The Connecticut labor press., 1920-11-20
BAKERS CONTEST BRINGS HALF A
 MILLION LABELS
Awards Made to New Haven Col lectors at Union s Highly
 Successful Dance.
THE STRIKE SITUATION
Thompson Company Still Holds Out While Demand for Union
 Products Grows Daily.

When 1t comes to putting things over right the Bakers union of New Haven, Local No. II, qualities for hon. ors. It has proven this in the vigorous conduct of its strike and 1t proved it again most cenclusive1y by the success achieved by the dance given in Her mans Sons hall, last Saturday evening
 It was record breaker.
 The advance sale of tickets, which
 went all over the state, was phenomenal and the crowd packed the hall. Web CTS orchestra supplied excellent music for the dancing and everybody had a great time. It Is estimated that the dance cleared over $500 which goes to- ward the strike fund.
 A notable feature of the event was the award of the $100 in cash to par ticipants in the bakers union label con- test, which was divided as follows Mrs. Paecht, $25; Mrs. Peelstrom, SIS MT. Ratchgeber, $15; Mrs. Cohen, $1O ; Mrs. Cufnsly, $10; Mrs. Gesler, $5 Maginiro, $5; Mrs. Holbinger, $5.
 An idea of the interest taken in this contest is evidenced by the fact that approximately half a million labels were turned in to the committee by the con- ;. parative1y early in the strike the union offered prizes to those collecting the greatest number of labels taken from bread and the response was instantane ous and enthusiastic. All over the city housewives and children began saving the labels and the demand for union label bread was increased by such leaps and bounds as to drive the non7union bakeries to despair. Drivers for these outside concerns found their customers among the storekeepers cutting their orders for the a1on-union product to almost nothing while others gave up carrying anything but union made bread. The contest was one of the greatest successes in that line the city has ever seen and the strike commit tee, together with International Organ .izer Chris Kerker, under whose direc- ton it was conducted, are entitled to congratulation for the manner in which they put 1t over.
 The committee which had charge of the dance was composed of J. Ruby, F. Voland, A. F, Striby and J. Stranz. Reception committee, G. Woedtke, George Mona, Karl Schuekert, L. Marr and Gus Von Hausen. Floor commit tee, J. Drumming, Burton Powell, F.. Ward, M. Strauss, and M. DeCar1o.
 The strike situation remains about the same. As, was reported in the last issue of The Connecticut Labor Press the conference with the s. $. Thomp- son Company failed to produce results and that company, which is considered the leader of the opposition, remains obdurate in it's determination to run a non-union shop.
 I'll -<,1 of Patrick F. O'Meara of the New Ha- the Bakers union, and Organizer Kerk- CT, met with refusal of settlement from Paul Thompson of the firm, the latter stating that there was nothing to confer upon. Mir. Pardee of the com pany at the first meeting with the com
 nittee was cordial in his attitude and, 1t Is stated, admitted that conditions were unpleasant and outside sales not as satisfactory as they had been. The bakers union has also heard from outside sources that there is con- siderable complaint from persons re- siding ir1 the neighborhood of the Thompson bakery over the noise eman- ating from the plant during its opera tions after midnight. As night work is one of the things which the union desires to see eliminated that has an important bearing on the situation.
 The Pastors Union and Social Workers are now interesting themselves in the situation existing between the Thompson company and the union and their efforts to abate conditions which the union considers as non-humanitar- ian may have some effect upon the final result.
 Meanwhile the union men and women of the city, together with lot of other people who believe in fair work day and sanitary conditions, are buying only union made products and the union is confident that the great success already will get result in a 100 per cent. organization in New Haven.