Biography George F. Johnson

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 endicott-johnson co. & square deal
1.3 working week

biography
early life

george francis johnson born in milford, massachusetts on october 14, 1857 francis a. johnson , sarah jane (aldrich) johnson. siblings oscar, c. fred johnson, harry l., , charlotte. in 1881, after 10 years of experience in shoe , boot-making factories in home state, hired supervisor of work crew in section of shoe factory in binghamton, new york. 9 years later became superintendent of company’s new plant, located in community of lestershire, new york, , said largest factory of kind in entire world.

an endicott-johnson store in george f. johnson s hometown of milford, massachusetts can seen during u.s. bicentennial celebration on may 16, 1976


endicott-johnson co. & square deal

in 1899, johnson became co-owner of business henry b. endicott, renamed endicott-johnson co. under presidency, company grew 8 factories in broome county, new york, employing 10,000. endicott-johnson first company in shoe industry introduce 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek, , comprehensive medical care. despite paying of highest wages in industry, endicott-johnson consistently profitable.

although johnson oversaw many different factories throughout susquehanna valley of broome county, attracted many immigrant workers area offering build homes. although name johnson given city in ny george f. arrived, city of endicott better reflects intimate vision prosperous community. because johnson himself developed of residential neighborhoods in endicott, selling houses workers @ cost himself of $1000 each.

until died in 1948, johnson saw endicott-johnson employees received range of benefits not typically offered employers @ time. company created parks (containing swimming pools , carousels ride free), medical facilities, restaurants, libraries, , recreational facilities—all designed provide high quality goods , services employees free or @ low cost.

the square deal towns of endicott & johnson city have set precedent of eager industrial labor habits broome county. humming ej factories , neighborhoods origins of international business machines. endicott , johnson city george f. johnson revolutionized pay system , improved relationships between capital , labor.

here quote george f.: know in morning compensation fixed; know must same thing day long, know whether little more or little less, whether more or less interested , more or less efficient, pay automatically fixed-creates deadly monotony can believe possible . here describes called piece worker system, whereas professor melvyn dubovsky calls johnson s ethic welfare capitalism .

the community of lestershire renamed johnson city, new york in 1916 in honor of johnson, , endicott-johnson workers built 2 arches on area’s main road in ’20s, 1 @ entrance johnson city , other in endicott, new york stating gateways square deal towns . endicott-johnson become largest manufacturer of footwear in united states, employing 24,000 workers @ peak.

working week

during world war i, endicott-johnson shoe factories made every pair of military boots, equipped u.s. soldiers. on 16 october 1916, george f. johnson announced mandate of 40 hour work week, became american standard. rule took effect ej-factory workers on november 1, 1916. view of 40-hour week based on wage-system of individual-unit-contributions workers, , saw hourly-wage-system form of mental slavery.