The Connecticut labor news., 1921-08-12
CIGARMAKERS HOLD
 OWN IN NEW ENGLAND
Are 100 Per Cent. Organized Despite Open Shoppers and
 Hard Times.

The manufacturers of cigars has long been an important New England indus try and it is of interest to note that al most 100 per cent of its workers are members of the Cigarmakers' Interna- tional Union. This condition is note worthy in view of the fact that New England is generally considered conser- vatlve if not retrOgresslve in labor mat ters and regarded by all labor organizers who have labored here as bein gan es- pecially hard field to successfully work Nevertheless although most all other in dustries in this section are run on the open shop plan the cigarmallers of New England continue to maintain practically 100 per cent. organization.
 There are several reasons why the Cigarmakers have, a strong organization in this locality and they are: First, the New England cigar manufacturers have always conceded their employees the right to organize and have always conferred with the union representatives when re- quested to do so. Second, these manu- lecturers have never depended upon the Union Label alone to sell their products. but have always maintained standard of quality not equalled elsewhere Third, smokers generally, and members of or
 
 these facts have been very persistent in demanding New England Union Made cigars. Finally, the New England cigar makers have always believed and found ed their efforts to advance their cause upon the belief, that through organiza- tion and collective bargaining alone can the workers obtain and maintain wages and conditions in keeping with the Amer ican standard of living.
 That this belief is well founded must be admitted by all fair minded men and New England cigarmakers point with pride to the fact that through their or ganization they have successfully main tained wages and conditions without change during the past year. They ex- pect that readjustment of wages must be made when living costs have been further reduced but that will be only after the union representatives and the employers have agreed upon just and proper settlement
 In contrast with these conditions we find that i'll the unorganized districts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Porto Rico the wages of cigarnak- CTS employed there have been reduced several times recently and long hours and that unfair conditions have also been inn posed upon them. In a word, the unor- ganized cigarmakers are at the mercy of their greedy employers and are com pelled to accept anything offered to them. But although the New England cigar | makers are strongly fortified through the medium of their organization their po- sition Is threatened by the attempt of the unfair manufacturers of neighboring states to dump their inferior non-union cigars in New England and members of organized labor are urged to avoid them. Remember, if you buy these products you are practically endorsing the unfair conditions under which they are made and are taking employment away from the members of the Cigarmakers' Union. Do not forget that a union that can maintain practically a 100 per cent or ganization in open shop New England is worthy of the support of members of | Organized Labor. Demand cigars pack | ed in boxes bearing the Blue Label of the Cigarmakers' Union and refuse all | others.