industry would not shut in its doors if there is the good will of the employer and the determination of all its workers. The management kept his doors open and the workers received the legally pursued salary. Figures proved that the new salary could be paid and that profits were increased. It was just a matter of readjustment.

If the 25-cent minimum wage in the year 1938 surprised our employer when he was paying wages as big as $1.50 to apprentices and helpers-weekly-and 50 cents an hour to fully skilled workers, we assume that the rate of change was beyond their expectance. However, they could successfully pay the salary required by law.

After that the industry never failed to meet the 30-, 35-, and 40-cent salary sought for in the law. Nowadays workers-consciously mature workers-know that any salary can be obtained through their redoubled porduction for our industry.

Workers in this industry know that we can have a wage well over the 75-cent level, but if the present law pursues an experiment for a future wage standard, workers are willing to go through this experiment. Under a 53-cent average wage actually paid by our employer we can't meet much of our necessities— predominantly nutritional and educational. As we know that many of our health problems depend, directly or indirectly, on the educational and budget achievements, we workers hold it will help our government through the payment of part of our incomes and individually or collectively trying to solve the aforementioned problems.

In the year 1947 workers of this industry, then facing the highest prices on the market, were forced to ask wage raise. On the refusal of the employer, we had to go on strike for more than 4 months. We held ourselves firmly on the movement against the postwar crisis and the inevitable crisis that comes during and after a strike. We faced an interdict and were summoned to court for trial. We're accused of illegal picketing. But workers meant peaceful striking and the court only gave us education on rightful picketing which we adopted and practiced. Our determination was to make the employer consider the high cost of living and the necessity for better wages with which to meet the challenge of the market. Finally we agreed to turn the wheels once again when our employer accepted to pay $30,000 in cash and $25,200 for a hospitalization plan. Workers conquered a sum of $55,200 from an employer that openly refused to give a wage raise. Before settling the strike as it was finally settled we had offered to return to work if the employer agreed to give us a 2 percent of the net annual profits. They refused and still we don't know why. The no-profit, no-bond basis was clearly discussed by us but we're not heard.

Recently a Bessemer converter was installed and the production of steel has been started on a commercial scale. Caribbean-wide demand for finished machine equipment has been met by our employer and an ever-increasing demand will undoubtedly be met. Work output will strain workers physically and if they don't feed proportionately the production will decrease. Feeding of mass of workers is only expected through better incomes. The 75-cent minimum wage will be not enough but at least it help a good start in the race between prices and wages.

This machine and foundry industry must be listed as the heaviest in this island. Its products are demanded locally and in the Caribbean and South American areas.

The 75-cent minimum wage approved for the workers in the States will affect workers here because prices will forcibly start up. If here in Puerto Rico workers are not given the same salary, how can we survive?

The present amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act establishes the policy of the United States for the raising of living standards of the American workers-without curtailing employment. Undoubtedly it is a grand policy that serves the objective of preserving democracy in this part of the world.

Foundry and machine workers are determined to step production and hope to be paid the minimum wage of 75 cents. We want to pay with work the salary we receive and stick to our jobs as we have made before.

We hope to feed and educate our children adequately so as to prepare them to meet the requirements of democracy. Without a better wage we'll be unable to follow the path of progressive America.

4. That the mechanization which is going forward in this country, as much in the sugar industry as in other industries, has created great unemployment, occasioning misery and suffering within the working class of this island.

While the industry is developing an ambient favorable to the proprietors, the workers continue to suffer the fatal consequences of mechanization.

5. On the other hand, the high cost of the articles of prime necessity reduces even further the miserable salary we collect for our labor; inferior quality rice costs us from 8 to 9 cents, codfish 23 cents a pound, lard 20 cents a pound, raw coffee 38 cents a pound, milk 22 cents a liter, imported jugs of milk 80 cents a pound, etc., while water, light, clothing, shoes, and other articles have risen in price even more exaggeratedly in comparison to the salaries we receive.

That, due to mechanization, sugar harvesting has been cut by 4 to 5 months a year in some high-production mills and the little we earn is all we have to pay for necessities throughout the year.

6. That this honorable committee can take into consideration all that is here explained, and fix, with justice and without discrimination and without creating competition with the States, wages that tend, in part, to solve the critical situation of ourselves, the workers-in view of the fact that we, the Puerto Ricans, are American citizens and are supposed to suffer and defend the flag of democracy of this great American Nation.

Therefore we hope of said honorable committe to be heard in this request and, at the same time, we hope it will use its best offices in those deliberations which can so much affect our working class-and that it may recommend a wage of 75 cents per hour for our sugar industry, thus establishing the greatest justice for our class and for the people in general.

STATEMENT OF ANGEL DENIS, JORGE VIDAL NUÑEZ, ANDRÉS DE TEJADA, AND ALEJO PÉREZ, FACTORY, TRANSPORT AND WORKS UNION, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR, CENTRAL CAMBALACHE, ARECIBO, P. R.

The Factory, Transport and Works Union, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and with headquarters in the city of Arecibo, P. R., presents the following information as data necessary to justify its petition that all social legislation concerning the worker of the United States of America be extended to the island of Puerto Rico, and that a minimum wage of 75 cents an hour be set for the insular laborer:

STATEMENT OF VICTOR BARRETO, PRESIDENT, AND CARMELO LOPEZ ALERS, SECRETARY,

UNION OF WORKERS, CENTRAL COLOSO, AGUADA, P. R.

The directing body of the Union of Workers of the Factory, Plant, Transport and Works of the Central Coloso of Aguada, P. R., agreed at a meeting to address itself to this honorable congressional committee.

RESOLUTION

Whereas we, the workers of the sugar industry, request this honorable congressional committee make an investigation with respect to the living conditions and the wages received by Puerto Rican workers.

Whereas we, the workers of the sugar industry, request this honorable committee to make a tour through all the sugar mills of this country in order that it may appreciate and see personally the great steps forward effected by modern machinery in these mills. We, the workers, consider that our sons will be useless to the industry and to ourselves, since, within a few years, they won't have any place to work. Our country lacks industries; mechanization has invaded the country, and the sugar industrialists say that they cannot pay a wage of 75 cents an hour.

Whereas we beg this honorable committee not to permit our sons and our wives to continue suffering the lack of food, the lack of clothing, and the lack of adequate housing.

Whereas the Puerto Rican worker asks this honorable committee to recommend favorably that the workers' wages, approved by the Congress of the United States for the workers of that country, be extended to Puerto Rico.

SUPPLEMENTAL STATEMENT OF VICTOR BARRETO, PRESIDENT, UNION OF WORKERS, CENTRAL COLOSO, AGUADA, P. R.

We, the workers of the sugar industry, ask you, in the name of all our fellows in organized labor, that there be extended to Puerto Rico all laws for mainland workers, in strict conformance with the way they have been approved in the Congress of the United States.

We also are American workers, inasmuch as we fortunately live under the protection of the great American Nation, fight and are ready to fight for the cause of our protectors.

We contribute our sons to this Nation, and in order to defend her with the greatest efficiency we send them strong and healthy-as goes the saying, “Only a man strong can be free." And with what, gentlemen, are we going to feed them if the food and the wage we earn is so scanty that we are not able to carry nutritious food to our tables? In the morning our sons get up for the scholastic struggle, nourished on a bit of black coffee and a piece of bread, if he has the money. In the meantime the son of Mr. X goes to school well fed and well shod, while the worker's son goes without shoes and in rags.

Why should this be, Congressmen? Well, this is due to the lack of wages adequate for good food, shoes, medicine, etc., necessary to maintain a healthy

home, with the comforts a family of three or more requires. The cost of living is plenty high-the worst sort of rice, which is the principal course at the dinner table, costs 8 cents a pound. Lard is 20 cents, and meat, as it is very seldom eaten in the house of the worker, I cannot tell you the price, because it varies on the market.

Very well, gentlemen, let's go to clothing and shoes; a pair of lowest-quality shoes costs $5 to $6. Hence, during the week, when one has to buy one of these articles one cannot eat, since the week's wages are completely gone.

Now let's take rent. The workers must live in tiny rooms and sleep two or three in the same bed, in the same room, since our money does not afford us a healthful and comfortable life.

Therefore, the workers of Puerto Rico petition this important committee that, after making a careful investigation of the plight of Puerto Rican sugar workers, it render a report favorable to giving us the benefits which cover the United States and its Territories. All workers, as one man, will know how to repay this, as is due, with their men, sons, and the rest, when the Nation sounds the battle trumpet-in peace, as well as in war.

Hon. JOHN LESINSKI,

[Telegram]

SAN JUAN, November 21, 1949.

Chairman, Committee of Labor and Education,
C/O Tropical Medicine School,

San Juan:

Union works of the electrical industry claims the payment and endorse in all respects the minimum wage of 75 cents per hour. This industry is the richest one in this island. We are sure of your good will and thank you deeply for everything you can offer in our favor.

BONIFACIO DIAZ, President.

STATEMENT OF NICASIO FIGUEROA, PRESIDENT, UNION DE MECANICOS, AUXILIARES Y RAMAS ANEXAS (MECHANICS, HELPERS, AND RELATED WORKERS), SANTURCE, P. R.

Machine and foundry workers belonging to this local organization, founded in the year 1941 and since then an affiliate of the Puerto Rico Free Federation of Workingmen (Puerto Rico State branch of the American Federation of Labor), have been working for the same company during and before its foundation. We conciously express before you what we believe a nondeniable fact: In the year 1850 Sucesores de Abarca started his business in a building not larger than a six-room house. His workers at that time never thought that the starting was to be increased to a powerful business in the future. But the original owners and enterprisers asked their workers to step up production. The workers took the words as promising joined efforts for the betterment of management and labor. As a consequence of doubled efforts the industry had to get larger quarters for its flourishing business. It was then that a big lot was secured in the Miramar section of the city of San Juan. In the new site the industry was equipped with better and bigger machines that led owners and workers to fill a greater number of orders. More and bigger orders led to the increasing of capital and profits. But something was left behind and this something was the promise of raising the wages to the enthusiastic workers that fought for the development of the foundry and machine industry.

The workers were not discouraged because the employer failed to raise their salaries according to the doubled effort that they were putting in favor of an economically-increasing industry. They reasoned that the employer upon seeing that workers kept on doing their best finally they would be given the bond premium of their efforts.

Up to the year 1938 things proved that the employer no longer was considering workers' efforts for a bigger and better industry. It was then that the United States Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act. As a result the employer voiced to the four winds that his industry necessarily had to shut in its doors because it would be unable to meet successfully the new salary stipulated in the act. But that voice was just a scarecrow show. An economically sound

industry would not shut in its doors if there is the good will of the employer and the determination of all its workers. The management kept his doors open and the workers received the legally pursued salary. Figures proved that the new salary could be paid and that profits were increased. It was just a matter of readjustment.

If the 25-cent minimum wage in the year 1938 surprised our employer when he was paying wages as big as $1.50 to apprentices and helpers-weekly-and 50 cents an hour to fully skilled workers, we assume that the rate of change was beyond their expectance. However, they could successfully pay the salary required by law.

After that the industry never failed to meet the 30-, 35-, and 40-cent salary sought for in the law. Nowadays workers-consciously mature workers-know that any salary can be obtained through their redoubled porduction for our industry.

Workers in this industry know that we can have a wage well over the 75-cent level, but if the present law pursues an experiment for a future wage standard, workers are willing to go through this experiment. Under a 53-cent average wage actually paid by our employer we can't meet much of our necessitiespredominantly nutritional and educational. As we know that many of our health problems depend, directly or indirectly, on the educational and budget achievements, we workers hold it will help our government through the payment of part of our incomes and individually or collectively trying to solve the aforementioned problems.

In the year 1947 workers of this industry, then facing the highest prices on the market, were forced to ask wage raise. On the refusal of the employer, we had to go on strike for more than 4 months. We held ourselves firmly on the movement against the postwar crisis and the inevitable crisis that comes during and after a strike. We faced an interdict and were summoned to court for trial. We're accused of illegal picketing. But workers meant peaceful striking and the court only gave us education on rightful picketing which we adopted and practiced. Our determination was to make the employer consider the high cost of living and the necessity for better wages with which to meet the challenge of the market. Finally we agreed to turn the wheels once again when our employer accepted to pay $30,000 in cash and $25,200 for a hospitalization plan. Workers conquered a sum of $55,200 from an employer that openly refused to give a wage raise. Before settling the strike as it was finally settled we had offered to return to work if the employer agreed to give us a 2 percent of the net annual profits. They refused and still we don't know why. The no-profit, no-bond basis was clearly discussed by us but we're not heard.

Recently a Bessemer converter was installed and the production of steel has been started on a commercial scale. Caribbean-wide demand for finished machine equipment has been met by our employer and an ever-increasing demand will undoubtedly be met. Work output will strain workers physically and if they don't feed proportionately the production will decrease. Feeding of mass of workers is only expected through better incomes. The 75-cent minimum wage will be not enough but at least it help a good start in the race between prices and wages.

This machine and foundry industry must be listed as the heaviest in this island. Its products are demanded locally and in the Caribbean and South American areas.

The 75-cent minimum wage approved for the workers in the States will affect workers here because prices will forcibly start up. If here in Puerto Rico workers are not given the same salary, how can we survive?

The present amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act establishes the policy of the United States for the raising of living standards of the American workers-without curtailing employment. Undoubtedly it is a grand policy that serves the objective of preserving democracy in this part of the world.

Foundry and machine workers are determined to step production and hope to be paid the minimum wage of 75 cents. We want to pay with work the salary we receive and stick to our jobs as we have made before.

We hope to feed and educate our children adequately so as to prepare them to meet the requirements of democracy. Without a better wage we'll be unable to follow the path of progressive America.