The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-12-03
WINDOW UNIONS
OFFICIALS RAID
Members Save Militant
from 7 With Guns

OhlCAGO, Ill., Zee. 1. - lin
haired" Chrlie Wills, prize fat boy
of the Building Service International
Union, its vice president, and a
henchman of Mayor Thompson, also
city garage inspector, with seven
gun men, tried to force the Chicago
Window Washers Union to make
him Car of the union a. the regular
meeting of the local held Tuesday,
Nov. &c. There were two proposals
brought before the meeting. Wills
proposal was for business man
ager" (himself) and two. assistants
or business agents, the Salaries of
the business agents to continue at
$50 per week. The business mana
ger, who would have complete con-
troll of all finances and wages,
would no doubt fix his own salary.
The proposals of the progressive
members, brought forward by Bill
Matheson, was to have one business
agent at a salary of $50 per week
and to organize a regular system of
shop meetings, where the shop
stewards and the men themselves
would discuss and settle questions
regarding safety devices, working
conditions, ETC., in each shop.
Members Protect Metheson.
When the membership, by their
applause and shouts of approval,
showed their support for the latter
propositions as it was outlined by
Matheson, Wills determined to ues
his thugs and control the meeting
by armed force. At a signal from
Wills, his seven gangsters, none of
who are window washers, jumped to
their feet brandishing guns, two
gunner rushed Matheson and the
remaining five covered the mem
bership. The rank and file window
washers crowded around Matheson
and thus prevented the gangsters
from carrying out their intention
Of having him murdered or beaten
up. The meeting adjourned in dis
order, and from all sides the work
ers loudly protested the outrage
of Wills and his thugs on the union.
The meeting on Tuesday was held
for nominations of officers.
Shortly after the opening of the
meeting the seven gangsters entered
the hall. They were led by Paul
David, secretary-treasurer of the In
ternational and VIM. l.. McFetridge,
third vice-president, and Illinois "me-
diator and counciliator of labor.
They were greeted by Wills with:
"Come forward friends, these are
some of the officials of the Interna-
tional. Come to the front and take
seats"
In order to give the gangsters
time to size up the situation and to
forestall discussion, Wills proceeded
to read the entire constitution of the
local union, stressing especially the
clause that only citizens could be
officials Of the union. This clause
that only citizens could be officials
of the union bars the majority OF
the members from holding official
positions in the union. Wills then
! introduced his Business Manager
| proposition.
Matheson's counter proposal, for
business agent, at S55 per week (the
union scale) took the men by storm
and the hall rocked with applause.
The story of the betrayal of the
| Chicago window washers strike in
1926 by Quesse and Wills was por-
trayed by the speaker. And it was
at this point, that Wills gave the
signal to his friends from the In
ternational," the gunner, to stop the
speaker. The resentment of the win
dow washers here is intense. The
story Of betrayal of the New York
window washers by David and Wills
is reaching the men here now. They
are determined to free themselves
from gangster and labor faker rule,
and in all shops discussion on the
best method of doing this are going
ahead.
By arrangements with the business
agents, union men are working for
the school board and loop building
and also in some cases for contrae-
tors at rates far below the scale of
S1.25 an hour. Overtime is not be-
ing paid at all or being paid at
straight time rates. The boss hires
and fires men as he sees fit in di-
rect violation of the union agree
ment.