TABLE 7.-Wage Differentials for Night Work Under Union Agreements in ElectricalMachinery Industry Almost all agreements in the machine-tool industry mention shift work and all of the agreements in the Bureau's files referring to shifts provide differentials for night work (table 1). Agreements covering almost 85 percent of the workers in the machine-tool industry specifically provide the same premium for both second and third shifts or allow one general night differential with no reference to whether or not both second and third shifts are involved. About one-sixth of the workers receive a higher differential for the third shift than for the second (table 2). The amounts of the differentials over the day rates for night shifts are given in table 8. TABLE 8.-Wage Differentials for Night Work Under Union Agreements in MachineTool Industry RUBBER INDUSTRY About three-quarters of the rubber workers under agreement are covered by clauses which mention shift work, but only about 18 percent of the workers under shift provisions are entitled to differentials for night work by the terms of their agreements (table 1). As in the basic-steel and chemical industries, some operations in rubber manufacturing involve continuous processes and such operations have customarily been on a multiple-shift basis (see page 133). About 95 percent of the small number of workers under agreements providing extra rates for night work are covered by clauses specifically providing the same differentials for both second and third shifts or allowing a general night differential, or a differential for the second shift only with no mention of a third shift (table 2). The amounts of the differentials provided for night workers in the rubber industry are given in table 9. TABLE 9.-Wage Differentials for Night Work Under Union Agreements in Rubber Industry Over 90 percent of the shipbuilding workers in the United States are covered by shipbuilding stabilization agreements. Additional shipbuilding workers are covered by agreements negotiated directly between employers and unions. Each of the four zone stabilization agreements contains a provision for night differentials and most of the union agreements covering companies not under stabilization agreements also do so. In the Pacific Coast and the Gulf Coast stabilization zones, the stabilization agreements specify the hours to be worked on each shift and the differential to be paid for second- and third-shift work. The stabilization agreements for the Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes zones provide money differentials but leave the question of hours and mealtime for local agreement. Union agreements with companies not under stabilization procedure usually provide about the same night premiums as the stabilization agreements of the respective areas. The Pacific Coast agreement establishes a 10-percent differential and allows 8 hours' pay for 7%1⁄2 hours' work for the second shift, and establishes a 15-percent differential and 8 hours' pay for 7 hours' work on the third shift. The Gulf Coast agreement provides slightly varying differentials for the second shift under two-shift operation and under three-shift operation. If two shifts are worked the second shift receives a premium of only 40 cents for the shift; if three shifts are worked, the workers on the second shift receive a 40-cent premium for the shift and 8 hours' pay for 7%1⁄2 hours' work. The third-shift workers receive a 40-cent premium for the shift and 8 hours' pay for 7 hours' work.' The stabilization agreement on the Atlantic Coast allows 7 percent extra for both the second and third shifts and makes no mention of the hours to be worked. The Great Lakes stabilization agreement states that both second- and third-shift workers shall receive eight times the regular hourly rate, plus 40 cents. In both these zones, local union agreements include a variety of clauses in regard to the number of hours of work required on the second and third shift. Under some local agreements the second shift works 71⁄2 hours and the third shift 7 hours. A few agreements provide for a paid lunch period of 15 or 20 minutes, or merely state that adequate time shall be allowed for meals. Some agreements, including one covering several large yards, stipulate that the length and time of shifts shall be determined by the company and union, in some instances subject to the approval of the War Production Board, Navy, or Maritime Commission. Other agreements do not specify the hours to be worked and presumably require 8 hours' work on both second and third shift. Between 55 and 60 percent of the workers under agreement in iron and steel fabricating plants are covered by agreements which refer to shift work. Over 90 percent of the workers covered by shift provisions are allowed differentials for night work (table 1). Almost 45 percent of the steel-products workers entitled to extra pay for night work receive a greater premium for the third shift than for the second shift. About 22 percent receive the same differential for both second and third shifts and 32 percent are covered by agreements which provide a general night premium. About 2 percent of the workers in this industry are included under provisions for differentials on the third shift only or which specify that differentials will be negotiated when night work is undertaken (table 2). Three agreements, covering less than 3 percent of the steel-products workers who are allowed night differentials, state that extra rates will be paid only if it is not found practical to rotate the shifts. In only one of the other agreements containing night differentials is shift arrangement mentioned and in this case the agreement merely states that shifts are to be rotated. 7 Shipbuilding workers under the Gulf Coast stabilization agreement have been counted in table 2 as covered by provisions which allow differentials for both second and third shifts. Does not include blast furnaces, steel works and rolling mills. Agreements in basic steel do not generally mention shifts, although it is known that round-the-clock production with rotation of shifts is customary, and the payment of night differentials is rare. The approximate proportions of workers covered by night-work differentials most commonly established by agreement in the manufacture of fabricated iron and steel products are indicated in table 10. TABLE 10.-Wage Differentials for Night Work Under Union Agreements in Manufac. ture of Fabricated-Steel Products Increase of Women's Earnings in New York THE annual survey of pay rolls in the confectionery industry, made in November 1942 under the State minimum-wage law, showed an increase of $2.99 in median week's earnings of women and minors covered by the minimum-wage order in that industry. This is an increase of 16.8 percent over 1941. The minimum-wage order in the confectionery industry was established in November 1938. In December 1937, the median week's earning was $15.77. In November 1942, it was $20.84, showing an increase of $5.07 after the order became effective; most of the increase occurred in 1941 and 1942. In 1937, 43 percent of the women and minors employed in the confectionery industry were earning less than $15 a week. Even in 1941 there were still 25 percent at that level. By 1942, however, only 16 percent earned less than $15 a week, 25.7 percent earned between $15 and $20, and 58.3 percent earned more than $20. The 1942 analysis of sworn pay rolls shows that 94 percent of those covered by the minimum-wage order were paid wages higher than those established by the order. 1 Data are from press release of New York State Department of Labor, May 21, 1943. Hourly earnings have likewise shown an upward trend, with an increase from 38.2 cents in 1937 to 49.3 cents in 1942. Only one-half of 1 percent of the women and minors in the confectionery industry earned less than 35 cents an hour in 1942 and the number of workers earning 50 cents or more an hour had more than tripled during the 4year period. Increased working hours as well as increased pay rates contributed to the higher earnings of the workers, the median week having risen from 40 hours in 1937 to 43.4 in November 1942. In November 1942 nearly 30 percent of the workers covered by the minimum-wage order worked 48 hours or more per week. Compliance with the wage provisions of the order was better in 1942 than in previous years. More than 99 percent of the workers covered received the minimum rates or more. However, 7 percent of the confectionery establishments in the State were guilty of paying one or more employees less than the prescribed minimum rates. Operating Methods and Earnings of THE Puerto Rican fishing industry is suffering from temporary problems created by the war as well as permanent problems resulting from poor marketing and distributing practices and insufficient earnings. A study was recently made of practices and operating cost of fishermen in the Island, as a part of the program of stimulating and improving the output of the industry, from which the data in this article were taken. Altogether, 281 fishermen who owned boats and fishing gear and devoted practically all their time to fishing activities were interviewed on the four coasts of the Island during the period from August to October 1942. The study showed that the industry at present docs not appeal greatly to young,persons, 'as nearly half of those interviewed were over 40 years of age and only 11 percent were 24 years of age or under. One-third of the men had been fishing for more than 25 years, and only 16 percent for 5 years or less, indicating that the incentive for undertaking fishing as a trade has been decreasing in recent years. The rate of illiteracy among fishermen was high, as over one-fifth had never attended school, and almost one-half had attended only between the first and fourth grades. The highest rate of illiteracy was found on the eastern coast, where 55 percent had never been in school. Most of the fishermen devoted their entire working time to fishing, only a few reporting small incomes from other activities. On the average, 19 fishing trips were made per month, and the average trip lasted 9 hours, from one-third to over half of this time being spent in going to and returning from the fishing area. The average monthly catch was 571 pounds, bringing an average price of $60, but the size of the catch ranged from an average of 145 pounds valued at $18 to 1,446 pounds valued at $150. The fishermen's monthly expenses, covering food, repair of boats and dories, repair of gear and other equipment, and marketing expenses, averaged $15, but ranged from an average of $10 on the north coast to $25 on the east coast. The net monthly income, after the 1 Practices and Operating Costs of Puerto Rican Fishermen, by S. Diaz Pacheco and others. San Juan [?], University of Puerto Rico, Agricultural Experiment Station, 1943. |