South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-31
PRINTERS DECLARE
STRIKE EFFECTIVE
FIRST OF NEW YEAR
Sixty Typesetters Will Walk
Out-Heads of Industries
Adsmant.

In conformity with instructions
received by the local branch Of the
International TypoEra phical Union
from its national headquarters de-
manding that a strike for the much
debated 44-hour week be held by the
local workers. 10 was decided u 81
night At "a meeting Of union type
settlers employed in commercial
printing houses in South Bend that
the strike would take place COM
mencing Jan. !.
Although the only printers who
are figuring in the strike are those
i'm the typesetting branch. over so
employees and Il commercial print
ing establishments I'm South Bend
VIII be effected.
The strike is beins held Tor The
same purpose as the national walk
out May I The reason that the
local body was unable 10 act in con-
ucction with other branches OF the
organization Is said 10 have been be-
cause they were bound 20 their en-
pl0yers by contract till Jan.
Serious Obstacle.
While the majority Of employees
Will not be affected by the strike, il
threatens 20 cast a serious obstacle
in the path OF the printing industry
in South Bend. The typesetters form
an essential part of the business
owners believe, and without them
activity would be previously ham
pered.
Local employing printers have eN-
| pressed their side Of the controversy
in a recent issue OF the Indiana La
Dor Journal, in which they declare
| that present business conditions will
not permit the application OF the A.
hour week They imply that the
/ local workers have been hoodwinked
\ by the leaders Of the organization OF
, which they are members and that
\ the movement being sponsored is
\ but a stepping stone 20 the Inaugural
| ton Of the six-hour day and de-
creased production.
Statistics showing the results OF
/ the nation wide strike attempted
May l state thai OF 60 principal cities
/ of the United States, - percent OF
the work done n these cities is done
in nOn-union or open shops and
that Il percent of the remaining 2S
percent union shops still maintain
the 48-hour week standard indicat
ing that the national strike was d
decided failure
Among the reasons stated in the
article for their opposition of the
strike. the reduction Of prices il
every lire Of printing is pointed 20
Labor which is about One-third 81
the total cost of printing, has no
been lowered. although raw mate
rails and overhead expenses have
visibly diminished, they say.
I'VE regard the present effort q
reduce production by shortening tn
work week as not only a lack OF co
operation on the part Of labor but al
unwarranted effort to prevent tn
employers from adjusting the indus
try 10 meet existing conditions
The support Of the buyers of tn
vicinity is requested in the state
ment, which is signed by owners o
ten of the largest printing houses il
the city.
Those in close touch with the sit
uation believe that the employer
will sit tight" on the issue an,
fight the union TO a finish" Thi
is the impression conveyed by tn
statement referred 10 above. Head
of several of the businesses afecte,
declined to make "a statement las
night. but it was indicated that
meeting of employers would prob
ably be held today, during whicl
they would decide means 70 meet tn
situation.