New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-12
TRIBUNAL TO AID
WOMEN WORKERS
Consumers League to En-
force Labor Law for
Unorganized 100000

The 100000 or more unorganized
working women and girls in greater
New York at last are 20 have triou-
nal TO which they can appeal against
EMPLOYERS who give them long hours,
small pay and unsanitary working con
ditions.
The working women OF the city who
helong 70 the trade unions--in num-
bers much inferior TO the unorganlzed
workcrS-for years have had help IN
their battles. But the unorganized
working women have been protected
only By laws which are feebly enforced,
their leaders declare. II has remained
for the Consumers League, Of which
Miss Nellie Swsrtz is executive secre.
tary. 20 call into existence a court OF
appeal for the women workers not
members Of the trade unions.
One hundred working women, two
from each trade, will make up the
Central Council of Women Workers,
as il is 10 be known. To this council
The workers will report violations OF
labor laws which they observe in their
own factories. The council will for
ward each complaint 70 the Consum-
ers' LeagueA which. after II has con-
WINGED itself of the merit of the pro-
test. will lay il before the State Labor
Commission for prosecution.
Permanent organization OF the coun-
ell will be affected at a meeting IN
Washington Irving High School on
December %. The plan for II was
launched Friday night, when 500 work
ers met in the high school building.
Many OF them were astonished when
tbev were told that there is a law on
the statute books Of New York State
prohibiting employers from working
their women employees more than nifty
four hours a week
The need Of such a court of appeal
j. strongly demonstrated by an lnves-
tlgation the Consumers League recent
lv conDleted." Miss SwartZ said last
night. I'VE made canvass OF 4OV
working women employed IN almost as
many different factories, only TO learn
that not more than a score OF them
we're familiar with the laws which are
supposed TO protect their rights:
"in each instance we informed them
Of the statutes and asked them TO re-
port to Us violations they might see
in the future. In less than month
more than 1000 such violations nao
hoo, ~cported. In some factories con-
ditions we're excellent. But at the
other end OF the scale was that all too
great group Of shops which violated
every Jaw that has ever been passed
"Wo are particularly interested IN
seeing that women shall not be forced
20 work more than iifty-four hours a
week. as the law provides. In count
loss shops within the boundaries o.
New York City this law is being vlo-
lated every day of the year. The to-
bacco industry is an offender from one
voer TO the next. At this particular
season the fur industry Is guilty OF
the most fagrant violations.
unfortunately. there Is no existing
Law, 20 protect two important classes
Of women workers mattresses ana
hotel and hospital laundry workers.
Restaurant work. when 1t Is running
true to form. keeps girl inside 10r
from seventy to eighty hours a week.
with no day Of rest.
"The laundry work in hotels ana
losnitals is equally long and exhaust
ing. Thus far the hotelmens lobby
has been too strong for the Consumers
Ieaoue: we have been unable TO gain
LEGISLATION that would protect the DIN
inc room end laundry employees.
"But this year we hope for dli-
fersnt result. With the Central Coun-
eli of Women Workers constantly re-
rortipc concrete instances of law vio.
iotions and inhuman treatment. we VIII
bc able 20 lay facts before the Legs
lature that the biggest lobby IN the
country will hnd it hard TO explain,
81 predict that the council Will be
the most powerful agent that the WON
an worker in this city has ever mao
II will give her a definite place 10
carry her plea for square deal ana
promises her definite action. IL VIII
nrobablv be the first step in the or
qanization Of all women's trades that
are to-day unorganized."