The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-06-02
CLOTHING WORKERS
AGREE TO WAGE CUT
Union Accepts Is P. c. Re-
ductiOn and Pledges to
Speed Production.
10000 MEN AFFECTED
Acceptance Means 30 ?. G.
Saving in Labor Factor
of Manufacture.
NOVEL THEORY ACCEPTED
Right of Union to Set Stand
ard of Production Is
Recognized.
NOVEL THEORY ACCEPTED

The final draft of the agreement
between the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers of America and a group of
the clothing manufacturers whose
shops have been shut down since De-
cember by the strike or lockout af-
fecting the entire mems clothing in
dustry in this city was prepared last
night and accepted by both the union
officials and the representatives of the
manufacturers. The formal signing
and ratification Of the agreement is
to take place to-day, according to
statement issued last night by Sidney
Hillman, president of the workers. and
Max d. Steuer, attorney for the manu-
facturers who have agreed to call off
the strike.
About 10000 wage earners are af-
fected by the settlement, including
cutters, tailors, bushelmen, clerks, ex-
pressmen, drivers and pocketmakers.
For all except the cutters, the union
has agreed to a 10 per cent. reduction
in wages. The cutters wages are to
remain stabilized at SOL a week
Guarantee Increased Production.
The most remarkable part of the
agreement is the undertaking on the
part Of the union to increase the produc-
ton or output of the workers That is
to be done by marking up the standard
weekly production requirement of each
group or section of workers Is per cent.
The manufacturers have demanded an
individual daily standard of produc-
ton, but this the union leaders would
not agree to, as they will not recognize
the right Of the manufacturer to con-
troll the individual worker.
The proposition that the union will
guarantee an increased output by the
workers Is a novel one in the settle
ment Of labor strikes and It's operation
In practice will be watched with keen
interest That the union, through its
business agents, shop chairmen and
other officials has been able to reduce
the output Of the shops by direct orders
to the workers and has thus reduced
output In order to control the industry
with the consequent effect of greatly in
creasing the labor cost of manufacture
has been one of the chief complaints Of
the clothing manufacturers. The power
of union officials to control and either re-
duce or increase output Is now admitted
by the terms of the agreement drawn by
the Amalgamated officials.
Labor Cost Cut 30 Per Cent.
The increase of production and the
decrease in wages agreed on will rep
resent approximately saving Of 80 per
cent. in the labor cost of manufacturing
mems clothing In the shops which sign
the agreement. The manufacturers. on
their side, concede to the union the de-
mands for absolutely CLOSED" shops. the
arbitration Of disputes and the rees-
Establishment Of the impartial chairman"
system of settling all differences which
arc not settled by the shop chairman or
the business delegate.
The proposed settlement, however.
will in no way affect or be recognized
by the Independent clothing manufac-
turers or those members of the Cloth
ing Manufacturers Association VINO
broke away as soon as settlement ne
gotiations were started and who have
formed themselves into the Clothing
Trade Association, with William A
Bandler, former president OF the cloth
Ing manufacturers, at their head These
firms have instructed their counsel
Harry A. Gordon, who was attorney for
the Manufacturers Association and as
such retained Max d. Steuer as his
counsel, to prosecute vigorously all the
actions which have been begun In their
names against the Amalgamated CLOTH
ing Workers for injunctions. damages
and the dissolution Of the union as an
unlawful conspiracy in restraint OF
trade These actions are pending In the
Supreme Court and will be pushed to
speedy triaf.
Agreement for One Year.
The manufacturers who will not sign
the agreement to-day include most of
the large firms which maintain their
own tailoring shops, while those who
are settling up with the amalgamated
include practically all the clothing firms
which act as jobbers and have the
actual tailoring work done outside by
contractors. The agreement will run for
one year from to-day and will actually
affect from 60 to 20 per cent, of the
output OF the New York market The
manufacturers not singing up are
already running open shops and will
continue to do SO.
As was announced In THE NEW YORK
HERALD yesterday the proposed investi-
CATION OF the clothing industry through
out the country will come UP for final
action to-day before the Senate Com
mittee on Education and Labor In
washington. Despite strenuous efforts
TO kill off the investigation on the
ground OF the settlement" of the strike.
IL is expected that a majority vote of
A.. xx,tlI he 1u.y