The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-09-10
MILK WAGON
DRIVERS MEET
UTTER DEFEAT
Betrayed BY Tricky Co.
Operative Head
tspeeIaI 70 rhe nalIy workerl

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-Local 81
of the Milk Wagon Drivers anc
Creamery Employees Union, has JUS
completed its negotiations with th'
dealers, relative to a new wage anc
working agreement.
This union is the largest in Mime
apolis, numbering 1000 members. II
suffered a defeat all down the line in
its agreement with the bosses. 1t is
a sorry fact to record; however, it is
the truth.
Points Rejected by Bosses.
The following demands were the
proposals which the dealers rejected:
(a) The closed shop.
(b) Eight-hour day.
(c) Straight pay with no soliciting.
I'D An increase in wages.
The union pulled out of the nego-
tiations one thing: A weeks vacation
with pay. In all other respects. the
old agreement holds, with an addition
al year added to its duration, making
It a two-year agreement instead of
one, as hitherto.
Elwell, the leader of the dealers,
insisted on the additional year, since
as he stated: Il am in better posi-
ton to fight now. than later" AS a
matter of fact, this was pure bluff on
his part. However, Elwell refused to
pass UP tire opportunity that the dis
organized front Of the union present
ed, to get his full pound of flesh. And
he got it.
The Bad Role Of The Franklin.
The key to the success of the union
in those negotiations, was found in
the role that the Franklin Co-operat-
I've Creamery would play. This firm
held the balance of power. Had the
Franklin leaned toward the workers
the demands of the workers would
have been realized
The Franklin Creamery was built
by the working class, as a cooperative
enterprise. The union was its organ
izer, back in 1919, after strike that
the milk wagon drivers lost. Today,
It is one of the largest, If not the
largest creamery in Minneapolis. The
working class responded splendidly to
the Franklin, regarding it as bull
wark in its struggle against capital
ism.
Nordbye Speaks for Dealers.
At the first meeting between the
dealers and the union, Mr.. Harold
Nordbye, the manager of the Frank
lin and a member of the union, fab
bergasted the membership by acting
as the official spokesman for the deal
ers. The workers confidently expected
that Nordbye would be on their side,
since the Franklin was cooperative
and Nordbye a member Of their union.
But they were disappointed.
Nordbye informed the union COM
mittee, speaking in the name OF the
dealers, that the proposed new agree
ment wha wholly unacceptable, altho
the Franklin pays better wages than
the rest
While few years ago, Nordbye was
regarded as red, his careful tutel.
age under the shrewd and willy Elwell,
has made him first class, class COL
1aborationist. He simply could not re-
sist the great honors heaped upon him
by Elwell, such as presiding at deal
ers' meetings.
EIwefi Plants Nordbye.
Elwell was fully conscious OF the
fact that TO defeat the new agreement,
the Franklin had 10 be split from the
union. Otherwise, had the Franklin
played the role OF class struggle along
with the union. all other dealers would
be compelled 10 sign on the dotted line
with the union.
This is true because an open fight
on the part Of the dealers, against the
union, would throw most OF their bust
ness to the Franklin. This was DEM
onstrated when the union launched
the building Of the Franklin. That
lesson is not yet forgotten by Elwell.
Therefore, the urgent need to break
the Franklin away from the union, IL
the union Is 10 be licked, And this
was precisely the strategy that Elweil
hssd and won with
i ~ne ess ~