The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-08-27
AMALGAMATION
ISSUE BEFORE
BAKERS union
International Takes Up
Unity Question
BY Federated Press.

NEW AOltAp aug. h0.-COnnlQo1hr
ton of the New York locals plea for
retaliation Of the three bakery locals
which built up the Amalgamated Food
Workers Independent union was one
Of the main tasks undertaken by the
18th convention Of the init. Bakery g
Confectionery Workers. With the
bread trust fight and union label agi-
tation, the amalgamation issue became
a most discussed one.
Charters were withdrawn by the IN
ternational from three New York To-
Gals in 1913 In a quarrel mainly juris-
dictionaL The locals stuck together
and later Joined with independent ho-
tel and restaurant workers to form
the Amalgamated Food Workers. The
independent group has always been
strongest in German and other nom
Jewish bakeries; the international in
Jewish shops.
JurIsdIctIonaI Fight.
The jurtsdictional fight still stands
between the two groups and unity.
The trouble arises chiefly where Anal
eamated bakers have suddenly found
their shop ownership changed and
their work requirements to include the
making Of some Jewish bread with
other kinds. Amalgamated members
hare had engagement for wages I'M
der that Of the Jewish scale, since
Jewish work Is better paid than other
baking. But Amalgamated bakers say
there ara more union Jewish bakers
IN international locals than can find
tu1l-time employment work, that most
Of them are alternating with three OF
four days work a week, and The inde-
pendent bakers fear that re-affiliation
with the international will mean the
has Of Jobs where they are doing
partly Jewish baking.
Other points-of difference have been
discussed and solution seems not so
difHcult. The Independents want resto-
ration Of their old charters, with full
rights and privileges; the same oon-
tiuued terms and rating of member
ship in the international as in the in
dependent, especially as to beneficiary
members; a real effort to organize all
bakery workers in greater New York.
! The Amalgamated bakers have q sick
I and death benefit fund of about $4,000
which they will turn over to the inter
national upon retaliation, providing
the international recognizes their
claims in its own fund. Many OF the
original 100 bakers had been mem
/ bers of the international for years
when they were elected. They want
recognition of the amounts they paid
into the international benefit fund.
Responsibility for Others.
The Amalgamated bakers feel some
sense of responsibility toward the
butcher locals, fruit stand workers
locals, and hotel and restaurant work
eYs, which they have helped organize
and hold together in the independent
( Industrial union. The Amalgamated
has been considered somewhat more
radical than the international, altho
the latter has always boosted of its
socialism. Whether the two groups
will join depends largely on the work
OF the New York locals committee
which is to work with an international
representative toward settlement Of
the jurisdictional question.
The convention approved the union
label agitation and bread trust fight,
the help Of the Peoples Legislative
service in showing up Ward trickery,
not only in bread production but in
squeaking out of the federal suit
against his food trust, while hanging
on to his bread trust. 1t protested
against Jersey justice as shown in
the Passaic textile strike and urged
relief. 1t protested against the actions
of Governor Alvan Fuller of Massa-
cTsusetts in not using his influence to
preyApt Sacco and Vanzetti from go
ing to the electric chair.
Demspd Release Of Prisoners.
II declared itself for the release Of
all United States labor prisoners, Tom
Mooney, ETC.. 6or recognition of Rus
STA when her political prisoners are
released" 1t approved the Massachu-
setts State Federation Of Labor re-
port that the Great Atlantic & Pacific
stores are unfair because the firm op-
poses the unionization OF its employees.
Pay for the three international secre-
taries was raised from $4,000 year
to $4,000. Organizers get $14 per
day and expenses. The next conven-
ton, three years hence, is to be in
st. Louis. The union has 1880 mem
,bers.