The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-09-28
Minneapolis HAS
Three IMPORTANT
LABOR STRUGGLES
Bosses War on Train
men, UphOlsterers
DIV a Worker Correspondent

(By a Worker Correspondent
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 27.-Minne-
apols, once famous for her well-or-
gained trade unions and her militant
working class; Minneapolis, center of
the state that Graded the Farmer
Labor Party; Minneapolis, home of
many valiant fighters in the Shop
mems Strike--has been seized by
strike fever, vertable revival Of
determination on the part Of the
workers not to lose the conditions al
ready achieved and to resist the wage
cuts with which they are being pelted.
Some four weeks ago, the up
holstery workers in the Brooks Parlor
Furniture Company walked out one
hundred per cent, The upholstery
workers are among the poorest paid
in this region. Last January a cut
in wages ranging from 10 per cent
for the highest paid-(65 cents an
hour) to 20 per cent for the lowest
$50 cents an hour) found the work
ers resentful but helpless. Winter
months are a had time for striking
when families Of workers need fuel to
keep them from freezing to death in
a Minnesota winter.
Strike Against Wage Cut.
The shop was unorganized, but q
small group of workers belonging to
the union began q drive for mem
bership in June and in a few weeks
every worker in the factory, which
employs about 200 workers, was or
ganized. In July came a ten-day lay
eff and when the workers returned to
the bench, they were given the glad
news that, having been rested by their
unpaid vacation, they We're to receive
another wage cut whereby a worker
who formerly could earn 1928 by
making up a nicely upholstered chair
for petty bourgeois lady to sit upon,
would in future only earn $1.75, and
so on down the line.
Good Support For Strike
Mr.. Brooks, who is known in
Minneapolis as having for a long time
posed as left winger" (hollow
laughter from anaemic workers
children) and member of the Jewish
Labor Lyceum Association, had just
ItLQlIGu lLOtll q tAlOllLlL NctLdL4O1 III
the Black Hills, and was heard telling
a fellow employer that the "horses" in
his factory had paid for his vacation.
This added to the joy with which the
workers greeted the news Of the
second cut
Their Joy, however, was as nothing
compared to the JOY with which Mr..
Brooks hailed news of the fact that
Ahi8 horses" had walked out on one
hundred per cent strike. The walk
out came about the second week in
August ard the workers are still out,
determined that they will not return
but fight it out all winter, if neces-
sary.
Splendid support is Forthcoming
from all labor organizations, and all
local unions will soon be in full
swing gathering strike relief funds.
A commissary department has been
opened and the strikers are provided
with groceries, etc. Various organi-
cations are arranging dances, par
ties and meetings, where funds for
relief will be taken up.
Demand Union Recognition.
Mr. Brooks ceased to laugh so
heartily as his profits began to
dwindle. On one occasion he weak
ened and called the Strikers Com
mittee to discuss with him However,
the notorious Citizens Alliance, of
which Mr.. Brooks is also a member
Che seems to be a genuine "joiner')
hustled up to Brooks and stiffened up
his spine, if any When the strikers
Committee appeared, Mr.. Brooks in