New-York tribune., 1919-05-15
10000 Cloak
Makers Strike
For444-Hr. eek
Right to Examine Employ
ers' Books to Regulate
Wage Is Included in
Demands From Union
Compromise Is Expected
Owners Indicate willingness
to Agree to Conferences;
2,4OO Shops Are Affected

2,4OO Shops Are Affected
The 10000 union employees Of 2,4o0
cloak, suit and skirt shops struck as
scheduled at 10 o'clock yesterday morn
lng Promptly on the minute, the shop
leaders shut off power and led their
crews to previously designated meet
ing places. Here, after organizing meet
lngs, the strikers registered and de-
parted for homes, beaches or the
movies" in no instance was any dis
order reported.
The demands Of the Intern ational
Ladies' Garment Workers. Union, to
which the strikers belong, were made
pubic yesterday by the Cloak, Suit and
SKIRT Manufacturers Association, after
benjamin Schlessinger, international
president of the Ladies Garment Work
ers" Union had issued statement
denying they were excessive.
Closed Shops Demanded
First Of the demands is for the
closed S, -. The union demands none
put members in good standing be en-
ployed in any shop, and defines good
standing as possession of union card
not more than one month in arrears.
1T also demands that no member of
flrm, foreman or designer shall do any
work in factory ordinarily done by
operatives, that all operatives shall be
hired through the union. The employ
ers also are asked to agree to dis
miss ANY, or all workers at the re-
quest of the union"
Steady work eight months in the
year is made requisite, and all manu-
iacturers are required to employ not
less than fourteen operatives eXclus
I've OF cutters. All in excess Of that
number now in the employ of firm
must be kept, and any new employe
working more than one week must be
treated as permanent employe, no
reduction of forces to be made except
by permission of the union.
Want to Examine Books
AS further means Of keeping tabs
OF on employees and employers, the right
to examine employers books at all
times is demanded, this for the pur-
pose OF determining the actual wages
PAID, and the names of those outside
contractors whom the EMPLOYER NAV
engage, or for whom he may be work
ing.
For a forty-four-hou week these
wages are demanded:
Cloak, suit and dress cutters ...s .s42
Skirt cutters S.........,.. 90
Sample makers "a
Jacket, dress, coat, skirt and REFER makers 50
E;:t AUS 1900. .......s. .......... 40
D,.ana.a ipo1' ''''' .....'....- 50
Skirt and dress basters - 81
Jacket Jacket dress and REFER pressers. ....... 3S
SI;rt o,d Jrs,. 80
Aaiiiilers Observation-Disclosures. 32-35
osI DusnelerS 49,; ;.'......... 2O-22
Buttonhole makers Observation-Disclosures. As
The only piece work permitted is
in the case of buttonhole makers. for
whom $1.10 hundred is demanded and
guaranty Of Sc a week in the dull
season.
These scales are to be the minimum,
the employers being required to recog-
nize demands for more money by more
etf1clent workers when presentd by the
union, which also insists that those
now getting more than the minimum
scale be not reduced.
Double Pay for Overtime
In the matter of overtime, double
pay is demanded, with limit of two
hours on four days week, except in
PSA tSuo OCCWCcI NOVcIuDcT 10 ana
February 1, April 15 and August Is,
when none is to be permitted. EN-
ployes are also to be given ten holi-
days year with pay.
The right of the employer to en-
gage outside contractors is limited to
those of whom the union may approve,
no new contracts to be made while old
contractors are not working to capac-
lty. Contractors wage bills must be
guaranteed,
In circles close to the manufacturers
association it was said there probably
would be little difficulty in obtaining
an agreement on the forty-four hour
week, and that the substitution of
weekly wage for the piece price system
would probably be agreed upon, with
the difficulty of arranging settlement |
centring on the wages to be paid. 1t is |
understood a tentative agreement on
SAP as the maximum rate has been !
reached.
aNo attempt was made to resume con-
ferences between the union officials |
and the employees yesterday. In a
letter to Saul Singer, president of the
association, Mr.. Schlessinger declared
the unions were ready to resume ne9o-
To this Mr. Singer, in a
formal statement, replied he had no
doubt conferences would be resumed
at an early date.
81 believe" said he, "that If spirit
Of fairness is shown by the union, a
workable and liveable agreement can
be effected"