The labor world., 1922-12-30
By International Labor News Service


Washington D. c., Dec. 28.-An-
ti-union employers, operating under
the so-called "open. shop have been
detected in attempts to import Eu-
Fropean labor from Europe into the.
United States under contract, so as
to defeat the trade unionists in fore
ing down wages. 90 %;">+
An instance of the importation of
European- jewelry workers under
contract by Won STEINER & Baum
gartner Co., manufacturing jewelers.,
1116 F street, Washington D. c.,
has been protested by the Interna
tional .Jewelry Workers union and
the case is now under consideration
by the immigration Bureau of the.
Department of Labor. The bureau
claims to have given permission for
the importation under contract of
these workers upon the representa-
ton that this labor is not available
in the United. States. Following is
the version, of the case given in the
Jewelry' Workers Monthly Bulletin
for December:
Until the industrial depression
set in Gin the winter of 1919-2O),
the firm of Won STEINER & Baum
gartner was on most friendly terms
with the International Jewelry
Workers union. In. the busiest of
seasons, when skilled labor was
scarce, we supplied the firm with
all the help they needed. The affili-
alton of the employers with the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers associa-
ton of Washington, D. g., and the
affiliation Of their employees with
the International Jewelry Workers
union, Local No. ~, Of the same
city, was of mutual benefit to both
parties concerned. Each year the
firm and the workers have entered
into working agreement through
their respective organizations. Dur
ing the life of the agreements, there
was no complaint as to breach Of
any kind and satisfaction Of both
parties led to its renewal. However,
after the winter of 1919 and 1920,
when the Industrial depression was
at it's height, the Merchants and
Manufacturers association of Wash
ington, D. c., decided to join the
open shop Grive.to compel the jew
elry workers employed in Washing
ton, D. c., to sign individual agree
ments with their respective employ
ers to the effect that working hours
shall increase from "A to 48 per
week; to force the workers to re-
.linquish their membership In the
union and deprive one Of employ
ment in case he voluntarily leaves
his Job. It's drastic union smashing
decisions, the Merchants & Manu-
facturers' association of Washington.
D. c., passed under the influence Of
delegate from the Craft Associa-
ton of New York and a speaker from
Baltimore, Nd, WHO promised every
support to the employers in case Of
an open conflict with the Interna-
tional Jewelry Workers union.
"This anti-union policy led to a
strike, resulting in a complete shut
down of the Won STEINER & Baum
gartner plant. In the course of time,
finding that they. cannot run their
shop on promises of speakers from
the New York Craft association, the
firm, instead of adjusting their diff
ferences with the International Jew
elry Workers union and thereby get
ting all the skilled help they were
in need of. have resorted to importa-
tion Of contract labor, while Ameri-
can citizens, wage earners in the
jewelry industry in the United States,
were tramping the streets Of the big
cities in search of jobs.
1.-THE above described is not the
first occurrence Of it's sort. At the
Fifth General convention of the /.
J. w. u, the writer reported that
manufacturers in the United States
and Canada are recoursing to impor-
tation of contract labor from Eu-
rope; that silverware manufacturers