Examination of an Example of Exploitation
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This article was first published on 26th December 2017 on The Red Path.
Comrades, I got a real example of exploitation in an amusement park by an American comrade, whose name I will not name here. Let us call him here “Comrade T”. Let´s get started!
1. The given data of that amusement park:
Park in general:
Average 10.000 guests per day x 6 days = 60.000 guests per week; 450.000$ per day x 6 = 2.700.000$ per week
Rides: 31; 6 of them are roller coasters
Estimated fix costs/constant capital (for calculation): 50.000$/75.000$/100.000$ per day x 6 days = 300.000$/450.000$/600.000$ per week
Ticket price is 45$
Included in the ticket price:
Rides department:
Work time: 4x 12h, 2x 8h per day (½h break daily), 6 days per week = 60h per week; average 10h per day
Payment: 7.50$ per hour (0,25$ above minimum wage); 60 x 7.50 = 450$ per week
Employees: about 300; 450$ x 300 = 135.000 per week
Security:
Work time: 4x 12h, 2x 8h per day, 6 days per week = 60h per week; average 10h per day
Payment: 7.50$ per hour; 60 x 7.50 = 450$ per week
Employees: around 50; 50 x 450$ = 22.500$ per week
Groundskeepers:
Work time: 8h per day, 6 days per week = 48h per week
Payment: 7.50$ per hour; 48 x 7.50$ = 360$ per week
Employees: about 100; 100 x 360$ = 36.000$ per week
Mechanics and carpenters:
Work time: 8h per day, 5 days per week = 40h per week
Payment: 16$ per hour (both); 40 x 16$ = 640$ per week
Employees: about 50 mechanics + about 10 carpenters = 60; 60 x 640$ = 38.400$ per week
Not included in the ticket price:
Foods:
Work time: ?
Payment: about 6$ per hour
Employees: around 200
Games:
Work time: ?
Payment: ?
Employees: ?
2. Analysis
My analysis of this data will be limited on the surplus value gained through the ticket price, because Comrade T has no data of the extra offerings like food and games. Unfortunately Comrade T has also no knowledge about the constant capital costs, therefore we calculate with estimated numbers: 50.000$, 75.000$ and 100.000$ per day just to show you some possible numbers as examples.
Total wages:
At first let us calculate the weekly wages together:
135.000$ + 22.500$ + 36.000$ + 38.400$ = 231.900$ per week
Organic composition:
1. 300.000$ ÷ 231.900$ = 1,29 c : 1 v
2. 450.000$ ÷ 231.900$ = 1,94 c : 1 v
3. 600.000$ ÷ 231.900$ = 2,59 c : 1 v
c is constant capital (machines, material, etc) and v is variable capital (wages). Constant capital is called so, because the value is determined by previous production, its value is transferred on the end product in the amount as it is used. Variable capital is called so, because wage and surplus are both based on the amount of the created new value and is variable on that basis. It comes by the fact that wages are determined by the average needed amount of time to create or offer a commodity. This table here shows on how much amount of money spent for c or v which of its opposite side is needed.
Surplus:
1. 2.700.000$ – 300.000$ – 231.900$ = 2.168.100$ surplus per week ÷ 6 = 361.350$ per day
2. 2.700.000 – 450.000$ – 231.900$ = 2.018.100$ surplus per week ÷ 6 = 336.350$ per day
3. 2.700.000$ – 600.000$ – 231.900$ = 1.868.100$ surplus per week ÷ 6 = 311.350$ per day
Surplus rate:
1. 2.168.100$ ÷ 231.900$ x 100 = 934,93% → 1$ wage : 9,35$ surplus
2. 2.018.100$ ÷ 231.900$ x 100 = 870,25% → 1$ wage : 8,70$ surplus
3. 1.868.100$ ÷ 231.900$ x 100 = 805,56% → 1$ wage : 8,06$ surplus
This means on example 1: For every Dollar the average employee gets, the bourgeoise park owner gets 9,35$ in relation.
Unfortunately it is not possible to say how big the surplus rate for the single employee groups are, because it can differ from the general, average surplus rate. Using this on the single employee groups can just give a rough overview on what the value of their work power actually is worth.
So I will do, but keep in mind, that I use the average on their wage per work hour and not the single rate, because I do not have the data for it:
Rides department:
1. 7.50$/h x 9,35 = 70,13$ surplus/h
2. 7.50$/h x 8,7 = 65,25$ surplus/h
3. 7.50$/h x 8,06 = 60,45$ surplus/h
Security:
1. 7.50$/h x 9,35 = 70,13$ surplus/h
2. 7.50$/h x 8,7 = 65,25$ surplus/h
3. 7.50$/h x 8,06 = 60,45$ surplus/h
Groundskeepers:
1. 7.50$/h x 9,35 = 70,13$ surplus/h
2. 7.50$/h x 8,7 = 65,25$ surplus/h
3. 7.50$/h x 8,06 = 60,45$ surplus/h
Mechanics and carpenters:
1. 16$/h x 9,35 = 149,60$ surplus/h
2. 16$/h x 8,7 = 139,20$ surplus/h
3. 16$/h x 8,06 = 128,96$ surplus/h
Profit rate:
1. 2.168.100$ ÷ 531.900$ x 100 = 407,61% → 1$ investment : 4,08$ profit
2. 2.018.100$ ÷ 681.900$ x 100 = 295,95% → 1$ investment : 2,96$ profit
3. 1.868.100$ ÷ 831.900$ x 100 = 224,56% → 1$ investment : 2,25$ profit
The profit rate shows in which relation the investment of constant and variable capital stands to the profit.
3. Afterword
I hope it was a useful example for you to learn how to calculate with wages and surplus and the relates numbers. Mind that this is based on real numbers with some important numbers missing, therefore the result is not totally accurate nor correct. We just came the truth a good step closer towards the exploitation of these amusement park workers. Their constant capital number was just estimated and therefore I used three different variables to get relatively closer to the actual amount. Also the exploitation rate of the single worker groups could not be calculated because also there some things are still unknown. Take it as an example for own calculations. You will get a better result than I, when you know more numbers. You must seek for completion, then you will find the truth!
Thank you, Comrade T, for giving us that set of data. I hope it was useful for you too, to get a rough overview on how much you get pressed out when going to work.