University of Houston, 4333 University Drive, Houston TX 77204-2000, (713) 743-1050.
© 2013 University of Houston. All rights reserved.
| Title | Wage labour and capital |
| Creator (LCNAF) |
|
| Contributor (LCNAF) |
|
| Publisher | International Publishers |
| Place of Creation (TGN) |
|
| Date | 1932 |
| Subject.Topical (LCSH) |
|
| Genre (AAT) |
|
| Language | English |
| Type (DCMI) |
|
| Original Item Extent | 48 pages; 20 cm |
| Original Item Location | HB301.M3813 1932 |
| Original Item URL | http://library.uh.edu/record=b8302360~S11 |
| Original Collection | Socialist and Communist Pamphlets |
| Digital Collection | Socialist and Communist Pamphlets |
| Digital Collection URL | http://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/scpamp |
| Repository | Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries |
| Repository URL | http://libraries.uh.edu/branches/special-collections |
| Use and Reproduction | In Copyright: This item is protected by copyright. Copyright to this resource is held by the creator or current rights holder, and the resource is provided here for educational purposes. It may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without permission of the copyright owner. Users assume full responsibility for any infringement of copyright or related rights. |
| Note | Translation of Lohnarbeit und Kapital. |
| File Name | index.cpd |
| Title | Image 13 |
| Format (IMT) |
|
| File Name | uhlib_2981922_012.jpg |
| Transcript | INTRODUCTION ii Now what takes place after the worker has sold his labour- power, i.e., after he has placed his labour-power at the disposal of the capitalist for stipulated wages—whether time-wages or piece- wages? The capitalist takes the labourer into his workshop or factory, where all the articles required for the work can be found —raw materials, auxiliary materials (coal, dyestuffs, etc.), tools and machines. Here the worker begins to work. His daily wages are, as above, 3 shillings, and it makes no difference whether he earns them as day-wages or piece-wages. We again assume that in twelve hours the worker adds by his labour a new value of 6 shillings to the value of the raw materials consumed, which new value the capitalist realises by the sale of the finished piece of work. Out of this new value he pays the worker his 3 shillings, and the remaining 3 shillings he keeps himself. If, now, the labourer creates in twelve hours a value of 6 shillings, in six hours he creates a value of 3 shillings. Consequently, after working six hours for the capitalist the labourer has returned to him the equivalent of the 3 shillings received as wages. After six hours' work both are quits, neither one owing a penny to the other. " Hold on there! " now cries out the capitalist. " I have hired the labourer for a whole day, for twelve hours. But six hours are only half a day. So work along lively there until the other six hours are at an end—only then will we be even." And, in fact, the labourer has to submit to the conditions of the contract upon which he entered of " his own free will," and according to which he bound himself to work twelve whole hours for a product of labour which cost only six hours' labour. Similarly with piece-wages. Let us suppose that in twelve hours our worker makes twelve commodities. Each of these costs 2 shillings in raw material and wear and tear, and is sold for 2x/z shillings. On our former assumption, the capitalist gives the labourer one-fourth of a shilling for each piece, which makes a total of 3 shillings for the twelve pieces. To earn this, the worker requires twelve hours. The capitalist receives 30 shillings for the twelve pieces; deducting 24 shillings for raw material and wear and tear there remains 6 shillings, of which he pays 3 shillings in wages and pockets the remaining 3. Just as before! Here also the worker labours six hours for himself, i.e., to replace his wages |