Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-30
STRIKE IN SHOE FACTORY
One Hundred Men and Women Employees at
Kirkendalls Walk Out,
DISCHARGE OF FOREMAN BRINGS TROUBLE
superintendent Lets out Foreman
He would Not Allow Nom
Union Girl 20 work and
strike Follows.

One hundred men and women, members OF
tho Shoemakers' union. employed at the f.
p. Kirkendall shoe factory. Alb South
Tenth street, went on a strike yesterday,
resulting in the shutting down OF three of
the departments Of the factory. The strike
was precipitated by the action OF Superin-
tendent Shannahan in discharging a fore
man, Frank Fielder. When Fielder left the
building he was accompanied by every mem
Der Of the union employed there.
The members then went to Labor Temple
and after discussing their grievances in Sc
cret President Kirby Of the union and sew
eral OF the leaders OF the strike called upon
Mr.. Kirkendall. The conference was held
in the salesroom Of the company at Elev-
enth and Harvey streets and continued for
several hours. Instead OF reaching an
agreement grievances OF past months were
| brought up and discussed, and after several
| hours the conference adjourned with Moth
ing accomplished.
President Kirby refused to discuss the
strike or the cause Of 1t.
Foreman Fielder was discharged because
he refused to allow a young woman not a
member Of the union, who had been en-
| ployed by Superintendent ~Shannahan, to go
to work. The superintendent sent for MI.
| Kirkendall. who sustained his action and
| ordered Folders to allow her to resume her
position. At this Fielder objected and said
the woman could not work while he was
employed at the factory. The superintend-
emit promptly discharged him and the entire
membership Of the union walked out.
Mr.. KirkendaII's Statement.
Mr.. Kirkendall said: The strike was
precipitated because l upheld Mr.. Shanna-
han. I have made no discrimination as to
employees, whether they belonged to the
union or not, and this young woman over
whom the trouble arose has been employed
at the factory for some time. She has been
laid of for a few days because there was
little work in her department and when
work was resumed this morning she was
sent for by Mr.. Shannahan. / don't know
how the strike will end, but l believe II
will be settled all right. We did not reach
any agreement this morning, as many other
matters were brought up and discussed"
The cutting and fitting departments OF
the factory are still running and will con-
tinue to run. The factory has an output
Of 1900 pairs of shoes daily.
TIL Boot and Shoe Workers union is
afhllated with the Federation Of Labor and
has a representative in the Contra Labor
union. The local organization has a mem
~A1AAR Va aDSaN ANNH EAOAh a III VI
the executive committee It was learned last
night that the strike had been brewing for
some months, owing to the feeling against
Superintendent Shannahan. The union de-
mands that Mr.. Kirkendall reinstate Fielder
and a young woman who was recently dis
charged. The young woman" said Presi-
dent Kirby, with her sister is the sole
support of her mother and two sisters and
for the last three weeks she has been Ill
and the union has been contributing to the
support Of the family. She is now able to
go to work and the superintendent refused
to give her a position. We were received
very cordially by Mr.. Kirkendall and have
superintendent who has caused the trouble.
He is simply making a fight on the organi-
cation and we do not intend to stand for IL,
He had no right to interfere with the FORE
man when he said he had no place nor work
for the young woman whom Shannahan
desired given a position. We have struck
and have received a message from National
President Tobin to so ahead and use our
own judgement, that he will support US,
We have tied up every department in the
establishment and intend to stay out OF
the factory until the matter is settled sat
isfactorily.
Mr.. Kirkendall said that unless a speedy
adjustment Of the trouble is made he will
bring other men to Omaha to take the
places Of the strikers. Several non-union
employees went out with the strikers.