Full text of Monthly Labor Review : July 1945, Vol. 61, No. 1
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IN THIS ISSUE
Site Employment in Postwar New Construction
Wages in Basic Lumber Industry of Far West
Employment Resulting From United States Exports
Fatal Injuries in Shipyards
Wages in Pottery Manufacture
Labor Turnover in Munitions and Nonmunitions Industries
U N IT E D STATES D EP A R T M E N T O F LABOR • BUREAU O F LABOR STATISTICS
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U N ITED STATES DEPARTM ENT OF LABOR
L e w is
B.
S chw ellenbach,
Secretary
+
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
I sador L ubin , Commissioner (on leave)
A. F. H inrichs, Acting Commissioner
H enry J. F itzgerald, Chief, Business
Management Branch
Editorial and Research (vacancy)
Walter G. K eim, Director of Field
Operations
H ugh B. K illough, Chief, Em
ployment and Occupational Outlook
Branch
N. A rnold T ollés, Chief, Working
Conditions and Industrial Relations
Branch
A ryness Joy W ickens, Chief, Prices
and Cost of Living Branch
J ohn H. S mith, Acting Chief Statisti
cian
J ohn H. G. P ierson, Consultant on Postwar Employment Policy
F aith M. W illiams, Consultant on Costs and Standards of Living
H erman B. B yer, Assistant Chief, Employment and Occupational Outlook Branch
L ester S. K ellogg, Assistant Chief, Prices and Cost of Living Branch
divisions
Construction and Public Employment,
Hersey E. Riley
Consumers’ Prices, Ethel D. Hoover
Cost of Living, Dorothy S. Brady
Employment
Sturges
Statistics,
Alexander
General Price Research (vacancy)
Industrial Relations, Florence Peterson,
Assistant Chief, Working Condi
tions and Industrial Relations Branch
Labor Information Service, Boris Stern
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.
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U N I T E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T O F LA B O R • B U R EAU O F L A B O R S TA TIS TICS
*# # # # **# *# # # *,
-f
C O N ’’
S
■U
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J U L Y 1945, Voi. 61, No. 1
Special unit >:
Page
Site em ploym ent in p o stw ar new co n stru ctio n ______________________
W ages in th e basic lu m b er in d u stry in th e F a r W est, 1944---------------E m p lo y m en t resulting from U n ited S tates exports, 1939------------------Freedom — H ow can we achieve it? _________________________________
1
14
37
39
Wartime policies:
Policy on 48-hour week in areas w ith cu t-b ack s--------------- - -------------W ar L abor B oard ruling on wage or salary in creases-----------------------R ecom m endations to m eet m anpow er needs in copper in d u s try --------N ew d ra ft ru les____________________________________________________
H ours of w ork of prisoners of w a r__________________________________
C hanges in C anadian m anpow er p olicy--------------------------------------------
44
45
45
46
46
46
Employment conditions:
Site em ploym ent in p o stw ar new co n stru ctio n ---------------------------------E m p lo y m en t resulting from U nited S tates exports, 1939------------------W M C placem ents in w ar p roduction, 1942-44--------------------------------D ow ngrading agreem ent in th e a ircraft in d u s try -----------------------------L a b o r conditions in copper m ining in Peru, 1939 an d 1945----------------
1
37
49
51
52
Postwar reconstruction:
C an ad ian program for m ain tain in g em ploym ent a n d incom e---- -------C h in a’s plans for po stw ar in d u strializatio n --------------------------------------M easures to m eet po stw ar lab o r conditions in E g y p t--------------- . ------
56
60
62
Discharged soldiers:
D irectives on reem ploym ent of v e te ra n s— ------------ ------------------------
65
Social security:
Belgian social-security acts, 1944-45________________________________
G u aran teed w eekly p ay for B ritish building la b o r----------------------------U nem ploym ent com pensation in m eat-packing in d u stry in U ru g u a y ,.
67
71
72
Industrial injuries:
F a ta l w ork injuries in shipyards, 1943 and 1944-------------------------- . . .
In d u stria l injuries in m anufacturing, first q u a rte r of 1945----------------
75
87
Industrial relations:
C ollective agreem ent in Colom bian petroleum in d u stry , 1944-----------E stab lish m en t of labor-m anagem ent com m ittees in F ra n c e ---------------
91
92
Industrial disputes:
S trikes an d lockouts in M ay 1945---------------------------------------------------A ctivities of U. S. C onciliation Service, April 1945--------------------------
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4 8 -^
64
96
II
CONTENTS
Labor laws and decisions:
R ecen t decisions of in te re st to la b o r_______________________________ ^
Page
98
Women in industry:
L iving costs of w orking w om en in N ew Y ork, 1944_________________
103
Wage and hour statistics:
W ages in p o tte ry m an u factu re in E a st Liverpool area, O ctober 1944__
W ages in th e basic lu m b er in d u stry in th e F a r W est, 1944__________
T ren d of facto ry earnings, 1939 to April 1945_______________________
Salaries of city school em ployees, 1944-45__________________________
B razil— W ages a n d em ploym ent, 1944______________________________
C an ad a— H ours a n d earnings, N ovem ber 1944 a n d M arch 1945_____
C olom bia— In d u stria l real^wages, 1938-44__________________________
105
14
109
110
112
114
116
Wage and hour regulation:
W age order for P u e rto R ican cigar an d cig arette in d u s try ___________
F ive-day week in A u stra lia _________________________________________
R egulation of hom e w ork in C u b a __________________________________
B ritish W ages Councils Act, 1945__________________________________
118
118
119
120
Cost of living and retail prices:
C ost of living in large cities, M ay 1945_______ ______________________
Supplies of food in in d ep en d e n t retail stores, M ay 1945_____________
R etail prices of food in A pril 1945___________________________ ______
C ost of living a n d w ages^of'petroleum w orkers in Venezuela, 1944____
124
128
129
136
Wholesale prices:
W holesale prices in M ay 1945______________________________________
138
Labor turnover:
L ab o r tu rn o v e r in m u n itio n s a n d nonm unitions industries, 1943 an d
1944 --------------------------------------------------L ab o r tu rn o v e r in m an u factu rin g , m ining, a n d public utilities, A pril
1945 _____________________________________________
Building operations:
B uilding constru ctio n s ta rte d in u rb a n areas, M ay 1945____________
156
Trend of employment, earnings, and hours:
S um m ary of rep o rts for M ay 1945__________________________________
159
In d u s tria l a n d business e m p lo y m en t_____________________________
159
Public em p lo y m e n t______________________________________________
160
162
E m p lo y m en t on sh ipbuilding a n d re p a ir________________________
C onstructio n e m p lo y m e n t_______________________________________
163
D etailed rep o rts for in d u stria l an d business em ploym ent, A pril 1945:
N o n ag ricu ltu ral em p lo y m en t_____________________________
In d u stria l a n d business em p lo y m e n t_____________________________
165
Indexes of em plo y m en t a n d p ay ro lls __________________
A verage earnings a n d h o u rs_________________________________
175
T ren d of facto ry earnings, 1939 to A pril 1945_______________________
109
C ivilian lab o r force, M ay 1945.. „ ___________________________________
179
Labor conditions in Latin America _____________ 52, 72, 91, 112, 116, 119, 136
Recent publications of labor interest____________________________________
181
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167
This Issue in B rief
Site employment in postwar new construction
Site em ploym ent on th e new c o n stru ctio n estim a te d by th e B u reau of L ab o r
S tatistics for th e first 5 years following th e d efeat of J a p a n is expected to av erage
a b o u t 1,840,000 w orkers during th e first y ear a n d to increase to a b o u t 2,840,000
during th e fifth year. T his e stim ate (w hich excludes em p lo y m en t of co n stru ctio n
w orkers in m ain ten an ce a n d m inor repairs, a n d in n o n co n stru ctio n operations) is
based on an average w ork-year of 1,400 hours, a n d on expected increases in
p ro d u c tiv ity because of continued changes in co n stru ctio n m ethods. A bout half
of th e jobs will be for skilled w orkers a n d forem en, m ore th a n a te n th for sem i
skilled w orkers, a n d alm o st three-eig h th s for unskilled w orkers. Page 1.
Wages in lumber industry in Far West
W orkers in th e basic lu m b er in d u stry in th e F a r W est were earning an average
w age of $1.19 p er h our in A ugust 1944. In th e fo u r b ran ch es of th e in d u stry
th e hourly averages were as follows: Logging cam ps, $1.38; saw m ills, $1.05;
shingle mills, $1.45; an d plyw ood mills, $1.03. Page 14.
Employment resulting from United States exports, 1939
Some 960,000 persons were em ployed in n o n ag ricu ltu ral in d u stries in th e
d irect or indirect p rodu ctio n of goods for export in 1939. T hey co n stitu te d
a b o u t 3.2 p ercen t of th e to ta l n o n ag ricu ltu ral em ployees in th e U n ited S tates a t
th a t tim e. On th e basis of expected po stw ar increases in lab o r p ro d u c tiv ity ,
th e p roduction of the sam e volum e of exports w ould require only S00,000 persons
by 1950. Page 37.
Downgrading agreement in aircraft industry
Six a ircraft-m an u factu rin g com panies a n d th e ir em ployees recen tly a rriv ed a t
a v o lu n ta ry agreem ent— a p p ro v ed by th e N a tio n a l W ar L ab o r B oard— specifying
conditions a n d term s for dow ngrading of jobs. T h e ag reem en t covers some
200,000 em ployees an d includes nonunion w orkers as well as th o se w ho are
m em bers of th e a irc ra ft w o rk ers’ unions. D ow ngrading will ta k e place only in
th e ev en t of (1) changes in p ro d u ctio n schedules a n d m eth o d s causing changes in
job co n ten t, (2) correction of p resen t m isclassification of w ork, (3) reassig n m en t
a t w o rk er’s own request, a n d (4) u n satisfacto ry perform ance. P age 51.
Canadian plan for maintenance of employment and income
T he C anadian M inister of R eco n stru ctio n p resen ted to th e P a rlia m e n t in A pril
a re p o rt in w hich th e C an ad ian G o v ern m en t u n d erto o k resp o n sib ility for th e
m ain ten an ce of a “ high a n d sta b le ” level of em p lo y m en t in b o th th e tra n sitio n
an d p o stw ar periods. U n d er th e p lan, p riv a te en terp rise w ould p lay th e m ajo r
role in furnishing th e desired em ploym ent, b u t w ith G o v ern m en t assistance.
T he key expenditures w hich th e G overn m en t hoped to m a in ta in were, in th e order
of th e ir im portance, those for export tra d e , p riv a te in v estm en t, consum ption, a n d
public in v estm en t. Page 56.
Belgian social-security acts, 1944-45
A com prehensive social-insurance sy stem is pro v id ed by rec e n t Belgian de
crees, w hereby th e previous p ro tectio n to w age earners a n d salaried w orkers is
extended and broadened. Old-age a n d su rv iv o rs’ pensions a n d fam ily allow ances
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hi
IV
T H I S IS S U E I N
B R IE F
are increased b y these m easures; sickness a n d in v a lid ity in su ran ce is established
on a com pulsory basis; te m p o ra ry u n em p lo y m en t-in su ran ce coverage is p rescribed,
pending fu rth e r legislation; a n d a n im proved, general sy stem of p aid v acatio n s
is au thorized. Page 67.
Fatal injuries in shipyards , 1943 and 1944
Some 700 w orkers in p riv a te sh ip y ard s lo st th e ir lives in in d u stria l accid en ts
in 1943 a n d 1944, a n d a b o u t 173,000 su stain ed n o n fa ta l injuries. N early tw ofifths of th e fatalitie s resu lted from falls, a n d alm o st a n o th e r fo u rth w ere caused
b y th e w orkers’ being stru c k b y m aterials or eq u ip m en t. T h e m ost hazard o u s
o ccupation (as m easured b y fa ta l accidents) w as th a t of rigger, b u t following closely
in th is resp ect w ere th e o ccupations of w elder a n d shipw right. Page 75.
Labor-management committees in France
B y ordinance, F ran ce has p ro v id ed for th e e stab lish m en t of la b o r-m a n ag em en t
com m ittees to consider suggestions for im p ro v em en ts w hich will increase o u tp u t
a n d to deal w ith th e m an ag e m en t of social-w elfare activ ities. B o th in d u stria l
a n d com m ercial enterp rises are to have such com m ittees, pro v id ed th e y em ploy
a t least 100 w orkers. E n terp rise s in w hich few er th a n 100 w orkers are em ployed,
m in isterial offices, th e lib eral professions, a n d c e rta in o th e r occupations m ay be
m ad e su b ject to coverage b y m in isterial decree. P age 92.
W ages in pottery manufacture in 1944
In selected occupations for w hich d a ta w ere o b ta in e d b y th e B u reau of L ab o r
S tatistics, m ale w orkers in p o tte rie s h a d stra ig h t-tim e h o u rly earnings ran g in g
from an av erag e of 67 cent's fo r w atch m e n to $1.62 fo r p lastic-m old w orkers.
In th e w om en’s occupations, earnings ran g ed from 52 cents for bisque cleaners to
$1.17 for gilders a n d liners. P age 105.
British Wages Councils Act , 1945
G reat B ritain en a c te d th e W ages Councils A ct of 1945 for th e purpose of
insuring m inim um w age sta n d a rd s a n d a t th e sam e tim e giving su p p o rt to th e
v o lu n ta ry principle in fixing te rm s of em ploym ent. T h e previously existing tra d e
boards becom e wages councils, a n d like o th e r councils to be form ed u n d er th e
legislation m ay fix g u a ra n te e d w ages. D isastro u s declines in wages are to be
avoided u n d er th e term s of th e legislation b y th e req u ire m e n t th a t, u n til th e close
of 1950, em ployers shall observe te rm s a n d conditions of em p lo y m en t n o t less
favorable th a n th e “ recognized te rm s a n d co n d itio n s” in th e sam e in d u stry in
th e d istrict. Page 120.
Labor turnover in munitions and nonmunitions industries, 1943 and 1944
T he q u it ra te in m u n itio n s in d u stries in 1943 a n d 1944 w as slightly over tw oth ird s of th a t in nonm u n itio n s in d u stries— 44 as com pared w ith 63 p e r 1,000. An
analysis b y th e B u reau of L ab o r S tatistics in d icates th a t in o th er respects th e
tre n d s in separations a n d accessions w ere sim ilar in these b ran ch es of in d u stry .
Page 143.
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V
C U R R E N T LABOR ST A T IST IC S
Current Statistics of Labor Interest in Selected Periods 1
[Available in reprint form]
Item
U n it or base
period
M arch
M av
1939:
average
for year
M ay
April
52,030
33, 790
18, 240
51,300
33, 360
17,940
43, 350
7,950
730
51,930
33,840
18,090
51,160
33.410
17, 750
43.410
7,750
770
51,660
33, 720
17,940
50,830
33, 230
17,600
43,540
7,290
830
52,840 3 54, 230
34,910 3 40,950
13, 280
17,930
51,960 2 46,930
34,490 2 35,600
17,470 2 11, 330
43, 360 2 37,430
8, 600 2 9,500
880 2 7,300
37, 632
14,810
728
769
3,800
7, 023
4, 496
37, 797
15,102
761
699
3, 792
6,996
4,444
38,062
15, 368
796
636
3, 788
7,084
4, 394
38,672
16,122
839
Em ploym ent and unemployment
(Civilian labor force (B C ): T o ta l--------------- Thousands.
_do____
M ale____________________________ ___
_dO-_.--_
Fem ale_________________________ ____
_do____
Em ployed 3_________________________
.d o ____
M ale____________________________
.d o ____
Fem ale____________ , ------------------.d o ____
N onagricultural--------------------------.d o ____
A gricultural___________________
.d o ____
U nem ployed------------------------------------C ivilian em ploym ent in nonagricultural
...d o ..
establishm ents: T o ta l3------------------------___do_.
M anufacturing______________________
.-_ d o M in in g -------------------------------------------_--do_C onstruction *--------------------- - - - --------T ran sp o rtatio n and public utilities-----_-_do__--do_.
T ra d e ______________________________
do_.
Finance, service, and miscellaneous----Federal, State, and local government,
excluding Federal force-account con
.d o .
stru ctio n __________ __________ _____
_do.
M ilita ry personnel---------------------------------Production-w orker em p lo y m e n t:3
_do.
M anufacturing---------------------------------.d o .
Bituminous-coal m in in g--------------------Class I steam railroads, including
_do.
salaried employees (IC C )---------------_do.
H ired farm w orkers (B A E )----------------
686
3,768
6,962
4,363
30, 353
10,078
845
1,753
2,912
6, 618
4,160
6,006
6,003
5,996
5,932
12,200
12,100
12, 000
11,200
3,988
362
12,442
327
12, 678
305
12,940
334
13, 652
356
8,192
371
1,427
1,864
1,422
1,660
1,423
1,520
1,425
1,989
' 2,645
45.2
36.6
39.5
40.0
45.4
43.8
39.3
40.0
7 45. 0
7 43.0
7 40. 0
40.4
37.7
27.1
43.0
32.4
$52. i
$47.16
$43.44
$27. 69
$54.42
$47.43
$52. 26
$27. 21
$54.49
? $45. 55
7 $50. 69
7 $26. 06
$52.95
$23. 86
$23.88
$21.17
$30. 24
$1.044
$1. 197
$0. 759
$1. 363
7 $1,013
7 $1.182
7 $0. 715
$1. 310
$0. 633
$1. 320
$1,045
$1.183
$0. 769
$1. 361
$0. 971
$0. 969
$0. 942
$0. 622
$0.899
$0. 896
$0.862
$0. 622
? $3. 58
7 $1. 53
Hours and earnings
Average w eekly hours:
M anufacturing---------------------------------- H ours.
Bituminous-coal m in in g______________ ___do.
R etail tra d e _________________________ ___do.
Building construction (p riv ate).---------- . .. .d o .
Average weekly earnings:
M anufacturing--------- -----------------------B itum inous-coalm ining--------------------R etail tra d e -------------------------------------Building construction ( p r iv a te ) ...:----Average hourly earnings:
■ M anufacturing---------------------------------Bituminous-coal m in in g ------------- ------R etail tra d e _________________________
B uilding construction (p riv ate)----------Average straight-tim e hourly earnings in
m anufacturing, using—
C urrent em ploym ent b y in d u stry ...
E m p lo y m en t b y in d u stry as of
Jan u a ry 1939___________________
(Quarterly ia rm wage rate, per day w ithout
board CBAE)--------------------------------------
$4.12
$0.886
$0. 536
$0. 933
Industrial injuries and labor turnover
In d u stria l injuries in m anufacturing, per
million m an-hours w orked-------------------L ab o r tu rn o v er per 100 employees in m an u
facturing:
T otal separations-----------------------------Q u its______. r --------------------------- Lay-offs________________________
'Total accessions-------------------------------
3 17. 3
6.6
4.8
0.8
4.6
«18.7
6. 8
6.8
7
5.0
0.7
4.9
7 4.9
7 0.6
7 5. 5
400
2 10
589
319
Strikes and lockouts
Strikes a n d lockouts beginning in m onth:
N u m b e r---------------------------------------Thousands.
N um b er of workers involved----------All strikes a n d lockouts during m onth:
___ do-..
N um b er of m an-days idle--------------M an-days idle as percent of available
w orking tim e ----------------------------
See footnotes a t end of table.
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425
310
450
285
2, 025
1, 330
860
1, 443
1, 484
0.26
0. 18
0.11
0.18
0.28
C U R R E N T LABOR ST A T IST IC S
VI
Current Statistics of Labor Interest in Selected Periods 1 — C o ntinued
1945
Item
1944
U n it or base
period
M ay
April
M arch
M ay
1939:
average
forbear
Cost of living and prices
Cost-of-living index (wage earners in large
cities): All item s 10. _ . ________ _____
F ood. _____________________________
C lothing-, _
________ ____________
R en t - - - - - - - _____ __- _ - ___ _
Fuel, electricity, and ice _____. _
H ousefurnishings______ ___ ____
M iscellaneous _ ___ - - - - R etail food price index (large cities): All
foods________________________ _ _ _
Cereals and bakery products__________
M ea ts______________________________
D airy p ro d u c ts ..
___ _
Eggs--------------- ------ -------------------------F ru its and vegetables___________ . . .
Beverages _______________ . _______
F ats and oils________ . .
......
Sugar and sw eets. . . . . ________ . . .
Wholesale price index: All commodities . . .
All commodities other th a n farm produ c ts _______________________________
All commodities other th a n farm products and foods __________ _
_ _ _
F arm p roducts_________________ _ _ _
Foods _ _ _ _______ _ _____ ______
1935-39=100
1935-39 = 100
1935-39 = 100
1935-39 = 100
1935-39 = 100
1935-39 = 100
1935-39 = 100
128.0
138.8
144.4
127. 1
136.6
144.0
109.8
144.7
123.7
126.8
135.9
143. 7
108.3
110.0
144.5
123. 6
125.1
135.5
137.4
108. 1
109.8
135. 0
121.3
99.4
95.2
100.5
104. 3
99.0
101.3
100.7
110.0
144. 9
123.8
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.
1926=100-___
138.8
109.0
131.7
133. 5
140.7
182.5
124.6
123.9
126.5
106.0
136.6
108.9
130. 8
133.5
139.9
173.3
124.6
123.8
126.4
105.7
135. 9
108. 7
130.8
133. 5
140.7
169.5
124.5
123.7
126.5
105.3
135. 5
108.1
130.3
133. 5
127.1
172.8
124.4
123.3
126. 5
104.0
95.2
94.5
96. 6
95.9
91.0
94.5
95.5
87.7
100.6
77.1
1926=100-..-
100.6
100.5
100.4
99.7
79.5
1926 = 100-..1926 = 100---.
1926=100___
99.4
129.9
107.0
99.3
129.0
105.8
99.2
127.2
104.6
98.5
122.9
105.0
81.3
65.3
70.4
N ational income paym ents (B F D C )___ . . . M illions___ $12, 856
C onsum er expenditures for goods and services (B F D C ) _________________________ _ __ do _ _
R etail sales _
._ _____ ___ _________ __ _ do _ __ $5,890
$13,194
$13,686
$12, 387
« $5, 520
$5,464
8$24,380
$6,347
8$22,440
$5,856
*$14,256
9 $3, 634
227
242
141
50,030
229
245
140
43, 350
232
249
136
52,170
236
252
146
53,930
109
109
106
32,905
142
23, 667
139
22, 823
136
23,930
140
23, 211
101
(9)
19, 372
4,295
18, 640
4,183
19, 526
4,404
18,873
4,338
10,145
(«)
$467
$133
19,100
$423
$119
17, 500
$392
$114
13,100
$391
$107
16,500
$527
(»)
53, 300
National income and expenditures
Production
In du strial production index, unadjusted
(F R ): T o ta l____ ______ ______ ____ _
M anufacturing
. . . __________ _
M inerals___ . . . _________ _____
B itum inous coal (B M )___________________
Carloadings index, unadjusted (F R )______
Electric energy (F P C ): T o tal_____________
U tilities (production for public use)____
In d u strial establishm ents.... ......................
1935-39 = 100.
1935-39 = 100.
1935-39 = 100.
Thousands
of short
tons.
1935-39=100.
Millions of
kw.-hrs.
____d o _____
___do _ __
Construction
Construction expenditures_____ _____ . . .
M illions__
Value of urb an building construction started . ____d o _____
New nonfarm family-dwelling u n i t s ______
i
Source: B ureau of Labor Statistics unless otherwise indicated. A bbreviations used: BC (B ureau of the
Census); IC C (In terstate 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); F P C (F ed
eral Power Commission. M ost of the current figures are prelim inary.
2 10-month average—M arch to D ecember 1940.
3 Excludes employees on public emergency w ork, these being included in unem ployed civilian labor
force. Civilian em ploym ent in nonagricultural establishm ents differs from em ploym ent in civilian labor
force, m ainly because of exclusion of such groups as self-employed and domestic and casual workers.
4 Includes workers em ployed by construction contractors and Federal force-account workers (nonm ain
tenance construction workers employed directly by th e Federal G overnm ent). O ther force-account non
m aintenance construction em ploym ent is included under m anufacturing and the other groups.
5 R eports in m anufacturing and m ining now relate to “ production w orkers” instead of “ wage earners”
b u t w ith no appreciable effect on th e em ploym ent estimates.
6 M ay.
7 April.
8 First quarter.
9 N ot available.
10 For the coverage of this index, see p. 125.
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
JULY 1945
S ite E m p lo y m e n t in P o s tw a r N ew C o n s tr u c tio n 1
Summary
EXECUTION of the postwar new-construction program will mean
employment for an estimated average of 1,840,000 site workers during
the first year following the end of the war, and for an estimated
average of approximately 2,840,000 during the fourth and fifth years.
These figures represent the estimated full-time jobs to be available,
and not the total number of different people receiving employment;
because of turnover in the labor force, including temporary entrance
into it on the part of some, the latter figures would be perceptibly
higher. During the first year the number of jobs will increase within
the pattern of seasonal variation, so that employment early in the
year will be below the estimated average, while during the latter part
of the year it will be higher. By the fourth and fifth years employ
ment will have reached virtual stability.
Slightly over half of these workers will be skilled, including fore
men; the semiskilled group will be somewhat over 10 percent of the
total; and the unskilled group will be almost three-eighths of the total.
The remainder—about 2 percent—will consist of general and other
superintendents, job clerks, and others doing administrative work.
Laborers will constitute the largest occupational group. Among
the skilled workers, the most numerous will be carpenters, who will
constitute about 45 percent of this group. The other occupations
expected to make up 5 percent or more of the skilled group are masons,
equipment operators, painters, and plumbers. Almost half of the
semiskilled workers will be truck drivers, and about a sixth will be in
the closely related occupations of bricklayers’ and plasterers’ helpers
(hod carriers).
The estimated figures take account of expected changes in materials
and methods affecting productivity, and are below estimates made
on the basis of man-hour requirements in 1940 by about 2% percent in
the first year and by almost 9 percent in the third and subsequent
years. These adjustments are based on observation of recent de
velopments in the construction industry, and are necessarily approxi
mate. These, and the estimate as a whole, are regarded as substan
tially accurate, but are subject to revision on the basis of additional
data and after more detailed study.
This report is an estimate of the site employment necessary to
perform the new construction2 previously estimated for the first 5
1 Prepared in th e B ureau’s D ivision of Construction and Public E m ploym ent by Alexander C. Findlay.
2 T he em ploym ent estim ated is for new construction including additions, alterations,¿modernization, and
major repairs of th e ty p e for which building perm its are usually issued, b u t excluding m aintenance and
m inor repairs.
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1
2
M ONTHLY
LABOR R E V IE W — J U L Y
19 4 5
years following defeat of Japan.3 It is valid only as related to that
forecast and cannot be regarded as an estimate of the site employ
ment resulting from anjr other volume of construction work which
may be carried out. The forecast of construction work to be started
assumed that authorization of publicly financed projects would be
governed by immediate need for the completed facilities, without
consideration for the resulting employment. Should this assumption
not be met, the volume of employment would be changed substan
tially. Total site employment in new construction would be reduced
by as much as 15 percent by a policy of drastic retrenchment in public
expenditures, with postponement of all except the most urgently
needed construction projects. Conversely, total site employment
might be increased from the estimated figures by 25 percent or even
more, if creation of employment were a major consideration in decisions
on public expenditures for construction activity.
Scope and Method of the Study
The estimates here given are based on past studies relating con
struction volume to man-hours of site employment for the major types
of projects, similar studies of the distribution of man-hours by occupa
tions, and observation of recent trends in methods, machinery and
materials which are expected to affect the number of site hours per
unit of output in several important types of construction. Briefly,
the estimate is derived as follows: The dollar volume of each major
type of construction is first converted to man-hours, on the basis of
former studies above mentioned; these are adjusted, where appro
priate, for the lag between the start and the execution of work, to give
timing of the employment represented; the adjusted man-hours are
then converted to man-years (i. e., to the number of full-time jobs
available); these man-years are distributed among the major con
struction occupations, to show the employment which would be
available in each under 1940 conditions (used in the forecast of volume
and the other studies on which this estimate is based); and finally
this employment is adjusted downward to allow for the increased
productivity which is expected to affect several important types of
construction work.
These estimates cover only site employment in new construction,
and not the total employment of construction workers. There will
be additional employment, not included in the estimate, for more than
a million workers in maintenance and minor repairs carried out on
existing structures. This includes a wide range of work performed to
overcome deterioration—painting and decorating, roof repairs, re
placement of leaking pipes and rain gutters, patching of holes or
breaks in highway pavement, etc. This employment will be supplied
by contractors who undertake such work, by industrial and commer
cial establishments and public bodies employing regular maintenance
crews, and by property owners who employ workers on an hourly or
jobbing basis for these services. In addition, some construction
workers will be employed in their own trades at nonconstruction work
in manufacturing (such as wiring or sheet-metal work for specially
designed machines), and an unknown but probably rather small part
of the construction labor force will be employed in nonconstruction
occupations during the less active parts of the year.
3*See Probable Volume of Postw ar C onstruction, irT M ontlily Labor Review., February, M arch, and
A pril 1945. (R eprinted together w ith .thi&article as B ulletin.N o. 825.)
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3
SIT E E M P L O Y M E N T I N PO STW A R N E W C O N ST R U C T IO N
Relation of Construction Employment to Construction Volume
Site employment in construction is directly related to the volume of
operations currently in progress, and is not in any sense an independ
ent entity. Unlike manufacturing operations, construction offers
no “cushion” of production for inventory or expected future orders.4
Contractors hire mechanics, helpers, and laborers to perform work on
specific construction projects, and have no effective use for their
services in any other manner.
Employment at the site of construction can be estimated for the
actual or expected construction volume during any period, on the
basis of the value of work completed per man-hour. For any partic
ular type of construction, there is a good deal of uniformity in the
physical measure of work completed per man-hour between groups of
projects, even though individual projects may vary from the average
because of unique conditions. The value of a completed construction
job is made up of the wage cost, the cost of the materials used, numer
ous overhead items, and profit. Since the physical measure under
any given set of general conditions is uniform for a group of projects,
the value is uniform also, subject of course to geographical differences
in wage rates and material prices, and over a period of time subject to
changes in price levels for these and other elements in the total value.
Table 1 shows estimates of the volume of new construction, by the
principal major types, to be started during the final year of war
against Japan only and during each of the first 5 years thereafter.
The value figures in this table are based on 1940 construction costs,
assuming the methods and working conditions as well as the material
prices and wage rates of that year. It should be noted that the fore
cast refers to work started rather than work performed during each of
the years shown.
T a b l e 1 .— Estimated
Value of New Construction To Be Started During Final War Year
and First 5 Years Thereafter 1
Value (in millions of dollars)
T ype of construction and source of funds
F irst 5 postw ar years
Final
war
year 2 F irst
Second T hird Fourth
4,460
7,890
10,870 11, 805
P rivate construction-------- __
---- ---------- 3, 045
R esidential (nonfarm )-------- - ---------- - . . 1, 250
N ew c o n stru c tio n ____. ---------------- . - _ 1,000
A dditions, alterations, modernization, and
250
m ajor repairs___
_ ----------------- -----780
N onresidential. ---- ------ ------------------------275
Com m ercial-—
----------- -----------------150
N ew construction
- - ...............
A dditions, alterations, m odernization,
125
and m ajor repairs ________________
375
In d u strial________________ ____________
175
N ew co n stru ctio n -.. _ . _______ ._
A dditions, alterations, modernization,
200
and m ajor r e p a ir s ____ ___________
50
Religious---------- ---------- --------------------25
Educational.
_____
_ ----------------15
Social and recreational------ -------------30
H ospital and in s titu tio n a l... . - . ----------10
M iscellaneous........
........ ................ .......
5, 765
2,850
2,300
8,015
3,900
3, 100
8, 560
4, 250
3,400
550
1, 530
750
250
800
2, 400
1, 300
400
500
500
300
200
100
60
50
50
20
T otal new construction 3______________________
Fifth
A ver
age
11, 990 12, 065
10, 924
8, 545
4,300
3, 500
8, 595
4, 450
3,700
7,896
3,950
3,200
850
2, 550
1, 350
500
800
2, 550
1, 350
550
750
2, 450
1, 250
550
750
2, 296
1,200
450
900
700
400
850
750
450
800
750
500
700
750
550
750
690
440
300
150
75
75
75
25
300
175
80
85
85
25
250
175
80
85
85
25
200
175
80
85
85
25
250
155
75
76
76
24
See footnotes a t end of table.
* Prom otional building seems to be an exception, b u t the difference is more apparent than real; from the
standpoint under consideration, a project for a given num ber of houses for which land has been purchased
and financing arranged is altogether comparable to a contract for other construction.
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4
M ONTHLY
LABOR R E V IE W — J U L Y
1945
T able 1.— Estimated Value of New Construction To Be Started During Final War Year
and First 5 Years Thereafter 1— C on tin u ed
Value (in millions of dollars)
F inal
war
y e ar2 F irst
T ype of construction and source of funds
P rivate construction—C ontinued.
Farm (residential and nonresidential). . . _ _
325
U tility 4______ ____ . . . ___________ ______
690
R ailroad_________ ___________________
300
Local tra n s it_____ ___________________
15
P ip e lin e ;_______ . __________________
25
Electric light and power________________
150
G as___________________________________
50
150
Telephone and te le g ra p h _______________
Public construction____________________________ 1,415
H ighw ay, road, and s tr e e t6__ ______________
500
R esidential b uilding. ____________________
10
N onresidential building____________________
420
E ducational___ __ ______________
100
H ospital and in stitu tio n al______________
35
Public adm inistration_________ _________
50
Commercial and in d u strial_____________
225
M iscellaneous__________________________
10
M ilitary and n a v a l . . . ________ ____________
200
Civil aviation____________ ______ _________ .
0
Reclam ation, conservation, and developm ent..
100
W ater su p p ly . ______ ______________________
75
Sewage disposal____ _. ............... .
. . . ___
75
Social and recreational 6_._ ________ ________
15
All other F ederal___________ ______ _________
5
M iscellaneous non-F ederal_______ ________
15
425
960
350
25
25
250
60
250
2,125
900
95
380
250
45
75
0
10
100
60
275
110
125
50
10
20
F irst 5 postw ar years
Second T hird
525
1,190
400
40
25
300
75
350
2, 855
1, 2C0
145
580
400
70
100
0
10
75
75
325
140
200
75
15
25
Fourth
Fifth
550
1,145
350
45
25
300
75
350
3, 445
1,500
190
725
450
90
175
0
10
40
80
400
170
225
75
15
25
500
1, 195
350
45
25
350
75
350
3, 470
1, 500
190
750
450
90
200
0
10
40
80
400
170
225
75
15
25
550
1,210
350
45
25
300
90
400
3, 245
1,400
175
690
450
80
150
0
10
50
80
350
160
225
75
15
25
Aver
age
510
1,140
360
40
25
300
75
340
3, 028
1, 300
159
625
400
75
140
0
10
61
75
350
150
200
70
14
24
1 C onverted to 1940 cost levels.
2 Between defeat of G erm any and defeat of Japan.
3 A dditions, alterations, modernization, and m ajor repairs of th e type for which building perm its are
usually issued are included w ith new construction except where listed separately.
4 Includes m unicipal and other publicly owned utilities except those constructed in conjunction w ith
reclam ation, conservation, and developm ent program.
5 Includes culverts, bridges, grade separations and other related w ork.
6 Includes buildings and nonbuilding construction.
The value of work to be started as shown in table 1 was converted
into man-hours requirements. After conversion, the detailed classi
fication of projects used in table 1 was condensed into the 10 major
categories shown in table 2. The estimated man-hours requirements
were derived from the value figures by the use of data on the value of
work put in place per man-hour, under 1940 conditions, for each
major type of construction. These data were developed by the
Bureau in its program of analyzing the labor and material consump
tion in the major types of construction projects.
T able 2.— Site Man-Hours Required fo r Execution of Predicted Construction Started
_____________________ W ithin Each Year, 1 under 1940 Conditions
Site em ploym ent (in millions of m an-hours)
T y p e of work and source of funds
F irst 5 postw ar years
Final war
year
First
Second
T hird
Fourth
Fifth
T otal new construction_________________
P riv ate ........ .................. .....................................
R esidential building________________
N onresidential building_____________
F arm _________ ______________ ____
U tility .......................... ...............................
1, 548
1,106
475
301
98
232
2, 862
2,123
1,080
596
128
319
3, 964
2,970
1, 485
944
158
383
4, 303
3,172
1,615
996
165
396
4, 356
3,154
1,625
988
165
376
4, 362
3,152
1,670
940
150
392
P ublic_______ _____________ _______ ___
Residential building_______________
N onresidential bu ild in g .............. . . .
Highw ay, road and s tr e e t2....................
Civil aviation 3......................... ................
Sewer and w ater_____ _____________
All other public.........................................
442
3
134
150
0
45
110
739
32
129
338
18
71
151
994
49
198
450
23
103
171
1,131
59
235
525
24
117
171
1,202
64
246
563
24
120
185
1,210
64
254
563
24
120
185
1 M an-hours required for execution of work started w ithin each of the years shown, before adjustm ent for
carry-over of work from year to year.
* Includes culverts, bridges, grade separations and other related work.
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3 Includes structures.
S IT E E M P L O Y M E N T I N
5
PO STW A R N E W C O N ST R U C T IO N
An indication of the individual characteristics of specific types of
construction may be obtained from comparison of the figures for
farm construction in tables 1 and 2. Man-hours are somewhat low
in proportion to the value of work to be started, despite low wage
rates for rural workers and extensive use of lower-priced materials.
The reason is that commonly a considerable part of the work is done
by the farmers, family members, and farm employees, who help the
workmen hired to perform the more skilled operations. It is only
the work of this last group, and that of construction laborers hired
as such, which can be regarded as construction employment.
Timing of Employment
The man-hours shown in table 2 are those estimated as necessary
to construct the projects started within each of the several years.
These figures are not the same as man-hour employment during
those years. A certain part of the work started during any 12-month
period is completed during the following period. The proportion
thus carried over depends on the type of construction and the time
of year at which the successive 12-month periods start.
If the volume of work started were uniform from year to year,
no adjustment would be necessary, because the unfinished work at
the end of the period would be equal to the previous year’s unfinished
work which was completed during the early part of the period. This
condition is not present, however; the estimated volume of con
struction increases rapidly until the third year following defeat of
Japan, During this period the rate at which projects are started
is increasing continuously, subject to seasonal variations, and the
amount of unfinished work at the end of any 12-month period exceeds
the amount carried over from the preceding period. Since actual
employment results from the execution rather than merely the start
of work, the man-hours of employment during each of the postwar
years must be adjusted for this lag. The adjusted employment figures,
showing employment in man-hours actually available in each year,
are presented in table 3.
T a b l e 3. — Man-Hours of Site Employment Available in Each Year1 During Execution
of Predicted Program, under 1940 Conditions
Site em ploym ent (in millions of man-hours) in
first 5 postw ar years
T ype of work and source of funds
First
Second
T hird
F ourth
Fifth
--------------------------
2,644
3,762
4,249
4, 352
4,363
P rivate
- - ______ ______________
Residential building
___________ ____
N nnresidential building
________________
F arm
_ ____ ________ ____ ______
U tility
- _________________________
1,915
959
523
123
310
2,791
1,404
857
153
377
3,130
1,589
983
164
394
3,156
1, 623
990
165
378
3,155
1,661
952
152
390
Public
_________________________
Residential building
__________ ___
N onresidential building _______ ___ ____ _
H ighw ay, road and s tre e t2_____ ________ _____
Civil aviation 3
_____________________
Sewer and w a te r ________ __________________
All other public __ _ ______________ - ________
729
26
131
338
18
71
145
971
46
181
450
23
103
168
1,119
57
225
525
24
117
171
1,196
63
243
563
24
120
183
1,208
64
252
563
24
120
185
Total new construction. ------
1 M an-hours of em ploym ent provided during each'of th e years shown.
2 Includes culverts, bridges, grade separations, and related work,
3 Includes structures.
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6
M ONTHLY
LABOR R E V IE W — JU L Y
19 45
The amount of work to be performed, or of employment to be
available, during the first postwar year is estimated under 1940 con
ditions at somewhat over 2.6 billion man-hours, or about 60 percent
of the amount estimated for the fifth year. The greatest increment
in construction activity during the postwar period occurs between the
first and second years. As stability is approached, the rate of increase
falls sharply. From the third to the fourth years construction man
hours increase by only about 3 percent, and from the fourth to the
fifth years by less than 1 percent.
The distribution of construction over the first 5 postwar years for
individual types of work differs from the general pattern in some re
spects. The principal feature to be noted is a reduction in the fifth
year for man-hours in private nonresidential construction, the result
of an expected reduction in modernization and alteration of commer
cial and industrial buildings.
Man-Years of Employment Under 1940 Conditions
There is less concrete information regarding the hours worked
annually in construction than in most major fields of employment.
A full week ordinarily consists of 40 hours,5 and a year might be
regarded as consisting of 50 or 52 weeks. These figures omit consider
ation of the seasonal variation in the volume of construction work
with resulting high seasonal unemployment, and of the time lost
during the most active working season because of rain and other
interruptions. Hence conversion of man-hours to man-years on the
basis of 2,000 or 2,080 hours would give a theoretical figure for a year
of full employment, but would understate the number of workers to
be employed and overstate the average hours of paid employment.
The working season varies geographically with the climate and
local custom, and in many localities is affected by the type of work
being done. Some materials are damaged seriously by freezing,
which may occur several days after they have been placed and, hence’
whenever there is danger of freezing, can be used only under condi
tions permitting adequate protection without undue expense. Cer
tain operations are entirely feasible in unfavorable weather, but only
at greatly increased cost, and are therefore avoided whenever possible.
Some^ types of indoor work, such as “roughing-in” of plumbing and
electrical installations, are comparatively unaffected by weather
but are nevertheless subject to seasonal reduction because of seasonal
variations in the structural work on which they are performed.
Although certain numbers of construction workers are employed
continuously throughout the year, the available data indicate that
these constitute a small proportion of the total. For many workers,
especially the employees of the smaller special-trade contractors, it is
believed that employment is divided between construction work
proper and maintenance and repair work.
Hours worked per week are reduced by bad weather conditions,
especially by rain. Some kinds of work can be resumed as soon as the
rain stops, but others (such as outdoor painting) must be postponed
until the exposed surfaces have dried. In addition, there are inter
ruptions caused by variations in the work to be done, failure to ob
tain materials as needed, and miscellaneous causes. In these cases,
6 Shorter workweeks have been established in a few trades, in some cases nationally and in some cases
locally. T he commonest of these is 35 hours.
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S l t E E M P L O Y M E N T I N PO STW A R N E W C O N ST R U C T IO N
7
the workers involved are ordinarily laid off for a half day or whatever
brief time may be involved, without pay for this time lost. Custom
in this respect varies, particularly with current employment conditions,
but when the lay-offs are quite brief workers usually accept them
rather than undertake the trouble of moving their tools to another job.
In addition, workers lose time moving between jobs. The different
operations of an individual construction firm in most cases vary in
magnitude and its total activities extend over a considerable
area. Usually, a nucleus of "regular” workers is retained and trans
ferred from project to project, and is supplemented by a relatively
large number hired on a project basis. These latter are hired for the
duration of their own work, and not of the project as a whole. In
extreme cases (such as extra laborers for placing concrete) they may
be hired for only a few hours, and then either rehired or replaced at a
later date when similar work is again to be .performed. Hence it is
necessary for many construction workers to find new jobs at rather
frequent intervals, even during periods of above-normal activity.
Even when there is a scarcity of workers, this commonly means a
short period of lost time for some of those affected.
In view of these conditions, 1,400 hours has been assumed as
constituting a man-year of employment. This is equivalent to 40
weeks of 35 hours each. It is not regarded as an ideal work-year, but
rather as a fairly realistic figure in view of the seasonal and other
influences which have been effective to date.
An estimate of the full-time jobs to be filled, under 1940 conditions,
is presented in table 4. It indicates an ultimate working force of
about 3.1 million, almost attained in the third year and then fairly
constant for the remainder of the period. As is also apparent in
table 4, changes from year to year in the proportion of the workers
to be employed on the publicly financed projects are relatively slight.
This element of construction employment would of course be changed
drastically should policy decisions regarding the public-construction
program differ in major respects from those assumed in forecasting
the volume of work to be started. These jobs are full time, in the sense
T a b l e 4.- —M an-Years of Site Employment Provided During Execution of Predicted
Program, by Year, under 1940 Conditions
Site em ploym ent (in thousands of man-years of
1,400 man-hours) in specified postw ar years
T ype of work and source of funds
First
Second
T hird
Fourth
Fifth
--- --
1,887
2, 686
3,035
3,108
3,117
--- ---------. ...
- -
1,367
685
373
88
221
1,993
1,003
612
109
269
2,236
1,135
702
117
282
2,254
1,159
707
118
270
2, 254
1,186
680
109
279
PUDlic__ ____________________ - ---------R esidential b u i l d i n g s ---- .
. .
-----------N onresidential building. _____ _ . . ------Highw ay, road and s tr e e t1 . . . .
. . ----------Civil aviation 2___. . . . . . . ------------- ----------Sewer and w ater
.
.
------- -All other public. . . .
. . ----------- ------ --
520
19
93
241
13
51
103
693
33
129
321
16
74
120
799
41
161
375
17
83
122
854
45
174
402
17
86
130
863
46
180
402
17
86
132
T otal new construction_____
_____
..
.
P riv a te ------- ---------------- - - . . . - ------ R esidential building___ _ __ ------- -N onresidential building _ _ _ _ -------Farm__
_ ---------- ---------------------- . . .
U tility ------ ------ ----------- - ----------- . . .
1 Includes culverts, bridges, grade separations, and related work.
2 Includes structures.
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8
M ONTHLY
LABOR R E V IE W ---- J U L Y
1945
that those who hold them are full-time members of the construction
labor force,6but not in the sense that all of these persons are employed
continuously throughout the year or even throughout the construc
tion season. The presence of so-called ‘'frictional” unemployment
between successive construction projects has already been mentioned.
This will affect some workers slightly or not at all, but others to a
considerable degree. At any given time, some part of the workers
shown will be temporarily out of work, having been laid off at one
project and not yet hired at another. This will of course be greatest
during the dull construction season, which in general is the winter
months. Adjustment for this situation has already been made by
the use of an average figure of 1,400 hours as a year’s employment.
Employment by Occupation
Occupational specialization is an outstanding feature of the construc
tion industry. In part this is caused by the wide range of operations
to be performed and of materials to be processed, and to a considerable
degree it is the result of local customs, preferences, and other conditions.
This separation of functions is most extensive in the larger urban places
and in large projects, and is least pronounced in farm construction.
For rural work, the local carpenters ordinarily do lathing and not
infrequently install ready-made sheet-metal items and even electric
wiring, while the local masons often do plastering as well. When the
volume of work is sufficient to afford a living to workers in the lesscommon trades, the greater proficiency permitted by specialization
has caused its general adoption.
The occupational pattern differs greatly with the type of work. For
all types, laborers are the largest single group; for building construc
tion, carpenters are the largest single group of skilled workers. In
fire-resistive construction carpenters constitute one of the largest
occupational groups, even though wood is used only incidentally in
the basic structure, because they are needed for building the concrete
forms and for installing the interior woodwork and hardware. Even
in highway projects carpenters are quite commonly needed, to build
forms for bridges and culverts being constructed in conjunction with
the highway work, and for other related operations. Some occupa
tions—such as those of high-tension linemen, blacksmiths, machinists,
explosives workers (powder men)—are present on only a few types of
work or on unusually large projects.
Table 5 gives an estimate of the employment, by occupation, dur
ing the first 5 postwar years, according to the methods and patterns
of 1940. The more common occupations are shown, with a few com
binations of those closely related. The rather uncommon trades,
such as those mentioned above and a considerable number of other
occupations which are fairly widespread but individually small
(marble setters and helpers, elevator constructors and helpers, etc.),
are grouped together under the classifications, "all other skilled,” and
"all other semiskilled.” No attempt has been made to estimate
employment in the specialties within standard crafts (such as hard
wood-floor laying, stair building, etc., under carpentry), the skills of
which are usually transferable to other operations.
6 Persons following other gainful occupations during dull seasons are ignored in this statem ent.
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9
SITE EM PLO Y M EN T IN POSTWAR N EW CONSTRUCTION
T a b l e 5.-—Estimated Site Employment, by Occupation and Year, During Execution of
Predicted Program, by 1940 Pattern of Operations and Productivity
Site employm ent (in thousands of workers) in
specified occupations in postw ar years
Occupation
First
Second
T hird
Fourth
Fifth
T otal-----------------------------------------------------------------
1,887. 0
2, 686.0
3,035. 0
3,108. 0
3,117. 0
Superintendents__________
_ _ _______________
Forem en___________________ _ -.. ____________
C le rk s-- _ ____________________________________
23.0
139.0
16.0
32.5
197.0
23.0
36.5
222.0
26.0
37.5
227.0
27.0
37.5
229.0
27.0
Skilled w orkers.— _ _ _ _ _ _ ________________
Bricklayers, m asons--- ____ _-- - _____
C arpenters__________ _________________
E lectricians_________________________________
E quipm en t operators.. ______ ______________
L a th e r s ___ ______ ____ _____ - _________ ____
P ainters____________________________________
P la ste re rs,. ________ . _........ . _ __________
Plum bers__________ ________________________
Sheet-metal workers________ . . ____________
Steam fitters_________ ____ _____ . ________
Structural,reenforcing, and ornamental iron-workers.
All other skilled w orkers.........
. . . _______
805.0
68.5
370.0
34.5
53.5
10.5
76.0
37.0
46.5
13.0
8.5
26.5
60.5
1,164. 5
101. 5
535.5
50.5
73.0
16.5
111.0
55.0
68.5
19.0
13.0
38.0
83.0
1,317.5
116.0
604. 5
57.0
82.5
19.0
126.0
62.5
78.0
22.0
15.0
43.5
91.5
1, 346. 5
119.5
617.0
58.0
85.0
19.5
129.0
64.0
79.5
22.5
15.5
44.5
92.5
1, 348.5
119.5
617.0
58.0
85.0
19.5
129.5
64.0
80.5
22.5
15.5
44.0
93.5
Semiskilled w orkers___ __ _ ___________________
B ricklayers’, plasterer’s helpers_______________
Electricians’ helpers. . . . ___________________
Plum bers’ helpers............... .................................
Sheet-metal w orkers’ helpers_____ ____ ___ ____
T ruck drivers________________________ _______
All other semiskilled w orkers_________________
213.0
30.5
9.5
19.0
3.0
98. 5
52.5
293.0
46.0
14.0
28.5
4.5
128.5
71.5
332.0
53.0
16.0
32.5
5.5
145. 0
80.0
343.0
54.5
16.5
33.5
5.5
151.0
82.0
344.0
54.5
16.5
33.5
5.5
152.0
82.0
Unskilled workers________ ___ _______ ____ _____
Laborers____________________________________
W atchm en, miscellaneous____________________
691.0
668.5
22.5
976.0
944.0
32.0
1,101, 0
1,064. 5
36.5
1,127.0
1,089. 5
37.5
1,131.0
1,093. 5
37.5
As is evident from table 5, skilled workers exclusive of foremen
constitute three-seventlis of the total for all construction work, with
only slight variation throughout the period. For private construc
tion they make up very nearly half, while for public construction
they are not greatly above a quarter of the total. This major differ
ence arises from the fact that the predominant part of the private
program will consist of buildings, which require the highest percentage
of skilled workers, whereas the public program consists mainly of
nonbuilding work and includes some large elements in which the
percentage of skilled workers required is notably low.
Among the skilled trades the carpenters constitute the largest
occupation, accounting for somewhat less than half of the skilled
group. Painters are the next commonest trade, and about 90 percent
of them will be employed on private work. Even for similar types
of construction, such as multifamily residential buildings, there is
proportionately more work for painters on the privately financed
jobs, because of more extensive decorative treatment. In contrast,
bricklayers will constitute about 8 percent of the skilled workers in
the private program, but 13 to 14 percent in the public program, be
cause the publicly financed buildings will be predominantly of masonry
and in many cases will have partitions of structural tile or other
materials installed by bricklayers. Equipment operators show an
even greater contrast, accounting for 6 percent of the employees in
the private program and 21 percent on public construction. This is
caused primarily by differences in the types of construction; those
types most extensively mechanized, of which grading and paving are
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10
M ONTHLY
LABOR RE V IE W ---- J U L Y
194 5
the commonest examples, are undertaken almost exclusively by public
bodies. The semiskilled group is proportionately about 3 times as
numerous on public as on private work, because of the large number
of truck drivers employed in the nonbuilding types of construction.
In addition to the direct productive workers, an administrative and
supervisory staff of superintendents, foremen, and clerks will be
needed, making up somewhat less than 10 percent of total site em
ployment. This group will be slightly larger, proportionately, on the
publicly financed part of the total program, principally because of
differences in the relative importance of the various types of projects
and in the average size of projects. Roughly three-fourths of this
group will be foremen, for whom the distribution by craft will ap
proximate that for the workmen. Although most of the superin
tendents will be employed by general contractors and will have charge
of complete projects, superintendents for specific trades will be em
ployed on some of the larger projects. Clerks are employed only on
projects of moderate or large size, usually to be responsible for main
taining time, pay-roll, and material records, and other somewhat
similar work. In the largest projects a complete job office is estab
lished, having authority for many of the functions usually performed
at a contractor’s central office.
These estimates exclude employees of the contractors’ central offices
and job representatives of the owners, architects, and engineers.
Changes in Occupations and in Productivity
Changes in occupational patterns and in the work done by those in
given occupations are taking place more or less continuously. In a
few cases, such developments have led to the establishment of entirely
new occupations on the initiation of new operations differing radically
from those of established trades. Other changes have either expanded
or curtailed the work of existing trades. Thus, metal lath is installed
by the lathers who do wood lathing; plumbing was greatly changed
through the replacement of lead pipe by steel pipe accompanied by
the change from boxed-in fixtures with exposed pipe to “open”
plumbing with concealed pipe; plastering has been simplified by a
great curtailment in elaborate ornamental work; and carpentry has
been changed in pattern by progressive reduction, over almost two
generations, in the use of ornamental woodwork and complicated
framing, accompanied by a great increase in the building of forms for
concrete work during recent years. Some of these changes have meant
that a lower level of skill is satisfactory for most work, but many have
merely called for changes in the pattern of skills needed in the occu
pation.
Rather distinct from the changes described above is another group
for which there is no exact starting date, but which has been accel
erated greatly by the war. This may be termed industrialization, as
applied to the construction of standardized structures or of structures
which lend themselves to standardization. This development lias
been noted especially with respect to detached houses, which, however
much they may differ in exterior appearance and in the details of
ornamentation, when built in a fairly large promotional development
usually follow a very few basic designs in floor plan and structure
proper.
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SIT E E M P L O Y M E N T I N PO STW A R N E W C O N ST R U C T IO N
11
The wartime program of house construction has been marked by
much more careful planning, greater specialization of operations,
greater use of processing machinery at the site, and closer correlation
between the different parts of the work than had formerly been
practiced. Carpenters and workers in some other trades were pro
vided with detailed schedules and dimensions of pieces to be cut. In
a few of the largest projects, templates and other auxiliary devices
were used, eliminating even the necessity for measuring. After
cutting, the pieces were commonly delivered to the erection locations
in sets, often marked with code numbers indicating where they were
to be used.
This development (commonly known as pre-cutting) marks a basic
change, in that it transfers the scheduling of material processing from
a production function of foremen and skilled workmen to a manage
ment function. It affects employment both by increasing the pro
ductivity per worker and by reducing the range of skills necessary for
capable performance of important operations. After the war these
procedures will probably be used less intensively, because there will
be few if any repetitive projects comparable in size to the largest of
the wartime housing or barracks projects. At tlie same time, there is
every indication that greater mechanization and rationalization in
construction will be practiced than before the war.
Within recent years there has been notable improvement in some
types of construction machinery. The pre-cutting development above
mentioned was greatly facilitated by a comparatively recent type of
machine, the radial saw. Important development has also occurred
in some important types of highway machinery, primarily with
respect to increased capacity rather than to the type of oper
ations performed, but still increasing the productivity per worker.
Other developments have been of less individual importance, but in
combination have been appreciable. In addition, older equipment
items such as electric handsaws have been coming into increasing use,
and from time to time new uses are made of existing equipment.
Another progressive change has been in the almost continuous
increase in the extent of off-site processing. Present indications are
that this trend will continue and probably be accelerated. It affects
building construction more than other types, but extends to the
others to some degree.
These are all aspects of the general question of the postwar produc
tivity per worker as compared to that in 1940. It is certain that
there will be changes, but no exact measure of their extent is available.
The presence of changed methods and practices in recent construction
activities of numerous types has been noted, and estimates have been
made of their expected effect on the different types of work.
Table 6 presents the estimated employment by occupations after
the expected changes in productivity. It is recognized that the esti
mates for individual trades can be only rough approximations, but
they are believed to give at least an indication of the distribution of
the total changes. As is apparent from comparison with table 5, the
ultimate effect is expected to be a reduction of somewhat less than 9
percent in the number of workers required to carry out a year’s
program. This is expected to occur progressively over a period of
about 3 years, as the various developments progress and receive more
general adoption.
651654—45-----2
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12
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
19 45
The effects will differ among the various types of work, from a
maximum in highway and other paving and in private residential
building to a minimum (so small that no attempt at adjustment for
it has been made) in farm construction. Almost all occupations will
be affected to some extent, but with major differences between differ
ent types of work. Carpenters will be the group most affected in
private residential building, whereas in both residential and nonresidential modernization work carpentry methods are not likely to
change significantly. In the larger paving and grading projects the
number of construction machine operators will be reduced by the
larger capacity and greater productivity of the more important ma
chines, whereas in building work little net change in their scope of
work seems likely. It is probable that there will also be geographical
differences, with the changes in productivity greatest in those locali
ties where the adoption of improved methods has lagged heretofore.
T a b l e 6 . — Estimated
Site Employment During Execution of Predicted Program, by
Expected Pattern of Operations and Productivity
Occupation
T o tal___ _______ ________________ _______________
Site err ploym ent (in thousa ids of worl cers) in
specifi ed postwai years
First
Second
T hird
Fourth
Fifth
1,840. 0
2, 513.0
2, 773.0
2, 837.0
2,842.0
S u p e rin te n d e n ts ________________________________
Forem en_________ _____________ __
C lerks_______________ ________________ _____ __
22.0
135.0
16.0
30.5
183.5
22.0
34.0
201.5
24.0
35.0
206.0
25.0
35.0
207.0
25.0
Skilled workers__________________ _____
Bricklayers, m asons___ __________ _______ _
C arpenters______________ _______ ______
Electricians_________________________ _______
E q u ip m en t operators___________
__________
L ath ers________________ ______ __ _
Painters__________________________ _______
P lasterers____________ __________________
Plum bers_________ ______
Sheet-m etalw orkers _ ________ ___
Steam fitters___
____ _______ _
Structural, reenforcing, and ornamental-iron workersAll other skilled w orkers_______________
789.0
67.0
360.0
34.0
53.5
10.5
74.0
36.0
47.0
13.0
8. 5
26.0
59.5
1,090.0
95.0
501.5
47.0
68.0
15.5
103.5
51.5
63.5
17.5
12.5
36.0
78.5
1, 203.5
107.0
550.0
52.0
75.5
17. 0
113.5
57.5
71.0
19.5
14.0
40.0
86.5
1, 229.0
110.0
562.0
53.0
77.5
18.0
116.0
59.0
72.0
20.0
14.5
41.0
86.0
1, 229. 0
110.0
560. 0
53.0
78.0
18.0
116.5
58.5
72.5
20.0
14.5
41.0
87.0
Semiskilled w orkers__________ _____________
B ricklayers’, plasterers’ helpers___
Electricians’ h elpers--...............
Plum bers’ helpers___________________________
Sheet-metal workers’ helpers__________ ___
T ruck drivers______________ . . . ____ ____
All other semiskilled w orkers_____ ______
206.0
30.0
9.0
18.5
3.0
94.5
51.0
273.0
43.5
13.5
26.5
4.5
118.0
67.0
303.0
49.0
15.0
30.0
5.0
130.0
74.0
312. 5
50.5
15.0
30.5
5.0
135.5
76.0
313.0
50.5
15.0
30.5
5.0
136.5
75.5
Unskilled w orkers.. ................... ........_
Laborers............................................. ................
W atchm en, miscellaneous________ __________
672.0
650.0
22.0
914.0
883. 5
30.5
1, 007. 0
973.5
33.5
1,029. 5
995. 5
34.0
1,033.0
998.5
34.5
The increase in productivity will probably be slightly greater in
private construction, because of the very large element of residential
building for which an increase of 15 percent is expected. Little
increase in productivity is expected for the small operators building a
house or two at a time or for the builders of luxury-grade houses.
For apartment construction the changes will also be well below those
for residential construction as a whole, largely because the procedures
applicable to frame)houses are inappropriate. An increase of only 5
percent has been estimated for private nonresidential building. A
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SITE EM PLO Y M EN T IN POSTWAR N EW CONSTRUCTION
13
large part of the private nonresidential building will consist of altera
tion and modernization work, most of it unsuited by its nature
to mass-production techniques. The new projects of a size sufficient
to afford opportunity for time savings through careful planning will
usually be performed by the contractors who have in the past been
the leaders in the planning and coordination of their operations.
Although some increase in productivity in farm construction is
expected, it is likely to be quite small and has therefore been omitted
in the estimate. For utility construction an increase of only 5
percent has been assumed, because this also is a field in which work
has been carefully planned in the past and in which individual changes
affecting output are likely to be minor.
Increased productivity in public construction is expected to be
slightly less than that in private construction. Productivity in
public residential building is expected to increase by 10 percent, in
contrast to 15 percent in private residential building, because the
public work is likely to consist predominantly of apartment-type
buildings with masonry walls. At the same time, individual varia
tions between and within structures and the extent of ornamental
treatment will be much less in publicly than in privately financed
apartments. For nonresidential buildings an increase of 5 percent
has been estimated, the same as for privately financed buildings of the
same group. The greatest increase, 15 percent, has been estimated
for highway, road and street .work, primarily because of recent
developments in some of the basic machines. The same amount of
increase has been assumed for airport work, the greater part of which
is quite similar to highway work. No change has been estimated
for sewer and water projects, already highly mechanized and stand
ardized in the principal operations, although it is recognized that
some small change is rather likely. For the “all other public” classi
fication, consisting largely of heavy engineering work, an increase of 5
percent in productivity has been estimated. This work is usually
done by contractors who give the most careful attention to their
methods, and will be affected mainly by development of new
equipment.
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W ages in th e B asic L u m b e r I n d u s tr y in th e
F a r W/est, 1 9 4 4 1
Summary
WORKERS in the basic lumber industry in the Far West earned an
average of $1.19 an hour in August 1944. Approximately threefifths of the workers earned between 90 cents and $1.20 an hour and
nearly a fourth earned between 90 cents and $1.00 an hour. Only a
tenth of the workers received less than 90 cents an hour, while a sixth
earned $1.50 or more.
The highest wages (averaging $1.45) were paid in shingle mills and
the next highest ($1.38) were paid in logging camps. Workers in
sawmills and in plywood mills received much lower wages, their
respective earnings per hour being $1.05 and $1.03.
Among the individual occupations, the highest earnings were re
ceived by saw filers in sawmills and shingle mills and by such incentive
workers as fallers and buckers in logging camps, lumber pilers in
sawmills, and shingle sawyers and packers in shingle mills. The next
highest earnings were generally received by skilled maintenance and
processing workers. Helpers on machines were among the lowestpaid workers in the industry.
The trend in wages in the basic lumber industry in the Far West
has been sharply upward since 1939, straight-time hourly earnings
increasing nearly 55 percent and gross hourly earnings increasing
about 61 percent. Most of the increase took place after January 1,
1941. Straight-time earnings have risen about 41 percent since that
date and gross earnings nearly 47 percent.
The largest absolute increase in earnings (55 cents) between 1939
and 1944 occurred in logging camps, the next largest (48 cents) in
shingle mills, and the smallest (27 cents) occurred in plywood mills.
The earnings of incentive workers increased much more than did
those of time workers. Within branches of the industry, there was
a marked degree of uniformity in absolute increases among occupa
tions, regardless of level of skill, largely because most of the general
increases granted since 1939 have been flat “across-the-board” increases.
Characteristics of Basic Lumber Industry in Far West
Forest lands constitute the most important natural resource of the
Far West, and in normal times lumber production is the leading
industry of the region. A substantial proportion of the population
depends directly or indirectly on this industry for a livelihood. It is
estimated that approximately 130,000 workers, or somewhat more than
one-fourth of the total in the basic lumber industry, are employed in
the Far West.
1
Prepared in th e Wage Analysis B ranch by Victor S. Baril, assisted byN orbert Prager and John Standish,
•T. W . C. H arper and L. R. Linsenm ayer, regional wage analysts of the Bureau, directed the collection of the
data on which this report is based.
T h e full report on the N ation-w ide stu d y of wages in the basic lum ber industry in 1944 will be published in
a later issue. T he m ost recent previous Nation-w ide survey of the lum ber industry was m ade during the
w inter of 1939-40 (see M o n th ly Labor Review Ju ly 1941: H ourly Earnings in the Lum ber and Tim ber
Products In d u stry ).
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W AGES I N L U M B E R IN D U ST R Y I N FAR WEST*
15
More than three-fifths of the remaining saw-timber stand in this
country is in the Far West; Oregon alone accounts for a fourth, Wash
ington for a sixth, and California for an eighth. Fully seven-eighths
of this saw-timber stand is mature old growth and virtually all is
composed of soft woods2; much of it however, is not commercially
available at present.
Since 1927, the Far West has led all other regions in lumber produc
tion and in 1943 it accounted for 43 percent of the national output.
Oregon alone produced 19 percent of all of the lumber in 1943, while
Washington produced 13 percent, California 7 percent, and Idaho
and Montana 4 percent.
Lumbering in the Far West is, on the whole, a seasonal operation.
Although both logging and sawmilling follow roughly the same
seasonal pattern, logging appears to be somewhat less stable than
sawmilling. Because of climatic conditions which either impede or
prohibit operations, production of logs is generally lowest during the
winter months; it also falls off in the summer months when it is often
necessary to close logging camps because of fire hazards. The avail
able supply of logs and, particularly, market conditions determine the
operation of sawmills. Many sawmills, however, are able to build
up log reserves which enable them to operate for a somewhat longer
season than do the logging camps. Sawmill production is lowest
during the winter months when building activity is at a low level and
when many logging operations are closed.
Because of dependence on the building and construction industry
which, in normal times, consumes more than half of the lumber pro
duced, the lumber industry has been profoundly affected by the wide
fluctuations that have characterized the building and construction
industry in the past. Equally serious has been the problem of over
capacity and overproduction. The availability of very great quan
tities of standing timber, the constant pressure to liquidate these
holdings at the first opportunity, and excess sawmill capacity have
been responsible for chronic overstocking of the market and inter
mittent unemployment.
LOCATION OF THE INDUSTRY
Douglas Fir region.—Although lumber is produced throughout the
Far West, the industry has long been centralized in the Douglas Fir
region, which includes those areas of Washington and Oregon situated
west of the summit of the Cascade Range. Though smaller in area
than most lumber-producing regions of the country, the Douglas Fir
region is nevertheless more important than most of them, largely as
a result of the density of its forest stand and the great size of its trees.
About half of the saw-timber stand in the Far West is in this region,
which alone produces more than a fourth of the national lumber out
put. Douglas fir is the principal species in this region, but many
other species, such as spruce, hemlock, and cedar, are also found.
Within the Douglas Fir region the industry has attained its greatest
development around Puget Sound, Grays and Willapa Harbors, and
the Columbia River area. With the gradual exhaustion of the sawtimber stands adjacent to the tidewater in western Washington, the
industry has shifted to Oregon and in particular to the Willamette
Valley.
2
Forest Statistics—Area, Stand, Grow th and D rain (U. S. D ep artm ent of Agriculture, Forest Service).
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Western Pine region.—Next in importance is the Western Pine
region which covers 11 Western States, with the exception of the
Douglas Fir region in western Washington and western Oregon and
the Redwood region along the northern coast of California. Most of
the western pine lumber is produced, however, in the States of Cali
fornia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. For purposes of
the present survey the Western Pine region is limited to these five
States. Three principal species are found in this region. Of these,
ponderosa pine is by far the most important and is widely distributed
over the region. Sugar pine, one of the largest of the western pines,
is next in importance and is largely confined to California and Oregon.
The third important species is western white pine which is found in
northern Idaho and adjacent territory in Montana and Washington.
Redwood region.—The Redwood region, by far the smallest of the
three lumber-producing regions in the Far West, covers a narrow strip
of land along the northern coast of California. Five counties are
included, namely Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and
Marin. This region has very large trees and a very dense timber
stand. Output is dominated by a few large companies.
It should be borne in mind that although one species predominates
in each region, such as fir in the Douglas Fir region and pine in the
Western Pine region, these same species are also found to some extent
in other regions. For example, fir accounts for a substantial per
centage of the lumber output of the Redwood region.
ORGANIZATION OF PRODUCTION
Varying degrees of integration are found in the basic lumber indus
try in the Far West. The variations, however, are largely confined
to logging camps and sawmills, as shingle mills and plywood mills
are as a rule operated by firms or individuals^ not connected with
lumber manufacture.
In certain sections, particularly in the Douglas Fir region, logging
is carried on independently of lumber manufacture, hy firms or
individuals who either own timber stands or obtain timber from
government-owned land. In some areas these operators sell their
logs in open market and in others they dispose of them under contract
to lumber manufacturers. Some of the sawmills that possess timber
stands supply all of their own mill requirements; others are able to
supply only part of their needs, obtaining the remainder through pur
chases in open market or under contract. Many sawmills own no
timber, and must buy their logs on the market or on contract either
with independent loggers or with integrated operators whose produc
tion exceeds their mill requirements.
Much of the logging is done by “gyppo” loggers, i. e., small inde
pendent operators who contract to log for a stipulated price per
thousand board feet. In some instances only part of the logging
operation (such as felling and bucking or hauling) is contracted out,
and the owner or principal operator does the yarding, loading, and
when not contracted out, the hauling.
Most sawmills in the Douglas Fir and the Redwood regions produce
only lumber, which they sell in either rough or finished form. In
certain districts of the Western Pine region, however, much of the
lumber produced in the sawmill is manufactured into box shooks in
box factories operated in conjunction with the mill.
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WAGES IN LUMBER INDUSTRY IN FAR W EST
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Large sawmills dominate the lumber output in the Far West,
whereas in other regions small sawmills account for the bulk of the
lumber produced. Of the lumber produced in the Far West in 1943,
fully four-fifths came from mills with an annual cut of 10,000,000
board feet or more, two-tliirds came from mills with a cut of 25,000,000
or more board feet, and over one-third from mills with a cut of
50,000,000 or more board feet. In Washington, over half of the
lumber was produced in mills cutting 50,000,000 or more board feet
per year. In the East, on the other hand, less than 15 percent of the
lumber produced in 1943 came from mills cutting 10,000,000 or more
board feet, whereas more than half was produced in those cutting
between 1,000,000 and 10,000,000 board feet and a third was produced
in those cutting less than 1,000,000 board feet per year.3
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES
Production methods in both logging and sawmilling in the Far
West are quite different from those used in other lumber-producing
regions of the country. These differences, which exert a profound
influence on the occupational structure of these two segments of the
industry as wrcll as on the level of wages paid, are due very largely to
the density of the timber stand, the large size of the trees, and the
rugged topography of the area. In the manufacture of shingles and
plywood, however, production techniques in the West are much the
same on the whole as those used in other regions.
Aside from the felling and bucking operations which are still very
largely performed with hand tools, logging in the Far West is highly
mechanized. Large power skidders have long been used in the
Douglas Fir region to move logs from the cutting area to the landing
or loading point; the logs are transported by railroad from the loading
point in the woods to their destination. The skidder method of
yarding was well suited to this region because of the great density of
the timber stand, the large size of the trees, the rugged terrain, and
the prevalence of the practice of “clear-cutting.” In recent years,
however, the trend has been in the direction of more flexible equip
ment and, as a result, tractors are replacing power skidders, and trans
portation by truck is replacing that by railroad. In the Western
Pine region, tractors are used almost exclusively in yarding opera
tions, and trucks are generally used to move logs either to the mill or
to the railroads. Mechanical loaders are generally used in the Far
West, owing to the size of the logs. In operations using power
skidders, the mechanical loader is generally a part of the skidder
unit. Elsewhere, the power loader is a separate piece of equipment
which may be either stationary or mobile.
Logging equipment varies widely as to type and size. Mechanical
loaders, for example, vary from crude home-made apparatus powered
by small gas engines to large steam- or Diesel-powered loaders. Wide
differences are also found in yarding and hauling equipment.
Lumber manufacturing is generally a somewhat more complex
process in the Far West than in other regions. As had been pointed out
earlier, medium-size and large sawmills account for a very high propor
tion of the,lumber cut in this area. These mills, particularly the large
plants, produce a wide variety of items ranging from molding and
3 Census of Forest Products, 1943 (U. S. D ep artm en t of Commerce, B ureau of Census).
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interior finish to large timbers for heavy construction. The small mills,
on the other hand, manufacture few items and do not differ appreciably
from the many thousands of small mills operating in other parts of the
country.
Sawmills in the Far West may be classified into two broad groups on
the basis of the type of head saw used to cut lumber. Large- and
medium-size mills generally are equipped with band saws, whereas
small mills have circular saws. The larger mills also have resawing
equipment to reduce the cants or slabs cut on the head rig to smaller
dimensions. The largest mills, for example, may have pony rigs, gang
saws and a variety of resaws, whereas the medium-size mills are
equipped as a rule only with band or circular resaws. Equally wide
variations exist among mills in methods of handling materials both in
the mill proper and in the yard.
Finishing facilities are found only in the larger mills. The essential
equipment includes sizers, planers, matchers, resaws, and trim saws.
Only the larger mills have dry kilns, as most mills air-dry their lumber.
Small sawmills dispose of their lumber rough and often without even
air-drying it.
Shingle manufacture is carried on in small mills and the process is
simple as compared with lumber manufacture. It consists essentially of
cutting logs or bolts into blocks, splitting the blocks into quarter
sections, cutting the sections on special-purpose saws to produce
shingles, packing and drying the shingles, and then loading the bundles
onto cars or trucks for shipment.
The making of plywood is entirely different from that of lumber
manufacture. The principal operations include the slicing of thin
layers (veneer) from logs, the preparation of veneer sheets of the de
sired size and grade, the assembling of veneer sheets and glue-covered
cores into alternate layers which are later pressed to form plywood of
the desired thickness, and the preparation of plywood sheets (patching,
cutting to size, and sanding) for shipment.
The Labor Force
Lumbering is essentially a man’s job. On the whole the work is
arduous and hazardous. In many occupations it is highly specialized
and the skill requirements are very high. Throughout the war period,
the industry has had great difficulty in replacing experienced workers
who went into other war industries in the area or were inducted into the
armed forces. Inexperienced recruits have been used to fill vacancies
in the less-skilled occupations, while vacancies in the more highly
skilled occupations have been filled either through upgrading or by
combining occupations. For example, separate rigging crews in log
ging have nearly disappeared, the rigging now being done by the
yarding crews; in many camps yarding crews are working short-handed.
The employment of women to perform some of the lighter tasks in
sawmills and plywood mills has helped to relieve the manpower
situation to some extent and has released some men to perform the
more arduous work.
LOGGING OCCUPATIONS
As was pointed out earlier, there are four basic operations in logging,
namely, cutting, yarding, loading, and transportation. The cutting
operation is performed by fallers and buckers who, working in pairs and
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WAGES IN LUMBER INDUSTRY IN FAR W EST
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generally with the aid of hand tools (axe, cross-cut saw, wedge, and
hammer), cut down trees, remove limbs and cut the trees into logs of
the desired length. Fallers and buckers are highly skilled workers.
The work is both hard and dangerous. A third or more of the workers
in logging camps are fallers and buckers.
The composition of yarding crews varies, depending on the method
of yarding. If tractors are used, the crew generally consists of a
tractor driver, a choker setter who secures the cable to one end of the
log, and a hooker who attaches the open end of the cable to the tractor.
A larger and more diversified crew is found in logging operations using
power skidders (high-lead or skidder-slackline). Under normal con
ditions such a crew consists of the following: A hook tender who is in
charge of the yarding and loading operations; an engineer who operates
a yarding engine in accordance with signals received from the yarding
crew; a head rigging slinger who is second in command in the yarding
crew and who selects the logs to be taken out for each load; a second
rigging slinger who acts as leadman in the choker-setter crew and who
hooks chokers to and unhooks them from the butt-rig; a choker setter
who sets the chokers around one end of the log; a chaser who unhooks
chokers at the landing and signals to engineer to pull choker from
log and return butt-rig to cutting area; and a whistlepunk who relays
signals from the yarding crew to the yarding engineer.
The loading crew generally consists of an engineer who operates the
loading engine, a head or top loader who selects the logs to make up
a load and is responsible for the proper placement of logs on the car
or truck, and a second loader who places and releases tongs on logs.
Transportation crews vary depending on the type of transport
employed. For example, ii rail conveyance is used, standard crews
(engineers, head brakeman or conductor, and second brakeman or
brakeman) are found. Truck drivers constitute the transportation
crew if trucks are used; they operate a wide variety of trucks, ranging
from light gas-powered trucks to heavy diesel-powered trucks. At
times they also help in the loading and unloading. In some areas,
water transportation is used, drivers moving the logs downstream
either to mills or to points where they are assembled into rafts and
towed to their destination.
All logging camps have numerous auxiliary occupations. The
larger camps employ bulldozer operators, jackhammer men, powdermen, and road monkeys in the construction or repair of roadways,
and maintenance crews which include blacksmiths, saw filers, donkey
doctors (skidder-engine repairmen), cat doctors (tractor repairmen),
and machinists who maintain and repair logging equipment. Equally
important are the cooks who prepare the meals, the bull cooks who
perform general chores around the camp, and the flunkeys who assist
in the camp kitchen.
MILL OCCUPATIONS
The occupational structure of a sawmill is even more varied than
that of a logging camp and is determined largely by the size and the
end product of the mill. Small sawmills are manned by a small crew
of men which includes a sawyer in charge of the operation, a carriage
operator (when this work is not performed by the sawyer), an offbearer who removes the slabs from the head rig, possibly a trimmer who
cuts boards to length, and one or two lumber handlers who stack the
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lumber. The duties of most workers in small mills are not clearly
defined, and as a result workers perform a number of different tasks
about the mill as needed. Larger mills, however, are departmentalized,
each department having its own job structure within which workers
regularly perform definite tasks.
The most skilled worker in the head mill is the head sawyer who
directs the operation of the head rig, estimates the grade and value
of lumber in each log, and signals cutting instructions to the carriage
crew. The head sawyer is assisted by a crew which generally consists
of a setter and a dogger on the carriage, a deckman who lines the logs
up on the deck and otherwise prepares them for cutting, and an offbearer who removes the cants, flitches, or slabs from the head rig, and
guides them onto transfer rolls. Among the other important occupa
tions in the head mill are those of the gang sawyer who operates a large
resaw known as a gang saw, the resawyer who operates band and
circular resaws to reduce lumber to smaller dimensions, the edgerman
who cuts boards to the desired width, the trimmer operator who trims
boards to length on either a multiple or gang trimmer or on a single
or double trim saw, and the green-lumber grader who judges lumber
on the green chain and indicates grade and dimension by means of
chalk or crayon. Many workers are also employed as line-up men
and off-bearers on the various saws and as lumber pullers on the green
chain.
Among the several occupations required in the seasoning or drying
of lumber, perhaps the most important are lumber pilers (when lumber
is air-dried in the yard) and lumber stackers and unstackers, transfer
car operators, and kiln tenders (when lumber is dried in kilns). The
piling and stacking of lumber is generally done by hand, although a
number of the larger mills use special equipment. The principal and
more-skilled occupations in the planing mill are those of sizer, planer
and matcher operator, set-up man (when this work is not performed
by the operator), resawyer, and finished-lumber grader. As in
sawmills, a number of workers act as helpers on the various machines,
either lining up or off-bearing, and a number are also engaged in
pulling lumber from the chains and stacking it on skids or trucks or
in bins. Within planing or finishing mills the occupational structure
varies somewhat, depending on the products of the mill. Some mills
are equipped only with a sizer or a planer to dress lumber, while
others have matchers, molders, and a variety of resaws and trim saws.
The material-handling group of occupations varies considerably
among mills owing to wide differences in mill practice. In small mills
lumber is handled manually and is moved about the mill and yard by
means of buggies; in the larger mills, it is handled by means of carriers,
tractors and cranes. Conveyors and transfer rolls are used extensively
in the more highly mechanized mills to move lumber from one opera
tion to the other.
Sawmills require the services of a number of highly skilled workers
to service and maintain mill equipment. One of the most important
and highly skilled occupations in this group is that of saw filer; he
checks, sharpens, and conditions mill saws. In large mills the filer is
assisted by a helper. Other workers who help to maintain the mill
in good running order are blacksmiths, millwrights, electricians,
machinists, and carpenters.
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Perhaps the simplest occupational structure in the lumber industry
is found in shingle mills. The two principal occupations from the
standpoint both of skill requirements and number of workers employed
are shingle sawyers and shingle packers. The shingle sawyer operates
a special saw to cut shingles from quarter sections of cedar blocks and
also sorts and trims shingles, while the shingle packer counts out the
necessary number of shingles to form a bundle, packs them, and secures
them with wood strips and metal bands. Other important occupa
tions in the manufacture of shingles are those of cut-off sawyer who
cuts bolts or logs into blocks and the knee bolter and splitter who splits
blocks into quarter sections.
A plywood mill consists of two separate units, one engaged in the
production of sheet veneer for use in the manufacture of plywood,
and the other engaged in the actual manufacture of plywood. The
following are the principal occupations in the veneer unit: Lathe
operators, who are in charge of the rotary lathes and who are respon
sible for the production of the desired grade of veneer; lathe helpers,
who “ spot” the bolts on the lathe and handle the veneer at the back
of the lathe, directing it onto the veneer rack; clipper operators, who
cut the strips of veneer into sheets of desired size; drier crew (operator,
feeder, and off-bearer) charged with the drying of the green veneer;
and patchers and tapers, who prepare the sheets for use in the manu
facture of plywood. The principal occupations in the plywood unit
are those of the feeders and catchers on the glue spreader, who
prepare and assemble the various layers of veneer to form plywood of
the desired thickness; the press crew (pressmen and helpers), who
apply pressure mechanically to the plywood to set it; the patchers,
who repair surface defects in the plywood; the sawyers, who cut the
sheets of plywood to size; and the graders, who grade the plywood
sheets.
UNIONIZATION IN THE LUMBER INDUSTRY
Workers in the basic lumber industry in the Far West are extensively
organized. The two principal unions in the field are the International
Woodworkers of America, a C. I. O. affiliate, and the Sawmill and
Timber Workers’ Union of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners, an A. F. of L. affiliate. In central California, lumber
workers are organized by the Lumber Handlers’ Union, which is also
a division of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of
America. The Washington-Oregon Shingle Weavers District Council,
affiliated with the Carpenters and Joiners, has collective-bargaining
agreements with virtually all shingle mills in the Far West.
At the time of the Bureau’s survey, roughly one-half of the logging
camps and sawmills, virtually all of the shingle mills, and all of the
plywood mills had collective agreements with labor unions. Well
over four-fifths of the workers were employed in unionized operations,
indicating that a preponderance of the larger operations were in the
unionized group. Most of the large logging camps and sawmills
and half or more of the medium-size operations were organized, as
compared with less than 5 percent of the small logging camps and
sawmills. Of the workers employed in union operations, slightly
more than half were members of the International Woodworkers of
America (C. I. O.) and slightly less than half were members of the
three unions affiliated with the A. F. of L. (Sawmill and Timber
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Workers Union, Lumber Handlers Union, and International Shingle
Weavers Union of America). Less than 1 percent of the workers
were members of the Sawdust Makers Union, an independent union
which had an agreement with one large mill in central Washington.
Union organization was more prevalent in the Douglas Fir region
than in either the Western Pine or the Redwood region, the respective
percentages of workers in operations with union agreements being
88, 77, and 77. Within the Western Pine region the proportion of
workers in operations with union agreements varied from a little
over 70 percent in the Snake River district to*fully 80 percent in the
central Oregon district.
The numerical strength of the respective unions varied with regions
and, in the Western Pine region, with districts. The International
Woodworkers of America appear to have enrolled approximately
three-fifths of the union workers in the Douglas Fir region, while
A. F. of L. unions appear to lead by the same margin in the Western
Pine region as a whole. Within the latter region, however, the
International Woodworkers of America appear to lead in the Inland
Empire and central Oregon districts, while A. F. of L unions lead
in the other districts. At the time of the survey most of the union
workers in the pine districts of California and all of those in the
Redwood region were members of A. F. of L. unions.
The above statement on the extent of unionization in the basic
lumber industry in the Far West reflects conditions at the time of the
survey in August 1944. It is understood that more operations have
been unionized since that time, particularly in the Redwood region,
where an active organization campaign has been under way.
Scope and Method of Survey
This report is based on wage and related data for workers in four
important branches of the basic lumber industry in the Far West—
logging camps, sawmills, shingle mills, and plywood mills. No infor
mation was obtained for workers in the veneer and cooperage stock
mills, as these two segments of the industry are comparatively un
important in the Far West.
The wage and related data on which this report is based were ob
tained by trained representatives of the Bureau, who visited the
operations and transcribed the data from pay rolls and other records.
The earnings data for most operations relate to a representative
pay-roll period in August 1944.
information was obtained from 464 firms having 654 separate
basic-lumber operations 4 and employing a total of 61,782 workers.
Approximately a fourth of all the logging camps and sawmills, half
of the shingle mills, and virtually all of the plywood mills 5 were
visited by field representatives of the Bureau. In selecting the sample
of firms and operations to be studied in those segments of the industry
in which the sampling technique was used, consideration was given
4 T he term “ operation” relates to a single u n it, such as a logging cam p, a sawmill, a shingle m ill, or a ply
wood mill. In the case of partially or com pletely integrated companies, each un it was counted separately.
For example, a com pany w hich did both logging and sawmilling was included in both the logging-camp a nd
sawmill counts.
5 T he figures for plyw ood mills do not include tw o cooperatives in w hich v irtually all workers own stock
and receive a uniform rate of pay, regardless of work performed, and another m ill w hich refused to partici
pate in the stu d y . T h e loss of the la tte r mill was offset, however, b y w eighting the d ata for a comparable
plant in the same locality.
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WAGES IN LUMBER INDUSTRY IN FAR W EST
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to all important factors—such as size and type of operation, corporate
affiliation, geographical distribution, and unionization—which might
have a bearing on wages. As the various operations in each of the
segments of the industry studied were not sampled in the same
proportion, it was necessary in combining the data to assign different
weights to the various operations so that each type and size studied
might be represented in proportion to its importance in the industry.
The figures appearing in this report represent the results of the study
after appropriate weighting. This weighting yields a total of 2,001
operations and 131,500 workers, which is believed to represent the
approximate size of the four segments of the basic lumber industry in
the Far West (table 1).
T a b l e 1 .— Operations
Surveyed and Estimated Total Operations and Workers in K ey
Occupations Studied, by Region and Branch of Industry, August 1944
N um ber of
operations
Region and type
of operation»
A ctu
ally
sur
veyed
E sti
m ated
total
ber
E sti num
of
m ated workers
total
repre repre
sented sented 1
F a r W est______ _ ______
Logging camps
Sawmills______
Shingle mills- . . . _
Plyw ood m ills______
654
320
286
20
28
2, 001
998
904
70
29
85,155
34,890
44,705
1, 678
3,882
Douglas F ir region-. _
Logging cam ps__ ..
Sawmills - - - - Shingle m ills_______
Plyw ood m i l l s _____
334
158
130
20
26
1,057
527
433
70
27
48, 487
20, 898
22,102
1,678
3,809
N um ber of
operations
A ctu
ally
sur
veyed
E sti
m ated
total
repre
sented
E sti
m ated
total
num ber
of
workers
repre
sented 1
W estern Pine region. _ .
Logging cam ps ___
Sawmills
Plyw ood m ills. ____
291
150
139
2
862
437
423
2
33, 553
12, 737
20 743
73
Redwood region
_ ..
Logging cam p s.. __
Sawmills
29
12
17
82
34
48
3,115
1, 255
1,860
Region and type
of operation
1 These figures relate to the estim ated total num ber of workers in th e F a r W est em ployed in the selected
key occupations studied. I t is estim ated th a t in all occupations there are approxim ately 131,500 workers,
of w hom 73,000 are in the Douglas F ir region, 50,500 in the W estern Pine region, and 8,000 in the Redwood
region.
Occupational wage data were obtained only for selected key occu
pations which are believed to be representative of the skill and earn
ings levels of the four segments studied. Approximately two-thirds
of all the workers are employed in these key occupations.
In order to insure as full comparability as possible among operations,
the Bureau’s field representatives used uniform job descriptions in
classifying workers in the selected occupations studied. The field
representatives also made a very careful check of significant duties
performed in each of the occupations, actually observing operations
in many instances, and reporting any important variations. On the
basis of this supplementary information on duties performed by
workers, it was possible for the Bureau to overcome interplant vari
ations to a considerable extent and to arrive at dependable occupa
tional classifications as a basis for the wage information.
The wage data presented in this report are straight-time average
hourly earnings, exclusive of premium overtime and shift-differential
payments. These earnings reflect incentive earnings resulting from
piece work and production bonuses, but do not reflect earnings from
nonproduction bonuses.
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W age-Payment Practices
Workers in most occupations of the basic lumber industry are paid
on a time-work basis. The few exceptions are fallers and buckers in
logging camps, shingle sawyers and packers in shingle mills, and car
loaders, lumber pilers, stackers and unstackers in sawmills, all or
part of whom are paid on a piece-work basis. Production-bonus
systems (as distinguished from simple piece rates) are seldom found
in the lumber industry, and when found, consist generally of a flat
amount paid to workers in certain occupations for production in
excess of a specified quota.
Nonproduction bonuses are rarely found in the industry. One
large firm which has both logging and sawmilling operations paid its
workers a length-of-service bonus which amounted to 3 percent of
their earnings after 1 year cd service and 7 percent after 5 years of
service. A second plant paid its truck drivers an additional 2% per
cent after 6 months of service with the firm, 5 percent after 2 years,
and 7}i percent after 3 years, the bonus being paid quarterly.
The most common work schedule in the basic lumber, industry at
the time of the survey was 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week;
nearly three-fourths of the logging camps, two-thirds of the sawmills,
and all but three of the plywood mills had such a schedule. Some
logging camps and sawmills had an 8-liour day and a 40-hour week,
while others had a 9-hour day and a 54-hour week. Shingle mills
had only a 6-hour day and a 36-hour week.
Overtime in logging camps, sawmills, and plywood mills was gen
erally paid for at the rate of time and a half after 40 hours per week.
In addition, nearly half of the logging camps and more than a third
of the sawmills also paid time and a half after 8 hours per day. Most
shingle mills paid time and a half after 36 hours per week and many
also paid that rate after 6 hours per day. Payment of overtime after
40 hours per week and 8 hours per day in shingle mills was confined
very largely to a few mills operated in connection with sawmills.
The entrance rates of pay of common laborers in logging camps,
sawmills, and plywood mills followed very closely the minimum rates
of pay set by the West Coast Lumber Commission for unskilled workers
in the various wage-stabilization districts in the Par West. These
rates are 90 cents in the Douglas Fir region and 82.5 cents in the Red
wood region. In the Western Pine region the rates range from 80.0
cents in the central Washington district to 87.5 cents in the Central
Oregon and northern California districts. The rates set for the other
three pine districts are 82.5 cents in the Inland Empire and Snake
River districts and 85.0 cents in the central California district. Of
the 49 shingle mills reporting entrance rates for common laborers,
33 paid 95 cents an hour and 16 paid 90 cents an hour. The remain
ing mills either did not employ common laborers or failed to report
on the entrance rates paid to such workers.
Multiple-shift operations were found in about a sixth of the saw
mills, in more than three-fifths of the shingle mills, and in all but two
of the plywood mills. In logging camps it is not feasible to work more
than one shift, as operations must be conducted during the daytime.
Of the 128 sawmills operating more than one shift—virtually all of
which were large mills—102 operated two shifts and 25 operated three
shifts. Two-thirds of these mills paid shift differentials, varying from
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WAGES IN LUMBER INDUSTRY IN FAR W EST
25
2K to 4 cents an hour for work on the second shift and from 3 to 7
cents an hour for work on the third shift. The most common shift
differential in sawmills was 3 cents an hour, paid in 53 mills for work
on the second shift and in 13 mills for work on the third shift. Cer
tain other mills paid a differential of 3% cents on both shifts. All
plywood plants working more than one shift paid a shift differential
which was 4 cents an hour in all but 2 of the 27 plywood plants work
ing a second shift and 7 cents an hour in all 23 plants operating a third
shift. Forty-four of the shingle mills operated a second shift, but
only 4 paid a shift differential to shingle sawyers and packers; this
amounted to 1 cent per square. Although no shingle mills operated a
third shift at the time of the survey, a few indicated that they paid a
differential of from 3 to 5 cents an hour when a third shift was worked.
Paid vacations were granted to workers by somewhat more than
half of the logging camps and sawmills. Of the operations with paidvacation plans, nearly two-thirds of the logging camps and nearly
half of the sawmills granted 1 week of vacation with pay after 1,400
hours’ work; a vast majority of these same operations also gave
workers 4 days paid vacation after 1,120 hours’ work and 3 days
vacation after 840 hours’ work. The next most common vacation
plan provided for 1 week after a year’s service; a fifth of the logging
camps and more than a third of the sawmills with paid-vacation plans
were in this group. At the time of the survey, paid vacations in
logging camps and sawmills were much more common in the Douglas
Fir region than in either the Western Pine or the Redwood regions.6
All 29 plywood plants granted 1 week of paid vacation after service
periods ranging from 36 weeks in 1 plant to 1 year in 20 plants. In
addition, 4 plants also granted 4 days of paid vacation after 1,120
hours of work and 3 days after 840 hours of work. All but 4 of the
shingle mills gave a paid vacation of 1 week, but during the war period
all workers elected to remain on the job and to accept, instead, a flat
pay increase of 3 cents an hour.
Wage Structure of the Industry
Workers in the basic lumber industry in the Far West earned an
average of $1.19 an hour in August 1944 (table 2). This figure
represents the average level of straight-time hourly earnings of 85,155
workers in 165 selected key occupations in logging camps, sawmills,
shingle mills, and plywood mills. Despite the wide range in the
earnings of individual workers, approximately three-fifths of all workers
earned between 90 cents and $1.20 an hour, and nearlv a fourth
earned between 90 cents and $1 an hour. Only a tenth of the workers
received less than 90 cents an hour, and less than 2 percent had
earnings under 80 cents an hour. In contrast, a sixth of the workers
earned $1.50 or more an hour, and nearly 5 percent $2.00 or more.
Widely different wage levels were found among the four branches
of the industry studied. Workers in shingle mills had the highest
straight-time average hourly earnings, $1.45, and workers in logging
camps had the next highest earnings, $1.38, while workers in plywood
mills received the lowest earnings, $1.03. The average earnings of
6
Of the logging camps studied, 70 percent in the Douglas F ir region, as against 40 percent in the W estern
Pm e region and 50 percent in the Redwood region, provided vacations w ith pay. Among the sawmills, the
percent varied from 62 percent in th e Douglas F ir region to 43 percent in the W estern Pine region a nd to
44 percent in th e Redw ood region.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
26
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
194 5
sawmill workers, $1.05, were only 2 cents above those of plywood
workers. Equally wide variations in earnings of individual workers
are indicated by the distributions shown in table 2 for each branch.
For example, less than a tenth of the workers in both shingle mills and
logging camps had earnings under $1 an hour, while somewhat over
half of the workers in sawmills and plywood mills earned less than
that amount. In contrast, well over a fourth of the workers in
logging camps and not far from half of those in shingle mills earned
$1.50 or more an hour, whereas no workers in plywood mills and only
6 percent of the sawmill workers received earnings as high as these.
T a b l e 2 . — Distribution of Workers in Basic Lumber Industry in Far West by Straight-
Tim e Average Hourly Earnings and Branch of Industry, August 1944
Percentage distribution
Average hourly earnings
All
branches
Logging
camps
Saw
mills
Shingle
mills
Plyw ood
mills
Under 80.0 cents
__________ ___ - ____
80 0 and under 82.5 cents
82 5 and u nder 85.0 cents
______
85 0 and under 87.5 cents
87 5 and under 90.0 cents
_ ________
90 0 and un d er 92.5 cents
_______ ___
1.2
.8
2.4
2.6
3.1
8.2
0.1
.2
.8
.6
1.3
2.5
2.3
1.3
4.0
4.6
4.9
11.8
92 5 and un d er 95.0 cents
_____ __
95.0 and under 97.5 c e n ts ..
------------97.5 and un d er 100.0 cents. ___ . . ----100.0 and under 102.5 cents. . . . ------------102.5 and un d er 105.0 cents. ----------------105.0 and under 107.5 cents. _ -----------------
5.3
6.4
4.2
7.3
3.3
4.2
1.3
.8
2.1
4.9
2.1
5.1
8.2
10.3
5.4
9.6
4.1
3.6
2.4
3.7
3.8
3.3
4.1
11.2
11.5
9.0
4.7
4.3
2.6
107.5 and
110.0 and
112.5 and
115.0 and
117.5 and
120.0 and
un d er
under
un d er
un d er
un d er
un d er
110.0 cents. . . . . . . ---112.5 cents_____ ____ . . .
115.0 cents____
117.5 c e n ts.. ----------120.0 cents . . .
_______
122.5 c e n ts.. ------------- . .
3.6
3.7
2.8
4.1
3.0
2.6
3.8
4.8
2.9
4.4
5.0
3.8
3.6
2.8
2.7
3.5
1.5
1.7
2.1
1. 2
2.3
1.3
1.5
2.1
3.2
5.0
3.9
9.6
2.3
3.9
122.5 and
125.0 and
127.5 and
130.0 and
135.0 and
140.0 and
un d er
un d er
un d er
un d er
un d er
under
125.0 cents. ----------------127.5 cents_____ _______
130.0 cents. . . . _ . . . .
135.0 cents____ ________
140.0 cents.
. ______
145.0 c e n ts..
.
-------
1.6
3.9
1.6
2.6
2.2
1.9
2.3
6.2
2.8
4.1
3.6
3.0
1.1
2.1
.7
1.5
1.3
.9
1.9
2.0
2.0
3.9
5.0
5.4
1.2
4.4
1.5
.7
.1
.1
145.0 and
150 0 and
155 0 and
160 0 and
165 0 and
170 0 and
un d er
nruler
under
under
under
under
150.0 cents_______ _______
155 Dcents
160.0 cents
165 0 cents
170 0 cents
175 0 cents
1.6
2.7
1.5
1.2
.9
.7
2.6
5.0
2.5
1.7
1.3
1.2
.7
1.1
.6
.8
.4
.3
6.6
5.4
7.4
4.6
6.0
2.6
1.1
.7
.9
.6
.6
4.9
2.0
1.3
1.8
1.3
1.1
9.7
.4
.3
.1
.1
.1
1.6
4.1
3.5
3.1
2.7
1.8
4.2
175 0 and under 180 0 cents
180 0 and under 185 0 cents
185 0 and under 190 0 cents
190 0 and under 195 0 cents
195 0 n.rid under 200 0 cents
200 0 cents and over
0)
0.3
.4
20.1
0)
--
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
T otal num ber of w o rk ers..
. . . . . . ..
Average hourly earn in g s... . . . --------------
85,155
$1.19
34,890
$1. 38
44, 705
$1.05
1, 678
$1.45
3,882
$1.03
T o tal___________ . ---------------
1 Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
Significant differences in earnings as between regions and districts
are found in the logging camps and sawmills of the Far West. In
logging camps the earnings of workers in the Douglas Fir region were
11 cents higher than those of workers in the Redwood region and 20
cents higher than those of workers in the Western Pine region. More
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WAGES IN LUMBER INDUSTRY IN FAR W EST
27
over, within the Western Pine region, earnings were somewhat higher
on the whole in central Oregon and California than in the remainder
ol the region. Important geographic variations were found also in
the earnings of sawmill workers.
OCCUPATIONAL AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS
The figures presented in tables 3-6 for selected key occupations in
each of the four branches of the industry studied indicate that interbranch variations in wage levels result very largely from basic differ
ences in occupational structure and in skill requirements. Logging, for
example, requires the services of highly specialized workers and for that
reason the occupational structure of this branch of the industry is
radically different from that of either sawmills, shingle mills, or
plywood mills. This factor no doubt accounts to a considerable
extent for the comparatively high level of earnings in most occupations
in logging camps.
T
able
3 .— Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings of Workers in Logging Camps in
Far West, by Occupation, Region, and District, August 1944
W estern Pine region
O ccupation
T otal, selected occupations________
B lacksm iths
______ _. __
B rakem en, head ___ . __
B rakem en, s e c o n d ___ _
.....
___ . . .
B ull buckers _
B ulldozer operators___ __
_____
C at doctors . . . .
C at drivers (tracto r)___ _ _ _ . . .
Chasers, high-lead and skidder-side..
C hoker setters, cat side.. . . . ___
D onkey d o c t o r s .._______ . . . ___
Engineers—
High-lead and skidder-slackline.
M echanical loading___________
R ail tra n s p o rta tio n ____
Fallers and buckers, h a n d .. ______
Fallers and buckers, pow er________
Filers, woods____ ____ _
...
Firem en, rail t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . ____
H ead loaders, mechanical lo a d in g .. _
H ead rigging slingers, high-lead and
skidder-slackline ______________
n o o k tenders, cat side.
....
Hook tenders, high-lead and skidder-|
slackline___
__ . . . . .
Lim bers and k n o tie rs_____________
M otor patrol operators____________
Pow derm en .
Rigging slingers, cat s id e .._____
_ ..
Scalers, w oods.. ___
Second loaders, mechanical loading..
Second rigging slingers, high-lead and
sk id d er-slac k lin e _______________
Section hands__________________ .
Tire and grease m en ____
. . . ..
T ru ck drivers, h au lin g____________
T ru ck m e c h an ic s________ _______
W histlepunks, high-lead and skidder-slackline
...
......
Total
Far
W est
las
Cen
Fir
In
All land
re
Snake Wtral
dis
ash
region tricts E m R iver
ing
pire
ton
$1.38 $1.45 $1.26 $1.17
$1.24
$1.14 $1.36
1.09
(')
(i)
1.17
1.24
1.10
1.14
1.10
0)
0)
1.73
1.31
1.15
1.10
.98
(0
0)
1.16
1.06
1.31
1.19
1.14
1 03
1.24
1.34
1.34
1.27
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
1. 21
1.14
1.03
1.48
1.36
1.29
1.30
1.12
1.06
1.36
1.28
1.18
1. 07
1.53
1.44
1.39
1.40
1. 12
1. 10
1.36
1.10
1.07
.98
1.40
1.29
1. 24
1.24
(2)
1.00
( 2)
( 2)
.95
(2)
1. 34
1.30
1.20
1.70
1.85
1.36
.99
1.34
1. 34
1.33
1. 23
1.78
1.97
1.43
1.01
1.38
(2)
1.27
1.17
1.58
1.61
1.17
.96
1.29
(2)
1.22
(>)
1.43
1.25
1.00
0)
1.27
(2)
1. 12
0)
1.58
1.34
1.06
0)
1. 14
1.31
1. 41
1.31
1. 47
( 2)
1. 26
( 2)
( 2)
0)
(0
1.52
1.08
1.18
1.12
1.12
1.17
1.13
1. 52
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
i 1)
1.21
1.20
1. 24
1. 29
1.20
1.18
.88
1.02
1. 12
1.22
1. 18
.90
1.06
1.18
1. 26
1.07
1.07
1.08
1. 16
1.02
1 02
1.03
1.08
( 2)
.85
.97
1.07
1.15
(2)
o rth
Cen N ern
tral C ali
Ore for
gon
nia
.91
.94
1.07
1.01
. 94
.93
1.10
( 2)
.83
.91
1.00
1.08
( 2)
0)
1.13
0)
1.00
(2)
(2)
.83
.99
.94
1.10
( 2)
$1.32 $1.21 $1.34
1.12
1.07
1.59
1.33
1. 29
1.29
( 2)
(i)
1.18
1.01 1.07
91
1.23 1.21
1.29 ■1.29
1.28 1. 25
1.28 1.22
(2)
( 2)
1.03
(2)
1.06
(2)
1.01
(2)
1.06
(2)
(2)
1.54
1.24
1.87
1.77
1.30
.99
1.45
(2)
1.30
1.17
1. 72
1.55
1.30
.98
1.30
(2)
1.20
1.11
1.35
1. 79
1.17
.91
1.25
(2)
1.16
1.11
1. 29
1.90
1.19
.92
1.20
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
( 2)
(2)
1.19
(>)
1.30
( ')
1.00
(>)
1.32
.92
.95
.93
(1)
.96
1.03
R ed
Cen wood
tral
re
Cali gion
for
nia
.96
.99
( 2)
(>)
(>)
1.03
1.04
( 2)
1 39
1.03
1. 22
1.03
1 08
1.18
1. 12
( 2)
.88
1.01
1.10
1.11
( 2)
1.26
1.22
1.29
1.04
1 10
1.09
1.09
( 2)
.87
1.02
1.14
1.27
( 2)
1.31
1.11
1.18
1.04
1 04
1.04
1.03
( 2)
1.36
0)
1.08
1 21
1.09
1.07
( J)
.83
.99
1.10
1.19
0)
( 2)
( 2)
.85
(■)
1.10
1 N um ber of workers and/or plants insufficient to justify presentation of an average.
2 N o inform ation obtained for workers in this occupation, as the high-lead or skidder-slackline method
of yarding is seldom found in this region.
651 6 5 4 — 45------- 3
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
28
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
The very wide range in occupational earnings in three of the four
branches is due in part to high incentive earnings in some occupations,
such as fallers and buckers in logging camps, and in part to the high
earnings of some very skilled workers such as saw filers in sawmills and
shingle mills. In three-fourths of the occupations, however, workers
earned between $1.05 and $1.40 in logging camps and between 90 cents
and $1.25 in sawmills. The total range in earnings in plywood mills
was from 90 cents for watchmen to $1.27 for machinists.
Among the highest-paid workers in the basic lumber industry are
head filers in sawmills and shingle mills, who are perhaps the most
skilled workers in the industry, and shingle sawyers in shingle mills
and fallers and buckers in logging camps who are incentive workers.
Earnings in these occupations averaged $1.70 or more an hour. Other
workers who earned $1.50 or more an hour were hook tenders on a
skidder side in logging, filers’ helpers in shingle mills, and second
filers, head rig sawyers and yard pilers in sawmills. Pilers are very
often paid on an incentive basis and this explains their high earnings.
The next highest wages are generally paid to skilled maintenance
workers and to skilled workers in a number of processing occupations,
most of which are in logging camps. In logging camps, earnings be
tween $1.20 and $1.40 were received by all maintenance workers and
by engineers operating yarding, loading, and railroad engines, by cat
and bulldozer operators, and by head loaders and head rigging slingers.
Maintenance workers in the other branches earned somewhat less,
their earnings varying from $1.10 to $1.25 in sawmills and from $1.15
to $1.30 in plywood mills.
T a b l e 4 . — Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings of Workers in Sawmills in Far
West, by Occupation, Region, and District, August 1944
Occupation
W estern P ine region
Doug
T o ta l las
C en C en N o rth
Far
F ir T o tal In
ern
all land Snake Wtral
W est re
a sh tral
gion dis E m R iver ing Ore Cali
gon fornia
tr ic ts pire
ton
T otal, selected occupations------------- $1.05 $1.03 $1.06 $0.97
Sawmills, including planing mills:
B la c k s m ith s ... _____________
Car loaders______ ____ ________
C arpenters________________ ..
C arrier drivers________________
Clean-up m en________________
Cut-off-saw operators__________
D eckm en______________ ____
Doggers, head rig_______ _ . . .
Dragsaw m en__________ ______
E dgerm en____________________
Edger-off-bearers______________
E lectricians__________________
Filers, bench_________________
Filers, h e ad ___ _ ____________
Filers’ helpers, flo o r... _______
Filers, second_________ _____ _
F irem en ___
. . . __________
Gang-saw off-bearers__________
Gang-saw sp o tters___ _________
Gang sawyers_________________
Garage m echanics______ ____
G raders, finish chain__________
G raders or m arkers, green
chain______________________
G raders, rough dry chain....... .
See fo o tn o te s a t e n d o f ta b le .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1.13
1.13
1.02
.94
.83
.90
.91
.96
.91
1.03
.84
1.24
1.25
1.87
.99
1.58
.90
1.15
1.15
1.12
1.04
.88
.96
.96
.96
.98
1.14
.91
1.20
1.34
1.88
1.10
1.56
.96
.97
.94
1. IE
1.14
1.10
1.21
1.06
1.16
1.05
.90
.98
.98
.97
.99
1.16
.93
1.21
1.37
1.80
1.12
1. 46
.99
.97
.94
1. IS
1.15
1.07
1.11
1.26
1.11
1.01
.86
.91
.94
.96
.96
1.11
.89
1.20
1.31
1.98
1.07
1.64
.94
1. IS
1.15
1.0C
1.03
1. Of
1.14
1.07
1.06
1.11
1.16
.95
1.00
( 2)
Cl
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
$1.03
$0. 90 $1.12
1.05
1.08
(i)
1.00
.82
.84
.89
.92
.86
1.03
.85
(>)
1.23
1.82
1.04
1.69
.91
1.05
.85
(i)
.95
.81
.84
.88
.88
(0
1.05
.86
(0
1.20
1.63
0)
1.55
.86
(2)
(2)
(2)
1.01
1.12
.99
1.03
R ed
C en w ood
tral
re
Cali gion
for
nia
$1.14 $1.15 $1.06
1.16
1.42
1.09
1.01
.88
.93
.98
1.03
1.03
1.16
.93
1.20
1.40
2.49
1.13
1.77
.97
1.15
1.53
1.16
1.05
.88
.99
.96
.93
1.00
1.15
.91
1.22
«
1.92
1.14
1.59
.96
1.05
1.16
1.23
1.03
.87
.94
1.01
.95
.92
1.16
.87
1.12
0)
1.90
1.05
1.56
.97
1.11
1.40
1.05
.99
.85
.99
.92
.98
1.07
1.26
.90
1.12
1. 23
1.68
1.01
1.42
.97
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.94
(0
1.23
1.34
1.19
1.19
(0
.99
1.03
1.18
1.28
1.26
1.30
1.18
1.27
1.15
(0
1.25
.99
1.10
29
WAGES IN LUMBER INDUSTRY IN FAR W EST
T a b l e 4 . — Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings of Workers in Sawmills in Far West,
by Occupation, Region, and District, August 1944— Continued
W este rn Pine region
Occupation
Doug
C en
T o ta l las T o ta l In
F ar F ir
land Snake tral
all
W est re
dis E m R iver W a sh
gion tr ic ts pire
ing
ton
Sawmills, including planing mills—
C ontinued.
Hog feeders___________________ $0.91 $0. 95 $0. 86 $0.84
K iln ten d ers__________________ 1.06 1.06 1.05 (')
Knife grinders________________
1.17 1.17 1.19 1.09
M achinists.
..
1.21 1.25 1.19 1.09
.89
M atcher feeders
.97 1.01
.91
M atcher o ff-b earers___
. 90
.94
.84
.86
1.02
.92
1.04
.95
M illw rights’ helpers____ _____ _
.92
.90
Off-bearers, head rig. . . . . . . _
.95
.98
1.00
.92
.90
O ilers___i- . . . . _____________
.96
O perating engineers___________
1.08 1.13 1.05 1.00
Operating m illw rights_________
1.19 1.20 1. 15 1.11
Pilers, y a r d .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. 57
.97 1. 78 1.19
1. 18 1. 14 1. 23 1.16
___. . .
Pipefitters
.
Pondm en _. _
_____
.99 1.02
.95
.89
1.02
Pullers, d ry chain
. 93 1.07 1.04
Pullers, green chain
... _
1.02
.97 1.12
.89
.90
.92
.87
Resaw off-bearers, planing m ill .
.83
Resawyers, head m ill___ ______
1.09 1. 10 1.05 (i)
.89
Resaw yers, planing mill
. 99
.98 1.01
Sawyers, head rig __________ _
1.50 1. 54 1.47 1.38
• Setters, head rig ... . ________ _
1.09 1.07 1.11 1.04
Set-up m en, planing mill
1.16 1.18 1.14 1.09
.«9
.93 C)
Sizer feeders______ . . . . _____
.96
.92
Sizer off-bearers..
.94
.87 0)
Sizer o p erato rs..
1.10
1.17
1. 13
Slipmen
_ .
_____
.94
.97
.90
.88
.87
Sorters, planed lum ber
.91
.93
.83
.97
.91
1.03 1.07
Stacker-carrier operators . . . . . .
Stackers, d ry k iln _____________
1.23 1. 05 1. 38 1. 13
Straighteners, green chain. __ . . .
.93
.93 C)
Cl
T a llym en ____
_________ _ 1.05 1.06 1.03
.94
.93
.93 (2)
T im ber han d lers_______
...
C)
.94
.85
Transfer-car operators, d ry k iln .
.97
.95
T rim m erm en, head m ill___ . . .
1.02 1.05
.98
.95
.92
.88
T rim m erm en, planing m ill...
.98
.96
.94
.88
T rim m er s p o tte rs..
_ ..............
.96
.97
.94
.98
T ruck drivers, y a rd . _______ . 1.00 1.04
.88
U nstackers, d ry k iln __________
1. 11
.98 1.19
.82
.90
.85
U tility m en . . _______ _____
.88
.77
W atchm en. _________________
.84
.87
.81
Box factories:
.88
.80
C ar lo a d e rs ________ _________
.88 C)
.81
.80
Cut-off-saw off-bearers___ _____
.81 c>
1.05
.93
Cut-off-saw operators__
___
1.05 C)
M achine h ikeaw ays... ____ _ .
.81 C)
.81
N ailing, stapling, and stitching
.84
.88
.88 Cl
m achine operators______ ____
. 84
.91
Planer feeders
. 91 (2)
1.15 oi
P la n e rm e n .. ____ ._ ............
1.15 Cl
.90
.96
.96 Cl
Resawyers
.........
..........
.81
.74
.81 (2)
Resaw off-bearers.
_____ .
.87
.83
.87 Cl
Tieing-machine operators______
$0 81
(•)
0)
(>)
.91
.87
.94
.86
.89
.97
1.01
1.87
(!)
.89
.95
.91
.89
.93
1.10
1.42
1.06
1. 10
0)
(>)
.83
.91
.91
1.25
(2)
.99
(2)
.87
.92
.94
.84
.94
.92
.84
.78
R ed
C en N o rth C en w ood
tral re
tral
ern
Ore C ali C ali gion
gon fornia for
nia
$0. 80 $0.92
1.08
0)
1.26
(0
1.21
(')
.96
0)
.91
.89
.95
.89
.95
.84
.96
1.04 1.10
.99 1.19
1.15 2.16
1.22
.97
.87
.99
.96 1.18
(b
1.04
0)
1.01
1.38 1. 56
1.03 1.17
1.20
(>)
.94
Cl
(i)
(i)
1.18
.94
.84
.91
.80
1.01
(*)
1. 55
(0
0)
(2)
1.11
ci
0)
(2)
.98
(0
.91 1.04
.95
.86
.98
C)
.99
.87
1.36
C>
.81
.87
.69
.87
$0. 89 $0. 86 $0.88
1.07 <‘>
1.11
1.25 1.30 1.11
1. 25 1.23 1. 18
1.02
.91 C)
(0
(i)
.88
1.01 1.01
.99
.94
.94 1.02
.91 1.01
.95
1. 11 1.00 1. 11
1. 21 1.20 1.33
1. 98 2. 08 1. 12
1. 27 (i)
1.06
.95
1.05
.94
1. 24
.95 0)
1.25 1. 52
.99
.92
.89 01
1. 13 1.09 1.01
1.05 (i)
0)
1. 53 1.52 1.46
1.18 1.12 1.11
1. 23 01
(>)
.93 01
(0
.89
.89 (2)
1. 31 1.19 0)
.91
.93
.93
0)
0)
0)
1.02 1.02 1.25
1. 65 01
1.26
C)
(2)
(2)
1.10
.96 1.06
Cl
(2)
(2)
1.00 0)
(2)
1.00
.99 1. 12
.89
.91 0)
.91
.98
.88
1.00 1.06 0)
1.29 0)
0)
.90
.88
.85
.82
.82
.84
(>)
(>)
(>)
.78
.72
.93
.74
.89
.85
1.11
.86
.96
.85
1.14
.86
.84
.83
1.11
.84
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(>)
0)
.80
.83
(i)
.84
.74
.79
.92
.97
1.20
1.02
.86
1.04
.94
.94
1. 19
1.04
.87
1.00
.91
0)
.99
.84
.91
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
Cl
(>)
0)
0)
1 N um ber of w orkers and/or plan ts insufficient to justify presentation of an average.
2 N o inform ation obtained for workers in this occupation, which is seldom found in th is region.
Most of the machine operators in sawmills and plywood mills and
a number of moderately skilled workers in logging had earnings within
the 20-cent interval from $1 to $1.20. Also included in this group
were workers in a number of other occupations such as lumber graders
and green and dry chain pullers in sawmills, veneer driers and patchers
in plywood mills, choker setters, chasers and truck drivers in logging
camps, and deckmen in shingle mills.
Earnings under $1 an hour were very largely confined to sawmills
and plywood mills and were paid to workers in about half of the
occupations. In both branches this group of occupations includes
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
30
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
1945
helpers on a wide variety of machines. Also included are such workers
as car loaders, hand and power truckers, and veneer graders, matchers,
tapers and repairers in plywood mills, and deckmen, firemen, hog
feeders, pondmen, slipmen, and some of the lighter machine operations
in planing mills and box factories.
T a b l e 5 . — Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings of Workers in Shingle M ills in
Douglas Fir Region, by Occupation, A ugust 1944
N u m ber of
w orkers
O ccupation
All selected occupations.
Block pilers.
Cut-off-saw operators____. . .
--D eckm en _ __ . .
____
- -Filers, h ead . _____ . ------ . .
.
----Filers’ helpers. . .
. . . . . . . . . ---- .
K nee bolters. ------- . . ----------------- . . .
. ... ...
Loaders, ear and tru c k ___ . . .
M illw rights___ . . .
.......
. . . ._
Shingle packers
.
. . .
Shingle saw yers. __ ._ . ------------- . . .
S p litte r-m e n ___ .
T ally m en . .
....
- - - - - W atchm en
_ . .
------ . - . .
Average
hourly
earnings
1, 678
$1.45
151
105
54
42
22
68
56
11
485
548
19
66
51
1.07
1.35
1.17
2.00
1.50
1.48
1.02
1. 14
1.45
1.71
1.11
1.08
.98
In all selected key occupations in logging camps and in more than
half of the occupations in sawmills, earnings were higher in the Douglas
Fir region than in either the Western Pine or the Redwood region.
In most of the occupations for which comparative figures are shown,
the differential in hourly earnings in favor of Douglas Fir workers was
between 10 and 20 cents in logging camps and between 5 and 10 cents
in sawmills. The differences in occupational earnings between the
Western Pine and the Redwood regions were neither consistent nor
large. In about half of the occupations earnings were higher in the
Western Pine region and in the remainder they either were the same
in both regions or were higher in the Redwood region.
T a b l e 6 . — Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings of Workers in Plywood M ills in
Far West, by Occupation, August 1944
Occupation
All selected occupations
Barkers
_ _____ ______
B lacksm iths
C ar loaders
C arpenters
Clean-up men
Clipper-machine operators, autom atic
Clipper-m achine operators, h an d .
C rane followers
C ranem en
Cut-off-saw operators _
Electricians
E lectricians’ helpers
Glue-spreader catchers
Glue-spreader feeders
Glue-spreader helpers
Insp ecto rs._ _ _ ___
M achinists
M illw rights
. .M illw right’s help ers._ -. -. .
Off-bearers, saws .
Oilers
Patchers, plywood and/or panels..
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N u m Average
ber of hourly
workers earnings
3,882
$1.03
72
7
133
40
95
1.11
1.21
. 95
1.17
. 90
56
54
16
67
58
39
8
207
124
49
70
32
102
21
77
17
285
1.13
1.11
.98
1.02
1. 11
1. 21
1.07
1. 20
1. 10
.95
.96
1. 27
1.21
1.03
.91
1.00
1.16
O ccupation
Pipefitters
___ _______ ..
Plug cutters
Plywood stock craters
. . .
.
Pondm en. _ _________ . . . . .
Pressmen
_______________
Pressm en’s helpers . ____ _
Rip-saw operators . . .
Truckers, h and. __
________ _
Truckers, power - ___ . . .
Veneer d rie rs.. ___ _ . . . . . ..
Veneer drier feeders
Veneer drier-ofl-bearers................
Veneer graders
------ . _ .
Veneer jo in term en ... _ . _
Veneer "lathe apron m en. . . . .
Veneer lathe operators ___ .
Veneer lathe spotters
Veneer m atchers __
... .
Veneer repairers, autom atic pluggers _
_ _
Veneer repairers, hand plugger__
Veneer repairers, m achine cutters.
Veneer tapers, machine _____
W atchm en ___
.. ..
._
ver
N u m Aage
ber of hourly
workers earnings
20
74
27
86
150
90
51
27
40
69
352
277
179
77
57
72
70
15
$1.20
95
.96
1.09
1. 10
.95
1.11
.97
.98
1. 05
.92
.91
.99
.96
.96
1. 25
1.02
.99
33
241
124
61
61
.94
.91
.95
.99
.90
WAGES IN LUMBER INDUSTRY IN EAR W EST
31
Within the Western Pine region occupational earnings were generally
higher in the central Oregon and the northern and central California
districts than in the Inland Empire, Snake River, and central
Washington districts.
IN FLU EN C E OF INCENTIVE EARNINGS ON WAGE STRUCTURE OF INDUSTRY
Although only slightly more than a sixth of the workers in the
basic lumber industry are incentive workers, the high earnings of these
workers exert considerable influence on the wage structure of the
industry. As a group, incentive workers averaged $1.87 an hour in
logging camps or 68 cents more than time workers (table 8). In
sawmills and shingle mills the average hourly earnings of incentive
workers exceeded those of time workers by 59 and 36 cents, respec
tively. These differences are borne out by the figures shown in
table 7, which indicate that 69 percent of the incentive workers
earned $1.50 or more an hour and only 3 percent earned less than $1,
whereas only 5 percent of the time workers received as much as
$1.50 an hour and as high as 40 percent received less than $1.
I a b l e 7. — Percentage Distribution of Workers in Basic Lumber Industry in Far West,
by Hourly Earnings and Method of Wage Payment
Percent of workers w ith average hourly earnings of—
B ranch of industry
U nder $1
Tim e
workers
$1 and under $1.50
Incentive
wmrkers
Tim e
workers
Incentive
workers
$1.50 and over
Tim e
workers
Incentive
workers
All branches________________
40
3
55
28
5
69
Logging camps .
______
Sawmills ___
___
Shingle m i l l s . . . ___ _ ______
Plyw ood m ills.. . . .
__ _____
12
56
16
53
2
4
77
41
65
47
21
48
38
11
3
19
77
48
62
The very uneven distribution of incentive workers among the four
branches of the industry studied accounts for some of the differences
in wage levels between these branches. There are no incentive work
ers in plywood mills, and only 6.7 percent of the workers in sawmills
are paid on an incentive basis. These two branches, it will be recalled,
had respectively the lowest and next lowest general level of wages in
the industry. In contrast, in shingle mills where the highest wages
were found and in logging camps, next in order, 62 and 28 percent of
the workers, respectively, were incentive workers.
To a considerable extent the interregional and interdistrict differ
ences in earnings indicated in tables 3 and 4 for both logging camps
and sawmills are also the result of variations in the proportion of
incentive workers and in the level of the earnings of these workers.
This is true of much of the 8-cent advantage in earnings which logging
workers in the Redwood region enjoyed over similar workers in the
Western Pine region, as the earnings of time workers in both regions
were only 2 cents apart.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
32
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
T a b l e 8 . — Straight-Time Average H ourly Earnings in Logging Camps , Sawmills, and
Shingle M ills, by Region, District, and Method of Wage Payment, August 1944
Tim e
workers
1.25
1.10
1.01
1.05
1.03
1.16
1.17
1.11
1.12
Douglas F ir region____________
W estern Pine region---------------Inland E m pire d istrict____
Snake R iver d istric t---------C entral W ashington d istrict
C entral Oregon d istric t-----N orthern California d istrict.
C entral California d istric t. _
Redwood region______________
COMPARISON
Tim e
Incentive
workers workers
$1.19
T otal, F a r W est------ ---------------
OF EARNINGS IN
Shingle mills
Sawmills
Logging camps
Region and district
$1.87
1.96
1.70
1.53
1.67
1.36
1.87
1.88
1.73
1.79
UNIO N AND
Incentive Tim e
workers workers
Incentive
workers
$1.01
$1.60
$1. 23
$1.59
1.02
.99
.94
.96
.89
1.03
1.04
1.04
1.02
1.42
1.69
1. 27
1.83
1.40
1. 76
1.73
1.95
1. 25
1.23
1.59
NO NUNIO N
OPERATIONS
Wages in union operations as a whole were higher than those in non
union, but the difference was very slight. Since the Bureau’s 1939-40
study revealed somewhat greater differentials in favor of the union
operations, it is apparent that the extraordinary conditions of wartime
have operated to the advantage of the lower-paid nonunion workers.
In the present study the comparison of earnings between union and
nonunion operations is necessarily limited to logging camps and saw
mills, as all plywood mills and virtually all shingle mills have collective
bargaining agreements with organized labor.
As may be seen from the figures shown in table 9, earnings in basic
lumber operations in the Far West were only slightly higher on the
average in union than in nonunion operations, the respective averages
being $1.19 and $1.18. Union workers earned more than nonunion
workers in logging camps ($1.39 compared to $1.35), but less in saw
mills ($1.04 to $1.05). Earnings of union workers were slightly higher
than those of nonunion workers in the Douglas Fir region, but slightly
lower in the other two regions.
T
able
9 . — Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings of Workers in Basic Lumber
Industry in Far W est, by Region, District, and Unionization, August 1944
T otal all
branches
Logging camps
Sawmills
Shingle
mills
P ly
wood
mills
Region and district
T otal, F a r W est__________________
Douglas F ir region----- ------ -----------W estern Pine region------------ -----In lan d E m pire d istric t________
Snake R iver district______
-C entral W ashington d istrict.- . .
C entral Oregon d istric t------------N o rth ern California d istric t____
C entral California d istric t______
Redwood region__________________
N on
union
U nion
N on
union
U nion
$1.19
$1.18
$1.39
$1.35
$1.04
$1.05
$1.45
$1.03
1.23
1.13
1.05
1.13
.94
1.18
1.19
1.18
1.17
1.22
1.15
1.04
1.04
1.03
1.30
1.25
1.17
1.20
1.46
1.25
1.20
1.28
1.12
1.33
1.28
1.19
1.34
1.43
1.28
1.11
1.15
1.31
1.50
1.37
1.32
1.34
1.03
1.07
.96
1.05
.88
1.10
1.15
1.18
1.03
1.05
1.05
.98
.97
.96
1.19
1.10
1.03
1.12
1.45
1.03
i Includes earnings of 20 w orkers in small nonunion mills.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N on
union U n io n 1 U nion
U nion
WAGES IN LUMBER INDUSTRY IN FAR W EST
33
Any discussion of union-nonunion wage differences in the western
lumber industry should mention a number of special factors that have
tended to reduce or obscure their magnitude. One consideration
is the extent and recency of union organization. In the Douglas
Fir region union organization is somewhat more extensive and opera
tions have been organized for a longer period of time than in either
the Western Pine or the Redwood regions. Other factors which may
affect earnings and tend to obscure somewhat the actual influence of
unionization on wages are size of operation and type of equipment.
Unionization, it will be recalled, has been confined chiefly to the larger
operations, whereas the smaller operations have generally been un
organized. It should also be borne in mind that, under the wagestabilization program, trade-unions have had comparatively limited
opportunities to seek wage advances for their members. Further
more, such general increases as were granted by the War Labor Board
to workers in union plants which were parties to dispute cases before
the Board were also authorized for all workers in basic lumber opera
tions in the region.
VARIATIONS IN EARNING S, BY SIZE OF OPERATION
There appears to be no consistent relationship between size of
operation and level of wages in the industry. An examination of the
data reveals that wages were slightly higher in general in the larger
camps than in the smaller camps. In some occupations in sawmills,
earnings tended to vary with the size of the mill, but the amount
of the difference varied considerably with regions.
Trend in W age Rates During the War Period
The wage rates of 1944 represent a considerably higher level of
wages than prevailed before the outbreak of the war. With the
inauguration of the defense program and a sharp increase in demand
for all types of lumber and timber products, labor unions in the
Douglas Fir region demanded and obtained a series of wage increases.
The minimum rate of pay, which had been 42% cents under the
NRA, increased to 50 cents as a result of the strike settlement of
1935; it stood at 62% cents at the start of the war and rose to 75 cents
early in 1941 as a result of a 5-cent increase in 1940 and a 7%-cent
increase in 1941. An increase of 7% cents was granted by the
National War Labor Board early in 1942 in connection with dispute
cases involving both unions. The latest general increase in wages in
the Douglas Fir region (7% cents) was granted in December 1942 and
made retroactive to September of that year by the West Coast Lumber
Commission of the National War Labor Board. This raised the
minimum rate for the industry in the Douglas Fir region to 90 cents
an hour. Wages in this region were further stabilized in 1942 when
the War Labor Board approved the report of a special panel which
recommended that wages in the Willamette Valley of Oregon be raised
to the level of those of the region as a whole.
A special tabulation of data reported monthly to the Bureau’s
Division of Employment Statistics by a large number of logging and
sawmill operations reveals that between January 1939 and October
1944 straight-time average hourly earnings of lumber workers in the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
34
1945
Douglas Fir region have risen by about 53 percent, while gross hourly
earnings have advanced by nearly 59 percent (see table 10). 7 Most
of the increase in earnings, however, took place after January 1941,
straight-time earnings since that time rising by approximately 40
percent, and gross earnings advancing by about 45 percent.
T a b l e 10.— Weekly Hours and Hourly Earnings in Basic Lumber Industry, Douglas
Fir and Western Pine Regions, in Far W est, 1939-44
W estern Pine region
Douglas F ir region
Y ear and m onth
H ourly earnings 1
H ourly earnings 1
W eekly
hours
A d
U nad
justed 2 justed 3
W eekly
hours
A d
U nad
justed 2 justed 3
$0. 75
.76
.75
.76
$0. 75
.76
.75
.74
35.5
36.2
34.9
39.6
$0. 72
. 71
.72
.73
$0. 72
.70
.72
.72
34. G
36.0
33.4
36. 7
.76
.77
.75
.78
.76
.76
.75
.77
33.1
36.7
35.4
38.5
.75
.73
.74
.75
.75
.72
.74
.74
1941—Jan u ary . . .
A pril
.....
. . . ._
J u ly __________________________________
October
.
...
___
36.0
37.9
35.6
38.2
.82
.83
.88
.91
.82
.82
.88
.89
35.5
36.5
36.6
38.8
.79
.79
.84
.86
.79
.78
.83
.85
1942—J an u a ry . _ . . .
. . . . . .
... _
A pril . . .
__
......................................
J u ly __________________________________
O ctober.. . . . . . ______ ._ . . . ______
34.6
37.7
38.0
41.3
.91
.94
1.01
1.06
.91
.92
1.00
1.02
35.3
37.1
38.2
41.7
.87
.89
.98
1.02
.87
.88
.96
.99
1943—J an u a ry . . . .
_ ...
A p ril._. . ____ . . . _________________
J u ly __________________________________
October____________ ______ _ __ _____
33.9
40.8
39.9
41.9
1.12
1.15
1.18
1.18
1.12
1.12
1.14
1. 14
36.0
40.6
40.5
41.9
1.00
1.06
1.13
1.15
.99
1.02
1.09
1.10
1944—Jan u ary . ____ . . . .
..... ...
April _
J u ly __________________________________
O ctober... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __ _ _______
39.6
41.9
37.9
41.7
1.18
1.19
1. 20
1.19
1.15
1.14
1. 19
1.15
39.5
40.7
39.6
43.3
1.11
1.15
1.18
1.18
1.08
1.11
1.15
1.12
1939—J a n u a ry ____ _____ . ___ _________ _
A p ril________ . _______ ______ - _ __
J u ly __________________________________
O ctober____ ■______ __ _ _ . . . . . .
35.1
34.5
32.9
37.2
. _____
. . ____
1940—J a n u a ry _____ . .
A p ril_________________________________
J u ly __________________________________
O ctober..
__ _____ . . .
.
1 Figures for any one m o n th have no t been adjusted to include any retroactive wage increases.
2 Gross earnings including both prem ium overtime and shift-differential earnings.
3 N et earnings excluding prem ium overtime b u t including shift-differential earnings.
Although the general increases in wages obtained by the unions
through collective bargaining or awarded or authorized by Govern
ment agencies prior to 1943 pertained only to the Douglas Fir region,
it appears that much the same general pattern of increase took
place in the Western Pine region. For example, workers in the West
ern Pine region appear to have received in 1942 increases equivalent
to the 7K-cent increase granted by the Commission early in 1942 to
the Douglas Fir workers. The most important recent wage increase
in the Western Pine region was granted by the West Coast Lumber
Commission during the spring of 1943. Workers in the pine operations
which were parties to the dispute cases before the Commission were
granted a 7^-cent increase, which was retroactive in full to September
1942 and in part to the spring of 1942. Other pine operations not
7 The figures for each m o n th are based on wages received for work performed during a pay-roll period
nearest to the 15th of th a t m onth. No adjustm ents have been m ade in the figures to take into account
retroactive wage increases, as inform ation is no t available regarding the am ount of the retroactive paym ents.
T h e figures for October 1942 and for Jan u a ry and A pril 1943 for th e W estern P ine region w ould undoubtedly
be a few cents higher if the increase which was retroactive from M ay 1943 to Septem ber 1942 was included.
Sim ilarly th e figure for October 1942 in th e Douglas F ir region w ould be a few cents higher if it included the
increase w hich was retroactive from December to Septem ber of th a t year,
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WAGES IN LUMBER INDUSTRY IN FAR W EST
35
parties to the dispute cases were permitted by the Commission to
grant a similar increase but, although most of them availed themselves
of the opportunity, many did not make the increases retroactive. The
Commission, with labor members dissenting, did not establish a single
minimum i ate for the estern Pine region as a whole, as had been
done in the case of the Douglas Fir region, but established instead
six laboi -mai ket areas and set minimum rates for these areas ranging
from 80 cents for central Washington to 87% cents for central Oregon
and northern California. The Commission later recommended a
minimum rate of 85 cents for the Redwood region, but this was
reduced to 82% cents by the Director of Economic Stabilization.
The increase in earnings after January 1939 was somewhat greater
m the Western Pine region than in the Douglas Fir region. During
this period straight-time earnings rose nearly 56 percent and gross
earnings rose approximately 64 percent (see table 10). As in the
Douglas Fir region, most of the increase in earnings occurred after
January 1941. Since that time straight-time hourly earnings have
risen by 42 percent and gross earnings by 49 percent.
. Although no figures are presented in table 10 for the Redwood re
gion, it is believ ed that the pattern of change in earnings in that region
since 1939 follows that in the other two regions in the Far West.
CHANGES IN OCCUPATIONAL EARNINGS, 1939-44
The comparative figures 8 presented in table 11 for 46 selected basic
lumber occupations, show that the wage increases which have occurred
since the fall of 1939 have varied considerably among branches of
the industry. The greatest absolute increases during this period,
55 and 48 cents, respectively, took place in logging camps and shingle
mills; the smallest increase, 27 cents, occurred in plywood mills.
Workers customarily paid on an incentive basis received much
gieater increases m earnings than did time workers. The earnings
of hand fallers and buckers in logging camps, for example, increased
by 83 cents on the average, while those of yard pilers in sawmills
rose 76 cents and those of shingle sawyers and packers in shingle
mills advanced 54 and 53 cents, respectively. The increases in
earnings of time workers were on the whole much more moderate, and
were markedly uniform within branches. For most of the selected
occupations the wage increase was between 25 and 30 cents in plywood
mills and between 30 and 40 cents in logging camps and sawmills. In
shingle mills 4 of the 8 selected occupations showed increases in
earnings ranging from 25 to 35 cents an hour. The marked uniformity
m the absolute increases within departments is due very largely to
the fact that most wage increases since 1939 have been flat “acrossthe-board” increases.
Only in few instances did skilled time workers receive appreciably
greater absolute increases in earnings than other workers. In sawmills,
for example, filers received a much greater increase in earnings than
other time workers (49 cents compared to 35 cents or less for most
of the other occupations), but head rig sawyers, also one of the most
skilled occupations, had the smallest increase in earnings of any of the
* These figures are based on detailed occupational wage d ata collected by the Bureau during the course of
N ation-w ide surveys of th e lum ber industry, conducted in 1939 and 1944. T he two surveys did not cover
th 6 T™ 6 operatloIls 111 a11 cases’ b u t both are Relieved to be representative of the in dustry as of the tim e of
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36
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
occupations (32 cents). In logging camps loading engineers, head
loaders, hook tenders and cat drivers received only slightly higher
absolute increases in earnings than chasers, second loaders and choker
setters who on the whole are somewhat less-skilled workers.
T a b l e 11. — Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings of Workers in Selected Occupations
in Basic Lumber Industry in Far West, Fall of 1939 and August 1944
B ranch of in d u stry , and occupation
Average hourly
earnings
Total
num ber
of
workers,
A ugust
1944
A ugust
1944
Fall of
1939
A m ount
Percent
of
of
increase
increase
(in cents)
-
47,437
i $1. 24
i $0. 78
46
59.0
Logging cam ps (15 occupations)------------ -------------B rakem an, head __________ _____
______
B rakem an, second---------------------------------C at drivers (tractor)__ ____ - ----------------------Chasers, high-lead and skidder-side____________
------------------ Choker setters, cat side.
Engineers, mechanical lo a d in g ___
___ - -Engineers, rail tran sp o rtatio n ------------------------Fallers and buckers, h a n d --------------------------- Firem en, rail transportation --------------H ead loaders, mechanical loading— -------------Hook tenders_______
_____
_______ Scalers, woods____
______
________ - Second loaders, mechanical loading-----------------T ru ck drivers, hauling------ ------ -----------T ru ck m echanics_________ ____ _____ _________
26,634
260
227
1, 570
432
2, 881
1,191
282
10, 785
265
1,049
946
619
1,502
3,677
948
1.39
1.14
1.03
1.30
1.12
1.06
1.30
1.20
1. 70
.99
1. 34
1.48
1.17
1.13
1.12
1.24
.84
.88
.76
.91
.75
.71
.91
.94
.87
.73
.96
1.09
.84
.76
.71
.92
55
26
27
39
37
35
39
26
83
26
38
39
33
37
41
32
66.5
29.5
35.5
42.9
49.3
49.3
42.9
27.7
95.4
35.6
39.6
35.8
39.3
48.7
57.7
34.8
Sawmills (14 occupations)--------------------------- -----C ar loaders__________________
________ --D eckm en____ ___________ -- -----------------Doggers, head rig____________________________
Edgerm en___________________________________
E dger off-bearers___ __________________ - - -Filers_____________________________________
Filers’ helpers, floor_____ __________________ Graders or m arkers, green ch ain------ --------------Off-bearers, head rig--------------------------------Pilers, y a rd _________________________ ______
Pullers, green chain------------------------ ----------Sawyers, head r i g ___________________________
Setters, head" rig--------- ------------------ ---------T rim m erm en, head m i l l --------------------------
17,694
2,456
729
706
1,241
877
580
252
801
1,166
1,131
4,468
1,121
1,139
1,027
1. 13
1. 15
.96
.96
1.14
.91
1. 62
1. 10
1.09
.95
1.57
1.02
1.50
1.09
1 02
.72
.67
.58
.61
.80
.58
1.13
.75
.73
.61
.81
.65
1.18
.75
.68
41
48
38
35
34
33
49
35
36
34
76
37
32
34
34
56.9
71.6
65.5
57.4
42.5
56.9
43.4
46.7
49.3
55.7
93.8
56.9
27.1
45.3
50.0
Shingle mills (8 occupations) - ----------------------------Block pilers___________ ______ ________ - Cut-off saw operators____ _______________
D eckm en_______ _______________________ ____
Loaders, car and tru ck ---- -----------------Shingle packers---------------------- -- -------------- Shingle saw yers------------------ ---------------- Splitter m en___________________ _ ---------------T ally m en ----- ------------------------------------------
1,484
151
105
54
56
485
548
19
66
1.45
1.07
1.35
1.17
1.02
1.45
1.71
1.11
1.08
.97
.73
.87
.75
.71
.92
1.17
.83
.78
48
34
48
42
31
53
54
28
30
49.5
46.6
55.2
56.0
43.7
57.6
46.2
33.7
38. 5
Plyw ood mills (9 occupations)----------------------------Clipper-machine operators-------------------- --------Glue-spreader catchers-- ---- ---------------- --G lue-spreader feeders_______
_______ ____
Pressm en------- ----------- ---------------------------------T ruckers, h a n d ________
- ------------------------Veneer driers (feeders a n d off-bearers)--------------Veneer graders ------------------------------------------Veneer lathe helpers_____________________ ____
Veneer lathe operators.- _____________________
1,625
110
207
124
150
27
629
179
127
72
1.02
1.02
1. 20
1.10
1.10
.97
.92
.99
.99
1. 25
.75
.76
.98
.78
.83
.69
.64
.72
.69
.97
27
26
22
32
27
28
28
27
30
28
36.0
34.2
22.4
41.0
32.5
40.6
43.8
37.5
43.5
28.9
Total, 46 occupations__________________________
1 In order to insure th a t th e wage level of each branch 'would be represented in the general average in
proportion to its im portance in th e in d u stry , th e averages for each branch which appear in this table were
w eighted by th e to tal nu m b er of workers covered in th e branch and n o t b y the actual num ber in the selected
occupations for which figures are presented in this table.
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E m p lo y m e n t R e s u ltin g F ro m U n ite d S tates
E x p o rts , 1 9 3 9 1
THE possibility of sustaining high levels of postwar output and
employment by means of an expanded volume of exports is attracting
an increasing amount of public attention. As an aid to the considera
tion of this question the Bureau of Labor Statistics undertook a
detailed analysis of the employment attributable to exports in 1939,
the last year in which the pattern of international trade was not
distorted by the war. The results of that analysis are here summarized.
In 1939, when the value of goods exported from the United States
was 3.3 billion dollars, some 960,000 persons were employed directly
and indirectly in nonagricultural industries in the production of such
goods. They constituted about 3.2 percent of all nonagricultural
employees in that year. It is expected that by 1950 productivity in
the industries primarily concerned with exports will have increased
by at least 20 percent above that in 1939; the same volume of exports
could, therefore, be produced by 800,000 persons.
Export Employment, by Industry Groups
In some industries, considerably more than 3.2 percent of all
employees were engaged in the production of goods for export. Thus,
in the nonferrous-metal industries 15 percent of all employment w~as
attributable to exports, and in the ferrous-metal group (iron mines,
blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills) the figure was 12 percent.
On the other hand, the textile and leather industries, with more than
2.5 million employees in 1939, had only 3.1 percent of their workers
engaged in the production of export goods, and in the trade and
services group, with more than 11 million employees, about 1.3
percent were so engaged. Almost a sixth of all persons engaged in
the production of goods for export in 1939 were employed in the
metal-fabricating industries, where they accounted for almost 10
percent of total employment. Other industries with substantial
numbers of export workers in 1939 were transportation (125,000),
trade (110,000), fuel and power (99,000), and motor vehicles, industrial
and heating equipment (85,000).
* Slightly more than half of the 960,000 export workers in 1939
were engaged directly in the production of export goods. The other
half were indirectly required to produce the raw materials, components,
and services purchased by other industries for incorporation in goods
for export. The ratio of direct to indirect workers varied widely
from industry to industry. In the metal-fabricating industries, 80
percent of the export employment was directly required for the
production of export goods, and 20 percent for the production of
goods purchased by other industries for incorporation in export
products. In the trade and service industries, on the other hand,
virtually none of the 150,000 export workers were directly required.
The ferrous-metal industries were intermediate, with slightly more
than half the export workers directly engaged in the production of
export goods.
1 Prepared in the Bureau’s Productivity and Technological Development Division by Jerome Cornfield.
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37
38
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
1945
Employment Attributable to Exports From the United States, by Industry Groups, 1939
N um ber of employees (in thousands) in nonagricultural establishm ents 1
In d u stry group
D ependent upon exports
T otal
T otal
All groups.
Food, tobacco, and kindred pro d u cts------------- ---------Ferrous m etals------------------------------------------------------M otor vehicles, industrial and heating equ ip m en t-----M etal fabrication------ .---------- --------------------------------N onferrous m etals and their products----------------------N onm etallic m inerals and their p roducts------------------Fuel and pow er------------------------------------------ -,---------Chemicals_________________________________________
L um ber, paper, and their products, printing and p u b
lishing__________________________________________
Textiles and leath er-----------------------------------------------R u b b er---------:------------------------------------------------------All other m anufacturing-----------------------------------------C onstruction______________________________________
Transportation^ __--------------------------------------------------T rad e ______________________ _______ ____ ___________
Business and consumer services------------------------------G overnm ent. _— --------------------------------------------------
D irectly
Indirectly
30, 352
962
524
438
1, 321
483
958
1, 567
267
439
29
57
85
148
39
21
99
35
24
29
76
119
27
13
65
25
5
28
9
29
12
8
33
11
65
77
11
20
37
62
6
14
28
15
6
5
125
110
40
27
98
110
40
1,218
427
1,743
2, 512
150
430
1,753
1,984
6, 527
4, 681
3,891
i T otals do n o t in all cases add exactly, because of rounding of figures.
These employment figures are an estimate of the amount by which
nonagricultural employment would have declined in each industry,
if there had been no exports in 1939, but if the volume of consumption,
domestic capital formation, government expenditure and imports, as
well as the productivity of labor and hours of work, had remained
unchanged. In actual fact, a decline in the volume of export trade
would involve some decrease in consumption and domestic capital
formation as well, but these decreases might be more than offset by
the curtailment of imports and the substitution of domestic products.
The above estimates are based upon a detailed study of inter
industry relations in 1939. This study, showing the purchases of
each industry from all other industries, provided the basis for cal
culating the output indirectly required in each industry to produce
the export goods. On the basis of these data it was possible to cal
culate such indirect effects as the purchases of steel required to pro
duce the motor vehicles exported, the coal required to produce steel;
and the amount of railroad transportation required to move the
autos, steel, and coal. The output directly required was obtained
by classifying the 1939 exports by industry of final fabrication. The
sum of the output directly and indirectly required in any industry,
when compared with the total output of that industry, provided the
basis for allocating the total number of workers between production
for export and all other production.
Because there is no unique relation between agricultural output
and employment, no attempt was made to estimate the number of
export workers in agriculture. This does not mean that a decline
in the volume of exports would leave agriculture unaffected. Five
percent of total agricultural output was directly and indirectly pro
duced for export in 1939. A drop in exports would thus have re
sulted in a definite shrinkage in agricultural income, even though it
might have had no immediate effect on agricultural employment.:
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F re e d o m — H ow C an W e A ch iev e I t? 1
A M e a n s to P ea ce
T he N azis, th e Fascists, an d th e M ilitarists of J a p a n p u t th e
fu n d a m e n ta l R ig h ts of M an in issue w hen th e y began th e ir
w ar for th e su b ju g atio n of h u m a n ity . H itle r a n d M ussolini,
an d th e rest openly and sham elessly challenged th e rig h t of
m en to learn, to com m unicate, and to w orship— th e rig h t to
equal justice, regardless of race, creed, or color— th e rig h t to
g overnm ent by th e consent of th e governed. T he outcom e
of th e w ar is proof again th a t h u m an rights are m ore pow erfid
th a n h u m a n ity ’s oppressors.
H u m an rig h ts are pow erful n o t only in w ar b u t in peace
also. T hey are m eans as well as ends. I t is in th e p ractice of
these rig h ts th a t th e best hope for a secure a n d lastin g peace
m u st rest. T he D u m b a rto n Oaks Proposals, w hich provide
t h a t th e U n ited N atio n s O rganization shall “ pro m o te respect
for h u m an rig h ts an d fu n d am en tal freedom s,” recognize th is
fact.
A r c h ib a l d M a c L e i s h ,
A s s is ta n t S e c r e ta ry o f S ta te .
The Assault on Freedom
In 1923 Mussolini said: “ Fascism has already trampled over the
rotten corpse of liberty, and if necessary it will again.’’ The aggres
sors in this war have suppressed freedom in their own countries and
in countries they have occupied.
They have burned books, censored expression, tortured people for
their opinions, and established a monopoly over the channels of
communication.
They have persecuted men and women for their religious faith and
prevented the exercise of religious liberty.
They have taken property without due process of law and violated
the privacy of the home.
They have deprived men and women of fair trial and imposed
cruel punishments.
They have made a farce of elections and deprived people of their
political rights.
They have spread propaganda against human rights throughout
the world and attempted to stir up racial and religious prejudices.
Former Secretary of State Hull has pointed out: “ We have moved
from a careless tolerance of evil institutions to the conviction that
free governments and Nazi and Fascist governments cannot exist
together in this world because the very nature of the latter requires
them to be aggressors and the very nature of free governments too
often lays them open to treacherous and well-laid plans of attack.”
1 T h e fourth and last of a series of Foreign Affairs Outlines, prepared b y the D epartm ent of State, on the
subject of Building the Peace. T h e three previous Outlines have appeared in the M onthly Labor Review
issues of April, M ay, and June, 1945.
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39
40
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
The Defense of Freedom
Nations whose freedom and independence were threatened joined
issue with the aggressors. They subscribed to certain principles
which they stated in a number of basic documents.
ATLANTIC CHARTER
This statement of principles by the President of the United States
and the Prime Minister of Great Britain was made a part of the
United Nations Declaration. The third of eight points in the Charter
reads as follows: “ They respect the right of all people to choose the
form of government under which they will live; and they wish to see
sovereign rights and self-government restored to those who have
been forcibly deprived of them.”
STATEMENT OF THE CRIMEAN CONFERENCE
At Yalta in the Crimea, President Roosevelt, Prime Minister
Churchill, and Marshal Stalin made a statement which said in part:
“ We reaffirm our faith in the principles of the Atlantic Charter, our
pledge in the declaration by the United Nations, and our determina
tion to build, in cooperation with other peace-loving nations, world
order under law, dedicated to peace, security, freedom and general
well-being of all mankind.”
Another section of this statement says:
T he estab lish m en t of order in E urope an d th e rebuilding of n a tio n a l economic
life m u st be achieved by processes w hich will enable th e lib erated peoples to
destroy th e last vestiges of N azism an d Fascism a n d to create dem ocratic in s titu
tions of th e ir own choice. T his is a principle of th e A tlan tic C h arter— th e rig h t of
all peoples to choose th e form of g overnm ent u n d er w hich th ey will live— th e
resto ratio n of sovereign rig h ts an d self-governm ent to those peoples who have
been forcibly deprived of th em by th e aggressor nations.
RESOLUTION AT MEXICO CITY
The inter-American conference at Mexico City (February and
March 1945) adopted a resolution presented by the United States
which urged the American Republics to do four things: (1) Recognize
the obligation of democratic governments to assure their people free
and impartial access to information; (2) undertake at the end of the
war the earliest possible abandonment of wartime censorship ; (3) take
measures, separately and in cooperation with one another, to promote
a free exchange of information among their people; and (4) make every
effort, after accepting such a program for themselves, to obtain
acceptance of the same principles throughout the world.
Record of Progress
IN SUPPORT OF FREEDOM
Free nations of the world have cooperated over the years in various
ways to advance the cause of freedom and the spread of knowledge.
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FREEDOM----H OW CAN W E ACHIEVE IT?
41
Facilities for the Free Flow of Information
Certain technical provisions were recognized as essential to the
communication of ideas between peoples and nations. As science
introduced new methods of rapid communication, international
agreements and organizations were needed to make the new facilities
serve the world effectively. Three examples will show what has
already been done through international action:
1. Communication through the mails. Infinitely complicated
problems involved in mailing letters, books, and periodicals all over
the world have been worked out through the Universal Postal Union.2
Uniform rates of postage, methods of exchanging balances due on
postage accounts of various nations, and postal regulations in all
countries have been cleared through the Postal Union. The flow of
expression across borders depends for practical international applica
tion on the work of this agency.
2. Communication by radio, telephone, and telegraph. A network
of agreements among nations was essential for the orderly utilization
of these facilities. The Bureau of the International Telecommunica
tion Union is the agency through which the nations work together on
these problems. At the Washington Conference of 1927 over 2,000
recommendations on radio problems were made. The Bureau acts
as a clearing house for all information on the subject.
3. Communication based on common terms. The exchange of
information—especially scientific research—requires agreement on
the meaning of the terms used. Such international agencies as the
International Bureau of W eights and Measures 3 have helped people
of various countries understand one another by agreements on meas
urements used in the sciences. The daily lives of the people of the
world are directly affected by this type of international collaboration.
ADVANCING FREE INSTITUTIONS
Over the years the nations have cooperated to build up free insti
tutions and make them work for human welfare. Three examples
will show how the principles of freedom have been advanced:
1. Representative government lias been strengthened and national
parliaments or congresses brought in touch with international affairs
by the Interparliamentary Union.4 The League of Nations used its
means to promote and assist free institutions in member nations.
Its activities in mandated territories, in the protection of minorities,
and in certain plebiscite areas are examples.
2. Exchange of publications has been fostered ever since Alexandre
Vattemare, a Frenchman, visited the United States in 1839 to get it
started. Through the International Exchange of Publications, mil2 T he In tern atio n al B ureau of th e Universal Postal U nion established in 1874, collects and publishes
inform ation, determ ines costs to be borne b y each country in connection w ith international postal service,
and cooperates w ith international transportation and com m unication organizations.
3 This B ureau, established in 1876, conducts scientific investigations for comparison and verifies standards
and scales of precision.
4 T he B ureau of th e In terp arliam en tary U nion was established in 1888. T he central office of the In te r
parliam entary U nion consists of organized groups of mem bers of legislatures. T he purpose of the organiza
tion is “ to u n ite in common action the m em bers of all parliam ents * * * in order to secure the coopera
tion of th eir respective S tates in th e firm establishm ent and th e democratic developm ent of the w ork of
international peace and cooperation betw een nations b y m eans of a universal organization of nations.”
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42
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
1945
lions of government documents, books, and other printed materials
have been systematically exchanged among the nations. This pro
gram has helped make the knowledge of each country available to
others. During the war United Nations Information Offices were
established to promote the freer flow of information that would help
peoples understand one another.5 Some countries, including the
United States, have opened Information Libraries in foreign centers
to make available books, pamphlets, pictures, films, and records—
both scholarly and popular—to increase an understanding of their
cultures and their contributions to knowledge.
3.
Learning and the arts were encouraged through the International
Organization for Intellectual Cooperation working under the League
of Nations.6 National committees were created in many countries to
work for educational advance, exchange of students and professors,
and the effective use of freedom for cultural progress.
For Future Consideration
The representatives at Dumbarton Oaks proposed that the United
Nations Organization should “promote respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms.” The means for doing this in an organized
way were left to the General Assembly and the Economic and Social
Council to work out when the Organization is established. Existing
and proposed international agencies in this field would be related to
the General Organization, and the Economic and Social Council
would coordinate their activities.
ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION
The Conference of Allied Ministers of Education meeting in Lon
don last year proposed an international education agency to advance
the cause of education and culture. Such an educational organiza
tion would not be empowered to interfere with educational systems
of the member nations, but through it each nation could benefit from
the experience and practices of others. The proposed organization
could help nations achieve a greater freedom by accelerating the
interchange of knowledge and ideas essential to social and economic
progress. It could also contribute to peace by helping educational
and cultural institutions to increase understanding among nations
and peoples.
DEALING WITH AGGRESSIVE TYRANNIES
The Security Council of the proposed International Organization
would have the power to act if it considered that a violent threat to
internal freedom was a threat to the peace of the world. “There is
no doubt in my mind,” Under Secretary of State Grew stated recently,
“that the Security Council would act if we were faced again by the
kind of situations that arose in Germany and in Italy under Hitler
s N ineteen of th e U nited N ations cooperate in an information program , preparing pam phlets, posters,
films, studies, press m aterials, and radio programs. A clearing-house function is performed b y offices in the
U nited States and G reat B ritain.
6 T h e Intellectual Cooperation Organization of the League of N ations originated in the second As
sem bly, 1921, and was organized as one of th e four technical organizations of the League in 1926. T he
In stitu te of Intellectual Cooperation was formed in P aris to work for cultural advancem ent w ith learned
professions and institutions in th e m em ber countries. Forty-four national com m ittees for intellectual
cooperation were created.
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FREEDOM— H O W CAN W E ACHIEVE IT?
and Mussolini before the war.
before a war could get started.”
43
This time we would take action
INTERNATIONAL BILL OF RIGHTS
Leading citizens in .several countries have urged that an Interna
tional Bill of Rights be adopted by the United Nations. Recognizing
that liberty cannot be unlimited—that the freedom of one ends where
he uses it to interfere with the rights of another—these citizens suggest
that certain human rights be accepted as basic to world order.
Freedom of religion.—The right to join with others in churches and
institutions, and to worship as one believes.
Freedom of speech.—The right of the individual to form and hold
opinions, to assemble with others to listen, discuss, and speak, being
responsible for what he says that may harm others. The right to
read as well as the right to express; reasonable access to the media
of expression such as print, radio, and films for all who have something
to say.
Fair trial.—The right to public hearings, to competent counsel, to
call witnesses, and to protection against arbitrary detention, cruel or
unusual punishments, and loss of life or property without due process
of law. Equal protection of the law, regardless of race, religion, sex,
or beliefs.
Under Secretary of State Grew has recently commented on the
suggested International Bill of Rights: “ Perhaps the Assembly [of
the United Nations Organization] would adopt a bill of basic human
rights; or a treaty might be negotiated, under which the signatory
states agree to respect such rights as freedom of speech, of
assembly, of the press, of religion. Certainly the American Govern
ment will always be in the forefront of any international movement
to widen the area of human liberty.”
6 5 1 6 5 4 — 45------- 4
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Wartime Policies
P o lic y o n 4 8 -H o u r W ee k in A reas W ith C u t-B ack s
THE War Manpower Commission has instructed its regional direc
tors that after July 1, 1945, areas of labor stringency will continue
to be subject to the 48-hour-workweek requirement.1 In areas of
labor balance, the continuance of such a workweek is to be a matter
of local option, for determination by the area director after consulta
tion with his management-labor committee.
When war production cut-backs, terminations, or changes occur,
the area director must first determine whether the numbers of work
ers to be released as a result of such changes are sufficiently substantial
to warrant the lifting of the 48-hour-workweek designation for the
area.
If, notwithstanding the war production changes in the area, the
local labor-market situation continues sufficiently stringent to war
rant the continuance of the 48-hour workweek, applications by
individual plants for a shorter workweek should be decided in the
light of the following considerations:
(1) I t is n o t th e policy of th e W ar M anpow er Com m ission to a d m in ister [the
regulation] so as to crfeate u n em p lo y m en t; hence th e reg u latio n should n o t be
used to create a balance betw een lab o r su p p ly an d lab o r dem an d w hich in fact
will be an artificial balance because a c tu a l su b sta n tia l un em p lo y m en t will resu lt;
(2) T he decision should be based solely on m anpow er considerations, an d
should not, for exam ple, be influenced b y red u ctio n s in th e tak e-h o m e w ages of
em ployees, or reductio n s in th e p ro d u ctio n costs of th e em ployer;
(3) If a p lan t, b y scheduling an d m a in tain in g a w orkw eek of less th a n 48 hours,
will require, w ithin th e n ear fu tu re, significant num bers of ad d itio n al w orkers,
th e ap p licatio n should generally be denied;
(4) In th e ev en t of a p ro d u ctio n change w hich will resu lt in a su b sta n tia l
red u ctio n in a p la n t’s w ork force, an ap p licatio n * * * should generally be
g ran ted unless it is d eterm in ed th a t—•
(a) A vailable inform atio n reaso n ab ly d em o n strates th a t th e dem an d for w ork
ers in th e o th er w ar p la n ts in th e area, w hich justified th e re te n tio n of th e m inim um
w artim e w orkw eek, will be a contin u in g dem an d ;
(b) T he w orkers who will be laid off if a 48-hour w orkw eek is co n tin u ed are
w orkers who generally m eet th e specifications of th e orders on file to w hich an
urgency ra tin g has been assigned;
(c) T he conditions of em p lo y m en t (p lan t location, wages, w orking conditions,
etc.) in th e p la n ts whose orders have urgency ratin g s are such th a t th e released
w orkers w ould n o t h av e good cause for refusing to accep t w ork in those p la n ts;
a n d in a d d itio n to th e foregoing
(d) A m ajo r p o rtio n of th e w orkers who w ould be released if a 48-hour w ork
w eek is continued will in all p ro b a b ility be reem ployed in essential activ ities.
In case of a plant seeking only a temporary reduction in the work
week, the area director should also give careful consideration to (a)
the immediate relative urgency of the need for the workers involved
by other war plants in the area, (b) the term of the temporary period,
1W ar M anpow er Commission, Field In stru ctio n N o. 795, M ay 29,1945.
44
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w a r t im e
45
p o l ic ie s
(c) the estimated ability of the WMC to replace dissipated staff if
the exemption is not granted, and (d) the urgency of the plant’s need
in relation to other war plants in the community at the expiration of
the temporary period for which exemption is being requested.
W a r L a b o r B o a rd R u lin g o n W age o r S alary In c r e a s e s 1
THE National War Labor Board has ruled that employers who wish
to raise wage rates to a point not in excess of 55 cents an hour may do
so without obtaining approval of the Board. The former limit for
such raises was 50 cents per hour. This change was effected through
a revision of the Board’s General Order No. 30, which was also
amended so as to stipulate that increases between 50 and 55 cents an
hour may not “furnish a basis either to increase price ceilings of the
commodity or service involved or to resist otherwise justified reduc
tions in such price ceilings.” Previously, this restriction was applied
to increases above 40 cents an hour.
W W W
R e c o m m e n d a tio n s T o M eet M an p o w e r N eeds in
C o p p er I n d u s t r y 2
MEMBERS of the newly formed Copper Labor Advisory Committee
have informed the War Production Board that wage adjustments and
a 7-day week in the copper mines and refineries would go far to supply
the labor force needed to overcome the estimated shortage of 228,000
tons of copper to meet the 1945 requirements.
Chief among the recommendations made by the Copper Labor
Advisory Committee for meeting manpower needs and increasing
production were the following:
(1) Increase wages to th e levels prevailing in o th e r in d u stries in th e area, w ith
a g reater increase to th e low est-paid group.
(2) W ork a 7-day week for th e period of th e em ergency.
(3) Provide recreatio n al facilities in th e m ining cam ps.
(4) M ake special allow ances for gas a n d tires for th e m iners who are living in
cam ps 100 miles or m ore from th e n earest city.
(5) R evitalize labor-m an ag em en t com m ittees.
The A. F. of L. and C. I. O. members of the committee urged that
Government agencies recognize the effects of postwar insecurity on
the problem of copper production, explaining that men going to work
in the copper mines face the possibility of being isolated in a mining
camp with no other work to turn to, if mining is cut down. They
urged that postwar prospects and plans be presented to the workers,
and suggested that a promise of severance pay or transportation-might
help to bring new workers to the mines.
1 N atio n al W ar L abor Board, Press release (B-1836B), M ay 25,1944.
W ar Production Board, Press release 7636, A pril 3,1945.
2
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I
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M O N T H LY LABOR R E V IE W ----JÜ L Y
1945
N ew D ra ft R u le s 1
THE need of the armed forces for young men, preferably below 30
years of age, has led Selective Service to request local boards to
liberalize occupational deferments for men over 30. The boards
have been asked to review cases of registrants in the age group 18
through 25, who have heretofore been rejected for general military
service or found qualified for limited service only, and to forward for
reexamination those who they have reason to believe may qualify
for military service. Local boards have also been informed that no
useful purpose would be served by the reexamination of registrants
in the age group 18 through 25 who would be deferred under current
classification policies, even though physically qualified for military
service, and that such registrants should not be forwarded for pre
induction physical examination. Registrants may be forwarded for
such examination without changing their present classifications. If
after that examination they are found qualified for military service,
their cases should immediately be reopened and reconsidered.
H o u rs o f W o rk o f P r is o n e rs o f W a r 2
A SHORTAGE of prisoners of war, combined with the increased
needs for labor in agriculture and in food-processing plants, caused
the War Department to issue new regulations designed to help meet
the situation. Prisoners of war are hereafter to work the same
number of hours as civilians employed on the same work project, but
are not to work more than 12 hours per day, and are not to be kept
out of the stockade more than 14 consecutive hours daily. Work
tasks, when used, are to be adjusted in accordance with the civilian
workday. Contractors are to pay at piece-work rates or for actual
hours worked, including overtime rates if applicable. No adjust
ments are to be made in pay to prisoners because of increase in hours
worked.
According to the War Manpower Commission, the War Department
plans to hold prisoners of war in this country until the end of the 1945.
agricultural season, for contract employment in agriculture and
industry, unless before that time the labor-market situation permits
their return to Europe.
C h an g es in C a n a d ia n M an p o w e r P o lic y 3
WITH the end of the war in Europe, announcements were made of the
removal of certain wartime controls, in keeping with the Canadian
Government’s promise to eliminate regulations as soon as they were
no longer necessary. The manpower controls suspended affected the
' N ational H e H q u a rters Selective Service System, Local B oard M em orandum No. 77-E, M av 23 19 4 ;;
and Press release of M ay 22, 1945.
y ’
’
2 D ata are from W ar M anpow er Commission, Field Instruction No. 403, M ay 19, 1945.
3 D ata are from Canada, Labor G azette (O ttaw a), Ju ly and A ugust 1943 and A pril 1945; W artim e InforT o ro n to ) ° M ay ^7 a n d ^ u n e l^ w l! W eekly’ N os‘ 118 and 119 (O ttaw a), M ay 1945; and Globe and M ail
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W ARTIM E POLICIES
47
draft of men for military service, compulsory transfer of men to more
essential work, and the selective-service restrictions on women.
However, the power to direct men into farm employment, authorized
in March of this year, was not affected and was to be retained.
Extended Power of Direction to Farm Employment
A March 1945 amendment to the Canadian National Selective
Service Regulations 4 gave authority to selective-service officers to
direct any male persons aged 16 to 65 years into agricultural employ
ment. It was hoped that the amendment would help to alleviate the
pressing Canadian farm-labor shortage. The effective date of the
order (P. C. 1415, March 6, 1945) was March 20, 1945. Agriculture
was the fifth type of employment to be covered by such a regulation.
Authority had previously been given selective-service officers to direct
any male in that age group to a job in fuel-wood cutting, coal mining,
fishing, or fish processing (P. C. 4861 and 6077, 1943). Both employed
and unemployed persons could be directed to any of these five employ
ments. The specified work must be entered immediately by unem
ployed persons so directed; if employed, the worker was to report
to his new employment at the end of 7 days from the day on which
the directing order was issued.
Although the above order was issued before the announcement of
victory in Europe, a later statement indicated that the measure would
be retained, owing to the continued world shortage of food.
Removal of Controls
On May 7, it was announced that call-ups for military service were
suspended and that the troops to be sent to the Pacific war were to
consist only of volunteers. National registration, however, which
was started in 1940, was still to be in full force, every person 16 years
of age and over being required to carry a registration certificate.
Registration served a number of other Government purposes, such
as locating people for the dependents’ allowance board and relatives
of those discharged from the armed service.
Later in May, the Minister of Labor announced that no further
compulsory transfers of men to highly essential employment would
be made under transfer orders issued in 1943. These orders had
named a lengthy list of less-essential industries and occupations, and
provided that all male workers from 16 to 38 years of age engaged in
any of these employments would become liable to transfer to moreessential jobs. Through April 15, 1945, over 100,000 men were
registered as coming under the orders, and 18,488 had actually been
required to change jobs; in addition, it was probable that a large num
ber of less-essentially occupied workers had changed jobs when the
series of orders was first issued. Men already moved were not to be
affected by the May 1945 change, and would be required to continue
in their jobs. Men directed to employment at a time when they
were out of jobs and those directed to the coal-mining industry were
also to be required to stay in their current employment. Persons
who had been deferred from military service because of work in
‘ For discussion of th e regulations as consolidated in Jan u ary 1943, see M onthly L abor Review, A pril
1943 (p. 673).
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
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essential jobs were also required to remain in their positions, although
they no longer had to request periodic renewal of the “ postponement,”
as they were given indefinite extension. The authority to put unem
ployed men into essential jobs was to be retained, as well as the abovedescribed power to direct men to farm work. Selective service would
utilize these controls as circumstances might require.
Most of the selective-service restrictions on women were removed
also. Women were no longer required to obtain selective-service
permits before taking employment, but they must report new employ
ment within 3 days. Restrictions on advertising for women workers
were also removed. The regulations still required women unemployed
for 7 days to maintain registration at an employment office, and the
7 days’ separation notice was required. Men were not affected by
any of these selective-service changes, still being required to have the
selective-service permits before looking for jobs.
Attention was called to the fact that, with curtailment of war
production and the discharge of personnel from the armed services,
selective-service regulations would be administered under changed
conditions. The existing placement facilities would be utilized as an
employment service for all workers and employers. The Depart
ment of Labor would give special attention to the placement of persons
discharged from military service and of workers in war plants, and
would devote special effort to problems arising from the war migra
tions of labor.
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Employment Conditions
W M C P la c e m e n ts in W ar P r o d u c tio n , 1 9 4 2 —4 4
MORE than 27,000,000 placements in nonagrieultural war produc
tion and essential supporting activities had been made by the War
Manpower Commission up to April 1945, since its creation 3 years
earlier.1 This was equivalent to about 800,000 placements per
month.
H u n d red s of th o u san d s * * * of jobs in w ar p ro d u ctio n have been filled
m ore th a n once. In h u n d red s of th o u san d s of cases em ployees have been tra n s
ferred from p la n ts engaged in declining or com pleted pro d u ctio n schedules to
o th er p la n ts producing m ore essential w ar pro d u cts. Likewise w hen m en of
m ilitary age were in d u cted in to the arm ed services it has been necessary to find
replacem ents in in d u stry for them . T he fa c t is th a t w ith th is huge to ta l of
w orkers to be provided, an d w ith centers an d p ro d u cts of p ro d u ctio n co n stan tly
changing, th ere has been a t no tim e a critical shortage of m anpow er in th e u rg en t
industries, of m ore th a n 200,000.
As the war program got under way in 1942, the WMC was called
upon to fill 6,939,620 jobs. In 1943, as many as 9,393,196 place
ments were made, and in 1944, as the production program approached
the peak, the WMC met a demand for 11,446,007 placements. Ap
proximately 14,000,000 men have entered the armed services by
induction or voluntary enlistment. About 2,000,000 have since been
returned to civil life, and many of these to employment. A large
percentage of those entering the services were employed in industry
up to the time they put on the uniform. This made it necessary to
replace them by workers from less-essential industry, by women not
previously at work in industry, and by imported foreign workers.
The War Manpower Commission was created on April 18, 1942,
by Executive order, with the following membership: The Adminis
trator of the Federal Security Agency (chairman) and representatives
of the War, Navy, Agriculture, and Labor Departments, and of the
War Production Board, the Civil Service Commission, the Selective
Service System, the Maritime Commission, and the Office of Defense
Transportation. The order provided, among other things, that the
Chairman, after consultation with other members, should—
F o rm u late plans a n d p rogram s a n d estab lish basic n atio n al policies Ü5 assure
the m o st effective m obilization a n d m axim um u tilizatio n of th e N a tio n ’s m an
pow er in th e prosecution of th e war.
E stab lish requirem en ts fo r in d u stry ; review all o th e r e stim ates for m ilitary,
ag ricu ltu ral, a n d civilian m anpow er; a n d direct th e several d e p a rtm e n ts an d
agencies as to the p ro p er allocation of available m anpow er.
E stab lish policies a n d prescribe regulations governing all F ed eral program s
relatin g to recru itm en t, vocational train in g , an d p lacem en t of w orkers to m eet
th e needs of in d u stry a n d agriculture.
Subsequent amendments to the original Executive order placed
the military requirements of manpower under the Selective Service
1 Data are from W ar M anpow er Commission, Press releases P M 4796 and 4799, A pril 19 and M ay 1, 1945.
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
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System, and the placement of agricultural workers under the War
Food Administration.
Placements of Veterans
From January 1 , 1942, to January 1 , 1945, nonagricultural jobs
were found for 1,383,840 veterans by the U. S. Employment Service
(which was placed under WMC by Executive order, on September
17, 1942). Of these placements, 220,581 were made in 1942, 357,120
in 1943, and 806,139 in 1944.2
The foregoing figures, it was pointed out, included veterans of all
wars. In February of 1944, however, a separate analysis was started
in order to obtain a month-by-month picture of the number of place
ments made of World War II veterans.
From February 1944 to the end of March 1945, a total of 775,495
placements of veterans of this war was made by local USES offices.
Of such placements made since August 1944, 88,853 were of service
men with disabilities.
The report under review cited a number of improvements that had
been introduced in the USES special service program for veterans,
during the last 3 years. These include job counseling, both at the
Army’s 17 separation centers and in selected local employment of
fices in each State, and the “selective placement” technique adopted
by USES interviewers to facilitate proper placement of handicapped
veterans. In addition, much work is being done by interviewers and
local veterans’ employment representatives, to interest potential em
ployers in the placement of servicemen.3 USES personnel, who for
years before the war were active in working with handicapped civil
ians, are being called upon by employers to assist in developing or
changing job techniques within their plants, so that the work can be
performed by disabled servicemen.
Local offices of USES have kept records as to the occupational
groups that have absorbed numbers of veteran workers. From Oc
tober to the end of December 1943, placements of veterans were
made in the various groups as follows: Professional and managerial,
2,078; clerical and sales, 6,982; service, 9,832; skilled, 21,254 Tsemiskdled, 20,899; and unskilled and other, 61,189. In thé comparable
Period October to December 1944, figures showed placements as
follows: Professional and managerial, 4,048; clerical and sales, 16 178 •
service, 21,173; skilled, 37,477; semiskilled, 46,237; and unskilled and
other, 118,191.
During January and February of 1945, a total of 184,105 placements
of veterans was made, according to the WMC. Of this number,
146,286 involved veterans of the present war, 24,108 of whom had
suffered some type of service-connected disability.
2 For veteran placem ents, b y States, in 1944, see M onthly L abor Review, M arch 1945 (n 5 4 7 )
8 For various em ploym ent aids for veterans, see M o n th ly Labor Review, M arch 1945 (p. 546).
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EM PLOY M ENT CONDITIONS
51
D o w n g ra d in g A g re e m e n t in th e A irc ra ft In d u s try 1
A VOLUNTARY agreement providing terms by which employees of
6 southern California aircraft companies, which employ 200,000,
may be downgraded, was approved (effective as of_April 11, 1945) by
the National War Labor Board. The agreement affects those employ
ees of the 6 companies who either are represented by the United Auto
mobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers, C.I.O., or by
the United Aircraft Welders, Independent, or are not represented by
any union. The terms of this understanding, however, are not to be
construed so as to supersede or cancel any provisions in the parties’
collective-bargaining contracts.
Regarding the matter of downgrading in connection with this
voluntary agreement, the National War Labor Board made the follow
ing ruling:
1. (a) An em ployee will be assigned to w ork which is covered by a job descrip
tio n falling in a lower labor grade, an d will receive th e classification an d ra te of
p ay thereof, only:
(1) F o r u n satisfacto ry perform ance on his p resen t h ig h er-rated job or in th e
ev en t continued perform ance on th a t job would injure his health .
(2) In th e e v en t th ere are changes in p ro d u ctio n m ethods or prod u ctio n
schedules causing changes in th e co n ten t of his job.
(3) In th e ev en t th e em ployee w as not, a t th e tim e of his la te st classification,
properly classified in accordance w ith th e SCAI [S outhern C alifornia A ircraft
In d u stry ] job-classification schedule. H owever, th e em ployee will be given 10
d ay s’ notice of such reclassification if he has been im properly classified for a period
of 30 days or more.
(4) In th e ev en t of a n em ployee’s req u est for reassignm ent to an available
vacancy if n o t inconsistent w ith th e c o n tractu al rig h ts of a n o th e r em ployee and
w hen ap proved by th e em ployer.
(6) In th e case of (a) (2) such reclassification of em ployees shall be done in
accordance w ith applicable provisions of th e collective-bargaining agreem ent
th e n in effect a t t h a t p a rtic u la r p la n t. In p la n ts w here collective-bargaining
agreem ents do n o t exist, th e existing applicable m anagem ent policies shall govern.
(c) In th e case of (a ) (1) an d (a) (3) such reclassification of em ployees shall be
su b ject to recourse to th e grievance procedure in effect a t th e p la n t concerned eith er
by m eans of individual grievances or by a grievance for th e affected group w hen
filed in accordance w ith th e existing labor agreem ent.
2. (a) W hen an em ployee is reclassified to a lo w er-rated subdivision of th e sam e
occupation as provided in n um ber 4, above, he shall receive as his ra te of p ay on th e
new job either his cu rre n t ra te of p a y or th e m axim um ra te for th e low er-rated
job, w hichever is lower.
( b) W hen an em ployee is assigned to w ork w hich falls w ith in a different low er
ra te d occupation, his hourly ra te w ith in th e ra te range of th e new job shall be
fixed subject to his rig h t to req u est an d to receive a review of his perform ance on
his new job any tim e a fte r th e fo u rth full week a n d prior to his n ex t regular
review, an d to be p ro m p tly advised of th e resu lt of th e review. If such em ployee
believes th a t th e decision reached as th e resu lt of th is review is u n ju st, he shall
have recourse to th e grievance procedure available to him a t his p lan t.
When the management deems it necessary, in the interest of produc
tion efficiency, temporarily (for less than 3 months) to assign employ
ees to work on lower-rated jobs, the agreement provides that no change
in classification or pay rate shall be effected. “When management
deems it necessary to assign employees either temporarily or perma
nently to lower-rated jobs, management will at the time of change
notify the employees of the nature of the change and whether it is
temporary or permanent. In the event such temporary assignment
exceeds 3 months, said lower-rated job shall be considered a vacancy
and be filled accordingly.”
i N ational W ar L abor Board. Press release B-2080, M ay 7,1945; R uling, Case N o, 46-257, M ay 3,1945.
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L a b o r C o n d itio n s in C o p p e r M in in g in P e r u ,
1939 and 1945 1
WAGE earners employed in mining operations at 6 principal copper
mines in Peru declined in number from 7,153 in 1939 to 5,949 in 1944.
In the same period, however, the total number of man-hours rose
from 15,129,912 to 15,698,912, average hourly wages increased from
0.43 to 0.60 sol 2 (about 40 percent), and average yearly wages rose
from 916 to 1,583 soles (about 73 percent). These advances are
largely explained by the increase in the average number of 8-hour
shifts per wage earner from 264.4 in 1939 to 329.9 in 1944. Increased
numbers of wage earners were employed in milling. The average
number of man-shifts worked by wage earners in milling operations
rose from 332.5 in 1939 to 371.8 in 1944, but no such change was
noted with respect to salaried employees.
Employment and Wages
Employment and labor remuneration at 6 of the principal copper
mines in Peru in 1939 and 1944, are shown in table 1.
T a b l e 1 .— Employment, Man-Hours Worked, and Wages and Salaries P aid in M ining
and M illing Operations of 6 Principal Copper Mines in Peru, 1939 and 1944
M ining
M illing1
Item
1944
Wage earners:
T o tal n u m b e r_________________
8-hour shifts w orked:
T o ta l_____________________
Average per w orker________
T otal m an-hours w orked_______
T otal am ount paid in wages____
Average wages per year:
A m o u n t___________________
Index (1939=100)____ ______
Average hourly wages:
A m o u n t_________________ _
Index (1939=100)__________
Salaried employees:
T otal nu m b er_________________
T otal m an-hours w orked_______
T otal am ount paid in salaries___
Average yearly salary:
A m ount_________________ ..
Index (1939=100)_____ _____
1939
1944
1939
5,949
7,153
490
455
1,962,364
329.9
15,698, 912
9,419,028
1,891, 239
264.4
15,129, 912
6,554,847
182,198
371.8
1,457, 584
674,905
151,305
332.5
1, 210,440
366,414
1,583
173
916
100
1,377
171
805
100
0.60
140
0. 43
100
0.46
153
0. 30
100
284
3 681, 600
2, 703,982
271
2 650,400
1,684, 748
17
4 47, 600
175,809
11
4 30, 800
43,611
9, 521
153
6, 217
100
10, 342
261
3,965
100
1 M illing operations of 5 mines.
2 Average exchange rate of sol in 1939=18.7 centsr in 1944=15.3 cents.
2 Calculated on basis of 300 8-hour days per year.
4C alculated on basis of 350 8-hour days per year. .
Wages at the different mining camps vary considerably, depending
on transportation, working and living conditions, character of manage
ment, and availability of labor supply. Moreover, in the central
1 D a ta are from report (No. 126) prepared b y W m. O. V anderburg, minerals attaché, U nited States E m
bassy, Lim a, M ay 7, 1945.
2 Average exchange rate of sol in 1939=18.7 cents, in 1944=15.3 cents.
y
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EM PLOY M ENT CONDITIONS
Sierra region, where most of the mining activity is concentrated, the
wage scales are determined largely by the rates paid for such labor
classifications by the corporation which owns mines Nos. 1 to 4. At
some of the mines of this corporation, an incentive-pay plan, called
locally the “colectiva” system, is in use. Under this system the
workers receive a guaranteed daily wage and in addition a bonus for
production above a given quota. Depending on the nature of the
assigned task, a group of workers may participate, and if the amount
of work set as a minimum quota is exceeded, each worker in the
group receives a bonus in proportion to the extra output.
The number of salaried employees increased somewhat in 3 of the
6 mines. In 5 of the mines, increases occurred in average yearly
salaries, explained in part, by the greater average number of shifts
worked per year. Another factor affecting the average remunera
tion is that the corporation whose wage level largely determines the
wage and salary scales for the copper-mining industry, in 1941, 1942,
and 1943, granted to all workers three successive bonuses, each of
10 percent, in addition to their basic pay and a bonus of 10 percent
which had been added in 1934—a total bonus of 40 percent on the
basic pay. However, three of these bonuses were later replaced by
increases in basic pay—20 percent on March 1, 1944, and 10 percent
on April 1, 1945—while a bonus of 10 percent on basic pay still
remained after the base-pay increase of April 1, 1945, was granted.
Employment, wages, and salaries, at 6 of the principal copper mines
in Peru, are given in table 2.
T a b l e 2 . — Employment and Average Nearly Earnings at 6 Principal Copper Mines
in Peru, 1939 and 1944
Item
W age earners:
N um ber:
1944
_______ -1939______________________
Average yearly wages:
1944______________________ _______ soles1_
1939______________________ ___ ____ .d o 1.
Salaried employees:
N um ber:
1944
_______________
1939______________________
Average yearly salaries:
1944 _____________________ _______ soles11939______________________ _________ d o 1
All
mines
M ine
No. 1
M ine
No. 2
M ine
No. 3
M ine
No. 4
M ine
No. 5
2,832
2,885
736
1,054
612
790
283
271
1,126
1,876
360
277
1,712
1,035
1,845
1,525
1,582
1,098
1,841
1,201
1,067
291
1,451
809
136
131
66
88
47
24
21
8
6
9
8
11
9, 517 12,617 12, 751 31, 666
7, 397 1,819 13,672 2,198
3,959
2, 721
7,305
6, 344
M ine
No. 6
5,949
7,153
284
271
1 Average exchange rate of sol in 1939=18.7 cents, in 1944=15.3 cents.
Productivity and Production Costs
Labor productivity in terms of tonnage per man-hour showed a
slight increase with respect to mining operations. In milling, how
ever, there was a slight decrease. At the ¿same time, labor cost
advanced in both mining and milling. In terms of the average wage
per ton, the increase was 30 percent in mining operations and 63.5
in milling operations. The total labor cost per ton likewise advanced
(33.5 percent in mining and 84.3 percent in milling). Table 3 shows
labor cost and productivity at 6 of the principal copper mines in Peru,
in 1939 and 1944.
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW-— JU L Y
194 5
.
T a b l e 3 .-—Productivity and Labor Costs in M ining and M illing Operations of 6
Principal Copper Mines in Peru , 1939 and 1944
M ining
M illing 1
Item
1944
1939
O u tp u t
.
. .
. . . . . . m etric to n s 2
1,277, 581
T otal m an-hours w orked b y —
Wage earners____________
15, 698,912
Salaried em ployees._
3 681, 600
O u tp u t per m an-hour:
Wage earners_________
___do___
0.081
Wage earners and salaried em ployees___ ___do ___
0.078
A m ount paid in—
W ages__
_ _ _
..soles 5._ 9, 419,028
Salaries
___do ___
2, 703,982
Wages per ton:
A m o u n t____ .
___do_ __
7. 37
Index (1939=100)___________ _
130
T o tal labor cost (wage earners and salaried
employees) per ton:
A m o u n t_______ ____ ______
___d o ___
9.49
Index (1939) = 100)_____
133.5
1944
1939
1,158,069
656,995
583, 528
15,129,912
3 650, 400
1,457, 584
4 47,600
1, 210, 440
4 30,800
0.076
0.073
0.451
0.436
0. 482
0.470
6, 554,847
1, 684, 748
674,905
175,809
366, 414
43,611
5. 66
100
1.03
164
0 63
100
7.11
100.0
1 29
184.3
0 70
100.0
1 M illing operations of 5 mines.
2 M etric ton=2,204.6 pounds.
3 C alculated on basis of 300 8-hour days per year.
4 Calculated on basis of 350 8-hour days per year.
5 Average exchange rate of sol in 1939=18.7 cents, in 1944=15.3 cents.
Comparative Living Costs
A comparison of tlie prices paid for the principal items of food,
clothing, and household articles at a mining corporation’s mercantile
stores and in the Lima stores and markets, for December 1939 and
April 1945, shows that prices were generally higher in Lima than in
the corporation’s stores. Thus, in 1939, 11 items cost more in the
company’s stores, 24 cost less, and 4 were the same. In 1945, the
corporation’s mercantile establishments sold 13 items at a higher
price, 28 at a lower figure, and 4 for the same amount as the Lima
vendors. The higher cost of food in Lima was, however, offset to
some extent by the moderate prices at the popular restaurants oper
ated by the Peruvian Government.
Workers at the principal copper mines also paid lower rents than
did industrial workers in Lima. For a 2-room dwelling, the worker
at the copper mine paid 3.50 soles, and the industrial worker 30.00
soles, per month. Salaried employees in industry in general paid
from 7 to 10 times as much for a 4-room house as did similar employees
of copper mines. These differences are brought out in the tabulation
below.
W age earners:
1room dwelling
2room dwelling
Salaried em ployees:
3-room dw elling
4-room dw elling
1 Average exchange rate of sol in 1944=15.3 cents
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Monthly rent {in soles >) paid by—
Copper-mine
Industrial
workers
workers
3. 50
20. 00
30. 00
_________
7. 50
_________ 10. 00
50. 00
70. 00-100. 00
__________
EM PLO Y M EN T CONDITIONS
5.5
Social Security and Other Provisions for Workers
Peruvian legislation safeguards the workers as to hours of employ
ment, age limitations for underground employment, minimum wages,
indemnity' for dismissal, vacations with pay, medical assistance,
workmen’s compensation, and similar items. Working hours are
limited to 8 per day or 48 per week for women and minors. Under
the Social Security Act, wage earners are insured against sickness,
maternity, disability, old age; and death. The necessary funds are
raised by means of contributions paid by the employers, the State,
and the workers at the rate of 3%, 1 and 1% percent, respectively,
computed on the weekly wages paid.
In addition to his wages, each workman who has worked for 1
employer 260 consecutive working days during a year is entitled to 15
days’ vacation with full pay; white-collar workers are entitled to 30
days’ vacation. On dismissal from service, wage earners and salaried
employees are entitled to indemnity pay which varies according to
the capitalization of the company. Thus, workers employed by
establishments capitalized at more than 500,000 soles are entitled to
indemnity compensation at the rate of 15 days’ pay for each year of
service, and at the rate of 1 week’s pay, if employed by firms capi
talized at less than 500,000 soles.
Workers are required to pass a physical examination, including an
X-ray for silicosis, before they are hired. Medical and hospital facili
ties are furnished free of charge to the workmen and their families.
Schools, including books and materials, and teaching staff, are furnished
free of charge by the mining companies.
Trade-unionism has made little progress in tlic mining industry,
and no unions, it is said, exist among the mine, mill or smelter
workers.
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Postwar Reconstruction
C a n a d ia n P ro g ra m f o r M a in ta in in g E m p lo y m e n t
and In c o m e 1
THE Canadian Minister of Reconstruction on April 12, 1945, pre
sented in the House of Commons a White Paper on the Dominion
Government’s future policies concerning employment and income,
accepting public responsibility for maintaining a high level of em
ployment, Under the plan proposed, Canadian economy would
continue to be based on private ownership of industry, but Govern
ment would assist enterprise to achieve the desired level of employ
ment. The White Paper dealt separately with the transition period
following the end of the European war and preceding the victory over
Japan (referred to as “ stage 2” of the war), and with the postwar
period. General unemployment during stage 2 was not anticipated,
but displacements would occur locally. Methods for maintaining
employment would be planned both for the transition period and for
the postwar years; when possible and needed, such programs would
be put into effect. On the assumption that export trade had been the
greatest dynamic force in influencing the level of employment and
income in Canada, stress was laid on expanding export trade over
the prewar volume, and credit guaranties to enable other countries
to import Canadian goods were recommended. Private investment
(with special emphasis on housing), as well as consumption expendi
ture, would be encouraged under the plan. Public investments, such
as public works, would be timed to help maintain employment, but
would be intended merely to supplement the workings of the privateenterprise system.
Maintenance of a High and Stable Employment Level
The Government adopted (as indicated in the White Paper) as a
primary object of all Government economic policy, the accomplish
ment of a “ smooth, orderly transition from the economic conditions
of war to those of peace” and the maintenance of “ a high and stable
level of employment and income.” Attention was called to the use
of the term “ high and stable level of employment” instead of “ full
employhient.” No lower target was meant, but it was recognized
that employment and income both would be subject to fluctuations in
the sphere of international trade and to seasonal fluctuations. Esti
mates of the postwar labor force were based on the 1939 employment
total of 3,693,000 and the June 1, 1944, total of 5,016,000 (including
1 D ata are from E m ploym ent and Income (C anada, M inister of R econstruction, O ttaw a, A pril 1945);
Facts and Figures W eekly (W artim e Inform ation Board, O ttaw a) Nos. 108 and 118, M arch and M ay 1945;
and reports from Lewis C lark, Counselor of E m bassy, and H om er S. Fox, commercial attaché, U nited
States E m bassy, O ttaw a, A prii 13 and M arch 6, 1945.
56
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POSTWAR RECONSTRUCTION
57
persons in the armed forces, but excluding women in agriculture).
Of the 1944 total, 1,839,000 persons were in positions which were
directly connected with the war and would cease with it. On the
assumption that some 600,000 workers would be reabsorbed into
agriculture, nonagricultural civilian industry, and the student popu
lation, and that persons withdrawing from the labor force (such as
married women, etc.) would total more than 350,000, it was estimated
that employment of less than 900,000 persons over the 1939 total
would provide a high level for the population of June 1944. This
figure would be increased annually by about 60,000 through the
natural population increase.
Such a level of employment was not, however, to be provided by
extension of public enterprise; rather, the Government proposed to
facilitate and encourage an expansion of private industry. According
to the "White Paper, the source of employment and income is ex
penditures, and maintenance of expenditures would be the crux of
the Government’s employment policy. For purposes of dealing
effectively with the problem, expenditures were divided into four
groups, according to the channels through which they flow: Export
trade, private investment, consumption, and public investment.
The Government planned to use appropriate means to influence
expenditures in all these channels, emphasizing particularly those
which are most susceptible of encouragement and control. Much
of the policy consisted of measures already taken, whereas other
proposals were still in the planning stage.
Transition Period
In an address on March 5, prior to publication of the White Paper,
the Minister of Reconstruction stated that no general unemployment
was expected in the transition period following the European victory.
He explained that the reduction in war production would probably
total 35 percent, but it was expected that civilian production would
rise by approximately that amount. However, he stated that a series
of local problems would arise from contract cancellations in certain
communities where there was abnormal wartime population and a
heavy concentration of war orders. The Reconstruction Depart
ment’s approach in the transition period, according to the Minister,
would thus be on a local and regional basis, consisting of preliminary
identification of areas of likely unemployment, and encouragement
and supplementing of steps taken locally to combat such conditions.
The White Paper reiterated this view of the period, stating that the
full increase in civilian employment as estimated would not be needed
immediately after the end of the European war. Continuing needs
of war production, together with the demand for civilian goods both
in Canada and abroad, would require all available labor and materials
for the country as a whole, including that part of the armed forces
and war industry which had been released. However, because of the
need for providing for local dislocations and the importance of begin
ning plans for the postwar period, the Government outlined the fol
lowing program in the four expenditure fields.
Export trade.—As war requirements and relief and reconstruction
needs would be high, the problem of the level of exports (other than
munitions) would be one of supply and finance; the wartime agencies
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
1945
would continue to arrange allocation and shipment of products and
to deal with financial questions. It was probable that markets for
particular products might be adversely affected; the primary producer
would be safeguarded in such contingencies by the Agricultural and
Fisheries Price Support Acts. Within the limits of the needs en
gendered by a continuing war, a start was to be made on reestablish
ing and expanding Canada’s nonwar-exports trade. Similarly,
Canadian imports and the exporting capacity of other countries
were to be built up, to provide payment for Canadian exports. The
Government stated that it was prepared to encourage such activity,
but that initiative from those industries expecting export markets
would be necessary.
Private investment.—Wartime barriers to capital and maintenance
expenditures would be reduced; the Government would facilitate the
most urgent of such expenditures, and, at the same time, would at
tempt to safeguard against an inflationary boom. Pending postwar
reduction of taxes, certain fiscal provisions had been enacted in 1944
to insure that new business investment would not be penalized. The
Department of Reconstruction was to see to speedy conversion and
expansion of Canadian industries, with special attention to those
areas most dependent on war industries. War contracts were to be
renegotiated rapidly, and Government-owned plant and equipment
not needed for war use disposed of promptly. The Minister of Re
construction stated that, in the sale of war plants, encouragement was
to be given to industries manufacturing goods not previously made in
Canada; also stability of employment was to be regarded as more
important than high monetary recovery. Special attention would be
given to the needs of small industries for rental premises and for
materials and equipment, and the desirability of establishing industry
in the smaller towns and cities would be considered.
In addition, great importance was attached to housing. Subject to
war requirements, the Government planned to encourage and assist in
producing material and equipment for not less than 50,000 units, in the
first full construction year following victory over Germany. Stao-e 2
was also to be utilized to carry out surveys, community planning,
and research and experiment for postwar housing.
Con sumption.-—Demand for consumer products was expected to
exceed supply in stage 2, and continued stabilization controls would
be necessary. Therefore, measures to stimulate consumption ex
penditures would not be appropriate. However, dislocations and
declines in income would be prevented from becoming cumulative,
and low family incomes would be safeguarded by the Agricultural
and Fisheries Price Support Acts, unemployment-insurance benefits,
and the family allowances provided for in 1944.
Public investment.—Severe limitations on labor and materials would
be imposed by the demands of the Pacific war and of the preceding
expenditure groups, which were considered more important than
public investment. Therefore, the Government emphasized that
stage 2 was the time for planning its own deferred public works, and
that it would encourage similar planning by Provincial and municipal
governments. Also, surveys, mappings, etc., were to be made by the
Dominion Government for a program of development and conservation
of natural resources. In addition to its planning activities, the
Government would, however, undertake its deferred projects in
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POSTWAR RECONSTRUCTION
59
those localities in which decline of war contracts made available
labor for which the locality would probably be able to furnish perma
nent employment.
Postwar Period
It was recognized that policy for the postwar period was subject to
international conditions, and especially to the decisions of the
Dominion-Provincial conference which was to take place shortly after
the Dominion elections in June.
Export trade.—The postwar expansion desirable for Canadian
exports was estimated at 1% billion dollars annually at current prices—
60 percent above the prewar level in dollar value, but about 15 percent
higher in the amount of goods exported. The White Paper pointed
out that such an expansion of exports and the necessary accompanying
increase in imports would be dependent on collaboration of the
Canadian with other Governments to achieve international security
from war; reciprocal reduction and removal of trade barriers; recon
version of war industries in all countries; and reconstitution of multi
lateral trade. With these objects in mind, the Canadian Government
endorsed the Bretton Woods plan for an international monetary
fund and an international bank, and had participated in preliminary
international discussions on food and law materials and on cartels.
To prevent discriminatory blocs, and to help reestablish countries
facing difficult balance-of-payments problems “ when Lend-Lease and
Mutual Aid come to an end/’ the Canadian Government would
extend credits adequate for other countries to finance their import
requirements from Canada; repayment terms would recognize the
dependence of such international debt payments on expansion of
world trade and ample markets.
Private investment.—The Government expected demand for all kinds
of goods to be high after the war. Therefore, its efforts to stimulate
private investment were to be directed toward keeping down production
costs. Postwar taxes were to be reduced 2 and those contributing to
a higher level of production cost would be minimized. Low interest
rates would be continued. Loans would be available for establish
ment of small and new enterprises, from the Industrial Development
Bank established in 1944; for improvement of farm building and
equipment, under the Farm Improvement Loans Act of 1944; and
for housing, under the National Housing Act of 1944. Expenditures
on housing would also be encouraged by war savings and postwar
veterans’ credits, and by family allowances.
Consumption.—Release of labor and materials would increase
consumption expenditures substantially after the war. Continuance
of such a level of consumption would depend on maintenance and
distribution of incomes. Stage 2 measures to support consumption
would continue. The Government planned additional social-security
measures, which would depend on agreement with the Provinces as
to financial and administrative arrangements. Pensions to veterans
and servicemen’s dependents would also enlarge expenditures.
Public investment.—The Candian Government did not plan huge
expenditures on public works to solve postwar unemployment, but
2 T he first tax reduction occurred in M ay 1945, following the end of the European W ar, w hen excise taxes •
were lifted from a series of C anadian products.
651 6 5 4 — 45 ------- 5
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
19 45
expected to manage its capital expenditures to contribute to the
improvement and stabilization of employment and income. Accord
ing to the White Paper, “ The deliberate use of public investment
expenditures as a permanent instrument in employment policy has
to be undertaken experimentally.’’ The Government expected to
start with advance planning of necessary and desirable Dominion
projects, and expenditures on development and conservation of
natural resources. The scope of the public-investment program
would be enlarged as rapidly as experience in its management was
acquired. Again, the policies were contingent on Dominion-Provincial
financial arrangements. Development of the Yukon and Northwest
Territories and the advancement of civil aviation were also considered
fertile fields for public investment.
Other items.—Expansion of scientific and industrial research was
regarded as of extreme importance and had been encouraged through
various steps taken by the Department of Reconstruction. A higher
degree of productive efficiency was necessary in order to maintain the
desired level of income and a correspondingly high standard of living.
Attention was also called to the need for a high degree of mobility of
labor between occupations, jobs, and places. The employment offices
and placement service established in 1940 would be maintained and
expanded. The Government has already authorized 10-year grants
to the Provinces of 20 million dollars to provide adequate training
facilities and a further grant of 10 million dollars over a 3-year period
for physical facilities for vocational training with reference to modern
shop equipment. With the postwar disappearance of scarcities,
wartime controls would be discontinued, but in the transition period
many would still be needed, and certain controls would even aid in
the reconstruction.
With regard to financing the White Paper policy, Government ex
penditures and revenues higher than those before the war would be
required, but the Government declared this to be consistent with post
war taxation at substantially lower levels than those of wartime.
The Government was prepared to keep the debt in manageable propor
tions and balanced over a period of years, but would incur deficits when
unemployment threatened.
C h in a ’s P la n s f o r P o s tw a r I n d u s tr ia liz a tio n 1
THE Supreme National Defense Council of China in December 1944
adopted a resolution outlining plans for industrialization of China as
part of the country’s general program for economic reconstruction.
The Government’s aim was rapid industrialization through a planned
economy which would include both private and State enterprise.
To expedite the process, foreign investment was invited.
Prolonged consideration of industrialization methods preceded
recommendation of a combined State- and private-enterprise system.
According to the President of the Legislative Yuan, the Chinese
authorities rejected full free enterprise as too time-consuming, and
cooperative or State operation as requiring social revolution. Indus
trial development according to the Government’s program would pro1
D ata are from Pacific Affairs (In stitu te of Pacific Relations, Orange, C onn.), M arch 1945, and confiden
tia l sources.
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POSTWAR RECONSTRUCTION
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ceed under a general plan for economic reconstruction. Establish
ment of important enterprises by private capital must be approved
by the appropriate Government agencies, on the basis of the general
plan; similar approval would be required for negotiations by either
State or private enterprise for foreign loan or investment. In grant
ing approval, consideration was to be given to location of the projected
plant, production capacity, kind and quality of output, issuance of
shares and bonds, etc. Private enterprises conforming to the general
plan would receive special Government encouragement (e. g., financial
aid and transport facilities) to achieve their scheduled programs.
Certain fields were designated in the resolution as Government
monopolies; such monopolies included postal service and telecom
munications, arsenals, mints, principal railroads, and large-scale
hydraulic-power plants. Private capital would be free to engage in
any other fields. However, the State might also participate in areas
of activity which private capital was not fully capable of developing
or which the Government regarded as of special importance (e. g.,
large-scale petroleum fields, steel plants, and transportation).
In fields not reserved for State monopoly, the Government might
operate independently or in cooperation with Chinese or foreign
capital. Such State enterprises were to be treated in the same manner
as any similar private enterprises, with the same rights and obligations.
An enterprise operated by the Government in cooperation with Chi
nese or foreign capital must be organized in the form of a business
corporation; apart from exercising such administrative supervision
as was provided by law, the Government would participate in the cor
poration’s management only in its capacity of a shareholder. The
object of these provisions was to insure that all firms would compete
on a basis of equality, and the Government would have no unfair
advantage (such as being permitted to make up deficits from public
funds). However, in commenting on the resolution, the President
of the Legislative Yuan stated that the Government would not tolerate
joint action by private enterprises to raise prices in such a manner
that the “ public livelihood” would be adversely affected; in such
cases State enterprises would be forced to reduce prices in order to
counteract high prices and maintain popular consumption.
The plan provided for reduction of restrictions on investment of
foreign capital. Foreign investment in both State and private enter
prise would be encouraged. All enterprises directly financed and
managed by foreign nationals would be subject to Chinese laws.
For “ certain special enterprises,” special franchises would be granted
to foreigners upon approval by the Chinese Government.
Persons in the Government service were forbidden to participate
in the operation or management of any enterprise which was within
the scope of their supervisory function.
In issuing the resolution, it was stated that existing laws and regu
lations would inevitably conflict with the principles outlined. Such
laws were to be referred to the Legislative Yuan for revision, with
a view to harmonizing all existing legislation on the subject.
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
M easu res to M eet P o s tw a r L a b o r C o n d itio n s in E g y p t1
THE Egyptian Government has recently taken action regarding
problems that may follow the end of wartime activities in that
country. Offices have been created to assist the unemployed, the
postwar-program committee has been granted operating funds, a
movement to provide social insurance is under way, the Advisory
Labor Council has been reconstituted, and other action indicates an
interest in the development of cooperatives.
Employment Problems and Placement Service
About 8,000 unskilled laborers had been released by the Allied
armies in Egypt up to March 28, 1945. Total employment by the
British and United States armies has been variously estimated at
numbers ranging from 200,000 to 500,000. Records of employment
of unskilled workers are difficult to obtain, because such labor is
usually hired and paid off by the day. It is believed that unskilled
workers will return to agriculture when wartime activities end, and
the main concern is to provide employment for skilled labor. The
British and United States forces are reported to have employed about
60,000 workers in this category.
In an attempt to meet this problem, the Egyptian Ministry of
Social Affairs issued a decree on March 20, 1945, establishing in the
Department of Labor a labor registry office for commercial and in
dustrial employment and subsidiary offices in designated industrial
centers in Egypt. Applicants for employment are to fill out special
forms at the offices. Employers may request the offices to procure
workers for them but, in case of vacancies caused by strike or other
work stoppage, the employer must indicate in writing the cause of the
strike or stoppage.
Distribution oj labor j'orce.—Industrial workers made up about onetenth and agricultural workers about four-sevenths of the gainfully
occupied population of Egypt in 1937. According to the census of
that year, the total number of employed and the numbers in various
types of employment were as follows:
Number of
workers
Number of
workers
7, 422, 185 C om m erce_________________
P ublic service_____________
A griculture, e tc ___________ 4, 308, 201 P rofessions________________
M ining an d q u a rry in g _____
10, 828 Services, including dom estic
service__________________
M an u factu rin g ____________
478, 199
T ran sp o rtatio n , e tc ________
138, 911 M iscellaneous_____________ 1,
C o nstruction of b u ild in g s. _
120, 706
T o ta l_____________________
460, 075
170, 756
151, 207
256, 099
327, 203
Since the year of the census, the increase in employment under war
needs appears to have been considerable. In March 1944, the
Government provided for conclusive data by authorizing a census of
industrial production every 3 years, but results of that census are not
1
D ata are from U nited States Legation, Cairo, reports of K. L. R ankin, commercial attaché, April 19,
1944, and R u th C. Sloan, economic analyst, April 3, 1945; and Population Census of E gypt, 1937 (M inistry
of Finance, Statistical and Census D epartm ent), Cairo, 1942.
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POSTWAR RECONSTRUCTION
63
yet available. The organization of labor unions, legalized in 1942,
has also strengthened the position of labor.
Study of postwar employment problems.—An Anglo-Egyptian com
mittee was formed in August 1944 for the purpose of studying postwar
employment. Its recommendations stress the encouragement of local
industry and the reinforcement of industries which developed during
the war, the need for beginning work on public projects such as roads
and bridges, and especially the provision of permanent work for dis
charged skilled workers so that their experience may not be lost.
Under .present arrangements, Egyptian authorities are to be notified
of the release of Egyptian workers. In the current budget, the sum
of about £500,000 is to be earmarked for the development of public
projects (including bridge building, road construction, and irrigation
systems).
An Egyptian Research and Planning Association, composed of
Egyptian scientists, Government officials, and professional men, in
cluding prominent Egyptians in London, is also active in postwar
planning for the nation.
Social Insurance
In the spring of 1945, a draft law prepared by the Ministry of Social
Affairs was under consideration, which would provide compulsory in
surance against sickness, invalidity, old age, and death. Under
existing law, industrial-accident insurance, medical first aid on the
work premises, certain other medical assistance, half wages during a
limited period of proved sickness, and maternity leave for women
have been provided.2 The draft law would broaden these benefits,
although not sufficiently broad to cover most governmental, agri
cultural, domestic, or temporary workers, or workers in establish
ments employing fewer than five persons. Under it free medical
treatment, including medicines, cash benefits in cases of sickness and
invalidity, old-age pensions, and funeral grants and cash benefits for
dependents of the deceased, would be provided. Contributions would
be made, under the plan, by employers, employees, and the Govern
ment.
Advisory Labor Council
An Advisory Labor Council, which had been in existence from 1932
to 1937, was reconstituted by the Egyptian Cabinet on January 20,
1945. According to a ministerial resolution of that date, the functions
of the Council are to help the Government in preparing labor laws and
in handling labor matters and improving conditions for workers.
The Council is to consist of 15 ex-officio members (officials from the
Cabinet and other Government offices); 8 members named by the
Council of Ministers on the recommendation of the Minister of Social
Affairs; and 5 members named by the Minister of Social Affairs (2 to
represent employees of commercial establishments, and 3 from among
industrial workers). Members appointed by the Council of Ministers
are to hold office for 2 years, with the option of renewal of appoint2 For details, see M onthly L abor Review, N ovem ber 1933 (p. 1136) and October 1944 (p. 810).
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194 5
ment for 2 years. The term of office for members named by the
Minister of Social Affairs—the labor members—was to be fixed in the
notice of nomination.
Encouragement of Cooperatives
A comprehensive law on cooperative associations, which provided
for a superior council, was published on August 24, 1944. The Min
istry of Social Affairs recently designated the members of the Council
and decided to send a mission to England to study control of and legis
lation for cooperatives in that country.
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FQ&yiCTORY
BUY
UNITED
STATES
W AR
BONDS
AND
STAMPS
Discharged Soldiers
D ire c tiv e s o n R e e m p lo y m e n t o f V e te ra n s
THE increasing number of separations from the armed services,
together with the employment situation arising from war production
cut-backs, has led Federal agencies to establish policies designed to aid
returning veterans in their search for a job.
Recruitment of Veterans
WMC recruitment methods for veterans.1—To make more jobs avail
able to qualified veteran applicants .reentering the labor market or
unemployed as the result of war production cut-backs, a relaxation of
interoffice recruitment methods—as they apply to veterans—is being
put into effect by local offices of the U. S. Employment Service.
Under the new procedure, USES will accept and process, for interoffice
recruitment, job orders from employers who specify they wish to
employ veterans, even though such employers may be engaged in
work of a less-essential nature than was formerly demanded as a
requirement. However, no order will be accepted for interoffice
recruitment if qualified veterans or nonveterans are available in the
local labor market.
The relaxation, applicable to veterans only, will result in the follow
ing changes in present interoffice recruitment standards: (1) The
employer’s order need not warrant the assignment of a manpower
priority rating; (2) because the employer need not be engaged in war
production, in order to hire veterans, and the veteran may take a non
war job if he prefers, the local employment office will be free to clear
such orders in any community where veterans may be available;
(3) when a request for fewer than 10 workers is involved, the employer
does not have to send a hiring representative or subscribe to advertis
ing at recruitment points; and (4) although employers will be urged to
provide transportation, strict adherence to this standard will not be
required.
Arrangements are being made with employers to insure that action
will be taken on application within 24 hours after receipt by the
employer. This policy is adopted so that there will be a minimum time
lapse, and veterans will not lose other opportunities for employment if
suitable jobs are not immediately available in their own communities.
This procedure will also reduce needless travel by veterans in search of
a job in other areas.
i W ar M anpow er Commission, Pressrelease (PM-4829), M ay 31,1945.
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19 45
Reinstatement of Veterans
Department of Justice policy in “superseniority" claims.—In order
to facilitate the formulation of and adherence to a uniform policy for
handling cases involving reinstatement of veterans, the Department
of Justice has instructed U. S. Attorneys to refer promptly to the De
partment any doubtful question before instituting or refusing to insti
tute an action on behalf of the veteran.2
In situations involving reduction in force, an employer may be able
to reinstate a veteran only by dismissing a nonveteran with greater
seniority.
The Selective Service System a n d others m ain tain th a t Section 8 required
a c tu a l resto ratio n to th e form er job, regardless of relative seniority, even if
such resto ratio n necessitates such dism issal. T he D e p a rtm e n t will rep resen t
v eterans asserting such “ su p ersen io rity ” resto ratio n claims. M oreover, we will
p resen t to th e courts th e corollary proposition th a t, in th e e v e n t of lay-offs,
w ithin th e 1-year period following resto ratio n , th e v e te ra n is en title d to re ta in
his position even if it resu lts in th e lay-off of a n o n v eteran w ith g reater seniority.
(T his ap p ro ach am o u n ts to a co ntention th a t a v eteran is e n title d to job resto
ratio n an d reten tio n regardless of seniority, as long as th e w ork is being done by
an y nonveteran.) H ow ever, since th e “ su p ersen io rity ” in te rp re ta tio n is n o t
free from d o u b t u n d e r th e act, th e D e p a rtm e n t will expect to p resen t th e issue
to th e courts w ith full candor. A ny briefs su b m itte d will disclose th e consider
atio ns a n d th e legislative histo ry b o th pro a n d con. T he d u ty of th e U. S.
A tto rn ey is n o t only to rep resen t th e v eteran , as pro v id ed by th e sta tu te , b u t
acting as an officer of th e court, to p re se n t to th e co u rt w h atev er m ay be useful
in helping th e co u rt arriv e a t a p ro p er co n stru ctio n of th e sta tu te .
The Department directs that any veteran seeking representation
in asserting a superseniority claim should be informed of the fact
that his case will be presented in this manner, so that he may retain
private counsel should he prefer to do so.
WLB ruling on veterans' reinstatement rights.3—The National
War Labor Board affirmed a directive order of one of its regional
boards that a veteran is entitled to reinstatement and to all automatic
length-of-service wage increases granted in his absence to which he
would have been entitled had he been continuously employed. The
regional board unanimously ordered that—
A ny em ployee who, during th e w ar, is d ra fte d o r volunteers for service in th e
m ilitary forces of th e U n ited S tates shall, upon honorable discharge an d upon
m eeting all o th er req u irem en ts of th e Selective Service Act, be en title d to rein
s ta te m e n t in his form er position or to a position of like seniority, sta tu s, a n d p ay
including all increases g ra n te d during his absence to w hich he w ould have been
e n titled h ad he been continuously em ployed. T his clause is in ten d ed to be in
full conform ance w ith th e provisions of th e Selective Service A ct a n d is su b ject
to an y m odification w hich m ay become necessary by a m en d m en t of p e rtin e n t
sections of th e Selective Service Act. * * *
T he N atio n al W ar L abor B oard has previously s ta te d (Release B -1834A )
th a t th e a u to m atic length-of-service increases to w hich a v e te ra n retu rn in g to his
job is e n title d do n o t include prom otions from one job grade to a n o th e r calling
for g reater or different skill, or to th e o peration of a bona fide ap p ren tice or
trainee program u nd er w hich ad v an cem en t is governed by considerations of
skill a n d ab ility as well as len g th of service.
2 D ep artm en t of Justice, C ircular No. 3851, Supplem ent N o. 3, M ay 10,1945.
3 N ational W ar L abor Board, Press release B-1834B, M arch 7, 1945.-
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Social Security
B e lg ia n S o cial S e c u rity A cts, 1 9 4 4 —4 5 1
Summary
A COMPREHENSIVE social-insurance system, extending and
broadening the benefits of previous legislation, was embodied in three
decree laws bearing the dates December 28, 1944, January 10, 1945,
and February 7, 1945. All wage earners and salaried employees under
verbal or written contract, with the exception of personnel of the
National Society of Belgian Railways (who enjoy comparable benefits
separately), are included in the scheme. General wage earners are
covered by the law of December 28, 1944. Provision is made for
special classes of labor in the law for mine workers of January 10, 1945,
and in the law for seamen of the merchant marine of February 7, 1945.
All three acts provide for (1) an increase in old-age and survivors’
pensions and family allowances, (2) establishment of sickness and
invalidity insurance on a compulsory basis, (3) temporary insurance
for the unemployed, pending establishment of further legislation, and
(4) an improved and generalized system of paid vacations.
Financial contributions amount to 23.5 percent of wages, excluding
that part in excess of 3,000 francs per month, for general workers and
employees; 25.5 percent of wages, without specified limit of pay, is
deducted for miners; and the same percentage, with a 4,000-franc
monthly limit, for merchant seamen. Employers contribute an
amount equal to from 15.25 to 17.5 percent of wages, and workers
pay from 8 to 9 percent of wages, both under the specified pay limit.
In certain cases Government subsidies are provided. Administration
of the general system is based on the principle of cooperation by
existing mutual-aid and workers’ organizations with a National Office
of Social Security created by the law of December 28, 1944. Although
the acts were formally effective January 1, 1945, application of certain
provisions was delayed. The acts were considered as basic laws and
depended on the publicatioxi of regulatory decrees.
General System
Coverage.—The decree law of December 28 applies to all persons
employed under written or verbal contract,2 with the exception of
miners and merchant seamen. The personnel of the National Society
of Belgian Railways is also excluded except when benefits enjoyed by
i D ata are from M oniteur Beige (Brussels), December 30, 1944; F eb ru ary 1, 4, 17, M arch 1, 25, 28, 1945:
reports of Leigh W . H u n t, commercial attaché, and Sm ith Simpson, labor attache, Brussels, dated January
*’ 2 An act of A ugust 7,1922, concerning em ploym ent contracts, provides th a t all task work m ust be done
under w ritten contract, although tim e work m ay be b y verbal contract.
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
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any members of this group are not at least equal to those provided by
the general law. Application of the law to special classes of labor
(such as agricultural workers, domestic workers, persons paid wholly
or partly by tips, fishermen, persons employed in inland navigation,
family-enterprise workers, apprentices, etc.) is delayed owing to the
necessity for adapting the basic law to the individual requirement of
each of these occupations. The immediate coverage of the law is
estimated as 1,200,000.
Contributions.—The system is financed by contributions equal to
23.5 percent of wages, excluding any part of pay over 3,000 francs a
month. Wage earners pay 8 percent of their wages, and salaried
employees 8.25 percent in pay-roll deduction. The remainder is
paid by the employers, who are responsible for the transfer of the
contributions to the Office of Social Security each quarter of the year.
Provision is made for Government subsidies to the unemployment fund
and to the mutual-benefit societies which cooperate in the administra
tion of the insurance. Distribution of the quotas is shown below.
Contributions to Social-Insurance Funds in Belgium, 1945 1
Percent of wages or salaries
W age earners
T y p e of benefit
Wage
earner
Em
ployer
23.50
8.00
15.50
23.50
8.25
15.25
7.00
6.00
2.00
6.00
2.50
3.50
3.50
1.00
3.50
2. 50
1.00
6.00
2.50
10.50
5.00
2.00
6.00
4.50
2. 75
1.00
6.00
2. 25
1.00
6.00
T otal
All ty p e s______ ___________
Old-age and survivors’ p e n sio n s ___
Sickness and inv alid ity benefits___ _____
Provisional unem ploym ent b e n e fits ____
Fam ily allowances______ ______
Paid vacations_______________
Salaried workers
T otal
Salaried
w orker
Em
ployer
1 These percentages m ay be changed b y royal decree on th e recom m endation of the com petent control
commission.
Benefits.—Decrees issued after the decree law of December 28, 1944,
provided specific benefits for each type of insurance. Decrees of the
Regent, dated January 30 and February 5, 1945, increased old-age
and survivors’ pensions by instituting complementary pensions for
persons in specified categories, and by raising old-age, survivors’, and
invalids’ pensions by 50 percent and orphans’ pensions by 100 percent,
to offset higher living costs.
A decree of March 21, 1945, concerning compulsory sickness and
invalidity insurance provided for the insured person and his family
such health services as examiuations, diagnoses, and treatment of
specified ailments. A part of the cost of special medical services is
borne by the insured. When incapacitated for work by illness or
invalidity, the insured receives 60 percent of lost pay for a period of
up to 300 days, and 50 percent thereafter. Maternity allotments are
60 percent of pay for 6 weeks preceding and 6 weeks after childbirth.
By a decree of December 29, 1944, the rate of family allowances for
wage earners was increased to 115 francs a month each for the first and
second child, 160 francs for the third child, 210 francs for the fourth
child, and 300 francs for the fifth and subsequent children.
A report by the Minister of Labor, accompanying the decree law of
December 28, 1944, estimated that unemployment benefits would
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SOCIAL SECURITY
equal 50 percent of the workers’ pay if the Government were to con
tribute as much to the unemployment fund as did worker and em
ployer together (2 percent).
Administration.—A National Office of Social Security was created
in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security by the decree law of
December 28, 1944, implemented by the Regent’s decree of January
16, 1945. It is managed by a general administrator named by the
King and by a management committee composed of 6 members
chosen by royal appointment in equal number from candidates
presented by the principal associations of workers and of employers.
Much of the work of the Office is to be carried on by commissions
selected in like manner, to represent the following insured classes:
(1) Workers in general, (2) harbor workers and ship repairers, (3)
diamond cutters, (4) clerical workers, (5) agricultural workers,
domestic workers, home workers, persons paid partly or wholly in
tips, fishermen, family-enterprise workers, and apprentices, and (6)
other workers who may be included in the scope of the law.
The National Office of Social Security is responsible for the collection
of all funds, and is to keep separate accounts for each group cited
above. The employer is required to transfer the sums deducted from
wages, together with his own contributions,3to the Office each quarter,
and to furnish the employee with a social-security card bearing the
necessary information regarding his social-security status. Penalties
are provided for nonobservance of these provisions. After deduction
of the administrative expenses, the insurance funds are credited to the
several national agencies (funds) which supervise their distribution.
Allocation is made in the following proportions:
Wage earners
Old-age an d su rv iv o rs’ pensions
Sickness an d in v alid ity benefits—
U nem ploym ent-relief p a y m e n ts ...
Fam ily allow ances______________
A nnual holidays w ith p a y _ _ -------
P ercent.
do. . .
do ..
do
d o .... .
29.
25.
8.
25.
10.
8
5
5
5
7
Salaried
employees
44.
21.
8.
25.
7
3
5
5
____
The sums destined for old-age and survivors’ benefits are credited
to the National Fund for Increasing Old-Age and Survivors’ Pensions,
after discount has been made for the portion retained by the employer,
and distributed according to previous pension laws.
Family allowances are distributed as before by the National Family
Allowance Fund.
Compulsory sickness and invalidity benefits are granted by recog
nized mutual-aid organizations or through regional offices of sickness
and invalidity insurance instituted by royal decrees. The National
Fund of Sickness and Invalidity Insurance, administered by a joint
committee, receives and distributes to disbursing agencies the funds
allotted to it. This fund also receives part of the sickness and invalidity
contributions of mine workers.
Unemployment benefits4 are administered through a Provisional
Fund of Aid to the Involuntarily Unemployed, which is established
in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. It receives the con
tributions of all workers, including miners and merchant seamen.
3 T he em ployer is authorized to w ithhold an am ount equal to the contributions paid by him under pre
existing old-age pension laws.
....................
„ _
,
4 T he unem ploym ent-insurance clauses of the legislation here dealt w ith are considered a transitional
step (from the earlier system) to national compulsory unem ploym ent insurance.
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A joint committee of workers’ and employers’ representatives takes
part in the operation of the Fund. Distribution of benefits is made
through authorized workers’ organizations under conditions fixed by
royal decree, by local governments (communes), or by an agency
created for that specific purpose. Local governments share re
sponsibility for verifying the status of the unemployed, and are held
liable for the granting of undue payments. The operation of fee
charging employment offices is prohibited, although certain such
agencies may be authorized to continue temporarily. The Minister
of Labor stated, in his report accompanying the law, that the Pro
visional Fund of Aid to the Involuntarily Unemployed would also be
charged with the administration of free public employment agencies
and with measures aimed at retaining workers.
Miners’ System
Coverage.—The coverage of the law is not specified in the decree
law of January 10, 1945. Earlier legislation applied to all wage
earners in mining enterprises, with few exceptions.
Contributions—A sum equal to 25.5 percent of the wage of each
worker is transferred each quarter by the employer to the National
Miners’ Pension Fund. Workers contribute 8 percent of pay without
specified limit, and employers 17.5 percent. The necessity of other
resources is foreseen by the law, in view of the 55-year retirement age.
Benefits.—After the deduction of administrative expenses, the in
surance is allocated as follows: 9 percent for old-age and survivors’
pensions; 6 percent for sickness and invalidity insurance; 6 percent for
family allowances; 2.5 percent for annual vacations; and 2 percent
for the Provisional Fund of Aid to the Involuntarily Unemployed.
With the exception of old-age insurance, the benefits extended by the
miners’ insurance system closely resemble those granted by the general
insurance law of December 28, 1944.
Administration.—The National Miners’ Pension Fund performs
many of the functions fulfilled by the Office of Social Security in the
general social security law. It continues to administer retirement
pensions and is responsible for managing part of the sickness-invalidity
insurance and for the paid-vacation provisions of the law. It also
distributes unemployment benefits and family allowances. Insurance
contributions are received monthly from employers.
Merchant Seamen’s System
Coverage.—Insurance is compulsory for all persons bound by a labor
contract and enrolled in the general registry of merchant seamen,
and for all persons who contract to perform a task aboard ship,
whether or not recruited to take part in a voyage.
Contributions.—All pay, excluding any amount exceeding 4,000
francs a month, is subject to a deduction of 9 percent for socialinsurance purposes. The employer contributes an amount equal to
16.5 percent on all wages below 4,000 francs a month. The total,
equal to 25.5 percent of wages up to 4,000 francs, is payable quarterly
to the National Office of Seamen’s Social Security. The Government
subsidizes this office with an amount equal to 5 percent of wages as
previously defined, to be allocated to old-age and survivors’ pensions.
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SOCIAL SECURITY
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Benefits.—The funds of the National Office of Seamen’s Social
Security are allocated thus: 15 percent for old-age and survivors’
pensions, 6 percent for family allowances, 5 percent for sickness and
invalidity insurance, 2.5 percent for annual vacations, and 2 percent
for the Provisional Fund of Aid to the Involuntarily Unemployed.
All these percentages may be modified by royal decree. Old-age
and survivors’ pensions and family allowances are increased, the
latter to the level of those of workers in general. Sickness and in
validity insurance is extended to the families of seamen. Unemploy
ment benefits are the same as for workers in general, but a royal de
cree may adapt this insurance to special conditions affecting seamen.
Administration.—The National Office of Seamen’s Social Security
functions under the Ministry of Communications. It is managed by a
joint committee representing workers and employers. The pre
existing Relief and Provident Fund is made responsible for the pay
ment of increased old-age and survivors’ pensions and other benefits.
The arrangement made for the administration of unemployment
insurance by the National Fund of Aid to the Involuntarily Unem
ployed may be discontinued whenever a separate seamen’s unemploy
ment system is instituted.
W
W
W
G u a ra n te e d W eek ly P ay fo r B ritis h B u ild in g L a b o r 1
A WEEKLY minimum of 32 hours’ pay was in effect guaranteed for
building-construction operatives under an amendment to the working
rules of the British National Joint Council for the Building Industry,
decided upon at the Council’s annual meeting, on March 27, 1945.
The operation of the plan is intended not to supersede the provisions
of the unemployment-insurance system but to supplement them.
The amendment applied to the rules covering time lost from work
owing to inclement weather. It provided for continuance during
peacetime of a constructive feature of the Essential Work (Building
and Civil Engineering) Order of 1941, prescribing payment of a
guaranteed minimum time wage for employees for every week in
which they were capable of working and available for any work that
they might reasonably be asked to perform.
Although the program is significant, the industrial coverage will
not be inclusive, as the workers whose wages and conditions of em
ployment are fixed by the National Joint Council are a minority of
those engaged in building construction. The council, which includes
workmen as well as employers, was formed by the National Federation
of Building Trades Employers (and allied organizations of plumber
and slater employers) and the National Federation of Building Trades
Operatives.
To qualify for the 32 hours of guaranteed pay the operative must
meet a number of specified requirements in addition to being available
for work in his own occupation during normal hours (i. e., 7%, 8, or
8y2 hours Monday through Friday, and 4 hours on Saturday). He
must also be ready and willing to perform work in any other buildingindustry occupation of which he is capable or at any other site or shop
where work is available. If abnormal weather conditions interrupt
i Inform ation is from report (No. 199) prepared b y E . M . H odgkinson, U nited States E m bassy at London,
dated April 24, 1945.
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
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work over a period, the employer may make suitable arrangements
to have the workers register or show their availability each day.
An operative who performs actual work in any pay week, is avail
able for work throughout the normal working hours, and has fulfilled
the other foregoing requirements but, because of inclement weather,
is prevented from working, shall receive payment (at his current
hourly rate) for half of the time thus lost from work. His total
week’s pay in such a week may not be less than 32 times his hourly
wage rate.
For the first full week of inclement weather following a week in
which some work has been performed, the worker is entitled to re
ceive the guaranteed minimum pay for 32 hours. For the second
and succeeding full week or weeks of such weather, however, he is
not entitled to any payment under the agreement, but must register
for unemployment benefit.
Time lost because of sickness or other causes beyond the worker’s
control, or because of an agreement for vacations with pay, is ex
cluded from the calculations for guaranteed weekly m in im u m pay.
An employee who fails to be available for work during any part of
the normal working hours (except for the above reasons) forfeits his
right to any payment for inclement weather covering the hours in
that day and his right to guaranteed weekly minimum pay for the
pay week in which that day occurs.
An increase or decrease in pay that comes into operation on a day
other than the first day of a pay week may not be calculated in the
guaranteed weekly minimum until the first day of the succeeding pay
week.
During the first 6 working days of employment, termination of
service by either the employer or the employee must be preceded by
2 hours’ notice, such notice expiring at the end of the normal work
day. Otherwise the expiration of 2 hours’ notice shall be at the
normal closing time on Fridays. These provisions do not prevent
the employer from transferring workers, from hiring persons by the
hour, from summarily discharging operatives for misconduct, or from
terminating a particular operation for which an operative has been
employed on the instructions of a recognized competent authority,
on 2 hours’ notice expiring at the end of any day.
U n e m p lo y m e n t C o m p e n sa tio n in M e a t-P a c k in g
In d u s tr y in U r u g u a y 1
A COMPENSATION fund for unemployment in the meat-packing
industry in Uruguay was created by the law of December 12, 1944.
A guaranty of 100 hours of work per month is provided by stipulating
that compensation shall be paid for any hours under 100 not worked.
A labor exchange is to be organized by the Fund and workers are
forbidden to refuse employment except for just cause. The Fund,
Caja de Compensaciones por Desocupación en la Industria Frigorífico,
is to be governed by a council, including Government officials and
1 D a ta are from report of John T . F ishbum , senior economic analyst, U nited States Em bassy, M onte
video, F e b ru a ry 5, 1945, enclosing copy of decree of December 12, 1944.
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73
SOCIAL SECURITY
two worker and two employer representatives. Resources for bene
fit payments are to come from certain import, export, and cattle
taxes, and from a 6%-percent pay-roll tax and a 2-percent wage tax
effective November 1, 1944. The President of Uruguay is given
authority to combine the existing Family Compensation Fund of the
meat-packing industry with the new Fund without interfering with
either service. The îaw invalidates and replaces that of December
26, 1941,2 under which 100 hours of work were guaranteed during 3
slack months.
Workers Covered by Fund
Workers whose names have been on the pay rolls of any of four
specified meat-packing companies (and similar companies which may
be formed) for certain periods of time may claim compensation from
the Fund. Since it is reported that names are retained on pay rolls
during slack seasons, the new law apparently covers all but purely
seasonal workers. For this reason and because of the monthly
guaranty the law improves the situation prevailing under the decree
of December 26, 1941. Actual coverage may include a considerable
body of the estimated 24,000 workers employed in the food industry
on December 31, 1944.
Eligibility for Benefits
A worker is eligible for unemployment-compensation payments if,
at the time of his application, he has been on the pay roll 12 months
out of the last 18 months, or 18 months out of the last 36 (provided at
least 8 of these months were during the last 12), or 24 months out of
the last 48 (provided at least 6 of these months were during the last 12),
or 6 months out of the last 12 months (in which case the payment
amounts to only 60 percent of the amount assigned by the scale). _
The Fund is to make its own regulations regarding the eligibility
of workers who, although normally on the packing-company pay rolls,
are in the employ of third parties. The penalty for a false statement
is to be suspension from the register for 6 months and, for another
offense, elimination from it.
Benefits Provided
A minimum of 100 hours of paid work per month is guaranteed by
the law. Eligible workers who work less than 100 hours are to receive
payment from the Fund for the hours not worked, as follows:
R egular h o urly earnings (m
centésim os ') :
U nder 30_____________ F u ll regular pay.
30 an d u n d er 6 0 --------- 30 cent6sim os, plus
th a t am o u n t a n d
60 and u n d er 90----------- 60 cent^sim os, plus
th a t a m o u n t a n d
90 a n d over___________ 90 centSsimos, plus
th a t a m o u n t an d
Compensation
70 p ercen t of difference betw een
regular earnings.
40 p ercen t of difference betw een
reg u lar earnings.
20 p ercen t of difference betw een
reg u lar earnings.
1 Average exchange rate of peso (100 centisimos) in December 1944—controlled, 65.8 cents; free, 54.2 cents.
2 See Labor Conditions in Latin America, No. 12 (BLS Serial No. R. 1467). R egulatory decrees were
issued on Jan u ary 23 and Ju ly 2, 1943.
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
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For workers paid by the job, the unemployment-compensation rate
is to be based on the hourly average earned in the last 6 months in
■which they worked the legal minimum number of hours. For those
paid irregular daily rates, compensation is to be based upon average
hourly earnings during the same period.
Workers may not refuse work offered by the companies without
just cause, and they must give normal value in their work. If be
cause of lack of regular work, persons are employed during the 100
hours at work in which they earn less than their usual rates, the Fund
is to pay the difference.
All benefit payments under the unemployment-compensation law
are to be unattachable.
Financial Resources of the Fund
The Fund for unemployment compensation is to operate on income
derived from (1) the export and import taxes which would normally
be paid by the packing industry, less 35 percent to be retained by the
companies, effective January 1, 1945; (2) a 6K-percent pay-roll tax
and a 2-percent wage tax, which the employer is to retain and pay to
the Bank of the Republic, effective November 1, 1944; (3) a tax paid
by the seller, amounting to 0.001 centesimo per kilogram of weight
on the hoof, on all cattle, sheep, and swine bought in the national
livestock market, effective on the day the law was published; and (4)
all fines levied for noncompliance with the terms of the law.
Measures for setting the new Fund in motion include the provision
of a credit of 250,000 pesos from the Bank of the Republic, repayable,
without interest, from receipts of the Fund.
Employment Exchanges
The Fund is to organize an employment exchange, which will main
tain registers made up from personnel lists supplied by the meat
packing enterprises. The lists must be in duplicate and show sepa
rately the names of workers whose service meets the requirements for
full eligibility. Workers’ committees are to be given an opportunity
to examine the lists, before definitive registers are established for each
company. The employment exchange for the Capital area will operate
as a part of the Fund offices there, and provision is made for establish
ing local offices in the interior.
When in need of help, the employer must call workers who are on
his own list as eligible for benefits, or, if his list is exhausted, from other
such lists in the same locality, before employing other workers. A
company is to be permitted to hire apprentices under 18 years of age,
provided the action is in conformity wdth relevant law and the number
of apprentices does not exceed 2 percent of the personnel on the
employer’s register.
A person who, without legitimate cause, refuses or fails to present
himself for work offered under the provisions drawn up for the em
ployment exchanges is to be suspended from the register for 2 months
for the first offense, 4 months for the second, 6 months for the third,
and permanently for another offense. Penalties are also provided for
noncompliance by the meat-packing companies.
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Industrial Injuries
F a ta l W o rk I n ju r ie s in S h ip y a rd s, 1 9 4 3 a n d 1 9 4 4 1
Summary
ON THE basis of shipyard accident reports submitted as a part of
the Program of Safety and Industrial Health in Contract Shipyards,
sponsored by the U. S. Maritime Commission and the U. S. Navy
Department, it is estimated that about 700 employees of private ship
yards died as a result of injuries experienced in the course of their work
during the years of 1943 and 1944.
In comparison with the estimated volume of 173,000 nonfatal dis
abling injuries experienced by shipyard workers in the same period,
the number of fatalities is small. Because of their seriousness, how
ever, fatal accidents are significant to a degree far exceeding their
numbers, and for this reason are deserving of particular study for the
purpose of determining what specific measures can be taken to prevent
the recurrence of similar accidents.
For many of the fatal accidents full details are lacking, but reports
have been submitted describing in some detail the circumstances
connected with 655 occupational deaths. It is immediately apparent
in reviewing these case histories that fatal and nonfatal accidents fall
into very similar patterns, and that the differences in the severity of
the injuries incurred are due largely to chance. This observation
supports the basic theory of all scientific accident prevention, that
the proper approach to safety is to attempt to prevent all accidents
regardless of their probable consequences. There are, however, some
significant differences in the patterns formed by the fatal and nonfatal
accidents, which should be of importance in planning shipyard safety
programs.
It seems particularly important that falls from one level to another
were responsible for more shipyard fatalities than were ascribed to
any other single accident type. Fully 39 percent of all the reported
fatalities resulted from such falls, and more than half of these falls
were from scaffolds, stagings, and other working surfaces.
“Struck-by” accidents were the second most prolific producers of
fatalities. Nearly a fourth of the reported fatal accidents were of
this type. In almost half of these accidents the specific agency in
volved was a crane or a crane load. Motor vehicles, including strad
dle-trucks, were the agencies next most commonly involved. Material
defects within the agencies caused many of these accidents, particularly
those involving cranes. In the greater number of cases, however, the
unsafe conditions which contributed to the accidents were created
through misuse of the agencies, such as rigging loads improperly,
1 Prepared in th e B ureau’s In d u strial H azards Division b y F ran k S. M cE lroy and George R. M cC or
mack.
651654—45------6
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76
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
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overloading, operating at unsafe speed, or standing, walking, or
working within range of the moving cranes or vehicles.
Contact with electric current has not been one of the outstanding
sources of shipyard injuries indicated in any previous studies based
upon an analysis of all disabling injuries. It ranked third, however,
among the types of accidents which resulted in fatalities. Seventytwo of the reported fatalities were the result of contact with electricity.
Sixty-nine of these were electrocutions and the other three were cases
of burns produced by electric flashes. Defective grounds or broken
wiring in machines, powered hand tools, and other electric equipment
were responsible for many of these accidents. The failure to under
stand or to respect the hazard involved in the seemingly simple act
of replacing broken light bulbs while standing upon a grounded steel
hull led to 10 of the 72 reported fatalities.
In the broad analysis of the fundamental causes of the accidents
which resulted in fatalities, the most striking fact is that extremely
few of the accidents were attributed to the lack of or the failure to
use proper personal safety equipment. In view of the relatively large
volume of nonfatal injuries attributed to these causes, this is rather
surprising. In other respects, however, the cause pattern of the fatal
ities was quite similar to that of the nonfatal accidents.
Among the various categories of unsafe working conditions which
led to the occurrence of fatal accidents, the most prominent was that
of defective agencies. These defective agencies included a very wide
variety of materials and equipment. Most important from the stand
point of the volume of fatalities for which they were responsible, how
ever, were improperly rigged crane loads, defective hand tools, defective
scaffolds or staging, defective machines, and defective electrical
apparatus.
Hazardous arrangements and procedures, primarily in respect to
the operation of hoisting apparatus and vehicles, were the second
most important group of unsafe working conditions directly connected
with the occurrence of fatal accidents, while improperly guarded
agencies held third place. The great majority of the improperly
guarded agencies were scaffolds, stagings, and other elevated working
surfaces, and most of the accidents attributed to these conditions were
falls.
Among the various categories of unsafe acts which contributed to
the occurrence of fatal accidents, that of unnecessarily assuming an
unsafe position was outstanding. Specifically, the most common of
the unsafe acts in this general group were standing or working in the
way of moving cranes, crane loads, or vehicles; approaching too close
to deck openings or to the edge of elevated surfaces; and misusing
scaffolds or stagings, particularly, jumping from one surface to another
or climbing on the supporting framework.
Some fatalities occurred in practically every occupational group
of shipyard workers. In proportion to the number of workers in the
craft and in actual numbers, however, there were more fatalities
among riggers than in any other occupational group. About 15
percent of the workers reported killed were riggers, 12 percent were
welders, and 10 percent were shipwrights.
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INDUSTRIAL IN JU R IE S
77
K ind of Injuries Sustained
Over 45 percent of the injuries reported as resulting in fatalities
were fractures. Another 12 percent were simply described as “ crush
ing” injuries. Many of the injuries reported as crushed heads, chests,
and pelvic regions were, no doubt, also fracture cases. Electrocutions
accounted for 13 percent of the fatal injuries, burns and scalds for
9 percent, and drowning for 7 percent.
Almost 38 percent of the reported fatalities resulted from head
injuries. Three-fourths of these were skull fractures. In addition,
there were 14 fatalities which were described as “ crushed head.”
About one-fourth of the fatalities resulted from trunk injuries.
Fractured vertebrae, ribs, hips, or pelvic bones were most common,
although crushing injuries were numerous. Death resulted more
frequently from injuries to the abdomen than from injuries to any
other part of the trunk. Contusions or bruises led to 8 fatalities;
6 of these were abdominal injuries. All of the 7 cases described as
strains or sprains of the trunk were abdominal cases; in 3 of these
death occurred in the course of surgery to correct a hernia.
Fatal injuries involving the upper or lower extremities were com
paratively infrequent; injuries to legs, feet, or toes accounted for
approximately 4 percent of the fatalities and injuries to arms, hands,
or fingers for a little more than 1 percent.
Some injuries were not confined to particular members of the body
but were more or less general in extent; these have been classified as
“ body general.” About one-third of the fatal work injuries fell in
this group. These included electrocutions, which caused 69 fatali
ties; drownings, 38 fatalities; and 42 cases of death as a result of
extensive bums or scalds.
Accident Type
More fatal injuries resulted from falls than from any other type
of accident and practically all of these falls were from one level to
another. Although falls to a lower level produced only 12 percent
of all disabling injuries reported by shipyards during 1943 and 13
percent in 1944, 39 percent of the fatalities reported during the 2-year
period 1943-44 were due to this type of accident, indicating that,
although falls are not so common as some other accident types, they
are much more likely to result in serious injury.
Fatalities from falls.—Over half of the fatal falls were falls from
working surfaces. Of the 251 deaths resulting from falls to a lower
level, 129 were falls from working surfaces and, of this group, 86 were
falls from stagings or platforms. Twelve additional workers were
killed when they fell from stagings or platforms upon which they were
walking or climbing.
Falls from cranes or crane loads were responsible for 16 fatalities.
In 4 of these cases, the injured employee was riding the crane load
and in 2 others the worker stood on the load as it was being moved
from, or to, its resting place. Ten men were killed when they fell
from crane ladders, cabs, or platforms.
Sixteen employees sustained fatal injuries when they fell from
ladders and 20 lost their lives as a result of falls from vehicles. Of
this latter group, 13 were falls from water craft, 4 were falls from
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
194 5
trucks, 2 were falls from trailers, and 1 was a fall from a railroad car.
Falls from stairs caused 4 fatalities.
Although not the direct cause of death, falls on the same level
contributed to 10 fatal work injuries. Two men fell into the water
and drowned. A third injury in this group occurred to a chipper who
fell on his lunch bucket and suffered a contused chest and a ruptured
spleen. A female pipefitter’s helper sustained a similar injury when
she fell on a wet deck. In another case an electrician’s helper fell
to the pavement when a pipe, which he was using as a lever, broke.
He died as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage. Three other workers
died from tumors or other complications resulting from this type of
fall. In still another case, the trousers of a shipfitter caught on a
projecting stud bolt. In an attempt to keep himself from falling the
worker grabbed and pulled a fellow employee on top of him as he fell.
The weight of the second man caused a brain concussion to the first,
resulting in his death.
11Struck by” accidents.—The second largest group of fatal accidents
involved employees’ being struck by moving objects. Accidents of
this type caused 157, or about one-fourth of the reported fatal injuries.
Fifty-one employees were killed when they were struck by moving
crane loads. Secure and proper fastening of the load, regular inspec
tion of cranes, and sufficient clearance for the movement of the load
would have prevented practically all of these injuries. Another 22
employees were killed when they were struck by other moving parts
of cranes. Moving vehicles struck and killed 24 employees. Trucks,
busses, or automobiles were involved in 16 of these deaths, straddletrucks in 5, and locomotives in 3. Five men were killed when they
were struck by kick-backs from saws, and 2 others were struck by
parts of exploding grinding wheels.
Contact with electric current.—Contact with electric current resulted in
death for 72 shipyard workers. Ten workers were electrocuted when they
accidentally touched the filaments in broken light bulbs, and 2 others
were killed while using defective extension cords. Nine workers were
electrocuted while working on or near live circuits, and 12 sustained
similar injuries while working on control panels or switches. Hand
tools were involved in 13 electrocutions; welding tools were the agen
cies in 8 of these cases, and drills were involved in 5. Defective
grounds led to 9 of the 12 fatalities associated with the use of ma
chines. Eight men were electrocuted while working on or standing
near cranes. In 7 of these cases the crane came into contact with
overhead power lines; in the other a maintenance man was electrocuted
while repairing a crane on which the power had not been shut off.
u Caught in, on, or between” accidents.—About 10 percent of the
reported fatalities were caused by employees’ being caught in, on, or
between objects. Crushing injuries were sustained by 34 shipyard
workers when they were caught between cranes and other objects,
the crane load being the crushing agency in 14 of these cases. Four
teen additional workers were killed when they were caught in, on, or
between vehicles.
Miscellaneous types.—Thirty-seven employees lost their lives in
explosions. Thirteen of these workers were killed in one accident
when a gasoline barge exploded. Seven men were killed in explosions
of acetylene equipment.
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INDUSTRIAL IN JU R IE S
79
Fire or flames caused the deaths of 29 workers; live steam or hot
water, 5; and heat exhaustion, 2.
Accidents involving inhalation, absorption, or ingestion caused the
deaths of 10 workers. Welding or burning fumes were reported as
responsible for 5 of these fatalities, and carbon tetrachloride fumes for
2. One man was drowned as he attempted to free debris from a propellor, another was suffocated when he failed to leave a ship which
was being fumigated with hydrocyanic acid, and a third was asphyxi
ated when a bottle of carbon dioxide was broken.
Unsafe Working Conditions
Defective equipment, hazardous arrangement or procedure, and
unguarded, or inadequately guarded equipment caused practically all
of the 463 fatal accidents in which an unsafe working condition was
known to exist. Defective equipment was responsible for over onethird of the accidents, hazardous arrangement or procedure for over
one-fourth, and inadequately guarded agencies for about one-fifth.
Defective equipment.—Defective scaffolds, stagings, or catwalks were
responsible for accidents resulting in 23 of the reported fatalities.
Four of these deaths resulted when workers leaned against insecure
backrails which parted under the pressure and allowed the workers to
fall. Loose planks which tipped or turned when stepped upon dropped
5 workers to their deaths, and another employee was killed when he
was struck by a plank dislodged from an overhead staging.
Accidents involving defective cranes or crane parts led to 42
fatalities, 32 of which were specifically associated with defective slings
or sling loads. Fourteen men were killed when the loads, or part of
the loads, dropped from the hooks or cables because of defective
rigging, and 10 others were killed when the lifting chain or cable
parted.
Accidents involving defective hand tools were responsible for 26
fatalities. Thirteen of these workers were killed by fires or explosions
attributed to gas leaks in burners’ torches. Three welders were elec
trocuted by coming into contact with defective welding tools, and 5
other electrocutions were ascribed to defective wiring in portable
drills. One man was killed by parts from an exploding grinding wheel.
Twelve of the 18 fatalities associated with defective machines re
sulted because of electrical short circuits in the machines. Ten
workers were killed in accidents involving defective electric extension
cords.
Hazardous arrangement or procedure.—Accidents involving inade
quate planning for the use of cranes led to 58 of the reported fatalities.
Insufficient clearance in the operation caused 27 fatal injuries.
Seventeen of these occurred when employees were caught between
the crane cab and another object or were struck by the crane while
they were working on the craneway. Ten workers were killed in
accidents that occurred when the crane load struck some object as
the load was being raised or lowered. Twelve other fatalities occurred
when the employees were struck by the load as it was being lowered,
or were struck by objects falling from a suspended load when it was
carried over their heads. Swinging slingloads which struck the injured
employee caused an additional 8 fatalities, and 7 men were electrocuted
when the crane on or near which they were working came in contact
with high-tension wires.
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
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Unsafely stored or piled materials caused 25 fatal accidents. In
most of these cases the piles of materials were insufficiently braced or
poorty placed. Loose materials lying on scaffolds or other working
surfaces were specifically responsible for 9 of these deaths.
The need for better control of traffic in shipyards is emphasized by
the fact that 18 workers lost their lives when they were struck by
cars or trucks. Standard-type trucks were involved in 10 of these
accidents; straddle-trucks in 5; and automobiles or busses in 3.
Unguarded or improperly guarded agencies.—Improperly guarded
agencies were responsible for 106 fatalities. Unguarded or inade
quately guarded scaffolds, stagings, or catwalks accounted for 48 of
these, and open manholes, hatchways, and other unguarded openings
in working surfaces caused 40 additional fatalities. The 5 fatalities
associated with unguarded machines all resulted from kick-backs
from power saws. Nine workers were electrocuted when they came
in contact with unguarded or inadequately guarded electrical equip
ment such as switches and power lines.
Unsafe Acts
Of the 655 fatalities included in this study, 370 were known to have
resulted from accidents involving an unsafe act. Of the remainder,
there were 173 cases which apparently involved no unsafe acts, while
112 could not be classfied because of insufficient data.
Among the accidents in which an unsafe act was known to have
been committed, over 65 percent were caused by the injured employee’s
taking an unsafe position or posture. Exposure to the crane or its
load caused 84 of the 242 fatalities in this group of unsafe acts.
Unnecessary exposure to the slingload alone caused 41 of these fatal
work injuries, and 43 other workers were killed when they exposed
themselves to other parts of the crane. In most of the latter group
of cases the employees were caught between the crane cab and some
other object or were struck by the crane as it was being moved.
Thirty-three workers lost their lives after taking an unsafe position
on stagings or platforms on which they were working; 4 others died
as a result of accidents on stagings on which they were climbing or
walking. Seven employees were killed when they fell from the staging
as they attempted to climb from one level to another, and 3 others
fell as they attempted to jump from one staging to another. Falls
from other working surfaces caused 24 additional injuries in this
group.
Unnecessary exposure in connection with the operation of vehicles
resulted in death to 17 shipyard workers. Nine men were killed when
they fell from vehicles on which they were riding or were caught be
tween the vehicles and other objects. Three men drowned when they
fell from ships on trial runs. Another employee was killed when he
attempted to grease the mechanism of a dump truck as the body was
being lowered; he sustained a spine fracture.
Using unsafe equipment or equipment unsafely constituted the
second highest number of unsafe acts. Most of these cases involved
misuse of stagings or scaffolds, hand tools, hoisting apparatus, or
electrical equipment.
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INDUSTRIAL IN JU R IE S
81
Fatalities , by Occupation of Injured W orker
Practically every regular shipyard occupation was represented in the
fatality list of 1943 and 1944. There were, however, certain highly
significant occupational groupings among the reported cases, which
emphasize the variations in the hazards faced by workers of the differ
ent crafts. Fully 37 percent of the workers who were killed were
employed as shipwrights, riggers, or welders, or as helpers to one of
these crafts. An additional 27 percent of the fatally injured workers
were classified as electricians, laborers, pipefitters, or shipfitters, or as
helpers to these crafts. Over 64 percent of the fatalities, therefore,
fell within seven occupational groups which together include less than
half the total employment of shipyards.
The greatest variation between the fatality record and the general
occupational distribution in shipyards was in respect to the riggers.
This occupation generally constitutes about 2 percent of the total
employment in shipyards. In the fatality record, however, riggers
accounted for no less than 15 percent.
This extreme disproportion was not apparent in respect to any
other craft, but the proportions of fatalities to shipwrights, crane
operators, electricians, and erectors were each at least double the
relative numerical importance of these crafts in the total shipyard
population. Similarly, the proportion of all fatalities which befell
pipefitters, shipfitters, and welders substantially exceeded the pro
portion of all shipyard employment represented by those crafts.
Riggers.—Although there were a few fatal accidents to riggers
which resulted from unsafe conditions or operations not directly
connected with the movement of materials by means of cranes, most
of the cases involving riggers or their helpers were closely associated
with hazards arising directly from the operations of their craft.
Safe practice dictates that workers should remain clear of moving
sling loads. Failure to obey this rule led to at least 34 of the fatal
injuries to riggers. Nine riggers were killed when they were struck
by swinging sling loads. In 7 of these cases, the injured was caught
between the swinging load and a fixed object. Three of these acci
dents occurred when the load was being picked up and 3 occurred
when the load was being lowered into place. Another rigger was
killed, when, after giving the signal to the crane operator to swing a
roof section into place, he turned his back to the moving crane load
and was knocked into an opening on the deck.
Defective hoisting apparatus, which permitted the load or part of
the apparatus to drop on the worker, was responsible for 9 fatal acci
dents. Two riggers were killed in separate accidents when the cable
“ran out” of the drum. In one of these accidents the cable was
fastened to the drum, but pulled out of the fastening; in the other, the
cable was not fastened. The recommendation of the safety inspector
in the latter case was: “Recommended that superintendent and fore
man place identification marks near end of cable.” Crane booms,
which fell because of mechanical defects, caused 3 riggers to lose
their lives; and a defective cable caused a small crane to tip and fall
on a fourth worker.
Poorly rigged loads which permitted objects to drop from the sling
resulted in 9 fatal injuries. In 2 other accidents, riggers crawled
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
19 45
under the loads after they had been landed and were killed when the
loads shifted.
Four riggers were killed when they attempted to land or guide sling
loads from an unsafe position. In one case the worker was standing
on the rail of the ship. The swing of the crane threw him off balance
and he fell 30 feet. In a similar accident, a rigger was standing on a
stairway. He was thrown to the main deck 15 feet below.
Standing on material upon which loads were being placed resulted
in the death of 6 riggers. Two of these men were standing on racks
which became unbalanced when the load was placed. In the other
4 cases the slings struck and jarred the piled material on which the
riggers were standing, throwing 3 men from the piles and causing
the fourth to be crushed among the materials when the pile collapsed.
One of these men experienced only a fractured ankle at the time, but
died later as a result of a blood clot.
Four riggers were killed when they were standing near, or on, the
load, as it was moved. In one of these instances the rigger was
standing on a rack against which the crane load was resting. As
the crane load was lifted the rack collapsed and the worker was caught
in 10 tons of falling steel. Two other riggers were injured when the
piles of materials on which they were working shifted and fell on them.
Riding, or sitting, on the crane is usually forbidden. Violation
of this rule, however, resulted in 8 fatal injuries to riggers. In 5 of
these accidents the injured workers were sitting on the chassis of the
crane and were crushed as the crane was swung around. Three
other riggers fell under the wheels of cranes.
Four riggers were injured fatally as a result of riding the sling load.
In 2 of these cases the load shifted, dropping the workers to the area
below. A third injury was caused by a cable parting and dropping
the worker; in the fourth case the crane operator dropped the load into
the water, drowning the rigger.
Thirteen riggers lost their lives when they fell from walkways, lad
ders, or working surfaces. Unguarded or inadequately guarded work
ing areas contributed to 4 of these accidents. In one case, the rigger
was leaning against a weakened railing when it gave way, and he fell
50 feet to the main deck. In another accident, an inexperienced rigger
became excited and backed away from a rising load. He fell 18 feet
from the unguarded platform on which he was standing. A third
rigger fell from the deck of a ship to a float and sustained a fractured
skull. Another dislodged a safety bar across a doorway when he was
throwing a rope upward to another level; later he fell through the un
guarded doorway. Four riggers sustained fatal injuries while working
on defective or inadequate working surfaces and 5 others lost their
lives when they failed to use proper care in climbing or walking. Two
of these men fell from ladders, another stepped over the side of the
ship to the anchor and fell, and 2 others fell from objects on which
they were walking instead of using the provided ladders or the desig
nated walkways.
Four riggers were killed (2 in one accident) as a result of explosions,
and 4 were electrocuted. In each of the latter four accidents, the boom
of the crane came in contact with an overhead power line.
Two riggers were injured when they were struck by moving ve
hicles. Two others died as a result of surgical operations for correc
tion of apparently nonfatal injuries. In one of these cases the worker
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died during an operation for hernia, and in the second the worker died
during an operation for the removal of a foreign body from his eye.
Welders.—Over 60 percent of the reported fatal injuries to welders
were due either to contact with electric current or to falls to a lower
level. The dangers of low-voltage current are emphasized by these
electrocutions. Five of the 24 deaths in this group resulted from con
tact with the exposed filaments of broken electric-light bulbs, and 7
men were killed when the current from their welding torches passed
through their bodies. Clothing, which had become wet with perspira
tion, contributed to at least 2 of the latter group of injuries.
Defective grounds on welding machines caused 6 fatal accidents to
welders. Two of these occurred only 8 days apart on the same ma
chine. Open switches accounted for 2 deaths, and 1 man was
electrocuted while he was pulling a 440-volt feed line for a welding
machine. The insulation was broken, permitting his hand to come
into contact with the electric current.
Sixteen of the 24 fatal falls were from stagings or platforms. Most
of these were due to lack of, or inadequate, guards. In 2 of these
accidents, the welders fell between the guardrail and the working
surface. Loose flooring on the stagings contributed to 3 fatal acci
dents.
Two welders were killed when they fell from the deck of a ship. Two
others fell into open hatchways and 2 fell from ladders. Another was
killed when he fell into an open, unguarded pit in the yard and still
another fell from the boat rail on which he was standing.
Fifteen welders lost their lives when they were struck by moving
objects. Seven of these were killed by crane loads. Four were
crushed when the plates or brackets upon which they were working
fell on them. One man was struck by a straddle-truck and another by
a standard-type truck.
Burns were responsible for 5 fatalities. Two welders were fatally
burned when they used an oxygen line for a cooling unit. When they
lit their torches they were enveloped in flames. In a similar accident,
a fire was started when a defective oxygen hose permitted the oxygen
to escape into the working area. Two other welders were burned
while welding overhead without wearing protective clothing. In one
of these cases the worker neglected to report for first aid until an in
fection had developed.
Four welders were killed in explosions. Another developed pneu
monia after breathing welding fumes, and a sixth became unconscious
and died, presumably because of inadequate ventilation, while welding
in a confined space.
Shipwrights or carpenters.—Slightly over half of the 63 reported
fatalities to shipwrights were caused by falls from one level to another.
Fourteen of these falls were from scaffolds. In 3 of these cases the
worker fell over or under the guardrail. Three others were caused by
defective scaffolds. In one case the surface was slippery because of
rain, in another the scaffold planks were not bolted, and in the third a
cable pulled loose from a swinging scaffold. Four men fell as they
attempted to move planks on scaffolds and became unbalanced. One
carpenter lost his balance when he was struck by a blast of air from an
air valve, and another fell as he was climbing down the outside of
staging.
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
1945
Six carpenters were killed when they fell into deck openings, none
of which were guarded, and 6 others fell overboard. Two of the latter
group were killed in the same accident. In this case, the men were
working on a life boat which was swung over the side of the ship. The
release gear of the lifeboat was made fast to the floor boards. As they
removed the retaining pins from the floor boards, the release was
automatically tripped and the life boat fell 42 feet to the pier. Both
men were thrown clear of the boat and sustained fractured skulls.
Eighteen shipwrights were killed as a result of being struck by
moving objects. Four of these sustained fatal injuries in one accident
when a plate on which they had been working fell on them. In this
accident, a padeye was welded to a bulkhead and another to a shellplate assembly. The padeyes were connected by a turnbuckle which
was being used to pull the plate into position. The padeye on the
bulkhead pulled off during the operation, causing the shell-plate
assembly to fall on the workers. Four other workers were killed by
kick-backs from circular saws. None of the saws was guarded.
Three men were killed when they were struck by cranes or crane loads
and one was struck by a plank which slipped out of a hand line which
was being used to lower the plank from overhead. Failure to use
equipment safely caused two additional deaths among the ship
wrights.
Four shipwrights were caught between moving objects and crushed.
One man was building a box between two railroad cars and was caught
between them as they were moved. A second man started a boat in
gear and with a full throttle, so that the boat lurched forward under
the pier and crushed him. Another was caught between a moving
overhead crane and a pillar as he was standing on the crane track.
The fourth of these accidents occurred to a carpenter working in the
hold of a ship. He was ordered to stand clear of a sling load which
was being landed and he moved back 6 feet. The load, however, hit
the deck and skidded in his direction, pinning him between the load
and a stanchion.
Two shipwrights were electrocuted while working with shortcircuited machines. Another was working on a temporary scaffold
under the power rail of a gantry crane. As he straightened up he
came into contact with the exposed rail.
Improper care in walking contributed to 2 fatal injuries. In one
of these accidents a splinter entered a shipwright’s leg as he brushed
against a timber during a launching. He failed to report to the firstaid room as instructed by his foreman; infection developed, causing
his death. In the other accident, the injured was 1 of 3 men carry
ing a heavy plank. The plank struck a skidway and the shipwright
walked into the end of the plank, rupturing his intestine.
Shipfitters.—Falls accounted for more fatalities to shipfitters than
any other type of accident. Of the 53 reported fatalities to shipfitters,
28 were caused by falls. Twenty-six of these were falls to a lower
level; falls from stagings or scaffolds were responsible for 16 deaths, 3
men fell from ladders, 4 men fell into holds of ships, and 3 others fell
over the sides of ships.
Injuries resulting from being struck by moving objects caused the
deaths of 11 shipfitters. Four were killed when they were struck by
moving vehicles. Straddle-trucks were involved in 2 of these acci
dents. Four other workers were fatally injured when they were
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struck by cranes or crane loads. Three of these men were struck by
the load and the fourth was injured when he was struck by a crane as
he was walking on the craneway. Another worker died during an
operation made necessary as a result of an accident in which he struck
himself on the leg with a 16-pound sledge hammer.
Four shipfitters were killed in explosions. Three of these were in
jured in the same accident when a barge on which they were working
exploded.
Electricians.-—Of the 42 reported fatalities to electricians, falls to
lower levels accounted for 16, and contact with electric current for 13.
Falls from staging were responsible for 3 fatalities, and falls into
deck openings for 3 more. The remaining fatalities from falls resulted
from a variety of causes. One man, partially intoxicated, fell while
climbing onto a crane. A second man was walking on a catwalk.
As he stepped on welding lines on the walk, the welder pulled the
lines, with the result that the electrician fell to the bottom of the hold
and sustained a fractured skull. Another electrician stepped from the
crane walkway to the crane, slipped on the wet walkway, and fell 80
feet to the ground. Still another employee leaned against a railing,
the welding into place of which had been left uncompleted by the
welders on the previous shift, and fell 60 feet. A leaderman sustained
a fractured skull when he attempted to place a heavy plank from one
bulkhead to another; the board pulled him off balance and he fell from
the bulkhead. A marine electrician who tried to jump the 3 feet
between hulls fell between them, striking the bumper logs 40 feet
below.
Six electricians were electrocuted by coming into contact with highvoltage lines. Three of these deaths occurred while men were working
on the lines, and 2 were caused by workers touching the lines acci
dentally while working near them. Electric current encountered
while working on or near switchboards or control boxes caused the
deaths of 5 workers. Two other workers were electrocuted while
working on machinery, but complete details on how the accidents
occurred are lacking.
Three electricians were caught in, on, or between, moving objects.
Two of these deaths occurred in the course of making tests. In one of
these cases the operator attempted to check the speed of a rapidly
moving boat; this operation was done so quickly that the boat dipped
and sank, causing the electrician to drown. In the other, the elec
trician was riding, during a test run, on an elevator loaded with a
concrete beam and two anchors; he was crushed when one of the
elevator cables broke, causing the test load to shift upon him.
Two electricians in different yards used carbon tetrachloride to
clean electric motors. Both men died as a result of breathing the fumes.
Three other men died in explosions; two of these died in one accident
when a barge exploded.
Fiyejitters or steamfitters.—Falls, contact with electric current, and
being struck by moving objects were the three most common types of
accidents among the cases involving pipefitters. Of the 37 reported
fatalities, 12 were due to falls, 10 of wdiich were to a lower level.
Two men fell from ladders, 2 fell through unguarded deck openings,
and 2 fell over the sides of the ships on which they were working.
One man fell off a ship and was drowned when the wooden handrail,
to which he was holding, pulled loose. One pipefitter fell while de
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
19 45
scending a stairway, one fell as he attempted to jump from the ship
to a gangplank, another fell under the wheels of a trailer on which he
had been riding, and another fell from a pile of pipe.
Seven pipefitters were killed when they came into contact with
electric current. Defective equipment caused 6 of these accidents,
and the seventh occurred when the pipefitter raised his head under an
electric switchboard and touched a live wire.
Three pipefitters were struck by moving vehicles, and one was
struck by a crane load as it fell on the truck in which he was sitting.
Hatch covers piled beside an open hatchway and not adequately
secured fell, striking a helper working in the hold. Another worker
was struck by the anchor when the brake failed.
Four pipefitters were killed in explosions involving acetylene gas.
Machinists.—Over half of the 30 machinists reported killed were
injured when they fell to a lower level or were struck by a moving
object. Three fell from stagings on which they were working, and 3
fell from walkways. In at least 3 of these cases, railings had been
installed but the workers fell either under the railing or between the
scaffold and the ship. Two men fell from cranes or from overhead
crane rails, and one fell from a ladder.
Seven machinists sustained fatal injuries when they were struck bv
moving objects. Two of these men were killed when material fell
through deck openings and struck them as they were working below
deck. One man was killed by a kick-back from a power saw as he was
walking through a shop. In another case, the contact pin on the
governor of an unguarded portable grinding wheel was too short,
allowing the wheel to operate at twice its normal speed. The wheel
exploded and a fragment struck the machinist, causing injuries which
resulted in his death.
Four men were caught between, or on, moving objects. In one of
these cases the man’s trousers caught in the wheel of a straddle-truck,
pulling him to the ground.
Three machinists were fatally burned when they came into contact
with steam or fire, and two were electrocuted. One of the electrocu
tions occurred when the worker attempted to replace a broken light
bulb. Three men were killed (two of these in the same accident) by
explosions. In both of these instances, fellow workers had previously
opened oxygen lines and the explosions occurred when burning torches
were lighted. Another machinist was overcome by hydrocyanic-acid
fumes. The acid was being used as a fumigation agent and the
machinist neglected to leave the ship after a signal had been given
to do so.
Burners.—Nine, or nearly half, of the 19 burner fatalities resulted
from falls. In only 3 of these, however, was the fall from a scaffold
or platform. Most of the other falls occurred while the employees
were working in dangerous positions. One man was pulling his burner
lines while standing on a railing around the hold, a second attempted
to lift a jack while “precariously perched” on the ribs of a forepeak
section, and a third was kneeling near an open door on the side of the
ship. One burner fell from the skids as he attempted to step down
instead of using the stairs. Another burner stepped on a hatchboard
lying across the hatchway, and dropped 25 feet to the bottom of the
hold; the hatchboard was unsupported at one end.
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Three burners were burned to death in separate accidents when
gas which had accumulated in confined working spaces was ignited.
One other burner was overcome by carbon-monoxide gas while working
in an inner bottom.
.
. .
One burner died as a result of a seemingly minor injury. While
burning, he slipped and struck his shin against a beam. He was given
first aid and was later hospitalized. About 2 months later he died of
infection.
I n d u s tr ia l I n ju r ie s in M a n u fa c tu rin g , F ir s t Q u a rte r
of 1 9 4 5
THE volume of work injuries in manufacturing industries during
each of the first 3 months of 1945 was somewhat higher than m
either November or December of 1944. In comparison with rates
of 16.8 in November and 15.9 in December, the manufacturing group
averaged 17.4 disabling injuries for every million employee-hours
worked in January. In February the rate was 17.5 and m March
it dropped slightly, to 17.0. The average frequency rate ol h .3
for the entire 3-month period, however, was substantially lower than
the average of 18.8 1 for the full year of 1944, and similarly was well
below the average of 18.7 for the first quarter of 1944
On the basis of injury reports submitted by over 13,500 manutacturing establishments, it is estimated that about 159,000 manufac
turing workers were disabled as the result of injuries experienced in
the course of their employment during the first quarter of 1945. In
formation available at the end of March indicated that about 800 ol
these injuries had ended fatally during the period and that about
5 900 had been so serious that it was immediately apparent that the
workers would have physical handicaps for the rest ol their lives.
Later information concerning the final outcome of the other injuries,
which appeared to be only temporary disabilities at the time the
reports were prepared, may necessitate some upward revision m these
estimates of the volume of more serious injuries.
The economic losses arising from these injuries cannot be Hilly
estimated from the information now available. The actual loss m
working time during the first quarter of 1945, however, may be con
servatively estimated as about 3,180,000 man-days which is equiva
lent to full-time employment throughout the period for over 40,000
workers^ie
Qge of making available more specific data with which
the experience of individual establishments may be compared, some
of the industry classifications shown until 1945 have been subdivided.
The accompanying table lists for the first quarter of 1945 a number of
new industry classifications for which there are no comparable records
for 1944. Among the 77 classifications for which comparison with
1944 is possible, however, there were 46 with average frequency
rates for the first quarter which were at least a fufi frequency-rate
point lower than their corresponding averages for the yeai 1944
For 12 of these industry classifications the reduction amounted to
5 or more frequency-rate points. In contrast, there were only 12
i
Prelim inary” Subject to revision on th e basis of th e B ureau’s annual industrial injury survey.
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1945
industries for which the first-quarter frequency rates were signifi
cantly higher than their averages for 1944.
The lowest average injury-frequency rate for the first quarter of
1945 was that of the plants engaged in manufacturing electric-light
bulbs. In these plants there were only 3.3 disabling injuries for each
million employee-hours worked during the quarter. The syntheticrubber manufacturing group and the miscellaneous apparel and
accessories group each had an average of 4.7, while the explosivesindustry average of 4.8 was only slightly higher. No other industries
had average frequency rates below 5. There were, however, 18
industries which had first-quarter frequency rates between 5 and 10.
At the other extreme there were two groups of plants with rates
above 50 and two others with rates above 40. These were plants
exclusively engaged in sawmill operations, with an average rate of
55.8; plants combining sawmill and planing-mill operations, with an
average of 52.7; iron foundries, with an average of 43.4; and plywood
mills, with an average frequency rate of 41.3.
Industrial Injury-Frequency Rates 1for Selected M anufacturing Industries, First Quarter
of 1945, with Cumulative Rates fo r 1944
F ir s t q u a r te r of 1945
I n d u s tr y 3
A pparel:
C lothing, m en ’s and b o y ’s ..........................................
C lothing, w om en’s and children’s______________
A pparel and accessories, no t elsewhere classified.
T rim m ings and fabricated textile products, not
elsewhere classified_________________________
Chemicals:
Compressed and liquefied gases_____ ______ ____
D rugs, toiletries, and insecticides__________
Explosives__________________________________
In d u strial chem icals______________________
Paints, varnishes, and colors________________. . .
Plastic m aterials, except ru b b er______________
Soap and glycerin_________________________
Synthetic ru b b e r___________ ____ _
Synthetic textile fibers________________
’’ ’
Chemical products, no t elsewhere classified_____
1944:
A n n u al
N um
F r e q u e n c y r a t e 4 for—
fre
b e r of
q u en c y
e s ta b
r
a te 5
lish
Jan
Feb
F ir s t
m e n ts 3 u a ry
r u a r y M a rc h q u a rte r
483
356
16
10.9
8.3
(8)
9.0
9 .2
(8)
8.4
5.3
(8)
9.4
7.6
4.7
( 6)
87
25.8
26.9
24.1
25.5
( 6)
65
85
62
214
75
16
33
23
21
82
(6)
16.7
5. 4
12.1
16.6
7.8
11.4
4.9
7.2
17.4
(8)
18.2
3.8
12. 1
18.9
5.5
8.3
4.5
6.5
19.3
(8)
14.6
5.2
11.4
18.3
3.7
14.0
3.6
7.0
15.6
13. 1
16.4
4.8
11.9
17.9
5. 7
11.3
4.7
6.9
17.4
Electrical equipm ent:
Autom otive electrical e q u ip m en t_________
B a tte rie s ..._______________________________
Com m unication and signaling equipm ent, except
ra d io -..__________________ ___________
Electrical equipm ent for in d u strial use” ’ !
........
Electric lam ps (b u lb s)______________
Insulated wire and cable________________
Radios and phonographs__ __________________ ” '
Electrical equipm ent, no t elsewhere classified___
20
36
16.7
25.1
11.5
18.6
14.2
23.0
14.1
22.3
41
348
16
37
233
29
7.9
8.8
3.4
14.4
9.8
7.8
9.8
8. 1
4.8
17.6
9.7
8.1
7.2
7.6
1.9
19.3
7.7
8 .2
8.3
8.1
3.3
17.1
9.0
8.0
Food:
B aking.......... ................................................................
Canning and preserving______________
Confectionery................ ................... " ’ "
D istilleries____ ____ _____ . . . . ____
Flour, feed, a n d grain-m ill products___
Slaughtering an d m eat packing_______________ ~
Food products, no t elsewhere classified......... _ ~ -I-
38
50
8
39
9
485
35
22.4
24.9
19.5
21.0
13.0
32. 1
25.4
22.4
30.6
20.0
15.6
20. 7
31.0
22.7
38.7
24.6
18.4
11.4
22.1
30.3
23.3
27.8
26.6
19.3
15.9
18.6
31.2
23.8
63
14
523
38.3
C)
40.2
45.2
(6)
39.4
33.9
(«)
37.8
39.0
14.7
39.2
88
27.2
23.4
36.1
29.3
F u rn itu re and lu m b er products:
F u rn itu re , wood_______ ___ ________ ____ :
M attresses and b e d s p r in g s ...:.____________
I
W ooden containers_______________ . I I . . . I I .
M iscellaneous wood products, not elsewhere
classified.............................
......
See footnotes at end of table.
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10.7
5.7
(•)19.5
6. 1
(«18.2
)
( 8)
9.4
(8)
6.6
12.5
(«)
(8)
( 8)
( 6)
(«)
( 6)
8.2
( 8)
20.3
25.7
17.1
(6)
22.7
36.0
26.6
(•)
(8)
51.6
39.3
89
INDUSTRIAL IN JU R IE S
Industrial Injury-Frequency Rates 1fo r Selected Manufacturing Industries „ First Quarter
o f 1945, with Cumulative rates fo r 1944— C o n tin u e d
F irst q u arter of 1945
In d u s try 2
Iron and steel:
Units nuts, washers, and r i v e t s ________________
___________________ ____ Cold finished steel
___________________
C utlery and edge tools
Fabricated structural steel _ __ _____________
Forgings, iron and steel _____________________
Foundries, iron
_________________________
Foundries, steel __ _________________________ TTardware
__ ______
__ ___________
H eating equipm ent not otherwise classified___
Trnn and steel
_________ __ ______________
IVTetal coating and en g rav in g __________________
Pi^tp fnhriration and boiler shop products_______
Plumbers* supplies
_ _________________
Screw-machine products
__ ____________
Sheet-metal work
_ _ _____ _________ ____
Stam ped and pressed m etal products, not elsewhere classified
____________________ -Steam fittings and a p p aratu s,
_____________
Steel barrels kegs, drum s, and packages ______
Steel springs
________________ ___________
T in cans and other tinw are _ _______________
Tonis except edge tools
__ _________________
W ire and wire products _ ____________________
W rought pipes, welded and heavv-riveted. _____
Iron and steel products, not elsewhere classified...
1944:
A nnual
Frequency rate 4 for
fre
N um
quency
ber of
ra te 5
estab
F irst
F eb
Jan
lish
ru ary M arch quarter
m ents 3 uary
56
24
37
226
153
446
105
40
64
206
89
157
25
111
55
22.4
21.0
29.0
28.3
30.4
42.4
32.6
15.4
28.7
8.8
22.2
32.2
12.4
16.3
27.3
31.6
16.5
24.2
30.8
28.7
43.7
39.6
14.9
27.4
8.7
18.1
32.6
15.2
13.5
30.0
2. 09
23.1
26.4
31.6
29.6
44.0
35.6
17.3
29.9
8.7
18.6
35.6
13.7
13.4
28.3
24.8
20.3
26.5
30.2
29.6
43.4
35.8
15.9
28.7
8.7
19.6
33.5
13.7
14.4
28.5
27.5
(6)
26.6
33.5
35.4
(8)
(8)
18.2
30.8
9.4
(6)
48.2
17.8
24.3
40.9
231
57
44
15
21
72
148
14
62
19.7
22.9
34.5
24.7
12.5
21.5
20.2
22.6
31.3
19.3
21.0
30.6
20.5
16.0
24.9
22.2
16.9
25.1
20.1
21.0
33.0
22.0
13.5
19.9
20.8
18.3
31.3
19.7
21.7
32.7
22.5
14.0
22.0
21.0
19.3
29.3
32.4
24.2
(6)
m
17.7
25.7
22.6
(8)
(8)
Leather:
Boots and shoes, not rubber
_______________
T,eather
__
______________________
Leather products, not elsewhere classified_______
290
25
29
13. 7
27.0
(8)
13.6
34.2
(8)
13. 2
27.1
«
13. 5
29.3
9.3
14.1
29.2
20.5
Lum ber:
Sawmills
_ ______________________
Sawmills and planing mills combined
planing mills
__ _______________________
Plyw ood m i l l s ___________ ________________ --
92
31
607
46
52.6
58.7
37.3
40.4
67.4
47.6
34.6
47.5
48.4
51.0
32.0
36.2
55.8
52. 7
34.8
41.3
(6)
(«)
(8)
(8)
73
31
57
118
23
66
31
23.0
16.8
18.3
23.4
(6)
12.0
26.3
20.9
21.9
15.7
24.7
(6)
13.5
22.4
21.1
12.9
16.2
21.9
(6)
13.7
25.1
21.7
17.1
16.7
23.3
26.6
13. 1
24.7
22.8
(8)
18.6
27.4
(8)
11.4
32.3
333
260
22.7
20.9
23.9
22.5
23.5
17.8
23.4
20.3
(8)
20.9
M achinery, except electric:
Agricultural m achinery and tractors___________
Bearings hall and roller _____ _______________
Commercial and household m achinery
C onstruction and mining m achinery. __________
Elevators escalators, and conveyors____________
Engines and turbines
_ __ _______________
Fond-products m achinery
_________
General industrial m achinery, no t elsewhere
classified
_
________________________
Genere! machine, shops (jobbing and repair) __
M echanical measuring and controlling instrum ents
___________ __________________
M echanical power-transmission equipm ent, except bearings
___________________
M etalw orking m achinery
_ __ ___________
P u m p s and compressors
_
_______
Special industry*m achinery, no t elsewhere claasifiad
_ _________ _____ ___ __ —
Textile m achinery
_ ____________________
Nonferrous metals:
j/\]uminnm and magnesium products
________
Foundries, nonferrous
_ ______ ____________
Secondary smelting, refining, rolling, drawing,
and alloying
_____________________
W atches clocks jewelry, and silverware __ ____
Nonferrous m etal products, no t elsewhere classi
fie d ..............................................- ..............................
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
63
11.0
11.8
10.8
11.2
(8)
83
592
77
17.0
14.9
14.7
17.8
14.8
15.5
17.7
15.1
19.1
17.5
14.9
16.4
(8)
17.3
(8)
92
14
25.5
13.3
20.3
9.6
26.0
7.6
24.0
10.0
24.1
21.0
15
294
19.5
26.1
12.5
26.1
15.0
27.8
15.8
26.7
(8)
(8)
23
14
23.5
(8)
21.6
(6)
15.7
(6)
20.2
7.4
(8)
(8)
95
28.4
24.1
25.8
26.1
(8)
90
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
19 45
Industrial Injury- Frequency R ates 1for Selected Manufacturing Industries, First Quarter
o f 1944, with Cumulative Rates fo r 1944— C o n tin u e d
First quarter of 1945
1944
A nnual
In d u stry 2
Ordnance:
A m m unition un d er 20 m m ____________________
A m m unition, except small-arms_______________
G uns and related equ ip m en t___________________
Sighting and fire-control equipm ent __________
Small arm s____ ____________ ____ _____________
T anks, m ilitary___________________ 1__________
T an k components, m ilitary__________________
O rdnance and accessories, not elsewhere classi
fied________________________________________
N um
F re q u e n c y ra te 4 forfre
ber of
q u en c y
estab
ra te 5
lish
JanFeb
First
m ents 3 uary
ruary M arch quarter
21
371
92
41
62
14
54
7.4
20.8
12.5
9.2
20.3
26.3
24.7
9.7
20.7
15.9
8.8
16.5
26.0
28.2
6.7
20.5
15.1
7.9
16.0
22.9
25.0
7.6
20.7
14.5
8.6
17.6
25.0
25.9
7.8
24.3
17.1
8.0
14.1
14.5
21.0
45
18.0
17.8
22.0
19.3
22.7
Paper:
P ap er boxes and containers____________________
P ap er________________________________________
Paper and pulp, in teg rated____________________
P u lp _________________________________________
Paper products, not elsewhere classified_________
395
251
88
20
34
24.8
26.5
23.1
28.6
17.9
24.6
29.1
21.7
37.8
16.8
23.2
27.5
22.5
36.9
13.0
24.2
27.6
22.4
34.0
15.9
24.8
29.7
25.3
35.1
20.5
Printing:
Book and job p rin tin g _________________________
41
9.5
7.5
12.6
10.0
11.0
R ubber:
R u b b er boots and shoes_______________________
R u b b er tires and tu b e s________________________
R u b b er products, no t elsewhere classified_______
15
35
89
11.0
13.1
21.7
11.4
13.1
19.7
7.6
15.2
16.7
9.9
13.8
19.3
13.8
14.7
17.3
Stone, clay and glass:
Brick, tile, and terra co tta_____________________
Glass_________________________________ ____ _
P o ttery and related p ro d u cts___ ____ __________
Stone, clay, and glass products, not elsewhere
classified___________________________________
27
37
36
(6)
12.4
23.6
(6)
15.7
25.6
«
15.3
21.2
28.5
14.4
23.4
47.3
17.5
17.9
60
12.6
15.8
10.9
13.0
15.8
Textiles:
C otton yarn and textiles______________________
D yeing and finishing textiles____________ _____
K n it goods___________________________________
Rayon, other synthetic, and silk textiles________
Woolen and worsted textiles___________________
M iscellaneous textile goods, no t elsewhere classi
fied________________________________________
220
51
82
53
159
13.9
15.8
10.7
12.6
17.9
12.9
22.8
7.4
14.2
17.9
12.8
20.9
12.0
17. 2
18.9
13.2
19.8
10.1
14.7
18.2
14.7
22.8
11.0
14.3
18.9
31
19.1
24.5
16.6
19.9
33
265
85
69
39
241
7.9
10.6
22.7
18.2
20.1
21.4
8.1
11.9
21.6
19.0
19.7
21.6
7.8
11.7
19.9
21.3
22.6
21.5
8.0
11.4
21.4
19.5
20.9
21.5
40
34
25
18.5
11.3
7.2
12.8
6.6
6.8
14.1
9.8
7.1
15.1
9.3
7.0
T ransportation equipm ent:
A ircraft______________________________________
Aircraft p a rts .__________ _____________________
M otor vehicles_______ ________________________
M otor-vehicle p a rts___________________________
Railroad eq u ip m en t______________ ____________
Shipbuilding_____ _________________________
Miscellaneous m anufacturing:
Fabricated plastic p roducts____________________
Optical and ophthalm ic goods__________________
Photographic apparatus and m aterials__________
Professional and scientific instrum ents and sup
plies_______________________________________
Miscellaneous m anufacturing, not elsewhere clas
sified ________________________________ ___
(«)
8.9
12.3
14.4
25.4
22.0
23.7
m
(6)
(6)
74
7.8
8.0
9.1
8.3
(0)
167
14.9
13.4
14.2
14.2
(«)
1 T he frequency rate represents th e average n um ber of disabling industrial injuries for each million
employee-hours worked.
2 A few industries have been om itted from this table because th e coverage for the m onth did not am ount
to 1,000,000 or more employee-hours worked.
3 N um ber of establishm ents shown are for M arch 1945.
4 Com puted from all reports received for the m onth: not based on identical plants in successive m onths
5 Prelim inary.
6 N ot available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Relations
C o lle c tiv e A g re e m e n t in C o lo m b ia n P e tro le u m
In d u s try , 1 9 4 4 1
A COLLECTIVE agreement covering some 2,500 workers, or about
31 percent of the total in the Colombian petroleum industry, was
signed in Bogota April 19, 1944, by representatives of the National
Labor Bureau of Colombia, the Tropical Oil Co., the Syndical Labor
Union of Barrancabermeja, and the Confederation of Workers of
Colombia. It granted a wage increase to all wage earners covered
by the contract. The provisions regulated hiring and dismissal,
and provided for workmen’s compensation, paid vacations, workers’
housing, company stores, and the settlement of organized workers’
claims. The agreement was to remain in force until July 1, 1946, and,
unless renounced by either of the contracting parties 1 month before
the expiration date, would automatically be renewed from year to
year. Social benefits already granted to workers by the company
and not mentioned by the agreement were to continue unmodified.
Principal Provisions of Agreement
Employment and dismissal.—In filling vacancies or increasing
personnel, former employees discharged for reasons other than bad
conduct, incompetence, or lack of ability, are to be preferred, pro
vided that they can pass the company’s medical examination and
that other circumstances are equal. The union, however, is to be
permitted to recommend former employees who meet requirements.
Workers dismissed without just cause are to receive a dismissal or
retirement benefit equal to a month’s pay for each year of continuous
service and proportionate amounts for parts of a year. Dismissal
or retirement benefits are promised to salaried employees or wage
earners leaving the company voluntarily after 5 years of service.
Wages.—The daily wage was to be increased by 25 centavos,2
effective May 1, 1944. and after April 1, 1944, an emergency com
pensation previously granted was to be included in the pay. For an
8-hour night shift the worker was to receive 20 centavos extra and a
proportional amount for hours of night work in a mixed shift.
Vacations.—'The company agreed to continue its practice of giving
a paid vacation of 15 working days to salaried employees and 15
calendar days to wage earners, for each continuous year of service.
It retained the right to designate the time at which vacation should
be taken.
1 D a ta are from report of P au l C. Daniels, chargé d ’affaires ad interim a t the U nited States E m bassy,
Bogotá, December 2, 1944; and M em oria del M inistro de M inas y Petróleos al Congreso N acional en sus
Sesiones O rdinarias de 1943 (Bogotá, 1943, pp. 229-301).
2 Average exchange rate of Colombian peso (100 centavos) in 1944=57 cents.
'
651 6 5 4 — 45
-7
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
91
92
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
19 45
Settlement of workers’ claims.—A conciliation and arbitration com
mittee,- to consist of three members (one named by the Minister of
Labor, Hygiene, and Social Welfare, one by the Tropical Oil Co.,
and one—a permanent employee of the oil company—by the union),
was created to handle workers’ claims on matters covered by the
agreement. The jurisdiction of the committee was roughly defined
as follows:
(1) T he harm onious a d ju s tm e n t of w orkers’ claim s for com pensation in cases
of dism issal, vacations, in d u stria l accidents, a n d sickness. In th e la s t tw o ty p e s
of cases th e ju d g m e n t of recognized re p u ta b le g ra d u a te physicians p resen ted by
th e p arties is to be accep ted ; th e com m ittee serves as th e only trib u n a l on th e
above-m entioned ty p e s of cases, if ag reem en t on th e m has n o t been reached by
direct negotiation;
(2) S ettlem en t of in d iv id u al unionized w orkers’ claim s arising from th e ap p li
cation an d in te rp re ta tio n of th e agreem ent;
(3) T he aw ard of indem nities ranging from 2 m o n th s’ p a y for all sicknesses to
12 m o n th s’ p ay for n o noccupational diseases an d 18 m o n th s’" pay for occupational
diseases.
The company agreed to continue to study any reasonable complaint
of the workers concerning medical service, to carry on its program
against venereal diseases, and not to make reprisals against workers
who presented the petition which led to the agreement.
Housing and food.—The agreement contains the promise of the
company (1) to begin construction on additional quarters to lodge all
its workers, (2) to pay each worker who lives in Barrancabermeja
for whom no housing is available 20 centavos per day until the new
construction is completed, (3) not to raise rentals of family dwellings,
(4) to see that adequate food is provided by the concessionaires that
furnish food in the company kitchens, and (5) to provide medical
care for the kitchen workers.
Company stores.—The company also promised to carry in its com
missariats and sell to its workers, up to July 1, 1946, certain enumer
ated articles of food and clothing at prices not exceeding those in
effect April 1, 1944. Nontransferable cards are to be issued to
workers, indicating the size of family for which purchases are to be
made. Stores are to be sufficiently stocked with staples, and, if
rationing becomes necessary, lists of articles and maximum sale
quantities are to be posted.
E s ta b lis h m e n t o f L a b o r-M a n a g e m e n t C o m m itte e s in
F ran ce1
ESTABLISHMENT of labor-management committees in all French
industrial and commercial enterprises habitually employing at least
100 workers was provided for by an act of February 2, 1945. The
chief functions of the committees are (1) the consideration of sug
gestions for improvements which will increase output, and (2) the
management of social-welfare activities.
Formation of such committees may be made compulsory by ministe
rial decrees in enterprises employing fewer than 100 workers and
in ministerial offices, liberal professions, and certain other occupations.
Other special decrees will determine what public-service occupations
Inform ation is from th e Journal Officiel (Paris), F ebruary 23, 1945.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
93
will be included and the [conditions under which home workers may
be counted among employees of an enterprise for the purposes of the
legislation.
Under the terms of the law, a labor-management committee is
granted broad powers in matters of social welfare and acts as a con
sultative body in economic questions related to the organization of an
enterprise. It is to cooperate with management in working for the
improvement of working and living conditions and supervise or
assist in the control of projects of a social character. In its consultative
role, the committee is to consider workers’ suggestions for plant im
provements aimed at increasing production and to propose awards
for those which prove valuable. It is to study reports (which must
be submitted at least once a year by the head of the company) re
garding the organization, management, and general condition of the
enterprise. A corporation is required to present to the committee
a complete financial statement before submitting it to the general
stockholders’ meeting. Recommendations based on such reports and
on workers’ suggestions may be made by the committee to the man
agement, and if rejected may be laid before the General Inspector
of Industrial Production.
The committee consists of the employer or his representative and
from 5 to 8 labor delegates (including 3 to 5 substitutes) representing
workers and employees according to the number employed. Delegates
must be at least 25 years of age and must have worked 2 years in the
enterprise; voters must be at least 18 years of age and must have
worked there at least 1 year. The election of labor members is to be
held on the basis of nominations submitted by the most representa
tive professional organizations. If the enterprise has several plants,
delegates are elected from plant committees to form a central com
mittee which must meet at least once every 6 months.
The election of delegates is by secret ballot and majority vote,
supervised by justices of the peace. Penalties are provided for undue
interference in elections. The term of office is 3 years, but during the
first 3 years of operation the individual term is limited to 1 year.
Committee meetings must be called at least once a month by the
employer or his representative, and an agenda must be furnished to
members at least 3 days in advance of a meeting. If a majority of the
committee members so votes, a second meeting may be held during
the month. The employer must provide a place of meeting, and each
full delegate is entitled to not more than 15 hours of free time with
pay, each month, for the performance of his duties.
Labor-management committees created or renewed by collective
agreements subsequent to the publication of the law are not affected
by it. The provisions of the act may be extended to Algeria by
decrees covering one or several professions, through agreement by the
Ministers of Labor, of Social Security, of Interior, and of National
Economy.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Industrial Disputes
S trik e s a n d L o c k o u ts in M ay 1 9 4 5
THERE were 425 work stoppages in May 1945, involving 310,000
workers and 2,025,000 man-days of idleness, according to preliminary
estimates of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Idleness in May was estimated at 0.26 percent of the available work
ing time. More than half of it was due to the stoppage in anthracite
mines in eastern Pennsylvania from May 1 to 19. The major stop
pages of the month included the anthracite dispute, scattered cessa
tions at bituminous mines, a strike of truck drivers in Chicago, stop
pages at the Continental Motors Corp. (Detroit), American Car &
Foundry Co. (Berwick, Pa.), and Bethlehem Steel Corp. (Lackawanna,
N. Y.). These are referred to in greater detail below. In addition,
stoppages at Fruehauf Trailer Co., the Michigan Tool Co. and the
Detroit Diesel Engine Division of General Motors Corp., all in Detroit
at the Globe-Wernicke Co., Cincinnati, the Gulf Oil Corporation,
Port Arthur, Tex., the Mueller Brass Co., Port Huron, Mich., the
Jones & Laughlin Steel Co., Pittsburgh and Youngstown Sheet &
Tube Co., Youngstown, all contributed materially to the idleness for
the month.
The following table includes all known work stoppages caused by
industrial disputes which involved six or more workers and lasted as
long as a full day or shift. The data cover all workers in any plant
who were made idle because of a strike or lockout in that plant, regard
less of whether or not they were all directly involved in the dispute.
Strikes and Lockouts in M a y 1945, with Comparable Figures fo r Earlier Periods
Strikes and lockouts
beginning in m onth
M an-days idle
in m onth
M o n th
N um ber
M ay 1945 i___________
April 1945 i_______________
M ay
M ay
M ay
M ay
1944___________ _
1943_________
1942_________________
1941 ____________
.
W orkers
involved
N um ber
Percent of
available
working
tim e
425
450
310,000
285,000
2,025,000
1,330,000
0.26
.18
589
412
285
463
319,040
557,558
68,820
321,485
1,422,571
1,467, 728
322,085
2,172,303
.18
.20
.05
.36
1 Prelim inary estim ates.
Anthracite miners’ stoppage.—On May 1 over 60,000 Pennsylvania
anthracite miners failed to report for work, after the expiration of
their contract on April 30. The strike followed almost a month’s un
successful negotiations between the United Mine Workers of America
94
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
95
and the anthracite coal operators negotiating committee on a new
agreement, and ran counter to a request by the Secretary of the
Interior that work be continued and the contract be extended for 30
days pending further negotiations.
Aside from a demand for a 25-percent wage increase, the miners
requested shift differentials, vacation pay, and full portal-to-portal
pay, identical with those demanded in April by the bituminous-coal
miners. On April 26 the National Labor Relations Board conducted
a strike ballot under provisions of the War Labor Disputes Act, and a
large majority voted in favor of a stoppage.
A proposal for modification of the union’s demands, made by the
Secretary of Labor, was accepted by the union but was rejected by the
operators as more than the industry could afford, On April 30 the
dispute was certified to the National War Labor Board. On May 1
the Board ordered the men back to work and provided that any
increases in pay would be made retroactive to the expiration date of
the old conract. On May 2 the case was referred to the Director of
Economic Stabilization, and on May 3 the mines were taken over under
Presidential order for operation by the Secretary of the Interior.
The miners continued idle. Negotiations were carried on, and on
May 19 a new contract was signed, subject to approval (as to wage
provisions) by the War Labor Board and (as to price changes) by the
Director of Economic Stabilization. A majority of the miners re
turned to work on May 21. War Labor Board approval of the new
contract was given on June 6, price-change approval on June 16, and
on June 23 the mines were ordered returned to private operation.
Bituminous-coal miners’ stoppages.—Scattered stoppages in bitu
minous-coal mines in May followed the dispute over the contract in
April. In some cases the idleness was due to failure of workers to
receive notice promptly of approval of price changes by the Director
of Economic Stabilization on April 30, upon which the wage provisions
of the new contract were contingent, and in others to dissatisfaction
of certain groups with specific contract provisions. In addition a
number of May stoppages involved supervisory workers in the bitu
minous mines, part of these being for the purpose of obtaining union
recognition.
Chicago trucking stoppage.—A stoppage of truck drivers, members
of the (jhicago Truck Drivers Union (an independent labor organiza
tion) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, A. F. of L.,
employed by about 1,200 trucking companies, began in Chicago on
May 17. It involved more than 6,000 workers for a few days in May,
and a few thousand more when it broke out again on June 16. The
stoppage was in protest against the National W"ar Labor Board’s
approval on May 15 of a Trucking Commission order granting a
wage increase of 8 cents per hour for a 51-hour week, but denying
other requests, including the overtime provisions of the order, as not
allowable under the trucking-industry wage policy agreed upon by
the Board and Director of Economic Stabilization in August 1944.
The dispute, involving an original demand for a wage increase of
$5 per week, a 48-hour week, premium pay for inside delivery, vaca
tions, incentive plans, sick leave, etc., had been certified to the Board
on January 1, 1945. In April both unions had issued strike notices
under the War Labor Disputes Act, but when the WLB order was
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
96
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
i
received, members of the Chicago Truck Drivers Union, without
awaiting the end of the required 30-day period for a strike ballot to be
conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, voted to strike.
No vote was taken by the A. F. of L. Teamsters but considerable
numbers of its members were idle on May 17.
A War Labor Board order to return to work, late on May 17,
went unheeded and 3 days later officials of the independent union
were summoned to a show-cause hearing in Washington. Officials
of the Brotherhood of Teamsters were also invited to attend. Upon
refusal of union officials to recommend that the strikers return to
work immediately, the Board on May 22 referred the dispute to the
Director of Economic Stabilization. Two days later, facilities of the
companies whose workers were still on strike were taken over under
Presidential order, for operation by the Office of Defense Transpor
tation, aided by the Army. Operations returned to nearly normal
and the War Labor Board agreed to reconsider the wage demands.
On June 13 the Board refused to modify its order of May 15. Two
days later the National Labor Relations Board conducted a strike
ballot among members of both local unions, except those working for
companies under Government operation. The result showed a large
majority voting in favor of a stoppage. The same day ODT control
was expanded in the Chicago area. In spite of Government operation,
10,000 or more workers were on strike on June 16 and remained out
until after the Truck Drivers Union had ordered its members back to
work June 26.
Other large disputes.—Large stoppages occurred (1) at the Conti
nental Motors Corp., Detroit, where approximately 7,000 workers
went out in protest against the discharge of several employees who
had refused transfers to lower-paid jobs, transfers which the company
held were necessary when the Army cut its order for tank motors;
(2) at the American Car & Foundry Co., Berwick, Pa., where 1,500
maintenance workers struck, and made an additional 6,000 idle,
because of delay in War Labor Board review of an order denying
them a wage increase; and (3) at the Bethlehem Steel Corp. plant at
Lackawanna, N. Y., where 7,500 workers stopped work in protest
when 6 men were laid off because improved methods had reduced
the number of workers necessary to man certain operations.
A c tiv itie s o f U . S. C o n c ilia tio n S e rv ic e , A p ril 1 9 4 5
DURING the month of April 1945 the U. S. Conciliation Service
disposed of 1,921 situations as compared with 2,161 situations in
March. During April of the previous year 2,232 situations were
closed.
Of the 268 strikes and lock-outs handled, 240 were settled success
fully; 28 cases were certified to the National War Labor Board in
which strikes occurred during negotiations, but in 15 cases a Com
missioner of Conciliation had effected a return-to-work agreement
prior to certification of the case. The records indicate that 147 situa
tions were threatened strikes and 1,253 were controversies in which
the employer, employees or other interested parties asked for the
assignment of a conciliator to assist in the adjustment of disputes.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
97
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
During the month 364 disputes were certified to the National War
Labor Board. The remaining 253 situations included 90 arbitrations,
18 technical services, 27 investigations and 118 requests for informa
tion, consultations, and special services.
Cases Closed by U. S. Conciliation Service in A pril 1945, by Type of Situation and
Method of Handling
All m e th o d s .........
_
Strikes
and lock
outs
T h reat
ened
strikes
1,-921
268
147
1,253
1, 304
364
90
18
145
239
i 29
131
16
934
319
T otal
M ethod of handling
_________ ____________
Settled b y conciliation
t^ertihed t-o "National W ^r Tabor "Hoard
‘Decisions rendered in arb itratio n
Technical services completed
Investigations special services
______
____
i Of these, 15 were settled prior to referral.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
FQEyiCTORY
BUY
UNITED
STATES
W AR
BO NDS
AND
STAMPS
O ther
Contro
versies situations
253
90
18
145
Labor Laws and Decisions
R e c e n t D e cisio n s o f I n te r e s t to L a b o r 1
Decisions on State Labor Laws
FLORIDA union-control law unconstitutional.—The United States
Supreme Court declared that the Florida law controlling labor unions
was in conflict with the Wagner Act and therefore void.2
Section 4 of the Florida act provided for the licensing of labor union
business agents if the board is “of the opinion that the public interest
requires that a license or permit should be issued to such applicant/’
It also requires a $1 filing fee, 10 years’ citizenship, no conviction of
felony, and good moral character.3 By these provisions, in the
opinion of the court, it restricts the “full freedom” of choice in select
ing a bargaining agent and substitutes Florida’s judgment for that of
the workers.
Section 6 of the act, which requires the annual filing with the
secretary of state of the name and address of the union and its officers,
was held by itself not to be in conflict with the Federal act, but failure
to comply with this section gives the State a right to have the union
enjoined from functioning as a labor union. A union not complying
is thus presumably liable both to punishment for contempt and to
conviction under the misdemeanor section of the act.
Thus the penalty imposed by such requirements rather than the
duty to report constitutes a conflict with the Federal act, making it
invalid. As pointed out by Mr. Chief Justice Stone in his concurring
opinion, “The right conferred on employees to bargain collectively
through a representative of their own choosing is the foundation of
the National Labor Relations Act. Without that right, or if it were
restricted by State action, the act as drawn would have little scope
for operation.”
Compensation jor minor illegally employed.—A boy under 15 years of
age was employed in a factory, in contravention of the Texas Penal
Code. While working on a planing machine, he caught his fingers in
the knives of the machine, losing the end of one and injuring another.
An award of damages for this injury was sustained, the Texas Court
of Civil Appeals 4 holding that the illegal employment of a minor was
negligence as a matter of law, and that his employment, which brought
him in proximity to dangerous machines (whether or not he had been
1 Prepared in the Office of the Solicitor, Department of Labor. The cases covered in this article represent
a selection of the significant decisions believed to be of special interest. No attempt has been made to
reflect all recent judicial and administrative 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.
5 H i l l v. W a t s o n , -----U. S .------(June 11, 1945).
3 Discussed in Monthly Labor Review, February 1945 (p. 335).
4 L a n g s t o n v. D e g e lia , 186 S. W. (2d) 738.
98
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LABOR LAWS AND DECISIONS
99
warned of the danger) was the proximate cause of his injury. The fact
that the employer had believed the boy’s statement that he was over
age was held to be no defense to the employer, since the statute im
posed the duty upon him, and not upon the child, to ascertain the facts
concerning the child’s age.
Labor Relations and Industrial Disputes
Right oj reconsideration by Board after final court order— The
National Labor Relations Board required a mining company to cease
and desist from certain unfair practices and to reinstate certain em
ployees with back pay. The back-pay formula was based on the
mistaken assumption that, because of reorganization of the com
panies, not all of the men would have been working continuously had
there been no unfair labor practices. The mistake was not discovered
until after the issuance of the final court order.
The United States Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision took the posi
tion that the Board had exercised its discretion and devised a remedy
after long deliberation; to permit the Board to resume jurisdiction
because of a mistaken understanding would lead to endless litigation
and uncertainty in the law. (International Union of Mine, Mill and
Smelter Workers v. Eagle-Picher Mining & Smelting Co., 65 Sup. Ct.
1165.) The dissenting opinion was based on the theory that such an
order is not final until full compensation has been made and that the
rule of reasonableness should control.
Travel time between portal and face of coal mine is working time
under Fair Labor Standards Act.—1The Supreme Court of the United
States, in an opinion by Mr. Justice Murphy, held in Jewell Ridge
Coal Corp. v. Local No. 6167, Zj . M. W. A .5 that the time spent by
coal miners traveling from the portal of the mine to the working
face is time worked and must be included in the workweek for the
purpose of computing overtime due under Section 7 of the Fair
Labor Standards Act.
The basis for this holding was that the travel took place under
ground, the miners were subjected to continuous hazard and were
obliged to comply with company safety rules in the course of such
travel, and in addition, the travel was for the use and convenience of
the employer rather than of the miners. These facts, the Court said,
brought the case of the coal miners within the rule of Tennessee Coal <&
Iron Co. v. Muscoda Local (321 U. S. 590), in which it was held that
underground travel time was worktime within the meaning of the
Fair Labor Standards Act.6
It was argued in opposition, that the practice, as established in 50
years of collective-bargaining contracts governing coal miners, was
not to regard underground traveltime as time worked. The Court,
however, said that the length of time during which this had been the
practice could not legalize contractual provisions which would frus
trate the purposes of the act.
Mr. Justice Jackson in his dissenting opinion, in which he was
joined by Mr. Chief Justice Stone, Mr. Justice Roberts, and Mr.
Justice Frankfurter, disagreed with the majority’s decision that this
« 65 Sup. Ct. 1063 (May 7, 1945).
* This case was discussed in the Monthly Labor Review for May 1944 (p. 1021).
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
case was within the rule of the Tennessee Coal & Iron case. He
emphasized that the established working day, measured by the length
of time spent at the working face of the mine, had been recognized
in collective agreements, that travel time was impliedly compensated
by the miners’ high rates of wages, and that the legislative history
of the Fair Labor Standards Act indicated an intent not to interfere
with bona-fide collective-bargaining agreements unless clearly illegal.
It was the opinion of the dissenting justices, also, that in invalidating
the basis of a collective agreement the majority had departed from
the previously adopted rule of scrutinizing the factual basis of the
contract, in a manner prejudicial to unorganized employees.
Right oj National Labor Relations Board to subpoena bank records.—
The Circuit Court of Appeals decided that in order to determine
whether or not a union should be certified, the Board has the right
to examine bank records. As between the court and the Board,
the Board is the logical tribunal to make the initial determination
that a question affecting commerce has or has not arisen. To decide
otherwise, said the court, would be to place the burden of investi
gation on the court rather than on the Board and this would be con
trary to congressional intent. (National Labor Relations Board v.
Northern Trust Co., 148 Fed. (2d) 24.)
Subpoenas to compel production oj records jor Wage-Hour Ad
ministrator.—An application by the Administrator of the Wage and
Hour Division for subpoena to compel a newspaper company to
produce books and records concerning wages and hours of its employees
pursuant to subpoena issued on information and belief, should be
granted without requiring the Administrator to show that such com
pany is covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act. (Walling v.
News Printing Co. 148 Fed. (2d) 57.) Such seizure, the court said,
is not without due process of law. The execution of the subpoena
rests in the legal discretion of the court and must be exercised in favor
of the Administrator under these circumstances.
Union's delay and refusal to bargain.—A union certified as collective
bargaining representative does not forfeit its representative status
even though it delayed, for more than 3 months, entering into collective
bargaining negotiations with the company. A bargaining agent should
be allowed reasonable time within which to familiarize and prepare
itself for its duties. {Motor Value Mjg. Co. v. National Labor Relations
Board C. C. A. 6 Cir., May 14, 1945.)
Decisions Relating to Fair Labor Standards Act
Reconditioning containers held to be production.—Employees who
recondition used bagging and metal ties are subject to the Fair Labor
Standards Act as persons engaged in production for commerce if,
after the materials so produced are sold within the State, a substantial
portion is used in baling cotton which moves out of the State. The
employer who knows or has reason to believe that later shipment of
the bags in interstate commerce is intended, violates section 15 (a) (1)
of the act if he sells and delivers bags in the production of which the
pay provisions of the wage and hour law were violated. {Walling v,
Burch,----- Fed. Supp.------ , Apr. 24, 1945.)
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LABOR LAWS AND DECISIONS
101
Action on railroad board’s order blocked by minority employees.—
In Griffen v. Gulf & Ship Island R. R ? the Supreme Court of Missis
sippi decided that a minority group of railroad workers, denied union
membership, could prevent enforcement of a union-railroad agreement
which was made without notice to them and which prejudiced the
seniority rights insured to them under a prior general agreement. This
decision was made in spite of the fact that the Railway Labor Board
had been called on to decide on the binding effect of the later agree
ment and had decided that it was permanent and not temporary.
The court noted that neither union nor railroad had informed the
Board of the existence or provisions of the earlier agreement.
Original construction of drydock not covered by wage and hour law.—
An employer engaged in original construction of a drydock on a navi
gable stream was held in Bruce v. Steers8not to be within the Fair La
bor Standards Act. His work was not improving an instrumentality
of commerce (the navigable stream), because the drydock has no more
effect on the flow of commerce than any waterside building. Although
the materials had previously moved in interstate traffic and the
employee worked on a float in navigable water, these facts did not
supply the essentials for coverage. The court further distinguished
between original construction of a drydock and activities connected
with its use later, and held the inspection of concrete work on this
original construction was neither in commerce nor in production for
interstate commerce even though the drydock was intended to pro
duce goods for commerce.9
Practice as trainee on railroad not employment.—Affirming the de
cision of the United States district court, the Fifth Circuit Court of
Appeals decided in Walling v. Jacksonville Terminal Co.10 that a
trainee for railroad engine or switch service, who, while studying the
rules of the job in preparation for an examination, is active in the
yards while practicing, is not employed by the railroad within the
Fair Labor Standards Act. The railroad therefore owes no wages and
was not required to obtain a learner’s permit for any trainee. The
court relied on the written agreement and railroad practices. The
court held that the definition of “employ” as “suffer or permit to
work” must be read with the common limitation that it involves only
work for the benefit of the employer. Further, union approval of the
plan and the absence of any relation between the trainee activity and
the abuses which the law was intended to remedy strengthened
the court’s conviction that the work done in training is not employment
for which a minimum wage must be paid.
Supervisory capacity of foreman makes him executive.—A night fore
man at his employer’s warehouse, who has supervision of men and
authority to do whatever is necessary to operate the warehouse, is a
“ bona fide executive” 11 within an exemption provided by the Fair
Labor Standards A ct12 as distinguished from a “ superintendent” who
performs menial jobs and has little or no authority.
?—— S. (2d) — , Apr. 23, 1945.
8-----Fed. Supp.------(S. P . N. Y.) Apr. 21, 1945.
®By definition of “goods,” ships are expressly included (29 U. S. C. sec. 203 (1)).
1» 148 Fed. (2d) 768 (C. C. A. 51.
u M e d l i n v. S a f e w a y S t o r e s , 157 Pac. (2d) 907.
I2 Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, secs. 7,13 (a) and 16.
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW-— JU L Y
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Employees of copartnerships serving interstate trucks in interstate
commerce.—The test of coverage under the Fair Labor Standards Act
is not whether the employee’s activities affect or indirectly relate to
interstate commerce, but whether they are so directly or closely re
lated to commerce as to be a part of it. In Boutell v. Walling (148
Fed. (2d) 329), it was shown that the employees serviced all trucks of a
company carrying on interstate commerce exclusively. The court
held that the fact that they also serviced other trucks doing intrastate
commerce was not sufficient to exempt them from the act.
Picketing of business without employees.—To be a labor dispute, the
dispute must involve some controversy about employment conditions.
No dispute exists when a labor union seeks to compel a company,
which lias no employees, to maintain a contract with the union and
pay monthly fees. The constitutional right of free speech does not
grant a union the right to picket peacefully for a purpose which is void
under the State law forbidding monopolies.13
Railway Labor Act
Court authorized to deal with agreement on railroad work assignments.—
Railroads using a joint terminal brought action for a declaratory
judgment to establish their position in regard to a change in an earlier
agreement between the railroad workers’ unions and the railroads,
defining the method for allocating jobs to members of the two unions.
A proposed change had proved unsatisfactory to some union members.
The United States district court decided (1) that it had jurisdiction,
(2) that the issue was justiciable and not a dispute between carriers
and their employees, and (3) that it did not involve a question of union
representation (Tennessee & Pacific R. R. v. Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen u). The court recognized that labor disputes and represen
tation matters should be decided by the Railway Labor Board, under
an exception in the War Labor Disputes Act.15 The rights of union
members objecting to the new agreement, made by their regularly
chosen representatives, were held to represent an interest analogous
to the constitutional rights of the minority in Steel v. Louisville cfc
Nash. R. R. (322 U. S. 722) and Tunstall v. Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Engineers, which guided the court in this case.16
13 H a r p e r v. B r e n n a n , - ----(Sup. Ct. Mich., May 14, 1945).
i<-----Fed. Supp.------ (W. D. Fla.) Apr. 16, 1945.
is 48 U. S. C.sec. 153.
is These cases were discussed in Monthly Labor Review, February 1945 (pp. 339 and 341).
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Women in Industry
L iv in g C osts o f W o rk in g W o m en in N ew Y o rk , 1 9 4 4 '
TO PROVIDE adequate maintenance and health protection for
women workers living as family members in New York State requires
$1,643.53 per annum. This computation, based on the eighth annual
survey of the cost of living of working women by the New York
State Division of Women, Child Labor and Minimum Wage, in
September 1944, represents a 2.7-percent rise in the cost of the working
woman’s budget as compared with 1943.
It is estimated from previous surveys that women living in furnished
rooms and taking their meals in restaurants would need approxi
mately 10 percent more than the above sum.
The budget required under the State minimum-wage law is more
than a subsistence budget. In the opinion of the Division, every
woman working in the State of New York should have sufficient
money to purchase a well-balanced diet. She should have decent
sanitary housing, with modern plumbing and electric light. She
should be able to purchase the proper type of clothing for maintaining
a high morale, in order to compete for and retain her job. She should
also have sufficient “ money for personal and medical care, insurance,
and leisure-time activities, which include recreation, vacation, and
education. Furthermore, the budget must also include an allowance
for income tax and social-security taxes, otherwise her standard of
living will have to be reduced. The estimated figure given above is
the minimum for the coverage of these living standards. It excludes
luxuries, extremes of any kind, and various desirable items which
are in fairly common use, but contains an allowance for the purchase
of war bonds in lieu of savings as such.”
The most substantial increases in living costs in 1944 were reported
in clothing and clothing upkeep and in personal care—rises of 6.5
percent and 7.4 percent, respectively. Clothing costs constitute 15
percent of the working-woman’s budget and the rise in such costs is
accounted for to a large extent by the lack of low-priced merchandise.
The following table gives an analysis of the cost-of-living budget for
a working woman living as a member of a family in certain cities in
New York State in September 1944.
1 Data are from Industrial Bulletin and Employment Review, New York State Department of Labor,
Albany, November-December 1944 (p. 338); and Press release, State Industrial Commissioner (New York
City), January 30,1945.
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104
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
19 45
Cost-of-Living Budget fo r Woman Worker Living as Member o f Fam ily in New York
State, September 1944
City and population
group
Total
House
Hous
hold Cloth
ing, in
ex
ing
clud
penses and Per Med In
in g
Food and cloth sonal ical sur
fuel
moth ing
care care ance1
and
up
er’s
serv keep
light
ices 1
In
Lei Other come
sure liv
ing
taxes
time
and
es
activ sen
war
ities tials bonds
New York State______ $1,643. 53 $181.27 $267.62 $155.42 $272.11 $44.29 $66.42 $45.18 $120.05 $93.91 $397.26
New York City___ 1,640. 90 178.92 269. 52 154.76 270.47 43.96 67. 72 45.15 123. 86 89.60 396.84
Outside New York
City___________ 1,649.90 186.95 263.02 157.01 276.08 45.09 63.30 45.24 110.85 104. 30 398.06
100,000 and over (except
New York City)____
Buffalo__________
Rochester________
Utica____________
50,000, under 100,000___
Schenectady... .
Binghamton______
25,000, under 50,000. _ ..
Jamestown.._ . . . _
Poughkeepsie.........
10,000, under 25,000___
Glens Falls_______
Cortland_________
O neonta..___ . . .
5,000, under 10,000____
Norwich_________
Canandaigua_____
Wellsville________
1,647. 52
1,682.56
1,667.98
1,603.43
1,641.31
1, 691. 25
1,591. 35
1,657.76
1, 602.85
1,712.61
1,661.54
1,710.07
1,577.29
1, 697. 20
1, 575.07
1, 591.69
1, 584.03
1, 536.88
186. 36
194. 04
201.84
163.20
175.02
186.60
163. 44
188. 64
176. 28
201.00
190. 08
208.32
164.04
197.88
158. 76
166.68
158.52
151.08
259.09
257. 53
263.95
255. 78
265.00
263.01
266.98
267.01
260.17
273. 85
267.35
274.14
249.90
278.00
259.17
261.32
265. 52
250. 68
156. 63
160.30
164. 66
144.93
152. 23
158. 56
145.90
158.98
152.13
165. 82
157.83
168. 56
143.48
161.44
141.75
145.15
142.41
137.69
278. 32
274.87
283.12
276. 96
278. 26
279.03
277.45
274.23
275.42
273. 04
272. 56
276. 53
270. 39
270. 75
272. 51
268.80
275.56
273.18
45.66
44.86
45.42
46.71
44. 38
46. 57
42.18
45. 26
43.84
46.68
44.89
42.18
44. 39
48.10
45.35
47.36
45. 22
43.46
62.90
66.76
59. 37
62.58
65.50
67.17
63.82
62.70
62. 72
62. 67
63.00
67. 70
60. 96
60.33
81.21
63.84
56.76
63.02
45.22
45. 37
45.42
44. 77
45.15
45. 65
44.60
45. 32
44. 77
45.87
45.36
45.84
44. 51
45. 71
44.49
44.66
44.58
44.11
111.51 104.05
111.72 115.10
109.46 89.60
113. 34 107.45
111.26 107.45
116. 75 115.10
105. 77 99.80
113.13 98.54
110. 27 89.60
115.97 107.45
110.07 106. 01
110.84 95.98
109.91 110. 00
109.45 112.04
108.16 104. 21
108.29 104.21
110. 78 104.21
105. 39 104. 21
1 Includes household expenses, mother’s services and maintenance and household equipment.
¡Includes allowance for life insurance and Federal old-age insurance.
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397. 78
411.81
405.14
387. 71
397.07
412.81
380. 78
403.96
387. 65
420.26
404. 39
419. 98
379.71
413. 50
379.46
381.38
380. 47
364.06
Wage and Hour Statistics
W ages in P o tte r y M a n u fa c tu re in E a s t L iv e rp o o l
(O h io ) A re a , O c to b e r 1 9 4 4 1
Summary
MALE workers in selected occupations in the manufacture of pottery
and related products had average straight-time hourly earnings in
October 1944 ranging from 67 cents an hour for watchmen to $1.62
an hour for plastic mold makers. For women workers the averages
varied from 52 cents an hour for bisque cleaners to $1.17 an hour for
gilders and liners. Almost three-fifths of the men, but less than a
tenth of the women, in the occupations studied earned $1.00 or more
an hour.
Development of the Industry
The first pottery plant in East Liverpool (Ohio) was erected in 1840
by an English potter, who found ample supplies of suitable clays in
and about the region. The quick success of the pottery industry in the
area caused a large influx of skilled potters from England and gave
rise to most active competition.
The early products manufactured in the potteries of the East
Liverpool area were known as yellow ware. The clays available in
the locality were of such composition that the ware became a terra
cotta red after firing. In 1872, white ware was first manufactured
from clays found in other sections of the country. The East Liver
pool clays were not adaptable to the manufacture of fine pottery and
the use of them was gradually diminished. For many years now,
virtually all the clays and mineral substances used by the industry
have come from outside the region.
The East Liverpool area on which this report is based includes the
cities of East Liverpool, East Palestine, Lisbon, Minerva, Salem,
Sebring, and Wellsville in Ohio, and Chester and Newell in West
Virginia. The East Liverpool area is one of the great pottery-pro
ducing centers of the world. Among the products manufactured are
vitreous and semivitreous dinnerware, cooking ware, artware, and
porcelain electrical supplies.
Since the beginning of the war, Army and Navy orders have
accounted for a large portion of the production of the dinnerware
plants. Carloads of cups, saucers, bowls, and sauce boats have been
shipped to camps and training stations all over the country.
1 Prepared in the Bureau’s Wage Analysis Branch by Charles Ruben stein (Regional Wage Analyst
Cleveland office).
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106
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
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Scope of Survey
Occupational wage-rate and general plant information are presented
in this report for 29 potteries, which are believed to be all of the
potteries in the East Liverpool area employing 9 or more workers.
The data were obtained from pay rolls and other basic records by
field representatives of the Bureau. A uniform set of job descriptions
was used in order to insure uniformity in the classification of workers
in each pottery. The 29 firms employed a total of 10,614 plant and
office workers, with individual company employment ranging from
15 to 2,900 workers. Twelve plants with a total force of 9,278 had
more than 250 workers each, 11 plants with a total employment of
1,153 had from 51 to 250 workers each, and 6 plants with a total
employment of 183 had from 9 to 50 workers.
Wage-Payment Practices and Unionization
The scheduled workweek for both men and women varied from 40
to 48 hours. Seventeen potteries had a work schedule of 40 hours a
week, and 8 others one of 48 hours. All 29 potteries reported pro
visions for the payment of time and a half for all work in excess of 40
hours a week, 7 paying the same premium rate for work after 8 hours
in any one day. Eight potteries paid time and a half for work on the
sixth consecutive day of work and 4 of these paid double time for
work on the seventh consecutive day in a given workweek. Twentythree potteries had provisions for the payment of premium rates for
work on holidays—20 paying double time and 3 paying time and a
half.
Of the 10,134 plant workers employed by the 29 potteries surveyed,
9,457 were reported as working on the first or daylight shift, 572 on the
second shift, and 105 on the third shift. The late-shift work was
confined principally to the operations of kiln firing, placing, and un
loading, which usually function on a round-the-clock basis. None
of the potteries paid shift differentials for work on either the second
or third shifts.
Paid vacations were granted by 20 of the 29 potteries. In each
case, the length of vacation was 1 week after a year’s service. Work
ers received vacation pay. amounting to 2 percent of their annual
earnings, exclusive of payment for overtime work.
Twenty-four potteries, accounting for more than 95 percent of the
total workers employed by the 29 potteries studied, had collective
bargaining agreements with the National Brotherhood of Operative
Potters, an A. F. of L. affiliate.
Entrance wage rates.—Entrance rates of male common laborers
who were employed in 25 of the 29 potteries varied from 40 cents to
75 cents an hour. Eighteen potteries had entrance rates of 62 or
more cents an hour, while the other 7 had rates ranging from 40 to
57.5 cents an hour. One pottery had provisions for automatically
increasing the rate paid to common laborers from 54.4 cents to 68
cents an hour after 30 days of service.
Entrance rates of inexperienced male workers (other than common
laborers) ranged from 40 cents to 75 cents an hour. Twenty potteries
had entrance rates of 60 cents or more an hour, while the other 9 had
rates ranging from 40 to 58 cents an hour. Eight potteries had pro
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WAGE AND HOUR STATISTICS
107
visions for automatic increases; the increases varied from 4 cents
to 10 cents an hour and were granted after periods of service ranging
from 30 days to 3 months.
Entrance rates of inexperienced women workers ranged from 40
cents to 55 cents an hour. Fifteen potteries had entrance rates of
50 cents or more an hour, while the other 14 had rates from 40 to 45
cents an hour. Seven potteries had provisions for automatically
increasing these rates. The increases varied from 4 cents to 10 cents
an hour and were granted after periods of service ranging from 30 days
to 6 months.
•
Average Hourly Earnings
Wage data were obtained for 5,326 workers employed in 33 selected
occupations which are believed to be fully representative of the various
skill and earnings levels in the industry. Slightly more than half
of the plant workers in the 29 potteries were in these occupations.
The wage data in this report refer to straight-time average hourly
earnings, exclusive of premium payments for overtime and nightshift work. Incentive payments resulting from piecework are included
in the earnings.
The accompanying table reveals that earnings of male workers
varied from 67 cents an hour for watchmen to $1.62 an hour for
plastic mold makers. This wide range in earnings is due largely to
the incentive method of wage payment and to the varying skill levels
found among the men in the industry. Nearly two-thirds of the
2,895 male workers surveyed had average earnings between 99 cents
and $1.59 an hour.
The dispersion in the earnings of women was much less than that
of men. Their average earnings ranged from 52 cents an hour for
bisque cleaners to $1.17 an hour for gilders and liners. About ninetenths of the women were in occupations averaging from 52 to 75
cents an hour. That the average earnings of occupations in which
the majority of women were employed were below those for the major
ity of men may be attributed largely to the fact that men were em
ployed in the higher-paid and more-skilled processing and maintenance
occupations. Women were generally engaged in simpler and some
what repetitive operations, but in some cases performed the moreskilled operations on the moderately priced ware.
The highest and lowest establishment averages are shown for each
occupation in the accompanying table. These averages are not nec
essarily the same as the earnings of individual workers who in some
cases had earnings below the lowest establishment averages and, in
others, in excess of the highest establishment averages. The large
dispersion in earnings between the lowest and highest establishment
averages for similar occupations may be attributed to such factors as
size of plant, type of product, unionization, and method of wage
payment.
Of the 5,326 workers for whom wage data are presented in this
report, 2,349 or approximately 44 percent were incentive workers.
Two-fifths of the male workers surveyed were paid on an incentive
basis. In each of the eight occupations for which wage data are avail
able for both time and incentive workers, the earnings of male in
centive workers were higher by amounts varying from 22 cents an
6 5 1 6 5 4 — 45------- 8
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
108
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
194 5
hour for jiggermen to 71 cents an hour for clay makers. Nearly half
of the women workers also received incentive earnings. In five of the
six occupations for which there are data for both time and incentive
workers the earnings of women incentive workers were higher by
amounts ranging from 10 cents an hour for gilders and liners to 52
cents an hour for casters. In the occupation of dipper, women timeworkers had earnings 6 cents higher than the incentive workers em
ployed in the same occupation. It should be noted, however, that
differences in earnings of time and incentive workers are due not only
to the methods of wage payment involved, but also in part to inter
plant variations in wage levels, which may be influenced by such
factors as type of product, size of plant, and unionization.
Average H ourly Earnings 1 in Selected Occupations in Manufacture of Pottery and
Related Products, East Liverpool (Ohio) Area, October 1944
Straight-time hourly earnings
Occupation, class and sex
Number
of
Number
estab
of
lish
workers
ments
Male workers:
Batters-out_. ____ . ________
Bisque cleaners___________ .
Blunger loaders__________________
Board carriers.-. _______
___
Carpenters, maintenance, class A ____
Carpenters, maintenance, class B_. Casters___________
Clay makers____ _________ .
Die pressers___ _ _____________
Dippers______________ ____
Electricians, maintenance, class B__.
Finishers--___- ______
Gilders and liners____ _ _ _____
Glaze mixers.. _____
Inspectors.. . ____
Janitors..............
Jiggermen_______
Kiln drawers (periodic kiln). __ _____
Kiln firemen (funnel kiln)______ ..
Kiln placers (periodic kiln) _ __________
Kiln placers (tunnel kiln)___ .
Kiln unloaders (tunnel kiln) _ .
Maintenance men, class A _
Maintenance men, class B .. .
Mold makers, plastic
Painters, sp ra y___ _____ .
Pugmill men_________ _
Sorters______ .
Truckers, hand (ware movers)______
Ware dressers______ . .
Watchmen________
Working foremen, processing departments
17
13
3
13
5
20
16
7
19
20
10
12
4
16
3
14
16
Female workers:
Batters-out________ .
Bisque cleaners______ . . .
Board carriers_______ _
Casters.__ ____
Die pressers_____
Dippers_______
Finishers________ _
Gilders and lin e r s .__
Inspectors__________
Kiln unloaders (tunnel kiln) . _
Painters, spray_____ ______
Sorters__________
Transferers______ .
Truckers, hand (ware movers) . . . ______
Ware dressers______
Working forewomen, processing departments___
6
11
2
7
5
10
26
14
2
2
3
11
16
6
15
10
13
2
13
15
2
4
19
24
7
18
4
7
12
11
8
General
average
Lowest
estab
lish
ment
average
41
73
$0. 99
.77
1.00
.73
1.38
.97
1. 59
1.23
1.00
1.23
.93
1.02
1. 55
.84
.88
.68
1. 48
.71
. 99
.96
1.18
.86
1.02
.87
1.62
.94
.93
.87
.73
. 68
.67
1.22
$0.83
(2)
.77
. 55
(2)
.85
.88
.50
.71
.63
. 90
. 91
1. 07
. 75
.75
. 55
1.18
. 65
. 85
. 75
. 73
. 71
. 95
70
1.00
. 77
. 77
. 72
. 65
68
.40
.80
49
375
6
60
24
17
441
194
15
9
11
142
670
35
366
17
.79
.52
.76
.81
.75
.57
.75
1.17
. 55
.72
1. 05
. 54
.69
.73
.56
.70
194
9
69
75
5
7
358
66
41
77
7
20
191
22
145
101
284
19
73
8
399
144
12
95
69
26
24
59
174
8
. 70
. 52
(2)
.42
.47
. 40
. 41
. 90
(2)
(2)
.61
. 40
. 43
. 70
.44
.55
1 Exclusive of prem ium paym ents for overtim e and night-shift work.
2 Low and high p lan t averages not shown, to avoid identification of individual establishm ents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Highest
estab
lish
ment
average
$1.17
(2)
1. 54
90
(2)
1. 09
2.10
1.68
1. 23
1 30
95
1 38
1. 95
1.15
.88
. 72
1 70
1.13
1 05
1. 08
1 62
1 03
1 25
Q2
2.02
1. 30
1. 43
1 13
. 78
72
177
1.63
1. 07
. 52
(2)
1.32
.86
. 86
. 97
1. 51
(2)
(2)
1.21
. 72
1. 07
. 78
. 76
.80
WAGE AND HOUR STATISTICS
109
T r e n d of F a c to ry E a rn in g s , 1 9 3 9 to A p ril 1 9 4 5
THE published average earnings of factory workers are summarized
in the accompanying table for selected months from January 1939 to
April 1945.1 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.).
Weekly earnings in all manufacturing averaged $47.16 in April
1945—103.4 percent above the average in January 1939, 77.0 percent
above January 1941, and 21.3 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 104.5 cents in
April 1945—65.3 percent above the average in January 1939, 53.0
percent above January 1941, and 17.0 percent above 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 April 1945 was 97.1 cents per hour; this was 55.9
percent higher than in January 1939, 46.2 percent above January 1941,
and 15.7 percent above October 1942.
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 in columns io 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
89.9 cents in April 1945, or 44.3 percent above the corresponding
average in January 1939, 38.7 percent above January 1941, and 15.0
percent above October 1942. Between March and April 1945 the
increase in straight-time hourly earnings, after eliminating the influ
ence of shifting employment, amounted to 0.3 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.
i Compare T rends in Factory Wages, 1939-43, in M o n th ly L abor Review, N ovem ber 1943 (pp. 869-994),
especially table 4 (p. 879). For detailed d ata regarding weekly earnings, see D etailed R eports for Industrial
and Business Em ploym ent, A pril 1945, table 6 (p. 175), in this issue.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
110
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
19 45
Earnings of Factory Workers in Selected Months, 1939 to A p ril 1945
Average weekly
earnings
M onth and
year
J a n ____
J a n ____
J a n ____
J a n ____
J u ly ----O ct____
1943: J a n ____
A p r____
J u ly ----O ct____
D ec____
1944: J a n ____
A p r____
J u ly ----O ct____
D ec____
1945: J a n ____
F e b ___
M ar. A ..
A pr.2__
E stim ated straighttim e average
hourly earnings 1
E stim ated straighttime average hourly
earnings weighted
by Jan u ary 1939
em p lo y m e n t2
All
All
All
N on
All
N on
u ra dura
u ra dura
u ra dNuon
u ra dNuon
m anu Dble
ra m an u Dble
ra m an u Dble
m an u Dble
factur
factur
ble
factur
ble
ble
factur goods
ble
goods goods
goods goods
ing
ing
ing
goods
ing goods goods
(1)
1939:
1940:
1941:
1942:
Average hourly
earnings
(2)
(3)
(4)
(S)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(ID
$23.19 $25. 33 $21. 57 $0. 632 $0. 696 $0. 583 $0. 623 $0.688 $0. 574 $0. 623 $0. 688
.598
.644
.703
.697
24.56 27. 39 22.01
. 717
.589
.635
.655
.664
.722
.648
.749
.610
.601
.711
26.64 30.48 22. 75
.683
.688
.810
.801
.729
33.40 38.98 26. 97
.890
.762
.835
.670
.809
.949
.885
.701
.846
.725
.759
36.43 42.51 28. 94
.856
38.89 45.31 30.66
.910
.839
.919
.782
.869
.751
.723
.893
.886
.768
.941
.794
40. 62 46.68 32.10
.859
.733
.919 1.017
. 790
.944 1.040
.878
.959
.751
.808
.897
42.48 48. 67 33.58
42. 76 48.76 34.01
.806
.899
.766
.919
.963 1.060
.981
.823
.988 1.086
.824
.916
.836
.929
44.86 51.26 35.18
.997
.781
.788
.942
.832
.927 1.011
.846
44. 58 50. 50 35.61
.995 1.093
.838
.850
.945
.931 1.013
.793
45. 29 51.21 36.03 1. 002 1.099
.942 1.023
.850
.806
.862
.955
45. 55 51. 67 36.16 1.013 1. 110
.950 1. 035
.874
.862
.815
45.43 51.07 37. 05 1. 018 1.116
.973
.956 1.038
.829
.881
.969
46.94 53.18 37. 97 1.031 1. 129
.878
.832
.975
47. 44 53. 68 38.39 1.040 1. 140
.883
.963 1.046
.886
.894
.984
.891
.840
47.50 53. 54 38.66 1.046 1.144
.970 1.053
.892
.842
.892
.968 1.048
.978
47. 37 53. 30 38.69 1.043 1. 139
.981
.896
.969 1.048
.896
47.43 53.25 38.95 1.044 1.140
.846
.985
.899
.971 1.050
.850
.899
47.16 52.99 38. 81 1.045 1.139
(12)
$0.574
.589
.600
.667
.694
.716
.724
.741
.750
.765
.773
.778
.792
.799
.815
.818
.825
.827
.831
.834
1 Average hourly earnings, excluding th e effect of prem ium pay for overtime.
2 Average hourly earnings, excluding prem ium pay for overtim e, w eighted b y m an-hours of em ploym ent,
in the major divisions of th e m anufacturing in d u stry for Jan u a ry 1939.
2 Prelim inary.
W
W
W
S a la rie s o f C ity S chool E m p lo y e e s, 1 9 4 4 —4 5
MEDIAN salaries in city school systems continued in 1944-45 the
upward trend which has been in progress in recent years, and for most
classes of positions showed substantial increases over the 1930-31
level, the high point reached before the economic depression. The
accompanying table, taken from the National Education Associa
tion’s latest biennial report on these salaries,1 gives the medians paid
in cities of over 100,000 population in 5 school years, 1930-31 to
1944-45, with percentages of change. With a few exceptions, sal
aries in the smaller cities followed the same general trend in the
school year 1944-45 as those in the large cities, although usually they
were lower.
With respect to teachers, there is a tendency to pay higher salaries
to instructors of older children, in cities of all sizes. In those of over
100,000 population, as the table given here shows, the median for
high-school teachers in 1944-45 was $402 more than for junior highschool teachers, and the median for the latter was $210 more than for
elementary-school teachers. However, the policy of basing salary
schedules upon preparation rather than upon school position seems
to be growing, 43.2 percent of the schedules reported in the 1944-45
survey being based upon preparation as compared with 36 percent in
the 1942-43 survey.
N ational E ducation Association Research B ulletin, Vol- XXIII, No. 1, F ebruary 1945; Salaries of C ity
School Employees, 1944-45.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
111
WAGE AND HOUR STATISTICS
Trends in Salaries Paid to Employees in School Systems of Cities of Over 100,000 Popula
tion, 1930-31 to 1944^45
M edian salaries paid in—
T ype of school employee
Classroom teachers:
K indergarten_____ _____ _______
E lem entary school- - - ----------------A typical classes________________
Junior high school_______ _____
High school____________ ______
P art-tim e or continuation school.-
Percent of change
1934-35 1940-41 1942-43
1930- 1934- 1940- 1942- 1944- 1930-31
to
to
to
to
41
45 1944-45
31
43
35
194+45 1944-45 1944-45
$2, 540
2.602
2,690
2, 812
3,214
2,911
+22.3
+22.9
+13.4
+19.8
+17.7
+ 8.0
+31.9
+35.4
+34.8
+35.3
+31.9
+8-1
+14. 1
+14.7
+14.1
+13.8
+16.1
+18.4
+5.1
+ 6.1
+ 5 .2
+ 7 .5
+10.0
+ 2.7
3,813 3, 856
3, 436 2,913 3,536 3; 762 4’ 018
+16.9
+37.9
+13.6
+1.1
+ 6 .8
Deans:
Junior high school,. .- - -.- 3,092 2,539 3, 043 3,143 3.300
High school_________ ______ -- - 2,942 2,268 2,677 2,970 3,050
+ 6.7
+ 3.7
+30.0
+34.5
+ 8.4
+13.9
+ 5.0
+ 2.7
4,280 4,042 4, 621 4,673 4,239
2,436 2,135 2,315 2,458 3,809
3,519 3,016 3,420 3,499 3, 772
- 1 .0
+56. 4
+ 7 .2
+ 4 .9
+78.4
+25.1
- 8 .3
+64.5
+10.3
- 9 .3
+55.0
+ 7.8
3,496 2,850 3, 940 4,138 4,156
4,500 3, 718 4,403 4,440 4, 657
+18.9
+ 3 .5
+45.8
+25.3
+ 5.5
+ 5 .8
+• 4
+ 4 .9
5, 544 3, 453 3.869 3,925 4,167
5.100 4, 252 4,806 4,939 5,310
-2 4 .8
+4.1
+20.7
+24.9
+ 7.7
+10.5
4,111 4,125 4,050 4,000 4,080
- .8
- 1 .1
+ .7
10,000 7,288 8,605 8, 550 9,150
- 8 .5
+25.5
+ 6.3
+
7 .0
6, 527 5, 578 6,039 6,088 6, 510
5,361 4,186 4, 967 4,570 4,825
- .3
-1 0 .0
+ 16.7
+ 15.3
+ 7 .8
- 2 .9
+
+
6 .9
5 .6
3,400
3. 550
3,100
3,167
2,925
3,075
2, 909
2,800
3,333
3,667
3,285
2,947
3,500
4,021
3,400
3,270
+11.4
+19.7
+24.2
+13.8
+29.5
+38.2
+32.3
+28.8
+13.7
+15.9
+17.2
+22.3
+ 8 .2
+ 5 .7
+13.2
+10.2
3,240
2, 867
2, 909
2, 933
3,450
3,219
3,000
2, 750
2,687
2, 569
2, 727
3, 278
2,818
3,275
3| 000
3,044
3,077
2,960
3,480
3,325
3,100
3,475
3,150
3,192
3,090
3,100
3,290
3,300
3, 450
2,950
3, 788
4, 250
3,850
3,605
3, 233
3,875
3', 450
3, 606
3,636
3,200
3,950
3, 750
3,750
3; 467
+ 6.5
+25. 8
+25.0
+9.1
+14.5
+16.5
+29.2
+25. 5
+34.2
+41.5
+17.3
+20.5
+33.1
+18.3
+15.0
+18.5
+18.2
+8.1
+13.5
+12.8
+21.0
+11.5
+ 9 .5
+13.0
+17.7
+ 3 .2
+20.1
+ 13.6
+ 8.7
+17.5
2, 329 1,779 2,107 2,230 2, 544
+ 9.2
+43.0
+20.7
+14.1
4,450 3,333 3,850 3,950 4, 500
1,281 1,147 , 1,355 1,428 1,643
+1.1
+28.3
+35.0
+43.2
+16.9
+21.3
+13.9
+15.1
+18.3 +29.0
+ 3 .5 +42.1
+40. C +123.8
+26 .a +44.0
+19.5 +35.5
+ 7 .2 +32.4
+21.2 +33.4
+14.9
+11.5
+15.8
+31.7
+16.2
+12.9
+12.4
+ 9 .6
+11.0
+ 9 .4
+23.7
+10.6
+ 5 .2
+ 1.1
D epartm ent heads:
Junior high school. __.......... H igh school--. _ ________ __
Principals:
E lem entary school:
A ssistant principals— ------Teaching principals......... .........
Supervising principals_______
Junior high school:
A ssistant principals---- --------P rin c ip a ls ,------- ------- --------High school:
A ssistant principals_________
Principals _______________
P art-tim e or continuation school
principals____________________
A dm inistrative and supervisory staff:
Superintendents of schools---------Associate, assistant, or d eputy
superintendents______________
Business m anagers.-- - ........ .
D irectors, assistant directors, or
supervisors of—
Research, tests, e tc __ - -------Vocational education. _____
Ph>sical education_________
H ealth ...................... ................
School library s e rv ic e s ............
Evening schools
____
Americanization classes............
A rt___ __ - - _______ ____
M u sic____ _____________ --_
Pen m an sh ip ________________
M anual or industrial a rts ____
Home economics_____ ______
Visual education___ _______
Radio education ___________
O ther school employees:
Secretarial and clerical employees:
Secretaries to superintendents
of schools_________________
Secretaries of boards of educatio n ______________________
Clerks in principals’ offices__
Clerks in other adm inistrativ e and supervisory offices.
Superintendents of buildings____
H ead janitors. _________________
H ead n u rs e s.. ___________ ____ _
N urses_____ _______ _________
Chief attendance officers_____ . . .
A ttendance officers_____________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$2,077 $1,926
2,118 1,922
2,372 1,996
2,348 2,078
2, 731 2,436
2, 695 2,693
1,581
4,267
2 ,50C
2,138
1,715
3,125
2,078
$2, 227
2,268
2,357
2, 471
2,768
2,458
1.45C
3 ,10t
1,564
1,875
1, 512
2, 53(
1,888
1,628
3 ,96C
3,022
2,05C
1,764
2, 967
2,241
$2,417
2,452
2,558
2, 617
2, 922
2,835
1,706
3,980
3 ,20C
2,183
1,852
3,183
2,491
1,870
4,417
3, 50C
2, 70C
2,04f
3 ,35C
2, 518
+
+
6 .2
7 .5
+ 2 .0
112
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
194 5
W ages a n d E m p lo y m e n t in B ra z il, 1 9 4 4 1
ONLY 43 percent of the 1,300,000 industrial workers registered in
the Retirement and Pensions Institute for Industrial Workers in
Brazil in August 1944 were earning under 300 cruzeiros 2 monthly,
as contrasted with 71.0 percent in October 1942. The number of
workers listed by the Institute had increased 3 percent during the
same period. The estimated increase in total employment in Brazil
from 1941 to 1944 amounted to 2 percent; no change was reported in
the total employed in agriculture, which accounted for about twothirds of all workers in 1944.
Wage Distribution of Industrial Workers, 1942-44
Between October 1942 and August 1944, the percentage of workers
in the Retirement and Pensions Institute for Industrial Workers
receiving more than 399 cruzeiros per month increased from 16.0 to
38.5 percent as a cumulative result of minimum wages authorized in
1943.3 M embership in the Institute was given as 1,311,007 in October
1942 and as 1,350,586 in August 1944.
The distribution of the membership of the Retirement and Pensions
Institute for Industrial Workers is shown by earnings groups, for
October 1942 and August 1944, in the accompanying table.
Industrial Workers Registered With Retirement and Pensions Institute of Brazil, by
Am ount of Monthly Earnings, October 1942 and August 1944
N um ber of contributors
M on hly earnings
0 to 99 cruzeiros __
100 to 199 cruzeiros____
200 to 299 cruzeiros—.
300 to 399 cruzeiros__________
400 to 499 cruzeiros___
500 to 599 cruzeiros___
600 to 799 cruzeiros.
800 to 999 cruzeiros .
1.000 to 1,499 cruzeiros__
1,500 to 1,999 cruzeiros___
2.000 and over_________
In each earnings
group—
C um ulative—
October
1942
August
1944
October
1942
A ugust
1944
232, 450
385,071
312,818
167,163
89, 338
46, 670
39, 296
14, 698
13, 500
4,263
5,740
84,646
220,075
276, 813
249,164
202,771
131,356
101, 060
36, 792
29,079
8,284
10, 546
617, 521
930, 339
1,097, 506
1,186, 840
1, 233, 510
1, 272, 806
1, 287, 504
1, 301,004
1, 305, 267
1, 311,007
304,721
581, 534
830,698
1,033, 469
1,164, 825
1, 265, 885
1,302, 677
1, 331,756
1,340, 040
1,350, 586
C um ulative
percent
October A ugust
1942
1944
47.1
71.0
83.7
90.5
94.1
97.1
98.2
99.2
99.6
100.0
22.6
43.0
61.5
76.5
86.2
93.7
96.4
98.6
99.2
100.0
Wages in Agriculture in Sâo Paulo and Northern Paraná
Daily wages for laborers in Sao Paulo and northern Paraná, without
meals, rose from 8 or 9 cruzeiros in 1943 to 12 or 15 cruzeiros in 1944.
In the same year daily wages of cotton workers in the region of Catanduva, Sao Paulo, rose from 8 cruzeiros to 13 or 15 cruzeiros. In the
new coffee areas in western Sao Paulo in 1944, coffee workers were
1 D a ta are from reports of E d w ard J. Rowell, labor attaché, U nited States E m bassy a t Rio de Janeiro
N ovem ber 6 and 22, 1944, and Jan u ary 16 and Feb ru ary 8, 1945; and of H enry W . Spielman agricultural
economist, U nited States Consulate a t S&o Paulo, D ecember 9, Ì943, and F ebruary 1 1 94 4
g
2 Average exchange rate of cruzeiro, 1942 to A ugust 1944, official=6 cents; free=5 cents
tt S,ee b ab ° r Conditions in L atin America, No. 14 (BLS Serial No. R. 1523), and D iario Oficial, Estados
U m dos do Brasil (Rio de Janeiro), N ovem ber 13 and 22, 1943.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
113
WAGE AND HOUR STATISTICS
receiving 500 cruzeiros per 1,000 trees for taking care of the crop until
harvest, or from 300 to 350 cruzeiros for the same work, with the right
to plant corn, beans, or rice between the rows of coffee.
While agricultural wages were rising, a movement of labor from
older settled regions to new land in the western part of Sao Paulo and
northern Parana was reported early in 1944. On one coffee planta
tion near Londrina, most of the families were said to have made
enough money on the rice, corn, and beans planted between the coffee
trees in 1943 to complete a sizable down payment on farms of their
own. Laborers were also 1eaving agriculture tow ork in manufacturing.
Employment in Brazil , 1941-44
The increase in total employment in Brazil from 1941 to 1944,
according to an official estimate published by the Ministry of Labor,
amounted to 2 percent. Although a number of the major employ
ment groups showed rising employment, a decrease in the number of
maritime and port, railroad, and transportation workers offset the
increase almost completely.
Numbers employed, according to the Ministry of Labor, in agri
cultural, bank, commercial, industrial, railroad, and other types of
work in Brazil in 1941 and 1944 are shown below.
Number employed
in 1944
Number employed
in 1941
Total___________________________ 1 13, 0 5 0 , 0 0 0
1 12, 808, 0 0 0
Agricultural and rural industrial---- 2 8, 860, 0 0 0
30, 00 0
Banking___________ ____________
600, 000
Commercial___________________- 15, 000
Communications and air transport _
1, 100 , 000
Industrial.--------------------------------54, 0 0 0
Maritime and port---------------------15, 0 0 0
Mining_________________________
116, 0 0 0
Public concessions----------------------155, 000
Railroad________________________
25, 000
Stevedoring_____________________
165, 0 0 0
Transportation---------------- ---------Other___________________________ 2 1, 911, 0 0 0
2 8, 860, 0 0 0
25, 0 0 0
500, 0 0 0
95 6 , 0 0 0
55, 0 0 0
96, 0 0 0
172, 0 0 0
21, 000
210, 000
2 1, 911, 0 0 0
Item s do not add to total, b u t are as given in source.
2 Estim ate.
1
According to the estimate of agricultural employment shown above,
agricultural workers accounted for approximately two-thirds of all
employment in 1941 and were no more numerous in 1944. Actually
the shortage of farm labor was reported to be so great in the State
of Rio de Janeiro that “ many holdings were being abandoned.
The greatest decreases in employment shown for the period were in
transportation workers (22 percent), railroad workers (10 percent), and
maritime and port workers (2 percent). These groups, however, made
up but 3.4 percent of all employed in 1941.
The largest increases in employment occurred in public concessions
(21 percent), banking (20 percent), commercial (20 percent), steve
dores (19 percent), and industrial workers (15 percent). In 1941 these
groups accounted for 12.5 percent of all employment commercial
workers numbering 500,000 and industrial workers 956,000.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
114
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
H o u rs a n d E a rn in g s in C an ad a, N o v e m b e r 1 9 4 4 a n d
M arch 1 9 4 5 1
IN March 1945, statistics of man-hours and hourly earnings in Canada
were published for the first time in Canadian history. The figures
represented the initial release in a series to be issued regularly. First
results were for November 1, 1944, at which time, in manufacturing,
average hours were 46.3 and hourly earnings were 70.3 cents. Non
manufacturing hours reported were 46.1 in mining, 42.8 in building
construction, and 35.0 in highway construction. Hourly earnings in
the same industries averaged 84.6, 80.6, and 62.3 cents, respectively.
Weekly earnings were also computed, by multiplying hours by
hourly earnings. These weekly earnings, however, were not so
comprehensive as those of the regular survey of employment and pay
rolls, although they were collected from the same firms. The data
based on hours and hourly earnings covered only those regularly and
casually employed wage earners for whom a count of hours worked
was kept. It was recognized that employers would not maintain
records of man-hours for certain classes of workers, i. e., salaried
employees and particular categories such as route drivers, some
piece workers, etc. Collection of the regular employment and pay-roll
statistics covering all classes of workers was to be continued, in
addition, to maintain the continuity of that series.
The smaller sample related generally to the last week in the month.
Overtime hours and earnings were included, as well as hours and
earnings of part-time and casual workers. When employees were
absent on vacation with pay, vacation hours and the payments made
therefor were counted in the statistics. Incentive and production
bonuses were also covered. The sums reported represented the gross
earnings before deductions were made for taxes, unemployment
insurance, etc.
The accompanying table gives preliminary statistics of average
hours worked, average hourly earnings, and average weekly wages, as
of November 1, 1944, and March 1, 1945. Coverage was extended
to manufacturing,2 mining, and building and highway construction;
according to the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, the data tabulated for
the other industries did not prove satisfactory, for various reasons, and
publication was postponed. The figures covered manufacturing wage
earners representing approximately three-quarters of the combined
total of all wage earners (including those for whom man-hour data
were not available) and salaried workers in manufacturing; there was
considerable variation in the coverage in different manufacturing
industries, depending on the proportion of an industry’s workers in
the groups for which man-hour records could not be kept and also
on the number of employers who furnished the requested information.
Earnings varied considerably between industries. Such variation
was due partially to difference in overtime worked (e. g., earnings in
the durable manufactured goods industries contained payment for
a relatively greater amount of overtime than those in the nondurable
D ata are from Statistics of M an-H ours and H ourly E arnings as a t N ovem ber 1 and D ecem ber 1
and Jan u ary 1, F ebruary 1, and M arch 1 , 1945 (D epartm ent of T rade and Commerce. O ttaw a, 1945)
Excluding electric light and power; em ploym ent and pay-roll statistics include this group.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1944
115
WAGE AND HOUR STATISTICS
manufactured goods industries). Employers'Ll the light manufactur
ing industries were unable to furnish information for piece workers,
whose earnings were stated to be higher than those reported. The
industries in which earnings were highest employed large numbers
of skilled workers and a high proportion of males. Relatively large
differences existed in hours worked. In addition, the firms reporting in
the different months were not always the same.
Little month-to-month variation in hourly earnings occurred
during the period covered. Such variation as existed was caused
largely by fluctuations in the amount of overtime and to a less extent
by shifts in the firms reporting for the months covered. Average
hours also did not vary a great deal, with the exception of a decline in
December reflecting observance of the Christmas holiday. It was
stated that the latter decrease was not greater because many firms
paid employees for Christmas time off; such hours granted as leave
with pay were included as if the time had been worked.
Average Hours Worked and Average Hourly and Weekly Earnings of Canadian Wage
Earners, November 1, 1944 and March 1, 1945 1
Average weekly Average hourly Average weekly
earnings
earnings
hours
In d u stry
M ar. 1, Nov. 1, M ar. 1, Nov. 1, M ar. 1, Nov. 1,
1944
1944
1945
1945
1944
1945
M an u fac tu rin g 2
_____ ________ _____ _
D urable m anufactured goods
__
__
N ondurable m anufactured goods___ ____ __
Animal products, edible------ ---------- ---------- D airy products __________ _____ - - -M eat products . _ __ . . .
_____________
Leather products ___
TiP.at.her tan n in g and finishing
Leather boots and s h o e s ..............
L um ber and p ro d u c ts._ ________ - __ ___ Rough and dressed lu m b er---- ----------------- C ontainers-. _________ _______ _____ - ________ _____ -- _____
F u rn itu re
P la n t products, edible ___
_ ________ __i__
Flour and other milled products
____ _
F ru it and vegetable p re se rv in g ____________
Dread and bakery products
__ _ _____
Chocolate and cocoa p ro d u c ts ___________ _
Pulp and paper products _ __ ________________
P u lp and paper
_ __ _ _..
_. ____
Paper products
_________ ____ - Prin tin g and publishing
__________ _. -R ubber products
_ ____________ _____
Textile products
_ ___________ - - ____
T hread yarn and cloth__ _____ ____
C otton y a rn and c l o t h ___
_ _ ____
Woollen y a rn and c lo th .. ______ ______
Silk and artificial silk goods------------------Hosiery and k n it goods
_ - __ _____
G arm ents and personal fu rn ish in g s ___ ___
Tobacco
_______ ________________
Beverages
_ _______________________
D istilled and m alt liquors _____ ________
Chemicals _ _______________________________
Explosives and am m unition, no t elsewhere
specified _
___________________________
Acids, alkalis, and salts____________________
Clay, glass, and stone p ro d u cts___ _ _______ .
Clay-products m anufacturing_______________
Glass p ro d u cts..
_ _____________________
Stone p roducts........................................... ............
Electrical a p p a ra tu s 3_____________________ ____ 1
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
45.8
46.5
45.0
46.3
47.0
45.3
Cents
70.1
77.8
60.3
Cents
70.3
77.7
60.1
45.4
47.1
44.5
44.3
46.5
44.8
45.2
45.6
44.4
44.6
43.8
47.9
43.7
43.9
40.1
46.4
50.0
43.8
41.8
45.0
44.1
47.7
47.9
47.2
48.3
43.1
40.7
45.2
44.6
44.4
46.1
45.3
47.6
44.4
44.0
46.0
44.1
45.4
45.7
43.9
45.2
42. 1
46.8
40.7
44.0
37.5
47.8
51.7
42.8
42.2
45.2
44.6
47.9
48.1
47.1
48.3
43.0
41.1
44.3
46.2
46.1
46.1
62.6
60.0
66.3
51.4
62.5
49.2
60.6
62.2
58.0
57.8
53.2
61.8
48.6
52.0
48.6
69.1
71.5
54.7
74.5
73.1
50.5
48.4
48.2
49 0
48.4
46.4
54.7
50.9
66.2
68.3
67.4
61.7
58.6
65.3
51.6
63.4
49.0
61.0
62.5
58.3
57.6
52.8
63.0
48.9
50.0
49.9
68.4
69.8
57.4
73.1
72.4
49.8
48.7
48.1
49.2
50.0
45.7
52.0
47.4
64.5
65.8
66.2
28.48
28.26
29. 50
22. 77
29. 06
22.04
27. 39
28.36
25. 75
25. 78
23.30
29. 60
21.24
22.83
19.49
32. 06
35. 75
23. 96
31.14
32.90
22. 27
23.09
23.09
23.13
23.38
20.00
22.26
23.01
29.53
30. 33
31.07
27.95
27.89
28.99
22.70
29.16
21.61
27.69
28.56
25.59
26.04
22. 23
29.48
19.90
22.00
18. 71
32.70
36.09
24. 57
30. 85
32. 72
22.21
23. 33
23.14
23 17
24.15
19.65
21.37
21.00
29.80
30. 33
30. 52
46.7
47.6
46.4
45.4
46.6
46.8
44.7
46.7
47.5
47.5
46.3
46.5
49.4
46.1
68.1
75.9
63.7
57.3
61.1
70.9
70.9
65.8
73.5
63.6
60.0
60.4
70.0
67.7
31.80
36.13
29.56
26.01
28.47
33.18
31.69
30.73
34.91
30. 21
27.78
28.09
34.58
31.21
$32.11
36.18
27.14
$32. 55
36. 52
27. 23
116
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
Average Hours Worked and Average Hourly and Weekly Earnings of Canadian Wage
Earners, November 1, 1944 and March 1, 1945 1— C on tin u ed
Average'weekly Average hourly Average weekly
hours
earnings
earnings
In d u stry
M ar. 1, Nov. 1, M ar. 1, Nov. 1, M ar. 1, Nov. 1,
1945
1944
1945
1944
1945
1944
M anufacturing—C ontinued.
Iron and steel p ro d u cts________________
C rude, rolled, and forged p ro d u c ts ...
M achinery (other th a n vehicles)____
L an d vehicles and aircraft________ .
Automobiles and p a rts______
A irplanes and p a rts _______________
Steel shipbuilding and re p a ir. ___________
Iron and steel fabrication, n o t elsewhere
specified____ _________
Tool m anufacturing....... .......................... .
F ire a rm s.. _____________ _
F o u n d ry and m achine shop___________
Sheet-metal work p ro d u cts. __________
Nonferrous-metal p ro d u cts___ ____ _______
Preparation of nonferrous-m etallic ores..
A lum inum and its p ro d u cts. _______
Copper, lead, tin , and zinc___________ ..
N onm etallic m ineral-products m a n u fa c tu rin g .._
P etroleum and its p roducts........ ............
M iscellaneous m anufactured p ro d u cts________
M inin g ___________
C oal__________________
M etallic ores_______ ____ _
N onm etallic m inerals (except c o al)...
B uilding construction______________
H ighw ay construction_____________
47.0
47.3
49.2
46.6
46.0
47.0
45.7
47.5
47.7
48.7
47.1
46.0
47.2
47.7
Cents
82.0
76.9
71.6
87.5
94.0
84.3
86.4
Cents
82.3
77.7
74.4
86.3
94.7
82.4
88.7
$38.54
36. 37
35.23
40.78
43. 24
39.62
39.48
$39. 09
37.06
36. 23
40. 65
43.56
39.06
42.31
48.7
47.3
50.4
48.6
45.1
46.1
48.0
46.0
45.6
46.2
45.1
43.6
45.9
43.8
47.0
47.4
41.4
40.6
48.2
47.5
48.6
47.5
45.6
45.9
46.4
45.3
46.6
46.0
44.9
44.4
46.1
44.2
46.5
49.6
42.8
35.0
81.0
74.6
81.5
76.7
65.7
73.9
74.4
74.9
74.6
78.6
84.1
67.1
83.7
93.2
82.0
67.1
82.1
64.8
80.0
73.4
79.9
75.9
66.9
73.3
77.2
74.0
72.2
79.5
85.5
68.5
84.6
94.0
83.8
67.0
80.6
62.3
39.45
35.29
41.08
37.28
29.63
34.07
35. 71
34. 45
34.02
36.31
37.93
29.26
38.42
40.82
38. 54
31.81
33.99
26.31
38. 56
34.87
38. 83
36.05
30.51
33. 64
35.82
33.52
33. 65
36. 57
38.39
30.41
39.00
41.55
38.97
33.23
34.50
21.81
1 Average exchange rate of th e C anadian dollar = 90.9 cents.
2 D urable goods group included iron and steel, nonferrous m etals, electrical apparatus, lum ber, musical
instrum ents, and clay, glass, and stone products; the nondurable group included the rem aining m anu
facturing industries.
3 A subgrouping “ heavy electrical a p p aratu s” cove, .ig workers in eight industries was later introduced;
in M arch, hours for this group averaged 44.4, hourly earnings 79.7 cents, and weekly earnings $35.39.
I n d u s tr ia l R e a l W ages in C o lo m b ia , 1 9 3 8 —4 4 1
INDEXES reflecting the trend of living costs, the purchasing power
of the peso, money wages, and real wages in Colombia from 1938
to 1944 show that although money wages rose 37.3 points 1941 to
1944, the purchasing power of the peso during this period dropped
30.1 points and real wages (in terms of cost of living) dropped 8.6
points. The nation, however, was reported to be enjoying a wave
of prosperity, probably because of the conditions of relatively full
employment.
The indexes measure conditions for a workingman’s family living
in Bogota. In spite of the variety of economic circumstances that
may exist simultaneously in different parts of Colombia, increased
employment, rising prices, and industrial expansion were reported
in February 1945 to be characteristic of the whole country.
The table below shows indexes for cost of living, purchasing power
of the peso, money wages, and real wages, 1938 to 1944.
1 D a ta are from report of H arry Stark, senior economic analyst, U nited States E m bassy, Bogotá, Feb
ru a ry 15,1945, and certain confidential sources.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
117
WAGE AND HOUR STATISTICS
Indexes of M oney Wages and Real Wages, Cost of Living, and Purchasing Power of
Peso, Colombia, 1938-44
Indexes (1937=100)
of—
Indexes (1938=100) of—
W omen
1938
___________ -- ______
1939
_ _________________
_____________________
1940
1941
____________________
1942
_________ __________
1943 _______________________
1944_________________________
Real wages in re
lation to—
M oney wages
Year
106.9
108.2
113.0
118.6
129.0
149.8
i 172.4
M en
107.3
110.4
110.5
112.4
113.7
127.0
i 138.1
Average
Cost of
living
M arket
food
prices
104.8
106.7
108.0
106.7
115.5
131.0
i 144.0
110.4
109.5
114.4
114.7
114.2
111.8
» 106.1
103.1
92.9
103.4
105.3
99.4
96.6
» 89.1
Purchas
Cost of ing power
living
of peso
113.4
118.4
114.6
113.0
122.8
142.3
2 171.2
88.2
84. 5
87.2
88. 5
81. 5
70.3
2 58.4
1 Based on d a ta for first half of 1944.
2 As of June 30, 1944.
The indexes of real wages shown in the table were derived from a
calculation of wage rates for specific jobs and not from earnings.
Earnings of individuals may have increased considerably more. After
1941, industrial expansion in Colombia created new jobs at all skill
levels. Experienced workers advanced in grade; new workers entered
at the bottom of the scale.
The textile industry, for example, recruited “thousands of Colom
bian women who never held wage jobs before.” In 1943, the average
daily wage in the industry in the Department of Caldas was reported
as 1.50 pesos2 for a 10-hour day; in the Department of Santander
women operating looms received 8 pesos a week, and male operators
of automatic looms, from 15 to 20 pesos. According to report of
February 1945, a Colombian textile-helper’s job paid 1 peso per day,
spinners received 2.50 pesos, and chiefs of sections, 5 pesos daily. The
industry was working 3 shifts of 8 hours each, generally employing
women for the day and men for the night shifts.
Similar conditions prevailed in the petroleum industry. Workers
recruited from agriculture had been earning in the Department
of Cauca, in 1943, an average of 0.35 peso per working day, and laborers
in coffee fields in Santander, from 30 to 50 centavos daily, with food.
Workers in the oil fields began as laborers at 2.45 pesos per day.
Expansion in other fields indicated similar opportunities for employ
ment. During the years 1941 to 1944, the indexes of production of
sugar and electric power rose from 197.0 to 250.2 and from 303.9
to 367.6, respectively (January 1933 = 100); cement production
increased 12.0 percent; and savings bank deposits, 162.0 percent.
2
Average exchange rate of peso in 1943 and to N ovem ber 1944=57.2 cents.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Wage and Hour Regulation
W age O rd e r fo r P u e r to R ic a n C ig ar a n d C ig a re tte
In d u s try 1
UNDER the terms of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Secretary of
Labor fixed minimum pay at 30 cents an hour for employees in the
cigar and cigarette industry of Puerto Rico. The minimum wage
became effective on July 16, 1945, for any employee in the industry
who is engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for com
merce in the manufacture of cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, and little
cigars, including the stemming of cigar wrappers or binders by a cigar
manufacturer.
F iv e-D ay W eek in A u s t r a lia 2
IN COMMENTING on the relative merits of a 44-hour workweek,
distributed over 5 days from Monday to Friday or over 5% days from
Monday to Saturday, the Commonwealth Arbitration Court of
Australia stated that the 5-day practice was very generally observed,
and to extend it to the remaining portion of industry would not entail
any innovation that would be incompatible with Australia’s war
commitments. However, the Court restated its general principle that
it would “not interfere with an employer’s right to regulate his own
business unless in his regulation of it he imposes unjust or unreason
able demands upon his employees,” and could find no justification for
departing from this principle by ordering the general application of
the 5-day week in employment.
The Court referred to the natural desire of workers for a reduction
in the number of days of work, stating that by arranging leisure in the
most effective manner, the worker had more time for recreation, rest,
and cultural pursuits. However, this desire to some extent must be
subordinated to the proper requirements of the community as a whole
and care must be taken to prevent the rearrangement of working
hours from interfering with the sources of employment. The 5-day
week should not be permitted to interfere with the public or national
interest by impairing efficiency, or reducing production, or in other
ways.
In the opinion of the Court, the merits and advantages of the 5-d ay
week to employees outweigh those of the 5}£-day week, in that the
time and expense of traveling to and from work are reduced, and the
housekeeper is relieved from preparing and serving a meal at an
early hour.
1 U . S. D epartm ent of Labor, Wage and H our Division, Press release No. D-103, New York, M ay 17,1945.
2 Inform ation is from E m ployers’ Review (Sydney, A ustralia, E m ployers’ Federation of New South
W ales), Jan u ary 31.1945.
118
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WAGE AND H OU R REGULATION
119
To the objection that the shorter workweek would raise labor costs
in instances when overtime work was required, the Court showed that
an employer is not obliged to increase his costs under a 5-day standard
schedule. Awards regulating overtime prescribe time and a half for
the first 4 hours of overtime and double time thereafter, each day’s
overtime being considered separately. Therefore, 4 hours might be
worked at time and a half on all weekdays including Saturday,
permitting a maximum of 24 hours of overtime weekly at time and
a half, regardless of whether the 5-day or the 5%-day week was the
standard. With respect to efficiency, the Court held that there is
little, if anything, to choose between the two systems. The lengthen
ing of the workday from Monday through Friday would be offset by
the week-end break and (in a 5%-day week) also by the shorter working
period on Saturday.
If the maximum of 56 hours permitted under the National Security
(Hours of Work) Regulations were spread evenly over 5 days, daily
working time would be 11 hours 12 minutes; if 4 hours were worked on
Saturday, the daily working time (Monday through Friday) could be
reduced to 10 hours 24 minutes. The Court stated that the 5-day
plan had the advantage of allowing 2 free days weekly to the worker,
but it could not be said that one system is more conducive of fatigue
than the other, and the opportunities of increasing or reducing fatigue
would appear to be the same under either system.
.
R e g u la tio n of H o m e W o rk in C u b a 1
REGULATIONS governing the conditions of employment of women
performing industrial home work were promulgated by the Cuban
Government on May 3, 1945.1 This action repealed all previous reg
ulations on the subject, and regulated the application of decree law
No. 598 of October 16, 1934, which is the basic law governing the em
ployment of women in industry.2 Industrial home work (performed
by women particularly in the manufacture of articles of clothing, hats,
and cardboard containers) was defined in the decree of May 1945 as
work performed by women in their places of residence for the account
of one or more employers and for remuneration. Employers are re
quired to maintain a register of such employees, listing for each worker
her name, the place where the work is performed, the type of work, and
the rate and amount of remuneration. Employers are further required
to provide each such worker with a card containing similar information.
These employers are required to fix a day and hour for the delivery
and receipt of the materials and work, previously notifying the Min
istry or the Provincial labor offices as may be the case, of the afore
mentioned dates. In no case is the woman worker to be made to
wait more than a half hour for the delivery or receipt of work, or for
the payment of her wages. She is to be compensated for any excess
over that time by payment proportional to the work which she has
performed.
1 D ata are from Consular R eport N o. 203, prepared by Eugene D esvernine, U nited States E m bassy a t
H abana, M ay 10, 1945, and G aceta Oficial (H abana), M ay 3, 1945.
a See M o n th ly L abor Review, Jan u ary 1935 (p. 100); and International L abor Office, Legislative Series
1934, C uba 10.
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120
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
Before commencing activities in this type of work, every employer
is required to obtain a license procurable without charge from the
Ministry of Labor upon application. The application is to contain a
description of the conditions and circumstances under which the work
is performed; name and type of material delivered and of the articles
made therefrom; whether the manufacture of the article is partial or
total; and whether the worker receives all or part of the material in
volved, or whether it is furnished partly by the worker.
In addition, the employer must state, under oath, the following:
The daily task assigned to each worker; the adjusted price; any de
ductions for maternity insurance; the number of accident-insurance
policies taken out for the protection of home workers; the amount
paid for vacation time; and the proportion to which the worker is
entitled, at the rate of 48 hours of wages for 44 hours of work. Health
certificates for the workers must be presented by the employer.
All licenses issued prior to this decree were revoked. At the same
time a period of 30 days was granted from the date of official publica
tion of the decree, within which the interested parties were required to
apply for new licenses, fulfilling the requirements set forth above.
Contracts for industrial home work are to be made only on the terms
that prevail for workers in shops and factories. In addition, every
worker on home work is to be considered as a worker or employee of
the enterprise of her respective employer, with all the rights and bene
fits granted by the social laws in force.
B r itis h W ages C o u n c ils A ct, 1 9 4 5 1
THE Wages Councils Act, designed to insure minimum wage standards
and at the same time to support “the voluntary principle” in fixing
terms of employment in British industry, received royal assent on
March 28, 1945. Under the terms of the legislation, provision was
made for reenactment of the Trade Boards Acts of 1909 and 1918,
renaming the trade boards “wages councils,” and bringing their
powers into line with those of similar bodies subsequently established
by law. Additional powers were granted, permitting establishment
of a wages council in conformity with a recommendation of a commis
sion of inquiry, if such a commission is of the opinion that the volun
tary machinery is inadequate or likely to become so and that as a
result a reasonable standard of remuneration is not being or might
not be maintained. Employers ate obligated under the act to provide,
until the end of 1950, terms and conditions of employment not less
favorable than the “recognized terms and conditions” in the same
industry in the district; further extension depends on action by
Parliament.
In discussing the proposed law, the Minister of Labor and National
Service stated that he first considered amendment of the Trade
Boards Acts, but decided that the purposes would be made clearer to
the House of Commons and the public if the legislation were replaced.
1 Inform ation is from G reat B ritain, Parliam ent, Wages Councils A ct (ch. 17, 1945); M inistry of L abor
G azette (London), D ecember 1944; B ritish Inform ation Services (New Y ork), B ritish Speeches of the D ay,
Febru ary 1945; L abor and In d u stry in B ritain, M arch 1945; press release No. L 152, Jan u ary 21, 1945; and
cable from J. G. W inant, U nited States A m bassador, London, dated M arch 31, 1945.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WAGE AND H OU R REGULATION
121
The underlying principle of the Trade Boards Acts—to allow auton
omous boards representative of employers and employees in the
industries concerned to fix legally enforceable standards—remains in
the new legislation. By a change in name, the Minister added,
Parliament was declaring that the conception of what was known as
sweated industry is superseded. Whereas the trade boards were
empowered to establish minimum hourly rates of remuneration, the
wages councils have the power to fix a guaranteed wage.
Of the 52 trade boards formed, 48 had exercised their powers, the
Minister said. Two of the remaining 4 were largely in home-work
trades in which it was difficult to fix conditions; in the other 2 indus
tries, establishment of voluntary agreements made statutory provi
sions unnecessary. The trade-boards legislation of 1918 was followed
by enactment of the Agricultural Wages Act in 1924, the Road Haulage
Wages Act in 1938, and the Catering Wages Act in 1943. In addi
tion, approximately 10 million workers had their wages and conditions
of employment fixed by collective agreement in 1939, and 40 joint
industrial councils (including 7 industrial councils for the distributive
trades) were established during the war. Taking into account all
persons protected by existing provisions, and the effects to be obtained
by the Wages Councils Act, the Minister estimated that the over
whelming majority of the working force (in all, over 15,000,000)
would be covered.
Establishment of Wages Councils
All orders for the formation of wages councils are to be promulgated
by the Minister of Labor and National Service. Such councils may
be established only if needed; notably, (1) if the Minister is of the
opinion that no adequate machinery exists for the effective regulation
of the pay of any workers, or if it is expedient owing to the existing
level of wages among those workers, or (2) on recommendation of a
commission of inquiry, if the commission is of the opinion that volun
tary machinery is not and cannot be made adequate or has ceased or
is likely to cease to exist or to be adequate, and that consequently a
reasonable standard of wages is not being or will not be maintained.
An application for the formation of a wages council may be made to
the Minister of Labor either by a joint industrial council or similar
body or by the joint action of organized employers and trade-union
bodies that habitually take part in the settlement of wages and em
ployment conditions of the workers concerned. In the discretion of
the Minister, such an application may then be referred to a commission
of inquiry, but, if other organizations would be affected by the estab
lishment of a wages council, the Minister must notify them and
consider their observations before referral of the application. Even
in the absence of an application, the Minister is empowered to refer
to a commission of inquiry the question of establishing a wages council,
if he deems it desirable.
A commission of inquiry is appointed ad hoc to deal with a particular
case, its membership consisting of not more than three independent
persons and not more than two representatives each of employers
and workers. Whatever decision the commission may reach must be
reported to the Minister of Labor, who, as stated above, will take the
necessary measures. However, before the Minister makes an order,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
122
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
19 45
either on his ownrinitiative or in~pursuancc of a recommendation by
a commission of inquiry, he must publish notice of the intended action.
If substantial objection is voiced, the Minister must either amend
the draft order and publish the amended draft, or refer the objections
to a commission of inquiry, unless the objections have already been
considered and expressly dealt with. After considering any report
made by the commission on such a reference, the Minister is em
powered to order the creation^of a wages council. He must publish
the report of any commission of inquiry and the wages council order
at the same time, and submit both to Parliament. Within 40 days,
the order may be annulled by either House of Parliament.
Under the terms of the legislation, the Minister of Labor is author
ized to abolish or change the scope of operation of a wages council.
He may appoint a central committee, if coordination of the work of
two or more councils seems desirable. Such action may be taken on
recommendation from a commission of inquiry or on the Minister’s
own initiative, after consultation with the councils concerned.
Wage-Regulation Orders
Broader powers are delegated to wages councils than to the trade
boards which they replaced. With respect to the pay of workers,
they may recommend the fixing of “statutory minimum remuneration”
instead of “minimum rates of wages.” The difference lies in the
power of the wages councils to establish a guaranteed weekly wage,2
whereas the trade boards were empowered to fix a minimum hourly
wage rate only. Wages councils may also prescribe paid vacations
longer than the 1 week that trade boards were permitted to authorize.
Wage-regulation proposals of a wages council must be published,
and any written representations made within a specified period must
be considered. When the Minister of Labor makes a wage-regulation
order, he must follow the wages council’s proposals, subject to his
right to require the council to reconsider its action.
For noncompliance, an employer, on conviction, is subject to the
imposition of a fine for each offense.
Observance of Collective-Agreement Terms
Until December 31, 1950, employers are obliged to observe terms
and conditions of employment not less favorable than the “recognized
terms and conditions” established by agreements between employers’
organizations and trade-unions representative of substantial propor
tions of employers and workers engaged in that trade or industry in
the district concerned. Any further extension of this obligation is to
depend upon action by Parliament. The principle of making generally
applicable the standards reached by collective agreement was designed
to give support to joint voluntary machinery in the transition from
war to peace. This action involves a continuation, with minor modi
fication, of part III of the Conditions of Employment and National
Arbitration Order adopted in 1940, to come into operation when the
order ceases to have effect.3
8 As a w ar measure, guaranteed wages were assured for a large segment of labor under the term s of the
Essential W ork (General Provisions) Order of 1941; see M o n th ly L abor Review for Ju ly 1943 (p. 22).
3 T he 1940 order was sum m arized in th e M o n th ly L abor Review for M arch 1942 (p. 601).
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WAGE AND HOUR REGULATION
123
The foregoing obligation does not apply to those workers whose
remuneration or minimum wage is fixed under the Agricultural W ages
Acts of 1924-40, the Road Haulage Wages Act of 1938, the Catering
Wages Act of 1943, or the Education Act of 1944.
Any disputed question not otherwise settled will be referred to
the Industrial Court rather than to the National Arbitration Tribunal,
as the latter body will cease to function when the Conditions of
Employment and National Arbitration Order is revoked.
In contrast with the provisions for the enforcement of the orders
under the part of the law dealing with wages councils, no penalties
were incorporated into the law for noncompliance with the standards
fixed by collective agreements. However, a decision of the Industrial
Court will become an implied term of the agreement.
FOE.VICTORY
BUY
UNITED
STATES
WAR
BONDS
AND
STAMPS
651 6 5 4- 45-
-9
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cost o f Living and Retail Prices
C ost o f L iv in g in L arg e C itie s, M ay 1 9 4 5
HIGHER prices for foods, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables,
accounted for the greater part of the 0.7-percent rise in retail prices
of living essentials during the month ending May 15, 1945. Costs
of clothing also advanced, with continued shortages of lower-priced
lines. The increase from April to May constituted the largest
monthly rise since May 1943. The Bureau of Labor Statistics
cost-of-living index for May 15, 1945, was 128.0 percent of the 193539 average, and was the highest level reached by the Bureau’s index
during the war; it was 2.3 percent above the level of May 1943, when
the President’s “hold-the-line” order became effective. Food costs,
however, were 2.9 percent lower than in May 1943.
Average retail food costs rose 1.6 percent during the month, pri
marily as a result of a 6.4-percent advance in prices of fresh fruits and
vegetables. That increase was caused by a greater-than-seasonal
advance in the prices of apples, carrots, onions, and potatoes. Onion
prices in May rose 36.5 percent at retail, following the unusually
large increase (50 percent) in prices received by farmers in April.
The widespread scarcity of meats continued, but the prices of
meats that were obtainable were generally at the same level as in
April. About 70 percent of the independent stores had no beef,
and over 80 percent had no pork (see table, p. 129). Supplies of other
meats were also limited. Prices for fresh and frozen fish rose 3.6
percent; adequate supplies were reported in most cities.
Clothing costs advanced 0.3 percent in the month ending May 15,
with most clothing articles showing small price advances, primarily
because of continued shortages of lower-priced staple clothing.
Work shirts, business shirts, shorts, and undershirts, as well as women’s
rayon hose, were difficult to obtain in most cities. Supplies of men’s
tropical worsted suits were limited, because of the diversion of all
worsted yarns to military uses. There were a few minor price de
creases for women’s cotton dresses and rayon underwear, and for
men’s undershirts. In a few stores lower apparel prices were reported,
as retailers were able to obtain some stocks of the lower-priced lines.
Average retail prices of housefurnishings and miscellaneous goods
and services rose slightly (0.1 percent) between mid-April and midMay. Scattered increases were reported for Axminster rugs, furni
ture, and cook stoves. The initial application of the new OPA for
mula for determining price ceilings at the retail level (MPR No. 580,
effective May 4) was reflected in lower prices for bedroom furniture
in a few stores and slightly higher prices in a few stores. Prices for
sheets were higher over the month.
124
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
COST OF LIVING AND RETAIL PRICES
125
Fuel, electricity, and ice costs rose 0.2 percent, reflecting an aver
age increase of 16 cents per ton for bituminous coal, allowed by the
OPA where wage adjustments were granted to soft-coal miners.
Electricity rates declined in Buffalo, New York, and the usual seasonal
reduction in New York City gas rates was reflected in May bills.
Rents were not surveyed in May.
In connection with the tables here 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 ‘diving costs” that is, in the total amount
families spend for living. Income taxes and bond subscriptions are
not included.1
_
.
The indexes in the accompanying tables are based on time-to-time
changes in the cost of goods and services purchased by wage earners
and lower-salaried workers in large cities. They do not indicate
whether it costs more to live in one city than in another. The data
relate to the 15tli of each month, except those for January 1941, in
tables 1 and 2. For that month they were estimated for January 1
(the date used in the “Little Steel” wage formula of the National
War Labor Board), by assuming an even rate of change from Decem
ber 15, 1940, to the next pricing date. The President’s “hold-the-line”
order was issued April 8, 1943. The peak of the rise which led to
that order was reached in May, which is, therefore, used for this
comparison.
Food prices are collected monthly in 56 cities during the first four
days of the week which includes the Tuesday nearest the 15th of the
month. Aggregate costs of foods in each city, weighted to represent
food purchases of families of wage earners and lower-salaried workers
have been combined for the United States with the use of population
weights. In March 1943, the number of cities included in the food
index was increased from 51 to 56, and the number of foods from 54 to
61. Prices of clothing, housefurnishings, and miscellaneous goods and
services are obtained in 34 large cities in March, June, September, and
December. In intervening months, prices are collected in 21 of the
34 cities for a shorter list of goods and services. Rents are surveyed
semiannually in most of the 34 cities (in March and September, or in
June and December). In computing the all-items indexes for individ
ual cities and the rent index for the average of large cities, because of
the general stability of average rents at the present time, the indexes
are held constant in cities not surveyed during the current quarter.
Prices for fuel, electricity, and ice are collected monthly in 34 large
cities.
i For a description of th e m ethods used in computing the index, see D escription of the Cost-of-Livmg
Index of th e B ureau of L abor Statistics. A n appraisal of th e factors enum erated above was given m the
report of the P resident’s C om m ittee on the Cost of Living, N ovem ber 17,1944.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
126
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
194 5
T a b l e 1.— Cost o f Living in Large Cities as of M ay 15 and Earlier Dates
M ay
1945
Apr.
1945
M ay
1944
M ay
1943
M ay
1942
Jan.
1941
Aug.
1939
This
m onth
Last
m onth
Last
year
Holdtheline
order
Gen.
M ax.
Price
Reg.
“ L ittle
Steel”
decision
M onth
before
w ar in
Europe
G roup
Indexes (1935-39=100)
All ite m s.- - _______
- ______
Food- __________________ . . ________
C lothing________________
___ _____
____ ___ - __ _______
R e n t____
Fuel, electricity, and ic e ... _
.......
Gas and electricity____
O ther fuels and ice________
__ _
H ousefurnishings______ . .
- ___ ___
M iscellan eo u s____ ______ - ......................
128 0
138.8
144.4
127.1
136. 6
144.0
110.0
95.2
124.4
144.9
123.8
109.8
95.5
123.7
144.7
123. 7
125.1
135.5
137.4
108.1
109. 8
95.9
123.3
135.0
121.3
125.1
143.0
127.9
108.0
107. 6
96.1
118.7
125.1
115.3
116. 0
121. 6
126.2
109.9
104.9
96. 6
112.9
122. 2
110.9
100 8
97. 6
101.2
105.0
100.8
97.5
104.0
100. 2
101.8
98.6
93.5
100.3
104.3
97 5
99.0
96 3
100.6
100.4
P ercent of change to M ay 1945
All item s. . .
...................................
........................ .
. . . ____
Food
C lothing_________________ -.
R ent A ..
___________________________
Fuel, electricity, and ice____
Gas and electricity_____
. ___
O ther fuels and ic e .. _ . . . . . .
Housefurnishings___________ _____ ____
M iscellaneous__________ ____ _______
+ 0 .7
+ 1 .6
+ .3
+ .2
- .3
+ .6
+ .1
+ .1
+ 2 .3
+ 2 .4
+ 5 .1
+ .2
+ .2
-.7
+ .9
+ 7 .3
+ 2.1
+ 2 .3
- 2 .9
+12.9
+ .3
+ 2 .2
-. 9
+ 4 .8
+15.8
+ 7 .4
+10.3
+14.1
+14.4
- 1 .5
+ 4 .9
—1.4
+10.2
+18.6
+11.6
+27.0
+42.2
+42.7
+ 3.1
+ 9.1
-2 . 4
+19.6
+44.6
+21.6
+29.8
+48.4
+44.0
+ 3 .8
+12.8
-3 8
+29.2
+44.0
+23.3
1 Percent of change through M ar. 15,1945.
T a b l e 2 . — Percent o f Change, to M ay 1945, in Cost of Living, from Specified Dates,
by Cities
Apr.
1945
M ay
1944
M ay
1943
M ay
1942
Jan.
1941
Aug.
1939
L ast
m onth
L ast
year
Holdtheline
order
Gen.
M ax.
Price
Reg.
“ Little
Steel”
decision
M onth
before
w ar in
Europe
C ity
Average, all cities____________________________
+ 0 .7
+ 2 .3
+ 2 .3
+10.3
+27.0
+29.8
Baltimore, M d ________________ _______ ____
Birm ingham , A la________ ______ ______Boston, M ass_________________ ____________
Buffalo, N . Y _______________________________
Chicago, 111______________________ ________ _
C incinnati, Ohio___________ ______ ___________
Cleveland, O hio__________________________ __
D enver, Colo_____________ __________ _ . . .
D etroit, M ich ____________________ ____
H ouston, Tex_______________________ _______
Kansas C ity, M o _________ ____ ___
Los Angeles, Calif_________________________
M inneapolis, M in n _____________________ ____
N ew Y ork, N . Y __________ __
_
Philadelphia, P a _______ ____ __________
Pittsbu rg h , P a ______________________ _______
St. Louis, M o__ _____ ______
San Francisco, C alif____________ ___________
Savannah, G a________________________ ___
Seattle, W ash________________________ . . . .
W ashington, D . C _______________________ .
+ .7
+ .2
+ .8
+ .5
+1.1
+ .8
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .2
+ .9
+ .5
+ .5
+ .2
+ .6
+ .9
+ 1.1
+ .6
+ .9
- .7
+ .4
+ .5
+ .9
+ 3 .2
+ 1 .8
+2.1
+ 1 .3
+ 3 .0
+ 2 .7
+2.1
+ 2 .3
+ 2 .5
+ 1 .9
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .0
+ 1 .4
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .9
+ 2 .8
+ 1 .9
+ 1 .8
+ 2 .0
+ 2 .5
+ 2 .8
+2.1
+ 4.1
+ 1.3
-.9
+ 2 .7
+ 3.4
+ 2 .8
+ 2 .9
+ 1.3
+10.7
+10.4
+ 9 .3
+ 6 .0
+ 9 .8
+10.4
+10.8
+10.7
+ 8 .6
4-8.5
+10.5
+10.2
+ 6.9
+13.3
+11.0
+11.4
+ 9 .3
+12.0
4-12.4
+ 9 .0
+11.1
+30.0
+28.9
+25.0
+25.3
4-26.4
4-28.5
+29.0
+28.0
+27.7
+23.6
+28.2
+27.0
+21.7
+27.1
4-28.3
427.5
4-25.0
+29.4
4-34.0
+29.4
+27.5
+32.6
+33.0
4-27.6
+29.6
+29.6
4-31.6
4-31.6
+29.8
+31.0
+25.2
+27.9
+29.6
4-24.3
+29.7
+30.2
4-31.1
+28.7
+32.6
+36.9
+31.7
+29.2
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
+ 2 .9
+ 3 .5
+ 1.7
+ 3 .4
+ 2 .0
+ 3.3
+ 1 .9
+ 2 .8
+ 3 .0
+ 2 .0
+ 3 .0
127
COST OF LIV ING AND RETAIL PRICES
T a b l e 3.— Percent of Change in Cost of Living, A p ril to M ay 1945, by Cities and Groups
______________________________________ of Items ______________________________________
All item s
C ity
Average, all cities______________________
+ 1 .6
+ 0 .7
A tlanta, Ga
Baltim ore, M d __ _____ ______
__ _
B irm ingham , A la.
. . . _______
Boston, M ass____________________ ____
Buffalo, N . Y ____
Chicago, 111. ________________________
C incinnati, Ohio___
..
_____
Cleveland, Ohio_________________ ___ _
D enver, Colo_____
____
______
D etroit, M ic h ____ ____________
_ _
H ouston, Tex. ___ ___
_______
Indianapolis, In d
+ .7
+ .2
+ .8
+. 5
+1. 1
+ .8
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .2
+ .9
+ .5
K ansas C ity, M o ______
...
Los Angeles, Calif.
................... . ..........
+ .5
+ .2
M em phis, Term
M ilw aukee, Wis
M inneapolis, M in n _____ _____ ___ ______
M obile, Ala
+ .6
.Taekson ville, F la
M a n o,h o st or, N . H
N e w O rleans, F a
+ .9
N ew Y ork, N . Y _____________________
Norfolk, Va
Philadelphia, P a ______ . . - . . . . ____
P ittsb u rg h , P a . ..
................. ...
P ortland, M aine
P ortland, Oreg
H 1. 1
+ .6
St. Louis, M o____ _____ _ ._
____
San Francisco, Calif. .
___________
Savannah, G a......................... . _ _____ ._
4-, 9
-.7
+ .4
Seattle, W ash .
W ashington, D . C
+. 5
+ .9
"Riehm nnd, V a
Reran ton P a
. . . . .
._ ________
...
___
Food
+ .7
+ 1 .4
+ .2
+ 1 .7
+ 1 .8
+ 2 .4
+ 1 .9
+ 2 .8
+ 2 .8
+ 2 .2
+ 1 .2
+ 1 .4
+ .6
+ .7
+. 1
+ .9
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .8
4 1 .3
0
+ .3
+ 2 .0
+ 1 .6
+ 2 .6
+ 1 .3
+ 1 .6
+ 1 .7
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .9
-1 .8
Clothing
Fuel,
electric
ity , and
ice
Housefurnish
ings
+ 0 .3
+ 0 .2
+ 0.1
+ 0.1
- .1
-. 1
+ .2
0
+ .3
0
+ .8
+ .1
+ .4
- .3
- .1
0
0
0
0
0
-. 1
0
0
0
+ .1
-. 1
0
+ .6
+ .1
0
+ .5
+ .1
+ .5
0
+ .1
+ .1
-.1
0
+ .5
0
+ .8
-. 1
+ .1
+ .1
+ .3
+ .3
+ .6
+ .1
+ .4
+ .2
+ 2 .5
+ 1 .0
+ 1 .4
+.2
+ 2 .2
+ .6
+ .1
+ 2 .6
-.2
-2 .2
+ .7
+ 1.1
+ 1 .0
+ .3
+ .5
0
+ 1 .0
+ .1
+ 1.5
0
- .1
+ .8
0
0
+ .8
-. 1
-.2
+ .5
-.2
+ .6
+ .2
+ .1
+ .9
+ .2
+ .2
0
0
+ 1 .0
+ .1
M iscel
laneous
0
0
-.4
+ 1.2
-.2
+ .1
+ .1
+ .2
+ 1 .5
0
0
+ .2
+ 1 .4
+ .1
0
0
T a b l e 4 . — Indexes of Cost of Living in Large Cities, 1935 to M ay 1945
Indexes 1 (1935-39=100) of cost of—
Y ear and m onth
1935
_________ ___________
1936.
. . . ___________
1937____
____________
1938_________________________
1939___________ _____________
1940 .
...............
1941_________________________
1942_________________________
1943_________ ______________
1944_________________________
J a n . 15 _________________
Feb. 15__________ _______
M ar. 15 ________________
A pr. 15__________________
M ay 15. _______________
June 15______ ______ _____
Ju ly 15__________________
Aug. 15 ________________
Sept. 1 5 _______ _______
Oct. 15__________________
N ov. 15 _______________
Dec. 15__________________
1945:
Jan. 15 __________________
Feb. 1 6 ...................... ............
M ar. 15 ________________
A pr. 15__________________
M ay 15 _ _______________
All
item s
Food
C lothing
R en t
Fuel,
electric
ity, and
ice
Housefurnishings
98.1
99.1
102.7
100.8
99.4
100.2
105.2
116.5
123.6
125.5
124.2
123.8
123.8
124.6
125.1
125.4
126.1
126.4
126.5
126.5
126.6
127.0
100.4
101.3
105.3
97.8
95.2
96.6
105.5
123.9
138.0
136.1
136.1
134.5
134.1
134.6
135.5
135.7
137.4
137.7
137.0
136.4
136.5
137.4
96.8
97.6
102.8
102.2
100.5
101.7
106.2
124.2
129.7
138.8
134.7
135.2
136.7
137.1
137.4
138.0
138.3
139.4
141.4
141.9
142.1
142.8
94.2
96.4
100.9
104.1
104.3
104.6
106.2
108.5
108.0
108.2
108.1
108.1
108.1
108.1
108.1
108.1
108.2
108.2
108.2
(2)
(2)
108.3
100.7
100.2
100.2
99.9
99.0
99.7
102.2
105.4
107.7
109.8
109.5
110.3
109.9
109.9
109.8
109.6
109.7
109.8
109.8
109.8
109.9
109.4
94.8
96.3
104.3
103.3
101.3
100.5
107.3
122.2
125.6
136.4
128.3
128.7
129.0
132.9
135.0
138.4
138.7
139.3
140.7
141.4
141.7
143.0
98.1
98.7
101.0
101.5
100.7
101.1
104.0
110.9
115.8
121.3
118.4
118.7
119.1
120.9
121.3
121.7
122.0
122.3
122.4
122.8
122.9
123.1
127.1
126.9
126.8
127.1
128.0
137.3
136.5
135.9
136.6
138.8
143.0
143.3
143.7
144.0144.4
(2)
(2)
108.3
(2)
(2)
109.7
110.0
110.0
109.8
110.0
143.6
144.0
144.5
144.7
144.9
123.3
123.4
123.6
123.7
123.8
1 Based on changes in cost of goods purchased by wage earners and lower-salaried workers.
* R ents no t surveyed in this m onth.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M iscel
laneous
128
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
S u p p lie s of F o o d in I n d e p e n d e n t R e ta il S to res,
M ay 1 9 4 5
FRESH meats were harder to buy in mid-May 1945 than in the
previous month, according to independent grocers 1 reporting to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics field representatives in 56 large cities.
Margarine, shortening, lard, and cooking and salad oils were also less
plentiful. Supplies of panned vegetables, most juices, and other
staple foods, however, remained ample.
Meat counters were empty more often during the first 4 days of
the week of May 15 than in the corresponding period in any month
since March 1944. Approximately 85 percent of the stores had no
veal, more than four-fifths were without pork loins and hams or
bacon, and almost 7 out of every 10 had no beef or lamb. There
were smaller supplies of all cuts of beef than in mid-April, the stores
without the cheaper cuts increasing from 56 to 72 percent, and those
without steaks and roasts from 55 to 69 percent. Lamb chops and
roasts and all cuts of veal and pork were also somewhat more difficult
to obtain. Frankfurters and bologna could be purchased in 69
percent of the stores, as compared to 93 percent in mid-April. In
May 1944 almost 9 out of every 10 stores had beef, approximately
three-fifths had all cuts and grades of veal and lamb, and pork and
prepared meats were plentiful.
In May 1945 the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast regions had
the largest stocks of meat, although veal was in short supply. The
Pacific Coast, Midwest, and Southwest showed improvement in
supplies. The Southeastern and New England regions continued
to have the least meat. There was no beef, veal, lamb, or pork in
more than 90 percent of the stores in the Southeastern area, while
in New England lamb was the only fresh meat that could be bought
in more than 10 percent of the stores.
Supplies of butter also were slightly smaller in mid-May than in
mid-April; the greatest decrease occurred in the New York region
where almost a fifth of the reporting stores had none in stock. The
Southeastern region continued to have the smallest supply although
the percent of grocers without stocks decreased from 34 to 21 percent.
Margarine stocks were smaller in all regions. Shortening and lard
could not be bought in more than a third of the stores, and cooking
and salad oils in more than a tenth. In May 1944 all independent
grocers had adequate supplies of butter, margarine, and shortening.
Canned corn and green and wax beans were found on most grocers’
shelves, and canned peas were available in nearly 90 percent of the
stores surveyed. There were adequate supplies of mixed vegetable
and tomato juices. However, pineapple juice was still not obtain
able in two-thirds of the stores, although supplies in New England
and the western States showed substantial improvement over January
when this commodity was last surveyed. Evaporated milk coulcl
be obtained in more than 90 percent of the stores.
1 C hain stores no t included.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
129
COST OF LIVING AND RETAIL PRICES
Independent Retail Stores Without Supplies of Specified Foods on A p ril 17 and M ay 15,
1945, in 56 Large Cities
Percent of stores w ith o u t supplies of specified foods 1
Apr. 17,
1945
M ay 15, 1945
Com m odity
M eats:
Beef, steaks and roasts . . ___
Beef, all other_________________
Veal, steaks, chops, and roasts__
Veal, all other_______________ _
Lam b, chops and roasts________
Lamb, all o th e r ..______________
Pork, loins, and h am s__________
Pork, bacon.
Frankfurters and bologna. . . . .
F a ts and oils:
B u tte r________________________
M argarine _________ . . . . . .
Shortening_____ ______________
L a rd __________________________
Cooking and salad oils_____ ____
Processed foods:
Com , canned___________ . . . .
Peas, c a n n e d .---- ------------ -----Beans, green and wax, canned___
Tom ato catsup and chili sauce _.
M ixed vegetable juices, can n ed ...
Tom ato juice, canned__________
Grape juice-------- -----------------Pineapple juice, can n ed ________
M ilk, evaporated, canned______
Region 2
56
large
cities
56
large
cities
55
56
79
83
57
69
80
78
7
69
72
84
86
68
67
84
82
31
2 90
90
3 90
90
85
85
3 90
3 90
40
6
17
30
26
8
9
26
36
34
12
7
19
25
23
8
51
57
61
71
75
71
16
6 G4
2
2
11
1
1
5
2
10
66
6
1
9
4
40
40
*0
8
24
1
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
V II
V III
62
69
72
71
75
87
77
88
70 ■ 77
79
69
83
80
89
86
26
37
3 90
3 90
3 90
3 90
3 90
a 90
3 90
3 90
31
63
62
74
72
63
60
77
79
33
77
80
87
90
77
78
89
64
34
35
30
86
86
27
22
58
78
2
40
44
71
84
6
10
74
71
4
18
37
51
50
17
2
6
30
21
12
21
5
6
10
5
2
2
13
25
3
*0
34
47
30
7
40
47
19
25
9
40
31
21
29
13
6
23
2
1
5
3
16
69
14
40
3
1
2
9
1
6
59
*0
2
14
1
30
7
2
10
77
5
40
40
<0
1
7
1
9
83
<0
40
40
40
«0
<0
<0
2
76
1
40
40
40
40
9
40
5
30
9
40
40
40
40
2
5
5
53
40
1 D ata are weighted b y the num ber of independent food stores in each city, to derive regional and all
region percentages.
2 Regions consist of th e following cities: Region /.—Boston, Bridgeport, Fall R iver, M anchester, New
H aven, Portland, M e., Providence. Region II.—Baltimore, Buffalo, N ew ark, N ew Y ork, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Rochester, Scranton, W ashington, D . O. Region III.—C incinnati, Cleveland, Columbus,
D etroit, Indianapolis, Louisville. Region IV .— A tlanta, Birm ingham , C harleston, S. C., Jackson, M iss.,
Jacksonville, Knoxville, M em phis, M obile, Norfolk, R ichm ond, Savannah, W inston-Salem. Region V .—
Dallas, H ouston, K ansas C ity, M o., L ittle Rock, New Orleans, St. Louis, W ichita. Region V I.—Cedar
Rapids, Chicago, M ilwaukee, M inneapolis, Omaha, Peoria, St. Paul, Springfield, 111. Region V I I .—
B utte, Denver, Salt Lake C ity. Region V I I I — Los Angeles, Portland, Oreg., San Francisco, Seattle.
2 Over 90 percent out of stock.
4 Same size, quality, or variety of the com m odity was available in all stores surveyed.
5 M arch 13, 1945 was last date surveyed.
6 Jan u ary 16, 1945 was last date surveyed.
7 F ebruary 13, 1945 was last date surveyed.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
130
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
19 45
R e ta il P ric e s o f F o o d in A p ril 1 9 4 5
PERCENTAGE changes in retail food costs on April 17, 1945, as
compared with costs in the previous month and April 1944, are shown
in table 1.
T a b l e 1.— Percent of Change in Retail Costs of Food in 56 Large Cities Combined,1 by
Commodity Groups, in Specified Periods
C om m odity group
All foods.....................................
M ar. 13,
1945, to
Apr. 17,
1945
A pr. 18,
1944, to
A pr. 17,
1945
+ 0 .5
+ 1 .5
- 4 .5
+39.7
+46.1
+ .2
0
+ .2
0
0
+ .5
-1 .2
0
-.6
+ 2.2
+ 2 .6
+ •1
+ .3
+ .1
+ .1
- .1
+ .8
+ .6
-.4
+ .3
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .6
+ .7
-.1
+ 9 .6
+ 2 .7
+ 3 .0
+• 4
+ 2.9
+ .2
+ .2
-.2
+ 1 .2
- 5 .4
- 9 .6
-1 0 .4
-4 .0
+ 4 .5
+ 5 .7
-2 .5
-1 .5
-9 .2
-1 0 .9
-.8
+ 6 .3
+ .1
- 2 .0
-.9
+14.8
+29.4
+ 8 .4
+ 30.5
+37.7
+58.7
+78.5
+27.0
+43.6
+85.7
+96.3
+42.2
+68.6
+37.1
+54.2
+32.6
+16.6
+36.7
+19.1
+27.7
+37.6
+63.1
+112.8
+43.4
+54.2
+87.6
+97.5
+41.9
+85.9
+31.3
+46.5
+32.2
.
Cereals an d bakery p roducts_____
M eats_____________ _____
Beef and v e al..................
P o rk _________________
L a m b ___________________
Chickens____________
Fish, fresh and canned
.
D airy products______________
E ggs---------------------------------------------------------------F ru its and vegetables......... .........................
F re s h ..____________
C an n ed __________ .
D rie d . ___________
Beverages_____________ .
F a ts and oils____________ .
Sugar and sweets_______________ .
M ay 18,
1943, to
A pr. 17,
1945
Jan. 14,
1941, to
A pr. 17,
1945
Aug. 15,
1939, to
A pr. 17,
1945
1 T h e n um ber of cities included in th e index was changed from 51 to 56 in M arch 1943, w ith th e necessary
a dju stm en ts for m aintaining com parability. A t th e same tim e the num ber of foods in th e index was in
creased from 54 to 61.
T
able
2 . — Indexes of Retail Costs of Food in 56 1 Large Cities Combined,2 by Commodity
Groups, on Specified Dates
[1935-39 = 100]
1945
1944
1943
1941
1939
Aug. 15
C om m odity group
A pr. 17
M ar. 13
A pr. 18
M ay 18
Jan. 14
All foods..........................
136.6
135.9
134.6
143.0
97.8
93.5
Cereals and bakery p roducts___
M ea ts______________ ______ Beef and veal___________
P o rk _____ .
L a m b .._____________
C hickens___________
Fish, fresh and canned___
D airy p ro d u cts..................... .
Eggs--------------------------------------------------F ruits and vegetables_____
F resh...... .............
C anned____
D ried________ ______
B everages.___ __________
F a ts and oils____
Sugar and sweets............
108.9
130.8
118.6
112.4
135.9
154.3
211.9
133.5
139.9
173.3
183.3
130.0
167.9
124.6
123.8
126.4
108.7
130.8
118.4
112.4
135.9
153.6
214.4
133.5
140.7
169.5
178. 6
129.9
167.4
124.5
123.7
126.5
108.0
130.0
119.1
112.1
134.3
150.4
210.4
133,6
127.6
168.8
178.0
129.5
163.2
124.4
123.5
126.6
107.6
138.3
131.2
125.5
141.6
147.6
200.5
136.9
142.1
190.8
205.8
131.1
158.0
124.5
126.3
127.6
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, weighted to represent total p u r
chases of families of wage earners and lower-salaried workers, have been combined w ith the use of popula
tion weights.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD TO CITY WORKERS
AVERAGE
FOR
LARGE
CITIES
COST OF LIVING AND RETAIL PRICES
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
CO
132
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
RETAIL PRICES FOR GROUPS OF FOOD
AVERAGE FOR LARGE CITIES
1 9 3 5 -3 9 = 100
INDEX
220
"RUI TS
t
INDEX
\ND VEG ETA 3LE S
/|
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
pW
___
'“''-ALL FOOOS
220
133
COST OF L IV IN G AND R E TA IL PR IC E S
T a b l e 3 .— A vera g e R e ta il P ric e s o f 78 Foods in 56 L arge C ities C om bin ed,l A p r il 1945
C om pared W ith E a rlie r M onths
1945
1944
1941
1939
Aug. 15
Article
Cereals and bakery products:
Cereals:
Flour, w heat _ . _ ------------ ...1 0 pounds.
M acaroni__________ ______ _____ p o u n d ..
W heat cereal >. ------------- ___28 ounces..
C orn flakes_________
_ _ _ .-B ounces.
Corn meal
. . - ------------- _____ p o u n d ..
Rice 2_____________________ _______ do ___
Rolled oats____________ --- _______ do ___
Flour, pancake 2______ _ ___ ___20 ounces..
B akery products:
Bread, w h ite ._.
----------- - _ _ p o u n d ..
Bread, whole-wheat............. __ _______ do ___
Bread, ry e ------ -. . . _______ do ___
_____ _do_ __
Vanilla cookies . .
_
- ------- _______ do ___
Soda crackers----M eats:
Beef:
R ound steak _____— ------ _______ do ___
_______ do ___
R ib roast .
______ . .
C huck roast _______ _ ________ do ___
Stew m e a t2. . . ---- -------- . ________ do ___
L iv er___________________ - _______ do ___
H am burger_____ . _ _ ------ _______ do ___
Veal:
C u tlets________________ . . . _______ do ___
Roast, boned and rolled 2------ _______ do ___
Pork:
C hops____________ -- ------ _______ do ___
______ do ___
Bacon, sliced .
. .
H am , s l i c e d ........ ... ............ - _______ do ___
_______ do ___
H am , whole. ------ -Salt po rk__________________ _______ do ___
Liver 2____________________ _______ d o ___
Sausage 2__________________ _______ do ___
Bologna, big 2_ ------ - - _______ d o ___
Lam b:
Leg________ ____ - ............ ______ d o ___
R ib chops________ _ --------- _______ do ___
P oultry : Roasting chickens_____ _______ d o ___
Fish:
Fish (fresh, frozen)..- . ------ _______ d o ...
Salmon, p in k . . . _ ----------- _ __16-oz. c a n ..
Salmon, red 2 --------------- - _______ d o ___
D airy products:
B u tte r. _ --_ . . . -------------------- . _ _.pound .
_______ d o ___
Cheese----M ilk, fresh (delivered)---------- ~ ______ q u a rt-.
_______ do ___
----------M ilk, fresh (store)-----M ilk, evaporated_______ ______ - UH-oz. can .dozen .
Eggs: Eggs, fresh-------------------------F ru its and vegetables:
Fresh fruits:
A p p les..- ------------------------- _____ p o u n d ..
_______ d o ___
B an a n a s.. ----_ .dozen.
Oranges___________________
G ra p e fru it2-. -------------------- _______ each ..
Fresh vegetables:
Beans, green_____________ - _____ p o u n d ..
C abbage---- ------------ -------- _______ d o ___
_____ bunch
C a r r o t s . __ . . -----L e ttu c e .. - - - - ---- -- _______ h e ad ..
.
. ..p o u n d ..
O n io n s .------- . . ------- -Potatoes____ . . . . . . ------ ..15 pounds.
Spinach_________ . . . . - -- _____ p o u n d ..
Sw eetpotatoes.. ------ -- ------ ______ d o ____
Beets 2----------------------------- ____ bunch __
C anned fruits:
Peaches
. . -- -- -- -- .N o. 2)4 c an ..
Pineapple------- ------------------ _______ do ___
G rapefruit juice------ -------- . . . No. 2 c an ..
C anned vegetables:
Beans, g r e e n ------- ----------- _______ do___
_______ do ___
Corn
_ __ _
_______ do.
Peas
____ -Tom atoes. .
. .
.......... _______ d o ___
Soup, vegetable2 . . . . . . — ___ll-oz. c a n ..
See footnotes a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
A pr. 17
M ar. 13
A pr. 18
Jan. 14
Cents
64.3
15.8
23.2
6.5
6.4
12.8
10.3
12.3
Cents
64.2
15.7
23.1
6.5
6.4
12.8
10.3
12.3
Cents
65.1
15.7
23.3
6.5
6.0
12.8
8.7
12.0
Cents
41.4
13.8
23.5
7.1
4.2
7.9
7.1
0
Cents
35.8
14.0
24.2
7.0
4.0
7.5
7.1
0
8.8
9.6
9.9
28.9
18.9
8.8
9.6
9.9
28.9
18.9
8.7
9.7
9.9
28.3
18.9
7.8
8.7
9.0
25.1
15.0
7.8
8.8
9.2
40.4
32.7
28.0
29.3
36.9
27.4
40.4
32.7
27.9
29.3
37.2
27.5
41.9
33.8
29.2
31.6
37.4
28.4
38.6
31.5
25.2
0
0
0
0
6)
0
43.6
34.6
43.7
34.9
45.6
35.7
45.2
0
0
36.9
41.0
49.3
34.5
22.1
22.1
38.1
33.9
37.0
40.9
50.0
34.9
22.0
22.1
38.5
33.6
37.3
41.2
51.3
35.6
22.5
22.1
38.4
34.3
29.1
30.1
45.1
26.2
16.7
0
0
0
39.9
45.4
46.5
39.7
45.3
46.2
40.2
45.3
45.0
27.8
35.0
31.1
0
23.4
40.8
0)
0
0
14.8
36.4
28.9
22.5
42.5
30.9
30.4
46.4
27.4
15.4
0
0
0
27.6
36.7
30.9
23.6
40.3
0
24.1
43.1
49.9
35.6
15.6
14.5
10.1
49.5
49.9
35.8
15.6
14.5
10.0
49.9
50.1
36.2
15.6
14.5
10.0
45.0
38.0
27.0
13.0
11.9
7.1
34.9
30.7
24.7
12.0
11.0
6.7
32.0
11.8
10.4
45.7
9.4
11.4
10.3
44.4
9.0
11.8
11.2
45.1
7.9
5.2
6.6
27.3
0
4.4
6.1
31.5
20.0
6.6
8.0
12.4
5.2
79.7
11.7
9.5
9.6
20.2
5.5
7.8
12.1
5.4
77.4
11.6
9.4
9.4
20.5
5.6
7.2
11.1
9.9
63.2
10.9
11.3
8.8
14.0
3.4
6.0
8.4
3.6
29.2
7.3
5.0
27.6
26.9
14.4
27.9
26.8
14.4
27.3
27.5
14.4
13.0
14.8
13.3
12.2
13.4
13.1
14.8
13.3
12.1
13.4
13.2
14.4
13.3
12.0
13.4
15.7
26.4
0
0
0
7.2
3.9
4.6
8.4
3.6
34.4
7.8
5. 5
0
16.5
20.9
0
17.1
21.0
0
10.0
10.7
13.2
8.4
0
12.8
23.1
10.0
10.4
13.6
8.6
0
134
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W — J U L Y
194 5
T a b l e 3 .— A vera g e R e ta il P ric e s o f 78 Foods in 56 L arge C ities C om bin ed,1 A p r il 1945
C om pared W ith E a rlie r M on th s — Continued
1945
1944
1941
1939
Aug. 15
Article
F ru its and vegetables—C ontinued.
D ried fruits: P ru n e s________ ____ ...p o u n d ..
D ried vegetables:
N av y beans___________________ ____do ___
Soup, dehydrated, chicken noodle 2--.ounce.Beverages:
Coflee_______ _____ ____ __________ . ..p o u n d ..
T e a ______________________________
pound __
Cocoa 2__________________________ -\<i p o u n d ..
F a ts and oils:
L ard ---------- -------------------- ------------- . . .p o u n d ..
Shortening other th a n lard—
In cartons_____________________ ____do ___
In other containers............. ............ ____do ___
Salad dressing_____________ ____ ____p in t..
O leomargarine_______________ ____ ...p o u n d ..
P e a n u t b u tte r____________ ____ ___ ____d o ___
Oil, cooking or salad 2__................. .
. . . p in t..
Sugar and sweets:
Sugar____________________ ________ . . .p o u n d ..
Corn sirup _______________________ 24 ounces..
M olasses2____________ ___________ 18 ounces..
A pple b u tte r 2________ ______ ____ 16 ounces..
A pr. 17
M ar. 13
A pr. 18
Jan. 14
Cents
17.7
Cents
17.5
Cents
16.8
Cents
9.6
11.4
3.8
11.3
3.7
10.6
3.7
6.5
(3)
30.4
24.1
10.4
30.3
24.1
10.4
29.9
23.8
10.0
20.7
17.6
9.1
Cents
8.8
5.8
(3)
22.3
17.2
8.6
18.8
18.8
18.8
9.3
9.9
20.2
24.6
25.5
24.2
28.4
30.8
20.0
24.6
25.6
24.1
28.3
30.7
20.1
24.7
25.6
24.1
28.4
30.6
11.3
18.3
20.1
15.6
17.9
(9
11.7
20.2
(4)
16.5
17. 9i
0)
6.7
15.8
15.7
13.8
6.7
15.8
15.7
13.6
6.8
15.8
15.9
13.2
5.1
13.6
13.4
(3)
5.2
13.7
13.6
(3)
1 D a ta a re b ased on 51 cities com b in ed p rio r to J a n u a ry 1943.
2 N o t in c lu d e d in index.
8 F ir s t p riced , F e b ru a ry 1943.
« N o t priced.
8 C o m p o site p ric e n o t co m p u ted .
6 F ir s t p riced , O cto b er 1941.
T a b l e 4 .— In dexes o f A verage R e ta il Costs o f A ll Foods, b y C ities,1 on S pecified D ates
[1935-39 = 100]
1945
1944
1941
1939
Aug. 15
C ity
U nited States __________________________________
N ew England:
B oston________________ ______ __________ ___
B ridgeport______ _____ ___________________ . .
Fall R iv er............................................... .
M anchester_____________ _____ ______________
New H a v en ___________ _ .
Portland, M ain e . _______________
Providence_____ __________________
M iddle A tlantic:
Buffalo________________________ ____________
N ew ark___ . . . . ______ _____ ___
N ew Y ork______________ ____
P hiladelphia__________________________
P ittsb u rg h __________ _____ ______
R ochester_______ _________ ____ ___
Scranton_________________ ___________ . .
E a st N orth C entral:
C hicago.. ________________________ ______
C incinnati_____________________________
C leveland____________ ______ _________ ._
C olum bus, Ohio_________________
____
D e tro it_________________________ .
Indianapolis______ _______________
M ilw aukee______________ _______ .
Peoria___________________ ______. . .
Springfield, 111_______ . . . _________
W est N orth C entral:
Cedar R apids 2________ ____ ________ . .
K ansas C ity — ................................ ..............
M inneapolis............................. .............. .............
O m aha__________________ ________ ___
S t. Louis__________________________________
St. P a u l......................................... ...................
W ichita 2______________ ___________
See footnotes a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Apr. 17
M ar. 13
Apr. 18
Jan. 14
136.6
135.9
134.6
97.8
93.5
130.8
133.9
130.1
132.7
134.1
131.3
134.1
130.6
132.8
130.6
132.7
133.5
131.4
134.8
129.5
131.4
130.0
130.8
132.4
131.2
132.1
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
134.7
138.0
136.8
134. 2
135.4
133.7
136.4
135.2
137.5
136.4
134.3
133.8
132.6
135.9
132.5
137.6
135.7
132.5
134.8
128.5
135.4
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
136.2
135.0
140.7
128.4
132.1
133.3
134.3
140.9
142.0
135.0
134.1
139.6
128. 1
131.4
132.1
133.8
139.7
140.8
133.9
135.4
141.7
127.6
131.2
132.1
132.1
137.5
140.2
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
140. 5
131.5
129.5
130.3
139.0
128.5
149.9
139.0
130.3
129.3
129.6
138.1
128.2
147.5
136. 2
130.1
128.9
131.0
137.4
127.3
144.2
95.9
92.4
99.0
97.9
99.2
98.6
97.2
91.5
95.0
92.3
93.8
94.3
135
COST OF LIVING AND RETAIL PRICES
T
able
4 .— In dexes o f A verage R e ta il Costs o f A ll Foods, b y C ities, on S pecified D ates —
Continued
1945
1944
1941
1939
Aug. 15
C ity
South A tlantic:
A tla n ta _____ ________________ _______________
B altim ore___________________________________
C harleston, S. C ______________________ ______
Jacksonville______________________
_____ _
Norfolk 3_______ ___________
__________
R ichm o n d .__________ _________ ____________
S avann ah _________ _______ . . . ______________
W ashington, D . C ___________________________
W inston-Salem 2___ ______ ___________ ______
E a st South C entral:
B irm ingham _____ ______ _____________________
J a c k s o n 2 __ _
.. .
___________
Knoxville 2 .
Louisville___________________________________
M em phis___________________________ ______
M o b ile .. . . .
___________________________
W est South Central:
D allas_________ ______________ _____________
H ousto n ___________________________ ____ ____
L ittle R ock________________ _ ______________
N ew Orleans__________________________ ______
M ountain:
B u tte ________________________ _____________
D enver_________________________________ ____
S alt Lake C ity ______________________ ________
Pacific:
Los Angeles___________ _______ _______ ____ _
Portland, Oreg____ _ _________ __________
San Francisco_____ ___ ______________________
S eattle._______ ______________________________
A pr. 17
M ar. 13
Apr. 18
Jan. 14
137.3
144.9
133.5
145.5
140. 1
133.2
150.8
137.8
138.0
136.9
144.1
134.0
142.8
141.4
133.5
150.7
136.8
137.1
134.6
140.3
132.1
141.4
143.8
131.6
150.8
132.8
132.9
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
141.1
148.3
156. 5
130.6
145.2
144.9
139.8
147.1
156.3
130.2
144.4
143.9
136.1
141.2
151.8
131.8
141.3
143.4
96.0
105.3
97.1
95.5
94.2
97.9
90.7
92.1
89.7
95.5
134.4
136.7
137.6
152.5
133.8
134.8
136.1
151.0
131.6
135.3
132.9
148.5
92.6
102.6
95.6
101.
91.7
97.8
94.0
97.6
134.2
137.9
140.1
133.2
136.9
139.0
133.2
136.6
138.6
98.7
94.8
97.5
94.1
92.7
94.6
144.4
147.4
148.4
143.0
142.7
145.8
146.2
143.0
138.6
142.2
142.2
139.2
101.8
101.7
99.6
101.0
94.6
96.1
93.8
94.5
1 Aggregate costs of 61 foods in each city (54 foods prior to M arch 1943), weighted to represent to ta l p u r
chases of wage earners and lower-salaried workers, have been combined for th e U nited States w ith th e use
of population weights. P rim ary use is for time-to-time comparisons rather th a n place-to-place comparisons.
2 June 1940=100.
3 Includes Portsm outh and N ew port News.
T
able
5 .— Indexes o f R e ta il Food Costs in 56 L arge C ities C om bined,1 1913 to A p r ii 194
[1935-39=100]
Y ear
All-foods
index
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.
19311932.
1933.
193419351936.
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.
1944.
105.3
97.8
95.2
96.6
105.5
123.9
138.0
136.1
i Indexes based on 51 cities combined prior to M arch 1943.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Y ear and m onth
All-foods
index
19U
Ja n u a ry _________
F e b ru a ry ________
M arch __________
A pril____________
M a y ____________
J u n e ____________
J u ly ------------------A u g u s t_________
Septem ber_______
O ctober_________
N ovem ber............ .
D ecem ber-...........
136.1
134.5
134.1
134.6
135.5
135.7
137.4
137.7
137.0
136.4
136.5
137.4
1945
J a n u a r y .................
F e b ru a ry ................
M arch __________
A pril___ ________
137.3
136.5
135.9
136.6
136
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
1945
C ost o f L iv in g a n d W ages of P e tro le u m W o rk e rs
in V e n ez u ela, 1 9 4 4 1
WAGE increases of 2 bolívares2 per day for salaried employees
earning up to 600 bolívares per month and for laborers earning up to
25 bolívares per day were granted by Executive resolution of Novem
ber 10, 1944, to persons employed in permanent petroleum camps and
petroleum ports in Venezuela. The action was taken in order to meet
rising costs of living in accord with similar action earlier in 1944 by
which increases were granted to Federal government employees; bus
drivers, cement workers, and soap and tire manufacturing workers.
Of the three wage-classification groups in Venezuela, the lowestpaid group consists of the agricultural laborers who make up by far
the greatest part of the working population and receive less than 5
bolívares per day. The second wage group includes the unskilled and
semiskilled workers in industry who receive from 5 to 10 bolívares per
day. The third group consists of the relatively small number of skilled
workers in the country—persons making over 10 bolívares per day.
Workers employed in the petroleum industry belong in the highest of
the three groups. In the first quarter of 1945 only one class of worker
in the Caracas area earned 25 bolívares daily, the upper pay limit to
which increases were granted for petroleum workers in the recent
resolution.
W ages in the Petroleum Industry
The average salary in the petroleum industry in Venezuela was
reported in 1940 to be 600 bolivares per month and the average daily
wage to be 11 bolivares, as compared with averages for all workers of
230 bolivares and 7 bolivares in the Federal District, the district of
highest average wage rates. Data published in 1940 showed that in
industry and commerce as a whole some 100,000 employed persons
accounted for a pay roll of 130,000,000 bolivares, whereas in the petro
leum industry alone about 25,000 persons received a pay roll of
90,000,000 bolivares. The ranges of monthly earnings of various'
salaried employees and wage earners in the petroleum industry in 1940
were recorded by the Ministry of Labor and Communications as
follows:
Bolívares
E n g in eers_________
L ab o rato ry w orkers
M echanics_________
C hem ists__________
D rillers____________
360-1,
360-1,
19240 0 75 0 -
000
000
880
750
___
Bolívares
E lectricians
T an k men__
W elders___
R iv e te rs___
L a b o re rs__
300-480
270-480
192-336
180-270
162-450
1 D a ta are from reports of C arl Breuer, second secretary of U nited States Em bassy and labor attaché
Caracas, Feb ru ary 8,1944, and Jan u a ry 15, 1945, of F ran k P . Corrigan, Caracas, October 28, 1944, and of
G uy A. M orin, clerk, U nited States Consulate, M aracaibo N ovem ber 16,1944; Proceedings of the E ighth
A m erican Scientific Congress, M ay 10-18, 1940, Vol. X I (W ashington, 1943); M emoria, M inisterio del
T rabajo y de Comunicaciones, 1940 (Caracas, 1941); G aceta Oficial (Venezuela), N ovem ber 10,1944.
2 Average exchange rate of bolivar (controlled) in 1940=31.35 cents; in 1944=29.85 cents.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
COST OF LIVING AND RETAIL PRICES
137
Records available for 1942 indicate no change in rates of pay.
During 1943 and 1944, however, the industry enjoyed boom conditions
and provided in the former year 83.9 percent ($72,450,554) of the
foreign exchange purchases of the Central Bank of Venezuela. A
Congress of Petroleum Workers was held in 1943, and some increases
in pay were given in that year.
By the autumn of 1944, salaried employees in the petroleum in
dustry at Maracaibo were receiving monthly from 300 bolivares (for
messengers) to 3,000 bolivares (for administrative chiefs). Some of
these employees lived in the company camps and received housing and
hospitalization privileges, but the majority were stenographers,
accountants, and messengers living outside the camps on income in
adequate to cope with the rising costs of living. In the spring of 1944
the larger petroleum companies began selling corn flour, cheese, black
beans, powdered milk, potatoes, rice, lard, macaroni, oats, and flour in
company commissaries, at prices which had prevailed in March 1940.
The amelioration achieved by these measures was insufficient to
prevent strikes, and the Labor and Communications Ministry conse
quently issued the Executive resolution of November 10, granting the
increases in remuneration mentioned above. The increases are to be
effective for 1 year from November 15, 1944, during which time points
raised in the petitions of the workers may not be made the subject
of further complaints.
Cost of Living of Petr oleum Workers
Indexes of the cost of living of wage earners in the petroleum in
dustry in Venezuela, compiled by the statistician for the three large
petroleum companies, for July, August, and September of 1944, are
shown below, by regions (Caracas and Maracaibo).
Indexes of Cost of Living of W age Earners in Petroleum Industry of Venezuela, J u ly
to September 1944, by Group of Items and Place of Residence
Indexes (M arch 1940=100) of cost of—
Area and m onth
Caracas and M aracaibo areas:
In com pany houses:
J u ly _____________________________
A ugust________ _________________
Septem ber.
.... _ . . . . .
N ot in com pany houses:
J u ly ______________________________
A u g u st... _______ . . . __________ . .
Septem ber_____ _________________
Caracas:
J u ly ___ ______________________________
A ugust____________________________
Septem ber _______
.
M aracaibo:
J u ly _________________________________
A ugust ._ --------------------------- --------- ._
S ep te m b e r.__ _ . . . __ _____________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
All
items
Food
C loth
ing
Sun
dries
H ous
ing
Light
111.6
111.2
109.5
110.3
110.0
106.9
127.8
127.8
127.8
111.0
111.0
111.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
97.1
97.1
97.1
109.3
109.3
105.9
117.5
117.2
110.0
131. 2
131.2
131.2
110.8
110.8
110.8
82.9
82.9
82.9
104.8
104.8
lu4.8
63.8
63.8
63.8
121.4
125.3
113.4
141.5
149.5
126.1
124. 4
124.4
124.4
107.9
107.9
107.9
90.0
90.0
90.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
75.0
75.0
75.0
115.2
113.3
108.8
135.8
132.1
123.0
149.4
149.4
149.4
110.7
110.7
110.7
58.6
58.6
58.6
86.7
86.7
86.7
60.0
60.0
60.0
Fuel
Wholesale Prices
W h o le sa le P ric e s in M ay 1 9 4 5
CONTINUED price advances for agricultural commodities and higher
ceiling prices as results of adjusted ceilings for iron and steel products,
bituminous coal, and lumber raised the Bureau of Labor Statistics
index of commodity prices at the primary m arket1 level 0.3 percent
during May, to 106.0 percent of the 1926 average. In the past 12
months the all-commodities index rose 1.9 percent to a level more than
41 percent above that of August 1939, and by May 1945 had reached
the highest point since the beginning of the war.
Average prices for farm products increased 0.7 percent during the
month, while foods advanced 1.1 percent, fuel and lighting materials
and building materials rose 0.2 percent, and metals and metal products
0.1 percent. Indexes for hides and leather products, textile products,
chemicals and allied products, housefurnishing goods, and miscel
laneous commodities remained unchanged at the level for April.
Average prices for raw materials advanced 0.8 percent, reflecting
the higher prices for agricultural commodities. Indexes for semi
manufactured articles and finished products were unchanged during
the month.
Higher prices for fresh fruits and vegetables resulting from short
supplies and some seasonal price rises accounted for the major part of
the 0.7 percent increase in average prices for farm products. Prices
for apples advanced over 18 percent; for onions, nearly 29 percent;
and for sweetpotatoes, nearly 24 percent. White potatoes were sub
stantially higher in most markets. Quotations for cotton continued to
advance and fractional increases were reported for oranges and tobacco,
Substantial declines occurred in hay prices, and fresh milk at Chicago
and lemons were lower. In the grain markets, oats decreased over 11
percent, and barley and wheat quotations wTere fractionally lower.
Corn and rye prices increased. Quotations for sheep dropped 6 per
cent; for cows, nearly 3 percent; and for calves, over 3 percent.
Prices for live poultry and for steers were higher.
The rise of 1.1 percent in average prices of foods in primary markets
was caused largely by the substantial increases for fresh fruits and
vegetables. In addition, prices for dressed poultry increased nearly 3
percent, and rye flour and oatmeal were higher. Prices for wheat
flour declined.
Higher prices for percale yard goods balanced lower prices for
bleached muslin and prinUcloth and the textile products group index
remained unchanged at the level of the previous month.
Higher ceiling prices for bituminous coal to cover wage adjustments
raised average prices over 2 percent. This advance, together with
fractional increases for anthracite, more than offset lower sales realizau 1 T he B ureau of Labor Statistics wholesale price d a ta for th e m ost p a rt represent prices prevailing in the
“ first commercial transaction.” T h e y are prices quoted in p rim ary m arkets, at principal distribution points.
138
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W HOLESALE PRICES
139
tions for gas and electricity and lower quotations for Oklahoma natural
gasoline and raised the fuel and lighting materials group index by 0.2
percent.
Price increases following adjustments in OPA ceiling prices for a
wide range of carbon steel products and steel mill manufactures in
creased the metals and metal products index by 0.1 percent. For a
number of these products this was the first price increase since the
introduction of price control in 1941. Larger supplies of Spanish
mercury reached the United States markets and lowered mercury
prices more than 1 percent.
Higher prices for Douglas fir boards and dimension, approved by
OPA to stimulate production, were chiefly responsible for an advance
of 0.2 percent in average prices for building materials. Douglas fir
boards increased over 10 percent. Lower ceiling prices for Douglas
fir timbers reduced the price of this commodity. Slightly higher
prices were reported for ponderosa pine and sugar pine and turpentine.
Common brick, sand, gravel, and lime were fractionally higher. Prices
for Idaho pine lumber and butyl acetate declined slightly.
A decrease of over 8 percent in prices for ergot was not sufficient to
affect the group index for chemicals and allied products which remained
unchanged at the level for April.
The housefurnishing-goods group index was unchanged, although
slightly higher prices were reported for cotton blankets.
Automobile tires and tubes, cattle feed, paper and pulp, and crude
rubber were unchanged in price during May.
Major price changes during the 12-month period have been in prices
for agricultural commodities, but significant price changes also have
occurred for a number of industrial commodities. Since May 1944
average prices of farm products have risen nearly 6 percent, largely as
the result of higher prices for livestock and poultry and higher quota
tions for fresh fruits and vegetables. Average food prices rose nearly
2 percent. Grains, on the other hand, were slightly lower than at this
time last year. Average prices for hides and skins advanced nearly 5
percent because of higher prices for shearlings. Brick and tile prices
increased 10 percent, and cement, 3 percent, to cover higher production
costs resulting from low volume production. Cotton goods were
over 5 percent higher on the average than in May 1944, as the result
of higher prices under the Bankhead Ameudment to the Stabilization
Extension Act of 1944. Drugs and pharmaceuticals were nearly 5
percent lower. In the past 12 months, average prices of raw materials
advanced over 4 percent; of semimanufactured articles, 1.4 percent;
and of finished products, nearly 1 percent.
During the more than 5}i years since the outbreak of war in Europe,
average prices of commodities in primary markets have advanced over
41 percent. Market prices have more than doubled for grains, live
stock and poultry, fruits and vegetables, oils and fats, and cattle feed.
In addition, increases of more than 50 percent have occurred for dairy
products, hides and skins, cotton goods, and lumber. Since August
1939, average primary market prices for raw materials have risen 77
percent, compared to increases of approximately 28 percent for semi
manufactured and finished goods.
Percentage comparisons of the May 1945 level of wholesale prices
with ?April 1945, May 1944, and August 1939, with corresponding
index numbers, are given in table 1.
651 6 5 4 — 4 5 ------- 10
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
140
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
T a b l e 1.—
19 45
Indexes of Wholesale Prices by Groups and Subgroups of Commodities, M ay
1945, Compared With A p ril 1945, M ay 1944, and A ugust.1939
[1926 = 100]
Percent
of
change
Percent
of
change
Percent
of
change
M ay
1945
Apr.
1945
All com m odities_________________ ____ ____
106.0
105.7
+ .3
104.0
+ 1.9
75.0
+41.3
F arm p ro d u c ts.. - . - - - - - - - ------ _ _
G rain s--- __________
_____ -. --Livestock and poultryO ther farm p ro d u cts. ____ . _______
129.9
129. 1
135.5
125.9
129.0
130. 5
136.4
123.2
+ 0 .7
- 1 .1
-.7
+ 2 .2
122. 9
129.7
122.6
120.4
+ 5.7
- .5
+10.5
+ 4 .6
61.0
51.5
66.0
60.1
+113.0
+150. 7
+105.3
+109. 5
Foods____________________________________
D airy p ro d u cts------ --------------------------Cereal products- ----- ----- _____
F ru its and vegetables------------------ __
M eats________________________________
O ther fo o d s.-. _ . ---- - --------------
107.0
110. 6
95.4
131. 4
108. 6
94.7
105.8
110.7
95.4
123. 4
108.2
94.7
+ 1.1
-. 1
0
+6. 5
+ .4
0
105.0
110.3
95.0
126.8
106.6
91.9
+ 1 .9
+ .3
+. 4
+ 3.6
+ 1 .9
+ 3.0
67.2
67.9
71.9
58.5
73.7
60.3
+59.2
+62.9
+32.7
+124. 6
+47.4
+57.0
H ides and leather products _
Shoes________________________________
H ides and skins_______________________
L e a th e r,. _ - - _____ . -. . - ____ . .
O ther leather p ro d u cts________________
117.9
126.3
117.0
101.3
115.2
117.9
126.3
117.0
101.3
115.2
0
0
0
0
0
117.0
126.3
111.9
101.3
115.2
+ .8
0
+ 4 .6
0
0
92.7
100.8
77.2
84.0
97.1
+27.2
+25.3
+51.6
+20.6
+18.6
Textile p roducts. _ _ ---. .
. .
C lo th in g .__ --------------------------------------C otton goods_________________________
Hosiery and u n d erw ear____ _ _______
R ayon .
------.
Silk _________________________________
Woolen and worsted goods . .
Other textile p roducts________ _
_ __
99.6
107.4
119.7
71.5
30.2
(i)
112.7
100.9
99.6
107. 4
119. 7
71.5
30.2
(i)
112.7
100.9
0
0
0
0
0
97.8
107.0
113.9
70.5
30.3
(i)
112. 5
100.5
+ 1 .8
+ .4
+ 5.1
+ 1.4
-.3
67.8
81. 5
65.5
61.5
28.5
44. 3
75. 5
63.7
+46.9
+31.8
+82.7
+ 16.3
+ 6 .0
Fuel and lighting m aterials_______ - _____
A nthracite. _ ___
...
B itum inous coal______________________
Coke____
- ------- ------------------------E lectricity.
___
Gas
.
Petroleum and products_____
______
83.7
95.6
123.2
130. 7
(i)
(i)
64.2
83.5
95.3
120.6
130. 7
(i)
77.0
64.2
+ .2
+ .3
+ 2 .2
0
+ .6
-.8
+ 2.3
0
+ .3
72.6
72.1
96.0
104.2
75. 8
86. 7
51.7
+15.3
+32.6
+28.3
+25.4
0
83.2
96.4
120.4
130. 7
59.0
78. 4
64.0
+24.2
M etals and m etal products . . . . . . .
A gricultural im plem ents. - ________ _
F arm m achinery _ ___
Iron and steel . . . .
M otor vehicles.
-------------Nonferrous m etals-_
_ _
P lum bing and h eatin g ____ _
104.3
97.5
98.7
98.4
112.8
85.9
92.4
104.2
97.5
98.7
98. 1
112.8
85.9
92.4
+ .1
0
0
+ .3
0
0
0
103. 7
97.2
98.4
97. 1
112.8
85.8
92.4
+ .6
+ .3
+ .3
+ 1.3
0
+ .1
0
93.2
93.5
94. 7
95.1
92. 5
74.6
79.3
+11.9
+ 4.3
+ 4 .2
+ 3 .5
+21.9
+15.1
+16.5
Building m a te ria ls..
.
-----Brick and tile .. _ ---------- --------- ------C em ent_____-- --- ---------.
L um ber______________________________
P a in t and p ain t m aterials
___ . . . .
Plum bing and heating. _ ___
Structural steel . . .
_____ _ ______
O ther building m aterials. -- - - - - - -----
117.3
110.7
99.4
154.4
106.4
92.4
107.3
104.1
117. 1
110.6
99.4
153.9
106.3
92. 4
107.3
103.8
+ .2
+ .1
0
+ .3
+ .1
0
0
+ .3
115.7
100.5
96.4
154.0
104.7
92.4
107.3
103.0
+ 1. 4
+ 10. 1
+ 3.1
+ .3
+ 1.6
0
0
+ 1.1
89.6
90.5
91.3
90. 1
82.1
79.3
107.3
89.5
+30. 9
+22.3
+ 8.9
+71.4
+29.6
+16.5
0
+16.3
Chemicals and allied products__ ______
Chem icals--------------- ------------------------D rugs and pharm aceuticals___ _____ _ _
Fertilizer m aterials.. ___________
__
M ixed fertilizers____
____
Oils and fats------------------ _ _____
94.9
95.8
106. 8
81.9
86.6
102.0
94.9
95.8
106.8
81.9
86.6
102.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
95.5
96.3
112.0
81.4
86.3
102.0
—.6
-.5
- 4 .6
+ .6
+ .3
0
74. 2
83.8
77.1
65. 5
73.1
40.6
+27.9
+14.3
+38.5
+25.0
+18.5
+151.2
Housefurnishing g o ods.. . F urnishings.. .
F u rn itu re . . .
104.5
107.5
101.5
104.5
107.5
101. 5
0
0
0
104.3
107.2
101.4
+ .2
+ .3
+ .1
85.6
90.0
81.1
+22.1
+19.4
+25.2
M iscellaneous ______ ______ . _ _ Autom obile tires and tu b es______ ____ _
C attle feed- _ _ - _ ____ _
P ap er and p u lp . _ __________________ _
R ubber, crude
O ther miscellaneous___
. _ ____ . ___
94.8
73.0
159.6
109.0
46.2
98.9
94.8
73.0
159.6
109.0
46.2
98.9
0
0
0
0
0
0
93.5
73.0
159.6
107.2
46. 2
96.8
+ 1 .4
0
0
+ 1.7
0
+ 2 .2
73.3
60.5
68.4
80.0
34.9
81.3
+29. 3
+20.7
+133. 3
+36.2
+32.4
+21.6
R aw m aterials. _ _ - ___
.
Sem im anufactured articles - .
M anufactured p roducts. All commodities other th a n farm products__
All commodities other th a n farm products
and foods____ _
___ ..
117.7
95.0
101.8
100.6
116.8
95.0
101.8
1100. 5
+ .8
0
0
+ .1
113.0
93.7
100.9
99. 7
+ 4 .2
+ 1.4
+ .9
+ .9
66.5
74.5
79.1
77.9
+77.0
+27.5
+28.7
+29.1
99.4
99.3
+ .1
98.5
+ .9
80. 1
+24.1
G roup and subgroup
i D a ta not available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
--------...
---------
0
0
M ay
1944
+ .2
+ .4
Aug.
1939
+49.3
+58.4
141
W HOLESALE PRICES
Index Numbers by Commodity Groups, 1926 to M ay 1945
Index numbers of wholesale prices, by commodity groups, for
selected years from 1926 to 1944 and by months from May 1944 to
May 1945, are shown in table 2.
T able
2.— Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Groups of Commodities
[1926 = 100]
Y ear and m onth
Chem
Hides
Fuel M etals
and
Tex
icals Houseand
MisFarm
and Buildfurleath
tile
and
big
light
celm
etal
nish- laneprod Foods
er
prod
allied
m
ate
ing
ucts
ing
prod ucts m ate prod
prod
rials
ous
ucts
ucts
ucts goods
rials
All
com
m odi
ties
1926________________ 100.0
1929________________ 104.9
1932. .
.
_____ 48.2
51.4
1933________________
80.9
1936________________
86.4
1937________________
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
Í00.0
82.6
64. 4
62.5
70.5
77.8
100.0
95.3
64.8
65.9
80.8
86.3
1938________________
1939________________
1940________________
1941________________
1942________________
1943________________
1944________________
68.5
65.3
67.7
82.4
105.9
122.6
123.3
73.6
70.4
71.3
82.7
99.6
106.6
104.9
92.8
95.6
100.8
108.3
117.7
117.5
116.7
66.7
69.7
73.8
84.8
96.9
97.4
98.4
76.5
73.1
71.7
76.2
78.5
80.8
83.0
95.7
94.4
95.8
99.4
103.8
103.8
103.8
90.3
90.5
94.8
103.2
110.2
111.4
115.5
77.0
76.0
77.0
84.4
95.5
94.9
95.2
86.8
86.3
88.5
94.3
102.4
102.7
104.3
73.3
74.8
77.3
82.0
89.7
92.2
93.6
78.6
77.1
78.6
87.3
98.8
103.1
104.0
19U
M a y ___
. _ .
Ju n e _______________
Ju ly ________________
A ugust_____________
Septem ber___ . . .
O ctober__
.... .
N ovem ber ____ .
D ecem ber____
122.9
125.0
124.1
122.6
122. 7
123. 4
124.4
125.5
105.0
106.5
105.8
104.8
104.2
104.2
105.1
105.5
117.0
116.4
116.2
116.0
116.0
116. 2
116.2
117.4
97.8
97.8
98.0
98.4
99.2
99.4
99.4
99.5
83.2
83.3
83.2
83.2
83.0
82.9
83.1
83.1
103.7
103.7
103.7
103.8
103.8
103.7
103.7
103.8
115.7
115.9
115.9
116.0
116.0
116.3
116.4
116.4
95.5
95.3
95.5
95.5
94.9
95.0
94.8
94.8
104.3
104.3
104.3
104.4
104.4
104.4
104.4
104.4
93.5
93.5
93.6
93.6
93.6
93.6
94.0
94.2
104.0
104.3
104.1
103.9
104.0
104.1
104.4
104.7
1945
J a n u a ry ______
F ebruary ___________
M arch_________ ____
A pril...... .............. .......
M a y _______ _
126. 2
127.0
127.2
129.0
129.9
104.7
104.7
104.6
105.8
107.0
117.5
117.6
117.8
117.9
117.9
99.6
99.7
99.7
99.6
99.6
83.3
83.3
83.4
83.5
83.7
104.0
104.2
104.2
104.2
104.3
116.8
117.0
117.1
117.1
117.3
94.9
94.9
94.9
94.9
94.9
104.5
104.5
104.5
104.5
104.5
94.2
94.6
94.6
94.8
94.8
104.9
105.2
105.3
105.7
106.0
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).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
142
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
194 5
T able 3.— Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Special Groups of Commodities
[1926 = 100]
Year
All
All
com
Semi M an com m odi
m odi ties
R aw ni an- ufac
ties
other
ufac- tu re d other
m ate tu
th a n
red
rials
th a n farm
a rti prod farm
prod
ucts
cles
prod ucts
ucts
and
foods
1926________
1929________
1932________
1933________
1936________
1937________
100.0
97.5
55.1
56. 5
79.9
84.8
100.0
93.9
59.3
65.4
75.9
85.3
100.0
94. 5
70.3
70.5
82.0
87.2
100.0
93. 3
68. 3
69. 0
80. 7
86.2
100.0
91. 6
70. 2
71. 2
79. 6
85.3
1938....... .........
1939________
1940________
1941________
1942________
1943________
1944________
72.0
70.2
71.9
83.5
100.6
112.1
113.2
75.4
77.0
79.1
86.9
92.6
92.9
94.1
82.2
80.4
81.6
89.1
98. 6
100.1
100. 8
80.6
79.5
80.8
88.3
97. 0
98.7
99. 6
81.7
81.3
83.0
89.0
95. 5
96. 9
98. 5
All
Semi- M an com
m
odi
R aw man- ufac
ties
ufac- tured other
m ate tu
red
th a n
rials
a rti prod
farm
ucts
cles
prod
ucts
Y ear and
m onth
All
com
m odi
ties
other
th a n
farm
prod
ucts
and
foods
M ay
June
Ju ly
A ugust
S e p te m b e r...
October. . . .
N ovem ber__
D ecem ber___
ns n
114. 2
113 6
112 7
112.8
113.2
113.8
114.6
•
93 7
93 8
93 9
94 1
94.7
94.8
94.8
94.8
Ififi Q QQ 7
99 fi
Ififi 9
Ififi 9
99 fi
99 7
Ififi 9
100.9
99.7
101.0
99.8
101.1
99.9
101.1 100.0
98 5
98 5
98 5
98 fi
98! 6
98.7
98.8
98.9
1945
Jan u ary
F ebruary
M arch
A pril_______
M a y ... ____
115 1
115.fi
115.7
116.8
117.7
94 9
95 fi
95 fi
95.0
95.0
Ifil 3
Ifil 5
lfil fi
101.8
101.8
99 1
99 9.
99 ?
99!3
1944
Ififi 1
Ififi 2
Ififi 4
100.5
100.6
9 9 .4
Weekly Fluctuations
Weekly changes in wholesale prices by groups of commodities during
April and May 1945 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 a b l e 4 . — Weekly Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices by Commodity Groups, A p ril
and M ay 1945
[1926=100]
C om m odity group
M ay 26 M ay 19 M ay 12 M ay 5 Apr. 28 Apr. 21 A pr. 14
A pr. 7
All com m odities__________________
105.9
105.8
105.7
105.7
105.7
105.6
105.5
105.1
F arm p roducts_____________ _____
Foods____________ ____ _____
H ides and leather p r o d u c ts _______
Textile p roducts________ __________
Fuel and lighting m aterials________
130.5
107.4
118.3
99.1
84.6
129.5
106.8
118. 3
99.1
84.6
129.5
106.6
118.3
99.1
84.3
129.8
106.5
118.3
99.1
84.0
130.5
106.5
118.3
99.1
83.9
129.5
105.7
118.3
99.1
83.9
128.9
105.5
118.3
99.1
84.0
127.2
104.9
118.3
99.2
84.0
M etals and m etal p roducts________
B uilding m aterials____ __________
Chemicals and allied products______
H ousefurnishing goods_____________
M iscellaneous_____________ ______
104.4
117.2
94.9
106.2
94.6
104.3
117.2
94.9
106.2
94.6
104.4
117.2
94.9
106.2
94.6
104.3
117.0
94.9
106.2
94.6
104.3
117.0
94.9
106.2
94.6
104.3
117.0
94.9
106.2
94.6
104.3
117.0
94.9
106.2
94.6
104.3
117.0
94.9
106.2
94.6
R aw m a te ria ls ____
______
Sem im anufactured articles_________
M anufactured p roducts_______ . .
All commodities other th a n farm
products________________________
All commodities other th a n farm
products and foods______________
118.5
94.8
102.1
117.9
94.8
102.1
117.9
94.8
102.0
117.8
94.8
102.0
118.2
94.8
101.9
117.7
94.8
101.9
117.3
94.8
102.0
116.1
94.9
101.9
100.5
100.5
100.4
100.4
100.3
100.3
100.4
100.3
99.7
99.7
99.6
99.5
99.5
99.5
99.5
99.5
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor Turnover
L a b o r T u r n o v e r in M u n itio n s a n d N o n m u n itio n s
In d u s trie s , 1 9 4 3 a n d 1 9 4 4 1
Summary
LABOR turnover—the movement of workers out of and into business
establishments—is always a vital factor in production. Even in times
of economic depression some persons quit their jobs voluntarily,
although greater numbers are laid off because of curtailment in
production. In periods of prosperity and expanding job opportunities
the volume and aspect of turnover change: the number of voluntary
quits tends to increase, while lay-offs decrease. In a period of
urgent need for reaching and maintaining high levels of production,
like that of the war years, labor turnover assumes particular impor
tance, not only as an item of cost accounting but also as a vital ele
ment in the whole problem of efficient manpower utilization.
This analysis by the Bureau of Labor Statistics throws light on
the relative levels of turnover in munitions and nonmunitions
industries. In 1943 and 1944 the average quit rate in the munitions
industries was 44 per 1,000 employees, as compared with a rate of
63 per 1,000 in the nonmunitions industries. The rate of total
separations was 66 per 1,000 in munitions industries, as compared
with 80 per 1,000 in other industries. The highest rates in each
series occurred in August and September, when students and teachers
left vacation jobs to return to school. A secondary seasonal peak
in the spring of each year was caused largely by the return of agri
cultural workers to the farms.
The various components of labor turnover, averaged over the 2year period, are shown in the following tabulation:
Rate per 1,000 employees
M unitions
industries
All separations _ _ ___ __
_ ______66
__ __ ______44
Q u its____ __ ______
D ischarges ____
______ . _______ 8
______ 6
L ay-offs. ___ __
M ilitary a n d m iscellaneous____ ______ 8
A ccessions. ._ _ ---------------------- ______64
Nonm unitions
industries
80
63
5
6
6
75
The relatively higher discharge rates in the munitions industries,
ranging from 6 to 9 per 1,000 employees, were, to a considerable
degree, the consequence of mass hiring in critical war production
plants without sufficient regard for workers’ qualifications. In the
nonmunitions industries discharges were 4 or 5 per 1,000. Beginning
i Prepared in th e B ureau’s D ivision of E m ploym ent Statistics b y M argaret V, V. B uffum , assisted by
R u th E . W alther.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
143
144
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
1945
with November 1943, when the peak of employment in war production
was reached, lay-offs were more frequent in the munitions than in
the nonmunitions industries.
Because of the larger proportion of men employed in the manu
facture of war goods, military separation rates were higher for muni
tions industries until the last quarter of 1944, when monthly with
drawals by the armed forces from both munitions and nonmuni
tions industries were stabilized at 2 per 1,000 employees.
Since April 1943, accession rates in the munitions division have
been consistently lower than those for nonmunitions. Accession
rates for both these branches of industry showed the same trends,
with a seasonal peak in June at the beginning of school vacations,
and a slight upturn in January, following the usual decline at the
end of the year.
In each division quit rates for women workers were higher than
those for men. At the same time the accession rates for women
were generally higher than those for men.
Scope and Method of Study
The Bureau of Labor Statistics regularly publishes monthly rates
of total separations and the component items (quits, discharges,
lay-offs, military and miscellaneous separations) and accessions in
certain industries, groups of industries, and in manufacturing as a
whole. The rates shown in this study are based on classifications
used in these regular surveys. In the category of quits fall all separa
tions from the job, undertaken voluntarily by the employee for any
reason. The Bureau’s quit rates are influenced by the fact that
companies reporting labor-turnover information are instructed to
report as quits all unauthorized absences of 7 or more workdays
(whether for illness or for other reasons). A number of companies,
because of union agreements or established accounting procedures,
consider employees as having quit after only 3 to 5 days’ absence.
Some companies record as quits all persons who have been hired but
who fail to report for work.
Discharges are terminations of employment initiated by the em
ployer because of some fault either in ability or character, on the part
of the worker. Lay-offs, although also initiated by the employer,
involve no personal element, but are the result of some change in
production schedule which necessitates reduction in the working force.
Military separations are defined to include all terminations of
employment by both men and women workers for the express purpose
of joining the armed forces, whether by voluntary enlistment or
through the Selective Service System. The miscellaneous category
covers only those separations from the work force which are due to
retirement on pension, permanent disability, or death.
Accessions include both new employees and former employees who
are rehired. Accession rates may be somewhat inflated by the fact
that employees whose names have been automatically removed from
the pay roll, because of unauthorized absence, are counted as
accessions upon their return to work.
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LABOR TURNOVER
145
The present analysis covers the years 1943 and 1944. Although
the munitions-production program was well started even at the time
of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and most major conversions from
peacetime to wartime production had taken place before the end of
1942, certain technical considerations dictated the choice of periods
to be covered. Of prime importance was the fact that in January
1943 labor-turnover reports submitted to the Bureau of Labor Statis
tics were assigned to industry categories according to products cur
rently manufactured in the respective plants, whereas prior to that
time industrial classifications had been based on peacetime manufac
tures. Beginning in 1943 also, the labor-turnover data have covered
all employees, instead of being limited to wage earners alone only as
in previous years. Finally, in the early part of 1943, there was con
siderable expansion in the Bureau’s coverage of industries vital
to the war.
Rates for each industry division were obtained by weighting the
several industry groups which it included. In order to facilitate the
weighting procedure, assignment to munitions or nonmunitions
was made on the basis of entire major industry groups, regardless of
the fact that not all of the industries within a group would logically
fall in the same category. Those industry groups in which the
greater part of the products manufactured was for direct war use
were assigned to the munitions division. Other groups were desig
nated as nonmunitions, even though many plants, notably in the
textile, apparel, leather, and food groups, worked under Army or
Navy contracts.
General Trends in Labor Turnover
Throughout the 2-year period covered, labor-turnover rates, with
the exception of those for lay-offs, followed the same general patterns
in both industry divisions, though at different levels. The peak of
accession rates occurred in June of each year, when students and
teachers were hired in large numbers. Separation rates w^ere rela
tively high in August and September, when schools and colleges
reopened. A secondary seasonal peak in the separation rates appeared
in March, caused in large part by the withdrawal of farmers and others
whose regular work depended on favorable weather conditions.
Because of an increase in quits in the lower-paid industries, induced
by rumors that workers were about to be “frozen” on their jobs, the
April 1943 separation rate for nonmunitions continued at the same
level as the previous month.
In both 1943 and 1944 there were 19 more quits for every 1,000
employees in the nonmunitions than in the munitions division. Total
separation rates for nonmunitions were on the average higher by 16
in 1943, but by only 11 in 1944. The decrease in the divergence be
tween the total separation rates for the two series reflected the
influence of rising lay-off rates in the munitions division.
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AVERAGE TOTAL SEPARATION, QUIT, AND ACCESSION RATES FOR MEN
AND WOMEN IN MUNITIONS AND NONMUNITIONS INDUSTRIES
PER 100 EMPLOYEES, AVERAGE 1944
rate
4^
05
rate
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
MEN
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
WOMEN
MEN
WOMEN
MEN
WOMEN
NONMUNITIONS
6 - 12-45
147
LABOR TURNOVER
T able 1.— M o n th ly L abor-T u rn over R ates (p e r 100 E m ployees ) in M u n itio n s a n d
N o n m u n itio n s In d u stries, 1943 a n d 1944 1
N onm unitions industries
M unitions industries
Separation rates
M onth
Separation rates
ces
ces
M is sion
M is sion
D is L ay M ili cella
D is L ay M ili cella
Total Quit charge
off
tary neous rates Total Quit charge off
tary neous rates
ms
J a n u a r y ...
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch ___
A p ril_____
M a y -------Ju n e _____
J u ly --------A ugust___
September
O ctober__
N ovem ber
D ecem ber.
6.5
6.2
7.0
6.5
6.0
6.4
7.0
7.6
7.6
6.6
6.0
6.2
3.9
3.8
4.6
4.4
4.1
4.4
4.9
5.5
5.4
4.5
3.9
3.8
0.6
.6
.7
.6
.6
.7
.8
.8
.8
.8
.7
.7
0.4
.3
.3
.4
.4
.4
.4
.4
.5
.5
.7
1.0
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.0
.8
.8
.8
.8
.8
.7
.6
.6
0.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
8.7
7.9
8.6
7.4
7.0
8.2
7.6
7.4
7.6
6.7
6.0
4.6
8.2
8.3
9.0
9.0
7.6
8.2
8.5
9.1
9.3
7.9
6.9
7.2
5.3
6.0
6.7
6.9
5.9
6.4
6.7
7.4
7.7
6.3
5.3
5.4
0.5
.4
.5
.4
.4
.5
.5
.5
.4
.5
.5
.5
1.2
.8
.8
.9
.6
.6
.6
.6
.6
.5
.6
.8
1.0
1.0
.9
.7
.6
.6
.6
.5
.5
.5
.4
.4
0.2
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
8.2
8.2
8.3
7.6
7.6
8.9
8.3
8.1
8.1
8.0
7.7
6.2
6.3
6.1
7.0
6.3
6.6
6.8
6.1
7.4
7.4
6.3
5.7
5.2
4.0
3.9
4.3
4.2
4.5
4.7
4.3
5.4
5.4
4.5
4.0
3.6
.8
.8
.8
.7
.8
.9
.8
.9
.8
.8
.8
.7
.8
.8
1.0
.6
.5
.6
.5
.7
.8
.7
.6
.6
.6
.5
.8
.7
.7
.5
.4
.3
.3
.2
.2
.2
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
5.8
5.0
5.2
5.0
5.6
6.6
5.6
5.6
5.3
5.4
5.4
4.6
7.3
7.3
8.0
7.6
8.1
7.9
7.2
8.8
8.4
7.0
6.8
6.5
5.6
5.7
6.2
6.1
6.7
6.8
6.1
7.6
7.3
6.0
5.7
5.3
.5
.5
.5
.4
.4
.4
.4
.5
.4
.4
.4
.4
.7
.6
.6
.5
.5
.3
.4
.4
.4
.3
.4
.5
.4
.4
.6
.5
.4
.3
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
.1
7.5
6.2
6.6
6.3
7.5
9.2
7.3
7.2
7.1
6.8
7.0
5.7
19U
J a n u a r y ...
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch ___
A p ril..........
M a y _____
J u n e ...........
J u ly _____
A ugust___
September
O ctober__
N ovem ber
D ecem ber.
1 T he m unitions division includes th e following m ajor in d u stry groups: Ordnance; iron and steel and
their products; electrical m achinery; m achinery, except electrical; transportation equipm ent, except auto
mobiles; automobiles; nonferrous metals and th eir products; chemicals and allied products; products of
petroleum a n d coal; ru b b er products. T he nonm unitions division includes the following groups: lum ber
and tim ber basic products; furniture and finished lum ber products; stone, clay, and glass products; textilemill products; apparel a n d other finished textile products; leather and leather products; food and kindred
products; tobacco m anufactures; paper and allied products; miscellaneous industries.
QUIT RATES
Fewer than 50 out of every 1,000 employees voluntarily left muni
tions jobs in any month of the period, except in August and Septem
ber of each year, when vacation workers returned to school or college.
Quit rates for nonmunitions industries averaged 63 per 1,000 employees
in each year.
There were general causes of quits which concerned workers in all
types of industry. Transportation difficulties, especially after the
institution of tire and gasoline rationing, affected employees who
commuted from nearby towns. Inadequate housing facilities in the
vicinity of war plants caused many workers who had come from
greater distances to return to their home towns. The normal desire
for higher wages, and dissatisfaction with the type of work, working
conditions or hours were, as always, common causes of quits.
Certain factors had a particular influence on the number of quits
reported for the war industries during the 2-year period. In the
early part of 1943, rumors of the impending “job freeze” caused some
workers to leave those essential industries in which, as in foundries,
a War Labor Board order had frozen wages at comparatively low levels.
At the beginning of spring in 1943 fishermen on the West Coast and
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148
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
sailors from the Great Lakes region left shipyards and aircraft plants
to return to their regular work. Workers on the “victory” shift of
four evening hours were sometimes obliged to quit because of changes
in shift assignments on their regular full-time jobs. The completion or
cancellation of contracts, occurring frequently in munitions industries
because of changing requirements, was usually preceded by an increased
number of quits, as some employees were unwilling to stay on the job
until lay-offs became general.
An important factor in the high quit rates for the nonmunitions
division was the lower level of wage scales prevailing in the component
industries. Throughout the period workers in large numbers quit
to go to the higher-paying war industries. In most months a con
siderable part of the movement out of nonmunitions industries was
also directly due to War Manpower Commission regulations designed
to force workers into essential production.
Since quits occur with greater frequency among women workers
than among men (table 2, p. 150), the fact that women were employed
in relatively larger numbers in nonmunitions industries was also partly
responsible for the high quit rates in that division. In addition to all
the factors which influenced men to quit, there were special problems
affecting women. Marriage was frequently given as a reason for
leaving work. Young wives followed their soldier husbands to the
vicinity of military camps, sometimes taking jobs in nearby factories,
and leaving when their husbands were transferred. Mothers unable
to find persons to care for their children were forced to give up jobs
to remain at home. Even if the day care of their children was assured,
some women found the double burden of a factory job and house
keeping beyond their strength.
DISCHARGE RATES
Discharge rates, which remained fairly constant in each division,
were consistently higher for munitions, ranging from 6 to 9 per 1,000
employees. Because of the need for expanding the work force in the
war industries with all possible speed, there was too little time for
proper selection of employees. Many were hired who were not used
to regular work, or who would not normally have any job. Discharges
in both munitions and nonmunitions were for poor attendance,
inefficiency, drunkenness, or infraction of rules, especially those
pertaining to safety practices.
LAY-OFF RATES
During most of 1943 lay-off rates in the munitions industries were
below those for nonmunitions. However, as the November peak was
approached, the lay-off rate in the munitions division rose, until by
October of that year it was the same as that for nonmunitions, and
was higher in every subsequent month of the 2-year period. As was
to be expected, lay-off rates in the war industries were low during
the early part of 1943 while the various production programs were
being expanded. However, even as early as January 1943 the need
for allocating scarce raw materials to the more important lines of war
production was causing shortages, with consequent lay-offs of workers,
not only in nonmunitions but also in the less-vital industries of the
munitions division. In April 1943 the effect of cut-backs in the
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LABOR TURNOVER
149
production of bombs and tanks was beginning to be evident. In
September 1943 the lay-off rate for munitions industries began to
reflect the first cut-backs in the small-arms ammunition program,
which were most pronounced in December 1943 and March 1944.
In both these months there was also noticeable reduction of employ
ment in firearms factories, some of which reconverted to peacetime
manufactures. Cancellation of contracts for light airplanes also
was a factor in the high lay-off rate for March 1944.
MILITARY SEPARATION RATES
Throughout most of the 2-year period, military separation rates
were higher in the munitions than in the nonmunitions division.
Allowing for the fact that some men engaged in war production had
draft deferments on occupational grounds, there still was in the
munitions industries a larger reserve of men from which military
demands could be met. The fact that proportionately fewer women
were employed in munitions as compared with nonmunitions industries
accounted for some of the difference between the two series of military
separation rates. Although military separations occur chiefly among
men, the rates, like those for other items of labor turnover, are based
on all employees, women as well as men. A relatively large proportion
of women in the work force, as in the case of nonmunitions industries,
will tend to deflate this rate.
As the armed forces reached required strength, military separation
rates gradually declined from January 1943 (with the exception of a
brief upturn in the spring of 1944), until in the last quarter of 1944
they were stabilized at 2 per 1,000 employees in both divisions.
Sharply increased demands by the armed forces for replacements
accounted for the high military separation rates in March, April, and
May 1944. During this period the increase in the rate was greater for
munitions than for nonmunitions industries. This was due in part
to loss of occupational deferments resulting from further cut-backs in
the manufacture of small-arms ammunition, and reductions in
machine-tool, aircraft, and shipbuilding programs.
MISCELLANEOUS SEPARATION RATES
Miscellaneous separation rates, which relate only to deaths, retire
ment on pension, or permanent disability of employees, remained
stable at 1 per 1,000.
ACCESSION RATES
In the first quarter of 1943, taken as a whole, accession rates in the
munitions division were slightly higher than those for nonmunitions.
In April 1943, coincident with the start of a continuing upward trend
in the lay-off rates for munitions, the accession rate for this division
fell below that for nonmunitions, and continued at a lower level for
the remainder of the 2-year period. The general trend of accession
rates was the same for each division, the peak in June of each year
reflecting the hiring of students and teachers at the close of the school
term. The seasonally low rate in December was the result, apparently,
of the unwillingness of available workers to take new jobs at the
Christmas season, and of employers to increase their work force just
before inventory time. This was compensated for by the usual slight
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150
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
194 5
upturn in January. The accession rate in January 1944 was inflated
somewhat by the rehiring of employees who, because of extended
absences during the influenza epidemic of December 1943, had pre
viously been reported as quits. In 1944 accession rates in the muni
tions division, though lower than those in 1943, were still adequate in
all months but August and September to compensate for all losses
other than those caused by discharges and lay-offs.
Comparison of Turnover Rates for Men and Women
As has previously been pointed out, quit rates in the munitions
group were, throughout 1944, consistently lower than those in the non
munitions group. The same was true for men and women workers
separately. Quit rates for men were lower in munitions than in non
munitions by approximately 35 percent. On the other hand, quit
rates for women in munitions were lower than in nonmunitions by only
12 percent. The special circumstances, already noted, which influ
enced women to quit affected all women workers, regardless of the
importance of the work they might be performing. Quit rates for
men munitions workers, except in August and September when vaca
tion workers were returning to school, were consistently below 40 per
1,000; for women they averaged nearly 60 per 1,000 during the same
period. In each division, quit rates for men were lower than those
for women employees. The differences between the two series were,
however, more noticeable in the munitions industries where manpower
controls, though pertaining to all workers in essential war production,
affected men to a greater degree.
T a b l e 2 .— M o n th ly L abor T urn over R ates (p e r 100 E m ployees ) f o r M e n a n d W om en
in M u n itio n s a n d N o n m u n itio n s In d u stries, 1944
M en workers
M unitions
, r ,,
Separation
rates
T o tal
Q uit
J a n u a ry _____
F e b ru a ry ____
M arch ______
A pril________
M ay ________
Ju n e ________
5.8
5.5
6.5
5.8
6.1
6.0
3.4
3.3
3.9
3.6
3.8
3.9
J u ly ________
A ugu st______
Septem ber___
O ctober_____
N ovem ber___
D ecem ber___
5.5
6.6
6.4
5.6
5.0
4.5
3.6
4.6
4.5
3.8
3.4
3.0
W omen workers
N onm unitions
Accèssion
rates
Separation
rates
T otal
Q uit
5.3
4.4
4.5
4.3
4.7
5.5
7.1
7.3
8.1
7.5
7.8
7.5
5.2
5.2
6.0
5.7
6.1
6.1
4.8
4.9
4.6
4.8
5.1
4.5
6.5
8.1
7.5
6.4
6.4
6.2
5.2
6.8
6.4
5.3
5.2
4.9
Accèssion
rates
M unitions
Separation
rates
T o tal
Q uit
7.1
5.8
6.2
5.8
6.9
8.5
7.9
7.6
8.4
7.6
8.0
8.5
5.9
5.4
5.8
5.8
6.3
6.6
6.8
6.4
6.1
6.0
7.0
6.3
8.0
9.5
9.8
8.1
7.4
6.4
6.3
7.6
7.8
6.2
5.5
4.9
N onm unitions
Accèssion
rates
Separation
rates
Accèssion
rates
T otal
Q uit
7.8
6.8
7.3
7.0
8.0
9.4
7.6
7.2
7.7
7.8
8.4
8.5
6.2
6.1
6.5
6.6
7.5
7.6
7.9
6.8
7.4
7.0
8.3
10.0
7.9
7.8
7.5
7.1
6.5
4.9
8.4
9.7
9.4
7.8
7.3
7.0
7.4
8.6
8.5
7.0
6.3
6.0
8.2
8.3
8.6
7.9
7.1
4.8
Comparison of quit and total separation rates provides a rough
idea of the extent of involuntary separations—those caused chiefly by
discharges, lay-offs, and inductions into the armed forces. The dif-
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LABOR TURNOVER
151
ferences between total separation and quit rates indicate that the
relatively greater numbers of involuntary separations, which in 1944
were characteristic of the munitions division, involved both men and
women workers. Making allowance for military separations, which
in the main affected men rather than women, it is apparent that
proportionally more women than men munitions workers were dis
charged or laid off in each month of 1944.
W W W
L a b o r T u r n o v e r in M a n u fa c tu rin g , M in in g , a n d
P u b lic U tilitie s , A p ril 1 9 4 5
FOR every 1,000 workers on factory pay rolls in April, 48 quit, 6
were discharged, 8 were laid off, and 4 left to enter the armed services.
The accession rate, 46 per 1,000, was the lowest since November 1941,
the month before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The total separation rate for all manufacturing, 66 per 1,000, was
slightly below that of both March 1945 and April 1944. Only 4 of
the 20 major manufacruring groups showed increases in the total
separation rate. In 2 of thèse, transportation equipment and auto
mobiles, the increases in separations reflected lay-offs resulting from
contract cancellations and product changes.
In manufacturing as a whole, the lay-off rate of 8 per 1,000 was the
highest since March 1944. The increase in lay-offs from 9 to 11 in
the munitions group was almost wholly responsible for the general in
crease. The transportation-equipment group laid off workers at the
rate of 25 per 1,000, the highest rate for all manufacturing groups.
Curtailed production schedules in shipbuilding and in the aircraft
parts industries accounted for this rise. Lay-off rates of 10 per 1,000
were reported by both the ordnance and automobile groups. In
ordnance, cut-backs in the production of guns and heavy ammuni
tion necessitated the dismissal of large numbers of workers. Although
lay-offs decreased for the iron and steel group, firms making ship
parts in the fabricated structural metal products industry laid off
workers at the rate of 21 per 1,000.
The discharge rate dropped slightly over the month but was on
the same level with that of 1 year ago. This rate dropped from 9 to
8 per 1,000 in the munitions group, while that for the nonmunitions
group remained the same.
The military separation rate remained at 4 per 1,000 in spite of
increased rates in the machinery, transportation equipment, miscel
laneous, and petroleum products groups.
Accessions outweighed separations in the metal-mining group. A
marked increase in the rate of hiring was found in both copper-ore
and iron-ore mining. In the anthracite and bituminous-coal mining
industries, as in all manufacturing, the hiring rate failed to compen
sate for the quit rate. The declines in the accession rates in coal
mining may be attributed to labor unrest pending coal-contract
settlements.
Women continued to quit at a much higher rate than men in man
ufacturing work. Involuntary separations were approximately the
same for both.
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
T a b l e 1.— M onthly
1945
Labor-Turnover Rates (per 100 Employees ) in M anufacturing1
Class of turnover and year Jan.
T otal separation:
1945_____________
1944___________
1943_____________
1939_____________
Quit:
1945_____________
1944_____________
1943_____________
1939____________
Discharge:
1945____________
1944_________ _
1943____________
1939_____________
Lay-off:3
1945_____________
1944_____________
1943_____________
1939_____________
M ilitary and miscellaneous:4
1945_____________
1944_________
1943___________
Accession:
1945_____________
1944_____________
1943____________
1939_____________
Feb.
M ar. Apr.
6.2
6.7
7.1
3.2
6.0
6.6
7.1
2.6
6.8 2 6.6
7.4
6.8
7. 7. 7.5
3.1
3.5
7.1
6.7
3. 5
4.6
4.6
4.5
.9
4.3
4.6
4.7
.6
5.0
5.0
5.4
.8
2 4.8
4.9
5.4
.8
.7
.7
.5
.1
.7
.6
.5
.1
.7
.7.
.6
.1
.6
.8
.7
2.2
.7
.8
.5
1.9
.3
.6
1.4
7.0
6.5
8.3
4.1
M ay June
Ju ly
Aug.
7.1
7.1
3.3
6.6
7.6
3.3
7.8
8.3
3.0
7.6
8.1
2.8
6.4
7.0
2.9
6.0
6.4
3.0
5. 7
6. 6
3.5
5.3
4.8
.7
5.4
5.2
.7
5.0
5.6
.7
6.2
6.3
.8
6.1
6.3
1.1
5.0
5.2
.9
4.6
4.5
8
4. 3
4.4
7
2.6
.6
.5
.1
.6
.6
.1
.7
.6
.1
.7
.7.
.1
.7
.7
.1
.6
.6
.1
.6
.6
.2
.6
.6
.2
.6
.6
.7
.9
.5
2.2
2.8
.6
.6
2.6
.5
.5
2.7
.5
.5
2.5
.5
.5
2.5
.5
.5
2.1
.6
.5
1.6
.5
.5
1.8
.5
.7
20
5
1. 0
2 7
.3
.6
1.4
.4
.8
1.2
2.4
.7.
1.0
.7
.8
.5
.8
.4
.8
.4
.8
.3
.7
.3
.7
.3
6
.3
J)
5.0
5.5
7.9
3.1
4.9
5.8
8.3
3.3
2 4.6
5.5
7.4
2.9
6.4
7.2
3.3
7.6
8.4
3.9
6.3
7.8
4.2
6.3
7.6
5.1
6.1
7.7
6.2
6.0
7.2
5.9
6.1
6.6
4.1
4.9
5. 2
2.8
-
Sept. Oct.
Nov. Dec.
1 M onth-to-m onth em ploym ent changes as indicated b y labor tu rnover rates are not precisely com par
able to those shown b y the B u reau ’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 th e most p art, 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 sam ple’is n o t so
extensive as th a t of th e em ploym ent and pay-roll survey, proportionately fewer small plants are includedprinting 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.
* M iscellaneous separations comprise no t more th a n 0.1 in these figures. In 1939 these d ata were includedu
n r if V i n m + o
T a b l e 2 .—
Monthly Labor-Turnover Rates (per 100 Employees) in Selected Groups and
Industries,1 A p ril 1945 2
G roup and in d u stry
Total
separation
Q uit
Discharge
Lay-off
M ilitary
Total
and m is
cellaneous accession
Apr. M ar. Apr. M ar. Apr. Mar. Apr. M ar. Apr. M ar. A pr. M ar.
M anufacturing
M u n itio n s 3- _ . . .
N onm unitions 3___________ _____ ___
6.4
6.8
6.5
7.3
O rd n a n c e -______
G uns, howitzers, m ortars, and re
lated eq u ip m en t.
A m m unition, except for small
arms___ _______
T a n k s_______
Sighting and fire-control equip
m en t . . _____
8.0
6.8
9.0
6.7
3.5
3.6
2.1
2.2
.5
Iro n and steel and th eir products
B last furnaces, steel works, and
rolling mills__________
G ray-iron castings____
M alleable-iron castings
Steel castin g s.. .
Cast-iron pipe and fittings
T in cans and other tin w a re ..
W ire pro d u cts_______
C utlery and edge tools—. ................
4.4
4.7
3.3
3.4
.4
2.9 3.2
6.8 6.9
5.7 6.7
6.3 6.6
8.4 7.9
9.6 10.9
2.8 3.6
5.4 5.1
2.3
5.4
4.9
5.0
6.0
6.7
2.0
4.4
2.4
5.5
5.5
5.2
6.1
7.6
2.6
4.1
.2
.7
.4
.8
1.6
2.3
.2
.5
.2
.6
.6
.8
1.0
2.7
.3
.8
See footnotes a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4.1
5.7
4.3
6.1
0.8
.4
0.9
.4
8.3
5.5
5.9
1.1
1.2
6.0
3.5
3.6
.8
.8
9.2
8.2
6.4
4.8
68
5.3
1.2
1.1
1.4
1.2
1.1
.4
0.9
.5
0.4
.3
1.0
.8
.4
.4
fi 1
fi a
2.0
1.2
.5
.4
4. fi
5 F
1.0
.5
.6
1. 3
.4
.3
.4
.4
6.8
fi 3
7.0
8 3
.4
.6
.7
.3
.3
2.6
2.6
.5
.3
.4
.4
.4
3 F
3 7
.1
.3
.1
.1
.4
.2
.1
.1
.2
.3
.1
.2
.3
.2
9
.i
.3
.4
.3
.4
.4
.4
.5
.4
.4
.5
.5
.4
.5
.4
.5
.i
2. 6
4 9
4. 2
5. 2
fi 3
9 8
2 Ft
5.3
27
F> 4
4.1
F3
fi fi
11 3
2Q
4.0
0. 4
.3
4 1
5.5
4 4
5.7
LABOR TURNO VER
153
T a b l e 2 . — Monthly Labor-Turnover Rates (per 100 Employees ) in Selected Groups and
Industries,1 April 1945 2— C ontinued
G roup and industry
Total
separation
Q uit
Discharge
Lay-off
M ilitary
Total
and m is
cellaneous accession
Apr. Mar. Apr. M ar. Apr. Mar. Apr. M ar. Apr. M ar. Apr. Mar.
Iron and steel, e t c —C ontinued.
Tools (except edge tools, machine
tools, files, and saw s)__________
H ardw are____
_ __ __ __ _
Stoves, oil burners, and heating
equipm en t______ ___________
Steam and hot-w ater heating
apparatus and steam fittings___
Stam ped and enameled ware and
galvanizing_________ _ ___ __
F abricated structural-m etal prod
u c ts_____________ . . __ _____
Bolts, nu ts, washers, and riv ets___
Forgings, iron and steel____
Firearm s (60 caliber and u n d e r)__
4.7
3.9
5.4
4.1
3.8
3.2
4.5
3.4
0.4
.3
0.5
.3
0.1
.1
0)
.2
0.4
.3
0.4
.2
3.4
4.0
4.4
4.6
5.7
7.5 11.4
5.2
7.0
.8
1.5
.9
2.3
.6
.6
5.9
5.9
5.1
4.9
4.2
.4
.4
.2
.2
.4
.3
4.9
5.3
6.5
6.9
4:9
5.7
.7
.7
.3
TO
.6
.5
6.8
6.5
8.7
4.6
4.9
6.1
7.3
4.6
4.7
7.9
5.3
3.6
3.3
3.2
4.8
2.7
3.5
3.3
.7
.5
.5
.6
.8
.9
.6
.7
2. 1
.2
.7
2.0
1.2
.7
.2
3.6
.6
.3
.4
.3
.5
.3
.4
.3
4.2
3. 1
3.0
3.3
4.7
3.3
3.6
3.2
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__________ ____ ____
4.3
4.8
3.2
3.5
.5
.6
.3
.4
.3
.3
3.5
3.9
3.4
4.1
2.5
3.0
.4
.4
.2
.3
.3
.4
2.8
3.2
4.6
5.4
3.5
3.9
.6
.6
.2
.6
.3
.3
3.8
4.6
4.6
4.4
3.6
3.1
.7
.9
TO
.1
.3
.3
4.4
3.5
M achinery, except electrical_________
Engines and tu rb in es______ ___
A gricultural m achinery and trac
tors__________________________
M achine tools__ . . . . .
M achine-tool accessories
M etalw orking m achinery and
equipm ent, n o t elsewhere clas
sified_______ _____ ________
G eneral industrial m achinery,
except p u m p s________________
P um ps and pum ping e q u ip m e n t..
4.5
5.0
4.7
5.5
3.2
3.2
3.4
3.7
.5
.7
.6
.7
.3
.6
.3
.6
.5
.5
.4
.5
3.2
3.5
3.4
3.4
4.6
3.6
3.5
5.6
3.4
4.5
3.7
2.2
2.2
4.5
2.3
2.6
.3
.6
.7
.5
.6
.9
.1
.4'
.3
.2
.1
.6
.5
.4
.3
.4
.4
.4
3.2
2.2
3.0
3. !
2.4
3.4
3.7
4.5
2.6
3.0
.5
.9
.2
.2
.4
.4
3.4
3.7
4.9
5.3
4.8
4.7
3.4
4.0
3.4
3.2
.6
.7
.6
.9
.4
.4
TO TO
.5
.6
.4
.6
3.4
4.9
3.8
4.1
9.0 8.4
7.3 6.0
5.7 4.9
12.8 12.4
4.9
4.6
3.0
6.4
4.9
4.5
2.9
6.4
1.1
.7
.6
1.8
1.3
.7
.6
2.2
2.5
1.4
1.7
4.0
1.8
.4
1.1
3.3
.5
.6
.4
.6
.4
.4
.3
.5
3.9
3.2
3.1
4.8
4.1
3.7
3.5
4.9
T ransportation equipm ent, except
autom obiles_____
A ircraft___________
A ircraft p arts, including en g in es...
Shipbuilding and repairs___ . . .
A utom obiles_____ _
. _
6.5
M otor vehicles, bodies, and
trailers_______________________ 6.3
M otor-vehicle p arts and acces
sories_______ ______________ 6.6
6.3
4.3
4.6
.8
.9
1.0
.4
.4
.4
5.2
5.7
5.5
3.7
3.8
.8
.8
1.4
.6
.4
.3
4.5
4.5
6.9
4.7
5.2
.8
1.0
.7
.3
.4
.4
5.8
6.6
Nonferrous m etals and their products . 6.3
P rim ary smelting and refining,
except alum inum and m ag
nesium _____________ _ _ _ _ _
3.8
A lum inum and magnesium sm elt
ing and refining______________ 10.4
Rolling and draw ing of copper
and copper alloys.
. . . _ 4.0
A lum inum and magnesium prod
u cts________________________
7.5
Lighting eq u ip m en t____________ 6.4
Nonferrous-m etal foundries, ex
cept alum inum and m agnesium . 5.7
6.3
4.7
4.8
.6
.7
.6
.4
.4
.4
5.9
6.3
3.5
3.0
2.9
.3
.3
.1
TO
.4
.3
3.3
3.2
7.8
7.7
6.5
.3
.4
1.9
.5
.5
.4
9.5
9.4
4.5
3.1
3.4
.6
.7
.1
.1
.2
.3
3.7
4.3
7.4
6.6
5.4
5.7
5. 5
5.3
.7
.3
.8
.6
.9
.1
.6
.3
.5
.3
.5
.4
7.2
5.0
7.6
4.7
5.9
4.2
4.5
.6
.7
.6
.3
.3
.4
4.2
4.7
L um ber and tim ber basic p roducts___
Saw m ills. _ ___________ _ _
Planing and plywood m ills______
9.2 10.6
9.0 10.1
7.3 7.3
7.5
7.4
6.0
8.2
8.0
5.7
.4
.3
.6
.4
.3
.6
.8
.8
.1
1.5
1.3
.5
.5
.5
.6
.5
.5
.5
8.0
7.9
5.8
7.9
7.8
5.7
F u rn itu re and finished lum ber prod
u c ts .. __ _________
. _ ....
F urniture, including mattresses
and bedsprings________________
8.5
9.0
7.4
7.8
.6
.5
.2
.4
.3
.3
7.5
7.6
8.3
9.2
7.2
7.9
.6
.6
.2
.4
.3
.3
7.5
7 6
Stone, clay, and glass p roducts______
Glass and glass products________
C em ent___________________
Brick, tile, and terra c o tta ______
P ottery and related p roducts____
5.2
5.5
4.0
5.7
5.8
5.5
6.0
4.2
6.5
5.6
4.1
3.9
3.2
4.5
5.3
4.2
4.3
2.9
4.7
4. 9
.3
.5
.3
.3
.2
.4
.6
.2
.6
.2
.3
.5
.1
.3
(4)
.4
.5
.6
.7
.2
.5
.6
.4
.6
.3
.5
.6
.5
.5
.3
4.2
4.3
4. 1
4.8
4.8
4. 7
5.0
5.0
5.0
4.8
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
154
M O N T H L Y LABOR R E V IE W — J U L Y
1945
T a b l e 2 . — M onthly Labor-Turnover Rates (per 100 Employees) in Selected Groups and
________________________ Industries ,* A p ril 1945 2— C on tin u ed ________________________
Total
separation
Q uit
Discharge
Lay-off
G roup and in d u stry
M ilitary
T otal
and mis
cellaneous accession
Apr. M ar. Apr. M ar. Apr. M ar. Apr. Mar. Apr. M ar. Apr. M ar.
Textile-mill pro d u cts_______________
C otton_____ __________________
Silk and rayon goods____________
Woolen and w orsted, except dyeing and finishing
__________
Hosiery, full fashioned__________
Hosiery, seamless_______________
K n itted underw ear_____________
D yeing and finishing textiles, ineluding woolen and w orsted___
6.4
7.6
6.4
6.6
7.9
6.8
5.5
6.7
5.4
5.7
6.9
5.7
0.3
.4
.4
0.4
.5
.5
0.3
.2
.3
0.2
.2
.2
0.3
.3
.3
0.3
.3
.4
5.0
5.9
5.2
5.1
6.2
5.4
4.1
4.2
6.3
5.6
4.2
4.8
6.1
5.6
2.9
3.6
5.8
4.4
3.4
4.2
5.4
5.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.3
.2
.7
.2
.1
.9
.4
.2
.3
.2
.3
.2
.2
.1
.2
.2
.1
.1
3.2
2.7
4.8
4.1
3.2
2.9
4.9
4.5
4.1
4.2
3.1
3.1
.4
.5
.2
.2
.4
.4
3.0
3.6
A pparel and other finished textile
.4
products_________________________ 5.4 5.7 4.7 5.1
.2
.3
.1
.2
.1 4.2
M en ’s and boys’ suits, coats, and
.1
/
.
1
overcoats__________ ______
.2
.1
4.1 4.3 3.8 3.9 . 1
.1 3 .1
M en ’s and boys’ furnishings, work
.2
.2
.1
.1
clothing, a n d allied garm ents__ 5.3 5.6 4.8 5.2
.2
.1 4.4
L eather and leather p ro d u cts________
L eather________________________
Boots and shoes________________
5. 5
4.2
5.8
5.7
4.7
5.9
Food and k indred p roducts_________ 8.7 9.6
M eat p ro d u cts_________________ 8.0 10.1
Grain-mill products____ ______ 10.8 11.5
4.6
3.5
4.4
4.9
3.7
5.1
.2
.2
.2
.3
.5
.3
.1
(4)
.1
.2
.1
.2
.2
.3
.2
.3
.4
.3
4.7
3.8
5.0
5.1
3.5
5.4
7.3 8.0
6.7 8.0
9.5 10.2
.5
.4
.7
.5
.5
.9
.5
.5
(4)
.7
1.1
.1
.4
.4
.6
.4
.5
.3
6.7
4.6
9.8
6.5
4.4
8.7
5.0
3.7
5.3
8.2
9.1
7.5
7.9
.4
.4
.2
.6
.1
.2
7.2
7.3
Paper and allied p ro d u cts___________ 6.0
Paper and p u lp ______
_ ___ 5.8
Paper boxes __________________ 7.3
7.1
6.6
8.0
5.1
4.7
6.4
5.9
5.5
6.8
.4
.4
.4
.5
.4
.6
.1
.2
.1
.2
.2
.2
.4
.5
.4
.5
.5
.4
5.3
4.7
7.0
5.9
5.5
7.0
.2
.2
.4
.1
.4
.4
.6
.4
.3
.4
5.2
2.2
3.9
5.6
2.8
3.8
Tobacco m anufactures______________
Chem icals and allied pro d u cts_______
Paints, varnishes, and colors_____
R ayon and allied p r o d u c t s ..____
In d u strial chemicals, except explosives_________________ .
Explosives_______ . . . ________
Small-arms am m u n itio n______ ..
5.5
2.9
4.9
5.7
4.1
4.6
4.3
2.2
3.6
4.4
2.7
3.8
.6
.3
.3
.7
.7
.3
(4)
3.9
6.9
7. 5
4.5
7.2
7.2
3.0
5.6
6.0
3.3
5.9
5.6
.4
.8
.9
.6
.8
1.0
.2
.2
(4)
Í4)
.3
.3
.5
.4
.4
.5
.3
3.6
8.5
6.1
3.6
8.8
7.7
Products of petroleum and coal______
Petroleum re fin in g ......................
3.2
3.1
2.9
3.0
2.0
1.9
2.0
2.0
.3
.3
.3
.3
.5
.5
.3
.4
.4
.4
.3
.3
2.9
2.8
3.2
3.2
R ubber p ro d u cts___ _______________
R ubber tires and inner tu b e s____
R u b b er footwear and related
products_____ _________ . .
M iscellaneous rubber in d u stries...
5.7
5.4
5.9
5.6
4.8
4.6
4.8
4.4
.4
.4
.5
.6
.2
.1
.2
.2
.3
.3
.4
.4
4.4
4.0
4.7
4.5
6.8
5.8
7.6
6.1
6.1
4.7
6.9
5.2
.3
.5
.4
.5
.1
.3
(4)
.1
.3
.3
.3
.3
5.1
4.8
5.8
4.8
M iscellaneous in d u stries........................ 4.2
3.8
2.9
2.7
.6
.5
.3
.3
.4
.3
2.8
3.2
4.5
2.6
5.2
6.1
4. 5
2.4
5.2
6.0
3.7
1.9
4.3
5.3
3. 5
1.7
4.2
4.9
.3
.1
.3
.3
.4
.2
.4
.5
.2
.3
.2
.1
.2
.2
.1
.1
.3
.3
.4
.4
.4
.3
.5
.5
4. 7
3.9
5.4
4.5
3.9
2.9
3.7
4.8
5.3
5.7
4.2
4.2
.8
.8
.1
.4
.2
.3
5.6
5.7
Coal m ining:
A nthracite m ining.
. _ _ ___ 1.5
Bituminous-coal m ining_________ 3.3
1.7
4.1
1.1
2.8
1.0
3.3
(4)
.2
w
.2
.2
.1
.5
.2
.2
.2
.2
.4
.9
2.5
1.0
2.8
.4
.2
Nonmanufacturing
M etal m ining______________________
Iron-ore___ ________________ . .
Copper-ore_____________________
Lead- and zinc-ore______________
M etal m ining, no t elsewhere classified, including alum inum -ore..
Public utilities:
T elephone_____________________ 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.5
.1" .1
.1
.1
.1
. 1 3.3
3.1
.1
Telegraph______________________ 3.4 3.5 3.1 3.1
.1
.2
.1
.1
. 1 2.6
2.7
1 Since Jan u ary 1943 m anufacturing firms reporting labor turnover have been assigned in d u stry codes
on the basis of current products. M ost p lants in the em ploym ent and pay-roll sample, comprising those
which were in operation in 1939, are classified according to their major activ ity a t th a t time, regardless of
any subsequent change in major products.
2 Prelim inary figures.
3 T h e m unitions division which replaces th e Selected W ar Industries group, include thes following major
indu stry groups: ordnance; iron a n d steel; electrical machinery; m achinery, except electrical; automobiles;
transportation equipm ent, except automobiles; nonferrous metals; chemicals; products of petroleum and
coal; rub b er. T h e nonm unitions division includes lum ber; furniture and finished lum ber products; stone,
clay, and glass; textile-mill products; apparel and finished textile products; leather; food and kindred prod
uets; tobacco;! paper and pulp; miscellaneous industries. Comparable data for 1943 and 1944 appear on
p. 143 of this issue of the Review.
* Less th an 0.05.
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LABOR TURNOVER
155
T a b l e 3 . — M onthly Labor-Turnover Rates (per 100 Employees)1fo r M en and Women
in Selected Industries Engaged in War Production, A p ril 1945 2
In d u stry group and industry
T otal separa
tion
M en
Women
Q uit
M en
T o tal accession
Women
M en
W omen
All m anufacturing______________ _ _______ . . . . .
6.0
7.9
4.2
6.0
4.0
6.0
Ordnance . . . ---- . . . ------- - - ---- -____
Guns, howitzers, m ortars, and related eq u ip m en t.:
A m m unition, except for small arms - _____ _
T a n k s _________ _______ ______ ____________
Sighting and fire-control equ ip m en t_________ ___
6.8
5.9
7.7
5.8
2.6
10.0
9.5
10.5
8.5
4.9
4.5
3.0
5.3
4.0
1.5
7.2
5.1
7.8
5.7
3.3
5.1
3.3
5.8
5.7
1.7
7.8
9.1
8.1
8.2
4.1
Iron and steel and their products
__ ______ ______
B last furnaces, steel works, and rolling m i l l s ____
G ray-iron castings___________ - _____ ________ . .
M alleaole-iron castings. ________ ______ _
Steel castings. . . . . . . . _____ _______ _ . . . . .
Cast-iron pipe and fittin g s.. ___________ . . . . _
Firearm s (60 caliber and u n d e r)........... ...................
4.2
2.8
6.6
5.6
6.3
8.3
5.7
6.6
5.1
10.1.
7.1
7.0
8.8
10.0
3.1
2.1
5.3
4.9
5.0
5.8
2.8
5.1
4.4
5.8
5.4
5.3
7.3
5.0
3.2
2.5
4.9
4.1
5.2
6.2
2.8
6.1
5.3
5.2
4.6
5.8
7.0
5.0
Electrical m achinery___ _____ . . . ____ ____ _ . . . .
Electrical equipm ent for industrial u s e ...................
Radios, radio equipm ent, and phonographs_____
C om m unication equipm ent, except radios_______
3.2
2.5
3.4
3.4
5.5
5.0
5.4
5.6
2,1
1.6
2.3
2.4
4.4
4.0
4.4
4.6
2.3
1.7
2.6
2.3
4.9
4.4
4.8
6.2
M achinery, except electrical____________ . ______
Engines and turbines .............................. ... .
M achine tools . . . . . ____ ____ ______ _____
M achine-tool accessories... ________ _ _ _____
M etalw orking m achinery and equipm ent, not
elsewhere classified _ .
.....
___
General industrial m achinery, except p u m p s____
P u m p s and pum ping eq u ip m en t____________
4.2
4.5
3.5
3.2
5.9
6.5
4.6
4.6
2.8
2.8
2.0
1.9
4.6
4.5
3.7
3.4
2.7
2.8
2.0
2.5
5.0
5.6
3.7
4.6
3.5
4.4
4.6
4.7
6.3
7.8
2.4
2.9
3.1
3.5
5.1
7.1
2.9
2.8
3.7
5.7
5.2
9.0
T ransportation equipm ent, except autom obiles______
A ircraft.. ____________________________________
A ircraft parts, including engines__ _
Shipbuilding and repairs________ _____________
8.6
6.2
4.4
13.0
10.1
9.0
8.6
15.4
4.5
3.6
2.4
6.4
6. 1
6.2
4.3
8.8
3. 5
2.5
2.4
4.9
5.2
4.4
4.8
7.8
N onferrous m etals and their p ro d u c ts .._____
....
P rim ary smelting and refining, except alum inum
and m agnesium . . . .
.
.
. _
A lum inum and magnesium smelting and refining _.
Rolling and draw ing of copper and copper a llo y s.. A lum inum and magnesium products _____ . . .
Nonferrous-metal foundries, except alum inum and
m agnesium ___ ____ _____________ _______ __
6.2
7.2
4.5
5.6
5.4
7.6
3.6
10.4
3.7
7.2
5.8
9.7
6.0
8.8
2.9
7.8
2.8
5. 1
4.5
5.9
5.3
6.3
3.2
9.6
3.2
6.4
4.8
8.8
7.7
10.6
5.7
6.1
3.8
5.3
4.1
4.5
C hem icals and allied products.
_ ...
. ______
Industrial chemicals, except ex p lo siv es.________
Explosives______ ___
_ ___
Small-arms am m unition _ .
... ...
4.8
3.7
6.3
7.0
7.0
5.0
8.7
8.1
3.5
2.8
4.8
5.2
6.0
3.9
7.7
6.9
4.2
3.4
6.9
4.9
7.4
4.5
12.2
7.3
1 These figures are presented to show com parative turnover rates and should not be used to estimate em
ploym ent.
2 These figures are based on a slightly smaller sample th a n th a t for all employees, as some firms do not
report separate d ata for women.
6516 5 4 — 45-
-11
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Building Operations
B u ild in g C o n s tru c tio n S ta rte d in U rb a n A re as,
M ay 1 9 4 5
THERE was a 12-percent gain during May 1945 in the value of
building construction started in urban areas of the United States.
Total valuations for the month approximated 133 million dollars, as
compared with 119 million dollars in April. The entire increase’for
May occurred in non-Federally financed work, which rose 18 percent;
Federal contract awards, on the other hand, declined slightly.
New residential building, over nine-tenths of which was privately
financed, gained 16 percent during May, and new nonresidential
construction increased even more—25 percent. Additions, alterations,
and repair work, however, declined 7 percent.
T a b l e 1.— Sum m ary of Building Construction Started in A ll Urban Areas, M ay 1945
N u m b er of buildings
Percent of
change from—
Class of construction
M ay 1945
A pril
1945
M ay
1944
Value
M ay 1945
(in
thousands
of dollars)
Percent of
change from—
A pril
1945
M ay
1944
All building construction __________ _ _ .
68,318
+ 3 .8
+ 1.3
133,476
+12.4
+24.4
New residential_____ ___________
New nonresidential______________ . . . .
Additions, alterations, and re p a irs.. . . . . . . . .
11,424
10,092
46,802
+ 6 .2
+ 1 .2
+ 3 .8
+27.2
+23.2
- 7 .0
46,657
52,494
34,325
+16.3
+25.2
- 6 .5
+37.6
+13.7
+26.1
The slight decline in the number of new family dwelling units
started during the month was caused entirely by a sharp reduction in
Federal residential construction. Federal contracts were let for only
1,283 units in May as compared with 3,075 in April. Privately
financed units, on the other hand, increased from 9,502 to 11,207.
The total for the month was 12,490, as compared with 12,577 in April.
T a b l e 2 . — Number and Value of New Dwelling Units Started in A ll Urban Areas, by
_________ ___________ Source of Funds and Type of Dwelling, M ay 1945
N u m b er of dwelling units
Percent of
change from—
Source of funds and ty p e of dwelling
M ay 1945
April
1945
M ay
1944
Value
M ay 1945
(in
thousands
of dollars)
Percent of
change from—
A pril
1945
M ay
1944
All dwellings ____ ______ . .
12,490
- 0 .7
+13.9
46,312
+16.1
+38.8
Privately financed_______ ____
1-fam ily______ ______ _
2family i_-___
M ultifam ily 2______ . .
Federally financed_________
11,207
9,503
933
771
1,283
+17.9
+35.1
+ 8 .0
-5 1 .9
-5 8 .3
+15.0
+36.1
- 2 .4
-5 7 .3
+ 4.8
42,919
37,582
3,148
2,189
3,393
+31.6
+46.5
+23.6
-5 0 .4
-5 3 .5
+44.1
+72.4
-.1
-5 4 .8
- 5 .4
i Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings w ith stores.
156
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2
Includes m ultifam ily dwellings w ith stores
157
BUILDING OPERATIONS
Comparison of M ay 1945 and M ay 1944
The dollar volume of building construction begun this month was
almost one-fourth greater than the total of 107 million dollars reported
for May 1944. All classes of building construction shared in the gain
for the year, but only because non-Federal work rose 40 percent,
from 71 million dollars to 99 million dollars. Federal construction
dropped 5 percent, reflecting the beginning of the curtailment of war
motivated building programs brought about in part by the cessation of
hostilities in Europe.
Comparison of First 5 Months of 1944 and 1945
Valuations of all construction work started in urban areas during
the first 5 months of 1945 totaled 512 million dollars—15 percent above
the aggregate reported for the corresponding months in 1944. The
volume of new nonresidential building and of additions, alterations,
and repair work increased considerably, 26 and 28 percent, respective
ly; however, new residential construction experienced a 7-percent
drop for the 5-month period, in spite of the current upward trend.
T a b l e 3 . — Value of Building Construction Started in A ll Urban Areas, by Class of
Construction, First 5 Months of 1944 and 1945
Value (in thousands of dollars) of—
T otal construction
Class of construction
Federal construction
F irst 5 m onths of—
F irst 5 m onths of—
P e r
cent of
change
1945
1944
P e r
cent of
change
All construction _------ -------------- -----------------
512, Oil
447, 284
+14.5
160, 090
145,453
+10.1
N ew residential________________ ________
----------------- --N ew nonresidential------A dditions, alterations, and re p a irs --..........- --
149,116
215, 981
146, 914
160, 920
171, 492
114,872
- 7 .3
+25.9
+27.9
15,154
130, 404
14, 532
23, 385
116, 221
5,847
-3 5 .2
+12.2
+148.5
T
1945
1944
4 . — Number and Value of New Dwelling Units Started in A ll Urban Areas,
by Source of Funds and Type of Dwelling, First 5 Months of 1944 and 1945
able
N u m b er of dwelling u n its
Source of funds and ty p e of dwelling
Value (in thousands of
dollars)
1945
1944
P e r First 5 m onths of— P e r
cent of
cent of
change
change
1944
1945
44, 320
52,984
-1 6 .4
F irst 5 m onths of—
159, 344
- 7 .9
136, 924
132,759
43, 373 -1 0 .0
39, 050
P rivately financed....................... - .........................
103, 662
- 4 .2 ---------------109,942
32, 678
31,......................
310
1fam ily......... ...................... ......................
- --------------15, 271
-2
7
.3
9,776
4,
510
3,
277
2fam ily 1— .- .................... ...................... ...................... - ....................
17,991
13,041
6,185 -2 7 .8
4, 463
M ultifam ily 2„ .......................... .........- ..........
22,420
13,991
-4
5
.2
9,
611
5,270
Federal
________________________
-3 .0
+ 6.1
-3 6 .0
-2 7 .5
-3 7 .6
All dw ellings-------------- ------ ----- ------ ----------
i Includes 1- and 2-family dwellings w ith stores
a Includes m ultifam ily dwellings w ith stores.
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146, 750
158
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
1945
Construction from Public Funds , M ay 1945
The value of contracts awarded and force-account work started
during May and April 1945 and May 1944 on all construction pro
jects, 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 a b l e 5 . — Value o f Contracts Awarded and Force-Account Work Started on Construction
Projects Financed from Federal Funds, M a y 1945
Value (in thousands of dollars) of contracts
aw arded and force-account work started
Source of funds
M ay 1945 1
All Federal sources___
_______________ _ .
W ar public w orks___ . __ .
________
R egular Federal appropriations A-_ __ _ _
_ ______
Federal Public H ousing A u th o rity __
_______
A pril 1945 2
M ay 1944 2
78,964
63, 293
114, 540
1,979
72,574
4,411
2,471
50,483
10,339
4,183
103,377
6,980
1 Prelim inary; subject to revision.
2 Revised.
2 Excludes th e following am ounts (in thousands) for ship construction: M ay 1945, $11,110; A pril 1945
$285,623; M ay 1944, $125,717.
^
’
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 value, are de
rived from 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 construction
within the corporate limits of cities in urban areas is included in the
tabulations.
Reports of building permits which were received in May 1945 for
cities containing between 80 and 85 percent of the urban population
of the country provide the basis for estimating the total number of
buildings and dwelling units and the valuation of private urban build
ing 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 and force-account work started on Federally
financed building construction inside the corporate limits of cities in
urban areas were valued at $34,773,000 in May 1945, $35,196,000 in
April 1945, and $36,670,000 in May 1944.
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Trend o f Employment, Earnings, and Hours
S u m m a ry of R e p o rts fo r M ay 1 9 4 5
TOTAL employment in nonagricultural establishments was 37,654,000 in May 1945, a decline of 150,000 since April and of slightly more
than a million since May 1944. Over the year, there was a net increase
in the armed forces of close to a million.
The employment decline, both over the month and over the year,
was brought about by decreased employment in only two of the
seven major industry divisions—manufacturing and mining. Although
manufacturing accounted for the largest part of the over-all decline, the
decreases in mining were significant.
Total mining employment was 726,000—100,000 less than a year
ago and 35,000 less than in April. The decline reflects the almost
complete shut-down of anthracite mines from May 1 to. May 19,
pending contract negotiations. The decrease in anthracite mining
was offset somewhat by the reopening of bituminous-coal mines whose
contracts had been approved at the end of April.
Industrial and Business Employment
Manufacturing employment declined by 236,000 between April and
May. While both the munitions and nonmunitions industries were
involved, the major share of the decline—80 percent—was in the
munitions group. Among the major munitions groups, declines of
more than 10,000 were reported by the transportation equipment,
machinery, iron and steel, automobile, and electrical machinery groups.
In each case, the completion and cancellation of war contracts ac
counted for the decreases.
For the seventeenth consecutive month, the largest decline was
reported by the transportation equipment group in which 1,772,000
were employed in May 1945, as compared with a peak of 2,626,000 in
November 1943. While cut-backs in aircraft, aircraft engines, tanks,,
and shipbuilding contributed to this result, shipbuilding decreases
alone accounted for two-thirds of the over-all decline.
Among the nonmunitions group, only the textile and apparel groups
reported decreases of more than 10,000. To a large extent, these de
creases were seasonal. The only increase reported between April and
May was in the lumber group and, while small, it did indicate the
seasonal reopening of logging operations.
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159
160
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
T a b l e 1.-—Estimated Number of Production Workers and Indexes of Production-
Worker Employment in Manufacturing Industries, by Major Industry Group 1
E stim ated n u m ber of production
workers (in thousands)
In d u stry group
Productionworker indexes
(1939=100)
M ay
19452
A pril
1945
M arch
1945
M ay
1944
M ay
1945 2
All m anufacturing_________ ____________ _________
D urable goods________________________________
N ondurable goods_____________________________
12, 442
7,287
5,155
12, 678
7, 471
5,207
12,940
7, 661
5,279
13, 652
8, 315
5, 337
151.9
201.8
112.5
154.8
206.9
113.7
Iron and steel a n d th eir pro d u cts_____________ ____ _
Electrical m achinery____ _______________ ________
M achinery, except electrical. _______________ ____
T ransportation equipm ent, except autom obiles______
A u to m o b ile s____________________ _______________
Nonferrous m etals a n d their products ________ ______
Lum ber a n d tim ber basic products _ _______________
F u rn itu re a n d finished lum ber products. _________
Stone, clay, and glass products_____________________
1,608
671
1, 104
1, 772
643
400
440
329
320
1, 631
682
1,130
1, 874
659
404
438
331
322
1, 658
693
1,152
1.970
668
407
448
338
327
1, 669
747
1, 211
2, 401
710
.426
474
342
335
162.2
258.9
208.9
116.4
159.9
174.6
104.6
100.2
109.2
164.5
263.3
213.8
1,180. 9
163.7
176.3
104.3
101.0
109.7
Textile-mill products and other fiber m anufactures__
A pparel and other finished textile products
_______
L eather and leather products. . . . ________________
___ ______________
. . . __ ________ _
Food
Tobacco m anufactures___________ ________________
Paper and allied p ro d u c ts .._ . . . . _______ ____
Printing, publishing, a n d allied industries. ________
Chemicals and allied p ro d u c ts .. . ____________ ____ _
Products of petroleum and c o al.. _________________
R ubber products ______
. ___________________
Miscellaneous industries_____________ ______ _______
1, 035
801
303
967
80
299
326
627
133
189
395
1,046
819
305
975
81
301
326
633
133
192
396
1,067
836
309
979
82
307
329
639
134
197
400
1, 110
862
312
1,005
82
311
329
592
130
195
409
90.5
101.5
87.3
113.2
85.2
112.6
99.4
217.4
126.0
156.4
161.4
91.4
103.7
87.9
114.1
86.7
113.6
99.4
219.8
126.0
159.1
161.8
A pril
1945
1 T h e estim ates and indexes presented in th is table have been adjusted to levels indicated b y final 1942
and prelim inary 1943 d ata m ade available b y th e Bureau of E m ploym ent Security of the Federal Security
Agency. T h e term “ production w orker” has been su b stitu ted for th e term “ wage earner” which has been
used in our previous releases. T his conforms w ith the terminology and standard definitions of classes of
workers in m anufacturing industries form ulated by th e D ivision of Statistical Standards of the U. S. B ureau
of the B udget. T he use of “ production w orker” in place of “wage earner” has no appreciable effect on the
em ploym ent estim ates and indexes since there is very little difference in the definitions.
2 Prelim inary.
Public Employment
Employment of the War Department in continental United States
dropped in April and May 1945 by 10,600 and 11,700, respectively.
Nevertheless, employment outside continental United States continued
to increase at the rate of approximately 35,000 a month, and brought
the total for the Department to 1,734,000 in May. This was almost
275,000 higher than last year.
The Navy Department, on the other hand, whose employment has
increased almost steadily since January 1939, both inside and outside
continental United States, had decreased employment of 6,600 in May
1945—all of the decrease being within continental United States.
Employees, mainly those at the Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines,
who had been held prisoners of war by the Japanese since early 1942,
were liberated in February 1945, and account for a 10,000 decline in
Navy Department employment outside continental United States in
March 1945, following their return to the States on furlough. In May
1945 the Navy had 754,000 civilian employees, or 23,000 more than a
year ago.
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TREND OF EM PLOY M ENT, EARNINGS, AND HOURS
161
War agencies other than the War and Navy Departments have
shown little change in employment level during the past 6 months,
but showed a 5,000 decline over the past 12-month period.
Employment in other agencies increased 12,400 during May 1945.
The National Labor Relations Board, which usually has a staff of
somewhat fewer than 800 persons, added 2,700 temporary workers to
conduct elections in the anthracite and bituminous-coal mining areas.
The Commerce Department added 3,600 employees for its agricultural
census, the Post Office Department added 2,900, Agriculture 1,900,
and the Veterans Administration 1,700.
In all branches of the Federal Government, including Government
corporations, employment was 3,638,000 in May 1945, as compared
with 3,278,000 in May 1944. War-agency gains amounted to 293,000,
and those of other agencies, to 67,000. The number of civilians
employed outside continental United States was 302,000 higher than
a year ago, and the number inside the continental limits, 58,000 higher.
Source of data.—Data for the Federal executive service are reported
through the Civil Service Commission, whereas data for the legislative
and judicial services and Government corporations are reported to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Force-account employment is also
included in construction employment (table 5), and navy-yard em
ployment is also included in employment on shipbuilding and repair
projects (table 4). Data for pay rolls are now being revised, and the
revised series will be available shortly.
T a b l e 2 . — Employment in Regular Federal Services and in Government Corporations
in Selected Months
Y ear and m onth
M ay
M ay
M ay
M ay
M ay
M ay
1939__________________________
1940______ ______ __
_ _ _ _
1941__________________________
1942____________ _____ ______
1943____________________ _____
1944___ ___ _ ___ _ __ _____
Jan u a ry 1945_______________________
F ebruary 1945 3___ _______________
M arch 1945 3_______________ _____ _
A pril 1945 3_________________________
M ay 1945 A .. _____________________
T otal
Executive 1 Legislative
Judicial
G overn
m ent cor
porations 2
935,717
1,014,886
1,341,098
2,122,660
3, 226, 607
3,278,453
903.549
980, 236
1,303,037
2,081,715
3,182,814
3,233, 367
5,315
5,882
6,015
6,457
6,116
6,123
2,123
2,480
2,505
2,650
2,722
2,676
24, 730
26, 288
29, 541
31,838
34,955
36, 287
3,449,802
3, 516, 640
3,574,833
3,613,169
3, 638,147
3,406,672
3,473,254
3, 531,808
3, 570,080
3,595,249
6,160
6,561
6,281
6, 346
6,361
2,638
2,643
2,632
2,626
2,617
34,332
34,182
34,112
34,117
33,920
1 Includes employees in U nited States nav y yards who are also included under shipbuilding (table 4) and
employees on force-account construction who are also included under construction projects (table 5). In
cludes employees stationed outside continental U nited States. Beginning M arch 1945, d a ta exclude
10,324 employees of th e N av y D epartm ent who had been held prisoners of w ar by the enem y since about
2 D a ta are for employees of th e P anam a R ailroad Co., th e Federal Reserve B anks, and banks of the F arm
C redit A dm inistration, who are paid out of operationg revenues and no t out of Federal appropriations.
D a ta for other G overnm ent corporations are included under th e executive service.
3 Revised.
4 Prelim inary.
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162
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
T a b l e 3 . — Employment in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government, by War and
Other Agencies, in Selected Months 1
W ar agencies 2
Y ear and m onth
T otal
All areas
C onti
nental
U nited
States
O ther agencies
Outside
C onti
conti
nental
nental
All areas U
nited
U nited
States
S ta te s 3 4
O utside
conti
nental
U nited
States 3
M ay 1939__________________
M ay 1940______ _ _______
M ay 1941 _ ________________
M ay 1942,. _ _________
M ayl943__ _ __________ __
M ay 1944___ ____________ __
903, 549
980, 236
1, 303,037
2,081, 715
3,182,814
3, 233, 367
194,781
250,926
524,923
1,232,694
2,372,103
2,410,155
166, 334
207, 541
453, 602
1,068,571
2,102, 212
2,045, 695
28,447
43, 385
71, 321
164,123
269,891
364,460
708,768
729,310
778,114
849, 021
810, 711
823, 212
699,845
717,877
765,061
834,917
795,659
807, 717
8, 923
11,433
13,053
14,104
15,052
15,495
Jan u ary 1945____ ____ _____
Febru ary 1945 s_
__ _____
M arch 1945 3
____
April 1945 5
M ay 1945 3_________________
3,406, 672
3,473, 254
3, 531,808
3, 570,080
3, 595, 249
2, 561,118
2, 625, 509
2,661, 320
2,689,936
2, 702, 723
2,030,351
2,057,409
2,064, 778
2,056, 697
2, 038, 624
530, 767
568,100
596, 542
633, 239
664,099
845, 554
847, 745
870,488
880,144
892, 526
829, 3^7
831,432
854,090
863, 656
876,011
16, 227
16,313
16, 398
16,488
16, 515
1 Includes employees in U nited States n av y yards who are also included under shipbuilding (table 4)
and employees on force-account construction who are also included u nder construction projects (table 5).
2 Covers W ar a n d N av y D epartm ents, M aritim e Commission, N ational A dvisory C om m ittee for Aero
nautics, T h e P an am a Canal, and th e emergency w ar agencies.
3 Includes A laska and th e Panam a C anal Zone.
4 Beginning M arch 1945 d ata exclude 10,324 employees of th e N av y D ep artm en t who had been held pris
oners of w ar b y th e enem y since ab o u t Jan u a ry 1942.
« Revised.
6 Prelim inary.
Employment on Shipbuilding and Repair
The declining importance of the Federal shipbuilding and repair
program is reflected in the sharp employment drop of 77,600 in May
1945. This exceeded slightly the drop of 77,000 in April. Together,
the April and May 1945 declines represent one-third of the entire
curtailment in the industry’s employment since the peak in December
1943.
Although the navy yards have had declining employment levels
during the past year, they have not been affected to as great an extent,
proportionately, as the private yards. Between May 1944 and May
1945, employment in navy yards declined only 4 percent, as compared
with 32 percent in the private yards.
Viewed geographically, the Inland Region suffered the greatest
employment drop (61 percent) during the past year, with the Great
Lakes Region next (43 percent) and the Gulf Region third (36 per
cent). Employment in the North and South Atlantic and Pacific
regions in May 1945 was not quite four-fifths of the respective May
1944 levels.
The pay-roll declines during May 1945 and during the preceding
year paralleled rather closely the employment declines for the indus
try as a whole.
Employment on the Federal shipbuilding and repair program was
1,189,400 in May 1945, and pay rolls $341,973,000.
Data on employment and pay rolls on shipbuilding and repair
projects are received monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics di
rectly from all shipyards within continental United States. Em
ployees in the navy yards are also included in data for the Federal
executive service (tables 2 and 3).
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TREND OF EM PLOY M ENT, EARNINGS, AND HOURS
163
T a b l e 4 .— Total Employment and Pay Rolls in United States N avy Yards and Private
Shipyards W ithin Continental United States, by Shipbuilding Region, M ay 1945
Em ploym ent (in thousands)
P a y rolls (thousands of dollars)
Shipbuilding region
All re g io n s_____ - . _ ___ . .
U . S. nav y yards 2
. _
P riv ate shipyards __ ___
_
N orth A tlan tic___________ . . . ___ __
South A tlan tic____ __________ _ _ _ __
G u l f ______________________
...
Pacific- ............. _
.
__
G reat L akes.
. _
__ __
__
In la n d .._ . . . ____
M ay
1945 i
April
1945
M ay
1944
M ay
1945 i
A pril
1945
M ay
1944
1,189.4
315 8
873.6
1,267.0
322.0
945.0
1,612.2
330.3
1, 281.9
341,973
93, 571
248,402
371, 515
96, 528
274, 987
464,316
93,852
370,464
460.9
109.3
141.2
416.5
36 9
24.6
486.1
114.8
152.5
439 5
42 1
32.0
587.1
143 6
221.4
532.1
64.7
63.3
145, 665
28,263
37,151
113,499
9,784
7,611
149, 392
30,867
40,198
127,679
13, 730
9, 649
00
(3)
60
60
00
(3)
1 Prelim inary.
2 Includes all nav y yards constructing or repairing ships, including th e C urtis B ay (M d.) Coast G uard
yard. D ata are also included in th e Federal executive service (tables 2 and 3).
3 Break-down not available.
Construction Employment
The expansion of 6,700, which brought site employment on Feder
ally financed construction projects to a total of 225,000 in May 1945,
occurred for the most part on nonresidential building construction.
Expansion, which took place in the earlier months of 1945, likewise
was in nonresidential building construction. Employment on almost
all other types of Federal projects in May 1945 was only a fraction of
the number of workers employed in May 1944.
With the gradual relaxation of Government restrictions on private
construction, the trend of site employment on non-Federal projects
has been upward since January 1945. The expansion has been espe
cially marked for nonresidential building construction. Construction
of streets and highways by State, county, and municipal governments
did not share in this general expansion.
Site employment at secret Federal projects increased slightly in
May 1945, but most of the 10,500 increase in employment away from
the construction site was in the office and shop employee groups.
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 spon
soring the project. Force-account employees hired directly by the
Federal Government are also included in tables 2 and 3 under Fed
eral 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 Admin
istration.
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164
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
T a b l e 5 . — Estimated Employment and P ay Rolls on Construction W ithin Continental
United States, M ay 1945
E m ploym ent
(in thousands)
P ay rolls (in thou
sands of dollars)
T ype of project
M ay
19451
A pril
1945
N ew construction, t o t a l 2 -- ------- ---------- ------ ------
886.9
808.7
A t the construction site______________ _ ------- -- __
Federal projects 4___
_ - -------------- ------- _
A irports------------ ------------------ ------ ----------B uildings_______________________ _______
R esidential___ _______
___ --- —
N o n ie sid e n tia l6
E lectrification________- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --_
R eclam ation- --_ -R iver, harbor, and flood control - Streets and highw ays_____ . . . . . ----------W ater and sewer system s—. - - __ _ ____
M iscellaneous____________ ---------------N on-Federal projects ------------------------ ---------B uildings--. ______________________ --- -R esidential__________________
- —_ __
N onresidentiaL
_
F arm dwellings and service buildings. . . .
Public u tilities______________ ____________
Streets a n d highw ays_______ ___________ - S ta te _______________________ - -- - -.
C ounty a n d municipal-...
_____
M iscellaneous_____________________________
O ther 6___
... _
..........
......
_ __
M aintenance of State roads 7.................... .........................
753. 3
225.0
6. 1
177.3
10.8
166.5
.6
6.4
11.7
7.6
3.3
12.0
528. 3
310.2
109.4
200.8
73.4
106.9
22.0
9.0
13.0
15.8
133.6
82.9
685. 6
218. 3
5.5
170.4
11. 1
159. 3
.5
6.7
13.9
7.8
3.4
10. 1
467.4
264. 1
86.0
178. 1
67.7
102.7
18.7
7.5
11.2
14.2
123. 1
82.0
M ay
1945 i
A pril
1945
M ay
1944
769.2
(3)
0
0
606.6
241.8
21.2
158.5
28. 4
130. 1
.6
14.5
19.4
15.2
5.7
6.7
364.8
191.7
111.6
80. 1
46. 2
90.6
22.9
10.7
12. 2
13.4
162.6
85.0
0
53, 517
1,159
43, 474
2,455
41, 019
109
1, 601
2,384
1, 413
575
2,802
0
71, 656
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
M ay
1944
0
49, 967
1, 036
40, 612
2,430
38,182
97
1, 508
2, 600
1, 430
587
2,097
0
62, 592
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
48, 677
3,465
33, 096
6,052
27,044
111
3, 263
3, 762
2,753
883
1, 344
0
44,283
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1 Prelim inary.
2 D a ta are for all construction workers (contract a n d force-account) engaged on new construction, additions
and alterations, and on repair work of the type usually covered by building perm its. (Force-account em
ployees are workers hired directly b y the owner and utilized as a separate work force to perform construction
work of th e types usually chargeable to capital account.) The construction figure included in the B ureau’s
nonagricultural em ploym ent series covers only employees of construction contractors and on Federal forccaccount a n d excludes force-account workers of State and local governm ents, public utilities, and private
firms.
8 D ata no t available.
4 Includes th e following force-account employees, hired directly b y the Federal Government, and their
pay rolls: M ay 1944, 26,983, $5,606,808; April 1945, 19,556, $3,695,141; M ay 1945, 18,684, $3,743,899. These
employees also are included u n d er th e Federal executive service.
* Includes the following employees and pay rolls for Defense P lan t C orporation (R F C ) projects: M ay 1944,
47,548, $11,817,167; A pril 1945, 14,253, $3,558,559; M ay 1945, 15,199, $3,414,437.
8 Includes central office force of construction contractors, shop employees of special trades contractors,
such as bench sheet-m etal workers, etc., a n d site employees engaged on projects w hich, for security rea
sons, cannot be shown above.
2 D ata for other types of m aintenance n o t available.
**++*++4
D e ta ile d R e p o rts fo r I n d u s tr ia l a n d B u sin e ss
E m p lo y m e n t, A p ril 1 9 4 5
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
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TREND OF EM PLOY M ENT, EARNINGS, AND HOURS
165
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
Estim ated num ber of employees (in
thousands)
In d u stry division
A pril
1945
M arch
1945
February
1945
A pril
1944
Total estim ated em ploym ent *. ________________ . . . ______
37,804
38,062
37, 968
[38, 689
M an u fac tu rin g 2 _ .
____
:........
.
___ __ .
............. ..... .......
M ining ......
C ontract construction and Federal force-account construction. . .
T ransportation and public utilities ___________ _____ _______
T rade __
...
___________
___________
___
Finance, service, and miscellaneous____ _________ ________
Federal, State, and local Government, excluding Federal forceaccount construction .
_
__ . _____________________
15,102
761
690
3,795
6,995
4,458
15, 368
796
636
3,788
7,084
4,394
15, 517
798
599
3, 771
6,985
4,360
il 6,309
844
683
3,744
6,968
4, 236
6,003
5,996
5,938
5,905
1Estim ates include all full- and part-tim e wage and salary workers in nonagricultural establishm ents
who are employed during the pay period ending nearest the 15th of the m onth. Proprietors, self-employed
persons, domestic servants, and personnel of the arm ed forces are excluded.
2E stim ates for m anufacturing have been adjusted to levels indicated by final 1942 data made available
b y the B ureau of E m ploym ent Security of the Federal Security Agency. Since the estimates of production
w orkers in m anufacturing industries have been further adjusted to prelim inary 1943 data, subsequent
to D ecember 1942, the two sets of estim ates are not comparable.
Industrial and Business Employment
Monthly reports on employment and pay rolls are available for 154
manufacturing industries and for 27 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 produc
tion workers only; but the figures for public utilities, brokerage, insur
ance, and hotels relate to all employees except corporation officers and
executives, while for trade they relate to all employees except cor
poration officers, executives, and other employees whose duties are
mainly supervisory. For crude-petroleum production they cover
production workers 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
supplied by representative establishments in the 154 manufacturing
industries surveyed. These reports cover more than 65 percent of
the total production workers in all manufacturing industries of the
country and about 80 percent of the production workers in the 154
industries covered.
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Cl
Cl
EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
1 9 3 9 .1 0 0
in d e x
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
194 5
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF CABOR
BUREAU OFLABOR STATISTICS
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..... ...
,
_________________ WAGE EARNERS AND WAGE EARNER PAY ROLL
TREND OF EM PLOY M ENT, EARNINGS, AND HOURS
167
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.
INDEXES OF EMPLOYMENT AND PAY ROLLS
Employment and pay-roll indexes, for both manufacturing and
nonmanufacturing industries, for February, March, and April 1945,
and for April 1944, 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 levels indicated by final data for
1942 and preliminary data for 1943 made available by the Bureau
of Employment Security of the Federal Security Agency. The Bureau
of Employment Security data referred to are (a) employment totals
reported by employers under State unemployment-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, regardless 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.
T a b l e 2 . — Estimated Number of Production Workers in M anufacturing Industries 1
E stim ated num ber of production workers
(in thousands)
In d u stry
April
1945
All m anufacturing__ _____
_______________ .
12, 678
D urable goods. _____
____________
7, 471
N ondurable g oods... . ________ _____ ________________ 5,207
M arch
1945
F ebruary
1945
A pril
1944
12,940
7, 661
5, 279
13, 081
7,770
5, 311
13, 814
8,421
5, 393
Durable goods
Iron and steel and th eir p ro d u c ts ___________ ___________ .
B last furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills_________ . _.
Gray-iron and semisteel castings
____ ______ _
M alleable-iron castings_________________
Steel castings__________ . . . ________
Cast-iron pipe and fittin g s______________________________
T in cans and other tin w are_______ ___________________
W ire draw n from purchased rods_____
W irew ork
_
_____ .
C utlery and edge tools . . . . _________ _____ ___________
Tools (except edge tools, m achine tools, files, and saw s).
H a rd w a re ... . . . ___________________ _ .
P lum bers’ supplies___ ___ _________ _
Stoves, oil burners, and heating equipm ent, n o t elsewhere
classified_____________ _________ .
Steam and hot-w ater heating apparatus and steam fittin g s..
Stam ped and enam eled w are and galvanizing.
______ _
Fabricated stru ctu ral and ornam ental m etalw ork . ____
M etal doors, sash, frames, molding, and trim . . . . . .
B olts, nu ts, washers, and r iv e ts ..____________
Forgings, iron and steel ________________
W rought pipe, w elded and heavy riveted
___________
Screw-machine products and wood screws_____ __________
Steel barrels, kegs, and drum s 2
F irearm s___________ _
See fo o tn o te s a t e n d o f ta b le .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1,631
475.8
72.5
24.1
70.9
16.1
41.7
32.0
33.9
23.9
26.8
46.0
22.8
1,658
478.5
74.6
25.4
71.8
15.7
41.9
32.7
34.7
24.4
27.5
46.8
23.2
1,666
478.4
75.3
26.0
72.4
15.7
41.1
32.6
35.1
24.2
27. 4
46.7
22.7
1,680
485.5
74.6
25.0
76.9
15.0
36.2
33.7
33.9
22.6
28.1
46.6
23.4
62.0
54.3
86.0
67.5
10.3
23.6
34.4
24.1
42.4
8.4
29.8
63.6
55.2
86.9
70.0
10.7
23.9
35.4
24.4
43.0
8.4
30.7
64.0
55.6
87.9
73.2
10.9
24.0
35.7
23.6
43.0
8.3
32.3
61.2
56.9
89.1
75.4
13.0
27.9
38.4
26.3
46.8
7.1
53.3
168
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
T a b l e 2 . — Estimated Number of Production Workers in Manufacturing Industries 1
Continued
E stim ated num ber of production w orkers
(in thousands)
In d u stry
April
1945
M arch
1945
F ebruary
1945
A pril
1944
Durable goods—C ontinued
Electrical m achinery........ ................. ................ ..................................
Electrical eq u ip m en t......................................... ........._________
Radios and p h o n o g ra p h s,.______________ _______________
C om m unication eq u ip m en t___________________ ____ ____
682
419.7
114.5
102. 7
693
426.4
116.7
105.0
696
429.0
117.5
104.5
755
459.1
130.4
116. 8
M achinery, except electrical________________________________
M achinery and m achine-shop products__________________
Engines and tu rb in es____________ ____ _________________
T rac to rs2. ________ ____________________________ . ______
A gricultural m achinery, excluding tracto rs_______________
M achine tools___________________ ____ _________________
M achine-tool accessories____ ____ ______________________
Textile m achinery_____________________________________
P u m p s and pum ping eq u ip m en t___________________ ____
T y p ew riters_________________ _________________________
Cash registers, adding and calculating m achines__________
W ashing m achines, w ringers and driers, dom estic.................
Sewing machines, dom estic and in d u strial_______________
Refrigerators and refrigeration e q u ip m en t___________ ____
1,130
441.4
65.2
55.6
42.7
73.6
63.9
25.9
68.9
13.0
29.2
1,152
449.9
66.7
57.2
43.9
74.6
64.4
26.4
71. 5
13.1
29.8
1,165
454.2
67.7
58.0
44.8
74.8
65.2
26.4
72.6
13.0
30.4
12.8
11.1
12.6
49.9
51.1
52.4
1,227
475.6
71.4
59.9
45.6
80.4
71.0
27.8
82.4
11.5
33.4
13.7
9.3
52.9
T ransp o rtatio n equipm ent, except autom obiles______________
Locom otives_________________________________ :________
Cars, electric- and steam -railroad_______________ _____ _
A ircraft and p arts, excluding aircraft engines 3_____ ______
A ircraft engines 3_____________________ ______ __________
Shipbuilding and b oatbuilding_____ _____ ______________
M otorcycles, bicycles, and p a rts________________________
1, 874
33.5
57.9
619.1
203. 5
853. 2
9.6
1,970
34.0
58.6
637.6
2, 042
34.1
59.2
646.4
213. 7
973.0
9.6
2,442
36.3
59. 1
763.8
259.0
1,192. 7
9.1
12.8
10.8
210.6
917.1
9.5
11.2
A utom obiles_____ _________________________ _______________
659
668
680
724
Nonferrous m etals and th eir p ro d u cts___________ ___________
Smelting and refining, p rim ary, of nonferrous m etals_____
Alloying and rolling and draw ing of nonferrous m etals
except alum inum ___ ______________ ________________ _
Clocks and w atches_________________________ __________
Jew elry (precious metals) and jewelers’ findings...... ............
Silverware and plated w are_________,._____________ _____
Lighting equ ip m en t____________________ _________„_____
A lum inum m anufactures_______________________________
Sheet-metal w ork, n o t elsewhere classified_______________
404
39.2
407
39.5
403
39.7
432
52.2
71.7
26.0
13.2
10.9
26.3
70.6
31.4
72.6
26.3
13.2
26.2
70. 5
32.0
71.9
26.2
13.2
10.9
26.2
32.2
71.8
24.8
14.3
10.5
25.0
78.4
31.8
L um b er and tim ber basic products_________________________
Sawmills and logging cam ps_________ __________________
Planing and plywood m ills_____________________ _______
438
213.7
68.3
448
218.4
69.8
450
218.9
70.6
475
231.5
74.3
F u rn itu re and finished lum ber products______ ____ _________
M attresses and b e d s p rin g s ..._________ _________________
F u rn itu re _____________________________________________
W ooden boxes, other th a n cigar___________________ _____
Caskets and other m orticians’ goods____ ____ ___________
Wood preserving______________________________________
W ood, tu rn ed and shaped______________________________
331
17.2
149.2
26.6
338
17.6
152.5
27.1
341
17.8
154.1
27.2
12.3
9.9
20.9
10.0
10.2
21.4
21.5
347
15.9
159.4
28.1
12.4
9.8
21.7
Stone, clay, and glass p ro d u c ts .._______ ___________________
Glass and 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 wool___
Lim e____________________________ _________ ___________
M arble, granite, slate, and other products_______________
A brasives_____________________________________________
Asbestos products__________ ___________________________
322
87.0
327
88.3
327
87.6
10.8
11.1
11.0
16.2
40.5
38.3
4.0
9.3
7.6
13.1
21.4
19.7
16.1
40.9
38.9
4.1
9.4
7.7
13.8
21.6
16.1
41.2
39.3
4.0
9.6
7. 7
14.0
21.5
339
92.6
10.4
17.2
43.2
41.6
4.3
9.3
8.4
12.4
21.7
20.1
20.0
21.2
See fo o tn o te s a t e n d o f ta b le .
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12.1
11.0
1 2 .2
68.8
TREND OF EM PLOY M ENT, EARNINGS, AND HOURS
169
T a b l e 2 .— E stim a te d N u m b er o f P rodu ction W orkers in M an u factu rin g In du stries 1—
Continued
E stim ated num ber of production workers
(in thousands)
In d u stry
February
1945
A pril
1944
April
1945
M arch
1945
Textile-m ill products and other fiber m anufactures___________
C otton m anufactures, except smallwares_________________
C otton sm allw ares________________________
___ _ . . .
Silk and rayon goods. . . .
__ _ _ __ _______ ________
Woolen and w orsted m anufactures, except dyeing and
finishing_______________________ _________ ______ __
H osiery___________________ __________________________
K n itted clo th_________________________________________
K n itted outerw ear and k n itte d gloves___________________
K nitted underw ear____________________________________
Dyeing and finishing textiles, including woolen and w orsted.
C arpets and rugs, wool.. _________________________ ____
H ats, fur-felt_____ . . .
_ _ _ _____________ ______
J u te goods, except felts_________ ____ ___________________
Cordage and tw ine_________ __________________________
1,046
415.9
13.5
86.3
1,067
424.2
13.5
88.0
1,075
428.5
13.3
88.8
1,128
445.3
13.8
91.4
142.1
97.0
10.2
27.9
33.4
57.6
19.6
9.1
3.2
14.6
145.2
98.6
10.3
28.6
34.1
58.8
20.0
9.3
3.2
14.9
146.0
99.6
10.2
28.7
34.3
59.0
20.1
9.3
3.2
15.0
155.0
107.2
11.0
30.4
36.7
63.0
20.4
9.5
3.3
16.1
A pparel and other finished textile p ro d u cts__________________
M en ’s clothing, no t elsewhere classified__________________
Shirts, collars, and n ig h tw e a r ___ _ _____ _____ ______
U nderw ear and neckwear, m en ’s . . . _____ _______________
W ork sh irts________________ ____________________ .
W om en’s clothing, not elsewhere classified______ : ________
Corsets and allied garm ents____________________________
M illinery____ _ _____________________________________
H andkerchiefs________________________________________
C urtains, draperies, and bedspreads_________ ___________
Housefurnishings, other th a n curtains, e tc ... ____________
Textile bags
_____________________________________
819
198.0
48.5
12.0
14.4
206.9
14.1
19.6
2.5
10.6
10.7
14.6
836
201.4
49.4
12.1
14.3
212.7
14.4
20.6
2.6
10.3
11.2
14.7
838
202.3
49.4
12.0
14.3
213.6
14.6
20.2
2.6
10.2
11.4
14.4
879
214.2
54.1
12.5
15.5
221.4
15.3
19.4
3.1
12.8
9.6
14.9
L eather and leather products___________________________
L eather. _____________________________________________
Boot and shoe cu t stock and findings.. _________________
Boots and shoes. .
______ _ . _ _ _ . . . ___
L eather gloves and m itte n s ___________ .
......
T ru n k s and suitcases____ ___________________ ______ _
305
38.8
15.9
170.6
11.7
12.1
309
39.3
16.1
172.3
11.9
12.6
310
39.6
16.0
172.6
12.0
12.9
315
40.7
16.4
175.2
13.2
12.2
F ood_______________ . . .
Slaughtering and m eat packing _______________________
B u tte r_____________________ ________________
Condensed and evaporated m ilk ________ . . .
Ice cream . . __________ _______________________________
F lo u r____________________ . . . . . . ______ . . . . .
Feeds, p re p a re d ... ___________________ _ ____________
Cereal p re p a ra tio n s _____ ___________ ___________
...
B aking________ _______ ____________________________
Sugar refining, cane______________ ____________________
Sugar, beet . . ________ ________ . . . .
_. ____
C onfectionery_________________________________________
Beverages, nonalcoholic.- . . . . . __________ _ _____
M alt liq u o r s ... _____________________________________ .
C anning and preserving_________ ______________________
975
129.2
23.4
14.9
15.1
28.4
21.1
9.4
254.7
15.3
4.0
56.0
26.4
49.9
101.6
979
136.2
22.6
13.9
14.0
29.0
21.2
9.3
256.8
15.0
3.9
58.1
25.7
49.9
95.8
997
144.9
21.6
13.5
13.5
29.6
21.5
9.3
257.2
15.3
4.2
58.3
25.5
50.1
101.2
1,002
156.2
22.7
13.6
14.6
27.9
19.9
9.4
255.0
14.0
4.1
57.8
26.9
48.3
99.6
Tobacco m anufactures___ ________________ . . . . . . . . .
C ig a re tte s _______ . . . ____. . . _____ _____ _________
Cigars______ ________________________________________
Tobacco (chewing and smoking) and snuff. _ ____________
81
34.4
32.9
8.6
82
34.8
33.2
8.7
82
35.2
33.2
8.7
83
33.6
37.1
7.5
Paper and allied p r o d u c ts _____________ _______ ___________
P aper and p u lp _______________________________________
Paper goods, o th er____________ _______________________
Envelopes_______ ____________________ ________ ____ _
Paper bags___________________________________ . . . ____
P aper boxes____________________ _ ___________ ____ ___
301
143.8
43.8
9.3
12.6
75.8
307
146.1
44.8
9.4
12.9
77.4
310
147.5
44.9
9.5
13.1
77.9
314
145.9
47.4
9.8
13.6
80.3
Printing, publishing, and allied industries_______ __________
N ewspapers and periodicals______ _____ _________ . . .
Printing, book and jo b ________ _______________________
L ithographing___ _____ _ ________________ . . . ______
B ookbinding.. . . _. _________________________________
326
108.8
131.4
24.0
27. 1
329
109.3
132.4
24. 5
27.6
330
108.8
133.9
24.3
28.0
332
110.3
132.6
25.0
28.9
Nondurable goods
See footnotes a t end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
170
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
T able 2 .— E stim a te d N u m b e r o f P ro d u ctio n W orkers in M a n u fa ctu rin g In d u s tr ie s 1—
Continued
E stim ated num ber of production w orkers
(in thousands)
A pril
1945
M arch
1945
F ebruary
1945
A pril
1944
Nondurable goods—C ontinued
Chemicals and allied products_____
P aints, varnishes, and c o lo rs ___
Drugs, medicines, and in secticides.. .
Perfumes and cosmetics
Soap_______
_ .
R ayon and allied p ro d u cts______
Chemicals, not elsewhere classified___
Explosives and safety fuses.. _____
Compressed and liquefied gases..
A m m unition, small-arms___. . .
Fireworks . . . _____
Cottonseed oil__ _
F e rtiliz e rs ..___ _____
633
28.9
50.2
12.2
13.2
53.1
114.7
98.5
6.0
67.4
23.3
14.5
27.1
639
29.4
49.9
12.1
13.4
54.6
115. 3
98.7
5.9
67.2
23.8
16.3
26.9
638
29. 5
49.4
12. 3
13.4
54.7
115. 3
97.9
6.0
65.9
25. 0
18. 5
25.1
601
29.8
51. 9
11.5
13.6
52.0
120. 2
68.3
6.0
57.9
30.7
15. 4
26.2
Products of petroleum and coal___
Petroleum refining______
Coke and by p ro d u cts__ _____ _
Paving m aterials______ _____ _
Roofing m a te ria ls.. . ______
133
91.8
21.8
1.6
9.5
134
91.8
22.0
1.5
9.5
134
91.5
22.1
1. 5
9.5
128
85.9
22. 9
1. 5
9.7
R ubb er products______ . . . .
R u b b er tires and inner tubes . . . .
R u b b er boots and s h o e s .. ___ _ _
R u b b er goods, o th er_______
192
93.2
16.9
71.3
197
95.7
17.4
72.6
198
96.4
17. 5
72.5
197
91.6
20.1
74.0
M iscellaneous in d u stries__ _______
In stru m en ts (professional and scientific) and fire-control
e q u ip m e n t___________
Photographic ap p aratu s____
Optical instrum ents and ophthalm ic goods____
Pianos, organs, and p a rts__
Games, toys, and dolls.
B u t t o n s . . . ________
Fire extinguishers. _________
396
400
399
414
59.7
27.4
23.3
7.5
15.6
9.6
4.6
59.9
28.0
23.6
7.4
15.9
9.7
4.7
59.6
28.0
23.5
7.3
16.3
9.6
4.7
63. 7
29. 2
25.5
8.5
15.7
10.1
6.5
1 Estim ates for th e m ajor in d u stry groups have been adjusted to levels indicated by final 1942 and p ri
m inary 1943 d ata m ade available by th e B ureau of E m ploym ent Security of the Federal Security Agency.
Estim ates for individual industries have been adjusted to levels indicated by the 1939 Census of M an u
factures, b u t not to Federal Security Agency d ata. For this reason, together w ith the fact th a t this B ureau
has not prepared estim ates for certain industries, th e sum of th e individual industry estim ates will not
agree w ith totals shown for th e m ajor in d u stry groups. T h e term “ production w orker” has been su bstituted
for th e term “ wage earner” w hich has been used in our previous reports. T his conforms w ith the term i
nology and stan d ard definitions of classes of workers in m anufacturing industries form ulated by the D i
vision of Statistical Standards of th e U. S. B ureau of th e B udget. T h e use of “ production w orker” in
place of “ wage earner” has no appreciable effect on th e em ploym ent estim ates since there is very little
difference in th e definitions.
2 Revisions have been m ade as follows in th e d a ta for earlier m onths:
Steel barrels, kegs, and drums.— Jan u ary 1945 production workers to 8.1.
Tractors.— Jan u ary 1945 production workers to 58.2.
3 Com parable d ata from Jan u a ry 1939 are available upon request.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
171
T R E N D OF E M P L O Y M E N T , E A R N IN G S, AND HO URS
T a b l e 3 .— Indexes o f P rodu ction -W orker E m p lo ym en t a n d P a y R olls in M a n u fa ctu rin g
In d u stries 1
E m ploym ent indexes
(1939 average=100)
Pay-roll indexes
(1939 average=100)
In d u stry
Apr. M ar. Feb.
1945 1945 1945
All m anufacturing,
_____ ________ ____ _____
D urable goods— . . . - ------------N ondurable goods______ . ._ ---------------------
Apr.
1944
Apr. M ar.
1945 1945
Feb.
1945
Apr.
1944
154.8 158.0 159.7 168.6 317.2 325. 5 329.0 335.0
206.9 212.2 215.2 233.2 430.8 444.0 451.1 474.8
113.7 115.2 115.9 117.7 206.1 209.7 209.6 198.2
Durable goods
167.3
123.2
127.7
140.8
238.7
94.8
131.8
148.6
114.1
158.1
168.0
123.1
128.8
144.0
240.5
94.9
129.3
148.6
115.5
157.0
169.4
125.0
127.7
138.4
255.7
91.0
114.0
153.6
111.6
146.3
314.2
229.6
257.7
283.4
451.2
193.4
227.5
252.8
225.6
323.9
319.1
229.1
269.4
298.7
457.7
190.1
231.2
257.5
235.9
332.4
318.0
223.6
267.5
305.8
453.5
196.8
227.4
255.7
236.9
333.3
310.9
221.2
246.7
271.5
463.1
173.6
188.7
249.1
219.6
304.3
Iron and steel and their p r o d u c ts ----------------- ----B last furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills-Gray-iron and semisteel castings______________
M alleable-iron castings------- ------ ------------- Steel castings__________________ ________
Oast-iron pipe and fittings. ---------- ------ _ _
T in cans and other tin w are-------- -----------------W ire draw n from purchased ro d s______________
W ire w o rk ____ ____ - ------- __
--- -----C utlery and edge tools----- -------------------- -------Tools (except edge tools, m achine tools, files, and
saw s)___________ ______ ------- ------H a r d w a r e . . ---- ------------- ------ . -------------P lum b ers’ supplies_______ - - . . — . . . -------Stoves, oil burners, and heating equipm ent, not
elsewhere classified_____________ ________
Steam and hot-w ater heating apparatus and
steam fittings______
--. - . . ... - . . . ---Stam ped and enam eled w are and galvanizingFabricated stru ctu ral and ornam ental m etal
work .
__ - . ------ .
M etal doors, sash, frames, molding, and trim 2_._
Bolts, n uts, washers, and riv ets--------------- . . . Forgings, iron and steel____ . . -------------- .
W rought pipe, w elded and heavy riv e te d ..- ---Screw-machine products and wood screws ____
Steel barrels, kegs, and drum s 2 . . . . . ----------..
---------F ir e a r m s ___ . . . __________
164.5
122.5
124.0
133.9
235.5
97.6
131.3
145.6
111.5
155.1
190.1
133.4
165.3
223.9
287.9
250.3
138.2
596.6
197.2
138.1
166.8
230.0
291. 1
253.9
138.9
614.4
206.1
140.9
167.5
232.1
281.6
253.8
137.2
645.2
212.1
168.5
195.1
249.5
314.5
276.6
116.3
1065.0
Electrical m achinery
.
. . . _____________ ____
Electrical eq u ip m en t_______
. . . ...................
Radios and phonographs _________ _ ______ _
Com m unication equ ip m en t______
_______
263.3
232. 2
263.1
322.8
267.5
235.9
268.3
327.0
268.6
237.3
270.0
325.4
291.5
254.0
299.7
363.6
494.8
440.8
520.6
559.6
504.7
452.5
528.7
556.7
505.0
451.9
535.1
555.5
513.2
456.4
555.7
565.6
M achinery, except electrical . . . . . . .
---- . . .
M achinery and m achine-shop products. ---------Engines and tu rb in es_____ . .
------ -- ---------T ra c to rs 2
. . . . _____________ . . . . . . .
A gricultural m achinery, excluding tracto rs. ---M achine tools . . .
. . . . . . . .
.
. ...
M achine-tool accessories________ ____ _________
Textile m achinery____________________ _______
P um p s and pum ping eq u ip m en t--------------------T y p e w riters.. _ . . . . . .
.....
Cash registers, adding and calculating machines.
W ashing m achines, w ringers, and driers, domes
tic________________________________________
Sewing m achines, domestic and industrial. _ .
Refrigerators and refrigeration e q u ip m en t--------
213.8
218.2
349.3
177.8
153.4
200.9
253.8
118.4
284.4
80. 1
148.6
218.0
222.3
357.7
183.0
157.7
203.8
255.8
120.6
295.0
80.6
151.4
220.4
224. 5
362.9
185.3
161.0
204.3
259.1
120.6
299.7
79.9
154.5
232.2
235.1
382.6
191.4
164.0
219.4
282.1
127.0
339.9
70.7
169.9
407.0
409.8
732.4
278. 4
312.5
370.9
448.7
228.8
593.2
164.4
287.5
419.2
419.8
769. 3
287.5
324.6
382.0
456.9
236.4
630.4
165. 9
298.9
424.6
423.7
791.8
292.0
328.3
381.9
465.8
233.6
645.9
164.5
301.2
434.4
429.2
802.9
297.9
333.4
383.6
481.4
228.6
768.9
141.7
335.0
174.7 179.7 179.1 183.3 342.7 352.1 352.0 349.4
128.9 131.4 131.0 130.8 275.0 280.7 277.7 266.0
92.5 94.2 92.1 94.8 177.4 180.4 176.6 170.4
134.4 137.8 138.8 132.7 264.6 269.7 273.9 248.3
179.2 182.1 183. 5 187.9 348.0 349.7 355.3 351.8
154.8 156.4 158.2 160.4 323.0 331.4 338.1 312.7
364.6 368.7
260. 2 273.1
334.6 344.8
460. 8 472.0
614.1 609. 3
501.4 515.3
295.1 268.8
1299. 3 1404. 6
396.0 414.7
277.6 323.8
335.3 372. 4
484.4 492.9
566.5 602.0
514.6 529.6
274.8 225.0
1457. 7 2504.1
171.7 171.4 168.3 183.8 327.0 315.4 314.5 322.2
137.3 142.1 142.5 118.4 292.1 304.7 305.6 255.2
141.9 145.3 149.0 150.6 260.2 266.0 276.6 269.0
T ransportation equipm ent except autom obiles-------- 1180. 9 1240.9 1286.6 1538.3 2502.8 2645.4 2757.3
L ocom o tiv es--------------- ---------- ------------------ 518.0 525.7 526.6 561.2 1194.1 1233. 2 1218.0
Cars, electric- and steam -railroad______________ 236.3 239.1 241.4 240.8 487.1 506.4 504.2
Aircraft, and parts, excluding aircraft engines 3__ 1560.4 1607.0 1629.1 1925.1 3070. 7 3190.3 3234.6
A ircraft engines 3____________ . . --------- ------ 2288.8 2368.8 2403. 5 2912. 5 3957.0 4279. 7 4368.4
Shipbuilding and boatbuilding------- ---------------- 1232. 2 1324. 5 1405. 2 1722. 5 2724. 6 2906.6 3107.6
M otorcycles, bicycles, and p a rts .. . ----------------- 137.5 136.8 138.4 130.1 268.2 263.3 268.8
A utom obiles___ _____
3152. 7
1280.1
471.7
3627.0
5239. 2
3621.1
226.7
. ------------- -------------- -- 163.7 166.1 169.1 180.1 302.9 310.9 319.2 336.5
Nonferrous m etals and th eir p roducts-------------------Sm elting and refining, prim ary, of nonferrous
m etals
______________ ____
Alloying and rolling and draw ing of nonferrous
m etals, except alum inum ---------- . . . . -------- Clocks and w atches___ ______ _ .
------ -Jew elry (precious metals) and jewelers’ findings.
Silverware and plated w a re .------- -------- --------Lighting equ ip m en t---------- --------------------------A lum inum m anufactures.
.
.
.. . . .
Sheet-m etal w ork, no t elsewhere classified______
See footnotes a t end of table.
6 5 1 6 5 4 — 45------ 12
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
176.3 177.6 176.0 188.3 343.9 348.1 343.0 351.7
141.8 143.0 143.5 189.1 269.1 265.4 263.7 348.2
184.6
128. E
91.3
89.3
128.3
300. (
167.5
187.1
129.5
91.2
90.4
127.7
299.2
170.8
185.2
129. C
91.4
89. f
128.2
292.3
171. 5
184.9
122.4
99.0
86.7
122.0
333.0
169.7
362.3
278.5
162.9
165.8
233.1
554.0
319.7
367.0
287.5
164.4
169.5
233.2
556.0
335.4
361.7
283.7
159. 6
165.6
233.6
542.2
335. 2
340. 4
249.6
161. 3
154.4
217.6
584.5
319.9
172
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
T a b l e 3 . — Indexes of Production-Worker Employment and P ay Rolls in Manufacturing
Industries 1— C ontinued
E m ploym ent indexes
(1939 average=100)
Pay-roll indexes
(1939 average=100)
In du stry
Apr. M ar.
1945 1945
Feb.
1945
A pr.
1944
Apr. M ar.
1945 1945
Feb.
1945
Apr.
1944
Durable goods—C o n tin u ed
L um ber and tim b er basic p ro d u c ts ...
Sawmills and logging cam p s..
Planing and plywood mills . . .
104.3 106.5 107.0 113. 1 196.3 195.9 196. 5 205. 8
74.2 75.8 76.0 80.4 141. 2 140.4 140.4 149.1
94.0 96.0 97.2 102.2 166.8 168.0 170.6 171.3
F u rn itu re and finished lum ber products.
M attresses and bedsprings
F u rn itu re ___ _
W ooden boxes, other th a n cigar
Caskets and other m orticians’ goods___
W ood p reserv in g .. .
W ood, tu rn ed and shaped___
101.0 102.9 103.9 105.8 191.6 195.8 196.9 186.0
93.8 95.7 97.2 86.8 165.9 172.4 176.1 144. 5
93.7 95.8 96.8 100.1 177.8 182.3 184. 0 175. 7
105.1 106.8 107.2 110.7 210.9 214.2 211.3 209. 7
97.3 97.9 98.5 99.5 177.7 175.9 179.1 165. 5
88. i 89.2 90.4 87.4 196.6 192.4 188. 2 174. 9
95.2 97.2 97.9 98.5 176.8 180.3 180.0 171.2
Stone, clay, and glass p ro d u c ts ..
Glass and glassware
Glass products m ade from purchased glass
C em en t_____
Brick, tile, and terra cotta .
P o ttery and related p ro d u cts___
G ypsum ______
W allboard, plaster (except gypsum ), and m in
eral wool _. _
Lime 2.
M arble, granite, slate, and other products
A brasives. . . .
Asbestos products 2
Nondurable goods
Textile-mill products and other fiber m anufactures
C otton m anufactures, except smallwares
C otton smallwares
Silk and rayon goods
Woolen and w orsted m anufactures, except dye
ing and finishing.
H osiery.
...
K n itted cloth
K n itte d outerw ear and k n itte d gloves
K n itted underw ear
Dyeing and finishing textiles, including woolen
and w o rste d .. .
Carpets and rugs, wool
H ats, fur-felt . .
Ju te goods, except felts______
Cordage and tw in e ___
109.7
124.6
107.8
67. Ç
71.4
115.8
81.7
95.2 97.3 97.8 103.9 186.8
61.0 62.0 62.6 67.4 98.8
93.0 94.1 93.9 100.5 165. 3
99. 1 101. 6 102.0 107.9 190.7
86.6 88.5 89.1 95.1 165.5
86.1 87.9 88.3 94.2 147.5
76.4 78.0 78.7 79.6 137.4
62.7 63.7 64.0 65.6 115.9
88.8 90.1 90.0 93.0 174.9
120.7 123.3 123.8 133.0 231.6
A pparel and other finished textile products
M en ’s clothing, no t elsewhere classified
Shirts, collars, and nightw ear
Underwear and neckwear, m en’s ____
W ork shirts 2
Wom en’s clothing, no t elsewhere classified
Corsets and allied garm ents
M illinery
Handkerchiefs
C urtains, draperies, and bedspreads
Housefurnishings, other th a n curtains, etc
Textile bags______
103.7
90. 6
68.8
74.1
107.2
76.2
75.4
80.7
51.8
62.7
100.3
122.2
L eather and leather products
L eath er. . . .
Boot and shoe cut stock and fin d in g s...
Boots and shoes
L eather gloves and m itten s . .
T ru n k s and suitcases..
87.9 88.9 89.2 90.9 164.7
82.1 83.3 83.8 86.2 148.3
84.5 85.2 84.8 87.0 150.5
78.2 79.0 79.2 80.3 150.4
117. 2 119.5 120.1 131.6 210.6
145.2 151.8 155.4 146.9 245.8
167.7
151.1
150.1
153.6
215.1
254.8
164.3
149.7
145. 1
149. 9
208.1
257.8
154.9
147. 0
142.0
138.3
221.0
229.1
F o o d __________
Slaughtering and m eat packing
B u tte r________ . . .
Condensed and evaporated m ilk ___
Ice cream ____
F lo u r____ . . .
Feeds, p rep ared ___ ____
Cereal preparations_______
B aking__________
Sugar refining, cane . . .
Sugar, b eet____________
C onfectionery___ . . _
114.1
107.2
130.3
153.5
96.0
114. 5
137.1
125.7
110.4
108.2
38.3
112. 6l
187.3
178.2
196.3
241.1
130.8
201.0
235. 6
232.6
170.2
181. 3
58.1
198.5
189.1
188.1
190.1
227.8
125.0
204.3
241. 6
227.3
168.6
175.6
60.4
198.6
185.1
206.3
191.7
221.8
127.7
180.8
213.4
210.4
159.9
153.3
59. 5
183.4
.See faatnates a t end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
111.4
126. 5
110.8
67.6
72.0
117.6
82.4
111.3
125. 5
109.6
67.6
72.5
118.7
81.8
115.6
132.6
103. 6
72.3
76.0
125.7
87.4
193.3
206.1
189.2
114.5
124.1
188.6
140.1
193.2
207.1
192.6
108. 3
121.0
191.3
144. 6
189. 6
202.0
188.4
106.0
119.4
186.7
141.2
189. 4
208. 7
166.8
107.8
117. 3
193.2
148. 3
114.0 115.8 117.9 114.9
80.8 81.8 81. 1 89.3
70.9 74.7 75.4 66.7
277.0 279.7 277.8 280. 7
123.9 126.5 125.6 133.3
220.5
165.2
117.5
483.9
259.2
214.0
159. 8
114.7
495.0
266.5
222.1
155. 7
115. 3
486.6
263.9
207.7
171.9
98.4
461. 2
256.7
91. 4 93.2 94.0 98.6 168.3 173.0
105.0 107.1 108.2 112.5 201.8 206.5
101.6 101. 4 100.1 103.9 193.9 198. 0
72.0 73.5 74.1 76.3 134. 6 139.3
173.1
207. 3
192.1
140.0
169.8
201.3
177.6
134. 7
193.4
101.2
170.3
195.2
169.1
193.1
102.4
166. 9
191.8
167.8
192. 5
102.6
167.6
186. 2
168.6
151.3
140.0
128.2
178.9
236.1
151.3
138.3
126.8
178. 5
235.2
151. 6
131. 2
119. 0
169. 6
240.2
105.9
92.1
70.1
75.0
106. 5
78.3
76.9
84.8
52.7
60.6
105. 1
122.9
114.6
113.1
125.9
143.6
89.4
117.0
137.5
124.5
111.3
106.2
37.6
116.7
106.1 111.3 193.0 206.2 202. 6 181.0
92. 5 97.9 167.1 174. 4 170. 7 158. 2
70.2 76.8 128.8 132.9 131. 5 130.3
74.2 77.5 154.8 158.3 154.5 146.4
106.3 115.2 208.8 208. 7 208.1 203.0
78.6 81.5 143.6 157.2 154.3 132.0
77.5 81.5 132.2 136.7 137.2 136.4
83.1 79.9 125.8 160.0 155.6 109.3
53.5 63.4 96.0 99.8 101.1 108. 4
60.3 75.6 129.4 125.2 120. 2 134.9
107.7 90.2 195.4 198.9 209.3 153.0
120.1 124.4 212.9 214.1 208.3 194.8
116.7
120.3
120.1
139.1
86.1
119.4
139.8
124.6
111. 5
107.8
40.2
117.1
117.2
129.6
126. 7
139.9
93.0
112. 7
129.0
126.1
110.5
98.7
39.6
116.1
187.4
167.7
211.6
263.1
142.2
201.1
244.7
232. 5
170.4
182.5
61.6
191.8
173
T R EN D OF E M P L O Y M E N T , E A R N IN G S, AND H O URS
T a b l e 3 . — Indexes of Production-Worker Employment and P ay Rolls in Manufacturing
Industries 1— C ontinued
__________
E m ploym ent indexes
(1939 average=100)
Pay-roll indexes
(1939 average=100)
In d u stry
Apr. M ar. Feb.
1945 1945 1945
Apr.
1944
Apr. M ar.
1945 1945
Feb.
1945
Apr.
1944
Nondurable goods—C ontinued
Food—C ontinued.
Beverages, nonalcoholic______________________
M alt liquors___ . -----------------------------C anning and p re serv in g ,,. --------------------------
124.1 120.8 119.8 126.6 164.9 159.7 157.0 159.1
138.3 138. 1 138.7 133.8 206.8 200.9 200.6 192.1
75. 5 71.2 75.2 74.1 150.0 142.6 149.0 141.2
86. 7 87.6 88.1 89.4 160.4 165.2
Tobacco m anufactures__________ , ------ -C igarettes----------------- --------------- , - ..........- . , 125. 3 126.8 128.3 122.7 200.2 207.4
Cigars______ _ ------ --------- , , ------ ------ - 64.6 65.3 65.3 72.9 131.6 135.3
Tobacco (chewing and smoking) and snuff—
_ 93.3 94.8 95.0 81.7 154.6 156.9
165.3
207.6
135.4
157.3
142.7
164.2
133.0
114.8
195.2
183.4
198.2
170.0
208.3
182.3
195.3
182.8
198.0
172.6
205.8
183.7
187.6
175.1
194.9
169.2
200.6
177.1
Printing, publishing, and allied industries-------------- 99.4 100.2 100.5 101.2 141.1 142.4
N ew spapers and periodicals------------------- 91.7 92.1 91.7 92.9 120.7 120.2
--------104.0 104.8 106.0 104.9 155.5 157.2
Printing, book and jo b ------ -- -------92.4 94.2 93.6 96.1 133.1 136.9
Lithographing-------- ------------------------B o okbin d in g .. - ____ . . ------. . . - 105.2 107.2 108.5 112.3 178.9 186.0
141.1
118.3
156.5
134.1
185.3
133.5
113.8
144.4
130.1
182.8
391.3 394.1
167.8 169.5
277.1 280.2
166.7 168.0
165.9 170.7
181.2 181.8
295.6 296.7
2075. 7 2091. 6
274.7 270.7
3149. 9 3167.0
5608.1 5759.0
202.5 224.5
351.3 340.5
389.9
170.1
277.3
170.2
169.7
180.2
295.3
2019. 9
273.2
3070.0
6093.5
256.7
301.9
358.8
163.9
267.8
157.8
165.0
171.0
295.0
1434. 0
266.6
2717. 7
7559. 7
193.9
285.7
P aper and allied pro d u cts-----------------------------Paper and p u lp ------ -------- -----------------------------P aper goods, oth er------------------- , ...................
Envelopes 2_ - _____ _ -----------------------Paper b a g s,, .
------ , ---------- - ---------P aper boxes------- ------- --------- - - - -
Chemicals and allied products---------- ------------P aints, varnishes, and colors------------- .
Drugs, medicines, and insecticides. . -------------Perfumes and c o sm e tic s --------------------- -----S o a p ..
------- -- ----------------------R ayon and allied products . .
-----. - ..
Chemicals, no t elsewhere classified
Explosives and safety fuses---------- . ------- . . .
Compressed and liquefied gases------A m m unition, small-arms .
------Firew orks. . . . _ ------- -- .
----------- ' . . . .
Cottonseed oil. . . ----- ---------. . .
....
Fertilizers--------------------- ------------- - .
113.6
104.6
116.5
107.5
113.4
109.5
115.7
106.3
119.1
108.1
116.7
111.9
116.7
107.3
119.3
109.3
118.0
112.6
118.3
106.2
125.9
113.2
122.8
116.1
219.8 221.6 221.3 208.6
102.6 104.4 105.0 106.1
183.0 182.0 180.1 189.3
117.6 116.9 118.8 111.4
97.5 98.3 98.4 100.0
109.9 113.1 113.4 107.7
164.9 165.7 165.7 172.7
1357. 7 1361.1 1349.1 942.2
151.3 149.7 151.3 152.6
1581. 2 1576. 2 1544. 3 1359.0
2007. 9 2059.2 2156. 6 2648.1
95.2 107.1 121.5 101.5
144.6 143.4 133.6 139.4
192.8
182.0
194.0
170.6
199.6
180.3
Products of petroleum a n d c o a l------- . .
Petroleum refining_______ _ ___
..
-...
Coke and byproducts___________________ -. -Paving m a te ria ls...
... ...
------ --------------Roofing m aterials---- ------------ . . -----------------
126.0
126.1
100.3
66.2
117.8
126.2
126.1
101.5
62.8
117.7
126.1
125.6
102.0
60.5
118.2
121.0
117.9
105.4
60.2
119.9
230.6
227.2
184.6
124.7
222.3
223.9
220.6
182.2
119.5
213.9
223.3
218.2
185.8
118.6
216.2
206.4
199.6
178.7
111.2
207.4
. . . j --------- R ubber pro d u cts_____ . ------R ubber tires and inner tu b e s----------- --------------R ubber boots and sho es.. . . .
. - . --------------R ubber goods, other____ . . . . .
.
159.1
172.2
114.3
137.7
162.9
176.8
117.4
140.3
163.4
178. C
118.3
140.0
162.8
169.3
135.8
143.0
296.4
306.0
219.2
256.1
296.7
301.9
216.3
264.5
320.2
339.8
224.2
265.5
281.3
280.0
242.9
249.0
M iscellaneous industries_____ _ . . --------------- .. 161.8 163.4 163.1 169.3 322.2 326.3 324.6 320.1
Instrum en ts (professional and scientific) and
fire-control eq u ip m en t..
---- -- . . . . . . . 540.1 541.4 539.2 576.1 1070. 4 1068.3 1063.0 1090. 5
Photographic a p p a ra tu s.. .
. --------------------- 158.7 162.1 162.1 169.1 270.1 275.4 276.1 270.9
Optical instrum ents and ophthalm ic goods------- 200.5 202.7 202.6 219.4 347.5 354.3 350. 5 361. 5
Pianos, organs, and p a rts............. ........................... 99. C 97.5 95.8 111.5 189.3 188.0 182.4 212.7
83.5 85.3 87.4 84.0 169.4 178.3 183.7 160.1
Games, toys, and dolls------------------------ ------87.5 88.4 87.2 92.1 175.8 180.2 181.1 175.1
B u tto n s 2 -------------- ------ --------------------------Fire extinguishers . . . . . .
-------------------- 459.6 470.9 468.1 656.8 1064.7 1072.9 1061.1 1381.0
1 Indexes for th e major in d u stry groups have been adjusted to levels indicated b y final 1942 and prelim i
n a ry 1943 d ata made 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 b y the 1939 Census of M anufac
tures, b u t no t to Federal Security Agency data. T h e term “ production w orker” has been su bstituted for
the term “ wage earner” which has been used in our previous reports. T his conforms w ith the term inology
and standard definitions of classes of workers in m anufacturing industries form ulated b y the D ivision of
Statistical Standards of th e U. S. B ureau of the B udget. T he use of “ production w orker” in place of “ wage
earner” has no appreciable effect on the em ploym ent and pay-roll indexes since there is very little difference
in the definitions.
2 Revisions have been m ade as follows in th e indexes for earlier m onths:
M etal doors, sash, frames, molding, and tr im —Jan u a ry 1945 pay-roll index to 262.2.
Steel barrels, kegs, and drums.—Jan u ary 1945 em ploym ent index to 134.1.
Tractors—Jan u ary 1945 em ploym ent index to 186.2.
Aim«.—Jan u ary 1945 pay-roll index to 151.0.
Asbestos products— Jan u ary 1945 pay-roll index to 265.9.
Work shirts—Jan u ary 1945 pay-roll index to 199.8.
Envelopes— December 1944 and Jan u ary 1945 pay-roll indexes to 176.6 and 173.9.
B u tto n s— D ecember 1944 and Jan u ary 1945 pay-roll indexes to 166.4 and 178.6,
2 C om parable indexes from Jan u ary 1939 are available upon request.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
174
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
T a b l e 4 . — Estimated Number of Production Workers in Selected Nonmanufacturing
Industries 1
E stim ated num ber of production workers
(in thousands)
In d u stry
April
1945
M arch
1945
F ebruary
1945
April
1944
M ining:
A nth racite___________
B itum inous coal _____
M eta l__________ . . .
Iro n ___ ______
C opper________________
Lead and z i n c _______
Gold and silver
. .
M iscellaneous________
Telephone 2__________________
Telegraph 4 __________ ____
Electric light and power 2___ .
Street railw ays and busses 2
Hotels (year-round) 2______ _
Power laundries__________
Cleaning and dyeing________________
Class I steam railroads 5____________
W ater transportation 6_______
63.0
65.4
68.4
65.6
305
334
337
360
68.6
68.9
69.1
84.9
24.2
23.4
23.9
28.8
21.7
22.1
22.2
28.4
14.5
14.9
14.8
17.7
5.5
6.1
5. 6
5.6
2.7
2.7
2.8
3.9
404
403
407
(3)
44.4
44.8
44.9
46.0
200
201
203
201
229
230
229
231
348
352
352
353
(3)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,422
1,423
1,413
1, 412
155
152
148
119
1 T he term “ production w orker” has been su b stitu ted for the term “ wage earner” which has been used in
our previous reports. This conforms w ith the terminology and standard definitions of classes of workers
form ulated by the Division of Statistical Standards of the U. S. B ureau of the B udget. T he use of “ produc
tion w orker” in place; of “wage earner” has no appreciable effect on the em ploym ent estim ates in mining
industries since there is very little difference in th e definitions. In the power laundries and cleaning and
dyeing industries, the omission of driver-salesmen causes a significant difference. N ew series are being
prepared.
2 D ata include salaried personnel.
3 N o t available.
4 Excludes messengers, and approxim ately 6,000 employees of general and divisional headquarters,
and of cable companies. D ata include salaried personnel.
5 Source: In terstate Commerce Commission. D ata include salaried personnel.
6 Based on estim ates prepared b y the U. S. M aritim e Commission covering em ploym ent on active deepsea American-flag steam and m otor m erchant vessels of 1,000 gross tons and over. Excludes vessels under
bareboat charter to, or owned by, th e A rm y or N avy.
T
able
5 . — Indexes of Employment and P ay Rolls in Selected Nonmanufacturing
Industries
E m ploym ent indexes
(1939 average=100)
Pay-roll indexes
(1939 average=100)
In d u stry
M ining:
A n th ra c ite ______
B itum inous coal____ _ _ _____
M etal:__ _____ _ .
Iro n_____ ______ _ _
C opper---------------------------------------Lead and zinc______ .
Gold and silver___ ____ . ___
M is c e lla n e o u s ..______
Q uarrying and nonm etallic..
Crude-petroleum production i
Public utilities:
Telephone___ . . _______
Telegraph __ _____ ____
Electric light and power.
____
Street railw ays and busses
Wholesale tra d e . _ . . . . .
R etail trade . . . .
. . .
Food_______________ .
General m erchandise__
A p p a re l.. ________
F u rn itu re and housefurnishings_______
A u to m o tiv e.. . . .
L um ber and building m aterial
Hotels (year-round)3_____ _______
Power laundries. ______
Cleaning and dyeing __________ .
Class I steam railroads 4___ _
W ater transportation 3
Apr.
1945
M ar.
1945
Feb.
1945
Apr.
1944
Apr.
1945
M ar.
1945
Feb.
1945
76.1
82.3
77.8
120. 7
90.9
93.1
22.3
67.2
77. 7
82.7
79.0
90.2
78.4
118.8
92.8
95.0
22.6
69.2
76. 6
82.6
79.2
90.8
78.1
116.6
93.1
95.7
22.7
69.7
75.4
82.4
82.6
97.1
96.2
142.8
118.8
114.2
24.8
99.6
84.1
82.0
135.1
159.6
131.2
213.0
155.5
177.7
29.8
115.0
151.2
131.8
149.7
204.3
130.9
213.1
153.2
180.4
29. 5
114.4
142.5
132.8
150.2
212.6
129.7
202.4
155.3
182.4
29.9
118.0
137.0
133. 7
A pr.
1944
142.3
214.2
152.5
229.2
191.4
209.2
32.7
165.1
150.0
129.5
127.1 126.8 128.1
162.4 159.0
152.1
0
0
117.9 118.9 119.2 122.3 169.9 170.8 171.4
173.4
82.0
82.1
82.2
83.1 117.4 116.8 117.3
112.9
118. 3 118.9 118.4 119.2 174.2 175.7 178.9
164.9
94.9
95.3
95.7
95.1 144.4 141. 5 141.5
134.0
96.8
99.3
97.2
97.7 132.0 132.9 130.5
124.3
103.6 105.7 106.7 106.9 139.9 141.0 141.6
134.4
132.4 117.5 111.4 110.9 143.5 147.5 141.8
134.6
106. 7 111.0 102.8 111.4 148.2 153. 5 140.6
144.8
61.1
62.0
61.7
63.3
88.7
87.4
86. 7
85.5
68.5
68.6
67.6
65.2 106.2 104. 3 103.9
93.8
90.4
89.4
88.6
89.4 135.6 131.5 130.4
124.6
108.0 109.0 109.6 109. 2 165.6 166.7 167.9
154. 5
104.7 105.5 105.4 109.5 162.5 162.2 159.4
155.7
119.7 117.4 112.8 120.7 194.0 192.3 175.9
179.9
143.9 144.1 143.1 143.0
0
0
0
0
295.5 290.4 281.6 226.1 729.2 724.7 708.5
524.6
1 Does no t include well drilling or rig building.
2 N o t available.
3 Cash paym ents only; additional value of board, room, and tips, no t included.
4 Source: In terstate Commerce Commission.
5 Based on estimates prepared b y th e U . S. M aritim e Commission covering em ploym ent on active deepsea American-flag steam and m otor m erchant vessels of 1,000 gross tons and over. Excludes vessels under
bareboat charter to, or owned b y, th e A rm y or N avy,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TREND OF EM PLOY M ENT, EARNINGS, AND HOURS
175
AVERAGE EARNINGS AND HOURS
Average weekly earnings and hours and average hourly earnings for
February, March, and April 1945, where available, are given in
table 6 for both manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries.
(For trend of earnings since 1939, see page 109 of this issue.)
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
average hours worked per week and average hourly earnings shown in
this 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 indi
cate the general movement of earnings and hours over the period
shown. The average weekly hours and hourly earnings for the man
ufacturing groups are weighted arithmetic means of the averages for
the individual 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 com
puted by multiplying the average weekly hours by the corresponding
average hourly earnings.
T a b l e 6 . — Hours
and Earnings in Manufacturing and Nonmanufacturing Industries
M A N U FACTURIN G
Average weekly
earnings 1
Average weekly
hours 1
Average hourly
earnings i
Apr. M ar. Feb.
1945 1945 1945
A pr. M ar. Feb.
1945 1945 1945
A pr. M ar. Feb.
1945 1945 1945
In d u stry
Cents Cents Cents
45.4 104.5 104.4 104.3
46.8 113.9 114. 0 113. 9
43. 4 89.9 89.6 89.2
45.2
46.5
43.2
45.4
46.7
43.5
52. 07 52. 09 51.56
47.0
47.1
46.9 110.8 110.7 109.8
56.10
54. 00
52. 72
53. 84
42.35
41.73
51.90
44. 94
54.58
53.16
52. 79
52. 96
43.79
41.87
51. 41
45. 37
47.1
48.0
47.5
46.8
47.2
45. 1
47. 2
45.9
47.0
48.4
47.4
46.9
46.7
45.6
48.1
46.2
46.3
48.1
47.7
46.5
47.6
45.8
47.7
46.6
47. 36 47. 35 47.58
47. 87 47.61 47. 23
50. 07 49. 97 50. 06
47.4
47. 2
46.6
47.3
47.6
46.6
47.4 100.4 100.1 100.3
47.6 100.5 100.1 99.2
47.2 107.5 107.2 106.1
All m anufacturing--------- _ ------------------------ $47.16 $47. 43 $47. 37
D urable goods. ----------------------------------- 52. 99 53. 25 53. 30
N ondurable goods_____________________ 38. 81 38. 95 38. 69
Durable goods
Iron and steel and th eir p ro d u cts----------------B last furnaces, steel works, and rolling
m ills___•___ ___
...
- -----G rav-iron and semisteel castings------------M alleable-iron castings 2----------------Steel c astin g s.. . ---- ----------------------------Cast-iron pipe and fittin g s--------------------T in cans a n d other tin w are-------------------W irew ork . ------------------C utlery and edge tools-------------------Tools (except edge tools, m achine tools,
files, and saws) ______ _______ _____ _
H ardw are___ .
----------- ---------. . . -Plum bers’ supplies ______ _____ ____ ___
Stoves, oil burners, and heating equip
m ent, no t elsewhere classified_________
Steam a n d hot-w ater heating apparatus
and steam fittings__________ .
. . .
Stam ped and enam eled w are and galva
nizing...
_________________ - -- - Fabricated stru ctu ral a n d ornam ental
m etalw ork______ ______
. . ----M etal doors, sash, frames, molding and
trim 2___ _________ ________ ____ . . .
Bolts, n u ts, w ashers, and rivets. ----------Forgings, iron and steel------------------------Screw-machine products and wood screws.
Steel barrels, kegs, and drum s s. . . _____
F irearm s.-------- ---------- ------------------------
See footnotes on p. 179.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
56. 64
53.13
52.37
53.81
41.82
41.19
50. 78
44.66
120.3
110.8
111. 2
114.9
88.9
91.2
107.7
97.7
119.5
111.6
111.3
114.7
91.0
91.5
108.1
97.5
118.1
110.6
110.5
113.8
91.9
91.5
107.9
97.4
49. 09 48. 76 49. 27
46.5
46.6
47.1 105.5 104.7 104.5
49. 87 49. 32 49.70
47.4
47.2
47.7 105.1 104. 5 104.3
47. 93 48. 71 49.18
45.7
46.2
46.6 104.8 105.4 105.6
53. 43 52. 29 53.58
47.3
46.5
47.6 112.9 112.5 112.4
53. 76
52. 21
61.62
52.44
41.90
59.96
47.4
48.1
48.1
48.4
45.6
44.7
48.2
48.5
48.0
49.0
41.9
46.6
48.1
47.7
48.7
49.2
43.7
46.4
53. 27
51.13
61.71
51.73
46.13
57.56
53. 54
50. 49
62. 73
52. 38
43. 36
59.26
112.4
106.8
128.4
106.8
101.5
128.7
111.6
107.3
128.5
106.9
99.9
128.7
111.3
105.9
128.9
106.4
99.0
127.8
176
T able
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
6 . — Hours
1945
and Earnings in Manufacturing and Nonmanufacturing Industries —
Continued
M ANUFACTURING—Continued
Average weekly
earnings 1
Average weekly
hours 1
Average hourly
earnings 1
Apr. M ar. Feb.
1945 1945 1945
A pr. M ar. Feb.
1945 1945 1945
Apr. M ar. Feb.
1945 1945 1945
In d u stry
Durable goods—C ontinued
Electrical m achinery___ _______ ______ _ . . .
Electrical equipm ent
_ _ _________ . .
R adios and phonographs
____________
Com m unication eq u ip m e n t-. .
M achinery, except electrical _______________
M achinery and m achine-shop p ro d u c ts .. .
Engines and turbines 2_________________
T ractors 3__________ _____
A gricultural m achinery, excluding tract o r s _____ . . .
_____ ________ . . .
M achine to o ls2______ . . .
M achine-tool accessories________________
Textile m achinery. _ _____ __
T y p ew riters_____________
Cash registers, adding a n d calculating
m achines________ . . .
W ashing machines, wringers and driers,
dom estic_________ ______
Sewing machines, domestic and in d u strial.
Refrigerators and refrigeration equipm ent
T ransportation equipm ent, except automobiles .
Locomotives. .
Cars, electric- and steam -railroad . _
A ircraft and parts, excluding aircraft engines____________________ ____
Aircraft engines 2 . . .
Shipbuilding and boatbuilding 2___
M otorcycles, bicycles, a n d p a rts ________
A utom obiles_______
.
$49. 84 $50. 02 $49. 85
51.91 52. 51 52.31
43. 22 43.04 43. 05
48.04 47.18 47.31
46.7
46.9
46.1
46.1
46.6
47.1
45.9
45.7
Cents Cents C ents
46. 7 106.8 107.3 106.7
47.0 111. 1 112.0 111. 3
46.3 93. 5 93.4 93.1
45.9 103.8 103.0 102.8
55. 51
54.82
58.28
52.86
56. 07
55.06
59. 91
52.98
56.13
55. 02
60.70
53.11
48.1
48.2
47.4
45.6
48.6
48.7
48.0
45.9
48.8
48.7
48.4
46.2
115.3
113. 5
123.3
115.8
115.3
113.0
125.1
115.5
115.1
112.9
125.5
114.9
54.18
59. 53
60. 86
50. 33
49. 40
54. 68
60.49
61.70
51.03
49. 56
54.12
60. 34
61.82
50. 68
49. 52
47.0
50.2
49.4
49.3
48.6
47. 5
50.9
49.8
49.9
49.0
47.3
51.0
50.5
49.4
49.1
115. 3
118.7
123.3
102.6
101.7
115.1
118.8
123.2
102.8
101.1
114.4
118.3
122. 7
102.7
100.8
58. 70 59. 91 59.12
48.0
48.7
48.3 122.9 123.7 123.0
50. 45 48. 49 49.23
57. 44 57. 99 57. 89
52. 66 52.58 52.76
46.6
51.0
46.1
45.5
51.4
46.1
46.8 108.3 106.6 105.1
51.6 113.2 113.6 113.2
46.6 114.2 113.9 113.3
60.86 61. 22 61. 56
65. 42 66. 58 65. 65
54.16 55. 71 55.03
46.8
47.7
45.5
47.1
48.7
46.5
47.2 130.0 130. 0 130.4
48.7 137.2 136.6 134.9
45.6 118.9 119.8 120.7
55.69
59.62
64. 89
53. 97
46.8
45.8
47.1
48.8
47. 1
47.1
47.0
48.7
47.3
47.4
47.1
49.2
56. 25
62. 29
64. 63
53. 25
56. 22
62. 67
65.12
53. 73
119.3
130.0
138.4
110.6
119.4
132. 1
137.6
109.3
118.9
132.3
138.2
109.3
58. 21 59.01 59.49
45.5
46.1
46.5 128.0 .128.0 127.9
50. 94 51.13 50. 76
47.1
47.3
47.1 108.1 108.1 107.8
50. 42 49.61 49.08
47.1
46.5
45.9 107. 7 ■106. 7 106.9
56. 39 56. 40 56.14
45. 02 46.06 45. 57
48.9
46.3
48.7
47.1
48.8 115.4 115. 8 115.2
47.0 97.2 Q7.9 97.1
45.78
48. 98
47. 79
50. 99
44. 68
48. 65
47.63
51.15
45.7
47.0
45.0
47.1
46.2
47.5
45.3
47.4
45.0 99.3 99.0 98. 3
46.9 104.1 104.3 103.8
45.3 105.6 105.4 105. 2
47.3 108.3 108.0 108.0
L um ber and tim b er basic products
Sawmills and logging cam ps__
Planing and plywood m ills_____________
35.18 34. 38 34. 40
34. 05 33.15 33.11
38. 70 38. 27 38. 38
43.6
43. 1
45.2
43.1
42.5
44.9
43.3
42.6
45.5
80.7
79.0
85.5
79.8
78.0
85.1
79.4
77.7
84.4
F u rn itu re and finished lum ber products
F u rn itu re. _ .
Caskets and other m orticians’ goods
W ood preserving 3__
37.81
38. 67
41.94
35. 35
37. 99
38. 78
41. 32
34.10
37. 95
38. 94
41.90
33.12
44.3
44.2
46.3
44.8
44.7
44.7
'46. 0
44.2
44.8
44.8
46.4
43.0
85.3
87.8
90.8
78.6
85.0
87.4
90.2
77.2
84.7
87.2
90.6
77.0
Stone, clay, and glass products
Glass and glassware .
Glass products m ade from purchased glass
Cem ent
Brick, tile, and terra cotta
P o ttery and related products
G ypsum _______
Lime 2 3
M arble, granite, slate, and other products
A brasives .
Asbestos p ro d u c ts 2
41.36
41.74
36.31
45.19
35. 90
37.81
44. 66
39. 75
43. 07
48. 96
48.64
40. 77
41.27
36.27
43. 10
34. 69
37. 78
45. 77
38.06
39. 95
49. 74
48.85
40.10
40. 74
35.71
42. 25
34.06
36. 56
44. 96
37. 05
39. 98
49.08
48. 71
44.5
42.8
44.3
47.6
43. 3
42.0
48.1
49.6
45.6
48.1
48.0
44.2
42. 8
44.0
46.0
42.3
42.3
48.5
48. 1
43. 5
48.5
48.5
43.8 92.9 92.3 91.6
42.4 97.8 96.8 96.0
43.4 82.0 81.6 81.9
45.5 95.0 93.7 92.8
41.8 81.9 81.4 80.8
41.1 90.7 90. 7 90.1
47.9 92.6 94.4 93.8
47.3 80.6 79.1 78.6
43.4 94.6 91.7 91.6
48.4 101.8 102.5 101.4
48.6 101.3 100. 7 100.2
30.84
27.70
35. 43
29.83
31.07
27. 79
36. 21
30. 33
30.88
27. 63
35. 66
30.17
41.9
42.3
43.6
41.6
42.4
42.5
44.6
42.5
42.3
42.4
44.2
42.4
Nonferrous m etals and th eir products
Sm elting and refining, prim ary, of nonferrous m etals . _
Alloying and rolling and draw ing of nonferrous m etals, except alum inum . .
Clocks and w atches
Jew elry (precious m etals) and jewelers’
findings3__
Silverware and plated w are____
Lighting e q u ip m e n t3. .
A lum inum m an ufactures....
46. 07
49. 53
47. 73
51.20
Nondurable goods
Textile-mill products and other fiber m anufactures_____
C otton m anufactures, except smallwares
C otton smallwares. .
Silk and rayon goods...
See footnotes on p. 179
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
73.5
65.5
81. 5
71.6
73.3
65.4
81.4
71.3
73.1
65.2
80.8
71.1
177
TREND OF EM PLOY M ENT, EARNINGS, AND HOURS
T a b l e 6 . — H ou rs a n d E a rn in gs in M an u factu rin g an d N on m an u factu rin g In d u stries —
Continued
MANUFACTURING—Continued
Average weekly
earnings 1
Average weekly
hours 1
Average hourly
earnings 1
A pr. M ar. Feb.
1945 1945 1945
Apr. M ar. Feb.
1945 1945 1945
A pr. M ar. Feb.
1945 1945 1945
in d u stry
Nondurable goods—C ontinued
Textile-m ill products, etc.—C ontinued.
W oolen and w orsted m anufactures, ex
cept dyeing a n d finishing-------------------H osiery------- ---------------------------------------K n itte d cloth 2____
- - - - - - -- ----K n itte d outerw ear and k n itte d gloves----_ ... K n itte d underw ear. _ _ --------■ 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----- ------ ----------------
Cents Cents Cents
86.5 86.2 85.8
78.4 77.8 77.9
76.4 76.6 76.1
79.4 79.5 78.1
68.6 67.7 67.5
$36. 52 $36.95 $36. 79
29.83 29. 96 30. 07
33.10 33.61 33. 21
32. 47 32. 45 31.77
28. 07 28. 10 27. 78
42.2
38.0
43.3
40.5
40.9
42.9
38.5
44.0
40.3
41.4
42.9
38.6
43.6
40.1
41.0
35. 55
41.48
43.18
35. 22
34.13
35.81
41.39
46. 94
35. 49
34. 06
35. 73
40. 54
46.18
35. 47
33.79
45.4
43.7
39.7
44.9
45.2
45.7
44.1
42.2
45.0
45.3
45.6 78.5 78.4 78.3
43.7 95.2 94.0 93.1
41.8 108.7 110.9 110. 3
45.1 78.4 78.8 78.7
45.5 75.3 75.0 74.2
Apparel and other finished textile p ro d u c ts.__
M en’s clothing, not elsewhere classified...
Shirts, collars, and n ightw ear----------------U nderw ear and neckw ear, m en’s-----------W ork shirts 2____
_____ . . . . . . -----W om en’s clothing, no t elsewhere classi
fied 2________________________________
Corsets and allied garm ents___ . ---------M illinery________________ ___________
H andkerchiefs_______________ _______
C urtains, draperies, and b ed sp read s.. . . .
H ousefurnishings, other th a n curtains,
____________________
etc.3. _____
Textile bags____________ ____ _______
32. 64
34. 90
26. 31
27. 99
21.10
34.06
35. 65
26. 59
28. 21
21. 25
33. 41
34. 69
26.15
27. 78
21.23
37.8
39.0
37.8
37.7
36.8
39.0
40.0
38.7
38.1
37.0
38.8
39.7
38.2
37.8
37.4
41.15
30.38
37.86
24.37
27. 58
43.71
30. 92
45. 88
24.89
27. 51
42.70
30. 77
45. 56
24. 84
26. 64
36.4
39.6
31.4
37.0
37.2
37.8
40.4
35.2
37.8
37.3
37.6 109.9 112.2 110.6
40.7 76.9 76.8 75.7
35. 5 99.0 104.5 103.5
38.2 65.7 65.8 64.9
36.7 73.5 73.4 72.7
33.66 32.70 33.59
30.54 30.51 30. 37
41.9
42.4
40.7
42.3
41.8
42. 2
80.3
72.0
80.4
72.1
80.4
72.0
L eather and leather p ro d u cts. -----------------L e a th e r... . . . .
------------- ---------Boot and shoe cut stock and findings___
_________ . . .
Boots and shoes___ . .
Leather gloves and m itte n s____ ___ . .
T ru n k s and suitcases___________________
35. 74
45. 21
35. 94
34.05
30. 74
35. 52
36. 00
45. 45
35. 58
34. 46
31.03
35.15
35. 23
44.69
34.69
33. 56
29.89
34.71
42.0
46.4
43.6
41.1
37.6
41.8
42.5
46.5
43.0
41.8
38.2
41.9
42.2
46.3
42.6
41.5
37.5
42.7
85.1
97.5
83.7
82.3
82.0
84.9
84.8
97.7
83.8
82.0
81.4
82.6
83. 5
96.9
82.6
80.7
79.8
80. 7
Food ------ -- . . .
-------------. ..
Slaughtering and m eat packing *------------B u tte r____ ____________ . . ---Condensed and evaporated m ilk 2_______
_____
. . -----Ic e c r e a m ...
....
Flour 2______________ . _______________
Cereal preparations____________________
Baking 2
___________________________
Sugar refining, cane____________ ________
Sugar, b e et________________ . . . ---- . . .
Confectionery 2________________________
Beverages, nonalcoholic__________ _____
M alt liquors__________________________
Canning and preserving ___________ . .
39.18
42. 62
36. 08
39. 33
40. 75
44.22
47.00
38.86
40. 33
40. 37
31.29
35. 05
52. 92
32.10
38.95
42. 94
34. 67
38.41
40. 23
43. 33
47. 45
38. 51
40.81
38.69
31. 23
34. 97
51.45
32.28
38.69
42.80
35.19
37. 40
40.00
43. 21
46. 35
38.18
38.94
37.65
31.12
34. 44
51.15
32.05
45.0
45.9
47.5
51. 2
47.2
50.1
48.1
45.5
46.5
39.9
41.0
43. 5
45.9
40.9
45.1
46.3
46.1
50.6
46.8
49.7
48.0
45.5
47.7
39.5
41.5
43.3
44.9
41.3
44.9 87.0 86.4 86.1
46.8 93.0 93.0 91.7
46. 5 74.1 73. 3 74. 2
50.0 76.8 75.9 74.8
46.2 82.9 82. 5 82.2
49.6 88.4 87.3 87.0
47.4 97.7 98.8 97.7
45.2 85.3 84.6 84.3
46.0 86.6 85. 5 84. 7
38.2 101.2 98.0 98.6
41.8 76.5 75.3 74.6
42.7 80.7 80.5 80.4
44.8 115.0 114.2 113.9
40.7 79.1 78.8 79.4
Tobacco m anufactures_______________
___
C igarettes___________ ________________
Cigars_____
. .
_ ______ _____
Tobacco (chewing and smoking) and snuff.
31.22
33. 93
29.10
28.85
31.80
34. 73
29. 6C
28.82
31.71
34. 43
29.61
28. 82
42.3
43.2
41.4
41.7
42.9
44.1
42.2
41.4
43.0
44.0
42.3
41.6
73.8
78.6
70.0
69.2
74.1
78.7
70.1
69.6
73.7
78.2
69.9
69.3
Paper and allied products__________________
P aper and p u lp ... ____________________
E nv elo p es3. . ______. . . . . . .
. -------Paper bags______ . . ________ _______
Paper b o x e s _________
______ . -------
40.63
43.95
38. Of
35.81
36.30
40. 35
43. 6C
37. 66
36.08
36.01
40. 05
43. oa
37.82
35. 5(
36.06
46.5
48.8
44.9
43.8
43.7
46.3
48.5
44.6
44.6
43.6
46.3
48.2
45.0
43.9
44.0
87.4
90.1
84.8
82.3
83.1
87.1
89.9
84.4
82.1
82.5
86.5
89.1
84.0
8i. 4
82.0
Printing, publishing, and allied industries---Newspapers and periodicals__________ ..
P rinting, book and jo b ... ______________
Lithographing 2____ . . . _______ _______
46.50
50. 6(
44.96
48.40
46. 58
50.15
45.11
48.70
45.74
49.39
44.4(
48.11
41.2
38.7
42.6
44.3
41.6
38.7
43.1
44.9
41.0
38.2
42.5
44.3
112.9
128.8
106.1
109.0
112.1
127.5
105.7
108. 5
111.5
127.1
104.9
108.6
Chemicals and allied p ro d u cts________ _____
P aints, varnishes, and colors____________
Drugs, medicines, and insecticides. ____
Soap
.................................
........
R ayon and allied products
______
Chemicals, no t elsewhere classified______
See footnotes on p. 179.
44. 77
47.91
35.8!
48.46
40.19
53.83
44. 78
47. 51
36.41
49.44
39.18
53.78
44.27
47.29
36.48
49.11
38.72
53.63
45.7
48.1
42.7
48.1
43.3
45.9 45.5 98.0 97.5 97.2
48. C 47.6 99.8 99.3 99. 5
83.8 S 4 . 2
43.1 43.2 84.;
48.7 48.7 100.8 101.6 100.9
42. ( 42.1 92.8 92.0 92.0
47.C 47.3 113. S 113.7 113.4
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4 7. a
86.2
88.5
69.7
73.8
57.2
87.4
88. 5
68.8
74.0
57.3
86.2
86. 7
68.7
73.9
56.7
178
T
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
able
6 . — Hours
1945
and Earnings in M anufacturing and Nonmanufacturing Industries —
C o n tin u e d
M ANUFACTURING—Continued
Average weekly
earnings 1
Average weekly
hours 1
Average hourly
earnings 1
In d u stry
A pr. M ar. Feb.
1945 1945 1945
A pr. M ar. Feb. A pr.
1945 1945 1945 1945
M ar.
1945
Feb.
1945
Nondurable goods— C ontinued
Chemicals a n d allied products—C ontinued.
Explosives and safety fu se s.. . _
A m m unition, sm all-arm s.. .
Cottonseed oil________ . . .
Fertilizers____ _ .
$47.18 $47. 63 $46.41
45.12 45. 51 44.96
28. 88 28.45 28.64
33.07 32. 79 31.12
44.9
45.8
51.5
48.2
45.3
46.3
51.5
48.4
Cents Cents Cents
44.4 105.0 105.1 104.6
46.0 98.6 98.3 97. 7
52.4 56.1 55.3 54.6
46.3 68.6 67.8 67.5
Products of petroleum and c o a l.. . _
Petroleum refining_____ ____
Coke and b y p ro d u c ts ... _ . . .
Roofing m aterials. ___
___
58. 30
61.20
50. 25
48. 50
56.65
59.43
49. 00
46.72
56. 58
59.14
49. 79
47.04
48.5
48.4
48.4
49.9
47.4
47.3
47.1
48.7
47.3 120.3 119. 5 119. 6
47.1 126.8 126.0 126.1
47.5 104.3 104.1 104.8
49.1 97.3 95.9 95.7
R ubb er p ro d u cts____________
R u b b er tires and inner tu b es _. _
R u b b er boots and shoes. _____
R u b b er goods, other „ . . .
___
51.93
59. 75
43.07
43.63
50. 62
57.29
41.42
44.26
54. 40
64.04
42.59
44.42
45.7
46.3
45.6
45.1
45.3
45.3
44.0
45.6
47.3 113.6 111. 7 114.9
48.7 129.4 126.0 131.4
45.5 94.5 94.1 93. 6
45.9 96.8 97.1 96.7
M iscellaneous in d u s tr ie s .___
In stru m en ts (professional and scientific)
and fire-control equipm ent
Pianos, organs, and p a rts __________
45.49 45.62 45. 43
45.8
46.1
46.0
57. 67 57. 36 57. 31
46. 23 46. 62 46.11
49.8
45.2
49.9
45.5
49.8 115.9 115.1 115.2
45.0 102.6 102.8 102.9
$45. 72 $48. 76 $48. 68
43.44 52. 26 53. 89
47. 47 47.05 46. 74
41.98 40.26 39. 27
53.89 54. 31 54.93
39.7
36.6
45.6
48.0
45.2
41.4
43.8
45.0
46.5
46.2
41. 7
45.1
45.0
45.5
46.4
(5)
37. 33
50. 08
48. 65
40.60
37.20
49. 77
48.81
39. 75
37. 23
49. 76
50.28
(5)
44.8
43.7
51.0
42.8
44.7
44.2
51.2
42.5 G )
95.1 93.8
44.7 83.3 83.2 83.2
44. 0 113.8 112.3 112.2
51.5 95.6 94.7 96.5
44. 51
27.69
32.14
22. 83
29.05
39. 54
43.63
39.04
23. 99
28. 98
33.41
64. 32
47.11
54.42
43. 51
27.21
31.76
22.37
29.03
38.65
42.80
38.05
23.97
28. 80
34. 03
66. 40
47.39
54. 49
43.45
27. 32
31.44
22. 52
28. 77
38. 75
43. 23
37.98
24.07
28.31
32.28
64.03
45.81
52. 89
43.2
39.5
40.1
34.2
35.8
44.4
46.6
43.8
44.3
43.8
43.9
(6>
(=)
40.0
42.9
39.3
39.9
34.5
35.9
44.1
46.4
43.5
44.8
43.8
44.3
<•>
(»)
40.0
42.8 103.1 101.6 101.3
39.7 76.9 75.9 75.6
39.9 75.9 75.2 75.2
35.1 65.3 64.1 63.5
36.5 81.6 81.5 79.0
44.2 89.6 87.3 86.8
46.9 94.0 93.6 93.5
43.3 89.8 88.9 88.9
44.5 53.3 52.9 53. 7
43.4 66.3 66.0 65.3
43.4 76.9 77.5 75.8
(5)
G)
(5)
(5)
(8)
G)
(5)
(5)
39.1 136.0 136.3 135.2
99.3
99.0
98 8
NON MANUFACTURING
M ining:
A nthracite______________________
B itum inous c o a l..____ ___________
M etal___________ _____ ____ : _____
Q uarrying and nonm etallic_______
Crude-petroleum production 2_____
Public utilities:
Telephone_______________________
Telegraph 8______________________
Electric light and pow er__________
Street railw ays a n d busses________
Trade:
Wholesale 4____'_________ ______
R etail__________________ ____ ____
F ood________________________
General m erchandise__________
A pparel______________________
F u rn itu re and housefurnishings.
A utom otive__________________
Lum ber and building m aterials.
Hotels (year-round) 7___ _____ ________
Power laundries____________
Cleaning and dyeing________
Brokerage__________________
Insurance__________________
P rivate building construction.
See footnotes on p. 179.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cents
115.3
118.3
104.0
87.4
119.1
Cents
117.9
119.7
104.2
86.8
117.5
Cents
116.4
119.0
103. 5
86.0
118.3
TREND OF EM PLOY M ENT, EARNINGS, AND HOURS
179
C iv ilia n L a b o r F o rc e , M ay 1 9 4 5
THE civilian labor force increased by 100,000 persons between April
and May 1945 to a total of 52,030,000, according to the Bureau of
the Census Monthly Report on the Labor Force. Employment
increased by 140,000, while the volume of unemployment declined
by 40,000 to a level of 730,000.
The increase in employment between April and May was the result
of divergent movements in agricultural and nonagricultural employ
ment. A seasonal gain of 200,000 in farm employment more than
offset a decline of 60,000 in nonfarm employment.
Unfavorable weather conditions in many farm areas during the
May 1945 Census week (6th to 12th) was the dominant factor behind
the unusually small increase in agricultural employment between
April and May this year. The addition of approximately 200,000
women to the agricultural working force brought the total number of
women working on farms to 1,500,000—about equal to the level of
the same month in 1944; men totaled 6,450,000 or 640,000 less than
in May 1944.
The relatively slight change in nonagricultural employment between
April and May 1945 corresponds closely to the situation between these
Footnotes to Table 6:
1 These figures are based on reports from cooperating establishm ents covering both full- and part-tim e
employees who w orked during a n y p art of one p ay period ending nearest the 15th of the m onth. As not
all reporting firms furnish m an-hour data, average hours and average hourly earnings for individual in d u s
tries are based on a slightly smaller sample th a n are weekly earnings. D ata for th e current and im m edi
ately preceding m onths are subject to revision.
2 Effective Jan u ary 1945 the term “ production w orker” has been su b stitu ted for “ wage earner.” Since
there is only a slight difference in their definitions there is no appreciable effect on the em ploym ent and
pay-roll data; however, noticeable differences in averages of hours and earnings occurred in a few industries.
For these, th e Jan u a ry 1945 averages comparable w ith th e current d ata relating to “ production w orkers”
are listed below only for those series of averages' affected.
Condensed and evaporated milk.— 49.6 hours and 74.6 cents.
Flour.—87.5 cents.
Baking.—$38.02 and 83.9 cents..
For several other industries, some current averages are not comparable w ith those previously published.
T his is in p a rt caused b y th e change from “ wage earner” to “production w orker” . For these industries,
the Jan u ary 1945 averages comparable w ith the current d ata relating to “ production worker” are listed
below only for those series of averages affected.
Malleable-iron castings.—48.0 hours and 109.8 cents.
M etal doors, sash, frames, molding, and trim .—47.1 hours and 109.8 cents.
Engines and turbines.—$60.15 and 47.4 hours.
Machine tools.—51.0 hours.
Aircraft engines.—46.7 hours and 133.7 cents.
Shipbuilding and boatbuilding.—48.1 hours.
Jewelry (precious metals) and jewelers’ findings.—$44.30 and 97.1 cents.
Lim e.—78.4 cents.
Asbestos products.—$48.69, 49.0 hours, and 99.4 cents.
Knitted cloth.—75.5 cents.
Work shirts.—$20.80.
W omen’s clothing, not elsewhere classified.—$41.13 and 108.4 cents.
Confectionery.—74.4 cents.
Lithographing.—$48.59 and 108.7 cents.
Crude-petroleum production.—118.4 cents.
3 Revisions have been m ade as follows in the d ata for earlier months:
Steel barrels, kegs, and drums.—Jan u ary 1945 to 43.2 hours.
Tractors.—J a n u a ry 1945 to $53.44 and 46.6 hours.
Lighting equipment.—M ay, June, and October, 1942 to 85.0, 88.2, and 92.2 cents, respectively; October
1942 to $40.74. Com parable averages for June 1942 are $38.69, 43.6 hours, and 89.4 cents. Com plete
series from Jan u ary 1939 available upon request.
Wood preserving.—Jan u ary 1945 to $33.38 and 43.2 hours.
Lim e.—Jan u ary 1945 to $36.35 and 46.3 hours.
Housefurnishings, other than curtains, etc.—Jan u ary 1945 to $32.50.
Envelopes.—December 1944 and Jan u ary 1945 to $37.91 and $37.92.
4 Corrections in annual average hourly earnings shown in mimeographed release LS 45-3061:
Slaughtering and meat packing.—1943 average should be 87.2 cents instead of 78.2 cents.
Wholesale trade.—1941 average should be 79.3 cents instead of 70.3 cents.
5 N ot available.
6 Excludes messengers and approxim ately 6,000 employees of general a nd divisional headquarters and
of cable companies.
7 Cash paym ents only; additional value of board, room, and tips, not included.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
180
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
months in 1943. The sharp decline between April and May 1944
reflected the fact that the Census enumeration in April 1944 referred
to the employment status during Easter week, when many teen-age
youths were on temporary jobs. The level of nonagricultural employ
ment in May 1945 was approximately the same as it was a year pre
vious—the gain among women during the year being about equal to
the loss among men.
Between May 1944 and May 1945 the size of the armed forces in
creased by about 1 million.
C ivilia n L abor Force in the U n ited States C lassified b y E m p lo ym en t S tatu s a n d b y S ex,
A p r i l a n d M a y 1 9 4 0 -4 5 1
[Source: U . S. D epartm ent of Commerce, Bureau of the Census]
E stim ated n u m b er (in thousands) of persons 14 years of age and o v e r2
Item
1945
M ay
1944
1943
1942
1941
1940
'
April M ay April M ay April M ay A pril M ay April M ay A pril
T otal civilian labor force- _ 52,030 51,930 52,840 52,060 53, 550 52, 540 54,340
U n em p lo y m en t3____
730
770
880
770
920
950 2,310
E m p lo y m en t___ ____ 51,300 51,160 51,960 51,290 52, 630 51, 590 52,030
N onagriculturaL _. 43,350 43, 410 43,360 43, 790 43, 720 43, 720 42,980
A gricultural_____ 7,950 7, 750 8, 600 7, 500 8,910 7,870 9,050
53, 850 53,880 53,090 53, 890
2,740 5,120 5,810 7,490
51,110 48, 760 47, 280 46,400
42, 690 39, 550 38,870 36,480
8,420 9, 210 8,410 9,920
53,310
7,800
45, 510
36, 530
8,980
Males
Civilian labor force______
U n e m p lo y m en t3 ___
E m ploym ent. ..
N onagriculturaL _A g ricu ltu ral.........
33, 790 33,840 34, 910 34, 880 36, 260 35,990 39, 820 39,710 40,270 40, 230 40, 640 40,220
430
430
420
440
530
520 1,460 1,890 3,700 4,310 5, 550 5,970
33, 360 33,410 34,490 34,440 35, 730 35,470 38, 360 37,820 36, 570 35, 920 35,090 34, 250
26, 910 26, 940 27,400 27, 750 28, 520 28, 680 30, 740 30, 330 28,610 28,180 26,220 25,960
6, 450 6,470 7, 090 6,690 7, 210 6, 790 7,620 7,490 7, 960 7, 740 8, 870 8,290
Females
C ivilian labor force___ _ 18, 240
U n em p lo y m en t3____
300
E m p lo y m en t. _____ 17,940
N onagriculturaL. _ 16,440
A gricultural_____ 1,500
18, 090 17,930 17,180 17, 290 16, 550 14, 520 14,140
340
460
330
390
430
850
850
17, 750 17, 470 16, 850 16,900 16,120 13,670 13, 290
16,470 15,960 16, 040 15, 200 15,040 12, 240 12,360
1,280 1,510
810 1,700 1,080 1,430
930
1 E stim ates for period prior to N ovem ber 1943 revised A pr. 24, 1944.
2 All d ata exclude persons in institutions.
3 Includes persons on public emergency projects prior to Ju ly 1943.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
13, 610
1,420
12,190
10, 940
1,250
12,860
1,500
11, 360
10, 690
670
13,250
1,940
11,310
10, 260
1,050
13, 090
1,830
11,260
10, 570
690
Recent Publications o f Labor Interest
J u ly 1 9 4 5
Coal Industry
By W. H. Y oung an d others.
W ashington 25, U. S. D e p a rtm e n t of th e In te rio r, B u reau of M ines, 1944.
86 pp., ch arts; processed.
(M ineral in d u stry surveys, M ineral m a rk e t
re p o rt No. 1238.)
Gives salient production, em ploym ent, labor p ro d u c tiv ity , a n d m ech an izatio n
statistics, fo r th e U n ited S tates.
C o a l m i n i n g : R e p o r t o f th e T e c h n ic a l A d v is o r y C o m m itte e .
L ondon, M in istry of
Fuel a n d Pow er, 1945. 149 pp., diagram s. (C m d. 6610.) Is. n e t, H is
M a je sty ’s S tatio n ery Office, London, W. C. 2.
T his com m ittee, know n as th e R eid C om m ittee, recom m ended a sw eeping
reorganization of th e coal in d u stry of G reat B ritain to a tta in a higher degree of
efficiency. T he problem s of th e in d u stry were ap p ro ach ed from th e tech n ical side.
T h e c a s e a g a in s t n a t i o n a li z a t i o n o f th e c o a l m in e s .
B y A. K . M cCosh. L ondon,
C olliery G uardian Co., L td ., [1944]. 24 pp.
P o in t by p o in t discussion, by th e chairm an of th e S cottish Colliery Owners,
of natio n alizatio n a n d a lte rn a te suggestions.
A p l a n f o r c o a l, b e in g th e r e p o r t to the c o llie r y o w n e r s .
By R o b e rt F o o t. L ondon,
S. W. 1, M ining A ssociation of G reat B ritain, 1945. 67 pp.
C ontains th e recom m endations of th e a u th o r (chairm an of th e M ining Associa
tio n of G reat B ritain) for th e reo rganization of th e coal in d u stry u n d er a cen tral
coal b oard whose decisions w ould be binding, w ith b ack g ro u n d info rm atio n .
S c o ttis h c o a lfie ld s : T h e r e p o r t o f th e S c o ttis h C o a lfie ld s C o m m itte e .
E d in b u rg h ,
Scottish H om e D e p a rtm e n t, 1944. 184 pp., m aps, ch arts. (C m d. 6575.)
3s. n et, H is M a je sty ’s S tatio n ery Office, E d inburgh.
D escription of th e coalfields, p resent an d fu tu re p rospects of th e in d u stry , an d
conditions u n d er w hich th e mine w orkers live. R ecom m endations are m ade
for b ette rm e n t.
B i t u m i n o u s c o a l i n 1 9 4 3 , in c l u d i n g d a ta o n lig n ite .
Education and Training
By E rn e st V. H ollis. W ashing
to n 25, F ederal Security Agency, Office of E ducation, 1945. 69 pp. (B ulletin,
1945, No. 4.) 15 cents, S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
S tu d y of th e age a n d previous schooling of m em bers of th e arm ed forces, m ade
for th e purpose of estim atin g th e nu m b er of veteran s likely to re tu rn to school an d
college.
T h e n a tio n a l a p p r e n t i c e s h i p p r o g r a m . W ashington 25, U. S. W ar M anpow er C om
m ission, B ureau of T raining, A pp ren tice-T rain in g Service, 1945. 8 pp.
Brief, nontechnical explanation of th e origin, organization, a n d o p eratio n of th e
program .
D a t a f o r S t a t e - w i d e p l a n n i n g o f v e te r a n s ’ e d u c a tio n .
T r a i n i n g f o r v ic to r y : A s p e c ia l r e p o r t o n th e w a r in d u s t r i e s t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m o f the
B o a r d o f E d u c a tio n o f th e C ity o f N e w Y o r k , f o r th e th re e y e a r s b e g in n in g J u l y 8 ,
1 9 4 0 , a n d e n d in g J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 4 3 . New Y ork, B oard of E d u catio n , 1944. 62
pp., charts, illus.
D escribes th e p rogram in au g u ra te d in th e public high schools of New Y ork C ity
to tr a in w orkers for skilled jobs in w ar industries.
E d it o r ’s N o t e .— Correspondence regarding th e publications to w hich reference is m ade in th is list
should be addressed to th e respective publishing agencies m entioned. W here d a ta on prices were readily
available, th ey have been shown w ith the title entries.
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181
182
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
1945
B y F. T heodore S tru ck . N ew Y ork,
Jo h n W iley & Sons, Inc., 1945. 550 p p ., read in g lists. $3.50.
T he num erous su b jects tre a te d include th e safeguarding of th e general w elfare
th ro u g h vocational education, vocatio n al-ed u catio n surveys a n d how to m ake
th em , vocational guidance a n d a d ju s tm e n t services, tre n d s an d em ergency needs,
an d p e rtin e n t F ed eral a n d S ta te legislation.
V o c a tio n a l e d u c a tio n f o r a c h a n g in g w o r ld .
B y A dalberto M ario Ribeiro. (In R ev ista do
Servigo Público, D e p a rta m e n to A d m in istrativ o do Servigo Público, R io de
Janeiro, D ecem ber 1944, pp. 64-97, illus.)
M ost of th is article is d ev o ted to details of op eratio n of th e N atio n al T echnical
School in Rio de Jan eiro , b u t th e re is som e in form ation on th e historical develop
m en t an d th e p resen t s ta tu s of in d u stria l ed u catio n in B razil as a whole, w ith
sta tistic s of expenditu res for such ed u catio n in recen t y ears an d of enrollm ent in
in d u stria l schools in 1944.
A E s c o la T é c n ic a N a c io n a l, [ B r a z il] .
Employment and Rehabilitation of Veterans
M a n u a l e x p la n a to r y o f th e p r iv ile g e s , r ig h ts , a n d b e n e fits p r o v id e d f o r a ll p e r s o n s
w h o a r e , o r h a ve b e e n , m e m b e r s o f th e a r m e d f o r c e s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s a n d o f
th o se d e p e n d e n t u p o n th e m .
W ashington 25, U. S. G o v ern m en t P rin tin g
Office, 1944.
221 pp.
(Senate doc. No. 152, 78th Cong., 2d sess.)
N ew Y ork, T im e, Inc., Service on P o stw ar In fo rm a
tio n , 1945. 60 p p ., bibliography.
P resen ts inform atio n on G overnm ent plans for th e dem obilization of th e arm ed
forces, th e various agencies th a t will assist th e v eteran s to m ake th e tra n sitio n
to civilian life, th e p osition an d responsibility of th e em ployer in th is tra n sitio n ,
an d re la te d subjects.
R e e m p lo y m e n t o f v e te r a n s .
N ew Y ork 22, B aru ch C om
m itte e on P hysical M edicine, 1944. 28 pp.
S um m ary of th e re h a b ilita tio n p rogram s of th e different arm ed services of th e
U n ited S tates, to g eth e r w ith a sta te m e n t of th e facts a n d philosophy bearing on
re h a b ilita tio n an d developm ents in physical m edicine, a n d o th er re lev an t m aterial.
R e p o r t o f th e [A u s t r a l i a n ] R e p a tr i a t i o n C o m m is s io n f o r y e a r 1 9 A 3 —AA.
C an b e rra
1944. 27 pp. _
A ccount of th e kin d s of p ro tectio n afforded to ex-servicem en an d th e ir fam ilies,
an d sta tistic s of benefits p aid during th e year ended Ju n e 30, 1944.
W a r a n d p o s t- w a r r e h a b ilita tio n a n d r e c o n d itio n in g .
N ew Y ork 20, B ritish In fo rm atio n Services, In fo rm atio n
D ivision, 1945. 20 pp. (I.D . 595.)
D escribes th e order in w hich m em bers of th e arm ed forces are to be dem obilized
betw een th e end of th e E u ro p ean w ar a n d th e d efeat of Ja p a n , a n d lists th e b en
efits gu aran teed to ex-service personnel in p aid leave, clothing, g ratu ities, rein
s ta te m e n t in em ploym ent, a n d train in g . Special provisions for th e disabled are
included.
B r i t a i n a n d th e v e te r a n .
Employment and Unemployment (General)
e m p lo y m e n t.
By Jo h n H . G. Pierson. W ashington 6,
N a tio n al P lan n in g A ssociation, 1945. 54 pp. (P lanning p am p h le t No. 45.)
25 cents.
Defines th e role of F ed eral revenue an d expenditure policies in a n o ver-all
program designed to m a in ta in assured full em plo y m en t while pro m o tin g p riv a te
enterprise, public w elfare, a n d eq u itab le tax atio n . P roposes su b sta n tia lly in
creased public expen d itu res for h ea lth , education, housing, conservation a n d de
velopm ent of n a tu ra l resources, a n d social secu rity , a n d certain ta x changes to
secure b e tte r a d ju s tm e n t to th e principle of a b ility to pay . R ecom m ends flexible,
com pensatory policies, o p eratin g on a n insurance principle, to assure full em p lo y
m en t “w ith o u t w aitin g for our basic ex p en d itu re policies a n d o u r basic ta x policies
to strik e an ideal b alan c e.”
F is c a l p o l i c y f o r f u l l
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183
S acram ento 14, S tate
R eco n stru ctio n an d R eem p lo y m en t Com m ission, D ecem ber 1944. 89 p p .;
m im eographed.
T he re p o rt sta te s th a t th e n u m b er of em ployed civilians in C alifornia increased
40 percent, as com pared w ith an increase of 20 p ercen t in th e co u n try as a whole,
from A pril 1940 to Ju n e 1943. T he com m ission estim a te s t h a t w ith in a y ear
a fte r m ilita iy dem obilization from 666,000 to 835,000 jobs m ay be lost in th e
S tate, some of th em being replaced by peacetim e jobs, b u t in th e m ean tim e
dem obilization from th e arm ed forces will a d d to th e dem an d for w ork. T here is
a discussion of proposals for th e expansion of peacetim e em ploym ent. T he
volum e is sum m arized in th e com m ission’s p am p h le t No. 6, entitled" “ How m an y
jobs for C alifornians?”
E s t i m a te s o f w a r tim e a n d 'p o stw a r e m p lo y m e n t i n C a lif o r n ia .
By V iva B oothe a n d Sam A rnold. Colum bus,
Ohio S ta te U niversity, B u reau of Business R esearch, 1944. 247 pp., charts
$4.
C ontains indexes of seasonality of em ploym ent, by in d u stry , for m ale an d
fem ale em ployees an d for wage earners, clerical w orkers, a n d salespeople for
m ost of th e industries. T he uses of indexes of seasonality are discussed, one of
th e uses being th e p lanned dovetailing of seasonal em ploym ent am ong tw o or
m ore em ploying firms (as described in m ore detail in R esearch M onograph No.
35 by th e sam e agency).
S e a s o n a l i t y o f e m p lo y m e n t i n O h io .
T h e p o p u l a t i o n a n d e m p lo y m e n t o u tlo o k f o r th e a n th r a c ite r e g io n o f P e n n s y l v a n i a .
By Jam es C. R ettie . P hilad elp h ia 7, U. S. D e p a rtm e n t of A griculture,
F o rest Service, N o rth e a ste rn F o rest E x p erim en t S tatio n , 1945. 25 pp., m ap,
ch a rts; m im eographed. (A nth racite survey p a p e r No. 6.)
A survey u n d ertak en to d eterm ine how m uch co n trib u tio n could be m ade by
th e forest resources to th e allev iatio n of un em p lo y m en t a n d im p ro v em en t of gen
eral econom ic conditions. T he rep o rt contains e stim ates of m ig ratio n , calcu latio n
of th e fu tu re p o pulation a n d lab o r force, an d prospects for em p lo y m en t from 1945
to 1950. I t is sta te d th a t even th e m ost op tim istic e stim ate th a t can be reaso n
ably justified indicates a deficiency of a b o u t 100,000 jobs in th e a n th ra c ite region
M e m o r a n d u m o n th e G o v e r n m e n t W h ite P a p e r o n e m p lo y m e n t p o l i c y ( C m d . 6 5 2 7 ) .
N ew castle upon T yne, N o rth e rn In d u s tria l G roup, 1945. 16 p p ., diagram s.
(P ub lication No. 2.) 6d.
A nalysis of th e B ritish G o v ern m en t’s em plo y m en t policy in term s of th e p ro b
lem s of in d u strial developm ent.
L ondon, S. W. 1, C oopera
tiv e P a rty , [1945?]. 20 pp. 3d.
M akes specific proposals for public controls an d cooperative action.
R o a d to p r o s p e r it y : A n e m p lo y m e n t p o l i c y f o r B r i t a i n .
(In In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Review ,
M ontreal, M arch 1945, pp. 335-341. 50 cents. D istrib u te d in U n ited
S tates by W ashington b ra n c h of I. L. O.)
T h e e m p lo y m e n t o f p r is o n e r s o f w a r i n C a n a d a .
Housing
E le v e n th a n n u a l r e p o r t o f th e F e d e r a l H o u s in g A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , f o r th e y e a r e n d in g
D ecem ber 3 1 , 1 9 4 4 .
W ashington 25, 1945. 60 p p ., c h a rts; m im eographed.
h om es a y ea r.
B y D o ro th y R osenm an. N ew Y o rk 17, H a rc o u rt,
B race & Co., 1945. 333 pp., bibliography, ch arts. $3.50.
D eals w ith th e roles of science, business, a n d G o vernm ent in m eeting th e ta rg e t
of a m illion housing u n its a year and w ith th e questions of redeveloping slum areas,
p ublic assistance to th e low est incom e fam ilies, an d th e expediency of hom e ow ner
ship.
A
m i l l io n
N ew ark 4, N. J., H ousing A u th o rity of th e C ity
of N ew ark, 1945. 10 pp.
S tatistical p re sen tatio n show ing im provem ents in h e a lth an d social life of
fam ilies housed in public p rojects.
P u b l i c h o u s in g p a y s d iv id e n d s .
h o u s in g i n th e U n ite d S ta te s .
W ashington 25, U. S. N atio n al H ousing
Agency, 1945. 36 pp. 10 cents, S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents, W ash
ington 25.
D escribes th e m ethods used in p ro viding w ar housing a n d th e resu lts of th e
p rogram .
W ar
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184
M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW----JU L Y
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c o n s titu tio n a l a s p e c ts o f h o u s in g le g is la tio n .
B y Ju liu s H . M iner. (In
Illinois Law R eview , Chicago, M arch -A p ril 1945, pp. 305-342.)
Shows th e grow th in housing legislation an d review s decisions of th e courts in
cases arising from th e exercise of F ed eral a n d S ta te pow ers in connection w ith th e
expanding public-housing m ovem ent.
Som e
P r o c e e d in g s o f th e c o n fe re n c e o n f i n a n c in g th e p o s tw a r b u ild in g b o o m o n a s o u n d
b a s is , N e w Y o r k , D e c e m b e r 7 , 1 9 4 4 N ew Y ork 18, N atio n al C o m m ittee on
H ousing, Inc., 1945. 77 pp.
Includes th e addresses to th e conference an d th e discussion, covering such
topics as th e m ortg ag e lender's a ttitu d e an d housing sta n d a rd s.
H o u s in g .
London, Office of M inister of R econ stru ctio n , 1945. 8 pp. (C m d.
6609.) 2d. net, H is M a je sty ’s S tatio n ery Office, L ondon, W. C. 2.
S ta te m e n t of th e objectives of th e B ritish G o v ern m en t’s housing policy a n d
th e organization for carrying it in to effect.
Industrial Accidents
By H y lto n R . B row n. W ashington 25, U. S. D e p a rt
m en t of th e In te rio r, B ureau of M ines, 1945. 7 p p .; m im eographed. (In fo r
m atio n circular No. 7309.)
O utlines causative facto rs in d u st explosions a n d p rev en tiv e m easures, w ith
em phasis on th e hazard s accom panying th e use of plastic an d m etal pow ders in
new in d u strial processes.
I n j u r i e s a n d a c c id e n t c a u s e s i n th e f o u n d r y i n d u s t r y , 1 9 4 2 . W ashington 25, U. S.
B ureau of L ab o r S tatistics, 1945. 63 pp., c h arts. (Bull. No. 805; rep rin te d
from M onthly L ab o r Review , D ecem ber 1944, w ith ad d itio n a l d a ta .) 15
cents, S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
I n d u s t r i a l - d u s t e x p lo s io n s .
M e ta l- a n d n o n m e ta l- m in e a c c id e n ts i n th e U n i t e d S ta te s d u r in g th e c a le n d a r y e a r
1 9 4 2 ( e x c lu d in g c o a l m in e s ) . By W. W. A dam s a n d F. J. K ennedy. W ash
ington 25, U. S. D e p a rtm e n t of th e In te rio r, B ureau of M ines, 1945. 81 pp.,
charts. (Bull. No. 461.) 20 cents, S u p erin te n d e n t of D ocum ents, W ashing
to n 25.
E m p lo y m e n t a n d a c c id e n ts i n th e p e tr o le u m i n d u s t r y o f th e L n i t e d S t a t e s d u r in g 1 9 4 3 .
W ashington 25, U. S. D e p a rtm e n t of th e In te rio r, B ureau of M ines, 1945.
36 p p .; processed. (H. S. S. No. 346.)
(In In d u stria l Safety
Survey, In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office, M ontreal, J a n u a ry -M a rc h 1945, pp. 1-13;
ch art, illus. 50 cents. D istrib u te d in U n ited S ta te s by W ashington b ran ch
of I. L. O.)
P r e v e n tin g a c c id e n ts i n th e o il f ie ld s o f th e L n i t e d S ta te s .
F a ta l i n d u s t r i a l a c c id e n ts i n C a n a d a , 1 9 4 4 , a n a l y z e d a c c o r d in g to in d u s t r i e s , c a u s e s ,
lo c a litie s , a n d m o n th s .
(In L ab o r G azette, D e p a rtm e n t of L abor, O ttaw a,
M arch 1945, pp. 428-436.)
Industrial Hygiene
C om piled b y E llen F .
B ellingham , J. J. Bloomfield, W aldem ar C. D reessen, M .D . W ashington 25,
F ed eral S ecurity Agency, P ublic H e a lth Service, 1945. 95 pp. (Public
h e a lth bull. N o. 289.) 20 cents, S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents, W ashington
25.
B i b l i o g r a p h y o f i n d u s t r i a l h y g ie n e , 1 9 0 0 - 4 3 — a s e le c te d l i s t .
s o m e n o n fe r r o u s m e ta l s m e lte r s .
B y H e rb e rt T. W alw orth.
(In In d u s tria l M edicine, Chicago, A pril 1945, p p . 367-373; bibliography.
50 cents.)
H e a lth h a z a r d s i n
I n d u s t r i a l h y g ie n e p a n e l, in c lu d e d i n th e th i r d C h ic a g o w a r p r o d u c tio n c o n fe re n c e .
(In In d u s tria l M edicine, Chicago, A pril 1945, pp. 373-376. 50 cents.)
T h e various indu strial-h y g ien e services ren d ered in th e U n ited S ta te s were
discussed b y speakers dealing, respectively, w ith F ed eral G o v ern m en t agencies,
th e Illinois S ta te D e p a rtm e n ts of L ab o r a n d P ublic H ealth , p riv a te c o n su ltan ts
a n d universities, insurance com panies, a n d in d u stry .
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR IN TER EST
E d ite d by T . Lyle H a z le tt, M .D . P itts
b urgh, U niversity of P ittsb u rg h , 1944. 216 pp., bibliography.
L ectures by 11 p a rtic ip a n ts in a course on in d u stria l m edicine given a t th e
School of M edicine of th e U n iv ersity of P ittsb u rg h , dealing p rim arily w ith some
m ajo r h azard s w hich cause o ccupational disease, th e ir recognition, action, a n d
tre a tm e n t. T he various benefits to th e w orker of p reem p lo y m en t a n d periodic
physical exam inations are discussed.
C o n d ig d e s d e tr a b a llio ñ a s m in a s d e o u ro .
By Decio P a rreiras a n d oth ers. Rio de
Janeiro, M inistério do T rab alh o , In d u s tria e Comércio, Servigo de E sta tís tic a
da P revidencia e T rab alh o , 1943. 29 p p ., illus.
S um m ary of a m edical com m ission’s description of w orking conditions in th e
gold m ines of B razil, including in fo rm atio n w ith resp ect to te m p e ra tu re , hours
of w ork, accidents, fatalities, a n d illnesses, to g e th e r w ith recom m endations of
th e com m ission.
S e a t s f o r w o r k e r s i n f a c to r ie s .
L ondon, M in istry of L ab o r a n d N a tio n a l Service,
1945. 41 pp., illus. (W elfare p a m p h le t No. 6.) Is. 6d. n et, H is M a je sty ’s
S tatio n ery Office, London, W. C. 2.
D iscusses general principles of fa cto ry seating a n d describes p ro p er ty p e s of
facilities.
I n tr o d u c tio n to i n d u s t r i a l m e d ic in e .
Industrial Relations
W ashington 25,
U. S. B ureau of L ab o r S tatistic s, 1945. 9 pp., ch arts. (Bull. No. 829;
re p rin te d from M onth ly L ab o r Review , April 1945, w ith a d d itio n al d a ta .)
5 cents, S u p erin ten d e n t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
E x te n t o f c o lle c tiv e b a r g a in in g a n d u n io n s ta tu s , J a n u a r y 1 9 4 5 .
C la s s if ie d p r o v is io n s o f 1 7 c o lle c tiv e - b a r g a in in g a g r e e m e n ts c o v e r in g p la n t- p r o te c tio n
e m p lo y e e s i n i n d u s t r i a l p la n ts .
N ew Y ork 1, A m erican Iro n a n d Steel
In s titu te , S eptem ber 1944.
C la s s if ie d p r o v is io n s o f 1 0
p lo y e e s .
N ew Y ork 1,
200 p p .; processed.
c o lle c tiv e - b a r g a in in g
a g r e e m e n ts f o r
w h ite - c o lla r
em
A m erican Iro n an d Steel In s titu te , N ovem ber 1944.
96 p p .; processed.
T his volum e, dealing w ith agreem ents of em ployees in in d u stries o th e r th a n iron
an d steel, is a sup p lem en t to an earlier volum e (dated M ay 1944) giving provisions
of 15 agreem ents of w hite-collar em ployees, 8 of th e m w ith iron a n d steel com
panies a n d 7 w ith com panies in o th e r industries.
U n io n a g r e e m e n ts i n th e p e tr o le u m - r e fin in g i n d u s t r y i n effect i n 1 9 4 4 W ashington
25, U. S. B ureau of L abor S tatistics, 1945. 19 pp. (Bull. N o. 823.) 10
cents, S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.
T e a c h e r s ’ c o n tr a c ts — p r i n c i p l e s a n d p r a c tic e s .
W ashington 6, N atio n al E d u catio n
A ssociation of th e U n ited S tates, C om m ittee on T en u re a n d Academ ic
Freedom , M arch 1945. 39 pp. 25 cents.
T h e s e ttle m e n t o f la b o r d i s p u t e s a n d s t a b i l i z a ti o n o f w a g e s b y th e N a t i o n a l W a r
L a b o r B o a r d , J a n u a r y 1 9 4 2 — D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 4 • W ashington 25, U. S. N a
tional W ar L abor B oard, 1945.
54 pp., m ap, c h a rts; processed.
Free.
Labor and Social Legislation
L a b o r la w s a n d th e ir a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , 1 9 4 3 : P r o c e e d in g s o f th e tw e n ty - e ig h th c o n v e n
tio n o f th e I n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c ia tio n o f G o v e r n m e n ta l L a b o r O ffic ia ls , C h ic a g o ,
O c to b e r 1 9 4 3 .
W ashington 25, U. S. B ureau of L ab o r S tatistics, 1945i.
181 pp. (Bull.
W ashington 25.
No.
795.)
25
cents,
S u p erin ten d en t
of
D ocum ents,
W a r tim e w a g e c o n tr o l a n d d is p u te s e ttle m e n t — la w s , r e g u la tio n s , g e n e r a l o r d e r s ,
d ir e c tiv e s , o ffic ia l in te r p r e ta tio n s , p o l i c y s ta te m e n ts , p r o m u lg a te d b y th e C o n
g r e s s , th e P r e s id e n t, D ir e c to r o f E c o n o m ic S t a b i l iz a t i o n , N a t i o n a l W a r L a b o r
B o a r d , e tc ., a s o f M a r c h 1 , 1 9 4 5 .
W ashington 7, B u reau of N a tio n a l Affairs,
Inc., 1945.
571 p p.
$6.75.
C om piled a n d a n n o ta te d by
V icente G eigel-Polanco. San Ju a n , D e p a rta m e n to del T ra b a jo , 1944.
xliii, 928 pp.
C om pilation of P u erto R ican social a n d lab o r legislation, including certain
law s en acted in 1944, w ith discussion of th e basis a n d c h a ra c te r of th is legislation.
L e g is la c ió n s o c ia l d e P u e r to R ic o , e d ic ió n d e 1 9 4 4 •
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M O N T H LY LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
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O ttaw a, D e p a rtm e n t of L abor, 1944. 117 pp.
Includes a cum ulativ e index covering th e basic volum e (1937) a n d supple
m ents, of w hich th e p re se n t volum e is th e fifth.
L a b o r le g is la tio n i n C a n a d a ,_ 1 9 4 3 .
Santiago de Chile, D irección G eneral de
E stad ística, 1945. 255 pp., ch arts.
R ésum é of lab o r a n d social legislation since 1924, w ith sta tistic a l d a ta as recen t
in some instances as 1943, covering such m a tte rs as wages, salaries, em p lo y m en t a n d
unem ploym ent, cost of living, fam ily allowances, in d u stria l disputes, lab o r o rg an
izations, a n d social insurance.
V e in te a ñ o s d e le g is la c ió n s o c ia l, [C h ile ].
Manpower
B y E ugene J. Benge. N ew Y ork, H a rp e r & Bros.,
1945. 294 pp., ch a rts. $4.
T echnical discussion, from th e p o in t of view of m an ag e m en t, of th e selectio n
train in g , a n d supervision of salesm en.
M a n p o w e r i n m a r k e tin g .
W ashington 25, U. S. W ar M anpow er,
Com m ission, B u reau of M anpow er U tilization, 1944. 16 pp., c h a rt; processed’.
L ists 14 things th a t m u st be done in o rd er to a tta in m axim um u tilizatio n of
m anpow er in its tw ofold phases of em ploying all available m anpow er a n d m aking
th e m ost effective use of em ployed m anpow er.
T h e w h a t- w h y - h o w o f m a n p o w e r u t i l i z a t i o n .
(In M o n th ly R eview
U. S. R ailro ad R e tire m e n t B oard, Chicago, M arch 1945, pp. 34-38, 43.)
A stu d y of th e tre n d in th e a n n u al n u m b er a n d ra te of retire m e n ts of railro ad
em ployees. I t is s ta te d th a t w hen th e R ailro ad R e tire m e n t A ct of 1935 was
enacted, th e railroad s h a d a co m p arativ ely large group of em ployees p a st th e age
of 65. T here is a discussion of th e effects of th e w ar on th e age d istrib u tio n of
railro ad w orkers an d of possible p o stw ar changes.
C h a n g e s i n c o m p o s itio n o f th e o ld e r r a i l r o a d la b o r f o r c e .
W ashington 6, C e n tra l C ouncil of N a tio n a l
R etail A ssociations, 1944. 34 pp. ; processed.
S um m ary of th e resu lts of a survey covering reta il stores in two large areas
w ith critical m anpow er problem s, one in w hich large-scale G overn m en t o perations
affected th e supply of lab o r available to re ta il stores a n d one in w hich w ar p la n ts
p red o m in ated . T he stu d y includes discussions of m eth o d s of recru itin g em ploy
ees, ty p es of w orkers em ployed u n d er w artim e conditions, a n d su b stitu te s such as
self-service for m eeting th e sho rtag e of w orkers.
S u r v e y o f r e t a il m a n p o w e r p r o b le m s .
Medical Care
By Louis S. R eed a n d H en ry
F. V aughan. (In Jo u rn a l of th e A m erican M edical A ssociation, C hicago 10
M ay 5, 1945, pp. 22-25. 25 cents.)
D a ta from a survey, conducted for th e U. S. Public H e a lth Service, of th e 19
v o lu n tary p rep ay m e n t m edical-care plans sponsored by local a n d S ta te m edical
societies of th e co un try , an d th e ir stru c tu ra l relationships to B lue Cross h o sp ital
plans. C om plete unification of h o sp ital a n d m edical plans in to a health-service
p lan seems to th e au th o rs to provide th e final a n d b est solution.
T h e c o o r d in a tio n o f m e d ic a l a n d B lu e C r o s s p la n s .
A F e d e r a l p r o g r a m o f p u b lic h e a lth a n d m e d ic a l s e r v ic e s f o r m ig r a to r y f a r m w o r k e r s .
By F. D . M o tt, M .D ., a n d M. I. R oem er, M .D . (In Public H ealth R ep o rts,
F ederal Security A gency, Public H e a lth Service, B eth esd a 14, M d., M arch 2 ,
, 1945, pp. 229-249. 10 cents, S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents, W ashington 25.)
A ccount of th e extensive p ro g ram carried on by th e Office of L abor, U. S. W ar
Food A dm inistration , for safeguarding m ig ran t farm lab o r un d er its ju risd ictio n .
M e d i c a l c a r e n e e d s a n d p l a n s f o r r u r a l p e o p le i n N o r th C a r o lin a .
A series of new s
p ap er articles b y C. H orace H am ilto n . [Raleigh, N o rth C arolina S ta te
College of A griculture a n d E ngineering?], 1945. 13 p p .; m im eographed.
m e d ic a l c a r e i n C h ile .
B y A. Flores a n d M anuel de V iado. (In
In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Review , M ontreal, M arch 1945, pp. 302-329. R e p rin ts
of article in S panish tra n sla tio n available a t 10 cents. D istrib u te d in
U nited S tates by W ashington b ran ch of I. L. O.)
O r g a n iz e d
B y R o b e rt R. H yde. (In I n te r
n atio n al L abor R eview , M ontreal, A pril 1945, pp. 433-458. 50 cents.
D istrib u te d in U n ited S tates by W ashington b ran ch of I. L. O.)
M e d i c a l s e r v ic e s i n i n d u s t r y i n G r e a t B r i t a i n .
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR IN TEREST
187
A n a tio n a l h e a lth s e r v ic e : D e b a te o n th e G o v e r n m e n t’s W h ite P a p e r i n th e H o u s e o f
C o m m o n s , M a r c h 1 6 a n d 1 7 , 1 9 4 4 , a n d i n th e H o u s e o f L o r d s , M a r c h 1 6 a n d 2 1 ,
1944■ L ondon, S. W. 1, C o nservative an d U nio n ist P a rty O rganization,
[1944],
32 pp.
6d.
Pensions and Old-Age Assistance
O lym
pia, W ash., A ssociation of W ashington C ities, 1945. 14 p p .; m im eographed.
(Bull. N o. 16, series B.)
In a d d itio n to th e analysis of re tire m e n t system s for m u nicipal em ployees in a
nu m b er of S tates, th e p u b licatio n con tain s details of th e re tire m e n t sy stem p ro
posed by th e A ssociation of W ashington Cities for all m u nicipal em ployees of th e
S tate, an d th e recom m endations of a com m ittee of th e M unicipal F inance Officers
A ssociation of th e U n ited S tates a n d C an ad a concerning a d m in istra tio n of such
plans.
E s t i m a te d c o s t o f o ld - a g e a n d s u r v iv o r s i n s u r a n c e .
B y I. J . Sollenberger. (In
Q u arterly Jo u rn al of Econom ics, C am bridge, M ass., M ay 1945, p p . 427-450.
$1.25.)
P a r t I presen ts cost e stim ates for th e p resen t F ederal pro g ram , w ith o u t change,
in 1955, 1980, an d 2,000; P a rt I I presen ts sim ilar estim ates, w ith assum ed changes
in th e program .
P e n s i o n a n d p r o f it- s h a r in g p l a n s .
N ew Y ork 17, R esearch In s titu te of A m erica,
1944. 61 pp. (R esearch In s titu te analysis 29a.)
A nalysis, m o tiv a te d p rim arily by th e em ployer’s ta x problem , of th e facto rs
to be considered in th e selection a n d op eratio n of pension a n d p rofit-sharing
plans, to g eth er w ith m odel form s an d te x ts of p e rtin e n t legislation a n d regulations.
T h e p resen t upsurge in th e n u m b er of such plans su b m itte d to th e U. S. T reasu ry
for ap p ro v al is explained b y th is re p o rt as due, in p a rt, to th e ir privileged sta tu s
u n d er th e legislation freezing wages a n d salaries.
T h e r e ’s h o p e f o r o u r o ld a g e .
By H o m er W ickenden. (In T ra in e d N urse a n d
H o sp ital R eview , N ew Y ork 16, A pril 1945, pp. 249-251. 20 cents.)
A ccount of th e N atio n a l H e a lth a n d W elfare R e tire m e n t A ssociation, Inc.
(N ew Y ork C ity ), recen tly established u n d er th e sponsorship of C om m unity
C hests a n d Councils, In c., for th e purpose of enabling n o nprofit organizations
to insure th e ir em ployees u n d er a group, jo in t-c o n trib u to ry p lan for an n u ities
an d d e a th benefits. An e stim ated half-m illion w orkers in h e a lth a n d w elfare
organizations, w ho are n o t covered by th e F ed eral Social S ecurity A ct, are eligible
to p a rtic ip a te in th e new plan.
B i b l i o g r a p h y o n a d ju s tm e n t i n o ld a g e .
P rep ared b y E rich R o sen th al for a Com
m itte e of th e Social Science R esearch Council. [Chicago, 1944.] 44 p p .;
processed.
A n n o tated list of p u blications classified u n d er th e following m ajo r heads:
D em ographic, social, an d econom ic aspects [including em ploym ent]; T h e aged
in th e m odern fam ily a n d com m u n ity ; Psychological asp ects; T h eo retical an d
com parative aspects.
A n a l y s i s o f s e le c te d S t a t e - w i d e r e tir e m e n t s y s te m s f o r m u n i c i p a l e m p lo y e e s .
A h a n d b o o k f o r o ld a g e c o u n s e lo r s : T h e m e th o d o f s a lv a g in g , r e h a b ilita tin g , a n d r e
c o n d itio n in g o ld p e o p le u s e d i n th e O ld A g e C o u n s e lin g C e n te r i n S a n F r a n c is c o ,
C a lif o r n ia .
B y Lillien J. M artin . San Francisco, G eertz P rin tin g Co.,
1944.
84 p p ., bibliography.
B y E m ily D . Sam son. L ondon, P ilo t Press, L td ., 1944.
60 pp., illus. (T arg et for tom orrow .) 4s. 6d.
A stu d y of th e needs of old people in G reat B ritain , provision for th e ir econom ic
secu rity , care in sickness a n d infirm ity, a n d o th e r closely re la te d su b jects, w ith
recom m endations. D a ta on pensions a n d hom es for th e aged in c ertain o th e r
countries are included.
O ld a g e i n th e n e w w o r ld .
Postwar Reconstruction
By A rth u r Sm ithies. (In E conom etrica, Chicago
37, U niversity of Chicago, Ja n u a ry 1945, p p . 1-53, c h a rts; discussion,
pp. 54-59. $1.75.)
D iscussion of th e tech n iq u es of forecasting p o stw ar dem an d . I t is s ta te d th a t
th e general problem d e a lt w ith is to explain th e d em an d for th e various com
po n en ts of th e gross n a tio n a l p ro d u ct, a n d to e stim ate th e em p lo y m en t of la b o r
th a t resu lts from a given gross n atio n al p ro d u ct.
F o r e c a s tin g p o s t w a r d e m a n d .
6 5 1 6 5 4 — 4 5 ------- 1 3
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
188
M O N T H L Y LABOR REVIEW— JU L Y
19 45
B y E m il Rieve. New
Y ork 3, T extile W orkers U nion of America, C. I. O., [1945?]. 16 pp., charts.
A lthough th e estab lish m en t of in te rn a tio n a l lab o r sta n d a rd s is n o t a new idea,
th e stu d y suggests th a t adherence to such sta n d a rd s should be a condition for
p a rtic ip a tio n in w orld tra d e . Such a p lan is com pared w ith th e F a ir L ab o r
S tan d ard s Act, w hich prescribes adherence to th a t a c t as a condition for p artici
p a tio n in in te rsta te com m erce. T he ad o p tio n of an in te rn a tio n a l code, th e a u th o r
believes, is desirable in o rd er to p ro te c t w orkers in countries in w hich in d u stria l
d evelopm ent is ta k in g place a n d to p ro te c t h igher living sta n d a rd s, w here th e y
exist, by p rev en tin g tra d e co m petition based upon su b sta n d a rd w orking conditions.
I n te r n a tio n a l la b o r ' s ta n d a r d s — a k e y to w o r ld s e c u r ity .
T h e m a n p o w e r a s p e c ts o f th e n a tio n a l p ro g r a m , o f d e m o b iliz a tio n a n d a d ju s tm e n t i n ,
th e U n ite d S ta te s a n d i n f o r e ig n c o u n tr ie s . W ashington 25, U. S. W ar M an
pow er Com m ission, R ep o rts a n d A nalysis Service, 1944. 71 p p .; processed.
o f th e p o s tw a r w o r ld .
E d ite d b y T hom as C. T . M cC orm ick. N ew
Y ork, M cG raw -H ill Book Co., Inc., 1945. 526 pp. $3.75.
C ontains tw e n ty p ap ers on econom ic policy, G overn m en t a n d society, and
in tern atio n al relations. S ubjects of p a rtic u la r in te re st in th e field of p o stw ar
lab o r policy include incom e a n d em ploym ent, lab o r o rganizations, social security,
ta x a tio n , education, an d th e functions of G overnm ent. T he p apers deal n o t w ith
prophecies or forecasts, b u t w ith policies a n d d evelopm ents view ed by th e a u th o rs
as feasible or desirable.
P r o b le m s
A
s t a t i s t ic a l s u m m a r y o f th e L a k e C h a r le s a r e a , C a lc a s ie u P a r i s h , L o u i s i a n a :
S t a t i s t i c a l d a ta o n w a r a n d p r e w a r e m p lo y m e n t a n d i n d u s t r y f o r u s e b y lo c a l
g r o u p s f o r m u l a t i n g p l a n s f o r th e p o s tw a r p e r io d . W ashington 25, U. S. B ureau
of L abor S tatistics, D ecem ber 1944. 16 p p .; m im eographed. (In d u stria l
are a sta tistic a l su m m ary N o. 24.) Free.
T h e e c o n o m ic p r o b le m s o f F r a n c e .
B y T . B alogh. (In B ulletin of In s titu te of
S tatistics, Oxford, E ngland, April 7, 1945, pp. 61-78.)
C overs th e period from th e arm istice in 1940, show ing th e im p airm en t of p ro
ductive cap acity an d tra n sp o rta tio n , th e fall in p roduction, a n d th e in teractio n of
inflationary forces an d dem ands for higher pay . T h e a u th o r offers suggestions
for a solution by an a tta c k from different angles sim ultaneously, such as th e
p rocurem ent an d control of supplies, subsidies to producers, a n d th e recall of
b an k n o tes an d th e issuance of a lim ited new supply.
A p la n n e d e c o n o m y o r f r e e e n te r p r is e — th e le s s o n s o f h is to r y . B y E. L ipson. L on
don, A dam & C harles Black, 1944. 318 pp. 15s. net.
A ccount of E n g lan d ’s first p lan n ed econom y a n d an a tte m p t to ap p ly th e lessons
of h isto ry in outlining a p o stw ar reco n stru ctio n program .
B y P enderel M oon. London, W. C. 1, Id io t Press, 1945.
80 pp., m aps, charts, illus. 5s. net.
D eals w ith th e econom ic a n d political problem s of In d ia a n d w h at th e w riter
th in k s In d ia a n d G reat B ritain m u st do to solve th e m .
T he fu tu r e o f I n d ia .
Prices , Price Control, and Rationing
By O scar Lange. B loom ington, In d ., P rin cip ia
Press, Inc., 1944. 114 pp., diagram s. (Cowles C om m ission for R esearch
in Econom ics, M onograph No. 8.) $2.
A stu d y of price flexibility in its th eo retical aspects. T he a u th o r criticizes
tra d itio n a l theories of price rigidity as th e cause of u n em p lo y m en t of labor a n d of
o th er factors of p rodu ctio n .
P r i c e f l e x i b il i t y a n d e m p lo y m e n t.
R e p o r t o f th e [ C a n a d ia n ] W a r t i m e P r ic e s a n d T r a d e B o a r d , J a n u a r y 1 , 1 9 4 4 , to
D ecem ber 8 1 , 1944•
O ttaw a, 1945.
78 pp., ch arts.
R eview s price policy a n d procedure, supply an d d istrib u tio n problem s, a n d th e
situ atio n as to foods, "farm eq u ip m en t, textiles, a n d various o th e r categories.
I n f la tio n i n w a r tim e C h in a .
By C hoh-M ing Li. (In R eview of Econom ic S ta tis
tics, C am bridge 38, M ass., F eb ru ary 1945, pp. 23-33.)
Discussion of th e e x te n t of inflation a n d its causes, a n d th e reasons for th e
failure of th e different ty p e s of price control.
A c o m p a r is o n o f th e r a t i o n i n g s y s te m s i n G e r m a n y a n d th e U n ite d K i n g d o m . By
C. F raser B rockington, M. D . (In Public H ea lth , Society of M edical
Officers of H ealth , L ondon, W. C. 1, F eb ru ary 1945, pp. 54, 55. 2s. 6d.)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF LABOR IN TEREST
189
e s ta d ís tic o d e 1 9 4 3 , T o m o I I .
San S alvador, D irección G eneral de
E stad ística, 1944. 385 pp.
C ontains retail prices of various item s of food, fuel, in d u stria l p ro d u cts, con
stru ctio n m aterials, a n d livestock in 1943, by m o n th s, a n d for th e y ear for 14
city m ark ets, in E l Salvador.
A n u a r io
Wages and Hours of Labor
A v e r a g e h o u r ly e a r n in g s i n th e e x p lo s iv e s i n d u s t r y , J u n e 1 9 44*
H o u r l y e a r n in g s
i n th e a m m u n itio n - lo a d in g i n d u s t r y , 1 9 4 4 ■ W ashington 25, U. S. B u reau of
L ab o r S tatistics, 1945. 17 a n d 15 pp. (Bulls. Nos. 819 a n d 827; re p rin te d ,
respectively, from issues of M on th ly L abor R eview for M arch a n d April 1945,
No. 819 w ith ad d itio n al d a ta .) 10 cents each, S u p e rin te n d e n t of D ocum ents,
W ashington 25.
U n io n w a g e s a n d h o u r s i n th e b u ild in g tr a d e s , J u l y 1 , 1 9 4 4 • U n io n w a g e s a n d h o u r s
i n th e b a k in g i n d u s t r y , J u l y 1 , 1 9 4 4 •
U n io n w a g e s a n d h o u r s i n th e p r i n t i n g
tr a d e s , J u l y 1, 1944■
W ashington 25, U. S. B u reau of L ab o r S tatistics, 1945.
60, 62, 61 p p .; charts. (Bulls. Nos. 815, 816, 820; rep rin te d , respectively,
from th e Ja n u a ry , F eb ru ary , a n d M arch issues of th e M o n th ly L ab o r Review,
w ith ad d itio n al d ata.) 10, 10, 15 cents, S u p erin ten d en t of D ocum ents,
W ashington 25.
th e s a f e ty d e p a r tm e n t.
(In In d u stria l R elations, D a rtn e ll C orpora
tio n , Chicago, A pril 1945, pp. 15, 34. 35 cents.)
W a g e s d u r in g th e w a r .
London, W. C. 2, L ab o r R esearch D e p a rtm e n t, 1944. 56
pp. Is.
Gives inform ation on changes in wages, hours of labor, collective b argaining,
cost of living, an d related d a ta , for G reat B ritain .
G u a r a n te e d a n n u a l w a g e s .
By J a c k C hernick an d George C. H ellickson. M in
neapolis, U niversity of M inn eso ta Press, 1945. 146 p p ., b ibliography.
$2.50.
D iscussion of annual-w age plans, including th e in te re st a n d p a rtic ip a tio n of
lab o r a n d th e role of G overn m en t in such plans. T h e a u th o rs fav o r w idespread
ad o p tio n of th e g u aran te e d a n n u a l wage.
S a la r ie s in
General Reports
G eorgetow n;
D em erara, B ritish G uiana, 1944. 16 pp.
Includes inform ation on em ploym ent a n d wages in sugar, bau x ite, a n d o th e r
industries, cost of living, in d u stria l accidents, in d u strial relations, lab o r organi
zations, an d labor legislation.
C h in a a m o n g th e p o w e r s .
B y D av id N elson Rowe. N ew Y ork, H a rc o u rt,
B race, & Co., 1945. 205 pp., m aps. $2.
A w ell-docum ented stu d y of C h in a ’s pow er, m ade in o rd er to e v alu a te th e
probable position of C hina in th e generation a fte r th e w ar. I t gives in form ation
on p o ten tial labor force an d prod u ctiv e pow er (agricultural an d in d u strial), a n d
analyzes certain problem s of in d u stria l developm ent a n d social organization.
R e p o r t o f th e [B r i t i s h G u ia n a ] D e p a r tm e n t o f L a b o r f o r th e y e a r 1 9 4 3 .
A n a n a l y s i s o f th e s o u r c e s o f w a r f in a n c e a n d e s tim a te s o f th e n a tio n a l in c o m e a n d
e x p e n d itu r e , [G re a t B r i t a i n ], i n th e y e a r s 1 9 3 8 to 1 9 4 4 • London, [T reasury
1945. 55 pp. (Cmd. 6623.) Is. n et, H is M a je sty ’s S tatio n ery Office,
L ondon, W. C. 2.
Includes d a ta on incom e from wages an d o th e r sources, to ta l em ploym ent, an d
average w eekly hours w orked in p rincipal industries, a n d a breakdow n of
personal expenditures by ty p e of p ro d u c t an d service.
R e p o r t o f th e T e x tile L a b o r I n q u i r y C o m m itte e ,
r e p o r t.
B om bay, 1941. 508 pp.
[B o m b a y , I n d i a ] : V o l. I I — F in a l
T he la te st survey of th e textile in d u stry in B om bay, show ing wages in detail,
arran g em en ts for ad ju stin g pay to living costs, a n d in form ation on hours of
w ork, shifts, w elfare w ork, lab o r m an ag em en t, a n d o th e r subjects.
Sydney, B ureau
of S tatistics an d Econom ics, 1945. 8 pp. Is.
C overs production, em ploym ent, wages a n d salaries, days w orked, an d
accidents.
N e w S o u th W a le s s t a t i s t ic a l r e g is te r f o r 1 9 4 2 - 4 3 : P a r t V , M i n i n g .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING O F FI C E: 1945
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
