The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1914-10-23
A RECENT CASE IN POINT.
Victory of tho Philadelphia Garment
Workers Shows Value of the Protocol
idea--The Trade Union Makes For
Industrial Peace.

VoFNoFU SHOWS Vdiuc OF the TFotoCot
idea-The Trade Union Makes For
Industrial Peace.
The agreement recently made be-
tween the Garment Manufacturers as
sOciation and the Garment Workers
amicable solution of present difficulties
and permanent agencies for adjusting
grievances and for conserving the
peace by securing higher wages,
shorter workday and better and safer
conditions Of life and work.
This Philadelphia agreement marks
the extension of the protocol idea which
has done SO much toward bringing
greater degree Of order and justice
into the turbulent sweated needle in
dustries of New York city. The pro-
tocol. like all trade union methods and
agreements, makes for peace and the
welfare Of employees and safeguards
fair minded employers from cutthroat
competition. 1t makes for stability and
Industrial progress. 1t insures better
protected, hence more efficient workers.
Many times we have repeated the
declaration that no strike is lost. This
Philadelphia victory Is q particularly
nice illustration of that statement. Last
year the garment workers of Philadel-
phia presented demands which the
manufacturers denied. The workers
went out on a strike which lasted for
twenty-six weeks. Because they were
hungry, because their wives and chill
dren were hungry, they returned to
work without having won their de-
mands. But they were not defeated
They remained organized and prepar-
ed for more insistent presentation
OF their demands. They were organiZ-
ing more thoroughly and marshaling
their forces because they knew the
cost OF the struggle. They knew the
feeling of growing hunger long unsat-
tsf1ed The manufacturers, too, had
learned the cost Of such struggle;
they had learned how 1t disorganized
business and reduced profits.
In September the demands of the
workers were again renewed. When
they were not granted at first the
workers manifested their determine
ton to insist upon justice. An i'm
mense mass meeting was held to con-
slider the situation. 1t was the priyi-
lege OF the president Of the American
Federation of Labor to participate In
the counsel and the meetings a gen
eral strike was urged Others felt that
they should resort to a strike only
when all the resources of peaceful ne
gotiation had been exhausted. That
counsel prevailed.
The representatives of the union
met with the representatives OF the
manufacturers and finally formulated
an agreement most gratifying to both
employees and employers. The agree
ment will establish better and closer
relations between workers and manu-
facturers because Ii Is based upon
common interests
The agreement provides for fifty-two
hour week with Saturday half holiday.
Overtime is not to exceed six hours q
week nor two a day and is TO be paid
for at the rate of time and half. A
time wage scale is agreed upon with
provisions for adjustments. All prices
for piece work shall be made in ad-
vance, Wages must be paid In cash on
a fixed day Of each week.
The association agreed to cooperate
with the union to establish proper
standards and safety and sanitary
conditions In all factories and shops In
the cloak and suit industry Home
work Is prohibited No deposit ex.
cept 81 for return of machine parts be-
longing to the employer shall be made
Employers shall not charge for oil
power or belts Work shall be dis
dull! seasons No discrimination shall
be made against employees because OF
membership or activities In the union
The provisions which establish the
peace agencies are as follows: Indt
vidual grievances Of employees shall
be presented to employers by employ
ees or by a chosen representative. II
these grievances cannot be adjusted IN
this way they shall be submitted tC
the chief clerks of both organizations
OF deputies they may appoint. AS 6
last tribunal is provided a board OF
grievances" to be composed of three
representatives Of the unions an(
three of the manufacturers associa
ton. The chairman of the board l.
George u. Porter. director of the pub
lie safety Of the city of Philadelphia
or a person designated by him. Ii
case Of tie the chairman has the de
Gliding vote.
This agreement Is indeed great vic
tory for the garment workers of Phila
delphia. 1t means for them the be
ginning of period Of progress. 1
means better homes and better living
Ir means greater opportunity for thu
orderly and constructive work of trad,
union organization in behalf Of til,
working people. The trade union doe
more than hold out hopes of bette
things 1t secures results for the i'm
mediate present 1t helps to put In
dustry upou safe and dependabl,
basis. II makes for peace and prog
ress in all their relations.