The Labor Front
The Labor Front Decatur Strike Continues Perhaps one of the pluckiest of the labor battles of 1935 is the strike waged since last February by the women garment worker: against four local dress...
...It will mean labor's only chance to consolidate and increatt the gains made in the Connection* Legislature in 1935...
...The firm had been non-union for eleven years...
...Motives in Verio* The referendum result n not to be interpreted as discouraging a sign for labor political activity as the vote appears to indicate...
...The total vote in November was 22,517...
...The Washington Building Trades Council filed an official protest with Minister Close of the Union of South Africa...
...Protests Looms to Sweatshop Bosses John W. Edelman, research director of the American Federation of Hosiery Workers, has sent a strongly worded protest to Jease H. Jones, head of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, against loans being made to sweatshop manufacturers and violators of the National Labor Relations Act He pointed out that the list of hosiery nanufacturers who obtained loans ncludes some of the most notorious inti-labor concerns in the industry...
...Of 13 news items, six comprising three and a half closely typewritten pages, or more than half of the issue, deal entirely with domestic problems...
...so well begun to the campaign just dosed, goes on, as it goes on in every section of the city now that die organisation is rid of the incubus of the disrupters and the factionalisto...
...By Abraham Kncpter Special Correspondent I DRIlXrEPORT.—I t is unlike^ that Connecticut will hevejp 1-ahor Party in the field in tfi 19.V election.?, judging from tj|e results of the mte--wide refcTcn* dum conducted among the locals ,)f the American Federation'jet Labor in Connecticut...
...The union has appealed to the public not to patronise Adams Stores...
...Socialist candidate for Assembly in the special election in the 5th A. D., Bronx, last Tuesday, received 499 votes, as compared to 1.877 in November...
...Following a failure last July of the management to adjust certain rrievances presented by the shop committee, a strike was called...
...A Textile Frame-Up Four leaders of the Textile Trimming Workers' Union have been arrested and placed under $2,500 bail on a framed charge of criminal assault arising out of a sixweeks' strike against the Louis Hornick firm, 22 West 21st 'St., New York City...
...The meeting was addressed by William Collins, of the A. F. of L ; George Meany, president of the State Federation of Labor...
...3 A charge that the referenonn) was conducted in an unfair and n> regular manner was made by Wuliam E. Kuehnel, president of latt Hartford Central Labor Union and chairman of the A.F.L...
...The elections are held by authority of the National Labor Relations Act, which prescribes such procedure when a controversy arises as to the representatives desired by the majority of the employes...
...in January it was 7.147...
...Grip of Big Business on Our Government...
...Revolt in Steel Barony Company unions in the steel industry are having their internal revolts...
...Under his "militant" leadership the branch membership and its activities dwindled, and the vote steadily declined from year to year, the Communists, taking advantage of the internal warfare in the Socialist ranks, creeping up on the Socialist vote until in 1934 the two parties were nearly even and in 1935 the Communists outdistanced the Socialists...
...In all probability a copy of this call has been sent to you...
...More than 400 men are benefited...
...Strike More than 2,000 members of boat crews walked out on strike and tied up 23 vessels in San Francisco harbor in a united attempt to win the six-hoar day...
...Borden's Company Union Three thousand drivers employed by the Borden Milk Company met in Mecca Temple recently and denounced that firm's attempt to form a company union...
...Hundreds of drivers came in buses placarded witlTsigns reading: "We Want an A. F. of L Union, Not a Company Union...
...The League has found considerable response in some sections and some labor groups are cooperating with it...
...but so far as is known not oat meeting was held by them, not one leaflet distributed, not one plat made for the Socialist I Hattdnp Indeed, in the last issue of their weekly organ before the « pedal election THERE WAS NOT ONI WORD ABOUT THE ELECTION...
...The Socialists carried on a fine and spirited campaign for Hershkowitz, and they have reason to be proud of the fight they waged...
...The Board concludes from the facts that the "unanswered question as to proper employe representation is affecting interstate commerce, and that the holding of a secret election is the proper step to resolve the difficulty...
...committee for a Labor Party, after the referendum results were announced, i Kuehnel said that although {ha ! referendum was to be held ttttst November 1 to January I , the bnV lots received by the locals iiiriljt that they should be returned if December 1. Egan denied that he had ihstructed the locals to return tilth ballots by December 1. In repjp/to KuehneTs charge that the rtnwlp counted by locals rather than bf membership, Egan replied that $* was following the instructions of the Federation convention, which, according to Egan's interpretation, voted to ballot by locals...
...While considerable discussion preceded the tabulation of the vote, one groan favoring the plan to gfvc eaen local one ballot and another proposing that individual voteg of the members of the locals, m counted, the result, either way, was found to be overwhdmingijr against the formation of a Lapor Party...
...Relief in the U. S." (with sub-titles "Surveys, Strikes, Government Action...
...Chasing Runaways The Out-of-Town Department of the IXiJ.W.U...
...The reception accorded Manet Jasper McLevy at the Connecticut Federation of Labor convention ha Danbury last September wan as indication of the favorable attitudp of a sizeable portion of labor towards the Socialist Party...
...labor Paper Stops Non-Union Work On Gov't Building Special to The New Leader W A S H I N G T O N , D. C—The Trades Unionist, official organ of the Washington Central Labor Union, is believed to have "scooped the world" with the story of how international labor cooperation has turned aSlOO.OOO building project here from proposed non-union to 100 per cent union...
...Whether this element and the sincere hackers of the proposed Labor Party will now definitely shift their active support to the Socialist Part* in its 1SS6 campaign, remains to be seen...
...The Mills dosed the plant and operations have never been resumed...
...Their character is indicated by headlines as: "National Guard Competes with Strike-Breaking Agencies...
...The strike covers factories in Oklahoma, Arkansas, West Virginia and Pennsylvania...
...explain the situation is the terrific '"militant" drive that disorganized the party and blurred the line between democratic Socialism and Communism in the minds of many people...
...But when the self-confessed "energetic" and "efficient" "militants" found them- , selves unable to get a ticket pn the ballot they announced their "support" of Comrade Hersbkowtts...
...The chief of police and two policemen are being sued for false arrest by Elmer Hamm, organizer of Branch 7, American Federation of Hosiery Workers...
...nor are a great many of its innocent followers, to be sure, prepared to follow partisan lines and directions...
...As the result of developed machinery and simplified methods of production, very little skill is required in the making of single knee pants...
...The Amalgamated Clothing Workers..has defeated the company's attempts to outlaw the strike and halt the activities of the union...
...Local 18 of the/Amalgamated Clothing Workers/ met recently and endorsed the7 decision of the Joint Board to conduct an extensive campaign to organize out-oftown shone...
...The two other companies are the United States Stamping Company,'Moundsville, W. Va., and the New England Transportation Company, New Haven, Conn...
...Of the remaining items, only five are concerned with fascist and armament' problems...
...During recent years factories have moved to Pennsylvania and the South...
...municipal government, and in relations with labor in general, was | such as to warrant the support of I organized labor...
...The Labor Front Decatur Strike Continues Perhaps one of the pluckiest of the labor battles of 1935 is the strike waged since last February by the women garment worker: against four local dress shops ii Decatur, TIL Although they wen attacked and tear-gassed by deput> sheriffs on the first day of the strike, they have stuck to their guns and today they are carrying on with unwavering steadfastness...
...Philippine Independence...
...The National Labor Relations Board's investigation de*termined that "unrest among the mill hands recrtrires an orderly secret ballot to determine the true ?hoice of worker representatives...
...is following "runaway" shops into adjoining states, where they attempt to operate under^pub-standard conditions...
...Special Election Results...
...The basic month is placed at 240 hours or less and wages are increased 13% per cent...
...The individual vote totals were not made public...
...Some Camouflage But what about the professed intentions of the League to fight war and fascism...
...Outstanding in this field in recent months has been the American League Against War and Fascism...
...It is needless to say that the League was not meant to be used for partisan interests...
...These bids have just been opened and the contract is expected to be let in a taw days, Labor Board Orders Secret Elections in Textile Mills W A S H I N G T O N , D. C —The National Labor Relations Board has announced that it had ordered the holding of secret elections "to determine employe representation for the purpose of collective bargaining at the plants of four companies...
...Subsequent meetings between management and the shop committee have failed to arrive at a settlement...
...Pickets vs...
...The Board finds that Local 1882 has a present membership of 330...
...The contents of this bulletin are also an interesting commentary on the above-mentioned League Congress in Cleveland, claimed by its sponsors as the "United Front" of all groups opposed to war and fascism...
...As a result of tbe labor protest, tiie Oew^crniHCfit of tlM Union o...
...Pocketfoook Workers W is The Pocketbook Workers' Union, after an eight-day strike against the Feinberg-Henry firm of 53 West 23rd St...
...When plans for the Union of South Africa Legation building were first drawn under the direction of a local architect bids were asked from non-union contractors only...
...Quite often, attempts to clear up the mystery behind the League and to bring out in the open its real purposes and aims are rebuked by loyal workers and comrades who point out that it is "unfair to label the League, only because we might not like it, as a Communist enterprise...
...The Beaver-Lois Mills employs about 300 workers...
...So that you may understand what is the purpose of the American League Against War and Fascism, I quote to you herewith from the New York Communist International's Magazine, January 15, 1934, page 78: 'Our most successful application of the united front has been in the anti-war and antifascist movement...
...Gangsters Six hundred striking employees }f the Garden State Hosiery Mill in Midland Park, N. J., continue to form mass picket lines around the plant each day, although gangsters are among the strikebreakers employed by the management and the police have engaged in their usual club-swinging, brutal tactics...
...At South Chicago, company onion representatives formally repudiated the company union and formed an independent union...
...The result has been «con fusion with benefits reaped by Communist sponsors of these organizations...
...The only circumstance intervening between the two dates that can...
...Thus far the .employers have refused to agree to the union's demand for a 36-hour week, a 15 per cent increase in wages and extension of the unemployment insurance benefits until 1938, when the benefits under the 'State Unemployment Insurance law become payable...
...The union demands a THs per cent increase in pay, elimination of geographical wage rate differences, coupled with recognition of the union's closed shop policy...
...recently resigned in protest against the company union...
...The Democratic candidate needed but 5,100 votes to win in January, whereas the vote in November for the winner, whose death made the special election necessary, was ; 16,462...
...The Congress set up a permanent organization on a federative basis called the American League Against War and Fascism.' "Thinking probably that you might be misled by the title of the organization issuing the call, I deemed it advisable to bring the above to your direct attention...
...Walk-Out of Philadelphia Window Cleaners About 800 members of Local 165, Window Cleaners' Union, at Philadelphia, Pa., voted in favor of a walk-oat in an attempt to establish a $80 weekly wage scale...
...John J. Egan, secretary of tat Connecticut Federation of Labor, announced that only 29 of the Stf locals in the State had voted is favor of the Labor Party movement...
...There were 513 employes on the payroll when the mill shut down...
...Any mere proof needed...
...As a result, 20 employees of the Morris Schwartz Dress Company have walked out protesting against wages of $2.41 for 44 hours...
...Why Vote Was Not Better I N a total poll less than onethird of that cast in November...
...Local 1871 of the United Textile Workers entered a petition for an election last fall, charging at the time that the company circulated a petition among the workers which ostensibly notified the management that its employes "in desperate need of work" would "agree to such rules and regulations as are in effect at other mills in this section of the country...
...Back of the 'Innocent' Mask By S. L. j Q R G A N I Z E D labor and the Socialist movement everywhere are at regular intervals confronted with "innocent" organizations, all professedly trying to help democracy and bring liberation to a struggling world...
...Dinner to Shore The White Goods Workers' Union, Local 62, LL.G.W.U., is preparing to tender a dinner to its genera' manager, Samuel Shore, on Feb 1st at the Hotel Lissmore, 73rd St and Broadway, to celebrate his many years of service to the union Prominent leaders in the world el labor are expected to attend...
...More than 100 workers involved in the strike have announced their determination to continue the fight with renewed vigor...
...Special credit for fine and untiring weft during the Campaign goes to Jack Diamond and Mike Levenstein, among a host of others...
...It is significant that the bolting "militants" announced a candidate in the 5th A.D...
...John Quinn, secretary of the Central Trades and Labor Council, and Morris Feinstone, secretary of the United Hebrew Trades...
...The agreement covers cooks and waiters...
...Getting no action from Close, the Council secured the help of the American Federation Df Labor and President William Green sent a cablegram telling the South African Trades and Labour Council of the situation...
...But for three years the district was a "militant" stronghold, with Sol Marcus, one of the leading "militants" the dominant figure in thei party there...
...Local 89, recently inaugurated an . old-age benefit system, entitling any member above 65 years, unable to work, to a weekly benefit of $6...
...Tenant Farming in the U. S.," and "More Profits...
...Okie Clothing Strike In, Cincinnati a battle is in progress to unionise the Hamilton Tailoring Company and the Ohio Custom Garment Company, men's clothing concerns...
...Yet, perusal of the January 1st issue of "Facts and Figures on War and Fascism," the official news bulletin of the League, shows plainly that this is exactly what the League is striving for...
...Abram Her^hkowitz...
...Special credit for fine and untiring weft during the Campaign goes to Jack Diamond and Mike Levenstein, among a host of others...
...Such workers are an inspiration to the whole labor movement...
...Adams Hat Strike The Retail Hat and Men's Furnishings Salesmen's Union, affiliated with the A. F. of L. and the United Hebrew Trades, is conducting a strike against the Adams Hat Stores as part of an intensive drive to organise salesmen in men's haberdashery stores...
...Two of the plants are cotton mills — the Beaver-Lois Mills of Douglasville, Ga., and the Saxon Mills of Spartanburg, S. C.—in each of which the balloting will decide whether the employes chose to be represented by the United Textile Workers of America...
...Here is the answer: On the eve of the recent Cleveland Congress of the American League Against War and Fascism President William Green of the A. F. of* L. and also President of the Labor Chest for the Relief and Liberation of Workers of Europe, sent the following letter to all international unions, state federations of labor, city central bodies and A. F. of L. organizers: President Green's Letter " I have before me the circular call for the 'Third U. S. Congress Against War and Fascism' to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, January 3-5, 1936...
...This is due to the clever disguise which the League and its sponsors are adopting in their dealings with the people and the stress the League is laying on the preservation of democratic and constitutional rights...
...They are Dave Rosen, chairman of the union...
...port" of Comrade Hersbkowtts...
...Three years ago the Socialist vote was nearly three times that of the Communist Party in the district, into which the latter had thrown their strongest efforts...
...Boys' Wash Salt Union With the approaching expiration of its agreement with the Manufacturers' Association, the Boys' Wash Suit Union, Local 169 of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, is setting up strike machinery, to be prepared for eventualities...
...2,000 'Frisco Harbor Worker...
...Pants Makers After Runaway The Knee Pants Makers' Union...
...It Tt true that a great proportion of tiki opposition to independent political activity by labor came from A* W. of L. elements aligned with old party political machines, or which are still disposed to vote the old party tickets...
...Last Sunday, in a driving snow, a little army of men and women distributed 9,000 leaflets from door to door...
...It is reported that nearly every company union in and around Pittsburgh has adopted demands for 10 to 15 per cent wage increases, revision of the pension plan and other concessions, and have met with point blank refusals...
...The officials of the company have refused to negotiate with the union...
...Eleven of the thirteen company union representatives of the Monessen plant of the American Sheet and Tin Plate Co...
...but so far as is known not oat meeting was held by them, not one leaflet distributed, not one plat made for the Socialist I Hattdnp Indeed, in the last issue of their weekly organ before the « pedal election THERE WAS NOT ONI WORD ABOUT THE ELECTION...
...Less Wages...
...Guild Wins Agreement The District of Columbia local anion of the American Newspaper Guild has just won an agreement providing for a 40-hour week, wage increases and formal recognition as the collective bargaining agent for editorial department employes of the Washington Daily News...
...oston T . " Hoars Reduced Machinists' and auto mechanics employed by the Boston Elevated Railway Company have secured a new agreement reducing working hours from 44 to 40 and boosting wages from 87 to 91 cents an hour...
...South Africa told Minister Close in Washington that the Legation building must be constructed by union laser* The architect had to reject all the non-union hide submitted and ask bids from union contractors...
...A decision by Judge Bell of the Common Pleas Court declared the yellow dog contracts void and upheld the right of strikers to picket and to persuade others to Join the union...
...In November the Socialists ran behind the Republicans, but on Tuesday the Republicans fell behind Hershkowitz, polling 462 votes...
...The Congress from the beginning was led by our party quite openly...
...In findings of fact accompanying the direction for an election at the Saxon Mills, the Board states that the mills ship 95 per cent of its cotton goods to States other :han South Carolina, and that all invoices are billed to Iselin, Jefferon * Company, New York City...
...the remaining two are "French Industry in Government" and "Anglo-Egyptian Relations...
...Isidore Tieman, Executive Board member, and Sam Stem be r and Jack Z in berg, organizers...
...In the interest of the people in general and the working masses in particular, it is necessary to clarify | these matters' and to state openly on what grounds the objections of the Socialist movement and of the overwhelming majority of the organised workers in this country to the League are based...
...The mass meeting last Friday was a great success, and in every way the loyal Socialists did their full duty, but the results of the devastating factional warfare in the branch were seen in the relatively small vote for the SoSocialist candidate and the fact that the Communist ran second to the Democrats both in Novembe* and in January...
...The work of rebuilding the party in the 5th A.D...
...We led a highly successful U. S. Congress Against War which brought together 2,616 delegates from all over the country...
...It was pointed out that no building mechanic can be employed on a public building in South Africa unless he is a member of the bona tde anion of his craft and ft was declared there was no sound reason why this policy should not be followed in the construction of Legation buildings to attar countries...
...In 1935, however, the total Socialist and Communist vote was 4,054, as compared to 4,052 Socialist votes and 1,416 Communist votes in 1932...
...Unions Beat Labor Party In Conn...
...Italian Dressmakers' Benefit Fund The Italian Dressmakers' Union...
...Dining Caw Union Wins Dining Car Employees Local 351, affiliated with the Hotel Employees' international Union, has succeeded in obtaining recognition and an agreement from the Chicago, Inlianepolis and Louisville Railway...
...It represents an extension of the Sick and Benefit Fund, from wfiich the- union has disbursed more than 1*8,000 during the past two years to its members, leaving an •'•enmu1 is ted reserve of about 1200,000...
...The work of rebuilding the party in the 5th A.D...
...The average wage at present is 58 cents an hour...
...Gloss Workers Out A strike of 6,000 glass workers is now in progress under the leadership of the Federation of Flat Glass Workers of America following the expiration of a oneyear agreement Dec 31...
...Following an exchange of cablegrams the South African labor body protested to the Minister of Public Works of the Union of South Africa...
...late in December, and that the Communists promptly announced withdrawal of their own candidate in his favor...
...so well begun to the campaign just dosed, goes on, as it goes on in every section of the city now that die organisation is rid of the incubus of the disrupters and the factionalisto...
...won a complete victory, including a reduction of hours from 44 to 37%, a wage increase of 15 per cent and a closed^ shop...
...But another great who voted against the proposed i Labor Party movement did so because they did not believe that the time was ripe for such a movement, or because they distrusted ; the motives and sincerity of awn* But still another group, of conj siderable proportions, voted against the proposal because they felt that ! Connecticut already has a Labor j Party in the form of the Socialist j Party, whose labor record in the ! State Legislature, in Bridgeport...
Vol. 19 • January 1936 • No. 4
