Analysis of the Operation of the Wage Ceiling on Picking Sun-Dried Raisin Grapes: California, 1943

Excerpts: Approximately 12,000 raisin-grape growers in California produce annually, on 245,000 acres, close to a million tons of raisin grapes. Most of these are small operators located in a compact group in the south central part of the San Joaquin Valley. In 1942, the harvest season was hectic. Agricultural workers spent much time shopping around for better wage rates rather than working steadily for a lower figure. Growers actively bid against each other obtain workers or to keep the ones they had. Under this pressure the rate for picking raisin grapes rose from 3 cents a tray to 6 and 7 cents. In 1943, therefore, operators responded readily to the idea of a wage ceiling. The wage ceiling on picking raisin grapes was established on August 27, 1943. The ceiling rate was the same as that which had been recommended by the growers as the going wage for the season--a base rate of 5 cents a tray for Thompsons and 6 1/2 cents for Muscats.

节选内容：
加州约有12000名制干葡萄种植户，每年在24.5万英亩的土地上产出近百万吨制干葡萄（raisin grapes）。其中多数为小型种植户，集中分布于圣华金河谷（San Joaquin Valley）中南部区域。
1942年的收获季异常紧张忙碌。农业工人将大量时间用于四处寻价，以争取更高薪资，而非稳定接受较低的薪酬标准务工。种植户们竞相竞价，以招揽工人或留住现有雇工。在此压力下，制干葡萄的采摘单价从每托盘3美分上涨至6至7美分。
因此在1943年，种植户们欣然接受了设立薪资上限（wage ceiling）的提议。1943年8月27日，制干葡萄采摘薪资上限正式确立。该上限标准与种植户们本季推荐的通行薪资一致：汤普森葡萄（Thompsons）的基础单价为每托盘5美分，马斯喀特葡萄（Muscats）则为每托盘6.5美分。