20 CIRCULAR 4 71, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



ORGANIZATION OF FOREST WORKERS 7 



Before 1918 the workers had little voice in fixing wages, working 

 conditions, and terms of employment. In 1912 the workers in each 

 protection district employing 10 or more laborers were given the right 

 to choose a spokesman (Vertrauensmann) to deal with the forest 

 officials. After the 1918 revolution, unions were recognized and par- 

 ticipated in negotiating working agreements. Such agreements be- 

 tween the Prussian State Forest Service and the unions were adopted 

 in 1919, 1920, and 1923. 



Under these agreements the standard day's work was set at 8 hours, 

 with a 10-hour day for planting and work on the forest officers' crop- 

 land. 8 Extra pay was provided for Sunday and overtime work. In 

 winter (October to March, inclusive) 7 hours is generally standard, 

 and in summer 9 hours. It is necessary to have fairly short working 

 days in order to let the workers cultivate their own farm land, so 

 far as this cannot be done by other members of their families. 



In 1918 provision was made for workers' committees in each ranger 

 district (Oberforsterei), composed of representatives elected by the 

 workers in each protection district (Forsterei). The system was modi- 

 fied in 1920 and again in 1923. In the latter year it was provided that 

 each Forsterei with three or more eligible voters (regular workers or 

 workers over 18 employed on the day of the election) should choose 

 a representative as a member of the workers' council of the ranger 

 district. The councils had considerable voice in determining wages 

 and working conditions. 



The system was again changed after the adoption of the National 

 Labor law of 1934. Now any forest unit (Forstamt) with 20 or more 

 workers has a council (Vertrauensrat) chosen from the regularly em- 

 ployed men and women. All workers, including those employed 

 temporarily, are allowed to vote on a list of candidates selected by 

 the Forstmeister in consultation with the local party leaders. A 

 candidate must be at least 25 years old; must have had 2 years' ex- 

 perience in forest work, including at least 1 year on the forest in 

 question; must be of good character; and must be a member of the 

 German Labor Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront), but not necessarily of 

 the National Socialist Party. The council consists of 2 to 10 members, 

 depending on the number of workers on the forest. Its function is to 

 advise the Forstmeister regarding working conditions, etc.; decision 

 is left to him or his superiors. There is to be a special trustee of labor 

 (Treuhander der Arbeit) in each of the larger States, to exercise 

 general supervision over forest-labor problems and settle disputes. 

 He is a Reich official. He may establish uniform minimum wage 

 rates for groups of forests, may remove members of the councils 

 whose service is unsatisfactory, and may appoint councilors if the 

 workers do not accept the slate nominated by the Forstmeister. 



The council members serve 1 year, without pay, except that they 

 receive regular wages for any time lost on account of their duties on 

 the council, and necessary expenses. A majority of the council may 

 appeal to the trustee of labor in case of dissatisfaction with wages or 

 terms of employment fixed by the forest officer. Working conditions 



7 Based on (20, v. 16, pp. 889-Slfi; 25; 27; 88). 



8 The Forstmeister or Oberforster and his assistants are usually provided with a small area of land for 

 garden, field crops, and pasture. 



