The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-05-04
STANDARD OIL
COMP ANY union
REVOLT .SEETHES
Workers Are RebelIiOuS
and Talk Strike
BY LOUIS FRANCIS BUpNEz,
Federated Press)

BAYONNE, N. j., May z. - NFP)--
Oil workers out on Constable Hook,
$4,000 strong, are gaining courage
from the apparently successful strike
Of their fellow workers In textiles In
Passaie, and are showing definite
signs Of revolt against the company
unions in operation here.
"This is another Passaic," was the
greeting 1 received when first ap-
preached the gates of the Standard
Oil company to distribute copies of
Labor Age 10 days ago. 1t was by
pure accident we had stumbled on the
unrest at Bayonne. Oil workers who
had agreed to sell or distribute
gratis copies of the April number Of
the monthly had reported the police
had put a ban on the publication.
The article, "A Company Union in
Oil" by Robert w. Dunn was the re-
puted cause Of the ban. Dunn and l
had agreed, accordingly, to go to the
Constable Hook workers Of the Stand
ard and give out the copies in def
ance of the police. But Dunn that day
was in Passaic Jail, so my appearance
had to be in solo role.
Workers Interested.
Chief of Police Cornelius O'Neill
denied we would be interfered with;
but my appearance with tina maya
zine and the publicity it brot got the
attention of the workers on the
Hook Dunn's clear analysis of the
company's methods was read in every
department of the oil plants.
Make Demands.
The next day the entire force of the
Vacuum Oil Company made demands,
and the laborers of the Standard Oil
did likewise. This encouraged us to
make a second trip to Bayonne. AS
1 was distributing the magazine in
front Of the gates general manager,
William c. Coler, drove out in big
car and threatened me with arrest.
Later Coler decided that discretion
was the better part of valor, for sub
sequent trips have not been inter
fered with.
Company Unions Weaken.
4 Company unionism is by no means
sure Of itself out here. The strike of
the 81 representatives of the men
under the company plan at Bayway,
across the way, is still wildly remem-
bered. The men complain they can
not be sure their grievances will be
dealt with, under the company union.
The representatives themselves are
not unanimous on the value of the re-
public of labor set up here. The men
would like to meet as a unit, for ex-
ample; that is, they would like to
have a joint meeting for action be-
tween the workers in the Standard,
Vacuum and Tidewater companies.
AS it is, the companies insist that
such meetings must be by separate
company groups only. The Standard,
particularly, is at cross angles with it's
workers on this point. Another grave
complaint of the men is that they
have no information on which to base
demands. They know only about
wages in this vicinity. Their data
along this line must come from the
company. They have long asked for
a paid secretary, to represent their
interests fully, but the demand has
never been met.
May Strike.
A strike is not at all unlikely on
the Hook. Two dangers are ahead,
that may prevent such a movement
and the forming Of real union, One
is the possibility of the companies
meeting the present demands, in part
at least, and thus striking a diplo-
matte blow at Outside, agitation
The Vacuum Oil Company had refused
its mems demands, but it is now said
to be reconsidering them. The other
is, that certain departments may en-
gage in premature strikes. The only
hope of the oil workers is in a unitel
industrial walk-out, after careful prep
aration.
Want Increase.
The Vacuum Oil Company mems de-
mand is for conditions promised for
Easter. 1924. They include granting
Of paid vacations after. so many years
Of service, and also an increase in
wages. This week, balloting on the
company union representatives has
been going on. Whether all the
elected representatives will receive
the o. X. OF the companies remains a
doubtful matter. Next week will show
what the men may expect, and will be
critical in the underground fight be.
tween the company union and the pos
sibility of real organization.