The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-08-09

against wage reductions under SUCH |
circumstances be decided upon in con-
sultation with the crews of each shop.
The District Council having exhaust
ed its own finances in the struggle
against wage reductions decided to
refer the case of the B. w. S. Shoe
Co. to the crew of the shop. The
crew decided to compromise on a
wage reduction of per cent intead
of Is per cent as the boss demanded.
The Cutters Local Sc, who in all sim
liar cases in the past had urged a
compromise attitude in such cases
told the cutters in these shops not
to submit to the decision of the shop
crew. Whereupon the District Coun-
Gil submitted the whole case to the
General Council with a statement
that if the General Council Will ex-
tend support financially and other
wise we are in favor Of striking this
shop against wage reductions. II the
General Council however, cannot sup
port the strike the District Council
would be forced to sanction the ac-
ton of the crew in accepting the 5
per cent reduction.
Meanwhile the Unity Shoe Com
pany discharged a workers and upon
action of the union to reinstate them
the company discharged 18 more. The
union being confronted with direct
open shop move in spite of the lack
of resources and lack of support from
the General Council decided to strike
in defense. General President Nolan
in the meantime had come to the city
and strange to say agreed with the
Cutters Executive, who in the case
of the B. w. S. Shoe Company strike,
ordered the cutters not to accept the
5 per cent wage cut and advised the
council to declare this shop on strike.
On the other hand in the case of the
Unity Shoe Company, which was on
strike due to the discharge of %
workers, General President Nolan
advised the council to call off the
strike in this shop and refused to
take action against the Cutters
Executive, who had ordered the cut
tiers to scab on the other. crafts in
the shop. The crew of the Unity
shop being thus confronted with the
cutters scabbing on them gave up in
disgust. On the other hand the work
ers of the B. w. S. witnessing the
action of the president refused to
strike in support of the cutters in
their shop and insisted on accepting
the per cent wage cut. Thus the
general office pitted one craft
against the other in order to support
the cutters, who had supported them
in the last general election.
1t became clear that the general
officials in order to revenge them
selves upon the New York organiza-
ton were willing to go as far as
wrecking it completely even if it
would remain only with part of the
cutters and another dozen members
in paper locals. The District Council
therefore appealed to the General
Council as a whole to meet with US
in New York on Monday, July 18th.
The meeting opened with the chair
man of the General Council presiding
A District Council delegate raised the
issue of the cutters and was ruled out
of order. The District Council dele
gates were told that if they like it
or not the General Council will act
as it pleases. 1t was quite evident
from the proceedings that the Gen
eral Council came not to help us; not
to use their authority to make the
cutters act as union men; not to help
our struggle against the employers,
but that the General Council had de-
cided to put us on trial and expel US.
In protest against this procedure the
delegates of the District Council
walked out. The next thing we heard
was that our charter was revoked
without trial. The employers who
were Immediately informed thru large
advertisements in the morning press,
held a meeting and lined up with the
general officials to wreck the union.
Within a week there We're several
lockouts and other employers had
turned in demands for wage reduc-
lions and individual agreements. This
is how the situation now stands.
The Biggest Crime of All.
The wrecking of the New York
shoe workers organization by the
General Council really dates back
from the early Spring of 1926 when
there was strong movement in the
American union of 5000 members to
join the Protective. After the sell
out of the officials of the American
union to the Shoe Manufacturers
Board of Trade all locals of the
American decided to join the Protec-
tive in body, which would have in
Guided a magnificent building right
in the heart of the shoe district. Even
assuming that the American had lost
5000 members as a result of the sell
out, at least 1000 other members to
gether with valuable property would
have come into our organization,
rf.t