The Connecticut labor news., 1921-06-03
HOPKINS BREWERY STRIKE IS YET ON
 DESPITE REPORTS
Hartford Brewer Rejects All Efforts of Union Men to Adjust
 Trouble i'll Works.

The following communication from the Hartford Central Labor Union relative to the strike yet on at the Hopkins Brewery in that city, which has been on since last October, IS be- ing sent to Central bodies all over the state and completely ,refutes the i'm pression being sent abroad the state the men back at work. Quite the con trary is the case as the letter, which
 is as follows, shows:
 On October 6, 1920, the men en- ployed at the Hopkins Brewery in this city, members of the Brewery Workers Local 35, were compelled to go on strike as a last resort because the firm absolutely refused to honor the existing closed shop agreement and insisted on employing non-union men.
 Every possible effort has been made to settle the grievance amicably. On October 20 General Secretary Prosbstle of the International Brew sought the privilege from the firm to make an investigation which was de- nied him, the firm absolutely refusing to deal with him and he was told Ito 20 back where he came from"
 This firm has deliberately and re- peatedly violated the existing agree ment, claiming the union was a thing of the past. Their action virtually amounts to refusal to recognize the union any longer and they boast that they will run their plant absolutely under open shop conditions.
 A committee from the Central La bor Union who endeavored to adjust the matter was likewise unsuccessful and on October 20 the firm was put on the We don't patr onize list"
 The action of the Hopkins Brewery management is part of the general open shop movement, aimed at the de- struction of the Brewery Workers organizations of the state. This firms product, called "Bunnydry," or any other product manufactured by this firm IS unfair.
 The situation remains unchanged. Two further attempts by committee from the central body to adjust the trouble proved futile The committee was informed that the firm was pleased with the mems action, MT. Hopkins thereby being relieved of the necessity to discharge them during the winter months.
 Of course the firm made every at tempt and offered inducements to the
 
 and under "open shop' conditions, but they knew the value of the firms promises from past experiences and remained loyal. The plant was prac- tically shut down during the winter months, with the exception of one at tempt on the part of the firm to mar ket a certain home brew syrup called Hopkins HIM" The attempt was a complete failure.
 Lately the firm has tried to resume operations, hiring two and three men to fill a position that formally had to be covered by one union man. These strlkebreakers are mostly Poles and Italians who do not understand our language sufficiently to realize that they are being duped. The firm boasts that workingmen are too indifferent and will drink their near beer called Bunny Dry" regardless of whether l it is union made or non-union made, but judging from the efforts made by the firms representative who person ally visited their former customers and, by using that old trick, "that everything is settled" try to win them back, utterly disproves their claim. The fight is still on and we mean to win. We are making this fight for | the entire state and with your con- t1nued moral support we must win. | Display your solidarity and make this your own fight. Never was the need for working men to stand shoulder to shoulder and fight the common e,,- emy greater than the present time. All the other local breweries mak- ing near beer are fair and operate their breweries under continued union agreements except the Hopkins Brew cry who employ strikebreakers Most of the men on strike have been with this firm since MT. Hopkins came in possession of it 25 years ago. They spent the best part of their lives in his brewery. He was very willing then to let them work I2 and fl hours a day for neasely wage. From the tune these men were organized MT. Hopkins has been antagonistic to them and organized labor i'll general, al ways giving a non-union man the pref erence. Nevertheless, he has built up fine business under union conditions and has become wealthy.
 He adds insult to in jury when he boasts that he ''has money enough and is not worrying" The men that created it can walk the streets and