The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-09
SWEATING SYSTEM MUST co.
ClothiuG Workers Serve Notice or n Final
struggle Ter Its Asoiiuos In 1899.

Tho Joint Executive Board OF the United
Brotherhood OF Tsilors OF New York has is,
sued tho following manifesto addressed TO all
tho clothing manufacturer OF New York on
behalf OF the coat tailors.
During the past four years the trade has
been disturbed by periodical strikes. and
which. although under the circumstances.
beneficial TO labor. have injured the trade ma
teriAlly while such disputes were in progress.
Our experience has shown that such trou-
bles cannot DO avoided as long as the present
method OF manufacturing continues. The
clothing industry. being one OF the larEcst and
wealthiest in the country. can surely afford
az least humane conditions OF labor. and there
Is no occasion for the irresponsible. petty con-
tract system which has made tho Infamous
sweat shop possible, We realize the difficulty
in the way OF any firm while the present
methods continue. however god the in'cn.
tons 10 dispense with the services Of the con-
tractor. who. because OF IN, competition b..
tween themselves. lower the prices paid for
making a garment. and in turn drive The
operative into performing an !nhuman task for
less than n living wage and amid the poorest
and unhealthy surroundings. A II 10 add 10
such distress, even the slender earnings OF d
sweat shop victim IL often denied him because
OF the inability OF the contractor Ia pay the
wages due, OK because Of the manner in which
the contractor frequently decAmps with tho
small pit;Ance earned after so many hours OF
excessive toll.
Ever since the foundation OF our organitA-
tion We have struggled for the abolition Of
what - known a. the task system in favor
OF weekly work a. a standard rate Ut wages
tn four occasions, after an heroic struggle, We
forced the contractors 20 grant the ten hour
WORK day and minimum wage sale. We
even induced them To give security for tho
faithful performance Of the agreements eG-
terrd sntn. Although successful in each con-
test. the terms Of the agreements were ignored
as soon A. the busy season was over and The
Old conditions az,Gn RESTORED. This summer
we again made tho issue and won. and al
though the condition Of the tailurs has bcrn
much improved in consequence. ~" haze every
reason 10 fear - recurrence Of the experiences
already described.
and considering the obstacles 10 be cGntended
with. come to the unanimous conclusion that
the time Ia. arrived tn tak- such steps as
would abolish entirely the sy-tem o! contract
" hereby declare that a; a given time in
thu year l-yD the clothing workers Of this city
will refuse To work FOR amy contractor or
middlcman. We make thi, announcement
two years in advance IN order To give tn" man,
/ ufaCturcrS ample time To ousider our purpose
and gradually pave the way FOR this whole
soLne chan - by opening clean. ventilated shops
operated under their own management. just
as the clothing cutters are now employ ed. Il
this great reform l. accomplished Ia this city.
I the great clothing manufacturing centre OF the
| Country. we are certain that IL will b. followed
in thr other clothing markets. -
"This declaration j. issued IN all enTnestnrss
and should not rc Construed either as a threat
or means - gaining npt"riety. Tho UrRantEh-
tion has proven It's ability and courage to un.
! dcrtake any movement determined upOn. In
! this supreme issue W feel that We will again
approaching public and all friend. OF human
progress, and We have reason to hoye that the
the abolition Of that great blot upon our civ.
i~lization- the sweating system