The sun., 1901-07-08
UNION CARMEN rs.
Plea for the Union Label on
Clothes,

PHILADELPHIA, July 1T is probably no
news to labor unions that the garment
workers have national organization
called the United Garment Workers of
America, and that there are several
unions in the city. Also, that the United
Garment Workers are makers of ready
made clothing and that they have label.
But there are few facts concerning
these hundreds of workers OF which we
believe the majority of people are III
Ignorance. Some Of these facts we wish
to present: first, as to the condition; sec
ond. as to way of helping
The conditions are such, we believe.
as 40 other working people are subjected
to. In small, unvcntilfated, crowded, I'M
sanitary workshops, situated in crowded,
dirty streets, sometimes over stables, the
stencil from which pcrmeatcs the whole
building. these people work. They ar"
bent over benches, pressing boards or
sewing tables, with eyes rvited to the
work. Straining every nerve, for hours
varying from ten to sixteen or eighteen
One man told us that it was usual
thing f0r him to begin work at five in the
morning and work until twelve at night
when ne had plenty to do. And all this
| is for what Under the best of condi-
tions nm average weekly wage Of perhaps
SO. so the past year for men and $500 for
women.
The unions have undertaken to inspect
the shops and they assure the public that
the goods bearing their label are made
in sanitary workshops where the work
ing day is limited to ten hours. and with
Il fair rate Of wages as wages go. Wehavc
found unions doing good work with respect
to these three things and they are con
tinually cnlarging their field of work as
the men see the results. are encouraged
and join the union. The vest makers
are well organized and the coat makers
down town branch is drawing ten or
twelve men weekly. blight wholesale
dealers III ready-made clothing in Phila-
delphia have adopted the label.
What has Philadelphia done to increase
the demand for the label? So far as we
ara able to find out nothing. The eight
wholesale firms have adopted the label
solely through the pressure of customers
outside Of Philadelphia We have been
to several of the large retail stores and
asked for goods bearing the label and
have been told that thy have nothing of
the sort and are almost never asked for
them.
NOW we all KNOW tnat Ine ueiiihnu TOT
clothing by the labor unions in this city
is immense. Why isn't the demand made
for clothing bearing the label? Is il
because the union men are afraid to be
met with the cheap 'jollyng" which was
accorded us by man in one of the larg,
retail stores who intimatcd that We wer,
from the country or the west because W,
asked for union made clothing?
Some will say "there is no union store.
Nor do we need one. If every man buy
ing suit of clothes would make tn,
most of little time by refusing to buy
OF two or three dealers before final,
purchasing. the firms would soon "fall il
line" and provide the suits with til,
necessary label.
There never has been devised a bette
plan for workers to help each other thai
by means Of the label and there has neye
been Il better opportunity for testing it
usefulness as in connection with the gar
mcnt workers of Philadelphia.
Therefore we urge you all as union mcl
TO cooperating for the bcttcrment of all
to give your best help at once. And W
feel that it is only necessary to stat
the conditions to secure the help needed