The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-03-19
Get TWICE AS
MANY LOOMS, co
out ON STRIKE
National Textile Union
Is on Job
by a Worker Correspondent

tBy a Worker C0TeSpoledent)
EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (By
MaiD.-The walkout of the wcavers
in the West Boyleston Mill came as
q climax, because the majority of
them are old hands, who had been
employed during the war and post
war period, and who had gone
through naturalization since the be-
ginning.
In 1922 the weavers had only one
loom apiece and were making
$19.65. Then in 1923 an increase
Of three looms was made. for the
same pay, while in other depart
nents where the work was not in
creased a wage cut was put into
effect.
A few months after the loom in
crease they got a wage cut of IL
Der cent. Other wage cuts followed
i'll 1924-5. until the pay was brought
down to S15.45 on three looms. Now
they come with an increase of
double amount of looms and pos
sibly with another wage cut in a
short while. Realizing this situa-
ton the workers had nothing else
to do but to refuse to work. They
have shown way for other workers
to follow.
viii Sap Lives.
This speed-up on cord fabric
weaving will sap up the very life of
the workers. Even on three looms,
many could not stand it, because of
the peculiar weaving. The fabric,
DC inches by 68 inches in width, is
woven not from beams as in other
cloths, but is woven directly from
spcols. There are large racks near
each loom, where upwards of $500
spools of cord yarn are mounted.
This is the warp for this fabric. The
Fill'ng IS made from the finest cot
ten yarr possible to handle. The
an%'t1g of the cord and filling oc-
ours frequently. The weavers must
themselves find the broken ends of
cord and prepare them for splicing.
There are special girls for splicing.
Ehny also have to watch the yard
a@a, as the rolls have to be accord
ing to the order in lengths.
Compulsory overtime work for
szTa:~ht pay fer men weavers is the
ra,e during rush period.
N2tioaal Textile Workers Union.
IL spite of the intimidation the
vcrl2rs throughout the mill resent
he threatened speed-up, but are
hein1ass to assist the weavers, be-
cause trey are Gnorganized.
The National Textile Workers
Union has issued a leaflet denoun-
cing thu speed-up and calling upon
t''e wcvlgors to support the weavers'
rfri'-a and show resistance as they
heva do~n.
The e"t was such that, twisters.
Gcsrers ard spoilers, who were to
re"eiva their speed-up the following
Io76sv, Feb. %, though unor~anized
yct TALKED things over in the mill
ana decided to walk out. But the
e7eed-un was not given upon that
f1te. Rosses fear the fighting N. t.
y. Union and put the speed-up off
in ether departments.
Boss Terrorizrti0n.
In the meantime the employment
rcant visited all the weavers in
their homes. telling them that they
viii paw S18 (55 cents more than
originally planned) if they return.
otherwise they will be bIacklisted
and will not be abe to get work in
town.
This being a one-industry town,
the workers were terrorized and
some returned. Others are still
holding their own.
The majority of the workers are
bewinning to realize that fighting
union can do lot to improve their
conditions. They are not blind to
the fact that the union leaflet has
checked, at least for a time, the
speed-up in other departments,
though they expect it gradually.
But while they prepare this the
workers will not sieep. Even as the
leeflet is being discussed. the work
c~s are hailing the National Textile
Workers Union. A strong local of
the union will soon be able to show
resistance to the inhuman scientific
exploitation.