New-York tribune., 1919-01-23
New w alkOut
I'm Garment
Trade Feared
Strike to Equalize Pay of
Men and Women Threat
ened by Union President
Mayor Fails as Arbiter
Employers Right TO Dis
charge Workers Point on
Which Negotiations Fail

Settlement of the strike of $4,000
workers in the waist and drcssmaking
industry of New York will be followed
by walkout of even greater propor-
tions in an effort to equalize the pay of
men and women in the trade
This announcement was made by
Benjamin Schlesingcr, president of the
international Ladies' Garment Workers.
Union, in outlining the status of the
controversy to several hundred s;rik-
ers in Webster Hall yesterday.
An effort by the Mayor to bring
about an adjustment between the manu-
facturers and employees failed again
After Mr.. Hylan had conferred with
Schlesinger and Solomon Seidman, an
other union leader, it was stated that
no progress had been made. Schlesinger
SAID that although the Mayor is not at
tempting to force an issue, the latter
felt the manufacturers might have taken
another stand alter the strike had be-
come fact. He told the Mayor, he
added they were ready to submit all
thelr differences to arbitration, but
nothing could be accomplished until the
manufacturers withdrew their insist
ence on the right of discharge The
Mayor told him to report any injustice
done to the workers By the police.
Professors May Pass on Issue
SO confident are the union leaders
that their demands are entirely fair
that they are seeking to have a group
OF Columbia University professors re-
view the points at issue and give an
opinion. This is being done, said
Schleslngor, to place the workers in
the proper light before the public
Charges by manufacturers that the
union had 10 right to ask for more
wages at this time because an increase
was granted last August, when an
raises would be asked by the workers,
were answered by President Schles-
niger with the statement that they had
asked for so per cent increase and
had been granted only per cent. The
manufacturers say they gave them d
10 to Is per cent raise.
Abraham Baroff, chairman Of the set
tlement committee OF the union, de-
clared more than 500 shops had asked
the strike leaders to settle, twelve Of
these being, he asserted, members of
the manufacturers ASSOCIATION. These
have a combined force of about 5000
workers.
Weakening Of Employers Denied
Boris Maruchcss, manager of the
labor committee of the Dress and Waist
manufacturers Association. controlling
about 250 Of the largest shops in the
city, denied that there were dcsertons
from the ranks of his organization.
The manufacturers" said Mr.. Ma
ruchess. 'are not concerned at present
with the questions Of wages and hours.
These matters never were reached be
cause of the unions insstcnce on life
tenure Of employment. The manufact-
urcrs arc always willing to confer
with the union if it rccedcs from its
stand on this proposition"
The customary tactics were cmplovcd
by the strikers yesterday. pickets being
established in front of shops and cir
culars distributed calling attention to
the details of their fight. Little dis
order was reported, there having been
but two arrests arising out Of the walk
out yesterday. Rebccca Learner, OF
335 Crimmins Street, and Rose Gold.
of 636 East 10th Street. were each
fined s. by Magistrate Swcetscr in Nor
rlsanla Court, charged with annoyinr
girls entering the shop OF Minnie Ware
nclll, at 14Sth Street and Third Avenue
tfrem Zlmbalist and Mischa Elman.
two famous violinists. it was stated AT
union headquarters, will give concerts
Tor the workers in various halls.