The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1905-05-12

factories. There were thirty factories
in the city. About one hundred girls
went out.
The result was victory, which net
ted us-I mean the girls-$2 increase
in our wages on the average.
All the time our union was progress
sing very nicely. There were lectures
tc make us understand what trades
unionism is and our real position IN
the labor movement. I read upon the
subject and grew more and more in
terested, and after time l became a
member OF the national board and had
duties and responsibilities that kept
me busy after my days work was
done.
But all was not lovely by any means,
for the bosses were not at all pleased
with their beating and had determined
to fight us again.
They agreed among themselves that
after the 26th of December, 1904, they
would run their shops on the .'open''
system.
This agreement was reached last
fall, and soon notices, reading as fol-
lows, were hung up in the various
shops:
NOTICE.
"After the 26th Of December, 1907,
this shop will be run on the open shop
system, the bosses having the right to
engage and discharge employees az
they see fit, whether the latter are
union or non-union."
OF course we knew that this meant
an attack ON the union The bosses
intended gradually to get rid of us,
employing in our place child labor
and raw immigrant girls who would
work for next to nothing.
On December 22d the above notice
appeared, and the national board,
which had known it all along, went
into session prepared for action.
Our people were very restive, say.
ing that they could not sit under that
notice. and that if the national board
go out of themselves.
| At last the word was sent out, and
at 2:30 o'clock all the workers stop
ped, and, laying down their scissors
| and other tools, marched out, some OF
| them singing the ''Marseillaise"
We were out for thirteen weeks, and
! the girls established their reputation
They were on picket duty from seven
o'clock in the morning till six o'clock
in the evening, and gained over many
of the non-union workers by appeals
to them to quit working against us.
| Our theory was that if properly ap
found who would resist our offer to
take them into our organization. Nc
right thinking person desires to in
| jure another. We did not believe in
violence and never employed it.
| During this strike period we girls
each received So a week; single men
| So week and married men IS week
/ This was paid us by the national
board.
| We were greatly helped by the other
unions, because the open shop issue
was tremendous one, and this was
the second fight which the bosses had
conducted for it.
| Their first was with the tailors
whom they beat. If they now could
beat us the outlook for unionism would
be bad.
Some were aided and we stuck out
and won a glorious victory all along
the line. That was only last week
| The shops are open now for all union
hands and for them only.
While the strike lasted 1 tried to
get work in factory that was not
affected, but found that the boss was
| against me.
\ Last spring I had gone as mem
Der of a committee to appeal to this
boss on behalf of girl who had beer
four years in his employ and was only
getting 81 week. She wanted s.
raise and all legal holidays. Prev
iously she had had to work on holi
days. After argument we secured TO
her the 81 raise and half day o,
every legal holiday.
, When the strike broke out, lookin;
Continued on Page Four.