New-York tribune., 1921-11-22
Union Charges
Broken Pledge,
Won't Arbitrate
Garment Workers Refuse to
Negotiate Until Owners
Restore Wage Agreement
Said to Expire june l
Threaten Legal Attack
Schlesingcr Says Main Is
suc Of Good Faith Must
Not Be Sidetrackc e d

Benjamin Schlesinger, president OF
the International Ladies' Garment
Workers Union, announced last night
that he would not enter into any nego-
tiations with the manufacturers for a
settlement of the strike until the
Manufacturers Protective Association
put thu broken agreement into effect
again. Unless this was done, he init
mated, the union would institute legal
proceedings along the lines suggested
by Samuel Untermyer.
The alleged reputation Of the agree
ment, which does not expire until
Juno /, 1922, resulted in the present
strike involving $4,000 men and
women. It was announced at strike
headquarters that $40 employees had
returned to work with independent
manufacturers yesterday under the old
agreement. This brings the total to
146 independent concerns, with approx
inAtely 1900 employees now working
under the agreement. Max D. Steuer.
special counsel for the manufacturers
association. would make no comment
upon the situation last night
Unions Stand on Contract
After reviewing the proposals made
by Mr.. Steuer two days ago and de-
ciaring that ths manufacturers already
had broken their contracts with the
union on four different occasions, Mr..
SchlesinEcr said:
"The union win not allow the issue
to be sidetracked in such an unceremo-
nious manner. It insists upon the full
performance Of the existing agreement,
not for the enforcement Of q mere
technical right, but as a matter of vital
concern.
"The manufacturers position seems
to be that an agreement between en-
pioyers and workers is but a''scrap of
paper If they are to be allowed to
maintain that attitude, what force or
security would there be in q new agree
ment with them on the lines vaguely
suggested by Mr.. Steuer, or on any
terms? Before a new agreement with
our employers can be considered the
all-determining principle must be e.-
tablished that agreements are made to
be kept, not to be broken. The manu-
facturers must rescind their resolu-
tion and recognize their obligations
under the existing contract until
June /, 1922, before negotiations for
additional agreements can be fruit
fully taken up with them
Untermyer's Connection Explained
In connection with the letter written
by Mr.. Untermyer suggesting legal
action to force the employers to keep
the terms of the contract, the follow
ing statement was issued from Mr,
untermyer's Office last night.
THE statement that Mr.. Untermyer
rendered his services to the striking
garment makers is not true, or is at
least grossly misleading Mr.. Inter
myer had nothing to do with the con-
troversy until Wednesday last, when
he was consulted by Mr.. Hillquit-hrst
alone. and then with Mr. Schlesinger,
and was offered retainer to act for
the union. He asked time TO examine
the papers before deciding whether to
accept the retainer.
AFTER doing so he found that there
was an important public issue involved
and he accordingly, as is his in
variable custom in such cases, con-
sented to act, but refused to accept pay
for his services, although very gener,
ouely urged by Mr. Hilluuit to do so