The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-02-10
COMMUNISTS IN
CEDARRAPIDS,IA IA.
Meeting, Sun, Feb. Is,
to Organize
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the Cedar Rapids Labor Tribune, a
sheet well patronized by advertisers
and, in turn, he keeps the town free
from radicals and his hand on the
! throat Of the unions. He gets a good
income and has no worries.
Garfield was president of the Iowa
State Federation Of Labor for a num-
Der of years and prepared for himself
an easy berth. He is now government
conciliator for the department Of la
Dor in Iowa state. These two, Stew
art and Garfield, with few more of
their dupes and tools, dominate the
labor movement in Cedar Rapids.
Any rebellious worker or anyone who
commits 'lese majestic" against them
or their system has been bounded un-
til compelled to quit the city for he
could not stay on a job in town.
Packlngtown and Quaker Oats
Workers.
The result Of this betrayal of the
masses by the bell wethers of the
skilled union crafts, is best seen in
the packing plants and Quaker Oats
factory, which has large plant here.
There are about one thousand
workers employed in the packing
plant, subsidiary Of wilson COM
pany. The butchers, the highest paid
workers, receive As cents per hour.
More and more Of the work is being
done by girls who receive 16 cents an
hour for ten-hour day. This has
been further aggravated by a speed
up system, five girls now doing the
work of eight and in some instances
two doing the work of four.
One rebel woman who was working
in this plant last year urged the girls
to demand raise in wages. This is
how it worked, as told to the re-
porter: you girls can't live on such
low wages" said the rebel to them.
why don't you ask raise? They
must have girls. to do the work"
But not one had the courage to take
the lead.
Girls First Strike.
The rebel was working in another
department so could not speak for
them. A few weeks went past and
more agitation and then the girls told
the rebel to come at noon hour, if
teen minutes before time, the girls
would have meeting. The rebel
was there, she talked some more.
Yes, they would ask for a raise.
So at on o'clock the whistle blew
but no girls went to work. Meat was
piled high on the tables, but ten, then
fifteen minutes went past and no girls
were at work.
whats the matter?" says the fore
man, "why don't you go to work?'
No answer from the girls huddled be-
hind the rebel.
Then to the rebel: what do they
want?" Up spoke the rebel: "They
want a raise, two-fifty day"
The superintendent was called in
after an hour had gone without any
work being done. He agreed to give
raise in two weeks, but still no girl
could be made to speak up, so often
have tiey beeu betrayed.
Result of No Union.
They got raise to $40, fifty cents
a day raise, but that has beca taken
away by firing them and then hiring
again few days later at beginners
rate of 16 cents an hour.
In the Quaker oats plant the driv-
ing system at lowb wages is even
worse. The highest pay for men is
S715 cents per hour, and for girls it
is rs cents. a.
This 10 Capitalism.
Lately they have. put on new ma,
chimes and one girl now wraps pack
ages where formerly five were en-
ployed. This has forced many girls
out of employment and the competi-
ton for jobs has given the employers
an opportunity to cut wages still fur
Their.
Such is the result OF betrayals OF
the masses, with class collaboration
or arbitration schemes and a little
comfort for the craft union aristo-
Gratis OF labor soft berths for their
fat boys; while the great mass are
ground TO earth and their spirit
crushed by misleaders and traitors.
Workers Party Enters Filled.
Cedar Rapids cast good vote for
Foster and the Workers Party. and
in an effort TO locate and organAGs
the rebels In that territory. J. d..
Snyder, district organizer, assisted by
CpIarade David Coutts: viii hold
mass meetings at the Trades and La
Dor Assembly Hall. In the Don Cook
building. First Ave. and Second
street, East; on Sunday afternoon.