The Connecticut labor news., 1921-11-04
GARMENT WORKERS NATIONWIDE STRIKE
 NOW LOOMING UP
More Than 100000 Will Go Out and Half Million Others
 Affected

New York. Nov. 4.-President Benja-
 min SChlesinger of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, in a statement this week, predicted a general strike involving 100000 garment workers throughout the country.
 The strike will be one of the greatest the industry of the nation has ever faced the labor leader said, as 1t will also affect at least 100000 more persons who are dependent upon the garment workers.
 "A telegram from Chicago office of our International Union," said Mir. Sch lesinger, informs us that the Cloak and Suit Manufacturers Association of that city has published a statement in the Chicago newspapers that on Nov. IA they will re-establish the system of piece work in their shops, which was abolished in July, 1919.
 Like in New York, the Cloak1nakers' Union in Chicago was not officially noti- fled of this order but received this in formation through the local press. Like in New York, the Cloak Manufacturers Association of Chicago has also instruct ed its Executive Committee to promul- gate that order. This is conclusive proof of nationwide plot on the part of the cloak manufacturers to re-establish in the industry the sweat-shop conditions which existed prior to 1919.
 "A nationwide strike appears to be imminent. When it occurs it will affect 100000 workers directly and at least 100000 more persons dependent upon them"
 The working agreements with the union in virtually all markets expire on Nov. l, due to- temporary contracts that were negotiated last April by union off, cials when the manufacturers proposed wage reductions and piece-Work.
 The principal cloak and suit markets of the country in their order of inl- portance are, New York, Chicago, Phil adelphia, Cleveland Toronto, St. Louis, Montreal and Boston.
 Officials of the Cloak and Suit Manu- lecturers Protective Associations said last night that their plans for putting into effect the "piece-work" system would go ahead, despite the opposition of the unions. It was pointed out that virtually all of the markets of the coun- try were being united and represented in the new federation of associations known as the Federated Garment Manu- lecturers Association. This organiza- tion was recently formed at Atlantic City as a protective body to deal with labor and market conditions.
 Besides Chicago, 1t was announced that the St. Louis market also had declared for the 'pieceWork" system, and 1t is ex- pected that Philadelphia and Cleveland will also fall in line with the new policy Toronto, it was stated is already pro- ducing on the piecework basis. The Ways and Means Committee of the local manufacturers body, 1t was stated, will next week announce the de- tails of its plans for putting into effect the "pieceWOrk" system on Nov. 14, to- gether with wage reductions and longer hours.
 Although the heads of the various cloak makers unions and international officers have been in conference for two days considering the situation, they de- clined to make public their plans for com batting the manufacturers.
 Reports were current last night that it was proposed to call strike against all manufacturers in this market, inClud- ing members of the American Cloak and Suit Manufacturer Association and in- dependent manufacturers, who have not attempted to establish the ''pieceWork' system. Such a step is necessary, some union leaders said, in order to make a strike effective, as the members of the Protective Association in event of a WalkOut would be able to get large amount of their work done in shops still at work