The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-09
union CHARGES
BRANDED FALSE
BY GROUP CHIEF
Head of Real Silk Benefit
Association Answers
Pay Raise Attack.

Charles Leeke. a knitter at the
Real silk Hosiery Mills. was re-
elected president Of the Employees
Mutual Benefit Association at an
election Just completed by all en-
plOyes of the company. The cleo
ton was by secret ballot and Leeke
was chosen by a large majority.
According TO Leeke, in his state
ment TO the employees, thanking
them for their vote Of confidence in
his leadership Of employees affairs,
statements being circulated to the
effect that the company is violating
provisions Of the NRA are abso-
lutely false and unfounded. Fur
thermore. he states that the wage
increase Of $3.50. 900 recently an
nOunced by the company was abSO-
lutely brought about by himself and
the z. NJ. g. A. board as represen-
tatives Of the employees.
His statement is to the effect that
he. as spokesman for the E. NJ. B. A.
board. on Monday. Aug. %. had a
conference with the management
and suggested wage increase,
based upon his observation that the
company was starting to experience
satisfactory business cOnditio n S
again. His request. opening the sub
ject Of a wage increase, was met by
the management inviting the E. NJ.
B. A. board 10 make an investigation
of the entire situation and the COM
pany's prospects.
According to Leekes statement,
that investigation revealed that the
company Just had completed its
first profitable month this year and
that the prospects were encourag-
ing. The F. NJ. B. A board spent
two DAYS investigating the situation
and on the second day, Aug %. the
board recommended a definite
schedule of wage increases. which
was presented to the management
and accepted by it.
Il always have felt" said Leeke,
in his statement to the employees.
that the large majority of our en-
ployes have complete confidence in
their association to LOOK after their
best interests and to see that they
are getting all that is coming to
them.
Initiated Pay Raise
I have taken 1t for granted that
up to this time the employees knew
that the last wage increase was a
result of the recommendation and
the action of employees board Of di-
rectors, but since statements have
been made by others that the wage
increase was due to other causes
and that it was forced upon the
company by outside influences. I
feel obliged to inform all our en-
ployes of the true facts regarding
the situation, which are that the
wage increase was initiated by me
as president of the E. NJ. B. A.
I do not feel that I am immod-
est in making this statement, be-
cause after all Ihave only carried
out my duty and obligation to the
employees as their president and
representative. Since the new cleo
ton has ben in progress, 1 have
hesitated in making any statement
which would make it appear that
I was electioneering for myself, as
I wished the employees 70 be free to
choose any successor they wished if
they felt they could be better repre-
Sented.
Now that I have been reelected
by a large majority, however. and
this vote Of confidence has been
given to me, 1 feel 1t entirely in
order for me to state these facts,
which I know many of the employees
will be interested in learning"
Charges Held False
L feel gratified that the members
of our association have sufficient
confidence in me to elect me as
their president The E. NJ. B. A.
is the organization that has stood
for fair treatment to employees of
the Real Silk Hosiery Mills. and
it is a most unusual organization.
The E. NJ. B. A provides and
always has provided for collective
bargaining between the duly elect
ed representatives Of the employees
of the mill and the management.
Our organization therefore has had.
in effect. for many years, the same
labor provision that now has been
adopted by the NRA.
Reports that have been made
recently by outside union organ
izers to the effect that employees are
asked to sign statements which are
In violation Of Section of the NRA
are absolutely false. Our E. NJ. B. A.
has in effect every provision of the
code Of the hosiery industry APP
proved by President Roosevelt. and
I can state that the Real Silk Ho-
siery Mills is absolutely living up
to every detail Of that code. and any
statements made to the contrary are
false"