Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-12-23
MAY CLOSE FACTORY
Labor Troubles at the Hooker,
Corser & Mitchell Co.'s Plant
Company viii Not Agree to Schedule
Fixed by Representative of Garment
Workers Union.

The Hooker. Corser e Mitchell Overall
company of Brattleboro will be involved
In labor troubles before many weeks
unless an amicable adjustment of differ
ences Is reached between the United
Garment Makers Union of America and
the Overall Manufacturers association
Not long ago, as mas been stated in
The Phoenix. Miss Lillian Fredericks of
indianapolis. member of the eXecu-
tive board of the Garment Makers Union
came to Brattleboro and with COM
mitteos representing the local union
made up wage schedules, one of which
was presented to the Hooker, Corser &
Mitchell company and one to the Brat
tleboro overall company. with the re-
quest tnat they be adopted to go into
effect Jan. 10. The schedules were diff
ferent and the one presented to the
Brattleboro overall company was adopt
ed. The Hooker, Corser & Mitchell COM
pany refused to adopt the schedule pre-
sented to them, and IT is stated by
President James F. Hooker that it never
Will be adopted, for the reason that it
would be impossible for the firm to do
business under it,
The Hooker, Corser e Mitchell COM
pany employs about 200 hands, mostly
women. There are over 100 stitchers on
piece work, and most of the other en-
ployes are paid day wages. So far as
known they have been satisfied with
their pay, which the members of the
firm state is the highest paid by any
overall firm in New England.
The Garment Makers Union is send
ing its representatives, all through the
east, demanding higher wAges. appar-
emily with no uniformity. and notwith-
standing the high wages paid by the
Hooker, Corser & Mitchell company they
were asked to make a 20 per cent. in
crease in their present schedule. The
firm states that this increase would
amount to some $4,000 year If the
price of the finished product could be ad-
vanced it would be possible to grant the
unions demands
w. ii. Proctor and w H. Corser mem
bers of the firm, went to New York
Monday to attend meeting of the Manu-
facturers' association, which was in ses-
sion Monday night and Tuesday. The
situation throughout the East was dis
cussed, but no definite action was taken
Another meeting will be held in jan
uary, and 1t would not be surprising If
the association decided TO give up the
union label and run open shop.
Mr.. Proctor and Mr.. Corser presented
the Hooker Corser & Mitchell company's
schedule to the association. with one
exception it was the highest paid by any
firm represented.
1t is claimed by Miss Fredericks that
If the Hooker, Corser q Mitchell COM
pany would substitute the Union Special
two-needle machines for their single
needle machines a material saving in the
cost of production would result, but the
firm denies this asserting that the saw
ing would not be great. because in most
instances where overalls made by the
Union Special machine have double seams
their overalls have the single seam. In
any event the firm is not disposed to go
to the expense of putting in new ma
chimes.
At the factory of Fl. w Carter G. Son
of Lebanon. n. H.. where the Union
Special machine is used, the proposed in
crease is even greater than that de-
manded of the Hooker Corser &
Mitchell company. In Scranton, Pa,
where girls doing certain kind of work
were paid 50 week. Miss Fredericks de-
manded Sl2 a week. In Brattleboro,
where sl2 a week is paid for the same
work she asked SIS. and so on through
the various departments.
If the union insists in it's demands IL
is apparent that the Hooker, Corser &
Mitchell employees will have to walk out