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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 O F L A B O R
F rances P erk in s, Secretary
B U R E A U O F L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S
Isador L u b in , C om m issioner
W ages, H ours, and W o rk in g Conditions
in the Set-U p Paper-Box Industry
1933, 1934, and 1935
+
C om p iled b y
D ivision of Wages, Hours, and Working Conditions
J A C O B P E R L M A N , C h ie f
Bulletin N o . 633
June 1937
U N IT E D S T A T E S
G O V E R N M E N T P R I N T I N G O FFIC E
W A S H IN G T O N : 1937
F o r sale b y th e S u p e rin te n d e n t o f D o cu m e n ts, W a sh in g ton , D . C-
-
P rice 15 cen ts
CONTENTS
P age
Preface_______________________________________________________________________________
Su m m ary ____________________________________________________________________________
vn
1
C h a p t e r I.— Scope and m eth od :
Pay-roll periods covered______________ I ______________________________________
5
Analysis of sam p le____________________________________________________________
5
N ature of data collected_____________________________________________________
C h a p t e r I I .— Average hourly earnings:
7
Changes for the country as a w hole________________________________________
9
Changes by sex and region__________________________________________________
11
Changes by occupational classes____________________________________________
17
C h a p t e r I I I .— W eekly hours:
Changes in averages__________________________________________________________
22
Changes in percentage distributions of em ployees_______________________
24
Changes by occupational classes____________________________________________
28
C h a p t e r I V .— W eekly earnings:
Changes in averages__________________________________________________________
33
Changes in percentage distributions of em p loyees_______________________
35
Changes by occupational classes____________________________________________
C h a p t e r V .— Earnings and hours by unionization, size of plant, size of city,
39
and typ e of plan t:
Com parisons between union and nonunion p lan ts_______________________
43
Com parisons by size of p la n t_______________________________________________
44
Com parisons by size of c ity _________________________________________________
Independent versus consumer p lan ts_______________________________________
C h a p t e r V I .— M eth ods of wage paym ent and scheduled hours of work:
Basic m ethods of wage p a ym e n t____________________________________________
Changes in m ethods of wage p a ym e n t_____________________________________
Proportion of piece workers by sex_________________________________________
Average hourly earnings by m ethod of wage p a y m e n t__________________
Overtim e p a y __________________________________________________________________
Scheduled hours of w ork_____________________________________________________
C h a p t e r V II.-— Personnel policies and working condititions:
46
47
T h e working force - __________________________________________________________
H irin g___________________________________________________________________________
63
64
49
53
54
55
57
60
L ayin g off and discharging__________________________________________________
67
Job training____________________________________________________________________
68
Lunch and rest periods_______________________________________________________
69
H olid ay observance___________________________________________________________
V acation s_______________________________________________________________________
Sick leave w ith p a y ___________________________________________________________
69
70
72
Physical working conditions_________________________________________________
72
Safety program s_______________________________________________________________
Social and health activities__________________________________________________
73
73
Insurance, pension, savings, and loan p lan s_______________________________
74
H om e or contract w ork _______________________________________________________
76
h i
Wages and hours3 set-up paper-box industry
IV
Page
A p p e n d i x I .— E m p loy m en t, m an-hours, and pay rolls_______________________
A p p e n d i x I I .— T ech n ological processes and occupational descriptions:
77
G eneral_________________________________________________________________________
Preparatory group of operations____________________________________________
80
82
Shaping and setting-up group of operations_______________________________
86
Stripping or covering group o f operations___ ______________________________
88
Finishing group of operations_______________________________________________
90
M iscellaneous group of indirect operations________________________________
Occupational classifications u se d ____________________________________________
91
92
A p p e n d ix I I I .— D etailed statistical tables:
T able A . D istribution of em ployees according
to
average
hourly
earnings b y region and sex____________________________________
99
T able B . D istribution of em ployees according to weekly hours b y
region and sex___________________________________________________
107
T able C . D istribution of em ployees according to weekly earnings by
region and sex___________________________________________________
115
List o f Summary Tables
T able
1.— Coverage of survey during each of three pay-roll periods_______
2.
— Coverage of survey according to region and typ e and size of
3.
— Average hourly earnings b y region and sex __________________
4.
— Percentage distribution of all em ployees in the country as a
5.
— Percentage distributions of em ployees according to average
plant, A u gu st 1 9 3 5 ________________________________________________
whole according to average hourly earnings---------------------------hourly earnings b y region and sex______________________________
Average hourly earnings b y region, sex, and occupational
class_________________________________________________________________
7.
— Average weekly hours b y region and sex______________________
8. — Percentage distributions of em ployees according to weekly
hours b y region and sex __________________________________________
9. — Average weekly hours b y region, sex, and occupational cla ss. _
10.
— Average weekly earnings b y region and sex_______ ___________
11. — Percentage distributions of em ployees according to weekly
earnings b y region and sex______________________________________
12.
— Average weekly earnings b y region, sex, and occupational
6
6
9
9
13
6'.—
class_________________________________________________________________
13.
14.
17
22
24
28
33
35
39
— Average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and average
weekly earnings b y union and nonunion plants in N ew
Y o rk C ity _____________________________________
— Average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and average
44
weekly earnings b y size of plan t in 240 identical northern
establishm ents_____________________________________________________
— Average hourly earnings, average w eekly hours, and average
weekly earnings b y size of city in 240 identical northern
45
15.
establishm ents_____________________________________________________
— Average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and average
weekly earnings b y identical independent and consumer
47
16.
plants in the N o r th _______________________________________________
48
17.
— Classification of establishm ents according to m ethod of wage
paym en t b y region and typ e o f plant, A ugust 1 9 3 5 _________
49
Contents
V
P age
T able 18.— Classification of employees according to method of wage pay
ment by region and occupational class____________________
19. — Piece workers in selected occupations by sex, August 1935__
20. — Average hourly earnings by method of wage payment for
selected occupations_____________________________ -_______
21. — Overtime compensation in 413 establishments by region and
type of plant, August 1935_______________________________
22. — Classification of plants according to scheduled workdays per
week and hours per day and per week___________________
23. — Classification of 414 plants according to hiring agency by
size of establishment, August 1935_______________________
24. — Classification of 411 plants according to a minimum hiringage limit________________________________________________
25. :—Classification of 275 plants according to discharging agency by
size of establishment, August 1935_______________________
26. — Classification of 242 plants having provisions for appeal by
discharging agency, August 1935_________________________
27. — Classification of 418 plants according to length of lunch
period by region, August 1935____________________________
28.— Holiday observance in 418 plants by region, August 1935
29.— Vacations with pay for wage earners in eight plants________
30. — Planned vacations in 419 plants, August 1935____________
31. — Classification of establishments by kind of insurance as to
region and size of plant,August 1935______________________
32. — Relative changes in employment, man-hours, and pay rolls for
identical plants__________________________________________
51
55
56
58
60
65
65
67
68
69
69
70
71
75
77
L is t o f C h a r ts
C hart 1.— Average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and average
weekly earnings, May 1933, August 1934, and August 1935_vm
2. — Cumulative percentage distribution of employees according
to average hourly earnings, May 1933, August 1934, and
August 1935_____________________________________________
10
3. — Average hourly earnings by region and sex, May 1933,
August 1934, and August 1935___________________________
12
4. — Average weekly hours by region and sex, May 1933, August
1934, and August 1935___________________________________
23
5. — Cumulative percentage distribution of employees according
to weekly hours, May 1933, August 1934, and August 1935__
26
6. — Average weekly earnings by region and sex, May 1933,
August 1934, and August 1935__________________________
34
7. — Cumulative percentage distribution of employees according
to weekly earnings, May 1933, August 1934, and August
1935____________________________________________________
37
8. — Scheduled hours per week in the set-up paper-box industry
indicated by percentage distribution of 419 plants, May
1933, August 1934, and August 1935_____________________
61
9. — Minimum hiring age in set-up paper-box industry in 419
plants, August 1935_____________________________________
66
10. — Employment, man-hours, and pay rolls, May 1933, August
1934, and August 1935___________________________________
78
11. — Processes in the manufacture of set-up paper boxes_______
82
PREFACE
In the fall of 1935, the Bureau conducted for the first time a survey
of wages, hours, and working conditions in two important branches of
the converted paper products industry, set-up paper boxes and fold
ing paper boxes. This report covers only the set-up paper-box branch,
the report for the folding paper-box branch having been issued
recently (Bull. No. 620).
As in the case of folding paper boxes, the purpose of the survey was
twofold: First, the Bureau wished to extend the scope of its work to
include small industries; and second, it sought to find out what
happened to wages and hours following the adoption of the N. R. A.
code and what changes took place after the code was abandoned.
The Bureau wishes to extend its sincere thanks to the many em
ployers who cooperated by furnishing the data on which this report is
based. It is also indebted to the Set-Up Paper Box Association for
its assistance in the survey.
This report was prepared under the direction of Jacob Perlman,
chief of the Division of Wages, Hours, and Working Conditions of
the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The text was written by Victor S.
Baril (chs. I to V inclusive and appendix I) and Frances Jones (chs.
VI and VII). Mr. Baril also prepared appendix II under the super
vision of Philip L. Jones. Other persons who have contributed
toward the compilation of the data are Abner C. Lakenan, John T.
O brien, and Dorothy S. Smith. The field representatives who en
gaged in the collection of the information are Thomas J. Armstrong,
Hugh F. Brown, James P. Corkery, Fabian C. Cox, Fred B. Cunning
ham, Dorrian D. Densmoor, Wilbert E. Dinger, Clarence H. Doughty,
Victor E. Green, Francis G. Gregory, Thomas P. Henson, John F.
Laciskey, Edward T. McGrath, William B. Pettit, Willis C. Quant,
Charles Rubenstein, Paul A. Sherier, Madison R. Smith, Frank I.
Snyder, Louis M. Solomon, George E. Votava, Paul E. Warwick,
Oscar R. Witmer, and John H. York.
I sador L ubin ,
Commissioner of Labor Statistics.
May 1, 1937.
V II
Wages and hours, set-wp paper-box industry
VIII
AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS, AVERAGE WEEKLY
HOURS, AND AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS
MAY 1933, AUGUST 1934, AND AUGUST 1935
Cents
Mat
1933
Aug.
H ours
1934
Aug
1935
hours '
AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS
May 1933
Dollars
U. S. B ureau
Cents
AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS
of
Aug 1934
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS
L abor S tatistics
C h a r t 1.
Aug. 1935
D ollars
Bulletin T^o. 633 of the
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
W ages, H ours, and W o rk in g Conditions in the
Set-up Paper-Box Industry, 1933, 1934, and 1935
Summary
1. This survey of the set-up paper-box industry covered a repre
sentative sample of plants in three periods— a precode period in May
1933, a code period in August 1934, and a postcode period in August
1935.
2. The average hourly earnings of all workers were 43.6 cents in
August 1935, 44.7 in August 1934, and 34.5 in May 1933.
3. The code led to a sharp decline between May 1933 and August
1934 in the relative number of workers earning less than the amounts
established as basic code minima for each sex and region. Thus, only
5.1 percent of the males in the North earned less than 37.5 cents per
hour in August 1934, as compared with 32.0 percent in May 1933.
Only 4.2 percent of the females in the North and 11.3 percent of the
males in the South earned less than 32.5 cents per hour in August
1934, as against 68.0 and 64.8 percent respectively in May 1933.
Only 8.4 percent of the females in the South received less than 30
cents per hour in August 1934, as compared with 89.2 percent in May
1933.
4. The increase in average earnings per hour also extended to the
wage classes above the code minima. All of the occupational classes
showed higher average hourly earnings under the code than before the
code.
5. On the whole, most of the gains in average hourly earnings made
between May 1933 and August 1934 were still maintained after the
code was discontinued. The industry average declined to 43.6
cents by August 1935, which is a reduction of 1.1 cents. This decrease
was largely due to an increase between August 1934 and August 1935
in the proportion of workers paid less than the former code minima.
The increase occurred largely at. the expense of the groups earning
1
2
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
exactly or only slightly more than the code minima. The changes in
the higher wage classes were on the whole negligible. During this
period, the changes in the averages of the occupational classes were
rather small, most of the advances made between May 1933 and
August 1934 being maintained in August 1935.
6. The principal effects of the maximum-hour provisions of the code
were to reduce the industry average from 39.0 hours in May 1933 to
35.5 hours in August 1934, to decrease sharply the relative number of
employees working over 40 hours per week (from 49.6 to 7.7 percent),
and to bring about a decided concentration at the 40-hour code level
(from 5.6 to 46.0 percent).
7. With the abandonment of the code, the average weekly hours for
all employees rose from 35.5 in August 1934 to 38.2 in August 1935.
The number of workers working 40 hours or less declined from 92.3
percent of the total to 74.3 percent, while the proportion in each of the
classes over 40 hours increased. Similar changes also took place in
the distributions of workers by sex and region. All occupational class
averages, excepting one which remained unchanged, were higher in
August 1935 than in August 1934.
8. The average weekly earnings of all workers in the industry rose
from $13.45 in May 1933 to $15.87 in August 1934, a gain of $2.42.
This increase was the result of a sharp rise in average hourly earnings
(10.2 cents), which more than counteracted the decline (3.5 hours)
in the average workweek. The extent to which the increase in
average weekly earnings affected the individual employees is evidenced
by the drop in the relative number of workers in each of the wage
classes under $12 per week and the increase in the relative number of
workers in each of the wage classes of $12 and over. The total number
receiving $12 or more increased from 49.2 to 76.5 percent. On the
whole, similar changes also took place for each sex and region. The
average weekly earnings were higher in August 1934 than in May 1933
in practically all of the occupational classes shown.
9. The average earnings per week continued to rise even after the
code was abolished, the industry average increasing from $15.87 in
August 1934 to $16.66 in August 1935. This advance was brought
about by a gain of 2.7 hours in the length of the average workweek, an
increase large enough to offset the drop of 1.1 cents in the average
hourly earnings. Although on a more limited scale, the upward shift
of workers from lower to higher wage classes also continued after the
code was abandoned. A similar trend was shown in the data for each
sex and region. With a few exceptions, the average weekly earnings
increased in the various occupational classes between August 1934 and
August 1935.
Summary
3
10. In New York City, during both August 1934 and August 1935,
wages were higher and hours were shorter in union than in nonunion
plants. It is significant, however, that during the preunion period of
May 1933 the plants which later became organized paid lower wages
and worked longer hours than those which remained unorganized dur
ing each of the two later periods.
11. On the whole, workers fared slightly better in consumer plants
producing set-up paper boxes for their own use than in independent
plants producing for the market.
12. The straight-time method of wage payment predominated in
the industry, although about one-third of the employees worked under
piece-work or production-bonus plans. Average hourly earnings for
the same class of employees were generally higher under the latter
methods of wage payment than under straight-time rates. In most
instances, bonus systems produced higher earnings than piece rates.
13. The code resulted in a noteworthy improvement in the payment
of higher rates for overtime. Thus, whereas in May 1933 less than 10
percent of the establishments paid punitive rates for overtime, more
than three-fourths of them were paying in August 1934 the time and
one-third fixed by the code. However, the violation of code overtime
provisions was common. A decided shift back to pro-rata pay for
overtime occurred by August 1935, punitive rates being paid in less
than 30 percent of the plants.
14. Under the code, the full-time workweek was reduced from 6 days
of 44 hours or more to 5 days of 40 hours. The shorter week was
retained by the majority of the plants after the suspension of the code,
although there had occurred some shift back to longer hours by
August 1935.
15. In most plants, the functions of hiring and discharge were exer
cised by the owner or superintendent, although foremen had authority
to hire in 17 and to discharge in 32 percent of all establishments.
Employment departments were found only in a few of the larger plants.
Standards for selection in hiring included a minimum age in a maj ority
and a maximum age in a few of the establishments. Most of the plants
preferred sharing of work to lay-offs. In case of outright dismissal, a
period of notice was given by only one-third of the plants. Appeal
from discharge was allowed in slightly more than a third of the
establishments.
16. Suspension of work for lunch was a uniform practice, the usual
period being 30 minutes in the South and from 30 minutes to 1 hour in
the North.
17. Vacations with pay for wage earners were provided in only 8 of
419 plants, although a much larger number provided vacations to
4
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
office and plant salaried employees. Very few of the establishments
paid for time lost because of sickness to either wage earners or salaried
employees. Holiday observance, usually without pay, was general
throughout the industry.
18. Home or contract work is no longer prevalent in the industry,
with only a few plants following this practice in August 1934 and
August 1935.
19. Between May 1933 and August 1935, employment in the indus
try increased by 24.2 percent and man-hours by 22.0 percent. Due to
the maximum-hour provisions established by the code, employment
advanced considerably more than man-hours between May 1933 and
August 1934. However, the opposite was true between August 1934
and August 1935, which may be explained by the increase in average
weekly hours following the abolition of the code. The rise in pay
rolls between May 1933 and August 1934 amounted to 39.3 percent,
this advance being the result of gains in employment and man-hours
as well as average hourly earnings. Between August 1934 and August
1935, there was a further increase of 12.2 percent in pay rolls, due to
additional gains in employment and man-hours. The total rise in
pay rolls for the period as a whole was 56.3 percent.
Chapter I.— Scope and Method
Pay-Roll Periods Covered
The primary purpose of this survey was to ascertain the changes in
wages and hours of labor in the set-up paper-box industry,1 (1) as a
result of the adoption of both the President’s Reemployment Agree
ment and the code, and (2) as a consequence of the discontinuance of
the code. Hence, information was obtained for three pay-roll periods,
which fell respectively within the last half of May 1933, August 1934,
and August 1935. The first period was about 2 months prior to the
President’s Reemployment Agreement, the second at the halfway mark
of code regulation, and the third about 3 months after the termination
of the code.2
Analysis of Sample
It is difficult to determine accurately the size of the set-up paperbox industry, as no separate figures are published for it by the Bureau
of the Census.3 However, it was estimated that in the fall of 1933
the industry had approximately 800 firms and 35,000 workers.4 In
May 1933, a total of 277 plants with 6,854 employees was covered
by this survey. During each of the 2 succeeding periods, the
sample was increased to 424 plants, which employed 11,864 workers
in August 1934 and 12,681 workers in August 1935.5 Based upon
these figures, it is estimated that approximately one-fourth of the
industry was covered in May 1933 and about one-third in each of the
two later periods. Table 1 gives the coverage for each period by sex
and region.
1 A s d efin ed b y th e code, th is in d u str y em b raced “ th e m an u fa ctu re of boxes m a d e from paperboard an d
other accessory m ateria ls, w h ich , in ord in ary an d regular p ractice, are d elivered to th e con su m er fu lly
erected an d fabricated, in clu d in g boxes m an u fa ctu red b y a m em b er for h is ow n u se, an d in clu d in g jew elry
boxes, cases, an d d isp la y s, w h eth er m a d e of paperboard or n o t.” A lth o u g h covered b y th e set-u p paperbox code, esta b lish m en ts engaged p rim arily in th e m an u fa ctu re of jew elry cases w ere"hot in clu d ed in th e
B u rea u ’s su rv ey , as su ch cases are v e r y often m a d e of w oo d or m eta l.
2 T h e P resid en t’s R e em p lo y m e n t A greem en t w a s ap p ro ved la te in J u ly 1933, an d th e su b stitu te pro
v isio n s coverin g th is in d u str y w ere ad o p ted sh o rtly thereafter. T h ese w ere in effect u n til D e c. 31, 1933.
T h e set-u p paper-box cod e b ecam e effectiv e on Jan . 1, 1934, an d co n tin u ed in force u n til M a y 27,1935, w h en
it w as ab an d o n ed , alon g w ith all other codes, follow in g th e U n ite d S tates Su p rem e C ourt d ecision in th e
S c h ec h te r c a s e .
3 T h is in d u str y is in clu d ed b y th e C en su s of M an u fa ctu res u n d er “ B oxes, p aper, n o t elsew h ere classi
fied ” , w h ich ' in 1933 em b raced 1,104 esta b lish m en ts w ith a to ta l of 53,111 em p loy ees (5,891 salaried w orkers
an d 47,220 w ag e earn ers).
* See letter to th e P resid en t b y N . R . A . A d m in istra to r, H u g h S. Jo h n son , u n d er da te of D e c. 15, 1933,
reco m m en d in g th e ap p ro va l of th e code.
6
O n ly p la n ts h a v in g com p lete records for th e la st 2 p ay-roll periods w ere sch ed u led . T h ere w ere
424 p la n ts th a t h a d records a v aila b le for A u g u st 1934 an d A u g u st 1935, an d of th ese 277 also h ad records for
M a y 1933.
5
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
6
T
able
>— ............—
P a y r o ll
period
M a y 1933______
A u g u st 1934___
A u g u st 1935-----
1 .— Coverage of survey during each of 3 pay-roll periods
U n ite d S ta tes
N o r th
S o u th
N u m b e r of em p lo y ees
N u m b e r of em p lo y ees
N u m b e r of em p lo y ees
N um
N um
N um
ber of
ber of
ber of
p la n ts T o ta l M a les F e p la n ts T o ta l M a les F e p la n ts T o ta l M a les F e
m ales
m ales
m ales
277 6,854
424 11,864
424 12,681
2,337
3,980
4,194
4,517
7,884
8,487
240 6,114
378 10,876
378 11,714
2,070
3,609
3,821
4,044
7,267
7,893
37
46
46
267
371
373
740
988
967
473
617
594
Set-up paper-box plants are distributed over the entire country.
This is no doubt due to the widespread use of this type of box for
packaging purposes as well as to the bulkiness of the product, which
makes it necessary for such plants to be within easy reach of their
market. In all, 34 States were included in the survey. Both of the
regions established by the code were covered, the North including
23 and the South 11 of the 34 States.6 The greater part of this industry
T
able
2.— Coverage of survey according to region and type and size of plant, August
1935
N u m b e r of
em p loy ees
R eg io n an d ty p e of p la n t
N um
ber of o ta l S et-u p
p la n ts Tem
paperp lo y box e m
ees p lo yees
S ize of p la n t1
10
U n
der
10
em
p lo y
ees
an d
u n d er
20
em
p lo y
e es
20
an d
u n d er
30
em
p lo y
ees
30
an d
u nder
50
em
p lo y
ees
50
and
u nder
100
em
p lo y
ees
100 300
an d
un d er
300
em
p lo y
ees
em
p lo y
ees
an d
over
A ll p la n ts____________________________
R egion :
N o r th _____ _____ _
S m ith .
_............. _. _ ...
424
71,726
12,681
46
101
56
64
65
39
53
378
46
60,826
10,900
11,714
967
45
91
54
57
7
59
33
39
14
T y p e of p lan t:
P ap er-b ox p la n ts_______________
P ap er m ills an d p r in tin g esta b
lish m e n ts______________________
C o n su m er p la n ts 3_.........................
345
9
70
13,169
1,376
57,181
10,499
568
1,614
46
101
56
61
59
19
7
13
23
1
10
2
3
6
2
4
6
450
1 In th e case of m ixed p la n ts, i. e ., p aper m ills, p rin tin g e sta b lish m en ts, an d con su m er p la n ts, th e to ta l
em p lo y m en t rather th a n th e set-u p paper-box em p lo y m en t w as u sed to d eterm in e th e size of e sta b lish m en t.
2Of th e paper-box p la n ts, 2 had b etw een 300 an d 500 an d 1 b etw een 500 an d 750 em p loy ees.
s O f th ese con su m er p la n ts, 24 m an u fa ctu red k n it fabrics, 12 tex tile w earin g ap parel, 3 b oots an d sh oes,
7 con fection ery, 9 sta tio n ery an d greetin g cards, 2 drugs an d cosm etics, 3 rubber p rod u cts, an d 10 variou s
sm a ll p rod u cts (m o stly m eta l).
4 O f th e consu m er p la n ts in th is class, 18 h ad b etw een 300 an d 500 em p lo y ees, 9 b etw een 500 an d 750, 10
b etw een 750 an d 1,000, 7 b etw een 1,000 an d 2,000, an d 6 b e tw e e n 3,000 an d 5,000.
6A ccord in g to th e code, th e follow in g 11 S tates covered fell in th e so u th ern d istrict: A lab a m a, A rk an sas,
G eorgia, K e n tu c k y , L o u isian a, N o rth C arolina, O k lahom a, S ou th C arolina, T en n essee, T exa s, an d V ir
gin ia. T h e rem ain in g 23 S tates, w h ich form th e northern d istrict, w ere C alifornia, C olorado, C on n ecticu t,
D elaw are, Illin ois, In d ia n a, Io w a , M a in e, M a ry la n d , M a ssa ch u setts, M ich ig a n , M in n eso ta , M isso u ri,
N eb ra sk a, N e w H a m p sh ire, N e w Jersey, N e w Y ork, O hio, O regon, P en n sy lv a n ia , R h od e Isla n d , W ash
in g ton , an d W isconsin ,
Scope and method
7
is in the North, as evidenced by the fact that in the August 1935
coverage there were 378 plants employing 11,714 workers located in
the North, as against 46 plants with 967 employees in the South.
This industry is also integrated to some extent with other indus
tries. As a result, it was necessary to include in the sample not only
paper-box plants proper, but also paper mills and printing establish
ments manufacturing boxes more or less as a side line, as well as con
sumer plants which make paper boxes for their own use. Thus, of the
424 establishments scheduled, 345 were strictly paper-box plants, 9
were either paper mills or printing establishments, and 70 were con
sumer plants. An analysis of the sample by type and size of plant
for August 1935 will be found in table 2.
Nature of Data Collected
The information collected in this survey pertained to wages and
hours, technological processes and occupational descriptions, and
personnel policies and working conditions.
As regards wages and hours, data were obtained from company
records for each worker concerning his occupation, color,7 sex, method
of wage payment, total hours actually worked, and total earnings.
These data were used to compute average hourly earnings, weekly
hours, and weekly earnings 8 by occupation, sex, region, etc. Special
tabulations were also prepared comparing the data between indepen
dent and consumer plants and according to size of plant, size of city,
and method of wage payment. Furthermore, a tabulation was made
for New York City as to union and nonunion establishments. An
analysis of the wages and hours data is made in chapters II, III, IV,
V, and VI.
A study of wages and hours in an industry is not complete unless
consideration is also given to the labor policies affecting its employees.
The information concerning personnel policies and working conditions
was obtained by means of interviews with company officials in charge
of personnel, and this was supplemented by tabulations from the
pay-roll records. It represents conditions as of August 1935, except
that certain data relating to methods of wage payment and overtime
pay and scheduled hours of work cover each of the three pay-roll
periods for which wage data were obtained. Besides these topics,
there was also obtained information about the type of labor employed,
hiring and firing policies, training, lunch and rest periods, holidays
7C olored w orkers co n stitu ed o n ly a b ou t 1 p ercen t of th e to ta l covered , an d for th is reason n o separate
ta b u la tio n s w ere m ad e for th em .
8T h e average h o u rly earnings w ere co m p u ted b y d iv id in g th e earnings received du rin g th e pay-roll
period covered b y th e actu al hours w ork ed . If th e p a y period exceed ed 1 w eek , th e actu al hours w orked in
1w eek w ith in th e p ay-roll p eriod w ere also o b tain ed , w h ich , m u ltip lied b y th e average h o u rly earnings, gave
th e w e e k ly earnings.
8
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
and vacations, safety programs, and general welfare activities, in
addition to a description of the general physical working conditions in
the plants visited.9 This information is summarized in chapters VI
and VII.
Appendix I shows the changes in employment, man-hours, and
pay rolls in the industry, while appendix II presents an analysis of
the technological processes and occupational descriptions. Lastly,
appendix III gives in detail the wages and hours data upon which
this bulletin is based.
9 W ith respect to this inform ation, the coverage varied according to the num ber of plants th at reported
on each topic.
Chapter II.— Average Hourly Earnings
Changes for the Country as a Whole
Set-up paper-box employees earned an average of 34.5 cents per
hour in May 1933, 44.7 cents in August 1934, and 43.6 cents in August
1935. The average hourly earnings thus increased 10.2 cents, or 29.6
percent, between the precode and code periods and declined 1.1 cents,
or 2.5 percent, between the code and postcode periods. The net
advance between May 1933 and August 1935 was 9.1 cents, or 26.4
percent. These changes are shown in table 3.
T a b l e 3 . — Average
hourly earnings by region and sex
A verage h o u rly earnings
R egion an d sex
May
1933
U n ited S ta tes..................................................
M a les____________________________
F em a les.................................................
N o r th ................................................................. '
M a le s .,.......................................................
F em a les........ ........................................ ..
S o u th ................................................................
M a le s .................. ......................................
F em a les___________________________
m
$0.345
.441
.286
.358
.460
.295
.251
.303
.218
P ercen ta ge change
A u g u st
1934
A u g u st
1935
M a y 1933
to A u g u st
1934
$0.447
.557
.387
.453
.569
.391
.375
.437
.335
$0.436
.545
.378
.442
.556
.382
.367
.429
.325
+ 2 9 .6
+ 2 6 .3
+ 3 5 .3
+ 2 6 .5
+ 2 3 .7
+ 3 2 .5
+ 4 9 .4
+ 4 4 .2
+ 5 3 .7
A u g u st
1934 to
A u g u st
1935
M a y 1933
to A u g u st
1935
- 2 .5
- 2 .2
- 2 .3
- 2 .4
- 2 .3
- 2 .3
-2 .1
- 1 .8
- 3 .0
+ 2 6 .4
+ 2 3 .6
+ 3 2 .2
+ 2 3 .5
+ 2 0 .9
+29. 5
+ 4 6 .6
+ 4 1 .2
+ 4 9 .1
The full extent of the changes in average earnings per hour between
May 1933 and August 1934 and between the latter period and August
1935 is indicated in table 4, which presents the simple and cumulative
T a b l e 4 . — Percentage
distribution of all employees in country as a whole according
to average hourly earnings
M a y 1933
Average hourly earnings
U nder 15 cents..........................................................
15 and under 20 cen ts............................................
20 and under 25 cen ts_________ _______ _____
25 and under 30 cen ts............................................
30 and under 35 cen ts...........................................
35 and under 40 cen ts...........................................
40 and under 45 cen ts............................................
45 and under 50 cen ts............................................
50 and under 55 cen ts............................................
55 and under 60 cen ts............................................
60 and under 70 cen ts............................................
70 and under 80 cen ts............................................
80 and under 100 cen ts..........................................
100 and under 120 cen ts.......................................
120 cents and over............ .....................................
T o ta l
_____
A ugust 1934
A ugust 1935
Sim ple C um u Sim ple C u m u Sim ple C um u
percent lative per percent lative per percent lative per
age
age
age
centage
centage
centage
2.7
7.8
16.7
19.9
15.1
10.8
7.9
4.8
4.3
2.9
4.1
1.8
1.0
.2
0)
100.0
2.7
10.5
27.2
47.1
62.2
73.0
80.9
85.7
90.0
92.9
97.0
98.8
99.8
100.0
100.0
0)
0.1
.4
1.3
26.1
22.3
15.9
9.0
7.2
3.7
6.4
3.7
2.9
.8
.2
100.0
0)
0.1
.5
1.8
27.9 ;
50.2
66.1
75.1
82.3
86.0
92.4
96.1
99.0
99.8
100.0
0)
0.4
1.6
4.9
23.6
21.4
15.2
9.3
7.0
3.7
5.9
3.4
2.8
.6
.2
0 .4
2.0
6.9
30.5
51.9
67.1
76.4
83.4
87.1
93.0
96.4
99.2
99.8
100.0
0)
100.0
1 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
144435
37--------2
9
10
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
percentage distributions of all employees in the country as a whole
according to average hourly earnings. The cumulative percent
age distribution has also been plotted in chart 2.
It is evident from this distribution that the low-paid employees
profited most from the minimum-wage provisions of both the Presi
dent’s Reemployment Agreement and the code. Thus, in August
1934 only 1.8 percent of the employees earned less than 30 cents per
hour, the lowest minimum under the code, whereas 47.1 percent
CUMULATIVE PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYEES
ACCORDING TO AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS
May
1933,
August /934,
August 1935
and
P ercent
P
ercent
100
IUU
"C
9 0
ri
U o G. /9Jr4
9 0
r \jt r >
6 0
/4A\y n 9J.J-7
7 0
't
3 0
A
7 0
6 0
6 0
S O
5 0
4 0
4 0
J
J O
V* m
>fl
20
to
/TJ
/0
20
f r
JO
3 0
D
J
II
J
20
IQ
1
J
^ $
5 2
n
60
70
60
SO
iOO
HO
120
/JO
140
|| ||5| Average H ourly E arn in g s
U. S. B ureau or L abor S tatibtics ^
C h a b t 2.
received less than that amount in May 1933. It is significant that
most of these low-paid workers were shifted to the classes earning
30 and under 45 cents, in which all three of the code minima fall.1
The percentage in these classes advanced from 33.8 in May 1933 to
64.3 in August 1934. However, in each of the higher classes, beginning
with 45 cents, the relative number of employees also increased under
the code. Thus, the rise in the percentages from May 1933 to August
1934 was from 12.0 to 19.9 in the group earning 45 and under 60
cents, from 6.9 to 13.0 in the group earning 60 cents and under $1,
and from 0.2 to 1.0 in the group receiving $1 or over.
i S ee p . 13.
Average hourly earnings
11
On the whole, the changes in average hourly earnings between
August 1934 and August 1935 were confined to the classes under 45
cents. During this period, the percentage of workers earning less
than 30 cents per hour increased from 1.8 to 6.9, most of the increase
occurring at the expense of the group receiving 30 and under 45 cents,
which declined from 64.3 to 60.2 percent. With the exception of
the 45 and under 50 cents class, which increased slightly from 9.0 to
9.3 percent, the remaining classes either remained unchanged or
declined slightly. Between August 1934 and August 1935, the per
centage earning 50 cents and over declined only from 24.9 to 23.6.
Changes by Sex and Region
An examination of the averages by sex and region (see table 3
and chart 3) indicates that between May 1933 and August 1934 the
absolute gains in each region were greater for males but the relative
gains were greater for females. Furthermore, both the absolute and
relative advances for each sex were greater in the South than in the
North. Thus, during this period the average earnings per hour in
creased 10.9 cents (23.7 percent) for males and 9.6 cents (32.5 percent)
for females in the North, and 13.4 cents (44.2 percent) for males and
11.7 cents (53.7 percent) for females in the South. The larger percent
age gains for females in the North and for both sexes in the South may
be attributed to the relatively low precode wages of these groups.
The reduction in average hourly earnings between August 1934 and
August 1935 was more or less uniform for all groups, amounting
to about 1 cent or 2 percent.
Both the regional and sex differentials were affected to some extent
as a result of the changes in average hourly earnings. The regional
differentials in favor of northern workers declined from 15.7 cents in
May 1933 to 12.7 cents in August 1935 for males and from 7.7 cents
in the former period to 5.7 cents in the latter period for females. Con
versely, in each region the differentials favoring males increased
slightly, the advance for northern males being from 16.5 cents in
M ay 1933 to 17.4 cents in August 1935 and for southern males from
8.5 cents in the former period to 10.4 cents in the latter period.
In order to understand fully the influence of both the President’s
Reemployment Agreement and the code on the average earnings per
hour it is essential to examine briefly at this point the wage pro
visions contained in each of these documents. Under the substitute
provisions of the President’s Reemployment Agreement, set-up
paper-box manufacturers agreed not to pay any factory worker
“ less than 40 cents per hour, unless the hourly rate for the same class
of work on July 15, 1929, was less than 40 cents per hour” , in which
case they were “ not to pay less than the hourly rate on July 15, 1929” ,
,
Wages and hours set-up paper-box industry
12
AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS BY REGION AND SEX
MAY 1933, AUGUST 1934, AND AUGUST 1935
MALES-NORTH
0
to
20
CENTS
JO
FEMALES-NORTH
MALES-SOUTH
May 1933
A ug. 1934
Aug. 1935
C h a r t 3.
40
SO
60
13
Average hourly earnings
provided that “ the minimum rate of pay for the least skilled worker
employed in this industry shall be 32.5 cents per hour, except that
in the southern division it shall be 30 cents per hour.” The code
regulations which superseded the above provisions were much more
specific. Thus, “ the minimum rate of wage of any laborer, mechani
cal worker or artisan employed in any plant, mill, or factory, or on
work connected with the operation of any such plant, mill, or factory”
was set at 37.5 cents per hour for males in the North, 32.5 cents per
hour for females in the North and males in the South, and 30.0 cents
per hour for females in the South. Piece workers were to be paid at
rates which would “ yield a worker for an hour’s work not less than
the minimum rate” prescribed.2 Female employees doing substan
tially the same work as males and under the same conditions were to
receive the same rate of pay. The wage rates of employees already
earning more than the code-minimum rates were to be “ reviewed and
such adjustments, if any, made therein as are equitable in the light
of all the circumstances.” Finally, duly certified substandard workers
were to be paid not less than 80 percent of the minimum prescribed
by the code.
An examination of table 5 shows quite conclusively the influence
of the code on the average hourly earnings of individual employees
for each of the sex-region groups.
T
able
5.— Percentage distributions of employees according to average hourly earnings
by region and sex
M a y 1933
R egion , sex, an d average h o u rly earnings
A u g u st 1934
A u g u st 1935
S im p le C u m u la S im p le C u m u la S im p le C u m u la
p ercen t tiv e per p ercen t tiv e p er p ercen t tiv e per
age
cen ta ge
cen ta ge
age
age
cen ta ge
N o r th
M ales:
U n d er 15.0 cen ts________________________
15.0 an d u n d er 20.0 cen ts_____ _ ______
20.0 an d u n d er 25.0 c en ts_______________
25.0 an d u n d er 30.0 cen ts_________ _ __
30.0 an d u n d er 35.0 c en ts____________ __
35.0 an d u n d er 37.5 cen ts_______________
37.5 c e n ts...................
...................................
O ver 37.5 an d u n d er 40.0 c e n ts_____ _
40.0 an d u n d er 45.0 c e n ts .. __ ________
45.0 an d u n d er 50.0 cen ts_______________
50.0 a n d u n d er 55.0 cen ts_______________
55.0 an d u n d er 60.0 cen ts_______________
60.0 an d u n d er 70.0 c en ts_______________
70.0 an d u n d er 80.0 cen ts..............................
80.0 an d u n d er 100.0 c e n ts_____________,
100.0an d u n d er 120.0 c e n ts ......................
120.0cen ts an d over.........................................
T o t a l . .............................. ...............................
0.8
1 .7
5 .2
9 .0
9 .8
5 .5
1.4
2.6
12.4
11.6
11.8
8.1
10.9
5 .6
2 .9
.6
.1
100.0
0.8
2 .5
7 .7
16.7
26.5
32.0
33.4
36.0
48.4
60.0
71.8
79.9
90.8
96.4
99.3
99.9
100.0
0)
0.1
.1
.3
2.0
2.6
11.8
3 .0
11.9
10.9
9 .8
7 .8
16.8
10.7
9 .2
2 .3
.7
100.0
0)
0.1
.2
.5
2 .5
5.1
16.9
1 9 .9 '
31.8
42.7
52.5
60.3
77.1
87.8
97.0
99.3
100.0
0)
C1)
0.2
.6
1.2
3 .6
2 .3
10.3
3 .2
11.3
11.4
10.1
8.1
16.0
10.2
8.8
2.2
.5
%
0.2
.8
2.0
5 .6
7 .9
18 .2
21.4
32 .7
44.1
54 .2
62 .3
78.3
88.5
97.3
99.5
100.0
100.0
1L ess th a n H o of 1 p ercen t.
2T h e m in im u m rate of w ages for all other em p loy ees, o u tsid e of com m ission sa lesm en , w as to be $14 p el
w eek .
14
,
Wages and hours set-up paper-box industry
T able 5.— Percentage distributions of employees according to average hourly earnings
by region and sex'—Continued
A u g u st 1934
M a y 1933
R eg io n , sex, a n d avera ge h o u rly earnings
N o r t h — C o n tin u e d
F em a les:
U n d er 1 5.0 c e n ts . ............
15.0 an d u n d er 20.0 cen ts..............................
20.0 an d u n d er 25.0 cen ts..............................
25.0 an d u n d er 30.0 c en ts..............................
30.0 an d u n d er 32.5 c en ts..............................
32.5 c e n ts.................................................................
O ver 32.5 an d u n d er 35.0 cen ts..............
35.0 an d u n d er 40.0 c en ts_______________
40.0 an d u n d er 45.0 cen ts..............................
45.0 an d u n d er 50.0 c en ts_______________
50.0 an d u n d er 55.0 cen ts............................
55.0 an d u n d er 60.0 cen ts............................60.0 c en ts a n d ov er.......................................
T o ta l
___
S im p le C u m u la S im p le C u m u la S im p le C u m u la
p ercen t tiv e per p ercen t tiv e per p ercen t tiv e per
cen ta ge
age
cen ta ge
age
cen ta ge
age
2.0
2.0
8 .3
21.0
25.7
11.0
.6
10.3
31.3
57.0
68.0
68.6
75.9
88.6
95.2
97.0
98.0
98.6
7 .3
12.7
6.6
1.8
1.0
.6
1.4
100.0
S o u th
M ales:
U n d er 15.0 c en ts_____ _________________
15.0 an d u n d er 20.0 c e n ts ..
_______
20.0 an d u n d er 25.0 c en ts_______________
25.0 an d u n d er 30.0 c en ts_______________
30.0 an d u n d er 32.5 c en ts..........................
32.5 c e n ts......................................................... .. .
O ver 32.5 an d u n d er 35.0 c e n ts.......... ..
35.0 an d u n d er 40.0 cen ts..............................
40.0 an d u n d er 45.0 c en ts.............. ...............
45.0 an d u n d er 50.0 cen ts..............................
50.0 an d u n d er 55.0 c en ts..............................
55.0 an d u n d er 60.0 cen ts...............................
60.0 an d u n d er 70.0 c en ts_______________
70.0 an d u n d er 80.0 c e n ts ..____________
80!0 an d u n d er 100.0 c e n t s . __________
100.0cen ts an d o v e r ..______ ____________
T o ta l__________________________________
F em a les:
TTndftr 15.0 nants
15.0 an d u n d er 20.0 cen ts_______________
20.0 an d u nder 25.0 cen ts..............................
25.0 an d u n d er 30.0 cen ts_______________
30.0 c e n ts______________ __________________
O ver 30.0 an d u n d er 35.0 c e n ts________
35.0 an d u nder 40.0 cen ts___________ _
40.0 an d u n d er 45.0 c e n ts ..................... ..
45.0 an d u n d er 50.0 cen ts_______________
50.0 cen ts an d o v e r ........................................
T o ta l.....................................................................
A u g u st 1935
6 .4
12.7
17.6
7 .9
.4
5 .6
20.2
6.0
8.6
4 .5
3 .7
1.9
3 .0
1.1
.4
100.0
6 .4
19.1
39.3
56.9
64.8
65.2
70.8
76.8
85.4
89.9
93 .6
95.5
98.5
99.6
99.6
100.0
100.0
14.8
27.3
29.6
17.5
.4
7 .0
2 .3
.7
.4
100.0
1.5
2 .4
22.2
10.4
25.1
19.0
8 .5
6 .4
1.8
2 .4
100.0
=
.1
.3
1.8
.1
.2
1.6
9 .7
16.4
5 .7
21.0
8.1
8 .4
10.2
4 .3
8 .4
3 .8
1.9
.5
4 .2
26.4
36.8
61.9
80.9
89.4
95.8
97.6
100.0
=- -
'
1.6
11.3
27.7
33.4
54.4
62.5
70.9
81.1
85.4
93.8
97.6
99.5
100.0
100.0
14.8
42.1
71.7
89.2
89.6
96.6
98.9
99.6
99 .6
100.0
4 .9
3 .5
31.3
29.5
17.7
8.1
3.4
1.6
100.0
0)
.4
1.6
6.2
4 .5
17.3
9.5
24.4
18.1
8.6
5 .8
1.7
1.9
100.0
.5
1.1
4 .8
10.8
12.3
5.1
19.6
9.1
10.4
9 .7
4 .3
7 .5
3 .2
1.1
.5
(i)
.4
2.0
8.2
12.7
30.0
39.5
63.9
82.0
90 .6
96.4
98.1
100.0
=====
.5
1. 6
6.4
17.2
29.5
34.6
54.2
63.3
73.7
83.4
87.7
95.2
98.4
99 5
100.0
100.0
4 .9
8 .4
39.7
69.2
86.9
95.0
98.4
100.0
.5
2.4
6.0
13.3
24.8
21.7
18.8
6 .3
4 .0
2.2
100.0
.5
2 9
8 .9
22.2
47 .0
68.7
87.5
93.8
97. 8
100.0
1L ess th a n Mo of 1 p ercen t.
As regards the male workers in the North, who represented 30.1
percent of the employees covered in this survey, the percentage earn
ing less than the 37.5 cents minimum per hour dropped from 32.0
in May 1933 to 5.1 in August 1934. One-half of 1 percent of the
employees in the latter period received less than 30.0 cents per hour,
the lowest possible rate for males in the North, such workers thus
being paid rates in violation of the code. The workers (4.6 percent
of total) earning between 30.0 and 37.5 cents were either substandard
Average hourly earnings
15
employees, who could be paid as low as 30.0 cents under the code, or
regular workers paid in violation of the code. In August 1934, there
was a limited concentration of the employees at the code level, 11.8
percent receiving exactly 37.5 cents in that period, as compared with
1.4 percent in May 1933. Increases in average earnings per hour
likewise extended to the higher-paid workers. While the percentage
paid 40.0 and under 60.0 cents dropped slightly between May 1933 and
August 1934 (from 43.9 to 40.4), the percentage earning 60.0 cents and
over increased from 20.1 in the former to 39.7 in the latter period.
The wage changes for males in the North which took place after the
discontinuance of the code affected primarily the group that had been
been paid exactly the minimum rate under the code. The percentage
earning less than 37.5 cents per hour increased from 5.1 in August
1934 to 7.9 in August 1935. At the same time, thepercentage receiving
exactly 37.5 cents declined from 11.8 to 10.3. In each of the classes
above 37.5 cents, the changes were negligible, affecting but little the
wage structure set up under the code.
The code changes for male workers in the South, the smallest of
the four groups,3 were even more striking than those for male workers
in the North. Between May 1933 and August 1934, the percentage
earning less than 32.5 cents per hour, or the code minimum for this
group, dropped from 64.8 to 11.3. Furthermore, no employee was
paid less than 25.0 cents in the latter period, as compared with 39.3
percent receiving less than that amount in the former period.4 The
sharp decline since May 1933 in the relative number of employees
earning under 32.5 cents was followed by concentrations in August
1934 of 16.4 percent at the code minimum and of 21.0 percent in
the 35.0 and under 40.0 cents class, as compared with 0.4 and 6.0
percent, respectively, in May 1933; the intervening class of over 32.5
and under 35.0 cents remaining practically unchanged. With the
exception of the 40.0 and under 45.0 cents class, in which there was
a slight reduction, each of the succeeding classes showed an increase
in the percentages between the two periods, the total rise being
from 14.6 to 37.5.
With the termination of the code, there was no wholesale shifting
of males in the South from higher to lower wage classes. Between
August 1934 and August 1935, an increase in the percentage earning
less than 32.5 cents per hour (from 11.3 to 17.2) was accompanied by
a decrease in the percentage receiving 32.5 and under 40.0 cents
(from 43.1 to 37.0). Similarly, the advance in the relative number
earning 40.0 and under 50.0 cents (from 16.5 to 19.5 percent) followed
3T h ese co n stitu ted o n ly a b ou t 3 p ercen t of all em p lo y ees covered.
4O f th e 11.3 percent earning 25.0 an d u n d er 32.5 cen ts in A u g u st 1934, th ere w as found o n ly on e w orker
p aid at less th a n 26.0 cen ts, w h ich is th e lo w e st po ssib le rate for su b sta n d ard m ale em p lo y ees in th e South.
T h e rem ain in g w orkers u n d er 32.5 cen ts w ere eith er su b sta n d ard or th ose p a id in v io la tio n of th e code.
16
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
a decline in the relative number receiving 50 cents and over (from
29.1 to 26.3 percent).
The shifting of employees from lower- to higher-wage classes under
the code was even more pronounced for northern females. In the
case of this group, which constitutes approximately 60 percent of all
employees covered, the percentage receiving less than 32.5 cents per
hour, or the code minimum, declined from 6*8.0 in May 1933 to 4.2
in August 1934. This decrease was accompanied by increases in all
of the classes of 32.5 cents and over. A decided concentration
occurred at the code level, the percentage earning exactly 32.5 cents
rising from 0.6 in the precode to 22.2 in the code period.
It should not be inferred, however, that all females in the North
receiving less than 32.5 cents per hour in August 1934 were paid in
violation of the code, as substandard workers in this group could
also be paid as low as 26.0 cents, or 80.0 percent ol the code minimum.
Only 0.7 percent of the females in the North received less than 26.0
cents, and 3.5 percent earned between 26.0 and 32.5 cents. Employ
ees in the former group were actually paid in violation of the code,
while those in the latter were either substandard workers paid at code
rates or able-bodied workers paid less than code rates.
The extent to which the relative number of northern females who
earned 32.5 cents and over advanced from lower- to higher-wage
classes between May 1933 and August 1934 is evidenced by the fact
that the percentage gains were from 20.0 to 35.5 in the group earning
over 32.5 and under 40.0 cents, from 8.4 to 27.5 among those earning
40.0 and under 50.0 cents, and from 3.0 to 10.6 among those receiving
50.0 cents and over.
As in the case of males, there was also very little disturbance in
the distribution of northern 'female rates above the minimum because
of the elimination of the code between August 1934 and August 1935.
During this period the relative number of female workers in the
North increased in each of the classes receiving less than 32.5 cents
and decreased in all but one of the classes receiving 32.5 cents and
over. Thus, the percentage earning less than the former code mini
mum rose from 4.2 to 12.7, most of this gain resulting from a drop
from 22.2 to 17.3 in the percentage paid exactly this minimum. The
changes in the upper wage classes were negligible.
Female workers in the South, who represent about 5 percent of the
total coverage, had the greatest relative changes between May 1933
and August 1934. The percentage earning less than the code mini
mum, or 30.0 cents, was reduced from 89.2 in the first period to 8.4
in the second period.5 At the same time, sharp increases took place
8E x a c tly 1.9 p ercen t of th e fem ales in th e S o u th received less th a n th e lo w e st p o ssib le rate u n d er th e code,
or 24.0 cen ts, an d 6.5 p ercen t earned from 24.0 to 30.0 cen ts per hou r. W h ile th e first group w a s a c tu a lly
paid in v io la tio n of th e cod e, w orkers in th e secon d group m ig h t b e eith er su b sta n d ard em p lo y ees w h o
cou ld p rop erly b e p a id su ch lo w w ag es or ab le-b od ied w orkers w h o w ere u n d erp aid .
plate
l . — C u t t i n g P a p e r In t o S h e e t s .
P l a t e 2 . — C u t t i n g P a p e r In t o S t r i p s .
17
Average hourly earnings
in each class receiving 30.0 cents or over. Thus, the gains were from
0.4 to 31.3 percent in the class earning 30.0 cents, from 7.0 to 29.5
percent in the group receiving over 30.0 and under 35.0 cents, from
2.3 to 17.7 percent ‘among those earning 35.0 and under 40.0 cents,
and from 1.1 to 13.1 percent among those earning 40.0 cents and over.
With the discontinuance of the code, a sharp increase took place
in the relative number of southern females earning less than 30.0 cents
per hour, the percentage rising from 8.4 in August 1934 to 22.2 in
August 1935. This rise was accompanied by an equally sharp decline
in the percentage receiving 30.0 and under 35.0 cents (from 60.8 to
46.5). The changes in the classes earning 35.0 cents or more were
small, the total variation being from 30.8 percent in August 1934 to
31.3 percent in August 1935.
Changes by Occupational Classes
The variations in the average hourly earnings of individual occu
pations and occupational groups 6 are presented in table 6.
T
able
6.— Average hourly earnings hy region, sex, and occupational class
A verage h o u rly earnings
R egion , sex, an d occu p ation al class *
P ercen tage chan ge
M ay A u gu st M ay
M a y A u g u st A u g u st 1933 to 1934 to 1933 to
1933
1934
1935 A u gu st A u g u st v A u g u st
1934
1935
1935
N o r th
M ales:
M iscella n eo u s cu tter op erators______________________ $0. 555
M iscellan eo u s cu tter feed ers................................................
.352
C om p ositors an d p rin tin g p ressm en ________________
.635
C o m b in a tio n p ressm en an d feeders, p rin tin g ______ .54-6
P ress feeders, p r in tin g ____ ______ ____________________
.368
Scorer op erators______________________________________
.551
Scorer feed ers.*_______________________________________
.374
C orner-cutter op erators_________ _________________
.476
C orner-cutter feeders____________________ __________
.331
Sin g le-stay er o p erators.............................................................
.361
Q u ad ru p le-stayer op erators. ................................................
.480
Q u ad ru p le-stayer feeders........................................................ .319
E n d er op erators...................... ...................................................... .547
E n d er fe e d e r s................................................................................
.374
B o x m ak ers, h a n d .............................................. ........................
.470
M iscella n eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed ___________
.264
M is c e ll a n e o u s m a c h i n e o p e ra to rs
.458
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e fe e d e r s..______ _____________
.357
M a ch in e h elp ers an d f lo o r m e n ........................................
.294
M a ch in e ad justers an d rep airm en .....................................
.577
B u n d lers an d p a c k e r s .............................................................
.338
T ru ck d rivers_____________________ _______ ___________
.479
W a te h m e n ____ _________________ ______________ ______
.324
Office an d p la n t su p ervisory e m p lo y ee s____________ .645
Office an d p la n t clerical e m p lo y e e s..______ _________ .507
L aborers............................................................................................. .332
O ther u n sk illed service w o rk ers......................................... .353
O t h e r sk ille d in d ir e c t w o r k e r s
_
_
____
.584
.402
O ther sem isk illed in d irect w o r k e r s __________ _____
.292
O ther u n sk illed in d irect w ork ers......................................
T o ta l................................................................................................
.460
}
$0. 683
.437
.762
.631
.458
.692
.451
.555
.429
.493
.627
.440
.619
.440
.577
.421
.609
.449
.402
.685
.438
.595
.420
.808
.571
.432
.411
.707
.453
.404
.569
$0. 670
.444
.769
.632
.459
.686
.466
.569
.425
.477
.637
.452
.622
.437
.519
.418
.609
.457
.397
.675
.415
.580
.385
.795
.558
.414
.399
.707
. 466
.396
.556
+ 2 3 .1
+ 2 4 .1
+ 2 0 .0
+ 1 5 .6
+ 2 4 .5
+ 2 5 .6
+ 2 0 .6
+16. 6
+ 2 9 .6
+ 3 6 .6
+30. 6
+ 3 7 .9
+ 1 3 .2
+ 1 7 .6
+ 2 2 .8
+ 5 9 .5
+ 3 3 .0
+ 2 5 .8
+ 3 6 .7
+ 1 8 .7
+ 2 9 .6
+ 2 4 .2
+ 2 9 .6
+ 2 5 .3
+ 1 2 .6
+ 3 0 .1
+ 1 6 .4
+ 2 1 .1
+ 1 2 .7
+ 3 8 .4
+ 2 3 .7
-1 .9
+ 1 .6
+ .9
+ .2
+ .2
- .9
+ 3 .3
+ 2 .5
- .9
-3 .2
+ 1 .6
+ 2 .7
+ .5
- .7
-1 0 .1
- .7
+ 1 .8
- 2 .2
- 1 .5
- 5 .3
- 2 .5
- 8 .3
- 1 .6
-2 .3
- 4 .2
- 2 .9
+ 2 .9
- 2 .0
-2 .3
+ 2 0 .7
+ 2 6 .1
+ 2 1 .1
+ 1 5 .8
+ 2 4 .7
+ 2 4 .5
+ 2 4 .6
+ 1 9 .5
+ 2 8 .4
+ 3 2 .1
+ 3 2 .7
+ 4 1 .7
+ 1 3 .7
+ 1 6 .8
+ 1 0 .4
+ 5 8 .3
+ 3 3 .0
+ 2 8 .0
+ 3 5 .0
+ 1 7 .0
+ 2 2 .8
+ 2 1 .1
+ 1 8 .8
+ 2 3 .3
+ 1 0 .1
+ 2 4 .7
+ 1 3 .0
+ 2 1 .1
+ 1 5 .9
+ 3 5 .6
+ 2 0 .9
See en d of a p p en d ix I I for m ak e-u p of each occu p ation al class.
6 T h ese in clu d e occu p ation s n o t su fficien tly large to w arran t th e p u b lica tio n of separate averages.
18
T
able
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
6.— Average hourly earnings hy region, sex, and occupational class— Con
- ,
R egion , sex, an d occu p ation al c la ss1
A verage h o u rly earn in gs
M ay
1933
N o r t h — C o n tin u ed
F em a les:
C orner-cutter feeders_________________________________ $0.274
.241
B en d ers-u p , h a n d ___________ _______________________
S in gle-stayer op erators___________________ . . . _____
.306
.275
Q u ad ru p le-stayer feeders____________________________
.305
Strip p ers, m a c h in e -__................... ............................................
.234
T urn ers-in , h a n d .____ _______ _____ __________________
G lu in g-m ach in e op erators____________
_ ___
.260
.318
A u to m a tic w rap p in g -m a ch in e op erators___________
.299
B o x m akers, h a n d .._________________________________
.252
M iscella n eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed _____ _____
.280
L acers an d fly leafers, m a ch in e____________ _______
.396
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e op erators___________________
.302
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e feeders_________________ . . .
M a ch in e helpers an d floorm en ______________________ .238
.284
B u n d lers an d p ack ers________________________________
.465
O ffice and p la n t su p ervisory em p lo y ees____________
.418
Office an d p la n t clerical em p lo y ees_____________ . . .
.269
O ther in d irect w ork ers___________________ . . . ____
.295
T o t a l ............................................................................ .............
P ercen ta ge ch an ge
M ay A u gu st M ay
A u g u st A u g u st 1933 to 1934 to 1933 to
1934
1935 A u g u st A u g u st A u g u st
1934
1935
1935
$0.359
.353
.397
.363
.412
.360
.361
.410
.387
.366
.382
.445
.388
.347
.360
.526
.476
.310
.391
$0,367
.339
.395
.364
.401
.348
.358
.409
.379
.348
.371
.437
.365
.339
.345
.531
.471
.300
.382
+ 3 1 .0
+ 4 6 .5
+ 2 9 .7
+ 3 2 .0
+ 3 5 .1
+ 5 3 .8
+ 3 8 .8
+ 2 8 .9
+ 2 9 .4
+ 4 5 .2
+ 3 6 .4
+ 12.4
+ 2 8 .5
+ 4 5 .8
+ 2 6 .8
+ 13.1
+ 1 3 .9
+ 1 5 .2
+ 3 2 .5
+ 2 .2
- 4 .0
- .5
+ .3
- 2 .7
- 3 .3
- .8
- .2
-2 .1
- 4 .9
- 2 .9
- 1 .8
- 5 .9
- 2 .3
- 4 .2
+ 1 .0
-1 .1
- 3 .2
- 2 .3
+ 3 3 .9
+ 4 0 .7
+ 2 9 .1
+ 3 2 .4
+ 3 1 .5
+ 4 8 .7
+ 3 7 .7
+ 2 8 .6
+ 2 6 .8
+ 3 8 .1
+ 3 2 .5
+ 1 0 .4
+ 2 0 .9
+ 4 2 .4
+ 2 1 .5
+ 1 4 .2
+ 1 2 .7
+ 1 1 .5
+ 2 9 .5
.417
.256
.184
.465
.291
.204
.303
.567
.371
.336
.601
.410
.349
.437
.532
.368
.345
.595
.397
.331
.429
+ 3 6 .0
+ 4 4 .9
+ 8 2 .6
+ 2 9 .2
+ 4 0 .9
+ 7 1 .1
+ 4 4 .2
- 6 .2
- .8
+ 2 .7
- 1 .0
- 3 .2
- 5 .2
- 1 .8
+ 2 7 .6
+ 4 3 .8
+ 8 7 .5
+ 2 8 .0
+ 3 6 .4
+ 6 2 .3
+ 4 1 .6
.220
.219
.178
.238
.207
.217
.224
.198
.235
.218
.352
.337
.316
.360
.343
.329
.329
.327
.316
.335
.340
.329
.304
.345
.308
.339
.321
.305
.331
.325
+ 6 0 .0
+ 5 3 .9
+ 7 7 .5
+ 5 1 .3
+ 6 5 .7
+ 5 1 .6
+ 4 6 .9
+ 6 5 .2
+ 3 4 .5
+ 5 3 .3
- 3 .4
- 2 .4
- 3 .8
- 4 .2
- 1 0 .2
+ 3 .0
- 2 .4
- 6 .7
+ 4 .7
- 3 .0
+ 5 4 .5
+ 5 0 .2
+ 7 0 .8
+ 4 5 .0
+ 4 8 .8
+ 5 6 .2
+ 4 3 .3
+ 5 4 .0
+ 4 0 .9
+ 4 9 .1
S o u th
M a les:
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e op erators___________ _______
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e feeders______________________
M a ch in e h elp ers an d floorm en _________ _______
O ther sk illed in d irect w ork ers_____________ _______
O ther sem isk illed in d irect w ork ers. . . . . . .
__
O ther u n sk illed in d irect w ork ers. . ______________
T o ta l________________________________________________
F em a les:
S in gle-stay er o p e r a to r s_____________________________
Strip p ers, m a ch in e__________________ _____ __
T u rn ers-in , h a n d _______________________ . . . . . . .
A u to m a tic w rap p in g -m a ch in e o p e r a to r s___ ______
B o x m akers, h a n d __________________________ _________
M iscellan eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed _______ __
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e feeders______________________
M a ch in e help ers an d floorm en ______ __ ____________
O ther in d irect w orkers_________ _______ __ . . . . .
T o ta l_________ _____ __________________________ . . . .
1 S ee en d of ap p en d ix II for m ak e-u p of each occu p ation al class.
For male workers in the North, averages are presented for 23
individual occupations and 7 occupational groups.7 In May 1933,
the range in the averages of individual occupations was from 26.4
cents for unskilled miscellaneous bench workers to 57.7 cents for
machine adjusters and repairmen. However, when all averages are
considered, the occupational group of office and plant supervisory
employees had the highest, 64.5 cents, and the occupation of unskilled
miscellaneous bench workers still had the lowest, 26.4 cents. In
August 1934, machine helpers and floormen had the lowest average of
any occupational class, 40.2 cents, while scorer operators had the
7
T h e 7 occu p ation al groups in clu d e com positors an d p rin tin g pressm en, office and p la n t supervisory
em p loy ees, office and p la n t clerical w orkers, other u n sk illed service w orkers, other sk illed in d irect w orkers,
other sem isk illed in d irect w orkers, an d other u n sk illed ind irect w orkers.
Average hourly earnings
19
highest average of any individual occupation, 69.2 cents, and office and
plant supervisory employees the highest of all averages shown, 80.8
cents. Between May 1933 and August 1934, office and plant clerical
employees had the smallest relative increase in average earnings, 12.6
percent, and unskilled miscellaneous bench workers the greatest, 59.5
percent. In general, the percentages of change seemed to vary
indirectly with skill. Thus, on the whole, percentage increases
were small for the skilled classes, greater for the semiskilled classes,
and greatest for the unskilled classes.8 Between August 1934 and
August 1935, the average hourly earnings advanced in 11 of the occu
pational classes, declined in 17, and remained unchanged in 2. The
relative increases ranged from 0.2 percent for combination printing
pressmen and feeders and for printing-press feeders to 3.3 percent for
scorer feeders. The decreases, on the other hand, extended from 0.7
percent for ender feeders and for unskilled miscellaneous bench workers
to 10.1 percent for hand box makers. In August 1935, watchmen had
the lowest average hourly earnings, 38.5 cents, and, as in August
1934, scorer operators had the highest average, 68.6 cents, of any
individual occupation, and office and plant supervisory employees the
highest of all averages presented, 79.5 cents.
In the case of female workers in the North, the range in average
hourly earnings in May 1933 was from 23.4 cents for hand turners-in to
46.5 cents for office and plant supervisory employees. In August 1934,
the lowest average, 31.0 cents, was for other indirect workers, while
the highest, 52.6 cents, was still for office and plant supervisory
employees. The percentage gains between these two periods extended
from 12.4 for miscellaneous machine operators to 53.8 for hand
turners-in. It will be noticed that the August 1934 average for other
indirect workers was 1.5 cents under the code minimum. This was
due to the presence in this group of learners and apprentices and
substandard workers, whose averages in August 1934, while much
higher than in May 1933, were still well under the code minimum.
With the exception of three small increases, the average earnings per
hour decreased in all occupational classes between August 1934 and
August 1935. The declines, both relative and absolute, were smallest
for automatic wrapping-machine operators, 0.1 cent or 0.2 percent,
and greatest for miscellaneous machine feeders, 2.3 cents or 5.9 per• T h e follow in g classification of occu p ation al classes according to sk ill w as used: T h e sk illed group in
clu d ed m iscellan eou s cu tter operators, com p ositors an d p rin tin g p ressm en , co m b in a tio n pressm en an d
feeders (p rin tin g ), scorer operators, corner-cutter operators, q u a d ru p le-stayer operators, ender operators,
m iscellan eou s m a ch in e op erators, m a ch in e ad justers an d rep airm en , tru ck d rivers, office an d p la n t su p er
v iso ry em p lo y ees, an d oth er sk illed in d irect em p loy ees; th e sem isk illed group com p rised m iscellaneous
cu tter feeders, p rin tin g-p ress feeders, scorer feeders, corner-cutter feeders, sin gle-stayer operators, quadru plestay er feeders, ender feeders, h and box m akers, m iscellan eou s m a ch in e feeders, office and p la n t clerical
em p lo y ees, an d oth er sem isk illed in d irect w orkers; th e u n sk illed group in clu d ed u n sk illed m iscellaneous
b en ch w orkers, m ach in e h elpers an d floorm en, b u n d lers an d packers, w a tch m en , laborers, other u n sk illed
service w orkers, an d other u n sk illed in d irect w orkers.
20
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
cent. On the other hand, the increases were small, ranging from 0.1
cent or 0.3 percent for quadruple-stayer feeders to 0.8 cent or 2.2
percent for corner-cutter feeders. In August 1935, the same two
occupational classes had respectively the lowest and the highest
average hourly earnings as in August 1934, the range being from 30.0
cents for other indirect workers to 53.1 cents for office and plant
supervisory employees. The 1935 average of the other indirect
workers was affected even to a greater extent than in 1934 by the
presence of learners and apprentices, as the number of these workers
more than doubled during this period, and, along with that, their
average hourly earnings declined slightly over 8 percent.
In the North, there are eight identical occupational classes for
which a comparison of average hourly earnings may be made by sex.
In May 1933, the differential in favor of males was 5.7 cents for
corner-cutter feeders, 5.5 cents for single-stayer operators, 4.4 cents
for quadruple-stayer feeders, 17.1 cents for hand box makers, 1.2
cents for unskilled miscellaneous bench workers, 5.4 cents for bundlers
and packers, 18.0 cents for office and plant supervisory employees,
and 8.9 cents for office and plant clerical employees. Instead of
decreasing, as provided under the code,9 these differences increased
somewhat. Thus, in August 1934, they were respectively 7.0, 9.6,
7.7, 19.0, 5.5, 7.8, 28.2, and 9.5 cents. With the discontinuance of
the code, however, these differentials declined in six and increased in
two of the eight occupational classes. In August 1935, the respective
differentials were 5.8, 8.2, 8.8, 14.0, 7.0, 7.0, 26.4, and 8.7 cents.
The range in the average earnings per hour of male workers in the
South was from 18.4 to 46.5 cents in May 1933 and from 33.6 to 60.1
cents in August 1934. In both periods, the lowest earnings were for
machine helpers and floormen and the highest for other skilled indirect
workers. The same two occupational groups had respectively the
greatest and smallest relative change between May 1933 and August
1934, 82.6 percent for the former and 29.2 percent for the latter. Fol
lowing the discontinuance of the code, the averages of all but one of
the six groups shown declined, miscellaneous machine feeders having
the smallest decrease, 0.3 cent or 0.8 percent, and miscellaneous ma
chine operators the greatest, 3.5 cents or 6.2 percent. During this
period, the average of machine helpers and floormen advanced 0.9
cent or 2.7 percent. In August 1935, other unskilled indirect workers
had the lowest average hourly earnings, 33.1 cents, and, as in the other
two periods, other skilled indirect workers had the highest average,
59.5 cents.
The average earnings per hour in the nine occupational classes shown
for female workers in the South varied from 17.8 to 23.8 cents imMay
8 See p. 13.
Average hourly earnings
21
1933, from 31.6 to 36.0 cents in August 1934, and from 30.4 to 34.5
cents in August 1935. In each period, automatic wrapping-machine
operators had the highest average, while hand turners-in had the
lowest average in 1933 and 1935 and, together with other indirect
workers, the lowest in 1934. Between May 1933 and August 1934,
the females in the South had, on the whole, the highest percentage
increases of any group. The lowest percentage gain during this
period was 34.5 for other indirect wopkers and the highest was 77.5
for hand turners-in. These large advances were due to the low pre
code average hourly earnings in this group and to the necessity of
bringing these earnings in line with the code minimum. In all
but two of the occupational classes, the average hourly earnings
dropped between August 1934 and August 1935. Machine strippers
and miscellaneous machine feeders had the smallest decline, 0.8 cent
or 2.4 percent, and hand box makers the greatest decrease, 3.5 cents
or 10.2 percent. The advances were 1.0 cent or 3.0 percent for un
skilled miscellaneous bench workers and 1.5 cents or 4.7 percent for
other indirect workers.
Among female employees, there are six identical occupations for
which regional comparisons are possible. In May 1933, the differ
entials in favor of females in the North were 8.6 cents for single-stayer
operators, 8.6 cents for machine strippers, 5.6 cents for hand turners-in,
8.0 cents for automatic wrapping-machine operators, 9.2 cents for
hand box makers, and 3.5 cents for unskilled miscellaneous bench
workers. By August 1934, these differences had declined in the first
five occupations mentioned and increased slightly in the sixth. They
were respectively 4.5, 7.5, 4.4, 5.0, 4.4, and 3.7 cents. The reductions
were due to the greater relative and absolute increases in the average
hourly earnings of females in the South than in the North. On the
other hand, the slight increase in the differential favoring female
unskilled miscellaneous bench workers in the North was due to the
fact that between May 1933 and August 1934 the absolute increase
for that occupation in the North was slightly greater than in the
South. In August 1935, for each of the six occupations, the differ
entials in favor of females in the North, which amounted respectively
to 5.5, 7.2, 4.4, 6.4, 7.1, and 0.9 cents, were all smaller than the corre
sponding differentials in May 1933. As compared with August 1934,
however, they increased in three instances, declined in two, and
remained unchanged in one.
Chapter III.— W eekly Hours1
Changes in Averages
In addition to increasing average hourly earnings, the code brought
about a reduction in the average weekly hours, as may be seen by an
examination of table 7. Thus, between May 1933 and August 1934,
the average hours in the industry fell from 39.0 to 35.5, a decline of
3.5 hours or 9.0 percent. The drop was greater for males than for
females, and it was also greater in the South th&n in the North. In
the latter region the hours of males declined 5.1 hours or 11.9 percent, as
compared with 1.6 hours or 4.4 percent for females, and in the former
region the hours of males dropped 11.0 hours or 23.3 percent, as against
9.0 hours or 21.2 percent for females. In August 1934, the highest
average in any group (37.7 hours for males in the North) was more
than 2 hours under the maximum set up by the code for most em
ployees. The average weekly hours by region and sex are also shown
in chart 4.
T a b l e 7 . — Average
weekly hours by region and sex
A verage w e ek ly hours
R egion an d sex
U n ited S ta tes. _______________________________
M a les____ ______ ______ ____________ _____
F em a les........................................ ...........................
N o r th .......................... ............... .....................................
M a le s____________________________________
F e m a le s_______________________ __________
S o u th ___ _____ _____________________ __________
M a le s.......................................................................
F em a les_____ _____ ___________ ___________
M ay
1933
39.0
43.3
36.8
38.4
42.8
36.2
44.2
47.2
42.4
P ercen tage ch an ge
A u g u st
1934
A u g u st
1935
M ay
1933 to
A u g u st
1934
A u g u st
1934 to
A u g u st
1935
35.5
37.5
34.5
35.6
37.7
34.6
34.5
36.2
33.4
38.2
40.5
37.0
38.2
40.6
37.1
37.7
39.6
36.4
- 9 .0
- 1 3 .4
- 6 .2
-7 .3
- 1 1 .9
- 4 .4
- 2 1 .9
- 2 3 .3
- 2 1 .2
+7. 6
+ 8 .0
+ 7 .2
+ 7 .3
+ 7 .7
+ 7 .2
+ 9 .3
+ 9 .4
+ 9 .0
M ay
1933 to
A u g u st
1935
-2 .1
+ 6 .5
+ .5
- .5
- 5 .1
+2. 5
- 1 4 .7
- 1 6 .1
- 1 4 .2
With the lifting of the maximum-hour provisions following the
discontinuance of the code, the average weekly hours increased.
The industry average advanced from 35.5 in August 1934 to 38.2 in
August 1935, a gain of 2.7 hours or 7.6 percent. Similar increases
also took place for each group, although the average advanced more
in the South than in the North and within each region the gains
were greater for males than' for females. The smallest increase,
both absolute and relative, was 2.5 hours or 7.2 percent, for females
1 T h is ch ap ter d eals w ith th e actu al h ours of w ork; for a d iscu ssion of th e sch ed u led hours of w ork, see
pp. 60-62.
22
Weekly hours
23
AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS BY REGION AND SEX
MAY 1933, AUGUST 1934, AND AUGUST 1935
MALES-NORTH
HOURS
0
tO
20
MALES-SOUTH
Ma y 1933
Aug. 1934
Aug. 1935
Chart 4.
30
40
SO
24
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
in the North, and the greatest, 3.4 hours or 9.4 percent, was for males
in the South.
With the exception of female workers in the North, the average
hours per week for each of the groups were still lower in August 1935
than in May 1933. These decreases, which amounted to 0.8 hour or
2.1 percent for the industry as a whole, were 2.2 hours or 5.1 percent
for males in tjie North, 7.6 horns or 16.1 percent for males in the
South, and 6.0 hours or 14.2 percent for females in the South. How
ever, the large group of females in the North worked on the average
0.9 hour or %.5 percent more per week in 1935 than in 1933, this
being due to the fact that the increase in their average weekly hours
between August 1934 and August 1935 more than offset the small
decline that had taken place between May 1933 and August 1934.
One of the chief effects of the maximum-hour provisions of the
code was to level off somewhat the sex differentials. Thus, between
May 1933 and August 1934, the differentials in favor of males were
reduced from 6.6 to 3.1 hours in the North and from 4.8 to 2.8 horns
in the South. Between August 1934 and August 1935, during which
time the code was discontinued, they increased but little, advancing
only 0.4 hour in both districts. Regional differences were also
affected by the code. Thus, while males and females in the South
enjoyed respectively a differential of 4.4 and 6.2 hours in May 1933,
the opposite was true in each of the two later periods, males and
females in the North working a slightly longer week than males
and females in the South.
Changes in Percentage Distributions of Employees
The full extent of the reduction in weekly hours under the code,
as well as the increase after the code, is shown in table 8. In order
to appreciate the significance of these changes, however, it is necessary
first to examine the provisions relating to working hours as found
in the code.
T
able
8 . — Percentage distributions of employees according to weekly hours by region
and sex
M a y 1933
R eg io n , sex, an d w e e k ly hours
X jn ite d
A u g u st 1935
S im p le C u m u S im p le C u m u S im p le
Cum u
p ercen t la tiv e per percent*- la tiv e per p ercen t la tiv e per
cen ta ge
age
age
cen tage
age
cen tage
S ta te s
A ll em p loy ees:
U n d er 16 h o u rs------------------------------------ 16 an d u n d er 24 h o u r s....................................
24 an d u n d er 32 h o u rs.....................................
32 an d u n d er 40 h o u r s ...................................
40 h o u r s. _______ ____________ ____________
O ver 40 an d u n d er 48 h o u rs........................
48 h o u rs----------- ----------- ------------- ------------O ver 48 an d u n d er 56 h o u rs.......................
56 h ours an d o v er..............................................
T o ta l
-- , ,r .
A u g u st 1934
4.3
6.6
12.7
21.2
5 .6
23.0
6 .5
16.3
3 .8
100.0
4.3
10.9
23.6
44.8
50.4
73.4
79.9
96.2
100.0
3.6
6.7
11.3
24.7
46.0
5.7
.9
.8
.3
100.0
3 .6
10.3
21.6
46 .3
92.3
98.0
98 .9
99.7
100.0
2 .5
4.3
8 .3
18.8
40 .4
16.9
2 .8
4 .9
1.1
100.0
2 .5
6 .8
15.1
33.9
74.3
91.2
94.0
98 .9
100.0
25
Weekly hours
T
able
8 , — Percentage distributions of employees according to weekly hours by region
and sex— Continued
M a y 1933
R egion , sex, an d w e e k ly h ours
A u g u st 1934
A u g u st 1935
S im p le C u m u la S im p le C u m u la S im p le C u m u la
p ercen t tiv e p er p ercen t tiv e p er p ercen t tiv e per
age
cen tage
age
cen tage
age
cen tage
N o r th
M a les:
U n d er 16 h o u rs.................................................16 an d u n d er 24 h o u rs.....................................
24 an d u n d er 32 h o u rs— ...............................
32 an d u n d er 40 h o u rs.....................................
40 h o u rs-------------------------------------------------O ver 40 an d u n d er 48 h o u rs........................
48 h o u rs--------------------- --------------------------O ver 48 an d u n d er 56 h o u r s .—.................
56 h ours an d o v er...............................................
T o ta l
F em ales:
U n d er 16 h o u r s .................................. ...............
16 an d u n d er 24 h o u rs.....................................
24 an d u n d er 32 h o u rs.....................................
32 an d u n d er 40 h ou rs.....................................
40 h o u rs............... ....................................................
O ver 40 an d u n d er 48 h o u rs........................
48 h o u rs_________________________________
O ver 48 an d u n d er 56 h o u rs........................
F>(\ timers and nv«r
T o ta l
1.9
3 .8
8 .8
16.1
4 .9
26.3
10.0
21.5
6 .7
100.0
1.9
5 .7
14.5
30.6
35.5
61.8
71.8
93.3
100.0
2.1
4 .4
8 .3
16.2
54.6
9 .7
1.5
2.3
.9
100.0
2.1
6.5
14.8
31.0
85.6
95.3
96.8
99.1
100.0
1.2
2 .4
4 .2
14.0
44.2
19.1
3 .3
8 .8
2.8
100.0
1 .2
3 .6
7.8
21 .8
66.0
85.1
88.4
97.2
100.0
5 .6
8 .8
15.6
24.7
6 .5
22.8
5 .4
9 .3
1.3
100.0
5 .6
1414
30.0
54.7
61.2
84.0
89.4
98.7
100.0
4 .3
7 .6
12.5
28.6
42.5
3 .8
.6
.1
4 .3
11.9
24.4
53.0
95.5
99.3
99 .9
100.0
2 .9
5.3
10.2
21.4
38.9
15.4
2 .6
3.0
.3
100.0
2 .9
8 .2
18.4
39.8
78.7
94.1
96.7
99.7
100.0
1.9
2 .2
5.3
12.3
3 .8
13.8
2 .6
40.1
18.0
100.0
1.9
4.1
9.4
21.7
25.5
39.3
41.9
82.0
100.0
3 .2
6 .8
9.1
21.3
48.5
8 .4
1.1
1.1
.5
100.0
3 .2
10.0
19.1
40 .4
88.9
97.3
98.4
99.5
100.0
2 .7
2 .9
7.3
15.3
34.8
23.3
3 .8
7.8
2.1
100.0
2 .7
5 .6
12.9
28.2
63.0
86.3
90.1
97.9
100.0
4 .9
2 .5
9 .5
18.0
2.1
16.1
1 .7
40 .8
4 .4
100.0
4 .9
7 .4
16.9
34.9
37.0
53.1
54.8
95.6
100.0
5 .3
8 .3
16.5
29.2
37.5
2 .4
.5
.3
5 .3
13.6
30.1
59.3
96 .8
99 .2
99.7
100.0
5 .2
4 .6
10.9
15.7
40 .0
18.0
2 .6
2 .8
5 .2
9 .8
20.7
36 .4
76.4
94 .4
97.0
99.8
100.0
100.0
S o u th
M ales:
U n d er 16 h o u rs___________ ______________
16 an d u n d er 24 h o u rs__________________
24 an d u n d er 32 h o u rs.....................................
32 an d u n d er 40 h o u rs....................... .............
40 h o u rs-------------------------------------------------O ver 40 an d u n d er 48 h o u rs........................
48 h o u rs................................................................. ..
O ver 48 an d u n d er 56 h o u rs........................
56 h ours an d o v er..............................................
T o ta l
. ___
F em ales:
U n d er 16 h o u r s ..................................................
16 an d u n d er 24 h ou rs.....................................
24 an d u n d er 32 h o u rs.....................................
32 an d u n d er 40 h o u rs.....................................
40 h o u r s .................................................................
O ver 40 an d u n d er 48 h o u rs__________ _
48 h o u rs------------------------------------------------O ver 48 an d u n d er 56 h o u rs........................
56 hours an d o v e r _______________________
T o ta l. ...................................................................
.2
100.0
100.0
The provisions of the President’s Reemployment Agreement relat
ing to hours of work were fairly general.2 The code provisions,
however, were much more specific. Thus, “ laborers, mechanical
workers or artisans” , who represent most of the employees, were to
work 40 hours per week, with an annual tolerance of 7.5 percent,
2T h e su b stitu te p rov ision s stip u la te d th a t—
(а ) “ D u r in g a fixed period of 6 con secu tiv e m o n th s, th e average m a x im u m hours th a t a n y em p loy ee
m a y w ork sh a ll n o t exceed 40 hours per w eek;
(б ) “ D u rin g p eak periods of b u sin ess in cid en t to th is in d u str y , th e h ou rs per e m p lo y ee per w eek m a y be
increased to, b u t n o t exceed in g, 48 h ou rs per w eek;
“ In th is con n ectio n , it sh a ll b e u n d erstood th a t a n y tim e in excess of 40 hours sh a ll b e p a id for a t tim e an d
on e-th ird .”
1 4 4 4 3 5 ° — 3 7 ------- 3
26
,
Wages and hours set-up paper-box industry
but not more than 48 hours in any 1 week. All time worked in
excess of 40 hours in any 1 week was to be paid for at not less than
time and one-third. Employees engaged in emergency repairs or
emergency maintenance work were exempted from this general limi
tation, with the provision that all hours in excess of 40 in any 1 week
were to be paid for at not less than time and one-third. In addition,
certain special exemptions were made. Thus, watchmen were allowed
to work 56 hours in any 1 week, chauffeurs and truckmen an average
of 40 hours in any 4 consecutive weeks, and engineers and firemen an
average of 42 hours 3 in any 4 consecutive weeks. The hours of
executives and their personal secretaries and of all supervisory em
ployees receiving $35 or more per week were not limited. For all
other employees, the hours of work were to average not more than
40 per week in any 13 consecutive weeks and not more than 48 in
any 1 week.
The principal effects of the maximum-hour provisions of the code
on the industry as a whole (see table 8 and chart 5) were to reduce
sharply the number of employees working over 40 hours per week
and to bring about a very decided concentration at the code level.
9 A ll tim e in excess of 9 hours in any 1 d ay w as to be paid for at not less than tim e and one-third.
Weekly hours
27
Thus, the percentage working over 40 hours dropped from 49.6 in
May 1933 to 7.7 in August 1934. During this period, the percentage
employed over 40 but under 48 hours was reduced from 23.0 to 5.7,
that working 48 but under 56 declined from 22.8 to 1.7, and that with
a week of 56 hours or over decreased from 3.8 to 0.3. An examina
tion of the distribution for individual occupations shows that a major
ity of the employees working over 48 hours per week in August 1934
were engaged in indirect work and so could have justifiably worked
such long hours under the code. Along with the above reductions,
the percentage of employees working a week of exactly 40 hours rose
from 5.6 in May 1933 to 46.0 in August 1934. During this period,
the percentages in each of the classes under 40 hours varied but little,
the greatest change taking place in the 32- and under 40-hour class,
which increased from 21.2 in May 1933 to 24.7 in August 1934.
After the code, there was an upward shift in the distribution of
employees for the entire industry. Between August 1934 and
August 1935, the relative number of workers decreased in each of
the classes of 40 hours and under and increased in each of the classes
over 40 hours. During this period, the percentage employed 40
hours or less declined from 92.3 to 74.3, while the percentage working
over 40 hours advanced from 7.7 to 25.7.
The reductions were
sharpest in the 32- and under 40-hour class and in the 40-hour class,
the former dropping from 24.7 to 18.8 percent and the latter from 46.0
to 40.4 percent. On the other hand, the greatest increase occurred
in the over 40- and under 48-hour class, the percentage here advanc
ing from 5.7 to 16.9.
An examination of the distributions of the four groups shows that
the variations in each of these differ from the changes in the industry
as a whole only in degree and not in kind.
In each group, the relative number working over 40 hours per
week declined sharply between May 1933 and August 1934. In the
North the percentage dropped from 64.5 to 14.4 for males and from
38.8 to 4.5 for females, and in the South from 74.5 to 11.1 for males
and from 63.0 to 3.2 for females. With the increase in weekly hours
after the code, the relative number employed over 40 hours per week
rose considerably. In August 1935, 34.0 percent of the males and 21.3
percent of the females in the North and 37.0 percent of the males and
23.6 percent of the females in the South worked over 40 hours per week.
However, the percentages in 1935 were lower, respectively, than in
1933.
As previously stated, the sharp decrease in the percentages working
over 40 hours per week was accompanied by a very pronounced
concentration of workers at the code level. Between May 1933 and
August 1934, the number employed exactly 40 hours rose from 4.9
to 54.6 percent for males in the North, from 6.5 to 42.5 percent for
28
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
females in the North, from 3.8 to 48.5 percent for males in the South,
and from 2.1 to 37.5 percent for females in the South. As may be
seen, the increase in these percentages was greater for males than
for females. With the discontinuance of the code, the 1934 per
centages were not seriously disturbed, declining in three and increas
ing in one of the four groups. Thus, in August 1935, the percentage
working exactly 40 hours in the North was 44.2 for males and 38.9 for
females, and in the South 34.8 for males and 40.0 for females.
Between May 1933 and August 1934, the relative number of
employees working less than 40 hours per week remained practically
unchanged in the North but almost doubled in the South. During
this period, the percentage working less than 40 hours per week
increased from 30.6 to 31.0 for males and decreased from 54.7 to 53.0
for females in the North. In the South, however, the percentage rose
from 21.7 to 40.4 for males and from 34.9 to 59.3 for females. The
increases in the South were brought about by the very sharp reductions
in the relative number working over 40 hours per week. Wrhile a
large proportion df these employees were absorbed in the 40-hour class,
roughly one-third were shifted to the under 40-hour group. With the
lifting of the maximum-hour provisions of the code and the increase
in weekly hours, the percentage working less than 40 hours per week
declined in each sex-region group. In August 1935, these percentages
were 21.8 for males in the North, 39.8 for females in the North, 28.2
for males in the South, and 36.4 for females in the South.
Changes by Occupational Classes
Average weekly hours by individual occupations and occupational
groupings are presented in table 9.
T
a b l e 9 . — A v e r a g e w e e k l y h o u r s b y r e g i o n , s e x , a n d o c c u p a t io n a l cla ss
A verage w e ek ly h ours
R egion , sex, an d o ccu p ation al class1
M ay
1933
M a y A u gu st M a y
A u g u st A u g u st 1933 to 1934 to 1933 to
1934
1935 A u g u st A u g u st A u g u st
1935
1934
1935
N o r th
M ales:
41.5
M iscella n eo u s cu tter op erators............................................
39.7
M iscella n eo u s cu tter feed ers_____________ _____ _____
C om p o sito rs an d p rin tin g p r e ssm e n ............................... 43.3
C o m b in a tio n p ressm en an d feeders, p r in tin g ........... 42.0
40.3
P ress feeders, p r in tin g ________________________ ______
41.6
Scorer op erators____ __________________________________
35.8
Scorer feeders_________________________________________
36.0
C orner-cutter operators______________________________
40.1
C orner-cutter feeders_____________ _____ _____________
41.5
S in g le-stay er op erators____ ___________ ______________
41.9
Q u ad ru p le-stayer op erators ....................................... . .
40 .2
Q u ad ru p le-stayer feed ers........................................................
E n d er o p er a to r s.______ _____ _________________________ 37.4
39.0
E n d er feeders----------------- ------ ------------- ----------------------45.2
B o x m ak ers, h a n d ______ __ _______________________
45.8
M iscella n eo u s b en ch w ork ers, u n sk illed ___________
i See en d of ap p en d ix II for m ak e-u p of each occu p ation al class.
P ercen ta ge chan ge
37.6
37.6
41.3
36.4
37.2
36.8
36.0
36.6
36.9
34.9
37.0
35.5
36.0
34.2
35.4
33.2
40.0
40.1
41.3
40.3
41.7
39.6
39.3
38.2
40.3
39.5
39 .2
38.4
40.5
38.7
38.5
38.3
- 9 .4
- 5 .3
- 4 .6
- 1 3 .3
- 7 .7
- 1 1 .5
+ .6
+ 1 -7
- 8 .0
- 1 5 .9
- 1 1 .7
- 1 1 .7
- 3 .7
- 1 2 .3
- 2 1 .7
- 2 7 .5
+ 6 .4
+ 6 .6
+ 1 0 .7
+ 1 2 .1
+ 7 .6
+ 9 .2
+ 4 .4
+ 9 .2
+ 1 3 .2
+ 5 .9
+ 8 .2
+ 1 2 .5
+ 1 3 .2
+ 8 .8
+ 1 5 .4
-3 .6
+ 1 .0
- 4 .6
- 4 .0
+ 3 .5
- 4 .8
+ 9 .8
+ 6 .1
+ .5
- 4 .8
- 6 .4
- 4 .5
+ 8 .3
- .8
- 1 4 .8
- 1 6 .4
29
Weekly hours
T a b l e 9 . — A v e r a g e w e e k l y h o u r s h y r e g i o n , sex, a n d o c c u p a t io n a l c la ss — Continued
A verage w e e k ly hours
R egion , sex, an d occu p ation al c la ss1
N o r t h — C on tin u ed
M a le s— C o n tin u e d .
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e op erators_______________
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e feed ers....... ........................ ...........
M a ch in e h elp ers an d d o o rm en ............................................
M a ch in e ad ju sters an d rep airm en ....................................
B u n d ler s and p a ck ers_______________________________
T ru ck d riv ers................................................................................
W a tc h m e n _____________________________ _____________
O ffice an d p la n t su p erv iso ry e m p lo y e e s .....................
O ffice an d p la n t clerical em p lo y ees___________ _____
L a b o rers._________ ___________________________________
O ther u n sk illed service w orkers_____________________
O ther sk illed in d irect w o r k e r s ........................... ................
O ther sem isk illed in d irect w o r k e r s..................... ...........
O ther u n sk illed in d irect w ork ers..................... ..................
T o ta l........................................................................................... ..
F em ales:
C orn er-cu tter feed ers.................................................................
B en d ers-u p , h a n d ____________________________________
S in g le-stay er op erators.............................................................
Q u ad ru p le-stayer feeders........................................................
S trip p ers, m a ch in e.....................................................................
T rrn ers-in , h a n d .......... ..............................................................
G lu in g-m ach in e op erators_____________ _____________
A u to m a tic w rap p in g -m a ch in e op erators___________
B o x m akers, h a n d ______ _____________________________
M iscella n eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed ___________
L acers and fly leafers, m a c h in e_____________________
M iscella n eo u s m ach in e op erators______ ____________
M iscella n eo u s m ach in e feeders_______ _______ ____
M a ch in e h elp ers and floorm en ................................ ...........
B u n d lers and p ack ers.................................................... ...........
Office and p la n t su p ervisory e m p lo y ee s____________
O ffice and p la n t clerical e m p lo y ee s....... ...........................
O ther in d irect w ork ers............................................... .............
T o ta l................................................................................................
M ay
1933
P ercen ta ge change
M a y A u gu st M a y
A u g u st A u g u st 1933 to 1934 to 1933 to
1934
1935 A u g u st A u g u st A u g u st
1934
1935
1935
43.5
43.0
42.3
41.9
42.3
48.0
58.3
45.4
44.7
45.4
44.4
43.6
45.9
42.6
42.8
37.3
36.2
36.5
39.1
35.5
39.6
47.0
39.9
39.6
39.0
38.8
40.4
39.9
37.0
37.7
41.4
39.7
40.5
41.6
40 .8
42 .2
47.2
41.8
41.3
42.1
41.7
43.3
42.5
38.6
40.6
- 1 4 .3
- 1 5 .8
- 1 3 .7
- 6 .7
- 1 6 .1
- 1 7 .5
- 1 9 .4
- 1 2 .1
- 1 1 .4
- 1 4 .1
- 1 2 .6
- 7 .3
- 1 3 .1
- 1 3 .1
- 1 1 .9
+ 1 1 .0
+ 9 .7
+ 1 1 .0
+ 6 .4
+ 1 4 .9
+ 6 .6
+.4
+ 4 .8
+ 4 .3
+ 7 .9
+ 7 .5
+ 7 .2
+ 6 .5
+ 4 .3
+ 7 .7
- 4 .8
- 7 .7
-4 .3
- .7
- 3 .5
- 1 2 .1
- 1 9 .0
- 7 .9
-7 .6
-7 .3
- 6 .1
- .7
- 7 .4
-9 .4
- 5 .1
37.5
34.7
35.1
31.4
36.6
35.9
34.5
36.7
35.5
35 .2
35.7
36.0
37.5
35.3
34.6
41.4
41.8
34.2
36.2
35.9
33.5
34.3
36.4
33 .2
33.6
35.7
35.1
34.6
35.0
35.5
32.8
36.0
34.3
35.4
39.6
39.0
33.6
34.6
37.9
36.9
36.6
37.3
36.0
35.2
38.5
37.4
37.9
37.9
37 .5
37.8
38.0
36.4
37.7
40.4
40.2
33.9
37.1
- 4 .3
- 3 .5
- 2 .3
+ 1 5 .9
- 9 .3
-6 .4
+ 3 .5
- 4 .4
- 2 .5
- .6
- .6
- 8 .9
- 4 .0
- 2 .8
+ 2 .3
- 4 .3
- 6 .7
- 1 .8
-4 .4
+ 5 .6
+ 1 0 .1
+ 6 .7
+ 2 .5
+ 8 .4
+ 4 .8
+ 7 .8
+ 6 .6
+ 9 .5
+ 8 .3
+ 5 .6
+ 15.2
+ 5 .6
+ 6 .1
+ 6 .5
+ 2 .0
+ 3 .1
+ .9
+ 7 .2
+ 1 .1
+ 6 .3
+4. 3
+ 1 8 .8
- 1 .6
- 1 .9
+ 1 1 .6
+ 1 .9
+ 6 .8
+ 7 .7
+ 5 .0
+ 5 .0
+ 1 .3
+ 3 .1
+ 9 .0
- 2 .4
- 3 .8
- .9
+ 2 .5
48.0
43.5
48.9
49.9
52.2
48.0
47.2
36.7
34.4
33.6
38.6
41.6
36.5
36.2
39.9
37.8
35.3
43.9
43.3
40.3
39.6
- 2 3 .5
- 2 0 .9
- 3 1 .3
- 2 2 .6
- 2 0 .3
- 2 4 .0
- 2 3 .3
+ 8 .7
+ 9 .9
+ 5 .1
+ 1 3 .7
+4. 1
+ 10.4
+ 9 .4
- 1 6 .9
- 1 3 .1
- 2 7 .8
- 1 2 .0
- 1 7 .0
- 1 6 .0
- 1 6 .1
47.2
45.3
43.8
44.2
37.4
42.3
38.0
44.7
40.6
42.4
33.1
32.8
33.3
32.5
32.3
34.1
34.6
31.7
37.6
334
35.8
35.0
35.7
38.7
35.3
36.1
34.9
37.6
. 39.4
36.4
- 2 9 .9
- 2 7 .6
- 2 4 .0
- 2 6 .5
- 1 3 .6
- 1 9 .4
- 8 .9
- 2 9 .1
-7 .4
- 2 1 .2
+ 8 .2
+ 6 .7
+ 7 .2
+ 1 9 .1
+ 9 .3
+ 5 .9
+ .9
+ 1 8 .6
+ 4 .8
+ 9 .0
- 2 4 .2
- 2 2 .7
- 1 8 .5
- 1 2 .4
- 5 .6
- 1 4 .7
- 8 .2
- 1 5 .9
- 3 .0
- 1 4 .2
S o u th
M ales:
M iscellan eo u s m ach in e op erators___________________
M iscella n eo u s m ach in e fee d e r s.. ___________________
M a ch in e help ers and floorm en ______________________
O ther skilled in d irect w ork ers. ____________________
O ther sem isk illed in d irect w ork ers_________________
O ther u n sk illed in d irect w o r k e r s.............. ......................
T o ta l....................................................... ............... .........................
F em ales:
S in g le-stay er op era to rs.______ _______________________
S trip p ers, m a ch in e___________________________________
T urn ers-in , h a n d ............................... ...................... ....................
A u to m a tic w ra p p in g -m a ch in e op erators____ ______
B ox m akers, h a n d ______ ______ ______________________
M iscella n eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed ___________
M iscella n eo u s m ach in e f e e d e r s _____________________
M a ch in e h elp ers and floorm en ______________________
O ther in d irect w ork ers..............................................................
T o ta l_______________________________________ _________
1See end of ap p en d ix II for m ak e-u p of each o ccu p ation al class.
The average hours per week declined between May 1933 and August
1934 in all but 2 4 of the 23 individual occupations and in all 7 of the
4T h e average w eek ly hours of scorer feeders ad van ced 0.2 hour or 0.6 percent an d th ose of corner-cutter
operators increased b y 0.6 hour or 1.7 percent.
30
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
occupational groupings shown for male workers in the North. The
smallest reduction, 1.4 hours or 3.7 percent, was for ender operators,
and the greatest, 12.6 hours or 27.5 percent, was for unskilled mis
cellaneous bench workers. If, however, the 7 occupational groupings
are considered separately, the decreases varied within a much more
limited range. Thus, the smallest absolute and relative drop, 2.0
hours or 4.6 percent, was for compositors and printing pressmen, and
the greatest absolute reduction, 6.0 hours, was for other semiskilled
indirect workers and the greatest relative decrease, 13.1 percent,
for both other semiskilled and unskilled indirect workers. These
smaller declines may be explained by the fact that the above group
ings are made up largely of indirect workers, many of whom were
exempted from the maximum-hour provisions of the code.
A better idea of the extent of the above decreases may be had if
one realizes that, whereas in May 1933 the averages of 25 of the 30
occupational classes exceeded 40 hours (the highest was 58.3 hours
for watchmen), in August 1934 only 3 occupational classes had aver
ages in excess of 40. Although over 40, these 3 averages were still
within the code, due to either general or specific exemptions. Thus,
compositors and printing pressmen, with an average of 41.3 hours,
and other skilled indirect workers, with an average of 40.4 hours,
were amply covered by the 7/2-percent tolerance allowed to “ laborers,
mechanical workers or artisans” under the code. Likewise, watch
men, who averaged 47.0 hours per week in August 1934, were still
well under the 56-hour maximum established by the code for this
occupation.
Between August 1934 and August 1935, the average hours per week
increased in all but 1 of the 30 occupational classes for males in the
North. Watchmen had the lowest absolute and relative gain, 0.2
hour and 0.4 percent, respectively, bundlers and packers had the
highest absolute advance, 5.3 hours, and unskilled miscellaneous
bench workers the greatest relative rise, 15.4 percent. During the
same period, the average for compositors and printing pressmen did
not change, remaining at 41.3 hours. In August 1935, a total of 18
occupational classes had average weekly hours in excess of 40. How
ever, with the exception of watchmen, whose average weekly hours
were 47.2, the averages of these classes did not greatly exceed 40.
On the whole, the average weekly hours of the 18 occupational
classes shown for females in the North did not vary greatly between
May 1933 and August 1934. This was undoubtedly due to the fact
that in the former period the averages of all but 2 of the occupational
classes were already under 40 hours per week, or the maximum under
the code. Between these 2 periods, the average hours per week in
creased in 3 and declined in 15 instances. The decreases ranged
from 0.2 hour or 0.6 percent for unskilled miscellaneous bench workers
P L A T E 3 .— P R IN T IN G
LA B E LS ON A PLA TE N P R E S S .
P l a t e 4 . — C u t t i n g S h e e t s t o S ize o n a G u i l l o t i n e C u t t i n g m a c h i n e .
Weekly hours
31
and for machine lacers and fly leafers to 3.4 hours or 9.3 percent for
machine strippers. The gains, on the other hand, were 0.8 hour or
2.3 percent for bundlers and packers, 1.2 hours or 3.5 percent for
gluing-machine operators, and 5.0 hours or 15.9 percent for quad
ruple-stayer feeders.
Between August 1934 and August 1935, the averages of each of the
18 occupational classes of northern females increased. The smallest
gain, 0.3 hour or 0.9 percent, was for other indirect workers and the
greatest, 5.0 hours or 15.2 percent, for miscellaneous machine oper
ators. In spite of these advances, only two occupational classes, the
same as in May 1933, had averages slightly in excess of 40 hours.
One of the effects of the maximum-hour provisions of the code was
to reduce the differentials in favor of males. This is quite evident
from an examination of the averages of the eight identical occupa
tional classes in the North for which comparisons may be made on a
sex basis.6 Not only was the differential greatly reduced in six of the
eight classes between May 1933 and August 1934, but females actually
had a higher average than males in two of the classes during the latter
period. In August 1935, males enjoyed a favorable margin in all of
the eight classes, although in each instance the differential was lower
than in May 1933.
The average hours per week of males in the South declined sharply
between May 1933 and August 1934. Whereas in the former period,
the average of all 6 occupational groupings exceeded 40, in one case
exceeding 50, only 1 group had an average in excess of 40 per week
in the latter period. This average, however, was still within the
limits of the code. The percentage gains during this period were from
20.3 for other semiskilled indirect workers to 31.3 for machine helpers
and floormen, and the absolute increases extended from 9.1 hours
for miscellaneous machine feeders to 15.3 hours for machine helpers
and floormen. After the code, however, the hours of male workers
in the South increased for every occupational grouping. Thus, in
August 1935, the averages were from 4.1 (for other semiskilled
indirect workers) to 13.7 (for other skilled indirect workers) percent
higher than in August 1934. The absolute increases ranged from
1.7 hours for machine helpers and floormen and for other semiskilled
indirect workers to 5.3 hours for other skilled indirect workers. Three
of the six occupational groups averaged in excess of 40 hours in August
1935. The lowest average in this period was 35.3 hours and the
highest 43.9 hours, as compared with 43.5 and 52.2 hours, respectively,
in May 1933.
In May 1933, the range in the average weekly hours of the nine
occupational classes presented for females in the South was from 37.4
4 T h e se occu p ation al classes are co m er-cu tter feeders, sin g le-stay er op erators, q u a d ru p le-stay er feeders,
han d box m akers, u n sk illed m iscellan eou s b en ch w orkers, b u n d lers an d packers, office an d p la n t su p ervisory
em p lo y ees, an d office an d p la n t clerical em p loy ees.
32
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
for hand box makers to 47.2 for single-stayer operators. By August
1934, this spread had narrowed considerably, the lowest average, 31.7
hours, being for machine helpers and doormen and the highest, 37.6
hours, for other indirect workers. The last-mentioned occupational
grouping had the smallest decline between these two periods, 3.0 hours
or 7.4 percent, and single-stayer operators the greatest, 14.1 hours or
29.9 percent. After the code, however, the averages of all nine oc
cupational classes advanced, the extent of these increases being from
0.3 hour or 0.9 percent for miscellaneous machine feeders to 6.2 hours
or 19.1 percent for automatic wrapping-machine operators. While
seven of the nine occupational-class averages exceeded 40 hours in
1933, no average was as high as 40 in each of the two later periods.
Between May 1933 and August 1934, a decided change took place
in the average-weekly-hour differentials of the six identical female
occupations for which regional comparisons are possible.6 In the for
mer period, females in the South had a differential in each of these
occupations, the lowest, 1.9 hours, being for hand box makers and the
highest, 12.1 hours, for single-stayer operators. However, the oppo
site was true in August 1934, the averages of northern females slightly
exceeding those of southern females in all six cases. This was brought
about by sharp decreases between May 1933 and August 1934 in the
southern averages, as against only comparatively small reductions
in the northern averages. In August 1935, however, females in the
South again had higher averages in two of the six occupations. As
regards the other four, the difference in favor of northern females
increased in three and declined in one of the occupations.
6 T h ese occu p ation s are sin g le-stay er operators, m a ch in e strip p ers, h a n d turners-in, a u to m a tic w rap p in gm a ch in e operators, h an d box m akers, an d u n sk illed m iscellan eou s b en ch w orkers.
Chapter IV.— Weekly Earnings
Changes in Averages
For the industry as a whole, the average weekly earnings rose from
$13.45 in May 1933 to $15.87 in August 1934, a gain of $2.42 or 18.0
percent. This increase was due entirely to the sharp advance in
average hourly earnings, as the average weekly hours declined during
this period. The gain in weekly hours, however, was responsible for
the increase in the average earnings per week from $15.87 in August
1934 to $16.66 in August 1935 (a rise of 79.0 cents or 5.0 percent),
since the average earnings per hour declined slightly during this
interval. Over the entire period, the average weekly earnings
advanced $3.21 or 23.9 percent. These facts are disclosed in table 10.
T
a b l e 1 0 . — A v e r a g e w e e k l y e a r n in g s b y r e g i o n a n d s e x
A verage w e e k ly earnings
R egion an d sex
U n ite d S ta tes___________ ___________ _________
M a les____________ ________________ ______
F e m a le s_____________ __________________ .
N o r th ______ ________ ______________ _______
M ales_________ ____________________ ______
F em a les______________________________ __
S o u t h ________________________________________
M a les____________________________________
F em a les____________ _________________
M ay
1933
$13 45
19.09
10.53
13. 74
19. 71
10.68
11.08
14. 32
9.25
P ercen ta ge change
A u g u st
1934
A u g u st
1935
M ay
1933 to
A u g u st
1934
$15.87
20. 91
13.33
16.14
21.43
13. 52
12. 93
15.81
11. 21
$16.66
22.08
13.99
16.90
22. 58
14.15
13. 83
16.98
11.85
+ 1 8 .0
+ 9 .5
+ 2 6 .6
+ 1 7 .5
+ 8 .7
+ 2 6 .6
+ 1 6 .7
+ 1 0 .4
+ 2 1 .2
A u g u st
1934 to
A u g u st
1935
M ay
1933 to
A u g u st
1935
+5 0
+ 5 .6
+ 5 .0
+ 4 .7
+ 5 .4
+ 4 .7
+ 7 .0
+ 7 .4
+ 5 .7
+ 2 3 .9
+ 1 5 .7
+ 3 2 .9
+ 2 3 .0
+ 1 4 .6
+ 3 2 .5
+ 2 4 .8
+ 1 8 .6
+ 2 8 .1
Between May 1933 and August 1934, males in the North had a
higher absolute rise in average weekly earnings ($1.72) than males
in the South ($1.49), but the latter had a greater relative gain than
the former (10.4 percent as compared with 8.7 percent). During the
same period, females in the North had greater relative and absolute
increases ($2.84 or 26.6 percent) than females in the South ($1.96
or 21.2 percent).
From August 1934 to August 1935, the gains
amounted to $1.15 (5.4 percent) for males in the North, 63 cents
(4.7 percent) for females in the North, $1.17 (7.4 percent) for males
in the South, and 64 cents (5.7 percent) for females in the South.
For the period as a whole (May 1933 to August 1935), the advances
in the North were $2.87 or 14.6 percent for males and $3.47 or 32.5
percent for females, while in the South they amounted to $2.66 or 18.6
percent for males and $2.60 or 28.1 percent for females. The average
weekly earnings by region and sex are also presented in chart 6.
33
34
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS BY REGION AND SEX
MAY 1933, AUGUST 1934, AND AUGUST 1935
MALES-NORTH
25
May 1933
$19.71
Aug. 1934
$ 2 /4 3
Aug. 1935
\$2253
FEMALES “NORTH
May 1933
Aug. 1934
$13.52
Aug. 1935
MALES-SOUTH
May /933
Aug.
$14.32
1934
$15. a t
A ug. 1935
$ /6.9a
I
FEMALES-SOUTH
T-------------
May /933
Aug.
$ 9 .2 5
t934
$ H.2t
A ug. !935
S //.95
O
U. S. B ureau
of
5
/5
L abor S tatistics
C h a r t 6.
20
25
35
Weekly earnings
The changes in average weekly earnings between May 1933 and
August 1935 affected, to some extent, the sex and regional differen
tials. During this period, the margin in favor of males dropped from
$9.03 to $8.43 in the North and increased from $5.07 to $5.13 in the
South. On the other hand, the differential in favor of the North
as against the South advanced from $5.39 to $5.60 for males and from
$1.43 to $2.30 for females.
Changes in Percentage Distributions of Employees
An examination of the distribution of employees for the industry,
as shown in table 11, discloses the fact that between May 1933 and
August 1934 there was a decrease in the percentages of employees in
each of the classes under $12 per week and an increase in the per
centages of employees in each of the classes of $12 and over. Thus,
during this period, the percentage earning less than $12 dropped from
50.8 to 23.5, while the percentage receiving $12 and over advanced
from 49.2 to 76.5. The greater part of the reduction took place in
the $4 and under $12 group, while most of the increase occurred in
the $12 and under $20 group. The greatest advance was in the $12
and under $16 class (from 21.0 to 38.4 percent), which includes all
three of the full-time code-minimum weekly wages.1 The cumula
tive percentage distribution of all employees in the country as a
whole by weekly earnings is also shown in chart 7.
T
able
11.— Percentage distributions of employees according to weekly earnings by
region and sex
M a y 1933
R egion , sex, an d w e ek ly earnings
A u g u st 1934
A u g u st 1935
S im p le C u m u la S im p le C u m u la S im p le C u m u la
p ercen t tiv e per p ercen t tiv e per p ercen t tiv e per
age
cen tage
age
cen tage
age
cen tage
U n ite d , S ta te s
A ll em p loyees:
U n d er $4___________ _____________ _______
$4 an d u n d er $8..................... . ................
$8 an d u n d er $12_________ ______________
$12 an d u n d er $16_________________ _____
$16 an d u n d er $20_______________________
$20 an d u n d er $24.............. ...............................
$24 an d u n d er $28..............................................
$28 an d u n d er $32____________ __________
$32 an d u n d er $36................ .. ................
$36 an d u n d er $40_______ _______________
$40 an d u n d er $44..................................... .........
$44 an d u n d er $48_______________________
$48 an d o v e r ________________ __________
T o ta l__________________________________
4 .6
17.2
29.0
21.0
11.1
7.3
4 .6
2.4
1.4
.7
.4
.2
.1
100.0
4 .6
21.8
50.8
71.8
82.9
90 .2
94 .8
97 .2
98 .6
99.3
99.7
99.9
100.0
1.7
6 .5
15.3
38.4
17.5
8 .3
5 .3
2 .9
2 .2
.8
.6
.3
.2
100.0
1.7
8 .2
23.5
61.9
79.4
87.7
93.0
95.9
98.1
98.9
99.5
99.8
100.0
1.8
4 .8
13.1
35.6
21.4
9 .7
5 .5
3 .5
2.4
1.0
.6
.3
.3
100.0
1.8
6 .6
19.7
55.3
76.7
86 .4
91.9
95 .4
97.8
98 .8
99.4
99 .7
100.0
* T h ese w e ek ly w ages are $15 for m ales in th e N o r th , $13 for fem ales in th e N o r th an d m ales in th e S o u th ,
an d $12 for fem ales in th e S o u th .
36
T
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
able
11.— Percentage distributions of employees according to weekly earnings by
region and sex— Continued
M a y 1933
R egion , sex, an d w e ek ly earnings
A u g u st 1934
A u g u st 1935
Sim p le C u m u la S im p le • C u m u la S im p le C u m u la
percent- tiv e per p e r ce n t tiv e per p ercen t tiv e per
age
cen tage
age
cen tage
age
cen tage
N o r th
M ales:
U n d er $4___________ _____ ____________
$4 an d u n d er $8_________________________
$8 an d u nder $12__________________ . . .
$12 and u n d er $ 1 5 ____________ . .
_
$15________________________________________
O ver $15 an d u n d er $16________________
$16 an d u nder $20_______
__________
$20 an d u nder $24_______________________
$24 and u nder $28______________ _______
$28 and u nder $32.............................................
$32 an d under $36____________________ .
$36 an d u nder $40_______________________
$40 an d u nder $44________________ ______
$44 and u nder $48_________ - _
$48 an d o v e r-------------- ---------------------------T o ta l_________________ ______ __
F em a les:
U n d er $4--------------------------- ----------- ---------$4 an d u nder $8_________________________
$8 an d u nder $12________________________
$12 and un d er $13___ - _ ___ __________
$13__________ _____________________________
O ver $13 and un d er $16________________
$16 and u nder $ 2 0 ____________________
$20 an d u nder $24_______________________
$24 an d u nder $ 2 8 --------- ---------------------$28 and under $32_______________ _____
$32 and u nder $36_______________________
$36 and u nder $40___ _________________
$40 and under $44__ __ ______________
$44 and u nder $48
_______ _____ __
$48 an d o v e r_____________________________
T o ta l ________________________________
1.3
5.1
11.8
11.3
.9
4 .5
19.5
17.2
12.8
7.0
4 .3
2 .3
1.1
.5
.4
100.0
1.3
6 .4
18.2
29.5
30. \
34.9
54.4
71.6
84.4
91.4
95.7
98.0
99.1
99.6
100.0
0.7
2 .5
5.5
10.1
7.1
3 .0
20.1
15.9
13.8
8 .7
6 .5
2 .5
2 .0
.9
.7
100.0
0 .7
3 .2
8 .7
18.8
25.9
28.9
49.0
64.9
78.7
87.4
93.9
96.4
98.4
99.3
100.0
0.8
1.3
3.8
7.6
5 .2
3.7
21.0
17.5
14.3
10.5
7 .2
3.1
2.1
1.0
.9
100.0
0 .8
2.1
5 .9
13.5
18.7
22.4
43.4
60.9
75.2
85.7
92.9
96.0
98.1
99.1
100. C
6 .0
22.0
37.1
8 .0
.7
14.5
7.6
2 .7
.9
.3
.1
.1
0)
0)
100.0
6 .0
28.0
65.1
73.1
73.8
88.3
95.9
98.6
99.5
99.8
99.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.1
7.7
19.1
8 .4
11.5
26.9
17.2
5 .2
1.3
.4
.1
.1
2.1
9 .8
28.9
37.3
48.8
75.7
92.9
98.1
99.4
99.8
99.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.0
6 .2
16.8
7 .0
8.1
28.9
22.4
6 .5
1.4
.5
.1
.1
2 .0
8 .2
25.0
32.0
40.1
69.0
91.4
97.9
99.3
99.8
99.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2 .6
13.1
27.0
5 .2
.8
16.1
14.2
11.3
6 .7
1.5
.4
.4
.7
2 .6
15.7
42.7
47.9
48.7
64.8
79.0
90.3
97.0
98.5
98.9
99.3
100.0
(0
100.0
0)
100. 0
S o u th
M ales:
U n d er $4______________________________ _
$4 and u nder $ 8 . --------- ------------------------$8 and under $12__________ __________
$12 and u nder $13..........................................
$13........................................................................ —
O ver $13 and u n d er $16_______________
$16 and u nder $20_'______________________
$20 and u nder $24___________________ _ _
$24 and under $28_______ ______ ______
$28 and u nder $32.............................................
$32 an d un d er $ 3 6 ______________ _____
$36 an d un d er $40______________ _______
$40 an d u nder $ 4 4 ._______ ______________
$44 and u nder $48
$48 an d o v e r ___________________________ _
T o ta l
.
.
100.0
F em a les:
U n d er $4------------------------------------------------$4 and un d er $8_________________________
$8 an d un d er $12-----------------------------------$12___ _____ ______________________________
O ver $12 an d u n d er $16________________
$16 and u n d er $20________ ____________
$20 an d u nder $24__________ _____ __ . . .
$24 an d u n d er $ 2 8 ______________________
T o ta l __ __ ________________________
7 .6
31.9
36.8
.2
19.1
3 .6
.4
.4
100.0
L ess th a n Ho of 1 p ercen t.
.3
7.2
16.0
7 .8
9 .7
21.5
13.8
10.8
7 .5
2 .4
2 .2
.3
.5
.3
7.5
23.5
31.3
41.0
62.5
76.3
87.1
94.6
97.0
99 .2
99.5
100.0
2 .4
4 .0
9 .4
7 .8
5.1
23.0
20.7
11.8
9 .4
2 .6
2 .2
.8
.5
.3
100.0
2 .4
6.4
15.8
23.6
28.7
51.7
72.4
84.2
93.6
96.2
98.4
99 .2
99 .7
99.7
100.0
3.7
19.8
47.3
59.3
91.4
99.0
99.8
100.0
5 .2
8 .6
25.6
16.0
32.8
9 .6
2 .0
.2
100.0
5.2
13.8
39.4
55.4
88.2
97.8
99.8
100.0
100.0
7.6
39.5
76.3
76.5
95.6
99.2
99.6
100.0
3 .7
16.1
27.5
12.0
32.1
7 .6
.8
.2
100.0
37
Weekly earnings
The shifting of workers from lower to higher weekly wage classes
continued, although on a more limited scale, after the code was
abandoned. With the exception of the under $4 class, which in
creased slightly between August 1934 and August 1935, small decreases
occurred in each of the classes under $16, thus reducing the percentage
earning less than that figure from 61.9 to 55.3. Most of these
employees were evidently transferred to the $16 and under $24
classes, as the percentage here increased from 25.8 to 31.1. The
greater part of this advance was in the $16 and under $20 class. The
CUMULATIVE PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYEES
ACCORDING TO WEEKLY EARNINGS
May
1933, August 1934, and August 1935
PERCENT
PERCENT
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Chart 7.
percentages for the higher wage classes either increased very little or
remained unchanged.
The code did not greatly affect the weekly earnings of male workers
in the North. In May 1933, 70.5 percent were already earning $15
or more per week; in August 1934, this percentage had risen to 81.2.
During this period, the relative number of employees decreased in
each of the classes under $15 and increased in each of the classes of
$24 and over. The concentration at the code level was not very
pronounced, as only 7.1 percent earned exactly $15 in August 1934,
as compared with 0.9 percent in May 1933. In the over $15 and under
$24 classes, however, the trend varied, resulting in a decrease in the
38
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
percentage for this group from 41.2 in the earlier period to 39.0 in
the later period. This shift of workers to higher wage levels con
tinued even after the code. Thus, 86.5 percent earned $15 or over in
August 1935, as against 81.2 in August 1934.
Most of the changes in the weekly earnings of male workers in the
South between May 1933 and August 1934 took place in the wage
classes under $16. Thus, while the relative number paid less than
$13, the code minimum for males in the South, dropped from 47.9 to
31.3 percent, those receiving $13 and under $16 increased from 16.9 to
31.2 percent. Furthermore, 9.7 percent earned exactly $13 per week
in August 1934 as against 0.8 percent in May 1933. In the classes of
$16 and over, the changes varied considerably, the percentage paid
$16 and under $24 declining from 25.5 to 24.6, the percentage receiv
ing $24 and under $36 advancing from 8.6 to 12.1 and the percentage
earning $36 and over dropping from 1.1 to 0.8 The weekly earnings
of males in the South continued to advance after the code. Between
August 1934 and August 1935, those receiving less than the former
code minimum, $13, dropped from 31.3 to 23.6 percent and those
earning exactly $13 declined from 9.7 to 5.1 percent. In contrast, the
percentage paid over $13 advanced from 59.0 to 71.3, the greatest
increase taking place in the $16 and under $20 class, where the per
centage rose from 13.8 to 20.7.
The shifting of workers to higher weekly wage levels following the
adoption of the code was much more pronounced in the case of females
than in that of males. In the North the percentage of females receiv
ing less than $13 per week, the full-time weekly minimum under the
code for this group, dropped from 73.1 in May 1933 to 37.3 in August
1934. At the same time, the relative number rose in practically all of
the classes of $13 and over. Most of the decrease took place in the $4
and under $12 classes, from 59.1 to 26.8 percent, and practically all
of the gain occurred in the $13 and under $24 classes, from 25.5 to
60.8 percent. An important concentration took place at the code
level, the percentage here rising from 0.7 in May 1933 to 11.5 in
August 1934. The increases after the code were small. From August
1934 to August 1935, the relative number declined in each of the classes
of $13 and under, advanced in each of the classes over $13 and under
$32, and remained unchanged in the classes of $32 and over.
In May 1933, over three-fourths of the females in the South (76.3
percent) earned less than $12 per week. With the establishment of a
minimum full-time weekly wage of $12, the percentage receiving less
than that amount declined to 47.3 in August 1934. Most of the work
ers affected were shifted from the $4 and under $12 classes, which
decreased from 68.7 to 43.6 percent, to the $12 and under $16 class,
which advanced from 19.3 to 44.1 percent. Between August 1934
and August 1935, the weekly earnings of females in the South, in
39
Weekly earnings
common with those of all other set-up paper-box employees, con
tinued to rise slightly. During this period, the percentage earning
less than the former code minimum, $12, dropped from 47.3 to 39.4.
Thus, in August 1935, 60.6 percent of the females in the South were
paid $12 or more, as compared with 52.7 percent in August 1934.
Changes by Occupational Classes
The changes in the average weekly earnings by individual occupa
tions and occupational groupings are shown in table 12.
T
able
1 2 .— Average weekly earnings by region, sex, and occupational class
R eg io n , sex, an d o ccu p ation al c la ss1
A verage w e ek ly
earnings
P ercen ta ge change
A u
g u st
1934
M a y A u g u st M a y
1933 to 1934 to 1933 to
A u g u st A u g u st A u g u st
1934
1935
1935
M ay
1933
A u
g u st
1935
N o r th
M a les:
M iscella n eo u s cu tter op erators.............................. ............. $23.03 $25. 68
M iscella n eo u s cu tter feeders_________________________ 13.96 16.43
C om p o sito rs an d p rin tin g p ressm en ________________ 27.53 31.43
C o m b in a tio n p ressm en an d feeders, p r in tin g ______ 22.93 22.96
P ress feeders, p rin tin g___ _______ __________T _____ 14.86 17.06
Scorer op erators____ JL_______________________________ 22.92 25. 50
Scorer feeders_____________________________________ _ __ 13.41
16.25
C orner-cutter op erators_________ _______________
17.16 20. 31
C orner-cutter feeders_________________________________ 13.28 15. 81
S in gle-stay er op erators _
____
___ ________ 14.99 17.19
Q u ad ru p le-stayer op erators__________________________
20.10 23.20
Q u ad ru p le-stayer feeders__________________ ______ ___ 12.82 15. 59
E n d er op erators______________________________________ 20.47 22. 30
E n d er feeders_______________________ ________________ 14. 57 15. 02
B o x m ak ers, h a n d ____________________________________ 21. 26 20. 41
M iscella n eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk ille d . __
. . . 12.11
13.95
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e op erators___ ____________ 19.92 22.71
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e feeders________ ____________ 15.37 16.23
M a ch in e h elp ers an d flo______
o r m e_______
n ..
12.45 14.69
M a ch in e ad ju sters an d rep airm en
______ _______ 24. 20 26. 80
B u n d lers an d pack ers_____________________ _________ 14.29 15.54
T ru ck d rivers_________________________ . _____________ 22.99 23.54
W a tch m en ___________________ ______ __________________ 18.88 19.74
O ffice an d p la n t su p ervisory e m p lo y ee s.
_____ 29. 26 32. 21
Office an d p la n t clerical e m p lo y ee s_________________ 22.64 22. 66
L aborers_______________________________________________ 15.05 16.85
O ther u n sk illed service w ork ers________ ____________ 15. 68 15.96
O ther sk illed in d irect w o rk ers______________________ 25. 47 28. 52
O ther sem isk illed in d irect w o rk ers_________________ 18.43 18.08
O ther u n sk illed in d irect w ork ers_________ __________ 12.45
14.95
T o ta l____________________
____________________ 19.71 21.43
F em a les:
C orner-cutter feeders_________________________________ 10.28 12.86
B en d ers-u p , h a n d __________________ ______________
8.36
11.82
S in g le-stay er op erators_________ _____ _______________ 10. 73 13. 60
Q u ad ru p le-stayer feed ers____________ ______ _________ 8.6 4 13.20
- 11.17 13. 67
S trip p ers, m a c h in e ____________________________ _
T u rn ers-in , h a n d _________________ ___________________ 8.42 12.08
8.97
12.87
G lu in g-m ach in e op erators____________________ ______
A u to m a tic w ra p p in g -m a ch in e op erators___________ 11.65 14.39
B o x m ak ers, h a n d ____________________________________ 10. 63 13.37
M iscella n eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk ille d ___________
8.90 12.83
13.58
L acers an d fly leafers, m a c h in e _____________________ 10.01
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e op erators...................................... 14.23 14.57
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e feeders____ ______________ 11. 35 13.95
8.40 11.89
M a ch in e h elp ers an d floorm en ______________________
9.80 12.73
B u n d lers an d p a ck ers________________________________
O ffice an d p la n t su p erv iso ry e m p lo y e e s____________ 19.25 20.80
O ffice an d p la n t clerical e m p lo y ee s_________________ 17.44 18.56
O th er in d ir e c t w o r k e r s
........... ..
9.19
10.39
T o ta l
___ _ ....... _ _
10.68 13. 52
See end of appendix H , for m ake-up of each occupational class.
$27.09
17.81
31.71
25.47
19.14
27.17
18.34
21. 73
17.13
18.82
24.97
17.35
25.22
16.95
19.96
15.97
25. 21
18.14
16.07
2,8.07
16.93
24.48
18.16
33. 21
23.06
17.44
16.63
30.60
19.82
15.30
22.58
+ 1 1 .5
+ 1 7 .7
+ 1 4 .2
+• 1
+ 1 4 .8
+ 1 1 .3
+ 2 1 .2
+ 1 8 .4
+ 1 9 .1
+ 1 4 .7
+ 1 5 .4
+ 2 1 .6
+ 8 .9
+ 3 .1
—4 .0
+ 1 5 .2
+ 1 4 .0
+ 5 .6
+ 1 8 .0
+ 1 0 .7
+ 8 .7
+ 2 .4
+ 4 .6
+ 1 0 .1
+ .1
+ 1 2 .0
+ 1 .8
+ 1 2 .0
- 1 .9
+ 2 0 .1
+8. 7
+ 5 .5
+ 8 .4
+. 9
+10. 9
+ 1 2 .2
+ 6 .5
+ 1 2 .9
+ 7 .0
+ 8 .3
+ 9 .5
+ 7 .6
+ 1 1 .3
+ 1 3 .1
+ 1 2 .8
- 2 .2
+ 1 4 .5
+ 1 1 .0
+ 1 1 .8
+ 9 .4
+4. 7
+ 8 .9
+ 4 .0
- 8 .0
+ 3 .1
+ 1 .8
+ 3 .5
+ 4 .2
+ 7 .3
+ 9 .6
+ 2 .3
+ 5 .4
+ 1 7 .6
+ 2 7 .6
+ 1 5 .2
+ 1 1 .1
+ 2 8 .8
+ 1 8 .5
+ 3 6 .8
+ 2 6 .6
+ 2 9 .0
+ 2 5 .6
+ 2 4 .2
+ 3 5 .3
+ 2 3 .2
4-16.3
-6 . 1
+ 3 1 .9
+ 2 6 .6
+ 1 8 .0
+ 2 9 .1
+ 1 6 .0
4-18.5
+ 6 .5
- 3 .8
4-13.5
4-1 .9
4-15.9
4-6.1
4-20.1
4 -7 .5
4-22.9
4-14 .6
13.90
12. 51
14.45
13.59
14.44
12. 27
13. 80
15.29
14.35
13.19
13.91
16. 54
13. 84
12.35
13.02
21.49
18.93
10.16
14.15
+ 2 5 .1
+ 4 1 .4
+ 2 6 .7
+ 5 2 .8
+ 2 2 .4
+ 4 3 .5
+ 4 3 .5
+ 2 3 .5
+ 2 5 .8
+ 4 4 .2
+ 3 5 .7
+ 2 .4
+ 2 2 .9
+ 4 1 .5
+ 2 9 .9
+ 8 .1
+ 6 .4
+ 1 3 .1
+ 2 6 .6
+ 8 .1
+ 5 .8
+ 6 .3
+ 3 .0
+ 5 .6
+ 1 .6
+ 7 .2
+ 6 .3
+ 7 .3
+ 2 .8
+ 2 .4
+ 1 3 .5
—.8
+ 3 .9
+ 2 .3
+ 3 .3
+ 2 .0
+ 3 5 .2
+ 4 9 .6
+ 3 4 .7
+ 5 7 .3
+ 2 9 .3
4-45. 7
-53.8
-3 1 .2
-3 5 .0
-4 8 .2
-39.0
-16.2
-21.9
-47.0
_ -32.9
-11.6
4 -8 .5
+ 1 0 .6
+ 3 2 .5
-2 .2
+ 4 .7
40
T
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
able
12 .— Average weekly earnings by region, sex, and occupational class— Contd.
Average weekly
earnings
Percentage change
A u
gu st
1934
A u
gu st
1935
M a y A u g u st M a y
1933 to 1934 to 1933 to
A u g u st A u g u st A u g u st
1934
1935
1935
$20. 78
12. 74
11. 30
23.22
17.05
12. 72
15. 81
$21.24
13.92
12.19
26.16
17.16
13.34
16.98
11. 67
11.07
10.50
11. 70
11.07
11.23
11.37
10.34
11.90
11. 21
12.19
11. 52
10.85
13. 33
10.87
12.33
11.19
11.45
13.03
11.85
R eg io n , sex, an d o ccu p ation al c la ss1
M ay
1933
S o u th
M a les:
Misr.p.ll an firms m a c h in ft o p e r a to r s T
.............. .. _
$20.03
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e feeders______________________ 11.13
8. 98
M a ch in e help ers an d floorm en ______________________
O th er sk illed in d irect w ork ers_______________________ 23.19
O th er sem isk illed in d irect w ork ers_________________ 15.19
O th A r n n sk illfid in dirfin t w o r k e r s
9.77
T o ta l __
14. 32
F em a les:
S in g le-stay er op erators_______________________________
S tr ip p firs , m a n h in fi
. _.
_ _ ____
T u rn ers-in , h a n d _____________________________ _______
A n t.n m a tifi w r a p p in g -m a o h in A o p a r a to rs
B o x m ak ers, h a n d ______________________ ____________
M isrifilla n o o n s b finch w nrkfirs, n n sk illfid __ _ _
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e feeders______________________
M a ch in e h elp ers an d floorm en ______________________
Ot.hfir in dirfifit w n rk firs
T o ta l
_
.
.
10.38
9.91
7.79
10.52
7.72
9.19
8.50
8.8 4
9.5 5
9.2 5
+ 3 .7
+ 2 .2
+ 1 4 .5
+ 9 .3
+ 2 5 .8
+ 7 .9
+.1 + 1 2 .7
+ 1 2 .2
+.6
+ 3 0 .2
+ 4 .9
+ 7 .4
+ 1 0 .4
+ 6 .0
+ 2 5 .1
+ 3 5 .7
+ 1 2 .8
+ 1 3 .0
+ 3 6 .5
-1-18.6
+ 1 2 .4
+ 1 1 .7
+ 3 4 .8
+ 1 1 .2
+ 4 3 .4
+ 2 2 .2
+ 3 3 .8
+ 1 7 .0
+ 2 4 .6
+ 2 1 .2
-17.4
-16.2
-39.3
-26.7
-40.8
-34.2
-31.6
-29.5
1-36.4
+ 2 8 .1
+ 4 .5
+ 4 .1
+ 3 .3
+ 1 3 .9
- 1 .8
+ 9 .8
- 1 .6
+ 1 0 .7
+ 9 .5
+ 5 .7
i See en d of a p p en d ix II, for m a k e -u p o f each o ccu p a tio n a l class.
The average weekly earnings increased between May 1933 and
August 1934 in all but 2 of the 30 occupational classes shown for male
workers in the North. Office and plant clerical employees had the
smallest absolute gain, 2 cents, and, with combination printing press
men and feeders, the least relative advance, 0.1 percent. Compositors
and printing pressmen had the greatest absolute increase, $3.90, and
quadruple-stayer feeders the highest relative increase, 21.6 percent.
During the same period, the average of hand box makers declined
85 cents, or 4.0 percent, and those of other semiskilled indirect
workers 35 cents, or 1.9 percent. The average earnings per week
continued to increase between August 1934 and August 1935 in 28
of the 30 occupational classes. The smallest gain, 28 cents or 0.9
percent, was for compositors and printing pressmen, while the greatest
absolute rise, $2.92, was for ender operators and the highest relative
advance, 14.5 percent, for unskilled miscellaneous bench workers.
The decreases, which were 45 cents or 2.2 percent for hand box makers
and $1.58 or 8.0 percent for watchmen, were brought about by
relatively large reductions in average hourly earnings. The average
weekly earnings of males in the North ranged from $12.11 to $29.26
in May 1933, from $13.95 to $32.21 in August 1934, and from $15.30
to $33.21 in August 1935. Unskilled miscellaneous bench workers
had the lowest average weekly earnings during the first two periods
and other unskilled indirect workers during the third period, and
P L A T E 5.— SC O R IN G B O A R D B L A N K S ON A D O U B L E -S C O R IN G
M A C H IN E .
plate
6 .— C u t t in g O u t C o r n e r s o f b o a r d b l a n k s o n a S in g l e -C o r n e r
C u t t in g Ma c h in e .
Weekly earnings
41
office and plant supervisory employees had the highest in all three
periods. The spread between these averages increased from $17.15
in May 1933 to $18.26 in August 1934, only to drop back to $17.91 in
August 1935.
Increases in average weekly earnings ranging from 34 cents or 2.4
percent to $4.56 or 52.8 percent took place between May 1933 and
August 1934 in each of the 18 occupational classes for females in the
North. Miscellaneous machine operators had the smallest and quad
ruple-stayer feeders the greatest gain. Between August 1934 and
August 1935, 16 of the 18 occupational class averages continued to
advance, the rises extending from 19 cents or 1.6 percent for hand
turners-in to $1.97 or 13.5 percent for miscellaneous machine operators.
The spread did not differ greatly between the periods. Thus, the
range in average weekly earnings was from $8.36 to $19.25 in May
1933, from $10.39 to $20.80 in August 1934, and from $10.16 to $21.49
in August 1935. The lowest average was for hand benders-up in
May 1933 and for other indirect workers in each of the two later
periods, whereas office and plant supervisory employees had the
highest average in all three periods. If supervisory and clerical
employees, the two highest paid groups, are not considered, then the
spread is narrowed considerably, being $5.87 in May 1933, $4.18 in
August 1934, and $6.38 in August 1935.
An examination of the average earnings per week in eight identical
occupational classes in the North shows that between May 1933 and
August 1934 the differential in favor of males declined in seven and
increased in one. When compared with May 1933, the August 1935
differentials were higher in three and lower in five instances. For
May 1933, August 1934, and August 1935 the differentials in favor of
males were respectively as follows: $3, $2.95, and $3.23 for cornercutter feeders; $4.26, $3.59, and $4.37 for single-stayer operators;
$4.18, $2.39, and $3.76 for quadruple-stayer feeders; $10.63, $7.04,
and $5.61 for hand box makers; $3.21, $1.12, and $2.78 for unskilled
miscellaneous bench workers; $4.49, $2.81, and $3.91 for bundlers and
packers; $10.01, $11.41, and $11.72 for office and plant supervisory
employees; and $5.20, $4.10, and $4.13 for office and plant clerical
employees.
Between May 1933 and August 1934, the average weekly earnings
advanced in all six of the occupational groups shown for males in the
South. These gains extended from 3 cents or 0.1 percent for other
skilled indirect workers to $2.95 or 30.2 percent for other unskilled
indirect workers. Between August 1934 and August 1935, the
average earnings per week continued to advance, these increases
ranging from 11 cents or 0.6 percent for other semiskilled indirect
workers to $2.94 or 12.7 percent for other skilled indirect workers
144435 °— 37------- 4
42
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
The range in average weekly earnings was from $8.98 to $23.19 in
May 1933, from $11.30 to $23.22 in August 1934, and from $12.19
to $26.16 in August 1935. It is significant that the spread decreased
under the code, dropping from $14.21 in May 1933 to $11.92 in
August 1934, but advanced again, to $13.97, in August 1935.
The average weekly earnings of the nine occupational classes for
females in the South did not vary widely in any of the three pay-roll
periods. The range was from $7.72 to $10.52 in May 1933, from
$10.34 to $11.90 in August 1934, and from $10.85 to $13.33 in August
1935. Between the first two periods all averages advanced, the
absolute gains extending from $1.16 for machine strippers to $3.35
for hand box makers and the relative increases from 11.2 percent for
automatic wrapping-machine operators to 43.4 percent for hand box
makers. This rise continued after the code in seven of the nine
occupational classes, the gains ranging from 35 cents or 3.3 percent
for hand turners-in to $1.63 or 13.9 percent for automatic wrappingmachine operators. During this period the average weekly earnings
of hand box makers dropped 20 cents or 1.8 percent and those of
miscellaneous machine feeders decreased 18 cents or 1.6 percent.
In May 1933, females in the North enjoyed a differential in five of
the six identical occupations for which comparisons can be made.
In the sixth class, unskilled miscellaneous bench workers, the females
in the South earned slightly more per week, namely 29 cents, than
females in the North. In each of the two later periods, northern
females enjoyed a favorable margin in all six occupations. In May
1933, August 1934, and August 1935, the differences in favor of
females in the North were respectively as follows: 35 cents, $1.93,
and $2.26 for single-stayer operators; $1.26, $2.60, and $2.92 for
machine strippers; 63 cents, $1.58, and $1.42 for hand turners-in;
$1.13, $2.69, and $1.96 for automatic wrapping-machine operators;
and $2.91, $2.30, and $3.48 for hand box makers. In the case of
unskilled miscellaneous bench workers, as stated above, the females
in the South enjoyed a slight differential in May 1933, but in each of
the two later periods the Northern females earned slightly more per
week, the difference being $1.60 in August 1934 and 86 cents in
August 1935.
Chapter V.— Earnings and Hours by Unionization, Size of
Plant, Size of City, and Type o f Plant
Comparisons Between Union and Nonunion Plants
At the time of this survey, there was relatively little organization
among workers in the set-up paper-box industry. Altogether, em
ployees were represented by an outside labor union in 34 plants (8.2
percent) in August 1935,1 all of which were small paper-box factories.
All except two of the union establishments were located in New York
City. These two plants were in the Middle West and had agreements
with the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite, and Paper Mill
Workers. The remaining 32 establishments, in New York City,
dealt with the Paper Box Makers’ Union, which was chartered early
in 1933 as a federal union affiliated with the American Federation of
Labor.
In August 1935, the 32 union plants 2 in New York City had 518
workers, as compared with 1,469 employees in the 41 nonunion estab
lishments, which is a sufficient coverage in each case to make it possible
to compare wages and hours between the two kinds of shops. (See
table 13.) In analyzing the data, however, one should remember that
all of the 32 establishments were unionized after May 1933, so that
the comparison in this period is between plants that later became
organized and those that remained unorganized.3
In May 1933, the average hourly earnings for the plants that later
became organized were lower than those for the plants which remained
unorganized throughout the entire period. As the former establish
ments were on the whole smaller than those that remained unorgan
ized,4 some difference in hourly earnings in May 1933 was to have
been expected. (See p. 44.) However, the difference of 4.7 cents
an hour is greater than would be expected from size of plant alone.
It appears that organization was effected particularly in establishments
that had been below the general competitive average. In spite of
1 In a d d itio n , 14 p la n ts (5 paper-box factories, 2 paper m an u fa ctu rin g an d p rin tin g e sta b lish m en ts, an d 7
con su m er p la n ts) h a d co m p a n y u n io n s, w ork s com m ittees, or so m e oth er form of e m p lo y ee rep resen tation .
2 T h e d istin ctio n b e tw e e n u n io n an d n o n u n io n p la n ts m a d e here is th a t th e form er h a d an d th e latter d id
n o t h a v e an agreem en t w ith th e P ap er B o x M a k ers’ U n io n . A s th is u n io n is organized on an in d u strial
b asis an d enforces th e closed sh o p , all of th e w orkers in th e u n io n esta b lish m en ts w ere u n io n m em b ers. O n
th e other h an d , th ere m a y h a v e b een som e em p lo y ees in th e n o n u n io n p la n ts th a t b elon ged to th e u n io n ,
b u t th e fact th a t su ch esta b lish m en ts d id n o t h a v e an agreem en t w ith th e u n io n m ak es it n ecessary to class
th em as n o n u n io n p la n ts.
3 S o m e of th e 32 p la n ts o b ta in ed a verb al agreem en t as early as S ep tem b er 1933, an d m a n y of th em h ad
sig n ed w r itten agreem en ts b y Ja n u ary 1934. H o w ev er, it is also p o ssib le th a t a few of th e esta b lish m en ts
sh o w n as u n io n h a d n o t y e t sig n ed ag reem en ts in A u g u st 1934.
4 T h e u n io n p la n ts averaged 16 w orkers, as com pared w ith ab ou t 36 for n o n u n io n estab lish m en ts.
43
44
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
T able 13.— Average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and average weekly
earnings hy union and nonunion plants in New York City
P ercen ta g e chan ge
T y p e of p la n t
A verage h o u rly earnings:
U n io n _____________ _________
N o n u n io n __________________
T o ta l_____________________
A verage w e e k ly hours:
U n io n ______________________
N o n u n io n __________________
T o ta l_____________________
A verage w e e k ly earnings:
U n io n ______________________
N o n u n io n __________________
T o ta l_____________________
M a y 1933 i A u g u st 1934 A u g u st 1935 M a y 1933 A u g u st 1934 M a y 1933
to A u g u st to A u gu st to A u g u st
1934
1935
1935
$0.341
.388
.371
$0.550
.480
.499
$0. 546
.462
.482
+ 6 1 .3
+ 2 3 .7
+ 3 4 .5
- 0 .7
- 3 .7
- 3 .4
+ 6 0 .1
+ 1 9 .1
42.5
37.8
39.3
36.0
36.3
36.2
37.0
39.6
38.9
- 1 5 .3
- 4 .0
- 7 .9
+ 2 .8
+ 9 .1
+ 7 .5
- 1 2 .9
+ 4 .8
-1 .0
$14. 50
14. 65
14.60
$19. 76
17.44
18.08
$20. 21
18.27
+ 3 6 .3
+ 1 9 .0
+ 2 3 .8
+ 2 .3
+ 4 .8
+ 3 .9
+ 3 9 .4
+ 2 4 .7
+ 2 8 .6
18.78
+ 2 9 .9
1 In clu d es p la n ts n o t u n io n d u rin g th is p eriod b u t organized d u rin g th e 2 su cceed in g periods.
D u e to th e fact th a t certain p la n ts d id n o t h a v e records a v a lia b le in M a y 1933, th e coverage for th a t period
is sm aller as com p ared w ith later p eriod s, th e n u m b er of e sta b lish m e n ts in clu d ed in 1933 a m o u n tin g to 17
u n io n an d 24 n o n u n io n p la n ts.
the fact that the union plants were small, the average hourly earnings
in the union plants exceeded those in the nonunion establishments
by 7.0 cents in August 1934 and 8.4 cents in August 1935. Whereas
hourly earnings declined 3.7 percent from 1934 to 1935 in unorgan
ized plants, they declined only 0.7 percent in organized establishments.
In May 1933, the average workweek of the establishments that
were later organized was 4.7 hours longer than that of the group which
remained unorganized. Under the code, the workweek in both types
of establishments averaged about 36 hours. But in August 1935,
when code standards had begun to break down, workers in the union
plants averaged 37.0 hours, whereas those in unorganized establish
ments averaged 39.6 hours per week.
Lastly, the average weekly earnings in union plants exceeded those
in nonunion plants by $2.32 in August 1934 and $1.94 in August 1935,
due largely to the substantial differential in average hourly earnings
enjoyed by union establishments during each of these periods. This
was not true, however, prior to the organization of the union plants
in May 1933, when their average weekly earnings were slightly lower
than those in the nonunion plants, in spite of the fact that the former
averaged longer hours than the latter.
Comparisons by Size of Plant5
The statement often made that wages increase and hours decrease
as the size of the plant increases holds true in the set-up paper-box
5
It w ill b e rem em b ered th a t in case of m ixed p la n ts, i. e., paper m ills, p rin tin g esta b lish m en ts, an d
con su m er p la n ts, th e to ta l rather th a n ju st th e set-u p paper-box e m p lo y m en t w a s u sed in classify in g th e
esta b lish m e n ts according to size.
45
Comparisons— earnings and hours
industry for earnings but not for hours. This may be seen by an
examination of the figures in table 14. The comparison here, how
ever, is limited to the 240 identical northern establishments,6for which
data are available for all three pay-roll periods. The southern cover
age is not sufficiently large to justify such a presentation.
T
able
1 4 . — Average hourly earnings, average weekly hoursf and average weekly
earnings by size of plant in
240 identical northern establishments
P ercen tage change
S ize of p la n t 1
A verage h o u rly earnings:
TTn <ip.r 1 0 p m p ln y p p s
10 an d u n d er 50 e m p lo y
ees
_ _______ _______
50 and u n d er 100 em p lo y
e es______________
_____
100 an d u n d er 300 em
p lo y e es___________________
300 em p lo y ees an d over___
T o ta l _
A verage w e e k ly hours:
U n d er 10 em p lo v ee s_______
10 an d u nder 50 e m p lo y
e es________________________
50 an d u nder 100 em
p lo y e es___________________
100 an d u n d er 300 e m
p lo y e es___________________
300 e m p lo y es an d ov er____
T o ta l
A verage w e ek ly earnings:
U n d er 10 e m p lo y ee s______
10 an d u n d er 50 e m p lo y
ees__________________ ___
50 an d u n d er 100 em
p lo y ees___________________
100 an d u n d er 300 em
p lo y ees______________ ____
300 em p loy ees an d o v e r ...
T o ta l__________________ _
M a y 1933
A u g u st
1934
Auerust
1935
M a y 1933
to A u g u st
1934
A u gu st
1934 to
A u g u st
1935
$0.330
.351
.354
.350
.374
.358
$0.427
.464
.453
.454
.475
.460
$0.418
.449
.439
.449
.469
.450
+ 2 9 .4
+ 3 2 .2
+ 2 8 .0
+ 2 6 .1
+ 2 7 .0
+ 2 8 .5
33.9
37.5
38.2
40.2
38.9
38.4
32.7
34.3
36.4
37.0
36.1
35.8
30.3
37.3
39.1
39.1
39.0
38.4
—3. 5
- 8 .5
-4 .7
- 8 .0
- 7 .2
- 6 .8
- 7 .3
+ 8 .7
+ 7 .4
+ 5 .7
+ 8 .0
+ 7 .3
$11.17
13.18
13. 52
14.48
14. 53
13. 74
$13.96
15.92
16.48
16.78
17.14
16.46
$12.69
16.74
17.17
17. 56
18.31
17.28
+ 2 5 .0
+ 2 0 .8
+ 2 1 .9
+ 1 5 .9
+ 1 8 .0
+ 1 9 .8
- 9 .1
+ 5 .2
+ 4 .2
+ 4 .6
+ 6 .8
+ 5 .0
— 2 .1
- 3 .2
- 3 .1
-1 .1
- 1 .3
- 2 .2
M a y 1933
to A u g u st
1935
+ 2 6 .7
+ 2 7 .9
+ 2 4 .0
+ 2 4 .7
+ 2 5 .4
+ 2 5 .7
—10.6
- .5
+ 2 .4
- 2 .7
+ .3
(2)
+ 1 3 .6
+ 2 7 .0
+ 2 7 .0
+ 2 1 .3
+ 2 6 .0
+ 2 5 .8
1 See footn ote 5, ch. 5.
2 N o change.
The average hourly earnings varied directly with the size of plant
without exception in May 1933. In general, the same relationship
existed in both August 1934 and August 1935. The differential
between the averages of the smallest plants (under 10 employees) and
the largest plants (300 or more employees) amounted to 4.4 cents in
May 1933, 4.8 cents in August 1934, and 5.1 cents in August 1935.
The smallest plants averaged 2 or 3 cents less than those of inter
mediate size. There was no persistent or large difference in hourly
earnings among the several classes of establishments ranging in size
6
F or th e size classes u sed in th is a n alysis, th e A u g u st 1935 coverage in term s of em p lo y ees w as as follow s:
P la n ts h a v in g u n d er 10 em p lo y ees, 163; 10 an d u n d er 50, 2,251; 50 an d u n d er 100, 1,881; 100 an d u n d er 300
1,734; 300 an d o v e r . 1,607; to ta l em p lo y ees, 7,636.
46
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
from 10 to 300. The largest establishments paid about 2 cents more
than those of intermediate size.
The length of the average workweek likewise varied directly with
the size of establishment in all three periods, if the plants with 300 or
more employees are not considered. The average hours per week of
the last-mentioned class, however, were not very much below those
found in plants with 100 and under 300 employees. It should also be
pointed out that the smallest establishments had a much shorter
workweek than any of the other classes of plants, this differential be
ing particularly large after the code.
The trend in average weekly hours from May 1933 to August 1935
differed as between the smallest plants and the other classes of plants.
From May 1933 to August 1934, the smallest establishments showed
the least reduction in weekly hours. The spread in hours increased
between August 1934 and August 1935, for the workweek of the small
est establishments continued to decline, while the other classes of plants
had increases in average weekly hours. In general, the increase in
weekly hours between August 1934 and August 1935 led to hours as
long in August 1935 as in May 1933.
The average weekly earnings varied directly with the size of plant
in all three periods without any exception, the differential between
the smallest and largest establishments amounting to $3.36 in M ay
1933, $3.18 in August 1934, and $5.62 in August 1935.
Between May 1933 and August 1934, each class of establishment
showed an important increase in average weekly earnings. From
August 1934 to August 1935, however, the smallest establishments had
a reduction in average earnings per week, as contrasted with small
gains in the other classes of plants. The decline in the average weekly
earnings of the smallest establishments was brought about by a 7.3percent drop in average weekly hours. As a result, the total relative
increase in average weekly earnings for the entire period in the smallest
establishments amounted roughly to about half of those found in most
of the other classes of plants.
Comparisons by Size of City
Unlike the codes for certain industries, the one for the set-up paperbox industry did not provide for wage differentials by size of city.
There is a rather widespread belief that wages are lower and hours of
work longer in smaller than in larger cities. The extent to which this
is true in the set-up paper-box industry may be seen from table 15,7
which is also limited to the 240 identical establishments of the North.
• T h e A u g u st 1935 coverage in term s of em p lo y ees for each size of c ity class w a s as follow s: C ities h a v in g
u n d er 25,000 p o p u la tio n , 872; 25,000 an d u n d er 100,000,1,089; 100,000 an d u nder 250,000, 1,233; 250,000 an d over,
4,442; to ta l em p lo y ees, 7,636. T h e size of c ity w as b ased on th e la test a v a ila b le p o p u la tio n d a ta, as fu rn ish ed
b y th e B u rea u of th e C en su s. (F ifte e n th C en su s of th e U n ite d S ta tes, 1930, an d e stim a te d p o p u la tio n as of
J u ly 1, 1933.)
47
Comparisons— earnings and hours
T
15.— Average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and average weekly
earnings by size of city in 240 identical northern establishments
able
P ercen ta ge ch an g e
Size of c i t y 1
A verage h o u rly earnings:
U n d er 25,000_______________
25,000 an d u n d er 100,000—
100,000 an d u n d er 250,000—
250,000 an d o v e r .......................
T o ta l..........................................
A verage w e e k ly hours:
U n d er 25,000_______________
25.000 an d u n d er 100,000—
100.000 an d u n d er 250,000250,000 an d o v e r .......................
T o ta l........................................
A v erage w e e k ly earnings:
U n d er 25,000_______________
25,000 a n d u n d er 100,000—
100,000 a n d u n d er 25 0,00 0250,000 a n d o v e r .......................
T o ta l................... .............—
M a y 1933
A u g u st
1934
A u g u st
1935
A u g u st
M a y 1933
M a y 1933
to A u g u st 1934 to A u to A u g u st
g u st 1935
1934
1935
$0.334
.343
.365
.365
.358
$0.452
.439
.475
.463
.460
$0.451
.426
.462
.453
.450
+ 3 5 .3
+ 2 8 .0
+ 3 0 .1
+ 2 6 .8
+ 2 8 .5
- 0 .2
- 3 .0
-2 .7
-2 .2
- 2 .2
42.3
37.8
36.1
38.3
38.4
35.1
34.3
35.2
36.5
35 .8
39 .0
38.1
36.8
38.7
38.4
- 1 7 .0
- 9 .3
- 2 .5
- 4 .7
- 6 .8
+ 1 1 .1
+ 1 1 .1
+ 4 .5
+ 6 .0
+ 7 .3
$14.16
12.96
13.19
13.98
13.74
$15.84
15.03
16. 72
16.89
16.46
$17. 57
16. 25
16.99
17. 55
17. 28
+ 1 1 .9
+ 1 6 .0
+ 2 6 .8
+ 2 0 .8
+ 1 9 .8
+ 1 0 .9
+ 8 .1
+ 1 .6
+ 3 .9
+ 5 .0
+ 3 5 .0
+ 2 4 .2
+ 2 6 .6
+ 2 4 .1
+ 2 5 .7
- 7 .8
+ .8
+ 1 .9
+ 1 .0
(2)
+ 2 4 .1
+ 2 5 .4
+ 2 8 .8
+ 2 5 .5
+ 2 5 .8
1 B a sed
on p o p u la tio n d a ta from B u rea u of th e C en su s.
s N o change.
In May 1933 the average hourly earnings varied directly with the
size of city, the differential between the smallest (under 25,000) and
largest (100,000 and over) cities amounting to 3.1 cents. In neither
August 1934 nor August 1935 was there any obvious relationship be
tween size of city and hourly earnings. In general, it was true that
earnings in cities of 100,000 and over were higher than in cities with
a smaller population. But the highest earnings were not found in
cities of 250,000 and over, nor did the lowest average occur in cities
of less than 25,000 population.
In both May 1933 and August 1935 the average weekly hours varied
indirectly with the size of city, except in case of the largest cities
(250,000 and over), which had next to the highest average during these
two periods. With the exception of cities of 25,000 and under 100,000,
however, the average hours per week varied directly with the size of
city in August 1934.
In each of the three periods, the lowest average weekly earnings
were for plants in cities of 25,000 and under 100,000. The highest
earnings in May 1933 and August 1935 were for plants in cities of less
than 25,000, though there was little difference between these average
earnings and those in cities of 250,000 and over. In August 1934 the
plants in the largest cities had the highest weekly earnings.
Independent Versus Consumer Plants
As mentioned heretofore, this survey covered three kinds of estab
lishments, namely, paper-box plants proper, paper mills and printing
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
48
establishments, and consumer plants. The first two types, which
manufacture, boxes for sale, have been classified as independent
establishments, thus distinguishing them from the consumer plants
that make boxes for their own use.
These two distinct types of establishments are presumably each
subject to different economic forces. Wages and hours in inde
pendent plants are apt to be determined by the competitive conditions
within the industry. Wages and hours in consumer plants are prob
ably also influenced by conditions found in the parent company. The
comparison of earnings in these two types of plants, which appears in
table 16, is based on the 240 identical northern establishments.8
T
able
16.— Average hourly earnings, average weekly hours} and average weekly
earnings hy identical independent and consumer plants in the North
P ercen ta ge chan ge
T y p e of p la n t
A verage h o u rly earnings:
In d e p e n d e n t_______________
C o n su m er_________________
T o ta l
A verage w e e k ly hours:
Tndoppndp.nt......
Consiim pr
_
__ _
T otal
A verage w e e k ly earnings:
Tndppondpnt
flnnsnmpr
T otal
M a y 1933 A u g u st 1934 A u g u st 1935
M a y 1933 to Atou gAu ustgu1934
a y 1933 to
st M
A u g u st 1934
A u g u st 1935
1935
$0.356
.367
.358
$0.459
.464
.460
$0.449
.456
.450
+ 2 8 .9
+ 2 6 .4
+ 2 8 .5
- 2 .2
-1 .7
- 2 .2
+ 2 6 .1
+ 2 4 .3
+ 2 5 .7
38 .4
38.2
38.4
35.8
35.8
35.8
38.5
37.6
38.4
- 6 .8
- 6 .3
- 6 .8
+ 7 .5
+ 5 .0
+ 7 .3
+ 0 .3
-1 .6
$13. 69
14.02
13.74
$16. 43
16. 61
16.46
$17. 30
17.15
17.28
+ 2 0 .0
+ 1 8 .5
+ 1 9 .8
+ 5 .3
+ 3 .3
+ 5 .0
0)
+ 2 6 .4
+ 2 2 .3
+ 2 5 .8
1 N o ch an ge.
Average hourly earnings were in all three pay-roll periods slightly
higher in consumer than in independent establishments. The differ
ential was somewhat smaller under the code than it had been before.
There was no significant difference in average hours per week in May
1933 or in August 1934. Both types of plants averaged longer hours
in 1935 than in 1934, but there was less increase in consumer plants
than in independent plants. Consumer plants also had higher average
weekly earnings than independent plants in May 1933 and August
1934 but not in August 1935.
* T h e n u m b er of em p lo y ees in th e 196 id en tica l in d ep en d en t p la n ts in th e N o r th a m o u n ted to 5,225 in
M a y 1933, 6,029 in A u g u st 1934, an d 6,463 in A u g u st 1935. In th e 44 id en tica l con su m er p la n ts, th e n u m b er
of em p lo y ees w a s 889 in M a y 1933, 1,143 in A u g u st 1934, an d 1,173 in A u g u st 1935.
Chapter VI.— Methods o f Wage Payment and Scheduled
Hours of Work
Basic Methods of Wage Payment
An examination of the methods of wage payment in the 424 plants
that reported wages and hours data for August 1935 shows that em
ployees worked exclusively on a straight time basis in 166 establish
ments. (See table 17.) Although some employees were paid straight
time rates in all plants, piece rates were found in 238 establishments,
production bonus systems in 23, and supplemental nonproduction
bonus systems in 5 plants. The straight time method of wage pay
ment predominated, covering 62.5 percent of all wage earners in
August 1935, piece work covered 28.3 percent, production bonus
systems 8.4 percent, and various combinations of the three systems
0.8 percent. (See table 18.) The number paid supplemental non
production bonuses was very small.
T
able
17.— Classification of establishments according to method of wage payment
by region and type of plant, August 1935
N u m b e r of p la n ts u sin g—
R egion an d ty p e of p la n t
A ll p la n ts...........................................................................
R egion :
N o r th .......... .............................................................
S o u th ..........................................................................
T y p e of plan t:
P aper-box p la n ts________________________
P ap er m ills an d p rin tin g esta b lish
m e n ts___________________________________
C on su m er p la n ts________________________
N u m b e r of
p la n ts re S tra igh t
n
p ortin g
tim e rates P iece rates 2 Pb oron du us ctio
sy s
exclu
tem
s
2
siv e ly 1
S u p p le
m en ta l
non p ro
d u c tio n
b on u s
sy ste m s
424
166
238
23
5
378
46
156
10
204
34
21
2
4
1
345
9
70
142
2
22
195
5
38
10
2
11
4
1
1 In p la n ts m ak in g oth er p rod u cts, th is covers o n ly paper-box d ep artm en ts.
2 T h ere w as som e straigh t tim e w ork in all of th ese p la n ts. F u rth erm ore, 3 p la n ts u sed b o th p iece w ork
an d p rod u ction b o n u s sy stem s.
The principal time-rate occupations in the production department
were those of compositor and printing pressman, press feeder, various
cutting- and scoring-machine operators and feeders, quadruplestaying-machine and ending-machine operators, and the hand occupa
tion of turning-in. Practically all workers outside the production
department were paid on a straight time basis.
49
Cl
o
T
able
18.— Classification of employees according to method of wage payment by region and occupational class
T otal num ber of em
ployees
M ay
1933
A u gu st A u gu st
1934
1935
Straight tim e rates
1933
A ll em p loy ees..................................... ............... ............................
R egion:
N o r th ............................................................. ............................
S o u th .................................. ................................................... ..
O ccu p ation al class:
M iscellan eo u s cu tter op erators....................................
M iscellan eo u s cu tter feeders.........................................
C om positors an d p rin tin g p ressm en ____________
C om b in a tio n pressm en an d feeders, p r in tin g ..
P ress feeders, p rin tin g ____________ _______ ______
Scorer operators..................................................................
Scorer feeders_____________________________________
C orner-cutter op erators_____ ______ _____________
C orner-cutter feeders______ _______ ______________
B en d ers-u p , h a n d _____________ _______________ .
S in gle-stayer op erators...................................... .............
Q u adruple-stayer op erators.......... ...... ......................
Q u ad ru p le-stayer feeders.................................. .............
E n d er operators__________________________________
E n d er feeders____________________________________
Stripp ers, m a c h in e ............. ..............................................
T u rn ers-in , h a n d _________________________________
G lu in g-m ach in e op erators_______________________
A u to m a tic w rap p in g-m ach in e op erators. _ . . .
B o x m akers, h a n d ____ ______ ______ _____ _______
M iscellan eo u s bench w orkers, u n sk illed _______
L acers and flyleafers, m a c h in e ._________ ______
M iscellan eou s m ach in e op erators.............................
6,854
11,749
12,564
58.7
1934
62.7
1935
62.5
P ro d u ctio n b on u s
sy ste m s
P iece r a te s 1
1933
3 32.4
1934
29.2
1935
28.3
B o th straigh t tim e and
in c e n tiv e s y s te m s 2
1933
1934
1935
1933
8 .3
7.6
8 .4
0 .6
1934
»
1935
0 .5
0.8
.5
1.1
.8
6,114
740
10,761
988
11,597
967
59.6
51.4
63.3
55.7
62.7
60.0
30.6
47.2
28.0
42.4
27.6
37.1
9 .2
1.3
8 .2
.8
8 .9
2 .9
.6
.1
234
89
39
68
61
209
40
30
115
63
392
56
85
35
62
910
367
80
574
776
358
75
66
404
147
55
106
92
354
84
90
211
108
675
86
146
57
103
1, 575
682
145
961
1,416
587
102
98
405
141
58
100
101
353
88
83
237
107
696
86
162
59
111
1, 552
721
161
1,012
1, 582
711
98
101
92.7
76.4
97.4
77.9
82.0
86.6
77.5
83.3
72.2
63.5
40.0
78.6
54.1
77.2
59.7
37.4
65.4
37.5
23.7
42.4
41.1
24.0
75.8
95.3
87.1
96.4
83.0
85.9
88.1
78.6
77.8
83.4
71.3
41.0
82.6
64.4
71.9
58.2
41.7
74.8
41.4
33.4
48.8
45.8
38.2
61.2
90.9
90.1
96.6
83.0
89.1
88.1
78.4
81.9
86.1
69.2
41.4
84.9
60.5
79.7
62.2
41.7
78.6
41.0
31.6
47.6
48.8
37.8
54.5
1.7
12.4
1.5
3.3
4.3
10.0
16.5
27.0
52.6
8.9
35.3
5.7
37.1
53.4
27.5
52.5
60.8
49.5
44.1
70.7
13.6
.7
10.2
1.0
3 .2
3 .7
9. 5
8 .9
8 .0
24.1
52.6
8.1
30.8
10.5
39.8
50.7
20.1
46.2
55.1
41.4
39.0
53.9
16.3
1.2
7 .8
1.0
2 .0
4 .2
12. 5
4 .8
6.8
25.2
50.9
4. 7
33. 3
5.1
34. 2
51.0
17.1
47.2
54.4
38.5
37.4
54.1
15.8
3 .9
6.7
2 .6
20.6
14.7
8 .6
12.5
16.7
9 .6
7.9
6 .6
10.7
10.6
17.1
3 .2
9 .0
7.1
10.0
15.0
7.5
13.7
4.0
10.6
3 .5
2 .0
3 .6
16.0
10.9
7.9
10.7
13.3
8.1
4. 6
5 .6
9 .3
3 .4
17.6
1.0
7.5
4.8
12.4
11.0
8 .8
14.8
6.9
21.5
6 .4
1.4
3 .4
16.0
8.9
7.1
8 .0
13.3
6.3
5. 6
6.3
8.1
5. 6
15.2
2. 7
7.0
4. 3
11. 2
12.3
13.5
12.9
7.1
27.7
1.7
4.5
.5
.7
1.5
.7
.5
.3
1.2
1.7
1. 6
.8
1.8
.5
.8
1.4
1.0
.1
.3
.5
1.0
.4
1.0
1.0
.6
1.1
.8
1.4
2.3
.6
.9
.3
6
1.7
.4
.9
1.0
2.0
.2
.5
.6
1.1
1.3
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
R egion an d occu p ation al class
Percentage of total em ployees working under—
M iscellan eou s m ach in e feeders....................
M a ch in e helpers an d d o orm en ....................
M a ch in e ad justers an d rep airm en ............
B u n d lers an d p a ck ers.......................................
Learners an d ap p ren tices................................
M iscellan eou s in d irect w orkers..................
Office an d p la n t su p ervisory em p loyees.
Office an d p la n t clerical e m p lo y ee s_____
M iscellan eou s service w ork ers. ...................
P ow er an d m ain ten an ce w ork ers_______
209
556
123
197
28
328
202
257
90
80
317
069
207
315
32
534
314
420
133
124
327
1,245
212
395
69
530
317
459
142
143
61.3
60.1
92.7
57.4
78.6
96.1
96.0
96. 5
100.0
100.0
57.7
66.8
88.4
67.9
78.1
93.1
92.7
98.8
100.0
100.0
58.4
65.4
89.1
64.0
84.1
94.9
93.4
98.0
100.0
99.3
25.8
31.8
.8
29.9
21.4
1.8
.4
19.6
27.1
1.0
23.8
21.9
4 .5
1.9
20.5
26.9
.5
24.3
15.9
1.7
1.9
12.9
7.6
5.7
12.7
1.8
3.0
3.1
19.2
5 .7
10.1
8 .3
1.9
4 .5
1.2
20.8
6 .6
9 .9
10.4
2.5
3.8
1.8
.5
.8
3.5
.4
.5
.3
1.0
.5
.9
.5
1.1
.5
1 .8
.9
.9
.2
. 7
Methods oj wage payment, hours oj work
1 In clu d es p iece w orkers w h o w ere gu aranteed m in im u m tim e rates. (See p . 54.)
* In clu d es w orkers p a rtly on straigh t tim e and p artly on piece w ork or p rod u ction b o n u s sy ste m s.
1 T h is figure is p rob a b ly lo w , because of th e elim in ation of piece w orkers for w h om d a ta w ere in co m p lete an d b ecau se n o sch ed u les w ere o b tain ed w here tim e records for piece w ork
ers w ere lacking.
O
52
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
Piece rates were used in 56 percent of all plants, being found least
frequently in small plants.1 Piece work was found in the majority of
the establishments of each important center, excepting New York
City, where 82 percent of the plants were on a time-rate basis exclu
sively.2 Piece work was more common in southern than in northern
establishments, even outside of New York City.3 There was little
difference in the relative frequency with which piece rates were used
between paper-box proper, consumer, and paper and printing estab
lishments.
Piece rates were used most frequently for the occupations of auto
matic wrapping-machine operator, machine lacer and flyleafer,
machine stripper, single-stay-machine operator, gluing-machine opera
tor, hand box maker, and miscellaneous unskilled bench workers.
Approximately one-half of all employees in those occupations were
piece workers. Piece rates were also found to a lesser extent in numer
ous other occupations. Piece-work earnings in this industry were
almost exclusively measured on an individual-employee-production
basis.
Bonus systems were more extensively used in the North than in the
South, and were most numerous in the large plants. These systems
were not, as a rule, restricted to any particular occupations in the
production department, regardless of the fact that in August 1935 the.
proportion of bonus workers ranged from more than 15 percent for
combination printing pressmen and feeders, ender operators, and
miscellaneous machine operators and feeders down to less than 5
percent for compositors and printing pressmen, ender feeders, miscella
neous cutter feeders, and various other groups. This variation is
apparently due rather to the differences in the occupational distribu
tion of workers in large as compared with small plants, since the bonus
systems in most of the establishments covered all direct workers.
These bonus or premium systems represented a variety of plans.
The type of plan in one plant was not reported, but the others may be
classified as follows:
1.
Seven establishments had simple time-saving premium plans,
five of which paid the employee his regular rate for all of the time saved,
one for one-half of the time saved, and one for one-fourth of such time.
Two of these plants did not guarantee the basic time rate if production
fell below standard. One of the seven establishments also paid fore
men a bonus based on department efficiency, and one had a special
1T h e p roportion of all p la n ts in th e va riou s size groups th a t u sed tim e rates e x c lu siv ely for paper-box
w orkers w as as follow s: U n d er 10 em p loy ees, 81 percent; 10 an d under 20, 47 percent: 20 an d u nder 50, 37
percent; 50 an d u n d er 100, 29 percent; 100 an d u nder 300, 24 percent; an d 300 em p lo y ees an d over, 17 percent.
* T h e agreem ent b etw een th e P aper B ox W ork ers’ U n io n an d N e w Y ork C ity m anu facturers stip u la ted
th a t “ all m em b ers of th e u n io n sh a ll w ork b y th e w e ek ” an d fixed w ages in term 3 o f w e e k ly rates. O f th e
73 esta b lish m en ts in N e w Y ork C ity , 60 used straigh t tim e rates exclu siv ely .
* T h e p roportion of all so u th ern p la n ts u sin g tim e rates e x c lu siv ely w as 22 percent; th e p roportion of all
n orth ern esta b lish m en ts w a s 41 percent, an d 32 p ercen t if N e w Y ork C ity is exclu d ed .
Methods of wage payment, hours of work
53
plan for setters of automatic machines, whereby each was paid a bonus
of 1 percent of his time earnings for each unit of machine production
above standard.
2. Four plants paid a full-day rate for standard production, plus
straight piece rates for all production over standard.
3. Efficiency-scale bonus plans with a time-rate base were used in
four establishments. One of these had a task level of 60 percent, with
bonus earnings in direct relation to effort above the task; two had task
levels of 80 percent and 100 percent, respectively, with step bonuses
above task; and the fourth plant did not describe its plan. One of
these establishments also had a foremen’s bonus plan based on depart
ment efficiency.
4. A modified multiple-piece-rate plan was used in one plant,
whereby the job rate was advanced in direct relation to production
above task (100 percent), with additional evenly spaced steps between
110 and 140 percent. This plan had a minimum time-rate guaranty
placed below the base rate.
5. Six establishments used “ point” plans of wage payment, adapta
tions of the Bedeaux or similar plans under which production is meas
ured in terms of man-minutes of work and workers receive as bonus
earnings the full or partial point value of production above standard.
Five of these plants reported details of their plans, and in three the
premium rate for direct workers was three-fourths of the point value,
with the indirect workers sharing the remaining one-fourth point
value, and in two plants the premium rate was the full point value,
with special bonus provisions for indirect workers.
Nonproduction bonus plans, used in five plants, were as follows:
One profit-sharing plan, in which all employees participated after 6
months’ service; a safety bonus plan for truck drivers; a prize for
suggestion plan; a service bonus plan; and a Christmas bonus unre
lated to length of service.
Changes in Methods of Wage Payment
With the adoption of the code, a few plants discarded piece rates
and substituted the code minimum wages as time rates.4 Some of
the establishments abolished piece work altogether, while others dis
continued it in certain occupations. Thus, between May 1933 and
August 1934, the number of employees on piece rates declined from
32.4 5 to 29.2 percent, the decrease being more or less uniform in most
4P iece w orkers w ere p red o m in a n tly fem ales. In M a y 1933, 68.0 percent of th e northern an d 89.2 percent
of th e so u th ern fem ales earned less th a n th e resp ective m in im u m w ages m an d a to ry u nder th e code.
* T h is figure is p rob a b ly low , d u e to th e u n a void ab le lim ita tio n in th e 1933 sa m p le. S in ce th e 1933 p a y
roll period w as sch ed u led in 1935, it w as po ssib le to ob tain d a ta o n ly for piece w orkers w h ose tim e had been
recorded, w h ich m a y h a v e resu lted in an ov erab u n d an ce of straigh t tim e w orkers in th a t year. T h e records
for 1935, h ow ever, w ere gen erally sa tisfactory, du e to th e fact th a t code reg u lation s n ecessita ted accurate
tim e records for all w age earners.
54
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
of the occupational groups in which piece work is important. (See
table 18.)
An additional number of plants discontinued piece work between
August 1934 and August 1935, although with the abolition of the
code this was partially offset by some establishments adopting piece
rates.6 This resulted in another decline in the number of piece
workers from 29.2 to 28.3 percent.
The mandatory minimum time rate under the code was also
apparently some stimulus to the introduction of production bonus
plans. Such plans were adopted by four plants between May 1933
and August 1934 and by two additional establishments during the
following year. On the other hand, only two plants discontinued
their plans during the entire period, and one of these had partially
resumed the use of its bonus system in August 1935. The resultant
change between 1933 and 1934 in the number of employees working
under bonus systems is not apparent in table 18, due to the difference
in coverage for the 2 years. However, the 1934-35 change, which
involved identical plants, resulted in a corresponding increase in the
number of employees working under bonus systems.
The most radical change in method of wage payment caused by the
code was the industry-wide adoption of the minimum time-rate
guaranty for piece workers. This is of particular importance in the
set-up paper-box industry, where the code minimum often exceeded
hourly earnings prior to the code.7 In 1933, about 10 percent of all
piece workers were receiving a time-rate guaranty. By August 1934,
practically all of the establishments were guaranteeing the code
minimum wage. While a majority of the plants ceased giving the
guaranty when the code restrictions were lifted, 30 percent of the
establishments still continued this practice in August 1935. They
employed about 35 percent of all piece workers. These employees
have been treated as straight piece workers, since such commonlabor guaranties, as well as State minimum-wage-law guaranties, are
not considered comparable to the competitive time-rate guaranty of
the Manchester plan.8
Proportion of Piece Workers by Sex
A large majority (93.6 percent) of the employees on piece rates were
females. In fact, all but two of the occupations in which piece
workers comprised one-fourth of the employees or more were filled
principally by females. Also, a proportionately larger number of
8 T h e p la n ts in v o lv e d in chan ges in m eth o d of w ag e p a y m e n t b etw een 1933 an d 1934, an d b e tw e e n 1934
an d 1935 w ere different w ith on e excep tio n , n a m e ly , a p la n t w h ich d isco n tin u ed a b o n u s sy ste m for m ach in e
operators u p o n th e a d op tion of th e cod e had p a rtia lly resu m ed it in A u g u st 1935.
7See ta b le 5.
8T h is w age p a y m e n t p la n com b in es p iece w ork w ith a fu ll-d a y gu aran ty.
55
Methods oj wage payment, hours oj work
female workers than males were paid on a piece-work basis within each
given occupation, as may be seen from an examination of table 19.
Thus, considering occupations in which women predominated, 40.6
percent of the female hand box makers were paid piece rates as com
pared with only 7.2 percent males, 52.7 percent of the female single
stay-machine operators as compared with 38.2 percent males, and 56.2
percent of the female automatic wrapping-machine operators as com
pared with 17.4 percent males. The difference is equally noticeable
in occupations where males predominated, such as ender feeders, in
which 65.0 percent of the females and 16.9 percent of the males were
piece workers, and corner-cutter feeders, in which 18.6 percent of the
females and 4.1 percent of the males were piece workers. The same
trend is observed throughout the remaining occupations.
T
able
19.— Piece workers in selected occupations by sex, August 1935
O ccu p ation al group
N u m b e r of e m p lo y P ercen tage of each
ees u n d er all
sex th a t w ere
m eth o d s of w age
piece w orkers
paym ent
M a le
A ll em p lo y ees__________________ _____ _____________________________
C lerical, su p ervisory, service, an d m a in ten a n ce_______ _________
P ro d u ctio n d e p a r tm en t................................................ ................................. ..
Selected occupation s:
A u to m a tic w rap p in g -m a ch in e op erators________ _________
Strippers, m ach in e_____________ ________ _____ ___________
S in gle-stayer operators, m a c h in e __________________________
B o x m akers, h a n d __________________________________________
M iscellan eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk ille d ............ ......................
E n d er feeders_____ _________________________________________
Q u adruple-stayer feeders____________ _____________________
M a ch in e helpers an d d o o rm en ________________ _________
B u n d lers an d p a ck ers________________ ______ ______________
M iscellan eo u s m a ch in e feed ers_________________________ .
C orner-cutter feeders_______________________________________
F em a le
8,404
M a le
F em a le
4,160
1,357
2,803
446
7,958
5.4
.7
7.7
41.8
46
45
89
97
57
71
72
303
166
94
194
966
1, 507
607
1,485
654
40
90
942
229
233
43
17.4
24.4
38.2
7 .2
17.5
16.9
25.0
3.6
10.8
5.3
4.1
56.2
51.8
52.7
40.6
39.1
65.0
40.0
34.4
34.1
26.6
18.6
39.6
1.6
Average Hourly Earnings by Method of Wage Payment
Methods of wage payment based on measured production resulted
in higher average hourly earnings than averages based on straight time
rates in nearly all occupations during each of the three periods, with
bonus earnings generally exceeding piece-work earnings.9 (See table
20.) A single unexplained exception, that of machine strippers,
occurred during all of the three periods. In this occupation the
earnings under piece rates were lower than the average time-rate
earnings. Likewise, a few other occupations (hand turners-in, auto
matic wrapping-machine operators, and hand box makers) in May
1933 earned the same or slightly less at piece rates, and in one case
also at bonus work, than at average time-rate earnings.
9 A sim ilar trend w as observed in pl&ntg m anufacturing folding paper boxes. See B ureau of lu b o r S t£
tistics B ulletin N o. 620, p. 45.
56
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
T
able
20.— Average hourly earnings by method of wage payment for selected
occupations 1
T o ta l
O ccu p ation , sex, an d region
N um
ber of
em
p lo y
ees
A ver
age
h o u rly
earn
in gs
S tra igh t tim e
rates
N um
ber of
em
p lo y
ees
A v er
age
h o u rly
earn
in g s
P iece rates
N um
ber of
em
p lo y
ees
A ver
age
h o u rly
earn
in gs
P ro d u ctio n
bonus
sy ste m s
N u m A ver
ber of age
e m h o u rly
p lo y earn
ees
in gs
M a y 1933
S in g le-stay er op erators, fem ale, N o r th ...............
Stripp ers, m ach in e, fem ale, N o r th ........................
T u rn ers-in , h a n d , fem ale, N o r th ______________
G lu in g-m ach in e operators, fem ale, N o r th ____
A u to m a tic w rap p in g -m a ch in e op erators, fem ale, N o r th ......................................................... ...........
B o x m akers, h a n d , fem ale, N o r th ..........................
B o x m akers, h a n d , fem ale, S o u th _____________
M iscella n eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed ,
fem ale, N o r th ...................... ....................................... ..
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e feeders, fem ale,
N o r th ...................................................................................
M a ch in e help ers an d floorm en, fem ale, N o r th .
B u n d lers an d packers, fem ale, N o r th ! _______
312
787
336
71
493
682
65
282
128
368
106
D o t.
0.306
.305
.234
.260
.318
.299
.207
.252
.300
.238
.284
127
312
234
27
125
268
38
D oL
0.282
.306
.232
.256
.312
.304
.174
121 .243
64 .277
208 .224
35 .259
162
401
76
36
285
356
27
119
47
142
49
D oL
0.324
.302
.227
.267
.312
.296
.256
.265
.337
.254
.273
23
74
26
D oL
0.322
.313
.277
83
58
.345
.298
42
.253
33
110
0.411
.435
.413
121
99
.451
.397
79
43
26
35
.399
.406
.443
.403
35
98
30
0.431
.419
.401
113
192
.440
.396
83
49
32
44
28
.385
.398
.428
.368
.389
A u g u st 1934
S in gle-stayer operators, fem ale, N o r th ............. 539
76
Q u ad ru p le-stayer feeders, fem ale, N o r th _____
Stripp ers, m ach in e, fem ale, N o r th .......... ............. 1, 399
631
T u rn ers-in , h a n d , fem ale, N o r th .............. .............
G lu in g-m ach in e op erators, fem ale, N o r th ____ 134
A u to m a tic w rap p in g -m a ch in e op erators, fe
827
m ale, N o r th ................................................................ ..
B o x m ak ers, h a n d , fem ale, N o r th ____________ 1, 267
B o x m akers, h a n d , fem ale, S o u th ______ ______
67
M iscella n eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed ,
478
fem ale, N o r th ______________________ ______ _
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e feeders, fem ale,
180
N o r th .— -----------------------------------------------------244
M a ch in e h elp ers an d floorm en, m ale, N o r th .
730
M a ch in e help ers an d floorm en, fem ale, N o r th .
176
B u n d lers an d p ackers, fem ale, N o r th ________
0.397
.363
.412
.360
.361
.410
.387
.343
.366
.393
.403
.347
.360
223 0. 385
45 .361
607 .414
476 .355
57 .343
284 .395
601 .380
33 .329
209 .340
84 .372
211 .397
447 .337
99 .338
283
28
682
0. 406
.367
.407
122 .365
60 .373
444 .420
545 .393
34 .355
190 .380
53 .414
248 .357
54 .380
33
A u g u st 1935
551 0.395
S in gle-stay er operators, fem ale, N o r th _______
Q u a d r u p le -sta y ^ feed ers, fftmalfi, N o r t h _
88 .364
Stripp ers, m ach in e, fem ale, N o r t h ..................... 1,381 .401
121 .329
S trip p ers, m ach in e, fem ale, S o u th ____________
678 .348
T u rn ers-in , h a n d , fem ale, N o r th ...........................
G lu in g-m ach in e operators, fem ale, N o r th ____
151 .358
A u to m a tic w ra p p in g -m a ch in e operators, fe
867 .409
m ale, N o r th ....................................................................
B o x m akers, h a n d , fem ale, N o r th ------------------- 1, 415 .379
64 .308
B o x m akers, h a n d , fem ale, S o u th _____________
M iscellan eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed , fe
601 .348
m ale, N o r th ______________ _______ ____________
195 .393
M iscella n eo u s m a ch in e feeders, fem ale, N o rth
275 .397
M a ch in e h elp ers an d floorm en, m ale, N o r th .
M a ch in e h elp ers an d floorm en, fem ale, N o r th . 867 .339
210 .345
B u n d lers an d p ackers, fem ale, N o r th .................
226 0. 382
48 .360
584 .411
34 .295
534 .344
62 .341
274 .396
648 .371
36 .300
288 .323
9Q .377
238 .393
525 .325
111 .324
290
34
699
82
114
71
480
575
28
230
56
298
71
0.403
.367
.393
.342
.354
.371
.419
.383
.319
.363
.414
.362
.365
i A verages w ere o m itte d for groups w ith few er th a n 25 em p loy ees.
In August 1935, average piece-rate earnings exceeded straight time
earnings by amounts varying from 1.9 to 15.9 percent, and bonus
earnings exceeded time-rate earnings by as much as 20.1 percent.
Similar differentials occurred in both 1934 and 1933. Moreover, the
average earnings per hour under straight time rates were lower than
P la t e 7 .— s t a y in g B o x C o r n e r s o n a S in g l e -S t a y in g M a c h in e .
P l a t e 8 .— S t r ip p in g B o x e s b y h a n d .
Methods of wage payment, hours of work
57
the general averages for the occupations, with the exception of machine
strippers in all three periods and hand box makers in May 1933.
Overtime Pay
The question of overtime pay assumes importance in this industry,
in view of the fact that work beyond the normal hours per week was
fairly common.10
Even with the relatively long full-time hours 11 and the general
depressed status of the industry in May 1933, overtime work for some
employees was reported in 41 percent of the plants, and the total
number of employees at work longer than their scheduled hours
amounted to 10 percent. At that time, overtime was generally
compensated only by the regular time or piece rate. Less than 10
percent of the establishments paid punitive overtime rates. Where
such extra rates were found they usually amounted to time and a half.
The code recognized a need for flexible hours of work. As men
tioned heretofore, it allowed an annual tolerance of 7% percent over
the standard of 40 hours per week for “ laborers, mechanical workers,
or artisans” , with a limit of 48 hours in any 1 week. It also provided
that not less than time and a third should be paid for work in excess
of the plant’s standard day,12 for all time on days not a part of the
regular workweek, and for all time in excess of 40 hours in any 1 week.
For engineers and firemen, the code specified a maximum week of
42 hours averaged over 4 consecutive weeks, with at least time and a
third for work in excess of 9 hours per day. The extra rate also
applied to Sunday work of all employees excepting watchmen. There
was no limitation of hours for any employees when engaged in emer
gency repair or emergency maintenance work, but the extra rate for
overtime covered this work.13
During the code period of August 1934, overtime work for some
employees was found in 35 percent of the plants and involved approxi
mately 7 percent of all employees. A majority of the plants, including
most of those exceptional establishments which had formerly paid
time and a half, adopted the minimum overtime rate specified by the
code. Thus, in August 1934, 78 percent of the establishments sur
veyed were paying an extra rate for overtime, of which 69 percent
paid time and a third, 7 percent time and a half, and 2 percent various
other rates. Of the remaining plants, 15 percent paid only the regular
rates, 6 percent did not permit overtime work, and 1 percent did not
report on this point.
io
“ O v ertim e” ord in arily refers to a n y w ork in ad d itio n to th e regular sch ed u led hours per d a y . H o w
ever, as th e hours w ork ed w ere rep orted here o n ly on a w e ek ly basis, it w a s n o t p o ssib le to recognize d a ily
ov ertim e, w h ich m a y h a v e b een offset b y short tim e w ith in th e w eek .
u See p. 60.
is T h e code stip u la te d th a t a firm cou ld a d op t a stan d a rd w o rk d a y of eith er 8 or 10 hours.
12 F or sch ed u led hours of w ork du rin g th e code period, see p p . 60 to 62, in clu siv e.
144 4 3 5°— 37--------5
58
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
Violation of the code with respect to pay for overtime extended
beyond the 15 percent of plants that paid only regular rates for over
time. The principal violation was in the method of computing
overtime. A large proportion of the establishments paid the extra
overtime rate only for hours in excess of weekly full time, instead of
using the day’s work as the unit, as required by the code. Thus,
overtime could be offset by subsequent short time within the week
and payment of the punitive rates avoided. This method of comput
ing overtime was used in 25 percent of all plants surveyed in August
1934 (32 percent of those paying extra overtime rates).
In August 1935, with the code no longer in effect, 52 percent of the
plants and approximately 20 percent of all employees worked longer
than their weekly full-time hours.14 This represents a considerable
increase in overtime work as compared with the code period.
Simi
larly, there occurred a decided shift back to the payment of only the
regular rates for overtime, although punitive rates were still being
paid to at least a part of the employees in 28 percent of the plants.
If one follows the policies of the 325 plants which paid extra rates in
August 1934, it is found that more than 60 percent of them had
returned to paying only the regular rate in August 1935. The methods
of compensating for overtime in the latter period are shown in table 21.
T
able
21.— Overtime compensation in 1+13 establishments by region and type of plantf
August 1935
N u m b e r of p la n ts co m p en sa tin g for o v ertim e b y —
R egion an d ty p e of p la n t
A ll p la n ts__________________________
R egion :
N o r th ___________ _____________
S o u th ........................ ...........................
T y p e of p lan t:
P aper-box p la n ts_____________
P ap er m ills an d p rin tin g
esta b lish m e n ts..........................
C on su m er p la n ts
N u m P u n itiv e
P ro-rata
T im e off
rates
ber of
rates
plan ts
re
art A ll P art A ll P art
p ort A ll P of
e m of
in g e m e m e m e of
p lo y p lo y p lo y p lomy p lo y pelomy
ees ees ees ees ees ees
N um ber
n o t p erm it
N o com p en tin g over
satio n
tim e
A ll
em
p lo y
ees
413
83
» 33
225
*71
367
46
77
28
5
194
31
65
12
1
1
339
9
65
64
29
3
183
3
39
65
11
1
1
1
6
2
17
1
6
1
5
8 13
P art A ll P art
of
of
e m em
lo y pem
p lo y p ees
lo y
ees
ees
81 * 68
13
84
64
4
12
1
4
60
10
3
2
6
3
1
i 21 p la n ts p a id p u n itiv e ov ertim e rates to all ex cep tin g clerical, su p ervisory, an d other sp ecial w ork ers,
8to all excep tin g piece w orkers an d salaried occu p ation s, an d 4 o n ly to su ch sk illed w orkers as m ech a n ics,
pressm en , an d com positors.
360 p la n ts p a id regular rates to all ex cep tin g clerical, su p ervisory, an d oth er sp ecial w orkers, 7 to piece
w orkers o n ly , an d 4 to su p ervisory an d sp ecial w orkers o n ly .
3In clu d es su p ervisory em p loy ees, sh ip p in g an d m ain ten a n ce d ep a rtm en t w orkers, an d certain sk illed
w orkers w h o p rob a b ly h a d su p ervisory d u ties.
8A ll w orkers in th is p la n t w ere on a salary basis.
‘ In clu d es m o stly salaried em p loy ees, su ch as clerks, forem en, m ain ten an ce, sh ip p in g an d service
em p lo y ees, an d m iscellan eou s o ccu p ation s in th e p rod u ction d ep artm en t.
8In clu d es all fem ales in 1 p la n t, all p iece w orkers in 1 p la n t, w a tch m en in 2 p la n ts, an d firem en in 1 p la n t.
u In th is con n ectio n , it m a y b e sta ted th a t th e agreem en t b e tw e e n th e P ap er B o x M a k ers’ U n io n an d
N e w Y ork C ity em p loy ers p roh ib ited ov ertim e in excess of 1 hour per d a y, w ith o u t con sen t of th e u n io n .
T h e agreem en t w as sile n t w ith resp ect to th e ov ertim e rates for regular w o rk d a ys, b u t fixed tim e an d ah a lf
$s ttie rate for w ork on h o lid a y s.
Methods of wage payment, hours of work
59
T h e a m o u n t o f o v e rtim e co m p e n s a tio n in a m a jo r ity o f th e p la n ts
th a t p a id p u n itiv e rates in A u g u st 1935 w as still tim e an d a th ird .
T h is w as the ra te in 87 esta b lish m en ts, a lth o u g h 3 o f these p a id tim e
an d a h a lf in certa in o cc u p a tio n s , su ch as p rin tin g pressm en an d m e ch
anics, and 3 p a id tim e an d a h a lf fo r S u n d a y w ork . T h e extra rate
p a id in m o st o f th e o th e r p la n ts w as tim e an d a half.
N u m erou s bases fo r co m p u tin g o v e rtim e h ou rs to b e p a id fo r b y
p u n itiv e rates w ere r e p o rte d in A u g u st 1935. T h e se w ere as fo llo w s:
T im e com pensated b y pu nitive rates
N um ber of
p la n t s r e p o rtin g
All time beyond scheduled hours__________________________________________
All time beyond scheduled hours, except that extra pay was allowed only
after a full-time day on holidays________________________________________
All time beyond scheduled hours, except on Saturdays when extra pay was
allowed only after a full day rather than the scheduled half day_________
Time beyond full-time weekly hours______________________________________
Time beyond full-time weekly hours, but all time on Saturdays, Sundays,
and holidays___________________________________________________________
Time beyond full-time weekly hours, but all time on Sundays and holidays. _
Time beyond full-time weekly hours, but all time on Sundays_____________
Time beyond full-time weekly hours, but all time on holidays____________
After a full-time day had been worked every day, including Sundays and
holidays, within the full-time weekly hour limitation_____________________
After a full-time day had been worked every day except Sunday, within the
full-time weekly hour limitation; extra pay was allowed for all time on
Sundays_______________________________________________________________
Same as above, except that extra pay was allowed for both Sundays and
holidays_______________________________________________________________
After a full-time day had been worked every day, including Sundays and
holidays, regardless of full-time weekly hours____________________________
Same as above, except that extra pay was allowed for all time on Sundays---Sundays and holidays____________________________________________________
Sundays_________________________________________________________________
Holidays_________________________________________________________________
After 8 hours had been worked beyond the weekly full-time hours. -----------Same as above, except that extra pay was allowed for all time on Sundays..
After 4 hours had been worked beyond the weekly full-time hours and for all
time on holidays_______________________________________________________
After a full-time day plus 1 hour, except Sundays and holidays, within the
full-time week limitation; extra pay was allowed for all time on Sundays
and holidays___________________________________________________________
Same as above, except that the full-time week limitation did not apply----After 30, 32, and 48 hours, respectively, beyond the combined weekly full
time hours in a 6-month period_________________________________________
Not reported_____________________________________________________________
Total____________________________ _____ ___________________________
i
17
2
1
31
1
3
4
1
24
2
2
3
1
3
2
1
8
1
1
1
1
3
3
116
* A ll esta b lish m en ts w ith m ore th a n 1 base for com p u ta tio n h a v e b een classified w h ere th e m ajority of th e
e m p lo y ees fell.
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
60
Scheduled Hours of Work15
The workweek in May 1933, prior to the code, generally consisted of
Thus, 90 percent of
the plants had a full-time week longer than 40 hours and 37 percent a
full-time week of more than 48 hours. During the code period of
August 1934, the 5-day and 40-hour week was almost universal, with
only 1.5 percent of the establishments having full-time hours longer
than 40 per week. The 5-day and 40-hour week still prevailed in
August 1935, although there had already occurred a noticeable shift
toward longer scheduled hours per week, and as a result an additional
13 percent of the plants lengthened their scheduled hours. This
lengthening of the workweek was accomplished both by a return to the
5 y2- or 6-day week and by increasing the number of hours per day, the
former being more common than the latter. (See table 22 and
chart 8.)
5% or 6 days and from 44 to 55 hours per week.
T
able
22,— Classification of 'plants according to scheduled workdays per week and
hours per day and per week 1
N u m b e r of p la n ts
S ch ed u led w ork d a y s per w eek an d
h ou rs per d a y an d per w eek
T o ta l n u m b er of p la n ts_____________________
D a y s per w eek:
5 d a y s or less 2__________________________
6 d a y s 3__________________ _______________
H o u rs per day:
8 hours or le ss___________________________
M o re th a n 8 h o u rs______________________
H o u rs per w eek:
U n d er 40 h o u rs_________________________
40 h o u rs. __________________ ____________
O ver 40 an d u n d er 48 h o u rs____________
48 h o u rs_________________________________
O ver 48 an d u n d er 56 h o u rs_________ __
56 h ours an d o v er_______________________
M ay
1933
P ercen t of p la n ts
M ay
1933
A u g u st
1934
A u gu st
1935
271
418
418
100.0
100.0
100.0
44
227
403
15
366
52
16.2
83.8
96.4
3 .6
87.6
12.4
129
142
415
3
386
32
47.6
52.4
99.3
.7
92.3
7 .7
89
403
4
2
®7
350
31
16
14
.7
8. 5
24.4
29.9
35.0
1.5
2. 2
96.3
1.0
.5
1.7
83.8
7.4
3 .8
3 .3
*2
23
66
81
95
74
A u g u st
1934
A u g u st
1935
1 T h e h ours of p la n t op eration w ere u sed for a few p la n ts in w h ich th e hours of w o m en w ere n o rm a lly
shorter th a n th e hours of m en .
2 A ll w ere 5-d ay w eek s w ith th e follow in g excep tion s: 1933, 2 p la n ts w ere on a 4-d ay w eek ; 1934, 1 p la n t
w as o n a 4-d ay w eek .
2 T h is in clu d es b o th lon g an d sh ort w o rk d a y s o n S a tu rd ay .
4 1 p la n t h a d a 20-hour an d 1 a 32-hour w eek .
8 1 p la n t h ad a 32:hour an d 8 a 35-hour w eek .
• A ll p la n ts h ad a 35-hour w eek .
7 1 p la n t h a d a 57-hour an d 3 a 60-hour w eek .
Longer hours prevailed in the South than in the North before the
code period, and after the code restrictions were lifted there was also a
more pronounced trend back to the longer day in the South. No
southern plant surveyed had full-time hours of 40 or less in May 1933;
only 14 percent, 48 hours or less; and 86 percent, longer than 48 hours.
18 F or th e d iscu ssion co v erin g a ctu a l h ou rs of w ork , see ch. I l l , p p . 22 to 32, in c lu siv e.
SCHEDULED HOURS PER WEEK IN THE SET-UP PAPER-BOX INDUSTRY
INDICATED BY PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF 419 PLANTS
MAY 1933, AUGUST 1934, AND AUGUST 1935
P ercent o r P lants
P e r c e n t of P l a n t s
Methods of wage payment, hours oj work
U. S. B ureau
of
L abor S tatistics
Chart 8.
62
Wages and hours, set-ujp paper-box industry
On the other hand, 11 percent of the northern establishments worked
40 hours or less; 71 percent, 48 hours or less; and only 29 percent, longer
than 48 hours. In August 1935, 24 percent of the southern plants, as
compared with 13 percent of northern establishments, had shifted to
longer full-time hours than the 40-hour code maximum.
Single-shift operation was almost universal in the industry. Only
9 of the 418 plants reporting operated regularly in multiple shifts in
August 1935. Of these, seven establishments worked two shifts and
the remaining two plants three shifts. Wage rates were the same for
day and night work in all cases. The practice of paying a 10-percent
wage differential in favor of night work, however, was observed in two
other establishments, which operated extra shifts occasionally to meet
emergency demands.
Chapter V II.— Personnel Policies and Working Conditions1
The Working Force
A brief sketch of the characteristics of the labor force in the set-up
paper-box industry may be a useful preface to a discussion of personnel
policies and working conditions.
In August 1935, women constituted about two-thirds and men onethird of all the workers in the industry. Men were relatively more
numerous in the South, where they amounted to 38.6 percent of all
employees, as against 32.6 percent in the North.
Workers of both sexes were found in practically all jobs in the pro
duction departments, although men were usually employed on the
major machine operation of cutting, on ending and scoring machines,
and as compositors and printing pressmen. Men were exclusively
employed as machinists, who repair, set up, and regulate machines,
and in the shipping and transportation of boxes. Women were most
numerous in the making-up operations, such as hand box making,
machine stripping, wrapping, gluing and staying, hand bending-up
and turning-in, and miscellaneous bench work, and as general machine
helpers and floor workers.
Machine operators and feeders comprised a little less than half
(47.5 percent) of all workers, being relatively more numerous in the
South, where they amounted to 53.9 percent of all employees' than
in the North, where they constituted 47.0 percent. About 51.7 per
cent of the male workers were machine operators and feeders, as
compared with 45.4 percent of the female employees (54.7 percent in
the South).
The national derivation of the labor force in the various plants de
pends on the population predominating in the centers where the
establishments were located. Thus, in metropolitan New York and
eastern New Jersey, many Italians and Jews and a goodly proportion
of Germans were found among the employees; French-Canadians were
numerous in New England; Poles and Italians in the East North
Central section; Germans and Scandinavians in the West North
Central section; and Italians and Portuguese in the far West. However,
American-born workers predominated in all sections. In the South,
a vast majority of the employees were native Americans, predomi
nantly of English extraction. Negroes comprised little more than 1
percent of all workers, although they were 6.5 percent of the relatively
i
F or a d iscu ssion of co llectiv e bargain in g in th is in d u stry , see p p . 43 an d 44.
63
64
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
small group of southern employees. They were mainly engaged in
such occupations as waste balers, truckers, janitors, and firemen.
The average formal education of the workers was apparently be
tween the sixth and eighth grades of grammar school, according to the
reports on this point from 400 plants. Seven percent of the establish
ments reported a preponderance of high-school graduates.
No records are available for a statistical analysis of length of service
in the industry, but general statements from executives indicate that
the regular working force was on the whole stable, despite the com
paratively low skill required in much of the work and the fact that
more than two-thirds of the plants and almost three-fourths of the
employees2 were located in industrial cities of 100,000 or more.
A vast majority of the establishments reported not only a very small
labor turn-over but also many employees with service records ranging
from 5 to 20 years.3 Ninety percent of the plants reported that from
one-half to all of their male workers were married; 40 percent declared
that a like proportion of their female employees were married, although
the same proportion of establishments reported that fewer than onefourth of their female workers were married, thus indicating that single
women predominated in this industry.
Hiring
The employment function in establishments of the set-up paper-box
industry was commonly centralized in one authority, such a practice
having been found in 343 or 83 percent of the 414 plants reporting on
the subject in August 1935. Since the majority of the establishments
were small, this means in most instances the owner, manager, superin
tendent, or some other company official. Special employment depart
ments or personnel officials were a part of the organization in 28 of
the plants (nearly all large ones), only 2 of which were strictly paperbox factories, the others being consumer plants or paper manufacturing
or printing establishments. Hiring was in the hands of foremen or
department heads in 71 plants, comprising 17 percent of those covered.
A classification of establishments according to the agency used in hiring
will be found in table 23.
Labor was recruited principally from direct applicants at the plant,
who acted upon information received from regular employees or
newspaper advertisements. This method was used almost exclusively
by 380 of the 417 establishments reporting on the point. The union
supplied the labor in all organized plants (32) in New York City,
while city, State, or Federal employment offices were a major source
for 5 establishments. Business schools, private employment offices,
» S et-u p paper-box em p lo y ees o n ly are consid ered here.
3 T h ere is consid erab le seasonal flu ctu ation in th is in d u str y an d m a n y p la n ts m et th e situ a tio n b y sharin g
w ork an d hirin g tem p o ra ry em p lo y ees to carry peak load s. W h en it w a s n ecessary to la y off regular em*
p lo y ees, th eir p o licy w as u su a lly to rehire th em w h en p rod u ction increased. See p. 67.
65
Personnel policies and working conditions
T able 23.— Classification of 414 plants according to hiring agency by size of estab
lishment, August 1985
A ll p la n ts
H irin g agen cy
U n d er
50
em p loy ees
50
an d u nder
100
em p loy ees
100
an d u nder
300
em p lo y ees
300
em p lo y ees
an d over
N u m P er N u m P er N u m P er N u m P er N u m P er
ber cen t ber cen t ber cen t ber cen t ber cen t
A ll a g en cies.......................................................... ..
F orem a n or d ep artm en t h e a d ---------------S u p erin ten d en t, ow n er, or other execu
t iv e ________________ _____________ _______
E m p lo y m e n t or p erson n el d e p a r tm e n t.
414 100.0
71 17.1
315 76.1
28 6 .8
263 100.0
36 13.7
227 86.3
65 100.0
11 16.9
53 81.6
1 1.5
36 100.0
13 36.1
20 55.6
3 8.3
50
11
15
24
100.0
22.0
30.0
48.0
and relief agencies were also used occasionally for special types of
labor, and two plants in a certain city looked respectively to the
vocational guidance committee of the city schools for specially trained
persons and to the city continuation school for inexperienced help.
Standards for selection in hiring included a minimum age in a
majority and a maximum age in a few of the plants. Medical exam
ination for physical fitness was also required by several of the larger
plants.
In August 1935, two-thirds of the establishments were observing a
minimum hiring age which was higher than the State minimum legal
requirement. The minimum age for employment outside of school
hours in the States covered ranged from 14 to 16 years for nonhazardous and from 14 to 18 years for hazardous occupations. By
using the State minimum age for nonhazardous occupations for plants
having no other standard, the 411 plants which reported on this
subject may be distributed as shown in table 24.
T
able
24 .—
C lassification o f 4 1 1
plants according to a m in im u m hiring-a ge lim it
M in im u m
h iring
age
14 y e a rs........................
15 y e a rs......................
16 y e a rs-----------------17 y e a r s ............... ..
18 y e a rs-----------------19 y e a rs-----------------20 y e a rs____________
21 y ea rs____________
T o ta l__________
N u m b er
of
p la n ts
81
21
121
7
166
1
12
2
411
P ercen tage
of all
p la n ts
19.7
5.1
29.4
1.7
40.5
.2
2.9
.5
100.0
The 14- and 15-year ages were in each instance the State minimum.
Sixteen years was the State minimum for two-thirds of the establish
ments in the 16-year group, and it was the State minimum age for
employment in hazardous 4 occupations for most of the remaining
plants in that group. Likewise, 18 years was the State minimum
age for employment in hazardous work for the majority of the estab4 Certain
kinds of m achine work in th is industry are considered hazardous b y several States.
66
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
lishments reporting 18 as the minimum hiring age for all work. It
would, therefore, appear that, even though much of the work is nonhazardous in character, the presence of some hazardous work in the
industry has a tendency to raise the entrance age for all occupations
to the minimum for hazardous work. The reason for this may be
that, if employers must consider the permissible age for hazardous
occupations, they prefer not to hire anyone younger than that age.
Maximum hiring-age limits were more or less definitely established
in 55 plants, or 13 percent of the 411 plants that reported. A maxi-
MINIMUM HIRING AGE IN SET-UP PAPER-BOX INDUSTRY
IN 419 PLANTS, AUGUST 1935
NUMBER OF
NUMBER OF
PLANTS
PLANTS
180 ----
180
100
80
60
40
14 Years
U. S. B ureau
of
15 Years
16 Years
17 Years
iQ Years
/9 Years
2 0 Years
2 ! Years
L abor S tatistics
Chart 9.
mum age of 50 years or less was found in 48 establishments, 25 years
being the usual limit in 9, 30 years in 5, 35 years in 5, 40 years in 9,
45 years in 7, and 50 years in 13 plants. Seven establishments
reported that they hired employees between 60 and 70 years old.
The maximum hiring age for female workers was sometimes lower
than that for males. Thus, 3 plants which hired men up to 50 years
of age would not take women over 30,35,and 40,respectively; another
fixed the ages of males and females at 40 and 35, respectively; and
one which preferred males as young as 24 did not usually hire women
older than 20 years. Several other establishments, while not naming
a maximum hiring age, indicated that their practice was to hire
young people.
Personnel 'policies and working conditions
67
Medical examinations before hiring were required by about onefourth of the consumer and paper manufacturing and printing estab
lishments, with only one strictly paper-box factory following this
practice.
Laying Off and Discharging
The set-up paper-box industry is subject to marked seasonal varia
tions. In order to keep intact a regular labor force, many plants
have adopted a “ share the work” policy. Approximately three-fourths
of the establishments shared work by reducing the hours per day or
days per week, by rotation of employees, or by some similar plan.
The market of another one-sixth of the plants was such that they
could minimize the need for such measures by manufacturing for stock
supplies during slack periods. There is in this industry an appreciable
increase in employment during peak seasons, which cannot be absorbed
during the rest of the year. The extra workers taken on in busy
seasons are usually considered as part-time or temporary workers, who
are hired on that basis and laid off on termination of the emergency.
The procedure followed when laying off or discharging regular
employees was casual in many establishments. Only 123 (about onethird) of the plants endeavored to give all workers or, in a few in
stances, those in selected occupations some notice of lay-off. Five of
these gave both notice and a dismissal wage and 10 plants gave a
dismissal wage in lieu of notice for permanent lay-offs. The length
of notice allowed was 1 week in two-fifths of the plants that gave
notice, and as much as 2 weeks in a few, but in more than half of the
establishments it was an indefinite amount of time, depending on
circumstances. The amount of dismissal wage was usually pay for
1 or 2 weeks. A few establishments reported that they never had
occasion to lay off employees, and the remaining either gave no
notice whatever or had no definite policy.
Lay-offs, as well as dismissals for cause, were usually in the hands
of the person who hired the workers, although foremen had the right
to discharge in a number of plants where they did not have the power
to hire, as will be seen from a comparison of tables 23 and 25.
T
able
25.— Classification of 275 plants according to discharging agency by size of
establishment, August 1985
A ll p la n ts
D isch argin g ag en cy
A ll a g en cies..............................................................
F orem an or d ep artm en t h e a d ......................
A lo n e __________________________ _____ _
W ith ap p ro va l of higher officia l____
S u p erin ten d en t, ow n er, or other execu
t iv e ............ ..............................................................
E m p lo y m e n t or person n el d ep a rtm en t-
U n d er 50
em p loy ees
50 an d
u n d er 100
em p lo y ees
100 and
u nder 300 300 e m p lo y
em p loy ees ees a n d over
N u m P er N u m P er N u m P er N u m P er N u m P er
ber cen t ber cen t ber c en t ber cen t ber cen t
275 100.0
87 31.6
54 19.6
33 12.0
147 100.0
30 20.4
20 13.6
10 6 .8
49 100.0
13 26.5
10 20.4
3 6.1
183
117
36
66.6
6 1.8
79.6
73.5
29 100.0
17 58.6
11 37.9
6 20.7
50
27
13
14
100.0
54.0
26.0
28.0
12
18
5
36.0
10.0
41.4
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
68
The foreman was the discharging official in almost a third of the
275 plants reporting on this point, as one may see from table 25.
However, approval of his action by a higher official was necessary in
a number of them, reducing the proportion in which he was the sole
authority to 20 percent, as compared with 17 percent in which he
was the sole hiring official. It will also be seen that only 5 of the 28
special employment departments handled discharges directly. Of the
remaining 23 plants with such departments, the foreman had complete
authority to discharge in 9; the foreman’s action required the approval
of the employment manager or some other higher official in 8; and the
superintendent or general manager handled discharges in 6 establish
ments.
According to table 26, provisions for appeal from dismissals by
foremen acting without the approval of a higher official were made
in 30 of 50 plants that reported on the subject.
T
able
26.— Classification of 242 plants having provisions for appeal by discharging
agency, August 1935
D isch a rg in g agen cy
All afrfinmp.fi
N u m b e r P la n ts h a v in g pro
p la n ts re v isio n s for a p p ea l
p o rtin g N u m b e r P ercen t
242
F o rem a n a lo n e_____________________________________ _____________________________
F orem a n w ith ap p ro va l of m an ager or su p e r in ten d e n t______________________
M a n ager or su p e r in ten d e n t a lo n e ______________________________________________
E m p lo y m e n t or p erson n el d e p a r tm en t________________________________________
H ig h er official, or m an ager, su p e r in ten d e n t, or forem an w ith ap p ro va l of
h ig h er officia l__________________________________________________________________
50
19
82
4
87
88
30
11
27
3
17
36 .4
60.0
57.9
32.9
75.0
19.5
As previously stated, a number of plants in New York City were
operating under an agreement with the Paper Box Makers’ Union.
With respect to discharging employees, this agreement stipulated that,
after a 2 weeks’ trial period, the discharge of workers was prohibited
without consultation with the union. The agreement also provided
for the adjustment of such cases by arbitration.
Job Training
Training necessary to the work in this industry was practically
always obtained on the job. Beginners were usually started at
learners’ wages 5 on such jobs as putting on lids and tying up boxes,
turning-in, stripping, covering, etc., or as helpers to machine operators,
being advanced as they became proficient and vacancies occurred.
In the majority of plants, they were taught by other experienced
workers or foremen. Formal apprentice training was reported by
only one establishment, which trained apprentice machinists and
diemakers under a 3-year contract. Plants generally hired trained
workmen for the highly skilled jobs.
s Learners often receive piece rates, 15.9 p ercen t o f th e to ta l sch ed u led b ein g p a id b y th a t m e th o d in A u g u st
1935. (S ee ta b le 18.)
69
Personnel policies and working conditions
Lunch and Rest Periods
In August 1935, lunch periods of definite length were provided in
all but 1 of the 418 plants reporting on this point. The usual length
of lunch periods was 30 minutes in the South and either 30 minutes
or 1 hour in the North. (See table 27.) All of these lunch periods
were on the employee’s time.
T a b l e 2 7 . — Classification
R egion
of 1^18 plants according to length of lunch period by
region, August 1935
T o ta l
30 m in u tes
40 to 45
m in u tes
146
114
32
194
90
4
418
373
45
U n ite d S ta tes___________ ______
N o r th ___________________________
S o u th
_
_ _
e n g th n o t
60 m in u tes 75 m in u te s Lrep
orted
4
4
173
164
9
1
1
1 3 of th ese p la n ts h ad a lu n c h p eriod of 40 m in u tes an d 1 of 42 m in u tes, all oth ers g iv in g 45 m in u tes for
lu n ch .
Short formal rest periods, aggregating from 10 to 20 minutes a
day, in addition to the lunch period, were the practice in 10 plants,
of which 4 were in the consumer and paper and printing groups, and
6 were strictly paper-box establishments. These rest periods were
credited as working time in all excepting two of the plants.
Holiday Observance
Holiday observance was general throughout the industry. The
usual number celebrated was 5 days in the South and 6 days in the
North. Christmas, Independence, Thanksgiving, Labor, New Year’s,
and Memorial Day were extensively observed, their importance
being in the order named, and some 18 other days covering local and
religious holidays were observed to a lesser degree. The number of
holidays on which plants were closed is shown in table 28.
T a b l e 2 8 . — Holiday
R eg io n
T o ta l
of
p la n ts
rep ort d a1 y
in g
U n ite d S ta te s____
N o r th -......................
S ou th
observance in 418 plants by region, August 1935
P ercen ta ge of p la n ts o b serv in g i—
11
9
10
12
6
7
3
4
5
8
2
days days days days days days days days days days days
418 100.0 99.8
372 100.0 100.0
46 100.0 97.8
98.6
99.7
89.1
97.6
99.7
80.4
95.0
98.9
63.0
84.9
92 .5
23.9
43.5
47.3
13.0
24.2
26.3
6 .5
17.7
19.6
2 .2
8 .1
9 .1
2 .9
3 .2
0 .2
.3
i O ne-half d a y ob serv an ce w a s cou n ted as 1 d a y .
Holidays were without pay for wage earners in all except seven
plants, which paid their employees for either all or part of the holi
days. In four of the seven establishments all workers were on a
weekly salary basis, and in three the regular hourly rate (the guaran-
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
70
teed minimum rate for piece workers) was paid for full time. Three of
the plants paid their wage earners for six holidays, one for 5 days, one
for 4 days, one for 2 days, and the seventh for Christmas only. Salaried
employees in clerical and supervisory positions were paid for holidays
in the majority of the establishments. The payment of punitive
rates for work on holidays which were normally observed was the
practice in 26 plants.
Vacations
Vacations with pay for all wage earners were provided in only 8
out of 419 plants in August 1935. Of these establishments, four were
paper-box factories and four either consumer or paper and printing
establishments. These were not all large concerns, as two plants had
fewer than 50 employees, although the others ranged in size from 50
to 500 employees. The length of vacation and service prerequisite
for wage earners in these eight plants are shown in table 29.
T
a b l e 29.—
Vacations with pay for wage earners in 8 plants
b er of
L ength of vacation Service prerequisite N um
plants
1 w eek ____________
D o . . . ................
D o .......................
H w eek____________
2 w e e k s..._________
6 m on ths________
1 yp.ar
2 years___________
4
years___________
20 years___________
1
4
1
1
1
Unfortunately, the reports were incomplete with respect to the
method of computing pay for vacations of hourly and piece-rate
workers. One plant, in which all employees were working under a
production bonus plan, paid the base rate for full time. Another
establishment paid hourly rate workers the regular rate for full time
and piece workers the guaranteed minimum hourly rate for full time.
An additional 13 plants had regularly planned vacations without
pay for wage earners. The length of vacation was 1 week in nine
establishments, 10 days in one, 2 weeks in two, and 4 weeks (2 weeks
in July and 2 weeks in December) in one plant.
Foremen, shipping clerks, technical workers, and often such em
ployees as engineers, machinists, diemakers, electricians, etc., usually
but not always on a salary basis, were granted vacations by 87 plants,
or in. 20 percent of all establishments. All but seven of these gave
vacations with pay. Office workers were given vacations in still a
larger number of plants, namely 170, which comprised 40 percent of
the total number of estabhslmients. All excepting five of these gave
vacations with pay. Fifty percent of the 170 plants that provided
for vacations gave 1 week and 40 percent gave 2 weeks. The usual
service prerequisite was 1 year. Several establishments graded the
length of vacations in accordance with length of service. Table 30
shows in detail the vacation policies of the plants surveyed.
P L A T E 9.— S T R IP P IN G
B O X E S ON A F R A M E .
P l a t e 10 .— C o v e r i n g B o x e s o n a W r a p p i n g M a c h i n e .
T a b l e 30.— Planned vacations in 419 plants,1 August 1985
W age
e arn ers
an d
sa la r ie d
e m p lo y e e s
N um ber of plants granting vacations of—
Less
than
1
1
week
week 3
419
373
46
87
71
16
21
66
2
16
5
55
2
O ffic e e m p lo y e e s
419
373
46
170
151
19
170
151
19
_..
No
Less
10
2
3
1
4 specific than
6
days w eek s 4 weeks w eeks require 6 m onths year
m ent m onths
4
2
20
N ot
years years years know n
p la n t
______________
U nited S ta te s,_
N orth ..........................................................
Sou th ............. .................. ............................
U nited States
N orth
South
N um ber of plants requiring previous service of—
_ ____
11
47
38
9
1
1
36
30
87
78
9
4
3
77
69
1
6
8
«2
78
340
2
1
1
14
1
«19
14
5
2
7
1
33
7
1
1
1
1
12
2
1
636
104
30
4
ii 19
17
12 75
67
1
1
1
131
1
6
2
8
1
35
32
3
1 V acations in all plants were w ith full pay except as follows: 4 plants gave all em ployees vacations w ith out pay; 5 plants gave office and supervisory em ployees vacations w ith
p ay and wage earners vacations w ithout pay; 3 plants gave office em ployees vacations w ith pay and wage earners and salaried plant em ployees vacations w ithout pay; 1 plant gave
vacations to office em ployees only, w ithout pay; 1 plant gave vacations w ith pay to office and salaried plant em ployees and vacations w ithout p ay to wage earners.
2 T hese refer to foremen, shipping clerks, technical workers, etc., and in som e cases to salaried plant workers in m aintenance, service, and special production occupations.
3Includes 1 plant w hich gave H week and 1 which gave a “ few days.”
4 6 firms gave plant supervisory em ployees and 18 gave office em ployees vacations of 1 and 2 w eeks, graded according to length of service.
* 1 plant gave plant supervisory em ployees 1 week if service was less than 6 m onths and 2 w eeks after 6 m onths/ service.
* 1 plant gave plant supervisory em ployees 1 week if service was less than 1 year but began prior to a specified date and 2 weeks after 1 year’s service.
71 plant gave plant supervisory em ployees 1 week after 6 m onths’ service and 2 weeks after 1 year.
* 3 plants gave plant supervisory em ployees 1 week after 1 year’s service and 2 weeks after service of 2 years in 1 plant and 5 years in 2 plants.
91 plant gave 1 w eek for less than 6 m onths’ service and 2 weeks after 6 m onths; 2 plants gave 1 week for less than 1 year’s service and 2 w eeks after 1 year; and 1 plant gave 1
week for less than 10 years’ service and 2 w eeks after 10 years.
101 plant gave 1 w eek if service w as less than 1 year but began prior to a specified date and 2 w eeks after 1 year; and 1 plant gave 1 w eek if service was less than 3 m onths but
began prior to a specified date, 2 weeks after 6 m onths, and 3 weeks after 25 years.
11 5 plants gave 1 w eek after 6 m onths’ service and 2 weeks after 1 year.
228 plants gave 1 w eek after 1 year’s service and 2 weeks after service of 2 years in 5 plants, and 5 years in 3 plants.
13T his plant gave office em ployees vacations of 1 to 3 weeks, graded according to length of service.
Personnel policies and working conditions
T yp e of em ployees and region
T otal
num ber
of
plants
report
ing
N um ber of
plants grant
T otal ing vacations
number
to—
of
plants
grant
Selected
ing
plant
vaca All em occupa
tions ployees tions
o n ly 2
72
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
Sick Leave With Pay
Formal company plans 6 covering sick leave with pay for all wage
earners were reported by only 4 out of 419 plants. Of these, two were
paper-manufacturing establishments, one a consumer plant, and one a
paper-box factory. One of the plants allowed wage earners a maxi
mum of 1 week after 2 years’ service, another gave as much as 2 weeks
after 1 year of service, and a third had a plan for leave graduated
according to length of service, with 4 weeks’ leave the maximum for
6 months’ service and 1 year’s leave the maximum after 10 years of
service. The fourth plan required 1 year of service before pay during
illness was granted, but it had not placed a definite limitation on the
amount of paid leave that would be allowed. An additional 15 es
tablishments had informal plans, whereby wage earners were paid
for an indefinite number of days during illness, if, in the opinion of
management, the circumstances warranted such pay.
Paid sick leave benefits were also granted to supervisory and other
salaried plant employees in 117 establishments and to office workers
in 175 plants. Sixteen of the former and nineteen of the latter had
fixed limits, the others being indefinite with each case adjusted on its
own merits.
Physical Working Conditions
In many of the small cities and the newer sections of large cities, the
box factories occupied modern buildings constructed especially for
them, or had space in large modern fireproof factory structures.
Poor factory housing, however,was prevalent in some of the larger
and older industrial cities. The very nature of the industry, which
requires large space to accommodate bulky goods of small value, tends
to locate box factories in places with low rentals, which are usually
one or two floors of old loft buildings, often with poor sanitary facili
ties, no elevator service, and even inadequate light and ventilation.
Cellar workrooms were still common in New York City. Some plants
did not employ janitors or porters, and factory housekeeping was de
pendent on the cooperation of the workers. As the factories often
consisted of only one large workroom, where boxes were made up and
stacked, space was apt to be crowded and fire conditions hazardous.
Luncheon facilities of one kind or another were found in about a
fourth of the pfknts in the consumer group, but in a very small minority
of both the paper-box factories and the paper and printing establish
ments. An occasional plant provided a lunch room or lounge, where
employees could eat their carried lunches in comfort and relaxation,
and some of these even furnished hot drinks at no cost to the worker.
Rest rooms and locker rooms were likewise found only in a few
establishments.
• See pp. 74 and 75 for inform ation concerning sick benefits through insuranc and m u tu al benefit
ssociation s.
Personnel policies and working conditions
73
Safety Programs
Organized safety programs 7 were found in about one-fifth of the
plants in August 1935. As regards size of establishment, such pro
grams existed in about 8 percent of the plants with fewer than 50
employees, 26 percent with from 50 to 100, 35 percent with from 100
to 300, and 62 percent with 300 or more workers.
The type of program varied widely with the size of plant. Several
of the larger companies employed full-time safety directors, but in
most instances the work was carried on under the direction of the
superintendent, plant manager, or some other official. The usual
type of organization consisted of one or more safety committees,
generally made up of supervisors and sometimes also of other em
ployees, which met periodically to discuss safety practices, study
accidents, and find remedies. Committee members were also charged
with carrying out the program and instructing employees in safety
practices.
Social and Health Activities
Planned welfare work is not often found on the programs of small
plants, such as comprise the bulk of this industry. Thus, companysponsored educational activities for employees were negligible, and
planned recreation was only infrequently encountered. A few of the
larger plants of all types had libraries and recreation rooms. Ath
letics were sponsored by the firm in 18 consumer, 13 paper-box, and
3 paper-manufacturing and printing establishments, and a few com
panies in each group encouraged social gatherings, such as picnics,
dances, orchestras, and theatricals.
Health programs were virtually nonexistent in paper-box factories.
There were only two fairly large establishments of this kind that
employed full-time nurses, in charge of first aid, who supervised
health conditions in the plant and visited the families of workers.
One large paper-manufacturing plant made similar provisions and
another maintained rooms in a local hospital for employees and their
families. Health programs were found in about half of the estab
lishments in the consumer group. In 20 consumer plants these plans
were concerned principally with first-aid work, usually providing a
first-aid room or dispensary with a nurse in charge and a doctor on
call. A somewhat broader field was covered by the plans of 15 addi
tional consumer establishments, which employed nurses and either
full- or part-time physicians to supervise general health conditions,
TT he operation of som e of the cutting, staying, and ending m achines in th is industry is fairly hazardous
work. T he injury frequency and severity rates for the entire paper-box and container branch of the paper
industry were, respectively, 13.30 (per 1, 000,000 man-hours) and 1.14 (per 1,000 m an-hours) in 1935. T hese
figures give this industry a more or less m iddle position in a group of 30 industries, placing it above m ost of
those in w hich w om en are extensively em ployed. See the A ccident K ates industrial series for 1935, w hich
is published b y the N ational Safety C ouncil, In c.
1 4 4 4 3 5 °— 37------ 6
74
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
give free consultations to workers, visit sick employees, and in a few
instances attend and advise families of workers. One of these plants
also provided dental and optical services free, another made available
the regular services of an eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist at no
cost to the employee, and a few arranged with local specialists for
service at reduced rates. Hospitals for workers were maintained by
two more of these establishments. Although the plants with general
health programs were fairly large (nearly all had more than 500
employees), their employees engaged in the manufacture of set-up
boxes comprised only about 5 percent of all workers covered. The
remaining establishments in the industry did nothing more than
comply with the law with respect to emergency first-aid kits.
Insurance, Pension, Savings, and Loan Plans
Insurance plans constituted the most common form of welfare work
engaged in in the set-up paper-box industry. In August 1935,
almost 30 percent of all workers covered were in plants with insur
ance or similar plans, comprising 20.8 percent of all employees in
the paper-box factories and 68.4 percent of those in consumer plants
and paper-manufacturing and printing establishments. Insurance
plans were more common in southern plants than in northern estab
lishments. They even extended to the very small establishments,
although rising in frequency with an increase in size of plants. (See
table 31.)
A majority of the plans provided fife insurance, and several also
covered sickness, accidents, disability, and hospitalization. Formal
pension plans for wage earners were found in four of the large consumer
plants.
The cost of insurance or similar protection was shared jointly by the
company and employees in 62 of the 90 establishments that had such
benefits. It was paid entirely by the company in 11 plants, the entire
cost was borne by the employee in 13, and 4 did not report as to who
paid the cost. The mutual benefit associations were partially sup
ported by the company in 3 of the 11 establishments where such
existed.
Other company sponsored plans which were intended to benefit
employees in regard either to savings or loans embraced building and
loan associations, found in two large plants, and formal savings plans,
found in three establishments, all of the consumer group. In a
number of plants there were informal company plans for lending
money to be repaid in installments, without interest, and in a few
there were welfare clubs for employee mutual aid.
T a b l e 31 .— Classification of establishments by kind of insurance as to region and size of plant, August 1985
T otal num ber of—
P lants
A ll plants________ _______________
Region:
N orth _______________________
South...
....................... ......
Size of plant:
Under 50 em ployees_________
50 and under 100 em p loyees..
100 and under 300 em ployees.
300 em ployees and over_____
1 T his
A ll
A ll em Set-up
em Set-up
paper- P lants All
paper- plants
ploy box
ploy box
em
em affected D eath
ees 1 ployees
ees 1 ployees 2
2
Sick
ness
D isa
b ility
A cci
dent
80
18
6
13
4
*11
4
419 69,981
13,243
21.5
59.7
28.8
*83
373 59,081 12,276
46 10,900
967
18.8
43.5
57.7
70.4
27.3
47.8
20
20
60
14
4
3
3
10
265 5,326
65 4,406
38 6,266
51 53,983
23.1
50.0
56.9
10.2
12.9
23.6
51.4
26
14
17
26
25
14
17
24
2
1
2
12
3
3
1
4
5
4,721
3,347
2,889
2,286
68.2
12.2
17.0
48.4
55.9
63
represents the total em ploym ent.
* O nly em ployees of set-up box departm ents are included here.
*4 plants that provided insurance also had m utual benefit associations th at gave additional service.
3
1
3
A ll
P en plants
sion affected D eath
4
H os
pitali
zation
Sick
ness
A cci
dent
2
7
4
5
10
1
2
7
4
4
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
3
5
1
4
1
1
2
2
Personnel policies and working conditions
R egion and size of plants
N um ber of p lants in which specified ben
Percent having bene
efits were provided through m utual
fits through insurance N um ber of plants in w hich specified benefits were
benefit associations or som e other group
or m utual benefit as
provided through com pany insurance plans
sociations
a ctivity.
Oi
76
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
Home or Contract Work
At one time the set-up paper-box industry employed a considerable
number of home workers. Special inquiry regarding home workers
brought out the fact that comparatively little work was sent out during
the precode period of May 1933, almost none during the August 1934
code period,8 and little more during the August 1935 postcode period.
In fact, the number of plants following this practice was 12 in 1933,
only 3 in 1934, and 6 in 1935. These establishments were widely
scattered, being located in Minneapolis, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Phila
delphia, and other Pennsylvania cities; Baltimore, New York City, and
a few New Jersey and Delaware cities. Most of them had fewer than
50 employees.
The type of work sent out in August 1935 consisted of hand work on
fancy boxes, such as making bows to decorate candy boxes, assembling
partitions for candy and cosmetics boxes, etc. Two plants gave such
work only to regular employees, who took it home with them at night,
two gave it to wives or other relatives of workers, and one only to
persons who had formerly been regularly employed. However, one
establishment sent out work on contract during all of the three periods
to a family that distributed it among neighbors. Such work, of course,
was paid for entirely on a piece-rate basis, and no record was kept of
the hours of work required for performance. The plants assumed no
responsibility for violation of minimum-wage laws and of laws regu
lating maximum hours of work and night work of women and minors.
8 H om e
work w as prohibited under art. V of the code.
Appendix I.— Employment, Man-Hours, and Pay Rolls
The relative gains in employment, man-hours, and pay rolls in the
plants covered in the set-up paper-box industry between May 1933,
August 1934, and August 1935 are presented in table 32. The figures
in this table, which include both percentages of change and index
numbers, are for identical establishments.1 The index numbers are
also shown graphically in chart 10.
T
able
32.— Relative changes in employment, man-hours, and pay rolls for identical
plants
Percentage change
Sex
E m ploym ent:
M ales_____________________
F em ales..................................
T ota l_________________
M an-hours:
M ales.......................................
F em ales________ __________
T ota l___________________
P a y rolls:
M a les,____________________
F em ales_______________ ___
T ota l___ _______________
M a y 1933
to A ugust
1934
A ugust
1934 to
A ugust
1935
Index num bers
M a y 1933
to A ugust
1935
M a y 1933
A ugust
1934
A ugust
1935
+ 1 7 .6
+ 1 5 .5
+ 1 6 .2
+ 5 .4
+ 7 .6
+ 6 .9
+ 2 4 .0
+ 2 4 .3
+ 2 4 .2
100.0
100.0
100.0
117.6
115.5
116.2
124.0
124.3
124.2
+1. 9
+ 8 .9
+ 6 .2
+ 1 3 .9
+ 1 5 .5
+ 1 4 .9
+ 1 6 .1
+ 2 5 .8
+ 2 2 .0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.9
108.9
106.2
116.1
125.8
122.0
+ 2 9 .4
+ 4 8 .5
+ 3 9 .3
+ 1 1 .3
+ 1 2 .9
+12. 2
+ 4 4 .0
+ 6 7 .7
+56. 3
100.0
100.0
100.0
129.4
148.5
139.3
144.0
167.7
156.3
Employment for all workers in the industry increased by 16.2 per
cent between May 1933 and August 1934, with the gain for males
exceeding by a narrow margin that for females. The rise between
August 1934 and August 1935 for both sexes amounted to only 6.9
percent, the increase for females being somewhat larger than for males.
During the period as a whole, the advance in employment for all
workers was 24.2 percent, and practically the same relative change was
reported for each sex.
Due to the reduction in weekly hours caused by the code, the in
crease in man-hours between May 1933 and August 1934 was coni T he percentages of change betw een M a y 1933 and A ugust 1934 are based on data for 277 identical estab
lishm ents, and those betw een A ugust 1934 and A ugust 1935 are based on 424 identical establishm ents. In
order to obtain the percentages of change for the period as a w hole, the changes betw een M a y 1933 and A ugust
1934 and those betw een the latter period and A ugust 1935 w ere linked together.
77
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
78
EMPLOYMENT, MAN-HOURS, AND PAY ROLLS
MAY 1933, AUGUST 1934, AND AUGUST 1935
INDEX NUMBERS
INDEX NUMBERS
EMPLOYMENT
140
140
116 2
tzo
124 2
tooo
too
30
60
40
30
0
May 1933
INDEX NUMBERS
Aug.
1934
Aug. 1935
INDEX NUMBERS
MAN-H O U RS
140
140
122.0
120 —
100.0
too —
SO
60
|—
40
20
O
May
1933
INDEX NUMBERS
/SO
t60
140
420
too
SO
A ug 1935
INDEX NUMBERS
/SO
PAY ROLLS
—
—
—
139.3
IOOO
—
—
40
—
~
20
—
60
Aug. /934
0 l—
May /9J3
A ug. 1934
U S Bim tAo or L aboa Statistics
Chabt 10.
Aug 1935
Employment, man-hours, pay rolls
79
siderably less than in employment. The gain in man-hours for all
workers was only 6.2 percent, the percentage rise being 1.9 for males
and 8.9 for females. With an increase in weekly hours following the
abolition of the code, as well as a further rise in employment, the total
man-hours advanced again by 14.9 percent (13.9 percent for males
and 15.5 percent for females) from August 1934 to August 1935. The
total gain in man-hours for the entire period was 16.1 percent for
males, 25.8 percent for females, and 22.0 percent for both males and
females.
The increase in average hourly earnings as a result of the code,
coupled with the gain in man-hours, accounts for the large expansion
in the industry’s pay rolls between May 1933 and August 1934. The
rise in pay rolls amounted to 29.4 percent for males, 48.5 percent for
females, and 39.3 percent for the two sexes combined. Although the
average earnings per hour declined somewhat between August 1934
and August 1935, the gain in man-hours (due to greater employment
and a rise in the average workweek) was sufficient to bring about a
further increase in pay rolls, which amounted to 12.2 percent for all
workers (11.3 percent for males and 12.9 percent for females). The
total gain for the entire period was 44.0 percent for males, 67.7 percent
for females, and 56.3 percent for both sexes.
Appendix II.— Technological Processes and Occupational
Descriptions
General
Broadly speaking, there are three kinds of paper boxes, namely,
set-up boxes, folding boxes, and corrugated and solid fiber shipping
containers. While the last-mentioned type is used exclusively as an
outside box both in the packing and shipping of goods, the set-up and
folding types are generally utilized for packaging purposes.
The set-up box differs in many respects from the folding box.
Blanks for the set-up box must first be cut to size, then scored, and
finally cornered or notched; while blanks for the folding box are diedout on presses in one operation. The shaping and setting of these
boxes also differ, as the set-up box must first be shaped in the form of
a box and the ends either stayed or glued, while the folding box need
only be folded or at best folded and glued or stitched. The greatest
and perhaps most important point of difference between these two
kinds of boxes, however, is that when finished the set-up box is fully
erected and rigid in form, while the folding box is generally “ flat” and
for that reason very compact. Lastly, because set-up boxes are rigid
and bulky, they cannot be shipped economically to distant points
like folding boxes. Hence, the manufacturers of set-up boxes must
build their plants within easy reach of the consuming markets, which
are seldom near the sources of raw materials.
From a distinctly hand industry, the making of set-up boxes has
gradually become mechanized, until today only a few hand operations
remain. During the latter half of the nineteenth century, hand tools
and crude machines operated either by hand or foot were replaced by
more advanced steam-driven machinery. The advent of the electric
motor further accelerated the mechanization of this industry.
The far-reaching changes which took place in the set-up box industry
during the last half of the nineteenth century are revealed in the
Thirteenth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor.1 From
this report it appears that the time required to make 1,000 collar and
cuff boxes (6% by 6 % by 3 inches) dropped from 58% man-hours in
1868, when only hand tools were used, to 33 man-hours in 1895, when
steam-driven machines were used. Likewise, the introduction of
machines in the manufacture of men's hat boxes reduced the time
per 1,000 boxes (6 by 10 by 12 inches) from 205 man-hours in 1860
I V ol. 1, pp. 124-128.
80
Technological processes, occupational descriptions
81
to 63% man-hours in 1896. Perhaps the greatest saving in time was
effected when machines were introduced in the manufacture of shoe
boxes. It took 228 man-hours to make 1,000 shoe boxes (11% by 6 by
3% inches) in 1867 under the hand method, while in 1895 with the use
of machines the same number of boxes were made in 34% man-hours.
This great saving in time was made possible through the develop
ment of various machines. Hand knives and gages were replaced by
cutting machines equipped with cutting guides or gages. The single
and double scoring machines did away with hand scoring, and the
corner-cutting machine replaced the hand knife and gage. Likewise,
the development of covering machines greatly reduced the time it
formerly took to cover a box by hand. Furthermore, the introduction
of machinery not only expedited and lightened the work, but it also
made for better work and less wastage. Thus, paper and board were
cut more evenly by machines than by hand, and boxes were covered
more smoothly and at a great saving in materials.
Unfortunately the Bureau has no actual figures to show’ the changes
which have actually taken place in this industry since 1895. We do
know, however, that mechanization has gone on and that greater sav
ings in time and materials have been effected. Crude machines have
been perfected, and machines have been motorized and speeded up.
The industry now has machines which automatically transform strips
of board and covering paper into fully formed and fully covered boxes.
Mechanization has not only made possible a better and a more reason
ably priced product, but has also enabled industry to meet an everincreasing demand for paper boxes.
There are, in the main, two general types of set-up boxes— the
“ stayed” type and the “ set” or pasted type. Stayed boxes are made
from boxboard, which has been cut to size, scored, cornered, shaped
into the form of a box, and stayed or secured at all four corners by
means of adhesive paper tape or metal clips or bands. “ Set” or
pasted boxes are made from two board blanks in the case of “ bottomset” boxes and from three board blanks in the case of “ end-set” boxes,
the bottom or ends of which, as the case may be, are “ set” or glued to
the flanges of the main or body blank. Both types of boxes are
finished in like manner.
The following flow chart lists in order of occurrence the processes
involved in the manufacture of set-up paper boxes. Due to the many
different kinds of set-up boxes and to the special problems encountered
in the manufacture of each, only the more or less standard processes
have been recorded.
The various operations involved in the manufacture of a set-up box
might be classified in four general groups, as follows: First, preparing
the board and paper from which the box is to be made; second, shap
ing and setting the rough box; third, stripping or covering the rough
82
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
Pr o c e s s e s
in t h e
Ma n u f a c t u r e
1
S e t -U p Pa p e r - B
of
oxes
|
L/N /N G BO /fffD
f o /TT/NO - C l/ T T / N G -Srt£ £ rW G |
|PR/NT/NO |
(~ S c o r i n g
1
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I £ n d /n
STA Y/N G
\/1uro/i/tr/cBox
g
I h a n d B o x M / tx /m g
f
| | JTR/PP/NG- TqPP/M(T\
\dUT0M4T/C hfo/tPP/NG
r H/n g /n g
I
1By tc n d /n g
£d g £s ~^\
\L/tc/NG-fLy £&?r/NG[
I L /O D tN G
U. S Bureau or L abor Statistic*
I
\8 l/n d l /h g Fm Sh/p m c n t
Chart
ITh u m b Hol/n g t
I
11.
box; and fourth, finishing the box. It should not be assumed that the
line of demarcation between each process is clearly defined, nor that all
four processes will be found in each set-up establishment. Varying
degrees of mechanization along with the type of box being made will
greatly alter plant practice. Furthermore, there are automatic box
making machines, which convert strips of board and paper into fully
set-up and covered boxes, thereby combining in one the first three
operations outlined here.
Preparatory Group of Operations
This group includes the various operations involved in the prepara
tion of paper and paper board for the actual shaping, setting, covering,
and finishing of set-up paper boxes. It embraces the lining of board,
when this is done, the cutting of paper and boxboard into strips and
sheets, and the further cutting of sheets to exact size. It also includes
the scoring and the cornering or notching of body blanks, the mitering
of paper wrappers, and the printing of paper covers. The occupations
involved are described as follows:
Lining-machine operator.— Sets up and is responsible for the operation of a
machine which applies a paper covering to one side of the boxboard. This cov
ering will later serve as the lining of certain set-up boxes, such as candy boxes.
After regulating the distance between the pasting pressure rolls to meet the re
quirements of the board being lined and adjusting the end shear to cut the lined
board to length, the operator, with the aid of two or more helpers, mounts a roll
of paper on the frame of the machine. He next passes the paper over a series of
rolls, some of which are glue rolls, lines up the glue-covered paper with the board
which is to be covered, and then threads the two between a series of heated rolls
set up in tandem. The pressure and the heat of these rolls cause the paper to
Technological processes, occupational descriptions
83
adhere firmly to the board. The operator also supervises the lining operation,
checks over the lined board to make sure that it is lined properly and cut to the
desired length, and makes any necessary adjustments. He may also prepare the
glue used in this machine.
This is a responsible job requiring a person who is mechanically inclined, accu
rate, and dependable. A liner operator must know the properties of paper and
paperboard and be able to prepare a suitable paste. It would take from 2 to 3
years to develop an all-round liner operator.
Lining-machine feeder (or lining-machine-operator’s helper).— Inserts sheets of
boxboard between the rolls of the machine, taking particular care to line up each
sheet so that it will enter the machine straight. The feeder also assists the opera
tor in a general way, helping him mount rolls of paper on the machine frame, fill
glue boxes, and do any general work as directed.
A careful and accurate person could learn to do this job satisfactorily in from
1 to 2 weeks.
Lining-machine taker-ojj (or lining-machine-operator’s helper).— Works at the
back of a lining machine, catching and piling up lined boards which have been
sheared to length. When not catching, the take-off man does general work under
the direction of the lining-machine operator.
This is an unskilled job which can be mastered in a very few days.
Sheeter operator.— Cuts rolls of paper or light board into sheets of desired size.
He mounts one or more rolls of paper or light board on a rack at the front of the
machine and threads the end or ends through the feeding, cutting, and piling
mechanisms. He then starts the machine, examines sheets to make sure that
the machine is operating satisfactorily, and also takes away piles of sheets from
the back of the machine. In some plants, the operator must also set up the
machine, adjust the feeding, cutting, and piling mechanisms, change and, if neces
sary, sharpen the cutting blade.
An average person could learn to operate a sheeting machine in a few days.
T o become a proficient operator, however, who could also set up the machine,
would take a mechanically inclined person from 3 to 6 months.
Slitting-machine operator (or board slitter, or Seybold operator).— Cuts rolls of
paper and light board into strips of the desired width. He mounts a roll of paper
or board on a frame at the front end of the machine, feeds the open end between
the rolls, and engages the slit strips on the revolving spools at the back of the
machine. The operator also sees that the machine is operating satisfactorily,
that it is supplied with paper or board, and that the spools are replaced when full.
In some establishments, the operator must further set up the machine, adjust the
feeding and rewinding mechanisms, and place the slitting discs on shaft and space
them properly.
A careful person could learn to perform this operation in about 2 weeks. It
would, however, take a mechanically inclined person 6 months or more to become
a proficient operator, also able so to set up the machine and space the cutting
discs as to obtain the greatest number of usable strips from a given width of paper
or board.
Guillotine cutter operator (or ream cutter).— Cuts sheets of paper and board to
desired size using a cutting machine of the guillotine type. He places several
sheets of paper or board on the cutting table, squares the pack against the back
and side guides, and then trips a lever which causes the blade to travel diagonally
downward, cutting one side of the pack to size. If necessary to cut the other side
of the pack to size, the operator turns the pack around and repeats the operation.
In some plants, the operator must also set up the machine, adjust the gages or
guides, and change, and, if necessary, sharpen the cutting blade.
84
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
A careful and alert person could learn to perform this operation in about 2 weeks.
It would take about 6 months, however, to develop an all-round operator also
able to set up the machine and to reduce cutting waste to a minimum.
Press operator (or Bliss punch-press operator, or cap cutter, or die cutter, shaper,
or ring-machine operator, or stamper, shapes).— Uses a power-driven press to cut
out odd-shaped board blanks, such as ovals, rounds, and hearts, or to cut and
shape special box parts, such as hat-box rings. On some presses, the operator
places several paperboards on the cutting table, then places a free die over the
board, and pulls a lever which causes a plunger to travel downward, driving the
cutting edges of the die through the layers of board. On other presses, the
operator sets up a roll of light board on a frame at the front of the machine and
inserts the open end of the board between the feed rolls of a machine which auto
matically cuts out and shapes box parts. In some establishments, the press
operator must also set up the machine.
Carefulness and muscular coordination are essential requirements for the job.
An average person could learn the mechanics of this operation in about a month.
To develop an operator also able to set up the press would take about 3 months.
Compositor (or compositor, hand; or typesetter, hand).— Prepares forms for
printing presses, setting up type or plates or both, spacing them properly in the
chase and securing them in place by means of quoins. He next takes a proof of
the lay-out and either checks it or has it checked by a proofreader. In small
plants the compositor may also set up the form on the press and may even operate
the press. Likewise, in establishments which do some die-cutting of blanks, the
compositor may also have to prepare cutting dies, set them up on the presses,
and feed the presses.
A compositor must be a careful, accurate, and original worker. He must have
good vision, judgment, and be able to read copy. The training required varies
with plants, with the nature of the work, and with the duties of the compositor,
the length ranging from 1 to as high as 5 years. In plants where the work is on a
par with that of job-printing shops, the compositor may have to serve a formal
apprenticeship, or, where the work is less complicated, he may learn from experi
ence gained in the printing room either helping on the presses or assisting a regular
compositor.
Pressman.— Prepares printing presses. He places form on the press, lines it
up, secures it in place, and adjusts the press for clearance. He further sets guides
on hand-fed presses and the feeding mechanism on automatic presses, adjusts the
ink rolls and plates, runs off and checks a few copies, checks work at frequent
intervals to insure the proper operation of the press, and makes any necessary
adjustments. Upon completion of a job the pressman removes the form from
the press. He may also have to set up die-cutting presses where such presses
are used in set-up box plants. Lastly, he oils the press, makes minor repairs,
and in some small establishments may even feed the presses.
A pressman must be mechanically inclined, alert, careful, accurate, and familiar
with presses. It would take from 1 to 6 years to develop an all-round pressman,
the training varying with plant practice, the type of presses used, the nature of
the work, and previous experience. He may also serve a formal apprenticeship
or gain his experience by working on presses as a feeder or as a pressman’s helper.
Press feeder (or die stamper, embossing; or imprinter, feeding; or job-press feeder;
or printer’s helper, feeding).— Either inserts sheets one at a time into the press,
or, in the case of automatically fed presses, supplies the feeding mechanism with
sheets. He must also remove faulty sheets and any foreign matter which might
injure the type and report any mechanical trouble to the pressman.
Technological processes, occupational descriptions
85
A feeder must be alert, accurate, careful, and, on hand-fed presses, have mus
cular coordination. The training for this job ranges from 1 month on a small
press to 6 months on a complicated press.
Scoring-machine operator (or single scorer; or double-scoring-machine operator;
or board cutter, scoring).— Feeds boards into machine, which scores or cuts them
part way through and also cuts the outside limits of the box blank. The box blank
will later be folded along the scored lines.
If the machine is of the double-scoring type, with an automatic transverse feed
into the second series of rolls, the operator must also adjust this feeding mechanism
as well as set up and adjust the second set of rolls.
A scoring-machine operator must be careful and accurate, and, in the case of
the all-round operator, he must be mechanically inclined. To develop an
operator who only fed the machine would take from 1 to 2 weeks, while to develop
an all-round operator, also able to set up the machine, would take from 6 months
to 1 year.
Corner-cutter operator (or single-corner cutter; or double-corner cutter; or quad or
automatic corner cutter; or punch boy, corners).— Uses a machine of the punch-press
type to cut out corners of scored-board blanks which will be used in making
“ stayed” set-up boxes. On hand-fed corner-cutting machines, such as the singleand the double-corner cutters, the operator places a pack of board blanks on the
feeding table, squares them up against the guides, and trips a lever, thus causing
knives to descend that cut out on their downward movement either one or two
corners of the pack of blanks, depending on the type of machine. He next turns
pack around and repeats operation until all four corners are cut. On automatic or
“ quadruple” machines, which cut out all four corners in one operation, the operator
keeps the machine supplied with stock and also sees that it is feeding and cutting
properly. In some plants, the operator must also set up the machine, set the
guides and the cutting knives, and, on automatic machines, adjust the feeding
and cutting mechanisms.
A good corner-cutter operator must be accurate and careful, have muscular
coordination, and have from 1 to 2 months’ actual experience operating corner
cutting machines. In addition to the above requirements, an all-round operator
must be mechanically inclined, particularly on automatic or “ quadruple” cutters,
and have from 6 months to 1 year of actual experience in both operating and setting
up corner-cutting machines.
Notcher operator.— Uses a machine, similar in many respects to a double-corner
cutter, to blank or cut out small V-shaped sections from the narrow strips of board
or flanges, extending either at the ends or at the bottom of the main or body blank
of end- or bottom-set boxes. Notching makes it possible to bend these flanges
inward, so that the end or bottom pieces can be glued to them.
The duties and qualifications of a notcher are the same as those of a single- and
double-corner-cutter operator. (See Corner-cutter operator.)
Wrapper-mitering-machine operator (or wrapper cornerer, or wrapper cutter, or
label cutter, or miterer, or paper-corner cutter).— Cuts and shapes corners of paper
wrappers on a machine which closely resembles a double-corner cutter. He places
a pack of blank wrappers on the cutting table, squares them up against the guides,
and presses a lever which causes the knives to descend, thus cutting out and also
mitering two corners of the pack. The operator next turns the pack around and
repeats the operation to miter the other two corners. In some plants, the operator
must also adjust the guides and the cutting knives.
This operation requires a careful and accurate worker. It would take several
months to develop an operator who could efficiently and economically operate a
mitering machine and also set it up.
86
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
Slotting-machine operator.— Cuts slots in box partitions. He places a pack of
board strips on machine table, lines them up against guides, and then shoves one
side of pack under or against a series of vertical knives or saws which cut out slots
in the board. He must also in some plants set up the machine and adjust guides
and knives.
A slotting-machine operator must be careful. Such a person, howTever, could
learn to do this work in about 1 week and become proficient in about 1 month.
Baling-machine operator {or machine haler).— Collects waste board and paper,
loads same into a machine which presses it into a compact bale, ties the bale with
wire or cord, removes it from the machine, and either piles it up or trucks it to
the shipping department.
This is an unskilled job which an able-bodied man could learn in a few hours.
Shaping and Setting-Up Group of Operations
This group embraces the various operations required in the shaping
and setting-up of set-up boxes. It includes such operations as bending,
staying, stapling, banding, ending, hand box making, and automatic
box making. The occupations included are defined as follows:
Bendery hand {or bender-up, hand; or shaper, hand; or end turner, hand).— Bends
prepared box blank along scored lines, shaping it in the form of a box and preparing
it either for the stayer or for the end or bottom setter. This is an unskilled job,
which an average person could learn to do in about 1 day and become proficient
in about 1 week.
Bending-machine operator {or shaping-machine operator).— Feeds scored and
cornered box blanks into a machine, which bends the sides along the scored lines,
shaping the blank in the form of a box and preparing it for the stayer. He also
sets up the machine, adjusting it to suit the size of the blank being bent.
A careful person could learn the mechanics of this job in 2 or 3 days and become
proficient in about 1 month.
Single-stayer operator.— Secures with adhesive paper tape the corners of a set-up
box made from a single board blank, which has previously been scored and
cornered.
The operator first shapes the prepared blank in the form of a box, if this has
not already been done by a hand or machine bender, then places one corner
of the shaped box over an anvil or block at the front of the machine, and lastly
holds it there while the machine, set in motion by means of a foot lever, applies
a strip of adhesive tape to the outer surface of the corner, securing it. This
operation is repeated until all four corners of the box have been stayed. The
operator must keep the machine supplied with tape and in some establishments also
set up the machine, adjusting the guides and the taping mechanism to suit the
size and depth of the box to be stayed.
A single-stayer operator must be careful and accurate and have muscular
coordination. While this operation could be learned in about 1 month, it would
take from 3 to 6 months to develop an all-round operator who would also be able
to set up the machine.
Automatic-stayer operator {or quadruple stayer, or set-up box-machine operator) .—
Works on a machine which automatically shapes a prepared box blank and stays
all four corners in one operation.
Inasmuch as this type of staying machine is generally automatically fed, the
duties of the operator consist in keeping the machine supplied with box blanks
and tape, seeing that the machine is feeding properly, removing defective blanks
Technological processes, occupational descriptions
87
from the machine, and possibly taking away stayed boxes from the back of the
machine. In some plants the operator must also set up the machine and adjust
the feeding, shaping, staying, and ejecting mechanisms.
An alert person could learn to operate an automatic stayer in about 1 month.
It would take a person with some mechanical ability about 6 months to become
an all-round operator able also to set up the machine.
Stapler operator (or corner stapler).— Secures box corners with metal staples
rather than with adhesive paper tape. The duties and qualifications of a stapler
operator are similar to those of a single-stayer operator. (See Single-stayer
operator.)
Bander operator (or metal-edge stayer).— Secures box corners with aid of metal
angle bands rather than with adhesive paper tape. The duties and qualifications
of this job are similar to those of a single stayer. (See Single-stayer operator.)
Single-ending-machine operator.— Works on a machine which glues on, one at a
time, the ends of end-set boxes.
He first shapes the main body blank by bending up the sides and turning in the
end flanges, when this work has not already been done by a hand or machine
bender. He then places one end of the shaped blank over a stationary block and
holds it in place while the machine, set in motion by means of a foot lever, first
applies glue either to the outer surfaces of the end flanges or to three edges of an
automatically fed end blank and then forces this blank against the end flanges,
“ setting” or closing the end. He next turns the box around and repeats the
operation to “ set” the other end of the box. He also looks after the glue in the
supply box and keeps it at the right temperature and consistency. In some
plants, the operator must also set up the machine, place the proper size block on
the machine, and adjust the pasting and setting mechanisms.
A single-ender operator must be careful and have muscular coordination. It
would take such a person from 1 to 2 months to become a good ender operator.
To develop an all-round operator who would also be able to set up the machine
would take from 3 to 6 months.
Douhle-ender operator (or automatic ending-machine operator).— Works on a
machine which automatically shapes the box blank and “ sets” or glues both end
blanks in one operation.
The operator keeps the machine supplied with body and end blanks and with
glue, sees that the machine is operating satisfactorily, and removes defective
boxes from the machine. He also removes finished boxes from the back of the
machine when the latter is not equipped with take-away conveyors. In some
plants, he must also set up the machine, place the proper size block on the plunger,
and adjust the pasting rolls, the pressure heads, and the feeding mechanism.
While an average person could learn to operate a double-ending machine in
from 1 to 4 weeks, it would take a mechanically inclined person from 3 to 6
months to become an all-round operator who would also be able to set up the
machine.
Bottoming-machine operator (or topper, or bottomer).— “ Sets” or glues on bot
toms of bottom-set boxes. The duties and requirements are the same as those
of a single-ending-machine operator. (See Single-ending-machine operator.)
Box maker, hand (or bench worker, or box ender, or round-box maker, or out and
out worker, or maker of fancy, special, and sample boxes or cases).— Makes a
complete box by hand, assembling parts, shaping body blank, staying corners
or setting ends or bottom, stripping or wrapping box, and doing any necessary
decorative work. Odd-shaped boxes, fancy cases, special boxes, or small lots of
regular boxes are generally made by hand.
88
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
A hand box maker must be neat and careful. The training for this job varies
with plant practice and ranges from one to several years.
Automatic box-making-machine operator (or witch operator, or square-box-machine
operator, or round-box-machine operator, or shell operator, or blanket-top-machine
operator).— Works on machines which make set-up boxes either from prepared
box blanks or from strips of light board.
On machines using prepared board blanks, the operator keeps the feeder
hopper filled with blanks and also sets up a roll of stripping paper on the machine
frame and starts it through the feeding rolls; while on the other type of automatic
machines, the operator sets up on the machine frame a roll of light board and
also a roll of stripping paper and threads the two through the various mechanisms.
The operator also supplies the machine with glue, keeping it at the proper tem
perature and consistency, sees that the machine is operating properly, takes
away finished boxes from the back of the machine, and also removes defective
boxes from the machine. In some plants, the operator must also set up the
machine, adjusting the various mechanisms to meet the requirements of the
box being made.
An automatic box-making machine operator must be alert and careful and,
when also required to set up the machine, mechanically inclined. An average
person could learn to operate this machine in about 1 month, but it would take
such a person 1 year or more to become an all-round operator capable also of
setting up the machine.
Stripping or Covering Group of Operations
Set-up boxes are very often covered. This operation is generally
known as “ stripping” when the sides of the box are covered, as “ top
ping” when the top of the lid and the bottom of the box are covered
separately from the sides, and as “ wrapping” when both the sides
and either the top or the bottom of the box, as the case may be, are
covered in one operation, a wrapper or specially prepared paper cover
being used in the last instance. The covering of boxes may be done
either by hand at a bench, or on a simple machine combining hand
and mechanical features, or on an automatic machine. The occupa
tions found in this group are as follows:
Gluer operator (or gum-machine feeder; or gluer off; or gluer f blanket type; or auto
matic gluing-machine operator).— Feeds labels and wrappers into a machine which
applies a coating of paste to one side of them.
The operator either feeds the labels and wrappers into the machine one at a
time or, if the machine is of the self-feeding type, keeps it supplied with them.
The operator must synchronize the operation of the machine either with the hand
stripping or the automatic wrapping operations, depending on the plant set-up,
keep the glue box filled, and maintain the glue at the proper temperature and
consistency. He must also in some plants adjust the glue rolls, the guides, and
the feeding and delivering mechanisms.
While this is a simple job, which could be learned in a few days by an observant
and careful person, the setting up and the operating of some of the more compli
cated gluing machines requires some mechanical ability and from 1 to 2 months
of actual experience.
Stripper, hand (or hand coverer; or box coverer, hand; or labeler, hand; or topper,
hand; or bench worker; or table worker; or top labeler, hand; or hand worker.)-^-Covers
Technological processes, occupational descriptions
89
by hand all or part of the outside surface of set-up boxes. He applies glue to the
covering either with a brush or by passing it over a glue roll unless covers are
mechanically glued and delivered to the stripping tables, and pastes the covering
on the box, smoothing it out by hand or wfth a brush and also turning the edges.
A hand stripper must be neat, careful, and painstaking. Due to the wide
variation in the nature of this work, it would take from a few months to 1 year to
develop a good hand stripper.
Stripping-machine operator (or bander, machine; or covering-machine operator; or
papering-machine operator; or stripper, machine; or trimmer, machine; or block
winder, machine).— Applies a paste-covered strip of paper to the sides or to the top
or bottom of a set-up box.
He first places a roll of covering paper on a spindle and passes this paper over a
glue roll through glue-distributing rolls and stationary slides or guides and under
neath a cutting blade. The operator then places a box over a revolving form at
the front of the machine, pastes the end of the glue-covered strip to the side of the
box (or to the bottom if bottoming or to the top if topping), turns the block by
hand or causes it to turn, applies the paper covering to the surface of the box
as the block revolves, presses a foot lever which causes a knife to cut the paper
covering when a sufficient length has been delivered, and smooths by hand the
covering as it is being applied and also the end of the covering strip at the point
of overlapping. He may also turn in by hand the edges of the paper covering
when this is not done by a turner-in. In some plants, the operator must also set
up the stripping frame, adjust the slides, and place the proper size block on the
shaft at the front of the machine. He also supplies the machine with glue of the
right consistency.
The operator of a stripping frame must be neat and careful and have muscular
coordination. This operation might be learned in 1 month, but it would take as
long as 1 year for a person to become proficient and an all-round stripper, being
also able to set up the machine.
Topping-machine operator (or labeler, machine; or covering-machine operator).—
Applies a glue-covered strip of paper to the top or to the bottom of a box, after
the sides have been stripped and the edges turned in. The duties and qualifica
tions of this occupation are comparable to those of a stripping-machine operator.
(See Stripping-machine operator.)
Turner-in (or stripper’s helper, or inspector, or tucker-in).— Assists the strippingframe operator, turning in by hand the extending edges of the box covering and
pasting one edge to the inside of the box and the other edge to the bottom or top
of the box.
A turner-in must be neat and careful. While this is a rather simple job which
could be learned in a few days, it might take about 1 month to become proficient
at this work.
Automatic wrapping-machine operator (or automatic covering-machine operator,
or bridgeman operator).— Works on a machine which automatically applies a gluecovered paper wrapper to the outside surface of a set-up box.
On hand-fed automatic wrapping machines, the operator receives a glue-covered
wrapper from the gluing machine, places it glued side up on a table at the front
of the machine, registers the box on the wrapper, and places both the wrapper
and the box underneath a plunger, which on its downward movement forces the
box past a series of brushes that apply the wrapper to the box and also turns in
the edges. On the fully automatic wrapping machines, the operator merely
keeps the machine supplied with boxes and wrappers, the machine automatically
applying glue to the wrappers, registering the box on the wrapper, and applying
144435
37--------7
90
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
the wrapper to the box. He also sees that the machine is working properly and
removes defective boxes from the machine.
An automatic wrapper operator must be careful and accurate and have muscu
lar coordination. Such a person could learn to do this work in about 1 month.
Automatic stripping-machine operator (or automatic labeler operator).— Works
on a machine which automatically applies a strip of paper covering to the sides of a
set-up box. This machine differs from the automatic wrapping machine in that
it only covers the sides of the box and not the complete outside surface. Usually
it is automatically fed. The duties and qualifications of this job are the same
as those of the fully automatic wrapping-machine operator. (See Automatic
wrapping-machine operator.)
Finishing Group of Operations
In addition to the covering operations, there are several other
finishing operations that vary with the type of box to be made. On
fancy boxes, such as candy boxes, linings and flyleaves may have to be
inserted, while on other boxes special parts may have to be added.
The occupations found in this group are defined as follows:
Table worker, unskilled (or Udder, or closer, or tier, or gluery or gummerf or thumb~
hole cutter, hand).— Performs such unskilled hand jobs as applying paste to labels
or wrappers, assembling box parts, lidding boxes, and tying bundles of boxes.
He generally works at a table or bench, using brushes, scissors, or any other
necessary hand tools.
A table worker should be careful. Any one of the operations performed is
simple and could be learned in a few days.
Miscellaneous punch-press operator (or eyelet-machine operator, or fastener oper
ator, or rivet-machine operator, or stitcher operator, or button-fastener operator, or
staymaker operator).— Uses any one of many types of punch presses either to insert
eyelets or to fasten such items as buttons, hinges, locks, etc., on boxes or to stitch
or join miscellaneous parts. The operator supplies the machine with the necessary
eyelets, rivets, or wire and then holds the box over an anvil or arm while the ma
chine either inserts the eyelets or secures the parts. In some cases, he also makes
metal stays, stamping them out on the press.
A careful person could learn to do this work in a day or two and become pro
ficient in about 2 weeks.
Miscellaneous shaping-press operator (or doming-machine operator; or neck and
shoulder presser; or tube topper, seaming; or bumper operator; or crimper operator;
or curling-machine operator; or top inserter; or machine seamer).— Uses any one of
the many types of shaping presses either to dome or form box tops, either to press
or shape box necks and shoulders, to cap round boxes, to bump boards to form
tops, etc. The operator places part or parts in machine and presses lever, which
causes machine either to shape part or to press parts together. In some plants
he must also set up machine, placing proper dies on machine and making any
necessary adjustments.
A shaping-press operator must be alert and on some presses have muscular
coordination. Because of the many different types of presses, the training period
for this job varies from a few days to several months. To develop an all-round
operator, who could also set up his own machine, would take from 6 months to
1 year.
Thumbholing-machine operator (or automatic thumbing-machine operator) .—
Uses a punch press to cut out small openings at either the ends or sides of box
Technological 'processes, occupational descriptions
91
tops. These openings facilitate the removal of box tops. The operator either
places the lid in the machine and by means of a lever causes the machine to make
the necessary perforations or on an automatic machine merely supplies it with lids.
Working under the direction of an experienced hand, an average person could
learn to do this work in a day and become proficient in about 1 week.
Extension-edge-machine operator (or flanging-machine operator, or frame worker,
or french-edge operator).— Pastes an oversize board blank either to the bottom or
to the top, or both, of a set-up box, the extending edges of this blank forming
around the box a flange or ornamental edge generally known as a french edge.
After placing a supply of extension blanks in the machine and making sure that
there is sufficient glue of the right consistency in the glue box, the operator fits a
box or box lid over a block at the front of the machine and then presses a lever,
which causes the machine first to apply glue to one side of an extension blank and
second to press this glue-covered blank against either the bottom or the top of the
box. In some plants the operator must also set up the machine, place the proper
size block in the machine, and adjust the gluing and pressure mechanisms.
An operator on this machine must be careful and have muscular coordination.
A person could learn to do this work in about 1 month, but it would take such a
person from 3 to 6 months to become thoroughly proficient and also able to set
up the machine.
Lace- and flyleaf-machine operator {or bottom liner, or flyer and lacer operator, or
tabber operator, or duracel inserter).— Applies mechanically a paper flyleaf or lace
to the inside edges of fancy boxes, such as those used for candy. He places box
0n machine and presses a lever, which causes machine to cut to length, partially
cover with glue, and apply to inside edge of box a paper flyleaf or strip of paper
jace. He then turns box around and repeats operation. Generally the operator
must also adjust the machine and keep it supplied with paper and glue.
A careful person could learn to do this work in 1 to 2 weeks, but to develop an
all-round operator able also to adjust machine would take from 3 to 6 months.
Miscellaneous direct hand worker {or fastener of blocks, catches, and hinges; or tier of
cords, ribbons, and cord handles; or table worker on fancy special and sample boxes; or box
coverer; or paster of linings, shoulders, flyleaves, and edges; or tube roller; or block
winder; or pad maker; or box capper; or cabinet decorator; or partition assembler; or
box filler-in and finisher; or end gluer; or material cutter).— Performs one or more of
the miscellaneous hand operations involved in the making of set-up boxes. He
works at tables or benches, assembling parts, pasting on by hand such parts as
labels, bands, linings, trimmings, cellophane covers, lace, and flyleaves, hinging
together box parts, making and inserting cushions, inserting tapes, rolling tubes
for round boxes, attaching any decorations, and also doing any other hand work
directly connected with set-up boxes.
Hand workers must be careful and neat. The training for this work varies with
the duties and ranges from 1 month to 1 year or more.
Miscellaneous Group of Indirect Operations
In addition to the occupations defined in each of the four previous
groups there are other occupations of an indirect nature which may
be found in one or more of these groups. The more important of
these occupations are defined as follows:
Machine adjuster {or adjuster and repairer, machines; or machine setter-up or
mechanic).— Is a skilled mechanic who adjusts and keeps in running order the
various machines used in a set-up box establishment. In some plants he may
92
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
specialize on some machines while in others, particularly the smaller establish
ments, he may be an all-round adjuster.
This job requires a mechanically inclined person, who is careful, accurate, and
responsible. The training for this job varies with the duties of the job which
depends on the number and type of machines to be adjusted, the range being
from 1 to several years.
General helper (or general machine helper, or boxman, or breaker, or catcher, or
examiner and inspector, or factory helper, or floor worker, or stock mover, or neater, or
piler, or stocker, or stock booster, or stacker, or stock handler, or hand trucker).—
Does general work about the plant, moving stock on the floor, supplying materials
to machines, examining and taking away from machines, assembling box parts,
placing lids on boxes, stacking boxes, and assisting in a general way on the floor.
Although varied, the duties of a general helper are rather simple, and any one
of them could be learned in a day or two by an alert person.
handler, tier, and wrapper for shipment (or packer).— Prepares finished set-up
boxes for shipment, counting boxes and assembling them in lots, preparing
bundles and either tying or wrapping them, and packing lots of small boxes in
shipping containers and sealing same. He either ties bundles by hand or on a
tying machine.
An average person could learn to do this work in 1 day and become proficient
in about 1 week.
Occupational Classifications Used
The above glossary is by no means all-inclusive, as only the more or
less standard occupations were defined. No attempt was made to
define here the highly specialized occupations found only in a few
plants or those present also in other industries.
All occupations, however, were included in the presentation of the
wages and hours data. In the case of the occupational tables, the
procedure was as follows: First, those occupations having a suffi
ciently large number of employees were singled out and separate
figures were presented for them; second, for the remaining occupations,
kindred groups were set up and figures shown for such groups. Of
necessity these occupational classes vary with sex and regions. The
classification used, together with a listing of the occupations in each
class, is as follows:
North
Males:
Miscellaneous cutter operators, include only operators who both adjust and
feed cutting machines such as sheeter operators, slitter operators, and a
wide variety of paper- and paper-fioard-cutter operators.
Miscellaneous cutter feeders, include workers such as sheeter feeders, slitter
feeders and a wide variety of paper- and board-cutter feeders.
Compositors and printing pressmen, include hand compositors, typesetters,
printing pressmen, and combination compositors and printing pressmen.
Combination pressmen and feeders, printing, include workers who both set
up and feed printing presses such as printers, printing press operators and
pressmen, and feeders.
Technological processes, occupational descriptions
93
North— C ontinued
M ales— Continued.
Press feeders, printing, include a wide variety of printing-press feeders, im
printer feeders, printers’ helpers doing feeding, and feeders on combination
presses.
Scorer operators, include workers who both adjust and feed scoring machines,
such as single scorers and double scorers.
Scorer feeders, include workers who only feed scoring machines, such as singlescoring-machine feeders and double-scoring-machine feeders.
Corner-cutter operators, include workers who both adjust and feed corner
cutters, such as single-corner cutters, double-corner cutters, quadruplecorner cutters, comer notchers, corner-punch boys, mitering-machine
operators, label cutters, label-punch operators, wrapper cutters, and
wrapper miterers.
Corner-cutter feeders, include such workers as single-corner-cutter feeders,
double-corner-cutter feeders, quadruple-corner-cutter feeders, cornernotcher feeders, corner-puncher feeders, mitering-machine feeders, labelcutter feeders, label-puncher feeders, wrapper-cutter feeders, and wrapper-miterer feeders.
Single-stayer operators, include workers who are primarily feeders, such as
single corner stayers, metal-edge stayers, corner staplers, and semi
automatic staying-machine operators.
Quadruple-stayer operators, include workers who both adjust and feed such
machines as semiautomatic and fully automatic quadruple-staying
machines.
Quadruple-stayer feeders, include workers who only feed such machines as
semiautomatic and fully automatic quadruple-staying machines and auto
matic set-up-box machines.
Ender operators, include workers who both adjust and feed single, double, or
automatic ending machines.
Ender feeders, include workers who only feed machines such as single ending
machines, double ending machines, automatic ending machines, topping
machines, and bottoming machines.
Box makers, hand, include workers who make all or part of a box by hand
such as hand blockers, box coverers, cabinet decorators, glue-table workers
(ending), hardware attachers, sample-box makers, fancy-table workers,
partition assemblers and paraffiners, bow tiers, ribbon tiers, hand box
liners, round-box makers, round-box cappers, hand corders, block fasteners,
hand fillers-in, hand finishers, hand flyleafers, hand gluers-on of projecting
bottoms or tops, catch fasteners (hand), cord-handle tiers-on, hand hingers,
hand lacers, pad makers, shoulder pasters, hand strippers, hand tapers,
top labelers, toppers, tube rollers, and block winders.
Miscellaneous unskilled bench workers, include box lidders or closers, mis
cellaneous hand gluers or gummers, box-makers’ helpers, tiers, and hand
thumbholers.
Miscellaneous machine operators, include workers who both adjust and feed
machines such as lever operators, varnish sprayers, tube winders, creaser
operators, die-cutter operators, pressmen and feeders (cutting presses),
extension-edge-machine operators, flange-machine operators, french-edge
operators, slotting-machine operators, doming-machine operators, punchpress operators, ring-machine operators, stamping-machine operators,
cushion-making-machine operators, cushion-joining-machine operators,
and box-making-machine operators.
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
North— Continued
Males— Continued.
Miscellaneous machine feeders, include workers who are tube-rolling-machine
feeders, tube-winder feeders, lathe cutters (tubes), tube-cutting-machine
feeders, taping-machine feeders, button fasteners (machine), bendingmachine operators, shaping-machine operators, edge attachers, general
machine feeders, cutting-press feeders, board-lining-machine feeders,
lining-machine operators’ helpers, lining-machine take-off men, fastener
operators, riveting-machine operators, stitching-machine operators, eyeletmachine operators, bronzing-machine operators, dusting-machine oper
ators, assembler feeders, punch-press feeders, cap-cutter feeders, die-cutter
feeders, ring-machine feeders, stamping-machine feeders, doming-machine
feeders, bumping-machine feeders, crimping-machine feeders, curlingmachine feeders, inserting-machine feeders, seaming-machine feeders,
thumbholing-machine feeders, neck-pressing-machine feeders, shoulderpressing-machine feeders, box-making-machine feeders.
Also include
machine strippers,2 gluing-machine operators,2 automatic wrappingmachine operators,2 and lacers and flyleafers (machine).2
Machine helpers and floormen, include such workers as automatic gluers’
helpers, boxmen (stocking, filling etc.), breakers and pilers, catchers on
conveyors, helpers on miscellaneous machines, examiners (piling, lidding,
etc.), factory helpers, box pilers, floor workers, general helpers, handymen,
stock movers, nesters, stock placers, porters, stock boosters, machine
stockers, stockmen, stock handlers, hand truckers, utility workers, hand
benders-up,2 and hand turners-in.2
Machine adjusters and repairmen, include workers who adjust and repair a
wide variety of machines, machinists, mechanics, and machine setters-up.
Bundlers and packers, include only bundlers, packers, tiers, and wrappers
found in the shipping department.
Truck drivers, include chauffeurs.
Watchmen.
Supervisory employees, office and plant, include all working supervisory
employees in both office and plant as well as such employees as employ
ment managers, purchasing agents, shippers, and stockkeepers.
Clerical employees, office and plant, include all plant and office clerical
employees such as factory clerks, receiving clerks, shipping clerks, time
keepers, bookkeepers, office clerks, dispatcher clerks, estimator clerks,
order clerks, schedule clerks, stenographers, typists, office-machine oper
ators, and telephone operators.
Laborers, include roustabouts, unloaders of materials, loaders of finished
products, cleaners (machine), and printers’ devils.
Other unskilled service workers, include janitors, porters, maids (cleaning),
lunch-counter attendants, elevator operators, and messengers.
Other miscellaneous skilled indirect workers, include block makers, form
makers, die makers, tool makers, power engineers (steam), electric station
engineers, product inspectors, all-round maintenance men, maintenance
repairmen, carpenters, millwright®, auto repairmen, electricians, handy
men, reliefmen, utility men, machinists (repairs), truck drivers, nurses,
and first-aid attendants.
Other miscellaneous semiskilled indirect workers, include firemen, oilers
(maintenance), stockkeepers’ helpers, carpenters’ helpers, machinists’
helpers (repairs), auto repairmen’s helpers, glue mixers, stencilers, cooks
(cafeteria), and stay makers (machine).
3 See classification for fem ales in the N orth for detail on th is occupational class.
Technological processes, occupational descriptions
95
North— Continued
Males— Continued.
Other miscellaneous unskilled indirect workers, include general hand truckers
about plant, truck drivers’ helpers, waste balers (machine), learners, ap
prentices, and substandard workers.
Females:
Corner-cutter feeders.3
Benders-up, hand, include shapers and end turners.
Single-stayer operators.3
Quadruple-stayer feeders.3
Strippers, machine, include banders (covering machine), covering-machine
operators, labelers (machine), papering-machine operators, strappers
(covering machine), toppers (machine), trimmers (machine), and block
winders (machine).
Turners-in, hand, include inspectors (turning-in), strippers’ helpers, and
hand tuckers.
Gluing-machine operators, include automatic gluing-machine operators, gluewheel operators, gluers-off (machine), gum-machine feeders, and gluers
(blanket-type machine).
Automatic wrapping-machine operators, include automatic covering-machine
operators, automatic stripping-machine operators, and automatic labeler
operators.
Box makers, hand.3
Unskilled miscellaneous bench workers.3
Lacers and flyleafers, machine, include bottom liners (machine), flyers
(machine), and tabbers (machine).
Miscellaneous machine operators, include the occupations listed under this
group3 as well as under miscellaneous cutter operators,3 combination
pressmen and feeders,3 scorer operators,3 corner-cutter operators,3 quad
ruple-stayer operators and ender operators.3
Miscellaneous machine feeders include the occupations listed under this
group 3 as well as under miscellaneous cutter feeders,3 press feeders (print
ing),3 scorer feeders,3 and ender feeders.3
Machine helpers and floormen, include, with the exception of hand benders-up
and hand turners-in, the same occupations listed under this group 3 for
males in the North.
Bundlers and packers.3
Supervisory employees, office and plant.3
Clerical employees, office and plant.3
Other miscellaneous indirect workers, include occupations listed under mis
cellaneous skilled indirect workers,3 miscellaneous semiskilled indirect
workers,3 and miscellaneous unskilled indirect workers.3 Also include
compositors and printing pressmen3 and the group of other unskilled
service workers.3
South
Males:
Miscellaneous machine operators, include occupations listed under miscella
neous cutter operators,3 combination pressmen and feeders,3 scorer opera
tors,3 corner-cutter operators,3 quadruple-stayer operators,3 and ender
operators.3
1 See classification for males in the N orth for detail on this occupational class.
96
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
South— Continued
M ales— Continued.
Miscellaneous machine feeders, include miscellaneous cutter feeders,3 press
feeders (printing),3 scorer feeders,3 corner-cutter feeders,3 single-stayer
operators, quadruple-stayer feeders, ender feeders,3 strippers (machine),3
gluing-machine operators,2 automatic wrapping-machine operators,2 and
lacers and flyleafers.2
Machine helpers and floormen, include hand benders-up,3 hand turners-in,2
hand box makers,3 and unskilled miscellaneous bench workers.3
Other skilled miscellaneous indirect workers, include occupations listed under
this group 3 as well as those under compositors and printing pressmen,3
machine adjusters and repairmen,3 and office and plant supervisory
employees.3
Other semiskilled miscellaneous indirect workers, include occupations listed
under this group 3 as well as those under truck drivers 3 and office and
plant clerical employees.
Other unskilled miscellaneous indirect workers, include occupations listed
under this group 3 as well as those under bundlers and packers,3 watchmen,
laborers,3 and other unskilled service workers.
Females:
Single-stayer operators.3
Strippers, machine.3
Turners-in, hand.3
Automatic wrapping-machine operators.3
Box makers, hand.3
Unskilled miscellaneous bench workers.3
Miscellaneous machine feeders, include occupations listed under this group 3
with the exception of machine strippers and automatic wrapping-machine
operators. Also include miscellaneous cutter operators,3 miscellaneous
cutter feeders,3 press feeders (printing),3 scorer feeders,3 corner-cutter
feeders, quadruple-stayer feeders,3 ender feeders,3 gluing-machine opera
tors,2 lacers and flyleafers,2 and miscellaneous machine operators.3
Machine helpers and floormen, include all occupations listed under this
group 3 together with those under hand benders-up.2
Other miscellaneous indirect workers, include those occupations listed under
other unskilled miscellaneous indirect workers,3 together with those under
bundlers and packers,3 office and plant supervisory employees,3 office and
plant clerical employees,3 and other unskilled service workers.3
* See classification for fem ales in the N orth for detail on this occupational class.
• See classification for m ales in the N orth for detail on this occupational class.
Appendix III.— Detailed Statistical Tables
97
T
able
A.— Distribution of employees according to average hourly earnings by region and sex
United States
N u m b er of em p loy ees w hose average h o u rly earnings w ere—
Year
ver
N u m Aage
ber of h ourly
em
ployees earn
ings
A ll occupations:
M a v 1933____________________ _________________ 6,854
A u gu st 1934___________ _______________________• 11,864
A u gu st 1935______________________ _____________ 12,681
$0.345
.447
.436
25
30
35
40
60
70
80
20
45
50
55
U n an15d
and
and
d
and
an d
an d
an d
an d
an d cen ts $1.00
and $1.20
der u nder unandder uan
under
nder
under
u
nder
u
nder
under
u
nder
u
nder
and
an d
under
u nder over
15
under
20
40
70
80
25
30
35
45
50
55
60
cents cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts $1.00 $1.20
183
1
5
535
7
49
1,149
52
195
1,359 1,037
149 3,106
630 2,990
739
2,642
2,716
546
1,889
1,929
325
1,060
1,175
297
860
891
199
434
466
276
764
744
129
436
433
64
351
353
14
86
84
2
27
21
North— Males
N u m b er of em p loy ees w h ose average h o u rly earnings were- 7O ccu p ation al class and year
N u m A ver
ber of
age
em hourly
ployees earn
ings
A ll occupation s:
M a y 1933— ........................................................................... 2,070
A u gu st 1934.......................................................................... 3,609
A u gu st 1935---------------------------------- -----------------3,821
M iscellan eou s cu tter operators:
215
M a y 1 9 3 3 -................................................................... . .
A u g u st 1934...........................................................................
379
A u gu st 1935_____ ________________ _______________
378
M iscellan eou s cu tter feeders:
M a y 1933................................................................................
71
A u gu st 1934...........................................................................
114
A u gu st 1935..........................................................................
112
$0.460
.569
.556
.555
.683
.670
.352
.437
.444
U n
der
15.0
cents
15.0
an d
u nder
20.0
16
1
1
35
1
6
c en ts
2
O ver
E x 37.5
a c tly an d
37.5 under
cen ts 40.0
cen ts
20.0
an d
u nder
25.0
cen ts
25.0
an d
under
30.0
cen ts
30.0
an d
u nder
35.0
cen ts
35.0
an d
under
37.5
cen ts
108
5
23
186
12
46
204
70
138
113
94
89
29
425
392
2
2
1
5
1
1
10
i
12
7
7
10
4
3
2
19
16
6
1
1
40.0
an d
u n d er
45.0
cen ts
45.0
an d
u n d er
50.0
cen ts
50.0
an d
under
55.0
cen ts
55.0
an d
u nder
60.0
cen ts
60.0
an d
u nder
70.0
cen ts
70.0
an d
under
80.0
cen ts
80.0
cen ts
an d
under
$1.00
54
110
121
256
429
433
240
394
436
246
352
386
166
284
309
227
605
610
116
388
391
60
330
338
12
83
81 ;
26
21
2
1
1
1
5
3
24
7
7
29
17
20
17
9
29
24
30 1k 23
46
39
48
2
14
15
35
40
38
43
109
112
14
88
75
12
57
60
17
14
2
6
10
5
3
1
1
$1.00 $1.20
an d an d
u nder over
$1.20
2
1
T
able
O
o
A .— Distribution of employees according to average hourly earnings by region and sex— Continued
North— Males— Continued
N u m b e r of em p loy ees w h ose average h o u rly earnings w ere-
C om p o sito rs an d prin tin g pressm en:
M a y 1933......... .......................................................................
A u gu st 1934.................................................... . . . ...............
A u gu st 1935_________________ ______ _______ ____
C om b in a tio n pressm en an d feeders, printin g:
M a y 1933______________________________ __________
A u gu st 1934_________ _______ _______ ______ _____
A u gu st 1935................... .......................................................
P ress feeders, printing:
M a y 1933.................. ..............................................................
A u gu st 1934........ ..................................................................
A u gu st 1935.......... ...............................................................
Scorer operators:
M a y 1 9 3 3 ...........................................................................
A u gu st 1934.................................................. ........................
A u gu st 1935__________________ _____ ____ ______
Scorer feeders:
M a y 1933...................... .........................................................
A ugust 1934........................................................ .................
A u gu st 1935....................................... ...................................
C orner-cutter operators:
M a y 1 9 3 3 .................................................. ................. ..
A u gu st 1934..........................................................................
A u gu st 1935____________________________________ _
C orner-cutter feeders:
M a y 1933— .................. ................................. .................
A u gu st 1934..........................................................................
A u gu st 1935....................................... ................................
Single-stayer operators:
M a y 1933.................................................................................
A ugust 1934 _
_ __ __
_ _ ___
A u gu st 1935.......................... ..............................................
33 $0.635
.762
51
54
.769
60
.546
91
.631
.632
83
.368
38
.458
62
.459
77
192
.551
.692
334
333
.686
30
.374
74
.451
76
.466
28
.476
.555
85
.569
78
80
.331
162
.429
188
.425
34
.361
70
.493
74
.477
15.0
and
under
20.0
cents
20.0
and
under
25.0
cents
3
1
2
25.0
an d
u nder
30.0
cen ts
2
7
3
3
35.0
an d
under
37.5
cen ts
E x
a c tly
37.5
cen ts
1
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
8
6
2
2
4
2
3
4
4
4
1
5
2
4
3
1
1
1
1
30.0
an d
u nder
35.0
cen ts
4
17
2
6
20
4
8
7
1
6
9
2
5
5
2
6
1
4
2
13
10
1
1
13
13
2
2
1
3
38
34
1
8
4
O ver
37.5
an d
under
40.0
cen ts
40.0
an d
under
45.0
cen ts
45.0
an d
u nder
50.0
cen ts
50.0
an d
un d er
55.0
cen ts
55.0
and
under
60.0
cen ts
1
4
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
3
7
6
1
6
7
4
13
9
13
8
10
14
18
6
2
8
19
13
3
6
3
11
46
45
5
15
16
4
10
18
35
14
13
7
20
22
7
13
11
9
7
8
3
8
11
32
31
35
23
34
45
1
1
7
3
15
11
1
1
4
1
1
4
3
1
1
7
10
15
1
8
5
3
41
52
4
7
14
7
5
7
19
18
13
12
1
8
7
9
6
4
7
1
8
3
60.0
and
u nder
70.0
cen ts
70.0
an d
u nder
80.0
cen ts
80.0
cen ts
and
under
$1.00
9
5
13
8
8
10
13
5
33 • 10
23
19
1
1
4
1
9
45
19
91
92
92
79
6
15
22
1
9
8
2
15
8
1
1
6
54
51
11
12
5
4
1
22
24
1
1
3
1
4
8
4
4
9
8
$1.00 $1.20
an d and
under over
$1.20
3
2
1
2
2
2
2
i
1
1
2
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
O ccupation al class an d year
N u m A ver
ber of
age
em hourly U n
p loyees earn der
ings 15.0
cen ts
48
82
82
44
59
64
32
52
52
31
44
53
24
67
96
23
50
47
56
84
84
96
196
185
141
256
292
103
187
194
57
117
154
155
244
260
.480
.627
.637
.319
.440
.452
.547
.619
.622
.374
.440
.437
.470
.577
.519
.264
.421
.418
.458
.609
.609
.357
.449
.457
.294
.402
.397
.577
.685
.675
.338
.438
.415
.479
.595
.580
3
7
1
1
2
7
13
7
6
2
2
5
1
11
7
3
5
2
1
2
3
1
1
2
5
1
2
3
8
4
5
4
1
1
2
2
2
10
36
1
2
1
4
10
2
1
23
1
5
33
5
9
8
1
5
9
1
2
7
1
2
2
5
5
3
1
3
3
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
r
10
5
3
3
10
17
5
1
1
10
11
3
3
3
9
11
1
13
15
15
10
2
6
12
14
1
3
5
1
14
11
1
3
12
5
3
2
25
5
10
20
13
28
3
1
2
6
20
9
10
27
21
2
2
46
21
1
86
97
9
5
14
14
2
5
3
6
8
11
1
7
2
4
3
31
45
6
16
15
8
13
14
4
18
16
3
12
15
3
4
2
8
39
49
15
60
58
7
2
4
10
20
22
22
16
27
17
4
4
1
14
8
3
8
8
2
9
10
4
7
12
1
4
2
12
7
4
5
30
35
7
23
36
14
9
10
3
15
18
19
31
23
5
15
11
1
5
9
6
5
7
1
5
7
7
4
8
6
10
10
1
1
3
5
7
10
1
3
3
3
7
4
1
4
1
1
10
14
12
6
10
14
3
16
17
20
27
24
6
15
14
25
26
25
4
12
15
7
16
10
5
8
15
18
18
2
3
13
36
33
4
29
35
1
10
10
9
9
5
9
10
15
12
. 1
1
2
2
6
5
9
9
3
10
11
11
16
8
5
2
4
5
20
19
8
9
1
2
14
12
1
4
6
Detailed statistical tables
Q uadruple-stayer operators:
M ay 1933......................... .................................
A ugust 1934_________________ _______ _
A ugust 1935.....................................................
Quadruple-stayer feeders:
M ay 1933....... ............... ..............................
A ugust 1934____ ______________________
A ugust 1935____ ______________________
E nder operators:
M ay 1933____________ _____ ______ _____
August 1934.......... ...........................................
August 1935......................................................
E nder feeders:
M ay 1933.........................................................
A ugust 1934___________________________
A ugust 1935............................ ................. ........
Box makers, hand:
M ay 1933....... ....................................................
A ugust 1934................................... ...................
A ugust 1935........ ..................................... ........
M iscellaneous bench workers, unskilled:
M ay 1933— _____________________ _____
A ugust 1934...................................................
A ugust 1935........ .............................................
M iscellaneous m achine operators:
M ay 1933.............................................................
A ugust 1934.......................................................
A ugust 1935.......................... ............................
M iscellaneous m achine feeders:
M ay 1933............................................................
A ugust 1934.................................................—
A ugust 1935________________ ___________
M achine helpers and floormen:
M ay 1933............................................................
A ugust 1934................................... .................
A ugust 1935....................................... ...............
M achine adjusters and repairmen:
M ay 1933..______ ______ _____ __________
A ugust 1934_____ ______________________
A ugust 1935___________________________
B undlers and packers:
M ay 1933________ _____ _______ _____ _
A ugust 1934___________________________
A ugust 1935_____________ ______________
T ruck drivers:
M ay 1933......................... ...................................
A ugust 1934........................................ .............
A ugust 1935.......................................................
1
7
10
1
2
3
3
1
15
29
42
10
32
29
10
8
1
1
1
12
31
24
2
32
38
1
2
15
56
51
1
7
10
17
47
58
1
2
O
T
able
O
A.— Distribution of employees according to average hourly earnings by region and sex— Continued
to
North— Males— Continued
N u m b er of em p loy ees w h ose average h o u rly earnings w ere-
W atchm en:
M ay 1933— .................................................... .
A ugust 1934......................- ............................ .
A ugust 1935_-------------------------------------Office and plant supervisory em ployees:
M ay 1933.......................- ------------------------A ugust 1934...................................................
A ugust 1935__________________________
Office and plant clerical em ployees:
M ay 1933................ ...........................................
A ugust 1934.....................................................
A ugust 1935......................................................
Laborers:
M ay 1933.........................................................
A ugust 1934......................— ........................
A ugust 1935________________ ___________
Other unskilled service workers:
M ay 1933— ................................................—
A ugust 1934.....................................................
A ugust 1935.......... ............... ............................
Other skilled indirect workers:
M ay 1933— ......................................................
A ugust 1934.....................................................
A ugust 1935------------------------------- -------Other sem iskilled indirect workers:
M ay 1933.......................- ............... .................
A ugust 1934---------------------------------------A ugust 1935---------------------------------------Other unskilled indirect workers:
M ay 1933..........................................................
August 1934................... ..................................
August 1935.....................................................
'
23 $0.324
.420
53
51
.385
.645
125
.808
195
.795
194
.507
85
.571
133
.558
149
.332
59
.432
87
.414
91
.353
36
.411
53
.399
60
.584
75
.707
105
114
.707
.402
30
.453
52
55 1 .466 .
.292
46
.404
71
91
.396
15.0
and
under
20.0
cen ts
1
20.0
and
under
25.0
cents
25.0
and
under
30.0
cen ts
5
1
7
6
2
3
30.0
an d
u nder
35.0
cen ts
3
3
1
1
5
i
1
2
7
1
1
3
1
3
3
5
i
9
1
1
7
1
2
7
3
5
13
1
12
8
4
4
1
1
3
2
4
2
1
6
5
2
6
2
2
2
1
3
5
7
12
35.0
an d
under
37.5
cen ts
E x
actly
37.5
cen ts
O ver
37.5
an d
under
40.0
cen ts
40.0
and
under
45.0
cen ts
45.0
and
under
50.0
cen ts
50.0
and
under
55.0
cen ts
1
7
3
2
1
17
14
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
7
6
2
10
9
5
1
6
12
15
24
8
20
21
7
9
5
1
2
2
26
14
10
14
14
17
3
12
9
4
5
3
3
6
13
5
11
7
6
7
8
4
4
11
1
7
12
2
4
7
1
1
3
4
3
4
1
2
1
8
2
4
1
17
13
1
23
19
1
11
8
2
1
1
1
7
8
4
3
12
17
18
7
20
15
7
16
15
2
1
1
1
3
7
3
3
5
21
12
6
11
15
4
4
5
5
3
2
9
6
21
19
2
5
55.0
and
under
60.0
cen ts
3
4
11
5
9
4
7
12
6
6
1
4
5
60.0
and
under
70.0
cen ts
70.0
an d
under
80.0
cen ts
80.0
cen ts
an d
u nder
$1.00
$1.00 $1.20
and and
under over
$1.20
1
1
1
1
25
50
39
7
30
25
18
31
38
7
9
9
16
49
48
3
11
15
8
22
27
3
4
2
1
19
12
1
2
2
5
5
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
9
8
7
5
4
3
25
21
29
14
33
33
3
19
22
2
4
2
1
1
1
3
5
2
1
1
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
O ccu p ation al class an d year
N u m A ver
ber of
age
em h ourly U n
p lo yees earn der
ings 15.0
cen ts
North— Females
O ccu p ation al class an d year
N u m b e r of em p lo y ees w h ose average h o u rly earnings w ere—
A ver
O ver 35.0 an d 40.0 and 45.0 an d 50.0 and 55.0 an d 60.0
age
an d 20.0 and 25.0 and 30.0 an d E x
h ou rly U n d er 15.0
and n d er u nder u nder under under cen ts
nder u n d er u n d er u nder a c tly 32.5
earn
u
nder u40.0
15.0 u 20.0
and
32.5
50.0
55.0
60.0
25.0
32.5
30.0
45.0
ings
cen ts cen ts cen
35.0
over
ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen
ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts
4,044
7,267
7,893
$0,295
.391
.382
24
41
41
53
91
89
315
549
566
34
76
88
789
1,416
1,406
336
C33
678
71
134
152
496
894
941
687
1,281
1,421
.274
.359
.367
.241
.353
.339
.306
.397
.395
.275
.363
.364
.305
.412
.401
.234
.360
.348
.260
.361
.358
.318
.410
.409
.299
.387
.379
80
1
2
3
337
6
27
847
17
132
1,043
109
487
442
176
357
1
9
5
1
3
11
1
15
2
53
1
13
2
8
3
2
3
42
12
21
5
1
6
102
20
49
11
20
30
8
7
8
67
10
25
91
41
74
10
I
2
7
38
22
4
55
2
2
11
1
1
6
7
1
18
1
43
1
3
11
91
6
33
11
126
2
18
105
1
16
24
1
62
1
5
137
2
28
2
209
27
68
116
8
41
17
2
5
121
6
33
180
16
70
1
27
1,613
1,366
292
754
748
15
10
5
3
4
50
45
1
69
50
6
7
8
22
51
44
23
26
4
169
120
9
225
221
45
37
6
120
92
5
281
202
16
9
67
116
122
7
53
52
2
15
21
51
72
65
54
147
161
516
1,826
1,929
17
17
2
12
12
57
178
164
5
22
27
142
358
366
8
146
155
9
38
47
100
223
226
88
306
350
264
1,380
1,425
1
4
7
1
16
6
20
121
134
5
14
73
290
271
1
166
144
1
19
25
54
217
205
46
268
297
73
614
676
41
464
460
2
1
1
26
132
138
1
3
8
63
68
2
16
23
1
1
22
19
4
2
10
176
179
4
2
6
189
162
1
1
1
39
24
9
9
3
1
1
5
2
5
96
115
2
64
62
3
3
10
109
136
9
116
137
1
2
56
176
147
1
5
10
8
4
29
23
2
2
1
Detailed statistical tables
All occupations:
M ay 1933. ..........................................................
A ugust 1934.......................................................
A ugust 1935.. *.................................................
Corner-cutter feeders:
M ay 1 9 33 .........................................................
A ugust 1934...................... ..........................
A ugust 1935.....................................................
Benders-up, hand:
M ay 1933............................................................
A ugust 1934.......................................................
A ugust 1935.............. ................................. ..
Single-stayer operators:
M ay 19 33 .................. .......................................
A ugust 1934.......................................................
A ugust 1935.....................................................
Quadruple-stayer feeders:
M ay 1 9 3 3 ..........................................................
A ugust 1934......................................................
A ugust 1935. .................................... ...............
Strippers, machine:
M ay 19 33 .................. ............... .........................
A ugust 1934.....................................................
A ugust 1935...................................................
Turners-in, hand:
M ay 1933_____ _____ _______ ___________
A ugust 1934.......................................................
A ugust 1935........................... ..........................
G luing-m achine operators:
M ay 1933............................................................
A ugust 1934.....................................................
A ugust 1935___________________________
A utom atic wrapping-m achine operators:
M ay 1933_________________________ ____
A ugust 1934............ ..........................................
A ugust 1935.....................................................
B ox makers, hand:
M ay 1933............................................................
A ugust 1934.......................................................
A ugust 1935....................................... ...............
Num
ber of
em p loy
ees
2
18
27
6
16
18
22
11
15
23
18
O
CO
T
able
A .— Distribution of employees according to average hourly earnings by region and sex— Continued
O
North— Females— Continued
O ccu p ation al class an d year
N u m b e r of e m p lo y ees w h o se average h o u rly earnings w ere—
A verage
O ver 35.0 an d 40.0 an d 45.0 and 50.0 and 55.0 and 60.0
h ou rly U n d er 15.0 and 20.0 and 25.0 an d 30.0 an d E x 32.5
d nder u nder u nder u nder un d er cen ts
under u nder u n d er u n d er a c tly u n dan
earn
15.0
er u40.0
32.5
45.0
20.0
30.0
32.5
55.0
60.0
25.0
50.0
ings
an d
cen ts cen
35.0
ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts cen ts
over
285 $0.252
480
.366
.348
60.7
38
.280
60
.382
59
.371
23
.396
22
.445
25
.437
.302
155
247
.388
.365
253
370
.238
734
.347
881
.339
.284
106
176
.360
214
.345
65
.465
101
.526
105
.531
154
.418
262
.476
282
.471
43
.269
70
.310
85
.300
10
55
2
1
1
1
8
16
71
1
1
10
1
4
6
4
5
77
1
10
13
1
40
2
2
133
30
26
3
66
2
72
8
1
6
4
35
3
7
102
5
77
29
5
34
3
9
1
1
21
2
6
6
15
12
24
25
5
29
10
50
11
2
3
2
2
20
12
7
21
26
62
8
6
8
149
148
8
7
1
49
24
1
334
299
50
58
6
10
2
4
3
3
8
1
1
15
16
11
9
25
80
78
8
3
2
1
1
11
24
21
17
120
117
10
32
28
2
2
9
3
12
2
4
2
14
139
134
3
20
19
4
6
6
21
61
87
6
172
197
12
50
43
16
7
8
28
67
65
1
4
6
6
67
87
1
10
12
3
3
6
11
53
67
2
56
63
8
24
31
9
15
11
20
38
36
7
8
10
2
19
18
1
6
6
8
2
3
2
3
3
5
10
10
5
2
4
6
2
24
23
1
15
19
1
6
5
11
18
23
16
35
37
1
2
2
3
11
1
1
2
24
26
13
35
31
1
3
1
4
2
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
4
3
1
2
1
1
5
2
2
2
1
3
1
2
5
10
10
13
25
1
1
11
26
26
17
51
50
1
1
1
9
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
M iscellan eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed :
M a y 1933..................................................................................
A u gu st 1934............................................. ...............................
A u g u st 1935________________________________ ______
L acers an d flyleafers, m ach in e:
M a y 1933...................................................................................
A u g u st 1934 ____________________________________
A u g u st 1935___________________ ________________ __
M iscellan eo u s m a ch in e operators:
M a y 1933 ................................................................................
A u gu st 1934
A u g u st 1935_______________________________________
M iscella n eo u s m ach in e feeders:
M a y 1933___________________________________ _____
A u g u st 1934_______________________________________
A u g u st 1935_________ ___________________________
M a ch in e helpers an d doorm en:
M a y 1933...................................................................................
August. 1934
A u gu st 1935
B u n d lers an d packers:
M a y 1933
____ _
_
_
A u g u st 1934_____ _
___
A u g u st 1935............ . . .
_ ______
O ffice an d p la n t su p ervisory em p loyees:
M a y 1933___________________________ ___________
A u g u st 1934_____ ____________ __________________
A u g u st 1935............................................................................
Office an d p la n t clerical em p loyees:
M a y 1933______________ _____ _____________________
A u g u s t 1934 ___
_ .
_
A u g u s t, 1935
- _ . .
O ther in d irect w orkers:
M a y 1933...................................................................................
A u g u s t 1934
___
A u g u s t 1935
_ __
. _ ___
N um
ber of
em p lo y
ees
South— Males
144435*
N u m b e r of em p lo y ees w h ose average h o u rly earnings w ere—
O cu p ation al class an d year
267
371
373
$0.303
.437
.429
44
66
71
94
131
125
28
45
42
38
49
48
27
37
41
36
43
46
.417
.567
.532
.256
.371
.368
.184
.336
.345
.465
.601
.595
.291
.410
.397
.204
.349
.331
Un
der
15.0
cen ts
15.0
an d
u n d er
20.0
cen ts
20.0
and
u nder
25.0
cen ts
25.0
an d
u nder
30.0
cen ts
30.0
and
u n d er
32.5
cen ts
E x
a c tly
32.5
cen ts
O ver
32.5
an d
u nder
35.0
35.0
an d
u n d er
40.0
cen ts
40.0
an d
un d er
45.0
cen ts
45.0
an d
u n d er
50.0
cen ts
50.0
an d
u n d er
55.0
cen ts
55.0
an d
u nder
60.0
cen ts
17
34
2
54
4
47
6
21
36
40
1
61
46
15
21
19
16
78
73
23
30
34
12
31
39
10
38
36
5
16
16
8
31
28
3
14
12
7
4
1
2
2
24
1
6
2
3
1
4
1
1
1
1
6
1
1
4
9
13
6
1
3
2
42
36
9
4
3
6
17
17
4
8
15
1
10
9
4
19
19
3
7
6
1
1
1
3
15
15
1
6
4
-1
2
2
1
3
3
3
10
11
3
3
7
2
2
1
2
6
2
2
7
3
6
1
4
6
5
14
10
2
7
7
6
6
5
9
9
1
3
3
4
3
1
2
3
2
2
1
1
3
15
8
9
31
2
8
18
2
1
6
9
2
4
10
2
10
4
7
2
5
7
16
16
1
13
15
1
6
2
2
5
8
27
19
11
6
1
1
6
6
15
13
1
5
1
1
3
1
4
4
2
3
8
12
1
13
9
6
3
60.0
an d
u n d er
70.0
cen ts
70.0
an d
u nder
80.0
cen ts
80.0
cen ts $1.00
an d an d
under over
$1.00
1
2
2
1
3
3
1
2
2
Detailed statistical tables
A ll occupations:
M ay 1933. .............................. ...............
A ugust 1934............ ............... ...............
A ugust 1935............................. .............
M iscellaneous m achine operators:
M a y 1933................................................
A ugust 1934...........................................
A ugust 1935_.............. ..........................
M iscellaneous m achine feeders:
M a y 1933................................................
A ugust 1934..........................................
A ugust 1935__________ ___________
M achine helpers and floormen:
M ay 1933................................................
A ugust 1934______________________
A ugust 1 9 3 5 .........................................
Other skilled indirect workers:
M ay 1933________________________
A ugust 1934______________________
A ugust 1935________ _____ _______
Other sem iskilled indirect workers:
M ay 1933................................................
A ugust 1934.......... ................................
A ugust 1935______ ______ ________
Other unskilled indirect workers:
M ay 1933.................................................
A ugust 1934...........................................
A ugust 1935...........................................
ver
N u m Aage
ber of h ourly
em
p lo yees earn
ings
1
o
T
able
A .— Distribution of employees according to average hourly earnings by region and sex— Continued
O
Cfc
South— Females
O ccupation al class an d year
473
617
594
$0.218
.335
.325
70
3
129
14
140
30
36
83
22
79
35
47
46
98
123
121
24
43
36
61
80
83
65
67
64
42
47
47
58
80
75
42
71
72
.220
.352
.340
.219
.337
.329
.178
.316
.304
.238
.360
.345
.207
.343
.308
.217
.329
.339
.224
.329
.321
5
10
12
3
6
23
6
15
1
48
59
50
.198
.327
.305
.235
.316
.331
13
4
1
3
19
3
15
2
35
4
7
4
3
17
5
18
1
7
9
2
1
5
16
4
10
9
2
193
147
11
5
31
20
25
17
1
15
6
15
2
8
16
3
19
2
11
6
8
26
12
1
8
33
39
12
12
9
2
6
10
23
5
4
3
16
7
6
S
37
18
1
7
8
4
19
4
6
8
3
6
19
20
15
14
33
182
129
11
109
112
3
50
37
4
15
10
5
42
37
1
12
16
2
22
20
6
4
1
11
14
11
2
6
21
26
3
28
12
6
15
10
2
30
13
4
14
15
3
6
4
7
8
2
24
14
10
12
7
11
3
11
10
1
11
12
2
5
9
21
24
2
10
13
2
1
1
2
6
4
1
1
8
7
1
7
1
4
7
4
5
1
1
1
1
4
3
1
4
5
1
3
4
2
3
6
3
5
5
1
2
2
4
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
A ll occupations:
M ay 1933.............................................................
A ugust 1934.....................................................
A ugust 1935.......................................................
Single-stayer operators:
M ay 1933............................................................
A ugust 1934.......................................................
A ugust 1935.......................................................
Strippers, machine:
M ay 1933........................................................
A ugust 1934......................................................
A ugust 1935.......................................................
Turners-in, hand:
M ay 1933............................................................
A ugust 1934_.....................................................
A ugust 1935......................................................
A utom atic w rapping-m achine operators:
M ay 1933............................................................
A ugust 1934......................................................
A ugust 1935......................................................
Box makers, hand:
M ay 1933............................................................
A ugust 1934. ....................................................
A ugust 1935. ....................................................
M iscellaneous bench workers, unskilled:
M ay 1933............................................................
A ugust 1934.....................................................
A ugust 1 9 3 5 ....................................................
M iscellaneous m achine feeders:
M ay 1933..........................................................
A ugust 1934.............................. ......................
A ugust 1935.......................................................
M achine helpers and floormen:
M ay 1933............................................................
A ugust 1934.......................................................
A ugust 1935.......................................................
Other indirect workers:
M a y 1933............................................................
A ugust 1934......................................................
A ugust 1935................ .....................................
N u m b er of em p lo y ees w h ose average h o u rly earnings w ere—
N u m b er A verage
of em
20.0
an d 25.0 and E x a c tly O ver 30.0 35.0 an d 40.0 an d 45.0 an d 50.0 cen ts
h
ou
rly
15.0
an
d
p loyees earnings U nder
u n d er
un d er
u n d er
u nder
u nder
under
u nder
15.0 cen ts 20.0
cen ts 25.0 cen ts 30.0 cen ts 30.0 cen ts 35.0 cen ts 40.0 cen ts 45.0 cen ts 50.0 cen ts an d over
T
able
B.— Distribution of employees according to weekly hours by region and sex
United States
N u m b e r of em p loy ees w h ose w e ek ly h ours w ere—
O ccupation al class an d year
6,854
11,864
12,681
39.0
35.5
38.2
48
O ver 40
E x a c tly anOdver
an d u nder 48
u nder
hours 56 hours
48 hours
U n d er 16
hours
16 an d
under 24
hours
24 and
u nder 32
hours
32 and
u nder 40
hours
E x a ctly
40 hours
295
431
319
451
787
540
871
1,347
1,062
1,454
2,924
2,374
380
5,465
5,129
1,580
677
2,141
442
103
356
1,121
97
624
260
33
136
56 hours
an d over
North— Males
A ll occupations:
M ay 1933....................................... ................................
A ugust 1934_______________ _________________
A ugust 1935............................... ...........................
M iscellaneous cutter operators:
M ay 1933..................................... ..................................
A ugust 1934............................... ..................................
A ugust 1935................................................................. .
M iscellaneous cutter feeders:
M ay 1933,................ ....................................................
A ugust 1934.................................................................
A ugust 1935_____ ________________ _____ _____
Com positors and printing pressmen:
M ay 1933____________________________________
A ugust 1934..................................................................
A ugust 1935_________________________________
C om bination pressm en and feeders, printing:
M ay 1933________ ________________ __________
A ugust 1934........... ..................................................... .
A ugust 1935..................................................................
2,070
3,609
3,821
42.8
37.7
40.6
39
76
47
80
158
89
181
301
162
334
583
535
101
1,972
1,690
544
350
729
207
53
126
445
85
337
139
31
106
215
379
378
71
114
112
23
51
54
60
91
83
41.5
37.6
40.0
39.7
37.6
40.1
43.3
41.3
41.3
42.0
36.4
40.3
4
6
2
6
1
2
8
13
8
2
3
2
14
40
18
7
13
5
3
1
1
45
53
49
12
22
25
5
1
6
15
18
9
21
214
185
2
67
48
62
39
67
19
7
15
6
6
10
15
6
22
18
6
11
5
5
6
1
1
5
1
35
5
27
17
2
9
8
4
3
9
8
3
11
1
2
3
5
I
1
1
4
1
1
2
3
6
5
1
38
29
4
56
40
Detailed statistical tables
A ll occu p ation s:
M a y 1933......................................................................................
A u gu st 1934..............................................................................
A u gu st 1 9 3 5 ...............................................................................
N u m b er of Average
eek ly
em ployees whours
3
4
O
T
able
O
B.— Distribution of employees according to weekly hours by region and sex— Continued
00
North— Males— Continued
N u m b er of em p loy ees w h ose w e ek ly hours w ere—
Pressfeeders, printin g:
M a y 1933...........................A u gu st 1934........................ ..
A u gu st 1935...........................
Scorer operators:
M a y 1933................................
A u g u st 1934...........................
A u gu st 1935...........................
Scorer feeders:
M a y 1933...............................
A u gu st 1934_____________
A u gu st 1935_____________
C orner-cutter operators:
M a y 1933..............................
A u gu st 1934_____________
A u gu st 1 9 3 5 .........................
C orner-cutter feeders:
M a y 1933____________ —
A u g u st 1934...........................
A u gu st 1935...........................
S in gle-stayer operators:
M a y 1933................................
A u gu st 1934................... —
A u g u st 1935...........................
Q u adruple-stayer operators:
M a y 1933................................
A u gu st 1934...........................
A u gu st 1935-------- ----------Q u adruple-stayer feeders:
M a y 1933_______ ________
A u gu st 1934_____________
A u gu st 1935_____________
38
62
77
192
334
333
30
74
76
28
85
78
80
162
188
34
70
74
48
82
82
44
59
64
U nder 16
hours
16 an d
u n d er 24
hours
24 an d
u nder 32
hours
32 an d
u nder 40
hours
E x a c tly
40 hours
40.3
1
37.2
2
41.7 ......................
41.6 — ................
36.8
7
39.6
2
1
8
2
0
1
3
36.0
2
36.6
1
38.2 — ..............
2
2
6
3
1
22
35
18
6
9
5
1
11
7
17
18
9
8
9
5
4
9
13
35
54
53
5
16
17
5
15
13
16
30
33
8
20
13
20
16
14
9
22
15
2
43
38
40.1 — ................
36.9
5
40.3
1
5 ___________
9
3
6
2
41.9 ....................
37.0
2
39.2 ..............
2 .................
5
2
4 ......................
1
8
16
6
4
4
1
5
6
6
1
4
5
6
2
1
5
3
1
3
6
4
8
9
3
13
197
174
1
37
36
46
32
2
93
78
1
26
24
4
45
38
2
23
27
O ver 40
E x a c tly
an d u nder 48
hours
48 hours
8
2
13
55
20
54
7
5
10
13
4
13
26
10
37
4
4
21
10
6
18
11
2
14
7
19
2
10
4
4
5
1
5
4
1
1
6
2
5
1
O ver 48 56 hours
an d u nder an
d over
56 hours
8
1
9
38
3
13
2
6
2
1
2
11
1
17
8
1
5
6
1
3
7
2
2
2
3
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
O ccu p ation al class an d year
N u m b er of Awverage
eek ly
em p loy ees hours
32
52
52
31
44
53
24
67
96
23
50
47
56
84
84
96
196
185
141
256
292
103
187
194
57
117
154
155
244
260
23
53
51
125
195
194
37.4
36.0
40.5
39.0
34.2
38.7
45.2
35:4
38.5
45.8
33.2
38.3
43.5
37.3
41.4
43.0
36.2
39.7
42.3
36.5
40.5
41.9
39.1
41.6
42.3
35.5
40.8
48.0
39.6
42.2
58.3
47.0
47.2
45.4
39.9
41.8
1
3
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
5
4
10
3
10
6
4
1
6
3
2
2
1
2
2
3
1
4
5
2
3
2
1
4
3
11
2
5
9
3
4
11
5
6
18
14
1
3
1
2
5
5
4
5
3
1
3
2
3
6
8
3
3
4
2
1
11
11
1
4
4
2
4
3
5
20
10
16
21
8
12
7
6
5
23
9
9
10
9
1
3
3
3
6
4
3
11
9
14
16
15
1
14
20
7
12
8
7
10
11
11
48
32
19
42
37
26
22
26
10
14
21
6
30
12
1
23
23
3
18
18
3
32
38
16
14
1
49
33
2
93
53
6
128
131
6
111
91
1
50
61
6
138
124
7
6
14
15
9
7
6
8
136
123
10
5
13
3
11
6
5
13
5
4
9
17
6
14
31
15
25
34
26
41
26
30
39
16
13
31
32
44
65
4
9
8
30
15
32
3
1
2
4
1
1
4
2
1
5
4
5
16
12
7
10
7
2
7
6
5
5
31
4
11
1
3
2
22
7
3
3
2
5
2
8
4
7
4
16
4
10
24
28
40
4
33
21
8
18
13
1
10
34
11
30
2
10
10
40
9.
18
1
2
1
1
2
2
2
5
4
10
6
5
12
4
6
3
9
31
5
12
14
13
4
1
4
Detailed statistical tables
E n d er operators:
M a y 1933..........................................................
A u gu st 1934........... ...........................................
A u gu st 1935.......................................................
E n d er feeders:
M a y 1933............................................................
A u gu st 1934.......................................................
A u gu st 1935___ ________________________
B o x m akers, hand:
M a y 1933...........................................................
A u gu st 1934.......................................................
A u gu st 1935----------------------------------------M iscellan eou s b en ch w orkers, u nsk illed:
M a y 1933............................................................
A u gu st 1934.......................................................
A u gu st 1935......................................................
M iscellan eou s m ach in e operators:
M a y 1933—.........................................................
A u gu st 1934.......................................................
A u gu st 1935.......................................................
M iscellan eo u s m ach in e feeders:
M a y 1933.............................................................
A u gu st 1934......................................................
A u gu st 1935.......................................................
M a ch in e helpers an d doorm en:
M a y 1933.......................................................... .
A u g u st 1934..................................................... .
A u gu st 1935.......................... .......................... .
M a ch in e ad justers an d repairm en:
M a y 1933............ ........................ .......................
A u gu st 1934............................... .......................
A u gu st 1935.............................................. .......
B u n d lers and packers:
M a y 1933— ......................................................
A u gu st 1934........................................... ..........
A ugu st 1935.....................................................
T ru ck drivers:
M a y 1933.............................................................
A u gu st 1934______________ _____________
A u gu st 1 9 3 5 -....................................................
W atch m en:
M a y 1933............................................................
A u gu st 1934......................... ................. ...........
A ugust 1935___________________________
Officer an d p la n t su p ervisory em ployees:
M a y 1933.............. .......................... ...................
A u gu st 1934......... ..............................................
A u gu st 1935.......................................................
O
O
O
T
able
B.— Distribution of employees according to weekly hours by region and sex— Continued
North— Males— Continued
O ccupational class an d year
O ffice an d p la n t clerical em p loyees:
M a y 1933
A ugust 1934
A ugust 1935
Laborers:
M a y 1933
A u gu st 1934
_ _______
A u gu st 1935 _ ... ...
O ther u n sk illed service w orkers:
M a y 1933. __
A ugust 1934
A ugust 1935
O ther sk illed in d irect workers:
M a y 1933
A u gu st 1934
_ _ _ _ ___
...
A ugust 1935
O ther sem isk illed in d irect w orkers:
M a y 1933
A u gu st 1934___ _
.
A u gu st 1935............................. ..................................................
O ther u n sk illed in d irect workers:
M a y 1933
...
______
A u gu st 1934
A u gu st 1935
85
133
149
59
87
91
36
53
60
75
1C5
114
30
52
55
46
71
91
44.7
39.6
41.3
45.4
39.0
42.1
44.4
38.8
41.7
43.6
40.4
43.3
45.9
39.9
42.5
42.6
37.0
38.6
U nder 16
hours
1
2
2
1
16 and
u n d er 24
hours
24 an d
un d er 32
hours
32 and
u n d er 40
hours
E x a c tly
40 hours
2
5
2
2
6
4
4
2
1
1
2
11
12
19
5
14
12
1
3
2
1
4
15
12
4
10
6
6
5
8
7
10
12
3
82
72
3
55
35
2
26
21
3
62
46
2
1
2
3
1
2
1
1
2
4
4
2
4
7
4
8
3
2
1
7
3
2
4
3
23
14
1
38
38
O ver 40
E x a c tly
an d u nder 48
hours
48 hours
32
23
31
17
5
28
12
6
18
19
18
26
4
9
11
10
6
20
7
7
5
1
1
4
2
5
3
2
1
1
3
10
1
3
O ver 48 56 hours
an d under an
d over
56 hours
20
5
14
16
3
9
9
1
5
22
7
25
7
1
8
7
2
6
6
1
8
2
3
2
2
1
9
5
7
4
5
4
1
1
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
N u m b er of em p loy ees w h ose w e ek ly hours w ere—
N u m b er of Awverage
eek ly
em p loyees hours
North— Females
4,044
7,267
7,893
36.2
34.6
37.1
228
310
231
353
553
413
631
910
808
1,002
2,082
1,689
259
3,082
3,071
923
281
1,218
24
41
41
53
91
89
315
549
566
34
76
88
789
1,416
1,406
336
633
678
71
134
152
496
894
941
687
1,281
1,421
285
480
607
37.5
35.9
37.9
34.7
33.5
36.9
35.1
34.3
36.6
31.4
36.4
37.3
36.6
33.2
36.0
35.9
33.6
35.2
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
3
6
12
g
6
1
9
5
4
3
19
24
12
3
1
2
40
58
36
12
24
29
6
8
3
10
31
13
55
71
52
20
24
17
8
12
2
28
52
30
4
4
5
7
9
10
55
61
64
8
7
6
83
148
91
41
70
50
4
2
5
34
58
43
55
88
51
30
26
37
124
259
223
76
85
104
13
14
14
88
115
94
90
153
111
42
54
46
11
28
24
95
169
137
11
26
19
180
453
341
63
204
139
23
31
24
153
265
219
194
329
286
68
143
140
2
21
18
3
36
32
19
214
222
1
35
37
21
450
468
6
226
246
6
70
64
49
396
383
37
582
576
19
192
176
34.5
35.7
38.5
36.7
35.1
37.4
35.5
34.6
37.9
35.2
35.0
37.9
11
2
11
63
27
83
6
3
18
176
39
183
62
18
84
13
8
26
98
28
149
167
44
218
59
35
143
376
6
241
220
43
201
52
21
5
1
1
4
8
2
8
7
3
28
10
1
1
67
9
28
40
6
12
]
8
17
1
15
24
12
59
12
6
10
84
34
34
13
6
*
7
37
25
59
2
59
31
32
14
2
2
1
1
10
6
9
4
6
Detailed statistical tables
A ll occupation s:
M a y 1933..........................................................
A u gu st 1934......................................................
A u gu st 1935......................................................
C orner-cutter feeders:
M a y 1933............................................................
A u gu st 1934.....................................................
A u g u st 1935.....................................................
B en d ers-u p , hand:
M a y .1933-— ...................................................
A u g u st 1934— ....................................... ..
A u g u st 1935......................................................
S in gle-stayer operators:
M a y 1933...........................................................
A u gu st 1934__________ ________________
A u gu st 1935......................................................
Q u adruple-stayer feeders:
M a y 1933.....................................................—
A u gu st 1934......................................................
A u g u st 1935-*-..................................................
Strippers, m achine:
M a y 1933_____________________________ _
A u gu st 1934......................................................
A u gu st 1935—.................................................. .
T urners-in hand:
M a y 1933...................................................
A u gu st 1934.......................................................
A u gu st 1935____________ _______________
G lu in g-m ach in e operators:
M a y 1933..................... .......................................
A u gu st 1934......................................................
A u gu st 1935_____________________ _____ _
A u to m a tic w rap p in g-m ach in e operators:
M a y 1 9 3 3 -........................................................
A u gu st 1 9 3 4 -................................................
A u gu st 1935.......................................................
B ox m akers, hand:
M a y 1933.........................................................
A u gu st 1934...................................................... .
A u gu st 1935.......................................................
M iscellan eou s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed :
M a y 1933.............................................................
A u gu st 1934.......................................................
A u gu st 1935...................................................... .
T
able
to
B.— Distribution of employees according to weekly hours by region and sex— Continued
North—Females— Continued
N u m b e r of em p loy ees w h ose w eek ly hours w ere—
Lacers an d flyleafers, m achine:
M a y 1933__________________ ___________
A u gu st 1934— ................................................
A u gu st 1935___________________________
M iscellan eo u s m ach in e operators:
M a y 1933.............. ........................................
A u gu st 1934................................................. ..
A u gu st 1935___________________________
M iscellan eo u s m ach in e feeders:
M a y 1933_____________________________
A u g u st 1934___________________________
A u g u st 1935-____________________ _____
M a ch in e helpers an d doorm en:
M a y 1933............................................................
A u g u st 1934_____________________ _____
A u gu st 1935____________ _____ _________
B u n d lers an d packers:
M a y 1933. ..................................................
A u g u st 1934.....................................................
A u gu st 1935___________________________
O ffice an d p la n t su p ervisory em p loyees:
M a y 1933...........................................................
A u g u st 1934.....................................................
A u gu st 1935. __________________________
O ffice an d p la n t clerical em p loyees:
M a y 1933............................................................
A u gu st 1934......................................................
A u gu st 1935......................................................
O ther ind irect w orkers:
M a y 1 9 3 3 ..................... ...................................
A u g u st 1934—..................................................
A u g u st 1935......................................................
38
60
59
23
22
25
155
247
253
370
734
881
106
176
214
65
101
105
154
262
282
43
70
85
35.7
35.5
37.5
36.0
32.8
37.8
37.5
36.0
38.0
35.3
34.3
36.4
34.6
35.4
37.7
41.4
39.6
40.4
41.8
39.0
40.2
34.2
33.6
33.9
O ver 40 E x a ctly
an d u nder 48
hours
48 hours
U nder 16
hours
16 and
und er 24
hours
24 and
und er 32
hours
32 and
u n d er 40
hours
E x a ctly
40 hours
2
2
2
1
4
3
3
2
5
1
8
18
20
32
46
59
7
10
7
1
1
3
9
2
6
3
3
18
20
20
61
86
80
28
18
12
5
5
3
3
4
2
2
6
11
11
12
16
4
3
6
41
83
53
98
205
168
20
59
49
11
11
16
9
32
31
4
17
12
5
33
25
1
7
9
15
96
82
9
1
9
8
4
4
25
20
40
23
338
354
3
74
90
7
69
56
38
207
202
4
36
31
99
16
138
23
9
30
26
14
23
60
12
37
12
8
27
5
12
5
1
4
28
1
3
13
4
6
22
43
35
9
6
9
3
3
1
7
5
10
5
3
2
5
6
5
13
O ver 48 56 hours
and under and
over
56 hours
2
1
2
1
1
1
5
10
25
1
20
10
2
25
20
10
5
10
1
2
8
1
6
5
3
2
1
1
1
Wages and hours, set-ujp paper-box industry
O ccu p ation al class an d year
N u m b er of Awverage
eek ly
em ployees hours
South— Males
All occupations:
M a y 1933
August 1934 _ _
A u g u s t 1935
_
_
_._
__ _
,
......
Miscellaneous
machine operators:
M a y 1933
A u g u s t 1934
A u g u s t 1934
A u g u s t 1935__
Machine helpers and fioormen:
M a y 1933_______
A u g u s t 19 34 .
August 1935_____________________________
■ Other skilled indirect workers:
May 1933____________________________ ____
A u g u s t 1934
_
_
_
_
August 1935__ __________ _ ______
Other semiskilled indirect w o rk ers:
M a v 1933
A u g u s t 1934
August 1935____________________ __________
Other unskilled indirect workers:
May 1933........................ ........................................
August 1934................. ..........................................
A u g u s t 1935
47.2
36.2
39.6
44
66
71
94
131
125
28
45
42
38
49
48
27
37
41
36
43
46
48.0
36.7
39.9
43.5
34.4
37.8
48.9
33.6
35.3
49.9
38.6
43.9
52.2
41.6
43.3
48.0
36.5
40.3
10
6
25
11
14
34
27
33
79
57
10
180
130
37
31
87
7
4
14
107
4
29
48
2
8
1
1
3
4
3
1
4
2
3
12
5
10
3
10
14
4
27
81
7
1
9
12
2
8
17
2
6
14
2
3
1
22
1
2
31
6
13
3
15
1
7
13
2
7
13
4
4
1
3
11
4
1
2
16
8
17
30
27
3
16
10
4
5
1
3
2
2
4
10
9
2
34
37
7
61
45
3
4
1
6
5
7
20
12
1
3
5
4
1
3
5
12
3
1
2
4
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
18
11
1
30
18
21
9
16
10
1
3
3
1
1
3
3
4
3
10
3
8
1
1
12
1
Detailed statistical tables
August 1935________ ______ _____ _________
Miscellaneous
machine feeders:
M a v 1933
267
371
373
00
T a ble
B.— Distribution of employees according to weekly hours by region and sex— Continued
South— Females
O ccupation al class an d year
U n d er 16
hours
16 an d
u n d er 24
hours
24 an d
u n d er 32
hours
32 and
u n d er 40
hours
E x a c tly
40 hours
O ver 40
an d u nder
48 hours
E x a c tly
48 hours
473
617
594
42.4
33.4
36.4
23
33
31
12
51
27
45
102
65
85
180
93
10
231
238
76
15
107
3
15
8
193
2
17
21
1
35
47
46
98
123
121
24
43
36
61
80
83
65
67
64
42
47
47
58
80
75
42
71
72
48
59
50
47.2
33.1
35.8
45.3
32.8
35.0
43.8
33.3
35.7
44.2
32.5
38.7
37.4
32.3
35.3
42.3
34.1
36.1
38.0
34.6
34.9
44.7
31.7
37.6
40.6
37.6
39.4
2
5
1
9
11
6
1
5
2
1
1
2
1
4
3
11
4
5
2
1
1
3
3
2
4
7
2
1
2
2
10
6
2
5
3
2
8
3
2
8
5
2
3
4
1
1
1
5
6
3
1
1
5
5
5
16
11
2
7
1
3
22
7
6
16
8
3
12
6
15
10
17
14
6
10
4
2
19
5
24
40
23
3
13
6
10
19
14
18
1
45
48
8
15
16
3
25
33
1
20
17
6
12
4
13
25
17
3
20
18
18
22
2
33
34
2
20
24
10
14
4
41
26
8
14
18
1
10
13
3
14
2
2
a
u
2
20
8
17
11
1
10
9
3
3
5
4
15
12
12
O ver 48 56 hours
an d u nder an
d over
56 hours
21
2
1
1
1
45
8
5
3
15
1
29
4
19
3
14
2
14
1
25
2
11
1
2
2
1
1
4
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
2
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
A ll occupation s:
M a y 1933............................................................
A u g u st 1934.....................................................
A u g u st 1935......................................................
B ingle-stayer operators:
M a y 1933.............................................................
A u g u st 1934. ....................................................
A u gu st 1935........................................................
S trip p ers, m achine:
M a y 1933.....................................- .....................
A u g u st 1934............................... .......................
A u gu st 1935........................................................
T u rn ers-in , hand:
M a y 1933............................................................
A u gu st 1934........................................................
A u gu st 1935................................. .....................
A u to m a tic w rap p in g-m ach in e operators:
M a y 1933......................................... ...................
A u g u st 1934........................................................
A u gu st 1935........................................................
B o x m akers, hand:
M a y 1933. ..........................................................
A u gu st 1934.......................................................
A u gu st 1935...................... ................................
M iscellan eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed :
M a y 1933.............................................................
A u g u st 1934................................. .....................
A u g u st 1935............. ..........................................
M iscellan eo u s m ach in e feeders:
M a y 1933.............................................................
A u gu st 1934.......................................................
A u gu st 1935........................................................
M a ch in e h elpers and doorm en:
M a y 1933.............................................................
A u gu st 1934.................... ...................................
A u gu st 1935.......................................................
O ther in d irect workers:
M a y 1933.............................................................
A u g u st 1934........................................................
A u g u st 1935.......................................................
N u m b e r of em p lo y ees w h ose w e ek ly hours w ere—
N u m b er of Awverage
eek ly
em ployees hours
T
able
C.— Distribution of employees according to weekly earnings by region and sex
United States
N u m b er of em p loy ees w h ose w e ek ly earnings w ere—
Y ear
6,854
11,864
12, 681
$13.45
15. 87
16.66
314
204
224
$4
and
u nder
$8
$8
and
under
$12
$12
and
u nder
$16
$16
an d
u nder
$20
$20
and
u n d er
$24
$24
and
u n d er
$28
$28
an d
un d er
$32
$32
an d
u n d er
$36
$36
an d
u nder
$40
$40
an d
u nder
$44
$44
and
under
$48
1,181
771
612
1,987
1,818
1,658
1,437
4, 549
4,521
766
2,073
2, 710
490
995
1, 234
320
623
695
162
349
448
93
252
295
53
97
128
25
73
80
10
34
40
$48
and
over
10
26
36
North— Males
O ccu p ation al class and year
A ll occupations:
M a y 1933______________________________________
A u gu st 1934____________ ______________________
A u gu st 1935 ___ ___________________________
M iscellan eou s cu tter operators:
M a y 1933______________________________________
A u gu st 1934_____________________________ ______
A u gu st 1935 ______ ________ ________________
M iscellan eou s cu tter feeders:
M a y 1933
_____
____ __________
A u g u st 1934_________ __ _______ _______
A u gu st 1935_________ __________________________
N um
ber of
em p loy
ees
N u m b er of em p loy ees w h ose w e ek ly earnings w ere—
A ver
age
O ver $16
$32
$44
$20
$24
$28
$36
$40
$12
w eek ly
$8
$4
$15
and
an d
earn U nder and
an d
an d
an d
an d
and
an d
and
and E xlya ct and
u
nder
u
nder
under
under
under
under
under
under
ings
$4 under under under $15
under $20
$24
$32
$44
$36
$40
$48
$12
$28
$8
$15
$16
2,070 $19. 71
3 ,6C9 21.43
3, 821 22.58
215
379
378
71
114
112
23.03
25.68
27.09
13.96
16.43
17.81
$48
an d
over
27
25
29
106
91
50
243
198
146
235
365
290
19
255
200
93
108
139
404
725
8C3
356
577
669
264
498
546
144
311
401
89
236
275
49
90
121
22
71
78
10
34
40
9
25
34
2
1
1
4
3
3
2
1
12
8
6
4
3
4
4
5
34
48
26
23
50
54
55
65
81
5
9
20
51
83
82
1
7
7
12
37
43
6
20
25
1
15
11
2
7
5
2
6
6
2
9
19
9
11
22
10
25
64
76
3
8
8
8
17
10
4
1
Detailed statistical tables
A ll occupations:
M a y 1933_______________________________________
A u gu st 1934-----------------------------------------------------A u gu st 1935__________ _________________________
N u m b er A verage
of em w eek ly
ployees earnings U nder
$4
I
Oi
T
able
o>
C.— Distribution of employees according to weekly earnings by region and sex— Continued
North— Males— Continued
C om positors and p rin tin g pressm en:
M a y 1933________________ ___________________
A u gu st 1934.............................................. . . .............
A u gu st 1935_________________________________
C om b in a tio n pressm en an d feeders, printin g:
M a y 1933....................................................................
A u g u st 1934_______________________ _________
A u gu st 1935_________________________________
P ress feeders, printing:
M a y 1933_________ _____ ____________________
A u gu st 1934____ _____ ______________ ________
A u gu st 1935........... ................. ...............................
Scorer operators:
M a y 1933_________ _____ ____________________
A u gu st 1934_____________ _____ ______ _______
A u gu st 1935_____ ______________ ____________
Scorer feeders:
M a y 1933...............................................................
A u gu st 1934________________________________
A u gu st 1935________________________ ________
C orner-cutter operators:
M a y 1933.............. ....................................... ...............
A u gu st 1934_____________ ___________________
A u gu st 1935_____ ______ ______ _____ _______
C orner-cutter feeders:
M a y 1933___________________ _______________
A u gu st 1934_____________ ___________________
A u gu st 1935................................................................
Single-stayer operators:
M a y 1 9 3 3 ................. ................................................
A u gu st 1934___________ _______ _____________
A u gu st 1935................................................................
33 $27.53
51 31.43
54 31. 71
60 22.93
91 22. 96
83 25.47
38 14.86
62 17.06
77 19.14
192 22.92
334 25. 50
333 27.17
30 13.41
74 16. 25
76 18.34
28 17.16
85 20.31
78 21.73
80 13.28
162 15.81
188 17.13
34 14.99
70 17.19
74 18.82
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
3
#
1
1
1
5
6
2
6
2
8
14
8
1
3
8
7
4
15
9
3
4
7
10
4
7
8
9
2
7
8
24
22
21
3
1
3
4
2
1
9
5
4
19
14
9
10
4
6
2
6
10
12
7
1
3
1
11
10
3
$32
$36
$44
$40
and
an d
an d
an d
under under under under
$44
$36
$40
$48
4
3
6
4
2
5
11
12
4
5
8
2
14
13
2
1
2
1
1
9
12
4
11
14
27
33
14
27
17
2
2
10
40
74
63
5
10
21
9
5
19
20
19
4
14
15
44
76
73
3
6
12
8
24
20
4
17
25
4
9
14
1
3
3
1
5
5
2
1
1
4
1
3
24
20
6
9
16
2
3
w ere—
6
6
7
7
32
36
6
30
31
8
25
16
15
67
81
9
18
19
25
61
71
1
2
15
24
2
5
7
10
3
8
9
1
9
35
41
5
15
• 21
3
9
12
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
2
4
3
4
3
9
2
7
10
5
1
3
2
1
2
$48
and
over
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
3
2
2
4
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
i
1
3
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
O ccupation al class an d year
N u m b er of em p loy ees w h ose w e e k ly earnings
ver
N u m Aage
Over $16
ber of eek ly
$12
$8
$20
$24
$28
$4
$15
em p lo y wearn
an d
an d
U nder and
and
and
an d
and E x a ct an
d under
ees
ly
u
nder
under
under
ings
$4 under under under $15
under $20
$32
$12
$24
$8
$15
$28
$16
48
82
82
2 0 .1 0
2 3 .2 0
2 4 .9 7
1
2
44
59
64
1 2 .8 2
15. 59
1 7 .3 5
1
6
1
1
32
52
52
2 0 .4 7
2 2 .3 0
2 5 .2 2
1
1
31
44
53
14. 57
1 5 .0 2
1 6 .9 5
24
67
96
2 1 .2 6
2 0 .4 1
1 9 .9 6
23
50
47
3
3
2
2
2
2
19
11
11
14
12
15
28
29
1
12
12
7
3
3
3
8
17
19
5
7
11
3
5
2
11
1
6
8
11
15
11
6
14
13
2
2
4
7
11
23
2
6
13
1
]
1
13
11
5
7
2
5
2
5
1
7
1
8
1
1
6
1
4
1
2
6
1
1
4
1
4
4
5
4
2
4
2
2
2
11
6
7
13
18
16
6
8
7
2
7
9
4
12
9
3
6
2
6
1
5
9
14
1
3
2
4
1
2
8
3
6
1
2
2
2
16
16
16
8
15
10
13
13
20
1
15
11
11
5
4
3
9
4
7
4
20
40
21
2
27
3
8
12
12
24
55
60
17
17
33
2
9
14
1
2
9
1
3
2
3
4
4
6
15
18
7
30
52
49
3
55
50
10
16
20
21
61
92
10
20
31
3
9
3
1
1
3
6
2
2
2
3
1
2
1
19
12
17
29
45
37
20
45
40
12
28
39
4
24
24
1 4 .2 9
1 5 .5 4
1 6 .9 3
1
1
2
5
9
4
10
20
34
1
14
15
2
4
15
16
32
33
7
16
22
1
4
17
1
2
1
2 2 .9 9
23. 54
2 4 .4 8
1
6
2
9
13
9
2
15
9
2
3
1
4
21
35
42
35
57
54
34
44
48
18
33
39
16
25
38
1
1
4
1
2
9
8
1
1
1
1
12
1 2 .1 1
1 3 .9 5
1 5 .9 7
1
3
6
3
56
84
84
1 9 .9 2
22. 71
25. 21
1
1
4
96
196
185
15 37
16 .2 3
1 8 .1 4
141
256
292
1 2 .4 5
14. 69
1 6 .0 7
103
187
194
24. 20
2 6 .8 0
2 8 .0 7
57
117
154
155
244
260
2
ix
g
1
2
1
1
2
6
1
6
9
14
1
2
2
1
1
3
7
7
3
4
1
4
9
10
1
1
1
2
4
Detailed statistical tables
Q uadruple-stayer operators:
M a y 1933______________________________
A u g u st 1934......................................................
A ugust 1935_________________________
Q uadruple-stayer feeders:
M a y 1933______________________________
A u gu st 1934._______________ __________
A u gu st 19 35...................................................
E n d er operators:
M a y 1933.___________________ _____ _
A u gu st 1934___________________________
A u gu st 1 9 3 5 -.-,..............................................
E n d er feeders:
M a y 1933._........................................................
A u g u st 1934......................................................
A u gu st 1 9 3 5 -........................................ ..........
B o x m akers, hand:
M a y 1933— ......................................................
A u gu st 1934........................... .......................... .
A u gu st 1935___________________________
M iscellan eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed :
M a y 1933___________ _______________
A u gu st 1934.................. ................................... .
A u g u st 1935___________________ _______ _
M iscellan eo u s m ach in e operators:
M a y 1933______________________ ______ _
A u gu st 1934.________ __________________
A u gu st 1935____________________________
M iscellan eo u s'm ach in e feeders:
M a y 1933....................................— ............... .
A u gu st 1934___________________________
A u gu st 1935______________________ _____
M a ch in e h elpers and doorm en:
M a y 1933_______________ _______________
A u gu st 1 9 3 4 -....................... ............................
A u gu st 1935____ _______________________
M a ch in e adjusters an d repairm en:
M a y 1933........................ .................................
A u gu st 1934— ________________________
A u gu st 1935__________ _____ ____________
B u n d lers and packers:
M a y 1933_________ ________ ____________
A u gu st 1934.......................................................
A u gu st 1935................................—...............
T ru ck drivers:
M a y 1933.....................................................
A u gu st 1934____________________________
A u gu st 1935.......................................................
T able C. — Distribution of employees according to weekly earnings
by region and sex— Continued
00
North— Males— Continued
W atchm en:
M ay 1933...........................................................
A ugust 1934— ..............................................
A ugust 1935„_--------------- -------------------Office and plant supervisory em ployees:
M ay 1933.— _________________________
A ugust 1934.....................................................
A ugust 1935----- ------------------------ ---------Office and plant clerical em ployees:
M ay 1933— .................................................
A ugust 1934--------------------------------------A ugust 1935.....................................................
Laborers:
M ay 1933...........................................................
A ugust 1934.....................................................
A ugust 1935......................................................
Other unskilled service workers:
M ay 1 9 3 3 .......................................................
A ugust 1934......................................................
A ugust 1935........................ ............................
Other skilled indirect workers:
M ay 1933...........................................................
A ugust 1934—..................................................
A ugust 1935___________________________
Other sem iskilled indirect workers:
M ay 1933...........................................................
A ugust 1934.................................................—
A ugust 1935---------------------------------------Other unskilled indirect workers:
M ay 1933____________________ _________
A ugust 1934— ................................................
A ugust 1935.....................................................
23 $18.88
53 19.74
51 18.16
125 29.26
195 32. 21
194 33. 21
85 22.64
133 22.66
149 23.06
59 15.05
87 16.85
91 17.44
36 15.68
53 15.96
60 16.63
75 25. 47
105 28. 52
114 30.60
30 18.43
52 18.08
55 19.82
46 12.45
71 14.95
91 15.30
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
2
]
4
1
2
4
2
3
1
2
2
2
1
4
2
2
3
1
3
2
2
J1
4
6
4
2
9
5
3
1
7
8
5
7
9
12
9
18
8
7
3
1
3
5
2
8
8
9
7
2
6
8
9
14
1
1
1
2
13
4
8
1
7
4
1
2
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
13
10
19
12
7
6
i
1
2
4
3
1
14
13
7
1
1
5
2
3
3
1
3
3
1
1
3
1
7
9
5
11
11
10
11
9
19
29
35
21
35
32
11
16
23
6
7
6
6
22
15
10
17
19
6
24
21
16
17
18
13
22
38
7
13
15
5
7
8
7
14
10
2
9
10
4
9
12
3
4
3
2
1
29
35
26
16
27
26
2
3
6
19
26
34
6
9
7
]
3
8
18
22
3
3
10
1
6
w ere—
$32
$36
$40
$44
and
an d
and
and
under u n d er u nder under
$36
$40
$44
$48
$48
and
over
1
2
18
37
35
4
ll
16
9
16
20
2
3
3
8
21
20
1
1
1
4
12
16
2
2
1
6
14
13
2
2
2
13
16
15
2
1
1
8
6
5
1
6
12
2
5
2
4
3
1
15
27
31
3
3
4
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
O ccupation al class an d year
N u m b er of em p lo y ees w h o se w e ek ly earnings
A
ver
N u m age
O ver $16
ber of w eek ly
$20
$24
$28
$8
$12
$4
$15
em
and
and
and
d
U nder and
and
and E xlya ct an
d uan
p lo yees earn
n d er u n d er u nder u nder
ings
$4 under under u nder $15 u nder
$24
$32
$20
$28
$12
$8
$15
$16
North— Females
O ccupation al class an d year
4,044
7, 267
7,893
$10.68
24
41
41
10.28
12.86
13.90
8.36
11.82
12.51
10.73
13.60
14.45
8.64
13.20
13.59
11.17
13. 67
14.44
8.42
12.08
12.27
8.97
12.87
13.80
53
91
89
315
549
566
34
76
88
789
1,416
1,406
336
633
678
71
134
152
13. 52
14.15
244
155
155
554
496
5
1
15
16
6
4
6
1
3
16
10
8
3
9
1 _______
2
4
40
137
28
100
19
78
136
70
71
3
25
5
7
2
12
1,498
1,391
1,325
13
5
7
25
17
22
123
111
326
614
547
28
832
642
1 ____
10
6
22
586
1,958
2, 279
307
1,250
1,773
2
3
3
16
14
4
17
7
21
6
26 _______
36
31
34
19
59
187
191
107
154
22
7
12
78
132
101
23
72
61
3
10
13
5
88
108
1
35
20
160
337
380
19
149
185
5
38
52
36
96
113
76
289
348
1
72
83
16
34
14
29
37
$44
$32
$40
$36
an d
and
an d
and
u n d er u n d er under u nder
$40
$44
$48
$36
3
8
12
3
6
4
1
2
22
17
15
13
271
331
278
127
164
145
34
20
16
8
108
373
509
w ere—
1
1
2
6
24
39
1
4
3
3
14
107
129
3
13
19
4
6
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
3
2
1
$48
and
over
1
1
1
Detailed statistical tables
A ll occupations:
M ay 1933............................
A ugust 1934*................
A ugust 1935.......................
Corner-cutter feeders:
M ay 1933....................... ..
A ugust 1934.......................
A ugust 1935.............. ..
Benders-up, hand:
M ay 1933______________
A ugust 1934.......................
A ugust 1935____________
Single-stayer operators:
M ay 1933______________
A ugust 1934____ ______
A ugust 1935___________
Q uadruple-stayer feeders:
M ay 1933______________
A ugust 1934____ _______
A ugust 1935.......................
Strippers, machine:
M ay 1 9 3 3 .......................
A ugust 1934_.....................
A ugust 1935........................
T um ers-in, hand:
M ay 1 9 3 3 ...........................
A ugust 1934.__‘..............
A ugust 1935____________
G luing-m achine operators:
M ay 1 9 3 3 ..____________
A ugust 1934____ _______
A ugust 1935........................
N u m b e r of em p lo y ees w h ose w e ek ly earnings
verN u m - Aage
ber of w eek ly
O ver $16
$20
$12
$24
$8
$28
$4
em
$13
d
and
U nder an d
an d
an d E xlya ct an
an d
and
d uan
p loyees earn
n d er u nder u n d er u n d er
ings
$4 u n d er under u n d er $13 u nder
$24
$12
$32
$20
$13
$8
$28
$16
1
1
CD
T
able
to
o
C.— Distribution of employees according to weekly earnings by region and sex— Continued
North— Females— Continued
A utom atic wrapping-m achine operators:
M ay 1933____ _______________________
A ugust 1934....................................................
A ugust 1935...................................................
Box makers, hand:
M ay 1933..................................................... ..
A ugust 1934....................................................
A ugust 1935--------------------------------------M iscellaneous bench workers, unksilled:
M ay 1933....................................................... .
A ugust 1934.................................................. .
A ugust 1935...................................................
Lacers and flyleafers, machine:
M ay 1 9 3 3 ...................................... .............
A ugust 1934_________ _________ ______
A ugust 1935__________________________
M iscellaneous m achine operators:
M ay 1933— ..................................................
A ugust 1934.................................... .............
A ugust 1935_________________________ _
M iscellaneous m achine feeders:
M a y 1 9 3 3 ..................................
A u gu st 1934.................................
A u gu st 1935..................................
M a ch in e helpers an d floorm en:
M a y 1 9 3 3 ...................................
A u gu st 1934_________________
A u gu st 1935.............................
B u n d lers and packers:
M a y 1 9 3 3 ..................................
A u gu st 1934..................................
A u gu st 1935..................................
496
894
941
687
1,281
1,421
285
480
607
38
60
59
23
22
25
155
247
253
370
734
881
106
176
214
$11.65
14.39
15.29
10.63
13.37
14.35
8.90
12.83
13.19
10.01
13. 58
13.91
14.23
14. 57
16.54
11.35
13.95
13.84
8.40
11.89
12.35
9.80
12.73
13.02
127
105
75
29
14
12
2
1
1
2
.
.
8
4
4
............
.
10
3
4
35
27
30
5
2
7
122
68
187
126
118
267
223
227
118
95
117
16
11
8
5
1
8
64
32
31
154
146
171
44
42
41
56 _______
60
76
40
60
63
5
114
129
105
77
17
2
46
70
58
66
5 _______
6
6
6
5
1 _______
__ _____
1
4
1
9 .............
22
31
16
13
18
3
75
197
56
151
8
15
18
31
24
98
267
264
95
347
404
24
152
181
6
17
17
6
4
6
18
78
69
33
190
298
12
48
73
50
226
294
50
251
404
12
57
111
1
14
16
5
3
5
12
47
79
5
26
78
5
19
34
10
63
105
23
57
82
2
7
10
5
7
13
3
14
15
1
2
5
2
2
2
6
6
7
11
19
1
5
6
3
5
2
2
3
3
w ere—
$32
$36
$40
$44
an d
an d
an d
and
u nder u nder u nder under
$44
$36
$40
$48
$48
an d
over
1
2
1
1
2
5
1
2
1
1
1
1
3
2
1
1
2
3
2
__
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
O ccupation al class an d year
N u m b e r of em p lo y ees w h ose w e ek ly earnings
ver
N u m Aage
O ver $16
ber of w eek ly
$12
$8
$20
$24
$28
$4
em
a ct $13
an d E xly
U n d er and
and
an d
an d
and
and
an d under
p lo yees earn
u n d er u nder under
ings
$4 under under u nder $13 under
$12
$13
$24
$8
$20
$28
$32
$16
144435
Office and plant supervisory employees:
May 1933................................... ..........
August 1934------ -------- --------------August 1935____________________
Office and plant clerical employees:
May 1933______________________
# August 1934____________________
I
August 1935____ _______ ________
L Other indirect workers:
May 1933_____________ ________ _
August 1934.........................................
August 1935........................................
65
101
105
154
262
282
43
70
85
19.25
20.80
21.49
17.44
18.56
18.93
9.19
10.39
10.16
1
—
2
2
......... -
8
4
11
6
2
2
12
13
12
7
2
1
19
11
8
7
32
32
2
3
9
3
1
4
3
12
1
2
6
7
1 ___1 ___
2
2
1
1
2
5
3
5
18
34
34
41
67
67
4
5
2
36
19
43
80
86
38
51
77
30
40
44
18
28
35
4
9
10
1
8
8
1
1
3
2
2
2
7
7
2
16
39
50
2
8
11
3
5
1
7
10
9
8
11
13
10
13
15
10
13
26
1
4
7
9
5
7
6
10
13
2
6
9
14
17
24
2
4
5
6
12
15
1
1
1
2
4
5
-1
-2
1
9
11
8
5
7
6
11
14
14
2
4
5
1
4
7
1
1
1
2
2
1
5
1
2
11
12
13
8
5
23
68
77
6
7
18
14
14
33
34
3
94
7
11
10
1
1
1
1
6
South— Males
A n g n s t 1934
A n g n s t 1035
267 $14.32
371 15.81
373 16.98
44
66
71
94
131
125
28
45
42
38
49
48
27
37
41
36
43
46
2ft 03
20.78
21.24
11.13
12. 74
13.92
8.98
1L30
12.19
23.19
23.22
26.16
15.19
17.05
17.16
9.77
12.72
13.34
7
1
9
35
27
15
--
1
18
16
8
10
4
2
3
3
--
3
72
59
35
14
29
29
4
6 ........2~
4
7
37
15
25
14
10
2
13
5
19
6
11
1
2
1
5
3
1
2
2
3
12
2
6
4
5
8
--
--
4
2
7
7
3
-18
8
4
2
1
1
1
5
2
1
8
5
1
1
1
-
Detailed statistical tables
All occupations:
May
Angnst1933_____________________________
1934 _
August 1935 .
Miscellaneous
May 1933 machine operators:
Angnst 1934
August 1935_____________ ___________ —
Miscellaneous
May 1933 machine feeders:
August 1934
Angngt 1935
Machine helpers and floormen:
May 1933
Angnst 1934
......
August 1935 ........................
Other skilled indirect workers:
May 1933
Angnst 1934
__ _ _
Angnst 1935
Other
semiskilled
May
1933 indirect workers:
August 1934___ _______________________
August 1935___________________________
Other
unskilled
May
1933 indirect workers:
T
able
to
to
C.— Distribution of employees according to weekly earnings by region and sex— Continued
South— Females
A ll occupation s:
M a y lo ss
A n gn st 1934
A u r a st 1935
Sin g le-stay er operators:
M a v 1933___
A u gu st 1934
A u g u st 1935______________________________________ _____
Stripp ers, m achine:
M a y 1933...................................................................... ........................
________________ ________ _______
A u g u st 1934___
A u g u st 1935___
___________________ ______ __________
T u rn ers-in , hand:
M a y 1933. _
.............................................. . . . . .
A ngnst 1934
Anerust 1935
A u to m atic w rap p in g-m ach in e operators:
M a y 1033
Anenist 1934
A u gu st 1935 __
B ox m akers, band:
M a y 1933
Angnst 1934
A u g u st 1935___
________________________
M iscellan eo u s b en ch w orkers, u n sk illed :
M a y 1933
A ngnst 1934
........
A u g u st 1935
............................................................
473
617
594
$9.25
11.21
11.85
36
23
31
151
99
51
174
170
152
1
74
95
90
198
195
17
47
57
2
5
12
35
47
46
98
123
121
24
43
36
61
80
83
65
67
64
42
47
47
10.38
11.67
12.19
9.91
11.07
11.52
7.79
10.50
10.85
10.52
11.70
13.33
7.72
11.07
10.87
9.19
11.23
12.33
1
1
4
2
6
9
4
1
3
2
1
3
12
3
7
6
1
10
9
2
25
22
7
4
8
3
11
15
6
27
15
6
10
8
a
13
9
7
42
31
37
16
11
9
30
19
17
15
14
17
14
14
4
1
2
8
13
10
8
22
20
25
41
42
2
4
5
4
9
15
1
1
15
10
8
11
5
7
--
9
6
11
16
33
31
9
22
21
10
18
20
2
7
14
1
8
3
2
1
5
2
1
1
5
1
1
1
$48
an d
over
Wages and hours, set-up paper-box industry
O ccu p ation al class and year
N u m b e r of em p lo y ees w h ose w e ek ly earnings w e re —
ver
N u m Aage
O ver $16
ber of w eek ly
$32
$44
$8
$20
$24
$28
$36
$40
$4
$12
em
an d
an d E xlya ct an
and
and
U nder and
and
and
and
an d
and
ployees earn
d
u
nder
under
u
nder
u
nder
under
un d er u n d er
un d er under
ings
u nder $12 u nder
$4
$48
$12
$20
$24
$32
$36
$40
$44
$28
$8
$16
M iscellaneous m achine feeders:
M ay 1933.......................................
A ugust 1934.................................
A ugust 1935.................................
M achine helpers and doormen:
M ay 1933._.w..............................
A ugust 1934.................................
A ugust 1935.................................
Other indirect workers:
M ay 1933.......................................
A ugust 1934.................................
A ugust 1935.......................... ..
58
80
75
42
71
72
48
59
50
8.50
11.37
11.19
8.84
10.34
11.45
9.55
11.90
13.03
3
2
1
4
7
2
2
2
1
25
7
22
11
14
7
4
25
8
6
28
24
15
24
28
7
ir
9
8
20
O
20
12
12
6
7
26
14
5
19
23
10
9
13
1
4
2
6
4
2
3
1
12
7
2
2
6
1
@FedFRASER