The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-08-11
MAKERS OF
NEWARK UNFAIR

To All International and National
Unions. State Federations, and Cen
trail Bodies, and Local Unions
The Whitehead-Hoag Company OF
Newark, N. j., has been declared I'M
fair by the Essex Trades Council
at their meeting on May 9TH, 1922, at
the request of the Machinists, Metal
Polishers, Sheet Metal Workers
Electricians Unions and Iron Trades
Council.
The facts in the case are as fol
lows:
The firm has always run a union
shop under agreement with the or
gained trades. although it has al
ways opposed the organization OF
button and novelty department;
their female help in their badge
nevertheless they were organized at
one time, but the organization is
now out of existence. thanks to the
efforts of the company.
In June, 1921, the firm asked al
of their employees to accept a ter
per cent reduction in wages, which
was agreed to.
In March, 1922, they notified the
employees that another reduction OF
ten per cent would take place April
1st, 1922.
This affected all except the Allied
Printing Trades. who have an agree
ment with the firm, which includes
the use of the Allied Printing Trades
label The rest of the employees re-
fused to accept it, and compro.
mise was made on a five per cent
reduction. and the firm was also in,
formed that their employees woulc
not accept another reduction the
coming year.
The latter part of April, 1922, the
firm posted another notice stating
that another five per cent reduction
would go into effect May 1st, 1922
Conferences were held. and the
firm refused to recede from its posi-
ton as regarded the Machinists
Tool Makers, Steel Engravers, Meta!
Polshers, Sheet Metal Workers and
Electricians, with the result that
these trades are out on strike against
a reduction.
The firm did not enforce the other
five per cent reduction on the other
employees, with the result that they
remained at work, but this wat a
matter of policy, for if they would
have enforced that reduction on the
rest of the employees, all of them
would have been out, and it seems
the part of a we'll laid plan to try
to beat the trades that are out, and
if the firm succeeds, they will nat
urally then make the rest of the
employees accept the five per cent
reduction, and run an open shop,
which has been in their mind for
some time. In fact, since the new
management has taken charge.
About a year ago it was reported
that the firm had the notices already
printed to post in their factory de-
claring for the open ship, but had
changed their mind for some reason
or other.
The Whitehead Hoag Company is
engaging strikebreakers, and has a
number at this date in their employ
We therefore request that organ
lied labor and their friends place
their orders for badges, buttons and
novelties with firms that are fair
to organized labor Also all inter
national and national unions are re-
ouested to inform their local unions
through their trade journal of the
above stated facts.
The unfairness of this firm should
also be brought to the attention OF
all Fraternal Organizations to which
members of organized labor are af'
filiated.
Fraternally,
Int. Association, Machinists, Dis
trict As.
Metal Polishers. Local "A.
Sheet Metal Workers. Local 1875
Electrical Workers, Local So.
Iron Trade Council, Newark anC
Vicinity, .,
Newark. N. j.