New-York tribune., 1922-05-04
300 Bakeries
Closed by High
Pay, Is Charge
Lockwood Witnesses Sav
Men in Jewish Shops
Get 500 Week, Work
From 4 to Z Hours a Dav
Union Called SAutocratic'
Some Men Hold Two Jobs:
Employer Argues With
Delegates, Fined 5000

It was demonstrated at the hearing
before the Lockwood legislative hous-
ing committee yesterday that the 5000
joura eymen bakers, having the good
fortune to belong to the Jewish bakers
unions, are happy men. They make
as much as sos week working from
four and half to seven and half
hours day, take home or 10 their
neighbors all the hreaG and cakes they
want and, If lucky enough TO be in
competent, receive their regular sal
ares and thanks to keep away from
the ovens.
They are 50 strongly organized that
according 10 the testimony. they have
been able u impose their slightest
wish upon their employers. and ont
Of the 700 Jewish employing bakefyin
The greater city in 1914 500 were
ruined or driven out Of business. a
large proportion OF the defunct shop
keepers sold out their places and took
up the calling of their former en-
ployees. whose lot they found easier
and much more profitable.
All Jewish Shops Threatened
As il was a number Of those still in
the business said that they had 10
work eighteen hours q oav. with the
assistance of their wives and families.
10 meet the eXactions oe tho journey
men and keep their shops going It
was their opinion that if the condi-
tons continue Jewish baking estab-
lishments soon will become extinct.
Samuel Untermyor. chief counsel to
the committee. introduced the test-
monv on the conditions in this indus-
try to indicate that labor union abuses
were not confined to the building
trades. The evidence is intended to
give moro force to Mr. Untermycr's
contention that the time has come for
some sort Of legislative regulation as
the only solution Of the problem.
Max Freund, member Of the ex.
ecutive board of the Bakery and Con-
fectionery Workers international
Union of America. with which the
Jewish bakers unions are affiliated. as
we'll as with the American Federation
of Labor. admitted on the witness
stand that tho practices of these
unions were Outrageous. despotic and
autocratic,' and said that he would
have the situation brought to the at
tontion of the executive officer. for
Improvement
The stories Of the various witnesses
who felt tho strength Of tho bakers
union arm were told with show Of
much feeling and emotion, d few break
ing into tears as they related now
their business dwindled and finally
slipped out Of their hands entirely
under the eXactions Of their employees
Morse NJ. Frankel, editor of The
Mediator bakers trade paper. and
secretary Of the Employing Jewish
bakers Association. was the first wit
ness. He said that the business Of the
N fol 20
the big commercial bakers, who have
improved machinery and whose labor
costs are below those of the Jewish
bakers.
Gentle Workmen Barred
"The Jewish bakers are not per
nitted to employ Gentle journey
men said Frankel, "although the
union wages Of the latter are half
those Of the Jewish workers. The five
Jewish unions have from 1000 to 5000
members. There is no collective bar
gaining between the Jewish unions
and their employers, the union insist
ing on making individual contracts
with master bakers"
Frankel declared that Jewish EN-
pioyer had to pay IS or $40 at the time
he signed the union agreement the
money supposedly going to the expense
of the 900 union labels which he must
place on his product. Without this
label the baker can't dispose Of his
bread
THE contracts" he continued, fixed
the work OF most bakers, from four to
seven hours Gay. at from $40 to 800
week and free bread" Another Wit
ness said he had to pay his employees
sos week. "In addition" said Frankel,
they receive free bread and from
seven to ten holidays year, for which
they receive double pay If they work
Another witness said they actually got
fifteen holidays year and that most
Of the men worked or them.
''ln some cases" Frankel explained
'the working hours were so short that
the men could draw full wages from
two employers, Besides, the unions
force so-called substitutes upon the
master bakers for two days a week at
sl3 day. This is merely to keep at
work floating body or unemployed
bakers. Some OF these are so neon