1 :'■ ■ m W 1 331.76981097 R875s 331.76981097 R875s John A. Runnberg. Survey of the Working Conditions in the Painting Trade in Chicago 1939-40 as they affect . . the different local unions . . LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN Gift of Library Friends SURVEY of WORKING CONDITIONS in the Painting Trade in Chicago 1939—40 as they affect the membership of the different LOCAL UNIONS under the jurisdiction of Painters' District Council No, 14 1446 West Adams Street Chicago, Illinois Compiled and issued upon order of THE PAINTERS' DISTRICT COUNCIL NO. 14 by J. A. RUNNBERG, Statistician WM. DANIELS A. W. WALLACE President 1941 Secretary-Treasurer ; . 33A7 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL A. W. WALLACE, Secretary, Painters District Council No. 1 4, Chicago, Illinois Dear Sir and Brother: Your Committee on Statistical Survey of working conditions 1939 and January 1940 in the Chicago District has completed its labor, and hereby submits its report. The scope of the sur- vey is quite extensive, and the information secured will be of the greatest benefit, in our fight for improved conditions and a shorter workday. Great changes in the technic of our trade has taken place; diseases that were quite common some 30 or 40 years ago, have given way to a large extent for "new" ailments, due to the use of modern and more harmful materials. In presenting You with this report for transmittal to the Painters District Council No. 1 4, may we use this opportunity to compliment You for Your long and able fight on behalf of the organized painters, not only in Chicago but in the entire State of Illinois. In the fight we are waging for better conditions and the shorter work-day, there can be no stop and no retreat; the fight must go on, and the facts brought out in this report will be an added weapon in Your hand for the preservation of health and life of the painters. Fraternally Yours, J. A. Runnberg J. VanDyke Harold Hoglund Committee on Statistical Survey Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/surveyofworkingcOOrunn FOREWORD In presenting a resume of the Statistical Survey conducted by the Painters District Council No. 1 4, covering Health and Work- ing Conditions among the painters in Chicago and Cook County, during the year 1939, we feel that in so doing, many facts will be brought to light that will serve as a basis for future improve- ments. The information contained in this report is based on the per- sonal information given by nearly 4000 members of the different local unions under the jurisdiction of Painters District Council No. 14. A questionnaire was mailed to each member of the organi- zation asking information as to the members age, years at the trade, time worked during 1939; and in addition, conditions of work during January, 1940. To what extent our membership is benefited by the new Federal-State Unemployment Compensation Law, is the purpose of another question. If we know the prevalence of accidents, time of occurance, and causes of same, we may have some idea as to their prevention. The questionnaire also asked for information relating to cer- tain physical ailments quite common among the painters and generally charged to conditions at work. If we are able to establish a direct connection between these ailments and our trade, it is the aim of the Painters District Council No. 1 4 to have these ailments classified as occupational diseases, and compen- sable under the Workmen's Compensation Law of Illinois. These are a few of the reasons that have prompted the Painters District Council to make this inquiry as to conditions existing among the painters in the Chicago district; reasons that may be considered, by anyone interested in the subject, as suffi- cient to justify the labor and expense involved in this survey. Still it is well known that there are those, both inside and outside our organization, who still ask the question, "What are labor statistics for anyhow?" For their information I will cite some statements from the U. S. Department of Labor, Bulletin 599 of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which give the cause for and the historical origin of labor statistics. To quote: WORKING CONDITIONS "When the workers of Massachusetts attempted just after the Civil War to secure an eight-hour day by law, they bolstered up their arguments with a presentation of data about hours and working con- ditions, based upon study, observation, and their own daily experi- ences in the industries of that State. The employers countered with facts about conditions in the same industries based upon their re- cords; the result was two very contradictory sets of facts, and a bewildered legislature. "In an earnest effort to learn the truth about industrial conditions, the Massachusetts Legislature adopted a resolution in 1866 calling for the appointment by the Governor of a commission, to investigate the subject of hours of labor, especially in its relation to the social, educational, and sanitary conditions of the industrial classes." The pioneer "standing committee of investigation" as its second chief, Carroll D. Wright, called it, had a stormy life dur- ing the first few years, and resolutions calling for its abolishment were introduced into legislature regularly. Discussing the service it had rendered, and might render, the Governor, in his annual address to the legislature in 1873, said: "We ought to know approximately, for instance, how many grown persons there are in the State, not prevented from labor by vice, indolence, or physical infirmity, who can not procure comfortable homes for themselves and their dependents; fair education for their children, adequate provision for sickness and old age, and sufficient leisure for the comprehension and discharge of the duties of citizen- ship. The incapacity to procure this is poverty. We ought to know whether the proportion of such persons is increasing or diminishing; whether our legislation hastens, or can be made to hasten the de- crease or counteract the increase. If there is carried on in this State any business so unremunerative that it will not permit the employers to pay those employed such wages as are necessary to keep them from poverty, however desirable that business is, it ought to cease. And surely we ought to know, if it is possible to ascertain, whether there are really among us employers who are laying up great riches for themselves, by keeping their employees in a condition of impo- verished dependence." This was written in 1873, and oh, how applicable it is in 1940. If these questions regarding poverty were justifiable 67 years ago, how much more so in 1940, when the productive capabili- ties of the individual worker have increased multifold. Why, OF CHICAGO PAINTERS we ask, should millions of men, women, and children be starving for lack of the bare necessities of life, when our warehouses are overfilled with everything that goes to make life worth living? The work of this committee on Statistical Survey is chiefly a fact finding proposition. It is the desire of the Painters District Council No. 1 4, to know all the facts relating to employment, accidents and diseases, and other subjects of interest to the painters. As the physician submits his patient to a thorough physical examination in order to establish a correct diagnosis, so this com- mittee, by bringing out the facts regarding conditions under which the painters work, will be able to submit to the Painters District Council information whereby the Council may take pro- per steps to eliminate the unjust conditions. EMPLOYMENT In common with the building trades in general, the painting trade has its share of seasonal unemployment, but even in the height of the season, hundreds of painters are out of work. According to the personal reports of 378 7 members, received in the present statistical survey, the average time worked during 1939 was six and one half months. The reports from the different local unions differ very little from the general average. Taking the following ten local unions sending in one hundred or more reports each, the average time worked is as follows: WORKING CONDITIONS Average Time Worked by Members of the Respective Local Unions 1939 TABLE I. Local Union Average Age Average Month Worked 101 42 7 147 47 7 180 49 7 265 47 7 637 45 7 184 49 6.5 194 52 6 275 49 6 455 45 6 521 45 6 1 Locals 47 Y< 6.5 Months While the general average age of the membership in the res- pective local unions is 47 years, and the time worked 6.5 months, those local unions working more than the general average of six and one-half months show an average age of 46 years, and those working less than the average have an average age of 48 years. This difference of one year from the average of 47 years has evidently no influence on employment, nor does the nationality of the members have any effect on the opportunity to work. Local Union 637, whose majority of members are Swedish; 2 75, whose majority are of German extraction; 194, with a majority of Scandinavians; 455, which is mainly Polish; and 521, being to the greater part of Jewish extraction; all form one harmonious whole with Americans, English, Finnish, Negroes, Italians, Russians, French, Hollanders, Irish, Bohemians, Per- sians, etc. OF CHICAGO PAINTERS The American "melting pot" has done a perfect job in weld- ing these workers from every part of the world into one solid army fighting under the banner of organized labor for shorter hours, higher wages, and a better living for every man, woman, and child in America. But let us return to our subject: When we speak of Six and One-half months during 1939, we must not overlook the fact that less than five percent of our members worked full time of twelve months, 39 percent worked less than 6.5 months. Of this 39 percent, 29 percent worked three months or less, and the remaining 7 1 percent were employed respectively four, five and six months. It is from these workers with less than four months work that the W.P.A. recruits its forces. The average of six and one-half months appears to have be- come the standard yearly working time; the "prosperous" year 1929 shows a working time of seven months. Going back to the years 1908 — 1910, when the first report of conditions in the painting trade in America was issued by Local Union 194, the average time of unemployment was four months; indicating that the average working time was eight months per year. This grandual decline in employment in spite of the constant increase in population must have its cause beyond the control of the individual. Most of the "old timers" will recall the large amount of out- side work that was done because of the many frame buildings in existence thirty and forty years ago. Today the main outside work is the window frames and a few doors. Inside the buildings we had months of work painting and decorating an apartment; today the work is completed in a few days, or at most a couple of weeks. While formerly the wood- work in an apartment was given four, five, and sometimes six coats and then rubbed, today the work is generally done with two coats and a coat of semi-gloss enamel. We may find an exception here and there, but as a general rule we may say that one-third the time, and one-third the number of men is all that is required today, compared with conditions forty or fifty years ago. WORKING CONDITIONS Rushing was practically unknown, as it was quality, not quan- tity, that was called for. Considerable work was done on the so called "day-work" plan, until the custom of some of the con- tractors to "pack the payroll" became too frequent. The same inroad of technological advancements that has dis- placed millions of workers in fields and factories by the use of constantly improved machinery, has done the same work among the painters by the use of technically improved materials. While formerly three or four coats was considered necessary for a well- covered job, today white will cover black with one application. Instead of one day passing between coats, two applications may now be done in one day. THE SPEED-UP MANIA Until some twenty or thirty years ago, we had in this district approximately fifty painting contractors who were well known among the tradesmen and considered fair in their dealings with employees as well as with their customers. In estimating work they often had to meet competition with men whose bids were too low to comply with the rules and regulations of the Painters District Council, with the result that the fair contractor had to find some new means of meeting this unfair competition in order to pay the regular scale of wages. The fair contractor was then forced to insist upon more work for a day's pay. And so the "speed-up system" got its start. This speeding up went merrily on, and the effect on the men commenced to tell. Sickness and accidents were on the increase. For self-protection the member- ship requested a shortening of the working hours from 48 to 44, then to 40, and finally to six hours a day, 30 hours per week, which went into effect in the spring of 1934. In each of these instances the subject matter was referred to a referendum vote, and each new shortening of the work day was carried by in- creased majorities until finally the Six Hour Day was adopted by a practically unanimous vote. The general result of these two factors, competition between the contractors for jobs on the one hand, and between the 8 OF CHICAGO PAINTERS journeymen for work on the other, has been to bring about con- ditions highly detrimental, not only to the trade, but also to the general public. The large army of unemployed painters, which, but for the inauguration of the Six-Hour Workday and the Thirty Hour Week, would have been still larger, has been compelled by these circumstances to throw the burden of its support upon the general public in the form of increased taxation. Looking at this subject from another angle, we can see the effect of economic and technological developments, and their influence on employment. The average membership of our trade organization has varied only slightly during the last thirty or forty years, new members filling the gap left by the elders; but the population of the City of Chicago, which in 1 9 1 was 2, 1 85,283, increased in 1920 to 2,701,705, and in 1930 to 3,376,438, and will show a further increase in 1940 to 3,384,556 people. If the same conditions which in 1910 gave work to 15,000 painters were in effect in 1940, it would require 23,231 men to do the work required in 1940. In other words, increased speed and improved materials have made about 8,231 painters super- flous during the last thirty years. From the aforesaid it is evident that the painting trade is no exception as far as the general effect of "labor saving devices" is concerned. While the general time of employment is six and one-half months, it should be noted that 39 percent of the mem- bers reporting worked less than the average. The following table shows the time distribution of the above 39 percent: WORKING CONDITIONS Average Time Worked by the 39 Percent of Members Working Less Than the Average 6.5 Months TABLE II. L. IT. Number Total and % of Working- less Reports than 6.5 mos. Number of Members Working- No 1 2 3 4 5 6 Work Mon. Mos. Mos. Mos. Mos. Mos. 147 180 194 265 275 521 637 400 300 600 150 500 150 700 184 123 225 56 216 66 230 46% 41 37 37 43 44 32 24 9 25 3 26 2 17 8 15 19 33 33 52 5 16 22 28 39 4 34 40 37 64 6 5 12 12 17 9 26 32 48 68 1 8 10 22 23 18 29 47 45 69 7 L. U. 2800 1100 39% 106 36 68 137 196 225 332 Percent 10 12 18 21 30 31% 69% In studying this table it may be noted that the percentage from each local union differs only about seven percent from the aver- age of 39; although the number of members involved varies from 230 to 56. The 347 members, constituting the 31 percent working 3 months or less, averages 1 . 7 months each, earning approximately 350 dollars for the year 1939, with which to pay rent, food, clothing, etc. ($6.73 per week). The 753 members constituting the remaining 69 percent earned an average of 1,050 dollars (about $20 per week) in 1939, making the total average earnings of those constituting the 39 percent (working less than six and one-half months), $822.66, or $15.80 per week. 10 OF CHICAGO PAINTERS 147 180 26j> Hiy Hi I 37 43 ** 31 Comparative number ojeath JOOmemlws mrt$pedii/el\).*, 1939 3^ Gen.Averaqi jk-fo In contrast to the number and percentage of members work- ing less than the general average of 6.5 months, we have the following working full time of 12 months: TABLE III. L. U. Number Reports No. and Percent Working Full Time 147 180 194 265 275 637 521 400 43 11% 300 24 8% 600 26 4% 150 6 4% 500 15 3% 700 18 3% 150 1 1% 7 L. U. 2800 33 5% Local Union 1 47 leads off with 1 1 percent of steady workers, followed by Local 1 80 with 8 percent. The remaining five Local Unions average only 3 percent of full time workers. 11 WORKING CONDITIONS EMPLOYMENT, 1940 A special inquiry was made as to conditions of work during January, 1940. The percentage of those working full time, part time, or totally unemployed during the month is shown in the following table: TABLE IV. Uoeal A verage Full Time Totally Union Age Time Part Unemployed 101 42 yrs. 12% 24 64% 147 47yrs. 16% 20 64% 180 49 yrs. 11% 26 63% 184 49 yrs. 8% 34 58% 194 52 yrs. 4% 21 75% 265 47 yrs. 6% 24 70% 275 49 yrs. 6% 23 71 % 455 45 yrs. 2% 15 83% 521 45 yrs. 5% 18 77% 637 45 yrs. 6% 25 69% L. U. Ave. Age 47 yrs. 8% 23 69% It may be stated that included in "p ar t time" are many working only a few days during the month, and who might as well have been classified as unemployed. — Full Time Time 8 Percent 23 Percbut |( No Work 7 69 7° Employment January 1940. 'i brio Judging from previous surveys, practically the same condi- tions exist in December and February as in January. In a report of Painters Local Union 194 of Chicago, and submitted to the Building Trades Council March 24, 1918, covering employment during January and February that year, we find some compara- 12 OF CHICAGO PAINTERS tive information. It is based upon the individual reports of 299 members, and is a fair representation of conditions affecting its entire membership of 1 600 members, as well as the 8000 painters in District Council No. 14, Chicago, in 1918. The report for the month of January, 1918, showed an aver- age age of 39 years and 6 months; 87 percent married; 7 percent working steadily; 36 percent employed part time, and 5 7 percent totally unemployed the entire month. For the month of February, 1918, the report shows an aver- age age of 39 years and 9 months; 81 percent married; 5 percent working full time; 35 percent working part time, and 60 percent totally unemployed. Applied to the entire membership of District Council No. 1 4, it shows that during the above months an average of 480 mem- bers were working steady; 2880 working part time and 4460 totally unemployed. Checking the individual reports we find many members sta- ting that they had already been out of work three, four and five months; others, constituting about ten percent, report working in factories for as low as 1 3 dollars per week. The similarity of conditions in 1918 and 1940 is more clearly put forth if we take the average of the two months in 1918, and compare it with January, 1940. The result is as follows: 1918 — Full time 6 Part time 36 Unemployed 58 percent 1940 — Full time 8 Part time 23 Unemployed 69 percent The total of "part time" and "unemployed" members in 1918 equalled 94 percent, and those in the same classes in 1940 constituted 92 percent. It has often been emphasized that a nation's greatest asset is a strong, healthy, and intelligent working class. We may won- der how anyone who believes in the above undeniably true state- ment can conciliate the same with long hours in a poisoned at- mosphere, low wages, and the speed-up system forced upon the painting craftsman. 13 WORKING CONDITIONS A citation from the report of Dr. Kronenberg, chief of the Division of Industrial Hygiene, Illinois State Department of Pub- lic Health, based upon a medical examination of 2 1 3 members of Painters Local Union 194, in the early spring of 1938, is per- tinent in connection with the building of strong and healthy workers. Discussing the unhealthy conditions in the painting trade, he says: "In the early days of exterior and interior painting, the speed of work was limited to a major extent by the fact that the paints were generally slow-drying, and did not flow easily. With the advent of fast drying paints, the time for covering an area has been sharply reduced ; in this increased rate of work lie several important health factors. First, fast drying paints imply higher volatilizing solvents and diluents, which in turn result in a more heavily contaminated working environment. Secondly, an increased rate of work implies greater and faster movements, which in turn produces a higher respiratory rate. This increased respiratory rate re- sults in the inhalation of more contaminated air than pre- viously. Thus the painter today is subject to a greater hazard than formerly. "Hamilton aptly summarizes the problem among house painters by stating that this is still the most unregulated branch of the painter's trade, and any method of coating which involves a risk to health is more dangerous for the house painter than for a worker in a factory." 14 OF CHICAGO PAINTERS ACCIDENT REPORT Prevalence of accidents and time of occurance, arranged ac- cording to largest percentage in each local union. TABLE V. L. U. Number Number Reports Ti A. M me of Occurance P. M. Overtime No time given Total Accidents Accident Percent 147 456 10 15 1 8 34 7.4 180 300 5 10 1 2 18 6.6 455 118 5 1 1 — 7 6. 521 150 2 7 — 1 10 6. 265 160 2 6 1 — 9 6. 184 181 3 2 3 3 11 6. 16 45 54 78 191 225 57 18 - 246 4 7 — 1 12 5. 371 22 893 26 j 194 631 7 16 2 5 30 4.7 101 158 1 3 1 2 7 4.4 275 565 8 8 1 5 22 3.9 637 758 9 14 2 1 26 3.4 1332 64 No accidents reported — — — Tc >tal reports 3787 56 89 13 28 186 5.0 Above table gives in tabulated form a complete report of 1 86 accidents reported by the 3787 members of the different local unions under the jurisdiction of Painters District Council No. 1 4, which occurred during the year 1939. Of the reported acci- dents, 145 occurred during the regular working hours — 56 in the forenoon, and 89 in the afternoon; a difference of 33, equal- ling 2 3 percent. 15 WORKING CONDITIONS The 246 members of local unions 1 6, 54, 191, 225, 371 and 893, reported 12 accidents, showing an incidence of 5 percent; the six local unions 147, 180, 455, 521, 265 and 184 reported 89 accidents, a prevalence of 6.3 percent; while the four local unions 194, 101, 275 and 637 reported a total of 85 accidents, an average of 4 percent. The general average for the three groups is 5 percent. It may be noted that during the survey of 1930-34 the acci- dent rate was 1 2 percent with a working day of 8 hours, and an average working period of three months and sixteen days. The ten local unions represented in Table VI. by 347 7 reporting members show the prevalence of accidents each hour of the regular six hour working day. The 1 34 accidents are di- vided as to time of occurance as follows: 9 percent the first hour; 1 1 percent the second, and 18 percent the third hour in the forenoon, making a total of 38 percent. The afternoon's accidents occurred as follows: the first hour, 10.5 percent; the second hour, 21.5 percent; the last hour 30 percent, a total of 62 percent in the afternoon. The progressive increase of accidents each hour of the day, from 1 2 accidents the first hour, to 40 the last hour, is a con- clusive evidence of the dangers to health in the painting trade. To the inhalation of poisonous fumes, and the fatigue resulting from the speed-up system now in vogue, must be charged this human suffering and death. TABLE VI. L. U. Total 1st 2nd 3rd Total 1st 2nd 3rd Total Grand No. reports hour hour hour A.M. hour hour hour P. M. Total 101 158 1 1 9 3 4 147 456 4 4 2 10 3 6 6 15 25 180 300 1 3 1 5 1 4 5 10 15 184 181 1 1 1 3 1 — 1 2 5 194 631 1 2 4 7 4 7 10 23 265 160 1 — 1 2 1 2 3 6 8 275 565 3 2 3 8 — 6 2 8 16 455 118 1 1 3 1 — — ■ 1 6 521 150 — — 2 2 2 1 4 7 9 637 758 — 2 7 9 1 4 9 14 23 10 3477 12 15 25 52 14 28 40 82 134 L. U. 9% 11% 18% 38% 10.5% 21.5% 30% 62% 100% 38% 62% 16 OF CHICAGO PAINTERS CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS The following table shows the causes of 1 1 3 accidents that occurred in 1939, as reported by members of Local Unions 147, 180, 194, and 637. TABLE VII. L. U. Xo. Cause of Accidents Defective Fall from Lifting- Scaffold Scaffold Rupture Average loss of time 147 400 10 6 10 2 mos. 2 w 180 300 10 8 2 1 mo. 3 w 194 600 9 8 5 3 mos. 2 w 275 500 4 10 8 3 mos. 1 w 637 700 8 12 3 3 mos. 1 w 2500 41-36% 44-39% 28-25% 1 4 months Accidenl s45% !. i Av. 3 mos. 1 1 3 17 WORKING CONDITIONS The 36 percent of accidents caused by defective scaffold be- longs to a class that could be prevented if strict supervision of scaffold material and its erection were enforced. The second class of accidents caused by "falls from scaffold", are due largely to the failure of the human element to withstand the strain of present day methods of work. The records of Painters Local Union 194 show that of 43 accidents due to falls from scaffold, 9 occurred the first two hours A. M. and P. M., while 34 occurred the last two hours A. M. and P. M. 21 per- cent the first two hours, as against 79 percent in the last two hours, or a difference of 58 percent. Taking accidents due to "defective scaffold", 1 3, or 30 per- cent occurred the first two hours; and 31, or 70 percent occurred the last two hours, a difference of 40 percent. This parallel in- crease in both falls from scaffolds, and in accidents due to de- fective scaffold in the last two hours, is logically due to the same causes. The same overexposure to poisonous fumes, and the exhaustion and recklessness fostered by the speed-up system, that causes the men to slip and fall, would have an effect on the safe erection of the scaffolding, which in turn would be reflected in the number of accidents attributed to "defective scaffold". The third class of accidents, those caused by overstrain and lifting, amounts to 25 percent of the classified accidents. Many of these cases resulted in rupture. In most instances rupture is caused by improper position in lifting, by stretching as when lifting a heavy stage plank over head, or by lifting a weight heavier than a man's strength permits. As a general proposi- tion we might be justified in saying that hurry and speed-up is the cause of a large number of these accidents. 18 OF CHICAGO PAINTERS Time Loss Through Accidents At a time when all efforts are directed toward the preserva- tion of time and labor power, it may be proper to suggest that a study of accident prevention may well be worth the effort. The average loss of time for each accident is three months, and for the 186 accidents reported in this survey for the year 1939, the loss of time would amount to 46 years. This is an accident rate of about five percent, or an estimate of 750 accidents for 1 5,000 members, resulting in an annual loss of time of 187 years. (It may be noted that these figures are based on an average work- ing time during 1939 of only six and one-half months. With an increase in the average working time, there would be a cor- responding increase in the number of accidents.) MONTHLY OCCURENCE OF ACCIDENTS TABLE VIII. January 9 5 % July 17 February 9 5 % August 15 March 11 7 % September 16 April 2 1 % October 22 May 15 9 % November 13 June 25 1 5 % December 14 10% 9% 10% 13% 8% 8% 58% 71 42% 97 1 68 100 % To get the full significance of the above figures, we must remember that the painters work on an average of about six months per year, and this work is divided into a spring and fall season of three months each: April, May and June; August, September and October. With an unemployed army of 69 percent the first months of the year, we enter the "spring season" in April with our members comparatively well rested and free from the health destroying effects of the past season, with only 2 of the 1 68 accidents oc- curring this month. 19 WORKING CONDITIONS Although the number of men employed is about the same each month of the busy season, there is a great increase in the number of accidents each month, with 2 in April, 1 5 in May, and 25 in June. While a considerable lay-off occurs during the month of July, the number of accidents reaches its highest the last month of each season, to-wit: 15 in August, 16 in Sep- tember, and 22 in October. There is a drop from 22 in Octo- ber to 1 3 in November. With an estimated 80 percent of the members employed during the six busy months suffering an average of 1 6 accidents per month, there should be — conditions being the same — for the estimated 30 percent employed during the dull months an accident rate of 6.6 per month. But, as a matter of fact, the rate was 1 2 accidents per month during the dull months. (Ap- proximate 2 for the dull months to 1 for the busy months.) The Psychology of Accidents It is interesting to note that during the six busy months, April, May, June, August, September and October, with approxi- mately 80 percent of the members employed there were reported 95 accidents; amounting to one accident for each 32 members; during the dull months: January, February, March, July, Novem- ber and December, with an estimated 30 percent employed, 73 accidents were reported, amounting to one accident for each 1 6 members.*) No doubt the mental or psychological condition, with its worry, fear of losing the job and the consequent speed- ing up and taking chances, may be largely responsible for the proportionate increase in accidents during the dull months. *) 80 percent of 3787 — 3030 members one for each 32 members. 30 percent of 3787 — 1136 members one for each 16 members. 20 OF CHICAGO PAINTERS THE SIX HOUR DAY versus THE EIGHT HOUR DAY The organized painters of Chicago have, for the last six years, been working on a six-hour day and thirty-hour week basis; its- inauguration had two definite purposes in view, for which the painters were willing to accept a reduction in weekly wages. The first was to spread the work to a larger number, and the second was to protect the health of the members from the effect of poisonous material and the constantly increasing demands of the employers. "Experience is a good teacher", and the experience gained during these six years may have conferred upon the painters a certain degree of authority to speak upon this subject. Two questions may be asked. Has the shortening of the work-day to six hours given more painters an opportunity to work? Yes; but the opportunity gained has been to some ex- tent negatived by the introduction of labor-saving devices, im- proved materials, and also, some of the work formerly done by the painters is now performed by other trades, for example car- penters, tile setters, etc. Without the shorter workday, a still larger number of men would have swelled the army of the un- employed. As to the second question regarding the protection of mem- bers' health, a positive yes will be the answer. There is always a limit to human endurance, and as far as the painters are con- cerned, the limit is six hours a day. That is to say, any increase in the working hours, whether to seven, eight, or ten hours, will cause a decrease in the hourly productivity of the worker, and tend to an increase in accidents and diseases, as is clearly proven in the table on accidents. 21 WORKING CONDITIONS UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION Members in the respective local unions having applied for State Unemployment Compensation, and whether granted or denied 1939. TABLE IX. Local Union Applications Granted Denied No. 54 28% 11% 17% ' 101 34 24 10 ' 147 44 34 10 ' 180 33 23 10 ' 184 49 28 21 ' 191 36 28 8 1 194 32 23 9 ' 265 35 24 11 ' 275 32 23 9 ' 455 49 40 9 ' 521 44 28 16 ' 637 46 33 13 361 5 Reports 39 % Average 27 % Average 12% That 1 2 out of every hundred members that applied for un- employment compensation were denied their request may be caused ( 1 ) By the employer not paying the unemployment tax; or (2) Member's earnings during 1938 may have been insuffi- cient to make the member eligible. 22 OF CHICAGO PAINTERS The following is the result of an inquiry made as to the ex- tent to which our members are suffering from: ( 1 ) Pain in arms and shoulders ( 5 ) Pain in knee (2) Dizziness (6) Failing vision (3) Nausea (7) Lack of appetite. (4) Constipation TABLE X. L. U. (l) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) 54 32 16 6 16 14 22 24 101 26 9 10 15 14 21 18 147 29 14 7 23 21 26 17 180 26 16 7 17 18 21 15 184 30 20 6 17 23 23 17 191 30 6 4 20 20 28 18 194 29 13 6 20 21 27 15 265 23 12 11 20 14 26 15 275 32 15 8 23 23 27 19 455 52 23 9 28 26 39 26 521 26 14 7 25 18 16 17 637 34 13 9 22 19 23 18 16 * 225 371 > 26 10 7 20 23 35 21 1332 395 181 97 266 254 333 240 Average 30% 14% 8', 20.5 % 19.5 r c 26% 18% In this study of certain physical ailments reported by the members and directly or indirectly caused by conditions at work, we find that arms and shoulders afflictions head the list. In this connection we may also consider another ailment closely connected with trade conditions namely injury to the knee. This ailment is known by the medical term "bursitis" and is generally caused by an injury to the lubricating membrane of the knee, the "bursa", by improper and long continued kneeling. Owing to lack of compiled information, we have been unaware of the extent to which our members are suffering from this ail- ment. 23 WORKING CONDITIONS 24 OF CHICAGO PAINTERS In the survey of 1922 it was found that 1 1 percent of mem- bers reporting suffered from inflammation of the knee, while in the present survey 19.5 percent are so suffering. Arms and shoulder afflictions is one of the most prevalent, of the seven ailments complained of, — 30 percent of our mem- bership being efflicted ; (See Table X.) and its prevalence is quite evenly distributed: 1 1 of the 13 local unions and groups comes within four percent of the general average. It is an indi- cation that the sufferers are subject to the same cause and con- ditions at work, and consequently the result will be the same. Dizziness and nausea often are caused by the same condi- tions, and every painter has experienced these unpleasant sensa- tions when working in closed quarters with poor ventilation. It is a frequent cause of accident classified as "fall from scaffold". Fourteen percent of the members report themselves suffering from dizziness, and eight percent from nausea. Next on our list is constipation, an ailment so common in this country, that it is hard to differentiate between occupational con- stipation, or any other. As far as the painters are concerned it is well known that lead is one of the predisposing agents in cases of constipation. In the days of more extended use of lead paint, lead poisoning, with abdominal distress cramp in pit of the stomach and constipation were common complaints. But al- though white lead has been largely displaced for interior use, there is sufficiently used today, particularly for outside work, to produce a considerable part of the over 20 percent reporting suffering from constipation. As an introduction to our next subject, failing vision we will cite the story of brother J. P. M. who become a member of the brotherhood April 4, 1899. About 25 years ago while work- ing for P. &: G. he did considerable work removing varnish from floors and woodwork; some white woodwork with sandpapering between coats was also done. Gradually he felt sick to his stomach, with occasional colic, which the doctor declared to be a case of lead poisoning, he thereupon quit painting and did mainly paperhanging; but the damage was already done. 25 WORKING CONDITIONS J/oJSce 2 Gradually his vision was effected and within a period of two years he became totally blind in both eyes, unable to distinguish the sunlit day from the pitch dark night. The most noted occulists were consulted, but methyl alcohol and benzol in conjunction with other poisonous material used in the painting trade, had made the case incurable. He received his total disability benefit in 1937. 26 1 d L.U.I80 300 REPORT AFFLIClEb WITH-' yl 1 S FAILINq VISION 13 ft CONST IPR7MN 17* LBCK** APPETITE JS* H \ 3i * Faujn^ y/s/o/v 3