The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-10-19

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The union representatives weret
not invited to the preliminary hear
ings on the fur code, but they de-
manded the right to be heard in the
name of nearly 1900 fur workers
enrolled as members in local unions
in the. largest cities in the country.
When they showed proof of con-
tractual relations with 1,100 firms
and support of the majority of the
fur workers in the country, their
right to speak for the fur workers
was admitted even by Fillmore, at
torney OF the Associated Fur Manu-
facturers.
The International Fur Workers
was represented by Mandel, q st.
Paul attorney, who was quickly dis
credited by the Industrial Union re-
representatives. when he was unable to
provide any proof of his claim that
he represented $4,000 fur workers"
The meeting revealed many secret
maneuvers between the bosses and
the A. ?. Of L. union to betray the
fur workers. When Fillmore proposed
that 40-hour week be written into
the code. the lies spread by the In
ternational Fur Workers several
weeks ago In New York that they
had won" the 35-hour week with
the generosity Of the employers
were fully exposed.
The 40-hour week proposal Of the
frIr r11aYYJfa ef,Ira>-r hJav+ad +I,;g Fotyo
statement of the International COM
pletely. The Associated had no in
tention of providing 35-hour week;
it merely was aiding the A. F. Of L.
to smash the fur workers union.
A treacherous secret agreement
signed by the International and the
fur bosses in Chicago which provides
a 44-hour week and wage scales
which are SO lower than the New
York scales was also revealed at tbs
hearing.
Mandel pleaded ignorance when
pressed about this betrayal. 1t was
clear that the agreement was signed
secretly without the knowledge of the
workers. The fur bosses declared
that the gentlemen of the Inter-
national were considerate of their
plight" In st. Paul, an agreement
was signed proving to be even worse,
with scales for cutters as low as
$3.50, while the union scale in New
York Is 5000, and other wages SIS
below the minimum scales in New
York. Mandel was silent in the face
Of this exposure.
Potash and Winogradsky attacked
the Chicago and st, Paul agreements
and declared that the union would
never stand for differential in wage
scales for workers outside, of New
York. These agreements will not be
recognized by the workers or the
Union" they declared. They stated
strikes are being waged against them
and will continue until the New York
scale is established.
Other important issues raised in
the hearings were the proposals of
the retail employers to establish a
40-cent hourly wage rate for work
ers and that of the representatives
Of the department stores who de-
manded exclusion from the code of
all fur workers employed in the fur
departments of their stores. They
demanded a 44-hour week and wages
far below union scales.
Both Potash and Winogradsky de-
clared that the union recognized no
divisions among the workers in the
trade
Both representatives went on rec
ord squarely for a 30-hour week de-
claring that at best with union wages
the fur worker is able to earn only
$500 a year due to the short seasons
and that the 35-hour week has failed
to provide sufficient jobs for the thou
sands of unemployed.
So challenging were the union
representatives that the bosses, Man
del and the administrator were
placed in the position Of being unable
to contracted their statements. The
administrator then declared that the
hearing was called for information
only and hastily adjourned the SEES
sionS.
At the same time in New York the
furriers held huge mass meeting to
mobilize for struggle to establish
the 30-hour week in the trade in
slack time. Plans were mapped for
the campaign and in preparation for
the coming expiration OF the agree
ment.
The fur workers approved the shop
conference of the Needle Trades In
dustrial Union to be held at Cooper
Union on Oct. 81.
The meeting endorsed the election
campaign of the Communist Party.
Among those who spoke in behalf of
the Communist Party candidates was
Apochinslzy, former right winger and
now loyal supporter of the Industrial
Union.