The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-04-07
PETTICOAT SHOP
WORKERS RECEIVE
VERY Low WAGES
Girls Must Unionize and
Fight Bosses
81 a worker c0rrsspondsnt

NEW YORK, April 5.-The workers
in the petticoat trade, section of the
needle industry, once possessed
union which helped them defend them.
selves against the harsh treatment of
the bosses and to better their condi-
tions. The union no longer exists.
This is very unfortunate for the work
ers. Without this weapon of defense
they are open to the most merciless
exploitation and the vilest abuse.
In New York City there are about
two thousand young girls employed in
this industry. a'
Boss Drives Workers.
In the Bayley petticoast factory at
1893 w. 28th street there are about 80
workers, mostly young Italian girls
from 16 to Is years of age. The we'll.
known piece work system, driving the
workers to the limit of their physical
endurance, is in operation. The girls
receive the magnificent" salary of
SIC to SIS week.
Conditions are so bad in this shop
that the workers frequently come and
go. The foreman is well paid. One
of the girls rightly pictured him by
saying he was "a good watchdog" for
the boss, but contemplate cur" for
the workers.
Occasionally some of the girls voice
their resentment against the inhuman
treatment they receive. Woe betide
those who are caught. They are
promptly fired.
During the slow season those that
are not fired have their wages cut
about SO per cent.
The Mack and Lyman shops is To-
Gated at lis W. 10Th street. About
30 workers are employed there. Con-
ditions are about the same as in the
Bayley petticoat factory. Wages range
from SIS to SIS week. Protest
against the miserable conditions and
you are Immediately fired. II you
protest against overtime work, for
which you receive only regular pay,
you lose your job.
Low Wages Paid.
The Stuff Petticoat company has its
place at 141 w. 9th street. This boss
employees about 10 workers. paying
them from SIS to SIS week. Con-
ditions in this shop, besides being mis-
cradle, are unsanitary.
The Joseph Herman shop at 1877 w.
9th street employ about IS workers,
mostly Italian. Half are young work
ers. They must Give" on the "gener-
GUS" salary Of $40 to SIS a week.
The adult workers are not treated
much better. Their salaries range
from SIS to $22 week. ~
He's a "PhiIanthropist."
This kind boss fires those workers
whom he suspects will ask for an in
crease. But he is a ''philanthropic
fellow" He arranged a Christmas
party for the girls and the girls, I'M
suspecting his motives, fell for 1t.
During the party this kind boss de-
livered a lecture on loyalty to the
boss, proving to his own satisfaction
the mutual interests of the boss and
the workers.
To show his appreciation and to
prove the mutual interests of the boss
and the worker, few weeks later he
reduced the wages Of the workers, es-
pecially of the most active workers at
the Christmas party. The workers
then learned their bitter lesson. This
shop is unsanitary.
There are a vast number Of other
shops in New York where workers
slave their lives away.
Workers Must Organize.
Petticoat workers, these conditions
can be changed! These conditions
can be changed thru the organization
Of the workers into union.