Speech #890177509

The bushels picked per manhour worked showed little change in 1965 from the 2 preceding years. But the bushels picked by the average worker for the season dropped sharply. In 1963 and 1964. this average was 332 and 320 bushels. respectively. the 1965 average was 193 bushels. (It should be noted. of course. that any measure of bushels picked is not an entirely adequate measure of worker performance. a larger proportion of the lessvaluable large pickles. such as was obtained in 1965. should raise the bushelspicked figures.) The 1965 decline in bushels picked per worker hired appears to be attributable to several factors: Fewer hours of work per day. fewer days of work per week. high labor turnover throughout the season. and the early departure of some groups such as the Ateams and ilterstate migrants. We have heard many complaints about the quality of labor during the 1965 season. The most common grower complaints are summarized in appendix B.