Evening star., 1927-10-28
Costly Needle Trade Strikes.

Significant figures regarding the
economic losses due to strikes are con.
tained in the annual report of the New
York State Department of Labor for
the year ending June 80 last. It is
set forth that in consequence of
ninety-nine industrial disputes in vari.
Gus trades time loss of 7,529,9S9
working days was suffered. This is
the highest economic loss to the State
from industrial troubles since 1920.
No computation has been made Of the
monetary loss to the workers and to
the employees, though it undoubtedly
runs to heavy figure. 1t is set forth
that the greatest factor in this vast.
age was a six-month strike in the
cloak and suit industry in New York
City, which involved .36,142 persons,
or thirty per cent Of the whole mum.
Der of persons who participated in
strikes during the year. and caused
74.4 per cent Of the total time loss.
The group to which this industry be.
longs. including clothing, millinery,
ETC., had thirty-one strikes for time
loss Of 6.57s,6 days. OF the ninety.
nine strikes, forty.four were due to
refusal to recognize the unions in.
volved or to confer with their official
representatives. Only twenty-five of
the strikes were for increased wages
and seven Of the walkouts resulted
from reduction Of wages. Eight Of
the strikes were precipitated by the
shortening Of the number Of hours
constituting q weeks work. OF the
entire number Of the strikes within
the State, eighty-two occurred in the
metropolitan district.
In explanation Of the factor Of nom
recognition of the union, the State
Labor Department sets forth that the
factional conflicts within the unions
themselves had a potent influence in
precipitating the greatest Of the walk
outs, that in the clothing trade. This
internal division, due to a stru ygle
for office between the ''ins" and "outs."
itself due to a radical division Of opin-
ion as to the function of the union.
naturally reacted to prevent amicable
relations between the employers and
the workers, and although the State
Department Of Labor does not pro-
ceed to the conclusion, it is evident
that this enormous economic loss was
the result primarily and mainly of the
lack of unity on the part of the
workers.
The personnel of these trades which
suffered so severely in strikes during
the past year is largely of alien origin.
Radical propagandists find among these
people the best Of material for their
subversive purposes. During the agi-
tations incident to the Sacco.Vanzetti
case some Of these trades engaged in
brief wallxouts in demonstration. They
constituted the chief body of the pro-
test against the execution Of the con.
demned men in Massachusetts.
The American Federation Of Labor
has steadfastly endeavored for a long
time to correct these conditions. But
lack Of affiliation on the part of some
Of the organizations and recalcitrance
on the part Of leaders of others have
to a great extent negatived these ef-
forts. 1t would be the most whole.
some reform ever effected for the
working classes Of America IL these
trades could be brought into discipline
through responsible organization. thus
securing the benefits of intelligent
unity of purpose and action without
the losses which bear now so griev-
ousiy upon the men and women who
are struggling for subsistence.