The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-11
CLOTHING WORKERS
OF BOSTON DEFIANT
Union Declares 1t Will Fight
Against Open Shop to
the Finish.

BosroS, Dec. 10.-The Boston branch
Of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers
OF America at a mass meeting late to-
day unanimously adopted a resolution
pledging its members to support. de-
fend and protect our organization, rights
and working conditions against all at
tacks," and declaring the organization
never will permit the restoration of the
ancient rule of arbitrary power and
sweatshop conditions in our industry"
The resolution refers to the abroga-
ton by the Clothing Manufacturers
Association of Boston of Its agreement
with the Amalgamated and says:
THE true cause of the abrogation Is
not the uncalled for, unfounded and I'M
justified allegations, but the fact that
there Is now state Of universal unerf,-
ployment In all industries, and our en-
ployers are seeking to profit by this
social curse Of unemployment and are
seeking to demoralize our organization
and working conditions. for which pur-
pose they deem 1t necessary to free
themselves from the obligation implied
in the agreement.
THE forty-four hour week and other
improved working conditions have been
the direct, immediate and unavoidable
effect Of our united power and action.
The employers may or may not have
agreements with our organization as
they choose. the industry is ours. Our
lives and health are invested In 1t and
the welfare and happiness OF our fami-
lies depend upon 1t. We have secured u
voice in II and shall not surrender"
Joseph Schlosfberg OF New York, gen.
crai secretary-treasurer of the Alga-
mated. in an address. said:
I'VE will accept the challenge thrown
Mt US. We will not call any strikes or
declare lockouts. We will let events
follow their inevitable course. We shall
not cause trouble at the factories. but
we will not allow our wages to be re-
duced or our hours increased. We do
not mean to give UP the liberty we have
gained by years of sacrifice without n
struggle. The Amalgamated has always
shown that II knows how to fight and
will prove Il again when the time to
fight arrives.
I'm all disputes or controversies we
must have voice In the adjustments.
| This right we have established and when
ever or wherever It Is challenged the
entire organization will be found behind
| the section or place attacked. We have
nothing to gain by disturbances. We are
for peace In the industry and ready "a
confer but II war is made on US we are
prepared to fight"
| A. Miller, manager of the Joint board
Of the Boston branch. spoke along SINH.
lar lines.
Capital, he said, has seized what 4,
believes to be the opportune time &c
break down the labor movement and has
given us the honor of being the first "a
be attacked. With the present depression
they believe the time Ia right to estab.
| lish the open shop. We want peace but
n they stand committed TO the open shop
they are going 10 have one OF the bigges,
labor fight In the history OF this or any
other country"
Arturo Glovannltti. who was promi-
nent In tho activities OF textile strikers
In Lawrence and other cities In recent
years, / told the members OF the union
that they were gathered mot as a pack
OF slaves. but as free men. to show any
disiliusioned fools that the workers re.
fuse to return to prewar wages or condl.
tons, which they considered things OF
the past and buried forever"
The Manufacturers Association In n
letter TO the joint board of the ANAL
aamated on December 8, said that Il
had decided TO break off relations with
the union, charging that the Amalga.
mated had broken It's agreements with
the association, had JAILED TO enforce
iarbitration decisions and had encour.
aged Deliberate rsstriction es eutpuk