January 1, 1936

Frederick Vietor cuts the piecework rates for Steinway & Sons workers involved in building the new Model S piano by 10%, to further reduce the manufacturing cost, and to make the $885 retail price of the new piano more profitable for the company. This results in workers being paid less for making Model S, than for identical work on Model M and other pianos. Thus, Frederick Vietor gives his workers a perfect reason to unionize the entire factory: “similar work for less pay”. (Even though the workers indignation is triggered immediately, the company will only become fully unionized in 1939.)