ELECTRICAL WORKERS UNION PRESSES FIGHT ON ANTI-LABOR POLICY OF R. H. MACY & CO.
Haskel, Harry
Electrical Workers Union Presses Fight on Anti-Labor Policy of R. H. Macy & Co. By Harry Haskel I^ABOR and progressive ele» ments^ in New York art) rallying to the support of electrical...
...Percy Strauss, president of Macy's, told MeSpeedan that his 17,000 workers were satisfied, that they didn't need a union, and that if they had any grievances, each employee had the opportunity to address a personal note to him in complaint boxes placed in various parte of the store...
...Local ¦MM No...
...We took them at their word and in fact did succeed in getting the leading department stores to sign sgrements with our union...
...The strike is receiving the wholehearted support of the...
...About three years ago the union started a drive to organize the electrical maintenance men in the big department stores...
...The union is receiving the solid backing of the American Federation of Labor...
...w 11 at \u ¦ ¦ L ¦ Mianiewne^ iffnwn kteCpedon, in an Interview by a =""Kew Leader reporter, eharged that ""company officialB, after bearing "that the men had contacted him, •called them together and "advised" them to give up any efforts "to affiliate with Local S. Mr...
...Bate years ago wages as low as ¦Fffcr week were Wing paid for jHartmited number of boors, ¦jeagh the intervention of the Kauai Labor Board under the Ha att-up to which some of these ¦p...
...Union Head Greets Workers Scoring Macy Co...
...It is common knowledge that the management employs one spy "'for every 300 of its workers...
...I Nevertheless, the picket lines around the Macy store continue til cut into sales and profits, and now, as the strike outers its fonrtM month, local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worsens is more determined than ever ta win the just demands of the men...
...About last February, when some alteration work was started in connection with an air conditioning system, we approached the Macy Co...
...This wealthy department' store has thrown down that gauntlet and told its electrical workers point-blank that it hs*V never signed a union agreement during its 78 years of existence and would not do sol now...
...We protest against the unfair, un-American, open shop system of the R. H. Macy Co., and we appeal to the public to assist us in creating better living conditions of the electricians in the maintenance field by refraining from patronizing a store such as this which is unalterably opposed to a square dea^ for their employees...
...Thirty-two raaii>tariance electrical workers employed by the Macy stem are involved...
...3, of the International Mkiiiihiiii of Electrical Workers BjriM a drive to unionise all Spin employed in the electrical bftry, -which includes not only aanufacturing field bat also Khiihiii I men in office buiHb tad department stores.„ flam sot her* had little or no laant.'tfr •cxaaise because the Mayer had it in hits power to IsnJisiiitle ajsmiit ni Uy -off ¦pae whs advanced the idea of HMff 'SFasjest l^eisj Hawses ¦a sealing with the department ¦a* situation, our representatives Baked they faced a rather diffi¦II nl The heads of the various ¦few placed many obstacles in the, Wl of our organizers...
...The union has issued a statement to onion wterkers and to progressive and liberal elements urging them to withdraw their patronage from the Macy store until such time as it comes to realize that an anti-union policy in this town is unpopular and doeen't par...
...They are, however, silently and hopefully awaiting the successful outcome of the fight to make them self-respecting anion men backed by an organisation that will give them a semblance of equality of bargaining power with the arrogant and autocratic Hacy management...
...Thus far not a single union has been able to force the Macy company to sign an agreement...
...Apparency the R. H.JMacy Company loses sight or the fact that their best' customers are workers and their families and these can only have large consuming power when they receive substantial wages to enable them to purchase goods they require for American standards of living...
...This fight is of unusual importance because the success of aba electrical maintenance workers wiM pave the way for the organization of other classes of Macy's 11,00* workers...
...He preaching New Deal pol¦Klh others, the Streusses Bsftce the "Open Shop"' and K*Raw Deal.*' - - liane three jean ago...
...This callous and vidian aatU labor policy is brasealy ffaanjaaff by a mm...
...were brought, we were sue¦bful in bettering the condition ¦at maintenance men in most of •large department stares...
...Fight Is On Matters came to a head last March, when some members of Local 3 who were employed by a contractor on an air-conditioning job at Macy's walked out and began a fight which is a prelude to others soon to come as Macy workers' resentment against highhanded management policies rises...
...These included, in addition to the Wanamaker store, which already had been signed up, Hearns, Loeser's, Abraham & Strauss, Bonwit-Teller and B. Altman & Co...
...itilaaiiil ay miamiai of the 8Lrasss fastfly, whose deed association with the New Deal administration is cvideat froat thai fact that Jesse Strauss, brether at] Percy Strauss, Macy s nrtsidrnt...
...We urge all members of Local Union 3 to continue their unrelenting efforts We are proud of the encouragement they have received from other union organisations and groups Everyone interested is urged to assist our local union...
...In other words, the Macy store insists upon the right to dictate} wages and working conditions to1 its employees—take it or leave ife) —in utter disregard of the interests of its workers and defiant off public opinion...
...The Sacred Open Snap...
...A Sweeping Challenge With this «sweeping challenge from the officials of the Macy Co., there was but one course for us to pursue...
...This powerful concern, with assets totalling $9;j,000.000, prefers to deal withi its workers separately rather than through representatives of the is own choosing...
...Conlaw- to popular belief, the Cognized right of employees alid affiliate with the Bu of their own choosing >*, Kfe being flouted by this firm...
...Macy's Spy System *" Tor obvious reasons the men remain on their jobs, refusing to hare their positions jeopardized which, in these times of economic insecurity, is understandable...
...We know the fight will be continued until complete victory is secured...
...The unfair attitude of the R.: H. Macy Company in refusing to permit their employees to organize and to recognize Local Union 3 is more m line with ancient Bourbon philosophy of master and serf than rt is with . die new'enlightened philosophy that workers have economic as vnjel} as ^optical rights and freedom...
...The Macy management told union representatives that if their organisers were successful in signing up other stores, they would be willing to fall in line...
...but Mc"Spedon declares that the men re¦ 'main steadfast in their desire to • receive the protection of the union " against an all-powerful employer with arbitrary power of discharge ¦ and a humiliating spy system to ¦ intimidate its workers...
...entire organized labor movement in this city...
...At that time the union had only an agreement with the Wanamaker store...
...There is plenty of money for such ille- gHimate operations but not a ' penny for such improvements in working conditions as might flow » "from a contract with a bona fide 'A...
...Delos Walker, vice-president, and Mr...
...as Unfair By Daniel W. Tracy President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers The courageous and progressive effort of our Local Union 3 and its officers and members to bring about improved working conditions for electrical workers employed at maintenance and repair work in department stores of Greater New York has my full cooperation and support...
...We are sure that all those who sympathize with the efforts of the workers to earn a decent livelihood, their families and their friends will refrain from patronizing the Macy store until they change their antiunion, open shop policy...
...McSpeedoo asked him how many such letters he had received and he admitted ?very few...
...Much to our surprise we were turned down by leading officials of the store...
...The gallant fight of the union iff being conducted under the leader•ahip of Bert Kirmao, president...
...ft K. H. Macy Co...
...The excuse offered by Mr...
...F. of L. anion...
...Union Leader days Issue Is men Shop I uSr, ReedSng rlartffg* 11...
...on behalf of their maintenance men who had repeatedly shown their anxiety to belong pa the union, but who naturally could not openly reveal that fact, fearing they would lose their jobs...
...Howard McSpexton l^wr-'-1--" Loeof *. Egaf Srethrftooe' of Electrical M New Deal administra¦ m . Washington must ¦a^Jhighr* ei the Strauss W^judf^g tjosn the fact JSteesident Roosevelt apP| Jesse L Strauss* the EX erf Macys president, pador to France...
...But when they approached the Macy officials, the latter bluntly told them that they intended' to remain a 100 per cent open shop concern and would resist unionization to the limit...
...Our men who had been employed for a contractor, John Morrissey, on the air conditioning, went on strike on March 20 of this year and we immediately threw a picket line around the store which continues to this day...
...Percy Strauss, president, was that the open shop had been maintained since the establishment of their business some 78 years ago, and they would not change their policy...
...was one of ¦Jfrst stores contacted when the JpiaatMB drive began...
...It is quite apparent that thai Strausses consider themselves exempt from the collective bargaining- provisions of the National Labor Relations Law...
...and Howard McSpedon, union reprcsontetire, who conducted negotiations preceding the strike call...
...Cegan, assistant general manager ''in charge of maintenance and 'construction, attempted to preju' -dice the men against the union by telling them that if they joined it ,1Bthey" would get ?6 less per •week, ' WOttM lose their $200 death benefit • -and right of retirement...
...By Harry Haskel I^ABOR and progressive ele» ments^ in New York art) rallying to the support of electrical maintenance workers} whose right to rganize into af onion is being challenged byj the autocratic and arrogant management of R.H...
...Cogan, assistant general manager in charge of maintenance and construction and later confirmed by Mr...
...In other words, they absolutely refused to allow the unionization of any of their employees...
...But Mta shop policy of the R. Wm C. is opposed to the L| of the New Deal...
...They ¦W at that time, that they would ¦buUng to have their men join ¦tamoB if the men so expressed ¦festlves...
...But they asked as Ki* get union agsaententa with ¦S stores then they, too, would be willing to negotiate an agreement with us...
...Indeed, it believes that H cast stile public knew ledge of its aatie union siaey by Baring than faff successfully suppresses any mew Lion of- the strike in New YejeM newspapers, which are relsetanff fee less the extensive advertising] business of the Macy stare...
...I am heartily in accord with the organizing campaign that has been 'carried on by Local 3 during the last two years...
...Sines) the strike began en March 21, af has increased Ma advertising somas) by sheet M per cent ever thjff same period last year in order an shut off any "napless* at ansae ncity...
...Subsequently, the union signed agreements with many large department stores, including H earns, Loeser's, Abraham & Strauss, Bonwtt-TeUer, B. Altman at Co...
...Macy 44...
...is oar Ambassador to Franco by) appointment of President jfcsaat' velt...
...j^uty Van Arsdale, Jr., business nianagtr...
...The union representative ironically told him that his spy system was not calculated to inspire the confidence of his workers...
Vol. 19 • July 1936 • No. 67
