The Connecticut labor press. (New Haven, Conn.) 191?-1921, 1921-01-08
More Than $4,000
Idle in NeU Haven
More are Expected
Figures Prepared for A. F. of L.
Show Serious Condition Here.
Shops Either Entirely Shut
Down or Working With Half
Help-Skilled Men Also Hit.

There are at least $4,000 unemployed
men in New Haven, and the outlook
is that this number wilt be speedily in
creased by several more thousands,
according to reports made to the Trades
Council on Thursday night and which
will be forwarded to Secretary Frank
Morrison of the A. F. of l.. for use be-
fore the senatorial committee now in
vestigating the immigration situation.
From the reports made it is certain
that there are several thousand skilled
mechanics now out of work about the
city, and this does not include the
thousands employed in the shops which
are wholly shut down, the men laid off
or working only part time each week.
The information was requested by
Secretary Morrison and the roll of dele
gates brought out some interesting re-
plies. For instance the Bartenders
delegate reported only two members out
of work, despite the fact that pro-
hibition exists. The tailors also re-
ported everybody working as did the
street car men and the coal teamsters,
and to make it good on the other hand
the heat and frost insulators reported
everyone on the job. The total reported
out of work by other delegates, however,
ran from five to several hundred and
made an official total of about 1,500 men
affiliated with the Council known to be
out of work now.
The shop situation was unoficia1ly
canvassed. Winchester's it was report
ed was short about 5000 of its regular
quota, the Clock shop shut down entire
ly, the Seamless Rubber shops short
most Of its force temporarily like Win
chesters, and most of the other factor
les of the city either working very short
time or having laid off their employees
by hundreds. The Sargent shops, which
are virtually independent of the big
banking interests of the country is about
the only shop in town that is not much
affected by the business slump. The
Sargent firm always has managed to
weather these financial storms, because
of its independence and looks as if it
would go through again this time.
In addition to the general layof at
Winchester's wage cut of 10 per cent
was announced this week For months
the factory has been juggling jobs and
laying off and cutting wages when the
men are recalled and placed in other
-rebs and now with less than half a
normal force has decided to go the
whole works and cut generally. The
cut is from head of departments" down
to sweeps and being unorganized there
is nothing for the help to do but grin
and bear it.
The Clock shop likewise has been
laying off and cutting generally for
some time past, lack of orders making
this necessary it is said. 1t closed for
the holiday season and will not reopen
until the 18th if then.
The situation generally is serious
here City hali especially the mayors
Office, is besieged daily with persons
asking work but as the mayor cannot
supply it they can get little aid. As a
result the demands on the charities
office are growing alarmingly especially
in appeals for coal. Most of the atflll-
ated unions here are assisting their
members out of work by assessments
on those who are working but this re-
lief is little when the prices of every
thing are considered.