The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-11-04
s@assas
GREEK FUR,
WORKERS IN
Big STRIKE
Left Wing Executive
Leads Struggle


NEW YORK CITY, Nov. 2.--un-
exampIed courage and determination
has marked the strike Of the hitherto
unorganized Greek fur workers OF
New York.
These workers from 1000 to 1900
strong, toiling in over 200 open shops
for the last few years, have been
ruthlessly exploited beyond the
belief of almost anyone, because Of
their lack of organization.
The former right wing reactionaries
in charge of the administration OF the
New York joint board of the Furriers'
Union never even attempted to organ
ize the Greek fur workers.
Left Wing Joint Board Acts.
-Four weeks ago, however, the new
union administration, led by Ben Gold,
left wing manager OF the joint board,
began a vigorous campaign to bring
to these oppressed workers. the power
and aid of the Furriers' Union. Mass
meetings were called, leaflets printed
and the joint board determined to or
ganize the Greek shops at all costs
and enforce union conditions.
To aid the Greek furriers in join
ing, the joint board reduced initiation
fees for them to only 20 per cent of
the regular charge and in addition
spent thousands of dollars to make
the organization drive a success. No
energy was saved and full speed
ahead was the word passed down the
line.
On Tuesday October .27, the call for
the general strike in the Greek shops
was announced at a big mass meet
ing of Greek fur workers. The next
morning the workers in the fur dis
trict witnessed magnificent demon
stration of the Greek furriers on the
picket line.
Piekets Show Splendid Spirit
Several pickets were dubbed by
the police and several were arrested,
but their enthusiasm for the strike
swept on over all obstacles. The
police clubs and arrests acted like oil
thrown on flames. So splendid was
the spirit of struggle among the Greek
furriers that even the bosses were
forced to express their admiration.
Nothing can be compared with the
courage OF these workers who see be-
fore them the goal OF victory and be-
hind them the backing of the unions
joint board, for Tire first time seriously
interested in their welfare and led by
militant unionists fully trusted by the
rank and file. net
Picket Day and Night
Shops are being picketed day and
night. The manufacturers as usual
spread false rumors and used threats
and every means to break the work
ers' solidarity. The bosses formed an
association of their own, but the fight
of the strikers has overwhelmed the
bosses.
Conferences between the bosses
and the union representatives were
held on October 2S and October 81
On Wednesday November 4th, the
meeting of the Greek Association is to
be held and the final answer given to
the union Representatives the next
morning. The fight goes on though
a truce is supposedly established.
The demands of the union are as
follows:
I. The 44-hour week instead Of
49-hours.
2. Pay for ten legal holidays.
8. Time and half for overtime.
a. Only union workers to be en-
pIoyed. srwWMW
5. Minimum scale of wages.
6. Right Of union representatives
to inspect shops.
z. All other union conditions pre-
vailing in the industry.
The left wing joint board, thru
Manager Ben Gold, has stated that
1t means to carry on the struggle as
Hong as necessary and money will be
no object in making the Greek fur
workers a organized power in the in
dustry with their fellow workers,
mostly Jewish, but who are standing
shoulder to shoulder with the Greeks.
l -
League Session Comes to End.