The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-30

served TO SOllQlIy The RANKS Ol Tile
shoe strikers and to redouble their
energies to win their strike are now
asking the union to negotiate set
Elements with them The Continen-
tai Shoe Co. yielded to the Unions
demands yesterday and agreed to a
40-hour week and 80 per cent in
crease in wages. Negotiations are
pending with other shops while AZ
shops have already signed up with
the union.
Grover Whalen, after keeping the
committee of shoe strikers waiting for
five hours in a small room at the
Hotel Pennsylvania while he was con-
ferring with the MIRA executive COM
mittee on the next steps in his use
of the NRA as strike breaking
weapon finally met with the COM
mittee. Surrounded by corps of
dicks, and MIRA assistants, Whalen
made no apology to the workers for
keeping them waiting.
When I. Rosenberg, spokesman for
the delegation, registered his protest
against Whalen's statements in be-
half of the 10000 shoe strikers,
Whalen evaded the issue. Instead
he declared that the shoe manufac-
turers are willing to accept all the
workers demands. 'They refuse to
recognize the union and they say you
refuse to allow the workers to return
to work. said Whalen. Rosenberg
cited Section of the MIRA, as sup
posedly guaranteeing the right of
collective bargaining.
Whalen, who regarded every worker
with suspicion, then said: THAT is
your Interpretation. We mean that
the workers have right to choose
representative to negotiate for
them, just as Dubinsky bargains with
the employers in the dress industry.
When Rosenberg pointed out that the
Shoe and Leather Workers Industrial
Union does not approve of mediation
but rather that the workers elect their
own committees to negotiate directly
With the employers, the other strik-
ers joined in denouncing the betrayal
policies OF the A. F. of L. unions. 1--WE
want the Shoe and Leather Work
ers' Union not the Boot and Shoe
Protective which sold out the Brock
ton strike" declared the strikers.
Worker after worker voiced his hatred
OF the company unions.
Rosenberg then pointed out that
the dress strikers, although they
were said to have won victory have
not returned to their jobs. 'They
haven't paid up their dues" Whalen
said, admitting the International Of
f1ctals' racketeering. I'VE have no
check-off system" declared Rosen-
berg. That is one reason why the
workers flock to our union.
Whalen then proposed mediation of
the shoe strike, but Rosenberg dec
Jared that 1t was unnecessary since
they could negotiate directly.
Whalen then conferred his attack
on the Communists and tried to
divide the workers But the strik-
ers stand solidly together.
When Rosenberg continued to press
for statement on Whalen's strike
breaking policies, Whalen evaded.
I have been misquoted in the
press" he declared. II read the
Daily Worker, but have been paint
ed much blacker than / am" he
said in demagogic plea to the
strikers. Finally when he could no
longer evade Rosenberg's demand,
he urged that "bygones be bygones.v
A worker from the Elco shop then
told of the sweatshop conditions in
the Elco shop where the MIRA banner
flies and where the pickets were
arrested in a test case. Whalen was
silent.
In a wordy statement to the press,
Whalen, while backing down as the