The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-12-11
ROW IN THE
CLOTHING TRADE
Manufacturers and Workers Se,.
er RelatiOns-ThOusand
Workers Quit Work

manufacturing association Of Boston
voted today to break all relations
with the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers of America. Agreements
which have governed the employ
ment Of $500 persons in the clothing
industry here were said to have been
abrogated by the workers union.
A formal letter of notification sent
to the joint board of Amalgamated
Clothing Workers declared that a
supplementary agreement which ex-
pirCd DecemLel and the basis of
agreement between the association
and the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers had been "diSregarded fire.
quently" by the latter.
''These agreements" the letter
continued, have proved decided
detriment to the clothing industry in
this market and have so increased the
costs of production that today men,
bers of our association are unable
Ito manufacture clothing at a price
acceptable either to the retailer or
to the consumer as a result of which
| practically all OF their shops are
now closed.
/ You have broken both agreements
at any time that it suited your fam
! cy TO do so; you have diSregarded,
have failed to enforce and, SO far
| as you were able, have nullified de-
cisions by the board OF arbitration;
some of your business agents have
1 been unfair, unscrupulous and un-
trustworthy. You have allowed and
encouraged individual demands for
increased wages by your members;
you have allowed and encouraged
deliberate restriction Of output by
your members amounting at times to
as much as SO per cent; you have
called strikes; you have brought
! about stoppages and have caused the
! manufacturers serious pecuniary loss
! by your refusal to finish out work
although the basic agreement to
which you are signatory prohibits
all such actions"
The Clothing Manufacturers asso-
citation embraces as members rs per
cent. Of the clothing manufacturing
| firms Of the city and the o.ner 25
per cent. are said to be jobbers SUBJ
| sidiary to them.
| L. Morrelli, manager of the Anal.
gamated Clothing Workers head
quarters, said here tonight that noti-
| fication of the manufacturers action
had not been received and no state
ment would be made until the union
had been formally notified of the alb
rogation of the agreement
4 New York, Dec. 6.-Members of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers OF
America in greater New York and
Newark, n. j.. voted tonight to re-
ject the wage and working agreement
submitted by the Clothing Manufac-
turers' association. They decided,
however, to remain at work.
! Sixteen meetings, which officers of
the association claimed represented
| $4,000 organization workers, were
held. The resolution adopted at
each meeting indorsed the attitude
OF representatives Of the union in
the negotiations with the manufac-
turers. 1t declared that while the
union members are ready to continue
| friendly relations with all employ
ers desiring peace in this industry,
we stand ready to use our organ
szed power to resist any attempt to
lower our economic condition or to
Il
quired by years of struggle and
that we will fight 20 the utmost in
ldeefnse OF these just rights and the
life OF our organization"
The ultimatum, submitted by the
clothing manufacturers December 2,
provided that on December "all
workers shall individually pe respon-
sible for daily standard Of produc-
ton to be agreed on and calculated
upon base rates prevailing in other
competitive markets, and that in the
event of failure Of any worker to
produce such standard OF production.
the employer shall have the right to
defense Of these just rights and the
1.-THE worker substantially underpro-
lducing.'
i This, the association stated, would
become effective Sut matically if not
accepted by the union.
/ Officers Of the organization de-
clared this constituted the Inaugural
ton of piece work and restoration
of the employers right 20 hire and
fire" without restraint
Sidney Hillman, president Of the
union announced that the unions
position will be submitted tomorrow
ITO the association.
meeting scheduled earlier in the
day to launch an organization en-
bracing five international unions in
the needle trade was postponed un-
til Thursday pending the result Of
the vote tonight The proposed new
organization, officers OF the union
claimed. would embrace 100000
workers