An Early Wage Survey – 1949 To 1951

By John Kerr

We find at this time mention of the earliest wage survey to have been conducted by CEDA (April 6, 1949). By this time, wages had been unfrozen from the war-time rates and thus were considered to be significantly higher.

The rates reported were:

Secretaries                         $145 per month

Typists                               $115 per month

Billing Clerks                       $118 per month

Accounting                          $175 per month

Counter Manager                 $200 per month

Order Clerks                        $157 per month

Warehouse Manager            $210 per month

Receivers                            $150 per month

Shippers                             $149 per month

It is interesting to note that many of the classifications of staff we now consider universal did not appear to exist in those days.

Cutting the association’s operating costs was a priority topic at the spring meeting in Montreal. In drawing up the year’s budget, it was decided to limit the association manager to five trips a year to Montreal, with expenses covering only lower berth accommodations and meals on route.  Convention expenses were reduced by the introduction of a five dollar registration fee, and sundry items were completely eliminated, reducing the total budget by $1500.

The first available definition of an electrical distributor

For the first time we are able to look at a definition of an electrical distributor, in that the existing definition was revised to stipulate that CEDA members were required to “have a paid up, or working capital of at least $50,000, in which shall be included a stock of at least $35,000, and the member must employ eight (8) or more employees, including three(3) field men.”

Westinghouse is reported as having established its new supply organization with branches in Toronto, Ottawa and seven western points.

John Kerr is Publisher of CEW.

Source: CEDA: Fifty Years of Service – An Historical Review of the Canadian Electrical Distributors Association, 1934 to 1984, Kerrwil Publications. Please feel free to reach out to us any time if you have great photos, historical anecdotes or perspectives. We would love to hear from you; linegoyette@kerrwil.com.