Economics and the Worker

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 3, 1 April 1913, Page 3

Economics and the Worker

Last month we showed that if the worker does not produce something more valuable than his Wages, he will be unprofitable to the boss, and will quickly get the sack. The question now arises, “Why shouldn’t the boss have a profit ? Does lie not own the buildings, and the machinery, all paid for in good, hard cash?’’ He owns them, we admit. But who produced the buildings, and the machinery ? Did not the workers produce them t Then why should the boss own them ? Why not: the workers ? They, did all that was necessary to bring those buildings, and that machinery, into existence, and they, not the boss, should have the benefit of their toil.

Oh, but you say, “ The boss paid for the buildings, and the machinery, in good, hard cash.” Yes, and that good, hard cash was nothing less than a portion of profits wrung out of the workers’ hides at some previous period. The Working Class pfoduce, by their toil, all buildings, all machinery, yea, and all the good, hard cash, and there’s no reason why they should he taxed for so doing. —A.H.