Women in Munitions Factories

I heard an interview recently with the author of a book about women working in a large munitions factory in Scarborough, Ontario (now a suburb of Toronto). Confusingly, it is also titled Bomb Girls, but this author's name is Barbara Dickson.

 

Stefan,
Women in the UK that were not already in the armed forces or a reserved occupation were allocated factory work or farm work for the war effort.

Regards
Tom

 

In spite of the obvious dangers working within this environment the earnings were very attractive.
Taken from "In The Munitions"
Graham.

 

And income tax was 7s 6d (37 1/2p) in the pound Graham.

Steve

 

Hi Steve,
That's interesting, didn't give the income tax a thought.
Another way of putting it, today you would pay £37-50 for every £100-00 pound earned. (Theft by the government)

regards.....Graham.

 

Hi Graham,

I don’t think you’d class it as theft by the government during wartime as they would need the tax to finance the war effort?

I’m not sure but presume that service personnel would also pay income tax at that rate?

Steve

 

Cheers Steve,
Inspite of the tax, the money earned in the munitions factorys was very good.

Graham.

 

Agreed Graham but on the other hand there was little to spend it on as it was mostly all rationed!

I think my mother spoke of doing a week of 12 hour days followed by 12 hour nights with one day off a week as a single woman. Not a lot of time for a social life!

Regards

Steve

 

Steve,
I don't know but it wouldn't surprise me with such a large working force, there wasn't some underhand dealings (black market)
going on within the factory.

Graham.