United labor bulletin., 1911-10-05
BAKERS HAMPERED
BY STEEL TRUST
Revolving Conditions Shown in
Shown in Report of Commerce
and Labor Official.

Terrible and revolving conditions in
deed have been disclosed in a special re-
port recently submitted by the secretary
| OF Commerce and Labor to. the senate
committee dealing with the affairs of the
steel Trust, the huge capitalistic COM
hne which also has its fingers in the pie
IN the effort to monopoize the bread
market
The report of this government official
plainly showed that it is common rule
IN the iron and steel Industry to require
u hours work per day, seven days work
week, of workers in the mills, and that
the average wages paid is only from 1s
to 25 cents an hour.
The seven-day working week is not
confined to the blast furnace department,
where there is "a metallurgical neces-
slty for continuous operation, but also
was found to considerable extent in
other departments for commercial rea-
sons only.
Much of the Sunday work is no more
necessary than in other Industries, says
the report
Added significance attaches to the
conditions of labor in the iron and steel
industries in comparison with the gen.
eral tendency in other industries for
years past toward a shorter working
day.
In the baking industry the organized
workers also are striving to achieve a
shorter workday, and considerable prog
ress has been made along these lines.
The appearance of the Steel Trust
through the Ward Bread company seems
TO indicate that a like fate would befall
the workers in the baking industry if
the Steel Trust is permitted to have
everything its own way
Ihe bakery workers will not submit
to such conditions hence their present
night against the bread monopolists and
their hacker, the Steel Trust interests.
The bakery workers do not propose to
let the Steel Trust. through the Bread
Trust, duplicate the nefarious conditions
IN the baking industry which have been
reported as existing in the steel indus
try, according to the report mentioned
above.
They propose to fight with all their
might any movement and any tenden-
cies that propose to change to the worst
anything in the conditions which the
Dakery workers have so far been sue
cessful in gaining.
The bakery workers do not propose to
permit the Bread Trust to follow the
same methods as the Steel Trust en-
ployed when it crushed the organizations
OF the steel and iron workers in order
to be able to force upon them such ter
rible conditions as have now been
brought to the attention of the govern
ment.
Should not the public become Mortified
at the conditions revealed through this
government investigation?
Should the people not emphatically
voice their protests against such inhu-
name conditions? Should they not raise
an emphatic protest in behalf of these
poor slaves, demanding for them proper
ha
And demand such protection for ALL.
workers who are likely to be fieeced in
the same contemplate manner by the
few who are seeking to monopolize every
industry for their own benefit
If the people of this country do not
come to the aid of the bakery workers
in this present struggle against the
Bread Trust, the bakery workers viii in
ume-and q time not so far away-be
condemned TO the same fate as that
which has become the lot of the work
ers In the steel and iron industry
They viii be compelled TO work as
many days per week and rs many hours
per day as the Bread Trust wIu demand
of them
They will be compelled TO accept
STARVATION wages for their labor.
The purchasing power OF their earn
mss will be greatly decreased and the
TO deal Will have to suffer likewise. The
Bread Trust Will upmercifulIy fleece the
bakery workers, if it employs any at all,
Tor It's own benefit, regardless OF whom
soeyer else may suffer thereby.
II the people permit the Bread Trust
TO carry out its policy so destructive to
the working class. the bakery workers
VIII not be the only ones TO suffer. Anu
because OF that fact they have asked
-ggrn in
with the labor movement, those who
have been benefited through the same.
to stand by them in this fight.
They do not demand anything impos-
sible. What they ask is the easiest
thing to do for anybody. Just a demand
for their label will be the greatest help
10 them. 1t is the most effective way
for the people to do something for them.
1t does not impose upon anybody the
making of any great sacrifice. The de
mand for the bakers union label does
not cost anything extra We are paving
the same price for the bread that we
would for a loaf which does not show
that little label
BY asking for ii the people are at least
sure that they are getting something
which has been produced under condi-
tions which are sanitary. clean and hui
name. They will know at least that the
men WHO nave oaheu the bread We're not
overworked and underpaid like the slaves
of the Steel Trust
Millions of people are already demand.
ing the bakers label, but the demand
must be greater yet. II must be made
so effective that even the Bread Trust
will be compelled to introduce it in order
to find market for its goods.
viii you. in the face OF the conditions
which have been forced upon the work
ers in the steel industry and which will
surely be imposed upon the bakery work.
ers If they are not aided by YOU. con.
tinue 10 patronize the Bread Trust and
buy its non-union-made bread, although
you know now that by doing this you
will monty act in a manner detrimental
to YOURSELF?