The chronicle of Eger Tobacco Factory

The factory-under construction

Officer Rónai’s situation was by no means enviable. Together with his helper, Mr Spudil he had to work hard to get the fingers of the women, used to vine shoots, accustomed to valuable and sensitive tobacco leaves. Cigar production had hitherto had no traditions in Eger, hence the fact that the new industry had no esteem in the city. However, employment was scanty and many applicants were drawn in spite of the offer of the small wages paid by the factory which operated at a loss due to the waste of raw material and its costly training courses. The recruited women had to serve an apprenticeship of six weeks, four of which were devoted to training, while the subsequent two weeks were used to monitor working performance to enable employer and employee to negotiate wages. To assist the training programme the Tobacco Excise Office transferred three women trainers from the factory at Kassa (Kosice) who were extremely pleased about the move, for their weekly wages were raised from 8 forints to 9. The women had pretty names: Mária Vazul and Mária Körösi. The third was called by her husband’s name: Burcsányi. If these excellent ladies earned 9 forints a week how much could the factory afford to pay their students? The best overwrappers could earn up to 10 forints and 80 krajcár a week which comprised six workdays. The source of these figures was the Tobacco Excise Decree, issued on 17 July 1894, which fixed the wages payable at Eger Tobacco Factory. According to the decree the wages of the workers of the cigar preparatory department were to be calculated as follows: 40 krajcár per 1,000 cigars; the workers of the cigar production department were to be paid 2 forints per 1,000 cigars; the latter sum was split between the overwrapper who received 1 forints and 20 krajcár and the bunch maker who was paid 80 krajcár. There were three categories of trained workers who were classified according to working ability. The daily output of a worker could be 500, 1,000 or 1,500 Short Hungarian Cigars.