Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-12
||55 WA|TRESSESAT
LAzAD0RM|T0R|ES
co OUT ON STRIKE
Cut in Wages and Unjust
Working Conditions Are
Alleged.

Fifty-five Mattresses employed at
the government hotels in Union sta
ton plaza went on strike this morn
ing. refusing to serve breakfast to the
744 women and girls living in the
hotels
Girl clerks at first waited upon
themselves for breakfast, lining up
chow, and passing into the kitchen
70 be served. The girls made free use
OF sugar. 1t is understood, and drank
tnelr morning cup of coffee well
sweetened. Officials of the hotel did
yeoman duty wheeling dishes to and
the rolling service wagons
Reasons for Strike Given.
The strike, according to statements
or spokesmen for the Mattresses. was
due to reduction of wages, reduction
OF the number of meals allowed -
employees, and what the girls believed
to be unjust conditions of work inn
posed by the management of the ho-
tells. Miss Harlean James, general
manager. and Miss Olive Davis, as
sistant. are at the head of the hotels.
"A total OF 744 women and girls oc-
cupy rooms in the twelve dormitories
and board at the dining rooms.
According to statements of spokes-
men for the mattresses, the strikers
were ordered to go to work as usual
this morning or to pack their belong
ings and surrender their rooms nv 10
o'clock today. Not one of the wait
resses. 1T was stated. deserted the
ranks of the strikers. and all went
10 tnelr rooms to pack. and to try
10 locate living quarters before night
Waftresses Have Dependents.
1t was stated today that, without
exception. the striking mattresses are
either the sole support or aid in the
support of dependents Some of these
dependents, it was stated. are apd
Parents. others are young children:
Wnlle some of the Mattresses il was
stated, are supporting soldier broth
ers who were incapacitated in the
war. '--e
1t was stated that a few months ago
me wages OF mattresses were reduced
from $45 month to $40, wages then
including room and three meals
day. A little later the wages were
again reduced, it was stated. to s35
month. while a new rule provided thar
the mattresses would not be allowed
!uncneons or Sunday night suppers.
Within the last few days, it was stat
ed, further reduction of wages IN
$3o a month was threatened, while
another new rule forbade the wait
resses sitting down during meal hours
This rule, together with the i'm
pChoiuS cut IN wages, 1t was stated
resulted in the strike
The hotels include twelve buildings
each anording accommodations for
sixty-two roomers. and it was said
there has not been a vacant room
in any OF the buildings for several
months. Persons living at the hotels
are charged s45 a month for room
and board, none being taken who do
not board at the hotels.
Mattresses. it was stated, are re-
before meal hours; must remain until
the last person is served and then
must reset all tables ready for the
next meal. Time for reporting for
duty at breakfast. it was stated is
6:45 o'clock am. the mattresses being
on duty until after 9 o'clock. while
the dinner hours are longer. Under
the latest working rule all mattresses
were required to remain standing dur
ing the entire time they were on
At present, it was stated. the
income from board and rooms
at the hotels is about $33,50o.
Denies Strikers Allegations.
Miss Harlean James. general man.
ager of the hotels. today denied the
general allegations of the strikers,
declaring that she had for years in
terested herself in the rights of labor
and had tried at the hotels to make
the conditions for all employees as
good as possible.
There is not one of the mattresses
who is not getting $40 a month in cold
cash." Miss James stated. She de-
clared that the mattresses receive the
same food and the same lodgings as
the hotel guests.
The mattresses are required to stand
during the hours of service. but this
is a RECRUITMENT in force in all din
ing rooms the country over, Miss
James declared.
Volunteers were quickly secured
among the hotel guests. and these
will act as Mattresses tonight The
spirit of the girls, Miss James said.
was tremendously fine.