Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-04-07
FUR WORKERS co
ON STRIKE At
HOLLANDER PLANT
About 400 Employees of Dyeing
Factory Seek Higher
Wages.
ONE MAN ARRESTED FOR
FLoURISHINC A REVOLVER
Police and Special Deputies on
Guard, Although There Is
No Violence.

About 400 men, employed as fur
workers in tine fur-dyeing factory
of A. Hollander & Sons, at 14s East
Kinney street, went out on strike to-
day for higher wages. The men, il
is said, have been dissatisfied for
some time, and the climax was
reached Saturday, when four of the
workers, who were accused Of agita-
ting the men to strike, were dis
charged.
About 100 OF the employees, disobey-
ing the strike order, went to work
today. while $50 new men were put
TO work by the firm. The strikers
assert that the new men are strike
breakers imported from Brooklyn,
but this is denied by the fur COM
pany.
More than 100 OF the strikers were
standing about in groups in front
of the factory this morning, but
made no effort to commit any vio-
lence. Reserves and mounted police
men, from the Third precinct. as well
as deputies from a local detective
agency, were on watch at the plant
all day.
One arrest was made shortly before
the factory opened at Z O'Clock this
morning. The prisoner is alleged to
be a strike breaker, and is charged
with pointing a loaded revolver at
one of the strikers. The man gave
his name as Louis Petroucestas, and
said he lived at 116 Hunterdon
street. He was arrested by PATROL
men Nichols and Siegler, who were
on watch at the plant. After being
locked up in the Third precinct sta
tion-house, he was arraigned before
Judge Grice and held in $500 bail.
Petroucestas told Patrolman
Nichols that he went to the factory
to look for a job, and brought the
gun along so that he would not be
molested. He drew the gun, he said,
TO scare Off some of the strikers,
who tried TO prevent him from en-
tering the factory.
says Workers Are "Slzses."
Henry Hilfers, secretary of the
State Federation Of Labor, and Sec
retarv OF the Essex Trades Council
speaking for the men today, said that
the fur workers were compelled to
work like slaves and received only
from IS to $12 per week. They now
demand that their wages he faiaefle Z
from SI2 TO SIS, the scale paid T01
similar work In Brooklyn
conditions In the factory are
frightful." said Mr.. FILTERS. ''Ths
light and ventilation is very bad and
the men are compelled to do the mos'
insanitary kind of work and worn
long hours for but little money. None
Of the men at the factory get more
than $12, while many of them art
working for Sc and IS. The girls and
women employed at the plant arr
"The fur workers in Brooklyn ars
organized. but the Hollander plan'
has always been an open shop. The
men here now intend to organize anC
to demand a decent living wage.
Michael Hollander, a member OF tbs
firm. denied that the men were under
paid or that conditions at the fac
tory were unsanitary.
At think that I can safely say" Seit
Mr.. Hollander, that we pay highel
wages for unskilled labor than any
factory in Newark. We have many
men now in our employ who hav'
left other factories because we pal
more money.
1.-THE average weekly wage Of oul
men is about $1S, and some OF our ex
perienced workers make as high a
S22 and S25.'
Mr.. Hollander denied that any o
the men were receiving only Sc, bu
said that the pay of some of the boy
employed at the plant were startet
a that amount. The girls ant
women, he said, received S.. Nom
of the female employees are on strike
Mr.. Hollander said.
"Ninety-five per cent OF my mel
are satisfied with conditions" Mr.
Hollander said, but there are just
few, melted by labor leaders, whit
have stirred the others to strike
Most of the men are willing and anx
Ious to go to work, but fear bodil.
harm if they do So