Hi, Hans - I'd guess that "Kay" has never been inside a factory. I've never seen a factory in which workers sit back, peel grapes and eat bonbons. Even in a mechanized plant in which the physical work has been reduced, there's still a need to be alert every moment - and that's tough when the work is mind-numbing.
I do think that you're right in suggesting that underpaid workers are disinclined to put in a lot of effort. When I was with UE in Chicago, we had an electronics shop in which the employer moved more and more of the work to Mexico. When there were almost no jobs left - about 12 people still there, as I recall - the employer browbeat them into accepting a contract with a two-tier wage, fearing that the last few jobs would leave the country. Of course, the only reason that the employer wanted a two-tier wage system was to bring the work back from Mexico. So when I became their organizer, we had a workforce of about 110 - about 10 old-timers getting reasonable wages, and the other 100 getting close to minimum wage for work like microscopic welding. The workforce was heavily Gujarati. It was almost comical to walk throught the shop. I've never seen factory workers do less. By unspoken agreement, they kept production so low that everyone got overtime every Saturday, which was the only way that anyone could make a living. In solidarity, Paul ________________________________________________ YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. Send list submissions to: [email protected] Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
