The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-12-02
EAGLE PENCIL
WORKERS STRIKE
Elect Their Committee;
Mass Picket Today

Continued from Page One)
of the committee in to present de-
mands for a return of theswage cut
to Richards, the big boss. Richards
refused to see the committee, and
the police drove the strikers, still
only slightly organized for their task,
from the vicinity.
Further Organization.
The strikers then held another
mass meeting, larger than the first,
in Labor Temple and continued their
organization, heard advice from the
organizer of the Trade Union Unity
Council, Jack tombstone, and ar
ranged for mass picketing today
when the shop opens. The decision
is for all strikers to meet at 7:30 a
block from the plant, and to picket
it all around. After mass picketing
in the morning, the strikers will meet
again in Labor Temple, and make up
the shifts of 40 or so which will
maintain the picket lines between
mass picketings. The strime commit
tee will again call upon the man
agement today.
Reject Wage Cut.
The ten per cent cut has been
threatened for some time. Deter
mined refusal to accept it when it
was announced some weeks ago in
several departments resulted in its
postponement. The management tried
to spread feeling of despair and
terror among the workers, and
thought it could go ahead with the
cut yesterday.
The workers we're unorganized ex-
cept for factory committee, which
issued a leaflet calling for strike yes
terday unless the wage cut were
rescinded. The plan, carried out very
successfully, was for all to report to
work, but not to work. If the wage
cut were not stopped by the company
at ten a. m all we're to come out and
march in body to the meeting
place.
The company fired one worker as
soon as the call to refuse to work
began to be circulated around the
various departments. Later, at the
strike mass meeting, the strikers
showed what they thought of this by
electing that worker chairman of the
meeting, and placing him on the
strike committee.
About ten, groups of workers
marched out. A little later the doors
of the plant were closed to try and
split the workers and keep some OF
them in. 1t did not work The doors
finally had to be opened, when the
crowd of workers standing idle inside
were seen and urged by those out
side to come on. They did. Later
as the march to the Labor Temple
began. still another group marched
out.
The factory police tried to propa.
gandize the workers against the
strike, saying, ut will get you moth.
ing" One woman worker showed
the cop her work hardened hands
and shouted, 1--WE been working here
for years and starving, now I'll try
striking"
Discuss Demands.
The first meeting was addressed
by the representatives of the fac.
tory committee, and by Andrew Over.
gard, national secretary of the
Metal Workers Industrial League O
the Trade Union Unity League, wht
suggested the large strike committed
and offered all possible help, but EN-.
phasized that this is the Eagle
workers strike and their own soil.
darity and organization would win it
Members of the elected strike com.
mittee also spoke, and all the stril-nr,
started for the factory to see thu
committee present the demands.
At the second meeting, held at 81
p. M, the strikers discussed the sit
uation, many speaking from the
floor on tactics to follow and de-
mands to make. 1t was decided
unanimously not to go back If thu
boss offers merely to make it a lessee
wage cut than ten per cent. Tit
greatest enthusiasm and cheers
greeted those who declared, wv,
won't stand for any wage cut at ALI
1t was decided that if the manage.
ment tries lay-off after the strik,
is won, the committee shall demand
instead a reduction from the presen
nine hour day to the eight hour da,
and five day week, without reduc
, ton in the weeks wages.
| A collection was taken up to de-