The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-11-12
BY L. p. RINDAL
worker Correspondent)


A few months ago, members of Clean
ers' and Dyers' Union No., 176, Los
Angeles, went on strike-1,00 to 1900
strong-in protest against short pay,
long hours and all around unbearable
scab conditions for workers of both
sexes. The leadership was in the head
and hands of General Organizer A. s.
Glassman OF Journeymen Tailors. The
plunderbund In the paradise Of the
open shop did what 1t could to scatter
the forces of organized labor by the
usual formula: Divide and Rule. But
the spirit OF solidarity in the ranks Of
the workers triumphed into the great
est victory for years" in this part Of
an exploiting master class world.
UnlonIsm Spreading.
Organizer Glassman and his neuten-
ants extended the cleaners and dyers'
organization to the Pacific ocean, Long
Beach and Wilmington-cente for
oil, tourists and bathing beauties, etc.
Sub-Local No. 2, branch of 176 L. A..
was formed. According to The Citizen,
organ Of the Central Labor Council Of
Los Angeles, and brother Glassman-
the membership is approximately 400;
ESQ in Long Beach and the rest in
wilmington. These communities are
small, but the character of the popula-
ton explains the great amount Of fine
suits and dresses, ETC., sent to the
shops for cleaning and dyeing.
Trouble In Tho Air.
The work was piling up very heavy,
and the discomfort increased with the
victory In the cleaning and dyeing in
dustry of Los Angeles. To some ex-
tent, the black-souled open-shoppers
of that white spot" prevented en-
ployers Of other cities from granting
better conditions to their overworked
and underpaid wage slaves.
Brother Glassman speaking: MANY
cases have been called to my atten-
ton where workers in, the cleaning
and dyeing industry have been forced
to work so, 20, yes even 105 hours per
week for a period of more than a
month. Some of our members have
been working for as little as SIC per
week and a great number of the men
working in the industry receive $50
and less per week and work from SO
to rs hours per week for such wages"
Workers Demands Rejected.
On Monday, Nov. 1, committee Of
z met a delegation representing the
plant owners. The demands in the
form of an agreement" presented to
the agents of the bosses were, in part,
as follows: Rights Of collective bar
gaining; a minimum wage scale, i. e.,
s22.5O for women (unskilled), and $50
per week for first class mechanics; a
44-hour week; no discharge without
the consent Of the union; work to be
divided in. slack seasons; major
holidays in the year, and other reason
able treatments and conditions-ne-
cessary in order to create and main
tain a decent standard Of living for
the workers.
It took the bosses one hour and a
half to reject these demands, no
counter proposal of any kind was Of
fered the workers, and the conference
was adjourned by the plant owners"
In the evening, same day, mass
meeting was held, a strike ballot
taken; almost $50 ballots" in favor
of a walk-out and no opposition.
Strike.
Tuesday, Nov. 2 election day.. the
strike call went out. The workers res
pended wonderfully. Every plant
d19) but one in the city, the Sunset
Dye Works, was affected. The man
agement of this plant turned in riot
call. The riot squad, led by Chief
Yancy, responded to find large and
most orderly gathering Of men, women
and girls staging a peaceful demon
stration." The strikers, however, have
been accused of violence by the forces
of reaction. A parade in the streets
of Long Beach was broken up by the