The volume of unemployment this October was about 140,000
below that recorded in any previous month. For the most part, the
unemployed group consists of persons between jobs who find work
within a relatively short period of time.
Civilian Labor Force in the L nited States, Classified by Employment Status and by Sex,
September and October 1940—44 1
[Source: U. S. D epartm ent of Commerce, B ureau of the Census]
Estim ated num ber (in thousands) of persons 14 years of age and over 2
1944
Item
1943
1942
1941
1940
Octo Sep Octo Sep Octo Sep Octo Sep Octo Sep
ber tem ber ber tember ber tem ber ber tember ber tember
T otal civilian labor force__ _ 52, 870 53,030 53,080 53,910 54,630 54,410 54, 070 54, 990 53,840 54, 390
U n em p lo y m en t 3...............
630
780
910
960 1,460 1,490 3,460 4,170
, 530
, 200
E m p lo y m en t__________
52, 240 52, 250 52,170 52, 950 53,170 52,920 50,610 50,820 47, 310 48,190
N onagricultural_____ 43, 490 43, 580 43, 770 43,900 43, 790 44, 060 41, 730 41, 520 37, 730 37,900
A gricultural________
, 750 8,670 8,400 9,050 9,380 8,860 8,880 9, 300 9, 580 10, 290
6
6
8
Males
C ivilian labor force_____
34, 410 34, 590 35, 310 35, 700 38, 820 38, 970 39, 940 40, 650 40, 610 40,820
U nem ploym ent 3________
310
400
490
490
890
940 2,320 2,880 4, 760 4, 440
E m p lo y m en t___________ 34,100 34,190 34, 820 35, 210 37, 930 38, 030 37, 620 37, 770 35,850 36, 380
N onagricultural____ 27, 320 27,430 28,070 28, 270 30, 370 30, 750 30,110 30, 060 27,400 27, 590
A g ric u ltu ra l_______
, 780 6,760
, 750 6,940 7,560 7,280 7, 510 7, 710 8,450
, 790
6
6
8
Females
C ivilian labor force
18, 460 18, 440 17, 770 18, 210 15,810 15, 440 14,130 14, 340 13, 230 13, 570
U n e m p lo y m en t3_______
320
380
420
470
570
550 1,140 1,290 1, 770 1, 760
E m p lo y m en t__________
18,140 18. 060 17, 350 17, 740 15, 240 14,890 12,990 13,050 11,460 11,810
N onagricultural_____ 10,170 16,150 15, 700 15, 630 13, 420 13,310 11,620 11,460 10, 330 10, 310
A g r ic u ltu r a l.._____ 1,970 1,910 1,650
1,820 1,580 1, 370 1, 590 1,130 1,500
2,110
1 E stim ates for period prior to N ovem ber 1943 revised A pril 24, 1944.
2 All d ata exclude persons in institutions.
3 Includes persons on public emergency projects prior to Ju ly 1
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Chronology
C h ron ology of Labor E ven ts, J u ly -S e p te m b er 1 9 4 4
JULY
19U
Ju ly 1. T he P resid en t a p p ro v ed a n a c t ex ten d in g to th e V irgin Islan d s th e
provisions of th e Selective T rain in g a n d Service A ct of 1940,
as am ended. (Source: P ublic L aw 413.)
Ju ly 4-11. T he N a tio n a l W ar L ab o r B oard extended wage controls to all building
co n tra c to rs in th e U n ited S tates em ploying eig h t or fewer w orkers;
likewise to firm s in th e au to m o tiv e re p a ir a n d tire in d u stry in
R egion X (C alifornia, N ev ad a, a n d A rizona), a n d jew elry stores
an d w a tch -rep air estab lish m en ts in R egion IX (Colorado, N ew
M exico, W yom ing, U tah , a n d Id a h o ). (S ource: O W I, N W L B ,
B -1655.) S u b seq u en tly w age controls w ere sim ilarly extended
to (1) th e au to m o tiv e in d u stry in R egion IX (Aug. 8); (2) th e
p ain tin g an d deco ratin g in d u stry in Los Angeles (Aug. 8); (3)
em ployers engaged p rim arily in th e d istrib u tio n an d recapping
or retre a d in g of tires in N ew Y ork S ta te a n d c e rta in counties in
N ew Jersey (Aug. 8); (4) cleaning a n d dyeing in d u stry in D enver,
Colo. (Aug. 21) an d Englew ood, Calif. (Sept. 26); (5) th e custom
tailorin g in d u stry in Los Angeles C o u n ty (Sept. 5); (6) th e com
m ercial-p rin tin g in d u stry in Los Angeles region (S ept. 5); and
(7) precious-jew elry in d u stry in P hiladelphia (Sept. 26). (Sources:
B -1698, B -1740, B -1763.) On A ugust 30, all em ployers in th e
T errito ry of A laska w ere included. (Source: B -1727.) (See also
C hron. item for M ay 27, M. L. R . Sept. 1944.)
Ju ly 6. T he N W L B anno u n ced th e revision of its G eneral O rder No. 6, to provide
t h a t th e hiring of an em ployee a t a ra te low er th a n th e ra te (o r
m inim um of th e ran g e of rates) pro p erly estab lish ed in a p la n t
for a p a rtic u la r job is a wage o r salary decrease a n d requires th e
B o ard ’s a p p ro v al. (Source: O W I, N W L B , B-1624.)
Ju ly 7. T he N W LB , in a case involving th e R iverside a n d D an R iv er Mills, Inc.
(D anville, Va.) an d th e T extile W orkers U nion of A m erica, C .I.O .,
ruled th a t th e m an ag e m en t has th e rig h t (1) to m ak e d ay -to -d ay
changes in w ork assignm ent w hich it considers necessary for th e
efficient op eratio n of its business, su b je c t to union p ro te st th ro u g h
establish ed grievance procedure, a n d (2) to in s titu te w h atev er
technological changes it deem s essential to th e efficient op eratio n
of its business. W ith reg ard to p o in t (2), a tria l period was
provided, w ith th e consent of b o th p arties, to te s t th e technological
changes an d th e ir effect on em ployees, a fte r w hich an y questions
raised by th e union w ould be considered th ro u g h th e usu al griev
ance procedure. F o r an y o th er changes in tro d u ced b y th e
m anagem ent, th e B oard recom m ended th e th re e p ro ced u ral
steps of (1) collective b argaining, (2) a c tu a l operation, an d (3)
grievance p rocedure a n d a rb itra tio n . (Source: O W I, N W L B ,
B -1627.)
J u ly 10.
T he Office of P rice A d m in istratio n announced th e estab lish m en t of th e
Office of In d u s try A dvisory C om m ittees (see C hron. item for
Ju n e 9, 1943, M . L. R . Aug. 1943). Seven steps were o u tlin ed in
a new p ro g ram affecting th e 484 existing in d u stry ad v iso ry com
m ittees. (Source: O W I, O PA -4516.)
1316
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Chronology
19U
Ju ly 11.
Ju ly 11.
Ju ly 12.
Ju ly 12.
Ju ly 17.
J u ly 19.
1317
T he W ar P roduction B oard announced th a t w ith in th e n ex t 5 weeks four
orders would be issued, designed to enable in d u stry to m ake p rep
a ra tio n s for lim ited reconversion to p eacetim e operation. T he
orders would provide for (1) th e lifting of th e c u rre n t restrictio n s
on th e use of alu m in u m and m agnesium , (2) th e m aking of th e
m inim um nu m b er of m odels necessary for stric tly experim ental
purposes, (3) th e placing of u n ra te d orders for m achine tools and
equipm ent, an d (4) th e m an u factu re of civilian articles b y in
dividual m an u factu rers w ith facilities a n d m anpow er n o t needed
for th e w ar effort. (Source: O W I, W PB -6087.)
T he N W L B , in a case affecting th e Sivyer Steel C asting Co. (Chicago),
by a v ote of 8 to 4 (the in d u stry m em bers dissenting), ordered a
cash p ay m e n t in lieu of th e liberalized v acatio n allowance in th e
co m p an y ’s union co n tra c t for th e period 1943-44 w hich h a d ex
pired while th e case was pending before th e B oard. T he m a jo rity
opinion s ta te d th a t th o u g h th e G o v ern m en t in 1944 fo r th e first
tim e since th e w ar began was urging em ployers to give a c tu a l
vacations, in 1943 (because of th e urgency of w ar production)
em ployers and th e G o vernm ent h ad asked em ployees to accept
vacation p ay and to sta y on th e job. (Source: O W I, N W LB ,
B -1629.) On A ugust 7 th e B oard unan im o u sly resolved th a t
em ployees who a tte n d S ta te g u ard cam ps m ay be given a 2-week
leave of absence w ith pay, w ith o u t p rio r ap p ro v al of th e B oard.
(Source: B -1686.) On A ugust 26, th e B oard, in upholding tw o
decisions of th e T hird R egional W LB a t P hiladelphia, w hich
denied dem an d s of th e In te rn a tio n a l A ssociation of M achinists,
A. F. of L., for 2 w eeks’ v acatio n a fte r 5 years of service, s ta te d
th a t it h ad no general rule th a t such a v acatio n is to be ordered
in each case regardless of circum stances. (Source: B -1719.)
T he N W L B a d o p ted a resolution codifying its principles regarding
lab o r disp u tes involving em ployers engaged in in tra s ta te com
merce. (F or sum m ary, see M . L. R . Sept. 1944, p. 520.)
T he N W L B ap p ro v ed an order of its Second R egional B oard a t New
Y ork, directin g a progressive v acatio n p lan for th e w orkers of th e
T ruck E q u ip m en t Co. Inc., of Buffalo, N. Y. T he p lan provides
for vacatio n s of 40 hours a fte r 1 y ear of service, 50 hours a fte r 2
years, 60 hours afte r 3 years, 70 hours a fte r 4 years, an d 80 hours
a fter 5 years. (Source: OW I, N W L B , B -1697.)
T he W ar Food A d m in istratio n announced th a t 63,637 M exican farm
w orkers h ad been im p o rted an d w ere w orking in 17 W estern
States. A dditional M exicans w ere scheduled to be b ro u g h t in
from M exico, to m a in ta in a w ork force of 75,000 for th e 1944
h a rv est season. (Source: O W I, D ep t, of A griculture, A G -1057;
see also C hron. item for Apr. 14, 1944, M . L. R. Sept. 1944.)
On S eptem ber 15, th e W PB announced th a t 16,000 n ativ es of th e
B ritish W est Indies, who had been w orking on farm s in th e U n ited
S tates, w ould be used to relieve lab o r shortages in foundries.
(Source: O W I, W P B -6475.) On S eptem ber 30, 1944, th e re were
16,587 Jam a ic a n and 4,898 B ohem ian a g ric u ltu ra l w orkers in th e
U n ited S tates, who h ad been tra n sp o rte d by th e Office of L ab o r
of th e W ar Food A dm inistration. (Source: F a rm L abor, U. S.
D ept, of A griculture, Oct. 13, 1944, p. 11.)
T he W PB an d th e N atio n al H ousing A gency announced jo in tly a
lim ited pro g ram of house construction, d esig n ated as H -2 housing,
to relieve housing shortages for resident— as d istin c t from im
m ig ra n t—w orkers in congested w ar p ro d u ctio n areas.
(In
m ig ran t w orkers are alread y p rovided for by th e H - l housing
program .) I t w as expected th a t c o n stru ctio n w ould reach a p ro b
able q u arte rly volum e of ap p ro x im ately 25,000 u n its during
1945. M axim um selling price of H - 2 housing is $6,000, an d th e
m axim um ren t, $50; in exceptional cases, because of high con
stru c tio n costs, th e corresponding figures are $7,500 a n d $62.50.
(Source: O W I-3409.)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1318
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
19U
Ju ly 21. T he W ar P ro d u ctio n B oard, in releasing a sta te m e n t of its prod u ctio n
executive com m ittee, outlining th e procedure by w hich th e
com m ittee handles cu tb ac k s a n d o th e r pro d u ctio n ad ju stm e n ts
w hich m ig h t provide for increased civilian p roduction, announced
th a t cu tb ac k s were n o t y e t a significant problem .
T he com
m itte e w ould review "ev ery p rogram cu tb a c k proposed by a
p ro cu rem en t service involving a red u ctio n of as m uch as $1,000,000
in th e to ta l value of th e item s to be delivered in th e cu rre n t m o n th
or in a n y one of th e succeeding 6 m onths, u n d er all prim e con
tra c ts for th e sam e p ro cu rem en t ite m .” T he com m ittee would
also be notified of each change in a n y single c o n tra c t reducing
th e value of item s to be delivered d u rin g th e succeeding 3 m o n th s
by $200,000 or m ore. (Source: O W I, W P B -6 1 3 1 .) B y A ugust 1,
c u tb a c k cases review ed by th e com m ittee in d icated th a t only
14,925 w orkers o u t of a to ta l of nearly 10,000,000 m unitions
w orkers w ould be laid off, a n d som e of th e m n o t u n til th e begin
ning of 1945. P rac tic a lly all w ould be im m ediately reem ployed
in o th er w ork. (Source: O W I-3465.) On Ju ly 14 th e W M C
annou n ced th a t th e re w as a n et sho rtag e of ap p ro x im ately 200,000
w orkers in absolutely essential w ar industries. (S ource: P M -4627.)
Ju ly 23. T he W ar M anpow er Comm ission an nounced th e creation of an In d u s try
A ssociations C om m ittee " to encourage specific in dustries and
in d u stria l groups to cooperate in th e exchange of applied new
discoveries, ideas, an d m ethods th a t have resu lted in a red u ctio n
of m anpow er req u ire m e n ts.” M ore th a n 750 industries, divided
in to 12 groups, .will p a rtic ip a te v o lu n tarily in th e w ork of th e
com m ittee. (Source: O W I, P M -4637.)
Ju ly 25. T he N W L B ad o p te d a resolution providing for th e h andling of cases
in w hich th e re is " a dem an d for an y general wage increase beyond
th e lim its of th e existing w age-stabilization p olicy.” (For
discussion see M. L. R. Sept. 1944, p. 518.)
Ju ly 27. T he N W L B unanim ously am ended a directive order of its F o u rth
R egional B oard a t A tla n ta , Ga. (which p ro h ib ited em ployees
from _carry in g on union business on com pany p ro p e rty during
w orking hours w ith o u t th e w ritten consent of th e com pany)
by_ including a provision th a t th e term “ w orking h o u rs” is n o t
to include th e lu n ch p e rio d or tim e before or a fte r work. (SourceO W I, N W LB , B-1702.)
Ju ly 27. T he N W L B annp u n ced a 5-point program designed to relieve th e
m anpow er sh o rta g e in gray-iron, m alleable-iron an d steel fo u n
dries. (Source: O W I, N W L B , B-1667.)
Ju ly 28. T he W ar Food A d m in istratio n re p o rted its n ation-w ide su rv ey of
in -p la n t feeding, w hich covered 2,056 selected m an u fa c tu rin g
p la n ts w orking on w ar co n tracts. A ccording to th e re p o rt
som e 5 m illion w orkers in a b o u t half of th e U n ited S tates m an u
factu rin g p la n ts engaged in w ar w ork can o b ta in m id sh ift m eals
on th e job.
(Source: O W I, D ep t, of A griculture, A G-1068.
F o r su m m ary , see M. L. R. Oct. 1944, p. 746: see also C hron
item for Ja n . 13, 1944, M. L. R. Ju n e 1944.)
AUGUST
Aug. 3. T he P residen t, by E x ecu tiv e order, a u th o rized and d irected th e Secre
ta r y of W ar to ta k e over th e tra n sp o rta tio n system s of th e P h ila
delphia T ra n sp o rta tio n Co., whose o p erato rs h a d gone o u t on a
strik e on Aug. 1— th e da,y on w hich 8 new ly tra in e d Negro
operato rs w ere to m ake tria l runs w ith o u t passengers. (Source:
O W I, S -4 3 ; W hite H ouse release of Aug. 3.)
Aug. 3. T he W ar M anpow er Com m ission announced th e te rm in a tio n of th e
m an nin g -tab le p lan (see C hron. item for N ov. 6, 1942, M. L. R.
Feb. 1943) w hich p ro v id ed for an orderly w ith d raw al of w orkers
from w ar in d u stries in to th e arm ed forces. (F or discussion
see M. L. R . Sept. 1944, p. 518.)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Chronology
1319
!9U o
Aijg. 3. T he N W L B approved a general order delegating to th e S ecretary of
w a r au th o rity to establish wage or salary schedules for civilian
em ployees of th e W ar D e p a rtm e n t in G o v ern m en t ow ned and
op erated in stallatio n s in th e T e rrito ry of H aw aii. (SourceO W I, N W LB , B -1708.) Sim ilar a u th o rity was delegated on
A ugust 26 to th e S ecretary of th e N a v y w ith respect to civilians
em ployed by th e N av y D ep a rtm e n t. (Source: B -1744.)
Aug. 4. T he D irecto r of W ar M obilization issued a directive providing for th e
establish m en t of em ploym ent ceilings in w ar a n d o th e r essential
industries. (F or sum m ary, see M. L. R . Sept. 1944, p. 516.)
On A ugust 5, th e W ar M anpow er C om m ission issued regulations governing th e em ploym ent of certain classes of w orkers
in areas w ith ceiling program s. (F or sum m ary, see M. L. R.
Se t. 1944, p. 519, an d Oct. 1944, p. 749.)
Aug. 6 . T he N W L B , w ith th e lab o r m em bers dissenting, v acated a n o rd er of
its T ruck in g Com m ission directing m aintenance-of-m em bership
and check-off clauses in a disp u te case.in w hich th e union was
n eith er certified as sole collective-bargaining rep rese n ta tiv e of
th e em ployees nor recognized as such by th e com pany. (SourceO W I, N W L B , B-1687.)
Aug. 1 1 . T he P resident, b y E xecutive order, directed th e Office of D efense
T ra n sp o rta tio n to ta k e over th e op eratio n of 103 m o to r-ca rrier
system s of th e M id-W est O p erato rs’ A ssociation. T he op erato rs
refused to p u t in to effect wage increases ordered by th e N W LB .
B y O ctober 2 1 , eig h t carriers h a d com plied w ith th e B o a rd ’s
orders a n d were released from G overn m en t control. (SourceW hite H ouse, Release of A ugust 1 1 , 1944; O W I, O D T -698.)
Aug. 14. I h e N av y took over five of th e largest m achine shops in San Francisco,
a fte r th e local m ach in ists’ union h ad ignored th e N W L B ’s order
th a t th e union ban on overtim e a n d S u n d ay w ork be rem oved
from 104 m achine shops in th e San F rancisco area. T he ban
had been im posed on A pril 13, 1944, a fte r th e em ployers’ group
had refused to sign a stip u latio n p ro viding t h a t a n ag reem en t
w hich expired on M arch 31 w ould rem ain in effect u n til replaced
u
0ne'
A ugust 19> a t th e req u est of th e S ecretary of
th e N avy, th e N W LB by u nanim ous actio n changed th e term s
an d conditions of em ploym ent in th e 104 m achine shops, as fol
lows: ( 1 ) T h e req u irem en t of p referen tial hiring of m em bers of
Lodge 68 of th e In te rn a tio n a l A ssociation of M achinists, A. F. of L.,
was w ith d raw n ; (2 ) union p a rtic ip a tio n in th e scheduling of
vacations was canceled ; an d (3) provisions in th e expired lab o r
agreem en t w hich req u ired th e consent of Lodge 68 to a n y action
or its p a rtic ip a tio n in a n y procedure w ere w ith d raw n . (SourceO W I, N W L B , B -1694.)
Aug. 15. T he W PB and th e W M C jo in tly announced th a t th o u g h w ar p ro d u ctio n
h ad th e first claim, th e re would be a m axim um re su m p tio n of
civilian p ro d u ctio n consistent w ith w ar p ro d u ctio n needs.
(Source: O W I-3488.) A t th e sam e tim e th e W PB described
th e new sp o t au th o riz a tio n procedure, estab lish ed by P riorities
R egulatio n No. 25, as “ a m eth o d for au th o rizin g civilian p ro d u c
tio n th ro u g h field offices of th e W ar P ro d u ctio n B oard, w hen
labor, facilities, a n d m aterials are av ailab le a n d are no longer
needed fo r w ar or essential civilian p ro d u c tio n .” (Source:
O W I, W PB -6294.) T he first ap p ro v al of an a p p licatio n for
civilian p ro d u ctio n u n d e r th e sp o t-a u th o riz a tio n o rd er w as a n
nounced by th e W PB on S eptem ber 6 . (Source: W PB -6406.)
Aug. 20. T he W M C announced a 6 -point shopping-extension pro g ram calling for
th e ^convenient a v ailab ility of com m ercial a n d professional
services to w ar w orkers in order to p re v e n t unnecessary ab sen tee
ism. Besides th e extension of services in com m unities, th e
p rogram calls for th e in stallatio n of various services in w ar p lan ts,
such as pick-up lau n d ry services, facilities for th e p a y m e n t of
bills, an d auto m o b ile-rep air shops on p la n t p ark in g lots. (Source:
^
T, PM -4653.)
618627— 44-
14
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1320
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
19 U
Aug. 29. T he W M C an nounced plans for d isp a tc h in g specially tra in e d m en from
W ashington to lead 20 special rec ru itin g team s in to th e field to
help regional, S tate, an d local W M C d irectors m eet u rg en t in te r
regional m anpow er quotas, to ta lin g 96,000 for th e ensuing 2 m onths.
T he larg est an d m ost pressing need for w orkers was in Region
X II (the W est C oast) a n d R egion V (K en tu ck y , M ichigan, an d
Ohio). (Source: O W I, P M -4661.) On A ugust 31, th e W M C
annou n ced th a t th e “ C an Y ou S pare a W o rk er” m ovem ent
origin ated by th e regional m an ag e m en t com m ittee in Region V,
an d designed to shift m en v o lu n tarily from less-essential to w ar
w ork, w as flourishing. (Source: P M -4 6 6 2 a n d 4668.) On
Septem b er 6 th e W M C an nounced an acu te need for m ore th a n
200,000 a d d itio n al w orkers in several of th e N a tio n ’s h eav y w ar
p ro d u ctio n areas. (Source: P M -4669.)
Aug. 29. T he P resid en t asked th e D irecto r of th e B ureau of th e B u d g et to u n d e r
ta k e th e p re p a ra tio n of plans for g ath erin g sta tistic s useful for
ev en tu a l reconversion to peacetim e p ro d u ctio n . T he B u reau of
th e B u d g et announced th a t in con ju n ctio n w ith o th er agencies it
w ould ta k e a census of m an u factu res for 1944, an d also p rep are
inform atio n on em p lo y m en t a n d unem p lo y m en t, an d on con
sum ers’ incom es, expenditures, a n d savings. (Source: W hite
H ouse release, Aug. 29, 1944.)
On S ep tem b er 18, th e P resid en t asked th e D irecto r of th e B ureau
of th e B udget to reexam ine th e program s, organization, an d
staffing of G overn m en t agencies, a n d to su b m it recom m endations
including plans for ( 1 ) th e liq u id atio n of w ar agencies a n d th e
reassig n m en t of th e ir p erm a n e n t or contin u in g functions, ( 2 ) th e
red u ctio n of G overn m en t personnel to a peace footing, an d
( 3 ) th e sim plification a n d a d a p ta tio n of a d m in istra tiv e stru c tu re
to p eacetim e req u irem en ts. (Source: W hite H ouse release,
Sept. 18, 1944.)
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 4. T he P re sid e n t’s C om m ittee on F a ir E m p lo y m en t P ractice announced
th e signing of its first w orking ag reem en t w ith a union, providing
for th e elim ination of d iscrim ination in em ploym ent. T his
agreem en t w as signed w ith th e w ar-policy division of th e U n ited
A utom obile A ircraft an d A gricultural Im p lem en t W orkers of
A m erica (C. I. O.) an d pro v id ed for th e se ttle m e n t of bona-fide
com plaints of d iscrim ination involving a n y U. A. W .-C . I. O.
officer or a p la n t in w hich th e union h as a local. (Source:
O W I-3534.) D u ring th e first 6 m o n th s of 1944 th e P re sid e n t’s
C om m ittee h a d a d ju ste d satisfacto rily 702 cases an d h ad o th e r
wise closed 1,237; during th is period th e re were alto g eth er 2,100
cases p ending w ith th e C om m ittee. (Source: O W I-3480.)
Sept. 5. T he W PB announced a u nanim ous ag reem ent betw een G overnm ent
agencies rep resen ted on th e B oard on a pro g ram designed to
provide th e u tm o st stim u lu s to reconversion upo n G erm an y ’s
defeat. U n d er th e ag reem ent th e re will be only one preference
ratin g , in ad d itio n to th e p resen t em ergency AAA ratin g , and
th is ra tin g will ap p ly only to m ilitary p rogram s du rin g th e w ar
ag ain st Ja p a n . No program m ing of civilian p ro d u ctio n will be
necessary, b u t th e W PB will re ta in its In d u s try D ivisions and
its In d u s try D ivision R eq u irem en ts C o m m ittees to p re v e n t a n y
one from p rocuring a n unreasonable a m o u n t of a n y m a te ria l or
p ro d u ct. (Source: O W I, W PB -6416.)
Sept. 6 . T he D irecto r of W ar M obilization anno u n ced th e decision of th e W ar
Food A d m in istratio n to rem ove from th e ratio n in g list on S ep tem
ber 17 th e following foods: F ru it spreads (jam s, jellies, a n d fru it
b u tte rs), certain canned vegetables (beans, corn, peas, pum pkin
or squash, asparagus, a n d m ixed vegetables), a n d certain related
canned p ro d u c ts (baked beans, to m a to sauce or p aste, to m a to
pulp or puree, soups, a n d b ab y foods). (Source: W hite H ouse
release, S ept. 6 , 1944.) On S ep tem b er 30, blue to k en s (see
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Chronology
1321
19U
C hron. item for Oct. 7, 1943, M. L. R. Feb.
from circulation, because all rem aining
values w ould be increased to m ultiples of
change in tokens w ould n o t be necessary.
4780 an d 4791.)
1944) were w ith d raw n
processed-food p o in t
10 a n d th e m ak in g of
(Source: O W I, O P A -
Sept. 7. T he D irecto r of W ar M obilization su b m itte d to th e P resid en t a re p o rt
on reconversion, em bodying recom m endations a n d a su m m ary
of th e program s p re p a re d by G o v ern m en t agencies for a re tu rn to
civilian p ro d u ctio n w ith m axim um em p lo y m en t w hen G erm any
surrenders. (Source: W hite House, R econversion, A R e p o rt to
th e P resid en t, Sept. 7, 1944; for su m m ary , see M. L. R ., N ov.
1944, p. 965.) On Ju ly 13, th e Surplus W ar P ro p e rty A dm inis
tra tio n h a d announced th e estab lish m en t of a price policy de
signed to accelerate th e disposal of G overn m en t surplus used
m achine tools, w ith a view n o t only to creatin g am p ler oppor
tu n ities for post-w ar em ploym ent b u t also to p rev en tin g loss to
n atio n al prod u ctio n th ro u g h depreciation of th e tools. (Source:
S urplus W ar P ro p erty A dm inistration, press release of Ju ly 13;
see also first Chron. item for Ju ly 11, th is issue.)
Sept. 8 . T he N W L B anno u n ced its ru lin g th a t union re p resen tativ es in v estig atin g
an d a d ju stin g grievances are to be given cred it for th e tim e w orked
in th e com p u tatio n of prem ium p ay for th e six th a n d sev en th days
of w ork. (Source: O W I, N W L B , B -1738.)
Sept. 13. T he N W L B v acated a directive order of its T e n th R egional B oard a t
San F rancisco, w hich h ad ordered th e inclusion of a sick-leave
provision in a collective-bargaining agreem en t. T he B oard sta te d
th a t it w ould n orm ally n o t order a sick-leave p lan in a d isp u te
case. (Source: O W I, N W L B , B -1777.)
Sept. 14. T he W M C in stru c te d its field staff to au th o rize in d u stries to assign
p lanning engineers a n d technicians to th e d ev elopm ent of p ro
gram s for reconversion to civilian p ro d u ctio n . H ow ever, no
civilian-production p lan w hich in terfe red w ith w ar w ork of high
urgency w ould be au thorized. A ctual re su m p tio n or expansion
of civilian p ro d u ctio n still requires certification by th e W M C ,
except (1) in establishm ents, in critical W est C oast lab o r areas,
em ploying few er th a n 50 (or few er th a n 100 if in o th e r areas) an d
(2 ) certain o th e r cases in w hich increased p ro d u ctio n does n o t
involve th e hiring of ad d itio n al w orkers. (Source: O W I, P M 4675.)
Sept. 19. T he P resident, in response to a form al n otification by th e N atio n al
M ediation B oard, c reated tw o em ergency b o ard s to in v estig ate
disputes betw een several railro ad carriers (Chicago, N o rth Shore &
M ilw aukee R ailroad Co., Chicago, A urora & E lgin R ailro ad Co.,
an d U nion R ailw ay Co., M em phis, T enn.) a n d certain of th e ir
em ployees in Tennessee, Illinois, a n d W isconsin. (Source:
W hite H ouse release, Sept. 19, 1944.)
Sept. 19. T he N W L B anno u n ced th e unanim ous ad o p tio n of tw o resolutions w ith
respect to bonus an d o vertim e p ay m e n ts for em ployees in local
tr a n s it com panies as com pensation for a n increased "and unu su al
w artim e w ork load. B onuses an d ov ertim e p ay m e n ts m u st con
form to th e form ula a n d policies expressed in th e resolutions.
(Source: O W I, N W L B , B -1751 a n d B -1751-A .)
Sept. 20. T he N W L B an nounced th a t a n y em ployer m ay p a y a C h ristm as or
year-end bonus of $25 or less to each of his em ployees w ith o u t th e
B o ard ’s ap p ro v al. (Source: O W I, N W L B , B -I7 5 3 .) On Sep
te m b e r 27, th e B oard au th o rized em ployers to aw ard, w ith o u t
its approv al, prizes in w ar bonds (not in excess of $250 in face
value) to em ployees for th e sale of w ar bonds du rin g th e Sixth W ar
L oan D rive, p ro v id ed th e em ployers file a sta te m e n t of th e am o u n ts
an d basis of th e aw ards. (Source: O W I, N W L B , B -1764.)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1322
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
19U
Sept. 21. T he N W L B anno u n ced th a t em ployers who have job-classification ra te
ranges m ay hire 25 p ercen t of all new em ployees a t ra te s above
th e m inim um of th e ranges. P reviously (see C hron. item for
April 23, M. L. R ., Sept. 1944) em ployers w ere re stric te d in hiring
a t ra te s above th e m inim um to 25 p ercen t of th e n u m b er hired
for each se p a ra te job classification. (Source: O W I, N W LB ,
B -1755.)
Sept. 2 2 . T he N W L B anno u n ced th a t it w ould n o t consider it a violation of th e
w age-stabilization reg u latio n if em ployers close th e ir shops on
V -E (V ictory in E urope) D ay a n d p ay th e ir em ployees a t stra ig h ttim e ra te s or earnings for hours n o t w orked. (Source: O W I,
N W L B , B -1758.)
Sept. 27. T he W M C anno u n ced th e lifting of all m anpow er controls for v eteran s of
th e p resen t w ar. (Source; O W I, P M -4 6 8 2 ; for discussion, see
M. L. R ., N ov. 1944, p. 971; see also C h ro n ..item for Dec. 20, 1943,
M. L. R ., Feb. 1944.) On S ep tem b er 7 th e W M C h ad announced
th a t m ore th a n h alf a m illion jobs h a d been found for th e 1,279,000
v eteran s who h ad alread y re tu rn e d hom e. T he d em o n stratio n
centers form ed in various cities as m odels in guidance a n d place
m en t of v eteran s (see C hron. item for Dec. 20, 1943, M. L. R.,
Feb. 1944) h a d been absorbed in to a n expanded guidance a n d
p lacem en t service in th e 1,500 full-tim e a n d 2,200 p a rt-tim e
offices of th e U SES. T he W M C estim a te d th a t 50 to 60 p ercen t
of th e v e teran s who h ad held jobs of a p e rm a n e n t n a tu re before
enterin g th e w ar were re tu rn in g to th e ir form er jobs. (Source:
P M -4667.) As for w ounded v eteran s, th e W M C on S eptem ber
13 m ad e its first re p o rt on th e ad o p tio n by in d u stry of th e
W M C ’s Selective P lacem en t p ro g ram for th e em p lo y m en t of
hand ica p p ed v eteran s. U nder th e pro g ram som e 2,000 em ployers
in C onn ecticu t, P en n sy lv an ia, C alifornia, a n d M ichigan were
alread y analyzing 2 m illion jobs for th e possibility of th e ir being
filled by h an d ica p p ed veterans. (Source: P M -4673.)
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Recent Publications o f Labor Interest
D ecem b er 1 9 4 4
Absenteeism and Labor Turnover
The AB C of absenteeism and labor turnover.
W ashington 25, U. S. D e p a rtm e n t of
L abor, D ivision of L ab o r S tan d ard s, 1944. 7 pp. (Special bull. No. 17.)
5 cents, S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
B rief description of sim ple m ethods of com puting absenteeism a n d labortu rn o v e r rates.
The recording of sickness absence in industry (a preliminary report).
M edical R esearch Council, In d u stria l H e a lth R esearch B oard, 1944.
(R ep o rt N o. 85.) 4 d .n e t.
L ondon,
17 pp.
Teamwork and labor turnover in the aircraft industry of southern California.
By
E lto n M ayo a n d George F. F. L om bard. B oston 63, H a rv a rd U niv ersity ,
G rad u ate School of B usiness A dm inistration, O ctober 1944. 30 p p ., ch arts.
(B usiness research studies No. 32.) $ 1 .
A study based upon field research. It is stated that the survey indicates that
management has been in a significant way responsible for the absences and turn
over for which workers are so widely blamed. Although the study deals with
wartime conditions, the authors believe that defects in management methods, if
continued in the post-war period, will have serious effects on the country’s indus
trial structure.
Cooperative Movement
Cooperation in the United States and foreign countries:
A list of bibliographies.
C om piled by A nne L. B aden. W ashington 25, L ib ra ry of C ongress, D ivision
of B ibliography, 1943. 35 p p .; m im eographed. L im ited free d istrib u tio n .
Cooperative organizations and the restoration of European farm production. (In
In te rn a tio n a l L abor Review , M ontreal, O ctober 1944, pp. 419-450. R e
p rin ts of article are available a t 10 cents each. D istrib u te d in U n ited S tates
by W ashington b ran c h of I. L. O.)
E xam ines cooperative m achinery in th e w ar-to rn countries w ith resp ect to th e
m ark etin g of various farm pro d u cts a n d p u rchasing of various farm supplies.
T he re p o rt points o u t th a t th e best m easure of th e w o rth of cooperatives is th e
fa c t th a t th e N azis, th e ir avow ed enemies, h av e everyw here m ad e use of th e m
an d th e ir facilities in stea d of d estroying them .
Cooperative associations in Europe and their possibilities for post-war reconstruction.
B y Florence E. P a rk e r a n d H elen I. Cowan. W ashington 25, U. S. B ureau
of L abor S tatistics, 1944. 280 pp. (Bull. No. 770.) 35 cents, S uperin
te n d e n t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
Co-ops plan for the post-war world. C hicago 5 (608 S o u th D e arb o rn S tre e t),
C ooperative L eague of th e U. S. A., 1944. 63 p p ., m aps, illus. 50 cents.
R ep o rt of th e In te rn a tio n a l C ooperative R eco n stru ctio n C onference in W ash
ington, D. C., Ja n u a ry 19 a n d 20, 1944. T he purpose of th e conference w as to
determ ine w hat cooperatives in th e U n ited S tates an d elsewhere could do in in te r
n atio n al post-w ar reconstru ctio n . I t ad o p te d a 14-point p rogram , w hich included
a u th o rizatio n of an In te rn a tio n a l C ooperative T rad in g a n d M a n u factu rin g Asso
ciation, th e launching of a F reedom F u n d to be used in th e re h a b ilita tio n of coop
eratives in countries in th e th e a te rs of w ar, a n d o th er m easures designed to sp read
know ledge of th e cooperative m ovem ent a n d its practice.
E ditor ’ s N ote .—Correspondence regarding the publications to which reference is m ade in this list should
be addressed to th e respective publishing agencies m entioned. W here d ata on prices were readily available,
th e y have been shown w ith th e title entries.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1323
1324
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
L ’Organisation Internationale du Travail et le mouvement coopératif.
B y M aurice
C olom bain. Quebec, 1944. 26 pp. (C ahiers de l ’École des Sciences
Sociales, Politiq u es e t É conom iques, l ’U niversité L aval, Vol. I l l , No. 6 .)
15 cents.
D escribes th e w ork being done by th e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r O rganization,
th ro u g h its C ooperative Service, in th e field of cooperation. A m ong th e a c tiv i
ties n o ted are th e collection a n d p u b licatio n of sta tistic s a n d d escriptive d a ta on
all ty p es of cooperatives, th e m aking of special studies on various phases of th e
cooperative m ovem ent, issuance of an in te rn a tio n a l d irecto ry of cooperatives,
an d th e pu b licatio n of a news service (C ooperative In fo rm atio n ) show ing c u rren t
developm ents in various countries.
Peace through, cooperation.
B y J. H en ry C arp en te r. N ew Y ork, H a rp e r &
Bros., 1944. 113 pp. $1.25.
A dvances th e th em e th a t th e cooperative m ov em en t is a force “ fo r ju s t an d
righ teous living an d as a w ay to w ard p eace.”
Handbook on major regional farm supply purchasing cooperatives, 1942 and 1943.
B y 'Jo se p h G. K n ap p . W ashington 25, U. S. F arm C redit A d m in istratio n ,
C ooperative R esearch a n d Service D ivision, 1944. 53 p p .; m im eographed.
(M iscellaneous re p o rt No. 73.)
Gives d etailed rep o rts on 17 in dividual cooperative w holesale associations
in th e U n ited S ta te s w hich p u rch ase farm supplies, show ing business done in th e
various com m odities h andled.
Cost and Standards of Living
Cost of clothing for moderate-income families, 1935-44 •
W ashington 25, U. S.
B ureau of L ab o r S tatistics, 1944. 30 pp., ch arts. (Bull. No. 789; rep rin te d
from M o n th ly L ab o r R eview , Ju ly 1944, w ith ad d itio n a l d a ta .) 10 cents,
S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
Wartime earnings and spending in Honolulu, 1943.
B y L enore A. E p stein .
W ashington 25, U. S. B ureau of L ab o r S tatistics, 1944. 36 pp., ch arts.
(Bull. N o . 788; re p rin te d from M o n th ly L ab o r R eview , A pril 1944, w ith
ad d itio n al d a ta.) 10 cents, S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
Economic and Social Problems
Curbing inflation through taxation.
N ew Y ork, T ax In s titu te , Inc., 1944. 261
pp., bibliography. $2.50.
Sym posium conducted by th e T ax In s titu te in F e b ru a ry 1944. Some of th e
topics discussed were consum er spending du rin g th e w ar; th e public d e b t; and
sales, incom e, an d social-security taxes. F o u r of th e p ap ers describe th e experi
ences of R ussia, Ita ly , C anada, an d E ngland, respectively, in curbing inflation
th ro u g h fiscal devices.
Social policy in dependent territories.
M ontreal, In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office,
1944. 185 pp. (Studies an d rep o rts, Series B, No. 38.) $1. D istrib u te d
in U nited S tates by W ashington b ran ch of I. L. O.
P repared to explain th e background, n atu re , an d p o ten tia litie s of th e decisions
of th e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r O rganization concerning m inim um sta n d a rd s of
social policy in d ep en d en t territo ries.
Germany under fascism, 1933 to the present day. B y Jü rg en K uczynski. London,
W. C. 1, F rederick M uller, L td ., 1944. 239 pp. 9s. 6 d. net.
T he first p a rt of th is volum e deals w ith th e stru c tu re an d econom ic policy of
G erm an fascism ; p a rt 2 surveys lab o r conditions an d policies since 1933, including
an exam ination of w artim e lab o r policies up to 1943.
Industrialization and trade: The changing world pattern and the position of Britain.
By A. J. Brow n. London, R oyal In s titu te of In te rn a tio n a l Affairs, 1943.
71 pp. 2s. net.
Sets th e cu rren t an d recen t in d u strializatio n of overseas countries in perspective
as a phase in general econom ic d evelopm ent; shows how it is likely to proceed;
and exam ines som e of th e im plications as th e y will affect w orld tra d e , w ith p a r
tic u la r reference to th e U n ited K ingdom .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Recent Publications of Labor Interest
1325
Swedish economic policy during the war.
B y K arin K ock. M anchester, E n g lan d ,
M anchester S tatistic a l Society, [1943]. 12 pp.
D iscusses Sw eden’s economic a n d financial problem s b ro u g h t a b o u t by th e
w ar a n d m easures ta k e n to solve them . W artim e changes in em ploym ent a n d
th e cost of living are also treated .
Education and Training
From learning to earning: Birth and growth of a young people’s college.
B y P. I.
K itch en . L ondon, F ab er & F ab er, L td ., 1944. 168 pp., illus. 8 s. 6 d. net.
D escription of a sm all-scale experim ent for helping young w orkers to ob tain
fu rth e r education.
Industry and education. London, S. W. 1, F ed eration of B ritish In d u stries,
E d u catio n C om m ittee, 1944. 2 0 pp.
In d icates th e educatio n al background th a t is desirable for th e a d m in istrativ e,
m anagerial, a n d technical sides of p ro d u ctiv e in d u stry ; p o in ts o u t causes of th e
p resen t failure of th e B ritish educational system to give th e necessary tra in in g ;
a n d suggests m eans of bridging th e gap. R ecom m endations are also m ade
w hereby in d u stry could itself supplem ent th e n a tio n al education system . >
First report of Building Apprenticeship and Training Council, [Great Britain ],
December 1943. London, 1944. 25 pp. 6 d. net.
Training operatives for machine shops— a works instructor’s handbook. B y N a tio n a l
In s titu te of In d u s tria l Psychology. London, Sir Isaac P itm a n & Sons, L td .,
1944. 35 pp. 2s. net.
B ased on p ractice th a t has proved effective in application.
Training programs in the nonferrous metal-mining industry. W ashington 25,
U. S. W ar M anpow er Comm ission, B ureau of T raining, A ppren tice-T rain in g
Service, 1944. 62 p p .; m im eographed. (T echnical bull. No. T -118.)
Post-war educational development in India. R e p o rt by C en tral A dvisory B o ard
of E d u catio n . D elhi, B ureau of E d u catio n , 1944. 118 pp., ch art. Is.
T re a ts th e different levels of education sep arately , from p rim ary to u n iv ersity
w ork, an d discusses th e necessary a d ju n c ts to a successful ed u catio n system ,
such as teac h er train in g a n d care of th e h ealth of school children.
Employment and Unemployment
The disposition of surplus machine tools by the War Department following World
War I. By C aroline B uck Reeves. W ashington 25, U. S. B ureau of L abor
S tatistics, 1944. 47 pp., ch arts; m im eographed. (H istorical stu d y No. 75.)
Free.
One section of th e re p o rt deals w ith em ploym ent in th e m a n u fa c tu re of m achine
tools in 1914 a n d 1918 a n d th e effect of cu rta ilm e n t of p ro d u ctio n on em ploym ent.
Economic problems of the reconversion period. F o u rth re p o rt of th e H ouse Special
C om m ittee on P o st-W ar Econom ic Policy a n d Planning, p u rs u a n t to H .
R es. 408. W ashington 25, U. S. G o vernm ent P rin tin g Office, 1944. 79
pp., charts. (U nion calen d ar No. 608; H ouse re p o rt No. 1855, 7 8th Cong.,
2 d sess.)
T ran sitio n al un em p lo y m en t a n d reem ploym ent are am ong th e problem s con
sidered.
The national output at fu ll employment in 1950. B y E v e re tt E. H agen a n d N o ra
B oddy K irk p atric k . (In A m erican Econom ic Review , W ashington 6 (722
Jack so n Place N W .), S eptem ber 1944, pp. 472-500; ch arts. $1.25.)
T he au th o rs do n o t m ake a forecast of n atio n al o u tp u t in 1950, b u t e stim ate
w h at it will be u nder certain assum ptions, th e m ajo r assu m p tio n being su b sta n
tially full em ploym ent, w hich th e y define as allowing for u n em p lo y m en t of a b o u t
2 m illion persons.
I t is sta te d th a t su b stan tially full em plo y m en t will m ean a
far g reater n atio n al o u tp u t th a n th e co u n try has ever achieved in peacetim e.
Prospects of permanent full employment. By V ladim ir S. W oy tin sk y an d A lb ert
H alasi. (In In te rn a tio n a l P o stw ar Problem s, Q u arterly R eview of A m erican
L abor Conference on In te rn a tio n a l Affairs, New Y ork 17) 9 E a st 4 6th S treet),
S eptem ber 1944, pp. 498-523. $1.)
M r. W oytinsky em phasizes th e im p o rtan ce of a g rad u al use of a ccu m u lated
w artim e reserves or savings, w ith o u t price inflation, as a m eans of m ain ta in in g
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1326
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
post-w ar consum ption, pro sp erity , a n d full em p lo y m en t in th e U n ited S tates.
Mr. H alasi stresses th e p o in t of view th a t dependence on th e spending of w ar
reserves will n o t be sufficient a n d th a t d irect in terv en tio n b y th e G overnm ent, a t
least by m eans of fiscal policies desig n ed to p re v e n t u n em ploym ent, will become
necessary.
Is unemployment chronic?
B y E d w ard G. Bennion. (In H a rv a rd Business
Review, Vol. X X II I, No. 1, N ew Y ork 18 (330 W est 42d S treet), au tu m n
1944, pp. 115-128; c h arts. $1.50.)
T he schism betw een business a n d g overnm ent, in th e a u th o r’s opinion, can
largely be explained by th e failure of businessm en to u n d e rsta n d th e economic
theories on w hich g o v ern m en tal policy is based. T hese theories, so fa r as th e y
relate to unem ploym en t, are described as being derived p rin cip ally from th e
studies of J. M. K eynes, an d are sum m arized in th e article in “ th e sim plest term s
possible.” I t is sta te d th a t th e K eynes’ th eo ry has so com pletely su p p la n te d
earlier econom ic th in k in g th a t it is “literally, th e only u n em p lo y m en t th eo ry in
existence.”
Pennsylvania employment— the war and after.
By George L. Leffler an d M ary
V irginia Brow n. S ta te College, P a., P en n sy lv an ia S ta te College, B ureau
( of Business R esearch, 1944. 36 p p .; m im eographed. (Bull. No. 15.)
S um m ary of inform atio n regarding changes in volum e of em ploym ent, by in d u s
try an d area, a n d in p a y rolls a n d average earnings. T h e au th o rs discuss th e
problem of m ain tain in g full em p lo y m en t a fte r th e w ar a n d sta te th a t th e a m o u n t
of governm ental control a n d reg u latio n th a t will be necessary will be in inverse
ratio to th e success of business in su staining p ro sp erity a n d full em ploym ent.
Full employment and financial policy. London, S. W. 1 , L ab o r P a rty , 1944. 8 pp.
C o n tinuation of financial a n d price controls in G reat B ritain is ad v o cated ,
to g eth er w ith plan n ed n a tio n a l d ev elopm ent a n d cooperation betw een n atio n s
thro u g h an in te rn atio n a l developm ent board.
Handicapped Workers
Jobs for disabled veterans.
B y Brig. Gen. F ra n k T. H ines.
(In C asu alty &
S urety Jo u rn al, N ew Y ork 7 (60 Jo h n S treet), N ovem ber 1944, pp 1-10illus.)
’
S ta te m e n t of various phases of th e w ork involved in retra in in g a n d reem plovina
disabled veteran s of W orld W ar II .
°
Operations manual for placement of the physically handicapped.
W ashington 25
U. S. Civil Service Commission, 1944. ' 473 pp. 3d ed. 60 cents, Superinte n d e n t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
T he m an u al covers a ro u n d 3,000 indiv id u al positions in 162 g o vernm ental
establishm ents an d p riv a te estab lish m en ts having G ov ern m en t con tracts.
Physically handicapped workers. By Ross A. M cF arlan d . (In H a rv a rd Business
Review,' Vol. X X II I, No. 1, New Y ork 18 (330 W est 42d S treet), a u tu m n
1944, pp. 1-31. $1.50.)
T he first section of th e article deals w ith experience in th e em plo y m en t of h a n d i
capped w orkers in w ar in d u stries. P rocedures followed by various in d u stries in
handling these w orkers are sum m arized a n d th e ad v an ta g e s an d d isad v an tag es in
em ploying th em are cited. T h e second sectibn, dealing w ith w ar v eteran s re
views provisions for th e ir re h ab ilitatio n a n d discusses th e problem s th e y will face
w hen th e w ar is over.
Health and Medical Care
Dust in steel foundries.
London, M in istry of L ab o r a n d N a tio n a l Service F acto rv
D ep artm en t, 1944. 23 pp. 6 d. net.
F irst re p o rt of a com m ittee ap p o in te d to consider m eth o d s of p rev en tin g th e
p roduction or in h alatio n of d u st a n d th e possibility of reducing th e use of m a
terials containing free silica in steel foundries.
Health and medical services for public employees [in the United States]— a selected list
of references. W ashington 25, U. S. Civil Service Comm ission, L ibrary
Septem ber 1944.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
14 pp .; processed.
Recent Publications of Labor Interest
1327
Collecti°n of 23 rep rin ts from th e Public H ealth Service’s w eekly periodical,
P ublic H e a lth R eports.
.
■ —
th e im provem ents still required.
m mom mg uBiter n e a itn a n a
RePort of the Advisory Committee on the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Miners in
the Wates Region buffering from Pneumokoniosis. London, M in istrv of Fuel
and Power, 1944. 18 pp. 3d. net.
,SPe. ^ c recoPim endations are m ade for fu tu re action in th e tre a tm e n t an d
reh ab ilitatio n of cases.
Housing
Houses for tomorrow.
B y T hom as R . C arskadon. N ew Y ork, P ublic Affairs
C om m ittee, Inc., 1944. 32 pp., charts. (Public affairs n am n h le t N o Qfi 1
JLVJL1UU ., iy ^ t.
I t pp., m ap, Ulus.
D iscussion of housing dem an d an d th e m easures ta k e n to m eet it.
tu LUC m anag e m en t a n a activ ities ol com pleted projects.
Homes for war workers and families of low income: Report of the Philadelphia
Housing Authority, July 1, 1941-June 80, 1948. Philadelphia, [1944?].
Industrial Accidents and Workmen’s Compensation
A nnual report on industrial accidents in Illinois for 1948: Part I Summary of
industrial injuries reported in 1943 as compensable under the Workmen’s
Compensation and Occupational Diseases Acts. Chicago 6 , Illinois D e p a rtm e n t
of L abor, D ivision of S tatistics a n d R esearch, 1944. 72 p p .; m im eographed.
closed during HM3 ° f
rePo rt> n o t y et published, will cover com pensation cases
1943 annual accident report, [ Pennsylvania ]: Part I, All reported injuries ; Part
11, Compensable injuries in Pennsylvania industries; Part I I I Injuries to
women m Pennsylvania industries. H arrisburg, P en n sy lv an ia D e p a rtm e n t
of L abor a n d In d u stry , B ureau of R esearch a n d In fo rm atio n , [1944?]
34, a n d 46 p p .; m im eographed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
108
’
1328
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
A comparative study cf occupational injuries in men and women.
By J. L. B a rritt,
M. D .z T. W. Wills, A. C. Dick, M. D. (In In d u stria l M edicine, Chicago
(605 N o rth M ichigan A venue), S eptem ber 1944, pp. 669-673; charts, illus.
50 cents.)
T he w riters p o in t o u t th a t th e success of w omen w orkers in in d u stry depends
on th e ir being placed in em ploym ent a d a p te d to th e ir physical a n d m e n ta l capa
bilities; otherw ise, num erous breakdow ns will occur an d ill-considered legislation
will be enacted.
Conservation of manpower for war plant production: Twenty-five experts discuss all
phases of the accident-reduction problem. B oston, M assach u setts Safety
C ouncil, 1943.
92 pp.
$1.50.
Workmen’s compensation up to date.
By W. H . T hom pson. London, L ab o r
R esearch D ep artm e n t, 1944. 72 pp. 2s.
P o p u lar outline of B ritish w orkm en’s com pensation legislation.
Industrial Relations
Aircraft industry union contracts.
New Y ork 17, N atio n al In d u stria l Conference
B oard, Inc., Septem ber 1944. 20 pp.
P a rt 1 lists th e unions th a t claim jurisd ictio n over w orkers in th e a irc ra ft
in d u stry , and th e ir rep o rted m em bership; in p a rt 2 , th ree rep resen tativ e union
agreem ents in th e in d u stry are reproduced.
The foreman’s guide to labor relations.
W ashington 25, U. S. D e p a rtm e n t of
L abor, D ivision of L abor S tan d ard s, 1944. 28 pp. (Bull. No. 6 6 .) 10
cents, S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
Handling grievances.
P h iladelphia, C ham ber of Com m erce a n d B oard of T rade,
In d u stria l B ureau, 1944. 8 pp. (In d u stria l relations bu lletin No. 1.)
1 0 cents.
Suggests practices a n d techniques th a t have been used successfully in settling
grievances.
Industrial relations handbook.
London, M in istry of L ab o r a n d N a tio n a l Service,
1944. 260 pp. 3s. 6 d. net.
A ccount of th e organization of em ployers a n d w orkers in G reat B rita in ; collec
tiv e bargaining and jo in t negotiatin g m ach in ery ; conciliation a n d a rb itra tio n ;
an d s ta tu to ry regulation of wages in certain industries.
Labor baron: A portrait of John L. Lewis.
B y Jam es A. W echsler. New Y ork,
W illiam M orrow & Co., 1944. 278 pp., bibliography. $3.
A nalysis an d in te rp re ta tio n of th e role th e p resid en t of th e U n ited M ine
W orkers has played in th e labor, in d u strial, a n d p olitical life of A m erica during
th e p a st q u a rte r of a cen tu ry .
Management’s stake in collective bargaining.
N ew Y ork 18 (330 W est 42d S treet),
A m erican M anag em en t Association, 1944. 51 pp. (Personnel series No. 81.)
T he p am p h let contains four pap ers: T he fun ctio n of collective bargaining;
T rends a n d principles established in w artim e b argaining; T he scope of collective
bargaining; an d M an a g e m e n t’s stak e in collective b argaining, th e la tte r p ap er
being by th e chairm an of th e N atio n al W ar L abor B oard.
What the factory worker really thinks about post-war jobs and labor unions. R ep o rt
of su rv ey conducted by th e O pinion R esearch C o rp o ratio n of P rinceton,
N. J. (In F a c to ry M anag em en t an d M aintenance, N ew Y ork 18 (330 W est
42d S treet), O ctober 1944, pp. 81-92; ch arts. 35 cents.)
F irs t of a series of su rv ey s of th e a ttitu d e s of fa cto ry w orkers. T he in form ation,
it is sta te d , was o btain ed by personal interview s w ith w orkers on th e streets near
th e p la n ts w here th e y were em ployed.
Industry Reports
The printing trades.
By Jaco b L oft. N ew Y ork, F a rra r & R in eh art, Inc., 1944.
301 pp., bibliography. $3.
T h ird of a series on “ L abor in T w e n tie th C e n tu ry A m erica,” by th e sam e
publishers. Gives an acco u n t of in d u stry a n d labor problem s in new spaper an d
com m ercial p rin tin g fields from 1899 to 1939. T h e book also traces th e develop
m en t of collective barg ain in g a n d a rb itra tio n in th e five n a tio n al p rin tin g unions,
a n d ev alu a tes th eir c o n trib u tio n s to th e A m erican labor m ovem ent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Recent Publications of Labor Interest
1329
La industria de la leche en Puerto Rico.
San Ju a n , J u n ta de Salario M ínim o,
D ivisión de Investigaciones y E stad ísticas, 1944. 43 p p .; m im eographed.
R ep o rt of an official in v estigation of th e m ilk in d u stry in P u erto Rico, giving
statistics of em ploym ent, hours w orked, a n d hourly a n d w eekly wages, in dairies
a n d p asteurizing p lan ts, respectively, in A ugust a n d S e p te m b e r'1943. T he re p o rt
also includes som e d a ta on these subjects from o th er studies for earlier periods
back to 1938-39, an d a ta b u la tio n of cost-of-living indexes from M arch 1941 to
J a n u a ry 1944.
Statistical digest from 1938.
London, M inistry of F u el a n d Pow er, 1944. 6 8 pn
(C m d. 6538.) Is. 6 d.
S tatistics of coal m ines in G reat B ritain are given by years from 1938 to 1943,
inclusive, and for th e first q u a rte r of 1944. P roduction, em ploym ent, absenteeism ,
wages, an d oth er item s are included.
Labor Organizations and Their Activities
Labor in 'politics.
B y B eulah Amidon. (In S urvey G raphic, N ew Y ork 3 (112
E a st 19th S treet), Septem ber 1944, pp. 390-393 e t seq. 30 cents.)
D escription of th e origin a n d activ ities of th e P olitical A ction C o m m ittee of
th e Congress of In d u stria l O rganizations, an d of th e N atio n al C itizens’ P olitical
A ction C om m ittee.
States exercise varied controls over labor unions.
(In B usiness W eek, N ew Y ork
18 (330 W est 42d S treet), A ugust 26, 1944, p. 28. 2 0 cents.)
T he effect of legislative control of labor unions by 10 S ta te g o vernm ents is show n
in a ta b u la r statem en t.
The trade-union movement- in the framework of French war economy, 1939-fO.
By H en ry W. E h rm an n . (In Jo u rn al of Politics, G ainesville, F la., A ugust
1944, pp. 263-293. $1.)
Shows th e changing relatio n s of organized lab o r w ith th e F ren ch G o vernm ent
a n d th e la t te r ’s failure to utilize th e lab o r m ovem ent.
The trade-union movement in Germany, past, present, future.
By H an s G o ttfu rc h t,
chairm an, T rad e U nion C enter for G erm an W orkers in G re a t B ritain .
L ondon, N. W. 3 (2 0 E a st H e a th R oad, F la t 3), T rad e U nion C en ter for
G erm an W orkers in G reat B ritain , Ju ly 1944. 33 p p .; m im eographed.
R eview s th e developm en t of th e G erm an trad e-u n io n m ovem ent a n d its de
stru c tio n an d rep lacem en t by th e L ab o r F ro n t u n d er N azism , a n d outlines a
p lan for reco n stru ctin g trade-unions.
Trade unions and the war situation.
L ondon, T rad es U nion Congress, [1943], 30
pp. 3d.
S um m ary of discussions dealing w ith th e w ar situ a tio n a n d relatio n s w ith com
m u n ist groups, a t th e an n u al m eeting of th e B ritish T rad es U nion Congress a t
S o u th p o rt in Septem ber 1943.
Post- War Reconstruction
After the war— what?
The post-war program of the CIO maritime committee.
W ashington 4, Congress of In d u stria l O rganizations, 1944. 31 pp.
National planning for a public works program. By N o rm an M. Pearson. (In
Southw estern Social Science Q uarterly, A ustin, Tex., S eptem ber 1944, pp.
77-99. 75 cents.)
O utline of th e developm ent of n a tio n al public-w orks program s since th e first
W orld W ar. I t is sta te d th a t in planning a F ederal public-w orks p rogram to
provide em ploym ent in th e com ing post-w ar period a basic problem is th e lo cation
of policy form ulation as betw een th e executive a n d Congress, co m parable to
th a t involved in post-w ar foreign policy. The a u th o r concludes th a t ad e q u a te
planning requires a staff agency eith er in Congress or th e executive branch, or a
jo in t staff serving both.
A statistical summary of the Radford area, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski
Counties, and the city of Radford, Virginia: Statistical data on war and
pre-war employment and industry for use by local groups formulating plans
for the post-war period. W ashington 25, U. S. B ureau of L ab o r S tatistics,
E m p lo y m en t an d O ccupational O utlook B ranch, P o st-W ar D ivision, 1944.
16 p p ., c h a rts; m im eographed. (In d u stria l a rea sta tistic a l su m m ary No.
15.) Free.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1330
M onthly Labor Review— December 1944
A summary of the proceedings of the second national wartime conference of the
National Council of Scientific, Professional, Art, and White Collar Organiza
tions, held June 2 and 3, 1944, in New York City. N ew Y ork 22 (135 E a st
52d S treet), N a tio n a l Council of Scientific, Professional, A rt, a n d W hite
C ollar O rganizations, 1944. 52 pp. 25 cents.
S ubjects of th e four pan el discussions here sum m arized included plan n in g for
full em ploym ent, problem s of sta n d a rd s of living, in te rn a tio n a l collaboration of
th e professions in th e p o st-w ar w orld, an d p o st-w ar re a d ju stm e n t a n d retrain in g
of th e professions. Am ong th e findings of th e conference w as a proposal th a t
th e N a tio n al W artim e Conference be co n tin u ed a n d t h a t h en cefo rth it be know n
as th e N a tio n al Council of Scientific, Professional, A rt, a n d W hite C ollar O rgani
zations.
The international post-war settlement. L ondon, S. W. 1, L ab o r P a rty , 1944. 7 pp.
R e p o rt p rep ared by th e n atio n al executive com m ittee of th e B ritish L ab o r
P a rty for p re sen tatio n a t th e a n n u a l conference of th e p a rty in L ondon, M ay 2 9 Ju n e 2, 1944.
Remobilization for peace. B y Sir R onald D avison. London, P ilo t Press, L td .,
1944. 56 pp., illus. (T arg et for tom orrow , N o. 12.)
D eals w ith problem s of dem obilization in G reat B ritain , plans alread y a d o p ted
to m eet som e of th em , a n d unsolved questions. In th e a u th o r’s view, G overn
m e n t regulation to rem obilize for peace is justified to insure a n orderly tra n sitio n
from econom ic w ar to econom ic security.
Work, the future of British industry. London, C onservative an d U nionist P a rty
O rganization, C en tral C om m ittee on P o st-W ar Problem s, 1944. 47 pp. 6 d.
S ta te m e n t of lastin g principles an d salien t facts concerning tw e n tie th -c e n tu ry
in d u stry , according to th e in tro d u c tio n , a n d n o t a p olitical program .
Prices
Wholesale prices [in the United States], July-December and year 1943.
W ashing
to n 25, U. S. B ureau of L ab o r S tatistics, 1944. 60 pp. (Bull. No. 785.)
10 cents, S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
Price index numbers of commodities and services used by farmers [in Canada].
O ttaw a, D e p a rtm e n t of T rad e an d Comm erce, D om inion B ureau of S ta tis
tics, 1944. 21 pp., ch arts. 10 cents.
The New Zealand wartime prices index. W ellington, G o vernm ent P rin te r, 1944.
23 pp. 9d.
Sum m arizes events leading to ado p tio n of th e w artim e prices index a n d de
scribes th e m an n er in w hich it is compiled.
Social Security
Social security in America: Addresses at National Conference on Social Security,
sponsored by Chamber of Commerce of the United States, January 1944[W ashington, C ham ber of Com m erce of th e U n ited States], 1944. 103 pp. $1.
T he addresses covered various phases of social secu rity : E m p lo y m en t and
unem ploym ent com pensation, v e te ra n s’ re h ab ilitatio n a n d reem ploym ent, old-age
an d survivors insurance, a n d h e a lth insurance.
U E guide to group insurance. N ew Y ork 22 (11 E a st 51st S treet), U n ited E lec
trical, R adio a n d M achine W orkers of A m erica, 1944. 127 pp.
H andbook designed to help organizers an d locals n eg o tiate group insurance
w ith em ployers. D escribes types, contents, p rep aratio n , a n d ad m in istra tio n of
good group-insurance plans.
Beveridge on Beveridge: Recent speeches of Sir W illiam Beveridge. E d ite d by
Jo an S. C larke. London, S. W. 1, Social Security League, [1944?].
40 pp. Is.
D eals w ith a nu m b er of questions raised in th e Beveridge social-insurance
report.
La Caja de Pensiones, [Ecuador]. B y F. A. López A rteta. (In B oletín de In fo rm a
ciones y de E stu d io s Sociales y E conóm icos, In s titu to N acional de Previsión,
Q uito, M arch 1944, pp. 7-77.)
An account, w ith sta tistic s (receipts, in v estm en ts, an d benefits to w orkers),
of th e E cu ad o ran social-insurance system from its beginning th ro u g h 1942, an d
p e rtin e n t legislation th ro u g h 1942 repro d u ced o r sum m arized.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Recent Publications of Labor Interest
1331
Social insurance in Nazi-controlled, countries.
By E rn a M agnus. (In P o litical
Science Q u arterly , C olum bia U niversity, New Y ork 27, S ep tem b er 1944, pp.
( 388-419. $1.)
Surveys th e policies regarding social insurance applied to th e N azi-controlled
areas, provisions concerning w orkers tran sferred from these areas for em plo y m en t
in G erm any, an d coordination w ith th e G erm an social-insurance schem e of th e
various ty p es of social insurance existing in th e territo ries annexed by G erm any.
Social security in New Zealand— a simple guide for the people. B y A. M. F inlay.
C hristchurch (N. Z.), London, etc., W hitcom be & T om bs, L td ., [19431.
72 pp. 2s.6d.
D escribes th e benefits u n d er th e various p a rts of th e social-security legislation.
Wages and Hours of Labor
Intercity variations in wage levels.
1944. 14 pp.
A ugust 1944.)
1544
W ashington 25, U. S. B ureau of L ab o r S tatistics,
(Bull. N o. 793; re p rin te d from M o n th ly L ab o r Review,
5 cents, S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
salary survey [in 78 Minnesota municipalities of over 2,500 population].
M inneapolis 14, M unicipal R eference B ureau a n d L eague of M in n eso ta
M unicipalities, In fo rm a tio n Service, 1944. In 6 p a rts, various paging;
m im eographed.
S tatistics of an n u al salaries of m u n icip al em ployees, from m ayors dow n to
laborers, by occupation a n d locality, in 1942 an d 1944.
Average hourly earnings in the airframe industry, 1943.
W ashington 25, U. S.
B ureau of L abor S tatistics, 1944. 35 pp. (Bull. No. 790; rep rin te d from
M onthly L ab o r R eview , M ay 1944, w ith ad d itio n al d ata.) 10 cents, S uper
in te n d e n t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
Compensation and service of railroad employees— statistical tables, 1942.
Chicago,
U. S. R ailro ad R etirem e n t B oard, 1944. 178 pp.
All tab les show th e n u m b er of em ployees d istrib u te d by th e am o u n t of com pen
satio n an d th e n u m b er of m o n th s of service cred ited for 1942. T he tab les are
a rran g ed in seven groups, th e first group giving g ran d to ta ls an d to ta ls by class of
em ployer (class I railroads, class I sw itching a n d te rm in a l com panies, R ailw ay
E xpress Agency, P u llm an C om pany, class I I an d class I I I railroads, sw itching
a n d te rm in a l com panies o th er th a n class I, electric railroads, an d car loan com
panies). T he o th er groups of tab les give d a ta by occupation for class I railroads,
a n d by selected occupations for certain o th e r ty p es of em ployers. S ep arate groups
of tab les are given for m ale N egro em ployees a n d for fem ale w hite em ployees.
Pay by the year is labor’s goal. By R oger W illiam Riis. (In S urvey G raphic,
N ew Y ork 3 ( 1 1 2 E a st 19th S treet), O ctober 1944, pp. 422, 429, 430. 30 cents.)
A ccount of various plan s for wage p ay m e n ts on an an n u al basis, and a brief
discussion of efforts th a t are being m ade by lab o r organizations to o b tain g u a r
anteed-w age p rovisions in collective agreem ents.
Studies of the effects of long working hours. By M ax D . Kossoris. W ashington
25, U. S. B u reau of L a b o r S tatistics, 1944. 14 pp. (Serial No. R . 1653;
re p rin te d from M o n th ly L ab o r Review, Ju n e 1944.) Free.
W orking Conditions (General
)
The Australian foundry: Working conditions and how to improve them.
M elbourne,
D e p a rtm e n t of L abor an d N atio n al Service, In d u s tria l W elfare D ivision,
1944. 39 pp., illus. (Bull. No. 3.)
Factory inspection in China.
B y T . K . D jang. (In In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r R eview ,
M ontreal, Septem ber 1944, pp. 284-299. R ep rin ts of article are available
a t 10 cents each. D istrib u te d in U n ited S tates by W ashington b ran ch of
I. L. O.)
Factory inspection in Britain.
By Sir W ilfrid G a rre tt, Chief In sp e c to r of F a c
tories. (In L abor an d In d u s try in B ritain , B ritish In fo rm atio n Services,
N ew Y ork, W ashington, etc., S eptem ber 1944, pp. 147-151, 155.)
Factory orders [in Great Britain ], 1944 edition.
L ondon, M in istry of L ab o r an d
N a tio n a l Service, 1944. 388 pp. 5s. net.
O rders are classified b y subject, such as safety, w orking hours, overtim e, and
hom e w ork.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1332
M onthly Lahor Review— December 1944
Factory and Workshop Acts, [Ireland], 1901-20: Report for 1943.
D ublin, D e p a rt
m en t of In d u s try a n d Comm erce, [1944]. 1 2 pp. 4d.
Review s operations u n d e r th e facto ry legislation á n d lists law s relatin g to con
ditions of w ork in factories an d w orkshops.
General Reports
America unlimited.
B y E ric Jo h n sto n . N ew Y ork, D oubleday, D o ran & Co.,
Inc., 1944. 254 pp. $2.50.
In th is book th e p resid en t of th e C ham ber of Com m erce of th e U nited S tates
expresses his views on a wide v a rie ty of subjects, including “ m anagem ent an d
la b o r” a n d “taxes an d jo b s.”
Condiciones económicas y sociales de la República de Cuba. B y C arlos M. R aggi
Ageo. H ab an a , M inisterio de T rab ajo , 1944. 215 pp.
Survey of econom ic an d social conditions in C uba, w ith d a ta , some as late as
1943, on in d u stria l a n d o th e r d istrib u tio n of th e C uban p opulation, findings of
cost-of-living inquiries, wage levels an d wage control, unem p lo y m en t a n d m easures
for its relief, lab o r organizations an d th e ir fun ctio n in collective bargaining, etc.
Labor and labor relations in the new industries of Southwest China. B y K uo-heng
Shih an d J u - K ’ang T hen. New Y ork (129 E a st 52d S treet), In s titu te of
Pacific R elations, In te rn a tio n a l S ecretariat, 1943. 45 p p .; m im eographed.
(Social change in S outhw est C hina, Case stu d y No. 2.) 50 cents.
Tw o case studies dealing w ith m ale an d fem ale w orkers, respectively, in tw o
different factories.
Industrial labor under war conditions [in India]. B y L. G. Joshi. (In In d ia n
Jo u rn al of Social W ork, B om bay, Ju n e 1944, pp. 7-24. $1 in U n ite d S tates.)
[Report of New Zealand Department of Labor for year ended March 31, 1944W ellington, 1944. 25 pp.
C overs operations u n d er th e existing lab o r legislation a n d w artim e changes
in regulations.
Zona^de protectorado y de los territorios de soberanía de España en el Norte de
África— anuario estadístico, 1942. M adrid, Spain, M inisterio de T rab ajo ,
D irección G eneral de E stad ística, 1943. 398 pp., m aps, charts.
T his sta tistic a l an n u al for th e S panish p ro te c to ra te in M orocco and Spanish
possessions in N o rth A frica includes indexes of cost of living for 1942 a n d some
earlier years; statistic s of seasonal h a rv e st m ig ratio n for 1942; a n d sta tistic s
for 194Í of union m em bership, unem p lo y m en t am ong union m em bers, m inim um
an d m axim um daily wages (by ind u stries), in d u stria l accidents, a n d co nstruction
of low -cost houses.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1944
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
@FedFRASER