The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-01-04

A strike has been going on in
North London (Edmonton) since the
beginning of October, which by its
spirit and tenacity has compelled the
admiration and support of wide sec
lions of London workers, and
aroused attention all over England.
The strikers are the factory en-
ployees lover 800 in number, the
great majority women and young
girls) of well-known clothing
firm, Rego Clothiers, Ltd, which
has increased its profits every year
since 1921, and now have an or
binary capital of e252,oOO, six SER
enths of which consists of bonus
shares.
| Until five months ago the factory
of this firm was established in an
other district of London, Shoreditch,
and the conditions there were suf-
ficiently tolerable to ensure smooth
working. The workers were men,
bers Of the Tailors and Garment
Workers Union, and were able to
secure some consideration of griev-
ances as they arose. A girl striker
describes the atmosphere of this
period as one of "contented slavery"
Lately, however, exploitation in
the factory has been intensified, by
subdivision of processes and other
means, and complaints have been
Systematically ignored. The trans
ferring of operations to the Edmon-
ton factory, which is part of re-
organization that will increase the
firms profits by rs per cent, neces-
stated the girls spending out of
their lower wages about As. week
in extra fares. The girls demanded
that their union should take these
matters up, and at the beginning of
September trade union representa-
tive accompanied a deputation of
machinists to the management. The
result was temporary increase,
of I'D per garment, to be reviewed
in months time. Such an adj
vance was of course ridiculously in
adequate. The average wages earned
during that month was still from
per cent to Is per cent less than
before the reorganization. An ex-
perienced pressor, for example, a
typical case, earned 25/-a week,
out of which she would nave to
spend 3s/d in fares, and 81 in
rent. Many girls earned very much
less.
In spite of this, at the end Of the
month the firm repudiated their
promises to review the wage ques-
ton: refused to meet any repre-
sentatives of the union, struck a
blow for non-unionism by support
ing the action of certain renegades
from the union who refused to con-
tinue their membership. Naturally
the workers expected their union to
fight this attack, which not merely
perpetuated the present bad condi-
tions, but aimed at destroying the
organization with view to facilita-
ting further attacks. To their ex-
treme INDIGNATION the Tailors' and
Garment Workers Executive would
not sanction strike; so without Of
fetal recognition they came out, and
under the leadership Of strike COM
mittee, with the Communist London
organizer of the T. G. w. U. at the
head, have fought for six weeks
against the employers and the
bureaucrats. They are demanding
as preliminaries to the establish
ment of better wages and conditions,
recognition of the union and no en-
ployment Of hon-unionists.
1t took week to perfect the strike
machinery, and from that time all
London, and soon the provinces
were made aware of the strike. All
the shops where Rego Clothiers re-
tail their goods are being continu-
ously picketed; in addition, motor
lorry full Of girls has made tours
Of the shops, broadcasting through
megaphone a call ito have nc
dealings with the firm until it paws
trade union rates and recognizes the