Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-18
STRIKE Of EMPLOYEES
in CIGAR FACTORY.
One Demand Of 0ffterdinger's
Workers Is Restoration of
Dismissed Union Officials.
EIGHTY WOMEN WALK OUT


has on his hands strike Of cigar
makers. Strike leaders assert that about
eighty woman and eight man workers.
all those who joined the union about a
month ago-have walked out Repre-
sentatives of Mr.. Offterdinger concede
that about fifty of the more than 100
woman workers have quit. with all the
older hands sticking to their tasks.
J. W. B. Petty. affiliated with the
Workers Industrial Union, and Charles
A. Hall were employees in the OTTER
until last Saturday. when they were
told that their services would no longer
be required. Hall is president and
Petty is secretary of the union of
offterdinger employees. which is not yet
affiliated with any larger labor organ
ization.
ReinstaternAsa, Demanded.
The first demaA.e of the strikers,
presented to Mr.. O8xtrdinger by Mrs.
Rebecca Perry. chaifJBan of the griev-
ance committee. dGnsAnded the REIN
statement of these Gaen. The COM
planning workers, instead Of going to
gathered in the street in front of the
shop. and waited for Mr.. Offterdinger.
On arrival he declined to accede to
this demand. telling the workers that
they chose to follow Petty and Hall
they were under no restraint.
Mr.. Offterdinger took the copy of
other grievances handed him and the
strikers expect some reply by tonight
Higher wages, same wages for women
as men. sanitation and heating i'm
provements. of the workrooms, and in
providing stock. avoidance Of delay
that interferes with the volume of
production by workers comprise these
give these consideration.
Have Places for All.
President Hall and Secretary Petty of
the union declare that th0H have offers
of work in Baltimore, Alexandria and
other cities for every one who has
walked out Also. they assert. the
entirely restore wage schedules OF six
years ago. and are not equal to prices
paid in other communities. Onterdin-
gers is an open shop, and 1t is assumed
ganizing the employees resulted in their
dismissal.
In fact, representatives Of Mr.. Otter
dinger state that a man employed in
the shop had disturbed its esprit de
corps to such an extent that his dismiss
sal had been necessary. The name of
the man was withheld.
The strikers have another grievance
that it comprised in their bin Of COM
plant. They demand the removal of
''her actions around the shop and to-
ward the employees are unbearable."
They ask that man be put in her
stead.
OF the fourteen counts that make ND
the grievances. six apply to the wage
question.
1t is demanded that all packers be
put on piece work. and their pay in
present piece rate. which the strikers
state is 81 and $1.25 per thousand. -,
A minimum price Of $40 a thousand
for cigar making is demanded; for all
jobs paying now $40 or more an in
crease is fixed at 81. Cigar makers
now receive, 1t is stated, as low as IS
a thousand, the higher wages being
paid to those who make up Havana
tobacco.
Want Raise in Pay for Stripping.
Five cents per pound on stripping
Havana and 2 cents per pound on all
other stripping is the increase asked.
Present prices, as quoted by the strik-
ers, are 10 cents for Havana and
cents for other binders and 2M cents
for other filters
On all banding, the demand is an in
crease of Is cents on the present wages
of 25 to 35 cents per thousand. A rate
of cents per Thousand is asked for
transferring. for which. it is stated, 5
cents and under, and sometimes moth
ing is now paid.
A IS increase in the present wage of
$15 is asked for the caser. Baltimore
pays S22 and SIS for this work, is the
statement of the strikers.
The strikers also assert that many
of the increases asked do not bring
the wages up to prices paid in other
cities: Lack of competition in Washing
ton they explain as the reason for the
alleged low pay here
The organization has the name of the
Cigar Workers Industrial Union, It's
meeting place is at S11 E street.