The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-08-30
Troubles in Garment Working Industry in Ke~
nOsha Reach the Critical Stage
This Morning.
WORKERS WANT INCREASE IN WAGES
Striking Workers Point at Chicago Scale and Ask
Increase While Employers Declare COndi-
tons Are Not Similar

IheY MAINTAIN CnAE Gne sCaiS III NS"
uosha is much lower chan that in Chic
cago and it is their desire to secure
for the workers scale which would
approximate the one in Chicago. They
admit that conditions here are not the
same and that possibly this Chicago
scale is too high for Kenoshs.
Their statements are that the scale
here is from So to SIC a week for
women workers while the scale in
Chicago runs from $1,000 as high as
$50 a week.
Hold Meeting After Walkout.
Benjamin Dolnick, another repre-
sentative of the union, declared that
efforts were made this morning to Sc
cure conference with Joseph MarkO-
WITT, president Of the Kenosha Gar
ment company, and thas it was only
when this failed that the workers left
their places.
At the time set for the walkout, the
employer offered to deal with the en-
ployees who were leaving the shop
and to discuss the situation with them
but refused to deal with the represen-
tatives. Of the upicn with an idea Of
I collective bargaining He declared
that such a step would mean merely
being forced out of business and that
would bring with it lack of employ
men5 for all Of his workers.
Representatives Of the union were
emphatic in stating that they had
called no strike and that the workers
who had walked out had done this
because they were dissatisfied with
conditions They maintain. that they
! l., 4 As,r, hofn
an arbitration board, which step the
employers maintain is net necessary.
Employers State Version.
Samuel Itzkowitz, head of the
Standard Garment company, stated
| that he had refused to deal with the
representatives Of the union because
they did not in his mind represent
| his employees. He reiterated the
statement that his experience in for
mer years had taught him that such
step would mean going out Of
business. He maintains that the work
ers were satisfied until they were
aroused to action and that even now
the great majority of the workers
were unwilling to leave their places.
At his shop not one worker left the
work benches. Several of the en-
employees when interviewed stated
that they realized the situation and
that while they would welcome any
increase in wages, they feared shat
concerted move would only re-
suit in driving the industries out of
this city.
Employers declared that their wage
scales were approximately as fol-
lows: 80 to 35 cents an hour for in
experienced workers; 40 cents an hour
for halt experienced workers and 30
to 52h cents an hour for experienced
workers. It was maintained that most
of the work was done on piece-wotk
basis with the above scale as a guar
antee.
Employers also insist thai two 9TH
err small garment-making concerns
here acceded to the demands that they
deal with the union and that both Of
them have suffered Greatly bg this.
They maintain that Chicago is now
less than fifty per cent organized and
that the representatives of the union
might we'll have kept up their work
there without coming to Kenosha.
They also maintain that this is but
the opening wedge Of an effort to or
game ali women workers OF henosh&.
Not Similar to Chicago.
Employers maintained that condi-
tions in the trade were very bad at
the present time and would not war
rant any increase in wages. They
maintained that they were endeavor-
ing to give the workers as steady work
as possible and that their records
would compare favorably with any
shops of the kind in the country.
Joseph Markowitz, of the Kenosha
Garment company, where the walkout
was staged this morning, gave prac-
tically the same statement as did the
other employer. He pointed to the
fact that those women who had heen
employed with him for several months
and who were acquainted with the
conditions failed to join in the walk
out.
Both employers were insistent that
the agitation was an effort Of Chicago
men TO drive the firms out of BUSH
ness here and that unless the strike
was halted, it would merely result In
throwing sixty-fve workers in Keno.
sha out of employment as it would be
business suicide for them tc enter inc
to an agreement such as offered to
them.
This afternoon the situation was
still unsettled Both sides appeared
ready to fight it cut to faish.