New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-29
TAILORS OUT, $4,000 STRONG
"A STRIKE ORDERED BY THE BROTHER
HOOD.
rur STRIKERS DEMAND CERTAIN CONCESSIONS IN
THE AGREEMENT WHICH THE CONTRAC-
TORS DECLINE TO GRANT-srATE-

MENTS FROM BOTH SIDES.
The keynote was sounded in the long threat
.red strike of the United Brotherhood of Tail
ora at o'clock yesterday morning. and two
,ours later more than fifteen thousand men in
this city and Brooklyn had stopped work.
These garment workers are mostly Hebrews
md are accustomed to work Sundays. in
stead Of Saturdays. the strike was ordered
Yesterday The majority of the strikers live
on the East Side. and the beginning of the
strike created much excitement in that part of
the city. Although the strike was looked for
ward to- 1t was not expected that it would be
ordered so soon, and it took the majority of the
contractors and the workmen by surprise. The
htter obeyed the order of their unions dele
rates. however and lef, the shops as one man.
The strikers Immediately adjourned to Wal
hslla and New Washington halls. in. Orchard
IT, near Grand-st.. where mass-Ineetings were
held throughout the day. The meetings were
largely attended. and there many peo-
ME standing around the halls in them
Many women were In the crowds. and num-
hr OF them were among the speakers. who were
al enthusiastically received and applauded.
Every body was gOOd-natured and orderly and
No disturbances were reported during the day.
In the mean time the contractors of the
vholesale clothing manufacturers. against
whom the present strike is directed. were not
IDLE Their Executive Committee was in con-
,inuous session throughout the day In East
Broadway. As both sides are determined. and
say they have been preparing for the present
strike. it looks as if the struggle will be long
and hard one. 1t will not only involve every
brot herhood tailor here and in Brooklyn. but in
other cities as we'll as far West Chicago.
The strike has the sanction and support of the
United Garment Workers Of America. Ameri-
can Federation Of La or.
CAUSES or THE STRIKE.
II is difficult to explain the manifold causes
which have led up to the present strike. but, as
before printed in The Tribune. the strikers say
their main object Is tre breaking up and aboli
ton once and for all OF the foul sweatshops in
which dozen twenty people work in single
room In tenement-house. They say they fully
appreciate the efforts OF the Assembly lnvestisat-
ing Committee in this work, but also insist that
some 200 Of the sweatshops are still in existence
in this city The strikers also demand several
concessions from the contractor in the agree
ment for the coming year which they have asked
them to sign The contractors have refused to do
50. and say they Will not. The chief demands Of
the strikers. embodied in a circular which they
have sent out TO the clothing manufacturers,
were explained in speech made at yesterdays
mass meeting in Walhalla Hall by Meyer Schoen-
feldt, general organizer OF the American Gar
ment Workers Two delegates had been sent out
short time before the meeting 10 the various
tailoring establishments in sunolk-st They car
yied with them printed notices reading as follows:
Office of The United brotherhood Of Taiiors, DIS
TIC! Council No, ]. OF the United Garment workers
To all members c the United Brotherhood OF
Tailors. Stop working al once. BY order OF all
locals
The strikers to the number Of 800. were seated
in the hall few minutes afterward In explain
ing the cause Of the sudden order given TO strike.
Mr. Schoenfedt said the Executive Committe,
had 81 decided at a late hour on Saturday night
because reports were coming in from everywhere
that the contra ctOrs were hurrying TO complete
their contracts they could defy their employees.
The committee Therefore ordered the strike al
once.
THE STRIKERS DEMANDS.
Mr. Schoenfeldt told the reporters afterward
that in the new agreement il was stipulated that
only union men should h~ employed in the shops
that is men be,or gne to the Brotherhood "
Tsiors-and that tn Brotherhood should fur
rish sufficient workmer for all contracts; that
ffty-nine hours should &C Hstitute a week : work
and that there shcold be weekly payday. the
minimum scale # wages to be as follows; Ope-
rators Si5 basters S13: pressers, $40; busheIeiS,
so; trmmers. slO fr!shers. 81. The strikers aiso
insist that all member shall be renstated IN the
ehOps and that the union delegates shall have
access to the shops for the purpose OF adjusting
grievances or examining due DOCKS al all times
They also insist that the contractors snail not
make Il compulsory 70. their employees 10 make
certain number If garments in certain mum
Ter OF hours This las;-named clause in the
agreement is the one creating the most trouble.
The tailors say II IL necessary. as the contract
ors were fast driving them back TO the old task
work system.
Mr.. Schoenfeldt said 'urther:
. think the strike will be settled within tho
next ten days if the wholesale clothing manu-
fac,urers do not interfere. We are positive that
the strike was ordered in a busy season, and
that the contractors are not in position 10
close down now There Will be a break in their
ranks before two DAYS have passed Should
there not be. we Will have another surprise Tor
them by Wednesday, We know OF from 100
10 l50 tenement house shops running now We
VIII not settle with any contractor even II ne
wishes to sign bonds unless he occupies a
proper shop Although the manufacturers
Know demands are just ones. they trleo 10
have the garments all finished before TINS year
agreement expired. AS soon as we saw inns
we deemed il would be foolish 10 wait TOT theni,
more especially when some of them locked out
our men. Some OF them held back the wages
OF our men. and We had to serve Wits OF al
achment TO get them. Tomorrow we VIII attach
money due some OF the contractors from tne
Wholesale manufacturers. Although the con
tractors forced this strike on us. we are pre-
pared for it, 1t only last week tnat .he
Executive Committee decided to not call out
Single man until September 10, wheh 'he pres
tnt years agreement expires. ,, -,
Hyman Robinson secretary OF the s"lken ~. p
eeutive Committee said that the position the
Wholesale manufacturers take In the present tfou- %
Die will have much 30 do with the length oi '"e
strike.
THE CONTRACTORS SIDE.
The Contractors Mutual Protective Assoc'a
uon met at it's general office, No. 200 East Broad
way, yesterday Benjamin Wlkowski the secie-
tary. made the following statement:
The United Brotherhood of Taiiors nave vi
oered the strike about two months before 'ne -
piration OF the present contracts Inc co'.'"
tors had no idea OF returning to the uash WI ~ .,
system. II was never even suggested We knew ~
was an abominable system. and had no ioea , Da
returning to it, Our employees began 10 man man
ment last Year Thcv IN We NOT upheld one PaId-