The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-06-12
VIEW BRUNSWICK
WORKERS DON'T
FALL FOR Takers
Strike Against SIS Pay
in Tobacco Plant

by a Worker Correspondent
NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J. (By
faiD.-The present strike IN the
liant of the General Cigar Co., New
brunswick, is a fight against in
ense exploitation, naturalization
nd unsanitary conditions. This
liant is one of many owned by this
ompany. Over 800 workers are en-
loyed in the plant, 75 per cent of
shom are young workers, between
he ages of 16 and 81,
SIS a Week.
The average wage earned is about
10 per week, on a 55-hour week
asis. The work is performed on a
'iece-work system and regular week
york. The piece-workers must go
t top speed all day in order to av-
rage their SIS per week. The speed
Up system is also applied to the
feekly workers, who must turn out
practically twice as much work as
gas accomplished in the past, with
nut receiving any extra compensa-
;on for it. Windows are kept closed
t all times, due to the drying pro-
ess which the tobacco goes through.
Workers Health Impaired.
While this fills the pockets of the
losses, it impairs the health of the
workers., due tc the fact that they
% not receive any ventilation what
oever. Many of them become i'll
nd are laid up for weeks on ac-
cunt of this.
Discomfort Spreads.
Discomfort spread over the entire
liant and the workers were contin-
lously talking of waging a fight
lgainst these slave conditions. The
limax was reached when a huge
lash amounting to three cents per
,our was imposed. Immediately
here was a general walkout, with
he entire plant out. The Trade
Inion Educational League immedi-
.teIy STEPPED into the situation by
irving active assistance to the strik-
rs, and calling upon them to
trengthen the strike by the organ
cation of rank and file strike
omn1ittee and spreading the strike
> other plants of the company.
This Immediately had a good effect
lpon the strikers, many of whom
expressed the opinion that these
'teps were absolutely necessary in
rider to win the strike.
While these tactics met with the
approval of the workers, they on
he other hand aroused the ire of
he bosses. "a.
Bosses Cali on Church.
They Immediately called upon the
.hurch and Y. w. C, A. to come to
heir assistance. At a sermon de-
ivered by the local preacher Sun
lay afternoon he called upon the
strikers to have nothing to do with
he T. U. z. L. ''These people"
aid he, care bunch of Reds, who
IRE here to make trouble. We must
itay away from their headquarters,
,therwise we will be committing
-reat sin" This kind of talk did
,ot have any effect upon the work
RS. Another tactic was resorted to.
representatives of the Y. M. c. A.
rave been addressing the strikers,
dvocating class collaboration, peace
al methods, etc.
Bosses Allies Fail.
The church, Y. M. c. A. and other
-eactionary organizations have COM
oietely failed in their attempts to
nislead the strikers. The workers
realize that the only organization
which is really fighting for their in
terests is the Trade Union Educa-
tional League. Already they have
needed the message of the T. U. E.
Z. by taking steps to spread the
strike to other tobacco plants.
A committee Of strikers visited
he Perth Amboy plant of the same
company, calling upon the workers
to organize themselves and assist
them in their struggle for better
conditions. Meanwhile the strikers
are maintaining a real fighting
spirit and are determined to keep
I'D their struggle until victory is
achieved. ROBERT CLARK.