The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-12-08
BY KATE GITLoW,
Secretary Of the United Council Of
WorkingcIase Housewives.

movement in the United States. Fifty
per cent OF the strikers are women
and most Of them are married and have
children. The lot of the women textile
workers, before the strike, was even
harder than that of the men. During
the day, they had to take care of the
children and the household did the
cooking, scrubbing, and mending, and
tried hard to make ends meet. Dur
ing the night, instead of resting, they
had to work long hours in the mills.
That was the life provided for the
women textile workers Of Passaic by
the mill owners in their greed for
profits.
Endured Much.
Since women by nature are patient.
the women textile workers suffered
patiently for a long time, until they
could stand it no longer. Husband
and wife working together could not
earn enough to support the family.
Then came the wage cut, and this was
the direct cause of the strike. The
wage cut awakened the men and wom-
en- textile workers and made them
think. and act together
After the wage cut. the textile work
ers organized themselves into the
United Front Committee of Passaic
and vicinity. On Jan 25, 1926. the
textile strike was declared. Be-
cause they had no union before the
strike. and because of the low wages
they received. the strikers found
themselves Immediately in need.
Then the Passaic General Relief
Committee was organized and an ap-
peal for funds was issued.
Out to Win or Die.
WHY are these striking women and
W men in the eighth month of the
strike as determined as in the be.
ginning? Why did all the clubbing
by the police, the arrests and jailings
not brighten the strikers back into
the mills? Why are sixteen thousand
men and women of many nationalities
like one family? The striking men
and women are determined because
the conditions in the mills and the
meager wages had become unbear-
able. ALI the strikers, especially the
women. know what 1t would mean to
go back into the mills under the old
conditions. 1t would mean misery for
themselves and their children and life
without hope. That is why the beat
ings by the Passaic police, OF cos
sacks, as the strikers call them. have
failed to break their spirit. The wom-
en- strikers are out to win or die.
The strikers speak several languages,
but they understand each other well.
Those who have suffered under the
same conditions. no matter in what
mill or under what boss, can UNDER
stand each other and fight for the
same cause.
Proves Women's Power.
GOULD the strike have lasted so
~ long if the women were not d.
rectly involved? Could it have last
ed so long if the women at home did
not know what was happening in the
mills? OF course, it could not If
the women did not have first hand
knowledge of the conditions, instead
of fighting shoulder to shoulder with
the men in the front ranks Of the
strike, they would blame the men and. |
unconsciously, do all in their power
to break the strike. The Passaic |
strike proves conclusively that the |
women can and will fight with the |
men for better conditions, a strong
union when they understand. The
same is good for the men workers. |
When they understand why they suf-
fer and know how best to fight in
order to do away with this suffering,
they fight with determination.
The Important Role Of the Working.
class Women in the Passaie
Textile Strike.
THE United Council of Working
l. class Housewives, an organization
II proletarian housewives with branch
rs in New York, Passaic and New
ark, whose aim Is to organize the un-
ANa5NNAf 90 anu WIVES Oh I0c
workers and to unite with existing
working women's organizations thru
permanent delegated conferences. and
10 unite their struggles with those of
he men workers, and recognize that
hey have no struggle apart from the
workingman, at their regular delegat-
ed central body meeting, Feb. 26, 1926,
passed a resolution endorsing and Of
iering to open kitchens Immediately
% feed the strikers and their families.
Open Kitchen.
ON March IL, the United Council of
~ Housewives opened kitchen
where over four hundred children were
ed with wholesome food every day.
Enemies OF the strike, tried hard to
ind fault with the kitchens and with
he food. They sent investigators.
But to their horror, they found that
iome Of the children had gained as
much as ten pounds within a short
line. In April second kitchen was
opened where from four to five hun
lred children wara fad d,,rioo AZ. |