On a job of bricklaying, carpentering, or other work, it was
customary for the shrewd contractor to hire one or more
"rushers." Nominally the "rusher" was paid regular union wages.
But secretly the contractor paid him double wages, or more than
double wages. The "rusher" worked at high pressure hour after
hour, day after day. The others could not possibly have kept up
with him had he worked his fastest. But his instructions
were to keep just a little ahead, that the others might struggle
and do their best to keep even in their task, in order not to
lose their work for apparent idleness. Thus the "rusher," a man
of unusual skill, getting double wages, went along well within
his forces, while the others were working themselves to death in
order to keep up and not lose their jobs.
The limitation of the day's output is based originally on the
desire to squelch this "rusher" idea, or to put the quietus on
the very young and able workman anxious to curry favor with his
"boss" by making the pace too hot for the men working beside him.
----
Our friend, the clergyman, and many others say that it is
dishonest to limit the day's output. But is it dishonest? What
is the difference between limiting the DAY'S output and
limiting a YEAR'S output?
In the middle of the Summer the clergyman says, "I have worked
enough; I ought to go to Europe," and he goes.
Pages:
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153