The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-07-30
TELLS HOW UNION
PAINTERS FOUGHT
FOR CONDITIONS
But Union Failed to Pro-
tect Members
(Ry 7. K.-Worker correspo nt)

STAMFORD, Conn.,, July 26.-I am
a Young Worker League member here
in the so.called prosperous town in
Stamford and am employed as a paint
er with 10 others in a silk mills, stu
ated on the Post Road on the boun-
Diary between Stamford and Sound
Beach where approximately 500 work
ers are employed.
Seventy-five per cent of the help
are girls and boys, mostly girls, their
age ranging from IL to Is years.
l take this opportunity to write an
article on the working conditions in
an open shop where all sorts of young
help are hired to keep the wages low.
The production at the factory is
turning the raw silk into selling quail
ity. The mills is divided into several
sections, each divided into their re-
spective departments, preparing the
silk for the market.
Union Painter On Job
In regards to the reason for this
writing, the following situation arose
in the new section of the building
where we painters (all union) are la
boring.
The job is in the control of the own
ers of the place and the hiring is
done thru the superintendent due to
the job being day work.
The painting job for the old section
of the building was given to a New
Jersey contractor and the company
experienced heavy loss. Hence the
day work job-all other trades on the
premises under contract. 1t is a test
by which the company means to ex-
perience in order to save money think
ing the men will hustle if put under
strict and conservative foreman.
Slave Driver Foreman.
Unfortunately for the boys doing
the painting the foreman secured his
position by being the first man hired
and was recommended to same by
store owner who handles paint sup
plies and an agent for the material
used on the job.
While on the job two men we're laid
IF for reasons unknown to any of us.
Ne had our own reasons-reasons
hat would have shocked many in the
building trades had the truth come
out and the victims given fair trial
at the union meeting
One of Those Climbers.
Our own reasoning would have fired
the present foreman who is rushing
the job for fear he would lose his
place and who is taking advantage of
this fact-that only 20 months have
passed since his admission as a jour
neyman from his class of apprentice
A feeling of dislike arose amongst
the painters upon learning who the
foreman was and trouble came sooner
than we predicted.
Shop Steward Idea.
During the idle minutes left from
the half hour at noon we spoke of
electing a shop steward" to see that
we were treated like human beings,
namely, stopping five minutes ahead
of time to wash. to see that water is
brought to us for drinking purposes
and to take care that any conflicts
arising between the foreman and the
men would be settled with as much
discretion as allowed thru the union.
We finally had one elected, and ac-
cordingly on the day of his election,
he blew his whistle, which he had
purposely bought, and the men quit
for the day.
Shop Steward Fired.
The following morning the newly
elected steward" was notified that
his services would no longer be re-
quired.
Upon investigation by the man
in question he was duly told that
he was OVERRIDING his privilege as
a union man, and had no bust
ness to breach a subject without
consulting the officials concerning any
problem of such nature. That closed
the affair of the discharged men so
far as the factory was concerned.
No Aid From Union.
AT the union meeting the case was
brought up and thru misunderstand-
ing between the delegate representing
the local union and the body as a
whole, the case was settled very dis
honestly.
Fortunately, the other man in ques-
ton, together with the ex."shop ste.
ward are capable of securing a Job
elsewhere.