My Grandfather, the Great Depression, and Today’s Teacher Wage Theft
My grandfather, Joe Tagler, was victimized with wage theft during the Great Depression. He was a motorman (driver) of streetcars for the Chicago Surface Lines, later to be taken over by the CTA, the Chicago Transit Authority. He was hired on an hourly basis when needed; that is how it was done for all of their motormen and conductors. Few people had or could afford phones. Motormen worked whatever times they were present in the car-barns, depots; they sat on benches awaiting orders for work. Three hours of work here, four hours there (split shifts), day after day and night after night sitting and waiting for his name to be called.
He learned to sleep sitting up on the benches waiting for work. He took sponge baths, changed shirts and used the restrooms in the depot along with all the other men awaiting a call to work. The motorman’s streetcar windshield was generally open to all the elements no matter how hot or cold, yet he was expected to wear only the uniform he purchased from the company. If he looked too shabby, he was sent home to change. He went home every few days to sleep a bit longer and clean himself and his uniform a little better. He slept.
On paydays he stood in line at a counter with the other motormen and was handed a paycheck with only the backside showing and told to sign and endorse it for cash. He was then handed cash. The records were kept to be handed over to the city My Grandfather, the Great Depression, and Today’s Teacher Wage Theft | Reclaim Reform: