The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-12-13
SEEK TO Get
! INJUNCTION TO
END $4,000 FINE
International in Role
Of Betrayer

Wiling to accept the compromise
forced on them by international
union officials, nearly 100 members
e Milk Wagon Drivers Local $50
are represented in a plea for an in
junction restraining their employ
ers from making weekly deductions
from wages to satisfy a 100000
Judgment against the union. The
award was ordered because the
union struck to organize two firms
which had consolidated with the Al
\ den Bros. Milk Co.
International union officials ad-
rised against appealing the decision
and compromised the award against
the opposition Of the local union,
which wished to carry the case to
higher courts to test the validity of
the fine against the union and its
members for striking. The Boston
Central Labor Union is also indig-
nant against acceptance OF the
award, viewing it as an opening
wedge iii bankrupting other unions
when they strike.
BOSTON, Dec. 1.-THE fight of
Mill1 Wagon Drivers Local $50
against the weekly deductions from
their wages to pay off a judgment
against the union is proceeding
along purely legalistic lines, despite
experiences Of the past which show
that the Massachusetts courts are
openly trying to crush the union and
to outlaw all militant unions,
A plea for an injunction, which
100 members of the union were per-
suaded to sign, is being held out
as a hope in an effort to dissipate
the growing resentment of the men.
Indignation runs high, not only
AGAINST the International officials,
who openly betrayed them, but also
against the leaders Of the local
union, whose passive, vacillating
policy is blamed for the present pre-
dicanent of the union.
Strike Against Open Shop.
The $4,000 judgment against the
union was awarded in connection
Nth a strike conducted several
months ago against the Alden Bros.
Milk Company. When this firm,
whose men were organized, abb
sorbed two other firms which had
been running the open shop, the
union demanded the right to organ
i2e the men of the two subsidiary
firms. When the Alden company
refused, the drivers were called out
on strike. The Alden company, de-
term.ned to maintain the .open-shop,
brought suit against the local union
and about two months ago secured
a Judgment in Superior Court Of
100000 against the union. The union
appealed the case in the State Su-
rreme Court, where the original de-
cision was sustained.
The union wanted to take the case
to the United States Supreme Court,
hut the international officials oblig-
ingly came to the aid of the Alden
Company and told the men to go
heck to work pending negotiations.
The Alden Company, however, lost
no time in collecting its money and
enc Saturday every milk driver
found $50 deducted from his pay
envelope Since drivers get only $3S
week, this little operation left each
man with only SIS. Drivers help
crs were relieved of $18 of their sal
cry, reducing each mans pay from
S33 to SIS.
Takers Again Aid Company.
Feeling among the men ran so
high that the international officials
again found it necessary to step in
and help the Alden Company. They
struck good bargain--for the COM
pany. In return for a promise that
the case would not be taken to the
United States Supreme Court, the
company agreed to accept "only"
$4,000, instead of the original $780,
600, deducting So weekly from each
mans salary. Under Massachusetts
law each member of the union is
responsible for the payment Of the
money.
The Judgment against the union,
awarded with the connivance of the
international officials, sets up a
precedent which makes every union
liable to legal prosecution and fine
for conducting strike. Rank and
file members of the local are urging
the adoption of militant tactics to
f;crL+ +bo Underwent award