The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-03-28
A.C.W. CONTROL.
PROVEN MYTH
Fail to Brighten Labor
in Rochester
By MICHAEL INTRATOR.

That the much boosted control of
the Rochester mems clothing manu-
featuring market by the Amalga-
mated Clothing Workers Union is
myth was shown by a story car
1ied yesterday in the employers
trade journal, the Daily News Rec
ord.
In the dispatch from its Roches-
ter bureau, the "Record" gave in
formation for manufacturers which
definitely shows that the living
standards of the Rochester workers
have by no means been degraded to
the limit, The Amalgamated Off
cialdom is now busy selling out the
workers standards still more.
| The story expresses the opinion
of the Rochester bosses who praise
the union officials because of lis
vision" in giving concessions on
wages and hours to the smaller
bosses in the city in order to help
them against the pressing COMPETE
ton Of the open-shop manufacturer
These concessions to the small
bosses, the article states, are being
given voluntarily by the union Of
ficials, because the larger manufac-
turers, by virtue of their strength,
can and are getting these conces-
| sions, whether the union officials
| like it or not.
Thus, between involuntary" con-
cessions to the big bosses and the
voluntary concessions to the small
manufacturers, union standards are
being ground out.
"The remedy seems to lie in the
form of rate revisions in order to
permit the small producer to COM
pete with the unorganized mar
kets," the article states. Rate re-
visions means lowering the piece
work wage rates. Therefore, the
article continues, "The union is con-
scious of the situation and is meet
ing it wherever possible in the form
of revisions."
That large bosses also get "re-
visions" can be seen from the state
ment: "The larger manufacturer,
because of his dominating opposi-
ton, is able to make requests and
in turn these requests are treated
with much Difference by organized
labor ;. the small manufacturer, on
the other hand, makes his requests
in the form of self-preservation and
hopes that they will be met. But
the union is not unmindful of condi-
tions and is able to make these con-
cessions wherever they may seem
most wise"
For this open betrayal the Hill
man regime in the A. c. w. is called
"far sighted" by the manufacturers,
who enthuse over such friendly
and able" leadership.
The workers are the victims Of a
vicious circle of concessions, which
operates in all markets thus: First,
concessions are given to the large
bosses, with the official excuse that
big bosses are responsible" and "a
good influence on the industry"
Then the smaller ones get it to save
them from determination by open
shop competitors. Then the big
ones get more concessions, with the
little ones following, while the
standards of the workers are forced
down.
The highly satisfactory wages
and graft opportunities make the
Amalgamated official industrious of
such strenuous labor of organizing
the open shops. And this open
shop field grows larger and larger,
providing the official with an ex-
cuse of increasing plausibility neces-
sary to concede greater rev.sions
Of wages, speed-up systems and
wholesale dismissals CT workers
permanently displaced by the speed
up.