Rouge: Pictured in Its Prime

34. Industrial Relations

34 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS The first few dozen employees hired by Ford Motor Company were acknowledged one by one as friends by Henry Ford himself. As the numbers grew to thousands by 1913, Ford organized the Sociological Department at the Highland Park Plant with authority to hire, transfer, and, as a last resort, fire employees. From January 1914, when Ford raised employee wages to five dollars a day, double prevailing wages for that time, Ford had a reputation for paying well. For the further benefit of employees, in 1920, Ford introduced “investment certificates” through which employees could invest a third of their wages with interest guaranteed at 6 percent and yielding as much as 12 and 14 percent in profitable years. Investment certificates were offered by Ford until August 1941. The Rouge Plant employment office was under the direction of one man personally appointed by Henry Ford not only to manage all employment problems but also to operate within the Rouge a plant protection force of nearly 3000 men known as “Ford Service.” These officials did not wear uniforms but could usually be recognized by their burly physiques typically garbed in dark suits and dark felt hats. When under the gaze of a “Service man,” the most loyal worker could not help but feel a bit intimidated. In addition to checking badges of employees as they entered the gates, Ford plant protection men strictly enforced the rules of no smoking or drinking by employees while at work. Service men occasionally broke up fights between employees and vigilantly guarded exit gates to prevent theft of property by employees. Although Ford paid his employees very well, he expected from them a full day’s work. He could not tolerate loitering or sloppy workmanship. Industrial relations at the Rouge, as carried out by Ford’s subordinates, were harsh. Workers were inclined to fear for their jobs especially during the Depression years. The typical middle-aged production worker appeared noticeably bedraggled and haggard when returning home from work. During the Depression, wages varied from a minimum of seven dollars a day in December 1929 to a minimum of four dollars a day in 1932, improving to six dollars a day in 1935. The usual Ford workweek of five days was lowered to four days for a period during 1933. During the 1930s, although Ford was trying to employ as many workers as possible, the Rouge Plant was more than once under siege by unemployed workers and by unionists. The rough tactics used in these encounters by both sides were regrettable. Henry Ford did not believe a union was necessary in his plants. Edsel Ford was willing to negotiate with the United Automobile Workers. In June 1941, the UAW won a generous contract and permission to organize Ford plants. During the next three war years, however, there were 418 work stoppages. 214 215 Top: The Rouge employment office on Miller Road at Gate 2, just south of the powerhouse. A Service Department guard stands at the street entrance gate on this warm August day in 1937. On the opposite side of the road is the “bull pen,” where applicants for work are often herded by the hundreds waiting to be interviewed. (833.68508) Bottom: Rouge Plant badges. The badge with the star and a number is worn by an employee of upper rank in the Ford Motor Company. The badge with the letter A and a number is worn by an employee who works in the motor building. A badge with the letter Z would be worn by an employee who works in the pressed-steel building. Workers are thus restricted to the particular buildings in which they are assigned to work. (Photographs courtesy of Timothy J. O’Callaghan) Ford Bryan when working at the Rouge with a Master of Science degree and a badge *685. 216 Top: Time clocks, located in nearly every Rouge building, require all employees to “ring in” and “ring out” within six minutes of their scheduled working hours. To get their pay, they go to the pay office at Gate 4 to show their badges and receive the small brown envelope containing two weeks’ pay in cash. (15592) Bottom: A Ford Rouge pay office, where employees receive their pay in cash after showing their badges and where orders can be placed for Ford investment certificates and low-priced residential coal and coke. (833. 78923-2) 217 Advertisements in the...