The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-12-27
A Program for
the DreSSmakerS
of New Haven
BY Group of Needle Worker
Correspondents

NEW HAVEN, COEn.--Altnough the
IL.G.W,U. threatened the New Ha-
ven workers with a fine If they did
not come to celebrate" the installa-
ton of Local ISL, only about one-third
OF the dressnlakers showed up. This
was the first meeting in four months
since the strike The workers were
very much surprised to hear speaker
after speaker rave about the wonder
full conditions in the shops, but which
90 not exist.
A. F. of l.. Democracy"
Mr.. Dubinsky. as part of the cere-
mony of presenting the charter, called
all the chairladies on the stage and
christened them the Executive Board,
without having the workers vote on
this important question. Out of so
many speakers, not one dresSmaker
was called upon to speak.
The strike was supposed to have
done away with the sweatshops, but 1t
didn't. The minimum wage has be-
come the maximum. Speed-up is
worse than before, and even though
wages earned are q trifle higher than
before the strike, we get "boloney"
dollars, since prices on necessities of
life have gone up. Meanwhile the
workers are forced to pay 50 cents a
week dues whether they work or not
This is deducted by the bosses.
The initiation fee now is $5.95,
whereas before it was $1e5. Many
workers can't afford to pay such big
initiation fees.
The pact guaranteed the right to
have the price committees decide on
the price of garment. This, how
ever, is not encouraged by the union,
so that the workers don't know the
price before starting work. Many
workers were fired after their initia-
ton was deducted. They have no re-
ceipts for the money paid and no one
knows where the money went to.
Workers are laid off daily on very
poor excuses. Complaints are made,
but the union keeps passing the buck
to the bosses and vice versa.
What Must Be Done?
What shall the conscientious dress
makers do in order to change the ex-
isting rotten conditions?
A Ieaflet stressing the following
points was given out by a group Of
dressmakerS in the 1.L.G.WU.:
I've must get groups of workers
together whom we can trust and get
them to press the chairladies and
union officials to hold regular shop
meetings, where all problems facing
us will be discussed.
2-We must have reelection of
price committees and chairladies, SO
that the most sincere workers will be
elected, who will put up fight for
higher prices and not compromise
with the bosses. (This committee will
have to see to it that prices will be
fixed so that the operators, finishers,
presSers, ETC., will be able to make
their minimum, at a normal pace of
work.
3-We must insist that union books
be issued Immediately.
I've have to insist that the dues
be lowered and that when we are not
working We should not pay any dues.
We must have the right to elect our
own treasurer in the shop to collect
dues, and not let the bosses do 1t.
5--Al workers to be rehired who
were laid off after the strike.
6-New members joining the union
should not be charged any more than
$1.95.
THE Executive Board to be
elected by the workers themselves and
lot appointed as was done by the
!nion officials.
Workers, the IL.G.W.U. is not pro-
5ecting our interests, but the bosses.
We must force the union officials to
listen to us and do as we tell them,
and not run everything against our
wishes, as they are doing now.
By Group of Dressmakers,
Members of the I.L.G.W.U,
Local Isl. New Haven. Conn,