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In reply to the discussion: Any DUers living in Ireland? Is this story true? [View all]MADem
(135,425 posts)35. It would be nice if it were true, but it isn't true. WPA paid borderline wages.
Last edited Sat Apr 14, 2012, 05:08 PM - Edit history (1)
Summer pay scales in 1938 were: Skilled workers (69 hours per month) = $78.66, Semi-skilled workers (79 hours per month) = $62.40, Unskilled workers (107 hours per month) = $49.25. During the winter of 1938, approval for the rebuilding came from President Roosevelt for the necessary WPA money. New dam plans called for the construction to be just south of the original dam. Army Corp engineers worked 18 hours a day monitoring every step, which included spreading the dam out to absorb weight. In February 1941, the announcement was made that the county would become owner and maintainer of the park by the WPA.[24]
...The WPA employed a maximum of 3.3 million in November 1938.[26] Worker pay was based on three factors: the region of the country, the degree of urbanization, and the individual's skill. It varied from $19/month to $94/month.[citation needed] The goal was to pay the local prevailing wage, but limit the hours of work to 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week; the stated minimum being 30 hours a week, or 130 hours a month.[27]
...The WPA employed a maximum of 3.3 million in November 1938.[26] Worker pay was based on three factors: the region of the country, the degree of urbanization, and the individual's skill. It varied from $19/month to $94/month.[citation needed] The goal was to pay the local prevailing wage, but limit the hours of work to 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week; the stated minimum being 30 hours a week, or 130 hours a month.[27]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_Progress_Administration
I'm not going to do your homework for you, but you go to the new 1940 census--or even the 1930 census, and bounce average rents off those figures, then figure in a few bucks for heat, light, and oh--that pesky thing called FOOD--and clothes, and see how far those "living" wages stretched. You needed more than one wage earner in most domiciles, unless you were a single living in a rooming house, or taking in boarders.
If you have family still living who lived through those times, sit down with them and let them talk. It'll open your eyes.
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I am not an expert but I took it to mean that you got fifty euro in ADDITION to your welfare money
MADem
Apr 2012
#1
Really pushing that "FDR" thing, there. This kind of scheme actually *encourages* businesses *not*
HiPointDem
Apr 2012
#16
Not if they have to change out staff every nine months--and this is a TWO YEAR program.
MADem
Apr 2012
#44
I told you already. They should do what Iceland did. And I did not call you an asshole so stop lying
Zalatix
Apr 2012
#63
It didn't help unemployment--and that's what the subject matter is in this thread, in case you are
MADem
Apr 2012
#75
Sigh. If Ireland hadn't wasted that money on bank bailouts they could have fixed unemployment
Zalatix
Apr 2012
#76
But....but....but....the problem isn't public jobs--it's those EVIL corporations, hiring at slave
MADem
Apr 2012
#81
There you go with that "implied" shit again. I do not "imply." I do not accuse. I do not suggest.
MADem
Apr 2012
#99
Oh, really? Then why did you even bring up the government bailing out the banks?
Zalatix
Apr 2012
#105
Go back--I didn't bring up the banks at all--I asked a question after YOU brought up the banks.
MADem
Apr 2012
#106
Yes--AFTER that. You brought them up. I simply asked AFTER you brought them up in the first place.
MADem
Apr 2012
#115
Wait a minute--you said you didn't bring up banks, and now you are demanding I respond to questions
MADem
Apr 2012
#118
YOU ACCUSED ME of suggesting Ireland pay for those private debts. I DEMAND to know why.
Zalatix
Apr 2012
#119
I accused you of NOTHING. I asked you questions. That's not accusing. And the only reason I asked
MADem
Apr 2012
#122
Yes, YOU DID ACCUSE ME of suggesting Ireland pay for those private debts. I DEMAND to know why.
Zalatix
Apr 2012
#125
Yes, YOU DID ACCUSE ME of suggesting Ireland pay for those private debts. I DEMAND to know why.
Zalatix
Apr 2012
#128
You have refuted nothing. You falsely accused me with your so-called "question".
Zalatix
Apr 2012
#132
I can and will go on forever. You did accuse me. You are running away from what you said.
Zalatix
Apr 2012
#136
Wrong, again. Keep it up, though--this is a great record of your behavior for future reference. nt
MADem
Apr 2012
#147
You have convinced us all that you have an intimate understanding of that subject.
MADem
Apr 2012
#151
By bailing out the banks, what started as a financial crisis became a sovereign debt crisis and was
HiPointDem
Apr 2012
#85
It means that taxpayers subsidize employers, who get at least 30 hours of work for the equivalent
HiPointDem
Apr 2012
#5
WPA did useful work and paid a living wage. It was a public works program, not a cheap labor
HiPointDem
Apr 2012
#13
You seem to be not understanding that they are getting both their welfare check and this stipend.
MADem
Apr 2012
#33
I understand quite well that they're getting their UNEMPLOYMENT benefit and this "stipend".
HiPointDem
Apr 2012
#36
If you actually think every person who built that thing worked in the building trades for a living,
MADem
Apr 2012
#47
Wow. Awesomely hateful responses. Interesting. Must be that "working class" thing.
saras
Apr 2012
#4
No they aren't. They are saying if you WANT to work, to gain experience in a shitty economy with
MADem
Apr 2012
#11
In an economy with high unemployment, doing an unpaid or low-paid internship still leaves you
HiPointDem
Apr 2012
#15
This is not what FDR did, not at all, and repeating that mendacity will not make it more
Bluenorthwest
Apr 2012
#24
It reminds me of the Georgia Works program and Bridge to Work in the American Jobs Act. nt
Liquorice
Apr 2012
#6
You're the second person who compared this program to FDR's programs. It must be the new
HiPointDem
Apr 2012
#14
As a person with a relative in a WPA job and a CCC camp in our neck of the woods, I beg to differ.
HiPointDem
Apr 2012
#19
Your interlocutors are certainly misrepresenting the wage structure of the New Deal programs
alcibiades_mystery
Apr 2012
#22
$25 was the average rent for a HOUSE in 1937. You could rent a flat for considerably less.
HiPointDem
Apr 2012
#60
Unlike yourself, I've linked evidence to support my claims. Not to mention that the rent your
HiPointDem
Apr 2012
#78
I've provided links that you've ignored, and of COURSE you won't be responding to me further!
MADem
Apr 2012
#80
Temper? Oh no--I'm simply plainspoken. Tick tock, now--waiting on your answers to all those
MADem
Apr 2012
#123
And go on and figure out what nineteen bucks is worth in todays dollars--or twenty three bucks...as
MADem
Apr 2012
#53
It is utterly dissimilar to FDR era work programs, which were all public works and paid
Bluenorthwest
Apr 2012
#25
The Irish are still immigrating like crazy to the United States, unlilke most of Europe.
Drahthaardogs
Apr 2012
#20
Yes, and people are still immigrating in droves to places like Utica, New York.
Drahthaardogs
Apr 2012
#52
fertility rate in ireland is 2.07 live births per woman. that's replacement rate.
HiPointDem
Apr 2012
#57
Are any of them "habitual residents" from other EU nations, returning home until the job situation
MADem
Apr 2012
#120
Colleges do it now, all the time. Five year plans are becoming increasingly common.
MADem
Apr 2012
#42
So this is a voluntary internship with nominal pay. Sounds like most internships I know
aikoaiko
Apr 2012
#45
Looking at a few other articles on that site I can't take anything they say seriously. (nt)
Posteritatis
Apr 2012
#51
As a "certain poster" has failed to answer my question, which I have asked, POLITELY, more than once
MADem
Apr 2012
#68
Gee--you and he agree on those banks you brought up, but you don't agree on FDR--even if you don't
MADem
Apr 2012
#117
This sounds like a lot of internships. I think Ireland has been so very lucky for a long time
riderinthestorm
Apr 2012
#59
No. Ireland has traditionally been a low-wage, high-unemployment country by virtue of its
HiPointDem
Apr 2012
#61
Traditionally and historically oppressed but recently, yes they definitely had some great years
riderinthestorm
Apr 2012
#70
Yes, yes I know but as an actual Irishwoman I think that recently they have had a good run
riderinthestorm
Apr 2012
#71
Yup, in the light of the day (and more sober! Heh) of course that makes sense
riderinthestorm
Apr 2012
#82
And of course, the unspoken bit of business here is that the people who have lost their jobs, many
MADem
Apr 2012
#83