Socialist Regime Settles Big Lockout in Denmark
Spink, Reginald
Socialist Regime Settles Big Lockout in Denmark Work Returned on Terms Favorable to Union—Later Scores Another Victory in Adoption of Measure for Nationalization of Central Bank — Socialist-Fanner...
...Workers now being organised in other plants of the Stone and Webster company in other cities of New England are closely watching the¦ gallant struggle of the Fall River local...
...and Irving Place, New York City...
...This year's budget instanced signs of recovery: increased production and better prices, an increase of 8 per cent in the profits of 281 leading corporations, and falling interest rates...
...He sat back in his seat with a satisfied smile...
...the limiting of the power of the people to initiate legislation to only two subjects and the requirement of 100,000 signatures which, he maintained, should be one-half that amount...
...The Stone and Webster interests soon learned that the "infant" union had asaae no idle threat...
...sance to Big Business...
...The amendment offered by tit C.C.F., which held that the budget was entirely inadequate to meat the situation, would wipe out tht increased sales tax and unassj heavier taxes on large income*, ai well as a levy on wealth...
...Although not a unit of the American Federation of Labor, the inexperienced union members found">themselves not without leadership...
...The loek-out began at the end of February, when union agreement* in a number of trades and >q-»Tw.>w»« expired...
...Another victory wae scored by the Labor and Socialist govern-neat when it forced through a bill providing for the nationalization of the Central Bank of Denmark...
...District 15, will take place on Thursday, May 28, at 8 o'clock, in the auditorium of the Washington Irving High School, 18th St...
...According to Max Liefoter, secretary-treasurer of the union, it will insist upon a three-year term for the new agreement and also a condition that each milk company sign the agreement individually...
...Charles Green, business agent of the union} stated that the milk drivers and inside workers are determined to strike if their demands are not fully granted by June 14...
...The • government's annual financial statement gives income . and expenditure and usually includes an estimate of economic trends within the country...
...A few years ago the principal joint stock bank crashed and it cost the State many millions of kroner to bolster it up again...
...President Chamberlain and Business Agent Toher served notice on the company that they would take the matter to the National Labor Relations Board...
...A blistering attack on the government's proposed budget was made by spokesmen fpr the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, who countered with an amendment eliminating the sales tax and imposing heavier taxes on large incom.es and a levy on wealth...
...The jsessk ment is helping business is 4aa matter by giving the raitesm $3,000,000 to pay wages to lsjgR relief camp men who will «||t on the railroads this summer, h this way the railway i f»nnW|Sl as well as the unemployed wffl get relief...
...The report shows that 638,204 workers were registered with public employment agencies in February of this year...
...The company continued to pretend that the discharge, of the men was due to an "economy move.'' The union, however, insisted that the discharge of the men was an attempt by the company to "nip in the bad" all unionization activity and was a direct violation of the National Labor Relations Law, Appeal to MLB Believing that a determined and militant group, supported by the gas consuming public, could match the strength of the powerful utility company, Local 106 decided to take up the fight for the organized and* unorganized power workers...
...Scores Again The chairman of the commission, with a great show of having caught Waldman in a gross misrepresentation, interrupted him and declared that the proposed charter specifically provided that such provisions were to be pro-xvided in a codified body of local laws...
...tfaioe Members Fired Three days after they had assembled in the small meeting hall, ten of this band of forty gas workers were discharged...
...Canadians can now bring in $100 worth of goods duty-free from the United States —provided they can affor<r4o take the trip across the border and purchase the goods...
...would prove a link between baa...
...They east too much in taxes...
...The lay after the result became known the employers' leader* published in the press a bitter declaration, in which he violently attacked what he called "the collaboration of the $rade unions, the various State institutions and the government...
...The Conservative Party insisted on the sale of one-fourth of the shares held by the State as a condition to granting their consent to the nationalization of the Central Bank...
...The executive board of the newly formed local union was authorized to call the strike on 24 hours' notice to the Fall River Gas Works Company, which is controlled by the powerful Stone and Webster utility combine, the same group that has fought efforts of utility workers in El Paso, Texas, to organize...
...Milk Drivers' Union Presents Demands to Dealers Demands for wage increases for milk drivers and inside workers of independent milk plants have been presented to 114 independent milk companies in Greater New York, whose contracts with Milk Drivers' Union Local 584 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will expire June 14, 1936...
...The whole dispute must be seen as a political maneuver designed to embarrass the Socialist government and, if possible, force it into an unpopular position...
...There is no increaat h taxation on big incomes...
...BOARD ASKS R.F.C...
...The union is asking for a $56 fiat wage for all drivers of wholesale milk routes," a $5 increase above the prevailing wage scale for all inside workers and retail milk routemen, abolition of commissions as part of drivers' pay oh wholesale milk routes and elimination of drivers' helpers...
...The settlement was effected with the aid of the Social-Democratic government, which fpt the third time since it assumed office six years ago intervened in an industrial dispute...
...Upholsterers to Meet On Sunday, May 12 __ On Sunday, May 12, at 10 a. m., a mass meeting of upholsterers will be held at Irving Plaza Hall, 15 Irving Place, New York City, as part of an intensive organization drive...
...Experience in various countries has shewn the importance to a Labor government of having control over the financial machinery and financial policy generally, and nationalization of the Central Bank is the first and most decisive step iu that direction...
...He had put the Socialist and labor spokesman in a hole...
...The matter is purely whether the workers shed) be allowed to band together protect themselves or be kspfc divided to allow the company to exploit them...
...Included in the list of speakers are Vice-President George Brown, Grand Lodge Representative James Matles and Distinct Business Representatives Charles Rivers and Alfred Peabody...
...ness and government...
...Henry Jager will address the gathering...
...The decision of the court was a complete vindication of the unions and government claims...
...Workers' Fine Solidarity .The lock-out dragged on for over a month...
...Machinists' Meeting to Launch Campaign A mass meeting of machinists and metal workers in connection with the organizing campaign of the International Association of Machinists...
...The mediation proposals as accepted by the unions were accordingly introduced into Parliament as a government bilL Unfortunately, there is a small reactionary majority in the Danish Upper Chamber, the Landsting, consisting of the Conservative and (Big) Fanner parties...
...In the call issued rallying tie workers to the meeting, which is held under the* auspices of the United Upholsterers' Unioh of New York, affiliated with the A. F. of L., attention is called to the existence of shyster bosses in the industry who pay starvation wages and force a vicious speed-up system on the men employed on upholstery work and slip cover cutting...
...Socialist Regime Settles Big Lockout in Denmark Work Returned on Terms Favorable to Union—Later Scores Another Victory in Adoption of Measure for Nationalization of Central Bank — Socialist-Fanner Coalition Advances to Control of Upper Chamber...
...If the Fall River Gss Works Company employees lose this fight, then Its effect will be felt by every one of the thousands of men and women employed by this company in all parts of the country...
...The unions heed eat for improved rates for the worst-paid workers and holidays with pay in those trades where such a provision was not in the agreement...
...But the workers were not so gullible...
...President Chamberlain also said that the New England Utility Employees' Alliance is giving the Fall River'local full support...
...men were discharged the union held a conference with the representatives of the Stone and Webster Co...
...In other words, 49.8 per cent of the workers unemployed in New York have had some special training for their jobs...
...Oat C.C.F...
...Waldman criticised the continuance of the present system of dividing legislative power between three bodies instead of concentrating them in a single legislative body...
...A PUBLIC hearing held on Tuesday to consider the proposed charter reeotntnended by the New York City Charter Revision Commission was marked by a verbal duel between former Judge Proskauer and Louis Waldman, labor attorney and Socialist state chairman, which resulted in a victory tor the latter...
...Would this have been a greater evil for the anions than a prolonged industrial dispute which would inevitably have had serious political repercussion* and might have meant the fall of a workers' government in which the anions are strongly represented...
...The exact figure, according to Industrial Commissioner Elmer F. Andrews, is 19.9 per cent...
...A Concession As usual, the Landsting majority claimed their pound of flesh before they would allow this bill to pass...
...They knew that on the first meeting night, the superintendent of the plant and his assistant sat in an automobile outside the hall...
...Not a single unpleasant incident or act of violence occurred...
...Conciliation proposals put forward by the State mediator coincided in all but unimportant details, W)|h the original demand* of the unions...
...Three main obstacles, in the opinion of the government, stand In the way of recovery—restricted world markets, an unbalanced budget, and a huge and "growing debt...
...TO REFUSE LOAN TO ANTI-UNION FIRM WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Labor Relations Board, according to Francis P. Fenton, New England organizer for the A. F. of L., has asked the Reconstruction Finance Corporation not to disburse a loan to the Wfekwire-Spencer Steel Co...
...gasoline and agricultural implements should be of benefit to the farmers—provided such lo...
...The rival exhibition is planned for Barcelona, Spain, this summer and will be called the Workers' Games to be held in cooperation with labor federations at the same time the Olympics are held under Nazi auspices in Berlin...
...and 21 per cent are more than 50 years old...
...It was also brought out that of the ten men discharged., the minimum years of employment was two while the maximum was fifteen years...
...Today ninety per cent of the workers in the Fall River Gas Works Co...
...Within two weeks after they had organized they voted to strike, leaving the calling of the strike in the hands of the execu...
...plants are members of a young local which is giving Stone and Webster one of the stifFest battles in its history...
...The report makes havoc of the common belief that people out of work are those who have no trade or profession...
...On the other hand, the Opposition "had to accept the constitution of this court as laid down by fee government...
...The spokesman of the Farmers' Party was not satisfied vwith the enforced concession...
...Contrary to the usual practice in other countries, the government took advantage of the opportunity to acquire the bulk of the shares...
...None of the directors may be directors or managers of any private undertaking...
...All hopes of inducing the Farmers' Party to let tab government bill pass proved fruitless and, in order to obtain an immediate resumption of work, the government was compelled to refer the dispute to a court of arbitration...
...Forty-six per cent are between 25 and 45 years of age...
...It is the sort of tax which will fall most heavily en ? poorer elements, being passed T| to the consumers...
...Waldman declared that the proposed charter omitted provisions contained in the present one affording protection to civil service employees in the labor and noncompetitive classes with respect to their pension rights and against arbitrary discharge and also safeguarding their right to at least two weeks vacation...
...member estimated that n& a levy would yield two billion del-lars over a period of years, AJ members of this group iaaaVti that there could be no peraaaatt solution of present problems m long as industry remains in private hands...
...Instead of the former five directors there will in future be three only, two appointed by the governing body and one by the government The government member will act as chairman...
...The Socialists believe," says the Journal dee Debats, "that-in Berlin Olympic athletes will not be placed on a basis of equality, since questions of race and religion are being introduced in Germany into purely sporting affairs...
...that he was well aware of the difference between the protection of a charter provision which could not be changed easily at the will of a new city administration hostile to the welfare of city workers and a local law which could be so changed...
...Instead of crumpling up and disbanding, the union members became more solidly united...
...Tot chairman, a leading corporation executive, expressed recently hit satisfaction that the commissi...
...Popular opinion was on the side of the workers, who displayed unexampled solidarity and discipline...
...tive committee, ' - Only the wise counsel of veteran labor leaders prevented an immediate walkout...
...There was no objective reason whatsoever for a lock-out...
...1 Labor Games ToRivalNazi Olympics European Socialists and Trade Unions Plan Exhibition in Spam to Compete with Sports Under Hitler Auspices...
...With'the government controlling the currency control system, including the import and export boards connected with it the majority of the shares in the leading joint stock bank and now the Central Bank, he said, the way was open for the government to put through its whole economic policy...
...As the employers' leader aptly put it, "the workers were not to think themselves masters of the country because they had won a big election "victory...
...member of Parliament, t ps> fessor, and a trade unionist...
...Political Maneuver Fails The findings of this court upheld in every essential the union demands...
...By Reginald Spink Special to The Sew Leader COPENHAGEN—A lock-out affecting about 120,000 workers, or nearly one-fourth ot' the total organized labor strength of the country, has been brought to a close and work resumed on terms favorable to the uftions concerned...
...Gas Workers Fight Utility Corporation Fait River, Massachusetts, Threatened With Shutdown of Gas Supply as Workers Insist on Right to Organize Union...
...This is a question which is being debated here at present lank Narlonafhed The most important single piece of legislation enacted recently provided for the nationalization of the Central Bank of Denmark...
...The flimsy defense of the company will most likely result in a favorable decision for the workers...
...When Waldman declared that the proposed charter made no provision for extending the city's powers over its economic life, and particularly with regard to constructing and operating vital public utilities, Proskauer hastened to reprove him by pointing out that the commission under the state law creating it could not enlarge the powers of the city...
...From a private undertaking, the National Bank of Denmark now becomes a public institution...
...The largest group of the unemployed, by occupation, are the skilled workers...
...Semi-skilled production workers account for 18.3 per cent and professional, technical and administrative folks number 6.7 per cent...
...Less than a month ago, a handful of gas workers assembled in a small hall here to discuss the advisability of forming a union...
...But no such doubts seem to assail the Liberals...
...The bank will asal be in the hands of experts appointed by Parliament and the responsible minister for a term of five years...
...French Socialists are now credited with the intention of proposing, when the new Parliament meets in June, that this fund be used to finance the athletes the French Federation of Labor will send to Barcelona...
...They heard testimony, which was written into the records, showing that their local officials had intimidated workers...
...Immediately after the ten...
...In view of the fact that the cost of living had been rising and production expanding, owing largely to government measures, these demands were, to say the least, not unreasonable...
...By Grace Maclnnis i Special to The Xeic Leader I QTTAWA...
...The corporaffi tax is increased from 1314 t* ft per cent...
...The Canadian' House of Commons has just finished an exciting debate On the budget presented by the Liberal Government which provided mainly for tariff tinkering and imposition of burdensome sales taxes...
...Twenty per cent of them are under 25 years of age...
...The budget showed a dumber of tariff decreases...
...The meeting is expected to witness an outpouring of organised and unorganized machinists and metal workers, who are responding to the call of the union as never before., <~ The distribution of thousands of circulars, contacting workers at shop gates, meetings, and visits to workers' homes are part of the present campaign...
...The situation was becoming critical...
...It is notable that these indications of recovery apply purely to the Big Business section of the country...
...These proposals were accepted by the workers and rejected by the employers...
...They claim the Olympics, which ought to be open to the best qualified contestants, regardless of other considerations, have been demoralized and that therefore French athletes should withdraw as a sign of protest...
...It was subsequently learned that the obvious hostility displayed by Proskauer was probably due to an altercation with Waldman when the fighting Socialist attorney opposed him at a hearing involving the Consolidated Gas Company some time ago...
...Already it has voted special assessments and "intends to dump its entire treasury into their laps," if necessary...
...The political maneuver had failed...
...But his smile vanished when Waldman minced no words in charging that the commission was in existence for a year and a half, during which time there had been two legislative sessions, and if they required their jurisdiction enlarged, they had ample opportunity to apply to the legislature for it...
...To help reduce the defies, af $168,000,000, the sales tax it m creased from 6 to 8 per cent Mfe Bennett, leader of the offieG Opposition, expresses the O&iaE that the country cannot stand 9 increase...
...He made his point so clearly that the chairman of the commission was obliged to state that the criticism made will be duly noted and considered...
...Close to 5,000 employees m independent milk plants in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Long Island are involved...
...However, Waldman retorted] that his original statement that the present charter did not afford those civil service employees «?ro-tection stood...
...By George O, Reddy Special to Tke Sew Leader CALL RIVER, Mass.—Another chapter in the stirring history of labor struggles is being written as utility workers voted to strike and shut off the gas supply of 120,000 residents in this city and surrounding towns...
...The union urges aH metal workers to attend the meeting...
...and the omission of a provision setting forth a labor policy for the city and providing that aH contracts made by the city for supplies, construction or services should require that minimum labor standards be observed...
...The Socialist and Farmer Radical parties already have a small majority of votes for this upper chamber, and it is not at all unlikely that after the election in September they will command a majority of the seats as well, in which case the Landsting will cease to be and the last bulwark of reaction in Denmark will have fallen...
...Organizers of the Workers' Games are urging the workers in all countries to boycott the Berlin Olympics which are to be used for fascist political purposes...
...With the workers in the United States unable to purchase anything like the total volume of goods produced in their own country, one wonders where the Canadian market can be found...
...These shares have always been obnoxious to the capitalist parties...
...C. G. F. Fights Sates Taj In Ottawa Budget Debate i Demands Heavier Imposts on Large Incomes and Levi on Wealth—Urges Emulation of Australia and Not Zealand in Financial Policy — Pushes Demand m Socialization of Industry as Only Solution for EfjE Of Capitalism...
...The government has alse established an Employment ComsM-sion...
...a party organizer), a former Uk-era...
...In tact, the officers of the company found themselves in the civil service rooms of the Fall River Federal Building before a government examiner...
...Lowered rates or...
...until a dispute with its 600 employees had been adjusted...
...A rival sports exhibition is being planned by European Socialists in opposition to the Olympic games in Berlin...
...ered rates are passed on to the...
...A Union Battleground To The NeW Leader representative President Chamberlain said: "We will use every means possible to settle this controversy without causing any great hardship to the residents of Fall River and neighboring communities who win be innocent sufferers if we are forced to strike...
...James E. Toher, business agent of the Railway and Steamship Clerks, has been drafted to assist them...
...If the government' insisted on retaining private ownership, it would have to tax when the money really was to be fooai Both Australia and New Zealsai governments had added coTiiisaj sbly to their revenues by hessj income and inheritance taxes...
...To increase foreign trade, the government relies on its agreements with other countries, chiefly with the United States...
...Little did this band of gas workers, who became aroused when their wages were reduced through an increase in working hours, believe when they went to President Vernon D. Chamberlain of the New England Utility Employees' Alliance and asked to be organised that within two weeks they would be making history in the power industry...
...Seme of the Landsting members are due to retire...
...This stubbornness on the part of the company to put the ten men back to work seems to members of the executive board to be nothing more than a move on the part of this corporation to make Fall River the battleground against the union...
...Its persormel includes tant business men, a woman (fcrmtib...
...It was obvious to all that a continuation of the stoppage would make it impossible for the government to meet its international trade obligations which, in turn, would lead to a first-rate political crisis...
...24.8 per cent...
...Fifth of Unemployed in New York Stile Jobless Four Years ALBANY, — Practically » per cent of the unemployed in New York State have been out of work for four years or more, or never have had a job...
...They charge, too, that the Reich Government is violating the Olympic provisions for race equality and assure that the Workers' Games will be organized on the international ideal of equality for alL " ^7 . -s The French Government has not yet appropriated the necessary funds for French participation in the Berlin games, although 1,800,-000 francs was to have been included for this purpose in the budget...
...They were in fact convinced that to back the union, not "economy," was responsible for the discharge of the ten men...
...The situation raises interesting fcwaflems regarding the position...
...The employers Insisted on unconditional renewal of existing rates for a further period of two years...
...Waldman appeared in behalf of the Socialist Party, as counsel for the Joint Council of Drivers and Sweepers of the Department of Sanitation, and for the International Upholsterers' and Millinery and Capmakers' Unions...
...the ignoring of the housing requirements of low-income inhabitants...
...The union has interested the Fall River City Council in its case and has pointed out the serious results of a strike to the Massachusetts Board of Labor and Industry...
...The alleged reason was "economy...
...New Charter Assailed by Waldman At Hearing Before Charter | Revision Commission Socialist State Chairman I Scores Failure to Protect City Employees...
...The unemployed are a real naj...
...of the trade unions during the period of transition from capitalism to Socialism under a minority Socialist government...
...The decision of the arbitration court: might, of course, have gone against the anions...
Vol. 19 • May 1936 • No. 21
