New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-24
Unions Have No Right to
Meddie in Individual Bar
gains, Court Decides.
FREEDOM AT STAKE,
JUSTICE GUY RULES
Garment Cutters Enjoined
Against Harassing Mem
bers Under Contract.

Justice Guy decided yesterday that
a union has no legal right to inter
fere with members in their fulilment
Of individual contracts with employ
ers This. it is believed, will be re-
garded as a precedent in master and
servant" contracts Of the INTERIOR
ough and some of its employees.
Justice Guy holds that no union
shall try to persuade its members, un-
der contract, or coerce them to vio-
late their contracts, whether by or
ders. strikes, regulations, rules, at
tempted enforcement Of bylaws, pen
altes. threats, intimidation or other
wise
Every citizen has the right TO make
contract, the justice declares.
Decision in Union Case.
The decision was rendered in the
proceeding brought by Jesse Woolf
and Otto b. Shulof, manufacturers OF
women's garments, to restrain the
Amalgamated Garment Cutters Asso-
citation. Local 10, and Alexander
Bloch and Samuel Besser, president
and treasurer, respectively, from TAX
ing action interfering with the con-
tracts of twelve union cutters.
In this case the men under contract
receive more than the maximum wage
provided By the union and their hours
OF labor are fewer. The justice grant
ed the injunction.
"Whjlc there is no direct proof OF
Illegal acts by members Of the union
said Justice Guy. cor Of illegal acts
perpetrated with the sanction. au-
thorization or approval of its officers.
the proof abundantly established that
for considerable time before the
granting of the order herein, there
existed an organized and persistent
interference with practically the en-
tire body Of plaintiffs employees, ac-
companied by threats, intimidation,
violence and with the apparent pur-
pose Of making the strike order Of the
defendant union more effective.
Freedom of Employees Upheld.
This is a condition of affairs which
a court of equity will not tolerate. The
law looks with favor upon the forma-
ton of labor organizations for the mu.
tual protection and the promotion OF
the welfare of its members and recog-
nizes their right TO endeavor to obtain
lust and reasonable conditions OF en-
ployment. establish rules as to wages
and hours of labor and to issue strike
orders.
"But the law regards as of special
sanctity, as the very basis of our insti-
tutions. the right Of freedom OF con-
tract of each citizen, and courts OF
equity will exercise their fullest pow
ers TO protect individual citizens,
whether employers or employees, IN the
exercise OF this right
Justice Guy called attention TO the
fact that Woolf and Snulof mad Deen
members Of a manufacturers assOcia-
ton which had an agreement with the
union. They withdrew from member
ship in the association and subsequent
ly entered into the contracts with IN
dividual employees.
"Said contracts" added Justice Guy,
"were entered into with members Of the
urion with full knowledge on the part
of the plaintiff that said contracts were
not only in contravention OF the obliga-
tions of membership union men had
previously assumed upon joining the
defendant union. but also in contraven-
ton Of the joint agreement or protocol
entered into by the defendant union
and other unions with manufacturers
association composed Of the great body
of employers in the same line OF trade"