New-York tribune., 1922-06-22
$4,000 Clothing g
Workers GOOut
For Closed Shop
Halt Work i'm Mems Trade
to Force Manufacturers
to Give All Outside Jobs
to Union Contractors
No Wage Issue Involved
Individual Settlements Are
Planned by Amalgamaied;
5000 Also Idle i'm Newark

Fifty thousand employees IN the
mems clothing industry lef. their work
yesterday In an attempt 20 force the
manufacturers 20 give their outside
work 20 registered union contractors.
Representatives % the three clothing
contractors associations in the New
York market. with n total membership
Of GOO. met late in the afternoon and
approved. with a single reservation.
the action Of the Amalgamated Cloth
Ing Workers in calling a general stop
page Of work throughout the metro
politan district TO enforce the closed
shop.
The one condition. which will be
taken UP at a conference with union
officials this morning, is that the union
follow up the stoppage by stric. en-
foreement Of its rules in all contract
ing shops. II the union complies with
this demand the contractors will CO.
operate in bringing manufacturers into
line. The union seeks mainly TO force
manufacturers to register with them
all outside shops" or contractors to
whom they give the cut-up materials
TO be made into clothing.
Settlements Reported
II is estimated that there are from
l.20O to 1900 clothing manufacturers
about 900 contractors and more than
$4,000 workers in the district. The
first group # workers which walked
out was estimated at from 10000 up.
Hyman Blumberg. manager Of the New
York Joint Board OF the Amalgamated
Clothing Workers Of America, said
that ali the workers would be called
out. il necessary. but that many manu-
facturers were settling up. He predict
ed that 80 per cent would resume their
work within forty-cight hours, since
i15 Of the largest manufacturers nave
settled up already, representing be-
tween 1900 and 14,000 works..
The stoppage OF work was called be-
cause some Of the manufacturers vio-
lated an agreement made with the
union last June when a strike IN the
industry came 70 an end, said Blum
berg Under this agreement he eX-
planned, manufacturers were 20 supply
the Amalgamated with list Of con-
tractors 10 whom they sent their work.
There is no dispute over wages or
anything like that Blumbcrg de-
clared. eve just want 90 have the
agreement carried out and see that
designated union contractors get the
Jobs. We are dealing with each manu-
facturer separately 10 Is altogether
likely that between 800 and 400 Of the
smaller manufacturers viii sign up
before the end Of the week"
Non-Union Shops Involved
There is no manufacturers associa-
tion. but individual manufacturers say
there is nothing to the stoppage,'
adding that shops which are organized
are complying with the union rules. A
large number Of the shops. however.
are said to be non-union and to be
letting their contract work outside Of
the city.
Following the contractors meeting,
Hyman Sussman, president OF the
Pants Contractors Association, said
the purpose OF the stoppage and the
aim Of the contractors in aiding the
union was "to equalize conditions in
the market"
MANY manufacturers have been let
ting their work out to non-union or
corporation shops at prices for which
the union shops cannot do the work
without lowering wages" said Suss-
man. "Our prices are fair and VIC pro-
pose 70 maintain them and al The same
time 20 help the union maintain the
wages Of the workers. The effect Of
the stoppsge will be 10 force unfair
contracting shops out OF business or 10
compel them to become members Of
their respective associations"
Clothing workers IN Newark number
ing about 1900 left their work also IN
compliance with orders issued by shop
chairmen Of the Newark branch Of the
New York Joint Board Of Amalgamated
Clothing Workers OF America.