Page THE LABORER SEPTEMBER 29, 1944 THE LABORER Committee To Investigate Monthy Publication by the Bartenders, Waiters and Other Similars Association of Panama, ANASTACIO ORTIZ Editor ALEJANDRO CUELLAR Manager Box 3127 Panama, Address: 103, Central Ave. top floor.
Printed by THE PANAMA AMERICAN PUBLISHING CO.
EDITORIAL MATTER OF CONCERN TO EMPLOYEES We are pleased to note that steps are being taken to solve the problems of the civilian workers of the Panama Canal Department; and, we also note with pride, the interest our government has taken in matters affecting nationals in the Canal Zone.
These attempts to solve conditions which are inimical to these workers, were motivated through demonstrations of dissatisfaction on the part of those affected and the intelligent and formal protests submitted to the Commanding General of the Caribbean Area.
protest living?
It is said that the Board appointed by Gen.
Brett, and headed by Gen. Weart, will base its recommendations, among other things, on local employment practices and in conformity with established practices. We hope that this does not mean that the un Democratic Panama Canal practices are to be adopted, and warn all interested parties to be wary of the influence that Union. who count among their accomplishments the amendment of the Appropiation Bill which would allow aliens on the to serve in Civil Service positions) will attempt to exert on this Board. True Worker Sacrifices For His In October 1943 President Roosevelt appointed a committee Fellowmen composed of members, for the investigation of the cost of living and, for the revision of the methods used by the Office of Labor Statistics (one of the functions of the Labor Department) in their In relation to the creation official estimates regarding this matter.
of a new department denomin Said committee, which includes two labor representatives, ated Board for the Study of compares its estimates with those of the Office of Labor Statistics, in order to know exactly what fluctuations occurred. In such National Problems. the chief of the Department of Minis manner they will be able to determine if the established wage terio de Gobierno y Justicia, scale is in conformity with equity, or if they harm the interests has initiated a campaign, to of living standards of workers.
relieve the situation of the ur The Committee will follow, principally, lines of investigaban worker, for which he re tion: quires precise and careful da 1) Actual cost of living, from month, and a comparison of the ta; but as in order to obtain figures obtained in (a) January 1941. b) May 1942 and these he would have to employ (C) September 1942; a considerable number of in 2) The methods of computing living costs, as used by the Office of Labor Statistics; and spectors paid by the Govern3) Revisión or possible changes, if methods currently used are ment, who would have left the ork und as in previous not thought convenient or have been the cause of mistakes.
cases, the workers solved the The working classes of the have protested in various problem themselves. They im forms against the rising cost of living, backing their statements with the detailed reports of economists from within their own mediately offered to take care of the job and have distribut ranks, stating that salaries were not in proportion with the aced among several labor agru tual cost of living and that the working classes were overburdenpations, credentials, that seryed with Pres. Roosevelt anti inflation program.
ed without delay to establish The Dock Workers Union have issued a questionaire the irregularities in determin which will help them to get necessary data on prices of fooded commercial sectors and for stuff. The questionaire is simple and permits authorized investigawhich reason a denunciation tors, to get daily prices from stores in the country. Periodically was consequently presented to the investigators will return the forms to the Investigation Secthe corresponding Ministry.
tion, where final analysis will be made. The executives of this Union states that in this manner we will fight the enemies with their own arms. From now on, they say our demands will be The Worker Defends Himself based on our own data, and not on those given by the governIn Every Way ment.
It is important to know that the Office of Price Administration (a federal agency) solicited several months ago an inspection One of the most arduous of the working sectors, to have all figures referring to the price of struggles in the workers justoodstuff, within a government plan, reduce high costs of livtifications, is to get the resting and to avoid inflation.
day that legally corresponds Now, what should we the Panamanian workers say, if the Ahim. Among protests many emmerican workers, who are the best paid workers in the world, ployers agreed to give their emand ask their government to remedy the high cost of ployees a weekly day off of 24 hours but will not pay the salary that corresponds to one Probably considering our inadequate salaries the Government whole week. The week. generhas just created an office to investigate national problems such ally speaking, has days but as the salaries as compared to the workers cost of living. Here legally, relation to work, it hoping it is not too late.
is determined that it has six days. To evade such an insig WORKERS ARE TIRELESS IN THEIR claim that their employees are STRUGGLE FOR REIVINDICATION under contract with them to work per day payment, evading in this way a privilege After various attempts to se hours without remuneration granted by the law. The Govcure, with different authorities, We work on Sundays and holernment should end such misa correction of the errors com idays without remuneration. interpretation of the contract mitted by employers of the Ca do not get a 25 of our regufor working per day, because pital City, violating labor laws, lar salaries for labor as it is understood, the work it was decided to go directly to hours nor a 24 hour rest, to er, who at the end of the week the Nation First Magistrate, which we are entitled and then, has rendered a satisfactory so that he would look into the if there are any complaints, work should be considered as matter. Consequently, the fol employees are forced to sign having worked for one week lowing letter was sent to Pres documents stating and earn a seven day salary.
that paydent Ricardo Adolfo de la ment has been received for If he works on Sundays he Guardia. We also insert the four days, when they were onshould receive a total corres answer received: ly paid for two days. To make ponding to days work.
matters worse, they contract as It doesn take a lawyer to artists strangers, who later August 17th, 1944.
arrive at such are employed for almost anya conclusion Mr.
Anybody with common sense thing. We are displaced by womRicardo Adolfo de la Guardia, and a modest conscience pracen and minors. Then we are tices this system. We refer to accused of being lazy. But how Ciudad.
the Administrator and Chef of can workers comply with their the Club Atlas Kitchen.
Excellency: duties if they are denied the necessary rest. What can they He and his employees have hereby, respectfully address earn, scarcely suffices them in signed a contract wherein is you, as a Panamanian citizen, living a mediocre life with all stated that their work is paywith cedula No. 47 5541 and as its obligations.
able per day. But this employPresident of the Bartenders, er recognizes their salary as Waiters and Similars AssociaThen they have no other per week and pays them for tion of Panama. As a last rechoice but to take up vice, inan day working period, sort in my struggle pro the re cluding drinking liquor.
vindication of the national This is a fact. The contract worker who is imposed upon, For this reason, based on was drawn up in our Secreby commerce in general, es your declaration, promises and tarial department and was givpecially by the employers from actuation in this sense, we adthe correct interpretation other countries who deny their dress you as our only solution that should always prevail.
employees, the guarantee estain our difficulty.
blished by national laws based For this reason, we made out on international laws complied We present our pleas to your the following memorandum: with in other countries.
Excellency, in view of the fact that other Governamental deOn investigating we learned pendencies have merely statthat owners of business places ed and promised that they do not send their correct quowould help us, but have taken tas as per their employees sa no action in the matter. In laries, thus harming the public your hand lies, the strict comSi Ud. quiere pasar un treasury. Others charge 10 pliance of said dispositions as rato agradable y bien instead of on salaries of your Excellency good Governatendido one or less, dollars. They handment favored our national dele their Books in the manner fense pro the laborers.
VISITE LA they think best so that you canHoping that the dispositions not be sure of what their Cantina Universal will be respected, as in your employee ssalary in case of a power lies their strict com(Frente a la plaza lawsuit. We do not get our vapliance, for the government de Mayo)
cations because they ignore Degood name and national bencree No. 38 of 1941 and stick donde encontrará LICOefit, am, to the law of 1931 that stated RES DE PRIMERA, MUSI that you are entitled to vacaCA DEPORTES.
Yours respectfully, tions after working two years.
We work 10 or more extra Anastasio Ortiz extra The considerations which it is stated, will be given to treaty provisions, if they materialize, will be another credit to Democracy as portrayed by the Army officials and through our Government intercession.
To all appearances this Board will only deal with matters concerning Army civilian employees, which makes us wonder, how much longer are the Canal and Railroad employees going to remain silent or indolent to those ultra nationalistic practices of the Panama Canal Executives.
en The disparity between this organization regulations and wages, and those of our territory and even of other agencies on the Zone, are so noticeable that we wonder that no protests are made. For instance: laborers o nthe are paid. 22 per hour, while in the Republic they earn. 28 per hour; the former earn no vacation periods, while the latter are entitled to one month rest after each year of service. These conditions not only contribute to malnutrition, but also to the deilnquency of our youths and women, and should capture the interest of our nationals who work for this organization an dthe existing bodies who are reputed to represent Alien labor, should take the example set by the progressive employees of the Army, and seek amelioration of these conditions. Mr.
After the war is won, Canal Zone Alien workers may expect, renewed activities towards limiting the acquisitive power of non citizens, as past and recent events have proven. Therefore all efforts should be expended NOW, in order to WIN THE PEACE as effectively as we are contributing to the winning of the War. BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL ERNESTO CASTILLERO