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UNITED STATES DEPARTM ENT OF LABOR
Frances Perkins, Secretary
B U R E A U OF L A B O R STATISTICS
Isador Lukin, Commissioner (on leave)
A. F. Hinrichs, Acting Commissioner
+
Pay Differentials for Night Work
Under Union Agreements
Bulletin J^Lo. 748
[Reprinted from the M o n th ly Labor Re-view, July 1943, w ith additional data)
L etter of T ransm ittal
U n it e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o r ,
B u r e a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s ,
Washington, D. C., July 19, 191^8.
The S e c r e t a r y o f L a b o r :
I have the honor to transmit herewith a report on pay differentials for night
work under union agreements. This report is based on a survey of approximately
5,000 agreements which were in effect as of January 1943. Special emphasis
was given to the agreement provisions for shift work in 10 of the more important
war industries.
This bulletin, a portion of which appeared in the July issue of the Monthly
Labor Review, was prepared by Constance Williams under the direction of
Florence Peterson, Chief of the Bureau’s Industrial Relations Division.
A. F . H i n r i c h s , Acting Commissioner.
Hon. F r a n c e s P e r k i n s ,
Secretary of Labor.
Contents
Extent of pay differentials for night work_______________________________
Types of pay differentials for night work________________________________
Agricultural-machinery industry____________________________________
Aircraft industry________________________________________ _________
Aluminum industry________________________________________________
Automobile industry_______________________________________________
Industrial-chemicals industry______________________________________
Electricai-machinery industry______________________________________
Machine-tool industry_____________________________________________
Rubber industry___________________________________________________
Shipbuilding industry______________________________________________
Fabricated-steel-products industry__________________________________
Appendix.— Sample clauses in union agreements_________________________
ii
Page
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5
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12
Bulletin 7S[o. 748 of the
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
[Reprinted from the M o n t h l y
L a bo r R e v ie w ,
July 1943, with additional data]
Pay Differentials for Night Work Under Union
Agreements
Extent of Pay Differentials for Night Work
ABOUT 72 percent of the manufacturing workers covered by union
agreements are employed in industries or plants th at have made pro
vision for work on night shifts. Differential pay for night work is
provided for almost 70 percent of the unionized workers subject to
work on night shifts or for about half of all the factory workers under
union agreements.1
The characteristics of night-shift differentials provided by union
agreements in manufacturing as a whole are determined largely by
the agreement provisions found in five industries. These industries—
aircraft, automobiles, electrical machinery, shipbuilding, and fabri
cated steel products—include over 60 percent of all manufacturing
employees who are allowed night differentials under the terms of their
agreements. In these industries large numbers of workers are under
agreement and large proportions of these workers are subject to night
work and entitled to night differentials. Other important industries
in which large proportions of workers, covered by clauses referring to
night shifts, are allowed premiums for night work include newspaper
publishing and the manufacture of agricultural machinery, aluminum,
machine tools, and scientific instruments.
Among the industries in which night shifts are common but night
differentials are rarely provided are the basic-steel, petroleum, pulp
and paper products, glass, cement, brick, clay, pottery, and rubber
industries. In these industries night work has long been customary,
chiefly because many of the processes are continuous and require
multiple-shift operations. Where shifts are rotated, so th at all partici
pate in night work, the night-work factor may be taken into account
in the base rates paid rather than in a differential for night work as
such.
The strength of union organization in an industry has undoubtedly
also played an important part in determining whether an industrv
th a t necessarily involves night work shall pay a night differential.
Practically all workers under agreement in newspaper publishing are
allowed higher rates for night shifts than for day shifts. The fact
th at wages of printers have long been negotiated through collective
bargaining, whereas the basic-steel and rubber industries have only
recently been organized, may partially account for the greater preva
lence of premium pay for night work in the newspaper industry.
i The cases of night-shift work without shift differentials include the basic-steel industry where roundthe-clock operations prevail although their agreements seldom mention shift work explicitly (see table 1
for details).
547645°—43
1
2
Pay Differentials for Night Work
The proportion of workers under agreement who are covered by
clauses which mention shift work and the proportion of these workers
entitled to night differentials under the terms of their agreements
are shown in table 1 for all manufacturing and selected manufacturing
industries.
In nonmanufacturing industries, night-shift differentials are com
monly provided for workers in telephone and telegraph and for air
line pilots. In a few cities, employees of electric railways and busses
receive extra pay for work beginning at midnight. Office workers in
a few companies and scattered groups of construction workers are
also covered by night-differential provisions. Schedules of daily
hours are specified in the longshore agreements, and work outside
these hours is paid for at the overtime rate. Where such work is not
actual overtime, this becomes a night differential at a rate which is
much higher than is paid in most other industries.
T a b l e 1.—Night
Shifts and Night Differentials Provided in Union Agreements in AU
Manufacturing and in Selected Industries
Percent of workersl—
Under agreements provid
ing for shifts
Under agreement
Industry
Total
(1)
With
No
shift
Total *
provi mention
sions of shifts
With
night
differ
entials
No
night
differ
entials
(8)
(6)
(6)
00
(4)
All manufacturing____________ __________
100
72
28
100
70
30
Agricultural machinery___________________
Aircraft________________________________
Aluminum______ _______________________
Automobile____________________________
Brick and clay__________________________
Cement________________________________
Chemicals, industrial_____________________
Electrical machinery_____________________
Furniture______________________________
Glass __ _ ____________________________
Machine tools__________________________
Newspaper publishing-_____________ ____
Pulp and paper products__________________
Petroleum _________________-___ —-___
Pottery_______ _________ _______ ______
Rubber________________________________
Scientific instruments____________________
Shipbuilding __________________________
Smelting and refining______ ______________
Steel products *__________ ____________. __
Textiles................................................... .....
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
98
100
89
99
83
86
76
97
57
90
97
90
91
90
99
73
98
100
90
67
50
2
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
88
89
98
97
6
6
49
97
84
12
11
2
3
94
94
51
a
16
100
...........1
95
100
98
82
11
1
17
14
24
3
43
10
3
10
9
10
1
27
2
10
43
50
100
99
5
2
18
100
100
24
93
10
76
7
9a
i Table does not show percentages of less than 1 percent.
* This column refers to the same group of workers as column (2).
* This industry does not include blast furnaces, steel works, or rolling mills. Agreements in basic steel
do not generally mention shifts, although it is known that round-the-clock production with rotation of shifts
is customary, and the payment of night differentials is rare.
Pay Differentials for Night Work
3
Types of Pay Differentials for Night Work
The provisions in union agrements for night differentials are of
two general types—those which refer in a general way to night work
or to work done between specified night hours, and those which refer
specifically to both second and third shifts.2 In the first group of
provisions it is not always possible to tell whether or not the differ
ential established is intended to cover both a second and a third
shift. However, insofar as two night shifts are operated, an agree
ment of this type would provide the same premium rates for both
second- and third-shift work. On the other hand, where second
and third shifts are specifically mentioned, agreements may either
establish the same differential for both shifts or provide higher wage
rates and/or allow shorter hours on the third shift than on the second
shift.
Of all the workers covered by night-differential provisions, over
one-fourth are covered by clauses which establish one general night
differential. Nearly three-fourths (71 percent) of the workers cov
ered by agreements providing shift differentials work under clauses
which refer specifically to both second and third shifts. Almost onehalf of the workers in this latter group are allowed a different premium
for the third shift than for the second and the rest are granted the
same differential for both night shifts. A few agreements provide
a differential for the second shift only and do not mention a third
shift, or provide differentials for the third shift, but not for the second.
Union agreements provide compensation for night work more com
monly by percentage increases over day rates than by additional
cents per hour. Of every three workers entitled to higher hourly rates
for night work than for day work under the terms of union agree
ments, about two workers are allowed a percentage increase and one
worker a cents increase. Wage adjustments in the form of percentage
changes maintain the same relative differences among wage classifica
tions; that is, higher wages are increased by larger amounts and lower
wages by smaller amounts. ^ A flat differential in cents per hour
causes a greater percentage increase in the wages of the lower-paid
workers than in the wages of the higher-paid workers, thus reducing
the spread in wage rates per hour between occupations.3
The percentages of workers covered by various types of nightdifferential provisions for 10 of the major war industries are shown
in table 2 and (in greater detail) in the succeeding discussions of the
differentials in each industry.4
2 By the first shift Is meant the morning shift, by the second shift the afternoon or evening shift, and by
the third shift the night shift. Some agreements refer to the shift beginning at midnight as the first shift,
but this report classifies such work as the third shift.
3 For example, a 10-cent differential on an hourly wage of 60 cents is equivalent to a 20-percent Increase;
on a wage of $1 an hour it amounts to a 10-percent increase.
* In the discussions for each industry, where estimates have been made of the proportion of workers cov
ered by particular amounts of night differentials, the percentages in some cases have been so small that the
process of rounding them has resulted in the total percentage in any given type of night differential varying
slightly from the total percentage for specified types of night differentials shown in table 2.
4
Pay Differentials for Night Work
T a b l e 2 . — Types of Night Differentials Provided in Union Agreements in All Manu
facturing and in 10 War Industries
Percent of workers 1
Industry
Differentials for •
second and
One dif
third shifts
Total
with
ferential
for
night
Third
differ “night
Third different
entials 2 work” 8 same
as
from
second
second
(1)
(2)
(4)
(3)
Other
differ
entials *
(5)
All manufacturing_____________ _____ ________
100
27
37
34
2
Agricultural machinery.......... ............... ...............
Aircraft___________________________________
Aluminum________________________ ___ ____
Automobile_______________________ ______ __
Chemicals, industrial................. ..........................
Electrical machinery___ _____________________
Machine tools......................... ..... ............... .......
Rubber_____ ________ ____ __________ ___ __
Shipbuilding_____ ________ _____ ___________
Steel products____________________________
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
36
10
3
50
21
39
27
41
56
20
12
48
31
47
56
54
44
22
8
70
85
2
45
10
17
4
56
44
3
4
32
1
2
1 Table does not show percentages of less than 1 percent.
* This column represents the same group as column 5 in table 1.
3 Most of these workers are covered by provisions which refer either to “night work” without further
definition, or to work between specified hours such as 6 p. m. to 6 a. m. Fewer than 1 percent are covered
by clauses which allow differentials for the second shift, but make no reference to a third shift.
* These workers are covered by clauses which allow differentials for the third shift but not for the second,
which vary night premiums with the number of hours worked, or which state that night differentials will
be determined when night shifts are introduced.
AGRICULTURAL-MACHINERY INDUSTRY
Practically all the agreements in the agricultural-machinery
industry refer to shift arrangements, and almost 90 percent of the
workers under such agreements are entitled to some kind of night
differential (table 1).
About 56 percent of the workers are under agreements providing pre
miums for night work under clauses which specify th at the same
amount of night differential shall be paid for both second and third
shifts. Over one-third are covered by general night differentials which
may refer to either one or two night shifts. Only 8 percent of the
workers receive larger bonuses for the third shift than for the second
(table 2).
The amount of the extra pay for second shifts and general night
work in agricultural machinery tends to be higher than in any other
manufacturing industrj^ except electrical machinery. Almost 20
percent of the workers are entitled to an hourly rate of 10 cents
higher than their day rate, and about 30 percent to an hourly rate of
10 percent higher than the day rate.
The proportions of workers under agreements providing differen
tials for second- and third-shift work are shown in table 3. I t may be
noted th a t where rates less than 5 cents per hour are provided on the
second shift, higher rates are established for the third shift.
Pay Differentials for Night Work
T able 3. — Wage Differentials for Night Work Under Union Agreements in Agricidtural-
Machinery Industry
Proportion of workers covered
by differentials
6 percent.
1 percent.
9 percent.
19 percent.
1 percent..
28 percent.
Differential paid for—
Second shift
3 cents per hour—.......
4 cents per hour..........
7M cents per hour.......
10 cents per hour.........
5 percent over day rate..
10 percent over day rate.
Third shift
5 cents per hour.
7 cents per hour.
cents per hour,
10 cents per hour.
10percent over day rate.
10 percent over day rate.
General night differential
4 percent..
32 percent.
5 cents per hour.
5 percent over day rate.
AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY
All of the agreements in the Bureau’s files covering aircraft assem
bly, engines, and propellers provide for shift work, and almost 90
percent of the workers under these agreements are covered by clauses
which allow night differentials {table 1).
A large majority of the aircraft workers under agreement are covered
by clauses which allow fewer than 8 hours’ work for 8 hours' pay on
the third shift, in addition to providing the same hourly differential
as is paid for the second shift. Most commonly, 6K hours' work is
compensated by 8 hours' pay on the third shift. Among the largest
firms with such provisions are the following: Consolidated Aircraft
Corporation (San Diego, Calif.) which, in addition to the third-shift
reduction in hours, pays 8 cents per hour extra for both second and
third shifts; Lockheed and Vega Corporations (Burbank, Calif,)
which pay an hourly bonus of 6 cents for both second and third shifts,
in addition to reduced hours on the third shift; and the Boeing Air
craft Co. (Seattle, Wash.) which, in addition to the reduced hours on
the third shift, pays a differential of 5 cents per hour for both second
and third shifts.
The aircraft workers allowed shorter hours on the third shift than
on the second shift constitute approximately 65 percent of the total
workers under agreements providing differentials. About 6 percent
of the workers are allowed increases in money rates without reduction
in hours for third-shift work. Almost 20 percent of the aircraft
workers are covered by provisions which allow the same premiums
for both second and third shifts, and the remaining 10 percent are
covered by a general night differential which may or may not include
both a second and third shift.
Table 4 shows the percent of aircraft workers under agreement,
covered by various amounts of night differentials.
6
Pay Differentials for Night Work
T able 4. — Wage Differentials for Night Work Under Union Agreements in
Aircraft Industry
Differentials paid for—
Proportion of
workers covered
by differentials
Second shift
Third shift
7 percent...........
6 percent...........
5 percent.........
2 percent...........
18 percent.........
21 percent_____
4 percent------3 percent...........
17 percent........ .
2 percent...........
2 percent...........
5 cents per hour—-...........
5 cents per hou r___ ____
9 cents per hour..............
10 cents per hour_____ ...
5 cents per hour—. ...........
6 cents per hour-.............
7 cents per hour— ...........
7H cents per hour............
8 cents per hour...............
5 percent over day rate......
10 percent over day rate—.
5 cents per hour.
10 cents per hour.
9 cents per hour.
10 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour, plus 8 hours’ pay for 6 H hours' work.
6 cents per hour, plus 8 hours’ pay for 6% hours’ work.
8 hours’ pay for hours’ work.
7H cents per hour, plus 8 hours’ pay for 6H hours’ work.
8 cents per hour, plus 8 hours’ pay for 63^ hours’ work.
5 percent over day rate.
10 percent over day rate, plus 8 hours’ pay for 7K hours’
work.
8 hours’ pay for 7 hours’ work.
3 percent........... 8 hours1' pay for 7 hours*
work,
i
General night differential
1 percent........... 5 cents per hour.
7 percent........... 5 percent over day rate.
2 percent......... - 10 percent over day rate,
ALUMINUM INDUSTRY
Almost 90 percent of the aluminum workers under agreement are
covered by provisions for shift work, and almost all of these workers
are allowed night differentials (table 1).
A very large proportion of the aluminum workers who are entitled
to extra night rates were brought under such provisions as a result
of decisions of the National War Labor Board. Previously, some fabri
cating plants of the Aluminum Co. of America paid night differentials
to workers employed on noncontinuous processes, the workers on con
tinuous processes in these plants being negligible. In February 1942
the National War Labor Board granted night differentials to employ
ees of the company's New Kensington plant, and in August 1942
to workers on noncontinuous processes in other fabricating and smelt
ing plants of the company. Although the latter decision did not
provide differentials for the continuous-process workers, it stated th at
this problem should be discussed locally; subsequent to the award,
some of the plants affected by the decision adopted local agreements
which provide night differentials for all workers, including those on
continuous processes.
The National War Labor Board’s decisions granted night differen
tials of 3 cents on second shifts and 5 cents on third shifts. When
local agreements extended the differential to continuous processes,
the same night premium rates were adopted.6
The Bureau has on file three agreements covering aluminum work
ers in plants of other companies, which allow night differentials.
One agreement provides 5 cents for both second and third shifts,
another agreement allows a 5-percent bonus for both shifts, and the
third agreement allows a general night differential of 5 cents over
the day rate.
• Aluminum workers have been counted as under night-differential provisions when the Bureau had
information based on National War Labor Board decisions or labor periodicals, although copies of the
agreements were not always on file.
Pay Differentials for Night Work
7
AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY
Almost all workers under agreement in the automobile industry
are subject to night-shift work and are allowed night differentials
(table 1). All but 2 percent of the workers entitled to night differ
entials in the automobile industry are covered by clauses which
provide either one general night premium with no reference to second
and third shifts as such, or specify the same differential for both
second and third shifts (table 2).
The General Motors agreement, which covers a large majority of
the workers under clauses providing a general night differential, allows
5 percent extra on shifts “one-half of which are between the hours
of 6 p. m. and 6 a. m.” The Ford and Chrysler agreements, which
represent a large majority of the workers under agreements which spe
cifically mention both the second and third shifts, provide for premi
ums of 5 cents over the day rates for both shifts.
The night differentials most commonly provided by the automobile
agreements are shown in table 5.
T a b le 5. — Wage Differentials for Night Work Under Union Agreements
in Automobile Industry
Proportion of workers covered
by differentials
1 percent ________________________
43 percent________________________
3 percent________________________ 2 percent_______________________ —
Differentials paid for—
Second shift
3 cents per hour___________
5 cents per hour___________
6 percent over day rate______
10 percent over day rate_____
Third shift
4 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour.
6 percent over day rate.
10 percent over day rate.
General night differentials
1 percent_________________________ 3 cents per hour.
4 percent_________________________ 5 cents per hour.
44 percent________________________ 5 percent over day rate.
2 percent_____ -__________________
10 percent over day rate.
INDUSTRIAL-CHEMICALS INDUSTRY
About three-fourths of all workers under agreement in the industrialchemicals industry are covered by agreements which specifically
mention shift work. About one-half of these are entitled to extra
rates for night work (table 1). Most chemical plants have always
operated on a multiple-shift basis, owing to the continuous nature of
the manufacturing process, and this may account for the relative lack
of wage premiums for night work.
Almost half the chemical workers entitled to night differentials are
covered by agreements which allow more for the third shift than for
the second. About 30 percent are covered by clauses which specifi
cally establish the same differential for both second and third shifts,
and about 20 percent are covered by clauses which provide a general
night differential but do not indicate whether a third shift is worked.
A few agreements provide differentials for the third shift only. In
addition, a considerable number of workers in this industry are
allowed extra pay for working on rotating shifts; under these clauses a
bonus is paid to workers on all rotating shifts, not only to the workers
on the night shifts.
Pay Differentials for Night Work
8
The varying amounts of the differentials over day rates paid to
workers on night shifts in the industrial-chemicals industry are indi
cated in table 6.
T a b l e 6 . — Wage Differentials for Night Work Under Union Agreements in Industrial-
Chemicals Industry
Proportion of workers covered
by differentials
27 percent
4 percent.
3 percent.
4 percent42 percent.
Differentials paid for—
Second shift
3 cents per horn:.
3 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour.
No differential..
6 cents per hour.
Third shift
3 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour.
10 cents per hour.
General night differentials
5 percent.
12 percent.
3 percent.
8 cents per hour.
3 cents per hour and paid lunch period.
10 percent over day rate.
i The majority of these workers are covered by an agreement which allows differentiate for the second and
third shifts of 2 cents per hour to workers on rotating shifts and 3 cents per hour to workers on fixed shifts.
ELECTRICAL-MACHINERY INDUSTRY
Almost all workers under agreement in the electrical-machinery
industry are covered by clauses providing for shift work and wage
differentials for night work (table 1). About 85 percent of the workers
covered by night differentials are included under clauses which allow
one general night differential or which establish the same bonus for
both second and third shifts. About 10 percent are covered by provi
sions which allow higher premiums for the third shift than for the
second shift and about 2 percent are covered by clauses which allow
differentials for the third shift only. A few agreements provide dif
ferentials for the second shift only, but do not refer to a third shift,
and a few other agreements allow different premiums for night work
depending on the number of shifts in operation or the number of
hours worked on a shift (table 2).
Differentials tend to be higher in the electrical-machinery industry
than in most other industries. Over two-thirds of the workers en
titled to extra pay for work at night receive 10 percent above the
day rate. Among the largest firms with agreements allowing 10
percent for night work are the General Electric Co. and the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.
The amounts of night differentials most commonly allowed workers
on second and third shifts, or on general night work which may or
may not include two night shifts, are indicated in table 7. Several
other examples of night differentials could be quoted from agree
ments on file with the Bureau, but these other agreements cover
relatively few workers.
Pay Differentials for Night Work
T able 7. — Wage Differentials for Night Work Under Union Agreements in Electrical-
Machinery Industry
Proportion of workers covered
by differentials
4 percent. .
3 percent..
1 percent..
1 percent..
1 percent..
3 percent..
2 percent. .
1 percent. .
1 percent..
41 percent.
1 percent. .
1 percent. .
Differentials paid for—
Second shift
Third shift
5 cents per hour______
5 cents per hour........
5 cents per hour............
5 cents per hour............
6 cents per hour............
5 percent over day rate..
No differential.............
5 percent over day rate..
5 percent over day rate..
10 percent over day rate.
10 percent over day rate.
H hour’s extra pay........
5 cents per hour.
7 cents per hour.
cents per hour.
10 cents per hour.
10 cents per hour.
5 percent over day rate.
5 percent over day rate.
7 percent over day rate.
10 percent over day rate.
10 percent over day rate.
15 percent over day rate.
M hour’s extra pay.
General night differentials
2 percent.
9 percent27 percent.
1 percent.
1 percent.
5 cents per hour.
5 percent over day rate.
10 percent over day rate.
10 percent over day rate (third shift not mentioned).
15 percent over day rate.
MACHINE-TOOL INDUSTRY
Almost all agreements in the machine-tool industry mention shift
work and all of the agreements in the Bureau’s files referring to shifts
provide differentials for night work (table 1).
Agreements covering almost 85 percent of the workers in the
machine-tool industry specifically provide the same premium for
both second and third shifts or allow one general night differential with
no reference to whether or not bojh second and third shifts are in
volved. About one-sixth of the workers receive a higher differential
for the third shift than for the second (table 2).
The amounts of the differentials over the day rates for night shifts
are given in table 8.
T able 8. — Wage Differentials for Night Work Under Union Agreements in Machine-
Tool Industry
Proportion of workers covered
by differentials
40 percent.
9 percent.
8percent.
1 percent.
Differentials paid for—
Second shift
Third shift
5 cents per hour..........................
5 cents per hour..........................
8 cents per hour..........................
10 percent over day rate..............
5-10 percent over day rate (based
on length of service) and 18minute paid lunch period, mini
mum 5 cents.
5 cents per hour.
10 cents per hour.
15 cents per hour. *
10 percent over day rate.
5-10 percent over day rate (based
on length of service) and 18minute paid lunch period, mini
mum 5 cents.
General night differentials
5 percent
3 percent.
6 percent.
7 percent.
7 percent.
5 cents per hour.
7 cents per hour.
10 cents per hour.
7H percent over day rate.
10 percent over day rate.
10
Pay Differentials for Night Work
RUBBER INDUSTRY
About three-quarters of the rubber workers under agreement are
covered by clauses which mention shift work, but only about 18
percent of the workers under shift provisions are entitled to differ
entials for night work by the terms of their agreements (table 1). As
in the basic-steel and chemical industries, some operations in rubber
manufacturing involve continuous processes and such operations have
customarily been on a multiple-shift basis (see page 1).
About 95 percent of the small number of workers under agreements
providing extra rates for night work are covered by clauses specifically
providing the same differentials for both second and third shifts or
allowing a general night differential, or a differential for the second
shift only with no mention of a third shift (table 2).
The amounts of the differentials provided for night workers in the
rubber industry are given in table 9.
T able 9. — Wage Differentials for Night Work Under Union Agreements in Rubber
Industry
Proportion of workers covered
by diffeifentials
13 percent.
2 percent.
1 percent.
6 percent.
21 percent.
1 percent.
2 percent12 percent.
1 percent..
1 percent.,
Differentials paid forSecond shift
2M cents per hour..........
2H cents per hour......... .
3 cents per hour.............
4 cents per hour.............
5 cents per hour.............
2}4 percent over day rate.
3 percent over day rate...
5 percent over day rate. 6 percent over day rate...
No differential...............
Third shift
2M cents per hour.
5 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour.
4 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour.
2te percent over day rate.
3 percent over day rate.
5 percent over day rate.
10 percent over day rate.
10 percent over day rate.
General night differentials
9 percent..
1 percent..
14 percent.
14 percent.
2 percent..
2 cents per hour fthird shift not mentioned).
5 cents per hour (third shift not mentioned).
5 cents per hour.
10 cents per hour.
5 percent over day rate.
SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY
Over 90 percent of the shipbuilding workers in the United States are
covered by shipbuilding stabilization agreements. Additional ship
building workers are covered by agreements negotiated directly ber
tween employers and unions.
Each of the four zone stabilization agreements contains a provision
for night differentials and most of the union agreements covering
companies not under stabilization agreements also do so. In the
Pacific Coast and the Gulf Coast stabilization zones, the stabilization
agreements specify the hours to be worked on each shift and the differ
ential to be paid for second- and third-shift work. The stabilization
agreements for the Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes zones provide
money differentials but leave the question of hours and mealtime for
local agreement. Union agreements with companies not under
stabilization procedure usually provide about the same night premi
ums as the stabilization agreements of the respective areas.
Pay Differentials for Night Work
11
The Pacific Coast agreement establishes a 10-percent differential
and allows 8 hours’ pay for 7% hours’ work for the second shift, and
establishes a 15-percent differential and 8 hours’ pay for 7 hours’ work
on the third shift.
The Gulf Coast agreement provides slightly varying differentials
for the second shift under two-shift operation and under three-shift
operation. If two shifts are worked the second shift receives a pre
mium of only 40 cents for the shift; if three shifts are worked, the
workers on the second shift receive a 40-cent premium for the shift
and 8 hours’ pay for 7% hours’ work. The third-shift workers receive
a 40-cent premium for the shift and 8 hours’ pay for 7 hours’ work.6
The stabilization agreement on the Atlantic Coast allows 7 percent
extra for both the second and third shifts and makes no mention of the
hours to be worked. The Great Lakes stabilization agreement states
th at both second- and third-shift workers shall receive eight times the
regular hourly rate, plus 40 cents. In both these zones, local union
agreements include a variety of clauses in regard to the number of
hours of work required on the second and third shift. Under some
local agreements the second shift works 7% hours and the third shift
7 hours. A few agreements provide for a paid lunch period of 15 or
20 minutes, or merely state that adequate time shall be allowed for
meals. Some agreements, including one covering several large yards,
stipulate th a t the length and time of shifts shall be determined by the
company and union, in some instances subject to the approval of the
War Production Board, Navy, or Maritime Commission. Other
agreements do not specify the hours to be worked and presumably
require 8 hours’ work on both second and third shift.
FABRICATED-STEEL-PRODUCTS INDUSTRY 7
Between 55 and 60 percent of the workers under agreement in iron
and steel fabricating plants are covered by agreements which refer
to shift work. Over 90 percent of the workers covered by shift pro
visions are allowed differentials for night work (table 1).
Almost 45 percent of the steel-products workers entitled to extra
pay for night work receive a greater premium for the third shift than
for the second shift. About 22 percent receive the same differential
for both second and third shifts and 32 percent are covered by agree
ments which provide a general night premium. About 2 percent of
the workers in this industry are included under provisions for differen
tials on the third shift only or which specify that differentials will be
negotiated when night work is undertaken (table 2).
Three agreements, covering less than 3 percent of the steel-prod
ucts workers who are allowed night differentials, state th at extra rates
win be paid only if it is not found practical to rotate the shifts. In
only one of the other agreements containing night differentials is
shift arrangement mentioned and in this case the agreement merely
states that shifts are to be rotated.
6 Shipbuilding workers under, the Gulf Coast stabilization agreement have been counted in table 2 as
covered by provisions which allow differentials for both second and third shifts.
7 Does not include blast furnaces, steel works and rolling mills. Agreements in basic steel do not generally
mention shifts, although it is known that round-the-clock production with rotation of shifts is customary*
and the payment of night differentials is rare.
Pay Differentials for Night Work
12
The approximate proportions of workers covered by night-work
differentials most commonly established by agreement in the manu
facture of fabricated iron and steel products are indicated in table 10.
T a b l e 10.— Wage Differentials for Night Work Under Union Agreements in Manufac
ture of Fabricated-Steel Products
Differentials paid for-
Proportion of
workers cov
ered by dif
ferentials
Second shift
Third shift
1 percent..
1 percent,.
2 percent-.
1 percent..
8 percent..
2 percent .
2 percent..
2)4 cents per hour................... i ........
3 cents per hour................................
No differential.... ............................
4 cents per hour................ ...............
5 cents per hour............................ .
5 cents per hour............... ............... .
5 cents per hour................................
1 percent..
1 percent _
Scents per hour............................... .
5 cents per hour............................... .
3 percent..
6 percent..
6 percent.
2 percent1 percent .
1 percent _
4 percent over day rate.....................
4 percent over day rate....................
5 percent over day rate................ .....
5 percent over day rate.....................
10 percent over day rate______ ___
10 percent over day rate, plus 8 hours'
pay for 7K hours’ work.
40 cents per shift and 8 hours’ pay for
7H hours’ work.
2H cents per hour.
3 cents per hour.
3 cents per hour.
*4 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour (if shifts not rotated).
5 cents per hour, plus 8 hours’ pay for 7M hours’
work.
10 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour, plus 8 hours’ pay for 6)4 hours’
work.
4 percent over day rate.
5 percent over day rate.
5 percent over day rate.
Tyb percent over day rate.
15 percent over day rate.
15 percent over day rate, plus 8 hours’ pay for 7H
hours’ work.
40 cents per shift, plus 8 hours’ pay for 7 hours’
work.
30 percent
General night differentials
3 percent.
3 percent
9 percent
1 percent
4 percent
3 percent
6 percent
3 percent
2K cents per hour.
3 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour.
5 cents per hour (if shifts not rotated).
10 cents per hour.
4 percent over day rate.
5 percent over day rate.
10 percent over day rate.
Sample Clauses in Union Agreements
Clauses A, H, and C are samples of general night differentials.
Clause A provides for a 5-cent differential; clause B, 5 percent; and
clause C, 10 percent.
A p p e n d ix —
Clause A .— Employees working on shifts other than the regular day shift shall
receive additional compensation at the rate of 5 cents per hour.
Clause B.— A night-shift premium of 5 percent of night-shift earnings, including
overtime premium, will be paid to all hourly-rated employees working on shifts
half or more of the working hours of which are scheduled between the hours of
6:00 p. m. and 6:00 a. m.
Clause C.— Work performed at night shall be paid for at the rate of 110 percent
of the regular rate of pay for the work performed; provided, however, that such
work performed at night shall be done by workers who have not worked during
the preceding 8 hours.
The following three clauses illustrate differentials for both second
and third shifts. In the first two clauses the same differential has
been provided for both second and third shifts. In the third clause a
10-percent differential and a reduction of half an hour working time
are provided for the second shift, and for the third shift a 15-percent
differential plus 1 hour’s decrease in working time.
Clause D.— All hourly paid and piece-work employees operating on the second
and third shifts are to receive 10 percent over and above their hourly rate of earn
ings in their respective classifications.
Pay Differentials for Night Work
13
Clause E.— Five cents per hour shall be paid as a bonus to employees working
on the second and third shifts.
Clause F.— Shift work will be permitted in all classifications without restriction
on the following basis:
First or regular daylight shift: An 8^-hour period less 30 minutes for meals on
the employee’s time. Pay for a full shift period shall be a sum equivalent to 8
times the regular hourly rate with no premium.
Second shift: An 8-hour period less 30 minutes for meals on employee’s time.
Pay for a second-shift period shall be a sum equivalent to 8 times the regular
rate plus 10 percent.
Third shift: A 7%-hour period less 30 minutes for meals on employee’s time.
Pay for a full third shift shall be a sum equivalent to 8 times the regular hourly
rate plus 15 percent.
Clause G provides for an alternative flat differential or percentage
differential depending on which gives the employee more pay.
Clause H provides a higher differential for nonrotating shifts than
for rotating shifts. Clause I states th at negotiations in regard to
night shift differentials will be undertaken when night work becomes
regular.
Clause G.— All employees working an extra shift shall receive 5 cents per hour
in addition to his hourly rate when working on the first or day shift, or 7 percent
per hour, whichever will give the employee more pay. An extra shift shall be
construed to mean a shift one-half or more of the working hours of which are
scheduled between the hours of 6 p. m. and 6 a. m.
Clause H.— Three cents per hour shall be paid in addition to the regular hourly
rates to employees working on afternoon and night shifts without rotation.
All employees working on shifts rotating continuously from day to night at
least once in every 2-week period, shall be paid 2 cents an hour in addition to their
regular rate.
Clause I .— If the employer shall institute night work a conference will be had
with the union relative to the rate of wages to be received by such employees so
engaged in night work, and no undertaking of night work shall be had until such
agreement shall be reached with the union and incorporated into this agreement
as if originally inscribed herein.
U N IT E D STATE S
G O V E R N M E N T P R IN T IN G OFFICE
W A SH IN G TO N : 1943
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