Labor Conditions in Porto Rico (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 Excerpt: ...more than five almuds, thus there is no difference between the daily wage and by measure. The season lasts from three to four months, and if it were not for the fact that during that time the whole family is employed one can hardly imagine how those families could manage to support themselves during the dull season. As stated above, the men are generally employed even after the season is over in planting and cleaning the bushes, but it should be added that in most cases they are not employed the entire day. They usually work from six to seven hours a day and their wages are cut accordingly. Many coffee laborers, when the season is over in December, move to the coastal districts, which brings them just in time to participate in the cutting and grinding of sugar cane. Not all, of course, are able to do so for a good many reasons; and if large numbers of them were to come down they could not expect to find work as there are sufficient workers in the cane regions. After picking and drying comes selecting, polishing, and preparing the coffee for shipment (roasting is not done on the island). This work is carried on in a few large mills located in Arecibo, Utuado, Lares, Aguadilla, and other towns. In a large plant visited in Arecibo, 12 men are employed handling the machines with which cleaning, polishing, and sorting is done. On certain days, when there is an order for shipping coffee, that plant employs from 80 to 90 women and girls to pick out defective beans. This work is done by measure, 8 cents per bucket; in some places 5 cents. The earning capacity naturally depends upon the grade of the beans. When handling a good quality they can pick four buckets, thus earning 32 cents for a day's work. This work is very irregular; yet, despite this fact, the manager ...