Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-10-05
SUSTAIN THE BAKERS.
An Urgent Appeal to Organized La.
bOr-"Act at Once"

The following appeal is addressed by
the secretary of the National Bakers
Union to all the trade and labor organiz-
ations of the United States and Canada:
"FELLow WoRKINGMEN-You are all
no doubt aware Of the present trouble
between the journeymen bakers of New
York City and Brooklyn, N. Y, and
their employers; namely, the proprie-
tors of the SO called bread factories.
This, our fight, is easily explained,
thrown upon the streets are fully con-
tained in the felonlous manifesto pub.
lished by our employers. 1t is clear
case of victimized organized labor. Our
men are on the street because they re-
fused to turn their back upon their Or
ganization. Here is what men, who
have become wealthy by the toll of their
wage-slaves, have to say:
1--WE have crossed swords with the
Journeymen Bakers Union, not for any
specific reason, but on the general prin-
ciple forming the foundation and sole
object of our Association, and resume
the right surreptitiously taken from us
that of employing and discharging
whom we may see fit. And because zoe
considered this as good time as any to
carry ont our Intentions"
"Well, time will teach us whether or
not the time is good one to crush out
of existence the Bakers National Union,
for that is the exact meaning of the
above manifesto.
"We earnestly believe that organized
labor will not permit few capitalistic
concerns like Fleischmann's. Shuts,
Rockwells, Friedmann's, and a few
others to demoralize our National Union,
which has, since its existence in 1885,
not only reduced the hours of labor, but
changed the general conditions of the
men, that were once worse than slaves,
most wonderfully. We are in possess
sion of the most reliable statistics gath
cred throughout the United States,
which tells us sorrowful tale of our
conditions four and five years ago, when
men were forced to toll from 16 to 1S
hours daily, and from Friday to Satur-
day 20 to "a hours; besides, many of our
men were then forced to sleep in the
shops, down in deep cellars. Wages
were so small that no one would believe
me if gave the exact figures. Since
the National Union was formed we have
reduced the hours to 4 per day and in
creased wages from $500 to $500 per
week; besides, we have entirely ban
ished the board-truck system. This is
properly the reason why our employers
are again endeavoring to replace those
once happy days, when they could sys
tematically rob their poor wage slaves
without a voice being raised against
the outrage.
We know that these Pool Bakers, as
we term them, are communicating with
baker employers of other cities for the
purpose of taking the same measures
against members of our organization, as
they have in New York and Brooklyn;
and for this reason, fellow-workmen, we
send you this appeal. All we ask of you
is moral support, to aid us in organizing
the journeymen bakers in every city
in the United States and Canada, and
strengthen those unions which are or
ganized. Show our oppressors that the
time is now as good as any to build up
the Bakers National Union.
Act at once and act promptly. 1t is
not resolutions of sympathy we wish,
but practical work. Elect committees
in connection with other organizations
of your city for the purpose of organiz-
ing the journeymen bakers. Saturday
night is the only night you can accom-
plish this; for which reason it is very
difficult for us to send out organizers;
the expense would be too great, espe-
cially now, when the present struggle
requires all the funds we have on hand.
In the cause of labor we urge you to
help us. Do all you can; we must
strengthen our organization in order to
resist the blow aimed at us by few
robbing bosses.
All information and particulars can
be obtained by applying to our office.
Yours fraternally,
AUG. DELABAR,