The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-02-08
Support Dressmakers' Strike.

support DreSsmakeFS Strlke.
The Trade Union Educational
League, American section OF the
Red International Of Labor Unions,
calls upon all workers to energet-
ically support the general strike OF
the New York dressmakers.
These workers, under the leader
ship of the Needle Trades Workers
Industrial Union, are entering a
struggle to break down sweatshop
conditions existing in the industry
and to build and compel the bosses
to recognize their new union. They
are valiant fighters and must re-
ceive the support of every militant
worker.
Conditions Worse.
The conditions of the workers in
the industry have been steadily wor-
sened as a result of the open be-
trayals and DISQUALIFICATION poll
cies Of the socialist leaders Of the
old needle trades unions. These
ireacherous leaders have permitted
and by their policies aided the ex-
tension of the jobber-contracting
evil and the resulting unbearable
sweatshop conditions. The workers,
under the leadership of the left
wing, have fought for years against
these conditions and to defeat the
reactionary anti-labor policies of the
socialist bureaucracy. This reac-
tionary leadership, as servile agents
of the bosses, has directed its en-
tire attention to defeating the mill
tant left wing, ruthlessly destroy
ing the organizations of the needle
trades workers. Today those old
unions openly serve the interests of
the bosses and not the interests of
the masses of workers in the indus
try.
Fight SweatshOps.
In this strike the dressmakers,
under left-wing leadership, are
struggling to unionize the industry;
TO do away with the sweatshop con-
ditions which the socialist bureau
cracy (Schlesinger, Sigman & Coz
aided the bosses 50 theoretically in
establishing; and to put into force
the program of the new union. This
means the establishment in the in
Gustry of the 40-hour, 5-day week
and abolition of piece-work, with a
minimum wage scale that would
guarantee decent living conditions
and 40-week yearly time; union
control of jobbers and manufactur-
ers and limitation of contractors,
with the object of their eventual
elimination so. that the real bosses
in the industry shall be made re-
sponsible for the conditions of the
workers with no possibility of whole
sale discharges; elimination of the
sweatshops; unemployment insur-
ance, paid by the bosses and adj
ministered by the workers; and the
protection of the youth and women
in the industry.
Class Against Class.
The realization Of these demands
Is essential for the workers in the
industry and must be continuously
fought for-class against class
until they are completely won.
The bosses will resist the grant
ing of these demands until the last
ditch. They will mobilize every
force at their command to prevent
the militant dressmakers from Sc
curing even the slightest improve
ment in their now unbearable con-
ditions. In their efforts TO defeat
the strike they will array against
the strikers a united front Of the
A. F. OF L. bureaucracy, the cor
rupt leadership of the old company
unionized needle trades unions, the
Jewish Daily Forward, the socialist
party, Tammany Hall, the courts
and the police. Each in their own
way will aid the bosses in their at
tempt to defeat this strike, as they
have done in every past struggle Of
the workers.
The alliance between the bosses
and their agents, the Schlesinger
Vnion officials, as well as the cap