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U N IT E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T OF L A B O R
Frances Perkins, Secretary
B U R E A U OF L A B O R STATISTICS
Isador Lubin, Commissioner (on leave)
A . F. Hinrichs, A ctin g Commissioner
+
Wage Structure of the
Nonferrous Metals
Industry, 1941-42
Bulletin 7^o. 729
{Reprinted from the M on th ly Labor R e v ie w , June, July,
August, and O ctober, 1942, w it h additional data]
U NITED STATES
G O V E R N M E N T PR IN T IN G OFFICE
W ASH ING TON : 1943
For
by the Superintendent o f Documents, U. S. G overnm ent Printing Office
Washington, D. C. ~ Price 10 cents
LETTER OF TRANSM ITTAL
U n it e d S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t of 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. (7., January 14, 1943.
T h e Se c r e t a r y
of
L abor:
I have the honor to transmit herewith a report covering a study
made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the wage structure of the
nonferrous metals industry, 1941-42.
A. F . H i n r i c h s , Acting Commissioner.
Hon.
F r a n c e s P e r k in s ,
Secretary oj Labor.
ii
CONTENTS
P age
Preface____________________________________________________________________
rv
Summary----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Part I.— Earnings in mining and milling of nonferrous metals, August 1941:
Scope and method of survey__________________________________________
2
Characteristics of the industry:
Importance of the industry______________________________________
3
Location of the industry_________________________________________
4
Characteristics of the labor force________________________________
4
Extent of unionization___________________________________________
5
Method of wage payment________________________________________
6
“ Sliding scale” of wages_________________________________________
7
Measurement of working time___________________________________
8
Hourly earnings____________________ __________________________________
8
Regional differences____________________________________ _______10
Earnings by type of product_____________________________________
11
Occupational earnings____________________________________________
13
Weekly hours and earnings___________________________________________
20
Part II.— Earnings in the smelting and refining of nonferrous metals,
August 1941:
Characteristics of the industry________________________________________
22
Importance of the industry______________________________________
24
Size of establishment_____________________________________________
24
Location of the industry_________________________________________
25
Characteristics of the labor force_________________________ _____ _
25
Extent of unionization_____________________________________ _____
26
Scope and method of survey__________________________________________
27
Method of wage payment_____________________________________________
28
Hourly earnings:
Wartime trend of earnings_________________________________ _____
29
Earnings in August 1941_________________________________________
29
Regional differences______________________________________________
32
Occupational earnings_______ ____________________________________
32
Weekly hours and earnings___________________ _______________________
39
Part III.— Earnings in primary fabrication of nonferrous metals, August
1941:
Primary fabrication processes_____________________________ ___________
40
Characteristics of the industry_______________________________________
42
Size of establishment__________________________________________ _
42
43
Location of the industry________________________________________
The labor force-----------------------------------------------------------------------------43
Extent of unionization______________________________________
45
Scope and method of survey__________________________________________
46
Method of wage payment_____________________________________________
47
Hourly earnings______________________________________________________
47
Regional differences______________________________________________
49
Occupational earnings____________________________________________
50
Weekly hours and earnings___________________________________________
59
Part IV.— Earnings in mining and processing of nonferrous metals, June
1942:
60
Nature of the June 1942 data________________________________________
61
Average hourly earnings in June 1942________________________________
Occupational earnings______ _________ ____________________________
63
Appendix.— Occupational distribution of workers in the primary fabrica
tion branches of the industry, August 1941.......... ......................... .................
69
hi
PREFACE
The survey of the wage structure of the nonferrous metals industry
was undertaken in the fall of 1941 in recognition of the importance of
the industry in the production of war materials and in anticipation of
the critical wage problems which subsequently developed. This was
the first comprehensive wage survey of the industry. Earlier surveys
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, had covered important
branches of the industry. In 1924 and in 1931 the mining of nonfer
rous metals was included in a general study of wages in metal mining.
(See U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bull. No. 573.) A survey of
wages in copper and brass mills was made in 1927. (See Monthly
Labor Review, August 1928, pp. 131-138.)
The broad scope of the present survey was determined in recognition
of the high degree of integration of the industry. The production of
nonferrous metals is dominated by a few large concerns which engage,
directly or through subsidiaries, in mining, milling, smelting, refining,
and the primary stages of fabrication. Some ol these producers turn
out completely fabricated consumer goods requiring much intricate
processing. Two or more productive processes are frequently en
countered in the same establishment or on the same premises. Eco
nomic developments in one branch of the industry generally exercise
a direct and immediate influence on the other branches. Collective
bargaining commonly involves workers engaged in several stages of
production.
The survey covered the production of copper, lead, and zinc and
their alloys, and included representative establishments producing
mercury, manganese, molybdenum, and tungsten. Available infor
mation regarding wages in the aluminum industry has been withheld
from publication to avoid disclosure of the operations of one large
concern. The material secured permits presentation of considerable
detail regarding wages in the production of the individual metals.
Insofar as possible, separate detail is also presented by stage of pro
duction and by region.
The results of tne Bureau’s survey were widely used throughout
1942 by the various war agencies; particularly by the National War
Labor Board in the settlement of labor disputes. In the summer of 1942
the wage data for mining, milling, smelting, and refining were brought
up to date and were used in the important wage negotiations which
were under way in these branches of the industry at that time. The
results were published as a series of four articles in the June, July,
August, and October (1942) issues of the Monthly Labor Review.
These articles are reproduced in this bulletin with little change.
The study was conducted in the Bureau’s Division of Wage Ana’ysis, under the general supervision of Robert J. Myers. Harry Ober
planned and directed the study and prepared the report on wages in
1942. The three reports on wages in 1941 were prepared jointly by
Mr. Ober and Mr. Jacob Loft. Abner C. Lakenan and Frederick
Mohr supervised the tabulation of the data.
A. F. H i n r i c h s ,
Acting Commissioner, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
IV
Bulletin 7S£o. 729 of the
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
[Reprinted from the M o n t h l y L a b o r R b v ib w , June, July, August,
and October, 1942, with additional data]
Wage Structure of the Nonferrous
Metals Industry, 1941-42
SUMMARY
Straight-time hourly earnings in the various branches of the nonferrous metals industry in August 1941 covered a wide range. Workers
in mercury mines, for example, averaged only 61.2 cents per hour, while
workers engaged in the alloying, rolling, and drawing of copper, brass,
and bronze averaged 88.7 cents. The working force consisted almost
exclusively of males.
Workers employed in mines and mills averaged 74.5 cents, with
slightly more than one-third (34.3 percent) concentrated in the
10-cent range from 72.5 cents to 82.5 cents per hour. Except for the
low rates prevailing in mercury mining, wage differences by type of
metal were not marked. Compared on a regional basis, wages were
highest in the western area and lowest in Michigan (47.9 cents).
Straight-time earnings averaged 79.8 cents in smelting and 78.3
cents in refining. Zinc smelters (83.5 cents) paid the highest average
wage in this branch of the industry, while mercury smelters paid the
lowest (60.5 cents). Eastern smelters and refineries, paying 89.1
cents and 82.2 cents on the average, maintained the highest wages,
while the lowest wages were found in the Southwest (63.7 cents and
68.7 cents, respectively).
Workers engaged in the primary fabrication of nonferrous metals
earned an average of 79.5 cents. Individual branch averages ranged
from 88.7 cents paid in the alloying, rolling, and drawing of copper,
brass, and bronze to 70.1 cents in secondary smelters. Earnings were
highest in the New England States, where numerous occupational
classes averaged more than $1 an hour; and lowest in the South. No
information was obtained regarding wages in the advanced fabrication
processes.
As a result of numerous wage increases, straight-time hourly earnings
were considerably higher in June 1942 than they had been in the earlier
period. The smallest increase was in the smelting of lead, where
earnings rose by 4 cents per hour to an average of 80.8 cents; the larg
est increase, 11.3 cents per hour, was in the mining and milling of
copper and raised the average for this branch to 84.1 cents. Data for
primary fabrication are not available for the second period. In June
1942 approximately one-third of all workers engaged in mining and
milling and about half the workers engaged in smelting and refining
earned 90 cents an hour or more..
P a rt
I.—EARNINGS IN MINING AND MILLING OF
NONFERROUS METALS, AUGUST 1941
Scope and Method of Survey
From the standpoint either of production volume or of extent of
consumption in our modem economy, copper, lead, and zinc are the
most important nonferrous metals. The production and fabrication
of these metals into castings, sheets, rods, tubes, extrusions, and
forgings therefore constitute the most important part of the nonferrous metal survey. Such minor metals as mercury, molybdenum,
tungsten, and manganese also received consideration, but the mining
of bauxite and its reduction into alumina and aluminum were not
included.
The survey of the nonferrous-metal mining industry was made on
the basis of a stratified sample covering about one-half of the estab
lishments in copper, lead, and zinc, and mercury mining and milling,
and about one-half of the workers. In order to assure the representa
tiveness of the mines and mills included in the sample, careful con
sideration was given to size of the establishment, type of metal
produced, geographic location, and corporate affiliation. Mines and
mills employing fewer than 20 workers, however, were not covered.
These smaller plants, which employ but a small proportion of the work
ers in the industry, were not considered suitable for inclusion with
the larger establishments because of the narrowness of their occupa
tional pattern and the instability of their operation. The data for
the survey were collected from actual pay rolls by trained field
representatives of the Bureau for a period in August 1941. The
information obtained includes detailed records of hours worked,
total earnings, and occupational descriptions, as well as the sex and
color of each employee.
For the purposes of this survey, “mining” is considered to apply
mainly to the operations involved in the actual extraction of ore and
the necessary preparatory work in the stopes. Concurrently with this
activity, however, mining establishments frequently engage in pros
pecting, exploration, and development, and it is impossible to dis
sociate the labor engaged in the latter operatons from mining proper.
Mines in which exploration, development, and prospecting were the
sole or primary activities were not studied. Prospecting is a term
generally applied to the search for and discovery of ore bodies at the
surface. Exploration refers to the search for new ore bodies and
extension of known ore bodies. Development involves those prepara
tory mining operations leading to the extraction of ore.
Milling, concentration, or ore dressing is the process of preparing
the crude ore for more economical transportation and further process
ing. This involves the removal of much of the waste material from
the mass of ore, and the separation of the various constituents of the
ore so that in each kind of ore only one valuable metal predominates.
These processes involve sorting the bulk or ground ore by mechanical
methods or by hand, and the direct recovery of the metal by amalga
mation and leaching.
2
MINING AND MILLING
3
Characteristics of the Industry
IM PORTAN CE OF TH E IN DUSTRY
The mining of nonferrous metals does not furnish employment to
any large proportion of the workers in the United States. The in
dustry is, however, fairly concentrated on a regional basis and in such
regions as the Tri-State District, the Idaho area, and other western
minidg regions, it provides an important source of employment and
income for many communities.
Preliminary Census reports for 1939 contain data for mines and
mills which reported a value of product or cost of development work
amounting to at least $2,500. The average number of wage earners
reported by the Census for mines and mills producing copper, lead,
zinc, mercury, tungsten, and molybdenum ores was about 42,000 in
1939. Of this number, 24,000 were employed in the extraction and
primary treatment of copper ore, 15,000 in lead and zinc ore produc
tion, 700 in tungsten, 600 in mercury, and 900 in molybdenum. Since
1939, of course, employment in mining has increased considerably as
a result of increased requirements of the war program.
From 1909 to 1939 the number of mines engaged in copper, lead, and
zinc production was drastically reduced. In the earlier year there
were 368 active copper mines as contrasted with 49 in 1939. Over the
same three decades the number of lead and zinc mines recorded by the
Census declined by nearly four-fifths. In part, this decline is the
result of changes in reporting; prior to 1919 the Census excluded only
those mines whose product was valued at less than $500 per year,
while after 1919 mines reporting a value of product of less than $2,500
were excluded. In part, however, the reduction in number reflects
the exhaustion of some mines and the abandonment of others with
low-grade ore. Wide variation in the number of active mines from
period to period results from changes in the prices of metal. To some
extent, too, the reduction in the number of mines reflects the tendency
toward consolidation of small working units into large mine units, a
tendency which is still operating.
Employment in the mining industry is subject to wide cyclical
fluctuations. From 1909 to 1939 the average number of wage earners
in copper mining and milling declined by over half, with the major
portion of the decline occurring in the decade following 1929. The
working force in lead and zinc mining rose by about half from 1909 to
1929, but during the decade following 1929 it fell below the 1909 level.
Employment in mining over these three decades declined more
sharply than the output or the value of the total product. Mechaniza
tion of mining, as well as the development of new methods of produc
tion, contributed considerably toward the reduction of labor require
ments. The outstanding developments in mining during these years
include improved methods of mine lay-out; improved drills and
blasting practices, improved transportation and hoisting facilities, the
introduction of mechanical loading, and the discovery of new methods
of stoping (such as square setting and block caving). Important, too,
were improvements made in the mills in the methods of treating lowgrade ores—especially the flotation process which made possible the
treatment of tailings formerly discarded, as well as the mining of
low-grade ore bodies.
4
WAGE STRUCTURE-— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
l o c a t io n
of
the
in d u s t r y
The major copper-producing areas are Michigan, the Southwestern
States of Arizona and New Mexico, the California, Nevada and Utah
area, and the Northwestern States of Idaho, Montana, and Washing
ton. Important shifts in production occurred in these regions from
1909 to 1939. Thus, Michigan, which produced about one-fifth of the
total copper in 1909 in terms of value of the product, contributed only
7 percent of the total output in 1939. The relative share of Idaho,
Montana, and Washington also dropped, during this period, from over
a third to only a sixth of the total. By way of contrast, the combined
share of California, Nevada, and Utah rose from one-sixth to over
one-third between 1909 and 1939, and Arizona and New Mexico’s pro
portion of the total output rose from one-fourth to over one-third.
Census figures for lead and zinc extraction show concentration in
two main regions: The Mississippi Valley, with principal concentra
tion within the Tri-State District (Jasper and Newton Counties, Mo.,
Cherokee County, Kans., and Ottawa County, Okla.); and the West,
consisting of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New
Mexico, Utah, and Washington.
Less than 1 percent of the total value of lead and zinc was produced
by mines of the western region in 1909, whereas, in the same year, the
lead and zinc produced in the Mississippi Valley accounted for over
four-fifths of the total value. The proportion of the total output
produced in the latter region declined in succeeding years to somewhat
over two-fifths of the total in 1939, while the value of the lead and
zinc products of the western region rose during the same period to
two-fifths of the total.
Table 1 indicates the regional distribution of the mines and mills
included in the Bureau’s survey.
T a b le
1 .—
Sample of Nonferrous-Metal Mines and Mills Covered by Bureau's Survey
W orkers
N um
ber of
units
Branch and region 1
Branch and region1
N um
ber
Percent
All regions. ____________
160
26,205
100.0
Copper m in es2__________
Northwest__________
Southwest__________
M ichigan___________
Copper m ills ___________
Northwest__________
Southwest__________
Michigan___________
22
8
11
3
14
3
9
2
10,083
4,116
4,584
1,383
2,275
651
1,452
172
38.5
15.7
17.5
5.3
8.7
2.5
5.5
.7
N um
ber of
units
Lead end zinc m in e s ___
West
Tri-State___________
East.............................
Lead and zinc m ills ____
N orth w est______ __
Southwest__________
Tri-State_______- ___
East.............................
Mercury mining________
Other mining___________
Other milling....................
54
18
32
4
37
5
9
19
4
16
9
8
Workers
N um
Percent
ber
9,232
5,459
2,854
919
2,833
1,031
524
957
321
444
912
426
35.2
20.8
10.9
3.5
10.8
3.9
2.0
3.7
1.2
1.7
3.5
1.6
> For States included in the various regions, see footnotes to tables 6, 7, and 8.
1 Includes 3 open-cut mines.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LABOR FORCE
The labor force for the
composed exclusively of
small communities, and
workers from agriculture.
mining and milling of nonferrous metals is
males. The plants are found mainly in
draw a substantial proportion of their
At present considerable numbers are also
MINING AND MILLING
5
recruited from the service industries and from marginal manufacturing
establishments.
Mining generally involves hard labor and unpleasant conditions of
work. It requires much knowledge and skill of the miner, and less
skill but more industry on the part of the mucker. Considerable
knowledge is also required to perform a number of other operations,
such as the care and operation of hoisting equipment, and provisions
for safety, drainage, and ventilation. In addition, maintenance of
transportation facilities, tools, and machines requires experience and
skill. Most of the mines visited by the Bureau’s representatives re
ported anticipated or actual shortages of skilled miners and muckers.
Upgrading of muckers and of miners’ helpers to miners was one
method resorted to by operators to cope with this situation. New
employees hired were taken on mainly as miners, helpers and muckers.
The working force consists mainly of white workers, but substantial
proportions 01 Mexican labor are found in the Southwest. Some
Negroes are also employed in various regions, but their number is
comparatively insignificant. The proportions of the different types'of
workers in the mines and mills studied by the Bureau are indicated
in table 2.
T a b l e 2. — Composition of Labor Force in Nonferrous-Metal Mining and Milling,
August 1941
W hite other
than Mexican
Mexican
Other
Negro
Branch
W ork
ers
Per
cent
W ork
ers
Per
cent
W ork
ers
Mining, total.........................................
Copper.............................................
Lead and zinc.................................
Mercury_______________________
Other______________________ ___
18,586
8,429
8,892
418
847
89.9
83.6
96.3
94.1
92.9
1,842
1,465
286
26
65
8.9
14.5
3.1
5.9
7.1
38
3
35
Milling, total.........................................
Copper.............................................
Leaa and zinc.................................
Other............................ ................
4,954
1,727
2,804
423
89.5
76.0
99.0
99.3
526
496
27
3
9.5
21.8
1.0
.7
5
3
2
Per
cent
0.2
(,).4
.1
0)
(0
W ork
ers
Per
cent
205
186
19
1.0
1.8
.2
49
49
.9
2.2
* Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
E X T E N T O F U N IO N IZ A T IO N
Unionization was found to be relatively extensive in the Western
States, whereas in the Tri-State District few workers were found in
unions. Information obtained on extent of unionization indicates
that in the nonferrous-metal mining industry as a whole somewhat
less than half of the workers belong to unions. The majority of
these are members of the International Union of Mine, Mill and
Smelter Workers, a C. I. O. affiliate, which is the principal union in
the metal-mining field. A small proportion of the workers belong to
A. F. of L. unions.
Forty-four precent of the workers in the nonferrous mines and
mills included in the Bureau’s survey were covered under union agree
ments. Table 3 presents the percentages covered by agreements in
the various regions.
50798$°—43---- 2
6
WAGE STRUCTURE— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
Table 3.— Unionization in Nonferrous-Metal Mines and Mills, August 1941
All workers
R egion 1
Workers in union
mines or mills
Workers in nonunion mines or
mills
Number
Number
Percent
Num ber
All regions _
26,205
100.0
11,528
44.0-
14,677
56.0
W est____________________________________
Tri-State...........................................................
Michigan________________________________
East
........................... - ............................
19,599
3.811
1,555
1,240
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
9,739
278
763
748
49.7
7.3
49.1
60.3
9,860
3,533
792
492
50.3
92.7
50.9
39.7
Percent
Percent
1 For States included in the various regions, see footnote to table 6.
METHOD OF WAGE PAYMENT
Three methods of wage payment are prevalent in the industry:
Time rates, piece rates, and base rates plus bonus. The character
istic time rate in the metal-mining industry is the day rate. Payment
by the day has been the traditional mode in metal mining and still
remains so despite the fact that the operation of Federal wage and
hour regulations has made it necessary to calculate hourly earnings.
Piece workers are considered to include those employees who
receive payment on the basis of some unit of output and whose
earnings vary in direct proportion with the number of units produced.
The unit may be the ton, the can, or some other measure, depending
upon the specific work involved. Frequently, only certain employ
ees, such as miners, muckers, and can hookers, are paid at piece rates.
Variants of the bonus method of wage payment are to be found in
the mining of nonferrous metals. Frequently, the bonuses are calcu
lated for the output of groups of workers, including drilling-machine
operators, muckers, timbermen, and others, on a so-called “ contract”
basis. In such instances, one worker heads the group and acts as the
“ contractor.” Each member of the group is guaranteed a minimum
daily rate and the total earnings of the group are divided between the
participants on some previously determined basis. The group may
work on a piece-rate basis, and frequently may receive an additional
bonus for production in excess of a set standard or “ score.” Nomi
nally, the contract workers assume certain responsibilities and share
certain benefits of an independent entrepreneur; they are charged for
the use of the stope, powder, fuses, caps, and machinery provided by
the management. In calculating the bonus earnings these charges, as
well as the guaranteed daily rates, are deducted from the gross earn
ings. Actually, however, these various arrangements are little more
than formalities. The worker enters into them as a condition of em
ployment and has little say in the determination of the standards of
output, the various charges made by management, or the conditions
of work. His major concern is that his total earnings, whatever the
arrangement, approximate the daily rates prevalent for comparable
work*
Although it is common practice in these contractual arrangements
to provide somewhat higher earnings than for comparable work on a
daily rate basis, especially when development work is involved, upper
limits are frequently set to the total amount that each worker may
earn. In some cases, earnings in excess of a given amount are shared
by the workers and the management on a predetermined percentage
basis up to an absolute limit, above which all earnings are retained by
the firm.
7
MINING AND MILLING
Although the objective of all such methods is to provide an incentive
for diligence and hard work, they do not always lead to the most
efficient methods of production, since in many instances the organiza
tion of the work is left to the contracting group, which is not in a
position to attain the efficiency resulting from a high degree of division
of labor. However, where development work is involved, in order to
make the stope ready for extraction, the efficiency of workers under
these contractual arrangements appears to be relatively high. Earn
ings in such cases are considerably higher than on regular stoping.
In general, bonus workers encountered in the Bureau’s survey were
classified as such when they were employed on a piece rate which did
not vary directly with the number of units produced, either because
of a guaranteed minimum wage or because of an upper limit to total
earnings. Workers were also classified as bonus workers when they
had a time rate and a set standard of output, with additional earnings
for output above the set standard.
Of the 20,671 workers in nonferrous-metal mining covered by the
Bureau’s survey, 81.1 percent were paid at straight time rates (table 4).
The remaining workers were paid on a basis more or less closely related
to output; they were fairly evenly divided between those who received
bonuses (9.4 percent) and those who were paid by the piece (9.5 per
cent). The proportions of time, piece, and bonus workers in copper
mining paralleled closely those in nonferrous-metal mining as a whole.
The proportion of piece and bonus workers combined (20.7 percent)
in lead and zinc mining was slightly in excess of the corresponding
proportion in copper mining.
In contrast with nonferrous-metal mining, almost all workers
(98.6 percent) in nonferrous-metal milling covered by the survey were
paid on a time basis. Only 0.6 and 0.8 percent of the workers in
nonferrous-metal milling were piece and bonus workers, respectively.
In copper milling, almost all workers (99.7 percent) were paid time
rates. Similarly, 97.6 percent of the wage earners in lead and zinc
milling were time workers.
T a b l e 4 . — Distribution of Workers in Nonferrous-Metal Mines and Mills, by Method
of Wage Payment and Branch, August 1941
All workers
Tim e workers
Piece workers
Bonus workers
N um
ber
Branch
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
Mining, total_______________________
Copper_______ _________________
Lead and zinc.................... ...........
M ercury_______________________
Other................................................
20,671
10,083
9,232
444
912
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
16,766
8,171
7,312
444
839
81.1
81.0
79.3
100.0
92.0
1,956
959
929
9.5
9.5
10.0
68
7.5
5
.5
Milling, total_____ _________________
Copper_________________________
Lead and zinc__________________
Other__________ _______________
5,534
2,275
2,833
426
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
5,460
2,269
2,765
426
98.6
99.7
97.6
100.0
31
.6
31
1.1
43
6
37
.8
.3
1.3
"
s l id in g
scale”
of
Per
cent
1,949
953
991
Per
cent
9.4
9.5
10.7
w ages
It is conventional practice in metal mining to adjust the earnings
of workers in accordance with the movements of market prices of
specific metals. This method has been developed by employers over
a long period of time, has generally been accepted by the unions, and
is widely prevalent in negotiated wage agreements. The sliding scale
8
WAGE STRUCTURE.— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
provides a rough means of adjusting wages to the various phases of
the business cycle. The automatic adjustment of production costs in
response to changing metal prices tends to stabilize company earnings
and may contribute somewhat toward regularity of employment.
In view of the wide divergence between the movements of metal
prices and those in the cost of living, however, it is apparent that the
sliding scale falls short of assuring a stable “ real” income for the
worker.
MEASUREMENT OF WORKING TIME
Practices with respect to recording time worked vary considerably
in this industry. The vast majority of the mines have “ collar to
collar” arrangements, under which the working day typically begins
at the time the miner enters the gate and ends when he is brought
up to the surface from the individual working face. There is con
siderable variation in the interpretation of phrase “ collar to collar,”
however. Some mines count only the trip to the mine as time worked
while others count trips both ways. Some mines calculate time
worked from the moment the miner enters the mine site, whereas
others begin at the mine shaft. The trips from collar to working
face consume anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes one way. There are
some mines, however, which consider as time worked only the actual
time spent at the working face. Because of these variations in prac
tice it was necessary for purposes of the Bureau’s survey to adopt a
uniform procedure, and the typical “ collar to collar” basis of record
ing time, mentioned above, was adopted. In mines where no “ collar
to collar” practice prevailed, the time consumed in traveling from the
surface to the working face and back was added to the total hours
recorded.
It is customary practice in the mining industry to schedule no reg
ular lunch period. In such instances the miners are reported to “ eat
on the job.” Some mines, however, do provide for a regular lunch
period during which all work ceases and the workers are not “ subject
to call.” In all cases where workers were reported to be eating on
the job, the hours reported were considered as time worked and no
deductions were made for time spent at lunch.
Hourly Earnings
In the 160nonferrous-metal mines and mills covered by the survey,
hourly earnings, excluding overtime, averaged 74.5 cents. Well over
half (55.7 percent) of the workers earned 65.0 but under 85.0
cents per hour (table 5 and chart). Average hourly earnings in
lead and zinc mines and mills were 76.6 cents, with 61.8 percent of
the workers earning 67.5 but under 87.5 cents per hour. Work
ers in copper mines and mills earned an average of 72.8 cents per hour.
In this branch of nonferrous-metal extraction there was a concentra
tion of 51.3 percent of the workers who earned 65.0 but under 85.0
cents per hour. Average hourly earnings in mercury mines amounted
to 61.2 cents, with 53.6 percent of the workers earning 55.0 but under
75.0 cents per hour; another 13.2 percent earned under 40.0 cents
per hour. In other nonferrous mines and mills (including manganese,
molybdenum, and tungsten), average hourly earnings were 77.4 cents,
somewhat in excess of those in the nonferrous branches mentioned
earlier; 62.9 percent of these workers earned 70.0 but under 90.0
cents per hour.
9
MINING AND MILLING
PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF WORKERS
IN NONFERROUS METAL MINING AND MILLING
BY AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS,
EXCLUDING OVERTIME, ANO BY BRANCH
AUGUST 1941
RCENT
total
PERCE
MINING AND MILLING, ALL BRANCHES
52.5
57.5
62.5
67.5
72.5
77.5
« 2.5
AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS IN CENTS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
87.5
__________
o f to
10
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
T a b l e 5. — Percentage Distribution of Workers in Branches of Non-ferrous-Metal Mining
and Milling, by Average Hourly Earnings (Excluding Overtime), August 1941
Average hourly earnings
____
__________
42 5 and under 45.0 cents _
45 0 and under 47.5 cents.
________
__________
47 5 and under 50.0 cents___________________________
62 5 and under 55.0 cents__________ ________ _____ _
65 0 and under 57.5 cents.
__
_ ________
___
67 5 ^nd under 6ft 0 rents _
.
60 0 and under 62.5 cents___________________________
62 5 and under 65.0 cents_____________________ . . . __
65 0 and under 67.5 cents___________________________
67 5 and under 70.0 cents___________________________
70 0 and under 72.5 cents____. . . ____________________
72.5 and under 75.0 cents..................................................
75 0 and under 77.5 cents___________________________
77.5 and under 80.0 cents___________________________
80.0 and under 82.5 cents___________________________
82.5 and under 85.0 cents___________________________
85.0 and under 87.5 cents___________________________
87.5 and under 90.0 cents___________________________
90.0 and under 92.5 cents___________________________
92 5 and under 95.0 cents___________________________
95.0 and under 97.5 cents___________________________
97 5 and under 100.0 cents_______________ ______ ___
100.0 and under 105.0 cents..............................................
105.0 and under 110.0 cents_______________ _________
110.0 cents and over____________ ______ ____________
Total
2.0
.4
2.0
1.1
1*0
3.3
1.5
2.3
3.1
3.0
4.5
4.0
6.8
4.7
5.6
12.6
5.4
in. 7
5.9
2.9
3.6
2.4
2.4
2.0
.9
1.7
1.0
3.2
and
Other
Copper Lead
M ercury
zinc
mines and
mines
mines
mines
and mills and mills
m ills1
3.2
.7
3.8
1.7
1.6
5.9
1.8
2.3
1.7
2.9
3.6
5.3
3.5
5.1
3.0
14.0
4.5
11.1
4.8
2.7
3.2
2.2
1.4
3.0
.8
1.8
.9
3.5
0.6
.1
.3
.4
.5
.9
.9
2.0
4.3
3.1
5.8
2.6
10.1
4.1
8.8
10.4
6.6
11.2
7.1
3.5
2.4
2.6
3.3
1.3
1.1
1.6
1.3
3.1
13.2
2.0
2.3
5.2
1.1
1.4
1.6
10.3
3.4
9.0
7.7
9.7
3.8
7.0
2.7
7.4
3.8
3.4
.7
.9
.5
0.5
.1
.2
.2
.3
2.2
2.6
1.9
5.3
1.3
.5
2.8
8.6
6.0
1.0
23.4
3.1
4.1
7.0
.7
18.6
1.9
4.3
.4
.7
1.1
.2
.9
1.9
.2
1.9
Total..........................................................................
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
N um ber of workers_________________________________
N um ber of u n its 2__________________________________
Average hourly earnings____________________________
Average hourly earnings, including punitive over
time_____ ____ __________________________ ________
26,205
160
$0,745
12,358
36
$0,728
12,065
91
$0,766
444
16
$0,612
1,338
17
$0,774
$0,782
$0,775
$0,789
$0,667
$0.835
i Manganese, m olybdenum, and tungsten.
>Total of mines and mills, not of establishments.
When payment for overtime at penalty rates was included, average
hourly earnings for all nonferrous mines and mills were increased by
3.7 cents. The corresponding increases in the different branches of
nonferrous mining and milling amounted to 2.3 cents in lead and
zinc, 4.7 cents in copper, 5.5 cents in mercury, and 6.1 cents in other
mines and mills. Where the contrary is not specifically designated
all hourly earnings discussed in the present article exclude penalty
overtime payments. In general, workers in mines earned slightly
more than those in mills, the respective averages being 75.5 cents and
71.3 cents.
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES
Average hourly earnings in the 160 nonferrous-metal mines and
mills covered by the survey ranged from a low of 47.9 cents in Michigan
to 77.2 cents in the West (table 6). Earnings in the Tri-State District
averaged 71.4 cents and those in the East 76.3 cents. Over half
(52.8 percent) of the 19,599 workers in nonferrous mines and mills
in the West earned 65.0 but under 85.0 cents per hour. Sixty-two
percent of the workers in the Tri-State District earned 55.0 but under
75.0 cents per hour. Over one-quarter' (25.2 percent) of the 1,555
workers in Michigan earned less than 40.0 cents per hour and an
additional 64.3 percent earned under 60.0 cents. More than twofifths (44.5 percent) of the workers in the East earned 65.0 but under
85.0 cents per hour.
MINING AND MILLING
11
T a b l e 6 . — Percentage
Distribution of Workers in Nonferrous-Metal Mines and Mills,
by Average Hourly Earnings (.Excluding Overtime) and by Region,1 August 1941
Average hourly earnings
U nder 40.0 cents _________________________________
40,0
T»nder 42,5 cen ts..................
- - 42.5 and under 45,0 nents . ,
. r_ __ ...... r_... .
45,0 and lind^r 47,5 cen to..... ........
,
47.5 and jindpr 50,0 flenfs
,
50,0 and lindpr 52.5 cents
___
59,5 *nd under 55.0 ranfcs
..........
55,0 and nndftr 57.5
.......
57.5 and under fiO.O cents ........ . . . . ,
...........
60.0 and under 62.5 c e n ts ___________________________
62.5 and under 65.0 cents....... ...................... ...................
65.0 and under 67.5 cents___________________________
67.5 and under 70.0 cents___________________________
70.0 and under 72.5 cents..................................................
72.5 and under 75.0 cents..................................................
75.0 and under 77.5 cents............................ ......... ..........
77.5 and under 80.0 cents______________ ___ _____ . . .
80.0 and under 82.5 cents___________________________
82.5 and under 85.0 cents___________________________
85.0 and under 87.5 cents___________________________
87.5 and under 90.0 cents.................................................
90.0 and under 92.5 cejits___________________________
92.5 and under 95.0 cents................... ........ ............. .......
95.0 and under 97.5 cents..................................................
97.5 and under 100.0 cents__________________________
300.0 and under 105.0 cents................................ ..............
105.0 and under 110.0 cents____________________ ____
110.0 and over_____________________ ______ _________
Total________________________________________
N umber of workers________________________________
Num ber of units........................... .....................................
Average hourly earnings___________________________
Average hourly earnings (including punitive over
time) ____________________________________________
United
States
2.0
.4
2.0
1.1
1.0
3.3
1.5
2.3
3.1
3.0
4.5
4.0
6.8
4.7
5.6
12.6
5.4
10.7
5.9
2.9
3.6
2.4
2.4
2.0
.9
1.7
1.0
3.2
West
Tri-State
District
0.5
.1
1.1
.7
.2
3.6
1.0
1.4
1.9
2.1
2.6
3.9
5.8
5.4
6.0
15.4
6.5
13.6
6.2
3; 5
4.1
2.7
2.6
2.4
.8
1.7
.9
3.3
M ichi
gan
1.2
.3
.8
.8
1.3
1.6
1.9
5.2
6.1
6.8
14.9
6.0
14.6
2.9
5.5
3.4
2.6
2.3
5.0
1.4
2.3
1.6
1.9
1.0
1.2
1.5
1.5
4.4
25.2
5.3
17.5
8.0
11.6
5.1
5.7
7.0
4.1
2.3
2.7
.6
1.1
1.2
.4
.6
.3
.6
.1
.
1
.4
.1
East
0.3
.1
.2
.2
1.9
2.7
2.1
11.5
6.2
4.5
4.0
4.5
2.3
5.4
13.6
2.8
1.7
10.2
2.3
4.2
2.7
3.0
2.7
2.5
3.5
3.0
1.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
26,205
160
$0,745
19,599
96
$0,772
3,811
51
$0.714
1,555
5
$0,479
1,240
8
$0,763
.782
.812
.745
.500
.782
1 West includes Nevada, Washington, Montana, Arizona, N ew Mexico, California, Colorado, Idaho,
Arkansas, Oregon, Texas, and Utah; copper mines and mills in North Carolina and Tennessee are included
with the Western States in order to avoid disclosure of individual operations. Tri-State District includes
Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. East includes N ew Jersey, N ew York, and parts of Tennessee.
EARNINGS BY TYPE OF PRODUCT
Copper mines and mills.—Average hourly earnings in western copper
mines and mills amounted to 76.4 cents, as compared with a correspond
ing figure of 47.9 cents in Michigan (table 7). In connection with the
low wage levels prevailing in Michigan copper mines, it is of interest to
note that Michigan copper is derived from vein and replacement
ores, whereas low-grade disseminated ore bodies are characteristic of
western sources. Many of the operations in Michigan have been
worked for years and, with the copper prices prevailing throughout
much of 1941, were probably submarginal. Partly in recognition of
this fact, the Office of Price Administration has recently established
a price differential which permits the sale of some Michigan copper
at 17 cents per pound, as compared with a basic limit of 12 cents for
most of the copper from other areas.
Almost three-fifths (58.2 percent) of the workers in copper mines
and mills in the West earned 65.0 but under 85.0 cents per hour. In
Michigan, 89.5 percent of the workers earned less than 60.0 cents per
hour, and 25.2 percent earned under 40.0 cents per hour.
12
WAGE STRUCTURE.— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
T a b l e 7.—
,— .Percentage Distribution of Workers in Copper Mines and Mills, by Average
Hourly Earnings (Excluding Overtime) and by Region,1 August 1941
West
Average hourly earnings
All
mines
and
mills
Northwest
Total
Mines
Under 40.0 c e n t s .................................................
40.0 and under 42.5 cents....................................
42.5 and under 45.0 cents.....................................
45.0 and under 47.5 cents....................................
47.5 and under 50.0 cents.....................................
50.0 and under 52.5 cents.....................................
52.5 and under 55.0 cents.....................................
55.0 and under 57.5 cents....................................
57.5 and under 60.0 cents....................................
60.0 and under 62.5 cents....................................
62.5 and under 65.0 cents....................................
65.0 and under 67.5 cents....................................
67.5 and under 70.0 cents....................................
70.0 and under 72.5 cents....................................
72.5 and under 75.0 cents....................................
75.0 and under 77.5 cents....................................
77.5 and under 80.0 cents....................................
80.0 and under 82.5 cents....................................
82.5 and under 85.0 cents....................................
85.0 and under 87.5 cents....................................
87.5 and under 90.0 cents....................................
90.0 and under 92.5 cents....................................
92.5 and under 95.0 cents....................................
95.0 and under 97.5 cents....................................
97.5 and under 100.0 cents...................................
100.0 and under 105.0 cents.................................
105.0 and under 110.0 cents.................................
110.0 cents and o v e r . .......................................
31.8
<*>
.1
"(Yf
.8
6.0
5.3
3.5
5.1
0
0
5
1
M ichi
gan
mines
and
mills
Southwest
1.3
1.7
1.4
3.0
3.7
6.0
3.8
5.7
3.4
16.1
5.1
12.7
5.4
3.0
3.7
2.5
1.5
3.4
.9
2.0
1.0
4.0
Mills
0.2
Mines
0.1
3.3
.9
.2
9.0
.9
0.1
2.6
3.4
4.5
2.3
1.7
35.4
3.9
10.3
7.5
4.4
1.2
2.1
3.8
4.2
1.5
2.7
1.4
6.9
2.6
5.4
3.5
2.9
5.5
1.2
4.3
2.3
25.9
11.5
4.3
1.7
4.0
3.2
16.9
1.1
4.5
.8
.3
1.5
5.3
3.9
6.9
4.0
9.3
3.7
4.4
7.2
16.0
4.2
2.0
4.9
1.4
1.0
1.6
0.1
2.8
3.2
.2
16.5
6.7
3.6
5.3
5.3
5.6
11.3
1.7
4.3
8.4
3.4
3.0
3.0
.8
1.9
7.7
25.2
5.3
8.0
11.6
17.5
5.1
5.7
7.0
4.1
2.3
2.7
.6
1.1
1.2
.4
6
5
6
1
1.6
.7
.5
.6
.2
1.1
100.0
100.0
$0,731
11
1,452
9
$0,661
$0,479
.785
.713
.500
1.3
.9
2.9
T otal............................................................
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Number of workers. ...........................................
Number of units........................ .........................
Average hourly earnings................................... .
Average hourly earnings (including punitive
overtim e)..................................................... ......
10,803
31
$0,764
4,116
4,584
$0,835
651
3
$0,832
.814
.875
8
Mills
1,555
5
i Northwest region includes Nevada, Washington, and Montana. Southwest region includes Arizona
and New Mexico; Tennessee and North Carolina included to avoid disclosure of information for individual
plants.
i Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
In the two constituent segments of the West, average hourly earn
ings in copper mining were 83.5 cents (Northwest) and 73.1 cents
(Southwest). . The corresponding figures for copper milling were
83.2 cents and 66.1 cents, respectively. These figures are consistent
with other data appearing in this article which mdicate that wages
in the Northwest are higher than in any other area of importance in
the industry.
Lead and zinc mines and mills.—In western lead and zinc mining
and milling, average straight-time hourly earnings were 79.6 cents
(table 8). ^ Over three-quarters (78.4 percent) of the wage earners
in this region received 67.5 but under 87.5 cents per hour.
In lead and zinc mining, average hourly earnings ranged from a low
of 72.4 cents in the Tri-State District to a high of 81.2 cents in the
West. In milling, average hourly earnings ranged from 68.2 cents in
the,Tri-State District to 73.2 cents in the East and 74.7 cents in
the West.
13
MINING AND MILLING
T a b l e 8 . — Percentage Distribution of Workers in Lead and Zinc Mines and Mills,
by Average Hourly Earnings (Excluding Overtime) and by Region,1 August 1941
Average hourly earnings
All
mines
and
mills
West
Tri-State
District
East
Total Mines Mills
Mines Mills
Mines Mills
Under 40.0 cents...................................................
40.fi finrl under 42.fi cefits
____ ___
42.5 and under 45.0 cents _________________
45.0 and under 47.5 cents....................................
47.5 and under 50.0 cents....................................
50.0 and under 52.5 cents....................................
52.5 and under 55.0 cents....................................
55.0 and under 57.5 cents...................................
57.5 and under 60.0 cents....................................
60.0 and under 62.5 cents....................................
62.5 and under 65.0 cents....................................
65.0 and under 67.5 cents....................................
67.5 and under 70.0 cents....................................
70.0 and under 72.5 cents....................................
72.5 and under 75.0 cents....................................
75.0 and under 77.5 cents....................................
77.5 and under 80.0 cents....................................
80.0 and under 82.5 cents....................................
82.5 and under 85.0 cents....................................
85.0 and under 87.5 cents....................................
87.5 and under 90.0 cents....................................
90.0 and under 92.5 cents....................................
92.5 and under 95.0 cents....................................
95.0 and under 97.5 cents....................................
97.5 and under 100.0 cents..................................
100.0 and under 105.0 cents................................
105.0 and under 110.0 cents................................
110.0 and over.......................................................
0.6
.1
• .3
.4
.5
.9
.9
2.0
4.3
3.1
5.8
2.6
10.1
4.1
8.8
10.4
6.6
11.2
7.1
3.5
2.4
2.6
3.3
1.3
1.1
1.6
1.3
3.1
0.4
<*)
(2)
.2
.1
.4
.1
.2
2.1
.5
1.0
.5
8.5
5.0
11.2
13.7
9.4
18.1
7.7
4.8
2.1
3.2
4.0
1.3
.8
1.3
.9
2.5
T otal...........................................................
100.0
100.0
1.4
.2
0.3
.3
0.3
0.2
1.0
8.1
.1
.2
(l)
.1
2.5
.4
.8
.6
1.7
3.9
12.8
15.6
7.2
22.2
8.1
5.6
2.3
3.4
4.9
1.3
1.0
1.4
.9
2.7
.1
.7
.2
.8
.5
.6
.8
.7
1.7
.1
32.6
9.1
5.5
7.1
17.1
3.4
6.2
1.9
1.4
2.4
1.0
1.1
.2
1.0
1.0
1.8
1.1
.4
1.0
.8
1.7
1.7
1.9
5.0
4.1
7.7
15.9
5.4
11.3
2.8
5.7
3.3
2.4
1.8
6.1
1.5
2.7
1.9
2.0
1.2
1.4
1.9
1.9
5.4
.6
.1
1.4
1.7
6.1
12.3
4.1
11.8
7.5
24.4
3.2
4.9
3.9
3.2
3.8
1.6
1.0
1.4
.6
1.8
.2
.5
.3
.4
1.6
1 .6
2.4
1.2
13.6
5.9
3.7
4.6
4.2
2.1
5.7
7.2
3.4
2.3
11.8
2.7
4.9
3.3
3.0
3.0
2.5
3.9
3.9
2.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Number of workers............................................. 12,065 7,014 5,459 1,555 2,854
919
957
91
Number of units..................................................
32
19
4
14
18
Average hourly earnings.................................... $0,766 $0,796 $0,812 $0,747 $0,724 $0,682 $0.774
Average hourly earnings (including punitive
.789
.825
.792
overtime)...........................................................
.816
.787
.756
.712
321
4
$0,732
.3"
.2
_
.3
' 2.5
3.4
4.7
5.3
7.2
6.9
2.5
5.3
2.8
4.7
32.1
1.2
_
‘ 5.6
1.2
2.2
1.2
2.8
1.6
2.5
2.2
.3
.9
.752
* West includes Idaho, Montana, Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah. Tri-State District
includes Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas. East includes New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee.
8 Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
O c c u p a t io n a l E a r n in g s
There are two distinct occupational patterns in nonferrous-metal
mining, each of which is determined by the nature of the processes
involved. The primary operations consist of preparation of the stopes,
shafts, haulageways, cross-cuts, chutes, and hoists; extraction of the ore
from the stopes by drilling and blasting; loading the ore into cars, cans,
or chutes; transportation of the ore to main hoists; and hoisting of
the ore to the surface. Depending upon the size of the mine, the degree
of division of labor, and such management practices as method of wage
payment, each of these operations may be performed as a specialized
task or in combination with others. Thus, miners are primarily en
gaged in drilling and blasting in some mines, while in others they may
also do mucking and timbering. In addition to these operations there
is a whole series of auxiliary operations relating to ventilation and
safety, maintenance of equipment and tools, and the installation and
repair of drainage. Also associated with mines are such professional
persons as assayers, chemists, and engineers.
507986°—43--- 8
14
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
Mills are highly mechanized establishments geared to handling large
bodies of ore. Most of the handling operations which involve hauling
ore into the mill and interprocesses transportation are done by convey
ors and chutes. The processes of crushing, grinding, screening, jigseparating, flotation, filtering, and drying are all machine operations
performed by machine operators and helpers. Highly skilled techni
cians are in charge of the milling process as a whole. Standard samp
ling tests are performed by unskilled or semiskilled employees under the
guidance of technicians. Since the processes involved in milling con
stitute for the most part distinct and separate mechanical operations,
the division of labor in the mills is more highly developed than in the
mines, and specialized occupations generally prevail.
Copper mines.—Of 10,083 workers employed in all copper mines
surveyed (see table 9) almost one-quarter (24.1 percent) were drillingmachine operators. The large proportion of men employed at the
working face of the mine, using pneumatic or electric drills, is char
acteristic of the high degree of division of labor prevalent in the
extraction processes in copper mines. Drilling-machine operators are
relatively highly paid. In the Northwest they earned an average
of 94.8 cents per hour; in the Southwest they averaged 83.9 cents per
hour; in Michigan they earned 54.9 cents per hour. Regional com
parisons of average weekly earnings for drilling-machine operators, as
well as other occupations, must necessarily be modified by differences
in weekly hours.
T able
9. — Straight-Time Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings oj
Workers in Copper Mines, by Occupation 1 and by Region, August 1941
Southwest
Northwest
Occupation
A v A v A v
A v
N um erage A v
N um erage erage erage
total
erage
ber of hour week week ber of hour week
work ly
work ly
ly
ers earn
ers earn hours earn
ings hours
ings
ings
ly
ly
All occupations................... 4,116 $0.835
40.0 $34.98 4,584 $0.731
Blacksmiths........................
Blacksmiths’ helpers.........
B oilerm akers.................. .
Capers’ helpers...................
Cagers, inside.....................
C arp en ters........................
Chanpe-house men.............
Clerical workers:
Plant.............................
Office........... .................
Common laborers...............
Compressor m e n ...............
Drilling-machine opera
tors....................................
Helpers..........................
Electricians..........................
Firemen, railroad...............
Foremen and assistants,
working............................
Hoistmen, surface..............
Hoistmen, un dergrou nd..
Laborers, maintenance___
Loading-machine opera
tors ___________________
Maintenance helpers, not
elsewhere classified.........
Av
erage N um
total ber of
week work
ly
earn ers
ings
A v A v A v
erage
erage
erage total
hour week
week
ly
ly
earn
earn
ings hours ings
ly
45.3 $35.56 1,383 $0.491
43 1 $22.15
36
21
14
34
62
47
16
.834
.751
.865
.746
.798
.898
.674
50.6
47.8
51.0
40 9
40.4
47.7
43.0
46.59
38.84
50.02
30.89
32.97
46.17
29.98
39
31
28
8
25
59
28
.801
.669
.839
(2)
.831
.834
.556
47.2
47.5
49.3
(2)
43.0
47.5
42.6
40.56
34.40
45.62
(2)
38.12
42.95
25.04
22
25
.459
.399
44.3; 21.33
43.2 17.92
6
7
14
11
(2)
(2)
.467
.385
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
43.4 21.02
40.4 15.82
41
27
194
13
.924
.861
.691
.869
41.2
43.2
40.0
45.5
38.94
38.56
29.19
43.06
42
48
451
19
.896
.873
.505
.733
42.9
43.3
45.9
47.6
39.35
38.86
24.89
37.68
3
3
45
10
(2)
(2)
.478
.422
(2)
( 2)
0)
( 2)
43.4 21.46
46.9 21.09
.948
.795
.881 .
.806
38.7
39.0
50.2
37.6
38.08
32.53
48.43
32.05
743
78
66
37
.839
.652
.831
.695
44.0
46.4
47.8
46.6
39.74
32 52
43.39
34.94
408
2
21
3
549
(2)
.443
(2)
43.5 25.04
f2)
(2)
40.5 18.52
(2)
(2)
83
56
28
31
.956
.854
.874
.686
48.6
46.8
39.5
39.2
50.36
42.99
36.23
27.18
174
56
17
110
.840
.784
.744
.494
47.1
46.9
47.6
46.9
42.42
39.78
39.24
24.99
42
25
6
.602
.441
(2)
46.2 29.10
46.1 21.70
(2)
(*)
11
.804
48.4 44.02
150
.791
43.3 36.90
52
.765
47.2 39.55
191
.637
46.5 32.09
18
.438
43.1 19.65
1,274
10
51
25
See footnotes at end of table.
Michigan
15
MINING AND MILLING
9.— Straight-Time Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings of
Workers in Copper Mines, by Occupation1 am/ by Region, August 1941— Continued
T a b le
Southwest
Northwest
Occupation
Mechanics...........................
Miscellaneous
mainte
nance workers, not else
where classified...............
Miscellaneous workers----M otorm en............................
H elp ers_____________
Muckers...............................
Nippers................................
Oilers....................................
Pipe fitters..........................
Helpers..........................
Powdermen (blasting)___
Power and transportation
workers.................... .—
P ow erhouse op era tors'
h elp ers...........................
Pum pm en............................
Repairmen, mine and
surface...............................
Roustabouts........................
Samplers, ore......................
Shovel operators................
Storekeepers (powder) . . .
Technicians and super
visory workers................
Timbermen..........................
Timekeepers........................
Trackm en............................
Trammers............................
Truck and tractor oper
ators..................................
W atchm en...........................
A v
A v A v erage
N um erage erage total N um
ber of hour week week ber of
work
work ly
ly
ly
ers earn hours
earn ers
ings
ings
51 $0.878
48.6 $46.52
Michigan
A v
A v
A v A v A v
erage Num erage A v erage
erage erage
total
erage total
hour week week ber of hour week
week
work ly
ly
ly
ly
ly
ly
earn
earn
hours earn ers
hours earn
ings
ings
ings
ings
88 t0. 808
48.6 $42.91
15 $0,443
47.4 $22.51
.746
.702
.806
.699
.680
.615
.691
.775
.663
.726
46.8
44.3
44.9
45.9
42.8
45.2
47.4
47.4
46.4
45.2
11
15
24
.425
.350
.503
45 2 20.71
40.6 14.33
46.3 24.90
338
14
10
5
1
.469
.498
.382
(2)
(2)
42.1 20.69
45.7 24.30
43.9 17.34
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
38
143
233
228
148
73
17
65
11
24
.881
.753
.768
.754
.724
.741
.719
.828
.759
.837
49.7
42.5
36.8
36.5
45.8
38.0
43.4
41.3
48.5
47.8
48.50
33.78
28.98
28.09
36.20
29.24
32.81
35.50
40.43
44.61
147
334
143
186
290
22
25
32
27
92
39
.889
40.2 37.96
87
.775
47.9 40.34
16
.440
44.6 20.69
10
42
.798
.822
46.4 39.68
45.3 39.40
21
29
.681
.672
51.5 38.64
48.2 35.30
9
27
(?)
.442
(2>
(2)
40.9 18.34
181 .794
32 .751
30 .787
10 1.058
31 .766
31.8
32.2
45.7
42.4
40.8
25.58
25.11
48.79
48.12
32.33
6 (2)
62 .564
9 (2)
45 1.031
15 .726
(2)
45.2
(2)
46.0
44.9
(2)
27.40
36.15
51.12
34.66
3
]
4
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2>
(2>
1
(2)
(2)
(2)
15
408
23
87
.872
.761
.948
.718
45.2
35.4
41.7
41.3
41.76
27.21
40.31
30.81
35 1.050
262 .834
23 .850
29 .729
72 .610
42.2
44.0
42.8
45.1
44.4
45.46
39.41
37.90
35.24
28.96
1
121
4
14
70
00
.473
(2)
.448
.461
(2)
(2)
44.4 22.18
(2)
(2)
43.4 20.21
36.8 16.97
22
29
.821
.658
47.4 42.11
41.4 28.11
46 1 38.09
48.4 32.36
6
2
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
47
56
.764
.614
37.68
33.17
38.80
34.70
31.17
30.11
35.38
39.98
33.30
35.21
(2)
(2)
* Note inclusion of clerical workers, office.
2 T oo few workers to show average.
Muckers, constituting a large unskilled occupational group in copper
mining, earned an average of 72.4 cents per hour in the Northwest.
In the Southwest they earned 68.0 cents per hour, and the corre
sponding figure in Michigan was 46.9 cents per hour.
Motormen earned an average of 76.8 cents in the Northwest,
80.6 cents in the Southwest, and 50.3 cents in Michigan.
Working foremen and their assistants received average hourly
earnings of 95.6 cents in the Northwest, 84.0 cents in the Southwest,
and 60.2 cents in Michigan.
Copper mills.—General helpers in the copper mills of the North
west earned an average of 75.2 cents per hour (table 10). In the
Southwest, where the majority of workers in this occupational classi
fication were employed, average hourly earnings for the occupation
were 54.9 cents. Flotation operators in the Northwest earned an
hourly average of 81.3 cents, and. in the Southwest, 70.0 cents.
Ball-mill operators in northwestern copper mills earned an average
of 80.2 cents per hour; in the Southwest, corresponding earnings were
65.9 cents.
16
T able
WAGE STRUCTURE-— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
10.— Straight-Time Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings
of Workers in Copper Mills, by Occupation 1 ana by Region,2 August 1941
Northwest
Occupation
Southwest
Aver
Aver
Num Aver Aver
Num Aver Aver
age
age
ber
age
age
ber
total
age
age
total
hourly week- week
of
hourly week week
of
work earn
work earn
ly
ly
ly
>y
ers
ings hours earn
ers
ings hours earn
ings
ings
.
All occupations_______________ ___ ____ ____
B all-mill operators_________________________
Carpenters_____ ___________________________
Clerical workers____________________________
Crusher operators____________ - ____________
E lectricians._______________________________
Flotation operators_________________________
Foremen, w ork in g_________________________
Foremen, assistant, working ______________
General helpers, m ill_______________________
Laborers, maintenance_____________________
Maintenance helpers, not elsewhere classi
fied....................... ............................................
Maintenance workers, not elsewhere classi
fied
................................................................
M ech a n ics_______________ _____________ ____
Miscellaneous workers, not elsewhere classi
fied......................................................................
Oilers and greasers_________________________
Ore handlers_______________________________
Plant-protection and custodial workers______
Repairmen_________________________________
Samplers___________________________________
Truck drivers______________________________
651 $0,832
25
23
30
23
13
30
22
21
77
25
46.9 $42.13
1,452 $0.661
46.9
$33.41
.659
.862
.822
.662
.806
.700
.851
.745
.549
.517
46.1
47.3
45.0
48.0
45 3
47.1
50.1
47.4
46.1
48.3
33.09
43.92
38. 52
34.35
43 31
35.20
46.72
38.34
27. 29
27.15
14S
.601
44.6
28.64
105
40
.700
.795
47.7
49.6
36.25
43.30
203
47
66
46
56
50
20
.683
.594
.562
.556
.675
625
.712
46.4
46.9
50. 5
46.0
49.1
46.1
46.1
34.11
30 42
31.39
27.39
36.58
31.04
34.51
.802
.896
.912
.782
.918
.813
.978
.955
.752
. 750
46.9
47.6
47.4
43.1
42.3
46.4
49.1
47.6
45.9
43.8
40.84
45.80
46.61
36.41
41.63
40.95
50.47
48.73
37.63
35.47
33
62
57
41
28
82
41
41
217
69
63
. 779
46.5
39.27
89
17
.P31
.f06
47.4
47.8
47.57
46.49
79
17
15
32
18
21
11
.837
.793
.781
.665
.830
.777
.826
47.5
48.0
49.6
46.8
45.3
48.8
51.2
43.07
41.41
42. 57
33.10
40.93
41.39
47.19
i Note inclusion of clerical workers.
* Michigan not shown in order to avoid disclosure of information for individual plants.
Lead and zinc mines.—Of 9,232 workers in lead and zinc mines
covered by the survey, almost one-quarter (23.6 percent), as in copper
mining, were drilling-machine operators (table 11). In the West,
they earned 85.3 cents per hour; in the Tri-State District, 84.4 cents;
and in the East, 92.1 cents.
Muckers in lead and zinc mines earned an hourly average of 74.4
cents in the West, 66.5 cents in the Tri-State District, and 65.1 cents
in the East. Trammers in the same regions earned 75.8 cents, 63.0
cents, and 68.8 cents per hour, respectively.
Timbermen in lead and zinc mines earned an hourly average of 81.8
cents in the West and 83.6 cents in the East.
Average hourly earnings for common labor in lead and zinc mines
ranged from 57.5 cents in the East to 61.3 cents in the Tri-State
District and 70.3 cents in the West.
17
MINING AND MILLING
11.— Straight-Time Hourly■ Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings
of Workers in Lead and Zinc Mines, by Occupation1 crndf
Region, August 1941
T able
West
Occupation
All occupations...................
Tri-State District
Aver
Aver
age
N um age Aver
age total N um
ber of hour week- week ber of
work
work ly
ly
ers earn hours
h ly
earn ers
ings
ings
5,459 $0,812
59 .858
Blacksmiths........................
Helpers..........................
33 .763
Cagers...................................
74 .820
22 .758
Helpers..........................
Carpenters...........................
31 .865
Chance-house men.............
39 .673
Clerical workers:
43 .981
Office.............................
42 .983
Plant........ ............. .......
Common laborers...............
137 .703
Compressor operators........
36 .793
Drilling-machine opera
tors.................................... 1,451 .853
34 .737
Helpers..........................
52 .880
Electricians..........................
Foremen and assistants,
working, maintenance—
105 .987
Hoistmen, surface..............
151 .835
Hoistmen, underground..
47 .821
Loading-machine opera
tors....................................
73 .825
Maintenance workers, not
elsewhere classified.........
74 .834
M a in ten a n ce workers*
helpers, not elsewhere
classified...........................
173 .717
Mechanics...........................
80 .879
Miscellaneous workers,
mine, not elsewhere
classified............................
100 .803
M otorm en............................
210 .795
88 .755
Helpers..........................
944 . V44
M uckers...............................
Nippers................................
40 .766
28 .807
Pipe fitters..........................
50 .841
P um pm en_____ _____ ___
Repairmen, maintenance.
49 .857
Repairmen, mine...............
75 .918
Roustabouts........................
57 .748
37 1.009
Technicians.........................
Timbermen_______ _____
579 .818
Tim bermen’s helpers____
186 .794
T ool and powder store
room men.........................
32 .807
41 .753
Trackm en............................
94 .758
Trammers............................
Truck and tractor opera
tors....................................
29 .813
.722
W atchmen...........................
wi
Aver
age
hour
ly
earn
ings
39.1 $32.27 2,854 $0,724
East
Aver
Aver age N um Aver Aver
age
age total
of hour age
week- week ber
work ly weekly
Jy
. iy
hours earn ers earn hours
ings
ings
42.5 $32.11
919 $0,774
Aver
age
total
week
ly
earn
ings
40.7 $32.23
42.9
43.9
39.7
39.4
43.7
38.1
38.14
34.98
33.04
29.89
40.09
26.14
34
12
62
10
15
7
.728
.621
.745
.841
.798
(2)
45.1
43.5
44.2
39.3
42.1
(’ )
34.91
28.01
34.73
33.10
35.07
(2)
14
3
17
2
12
12
.820
(2)
.722
(2)
.740
.638
41.5
(2)
41.8
(2)
44.7
39.2
39.9
41.0
39.9
43.4
39.16
40.62
28.51
35.75
35
17
52
18
.844
.741
.613
.694
39.6
40.4
42.0
48.1
33.78
30.08
27.23
36.20
16
16
27
6
.813
.791
.575
(2)
40.6 33.26
40.8 32.66
41.6 24.818
(2)
(2)
37.9 32.60
42.4 32.87
43.7 40.72
530
288
12
.844
.639
.821
42.1 36.72
43.0 29.12
45.5 39.54
198
33
8
.921
.817
(*)
40.9 38.68
35.9 29.39
(2)
(*)
43.0 43.80
41.7 35.95
41.8 35.57
43
66
98
.770
.729
.661
46.3 37.62
46.0 35.85
45.1 31.91
24
22
9
.911
.689
(*)
46.2 42.51
41.6 29.66
(*)
(2>
35.43
(2)
31.21
(2)
34.59
25.11
42.8 36.80
85
.943
42.4 41.02
35
.717
46.3 35.63
43.7 38.21
25
.732
43.6 33.40
16
.845
39.4 33.58
41.3 30.75
42.7 39.72
51
58
.582
.813
40.1 24.29
41.0 34.18
47
24
.710
.759
40.1 28.79
45.5 36.40
34.98
32.22
29.69
27.81
31.24
32.81
39.33
36.41
37.22
29.83
43.30
30.73
29.87
246
75
55
543
3
14
27
11
6
93
10
.683
.878
.639
.665
(2)
.742
.671
.806
(2)
.688
.974
42.2
41.3
45.2
41.4
<*)
44.0
45.0
42.0
00
41.0
40.0
29.96
36.83
31.00
28.93
(2)
34.19
31.77
34.72
(2)
28.98
38.95
53
25
9
107
* 2
2
9
2
13
11
6
79
5
.759
.721
(2)
.651
(2)
(2)
h
(2)
.832
.572
(2)
.836
(2)
41.2
38.9
(2)
37.4
(2)
(2)
(2)
h
39.8
39.4
(2)
40.0
(2)
39.8 32.64
39.6 30.00
40 0 30.86
5
109
55
(2)
.747
.630
(2)
(2)
42.2 32.77
46.1 30.98
7
10
28
(2)
.684
.688
(2)
(2)
40.7 28.56
40.6 28.70
41.4 34.79
40.3 29.37
44
40
.5188
.561
42.4 26.04
38.7 22.13
7
3
(2)
<2)
(2)
(2)
42.2
40.1
39.0
37.2
40.5
40.2
44.2
41.2
40.2
39.6
42.3
37.3
37.5
32.11
28.47
(2)
24.46
(2)
(2)
(2)
h
33.10
22.95
(2)
33.56
(2)
C2)
(2)
i Note inclusion of clerical workers, office.
* T oo few workers to show average.
Lead and zinc mills.—Ball-mill operators in lead and zinc mills
covered by the survey earned an average of 69.4 cents per hour in
the West, 72.9 cents in^he Tri-State District, and 70.1 cents in the
East (table 12). Average hourly earnings for crusher operators ranged
from 63.1 cents in the Tri-State District to 71.5 cents in the West.
Ore handlers in western mills earned an average-of 68.1 cents per
hour; in eastern mills, 63.5 cents; and in the Tri-State District, 59.2
cents. General mill helpers received average hourly earnings of 60.2
cents in the East, 61.8 cents in the Tri-State District, and 69.3 cents
in the West.
18
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
12. — Straight-Time Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings
of Workers in Lead and Zinc Milling, by Occupation1 and by Region, August 1941
T able
West
Aver Aver
N um age
age
ber of hour weekwork ly
.
>y
ers earn hours
ings
Occupation
All occupations...................
B all-mill operators.............
Carpenters...........................
Clerical workers:
Office.............................
Plant.............................
Crusher operators..............
Electricians.........................
Flotation operators............
Foremen and assistant
foremen, working...........
General mill helpers..........
Jig operators.......................
Laborers, m ill.....................
Maintenance helpers, not
elsewhere classified....... .
Maintenance laborers.......
Maintenance workers, not
elsewhere classified.........
Mechanics...........................
Miscellaneous workers,
not elsewhere classified—
Oilers, machinery...............
Ore handlers........................
Plant-protection and cus
todial workers____ ____
Power and transportation
workers.............................
Samplers............................ .
Truck drivers............ ........
Tri-State District
East
Aver*
Aver Aver Aver
age
age N um
age
total N um hour
age total
week week ber of
week ber of
work
work ly
ly
ly
ly
earn
earn ers
earn ers
ings hours
ings
ings
1,555 $0,747
44.0 $34.61
.694
.851
43.7 32.07
44.5 40.21
29 .857
30 1.023
42 .715
12 .855
126 .774
41.6
40.8
42.8
39.0
43.8
48
232
47
44
.889
.693
.703
.650
45.5
41.7
46.0
47.1
113
110
Aver Aver Aver
age
age
age total
hour week
week
ly
ly
ly
earn
earn
ings hours
ings
957 $0.682
42.9 $30.54
14
25
.729
.783
43.4 34.24
37.6 29.90
22
8
CO
.701
46.8 34.24
00
36.23
42.05
31.88
35.18
35.50
19
10
36
15
64
.676
.733
.631
.817
.698
39.9
42.2
44.8
45.5
43.1
27.08
31.68
29.80
38.80
31.17
18
4
11
3
13
.763
(2)
.681
(2)
.750
40.2 30.80
(2)
43.3 30.54
(2)
(2)
45.3 36.42
42.61
30.06
34.44
33.00
27
100
184
7
.860
.618
.680
(2)
49.6 45.09
42.9 27.89
42.6 30.05
(2)
(2)
20
34
32
6
.890
.602
.726
(2)
44.3 39.72
43.7 27.51
41.3 30.66
(2)
.729
.686
47.1 37.04
41.8 29.88
29
12
.671
.633
46.2 33.10
39.3 25.10
10
.731
40.2 29.46
49
104
.877
.805
45.8 43.17
45.4 39.07
11
86
.773
.763
43.5 36.05
41.5 32.87
19
9
(*)
.848
40.4 34.47
(2)
(2)
151
34
148
.786
.709
.681
42.5 34.71
44.7 33.44
45.4 32.69
100
2
92
(*
) (*) (2>
.592 44.3 27.59
.627
42.4 27.71
40
21
16
.745
.771
.635
42.0 32.10
40.0 30.82
42.0 27.40
48
.722
43.1 32.69
22
.550
41.0 22.89
13
.660
40.0 26.61
30
30
21
.781
.705
.797
48.1 40.68
44.9 33.50
44.8 38.18
22
29
51
.815
.655
.779
46.6 40.71
44.4 30.89
40.0 32.21
9
11
2
(2)
(2)
.635
(2)
46.5 31.49
(2)
(2)
72
35
321 $0.732
42.4 $31.91
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
1 N ote inclusion of clerical workers, office.
4 Too few workers to show averages.
Mercury mining.—Average hourly earnings for the 444 mercury-mine
workers covered by the survey were 61.2 cents (table 13). By occu
pation, average hourly earnings ranged from 43.5 cents for 11 inside
cagers to 77.4 cents for 10 mechanics.
T able
13.— Straight-Time Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings
of workers in Mercury Mines, by Occupation, August 1941
Occupation
Number of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Average
total
weekly
earnings
A ll occupations________________________ ____ _________
444
i$ 0 .612
47.4
$31.63
Cagers, inside_____ - __________ - ____ _________________
Drilling-machine operators___ ______ __________ ______
Foremen, working___ ________________________________
Hoistmen...................__________________ ______ ________
Maintenance workers, not elsewhere classified___ ___ _
Mechanics_______________ _______ ____________________
Miscellaneous workers, not elsewhere classified________
M uckers_____________________________________________
Roustabouts__________________________________________
Shovel operators. _____________________________________
T im b e r m e n __________________________________________
Trammers____________________________________________
Truck and tractor operators...... ..........................................
11
98
20
27
15
10
26
123
28
12
12
24
38
.435
.695
.685
.557
.659
.774
.590
.526
.511
.731
.665
.636
.675
40.3
47.2
49.7
50.4
48.1
50.1
49.9
47.1
46.1
49.3
47.3
44.6
47.2
18.83
35.67
36.02
31.05
34.95
42.30
32.04
27.22
25.62
39.44
34.30
30.85
34.55
i Average without overtime punitive earnings; with such earnings, the average would have been $0,667.
19
MINING AND M IL L !..
Other mining and milling.—The 912 workers in other nonferrousinetal mines earned an average of 78.2 cents per hour (table 14). The
occupational range in earnings extended from 64.7 cents for 10 clean-up
men to 89.9 cents for 31 working foremen and their assistants. Drill
ing-machine operators, numbering 152, earned an average of 85.3
cents per hour. Hand miners (121), a general classification compre
hending a number of related skills, earned an average of 76.2 cents
per hour.
14.— Straight-Time Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings
of Workers in Other 1 Nonferrous-Metal Mining, by Occupation, August 1941
T a b le
Occupation
Number
of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Average
total
weekly
earnings
A ll occupations_______________________________________
912
a $0,782
45.7
$38.01
Blacksmiths_____________________________________ ____
Clean-up men________________________________________
Drilling-machine operators_______ ____________________
Helpers __________________________________________
Foremen and assistants, working______________________
Hoistmen, surface and underground___________________
Loading-machine operators______ _____________________
Maintenance workers, not elsewhere classified_________
Mechanics __________________________________________
Miners, hand_________________________________________
Miscellaneous workers________________________________
M o to r m e n ___ _______________________________________
M ot ormen’s helpers__________________________________
Pumpmen, surface and underground__________________
Roustabouts__________________________________________
Tim barman________________________ __________________
11
10
152
176
31
23
53
16
15
12r
118
36
31
11
55
53
.784
.647
.853
.721
.899
.731
.876
.868
.794
.762
.766
.782
.707
.809
.755
.772
47.5
39.6
46.1
45.9
47.8
47.7
46.4
45.6
48.6
41.6
46.5
48.9
46.9
47.4
44.5
47.0
40.25
27.50
42.34
35.75
45.88
37.58
43.88
43.26
41.68
33.86
38.49
41. 70
36.26
42.57
35.86
39.19
i Manganese, molybdenum, and tungsten.
8Average without punitive overtime earnings; with such earnings, the average would have been $0,843.
Average straight-time hourly earnings for workers in other nonferrous-metal milling were 75.7 cents (table 15). The occupational
range in average hourly earnings extended from 61.6 cents for swingmen to 90.5 cents for working foremen and their assistants.
15.— Straight-Time Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings
for Workers in Other 1 Nonferrous-Metal Milling, by Occupation,2 August 1941
T a b le
Occupation
Number
of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Average
total
weekly
earnings
All occupations_______________________________________
426
* $0,757
47.3
$38.79
All-around mill-machinery operators................... .............
B all-mill operators.......... ............................................. ........
Clerical workers______________________________________
Crusher operators...................................................................
Flotation operators............................. ................. ................
Foremen and assistants, working______________________
General helpers, m ill..............................................................
Maintenance workers, not elsewhere classified_________
Mechanics................................................................................
Miscellaneous workers, not elsewhere classified________
Ore handlers............................................................................
Samplers...................................................................................
Swingmen_____________________ ___________ ____ _____
Table men................................................................................
26
26
10
24
11
24
101
32
53
30
49
13
15
12
.657
.827
.866
.729
.840
.905
.719
.810
.813
.763
.699
.735
.616
.741
47.9
47.2
49.3
46.0
43.7
50.8
46.0
48.5
48.6
46.4
47.9
45.1
50.4
45.1
34.17
42.12
45.69
35.83
39.58
50.28
35.76
42.66
43.05
38.02
36.29
35.46
34.52
35.48
i Manganese, m olybdenum, and tungsten.
* Note inclusion of clerical workers.
•Average straight-time hourly earnings; including payment for overtime, the average is raised to $0,819.
20
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
Weekly Hours and Earnings
Although a standard workweek of 40 hours is generally recognized
in the mining and milling of nonferrous metals, actual hours in the
late summer of 1941 were considerably longer than this in many
areas. It has been seen that weekly hours in various parts of the
copper-mining industry averaged 40.0, 45.3, and 43.1, and-that in
other branches of mining and milling hours above 40 were typical.
A workweek of exactly 40 hours was the stint of only 36.3 percent
of the wage earners in western nonferrous-metal mines during the
period studied (table 16). Another contingent in the West, con
stituting 25.8 percent of the wage earners in that region, worked
48 hours. In the Tri-State District, 23.5 percent of those employed
in nonferrous-metal mines worked 40 hours and an additional 35.8
percent worked 48 hours. A 48-hour workweek was reported for
47.5 percent of the workers in Michigan mines, with an additional
39.1 percent working 40 hours. Over half (53.3 percent) of the wage
earners in eastern mines worked 40 hours weekly.
Of the wage earners in western nonferrous-metal mills, 57.3 percent
worked 48 hours during the week studied, and another 19.8 percent
worked a 40-hour week. In the Tri-State District, 42.9 percent and
27.4 percent worked 40 hours and 48 hours, respectively. Almost
seven-tenths (69.7 percent) of the nonferrous-metal mill workers in
Michigan and 59.3 percent in the East worked 40 hours.
Average total weekly earnings in the various branches and regions
of nonferrous-metal mining and milling, as well as for many occupa
tional groups, were shown in tables 9-15.
T a b l e 16.— Proportionate Regional Distribution of Workers by Weekly Hours Worked,
,
in Nonferrous-Metal Mines and Mills August 1941
Tri-State
District
West
Michigan
East
item
Mines
Mills Mines
Mills Mines
Mills Mines
Mills
Actual weekly hours:
Under 24 hours.............................................
24 and under 32 hours..................................
32 and under 36 hours.................................
36 and under 40 hours..................................
Exactly 40 hours...........................................
Over 40 and under 44 hours........................
44 and under 48 hours..................................
Exactly 48 hours...........................................
Over 48 and under 56 hours_____________
56 hours and over.........................................
4.7
2.8
4.6
3.0
36.3
2.7
11.9
25.8
4.3
3.9
Total...........................................................
100.0
Number of workers............................................. 15,515
62
Num ber of units..................................................
3.4
2.1
3.1
14.6
23.5
4.3
8.1
35.8
3.0
2.1
2.6
.5
1.3
.6
42.9
8.0
7.8
27.4
5.5
3.4
1.8
1.8
3.7
.7
39.1
2.2
1.7
47.5
.4
1.1
2.9
.6
2.9
.6
69.7
3.5
5.8
9.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
4,084
34
2,854
32
957
19
1.7
1.7
1.9
.3
19.8
1.2
2.8
57.3
4.8
8.5
4.1
2.2
3.4
5.3
1.3
53.3
12.2
1.3
18.3
1.2
1.5
0.6
.3
2.8
2.5
59.3
11.8
.3
11.5
1.9
9.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1,383
3
172
2
919
4
321
4
Average total weekly earnings in copper mines ranged from $22.15
in Michigan to $34.98 in the Northwest and $35.56 in the Southwest
(table 9). For drilling-machine operators, the regional differences
spanned a range from $25.04 in Michigan to $39.74 in the Southwest.
Within the group of workers in northwestern copper mines, average
MINING AND MILLING
21
total weekly earnings varied between a low of $25.11 for roustabouts
and a high of $50.36 for working foremen and their assistants. In
the Southwest, the corresponding occupational differences extended
from $24.89 for common laborers to $51.12 for shovel operators. In
Michigan, the occupational range was from $14.33 for miscellaneous
workers to $29.10 for working foremen and their assistants.
In northwestern copper mills workers earned an average of $42.13
weekly (table 10). This average exceeded the amount of the average
weekly pay envelope for copper-mine workers in the same region.
The corresponding average of $33.41 for southwestern copper-mill
workers fell below the average for copper-mine workers in that
region. In northwestern copper mills, the occupational differences
in weekly earnings extended from an average of $33.10 for plantprotection and custodial workers to an average of $50.47 for working
foremen. The range in southwestern copper mills was from an
average of $27.15 for maintenance laborers to an average of $46.72
for working foremen.
Average total weekly earnings in lead and zinc mining varied within
a narrow regional range; $32.11 in the Tri-State District, $32.23 in
the East, and $32.27 in the West (table 11). In the West, changehouse workers earned only $26.14, whereas working foremen and
their assistants earned $43.80. The occupational range in the
Tri-State District was from $22.13 for watchmen to $41.02 for loadingmachine operators. In the East, roustabouts earned an average of
$22.95 and working foremen and their assistants earned an average
of $42.51. In contrast with lead and zinc mining, regional differences
in average total weekly earnings in the lead and zinc mills covered a
broader range: In the Tri-State District, the average was $30.54; in
the East, $31.91; and in the West, $34.61 (table 12).
Workers in mercury mines averaged $31.63 per week (table 13), while
workers in other mines and mills earned $38.01 and $38.79, respectively
(tables 14 and 15).
507986°—43---- *
II.— EARN IN G S IN TH E SM E LTIN G AN D R E
FIN IN G OF NONFERROUS M ETALS, AUGUST 1941
P art
Characteristics of the Industry
Wage structure in the primary smelting and refining of nonferrous
metals is conditioned in large measure by the characteristic technical
processes of the industry. These processes involve work under diffi
cult, unpleasant, and frequently dangerous conditions, resulting from
the heat of the furnaces, the metal and acid fumes, and dust. To
some extent, too, the operations in this branch of the nonferrous-metals
industry require the possession by the labor force of specialized
technical knowledge, especially at the furnaces and in the maintenance
departments. While no formal apprenticeship or other training is
ordinarily required for these operations, proficiency in many can be
acquired only after years of experience.
Smelting is comprised of those processes whereby concentrated ores
of varying composition are treated with beat in order to separate the
various mStals from the waste materials. After smelting, the metals
generally contain some impurities and, in order to bring them up to
the specifications of the consuming market, require further refining.
Refining of metals to eliminate impurities is accomplished through a
variety of technical methods, among which the electrolytic method is
prominent. Some ores, notably the oxides, are commonly treated by
the leaching method; instead of being subjected to smelting, the ores
are dissolved by means of chemicals and recovered from the solution
by passing a current through it. This results in the deposition of the
pure metal upon cathodes.
It is difficult to draw a sharp line of demarcation between smelting
and refining, since the objective of both processes is to obtain pure
metal, and in many instances both processes involve similar operations.
It is general practice, however, to distinguish establishments within
the industry according to the specific processes with which individual
plants are primarily concerned. These processes are: (a) Smelting
copper, lead, zinc, mercury, etc.; (b) electrolytic refining of copper;
and (c) production of electrolytic zinc and lead.
Smelting processes differ widely depending upon the metal treated
and upon the composition and complexity of the ores. Copper smelt
ers, for the most part, process the concentrates in three distinct stages:
roasting and sintering, reverberatory furnace smelting, and converting.
In some instances where blast furnaces are utilized, roasting is dis
pensed with. Moreover, Michigan ores, which contain the copper in
pure form, employ reverberatory furnaces alone, both for smelting and
for furnace refining. As indicated previously, some ores are processed
by the leaching method and heat treatment becomes a minor phase of
the entire process in these instances. These differences in operations
exert considerable influence upon occupational patterns and therefore
upon wage structure.
22
SMELTING AND REFINING
23
The most common method in smelting zinc concentrates is the hori
zontal or “ batch” retort process. The prevailing sequences in this
process are roasting and distillation. Roasting liberates the sulphu
rous gases from the concentrates and converts the zinc into zinc oxide*
The gases are converted generally into sulphuric acid, a common by
product of zinc smelting, while the zinc oxide is mixed with pulverized
coal and ores, and fed into the retorts of the furnaces. The coal
oxidizes the zinc oxide, and the zinc, in the form of vapors, settles
and cools in condensers. The zinc is then cast into slabs. Frequently,
the zinc is further refined by distillation to meet market requirements.
Some firms are now utilizing an improved variation of this process,
i. e., vertical retort furnace smelting. In horizontal retort furnaces the
smelting process is intermittent, since the completion of the process in
one batch of retorts requires an interruption in the operations for
recharging; by way of contrast, the vertical retort furnace permits
continuous charging of the retorts, with the charge in the form of
pressed briquets of ore and pulverized coal. Zinc-smelting operations
require large numbers of workers around the furnaces, in the manu
facture of the clay retorts, and in pulverizing the coal.
The most prevalent method of lead smelting involves roasting of the
concentrates and smelting in blast furnaces. The product from the
blast furnace, however, contains a number of impurities and various
methods of refining the lead are necessarily associated with smelters.
Involved in the refining process are methods of softening the lead or
removing the copper and antimony content, and desilverization or
elimination of the silver content from the lead. When high-grade lead
is required it may be refined electrolytically.
Electrolytic copper refineries remove whatever impurities remain in
the blister copper or matte after the smelting operation, and recover,
in addition, the precious metals contained in the blister copper. These
refineries engage in furnace refining, as well as in treating the copper
electrolytically. Here the blister copper is melted in reverberatory
furnaces, oxidized, poled, and cast into anodes. These anodes are
loaded into tanks containing an electrolyte and cathodes made from
thin copper “ starting” sheets. When the current passes from the
anode through the electrolyte to the cathode, pure copper particles
are deposited on the latter. This copper is then charged into furnaces
and ultimately is drawn, to be cast into wire bars, billets, cakes, and
other commercial forms. The slime which collects at the bottom of
the electrolytic tanks contains impurities as well as recoverable pre
cious metals thrown off in the transfer of copper from anode to cathode.
This slime is removed and processed further to obtain valuable
byproducts.
The production of zinc by the electrolytic method generally involves
leaching instead of smelting. As indicated earlier, this process con
sists of roasting the ore and dissolving the metal constituents by means
of sulphuric acid. The electrolyte, after purification, is treated by
passing an electric current through it and the metallic zinc is thus
deposited in layers on a cathode. The zinc is then stripped off the
cathodes, melted and cast into slabs. The process as a whole bears a
24
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
good deal of similarity to the production of copper by the leaching
method. This method of producing zinc has become increasingly
important since its introduction in 1915 and accounts at present for
about one-fifth of the total production.
IM PORTAN CE OF TH E IN DU STRY
Census coverage of primary smelting and refining establishments in
1919 included those plants with products valued at $500 or more. In
succeeding Census tallies no data were collected for establishments with
annual products under $5,000. This change in coverage, however,
probably had little effect on the number of establishments reported
in the industry, for the technical character of the operations involved,
as well as the comparatively high value per unit of output, contributes
to the establishment and maintenance of large plants.
The average number of wage earners in copper, lead, and zinc
primary smelting and refining reported by the Census in 1919 was about
40,000. By 1929 the size of the labor force in this industry had de
clined by almost 22 percent from the 1919 mark. The depression fol
lowing 1929 resulted in a further drastic shrinkage of the work force
by 1933 to scarcely more than one-third of the 1919 level. Despite
the recovery in subsequent years, the labor force reported by the Cen
sus of 1937 was only three-fourths as great as that of 1919. In 1939,
Census figures for primary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals
included the production of aluminum from bauxite, in addition to cop
per, lead, and zinc, and the labor force comprised 27,630 workers.
Following 1939, however, employment in this industry expanded con
siderably so that by August 1941, the period of the Bureau’s wage sur
vey, employment in most plants was well above the 1939 level.
SIZE OF ESTABLISHM ENT
As has been indicated earlier, operations in the primary smelting and
refining industry (which treats derivatives of virgin nonferrous ores)
are carried on mainly by medium-sized and large establishments.
Thus, of the 63 establishments reported by the Census of 1939, nearly
a third employed over 500 wage earners, and over one-half employed
from 101 to 500 wage earners. Only two establishments were reported
to employ less than 50 workers. On the other hand, none of the estab
lishments employed more than 2,500 wage earners.
Of the 63 establishments reported by the Census of 1939 to be
engaged in the primary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals, 59
were operated by central administrative offices controlling two or more
plants. The remaining 4 were operated under some form of independent
management. With the exception of 1 establishment, smelters and
refineries were owned by corporations. In general, smelting and
refining facilities are highly integrated with respect to business control.
In copper production, for example, the American Bureau of Metal
Statistics reported that in 1940, 10 firms owned plants which smelted
ore or concentrates from 25 or more extraction sources. Similarly, 8
firms controlled the refineries which treated copper from 30 or more
commercial sources.1
* See Yearbook of the American Bureau of MetaJ Statistics, 1940, pp. 21-23.
SMELTING AND REFINING
25
LOCATION OF THE INDUSTRY
Despite the continual westward shift of the nonferrous-mining indus
try over a period of years, the eastern States of New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia comprise the most import
ant region for smelting and refining nonferrous metals (copper, lead,
and zinc); two-fifths of the wage earners in this industry are found in
these States. Of the States included in this geographic division, West
Virginia and New York are relatively unimportant from the stand
point of employment. The Western States, with more than twice as
many establishments as the Eastern States, accounted for somewhat
over one-third of the total employment in 1939. The Central States,
where fully one-third of the establishments in the industry are located,
accounted for about one-fourth of total employment in the industry
in that year. A variety of factors are responsible for the location of a
considerable bulk of this industry in the East. Of prime importance
in the smelting of domestic ores is proximity to sources of fluxes and,
of course, of concentrates; proximity to ports of entry is important for
smelters and refineries which use imported concentrates and metals.
In addition, the early accumulation of capital equipment in eastern
smelters and refineries, intended to supply nearby fabrication centers,
played an important role in maintaining the dominant position of the
East within the industry.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LABOR FORCE
Smelting and refining of nonferrous metals involves a number of
specialized technical operations and the labor force of this industry
manifests distinctive characteristics. In all branches of the industry a
considerable amount of labor is employed in the yards at handling
and storing concentrates and metals, as well as in delivery of these
materials from storage to mix rooms, roasters, and furnaces. Many
of these operations are accomplished with the aid of hoists, cranes,
trucks, jitney cars, and narrow-gage railroads. In the mix rooms
ores and mattes are crushed, ground, and treated in a manner similar
to milling. These tasks are performed by operators and helpers.
Coal pulverizing and gas producing are also important operations.
The operations of roasting, smelting, and converting are performed
by furnace operators who are skilled workers and by furnace helpers
who may either specialize in one operation or perform a number of
operations. Most smelters, especially zinc smelters, produce their
own clay retorts and condensers, and other refractory vessels in
pottery departments. In all stages of the process, metals are weighed,
checked, sampled, and tested by samplers and testers. The recovery
of metals from dust and from flues, and the treatment of furnace
fumes in Cottrell treaters involve considerable amounts of specialized
labor. In the electrolytic refineries much of the labor force is required
to operate electrolytic tanks and to check and eliminate the causes
of short circuits which result in waste of power, labor, and materials.
Although many of these operations can be performed by relatively
unskilled labor after a short period of training, the rates for such
26
WAGE STRUCTURE1— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
labor are somewhat higher in this than in other industries because of
the difficult and unpleasant conditions of work.
Many of the processes in the industry are intermittent, and in order
to provide more or less continuous employment workers are frequently
shifted, in the course of a week’s work, among a number of different
operations; for example, from furnace operator to laborer. In times
of lay-offs employers generally retain the most versatile workers in
lower paying occupations. With the expansion of production in the
industry in recent months, upgrading of workers to higher paying
occupations has taken place. Simultaneously, new workers have been
hired for the unskilled operations.
The labor force in this industry is composed predominantly of
male white workers (table 17). Of the 13,579 employees surveyed by
the Bureau, 93.3 percent were white other than Mexican, 4.7 percent
were Mexicans, and 1.8 percent were Negroes. In the refineries
84.0 percent of the 8,108 workers surveyed were white other than
Mexican, 10.6 percent were Negroes, and 5.4 percent were Mexicans.
In both smelting and refining most of the Mexican labor was found
in the Southwest; in this region 50.4 percent of the smelter workers
and 29.6 percent of the refinery employees were Mexicans. Over 95
ercent of the Negroes working in refineries were employed in the
last, where they accounted for 17.2 percent of the labor force in the
surveyed plants.
5
T a b l e 1 7. — Racial Composition of Labor Force in Nonferrous-Metal Smelting and Refining,
August 1941
White, other
than Mexican
A ll workers
Region1
Smelting
Refining
Negro
Mexican
Smelt Refin Smelt Refin Smelt Refin Smelt
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
(per(per (per (per (per
(per
(per
cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent) cent)
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
Per
cent
United States.............. 13,579
100.0
8,108
100.0
93.3
84.0
1.8
10.6
4.7
5.4
4,708
1,091
1,479
2,099
4,202
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1,465
1,464
396
1Q0.O
100.0
100.0
99.6
69.1
95.5
.1
50.4
5.7
29.6
1.5
100.0
.4
.2
12.1
.7
.5
.4
1.3
3.0
4,783
99.3
47.6
82.2
99.3
99.5
Northwest....................
Southwest....................
North Central.............
South C e n tra l______
East — ___________ _
Other
"82.8"
0.2
.2
1.8
17.2
* For States included in regions, see footnote to table 22.
EXTENT OF UNIONIZATION
In the smelters studied by the Bureau nearly three-fifths (57.3
percent) of the employees were working in plants covered by union
agreements (table 18). The bulk of the union membership in smelters
was affiliated with the C. I. O. The International Union of Mine,
Mill, and Smelter Workers is the most important union in this field.
Most of the A. F. of L. membership found in the surveyed smelters
was in the North Central region. Over three-fifths (63.9 percent)
of the employees in refining were in plants covered by union agree
ments. Most of this union group was found in the East.
27
SMELTING AND REFINING
T a b l e 18. — Unionization of Workers in Nonferrous-Metal Smelters and Refineries,
August 1941
Smelting
Total
B egion 1
N um
ber
Union
establish
m ents1
4,708
1.091
2,099
1.479
4,202
Nonunion
establish
ments
Total
Union
establish
ments*
N onunion
establish
ments
Per N um Per N um Per N um Per N um Per N um Per
ber cent
cent
ber cent ber cent
ber cent
ber cent
United States.................... 13,579 100.0 7,784
Northwest..........................
Southwest..........................
North Central...................
South Central___ ______
East.....................................
Befining
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
|100.0
42.7 8,108 100.0 5,181
63.9 2,927
36.1
956 20.3 1,465 100.0 1,151
451
1,091 100.0 1,464 100.0
"955* 45.5” 1,144 54.5
396 100.0
253
1,479 100.0
1,598 38.0 2,604 62.0 4,783 100.0 3,326
78.6
314
30.8 1,013
63.9
143
21.4
69.2
36.1
69.5 1,457
30.5
3,752
57.3 5,795
79.7
* For States included in regions, see footnote to table 22.
* Includes plants covered b y agreements with independent unions.
Scope and Method of Survey
The survey of nonferrous smelting and refining was based on a
sample of somewhat more than half of all establishments smelting or
refining substantial quantities of copper, lead, or zinc. In addition,
a number of mercury smelters, which were found to be generally
associated with mines, were also included in this study. In order to
assure validity in the selection of the sample, careful consideration
was given to size of establishment, type of metal produced, form of
processing, geographic location, and corporate affiliation. Smelters
and refineries employing less than 20 persons were not covered,
except in mercury smelting. In the latter industry only the produc
tion unit engaged in smelting was included. The data were collected
by trained field representatives of the Bureau for a pay-roll period in
August 1941. The information obtained included detailed records
of hours worked, total earnings, and occupational descriptions, as
well as the sex and color of each employee.
In all, the sample included some 33 production units in copper,
lead, and zinc smelting and refining, and 22 in mercury smelting.
The number of workers surveyed in these plants totaled 21,687 (ta
ble 19).
T a b le
19.— Nonferrous-Metal Smelters and Refineries Covered by Bureau's Survey,
August 1941
Smelting
R egion 1
Befining
Workers
Workers
Units
Units
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
United States..........................................................
43
13,579
100.0
12
8,108
100.0
Northwest...............................................................
Southwest................................................................
North C e n tra l......................................................
South Central___________________ ______ ____
East..........................................................................
20
6
4
7
6
4,708
1,091
1,479
2,099
4,202
34.7
8.0
10.9
15.5
30.9
3
3
3
1,465
1,464
396
18.1
18.1
4.9
3
4,783
58.9
i For States included in regions, see footnote to table 22.
28
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
Method of Wage Payment
The workers in the surveyed smelters and refineries were paid pre
ponderantly upon a time basis. Over nine-tenths of the labor force in
both smelters and refineries received time rates (table 20). The
largest concentrations of piece and incentive bonus workers in
nonferrous-metal smelters were found in the East. Two and one-half
percent of the smelter workers in this region were paid by the piece,
and an additional 23.5 percent were paid on an incentive bonus basis.
T a b l e 20.— Distribution of Workers in Nonferrous-Metal Smelting and Refining by
Method of Wage Payment ana by Region, August 1941
All workers
Region i
Smelting
Tim e workers
Refining
Smelting
Refining
Work*
ers
Per
cent
W ork
ers
8,108
100.0
12,385
91.2
7,833
96.6
100.0
1,465
4,675
4.708
100.0
1,091
1,091
100.0
1,464
100.0
1,479
396
1,456
100.0
100.0
2,099
100.0
2,056
4,783
4,202
100.0
100.0
3,107
East.........................................................
99.3
100.0
98.5
98.0
74.0
1,405
1,459
392
95.9
99.7
99.0
4,577"
95.7
W ork
ers
Per
cent
United States........................................
13,579
100.0
N orthw est..................................... ........
S outhw est.............................................
North Central.......................................
South Central______________________
Piece workers
United'States........................................
181
1.3
Northwest__________ ______________
Southw est______ ______________ ___
Nnrt-h Pfrntrfil 1>r.
South Central______________ - ______
27
.6
12
36
106
.8
1.7
2.5
35
Per
cent
W ork
ers
Per
cent
Bonus workers
0.4
5
4
.3
1.0
26
.5
1,013
7.5
240
3.0
6
.1
60
4.6
11
7
989
.7
.3
23.5
180
3.8
* For States included in regions, see footnote to table 22.
The basis for bonus payments in smelters and refineries varied with
the character of the task performed. In some cases, men working in
tank houses were paid an efficiency bonus calculated with reference to
economy in the use of electric current. Bonuses were also paid to
stripping gangs on the basis of output above set standards. Frequently
casting crews on the casting wheel were paid a bonus for each round
cast above a set number of rounds per day. Bonuses were also
awarded in some cases for furnaces charged above set scores. Piece
rates were prevalent in smelter yards for unloading concentrates and
materials and for loading metals.
It is customary in smelters and refineries to pay workers for a full
shift in certain bottleneck operations, such as the stripping of cathodes
and charging of furnaces, and to permit them to leave the plant when
the work is completed in less time. In these instances expensive
equipment is involved and the completion of these operations with
dispatch may speed up all other operations. Such “ finish-go-home”
arrangements were found to prevail in many smelters and refineries.
In some instances the day’s work varied considerably and in other
SMELTING AND REFINING
29
instances it regularly required about 6 hours, but 8 hours’ pay was
cutomarily provided. In computing hours of work for these cases the
Bureau has credited “ finish-go-home” employees with full-time hours.
The practice of adjusting general levels of pay in accordance with a
“ sliding scale” based upon the price of metals is also prevalent in this
industry, as in mining and milling. Some of the union agreements
provide for such adjustments.
Hourly Earnings
WARTIME TREND OF EARNINGS
Monthly data on average hourly earnings reported regularly to the
Bureau by a substantial number of smelters and refineries indicate
that the outbreak of the war in Europe resulted in no sharp and
substantial jump in wages in this industry. Average hourly earnings
in the smelting and refining of copper, lead, and zinc increased, in fact,
by only about 2 percent from August 1939 to August 1940. During
the year preceding the Bureau's survey, however, wages rose steadily
and appreciably; in the month of the survey, August 1941, average
warnings were approximately 15 percent above the level of a year
^earlier. This increase, little of which was due to premium overtime
payments, reflected the growing influence of labor unions and the
industry’s efforts to attract more workers.
Hourly earnings in the industry have continued to increase since the
time of the Bureau’s survey, and in March 1942 were 8 percent above
the level of August 1941. The analysis presented in this article,
therefore) should be considered as a “ stop-action” picture of. an
industry in transition.
EARNINGS IN AUGUST 1941
Excluding overtime payments, average hourly earnings in zinc
smelters were 83.5 cents (table 21). In lead smelters the corresponding
average was 76.8 cents; in copper smelters, 75.0 cents; and in mercury
smelters, 60.5 cents. Average hourly earnings were increased from
0.6 cent in lead smelting to 5.9 cents in mercury smelting by the
inclusion of payment for overtime.
Straight-time average hourly earnings of individual workers in zinc
smelters ranged from 30.0 cents to $2,014. In this branch of nonferrous-metal smelting over half (51.3 percent) of the workers received
average hourly earnings of 72.5 but under 92.5 cents.
507986°— 43-------5
30
WAGE STRUCTURE!— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
21.— Percentage Distribution of Workers in Nonferrous-Metal Smelting and Refin
ing by Average Hourly Earnings (Excluding Overtime) and by Branch, August 1941
T a b le
Smelting
Average hourly earnings
Zinc
Copper
Lead
U nder 37.5 cents_________________________
37,5 and nndfir 40.0 rants____ _ _ ____ _
40.0 and under 42.5 cen ts.._______________
42.5 and under 45.0 cents____ ___________
45.0 and under 47.5 cents...............................
47,5 and tinder 5ft.0 Rents...
6ft.ft nnd under 52.5 cents.
.52.5 and nnHfir 55.0 rents _ T_
55.0 and under 57.5 cents_________________
57.5 and under 60.0 cents...............................
60.0 and under 62.5 cents______ ______ ____
62.5 and under 65.0 cents...............................
65.0 and under 67.5 cents_________________
67.5 and under 70.0 cents...............................
70.0 and under 72.5 cents...............................
72.5 and under 75.0 cents...............................
75.0 and under 77.5 cents...............................
77.5 and under 80.0 cents...............................
80.0 and under 82.5 cents...............................
82.5 and under 85.0 cents...............................
85.0 and under 87.5 cents_________________
87.5 and under 90.0 cents...............................
80.0 and under 92.5 cents_________________
$2.5 and under 95.0 cents_________________
•95.0 and under 97.5 cents_________________
#7.5 and under 102.5 cents___________ ____
102.5 and under 107.5 cents...........................
107.5 and under 112.5 cents...........................
112.5 and under 117.5 cents _____________
117.5 cents and over........................................
0.1
(2)
(2)
.1
(2)
.1
.2
.1
.2
.7
2.6
4.1
3.7
7.7
5.6
7.5
8.3
5.2
4.4
8.5
6.9
4.7
5.8
5.2
2.9
4.6
3.7
1.7
1.0
4.4
1.3
1.1
.1
3.5
1.3
2.1
2.4
3.1
3.2
3.1
15.4
10.0
3.6
8.9
8.8
6.9
6.7
3.2
2.3
3.0
1.3
3.0
1.4
1.5
1.2
.4
1.1
10.1
10.4
10.8
14.2
4.2
14.1
4.9
5.5
2.6
4.1
3.4
4.0
2.4
1.3
1.6
1.0
.4
.5
2.6
T otal.......................................................
100.0
100.0
100.0
N um ber of workers........................................
N um ber of units.............................................
Average hourly earnings_________ _______
Average hourly earnings (including puni
tive overtim e)............................................ -
7,983
14
$0.835
4,366
9
$0.750
$0,848
$0.790
0.1
0.1
M ercury
13.4
2.2
8.1
Copper
refining
(electro
lytic)
Electro
lytic
zinc
produc
tion i
0.1
(2)
.2
.3
3.9
2.3
1.4
.9
.5
.3
.6
1.0
.4
11.6
4.3
8.4
13.2
11.5
8.1
5.4
5.0
4.5
3.2
2.4
1.8
3.5
2.1
1.1
.3
1.7
5.8
12.7
7.6
9.8
12.0
3.1
1«.9
8.7
10.4
1.3
.2
.4
4.1
2.0
.4
.2
.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
1,095
4
$0.768
135
16
$0,605
6,785
8
$0.779
1,323
4
$0,809
$0.774
$0.664
$0.787
$0.814
.1
.3
.6
.4
.2
.2
.7
2.2
4.4
2.2
4.4
9.0
3.0
14.9
5.2
14.2
4.4
2.2
3.7
.7
.7
.7
.7
1.5
1.5
0.1
.1
.2
.5
.5
.1
i Includes 1 lead refinery.
* Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
The average hourly earnings of the 4,366 workers in copper smelters
ranged from 34.4 cents to $1,553. Over three-fifths (63.4 percent)
of these employees were concentrated in the wage class of 65.0 but
under 85.0 cents.
Almost three-quarters (74.2 percent) of the labor force in lead
smelters received 62.5 but under 82.5 cents per hour. In mercury
smelting, 57.3 percent of the workers earned 52.5 but under 72.5
cents per hour.
Straight-time average hourly earnings were 77.9 cents in electrolytic
copper refineries and 80.9 cents in electrolytic zinc-production plants.
Hourly earnings were increased by 0.8 cent in electrolytic copper
refining and by 0.5 cent in electrolytic zinc production by the inclusion
of overtime payments.
Although the over-all range of average hourly earnings in electro
lytic copper refining extended from 34.4 cents to $1,956, 67.5 percent of
the workers in this branch earned 67.5 but under 87.5 cents per hour.
In electrolytic zinc production, over four-fifths (83.2 percent) of the
workers received 70.0 but under 90.0 cents per hour.
It is of interest to note that in the nonferrous-metal smelters and
refineries covered by the Bureau’s survey, punitive overtime payments
amounted to 2.7 percent of the total wage bill. The corresponding
proportion in nonferrous mining and milling was 5.0 percent.
PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF WORKERS IN NONFERROUS METAL
SMELTING AND REFINING
BY AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS, EXCLUDING OVERTIME, AND BY BRANCH
AUGUST 1941
SMELTING
AND
REFINING
LEAD
SMELTING
MERCURY
SMELTING
COPPER
REFINING
(ELECTROLYTIC)
ELECTROLYTIC
PRODUCTION
OF ZINC
PERCENT OF TOTAL
IREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
UNDER 40.0 CENTS
65.0 CENTS AND UNDER 85.0 CENTS
40.0 CENTS ANO UNDER 65.0 CENTS
85.0 CENTS ANO UNDER 117.5
V///A
U7.5 CENTS ANDOVER
CO
32
WAGE STRUCTURE*— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES
Hourly earnings, excluding overtime, in all smelters covered by
the Bureau’s survey averaged 79.8 cents, while in all refineries covered
the corresponding average was 78.3 cents (table 22). Regional
differences in average straight-time hourly earnings in smelters were
spanned by a range from 63.7 cents in the Southwest to 89.1 cents in
the East. The southwestern figure was thus 80 percent and the eastern
figure was 112 percent of national average hourly earnings. In nonferrous-metal refineries, the regional range in average hourly earnings
extended from 68.7 cents in the Southwest (or 88 percent of the United
States average) to 82.2 cents in the East (or 105 percent of the United
States average).
Well over half (57.2 percent) of all workers in smelters earned 67.5
but under 87.5 cents per hour. In the Northwest, almost four-fifths
of the smelting workers received hourly earnings in this same range.
More than half (58.3 percent) of the smelting workers in the Southwest
clustered in the 20-cent earning range of 50.0 but under 70.0 cents
per hour. The major concentration of smelting workers in the South
Central States, in the earnings range of 72.5 but under 92.5 cents per
hour, encompassed 63.0 percent of the total. Over half (53.9 percent)
of the North Central smelting workers earned 67.5 but under 87.5
cents per hour. Over two-fifths (43.6 percent) of the workers in nonferrous-metal smelters in the East earned 70.0 but under 90.0 cents
per hour.
Slightly less than seven-tenths (69.3 percent) of the workers in the
surveyed refineries earned 67.5 but under 87.5 cents per hour. In
the Northwest and Southwest, 84.0 percent and 49.6 percent, respec
tively, of the refinery workers were found in this range. In eastern
refineries, over seven-tenths (70.3 percent) of the workers earned
70.0 but under 90.0 cents per hour.
OCCUPATIONAL EARNINGS
Occupational earnings in zinc smelters ranged from a low of 61.9
cents per hour for laboratory helpers to a high of 121.6 cents for lead
burners (table 23).' The two large occupational groups of chargers
and of yard and maintenance laborers (numbering 459 each) received
95.9 cents and 70.3 cents, respectively, as average hourly earnings.
Two other large occupational groups, metal drawers and furnace
men’s helpers, earned an average of 93.8 cents and 81.0 cents, respec
tively, per hour. Chiselers, who cleaned the condensers used in the
distillation of zinc, earned an average of 99.9 cents per hour. Among
those workers concerned with the manufacture of the clay vessels
used in the distillation of zinc, the mixing-machine operators earned
an average of 79.0 cents per hour, retort and condenser makers earned
88.6 cents per hour, and pottery handlers earned 75.6 cents per hour.
The terminal averages in the range of occupational earnings in
copper smelters were those of the mo torment and larrymen’s helpers
(55.7 cents) and the lead burners ($1,316). The latter group also
received the highest average hourly earnings in zinc smelting. They
are highly skilled men who maintain the lead lining of enclosures and
tanks in good repair by sealing joints and seams.
SMELTING AND REFINING
33
22.— Percentage Distribution of Workers in Nonferrous -Metal Smelting and
Refining, by Average Hourly Earnings (.Excluding Overtime) and by Region,1 August
1941
T a b le
United
States
Northwest
North
Central
Southwest
Average hourly earnings
(in cents)
South
Cen
tral
East
Smelt Re Smelt Re Smelt R e Smelt Re Smelt Smelt R e
ing fining ing fining ing fining ing fining ing
ing fining
0.1
0.1
Under 37.5........................... .
0.3
0.1
(J)
37.5 and under 40.0_____ _
(*)
40,0 ftnd iindftr 42.5
.1
.1
.2
.1
.2
42.5 and under 45.0_______
.5
.4
3.3
.1
45.0 and under 47.5..............
(*)
2.0
47.5 and under 50.0..............
.1
.1
(•>
50,0 ftild under fi2.fi _
1.2
.3
1.3
.2
.6
.8
52.5 and under 55.0..............
.8
.4
.2
.1
55.0 and under 57.5..............
1.3
.3
.3
.1
57.5 and under 60.0..............
.5
.4
.1
60.0 and under 62.5..............
2.6
.8
62.5 and under 65.0..............
4.3
.2
1.8
1
4.2
.3
3.0
65.0 and under 67.5_______
67.5 and under 70.0..............
10.3 10.6
22.3 28.4
13.0
7.8
5.7
7.9
70.0 and under 72.5_______
5.9
8.3
8.6
4.8
72.5 and under 76.0..............
8.9 12.6
13.6 15.9
75.0 and under 77.5..............
9.4
6.3 11.6
8.8
77.5 and under 80.0..............
5.2
7.3
5.6
5.1
80.0 and under 82.5..............
7.4
7.6
6.1 10.0
82.5 and under 85.0..............
5.4
2.5
85.0 and under 87.5..............
5.6
1.6
3.8
87.5 and under 90.0..............
5.5
3.0
5.6
2.8
4.0
90.0 and under 92.5..............
4.7
3.8
2.1
1.2
.2
3.7
92.5 and under 95.0..............
2.2
.8
95.0 and under 97.5..............
2.8
1.6
3.6
1.2
1.4
97.5 and under 102.5............
3.3
2.1
1.2
102.5 and under 107.5..........
.5
2.7
1.4
.6
107.5 and under 112.5..........
1.0
.5
.3
.3
.3
112.5 and under 117.5____
.7
3.2
1.6
1.1
.6
117.5 and over......................
Total......................... . 100.0 1C0.0 1Q0.0 100.0
N um ber of workers............ 13,579 8,108 4,708 1,465
12
20
N um ber of units.................
43
3
Average hourly earnings... $0,798 $0,783 $0,770 $0.777
Average hourly earnings
(including punitive over
$0,820 $0,791 $0,809 $0.781
tim e)...........................
.
1.4
0.2
0.7
(»)
.2
(>;
0.3
.4
.1
.1
5.3
.9
4.2 16.5
4.8
.2
.1
(*)
.2
5.9
17.6
.5
(>)
(*)
.2
6.6
4.4
.3
13.7
(*)
.1
5.1
4.0
3.1
.3
(>)
<*)
1.3
A
8.1
.4
.1
.2
01
.1
1.0
9.2
1.1
.1
1.0
.3
12.4
.5
3.5
.5
5.5
1.6
4.9
.6
9.5
2.3
7.1
.3
5.0
.2
6.2
1.3
8.2
4.2
3.5
2.2
7.4
1.0
6.1
14.2
1.0
1.9
4.0
7.5
7.0
3.3 13.3
5.9
4.6
8.1
10.2
3.0
2.3
6.7
4.7
5.7
15.1
1.8
2.6
10.0
6.8
7.3
5.9
5.6
8.5
3.6
2.0
5.9
5.0
13.9
4.9
9.8
3.4
2.7
1.3
7.5
4.4
1.3
16.1
5.7
.5 13.0
6.6
6.5
9.2
2.6
4.0
9.0 17.6
7.3
6.1
2.2
4.9
5.2
5.5
1.9
6.6
1.5
3.2
.5
.5
6.1
3.5
5.4
6.0
3.4
.1
1.2
.5
8.3
3.5
2.2
1.2 *’ .*3
.8
.8
1.7
5.0
4.$
1.8
6.2
.3
3.2
1.9
4.6
2.7
1.8
4.3
1.7
5.8
1.0
.7
2.4
.2
.5
.5
2.9
14
.1
.1
.4
.3
1.6
.5
.3
2.1
8.2
.8
.4
.5
.3
1.1
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.039ft 2,099 4,202 4,783
1,091
1,464 1,479
6
3
4
6
3
3
7
$0,637 $0,687 $0,765 $0.695 $0,804 $0,891 $0,822
0.1
.1
.1
.2
0.3
$0,688 $0,700 $0.771 $0.710 $0.811 $0,897 $0,828
1 Northwest includes Montana, Nevada, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Caliiorma, Oregon.
Southwest includes Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. South Central includes Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri,
Tennessee. North Central includes Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana. East includes New Jersey, Penn
sylvania, West Virginia, Maryland.
* Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
T a b le
23.— Hourly Earnings (Excluding Overtime), Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earning#
of Workers in Zinc Smelting, by Occupation, August 1941
Occupation
All occupations.....................................................................................
Apprentices, craft____________________________________________
Bag-house m en’s helpers_____________________ ________ _______
Bin m en’s helpers_______________________1____________________
Blacksmiths_____ ____________________________________________
Blacksmiths’ helpers____ _________ _____ _____________________
Blow-out men__________________________ _____________________
Brakemen, railroad_______ ______ ___________ ________________
Bricklayers_________ ______________ _________ _________________
Bricklayers’ helpers__________________________________________
Bumpers____ ____ ______________________ - ____________________
Cadmium operators____________ ____ ___ — ........ .......................
Carpenters_______ ____________________________________________
Carpenters’ helpers___________________________________________
Casting-machine operators____________________________ _______
Cellar men___________________________________________________
Chambermen_______ __________ ____ ___ _____________________
Chambermen’s helpers__________________ i ____________________
Chargers_____________________________________________________
Checkers.................................................................................................
Workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
7,983
51
89
16
30
23
90
13
38
28
107
28
43
18
33
40
31
10
459
13
$0,835
.811
.824
.690
.925
.785
.794
.788
1.036
.754
.908
.892
.939
.753
.816
.803
.978
.859
.959
.754
39.6
44.9
39.8
40.6
44.3
44.1
39.3
43.0
40.8
40.1
37.8
40.1
43.5
42.4
40.0
38.0
40.1
39.8
36.8
40.0
Average
total
weekly
earnings
$33.5538.54
32.80
28.26*
42.92
36.28
31.17
35.29*
43.49'
30.37
34.42
35.92
42.54
33.10
32.64
30.62
39.54
34.54
34.29*
30.17
34
T
able
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
23.— Hourly Earnings (Excluding Overtime), Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earning*
of Workers in Zinc Smelting, by Occupation, August 1941— Continued
Occupation
Chemists and metallurgists___________________________________
Chemists' assistants_____ _______ __ ____________________ _____
Chiselers (condenser cleaners)_________________________________
___ _ T. T
Clerical, other plant and office
Clerical' plant.*______________________________________________
Condenser setters_____________________________________________
Connie boys (condenser cleaner)______________________________
Conveyor operators___________________________________________
Cottrell operators_____________________________________________
Cranemen____________________________________________________
Crusher operators____________________________________________
Drivers (team, truck, tractor)_________________________________
Dryer operators______________________________________________
Electricians__________________________________________________
Electricians’ helpers__________________________________________
Engineers, powerhouse_______________________________________
Engineers, railroad___________________________________________
Fire and fuel men, powerhouse_______________________________
Firemen, machines and boilers________ _______ _____ _________
Firemen, railroad........................................................................ ........
Foremen and assistants, working__________ ___________________
Furnace operators (dross and byproducts)_____________________
Furnace men, retort____________________ ______ ______________
Furnace men’s helpers........................................................................
Gas-producer operators_____ __________________________________
Gas-producer operators’ helpers__________________ ____ _______
Helpers, powerhouse...................................................... .....................
Hookers, shoveler (furnace cleaning)_________ ________ _______
Ironworkers___________ ____________________ ____ _____________
Janitors___________________________ _____ ______________ ______
K iln m en..................... ..........................................................................
Laborers, fu rn a ce..____________________ ____________ _________
Laborers, process_______________ _______ ____ ________________
Laborers, yard and maintenance______________________________
Laboratory helpers___________________________________________
Leacher operators____________________________________________
Lead burners._______________________________ ______ _________
Lead burners’ helpers..........................................................................
Loamers______________________________________________________
Machinists_________ ____________________________ _____ _______
Machinists’ helpers........................ ......... ............................... ..........
Maintenance and service helpers, not elsewhere classified______
Maintenance and service workers, not elsewhere classified..........
Mechanics______ _____________________________ ______ ________
Mechanics’ helpers___________________________________________
Metal drawers________________________________________________
Metal handlers and loaders___________________________________
M ill operators, crush and grind_______________________________
M ill operators’ helpers_____ _____________ ____________________
M ixer (pug) mill operators.________ __________________________
Mixing-machine operators (pottery)__________________________
Motorm en, tram__________ _________ _________________________
Oilers, plant___ _____________ _______ ____ ___________________
Other smelter workers’ helpers_____ ___________ ______________
Other smelter workers, not elsewhere classified________________
Painters______________________________ ____________ __________
Pipe fitters.................. .............................. ............................................
Pipe fitters’ helpers___________________________________________
Pottery handlers_________ ____ _______________________________
Pum p men______ _____________________________________________
Pum p men, acid___ ____ _____________________________________
Retort and condenser makers_________________________________
Roaster operators_________ ___________________________________
Roaster operators’ helpers____________________________________
Samplers’ helpers_____________________________________________
Screenmen, jigmen_________ __________________________________
Screenmen, jigmen’s helpers__________________________________
Sintering-machine operators__________________________________
Sintering-machine operators’ helpers__________________________
Stampers___________________ _____ ___________________________
Stenographers________________________________________________
Staffers.. _________ __________________________________________
Tinsmiths_______________________________ __________________ —
Tinsmiths’ helpers___________________________________________
Truckers, hand_______________________________________________
W atchmen_______________________ ____________________________
Weighers and sam plers..._____________________________________
Welders..................................................................................................
Workers
46
22
139
46
102
65
103
56
17
84
16
49
18
68
17
24
22
33
11
25
194
142
228
332
119
12
21
208
14
25
29
271
508
459
20
21
25
16
139
46
42
147
127
117
29
414
152
53
12
45
41
96
66
228
163
54
33
17
90
10
24
38
131
76
21
51
11
50
47
110
20
91
16
24
215
74
69
27
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
$0,902
.902
.999
.901
.917
.912
.872
.716
.914
.850
.830
.783
.815
.977
.745
.975
.926
.817
.805
.802
.964
.766
.990
.810
.914
.910
.925
.840
1.056
.693
.759
.749
.720
.703
.619
.856
1.216
.850
.864
.967
.781
.733
.896
.855
.786
.938
.878
.770
.751
.802
.790
.775
.786
.741
.784
.694
.942
.775
.756
.869
.936
.886
.848
.833
.704
.729
.723
.854
.813
.853
.747
.831
.964
.731
.769
.697
.782
.950 1
40.7
39.5
32.1
40.4
40.3
35.5
33.6
40.1
40.2
40.5
39.0
39.8
39.9
43.1
39.8
40.0
41.5
39.7
40.9
40.5
43.0
42.8
40.6
39.5
39.5
38.0
40.2
37.5
39.7
37.3
38.6
35.9
39.7
38.4
38.6
44.6
46.8
50.4
37.6
49.2
44.7
40.8
47.6
42.9
39.9
36.9
39.2
41.0
35.5
38.6
38.8
39.9
.38.9
40.0
43.9
38.8
49.8
47.8
41.0
39.4
39.7
39.9
41.2
39.5
40.7
42.0
40.0
39.9
39.9
38.7
40.0
36.9
40.2
40.1
39.1
39.5
39.2
41.5
Average
total
weekly
earnings
$36.87
35.99
32.03
36.72
37.26
32.76>
29.42
28.98
36.85
34.63
32.48
31.43
32.91
43.38
30.37
39.11
39.43
32.89'
33.34
33.41
42.77
34.04
40.63
32.03
36.17
34.57
37.43
31.56
42.09
26.02
29.30
26.95
28.93
27.10
23.93
39.91
61.49
48.37
32.62
52.02
37.52
30.7%
46.01
37.92
31.39
34.79’
34.46
31.94
26.66.
31.0$
31.19
31.00’
30.87
30.35
36.05
27.09
51.42
42.82
31.45
34.33
37.55
35.65
35.83
32.95
29.0631.71
28.93
34.38
32.69'
33.23
29.94
30.75
38.90
29.40
30.15
27.52
30.76
40.22
35
SMELTING AND REFINING
Process laborers in copper smelters collect scrap prior to the charg
ing of the furnaces and handle the disposal, in appropriate dumps, of
slag from the furnaces. They formed the largest occupational group,
numbering 525, in the surveyed copper smelters (table 24). Their
average hourly earnings amounted to 65.2 cents.
T
able
24.— Hourly Earnings (Excluding Overtime), Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings
of Workers in Copper Smelting, by Occupation, August 1941
Average
total
weekly
earnings
Number
of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
_
4,366
$0,750
43.9
$34.70
Apprentices_______ . . . . . . . . . . . . . __ . . . __ _______ ___ . . . . . ____
Blacksmiths_________ ________________________________________
Boilermakers_____ ____________ ________________________________
Boilermakers’ helpers_________ ________________________________
Carpenters.______________ ____ _______________________________
Casting-machine operators____________________________________
Clerical office workers________________________________________
Clerical plant workers_____________________ ________ ___ '_____
Convertor-furnace operators___________________________________
Convertor-furnace punchers___________________________________
Conveyor operators___________________________________________
Cottrell operators______ ______________________________________
Cottrell operators* helpers_______ _____________________________
Cranemen, overhead_______ . . . . _______________________ _
_
Cranemen, overhead helpers__________________________________
Dumpm en_______________ ____________________________________
Electricians____ _____ ________________________________________
Engineers, railroad____________ . . . . . ______________________
Firemen, powerhouse________________________________________
Flue dust m e n . ______ _______ ______________________________
Foremen and assistants, working_____ ________________________
Furnace operators’ helpers, all-around_________________________
Janitors_____________ _______ _______ _________________________
Laborers, f u r n a c e ____ ____________________ !_________________
Laborers, maintenance_____ __________________ ______ _____ __
Laborers, process____________________________________________
Laborers, yard_______________________________________________
Lead burners.________ _______________________________________
Lead burners’ helpers_________________________________________
Locomotive crane engineers___________________________________
M achinists_________________________________________________ _
Metal handlers.................................................. ............. ...................
M ill operators, crushing and grinding (ore and flux)....................
M ill operators’ helpers, crashing and grinding (ore' and flux)__
Miscellaneous mill workers, not elsewhere classified...................
Miscellaneous mill workers’ helpers, not elsewhere classified___
Motorm en and larrymen.................................... .................. ............
Motorm en’s and larrymen’s helpers.................................................
Ore handlers................................................................................. ........
Other maintenance workers, not elsewhere classified....................
Other maintenance workers’ helpers, not elsewhere classified...
Powerhouse workers, not elsewhere classified__________________
Repairmen, plant equipment.............................................................
Repairmen, plant equipment, helpers_________________________
Reverberatory furnace chargers.........................................................
Reverberatory furnace operators___________________________
Reverberatory furnace tappers________________________________
Roaster operators________________________________________ _
Samplers.................................................................................................
Screenmen.......................... ...................................................................
Switchmen, railroad.............................................................................
Technicians............................................................................................
Technicians’ assistants.......................................................................
Track repairm en............................................... ...........................
Transportation workers, not elsewhere classified...........................
W atchmen..............................................................................................
18
9
36
35
69
15
75
126
53
118
39
28
34
93
36
22
57
25
44
42
110
212
41
96
148
525
254
22
29
42
71
76
26
12
145
88
76
28
43
211
178
123
72
58
46
43
56
68
164
23
38
46
21
73
77
51
.671
.858
.829
.735
.890
.749
.827
.952
.815
.710
.640
.769
.773
.819
.732
.697
.901
.901
.729
.693
.910
.754
.670
.652
.627
.652
.657
1.316
.720
.836
.901
.676
.788
.664
.827
.722
.686
.557
.633
.884
.715
.812
.809
.746
.673
.783
.728
.774
.711
.700
.815
.952
.757
.612
.783
.671
47.1
47.1
45.1
40.1
44.5
47.4
40.6
41.6
46.3
44.3
43.1
41.7
45.4
44.5
40.9
45.6
46.1
42.1
44.4
41.1
46.4
45.5
44.6
43.8
41.2
42.9
43.3
44.2
41.3
47.4
44.8
46.1
44.9
43.3
40.6
44.0
42.9
47.6
38.0
44.4
43.9
45.8
44.0
46.3
46.6
45.9
45.3
46.6
42.4
41.9
42.6
41.2
41.6
45.2
46.1
44.7
34.14
46.76
39.55
30.73
41.84
38.34
33.92
40.56
40.18
33; 24
28.69
33.05
37.17
38.41
30.59
33.66
44.39
39.23
33.89
29.26
44.47
36.66
31.83
29.97
27.24
29.44
30.00
61.23
31.49
42.83
42.55
33.53
37.34
30.07
33.92
33.23
30.93
28.66
24.31
41.56
33.21
39.40
37.57
37.06
33.69
38.47
35.07
38.56
30.99
30.76
36.74
39 69
32.01
29.55
38.54
31.76
Occupation
All occupations.
^
^
Average
weekly
hours
It will be noted that the helpers of Cottrell-treater operators
(copper-smelting plants) received higher average hourly earnings
(77.3 cents) than the operators themselves (76.9 cents). Cottrell
treaters are devices to recover valuable metallic dusts from the gases
thrown off by the furnaces. The helpers, unlike the operators, come
into frequent contact with the metal powder deposited m the treaters
36
WAGE STRUCTURE— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
and are paid accordingly for their work which, although unskilled, is
hazardous and disagreeable.
In the lead smelters covered by the Bureau’s survey, plant clerical
workers received the highest average hourly earnings ($1,023) among
the various occupations (table 25). These employees are concerned
with the routing of material through the plant and the maintenance of
production, assay, and progress records; they should be distinguished
from office clerical workers who are not directly involved in plant work.
At the other end of the occupational scale in lead smelters, maintenance
laborers received average hourly earnings of 64.8 cents.
T
able
25.— Hourly Earnings (Excluding Overtime), Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings
of Workers in Lead Smelting, by Occupation, August 1941
Occupation
Number Average
hourly
of workers earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Average
total
weekly
earnings
All occupations_______________________________________________
1,095
$0,768
38.4
$30.52
Bag-house men_______ ________________________________________
Blast furnace chargers__________________________ . ________ ___
Blast furnace operators_______________________________________
Blast furnace tappers_________________________________________
Boilermakers_________________________________________________
C arpenters.._______ ____ _____________________________________
Casting-machine operators____________________________________
Clerical office w ork ers_______________________________________
Clerical plant workers________________________________________
Conveyor operators _____________________________________- ___
Cranemen, overhead_________________________________________
Foremen and assistants, working_____________________________
Janitors.______ _______________________________________________
Laborers, furnace_____________________________________________
Laborers, process_____________________________________________
Laborers, yard__________________________________________1____
Machinists __________ - __- __________________________________
Maintenance laborers________________________________________
Maintenance workers, not elsewhere classified.................. ............
Maintenance workers* helpers, not elsewhere classified________
M ill operators fore and flux grinding).................. ..........................
M otorm en and larrymen______ _____________________________ _
Other furnace operators, not elsewhere classified................ ..........
Other furnace operators’ helpers, not elsewhere classified__ ___
Other plant workers, not elsewhere classified ________ _______
Other plant workers’ helpers, not elsewhere classified.._'i______
Samplers
. ______________________________________
Sinter (roaster) operators_____________________________________
Switchmen, railroad. ______________ __________________________
Track repairmen, railroad____________________________________
Transportation workers, not elsewhere classified_______________
Truckers, hand (flux and calcine)_____________________________
W atchmen___________________________________________________
Weighers_______ ____ _________ __________________ ____ _______
14
12
16
32
15
23
10
24
22
15
17
25
17
31
63
59
21
46
54
56
16
43
32
51
103
63
49
21
13
U
26
65
15
10
.798
.831
.870
.793
.891
.859
.926
.944
1.023
.741
.789
.863
.713
.788
.692
.660
.839
.648
.804
.729
.722
.746
.749
.733
.817
.701
.722
.741
.767
.654
.782
.803
.675
.808
40.3
40.2
41.4
40.4
39.3
45.9
35.9
38.7
40.0
38.4
40.0
42.2
40.5
39.1
38.8
39.5
39.7
37.7
40.0
40.7
40.5
39.1
40.1
39.6
39.6
37.6
38.5
40.2
38.3
40.5
40.4
37.3
40.3
37.1
32.26
33.48
36.63
32.23
3 5 . 2a
41.95
33.45
36.49
40.93
28.47
31.54
37.11
29.04
30.78
26.88
26.08
35.11
24.46
32.34
30.21
29.41
29.28
30.03
29.05
32.36
26.42
27.81
29.90
30.61
26.72
31.84
29.96
27.30
30.03
In the small group of mercury-smelter workers covered by the
Bureau’s survey, average hourly earnings varied between 52.4 cents
for crusher operators and 73.7 cents for “ other smelter workers,” a
miscellaneous category (table 26). Furnace men, who formed more
than a third of this smelting force, earned an average of 59.1 cents
per hour.
Of the 6,785 workers employed in electrolytic copper refineries,
technicians received the highest average hourly earnings, $1,058 (table
27). The lowest average hourly earnings (59.2 cents) were received
by track repairmen. The largest occupational group was composed
of process laborers, who earned an average of 66.7 cents per hour.
37
SMELTING AND REFINING
T a b l e 26.— Hourly Earnings (Excluding Overtime), Weekly Hours, anc? Weekly Earnings
of Workers in Mercury Smelting, by Occupation, August 1941
Average
total
weekly
earnings
Workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Total, all occupations________________________________________
135
$0,605
49.5
$32.89
Crusher operators____________________________________________
Furnace men_________________________________________________
Furnace men’s helpers________________________________________
Laborers____ _________________________________________________
Maintenance workers________________________________________
Other smelter workers________________________________________
17
55
18
16
10
19
.524
.591
.574
.546
.710
.737
48.1
50.3
47.1
49.4
52.0
49.7
27.45
33. OS
29.76.
29.6ft
41.0538.6a
Occupation
T
able
27.— Hourly Earnings (Excluding Overtime), Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earning&
of Workers in Electrolytic Copper Refining, by Occupation, August 1941
Average
hourly
earnings
All occupations_______________________________________________
6,785
$0,779
40.2
$31.67
Air hoistmen_________________________________________________
Apprentices, trade or craft____________________________________
Blacksmiths*
. ....................... ........... ...... .......
Blacksmiths’ helpers_________________________________________
Boilermakers_______ ________________________________________
Boil^rm abers’ hfilpp.rf? ________
...
_ . _______
Brflkfvmfm, railroad
.......
Bricklayers _________________________________________________
Bricklayers’ helpers_________________________________________
Carpenters . ________________________________________________
Casting-machine operators____________________________________
C heckers________ ____________________________________________
Chippers, billets______________________________________________
Circulation men, tanks_______________________________________
Clay mixers__________________________________________________
Clerical, plant_______________________________ . _______________
Concentrator operators_____ ____ _____________________________
Concentrator operators’ helpers_______ _______________________
C ranem en________. ____ . ________ ________ _____ ____________
Cranemen’s helpers_____ ____________________________________
Electrolytic tank operators___________________________________
Electricians ___________ _____________________________________
Engineers, powerhouse______________________________________
Engineers, railroad___________________________________________
Firemen, powerhouse_________________________________________
Flappers...............1____________________________________________
Foremen, working____________________________________________
Foremen, assistant working__________________________________
Furnace chargers (reverberatory).............. .......................................
Furnace operators, miscellaneous, not elsewhere classified..........
Furnace operators’ helpers, miscellaneous, not elsewhere classi
fied...... ...............................................................................................
Furnace operators, refining____________________________________
Furnace operators’ helpers, refining___________ _______________
Furnace operators (reverberatory and refiner)...............................
Furnace operators’ helpers (reverberatory and refiner)________
Furnace skimmer (reverberatory)__________ _________________
Furnace tapper (reverberatory)_______________________________
Hot-sheet m en..................................... ................................. __..........
Inspectors (billets, wire, bars, etc.)____ ____ __________________
Ironworkers_____ ____________ ____ ___________________________
Janitors___________ _________________ ____ ____________________
Laborers, furnace_____________________________________________
Laborers, maintenance_______________________________________
Laborers, process_____________________________________________
Laborers, samplers___________________________________________
Laborers, yard_______________________________________________
Ladlemen’s helpers___________________________________________
Leach operators______________________________________________
Loaders and unloaders................................................... ....................
Loopers and punchers____ ____________________________________
Machinists............ .................................................... ..........................
Machinists’ helpers................................................. ...........................
Maintenance workers, not elsewhere classified...............................
Maintenance workers’ helpers, not elsewhere classified.............
M echanics______ ___ _________________________________________
Metal handlers (car loaders)..............................................................
80
37
16
27
21
45
63
42
19
74
56
19
57
41
13
151
41
16
211
156
14
96
29
58
39
58
128
193
20
12
.774
.660
.957
.787
.871
.750
.758
1.032
.753
.939
.846
.739
.775
.795
.741
.850
.796
.746
.810
.734
.826
.929
1.024
.835
.795
.618
.953
.850
.893
.754
39.7
40.5
41.7
39.8
39.4
40.6
39.9
41.2
40.3
40.2
41.6
38.4
41.2
39.9
40.0
39.9
39.8
39.9
41.0
39.1
40.0
41.5
40.6
41.8
40.5
41.2
41.0
41.3
40.0
41.2
31.02
26.89
40.69
31.52
34.63
30.97
30.58
43.34
30.42
38.02
35.89
28.73
32.36
31.72
29.65
34.02
31.72
29.75
33.67
28.78
33.06
39.34
41. SO
35.69
32.75
26.08
39.68
35.63
35.77
31.54
58
28
31
83
71
42
40
226
107
48
44
106
250
628
29
225
28
41
125
42
93
32
167
67
27
185
.784
.859
.820
.863
.758
.740
.896
.791
.768
.962
.685
.639
.682
.667
.702
.690
.676
.820
.718
.829
.962
.776
.858
.725
.846
.716
39.7
40.0
39.9
40.7
39.3
39.5
41.3
40.4
39.7
40.2
39.7
38.7
38.8
39.8
39.8
40.2
39.5
40.2
39.7
40.7
42.1
41.7
40.4
42.4
42.6
39.0
31.19
34.37
32.72
35.63
29.96
29.61
38.13
32.30
30.52
38.90
27.25
24.74
2&65
26.83
28.21
8.18
26.87
33.07
28.61
34.09
41.53
33.10
35.11
31.74
37.21
27.90
Average
weekly
hours
Average
total
weekly
earnings
Workers
Occupation
38
WAGE STRUCTURE.— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
T a b l e 27.— Hourly Earnings (Excluding Overtime), Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings
of Workers in Electrolytic Copper Fefining, by Occupation, August 1941— Continued
Occupation
M ill workers, miscellaneous, not elsewhere classified..................
M ill worker*’ helpers, miscellaneous, not elsewhere classified-. .
M old chancers............................................ .......................... .............
M old coolers ______________________________________ _________
M old fishors_____________________ ____________________________
M old painters, ereasers, s p r a y e rs .._____ _____________________
M o tor men, trammers, larrvmen
..
_______ _____ ____
Office workers, miscellaneous, not elsewhere clascified_________
Oilers and ereasers......... ....................................................... ............
Pipe fitters
__________________________________________
Pipe fitters’ helpers __________________________________________
___________________
Ponrers and ladlomen__ ____________ _
Powerhouse workers, not elsewhere classified__________________
Pumpmen, tanks
______ ______ ___________________
R ackers
___ _______ ______________________
Repairmen, plnnt equipment . ......................................................
Repairmen’s helpers, plant equipment_________ ____ _________
Repairmen, track
_______ ___________________
Riggers
________
__________________________
Roaster operators (slime and sludge)__________________________
Samplers
__________ _______ __________________________
Samplers’ helpers______ ______________________________________
Stenographers ______________________________________________
Storeroom men_______________________________________________
Strippers
___________ ___________ ___________________________
Switchboard operators, powerhouse__________________________
Tank operators________
_______ _________________________
______________ __________________________
Technicians___
_______ _______________
Technicians’ assistants______ ____
Transportation workers, not elsewhere classified . .. ....... .......
Transportation workers’ helpers, not elsewhere classified............
Truck and tractor drivers........... ............................................ ..........
Voltmeter men
________________________________________
Washers and cleaners_________________________________________
W atchmen____ _______________________________________________
Weighers ........... _____________________________________________
Workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
217
152
51
15
32
61
62
101
12
33
26
59
60
36
47
37
71
31
31
20
42
72
43
14
76
28
33
32
63
30
36
29
79
133
165
101
$0.748
.764
.732
.732
.821
.805
.730
. 852
.720
.925
.758
.866
.824
.797
.736
. 854
.751
.592
.913
.804
.777
.742
.795
.814
.852
.884
.803
1.058
.691
.843
.725
.800
.785
.734
.741
.810
39.7
40.3
40.1
40.1
41.5
40.3
40.8
39.4
37.7
41.2
39.0
39.9
40.4
40.2
40.9
42.3
40.6
42.7
41.5
40.0
39.6
39.7
39.6
40.9
41.2
40.9
38.5
39.7
39.7
41.8
42.8
41.5
41.7
39.8
39.5
41.4
Average
total
weekly
earnings
$29.87
30.96
29.56
29.39
35.08
32.79
30.09
33.63
27.17
38.72
29 73
34.60
33.51
32.11
30 70
37.19
30.83
26.01
39.17
32.16
30.80
29.51
31 52
33 69
35.41
36.45
31.30
42.02
27.61
35.98
32.07
33.78
33.31
29.31
29.36
34.18
It will be noted that in electrolytic copper refineries the average
hourly earnings of miscellaneous furnace operators (75.4 cents) were
lower than those of their helpers (78.4 cents). Differences in skill
in these jobs are outweighed in the determination of earnings by
the hazardous and disagreeable nature of the work.
In the electrolytic production of zinc, chemists received the highest
average hourly earnings ($1,040) of any occupational group (table 28).
Yard laborers received the lowest corresponding average, 69.8 cents.
The two central occupational groups in the refining process, furnace
operators and electrolytic tank operators, received average hourly
earnings of 90.3 cents and 86.0 cents, respectively.
T a b l e 28. — Hourly Earnings (Excluding Overtime), Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings
of Workers in the Electrolytic Production of Zinc,1 by Occupation, August 1941
Average
total
weekly
earnings
Number
of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
All occupations............................ .........................................................
1,323
$0,809
37.9
$30.84
C arpenters................. ..... .......... ..........................................................
Casters and pourers__________________ ____ ___________________
Chemists
...............................................................................
Chemists’ assistants_______________________________ _____ ____
Clerical office workers________________________________ _______
Clerical plant w ork ers......................................................................
Electrolytic tank operators____________________________________
Furnace operators_________________ ________ _________________
Furnace operators’ helpers___________ ________________________
20
65
19
10
13
20
11
71
98
13
.874
.855
1.040
.745
.785
.822
.860
.903
.842
.726
38 5
36.7
40.0
37.6
40.0
40.1
41.5
36.8
36.7
40.0
33.77
31.46
41.61
28.32
31.41
33.00
36.34
33.36
31.12
29.25
Occupation
Footnote at end of table.
39
SMELTING AND REFINING
T a b l e 28, — Hourly Earnings (Except Overtime), Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings
of Workers in the Electrolytic Production of Zinc,1 by Occupation, August 1941— Con.
Occupation
Average
total
weekly
earnings
Number
of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
23
121
51
28
32
55
33
39
329
13
59
36
10
22
12
84
10
26
$0,708
.721
.698
.876
.736
.807
.747
.737
.8*20
.899
.867
.753
.870
.792
.742
.842
,8u2
.724
34.2
38.0
34.9
39 6
39.8
39.5
37.8
37.8
37.0
40.6
40.2
40.3
40.0
41.1
38.7
38.2
39.8
38.6
Laborers, not elsewhere classified__ ____________ ________ _____
Laborers, process...__________________________________________
Laborers, yard____ ___________________________________________
Machine repairmen________ __________________________________
Machine repairmen helpers_______________________ —_____ ___
M ill operators, not elsewhere classified________________________
M ill operators’ helpers______________________ _________________
Ore and metal handlers_______________________________________
Other workers, not elsewhere classified________________________
Powerhouse workers _______________________ ____ ____________
Repairmen, not elsewhere classified_______ ___________________
Repairmen’s helpers, not elsewhere classified-___ _____________
Samplers____ ___________ _____________________________________
Screen and filter operators_________________________ *_________
Store room and warehouse workers____________________________
Strippers ___________________________________________________ _
Truck drivers______________ _____________________________ ____
W at chmen___________________________ ____ _______________ ;___
$24.22
27.42
24.34
35.16
29.39
32.28
28.54
27.89
30.45
36.77
35.51
30.48
34.81
33.26
' 28.70
32.45
32.34
28.38
1Includes 1 lead refinery.
Weekly Hours and Earnings
In the nonferrous-metal smelters, 58,5 percent of the labor force
worked exactly 40 hours during the week of the Bureau’s survey and
an additional 25.1 percent worked 48 or more hours per week (table
29). Almost three-quarters (74.8 percent) of those employed in the
nonferrous-metal refineries worked 40 hours weekly.
T a b l e 29.— Percentage Distribution of
Workers in Nonferrous-Metal Smelting and
Refining, by Weekly Hours Worked and by Region, August 1941
United
States
Northwest
Southwest
North
Central
South
Cen
tral
East
Actual weekly hours
Smelt Refin Smelt Refin Smelt Refin Smelt Refin Smelt Smelt Refin
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
Under 24............... ...............
24 and under 32....................
32 and under 36___________
36 and under 40....................
Exactly 40............................
Over 40 and under 44.........
44 and under 48...................
Exactly 48......................... —
Over 48 and under 56.........
56 and over........................
Total...........................
2.5
3.2
4.1
2.3
58.5
2.6
1.7
21.3
1.5
2.3
1.9
1.2
3.2
5.2
74.8
5.0
1.5
4.9
1.2
1.1
100.0 100.0
2.4
1.7
x 2.6
1.0
45.9
.9
1.4
38.6
1.0
4.5
1.4
.8
2.9
9.1
79.6
1.1
.8
4.0
.3
100.0 100.0
2.5
.9
1.9
.7
6.7
1.2
1.8
71.5
6.8
6.0
6.1
3.3
5.8
2.5
62.3
2.0
1.0
11.3
2.1
3.6
100.0 100.0
0.8
1.0
3.0
.5
65.7
13.6
2.0
4.8
3.5
5.1
3 1
2.6
7.3
2.0
67.5
3.9
4.0
7.8
.8
1.0
2.6
6.4
3.8
3.1
76.7
3.3
.7
1.8
1.2
.4
0.9
.8
2.5
5.2
77.9
6.4
1.8
3 .2
1 1
.2
100.0 100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.0
1.1
6.5
5-3
73.4
4.9
2.0
3.6
1.1
.1
The largest concentration of smelting workers in each region, with
the exception of the Southwest, worked 40 hours weekly. In south
western smelters, over four-fifths (84.3 percent) of the labor force
worked 48 or more hours weekly. In refineries a majority of the
workers in each region (ranging from 62.3 to 77.9 percent of each
regional group) worked 40 hours weekly.
Average total weekly earnings by branch of the industry varied
remarkably little, the lowest average being $30.52 in lead smelting
and the highest $34.70 in copper smelting (tables 23-28). Outstand
ing among the various occupational classes were the lead burners in
zinc and copper smelters, whose high wage rates and long hours of
work yielded averages in excess of $61.00 per week.
Part
III.— EA RN IN G S IN P R IM A R Y FA B R IC A TIO N OF
NONFERROUS M ETALS, AUGUST 1941
Primary Fabrication Processes
The term “ primary fabrication,” as employed in this discussion,
relates to the manufacture of metal shapes which are destined, for the
most part, to be used in further manufacture, either as raw materials
or as parts of other products. The industries included in this category
perform such operations as the following: alloying, rolling, drawing,
foregoing, extruding, ordinary casting—such as sand casting, per
manent mold casting, and die casting—and the manufacture of
machined castings, including bearings, bushings, and fittings. Estab
lishments engaged primarily in the secondary smelting and refining
of nonferrous metals are also included in this board segment of the
nonferrous-metals industry.
Nonferrous metals are delivered to the fabricating plants in stand
ard forms of slabs, ingots, bars, cakes, and billets. Some of these
are customarily melted, preparatory to fabrication; others are pre
heated. In many instances they are combined with other metals to
form alloys appropriate to the purpose for which the end-product will
be used. For example, copper and nickel are combined to form
cupro-nickel; arsenic is mixed with copper to form arsenic copper;
varying proportions of zinc and lead are combined with copper to
form a wide variety of brasses; tin, zinc, lead and aluminum are used
in combination with copper to form a variety of bronzes. In addi
tion, such alloys as antifriction-bearing metal, solder, and type metal
are produced in this segment of the industry. Some firms engage
primarily in alloying, and sell their alloys to foundries and other metal
working establishments. Others do their own alloying, casting, and
rolling.
In the production of nonferrous-metal sheets, plates, rods, tubes,
and wire, the mill processes characteristic of the iron and steel in
dustry have been adapted. The metal is generally cast into cakes
which are preheated in a furnace and then reduced in thickness by
uccessive passes through breakdown rolls and intermediate and
finishing rolls, until they are reduced to the required gauge. In
the manufacture of wire, bars of nonferrous metal are hot-rolled into
rods. The rods are then preheated and removed by conveyors to a
roughing mill. After successive passes through the breakdownintermediate-, and finishing-rolls, the greatly elongated bars emerge
and are automatically coiled. Wire is then produced from these
rods by drawing them through a series of successively smaller dies.
Tubes are produced either by the piercing of heated shapes or by ex
trusion. At all stages of the process the handling of heated metals,
immersion in aGid baths, and pickling are characteristic operations.
The other chief method of shaping nonferrous metals involves cast
ing. Castings are produced by a variety of methods, of which sand
40
PRIMARY FABRICATION
41
casting, permanent mold casting, and die casting are the outstanding
variants. The processes involved in sand casting include pattern
making, sand mixing, core making, melting and pouring, blasting the
core and removing the casting from the mold, and finishing. Mold
ing varies considerably with the nature of the castings produced.
Large castings, for special parts, are generally made on a unit-production basis. Castings of a standardized character are manufac
tured by rr.ass-production methods. Depending upon the complexity
of the castings and degree of standardization, the division of labor
varies considerably from plant to plant. Sand castings may be
made by hand or by machine or partially by hand and partially by
machine. Many establishments do not make their own patterns, but
merely cast according to a pattern supplied them by their customers.
Permanent-mold casting implies a considerable degree of standardi
zation because the mold is generally made of metal for the purpose of
duplicating a large number of castings of the same dimensions. In
addition, permanent-ir.old castings generally have a finer grain struc
ture and a smoother surface than sand castings and are relatively
free from the blowholes, sand holes, and surface “ scabs” that often
mar the latter. As a result, considerable labor is eliminated in the
finishing of the castings.
The most significant development in casting technique, from the
standpoint of mass production of relatively cheap and accurate
castings, has been the growth of die casting. One of the important
features of castings produced in this manner is the fact that they do
not require much machining. Die castings are produced by forcing
molten metal under uniform pressure into a steel die. Parts pro
duced by the process of die casting are generally more accurate and
less bulky than could be obtained by either sand- or permanent-mold
casting.
Depending upon the type of casting process and the purpose for
which the castings are used, various degrees of finishing are involved.
Some finishing operations are performed in foundries while others are
carried on in the plants which further fabricate the castings. Core
knockout, chipping, sawing, grinding, and polishing are normally
accomplished with standard tools developed for each purpose.
“ Gates” and “ risers” are removed by hand saws or mechanical
presses. Pneumatic chipping hammers are used to remove those
that cannot be readily sawed or sheared off. Abrasive wheels,
mounted on lathes, are used to rough-grind external surfaces; for
large castings, portable air-driven or electrically-driven tools are
employed for rough grinding. Tumbling sand castings of 50 pounds
or less in rotating barrels is another method of cleaning these prod
ucts. Sand or steel-grit blasting is also used to remove minor surface
roughness from castings. By “ pickling” the castings in weak acid
solutions, their surfaces are prepared for metal plating.
Some establishments, particularly the group which produces semi
finished castings such as valves, fittings, bearings and bushings,
engage in finishing operations which involve considerable machining.
In these plants many of the operations, in addition to casting, are
common to machine-shop practice. Thus, the range of operations
covered in this segment of the industry is very broad and includes
most of the metal-working processes.
42
WAGE STRUCTURE)— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
Characteristics of the Industry
The establishments included in the Bureau’s survey of the primary
fabrication of nonferrous-metal products fall within a number of
Census classifications included under the broad industrial group “ Nonferrous metals and their products.” As a background for the discus
sion of earnings in primary fabrication of nonferrous metals, the fol
lowing Census industrial classifications may be utilized: “ alloying” ;
“ rolling and drawing of nonferrous metals (except aluminum)” ; “ nonferrous metal foundries (except aluminum)” ; “ nonferrous metal prod
ucts, not elsewhere classified” ; and “ secondary smelting and refining
•of nonferrous metals.” Although no extensive coverage of aluminum
products was undertaken in this survey, it was not feasible to exclude
aluminum in all instances, because many foundries and other fabri
cating establishments were found to employ considerable proportions
of aluminum. Moreover, the survey included a few establishments
which engage primarily in the fabrication of aluminum. The processes
of the aluminum-fabrication plants are essentially similar to those of
plants using other metals, and from the standpoint of wage structure
the inclusion of these plants introduces no disturbing element.
There were, in 1939, about 1,500 establishments in the industrial
^categories covered by the Census. They employed 94,000 wage
earners and in terms of “ value added by manufacture,” there activities
were evaluated at $350,000,000. Employment and production rose
abruptly after the outbreak of the present war, however, and these
figures greatly understate the magnitude of the industry at the
present time.
S IZ E
OF
E S T A B L IS H M E N T
Small establishments predominate in the fabrication of nonferrous
metals. Three-fifths of the establishments engaged in the alloying,
rolling and drawing of nonferrous metals (except aluminum), in 1939,
employed fewer than 50 wage earners each. These small plants,
however, contributed only 8 percent of the industry’s total production
value. Of 600 nonferrous-metal foundries (excluding aluminum),
over 93 percent employed 50 wage earners or less in 1939. In contrast
with the branch of nonferrous-metal fabrication discussed above, this
category of small plants produced 55 percent of the dollar value of the
total foundry output in 1939. Almost nine-tenths of the plants fabri
cating nonferrous-metal products not elsewhere classified (plants
manufacturing bearings and bushings, die castings, finished castings,
forged and hot-pressed parts, fittings, spun ware, powder, and other
products) employed 50 employees or less in 1939, but accounted for
only 14 percent of the dollar value of the industry’s product. Over
three-fourths of secondary smelting and refining establishments em
ployed 50 wage earners or less in 1939, but produced only 27 percent
of the industry’s dollar value of output. On the other hand, there
are few large establishments in any branch of the nonferrous-metals
industry (excluding aluminum) which can compare in size with large
establishments in the steel and automobile industries.
In all the branches of the nonferrous-metal fabrication reviewed
Above, the majority of establishemts in 1939 were operated under
PRIMARY FABRICATION
43
some form of independent management. Less than half of the alloy
ing, rolling, and drawing plants were operated by central administra
tive offices controlling two or more plants. The corresponding pro
portions in other branches of nonferrous-metal fabrication were as
follows: 23 percent of secondary smelters; 10 percent of plants fabri
cating nonferrous-metal products, not elsewhere classified; and 8 per
cent of nonferrous-metal foundries. The majority of plants in each
of the branches were under corporate control in 1939. The propor
tion of total plants under such control varied from 52 percent of non
ferrous-metal foundries to 88 percent in alloying, rolling, and drawing
plants.
LOCATION OF THE INDUSTRY
Although the extraction sources of most of the nonferrous metals
are in the western part of the United States, the Atlantic coastal plain
and the immediate trans-Appalachian regions have long maintained
a dominant position in the primary fabrication of nonferrous-metal
products. Several factors account for the eastern location ol fabri
cating plants. Among these are the presence of smelters and refineries
in the East, the early development of the capital equipment necessary
for primary fabrication, and the convenient markets offered by the
highly industrialized population centers along the Atlantic Coast.
Fully 47 percent of the wage earners engaged in alloying, rolling, and
drawing nonferrous metals (except aluminum) were employed in three
New England States (Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island)
in 1939. An additional 27 percent of the labor force in this branch of
nonferrous-metal fabrication was employed in the Middle Atlantic
States. The East Central States accounted in 1939 for more than
half of the wage earners engaged in the secondary smelting and refining
of nonferrous metals. An additional 32 percent was employed in the
Middle Atlantic States.
THE LABOR FORCE
Labor requirements in the primary fabrication of nonferrous metals
as in other industries, are conditioned by the characteristic processes of
the various branches involved. It is feasible to discuss these processes
from the standpoint of the sequence of production operations. Thus,
in all branches of the industry the yard operations of loading and un
loading metal, scrap, and fuel involve hard labor. Frequently such
tasks must be accomplished with dispatch in order to make transpor
tation facilities available. Scrap sorting, baling, and cabbaging con
stitute an important phase of the operations in secondary smelters, as
well as in alloying, rolling, and drawing establishments and in found
ries. These processes are generally performed by magnetic-machine
operators, cabbaging-machine operators, cranemen, crane followers
and scrap sorters, and grinding-machine operators.
Both scrap and virgin metal are melted in a variety of furnaces by
furnace operators and their helpers. Metal mixers perform the alloy
ing processes under the guidance of trained technicians. Generally
the molten metals are cast into some special form for further processing.
Preheating of some shapes which require no further chemical treat
ment is performed by furnace opera tors and their helpers.
44
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
Processing operations vary considerably. They include all forms
of casting. Sand casting involves the highly skilled occupations of
pattern making, as well as such other skilled operations as core making,
mold making, and pouring. These operations may be performed by
one, two, or more persons in a small foundry, or they may be divided
into a sequence of specialized operations in larger foundries. In
permanent-mold and die-casting work, machine operators and helpers
possessing the dexterity and speed characteristic of repetitive massproduction operations are required. In alloying, rolling and drawing
plants, machine operators capable of adjusting and operating a variety
of specialized machines constitute a large proportion of the labor force.
For the most part, these machine operators are comparable with
semiskilled machine operators in machinery-manufacturing extablishments. The most skilled operations are those involved in rolling,
which require considerable experience and training. At various stages
during fabrication, the finished and semiprocessed metals require
heat-treating and annealing, which are performed by furnace operators
and their helpers.
Considerable variation also obtains in finishing operations. These
may be performed by all-round finishers, using a variety of grinding
and pickling operations, or by specialized workers. The occupational
groups involved in this work include grinders, polishers, chippers,
oxyacetylene operators, metal sawyers* and burrers. Pickling and
plating are frequently specialized operations. In addition, the prod
ucts moving from one stage of the production process to another must
be tested and inspected. Inspectors and testers vary from the most
skilled eir ployees, capable of using every metal-measuring instrument
in the skilled irachinist’s kit, to routine inspectors utilizing only one
measuring device.
In all stages of the processing, materials must be handled and moved.
Material handling and interprocess transportation require considerable
numbers of crane operators, hoist operators, motormen, hand truckers,
and tow-motor operators. This auxiliary equipment is also used in
substantial proportions in shipping and storing a variety of heavy
materials.
In addition to the employees performing the above processes,
other workers are engaged in the maintenance of power and plant.
Maintenance employees make minor repairs and installations in the
processing departments. There are also important maintenance
machine shops and tool rooms which make the dies, gauges, and other
tools for the mills. These tool-room employees are generally highly
skilled men and their experience is transferable from industry to
industry.
The labor force in this industry is composed predominantly of male,
white employees. Only in recent months have employers found it
necessary to fill some occupations with women. Female workers
are employed as inspectors in some of the finished-castings plants.
Over nine-tenths (91.7 percent) of the workers in plants surveyed
by the Bureau were white, other than Mexican (see table 30.) Negroes
formed 7.6 percent of the working force, and were concentrated mainly
in plants in the Middle Atlantic and East Central States. Mexicans
formed a negligible minority group in the mass of fabrication workers.
They were concentrated mainly in the Western States.
PRIMARY FABRICATION
T
able
45
30.— Composition of Labor Force in Primary Fabrication of Nonferrous Metals,
August 1941
W hite, other
than Mexican
R egion1
W ork
ers
Per
cent
All regions............................................... 60,496
91.7
New'England States_______ - ______
M iddle Atlantic States........................
Border States ________ . . . . . . . . . __
East Central States..............................
West Central States.............................
Southern States____________________
Western States......................................
95.8
92.0
92.0
91.9
76.7
69.6
85.8
11,868
14,225
3,147
26,833
1,826
507
2,090
Mexican
W ork
ers
Negro
Per
cent
489
0.7
31
142
.1
6.0
316
13.0
W ork
ers
Other
Per
cent
W ork
ers
5,021
7.6
516
1,244
274
2,331
409
221
26
4.2
8.0
8.0
8.0
17.2
30.4
1.1
Per
cent
6
(*)
1
3
<*>
0.1
2
.1
1 For regional classification, see footnote to table 32.
2 Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
Extent of Unionization
Several C. I. O. and A. F. of L. unions are engrged in organizational
activity in this industry. In the brass-milling branch the International
Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers (C. I. O.) has made impor
tant organizational gains recently. Some brass mills, notably in the
Middle West, have been organized by the International Association
of Machinists (A. F. of L.). In the casting industry, unionization is
carried on by the International M olded and Foundrymen’s Union
(A. F. of L.), by the Die Casters’ Union (C. I. O.), and to a more lim
ited extent by the United Automobile Workers (C. I. O.). Other
unions active in various branches of the industry include the United
Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers, the United Steel Workers,
and the Aluminum Workers of America.
In the primary-fabrication plants covered by the Bureau’s survey,
over three-fifths (65.6 percent) of the working force was employed in
plants covered by union agreements (table 31). Union coverage
ranged from a low of 27.5 percent of the workers in southern plants
to 96.1 percent of those in plants in the border States.
T
able
31.— Unionization in Primary Fabrication of Nonferrous Metals, August 1941
All workers
Workers in plants
covered b y
union agreements2
Workers in plants
not covered by
union agreements
R egion1
N um
ber
Per
cent
All regions__________________________________
66,012
New England States_______ . . . ______________
M iddle Atlantic States______________________
Border S ta tes___________ ___________________
East Central S ta tes_________________________
West Central States______________________ __
Southern States_____________________________
Western States______________________________
12,384
15,469
3,421
29,196
2,380
728
2,434
Number
Percent
Number
100.0
43,310
65.6
22,702
34.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
6,675
10,057
3,286
20,518
1,035
200
1,5&9
53.9
65.0
96.1
70.3
43.5
27.5
63.2
5,709
5,412
135
8,678
1,345
528
895
46.1
35.0
3.9
29.7
56.5
72.5
36.8
* For regional classification, see footnote to table 32.
2 Includes plants covered b y agreements with independent unions.
Percent
46
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
Scope and Method of Survey
The survey of the primary-fabricating branches of the nonferrousmetals industry was made on a sample basis. Approximately onefourth (based on the 1939 Census) of the plants in the foundry, diecasting, and other machine-products branches and one-half of those
engaged in alloying, rolling and drawing and secondary smelting were
covered in this survey. This difference in the porportion of plants
studied has necessitated the assignment of double weight, in tables
relating to earnings, to those branches studied on a 25-percent basis.
In order to assure that the. sample selected would be representative,
careful consideration was given to geographic location, size and cor
porate affiliation of establishment, type of metal fabricated, and form
of processing. Establishments employing fewer than 10 workers,
however, were not covered. These small plants accounted for only
a small proportion of the total employment in this segment of the
industry. The data were collected by trained field representatives
of the Bureau for a pay-roll period in August 1941. The information
obtained included detailed records of hours worked, total earnings,
sex and color designations for each employee, and occupational
descriptions.
The sample included 273 production units employing 49,232 wage
earners. Over two-fifths of the employees surveyed were employed
in the brass-milling industry and a substantial proportion of these (21.1
percent of the total number of workers covered) were in the New
England States. Foundries constituted the largest group from the
standpoint of the number of plants covered and the second largest
from the point of view of employment (table 32).
T
able
32.— Sample of Nonferrous -Metal Fabricating Plants Covered by Bureau's
Survey August 1941
,
Industry and region1
N um
ber of
Units work
ers
T otal_______________________________
273
49,232
Alloying, rolling and drawing plants.
Copper, brass and bronze............
N ew England States...............
M iddle Atlantic States..........
Other States.............................
Other metals...................................
New England States..............
U idd le Atlantic States..........
Border States......... .................
East Central States.................
Other States.............................
Foundries................................................
N ew England States......................
East Central States........................
68
28
12
7
0
40
3
13
6
13
5
126
12
48
28,482
22,228
10,408
6,460
5,360
6,254
281
1,025
2,831
1,673
444
8,691
515
4,557
Industry and region1
Foundries—Continued.
West Central States.....................
Southern States............................
Western States..............................
Other States...................................
Secondary smelters......... .....................
N ew England States....................
M iddle Atlantic States................
East Central States......................
Other States..................................
Machined-products plants (bearings,
bushings, valves, fittings, etc.)___
M iddle Atlantic States................
East Central States......................
Other States...................................
Die-casting plants................................
N um
ber of
Units work
ers
5
9
21
31
46
3
18
17
8
861
342
723
1,693
3,970
97
1,858
1,368
647
22
6
10
6
11
5,684
995
4,214
475
2,405
1 The N ew England region includes Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island; the M iddle Atlantic
region includes Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; the border region includes Kentucky,
Virginia, and West Virginia; the East Central region includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wis
consin; the West Central region includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Missouri: the Southern region in
cludes Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas; the Western region includes
California, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
N ote : In table 34 and all succeeding tables in this section, the number of workers in the foundry, die-cast
ing, and machined-products branches is doubled to compensate for differences in sampling proportions and
to accord these branches their prop ortionate weight in the industry.
47
PRIMARY FABRICATION
Method of Wage Payment
The predominant method of wage payment in the surveyed nonfer
rous-metal fabrication plants was based upon straight hourly rates.
Over seven-tenths (70.8 percent) of the total working force received
time rates (table 33). There was, however, some variation between,
the various branches of the fabrication industry in this respect.
Only 55.5 percent of the workers engaged in alloying, rolling, and
drawing copper, brass, and bronze were paid on a time basis. By
way of contrast, 95.9 percent of the workers in secondary smelters
were paid time rates.
T
able
33.— Distribution of Workers in Nonferrous Metal Fabrication Plants, by Method
of Wage Payment and Branch of Industry, August 1941
All workers
Tim e workers Piece workers Bonus workers
Branch
Num
ber
Per
cent
Num
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
Per
cent
N um
ber
<A11 branches........................................................
66,012
100.0
46,727
70.8
5,769
8.7
13,516
20.5
Alloying, rolling and drawing:
Copper, brass, and bronze........................
Otner nonferrous metals...........................
Foundries...........................................................
iSecou dary smelters............................................
Machined products...........................................
Die casting..........................................................
22,228
6,254
17,382
3,970
11,368
4.810
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
12.330
5.450
14,454
3.807
7.750
2.936
55.5
87.2
83.2
95.9
68.1
61.0
1,554
64
1,760
19
1,030
1,342
7.0
1.0
10.1
.5
9,1
27.9
8,344
740
1,168
144
2,588
532
37.5
11.8
6.7
3.6
22.8
11.1
Per
cent
Of the remaining portion of the working force more than onequarter (or 8.7 percent of the total) were paid by the piece. In each
branch of fabricating, with the exception of die casting, piece pay
ment was unimportant. In die casting, fully 27.9 percent of the labor
force were paid by the piece.
Slightly more than one-fifth (20.5 percent) of the total work force
in nonferrous-metal fabrication was paid on an incentive-bonus
basis. The greater part of this group was found in those plants
which were alloying, rolling, and drawing copper, brass, and bronze
products. In this section of nonferrous-metal fabrication, fully 37.5
percent of the workers were paid guaranteed daily rates, with bonus
rates offered for production in excess of standard performance.
Only 3.6 percent of the workers in secondary smelters, and 6.7 percent
of those in foundries, were paid on an incentive-bonus basis.
Hourly Earnings 1
Excluding overtime payments, average hourly earnings in primary
nonferrous-metal fabrication plants amounted to 79.5 cents in August
1941 (table 34). The corresponding averages in the various branches
of the industry ranged from 70.1 cents in secondary smelters to 88.7
cents in plants alloying, rolling, and drawing copper, brass and
bronze.
1Unless specifically indicated average hourly earnings in all instances exclude overtime payments.
48
WAGE STRUCTURE!— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
T a b l e 34 . — Percentage Distribution of Workers in Primary Fabrication of Nonferrous
Metals, by Average Hourly Earnings, and Branch, August 1941
Alloying, rolling,
and drawing—
Foun
dries
Sec
M a
ondary chined
smelt prod
ers
ucts
Diecasting
Total
Copper,
brass,
and
bronze
Under 40 c e n t s .............................................
40.0 and under 42.5 cents..............................
42.5 and under 45.0 cents..............................
45.0 and under 47.5 cents.............................
47.5 and under 50.0 cents..............................
50.0 and under 52.5 cents..............................
52.5 and under 55.0 cents..............................
55.0 and under 57.5 cents.............................
57.5 and under 60.0 cents..............................
60.0 and under 62.5 cents..............................
62.5 and under 65.0 cents..............................
65.0 and under 67.5 cents..............................
67.5 and under 70.0 cents.............................
70.0 and under 72.5 cents.............................
72.5 and under 75.0 cents..............................
75.0 and under 77.5 cents.............................
77.5 and under 80.0 cents..............................
80.0 and under 82.5 cents..............................
82.5 and under 85.0 cents..............................
85.0 and under 87.5 cents..............................
87.5 and under 90.0 cents..............................
90.0 and under 92.5 cents.............................
92.5 and under 95.0 cents..............................
95.0 and under 97.5 cents..............................
97.5 and under 102.5 cents............................
102.5 and under 107.5 cents..........................
107.5 and under 112.5 cents..........................
112.5 and under 117.5 cents..........................
117.5 and under 122.5 cents........................ .
122.5 and under 127.5 cents........................ .
127.5 cents and over......................................
1.3
1.2
.7
1.6
1.0
3.1
1.4
5.1
4.3
5.2
2.8
3.9
2.7
4.2
4.4
5.9
3.6
5.7
3.9
4.4
3.6
3.9
1.5
3.3
6.3
4.0
2.7
2.4
1.6
1.4
2.9
0.1
.2
.2
.4
.3
.7
.3
.7
.3
1.3
.7
1.4
1.8
3.2
5.5
8.4
6.1
9.4
6.0
6.8
5.6
6.0
2.7
4.6
9.6
5.0
3.3
2.3
2.0
1.2
3.9
T otal.....................................................
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Number of w orkers...................................... 66. 012
Average hourly earnings.......................... . $0. 795
Average hourly earnings (including extra
.845
payment for overtim e)_________ ______
22, 228
$0.887
6, 254
$0.744
17, 382
$0.729
3,970
$0. 701
11,368
$0.743
4,810
$0.885
.942
.792
.779
.732
.794
.924
Average hourly earnings
Other
nonferrous
metals
1.0
2.3
.5
1.9
.4
2.2
1.6
3.0
16.2
4.6
6.0
3.1
3.7
4.5
8.2
4.8
3.2
2.7
4.3
3.1
2.5
3.1
1.2
1.5
4.5
1.7
2.3
1.2
.7
1.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
1.3
2.8
1.6
5.8
2.0
9.4
6.1
8.7
2.5
5.0
2.0
4.4
2.2
4.3
1.5
3.4
1.2
3.1
1.7
3.0
.6
3.2
4.9
4.0
2.4
3.6
1.5
1.2
1.6
2.9
1.3
1.4
2.5
.8
6.5
2.0
6.0
4.9
4.5
7.2
6.7
5.2
3.6
7.0
6.7
4.3
4.3
4.5
2.9
3.6
2.0
1.3
.9
2.4
1.4
.8
.7
.2
.2
1.3
1.6
1.0
1.1
2.0
2.2
3.3
2.7
9.0
3.2
8.8
3.9
6.6
3.9
5.7
3.1
3.6
2.6
3.8
2.7
3.1
3.1
2.3
1.1
2.6
4.4
3.5
2.6
1.9
1.5
1.7
1.4
0.2
.5
.1
.5
1.0
1.9
.9
2.9
2.7
4.3
2.5
4.2
2.8
5.2
2.5
6.9
2.5
6.3
3.1
3.8
3.3
4.4
.9
3.6
6.7
5.5
3.1
3.0
3.2
3.5
8.0
When overtime payments are included, average hourly earnings
in all fabrication plants combined are increased by 5.0 cents. The
smallest increase resulting from overtime payments is 3.1 cents in
secondary smelters, and the largest was 5.5 cents in plants which were
alloying, rolling, and drawing copper, brass, and bronze products.
Earlier articles in this series have noted a marked tendency for
earnings in the mining and milling and in the smelting and refining
of nonferrous metals to concentrate about some point of central
tendency. This observation does not hold true for earnings in nonferrous-metal fabrication plants. It is doubtful, in fact, whether
many manufacturing industries will show greater dispersion of hourly
earnings.
Slightly over one-third (34.8 percent) of the workers in fabrication
plants earned 67.5 cents but under 87.5 cents per hour. A little
more than half (50.7 percent) of the workers in plants alloying, rolling,
and drawing copper, brass, and bronze earned 80.0 cents but under
102.5 cents per hour. In plants which processed other nonferrous
metals in similar manner, 51.1 percent of the workers earned 57.5
cents but under 77.5 cents per hour.
PRIMARY FABRICATION
49
Of the workers in nonferrous-metal foundries, 32.0 percent earned
50.0 cents but under 62.5 cents per hour; an additional 24.0 percent
received between 65.0 cents and 85.0 cents per hour; and still another
(18.1 percent) earned 95.0 cents but under 117.5 cents per hour.
Forty-five percent of the workers in secondary smelters earned 62.5*
cents but under 82.5 cents per hour. Less than two-fifths (38.2
percent) of the workers in plants which produced machined products
received 60.0 cents but under 80.0 cents per hour. In die-casting
plants, slightly more than three-tenths (31.2 percent) of the labor
force earned 75.0 cents but under 95.0 cents per hour, and an additional
26.3 percent earned 102.5 cents or more per hour.
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES
Straight-time hourly earnings showed wide regional variation.
Workers in southern fabrication plants averaged only 56.9 cents per
hour, whereas those working in plants in the New England States
earned an average of 87.4 cents per hour (table 35).
Over two-fifths (44.6 percent) of the workers in all fabrication
plants in the New England States earned 75.0 cents but under 95.0
cents per hour. In the Middle Atlantic States, 41.9 percent of the
workers received between 65.0 and 85.0 cents per hour. Only 28.2
percent of the workers in the border States received hourly earnings
in this range and an additional 25.4 percent received 57.5 cents but
under 60.0 cents per hour.
T
able
35.— Percentage Distribution of Workers in Primary Fabrication of Nonferrous
Metals, by Average Hourly Earnings and by Region,1 August 1941
Average hourly earnings
Under 40 cents........ .............................
40.0 and under 42.5 cents.....................
42.5 and under 45.0 cents.....................
45.0 and under 47.5 cents.....................
47. 5 and under 50.0 ccnts___________
50.0 and under 52.5 cents.....................
52.5 and under 55.0 cc n ts....................
55.0 and under 57.5 ccn ts....................
57.5 and under 60.0 cents.....................
60.0 and under 62.5 cents.....................
62.5 and under 65.0 cents __________
65.0 and under 67.5 cents.....................
67.5 and under 70.0 cents.....................
70.0 and under 72.5 cents.....................
72.5 and under 75.0 cents.....................
75.0 and under 77.5 cents.....................
77.5 and under 80.0 cen ts....................
80.0 and under 82.5 cents....................
82.5 and under 85.0 cents
________
85.0 and under 87.5 ccnts.....................
87.5 and under 90.0 cents.....................
90.0 and under 92.5 cents.....................
92.5 and under 95.0 cents
________
95.0 and under 97.5 cents.....................
97.5 and under 102.5 cents...................
102.5 and under 107.5 cents..................
107.5 and under 112.5 cents..................
112.5 and under 117.5 cents..................
117.5 and under 122.5 cents..................
122.5 and under 127.5 cents..................
127.5 cents and over..............................
T otal.............................................
Number of workers..............................
Average hourly earnings......... ...........
Average hourly earnings (including
extra payment for overtim e)______
Total
New
Eng
land
States
1.3
1.2
.7
1.6
1.0
3.1
1.4
5.1
4.3
5.2
2.8
3.9
2.7
4.2
4.4
5.9
3.6
5.7
3.9
4.4
3.6
3.9
1.5
3.3
6.3
4.0
2.7
2.4
1.6
1.4
2.9
0.2
.4
.1
.4
.3
.9
.4
1.9
1.2
2.6
1.1
2.6
2.1
4.3
4.7
6.1
6.6
8.0
4.7
6.3
4.8
5.7
2.4
4.3
9.5
4.7
3.7
2.8
2.0
1.6
3.6
1.0
1.2
1.1
2.7
1.5
4.8
1.5
4.0
2.5
4.2
2.8
4.5
3.0
4.2
6.8
8.6
4.3
6.2
4.3
4.3
3.3
3.4
1.4
2.9
5.3
2.8
1.5
1.6
1.2
1.1
2.0
1.6
1.3
1.0
.6
1.2
1.1
1.9
.3
25.4
3.0
3.4
2.3
1.3
2.7
7.0
3.3
3.2
1.8
6.6
3.0
2.0
5.4
1.7
1.3
4.2
2.0
3.0
1.5
.9
2.0
4.0
1.1
1.0
.6
1.2
1.1
2.9
1.6
7.3
3.8
6.7
3.5
4.4
2.7
4.3
2.8
5.0
2.6
5.1
3.4
4.1
3.7
3.5
1.3
3.3
6.2
4.7
3.0
2.7
1.8
1.6
3.0
2.3
5.8
2.6
5.5
1.9
5.7
4.7
5.4
8.9
8.2
3.1
4.5
2.2
4.0
2.1
3.9
.9
4.2
3.0
2.8
1.7
1.5
.5
1.6
3.7
3.7
1.3
2.5
.7
.4
.7
28.8
10.5
1.9
8.9
.3
8.4
.5
5.2
.8
1.9
3.3
1.1
1.9
.8
1.6
1.1
2.5
1.9
1.1
6.6
1.4
5.8
.5
.5
1.1
1.1
.5
West
ern
States
1.0
.9
.7
.8
.3
4.7
.3
7.7
4.2
9.4
2.2
3.4
5.5
5.5
5.3
6.6
1.3
5.2
1.4
3.0
1.5
3.4
.5
5.3
4.1
2.8
2.3
3.9
2.1
1.0
3.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
66,012
$0.795
12,384
$0,874
15,469
$0.770
3,421
$0,764
29,196
$0.794
2,380
$0,678
728
$0.569
2,434
$0,785
$0.845
$0.935
$0.825
$0,830
$0.839
$0,703
$0,604
$0,808
100.00
1 For regional classification, see footnote to table 32.
M iddle
West South
A t
Border East
ern
lantic States Central Central
States
States
States
States
50
WAGE STRUCTURE*— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
Less than one-third (31.0 percent) of the labor force in fabrication
plants situated in the East Central States earned 70.0 cents but under
90.0 cents per hour. In the West Central States, over two-fifths
(42.7 percent) of the workers received 50.0 cents but under 70.0
cents per hour.
The distribution of workers’ hourly earnings in southern fabrication
plants explains the low average noted previously for this region. Over
one-fourth (28.8 percent) of the workers in plants in Southern States
earned less than 40.0 cents per hour and an additional 36.5 percent
received 40.0 cents but under 60.0 cents per hour. In the Western
States, almost two-fifths (39.2 percent) of the working force earned
60.0 cents but under 80.0 cents per hour.
OCCUPATIONAL EARNINGS
Almost half of the workers in the plants alloying, rolling, and draw
ing products of copper, brass, and bronze were found in the New Eng
land States. In this area, occupational earnings ranged from a low
average of 66.9 cents per hour for learners to a high of $1,334 for chief
clerks (table 36). Furnace operators received $1,307 per hour in this
region, $1,253 in the Middle Atlantic States, and $1,357 in other
States. Average hourly earnings for wire-drawing operators ranged
from 89.5 cents in the New England States to $1,074 in the Middle
Atlantic States.
T
a b l e 36.— Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings in Alloying,, Rolling,,
and Drawing Copper, Brass, and Bronze, by Occupation and by Region,1 August 1941
New England States
Occupation
Bee footnotes at end of table.
Other States
Aver Aver
Aver
Aver
Aver Aver Aver
age
Aver
age
Aver
age
age
age
age
age
total
age
total
age
total
hourly weekly weekly hourly weekly weekly hourly weekly weekly
earn hours earn earn hours earn earn
ings
ings hours earn
ings
ings
ings
ings
All occupations...................................... $0.896
Annealers and heat treaters.................
Helpers.............................................
Apprentices__________________ _____
Baling and briquetting operators.......
Bricklayers.............................................
Carpenters...............................................
Catchers...................................................
Chief clerks
_____ - ______ . __ ___
Coilers, sheets.........................................
Crane operators......................................
D ie setters. .............................................
D u m m y blockm en................................
Electricians.............................................
Engine-lathe operators.........................
Extrusion-press operators....................
Helpers.............................................
Foremen and assistants, working___
Furnace operators..................................
H e lp e rs ..........................................
Furnace operators, preheating............
Helpers.............................................
Gaugers..................... ......................
Grinding-machine operators................
Inspectors................................................
Janitors....................................................
Laborers...................................................
Learners...................................................
Loaders and unloaders..........................
M iddle Atlantic
States
.926
.849
.681
.908
.973
.950
1.101
1.334
.884
.891
.938
.908
.994
.952
1.002
.863
1.052
1.307
1.099
.979
(2)
.908
.865
.853
.741
.792
.669
.837
44.7 $42.93 $0.847
47.1
44.5
44.6
45.5
51.8
48.4
48.1
45.8
40.6
46.0
40.6
42.8
53.9
47.2
42.9
43.3
48.8
45.0
42.1
40.8
(2)
42.2
45.6
45.4
46.5
45.2
44.7
45.4
47.62
40.84
33.60
45.72
57.69
50.93
58.28
64.67
36.89
44.51
40.28
42. 41
62.46
48.65
46.22
39.71
56.45
63.06
48.48
43.06
(2)
39.74
42.11
41.28
38.00
38.46
32.10
40.50
44.6 $40.39 $0.917
42.0
$39.86
.847
.772
.653
.816
(2)
.953
.804
44.3
43.2
49.4
47.7
(2)
44.9
39.9
39.98
35.32
35.49
42.52
(2)
45.05
32.70
.899
.803
(2)
.927
.991
.968
.844
44.2
42.6
(2)
42.0
42.7
46.2
38.1
41.67
35.59
(2)
40.21
44.26
47.77
32.23
.893
.895
.965
(2)
1.019
.933
.954
.669
1.019
1.253
1.139
.929
.896
.825
.756
.825
.721
.753
.630
.723
44.0
46.3
42.3
(2)
49.1
48.8
41.3
41.8
46.5
46.6
47.6
41.0
43.4
41.6
40.2
44.6
42.9
43.4
41.0
43.9
41.65
44.83
42.65
(2)
55.10
50.56
40.62
29.38
51.25
62.97
58.87
39.80
41.12
35.62
30.49
39.24
32.69
34.65
27.58
33.70
.945
.950
1.007
.984
1.032
.780
1.154
.996
1.095
1.357
.982
1.066
1.005
.836
.820
.850
.788
.807
.793
.824
40.8
43.5
40.7
40.2
47.6
41.4
40.3
39.4
44.5
44.9
45.2
39.8
41.0
41.0
45.4
40.8
41.2
41.0
41.5
42.3
39.48
41.28
41.76
39.84
53.29
34.19
46.89
39.39
51.38
64.63
47.21
43.10
42.39
34.95
39.59
35.60
33.73
33.95
33.81
35.99
51
PRIMARY FABRICATION
T a b l e 36.— Hourly Earnings. Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings in Alloying, Rolling,
and Drawing Copper, Brass, and Bronze, fry Occupation and by Region,1August 1941—
Continued
N ew England States
Occupation
Machine repairmen_________________
.................
Maintenance workers, not elsewhere
classified__________________________
Helpers________________ _______ _
Millwrights......... .................... .............
Oilers .............. ............................. ........
Office workers, not elsewhere classi
fied_________________ _____________
Other plant workers, not elsewhere
classified__________________________
Painters____________________________
Picklers.____ _______________________
Pipe fitters_________________________
Pourers_______ _____________________
Powerhouse engineers_______________
Powerhouse firemen________________
Power-press operators......... .................
R od and tube draw bench operators.
Helpers________________________
Rod and tube pointing operators
Rod-straightener operators .................
Rollers, not elsewhere classified..........
Rollers, breakdown and rundown___
Rollers, finishing___________________
Rollers, helpers_____________________
Sawfilers___________________________
Saw operators______________________
Helpers......... ..................... ..............
Scalping-machine operators_________
Scrap handlers_____ ______ _________
Scrapmen, extruding.................. .........
Set-up m en .............................. ..............
Shear operators_____ _______________
Sheet straighteners_________________
Shipping clerks_____________________
Helpers............. ..............................
Slitting-machine operators...................
Stickers__________ _________ _______
Store and stock-room keepers.............
Strand men_____ ___________________
Tinners....... ...........................................
Tool and die makers............. ...............
Truckers, hand_____________________
________ ___________
T ube straighteners_________________
Watchmen_________________________
Weighers.................................................
Welders and brazers________________
Wire drawing operators___ _________
Helpers.............................................
M iddle Atlantic
States
Other States
Aver
Aver Aver
Aver
Aver Aver
Aver
age
Aver
Aver
age
age
age
age
age
age
total
age
total
age
hourly weekly weekly hourly
hourly weekly total
weekly
weekly
weekly
earn hours earn earn
earn
earn
hours earn
ings
ings hours
ings
ings
ings
ings
49.2 $55.30 $0,959
$1.001
.789
43.93
Helpers.49.5 .....................
.790
.939
.791
973
.850
49.3
49.9
49.6
48.4
52.28
44.90
53.70
45.66
.772
44.7
36.50
43.4 38.51
.840
.872
50.7 50.19
,880
42.6 39.03
.950
50.8 55.87
1.159
38.6 47.28
1.039
50.8 59.08
.888
45.8 43.19
.906
43.3 41.75.
.925
44.6 43.83
45.9 41.97
.847
.895
44.8 42.76
.882
41.9 38.59
1.002
42.8 44.84
1.153
41.4 49.98
40.6 49.05
1.199
41.0 34.98
.811
.832
46.2 41.36
.891
45.2 43.18
.831
45.8 40.98
.872
40.9 37.38
.838
45.2 40.51
.982
36.8 37.89
45.2 44.67
.929
.892
45.3 43.84
.949
42.3 41.36
.872
44.7 41.40
.821
43.6 37.87
.944
41.2 40.46
41.3 38.44
.898
45.4 40.02
.820
.885
38.2 36.48
.862
41.2 37.65
.975
46.2 48.51
.721
43.5 33.23
.883
Truckers,
m otor
44.32
46.1
.942
43.6 46.92
.810
45.8 40.28
.856
44.1 39.85
.914
45.9 46.16
.895
43.3 40.72
.783
44.7 37.09
.921
.797
.885
.806
49.7 $53.35 $1.057
45.7 39.20
.798
46.4
43.3
$52.79
36.12
.953
.833
.989
.829
45.1
43.8
46.3
43.9
45.76
38.51
49.14
38.21
47.5
46.1
45.5
46.9
48.23
39.96
43.95
41. 80
.730
43.5
33.19
.775
40.9
32.33
.789
.850
.859
1.017
1.350
1.021
.872
.851
.958
.830
.909
.876
1.015
1.070
1.022
.815
.834
.881
.816
38.28
45.76
42.13
55.47
65.34
45.37
37.87
42.43
41.35
33.66
39.30
33.82
52.14
52.10
50.06
42.82
44.28
37.62
35.60
(2)
41.11
33.98
52.19
38.34
45.27
45.28
33.73
36.02
43.20
38.87
.878
41.2
37.21
.923
1.031
.814
.815
.924
.778
.833
.936
1.074
43.6
43.9
48.8
47.3
37.9
42.0
47.3
47.8
44.7
42.85
47.49
43.63
41.79
35.49
33. 76
42.89
48.85
50.70
.879
.978
(2)
(2)
.904
.850
.955
.746
.892
.874
.823
1.234
1.106
.974
.825
.919
.839
(2)
.864
1.158
.949
.847
.973
.866
. £05
.978
1.044
.887
.964
.880
1.116
.777
.922
.985
.733
.841
.921
.898
.918
39.6
49.2
(2)
(2)
43.8
36.9
40.5
40.9
41.1
39.1
47.5
41.5
42.3
41.7
41.7
41.7
40.3
(2)
45.6
41.8
42.3
42.4
41.4
42.4
39.4
37.5
44.3
44.0
39.9
42.2
41.9
40.7
41.6
39.6
46.7
44.0
45.4
42.9
41.5
35.44
53.49
(2)
(2)
41.23
31.45
39.06
31.08
37.37
34.18
42.46
52.57
48.43
41.76
35.80
39.40
34.70
(2)„
.817
.891
.972
.874
.871
.900
.784
.796
.937
.861
45.1
48.9
45.6
48.6
45.7
43.0
41.8
46.2
41.3
39,1
41.5
37.9
47.3
45.1
45.6
48.0
48.3
41.1
41.1
(2)
46.6
36.8
48.3
42.2
47.7
46.8
41.3
43.0
43.2
42.6
50.00
41.29
37.17
41.47
37.77
32.18
37.52
48.85
41.05
38.49
38.65
48.61
32.56
39.59
40.08
35.91
36.97
44.88
40.30
39.40
i For regional classification, see footnote to table 32.
* Number of workers too small to justify computation of average.
More than two-fifths of the workers in plants which processed other
nonferrous metals in similar manner were in the border States. In
this region, occupational earnings spanned a range from 47.5 cents per
hour for office machine operators to $1,384 for stickers (table 37).
Average hourly earnings for laborers ranged from 60.0 cents in the
border States to 64.8 cents in the East Central States. The corre
sponding range for rollers extended from 63.2 cents in States not
classified as to region, to 99.8 cents in the East Central States.
52
WAGE STRUCTURE*— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
T a b l e 37. — Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings in Alloying, Rollingr
and Drawing Miscellaneous Nonferrous Metals,
1941
Occupation and RegionAugust
M iddle Atlantic States
Occupation
All occupations Annf'fllpi's
____ - _________
H elp ers___________________________________
Assemblers and finishers
B ookkeepers__________________________________
Box makers ________________ - _____ - _________
Carpenters __________________________________
Catchers _____________________________________
Clerical, plant_________________________________
Die m a k ers ___________________________________
Electricians __________________________________
Extrusion-press op era tors_____________________
Helpers __________________________________
Foremen and assistant foremen, proccss,
working
_________________________________
Foremen, labor, working................ ............ ............
Furnace operators
_________ - ______________
Aver
age
hourly
earn
ings
Aver
age
weekly
hours
Aver
age
total
weekly
earn
ings
Aver
age
hourly
earn
ings
$0,715
43.9
$33.22
$0,774
44.6
$37.70
.918
.692
.951
42. 5
45. 7
40.8
41.07
34.48
39.27
.699
1.008
.776
.687
1.264
1.131
.805
.586
39.6
41. 5
40. 5
40.1
47.3
42.7
51.7
46.4
27.71
43.15
33.27
27.86
72.04
51.87
50.17
30.67
1.033
.746
.691
1.020
.761
.739
.664
.600
.635
.795
1.102
.758
(2)
46.6
46.4
45.7
42.8
45.3
42. 5
44.9
47.5
47.6
52.6
42.8
40.6
(2)
53.06
38.06
36.12
46.00
37.38
32.84
32.20
32.47
34.49
51.95
50.01
31.39
(2)
.736
1.079
.787
.812
.475
.827
.830
.637
.899
1.133
.676
39.1
48.6
43.1
41.7
39.1
49.1
39.5
48.1
39.4
50.4
46.5
28.74
61.58
37.19
35.09
18. 56
46.78
32.77
34.66
35.43
69.09
36.33
.674
.954
.871
.686
.881
.601
.711
.615
.860
.737
.587
48.7
41.1
40.7
44.5
45.4
49.0
46.9
48.6
46.0
45.8
47.1
39.03
39.65
36.38
33.56
44.31
34.19
37.05
34.78
43.65
37.14
31.63
.687
.787
.649
(2)
.780
.818
.532
1.384
.742
.749
.983
(2)
.672
.698
50.5
46.2
44.3
(2)
47.6
41.2
39.0
36.0
42.3
31.6
44.1
<2)
47.7
47.8
39.89
40.00
31.57
(2)
41.66
35.61
20.72
49.83
32.28
32.50
47.14
(2)
36.36
36.50
.620
.796
(2)
(2)
45.8
41.1
(2)
(2)
30.68
33.35
(2)
(2)
.672
(2)
(2)
.725
.523
40.5
(2)
(2)
44.2
39.5
27.69
(2)
(2)
33. 58
21.74
.915
45.7
44.08
.799
48.9
42. 55
.747
37.
58.
47.0
(2)
(2)
(2)
Helpers __________________________________
(2)
(2)
(2)
Inspectors
- .790
48.6
41.86
Janitors __________________________ - __________
*(2)
(2)
(2)
Laborers _____________________________________
.623
28.38
43.4
Loaders and un loaders________________________
23.92
.588
38.6
Machinists’ h e lp e rs___________________________
(2)
(2)
(2)
Maintenance workers, not elsewhere classified. .
42.32
.920
44.1
H elp ers_____________________________ _____
.719
44.6
34.00
Mechanics ___________________________________
M e lte rs _______________________________________
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
Metallurgists__________________________________
(2)
(2)
Millwrights _________________________________
H elp ers___________________________________
49.1
Miscellaneous plant workers___________________
. 691
30.33
Office-machine operators............. - ..........................
(2)
(2)
(2)
Oilers, plant m ach in ery_______________________
(2)
(2)
(2)
Other clerical workers
______________________
(2)
(2)
(2)
Packers _____________________________________
.598
42.4
26.68
Pickling and w ash in g_________________________
Plant-machinery repairmen____________________
1.092
46.7
55. 76
P ourers_______________________________________
30.05
.655
43.7
Pouring and casting workers, not elsewhere
classified.------------ -----------------------------------------(2)
Power house workers, not elsewhere classified...
(2)
Press operators, forming, die casting___________
(2)
(2)
(2)
Punch-press operators............ ................................
.593
28. 67
44.8
43. 57
Rollers . ____________________________________
.857
47.0
H elp ers ___________________________________
27.81
.510
49.6
Saw op erators________________________________
(2)
(2)
(2)
Helpers _________________ ___________ ____
Scalping-machine operators....................................
Helpers ............. ............ .....................................
Scrap handlers___ ____ _____________ ______ ___
Scrap-processing workers, not elsewhere classi
fied-..........................................................................
(2)
<2)
<*>
Shear operators________________________________
.728
39.0
29.46
H e lp e rs ___________________________________
Shipping c le r k s _______________________________
.747
44.4
35.14
.669
44.7
31.80
_______ _____ _______________
Shipping workers.
Slitting- and shearing-machine operators_______
.653
44.5
30.85
.619
38.4
23.84
Stenographers__________________ ____ _________
Stickers ............................................. ...................
39.73
Stock clerks
. ________________ ______ _____
.823
45.9
Straightening workers........................... .................
T ool and die workers, not elsewhere classified—.
(2)
(2)
(2)
36.19
T ruck drivers __________________________ ____
.807
43.0
Truckers, m ech a n ica l_________________________
(2)
<2)
(2)
......................... ...................................
.551
43.2
Watchmen
25.56
8
See footnotes at end of table.
Border States
8
Aver
age
weekly
hours
Aver
age
total
weekly
earn
ings
PRIMARY FABRICATION
T
53
37.— Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings in Alloying, Rolling
and Drawing Miscellaneous Nonferrous Metals, by Occupation and Region,1 August
1941— Continued
able
East Central States
Occupation
All occupations .
Annealers....................................................................
Helpers.................- ..............................................
Assemblers and finishers.........................................
Bookkeepers...............................................................
Box makers................................................................
Carpenters..................................................................
Catchers ...................................................................
Clerical, plant...........................................................
D ie makers.................................................................
Electricians.................................................................
Extrusion-press operators........................................
Helpers........................ ......... .......... ............ —
Foremen and assistant foremen, process,
working.................................................- ...............
Foremen, labor, working.......................................
Furnace operators....................................................
Furn acemen, preheating.........................................
Helpers.................................................................
Inspectors...................................................................
Janitors......................................................................
Laborers......................................................................
Loaders and unloaders.............................................
Machinists' helpers...... ........................................
Maintenance workers, not elsewhere classified..
Helpers.................................................................
Mechanics................................................................. .
M elters........... - ....................................................... Metallurgists.............................................................
Millwrights.................... ..........................................
H elp ers...............................................................
Miscellaneous plant workers..................................
Office-machine operators........................................Oilers, plant machinery...........................................
Other clerical workers..............................................
Packers
_________ _____ ______________ ___ _
Pickling and washing.............................................
Plant-machinery repairmen.................................. .
Pourers-------------------------------- ---------- ...................
Pouring and casting workers, not elsewhere
classified..................................................................
Powerhouse workers, not elsewhere classified....
Press operators, forming, die casting................... .
Punch-press operators............................................
Rollers......... ..............................................................
Helpers................................................................
Saw operators...........................................................
H elp ers.................... ........................................
Scalping-machine operators...................................
Scrap handlers............................... .......................... .
Scrap-processing workers, not elsewhere classi
fied.......................................................................... .
Shear operators........................................................
Helpers............................................................... .
Shipping clerks..........................................................
Shipping workers......................................................
Slitting- and shearing-machine operator............. .
Stenographers............................................................
Stickers.................................................................. .
Stock clerks......... ......................................................
Straightening w orkers...........................................
T ool and die workers, not elsewhere classified..
T ru ck drivers....... ....................................................
Truckers, mechanical.............................................
W atchm en...................._............................................
Aver
age
total
weekly
earn
ings
Aver
age
hourly
earn
ings
40.2
10. S3
$0.656
41.7
18.44
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.681
(2)
(2)
<2)
(2)
.800
.760
(2)
(2)
(2)
44.5
(2)
(2
)
32.02
(2)
(2)
(2)
46.3
40.2
.557
(2)
.630
.192
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.732
(2)
(2)
41.1
1.038
Aver
age
hourly
earn
ings
Aver
age
weekly
hours
$0.748
(2)
.783
(2)
1.025
(2)
.779
.625
.648
.695
(2)
.788
.653
.946
.732
(2)
(*)
.701
(2)
(2)
.771
.597
(2)
.901
.902
(2)
43.4
<*)
(2)
41.3
41.4
(2)
(2)
(2)
(*>
(2)
8
(2)
(2)
(2)
40.7
36.5
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
43.1
(2)
(2)
.748
41.7
.482
.689
.824
35.8
43.7
(2)
(2)
.751
.718
.785
.679
45.4
41.1
40.9
38.5
46.0
36.38
30.52
32.45
26.17
45.13
(2)
!2)
:2)
:2>
38.6
45.1
(2:
8
30.14
27.72
43.52
32.63
(2)
16.58
(2)
25.28
21.47
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
33.80
(2)
32.26
(2)
(2)
17.27
31.41
37.75
41.76
(2)
$
.632
45.0
43.0
30.15
31.64
.570
41.8
(2)
(*)
(2)
(2)
37.97
(2)
( 2)
(2
)
38.3
53.6
39.4
(*>
35.3
38.0
42.4
41.6
(2)
.760
(2
)
47.8
(2)
(2)
(2)
.783
(2)
.629
.757
.998
.812
(a)
38.9
39.5
( 2)
23.93
( 2)
24.54
23.54
( 2)
.752
42.3
36.2
<2)
42.6
45.1
(2)
( 2)
(2)
41.4
(2)
41.8
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
weekly
hours
Aver
age
total
weekly
earn
ings
(2
)
42.4
.600
.569
(2)
(2)
Aver-
(2)
.749
(2)
(2)
.426
39.8
39.1
38.1
38.0
(2>
40.1
41. 5
42.1
45.2
(2)
* For regional classification, see footnote to table 32.
' N um ber of workers too small to justify computation of average.
Other States
(2)
(2)
(2)
.534
.735
.656
(2)
(2)
(2)
.765
44.8
36.04
(2)
(2)
(2)
54
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
Over half of the workers in nonferrous metal foundries were in the
East Central States. Occupational earnings in this region ranged
from a low average of 45.5 cents per hour for watchmen to a high of
$1,195 for pattern makers (table 38).
T
able
38.— Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings of Workers in Nonferrous-Metal Foundries, by Occupation and RegionAugust 1941
New England States
East Central States
West Central States
Aver
Aver
Aver Aver
Aver
age
age
Aver
age
age
age
total
total
age
hourly weekly weekly hourly weekly weekly
earn
earn
earn
earn
hours
hours
ings
ings
ings
ings
AverAver
Aver
age
age
age
total
hourly weekly weekly
earn
earn
hours
ings
ings
A ll occupations......................
$0,725
Apprentices............................
Assemblers________________
Bookkeepers...........................
C arp en ters.._____ ________
Casting cleaners...................
Chippers.......... .......................
Cor^ cleaners
___________
Core-oven tenders ________
Core p a sters______ _______
Coremakers, hand and ma
chine...... ....................... —
Helpers....... .....................
Crane operators..... ................
Drill-press operators_______
Encine-lathe operators_____
Filers _______ __ ____ - .
Foremen and assistant fore
men, working......................
Furnace operators.................
Helpers.............................
Grinder operators..................
Heat treators ____________
Inspectors and testers...........
Janitors...... .............................
Laborers..... ............ ................
Lathe operators, other ___
Learners, not elsewhere clas
sified.....................................
Machine repairmen________
Maintenance workers, not
elsewhere classified............
Helpers.............................
___________
Millwrights
Molders, apprentices............
B ench...............................
Floor............... .................
Hand and machine........
Helpers.............................
Learners......... .................
Office clerical workers...........
Other foundry workers.........
Patten makers, wood and
metal........... ............ ............
Plant clerical workers ..........
Polishers and buffers
___
Pourers_________ __________
Helpers............................
Sandblast operators...............
Sand conditioners_________
Saw operators.........................
Shake-out men.......................
Shipping workers..................
Store and stock keepers____
Timekeepers...........................
T ool and die maker**
Truck and tractor drivers...
Truckers, h a n d ___________
Turret-lathe operators__ __
W atchmen..............................
Welders...................................
(2)
(2)
(3)
(2)
.619
(2)
(2)
W
49.9
(2)
(2)
(2)
34.68
(2)
.932
(2)
(2)
48.9
W
(2)
49.67
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.764
.622
.596
(2)
48.1
48.5
47.4
(2)
40.31
33.36
30.47
(2)
(2)
.567
(2)
(2)
43.2
(2)
(2)
26.06
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
45.7
42.7
44.4
44.0
(2)
(2)
50.2
Occupation
.968
1.058
.781
.593
(2)
(2)
.673
See footnotes at end of table.
45.3
$0.743
44.9
$35.65
$0,690
.575
.823
.783
.819
.607
.725
.615
.627
.729
43.5
46.1
39.9
39.2
42.1
51.9
40.3
53.3
49.4
26.18
40.49
31.71
33.72
26.83
41.71
25.34
37.64
39.01
00
00
(2)
.880
37.4
33.05
.684
(2)
(2)
(2)
50.0
(2)
00
(2)
37.31
(2)
(2)
(2)
.911
.647
00
00
(2>
.665
42.1
45.4
00
m
(2)
48.8
40.17
31.52
00
(2)
00
35.86
.825
.480
00
(2)
.816
41.9
39.3
(2)
00
40.7
35.71
19.03
(2)
(2)
34.70
.993
.712
.623
.657
.711
.684
.673
.602
.999
47.4
47.8
47.8
44.2
45.8
47.9
40.8
45.7
36.9
51.27
37.02
32.79
30.81
35.34
35.74
28.56
29.81
37.19
.873
.615
.543
.555
43.9
44.1
41.6
45.7
39.46
28.80
23.61
27.35
.614
(2)
.571
(2)
40.0
(2)
43.1
(2)
26.22
00
26.17
00
(2)
(2)
.795
.916
37.4
47.6
30.32
47.58
(2)
(2)
00
(2)
(2)
00
(2)
(2)
00
00
46.79
49.33
36.79
27.77
(2)
(2)
36.93
.821
,732
.698
(2)
.980
1.072
.908
.660
(2)
. 558
.732
48.5
43.0
62.3
(2)
42.5
39.9
43.6
44.4
00
39.6
40.6
43.60
32.88
51.14
(2)
43.09
43.38
42.08
31.29
(2)
22.35
30.59
(2)
(2)
(2)
00
<2>
(2)
(2)
.858
1.051
.835
.566
(2)
.661
.744
00
42.8
45.6
41.8
42.3
00
40.0
41.8
(2)
38.14
51.06
36.18
24.90
oo
26.42
32.03
00
(2)
1.195
.679
.663
.792
.619
.773
.634
.726
.656
.617
.666
.591
1.030
.732
.611
.647
.455
.705
44.0
43.0
47.8
38.8
53.0
47.7
49.3
47.3
47.1
45.6
45.0
51.4
47.8
45.1
50.0
52.5
51.9
48.9
55.87
30.62
34.54
31.35
37.29
40.25
34.17
37.19
33.66
30.77
31.58
36.18
53.32
35.50
34.19
38.40
26.01
37.97
00
.668
(2)
40.1
00
26.90
(2)
00
(2)
.514
(2)
.492
.715
ft
(a)
(2)
00
(2)
44.2
00
46.0
43.6
(2)
00
(2)
(2)
(2)
24.23
00
24.22
32.62
00
(2>
.690
.546
.753
.551
(2)
42.2
40.7
41.2
48.5
00
29.54
23.87
31.78
28.10
(2)
$35.22
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.591
(2)
(2)
42.7
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
26.72
(*)
(2)
42.6
$30.69
55
PRIMARY FABRICATION
T
38.— Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings of Workers in Nonferrous -Metal Foundries, by Occupation and Region/ August 1941— C o n t in u e d
able
Western States
Southern States
Occupation
All occupations.................
Assemblers________________
Bookkeepers_______________
Carpenters____ ___________
Hasting oleanftrs,
......,
_______ ______
Chippers
Core cleaners ____________
Core-oven tenders_________
.............
Coremakers, hand and ma
chine ___________________
Helpers ______________
Crane operators___________
Drill-press operators _____
Engine-lathe op e ra to rs.___
Filers
. . .................. .
Foremen and assistant fore
men, working......................
Furnace operators_________
Helpers_______ ________
Grinder operators__________
Heat treaters______ _______
Inspectors and testers______
Janitors___________________
..... .............. ..............
Lathe operators, other ___
Learners, not elsewhere clas
sified _______ ___________
Machine repairmen________
Maintenance workers, not
elsewhere classified............
Helpers.............. ..............
Millwrights.............................
Molders, apprentices_______
Bench _______________
F l o o r ....................... .......
Hand and machine______
Helpers__________________
Learners_________________
Office clerical workers...........
Other foundry workers.........
Pattern makers, wood and
metal________ _____ _____
Plant clerical workers______
Polishers and buffers_______
Pourers____________________
Helpers.................. ..........
Sandblast operators________
__________
Saw operators_____________
Shake-out m en____________
Shipping workers...................
Store and stock keepers____
Tim e keepers.................... . . .
Tool and die makers
Truck and tractor drivers__
Truckers, h a n d ........... ........
Turret-lathe operators_____
Watchmen________________
Welders...................................
Aver
A ver
Aver Aver
Aver
age
Aver Aver Aver Aver
age
age
age
age
age
age
total
age
age
hourly
weekly
hourly weekly
hourly
weekly
total
weekly
weekly
earn
earn
earn
earn
weekly
earn
earn
hours
hours
ings
ings
ings
ings
hours
ings
ings
$0,582
43.8
$27.04
$0,784
41.0
$33.39
$0,718
48.2
$37.88
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.418
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
44.1
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
19.72
(2)
.523
.572
(2)
(2)
.698
(2)
39.9
40.3
(2)
(*)
44.1
(2)
22.36
23.98
(2)
(2)
32.19
(2)
(2)
(2)
.670
(2)
.733
.664
.448
(2)
.628
(2)
(2)
40.8
(2)
43.1
55.1
44.3
(2)
48.3
(2)
(2)
27.75
(2)
32.94
42. 22
21. 53
(2)
32.73
(2)
.846
.569
.743
.704
.734
.559
46.0
48.9
59.5
45.4
52.5
48. 5
41.96
30.35
50.9&
33.84
42.75
29.48
47.25
38.06
(2)
27.12
(2)
29.21
(2)
24.87
(2)
.913
.793
.718
.608
54.5
50.9
49.2
52.0
55.65
44.83
38.47
35.94
.570
(2)
.579
(2)
47.0
(2)
48.8
(2)
29.18
(2)
31.4£
(2)
Core pasters
.832
(2)
42.8
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.548
(2)
(2)
(2)
48.6
(2)
(2)
(2)
29.34
( 2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
( 2)
(2)
19.37
43.6
Laborers
.494
(?)
47.8
(2)
40.5
41.1
44.2
44.3
(2)
41.2
42.7
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.415
.813
.848
.827
.413
(2)
.468
.831
..........
37.64
(2)
1.093
.840
(2)
.610
(2)
.708
(2)
.576
(2)
25.66
(2)
34.26
35.76
38.49
19. 57
(2)
19.85
38.54
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.518
(2)
47.7
(2)
26.74
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.779
(2)
(2)
.540
.702
1.109
.899
.662
.601
.531
.874
47.4
(2)
(2)
47.3
44.2
45.3
46.5
50.1
52.2
40.6
50.8
40.3&
(2)
(2)
27.9942.23
53.61
44.86
36.67
35.55
21.85
44.21
.919
.550
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.586
(2)
.531
.665
(2)
(2)
(2)
.682
(2)
.818
.569
(2)
49.3
42.7
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
43.6
(2)
48.5
49.4
(2)
(2)
(2)
50.0
(2)
48.2
46.3
(2)
49.77
24.39(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
27.09
(2)
28.45
36.59.
(2)
(2)
(2)
37.00'
(2)
42.47
28.76
(2)
(2)
1.017
1.124
.974
.692
(2)
(2)
.869
(2)
38.9
44.4
39.2
38.4
(2)
(2)
43.8
(2)
40.43
52.20
38.54
27.00
(2)
(2)
42.02
(2)
(2)
.932
.837
(2)
(2)
(2)
35.1
39.4
(2)
(2)
(2)
32.76
33.05
(2)
(2)
.525
(2)
46.7
(2)
26.43
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.921
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
40.6
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
* (2)
37.66
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
Sand conditioners
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.384
(2)
(2)
45.3
(2)
(2)
18.57
(2)
42.5
43.4
(2)
42.5
(2)
40.3
(2)
41.4
(2)
(2)
(2)
i For regional classification, see footnote to table 32.
* Number of workers too small to justify computation of average.
Other States
56
WAGE STRUCTURE-— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
In the secondary non-ferrous metal smelters, one of the prominent
occupations was that of the furnace operators, who earned an average
o f 74.0 cents per hour in the Middle Atlantic States, 75.1 cents in the
East Central States, and 88.6 cents in other States (table 39). Process
laborers, who collect scrap prior to the charging of the furnaces and
handle the disposal of slag and dross from the furnaces, averaged 58.9
-cents in the Middle Atlantic States and 58.3 cents in the East Central
States.
T
able
39.— Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings of Workers in Second
ary Nonferrous-Metal Smelters, by Occupation and Region,1 August 1941
M iddle Atlantic
States
Occupation
Other States
Aver
Aver
Aver Aver Aver
Aver
Aver
age
age
age
Aver
Aver
age
age
age
age
age
total
age
total
total
hourly
hourly
weekly weekly hourly
earn hours earn earn weekly weekly earn weekly weekly
ings
ings hours earn
ings hours earn
ings
ings
ings
All occupations...................................... $0.692
Bookkeepers—........................................
Briquetting operators............................
Crane operators........... ........................
Extrusion-press operators........ ............
Foremen and assistants, working___
Furnace operators.................................
H elp ers................ ..........................
•Grinding-machine operators...............
Janitors....... ............................................
Laborers, general..................................Laborers, maintenance.........................
Laborers, process...................................
Loaders and unloaders..........................
Maintenance workers, other................
Helpers.............................................
M ech a n ics.............................................
M etal mixers..........................................
Other clerical workers..... .....................
-Other plant workers.............................
P a c k e r s .................................................
Plant clerks.............................................
Samplers........ .........................................
Scrap handlers........................................
Stenographers.........................................
Technicians............................................
Technicians’ assistants........................
T ruck drivers.........................................
Truckers, hand......................................
W atchm en..............................................
Weighers..................................................
East Central States
.748
.637
(2)
.911
.962
.740
.678
(2)
.635
.685
(2)
.589
.662
.802
.694
.842
.673
.665
.722
.68 8
.754
(2)
.672
.615
.906
.P61
.696
.724
.594
.757
43.1 $31.45 $0.680
41.6 $29.38 $0.760
41.7
$32.78
39.8
42.6
(2)
44.5
47.6
44.7
44.9
(2)
42.6
43.1
(2)
40.4
424
45.6
46.0
44.8
44.7
40.0
41.0
41.9
41.4
(2)
43.5
38.6
44.0
42.4
47.1
42.5
48.1
42.9
.801
.611
.711
(2)
.940
.751
.728
(2)
(2)
.650
.601
.583
.566
.902
.701
(2)
.719
.647
.679
40.7
44.0
39.1
(2)
42.0
41.1
41.8
(2)
(2)
39.5
41.5
41.1
39.1
42.9
42.5
( 2)
40.2
42.5
42.2
32.90
28.16
28.49
(2)
40. 61
32.04
31.56
(2)
(2)
26.00
25.70
25.18
22.92
40.00
30.83
(2)
29. 27
oo 33
19. 47
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
43.78
39 93
41.83
32.78
. ( 2>
(2)
(2)
23.74
21.96
45.36
(2)
(2)
.679
.687
.645
.623
(2)
(2)
.770
.603
.512
.682
40.2
39.4
44.8
38.5
(2)
(2)
45.0
43.4
51.4
42.4
27. 56’
27.67
30.48
23.99
(2)
(2)
36. 33
27.45
29.07
30.00
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
43.9
43.2
43.9
45.7
(2)
(2)
(2)
40.7
34.1
45.5
(2)
(2)
(2)
41.3
39.5
39.3
39.9
(2)
44.3
40.6
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
40.7
29.88
28.60
(2)
43.24
49.29
34.99
32.47
(*)
27.93
31.15
(2)
24.96
29.18
39. 72
34.03
40. 42
31.80
26.99
30.92
29. 51
32.03
(2)
30.90
23.79
41. 50
28.96
36.03
32.53
30.31
33.84
(2)
(2)
(2>
(2)
.941
.885
3.907
.638
(2)
(2)
(2)
.561
.639
.947
(2)
(2)
(2)
.68 8
.870
.742
.742
(2)
.604
.711
(2)
(2)
(2>
(2)
(2)
.947
( 2)
29.04
34. 54
29.11
29.65
(2)
28.38
29.22
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
39.07
1For regional classification, see footnote to table to table 32.
*Number of workers too small to justify computation of average.
* Excess helpers’ earnings over those of furnace operators is result of different returns for nonidentical
establishments playing a variety of rates.
Almost three-fourths of the workers in machined-products plants
(producing bearings, fittings, valves, etc.) were in the East Central
States. In this region, the range in average hourly earnings extended
from 46.9 cents for typists to $1,227 for tool makers (table 40).
Assemblers earned an average of 68.2 cents per hour in this region
which compared with 63.3 cents in the Middle Atlantic States. Screwmachine operators received an average of 88.8 cents per hour in the
East Central States, whereas those in other States received 76.3
«cents per hour.
57
PRIMARY FABRICATION
T a b l e 40 . — Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings, of Workers in
Machined-Products Plants, by Occupation and Region,1 August 1941
M iddle Atlantic
States
Occupation
See fo o tn o te s a t end o f table.
Other States
Aver Aver
Aver Aver
Aver
Aver
age
age
Aver
Aver
Aver
age
age
age
age
age
total
age
total
age
total
hourly weekly weekly hourly weekly weekly hourly
weekly
weekly
earn
earn earn hours earn earn hours earn
hours
ings
ings
ings
ings
ings
ings
40.7 $30.48 $0,763
45.2 $36.93 $0.749
42.6
$3 2 . m
.822
.633
(2)
.492
(2)
(2)
48.2
47.3
(2)
38.4
(2)
(2)
44.02
32,26
(2)
19.84
(2)
(2)
44.1
39.0
(2)
(2)
37.0
(2)
37.57
24.81
(2)
(2)
26.97
(2)
(2)
38.2
(2)
(2)
21.33
(2)
1.207
39.5
47.66.
.598
43.3
27.12
37.53
31.89
51.49
29.05
39.99
36.72
56.60
26.85
30.86
33.75
36.76
24.95
35.78
.833
.633
(2)
(2)
.728
(2)
(2)
.539
(2)
48.0
43.8
50.9
46.5
50.2
35.9
50.6
41.0
42.2
40.5
47.9
38.9
43.8
.799
39.8
32.51
.638
40.0
26.82
.853
50.7
47.85
0
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.593
(2)
.775
(2)
(2)
.712
(2)
.713
.550
.576
(2)
.599
.563
(2)
(2)
41.5
(2)
43.5
(2)
(2)
45.4
(2)
43.1
40.4
45.8
(2)
49.6
48.9
(2)
(2)
25.85
(2)
36.23
(2)
(2)
34.61
(2)
32.53
22.94
28.17
(2)
32.83
30.50
1.023
.836
.705
.923
1.015
.968
1.011
,912
.844
.827
.670
.701
.609
.657
.645
49.6
43.8
44.6
49.7
40.4
46.0
48.3
46.8
40.2
41.2
45.7
44.0
46.8
44.5
44.1
55.91
38.13
33.70
51.24
41.46
46.72
53.33
46.40
35.06
36.17
32.91
32,74
31.41
31.21
30.49
All occupations...................................... $0.703
Annealers................................................
Assemblers.............................................
Assistant foremen, working.................
Beginners and learners........................
Blanking-press operators......................
Boring-machine operators....................
Bra^rs
.
Buffers.......................... ........................
Burrers, hand and m achine................
Casting cleaners____________________
Checkers, yard and shipping....... .......
Core pasters . _______ ______ ______
Coremakers, hand and machine.........
Die casting, forging, forming and
punching workers, not elsewhere
classified...............................................
Die and tool workers, not elsewhere
classified . .......... . ___
Draftsmen...............................................
Drill-press operators.............................
Electricians........................................... .
Engine-lathe operators.........................
Flaskm akers________________________
Foremen, working.................................
Furnace operators................................
Helpers.............................................
Grinding-machine operators. _...........
Hand truckers.......................................
Inspectors-...................... ......................
Janitors and custodial workers......... .
Laborers, general...................... ...........
Laborers, plant......................................
Laborers, stores, stock and ware
house ______ ____________ ____ __
Lathe operators, not elsewhere classi
fied........................................................
Loa- ers and unloaders________ ____
Machiue operators, helpers, not else
where classified.................................
Maintenance workers, not elsewhere
classified...............................................
Helpers.............................................
Millwrights.............................................
Helpers................................... ........
Mold-making workers, not elsewhere
classified.............................................
Molders, bench, hand......................... .
Helpers.............................................
Molders, machine..................................
Helpers_________________________
Other clerical workers, not elsewhere
classified..............................................
Other miscellaneous workers, not
elsewhere classified............................
Packers........... .........................................
Plant clerks...........................................
Platers................................. ..................
Helpers........................................... .
Polishers..................................................
Pourers—............................................... .
Repairmen, plant..................................
Saw operators, m etal__ ____ _______
Scrap-processing workers, not else
where classified..................................
Screw-machine operators......................
East Centra States
.719
.682
.913
.579
.722
1.022
1.011
.623
.703
.829
.703
.623
.775
(2)
(2)
(2)
.719
(2)
(2)
(2)
44.9
(2)
(2)
(2)
33.91
(2)
(2)
(2)
.599
.552
.613
(2)
.459
,501
(2)
(2)
(2)
41.5
46.4
48.3
(2)
49.7
43.0
<2)
(2)
(2)
26.4$
27.29
31.82
(2)
25. 54
22.76
(2)
(2)
(2)
.589
47.4
30.29
.610
(2)
42.2
(2)
27.12
(2)
.665
.653
44.2
46.5
31.58
32.92
.465
55.2
29.50
(2)
(2)
(*)
.687
47.2
34.99
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.929
.519
.789
.723
49.4
49.6
49.5
51.1
50.62
33.32
43.23
41.04
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.902
.611
.798
(2)
35.9
36.5
43.1
(2)
32.79
22.39
36.64
.793
.909
.545
.943
.764
39.9
46.4
44.9
39.8
37.6
33. 51
45.39
26.80
38.64
28.98
(2)
(2)
(2)
.847
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
41.8
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
36.05
(2)
.649
45.6
31.39
.665
45.2
31.69
(2)
(2)
(2)
46.8
44.2
45.2
44.0
44.4
45.1
40.9
47.5
45.7
41.63
26.23
26.97
36.95
30.07
40.57
42.83
51.28
39.60
.822
(2)
.648
1.089
.888
1.065
(2)
(2)
44.3
(2)
39.8
40.5
38.0
33.0
(2)
(2)
(2)
38.19
(2)
25.78
44.55
33.81
40,45
(2)
(2)
(2)
47.1
45.4
32.40
43.23
(2)
.763
(2)
42.1
(2)
33.01
.701
.499
.592
(2)
(2)
(2)
. 69fi
(2)
42.8
44.4
43.3
(2)
(2)
(2)
41.4
(2)
31.68
23. 65
26.84
(2)
(2)
(2)
30.65
(2)
.821
.559
.558
.792
.636
.843
1.041
1.003
.813
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
.635
.888
58
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
T a b l e 40.— Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings of Workers in
Machined-Products Plants, by Occupation and RegionAugust 1941— Continued
M iddle Atlantic
States
East Central States
Other States
Aver
Aver
Aver Aver Aver
Aver
Aver
age
Aver
age
Average
age
age
age
total
total
age
age
age
total
hourly weekly weekly hourly weekly weekly hourly
weekly weekly
earn
earn
earnearn
earn
hours
hours
earn
hours
ings
ings
ings
ings
ings
Occupation
Set-up m en............................................. $0.836
.690
Shake-out men.......................................
Shipping clerks......................................
Shipping workers..................................
Stenographers........................................
.663
Store and stockkeepers..... ................. .
Threading-machine operators.............
Helpers.............................................
T ool makers...........................................
Tool-shed attendants.......................... .
.706
Turret-lathe operators........................ .
Typists....................................................
W atchmen______________________ _
(2)
Welding and soldering workers, not
elsewhere classified....................... .
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
43.1 $38.00 $1.115
40.1
.782
9.67
.679
(2)
(2)
.682
.584
41.0 27.67
.641
.761
(2)
(2)
42.5 29.17
.801
44.0 45.44 1.227
.688
(2)
(2)
44.3 33.60
.887
.469
.618
(2)
(2)
46.9
40.6
46.6
45.5
40.6
47.6
48.3
46.9
49.6
47.9
45.6
41.7
48.5
556.37
32.80 $0. 582
33.98
(2)
33.13
(2)
23.88
(2)
33.15
(2)
40.79
(2)
41.49
67.29 1.160
35.70
(2)
43.65
(2)
20.10
(2)
32. 71
(2)
42.4
28.96
(2)
. 649
43.0
$26.59
(2)
8
(2)
(2)
(2)
47.54
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
<*>
(2)
1 For regional classification, see footnote to table 32.
2 Number of workers too small to justify computation of average.
Occupational earnings in diecasting plants ranged from a low
average of 59.0 cents per hour for process laborers to a high of $1,284
for die makers (table 41). The large group of die-casting operators, a
key occupation in the technical process involved in this branch of
fabrication, earned an average of 99.8 cents per hour.
T a b l e 41 . — Hourly Earnings, Weekly Hours, and Weekly Earnings of Workers in Non-
ferrous-Metal Die-Casting Plants, by Occupation, August 1941
Occupation
Aver Aver Aver
age
age
total
age
hourly weekly
weekly
earn hours
earn
ings
ings
All occupations...................... $0,885
41.4
$38.30
Apprentices_______________
Beginners and learners.........
Cleaners, castings..................
■Clerical, plant....... ................
Die-casting operators............
Helpers.............................
Die makers.............................
Die setters...............................
Draftsmen...............................
Drill-press operators.............
Electricians.............................
Filers, castings............ . ........
Foremen and assistants,
working_____ ___________
Grinding-machineoperators.
Inspectors, final.....................
Inspectors, rough...................
Janitors....................................
Laborers, general...................
Laborers, process...................
Lathe operators.....................
.676
.600
.837
.751
.998
.762
1.284
.914
1.104
.944
.950
.818
49.3
47.0
39.8
41.4
39.9
36.8
48.0
43.5
43.3
36.2
45.0
38.6
37.12
30.56
34.09
31.73
40.67
99.37
67.90
42.33
49.84
34. 55
46.46
32.08
1.003
.957
.761
.740
.706
.627
.590
1.070
44.4
36.2
39.0
39.6
40.9
42.7
38.1
38.8
47.23
34.62
30.03
30.03
30.47
27.88
22.67
42.82
Aver
Aver
age
total
age
hourly
weekly
weekly
earn
earn
ings hours ings
Aver-
Occupation
Loaders and unloaders_____ $0,732
Melters and melters’ help
.894
ers........... ..............................
Millwrights......... ...................
.823
Other clerical workers, not
elsewhere classified_______
.693
Other maintenance workers,
not elsewhere classified.... .911
Helpers......... ..................
.725
Other plant workers.............
.939
Helpers, not elsewhere
classified........................ .693
Packers______ _____________
.651
Plant-equipment repairmen. 1.046
Punch-press operators_____
.928
Shipping clerks......................
.833
.671
Stenographers.........................
Tool makers........................... 1.241
.772
Tool-room attendants...........
Truck drivers.........................
.806
Tuckers, hand...................... . .724
Watchmen..............................
.694
44.2
$33.87
42.3
46.4
39.25
40.75
41.5
29.49
47.3
42.9
40.2
46.89
33.45
39.53
39.1
40.9
46.2
36.2
44.0
39.7
47.7
46.2
45.3
41.8
44.5
27.54
27.56
52.16
33.85
38.69
26.72
64.04
38.09
40.56
31.25
32.83
PRIMARY FABRICATION
59
Weekly Hours and Earnings
Average weekly hours in the primary fabrication of nonferrous
metals in August 1941, ranged from 41.4 for die-casting workers to
45.0 for foundry workers. Workers in secondary smelters worked
42.3 hours weekly. In alloying, rolling, and drawing, the plants that
processed copper, brass, and bronze reported an average work week
of 44.0 hours, whereas those which processed other nonferrous metals
ported 43.0 hours as the average workweek. Workers employed in
plants producing machined products worked an average of 44.2 hours
weekly. Tables 36-41 present occupational average weekly hours for
each surveyed branch of primary nonferrous-metal fabrication. In
most cases, the data are classified, in addition, by region.
Average total weekly earnings by branch of the industry varied
appreciably. The lowest average was $30.98 for workers in secondary
smelters, and the highest was $41.45 for those engaged in alloying,
rolling, and drawing copper, brass, and bronze. This latitude in
total weekly earnings exceeded that in nonferrous-metal smelting
and refining where the lowest average was $30.52 in lead smelting
and the highest was $34.70 in copper smelting in August 1941.
P art
IV.—EARNINGS IN MINING AND PROCESSING
OF NONFERROUS METALS, JUNE 1942
Nature of the June 1942 Data
The data on average hourly earnings in June 1942 constitute
essentially a revision of the August 1941 data for mining and milling
(Part I) and for smelting and refining (Part I I ); the data on primary
fabrication (Part III) have not been brought up to date. The informa
tion essential to the revision of the 1941 data was obtained by the
Bureau through a mail survey involving all the firms which provided
the information for the earlier survey. The adjustments made were
restricted primarily to general wage increases; increases limited to
specific occupational groups were considered only when they were of
sufficient magnitude to affect appreciably the average hourly earnings
of the plants involved.
In view of the fact that the most recent study of this industry did
not involve the collection of complete pay-roll data, it was impossible
to make any revisions in the gross weekly earnings which appeared
in the 1941 tabulations. Schedules of hours of work have changed
decidedly in many establishments, especially in the mines. A con
siderable number of mining firms, for example, reported a change in
the weekly hours of work from 40 to 48, or from 42 to 48. These
changes also substantially affected overtime hours and punitive over
time earnings.
The response to the Bureau’s inquiries regarding recent wage
changes by firms engaged in the mining and smelting of mercury was
inadequate. Since it was impracticable in the tiihe available to send
field representatives to the small and scattered mercury plants, it
was found necessary to abandon the presentation of statistics for this
branch of the industry. The total number of workeis previously
surveyed in mercury mining (444) and smelting (135) was small,
however, and the effect of their omission on average hourly earnings
in the industry as a whole is insignificant.
Except for the omission of the mercury operations, the establish
ments included in the present tabulations are identical with those stud
ied in 1941 and are believed to be representative of the respective
branches of the industry. The occupational patterns presented are
representative primarily of the August 1941 period, since the adjust
ments made applied only to wage rates and not to changes in occupa
tional structure. Significant shifts in occupational patterns may have
taken place as a result of the increase in output for war purposes.
The data on average hourly earnings refer essentially to straighttime earnings, since extra earnings derived from overtime have been
eliminated from all of the wage averages presented. Premiums for
evening and night shifts are not an important factor in mining and
milling or in smelting and refining. With regard to other charac
teristics of the data (the analysis of the sample, the background of the
60
MINING AND PROCESSING
61
industry, the characteristics of the labor force, and relevant wage and
hour practices) the findings of the 1941 survey, published in the June
and July (1942) issues of the Monthly Labor Review, provide a con
siderable amount of information which applies equally to the present
data.
Wage changesfrom August 1941 to June 1942 — With few exceptions,
the wage increases which were granted by individual firms between
August 1941 and June 1942 were general increases covering all plant
employees. Where some occupational groups in a given plant were
paid on a time basis and others on a piece-rate basis, the piece rates
were generally raised by approximately the same percentage as were
the hourly rates. Over and above the general increases, specific
occupational groups sometimes received additional increases, espe
cially the workers in the mechanical and maintenance occupations.
Establishments reporting to the Bureau regarding wage changes
during the 10-month period numbered 75 in mining and milling and
34 in smelting and refining. Of the mining and milling establish
ments 12 reported that they granted no wage increases; 28 had granted
increases of less than 15 percent; and the remaining 35 reported in
creases of 15 percent or more. In the smelting and refining of nonferrous metals 6 establishments reported no increases, 24 reported
increases of less than 15 percent, and the remaining 4 reported in
creases of 15 percent or more.
Average Hourly Earnings in June 1942
Average hourly earnings were generally higher in June 1942 than in
August 1941 (table 42). Workers engaged in the mining and milling
of copper in June 1942 earned an average of 84.1 cents per hour; those
in the extraction of lead and zinc, 84.3 cents; and those in other mines
and mills 88.0 cents. The respective averages for these three industry
branches in August 1941 were 72.8 cents, 76.6 cents, and 77.4 cents
an hour. On a relative basis, workers in copper mines and mills
received the greatest increase, amounting to 15.5 percent on the
average; while those in lead and zinc mines and mills received the
smallest average increase, amounting to 10.1 percent. Employees
engaged in other mining and milling received wage increases averaging
13.7 percent.
In smelting and refining operations the increases were, on the whole,
somewhat lower than in mining and milling, and ranged from 4.0
cents per hour in lead smelting to 9.1 cents in copper smelting. Aver
age hourly earnings in the three major smelting branches—copper,
lead, and zinc—amounted to 84.1 cents, 80.8 cents and 90.1 cents,
respectively, in June 1942. Workers engaged in the electrolytic
refining of copper and in electrolytic zinc production earned on the
average 83.9 cents and 89.0 cents during the same period. On a
relative basis, the increases in average hourly earnings in these various
branches of smelting and refining ranged from 5.2 percent in lead
smelters to 12.1 percent in copper smelters.
62
WAGE STRUCTURE1— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
T a b l e 42 . — Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings in Nonferrous-Metals Industry, by
Branch, August 1941 ana June 1942
Average hourly earnings Increase, August 1941 to
June 1942
Branch of industry
August 1941 June 1942
M ining and milling of—
Copper_______ ___________________________________
Lead and zinc................................................................
Other.................................................................................
Smelting of—
C opper.......... .......................................... .......................
Lead...................................................................................
Zinc....................................................................................
Electrolytic refining o f copper.............................................
Electrolytic zinc production....... .........................................
Am ount
Percent
$0,728
.766
.774
$0,841
.843
.880
Cents
11.3
7.7
10.6
16.6
10.1
13.7
.760
.768
.836
.779
.809
.841
.808
.901
.839
.890
9.1
4.0
6.6
6.0
8.1
12.1
6.2
7.9
7.7
10.0
The distribution of workers by average hourly earnings in the
various segments of the nonferrous-metals industry shows a decided
shift of workers into the higher earnings brackets. In mining and
milling in the United States as a whole, for example, only 1 worker
in 7 had earnings of 90 cents or more in August 1941, whereas 1
worker in every 3 had such earnings in June 1942 (table 43). The
highest proportion of workers (42.0 percent) found in this earnings
class was in the mining and milling of the minor metals.
T a b l e 43 . — Percentage Distribution of Workers in Nonferrous-Metals Industry by Average
Hourly Earnings and Branch, June 1942
M IN ES A N D M ILLS
Average hourly earnings
Under 40.0 cents_____ ____ ________________ __________
40.0 and under 42.6 cents______ - ______________________
42.6 and under 45.0 cen ts._____________________________
46.0 and under 47.6 cents___ . _________________________
47.6 and under 60.0 cents_______________ ______________
60.0 and under 62.6 cents_________________ _____ ______
62.6 and under 66.0 cents___________________ ____ _____
66.0 and under 67.6 cents_______ - ........................................
67.6 and under 60.0 cents____ _________________ _____ __
60.0 and under 62.6 cents___________________ __________
62.6 and under 66.0 cents________________ . . . ...................
65.0 and under 67.5 cents...... ....................... ............. .........
67.5 and under 70.0 cents.......................................................
70.0 and under 72.5 cents....................... _............... .........._
72.5 and under 75.0 cents............ - ........ ...............................
75.0 and under 77.5 cen ts.......................... .................. .......
77.5 and under 80.0 cen ts..... ........ . ........ ............ ................
80.0 and under 82.5 cents________ _________ _______ ___
82.5 and under 85.0 cents...... ................... ............ ................
85.0 and under 87.5 cents............................................... .......
87.5 and under 90.0 cents............................. ........................
90.0 and under 92.5 cents_______ _________ _____ ______
92.5 and under 95.0 cents..................... .......................... .......
95.0 and under 97.5 c e n t s ...__________ . . . . ____ - ___- __
97.5 and under 100.0 cents______ ______________________
100.0 and under 105.0 cents...................................................
105.0 and under 110.0 cents........ ........ .................................
110.0 cents and over_________ __________ ________ . ____
Total
0.2
.1
.3
.5
.2
1.1
.7
1.6
1.9
3 0
2.4
2.2
2.4
3.0
4.7
4.7
6.6
9.8
10.6
5.0
6.0
5.9
5.2
5.3
2.6
5.3
3.5
6.2
Copper
mines and
mills
(a)
0.6
.6
.3
1.8
1.2
2.9
2.8
5.2
2.9
2.0
1.7
2.3
2.4
3.0
5.7
5.5
12.9
6.1
4.7
4.4
6.1
7.0
3.9
4.2
3.5
6.3
Lead ard
zinc mines
and mills
0.3
.1
.1
.3
.2
.5
.2
.4
.7
1.0
1.9
2.3
3.2
3.7
7.6
7.0
8.0
14.1
8.8
4.2
6.4
7.6
4.6
3.4
1.5
4.8
3.6
4.5
Other
mines and
mills i
0.5
.1
.1
.i
.2
.1
3.7
1.1
8.2
2.9
.8
3.1
.2
.9
2.2
10.0
4.0
1.3
23.5
4.8
3.7
6.4
.6
20.4
3.6
2.6
T otal______ ______ ____________ . . . . . . __ . . . . ___
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
N um ber of workers___________ . . . . . __________________
N um ber of u n its3_____________________________________
Average hourly earnings, June 1942__________ _______
25,761
144
$0,844
12,358
36
$0,841
12,066
91
$0,843
1,338
17
$0,880
See footnotes at end of table.
MINING AND PROCESSING
T
able
63
43.— Percentage Distribution of Workers in Nonferrous-Metals Industry by Average
Hourly Earnings and Branch, June 1942— Continued
SM ELTIN G AND R EFIN IN G
Smelting
Average hourly earnings
Zinc
Under 37.5 cents___________________________________
0
$7.,5 and vmder 40-0 cants___
_ __
0.1
4fl,0 and under 42.fi <wit.s__ r_
_ _
_ _
42.5 flnd und^r 46.0 rants___
.1
(2)
46,0 and under 47,6 cents ___
47.6 and under 60.0 cents___________________________
(2)
60.0 and jmder 62.6 <*ent.s_ ____
.2
62,6 ftnd nnriftr 66.0 rants___
.1
.1
66.0 and under 67.6 cents___________________________
.1
67.6 and under 60.0 cents___________________________
.1
60.0 and under 62.6 cents___________________________
.2
62.5 and under 65.0 cents__________ :________________
2.3
65.0 and under 67.5 cents....... .......- __________________
4.4
67.5 and under 70.0 cents___________________________
3.3
70.0 and under 72.5 cents___________________________
8.4
72.5 and under 75.0 cents___________________________
3.2
___________________________
75.0 and under 77.5 cents
4.9
77.5 and under 80.0 cents___________________________
4.7
80.0 and under 82.5 cents___________________________
6.3
82.5 and under 85.0 cents___________________________
85.0 and under 87.5 cents___________________________
3.5
7.4
87.5 and under 90.0 cents__ ________________ _____ ___
8.6
90.0 and under 92.5 cents___________________________
7.4
92.5 and under 95.0 cents___________________________
95.0 and under 97.5 cents___________________________
4.6
10.2
97.5 and under 102.5 cents__________________________
102.5 and under 107.5 cents_________________________
8.3
107.5 and under 112.5 cents_________________________
5.0
112.5 and under 117.5 cents_________________________
3.0
117.5 cents and over________________________________
3.5
T otal.......................... ........... .................. .............
Copper
Lead
Copper
Electro
refining lytic zina
(electro produc
lytic)
t io n 4
0.1
.1
0.1
(i)
(*)
.1
1.3
1.1
.3
.7
2.9
2.5
2.5
4.2
2.8
2.9
18.0
8.9
9.5
3.5
12.0
3.7
7.6
3.1
4.7
3.1
1.4
1.5
1.6
.3
.6
.4
.2
10.0
6.6
4.0
4.4
2.8
6.5
10.1
13.3
12.4
6.5
2.0
5.9
2.3
4.8
1.6
1.6
.4
.5
2.6
0.1
.00
0.1
.2
<*>
2.9
1.5
1.6
1.4
1.5
.7
.5
.5
.7
6.5
3.0
13.7
12.0
13.0
7.8
5.8
5.1
6.2
2.9
5.5
3.5
2.1
1.1
2.2
.9
8.S
1.9
2.2
5.8
12. a
9.6
5.4
8.8
6.3
17.4
7.4
7.0
6.7
.6
2.0
.9
.1
.2
.5
.5
.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Number of workers_______________________ _________
7,983
___________________________________
Number of units
14
Average hourly earnings, June 1942_________________
$0,901
4,366
9
$0.841
1,095
4
$0,808
6,785
8
$0,839
1,325
4
$0,890
i Manganese, molybdenum , and tungsten.
* Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
8 Total of mines and mills, not entire establishments.
4 Includes 1 lead refinery.
♦
Similar changes in the distributions of individual earnings occurred
in the smelting and refining of all major nonferrous metals. The
most marked change in the distribution of earnings took place in
electrolytic zinc production and in zinc smelting; in both branches
about one-half of the workers earned 90 cents per hour or more in
June 1942, while only three-tenths of the zinc smelting workers and
one-tenth of electrolytic-zinc workers were in this earnings class in
August 1941.
OCCUPATIONAL EARNINGS
In table 44 are presented data on average hourly earnings by occupa
tion for each of the branches of mining and milling and of smelting
and refining. For convenience in presentation, the data for several
branches have been combined. The occupations listed are not in
tended to present the occupational pattern for each branch of the
industry but show the various average wages by occupation. In
mining and milling the occupational pattern does not vary appreciably
with the type of metal mined or milled. In smelting and refining,
however, there is a decided difference in the occupational pattern
64
WAGE STRUCTURE-— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
from branch to branch, and only a few occupations,’notably various
categories of yard and transportation labor and the maintenance
occupations, recur in all of these branches.
T
able
44.— Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings of Workers in Nonferrous-Metals
Industry, by Branch, Occupation, and Region, June 1942
M IN IN G
Copper
Lead and zinc
Occupation
South North M ichi
West
gan
west
west
TriState
dis
trict
Other»
East
All occupations____________________________________ $0,858 $0.926 $0. 595 $0.874 i$0,814 $0.857
.920
"Blacksmiths . , , .
Helpers________________________________________ .775
.977
Boilermakers
Cagers ___________________________________________
Helpers________________________________________
(2)
.933
Pagers, inside.
.944
C arpenters._______________________________________
CJh^ngft-hnnse man __
_
_ _
.661
Clean-up men_____________________________________
Clerical workers:
.960
Office__________________________________________
.986
- __
__
-__
Comm on la b orers_________________________________
.626
.842
Compressor operators______________________________
. f61
Drilling-machine operators_________________________
.766
Helpers_________________ - ________ - ___________
.960
E lectrician s_____________________ - __- _____________
Firemen, ra ilroa d _________________________________
.818
Foremen and assistants, working___________________
.976
Foremen and assistants, working, maintenance_____
Hoistmen, surface_____ ___________________________
.889
Hoistmen, underground____________________________ .889
Hoistmen, surface and underground— .......................
Laborers, maintenance____________________________
.619
.941
Loading-machine operators_________________ ______
Maintenance workers, not elsewhere classified....... .
.770
Helpers________________________________________
Mechanics
______________________________________ .939
M iners, hand______________________________________
Miscellaneous maintenance workers, n. e. c ................
.873
Miscellaneous workers_____________________________
.830
M otorm en_________________________________________
.934
.835
Helpers________________________________________
M uckers___________________________________________ .822
.729
Nippers____ . . . ____________________________________
O ile r s _____________________________________________ .807
.919
Pipefitters............ ................................. - ..........................
Helpers - - _____________________________________ .801
Powdermen (blasting)_____________________________
.875
Power and transportation workers_________________
.887
Powerhouse operators’ helpers_____________________
.836
P um pm en........ ........................................ ......................... .801
Pumpmen, surface and underground_______________
Repairmen, maintenance................................................
Repairmen, m ine_____ ____________________________
Repairmen, mine and surface______________________
(2)
R oustabouts_________________________________ _____
.688
Samplers, ore______________________________________
(2)
Shovel operators___________________________________ 1.151
Storekeepers (pow der)_____________________________
.859
T ech n icia n s.______________________________________
Technicians and supervisory workers.......... ............... 1.107
Tim______________
berm en
____________ __________
.972
Helpers________________________________________
Timekeepers_______________________________________ .989
T ool and powder storeroom m en___________________
Trackm en_________________________________________
.842
Tram mers_________________________________________
.723
T ruck and tractor operators_______ _____ ______ . . .
.897
W atchmen ___ __________________________________
.750
i Manganese, m olybdenum, and tungsten.
* T oo few workers to permit computation of average.
.938
.847
.967
.552
.518
.841
.897
.991
.773
(2)
(2)
.579
.496
.912
.950
.788
.969
1.038
.890
.979
.898
1.044
(2)
(2)
.537
.531
.656
(2)
.564
(2)
.697
.952
.967
.547
(2)
.912
.833
.822
.720
.908
(2)
.877
.819
.850
.841
.810
(2)
.918
.767
.876
.757
.822
.733
.987
.994
.772
.881
.919
.791
.954
.838
.745
.695
.804
.924
.746
.879
$0,887
.903
.734
.787
.932
.867
.975
.549
.566
.980
.549
.850
.459
.629
.861
.848
.825 ” .’ 579’
.842
.620
.510
.815
.922
(2)
.861
(2)
.933
.542
.980
.887
(2)
.549
.918
.877
.849
.800
1.147
.863
(2)
(2)
(2)
.907
.853
(2)
.575
(2)
.971
(2)
.815
.554
.542
(2)
(2)
.916
.752
.856
.779
.638
(2)
1.011 ‘ ""."959
.908
.830
.875
"17617" "”.870 ""."965"
.883
.752
.825
.898
.781
.652
.998
.818
.857
.894
.806
.931
1.010
.818
.640
.849
.853
.869
.840
.802
.830
.766
.923
.764
.778
(2)
.879
.800
.912
.776
.758
.916
.869
(2)
(2)
.964
.795
.750
.631
1.029
1.011
.773
.997
.981
.983
.832
.823 ""'.‘ 904
.847
.825
.813
.703
.723
(2)
.874
.900
.830
’ “ ."894
.884
.869
.868
.815
.813
.861
.763
(2)
.963
(2)
(2)
.816
.746
.699
.679
.871
(2)
.749
.787
(2)
(2)
.886
65’
MINING AND PROCESSING
T
able
44.— Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings of Workers in Nonferrous-Meta Is
Industry, by Branch, Occupation, and Region, June 1942— Continued
M ILLIN G
Copper
Lead and zinc
Occupation
All occupations____________________________________
Other1
North South
west
west
West
$0.929
$0.788
$0.821
$0.778
$0,827
1.020
1.000
1.010
.790
.986
.912
.787
.926
.785
.842
.790
.857
.880
1.022
.912
.789
1.010
.833
.881
1.032
.799
.952
.849
.948
.966
.794
(2)
.766
.840<*>
.822 ” '".'846
1.011
.968
1.050
1.060
.849
.869
.991
.683
.684
.744
.740
.840
.812
.958
.844
.644
.880
1.029
1.007
.934
.892
.720
.832
.930
.813
.736
.745
.788
.775
.737
.813
.966
.885
.852
.720
.796
.652
(2)
.770
.866
.824
.721
00
.859
.972
.956
.833
.888
.760
.707
.669
.802
.755
.799
.872
(2)
.714
.637
.927
.903
.731
.768
.988
.924
.878
.807
.765
.784
.765
.723
.945
.812
.880
.879
(2)
All-round mill-machinery operators______ _________
TRftll-mfll operator??
Carpenters-_______________________________________
Clerical workers___________________________________
Office............................................................................
Plant_______ ________ ________ ___________ ____
Crusher operators_________________________________
Electricians.______ ________________________________
_______________________________
Flotation operators
Foremen and assistants, w o r k i n g .............................
Foremen’s assistants, working__ _____ ____________
Foremen, working .........................................................
General helpers, m ill______________________________
Jig operators______________________________________
Laborers, maintenance_________________ ____ - ........
Laborers, m ill. . _______ ___________________________
Maintenance helpers, n. e. c _______________________
Maintenance workers, n. e. c ______________________
Mechanics______ ______________ ___________________
Miscellaneous workers, n. e. c ______________________
Oilers and greasers._______________________________
Oilers, machinery_________________________________
Ore handlers........... _................................... .....................
Plant protection and custodial workers____________
Power and transportation workers_________________
Repairmen________________________________________
Samplers__________________________________________
Swingmen_________________________________________
Table men ____________________ ___ ______________
Truck drivers_____________________________________
Tri-State
district
East
.678
.839
$0.863;
.771
.948
.820-
.922
.930
.860
.822
.856
.723
.825
SM ELTIN G AND R EFIN IN G
Smelting
Occupation
Copper
All occupations____________________________________
Air hoistmen_______________________________________
Apprentices________________________________________
Apprentices, craft
_______________________________
Apprentices, trade or craft__________________________
Bag-house m en___________________ ______ __________
Helpers ______ ________________________________
Binmen’s helpers___________________________________
Blacksmiths ____ ______________________ -*________
H elp ers_______________________________________
Blast-furnace chargers______________________________
Blast-furnace operators_____________________________
Blast-furnace tappers____ __________________________
Blow-out men____ _________________________________
Boilermakers_______ _______________________________
Helpers _ . .
_______________________________
Brakemen, railroad________________________________
B ricklayers___________________________________ ___
Helpers _____ _________________________________
Bumpers_________ _________________________________
Cadmium operators________________________________
Carpenters _______________________________________
Helpers..... .........— ........................ ........................ .
Casters and pourers________________________________
Casting-machine operators_________________________
Cellar men __ ____________________________________
Chamber men .
_____ _________________________
Helpers - . . _____ _________________________
Chargers..............................................................................
1 Manganese, m olybdenum, and tungsten.
2'Too few workers to permit computation of average.
$0,841
Zinc
Lead
$0,901
$0.808
Electro Electro
lytic
lytic pro
copper duction of
refining
zinc
$0,839
$0,890
.823
.781
.871
.716
.842
.947
.925
.696
.998
.855
1.016
.854
.863
.919
.830
.866
.932
.834
.984
.905
1.122
.787
.977
.970
.974
.788
.947
.962
.827
.814
1.087
.803
.899
1.008
.956
.945
.876
.913
.853
1.058
.949
.985
.992
.905
66
T
able
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
4 4 .—
Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings of Workers in Nonferrous-Metals
Industry, by Branch, Occupation, and Region, June 1942— C o n t in u e d
SMELTING AND REFINING—Continued
Smelting
Occupation
Copper
Checkers......................................................
Chemists......................................................
Chemists’ assistants...................................
Chemists and metallurgists......................
Chippers, b ille t.. - .....................................
Chiselers (condensor cleaners).................
Circulation men, tanks.............................
Clay mixers.................................................
Clerical, office workers..............................
Clerical, other plant and office workers
Clerical, plant workers..................._*.........
Concentrator operators.............................
Helpers..................................................
Condensor setters......................................
Connie boys (condensor cleaners)...........
Convertor-furnace operators.....................
Convertor-furnace punchers.....................
Conveyor operators....................................
Cottrell operators.......................................
Helpers..................................................
Cranemen....................................................
H elpers.................................................
Cranemen, overhead..................................
H e lp e r s ...............................................
Crusher operators................. ....................
Drivers (team, truck, tractor).................
Dryer operators..........................................
D um pm en...................................................
Electricians..................................................
Helpers..................................................
Electrolytic tank operators.......................
Engineers, powerhouse..............................
Engineers, railroad.....................................
Fire and fuel men, powerhouse...............
Firemen, machines and boilers................
Firemen, powerhouse....... - .......................
Firemen, railroad........................................
Flappers.......................................................
Flue dust men.............................................
Foremen and assistants, working............
Foremen, working....................................
Foremen, assistants, working..................
Furnace chargers (reverberatory)............
Furnace operators......................................
Helpers..
Furnace operators (dross and byproducts)..........
Furnace operators, miscellaneous, n. e. c.............
Helpers
Furnace operators, refining.....................................
Helpers................................................................
Furnace operators (reverberatory and refining).
Helpers................................................................
Furnace men, retort.................................................
Furnace men, helpers..............................................
Furnace operators’ helpers, all-round...................
Furnace skimmers....................................................
Furnace tappers........................................................
Gas-producer operators............................................
Helpers, powerhouse..............................
Hookers, shovelers (furnace cleaning).
Hot-sheet m en .......................................
Inspectors (billet, wire bars, etc.)........
Ironworkers..............................................
Janitors.....................................................
Kilnm en...................................................
Laborers, furnace....................................
Laborers, maintenance..........................
Laborers, n. e. c ......................................
Laborers, process..
Laborers, samplers..........................
Laborers, yard..................................
Laborers, yard and maintenance..
Laboratory helpers..........................
Ladlemen’s helpers.........................
Zinc
Lead
$0,870
Electro Electro
lytic
lytic pro
copper duction of
refining
zinc
$0,780
$1,040
.821
.960
.914
.841
>.920
.849
.796
$0.853
"■'.'990'
$0,931
.972
.973
1.023
8.904
.927
.818
.758
.733
.979
.799
.891
.847
.796
.'822
.791
.917
.870
.788
.917
.816
.905
.870
.792
1.000
1.042
.972
1.051
1.033
.911
.833
.876
1.079
.903
.865
.873
'.’ 706
.778
1.002
1.033
1.010
.915
.948
.991
.934
.855
.821
.844
.924
.873
.923
.812
1.081
.907
.856
.797
.951
1.014
.975
.917
1.127
.765
.764
.713
.750
'.’ 7 5 6 '
.822
1.013
.750
.768
.842
.795
".‘ 837
.697
.747
.794
.757
.730
.756
.750
.758
‘ .’ 712
.785
.786
.788
’ ."785
.776
.744
* Average for June 1942 lower than average for August 1941, owing to a change in the method of calculating
hours of work for some workers in zinc smelting.
67
MINING AND PROCESSING
T able 44.— Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings of Workers in Nonferrous-Metals
Industry, by Branch, Occupation, and Region, June 1942— Continued
SMELTING AND REFINING—Continued
Smelting
Occupation
Copper
Leach operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Leacher operators ......__ ____ ______________ ___
Lead burners - ___. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _. . . . . . . . . . . .
Helpers
_______ ______ __________ - __________
Learners .................................. .......... .......„ _ _
Loaders and nnlnfiders
T,ocftmot,ivA nrane engineers
- Loopers and punchers
.................. ........ _ „
Machine rp.pairmen
, _
_
_ __
Helpers_________________________________ - _____
Machinists . ............ .........................................
Helpers
____________________________________
Maintenance laborers
........... ..............
Mftintftnftnce wnrlrerSt P, A-0 .........
Helpers ______________________________________
Maintenance and servinfi workers, n. e. c
.
_
__
Helpers________________________________ _______
Mechanics , ............................... ............................... t
Helpers________________________________________
Metal drawers__________________ ___________________
Metal handlers____ _________ _____ ___________________
Mp.tai
and loa d ers ..................
Metal handlers (car loaders)________________________
Mill operators, crush and grind ........... _
Helpers _________________________ ____________
M ill operators, n. e. c _____________ _______________
_______________________________________
H elp ers
Mil] workers, miscellaneous, n, e, c .. ..
Helpers __________ ____________ - ____________
Miscellaneous mill workers, n. e. c _________________
Helpers __________________ ____________________ _________
Mixer (pug-mill) operators........................ .................. .
Mixing-machine (pottery) op erators____ __________
M old changers_____________ _________ _________ _________
M old coolers_____ _________________________________
M old fishers________________________________ ______
M old painters, greasers, sprayers___________________
Motormen, tram____________________________ ______
Motormen, trammers and larrymen ______________ _____
Motormen and larrymen___________________________
Motormen’s and larrymen’s helpers________________
Office workers, miscellaneous, n. e. c ______ - ___ - ___
Oilers and greasers .
_ _ _
___ ________________
Oilers, plant__________________________ _______ - ___
Ore handlers_______________________________________
Ore and metal handlers___ _________ __________________
Other furnace operators, n. e. c _____________________
Helpers..
...........
..................... ........ .*_________________
Other maintenance workers, n. e. c _________________
Helpers_____ __________ ____________________________
Other plant workers, n. e. c________________________
Helpers________________________________________
Other smelter workers, n. e. c ______________________
Helpers
________________________________________
Other workers, n. e. c ______________________________
Painters___________________________________________
Pipefitters_______ ____________________________________
_________________
____________________
Pipefitters’
helpers
Pottery handlers______ ______________________________
Pourers and ladlers_________________________________
Powerhouse workers, n. e. c ________________________
Powerhouse workers____________________________ ____
Pumpmen _______ __________ ____________________________
Pumpmen, acid___ _________________ ___________________________
Rackers __________________ ______________________________
Repairmen, plant equipment __________ _______________
Helpers_______ _____________ _______________________
Repairmen, n. e. c______________. . . . _______________
________ __________________________________
Helpers
Repairmen, track ________ __________ . . . . ________ ______
Retort and condenser makers ________________________________
Reverberatory-furnace chargers_____ . . . . __________
Reverberatory-furnace operators__ _________________
Reverberatory-furnace tappers___ _________________________
Riggers.................................................................................
Roaster operator_________ ____ ____ ___ ___________
Helpers.........................................................................
Zinc
Lead
Electro Electro
lytic pro
lytic
copper duction of
refining
zinc
$0,875
$1,397
.780
$0,943
1.267
.910
.943
.777
.928
.899
$0,962
.826
.986
1.047
.806
$0,865
.664
.824
.799
.964
.795
.926
.863
.989
1.024
.834
.923
.794
.900
.782
.992
.791
.880
.750
.817
.813
.764
.899
.840
.814
.833
.846
.808
.905
.920
.810
.808
.880
.862
.858
.793
.776
.788
.704
.900
.802
.839
.712
.822
.818
.785
.969
.812
.863
.741
.864
.813
.782
1.004
.815
.846
.901
.999
.829
.921
.881
.902
.988
.976
1.018
.852
.816
.914
.809
.890
.848
.959
.839
.691
.980
.801
.889
.831
.875
.931
.885
.980
.861
68
WAGE STRUCTURE!— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
T a b l e 4 4 . — Straight-Time Average Hourly Earnings of Workers in Nonferrous - Metals
Industry, by Branch, Occupation, and Region, June 1942— Continued
SMELTING AND BEFINING— Continued
Smelting
Occupation
Copper
Samplers
___ ___- - Helpers________________________________________
gcrPfWniP.n, jigmfvn
_
_
Helpers________________________________________
Screen and filter operators__________________________
SinterinjMTiacbinft npp.rat.nrs _n
_
____
Helpers_____________ __________________________
Sinter (roaster) operators___________________________
Stampers ________________________________________
Stenographers__ - _____________________ - ___________
Storeroom men_____________________________________
Storeroom and warehouse workers......... ......................
__________________________ - ______________
S trip p ers
S tuffers___________________________________________
Switchboard operators, power........................................
Switchmen, railroad_____ ____________________ _____
Tank operators____________________________________
Technicians______________ - ________________________
Technicians’ assistants__ __________________________
Tinsmiths_________________________________________
Helpers________________________________________
Track repairmen___________________________________
Track repairmen, railroad_____ _______________ ____
Transportation workers, n. e. c _______________ _____
Helpers________________________________________
Truck and tractor drivers____________________ _____
Truck drivers______________________________ ____ __
Truckers, hand____________________________________
Voltmeter m en_____________________________________
Washers and dryers________________________________
W atchmen_________________________________________
Weighers and samplers_____________________________
Weighers___________________________________________
Welders___________________________________________
Zinc
$0.815
.777
Lead
$0,744
$0,798
.811
.837
Electro Electro
lytic
lytic pro
copper duction of
refining
zinc
$0,828
.793
$0,984
.896
.908
.865
.749
.928
.795
.843 .................
.868
.759
.923
.954
.909
.944
.908
.823
.863
1.107
.747
.980
.844
1.057
.839
.706
.714
.808
.870
.837
.769
.763
.819
.904
.814
.862
. 898
.850
.706
.845
.796
.794
.858
.870
.765
1.017
A comparison of the occupational averages presented in these
tables with the 1941 data published earlier reveals that for the most
part the wage increases have been relatively uniform from one occupa
tion to another. A change in the method of computing certain aver
ages in one large plant has resulted in apparent wage decreases in two
occupations. Actually, all occupations have experienced some wage
increase.
A p p e n d ix —OCCUPATIONAL
DISTRIBUTION OF WORK
ERS IN THE PRIMARY FABRICATION BRANCHES
OF THE INDUSTRY, AUGUST 1941
T a b le A . — Number of Workers in Various Branches of Primary Fabrication of Miscel
laneous Nonferrous Metals, by Occupation and Region, August 1941
ALLOYING, ROLLING, AND DRAWING COPPER, BRASS, AND BRONZE
New
Eng
land
Mid
dle
A t
lan
tic
Other
Occupation
A ll occupations......................... 10,408 6,460
5,360
Painters......................................
Picklers..................................... .
Pipe fitte rs .-.............................
Pourers...................................... .
Powerhouse engineers..............
Powerhouse fi remen............... .
Power-press operators............ .
R od and tube draw bench
operators................................
Helpers................................
R od and tube pointing opera
tors,.........................................
Rod-straightener operators....
Rollers....................................... .
Rollers, break-down and run
d ow n__ _______ ___________
Rollers, finishing..................... .
Rollers, helpers.........................
Saw filers...................................
Saw operators............................
Helpers— .........................
Scalping-machine operators...
Scrap handlers..........................
Scrapmen, extruding.............. .
Set-up m en................................
Shear operators____ _________
Sheet straighteners...................
Shipping clerks.........................
Shipping helpers.......... ...........
Slitting-machine operators___
Stickers.......................................
Store and stock-room keepers.
Strand m en................................
Tinners.......................................
Tool and die makers............. .
Truckers, hand.........................
Truckers, m otor........................
Tube straighteners...................
W atchmen.................................
Weighers....................................
Welders and brazers................
Wire drawing operators...........
Helpers................................
Occupation
215
Annealers and heat treaters...
228
Helpers...............................
23
Apprentices...............................
Baling and briquetting opera
47
tors...........................................
22
Bricklayers...... ..........................
54
Carpenters.................................
16
Catchers.....................................
19
Chief clerks....... ........................
203
Coilers, sheets...........................
Crane operators.........................
339
25
Die s e tte rs ................................
D um m y blockm en...................
10
95
Electricians...............................
25
Engine-lathe operators............
Extrusion-press operators.......
24
14
H elp ers-.._____ _________
Foremen and assistants, work
ing................... .......................
327
Furnace operators.....................
158
Helpers........... .....................
31
Furnace operators, preheating.
2
Helpers...............................
60
Gaugers............ ........................
16
Grinding-machine operators .
244
Inspectors.................................
Janitors......................................
58
863
Laborers.................................... .
28
Learners....................................
143
Loaders and unloaders........... .
Machine repairmen..................
226
Helpers................................
71
Maintenance workers, not
elsewhere classified.............. .
133
138
Helpers............................... .
35
Millwrights.............................. .
Oilers..........................................
51
Office workers, not elsewhere
classified....... .........................
Other plant workers, not else
where classified.................... . 1,551
128
145
48
25
7
5
69
186
19
1
85
61
5
14
11
24
13
2
92
161
53
13
38
11
10
9
27
9
237
87
175
210
38
37
16
12
29
202
22
531
24
131
82
23
68
35
16
15
32
300
26
805
50
21
142
30
56
53
17
44
52
34
24
554
411
927
670
New
Eng
land
M id
dle
A t Other
lan
tic
20
123
24
172
42
34
18
11
72
11
25
19
32
49
8
88
13
4
8
11
36
355
129
128
32
123
51
143
65
82
62
18
62
54
71
19
134
65
257
12
213
65
58
75
12
18
90
44
47
308
77
202
52
40
10
119
86
210
73
124
85
63
283
41
65
90
345
13
87
38
6
63
13
12
87
28
20
160
56
146
20
37
85
71
10
125
54
4
35
12
40
43
26
22
148
13
92
18
57
30
97
62
57
80
43
66
20
114
31
38
28
20
74
21
63
54
40
57
8
69
70
T
WAGE STRUCTURE)— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
A ,— Number of Workers in Various Branches of Primary Fabrication of Miscel
laneous Nonferrous Metals, by Occupation and Region, August 1941— C o n t in u e d
able
ALLOYIN G, ROLLING, A N D D R A W IN G MISCELLANEOUS NONFERROUS M ETALS
M iddle
Atlantic
Occupation
All occupations
.
T _ „ _.
1,025
Annealers.................................................................................
Helpers............. ................................................................
Assfimhlers and finisher* _ _____
___ __
Bookkeepers___________________ ______ __________ ____
Box makers___________________________________________
Carpenters___________________________________________
Catchers........................... .......................................................
Clerical, plant.......... . . . . ...... ..................................
.
..
__ ...
P ie makp.rs __ ___
Electricians
Extrusion-press operators_____________________________
Helpers___ _____ ______ _____________ _____ ______
Foremen and assistant foremen, process, working..........
Foremen, labor, working _ __
____ ___ _________
Furnace operators______ _______________ ______ __ ____
Furnacemen, preheating..................... .......................... .......
Helpers___________ ____ ________ _________________
Inspectors _______ ____
________ - _______
Janitors _____
_________ ____ __________________________
Laborers______________________ _____ _________________
Loaders and unloaders__________________ _____ _______
Machinists’ helpers_______________________ ____ ______
Maintenance workers, not elsewhere classified................
Helpers_______________ _____ ______________ ______
Mechanics............... ................................................................
M elters____ ____________________ _________ _____ _____
Metallurgists_________________________________________
Millwrights____________________________ _•_____________
Helpers........ ........ ............................................................
Miscellaneous plant workers__________________________
Office-machine operators_________________________ ____
Oilers, plant machinery____ ________________ _____ ___
Other clerical workers_________________________ ____ __
Packers
____ ____________________________________
Pickling and washing............................................................
Plant-machinery repairmen______________ ____________
Pourers_____________ ____ ______________ ______ ______
Pouring and casting workers, not elsewhere classified...
Powerhouse workers, not elsewhere classified...................
Press operators, forming, die casting.................................
Punch-press operators......... ................. ...............................
R o lle r s ______________________________________________
Helpers______________________________ _________ __
Saw operators_________ ____ __________________________
Helpers___________________________________________
Scalping-machine op era tors__________________________
Helpers .
_
. ____________________________
Scrap handlers______ _____________________ _____ _____
Scrap-processing workers, not elsewhere classified_____
Shear operators.___________ ____________ ________ ____
Helpers
_
_
_
_____ ________
Shipping clerks..................... ..................................................
Shipping workers.......... ........ ............................. .................
Slitting and shearing-machine operators_______________
Stenographers..........................................................................
_ ___________________________________
Stickers
.
Stock clerks_____ ____ ____________ ____ ______________
Straightening workers
. . . _____
___________
T ool and die workers, not elsewhere cla ssified ________
T ruck drivers___ ______ ______________ _______ _______
Truckers, mechanical ________________________________
W atchmen________ ____ _________ ____ _______________
East Cen
tral
Border
2,831
1,675
16
39
30
1
21
11
8
3
9
1
20
44
4
9
1
17
101
20
2
7
13
12
116
12
20
10
1
16
4
19
2
14
1
0
13
4
20
25
1
2
13
3
10
2
26
2
2
21
3
63
38
7
&
8
8
23
2
197
12
256
30
3
17
15
15
27
3
5
2
136
5
1
26
144
4
35
18
35
6
70
31
76
21
2
16
19
12
430
10
12
30
64
18
54
47
43
16
30
20
187
87
24
20
18
18
21
16
48
57
6
166
18
33
12
20
47
14
5
23
41
83
9
4
7
54
725
8
5
6
3
27
98
8
7
35
4
26
2
42
10
11
92
112
14
34
13
17
74
19
78
34
25
107
27
207
78
19
34
38
1
38
2
3
42
20
44
10
29
1
1
14
9
97
23
6
14
14
Other
35
1
9
21
13
14
10
8
1
84
44
3
2
1
13
2
3
2
88
14
13
26
64
22
17
30
1
4
3
4
11
24
14
8
NONFERROUS-METAL FOUNDRIES
Occupation
A ll occupations. _
Apprentices.........
Assemblers..........
Bookkeepers........
Carpenters...........
Casting cleaners.
C nippers..............
New
East
England Central
515
4,557
20
West
Central
South
ern
861
342
3~
30
20
" i3 ~
12
212
47
"14
W est
ern
Other
723
14
39
7
8
16
24
82
1
1
8
6
71
APPENDIX
T
A .— Number of Workers in Various Branches of Primary Fabrication of Miscel
laneous Nonferrous Metals, by Occupation and Region, August 1941— Continued
able
NONFERROUS-METAL FOUNDRIES— Continued
Occupation
New
East
England Central
West
Central
126
26
95
333
71
2
6
6
98
75
146
14
216
15
161
10
394
14
32
26
36
17
59
8
157
93
538
287
3
53
133
50
158
41
125
71
46
35
48
104
42
16
10
19
20
66
60
40
15
2
7
9
95
17
2
9
13
14
6
18
24
13
48
9
14
5
5
11
8
79
1
6
4
9
6
2
3
41
Core cleaners..............................................................
Core-oven tenders....................................- ................
Core pasters................................................................
Coremakers, hand and machine......... .......... ........
Helpers__________ _________________________
Crane operators......................... ............. .................
Drill-press operators................. - ..............................
Engine-lathe operators.............................................
Filers............................................................................
Foremen and assistant foremen, working_______
Furnace operators............................ ............. ..........
Helpers............. . ............................................ .
Grinder operators............................ ............. ..........
Heat treaters..............................................................
Inspectors and testers____ _______________ _____
Janitors________ ________ _____________________
Laborers____ ________ _________________ _______
Lathe operators, other..............................................
Learners, not elsewhere classified______________
Machine repairmen..................................................
Maintenance workers, not otherwise classified
Helpers.................................................................
M illwrights-...............................................................
Molders, apprentices.............. ..................................
Molders, bench..........................................................
Molders, floor............................................................
Molders, hand and machine__ ________________
Molders’ helpers..................................... .................
Molders, learners...................... ...................... ........
Office clerical workers......... ......................... .........
Other foundry workers._____ ______ ___________
Pattern makers, wood and metal.............. ...........
Plant clerical workers...............................................
Polishers and buffers............ ............ .......................
Pourers............. ........................ ................... ..............
Helpers.................................................................
Sandblast operators____________________________
Sand conditioners............................ ........................
Saw operators_________________ ____ __________
Shake-out m en ........................ .................................
Shipping workers..................... ...............................
Store and stock keepers________________________
Timekeepers______ ____ _______________________
T ool and die makers__ ________________________
Truck and tractor drivers______________________
Truckers, hand.
___________________
Turret-lathe operators_________________________
W atchmen..................................................... .........
Welders_______
_____________________________
39
6
1
1
6
25
14
23
3
2
84
5
2
2
1
1
9
36
36
58
16
5
8
15
2
6
12
2
6
9
8
6
1
1
4
9
South
ern
7
53
17
37
62
6
12
69
8
27
5
4
3
13
4
10
19
5
1
12
33
40
12
1
W est
ern
Other
9
4
23
24
7
36
1
33
1
108
1
6
4
2
15
2
4
55
14
74
40
6
4
75
4
7
35
12
1
21
12
15
31
8
13
26
4
3
1
2
3
2
7
1
1
5
10
1
4
3
5
16
5
1
2
7
12
1
11
3
12
115
13
11
20
15
34
36
56
23
129
34
4
280
1
16
5
U
d
G
13
115
85
100
77
10
19
59
18
47
9
9
1
9
10
8
21
32
9
3
5
10
3
40
24
6
SECONDARY NONFERROUS-METAL SMELTERS
M id
dle East
A t Cen
lan tral
tic
Other
All occupations________ _____ 1,858 1,368
744
10
11
3
17
12
12
12
7
4
3
2
9
47
254
225
6
14
12
9
346
95
37
18
31
261
173
1
7
75
26
191
141
39
17
21
no
75
12
3
2
1
148
25
13
3
Occupation
Bookkeepers.-_______________
Briquetting operators________
Crane operators......................
Extrusion-presss operators___
Foremen
and
assistants,
working___________________
Furnace operators.......... .........
Helpers __________ ______
Grinding-machine operators...
Janitors......................... ..............
Laborers, general......................
Laborers, maintenance___. . . .
Laborers, process____________
Loaders and unloaders.............
Maintenance workers, oth er..
Helpers.................................
Occupation
Mechanics___________________
Metal mixers..............................
Other clerical workers________
Other plant workers_________
Packers.................. ....................
Plant clerks................................
Samplers.....................................
Scrap handlers_____ _________
Stenographers............................
Technicians..................... ..........
Technicians’ assistants.............
Truck drivers________________
Truckers, hand______ _______
Watchmen__________________
Weighers______ . . . ________
M id
dle East
A t Cen Other
lan tral
tic
33
27
29
153
15
55
2
195
38
19
30
25
69
45
19
9
21
18
55
19
11
122
16
2
8
24
25
14
19
6
6
3a
106
14
37
1
64
13
7
1
5
7
8
16
•72
'T
WAGE STRUCTURE'— NONFERROUS METALS INDUSTRY
A.— Number of Workers in Various Branches of Primary Fabrication of Miscel
laneous Nonferrous Metals, by Occupation and Region, August 1941— Continued
able
MAC11INED-PRODUCTS PLANTS
M id- East
A t Cen
lantic tral
Occupation
Other
4,216
All occupations.
Annealers....................................
Assemblers........ ................. .......
Assistant foremen, w ork in g...
Beginners and learners_______
Blanking-press operators........
Boring-machine operators.......
Brazers........................................
Buffers________ ____ ________
Burrers, hand and m achine.. .
’ Casting cleaners........................
Checkers, yard and shipping..
Core pasters..............................
*Coremakers, hand and ma
chine_______ _____ ________
D ie casting, forging, forming
and punching workers not
elsewhere classified................
Die and tool workers, n. e. c._
Draftsm en............................... .
Drill-press operators.................
Electricians...............................
Engine-lathe operators.............
Flaskmakers..... .........................
Foremen, working.....................
Furnace operators.....................
Helpers___________ ______
•Grinding-machine operators...
Hand truckers____ _________
Inspectors --------- ------- ---------Janitors and custodial workers
Laborers, general........ .............
Laborers, p lan t........................
Laborers, stores, stock and
warehouse ......... ...................
Lathe operators, n. e. c ............
Loaders and unloaders_______
Machine operators’ helpers,
n. e. c ....... ..................... .........
163
29
£9
12
20
14
24
65
22
10
28
11
46
47
22
34
126
10
23
10
97
46
24
107
79
408
43
103
107
73
85
104
M id- East
Cen Other
lantic tral
At
Occupation
Maintenance workers, n. e. c..
Lelpers................................
Millwrights................................
Helpers........... ....................
Mold-making workers, n. e. c.
Holders, bench, hand..............
Belpers................................
Holders, machine.....................
H elpers...............................
Other clerical workers, n. e. c.
Other miscellaneous workers,
n. e. c._....................................
Packers.......................................
Plant clerks................................
Platers.........................................
Helpers.................... ............
Polishers....................................
Fourers....................................
Repairmen, p la n t....................
Saw operators, m etal...... ........
Scrap-processing workers, n.
e. c ________________________
Screw-machine operators____
Set-up m e n .................... ..........
Shake-out m en..........................
Shipping clerks.........................
Shipping workers...... ...............
Stenograpt: crs. .......................
Store and stock k eep ers.........
Threading-machine operators
I.e ’ p e r s ..............................
Tool makers___________ _____
Tool-shed attendants...............
Turret lathe operators.............
T y p is ts _____________ _______
"Watchmen.. _____ ____ _____
Welding and soldering work
ers, n. e. c ______________ _
37
25
20
13
46
10
19
38
34
58
2
1
3
5
4
22
1
7
170
46
275
24
32
29
19
6
20
11
11
6
29
41
5
11
12
18
1
1
Ur,
91
11
18
17
9
4
9
23
82
24
46
26
65
39
27
114
20
30
1
3
4
10
1
1
2
7
NONFERROUS M ETAL-DIE-CASTIN G PLANTS
Occupation
United
States
All occupations________
2,405
________
Beginners and learners..
•Cleaners, castings
'Clerical, plant
Die-casting operators—
Helpers __________
Die makers____________
D ie setters____________
Draftsmen
Drill-press operators----E lectrician s.__________
Filers, castings
Foremen and assistants,
working. .
____ __
47
29
292
79
291
26
207
27
18
80
14
105
57
Occupation
Grinding-machine oper
ators
Inspectors,
final_______
Apprentices
Inspectors, rough______
Janitors.................... .......
Laborers, general______
Laborers, process______
Lathe operators..............
Loaders and unloaders.Melters and melters’
helpers _____________
Millwrights___________
Other clerical workers,
not elsewhere classi
fied ...............................
United
States
25
115
210
27
16
35
15
14
64
13
38
Occupation
Ot her
m ain ten an ce
workers, n. e. c . _ ........
Belpers.................. .
Other plant workers___
Helpers, n. e. c.........
P ackers...........................
Plant-equipment repair
m en...................... .........
Punch-press operators..
Shipping clerks...........
Stenographers_________
T ool makers....................
Tool-room attendants. _
Truck d rive rs_________
Truckers, hand________
W atchm en.___________
United
States
45
26
88
87
59
26
55
22
21
41
21
12
31
27