The Daily Worker Newspaper, September 3, 1934, Page 4

ee sepsnense Page Four Four Thousand Robe Workers Out; Strike Enters Second Week Industry Pacatvied As Workers Fight For Union Rates The bathrole ond week with ranks and high part of the trade manufac s paralyzed, The d contractors Scurrying to Labor Board de- Manding a conference with the Strikers with an eye to a quick Settlement. The Bathrobe Workers Industrial Union, which is leading the strike, has been able to carry its organiza- tional activity far and wide into virgin territory. Workers in South Norwalk, Conn, and Red Bank, N. J. have had their first. contract with their fellow workers from New York. They have responded to the strike with a readiness that was gratifying. In the Red Bank vicin- ity alone eight shops have come down. The contracting shops in New York have been completely stopped and many of the large in- dependent factories, Homan, Weise, Hanchow, Permier, Barza and Ban- borough, for instance, are energe- tically picketed by their workers. It would be impossible to glean from the columns of the capitalist press that a strike of some 4,000 workers has practically crippled the industry in New York and swept the entire industrial area of Northern Jerse Atlantic Highlands, Perth Ambo! Roselle Park, Jersey City and Staten Island. Vigorous Policy Brings Results Two features of the bathrobe strike stand out sharply: the mili- tant determination of the workers and the ugly role played by the right wing unions, the Amalgamated and the International. The LaGuardia police e acted with particular bru bly against the pick- ets at the Hoffman shop, 1 Carlton gt Brockiy the Negro z Willie on, and John Curiale and Ben Stallman were beaten when an army of cops Mass picketing is “permissible,” ac- crashed through the picket line to cording to LaGuardia, only when a sell-out gang like Dubinsky’s is in clear a lane for hordes of scabs. operation. The militancy of the strikers may be attributed to a large extent to the vigorous fighting policy carried through unremittingly by the Bath- robe Workers Industrial Union. En- tering an unorganized field last year, the union succeeded almost at once in raising the miserably low wages ©° *>2 workers. In the spring of this year a series of sudden stoppages rther favorable results. The hypocrisy of the N.R.A. was thoroughly exposed. Even when a shop strike was lost, as in the case of B. Brown, the union gained enough strength to be able to return to the charge with renewed vigor. Unflagging activity was carried on throughout the summer. The out- of-town centers were contacted and organized. The solidarity of the strike is the result of this carefully laid program, In South Norwalk, the union prodded a hornet’s nest. Coming down eagerly at first to join with their fellow workers in New York and New Jersey, the open fascist teror and the relentless police per- secution scored heavily against the local strikers. Every organizer was Picked up and jailed the moment he appeared on the streets. Thir- teen workers face indictments on various trumped up charges. Re- peated protests by the Civil Liber- ties Union have proved utterly use- less. In spite of all this, however, the workers have learned to esteem the Industrial Union and to follow its lead. No Justification for Intervention The part played by the officials of the International and Amal- gamated in this strike is the single dark blot on an otherwise bright picture. Neither of these unions has ever cared a tinker’s damn for the bathrobe workers or attempted to organize them. But now, when the workers find themselves in a struggle to better themselves, these Officials are at hand to sabotage the strike. During the strike campaign of last year, the firm of 8. I. Hoff- Man made a verbal “agreement” with the International the purpose of which was to keep the workers from joining the Industrial Union. As a result of this, it came about that although the workers in other Shops were raised from 35 per cent to 150 per cent, the Hoffman work- ers received a bare 10 per cent in- crease. To make up for that, many of the workers received the priv- jlege of belonging to the Interna- tional at $7 to $10 a head. The moment the strike was called, the 120 bathrobe workers of 8S, I. Hoffman came down. At that same moment Greenberg of Local 1, I. L. G. W. U., appeared with a state- ment that the shop had signed up with the International and threat- ened all those who struck with the Joss of their jobs. It was Green- berg who was responsible for bring- ing on the police brigade that crashed through the militant picket line to make way for scabs from the International The chiefs of the Amalgamated acted in the same spirit. Fearing that many of the cutters would respond to the call of the Indus- trial Union, which offered them a united front for common strike action, without at all raising the question of union affiliation, the Amalgamated immediately rushed to offer “protection” to all those who could be induced to scab on the bathrobe strike. The determination of the strikers more than makes up for the treach- ery of these anti-social elements. The strikers want a 35 hour week and minimum wage scales ranging from $18 to $45. At a conference held on June 2ist, the contractors’ association agreed that the scales Proposed by the union were fair. The strikers will certainly win out is Strikes Galled| In 2 Cleaners Shopsby Union Organization Drive for Out-of-Town Shops Is Begun Louis Hyman, national president | NEW YORK-—The Orientai| % the Neeille Trades Workers In- Cleaners and Dyers, 808 E, 139th| dustrial Union, to which the Bath- St., Bronx, and the Bedford Clean-| robe Workers Industrial Union, jers and Dyers, 500 Leonard St.,| now leading a strike of 4,000 | Brooklyn, were declared on strike by the Cleaners, Dyers and Pressers’ Union, Local 18232, A. F. of L., 799 Broadway ew York, to enforce the agreements which these shops had | with the union. The Oriental, in order to evade | the agreement with the union, sen out the work to be finished in sweatshops under non-union condi- tions, while union members in the shop were working only part time. | The shop also hired non-union help j}at lower rates. Union members | were threatened with firing and being starved out unless they would | accept the voluntary wage cuts, The Oriental also operates a chain of seven stores under the | Needle | | | workers in New York, Trades DAILY WORKER, NEW YORK, MONDAY. New Jersey and Connecticut, is affiliated. Theatre ‘Allied’ jname of Clayton, with non-union help. The union has extended the Picketing to these stores as well as the shop. 60-70-Hour Week The Bedford, also, while having | an agreement with the union to hire only union workers, took in non- union help. Instead of observing the 40-hour week, which the agree- ment calls for, they put some work- ers on the “steady” system, which means that they had to work 60 and 70 hours a week until all the work was finished. The boss also made an attempt to intimidate workers who belong to the union. One member of the union was fired for attending a union meeting. In the past few weeks the Clean- ers, Dyers and Pressers’ Union had a number of strikes and stoppages at the Motzkin Bros. shop in New Rochelle, the Old Manhattan in Brooklyn, the Jamaica in Richmond Hill, the Columbia in New York, and in several others in order to defend itself against violations of the union agreement, such as not paying the workers their wages on time, firing of union members, hir- ing non-union help, etc. There seems to be a concerted effort on the part of the employ- | ers to evade the agreement with the union and to break the union altogether. Many wholesale shops have opened chain stores of their own under different trade names, where the work is done with non- union help and under sweatshop conditions. The retail tailors com- plain bitterly that these wholesale firms, while doing the work for| them, are opening chain stores which undermine the existence of the tailors, Begin Organization Drive | In order to blast the hopes of the employers and their association to break up the union, an organiza- tional drive has been started to carry union organization to the non-union shops, wholesale, retail and chain store shops. For the duration of the drive, the initiation fee for new members has been re- duced. The union has also decided | to organize helpers and unskilled workers who have been unorganized until lately. has been established. ing demands: No firing. The right to belong to the union, Increased wages to meet the higher cost of living. Shorter hours without cuts, Time and one-half for overtime, wage Signed By Forty Shoe Bosses By I. ROSENBERG Forty shoe manufacturers Union. Twenty of these manufac turers organized themselves as th Shoe Manufacturers Adjustment Committee who signed a collectivs “| agreement with our union, which at the same time is binding every in dividual manufacturer, of the Association or not. manufacturers sign individual con tracts. Nineteen slipper manufac turers are now negotiating with oui and new prices, the agreements ex. piring Sept. 1, Seven children’s sho shops. small establishments In the slipper shops, several manu facturers have already signed th new agreements. in the shoe factories. the main objectives was to brin; the measure to guide ourselves One of the tasks was to determin precisely the average hourly earn ings. Invariably the manufacturer mum ‘and when proven the con if they carry on with the vame spirit as heretofore. of L. “Allied,” the obtained a Pp resistance. company union, Holmden, an I. A..T. 8, mand the following: of officers. 3. Drastic reduction union administration. of the membership, 5. Regular reports on of union funds. trade. union, ll. unemployed. company owned and operated by and for the| tempted to save his face by coming interests of Brandt and Company,| out openly against the discredited show-cause order last week to restrain Local keting I. T. O, A. Theaters. In the face of all this, the I. A. T.| S. E., the parent body of Local 306, is still pursuing its policy of passive | Boss: AidsOwnUnion To Fight AF L Obtains Order) 2! Barring Local 306 From Picketing By F. 8. L. Harry Brandt, head of the Inde- pendent Theater Own tion, at a recent meeting named a committee of ten to devise ways andj |means to counteract picketing and} other, activities by Local 306, A. F. 's Associa- union 306 from Only through initiative and ener- getic action of rank and file mem- bership was any progress made in the fight against I. T. O. A. and its Holmden, the new leader of Local 306, who promised to economize, has appointed several “committees” con- sisting of supporters of the former Kaplan and Sherman cliques. | ‘committee men” (about a score of! injunction, the announcement con- them) receive salaries ranging from $50 to $135 per week plus “expenses.” The E. appointee, spends approximately $400 a week more than Sherman did. Decisions are made without union sanction. Members of Local 306 must de- 1. Regular union meeting. 2. Immediate democratic election in cost of 4. No decisions without sanction expenditures 6. Abdlition of all committees not elected by the membership. 7. Uniform wage scales in the 8. Abolition of “all day” jobs. 9. One union in the industry. 10. Rank and file control of the Exemption of dues for the! 12. Minimum of $25 per week re- lief for unemployed members. 13. Six month moratorium on Leader A lower dues system for the unskilled low paid workers The union is raising the follow- The New Ag Agreements With Union have already signed agreements with the United Shoe and Leather Workers regardless of whether he remains a member Twenty union the renewal of agreements are negotiating for renewal of contracts. In this article I wish to dwell mainly on the results of settlements As already stated in previous articles one of up the lower paid departments in the shops to a higher standard, using the minimum hourly rates as would take a position that their employees are earning their mini- trary, their next claim would be that their workers are exceptionally initiation fee payments. Every member of Local 306 should write to his congressman demand- ing enactment of the Workers’ Un- employment Insurance Bill, H. R. 7598, which provides for unemploy- ment and social insurance at the ex- pense of employers and the govern- ment, The members should also send telegrams to the A. F. of L. convention demanding the endorse- ment of H. R. 7598. form. |] be in a po case. tants m N. Y. unions, A. F. of L., NEW YORK.—Rank and file ; members of Local 324 of the A. F. of L, Hotel and Restaurant Workers | Union have issued a warning to the membership of that organization against the attempt of “Papa” Leh- | man, notorious misleader of the or- ganization, to put over a set of officers in another election to the | The warning of the militants in the unions follows the ousting of Max Lehman and Jimmy Parianous at a meeting on August 27. Both Lehman and Parianous were under fire as grafters. The vote on oust- ing them was 56 to oust Lehman, with only 8 votes against, and 54 | for impeaching Parianous with no dissenting votes. Green Changes Colors | In the face of the mass indigna- | tion demonstrated by the rank and | file against the rotten officialdom, | Ruben Green, another misleader, at- | Local Union News to Feature N.Y. 8 Page Edition of ‘Daily’ With this issue the Daily Worker wishes to announce the dis- continuance of the New York Trade Union Supplement in its present | In the past, with only one edition of the paper for the entire country, the Daily Worker, consistent with the policy of the Com- munsit Party, devoted its chief attention to developments in the basic industries—steel, coal, marine, etc. New York labor movement were often neglected. To overcome this the Trade Union Supplement was published. Beginning with October 8, however, the Daily Worker, as has already been announced, will have three editions. Two editions, one || to appear at 7 p. m. and the second at midnight, of eight pages || each will be New York editions and will consequently feature New || York mews, laying much stress on activity im local trade unions. || Thus, instead of LESS New York labor news, the Daily Worker will ition to carry MORE and, what is more important, will be able to ca:ry such material daily instead of weekly, as is now the We urge all our N. Y¥. trade union correspondents and all mili- As a result, activities in the T. U. U. L. or independent unions, to make arrangements for regular material in and the widest dis- tribution of the eight page “Daily.” Grafters Ousted by | Local 325 Of A. F. of L. Restaurant Men officials, by pointing out that they “were being bribed.” This trick, however, on the part of Ruben Green in exposing Lehman and Par- janous didn’t work. It didn’t fool the rank and file members because they know, only too well, his black tecord of trickery and betrayals. As soon as the news reached “Papa” Lehman (the father of Max Lehman, Second Vice-President of the International) he rushed from Minneapolis to New York in order to reinstate his son in office, The statement of the rank and file group of Local 325 follows, in part: “Members of Local 325! Don’t be fooled again! Don’t fall for the fat promses of Lehman’s hench- men! Elect your own officials from among your ranks! Don’t allow the arch-grafters to get in the office and split your ranks, force you to scab on your own fellow workers, and sell you ont to the bosses. Be on guard!” Injunction Granted by Brooklyn Judge NEW YORK.—Judge Byrne, well- known Tammany dispenser of “jus- tice”, last week issued an injunction against picketing of the Station Fruit Market of Brootklyn, against which a strike has been going on for over a week, the Food Workers In- dustrial Union announced yester- day. The strikers will fight the tinued. pickets were locked up for peaceful picketing and each was held under $600 bail. The second day of the strike, 10 pickets were arrested and held under $500 bail each. The boss, Mr. Citron, immediately applied for an injunction. Mr. Cit- ron's lawyer, a certain Mr. William Arthur Blank, served the union with papers on Tuesday night, August | 28th at 9:30 p. m., and the follow- |ing morning, August 29th, a tem- porary injunction was granted by jthe vicious labor hating Judge Byrne of Supreme Court, Brooklyn, Part Il. CURTAIN WORKERS STRIKE NEW YORK.—The workers of the Style Curtain Co. are on strike un- der the leadership of the Curtain and Drapery Workers Union, with headquarters at 40 West 18th St., N. Y. C. The workers are striking for higher wages. The Union is preparing to call a mass meeting to acquaint the work- ers in the trade with the progress the union is making in organizing the Curtain and Drapery workers. The date will be announced in the near.future. All workers are called upon to be prepared to answer the call for the meeting. The organization committee of the Union meets every night at 6:00 p.m. Workers are invited to come up to discuss their problems and | organize. Against Food Workers qi The first day of the strike, 15 Furrier Strikers Reinforced in N. Y. Try 75 More Shops NEW YORK.—The 108 fur trim- ming shops which struck Tuesday under the leadership of the Pur Workers’ Industrial Union were joined yesterday by 75 more shops. Fifteen hundred strikers partici- pated in mass picketing in the fur market and later attended two overflow meetings at union head- quarters, 131 W. 28th St. Requesting a conference with the Fur Trimming Manufacturers’ As- sociation for the purpose of nego- tiating a collective agreement, Ben Gold, national | secretary-treasurer of the Needle Trades Workers’ In- dustrial Union, in a letter to Henry Rose, president of the association, said: “We hope that by this time the fur workers haye provided your as- sociation with sufficient, undis- putable evidence of the fact they are members of the Fur Workers’ Industrial Union and that a labor contract concluded only with their bonafide and authorized represen- tatives will have any validity and standing in the fur industry.” Needle Trades Union Urges Support of Its Week at Nitgedaiget NEW YORK.—In a statement calling upon all workers to patron- ize Camp Nitgedaiget for the next. 12 days, the profits of which are to go to the Needle Trades Workers Industrial Union, the N. Y. local of the organization urges registra- tion at once at the office of the union. The statement follows: “All needle trades workers and their friends and sympathizers are urge to make their arrangements for the outing to Camp Nitgedaiget. Special prices will be available dur- SEPTEMBER 3, 1934 He Seems Pained General Johnson, Blue Eagle custodian and chief strikebreaker of the Roosevelt regime, after con- ferring with President Roosevelt on the N. RB. A. Why does the General look so pained. His sal- ary was just increased from $6,000 to $15,000 a year for his work in breaking strikes. Tailors Plan General Fight National Meet Rejeets the Present Custom Tailors’ Code NEW YORK.—A National Con- ference of the Custom Tailoring Workers Industrial Union was held Saturday, August 25, in Philadelphia. Representatives of New York, Phila- delphia, Chicago and Milwaukee were present. Los Angeles and San Francisco were represented by proxy. This Conference was called to discuss the Code of the Merchant and Custom Tailoring Trade signed July 31st. After a thorough dis- cussion, the Conference unanimous- ly rejected the Code and demanded a new public hearing. At the Con- ference it was decided to prepare for a general struggle on a national soale against the Code and for the demands that were originally pro- posed in Washington by the Cus- tom Tailoring Workers Industrial Union at the Code hearing January 25, 1934, which is as follows: (1) a thirty-five (35) hour week; (2) time and one-half for overtime; (3) a $40.00 minimum wage for tailors and $25.00 for finishers and helpers; (4) the immediate abolition of home work; (5) the right to belong to the union of the workers choice; (6) demand for a representative on the Code authority of the Merchant and Custom Tailoring Industry. The Conference greeted with great enthusiasm the decision of Local No, 86 of the Milwaukee Journey- men Tailors Union of America, breaking away from the Journeymen Tailors Union of America, and join- ing with the Custom Tailoring Workers Industrial Union, as a pro- test against the leadership of the Journeymen Tailors Union of Amer- ica in accepting the Code. The national secretary, Alexander Hoffman, of the Custom Tailoring Workers Industrial Union, has been instructed by the National Confer- ence to immediately proceed through the districts for the purpose of as- sisting the districts in making the necessary plans in carrying out the decision of the Conference. ing the 12 days for which the camp will be taken over by the Needle Trades Workers Industrial Union. “The 12-day period is to start with the Rosh Hashono week-end, Sept. 8th, and will include Yom Kippur. The price for the entire 12-day period is only $13, tax included. “Special buses and cars are ready to convey all comers. “In order to facilitate and hasten the final preparations, the union urgently requests that the needle trades workers cooperate by regis- tering at once at the office of the Union, 131 West 28th St. On NRA Code; Urban League Forms Jim-Crow Councils To Divide Workers LaundryUnion Officials Keep s\Locals Split Up :| Thugs Beat Worker Who Dares Criticize Organizer By a Worker Correspondent NEW YORK.—I address this re- port to all members of Local 280 of the Laundry Workers International Union. Brothers and Sisters: At the last meeting of the local the executive brought in a recom- mendation to raise the salary of the organizer. Some of the members praised the organizer, Mr. Levine, for his “good” work, and therefore the organizer shall receive a $10 raise. This makes the wages of the organizer $45 a week. This is being done at the same time when the workers are earning, at the best, $25 a week. Listening to this, a new member said he thought that it was a crime that Levine should be or- ganizer and that he is not capable. At this, Levine’s patriots beat him up. We must immediately stop the bulldozing and the terror in our local. Every member of the local has a full right to criticize the of- ficials for mistreatment of workers, There is no difference between a new and old member so long as he is in the organization. It is nothing new that the buro- crats of the A. F. of L. have strong arm mea around to terrorize any worker who speaks up against them in order to keep their jobs. The of- ficials know of the dissatisfaction among the rank and filers because of the favoritism in giving jobs, be- cause of no protection, low wages, and the general inaction of the union. Therefore the officials are trying various means to raise fric- tion among the workers. What are our interests as workers? We are interested to earn more money and a, better living. This can only be done if we are united. The fact is that our officials are against the unity of the workers. In our own local the members are kept separate and meet separate. The statement of our president that he has nothing to do with the move- ment for unity of all laundry work- ers proves further that the officials are not for unity. Brothers and Sisters: We cannot depend on the N.R.A. but on our own strength. We must demand rank and file control in our union and the right to criticize in order to better our local. No terror and bull dozing, no favoritism, no Separate meetings. Let us organize and unite all laundry workers, A WORKER OF LOCAL 280. STRIKE AT THE VITREOUS ENAMEL & STAMPING CO. Fifty-five workers of the Vitreous Enamel and Stamping Co., Bronx, N. Y., went out on strike on Wed- nesday, Aug. 22nd, under the lead- ership of the S.M.W.I.U, The work- ers are demanding a 15 per cent wage increase, division of work, less speed-up, recognition of the Shop Committee and the Union. BRAMSON WORKERS WIN VICTORY Ewelve workers of the Bramson Siphon Equipment Co., after sev- eral days of strike won a $16 mini- mum wage, $20 for casters, increase for the rest of the men, time and one half for overtime and holidays, equal division of work during the slow period, recognition of the Shop Committee. Unemployed? Sell the “Daily”! of facts, and once we were con- vineed in our contention only a det \ xined position taken by the unio. brought the manufacturers to the round table to discuss wage increases. . | It is difficult to go into details by examining shop by shop and | department by dopartment in an analysis of the settlement. Neither ~|space nor the technical differences © | as we go from one shop to another t |and characterize the various opera- | tions permit a detailed analysis. We shall therefore use examples, choos- ing specific factories to illustrate the nature of the settlement. Take the cutting departments of a few shops. Artistic cutters received an in- crease of 10 per cent. Prime cut- ters received an increase of 11 per F. e | Per cent on base on seamless pumps 12 per cent. increase on base price on all other styles. Sellrite’ out- side cutters received 15 per cent increase on base, trimming cutters received 10 per cent increase. In all cases cutting prices have been adjusted and settled on the basis of the minimum rates per hour or above, g| Take for example the lasters and sewers in the bench-made shops. The lesters and sewers received an average of five cents on the base | prices. | cents on the base price. Take for example, the goodyear lasting departments of a few shops, such as the Shoemode. Sellrite, Ar- tistic, Seymour Troy, Banner, Sacks -|& Shaine, Lax & Abowitz, Warner, Milan. Shoemode from 50 cents. base to 55 cents; Artistic from 50 e slow. It required a careful sifting! to 56 cents with several new extras; cent on base price, Shoemode 10 The heelers received two Manner from 50 to 53 cents with new extras; Sacks & Shaine from 50 to 53 cents with new extras. Warner from 45 to 49 cents base. Lax é& Abowitz from 57 to 60 cents. Seymour Troy from 60 to 68 cents base. The same proportion holds good for the heeling department running from 1 to 3 cents increase on the base in quite a number of shops. The fitting departments presented two problems. First the problem of adjusting prices of fancy stitching and folding on the basis of the 90 cents per hour; second, the readjustment of prices of base operations, such as, edge stitching, binding, closing, lining making. Where the time rate was less than 90 cents the new agreement pro- vides, of course, for the new rate. The base prices have been set- tled more or less uniformly, hav- ing in view two things, the hourly rate, as well as the general price level. On the basic operation the increases run from one-half cent to one cent per pair. The question of the week work- ers, semi-skilled as well as the un- skilled is best explained if we again go through a number of shops, as examples: In the Brass, for ex- ample, the Union succeeded in get- ting a raise for 34 week workers, receiving an increase from one to four dollars per week. The average increase amounts to $80 per week for the 34 week workers. In this shop every other department re- ceived, wage increases. The same can be said about the Stone. shop and about the Becker & Friedman shop where 20 week workres received a 2 per cent in- crease. In the Goldstein Footwear, five week workers received $2 a week each. Everyone of these five- week workers was receiving a mini- mum, or about the minimum, prior to the signing of this agreement. In the Continental shop 13 week work- ers received a total of $26 per week, averaging approximatgly $2 a week for each of the 13 workers. In the Colonial the union secured a total of $33 increase for 16 week workers, averaging again $2 a week. In some cases the increase is as high as $4 and $5 per week for some workers. As we go through the cleaning and packing depastments, the in- creases range from one-half to one and one-half cents on a pair for cleaning, 10 to 15 per cent for packing, The same proportion we find in the finishing depastments. In a number of shops where the Jasters did not receive any increase on the base, because the earnings were above the minimum rates, we succeeded in getting additional extras, as in the case of the Bilt- more, Continental, etc. And so, as we go through shop by shop we find that there is not a single shop which did not re- ceive increases in the majority of the departments. In most factories every department received in- creases. A few words must be said about our “membership employed in the shops where negotiations went on. With very few exceptions our shop crews demonstrated a high degree of discipline. It was no easy task to handle 40 different shops by a very limited staff of business agents. Every crew naturally was eager to get first attention by the union, very often our shop crews were disappointed because of the if business agent failing to show up at the exact hour. But in no case has any shop’s crew loosened up its grip upon the situation. The crew has always stcod ready to follow instructions of the union. With many shops prolonging nego- tiations for days, with all the shops’ crews holding two or three meet- ings before the final settlement was agreed to, we can say that only the understanding that our mem- bership and the shop committees has had of the question involved, only the loyalty and confidence of the workers in our organization, made it possible for the union to get the fullest co-operation of the workers in the shops and thus com- plete the work in the course of two and one-half weeks, covering every. shop to a satisfactory degree. Unquestionably the workers will have an opportunity to discuss our work of the past few months. Al] our work is subject to criticism and imvrovement. But what we have gained in this settlement is an open hook for every shop’s crew and for every member of our union. At a time when the Boot & Shoe officials haven’t even so much as raised the question of wage in- creases, at a time when the work- ers in the Boot & Shoe shops are held in a grip by the bosses and their agents, preventing thes work- ers, through all kinds of threats and intimidaticns from vuttine up demands, and furthermore, at 2 time when thousands of shoe work- ers in New England were ferced to accept the old agreement with ar- bitration for 18 months. without any increases, by our national of- ficialdom and their collaborators in the various locals, at such a time our New York local is the only one © reements and Setthkements With the Shoe Manufacturers Many Gains Won For Workers in Strong Fight For Demands’ in the country that is entering a new year, with more pay for the workers, with more power to advance and prepare for. the future, with a membership that stands solid and united under its leadership. This is an achievement. This leads to our next steps. First, to consolidate every gain we have made, to be watchful about our conditions in the shop. To sharpen our activities amongst all shoe workers with the objective of rais- ing the question of the 30-hour week with increased pay not as a theoretical problem, but as a problem of forging the widest unity of action of all shoe workers in erder to be prepared to struggle for these demands, Unemployment in the shoe industry is not decreas- ing, but on the contrary it is in- creasing; production has not risen since last year, but dropped. The action is, preparation for struggle for the 30-hour week and for un- employment insurance, for immedi- ate relief for the unemployed. Let us go forward in confidence in our organized strength, in the feeling that we have a rank and file union that stands on guard to protect the best interests of all shoe workers. Again, at this time, we say to all our members and all shoe ork- ers, “Let us build our organization, Jet us constantly strike to improve in our work, but above all let us remember that our victory lies in our following a clear line of class struggle.” | Workers Expose Sham Of Effort to “Study” Discrimination By T. HOLMES The labor program of the National | Urban League states that white and Negro workers must be together in the labor organizations, aims and | policies. It states further that the proposed workers’ councils are to prepare the way for workers seeking these ends. It declares that) specific objectives of each workers council , tices that make for the sec the workers, on exclusion fro. bodies and on racial weakni handicap effective collective at In the course of its existence, the } councils will consider and plan cor- rective programs for: 4 Handling of grievances within the ranks of Negro workers, Insttuting efforts for the inclu sion of Negro workers in organized bodies of ‘workers representing crafts, trades and occupations ex- cluding Negroes. Studying problems and methods of discrimination and exclusion, and planning ways to overcome them. Participating in labor programs that are-current from time to time in the efforts for social legislation, old age pensions, unemployment in- surance, maximum wage, sickness insurance, and legislation on hours and conditions of work. Educating the Negro community, the white community, and white workers on the history of Negro labor and Negro workers. ‘Thus is presented the false pur- pose of the National Urban League in launching this “nationwide” or- ganization of Workers’ Councils. The real purpose, however, was glaringly revealed, in the recent meetings held for the formation of the New York Workers’ Council. On Monday, June 18, 1934, at the New York Urban League Center, the following organizations were repre- sented: Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, Dining Car Employes, Uni- versal Hotel Chefs, Culinary Arts Association. Dining Car Cooks and Waiters, Needle Trades Industrial Union; Alteration Plumbers, Steam- fitters and Helpers Union; Dress- makers Industrial Union; Food Workers Industrial Union and the Fur Dyers and Dressers Industrial Union. Urban League Heads Present Present were the officials of the Urban League—Jesse O. Thomas, T. Arnold Hill and John T. Clark of. the National Urban League. James H. Hubert and Emma 8. Gilbert of the New York Urban League. Mr. Hubert at thi smeeting, noticing a number of white workers present, stated that the Council was for Ne- groes only. Clara Meltzer, a white workers, and Holmes, categorically pointed out that to’ even think o setting up a Jim-Crow Counci would be eontrary to the so-called principles of the Urban League. They pointed out also that the League contradicted themselves when they talked of developing harmony between the white and Negro workers, by excluding the. white workers from the Council, Mr, Totten, a lackey from the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Port- ers, then stated that it was impos- sible to free the white workers ab- solutely from color prejudice. He thought Jim-Crow Councils the most logical solution. The discussion, however, termi- nated with tha decision to hold over such matters until the Constitution was formed. During the formation of the Con- stitution T. Holmes and F. E. A. Welsh were advised to visit the Na- tional Office of the Urban League after heated opposition on the pro- posal of Mr. Clark of the League to the Constitution Committee that white workers could not be members of the Council (Decision of the Urban League Executives). Executives Evade Issue The workers asked T. Arnold Hi why, on the highest body of the Executive of the Urban Leagu there were white ladies and gentle- men with Negroes who objected to white workers and Negro workers organizing together. No definite answer was ever given to this question, because the white and Negro gentlemen on the Execu- tive of the Urban League, are de: termined to continue their role of confusing and dividing the Neg! and white workers precisely by thei latest scheme of organizing Neg! Workers Councils. They even wen! so far as to suggest that the namé should be changed to Negro Work: ers Council. In the foreword of the Constitu- tion adopted by the workers it i: stated that it is the intention of tht Council made several attempts perstade the officials to attend thy meetings, but although promis has failed to get any of them come down and prove to the work! ers that they are not liars and hyp: ocrites, It is assumed, by the work: ers after the admission of Mr. T. Hill that the Urban League organ; ized Negro scabs in Boston, that guilty conscience has kept away. The Workers Council, howev with Negro and white workers 0} erating without the assistance of the Urban League officials, has inve: tigated the Painters’ strike and wa) able to enforce the demands of thi Negro workers in the Alteratio Painters Union. Other unions w investigated with remarkabl achievements for Negro workers. all of these investigating commit tees of the Workers Council Negro and white workers, —