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The United Worker
November and December 1948 - Getting By in Ocean Falls
The United Worker November (part) and December
November 1948 Page 9
Getting By in Ocean Falls
Let us take a near average example. The Journeyman's rate is $1.47 per
hour which is the average rate on the paper machines. On a 44 hour week
this realizes $258.72 a month. Taking a family of four the expenditures
are as follows:
Income Tax .......................................................
$25.00
Rent (10 year old duplex upped 40% Sep 1) ..... ....... 48.00
Light, Heat and power (also upped Sept 1) ................. 5.00
Hospital & Doctor....................................................
5.68
Union Dues ............................................................
2.00
Pension (4%) .......................................................
10.00
Unemployment Insurance ......................................... 1.50
Government Hospital Plan ......................................... 5.00
Payment on Bond ($500) ........................................ 40.00
Group Insurance .....................................................
3.00
$145.18
This leaves $113.54 to cover food, clothing, medicine, dentist,
optometry, life insurance, recreation, theatre, boat, vacation planning
etc. With the high cost of living in Ocean Falls, no family can "get by"
under $100.00 per month. The Research Department of the Workers'
Educational Association of Canada using US Bureau of Labor Statistics
and in cooperation with all other known Canadian sources has found that
a family of four living in the City of Toronto during the month of
August 1948 required $72.98 PER WEEK to live in Health and Comfort. Is
there cheaper living to be had in Ocean Falls than in Toronto? We do not
believe so and maintain that a like amount of $72.98 would be the
required weekly take home pay for a family of 4 in Ocean Falls.
The base rate man ($1.06 per hour) and other low rates are "getting by"
with overtime. The amount of overtime in this plant is way out of line
with the principles and objectives of the Trade Union Movement, for when
a man works in excess of his eight hour day he is automatically doing
another man out of a job. Labor urges higher wages, less working hours
so that all workers may be employed and have purchasing power to enable
them to buy the goods they produce. We are hardly living up to our
obligations when we sanction a worker program of "Overtime-to-sustain"
within the confines of the most prosperous industry in Canada today.
Gasoline For Cleaning Purposes
It has been reported to me by tenants of No. 1 Apt that gasoline is
being used in the building for cleaning purposes. This is contrary to
the FIRE MARSHALL's ACT and endangers the lives of others. Such practice
MUST be discontinued.
Local Assistant Fire Marshall C.G. Clark
December 1948 Page 11
Stork Club
Oct 30 - girl - Mr. & Mrs. T.W. Dunbar
Nov 27 - girl - Mr. & Mrs. E. Maughan
Nov 30 - girl - Mr. & Mrs. E.W. Barclay
Dec 2 - girl - Mr. & Mrs. J.R. Fournier
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