The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-09-01
Thousands Answer
General Silk Strike
Call in Paterson
A. F. of L. to Arbitrate
Under N. r. A.

PATERSON, N. j., Aug. 81
cts the greatest welk-out yet"
This was the comment of the
workers as they left their shops
this morning at 10 am. and an
swered the call for a general silk
strike. Nearly 5000 massed in
Roseland Hall this morning at the
first strike meeting. Figures of the
actual number of workers on strike
were not available today at strike
headquarters of the two unions
calling the strike, the National
Textile Workers Union and the As
ISOLATED Silk Workers affiliated
with the A. f. of L., but hardly a
loom could be heard working as one
walked through this big center of
the silk industry. Estimates that
from 5000 to 1000 were out were
verified by many strikers who de-
clared that only few shops are
still working.
at had to be big STRIKE" said
a woman weaver, at the strike hall.
eve couldn't get anything out of
that NRA. It's true some of us got
a cent or two more on the yard, but
when the hours were shortened to
40 we all got a pay-cut. Now we
make less than SIS a week and the
unskilled workers who are sup
posed to get $13 a week are work
ing only few days. They get any
where from SO down. This strike
is going to mean more wages for
u.s." This was typical of the deter
mination of the women workers.
Last night on the eve of the
strike a telegram received by the
Associated Silk Workers from the
National Labor Advisory Board
signed by Leiserson, urged that the
strike be called off and that "both
parties maintain status quo and
submit their differences TO the Ma
tional Labor Board"
But the sentiment for strike
among the workers was too great
and Schweitzer and Keller were
compelled to go through with it..
However, they answered that they
were willing to arbitrate the strike.
"We shall be glad to sit in with the
loyal NRA board and settle the
strike" he told the local press.
At the same time the Associated
officials at the strike meeting this
morning did not raise the demands
of the strike with the workers. Both
the A. F. of L. officials who spoke
stressed the Importance of signing
up with the union. This together
with Schweitzer's statement to the
local press would indicate that the
strike will be quickly smothered
by the Associated officials unless
the rank and file are watchful by
insisting on broad rank and file
strike committees. Today's meeting
while concerned chiefly with regis
tering the strikers, also elected a
strike committee on which only
shop chairmen of union shops were
elected. The unorganized shops
were not represented on the strike
committee.
The strikers were heartened at
the report that 1000 silk workers
came out in Shamokin, Pa, all the
silk plants were tied up in Strouds-
berg. Other silk centers are report
ed as considering strike action.
That the strike would be a real
mass movement of the silk workers
was forecast last night at the mass
meeting called by the National
Textile Workers Union when more
than 1000 packed Roseland Hall
and heard speakers of the Union
discuss the issues of the strike. Ann
Burlak who has recently guided the
strike of the Salem textile workers
to successful conclusion, Jack
Stachel of the Trade Union Unity
League, Moe Brown, organizer of
the local. NTW, were enthusiastic
ally greeted by the workers who ex-
pressed their desire for unity in
the strike.
The National Textile Workers
Union will make plea for unity in
the strike at the strike meeting to-
morrow morning.