The sun., 1919-10-05
LAUNDRY WORKERS
ORDERED TO STRIKE
5000 to 1000 Called Out to
Enforce Demand for In
creased Wages.
Employers Ignore Ultimatum
sympathetic Action by
$4,000 Is Hinted.

Laundry workers numbering 5000 to
1000 received an order to strike yes
terday. which It is thought will cause
suspension OF work in nearly all steam
and hand laundries In the city. The or
der came from Vernon b. Smith, presi-
dent of the Joint committee representing
locals OF, 205 and 212 Of the Laundry
Workers International Union. following
conference In the afternoon with q
committee representing the Hand Laun-
dry Association. 1t was stated that
among the 5000 or more employers in
hand laundries, most of whom belong to
the association, a general feeling Of
sympathy with the strikers exists. but
that the steam laundry men have become
committed absolutely TO an open shop
policy and not only refuse to arbitrate on
the subject of prices but also refuse
recognition Of union labor
In general the demand Is for an in
| crease of 40 per cent. in wages and q
i forty-four hour week for ironers and
those employed In various other branches
Of the work. and 25 per cent increase
for those In occupations requiring less
skill. It was indicated that all the 65,-
900 union men and women In allied en-
ployments might strike in sympathy II
called upon
| May Boost Laundry Prices.
1t was said yesterday the outcome of
the strike. II successful, undoubtedly
will increase the price of laundry, though
this was denied at the headquarters OF
| the union at 81 West Hath street by
President Smith. Three weeks ago the
eighteen leading steam laundries, which
/ ha pdl fra l1xr all he Co. -.
hand laundriss. increased prices. The
hand laundries, having met the increas,
and now having to meet increased cost
| of labor, will have no other recourse
than to increase their own prices to tn,
Individual. 1t was pointed out. The ne
result, one steam laundry man said
would be TO make the cost of launderin,
a collar cents and a shirt 25 cents.
| 1t was said also that the management
of the steam iaundries have raised thei
wage scale to employees individually. II
some instances as high as 75 per cent
and that they have made attractive of
fers to all their workers to keep then
out OF the unions. President Smith sail
that while this was true. II also wa
true that most of the steam laundr,
employees were union men and that re
fusal to recognise the local will be in
| tefpreteu prdCticAuy as LOCKOUT
No Reply to Demands.
An uitimatum was sent Wednesday {,
the association of steam laundrymer
who were given until Friday night to an
swer. No answer was received. although
the committee waited at headquarter
all day. The committee stated that tn
strike order. which should have beei
given yesterday morning. was withheld
30 that all back work could be completes
and the public inconvenienced as little a
possible. 1t was stated that no violenc
would be tolerated.
The demands sent to the employers, 4
addition to providing for forty-fou
hour week for all classes, call for the fol
lowing scales: Laundry collectors. nov
averaging $25 week, to a minimum O
$40; collectors assistant. now averagin
SIS, to s35 white shirt collar and ne
washers, now averaging $35, to $50
: plain and fiat washers, averaging $26, I
$40: no washer shall handle more tha
: seven wheels; wrinsermen. averagin
$24 a week, TO $32; pullers and helperi