The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-11-17
BIG REFORM STRUGGLE
ON IN CHICAGO STORES
Saleswomen are Not Allowed
to Sit Down in Big De-
partment Stores.
Arrangement Between Owners
of Big Stores Indicate
Keeping of Blacklist.


Keeping of Blacklist.
For ten years the bltterest enemy
of organized labor in Chicago has
been the State street stores.
Through their control of the press,
it was these stores that led the
fight against the teamsters, the
most powerful labor organization
in Chicago, in the strike of 1905.
The greatest struggle in the strike
of the building trades In this city
was on building owned by Marsh
all Field. Every attempt of the
department store clerks to organ
ize has met with failure.
Thomas Mahon has worked for
Marshall Field twelve years. He
began as bundle boy at So per
week and now is an inspector,
earning $14. The incentive to
work could be greater, yet at this
rate he is still expecting to become
part owner of the firm. Thomas
Mahon has learned several things.
He knows that organization of la
bor does not go in the big stores
He can tell you of the time, not
long ago, when the clerks resolved
to organize. They discussed it
quietly. They knew the attitude
OF the store management, so plan
ned to meet some distance from
the downtown stores. About so
clerks from various stores took a
North Clark street car, transferred
to Chicago Avenue and south on
Halsted to 63rd. An incipient or
ganization was formed. Next morn
ing every man and woman at the
meeting was discharged.
Fired for Union Activity.
woman, working in a restaur-
ant at The Fair was elected to an
office in the Mattresses union. She
was Immediately discharged. When
delegation attempted to put the
case before Mrs. Lehman, owner
OF The Fair store, she refused to
meet the delegation or to answer a
letter addressed to her.
The difficulties Of organization
are made greater by the method of
graduation of labor that exists in
| the stores and that has been ef-
fected since the last attempt of the
woman works over and under some
one else. The distinction may be
one almost purely in name with so
cents or a dollars difference in
wages, yet 1t serves to destroy the
growth of common interest among
the clerks, since every man is push
ing those under him while trying
to pull up to the position above.
Blacklist Works Overtime.
IN order to keep wages of clerks
ooWn ana prevent them from an effort
| 10 better their condition by changing
| 10 dltterent store, Mandel Bros,
Marshall Field, Stevens and Carson
P1rie have entered into an agreement,
Ihey constitute what is known as the
| big A. Through the agreement be-
tween these firms, no store will hire
an employe from any one Of the other
stores until the clerk has first given
up his place-become dependent-and
told his former wages. Letters of rec
ommendatlon, required at the time of
| employment, are retained by the man.
agement and all errors are entered
and kept for future reference, so that
they operate like the Lord, who said,
! 10, will be with you always"
Rules are fixed by the house and
clerks may be discharged with or with
| out cause. A customer stepped up to
| woman in the Boston Store, who
had been fourteen years in the employ
| Of the house. She made a purchase
! and asked to have smaller package
enclosed The clerk, to oblige the Gus
| toner, did so, and half hour later
was discharged, the customer being a.
house detective. No rule against en-
| closing packages can be found in the
0f ho
| ever announced to the employees.
Fined Because She Might Have Made
Mistake.
Clerks are fined not only for all mis-
| takes made but for all they were like
| ly to make. Carrie Mann, at the Bos-
| ton Store, sold four pairs of hose at
| s cents less than the price mark. The
insrt ctor stopped the bill SO the store
lost nothing, but Carrie lost 20 cents.
| The store makes several hundred dol
! lars a week in this manner. Discharge
is the penalty, If the clerk fails to
sign a charge check"
There is perfect liberty Of speech"
so far as any person working under
! you is concerned. The writer has fire.
| quently heard Rothschild's floor walk
| ers abuse and swear at women clerks;
| and Mandel Bros receiving clerks
! vent their feelings on the office girls.
| In no case is there an appeal to a
higher authority
| So effectually have the big stores
J crushed out organization and so COM
| pletely have they control Of the stu
alton. that men and women entering
their employ bargain on exactly the
same terms as the workers Of the 18th
century bargained with their employ
| ers.
Mr.. Union Man: Notify your baker
| that the Bell Phone Is Unfair.