The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-08
Prices That Stitchers'
Fought Accepted By
MisIeaders
By a Worker Correspondent

BOSTON, Mass.-The officials OF
the United Shoe and Leather
Workers Union local of Boston are
progressing" but instead Of going
forward they are going further to-
ward the tactics of the Boot and
Shoe A. F. of L. leaders. The pas
time of the leaders of Boot and Shoe
used to be tc sign away the mem
bership without their consent. This
was repudiated by every shoe work
er, and by the present leadership of
our Joint Council who were the
loudest in denouncing them. But
now they fellow in the same foot
steps. The reason why they are
afraid to present the agreement is
simple to understand; when you
have something that you know is
rotten you are afraid to bring it to
the masses, and for that reason they
signed it up quietly without the
locals voting on it.
What is this silent agreement
First and foremost no wage in
creases, which have been promised
since the organization of this union
Second, it curtails the power of the
shop stewards and does away with
the price committees, which as
every shoe worker knows is the
weapon in our hands to gain in
creases on prices in shops. And
lastly the famous arbitration clause,
which was denounced by the Anal
gamation convention, is included in
the agreement,
The Stitchers Local of Boston
voted down this agreement months
ago when it was first presented
and at recent meetings they voted
for the price committees, and the
price lists attached should be those
made up by the various price COM
mitteees. But these price lists were
thrown away in the waste basket,
and prices attached are those which
the stitchers denounced last year,
that is, the prices handed down by
the State Board on November last.
The fancy stitchers are the only
ones that were given some con-
sideration. Their concessions that
they won through stoppages last
year, above the prices of the State
Board, will be put in their base
prices. But even that has loop
hole. What about the new patterns
that come in every day? Those
will be based on the State Board
decisions.
Already we see the workings of
this agreement. In shop after shop,
the stitchers refuse to accept the
prices on their new patterns and
even old ones. AS a result they did
not get pay for weeks and are re-
ceiving only a few dollars on &C
count. General dissatisfaction pre-
walls among all the crafts in the
stitching room as we'll as the other
locals, who haven't gained any in
creases.
At the last special meeting of the
Stitchers Local, called for the pur-
pose of discussing these vital ques-
tons, the membership went on rec
ord for more power to the stewards,
and a heated discussion took place
on the motions which called for
price committees and hourly rate
The Lovestonites, who are always
coming to the rescue of the officials,
made motion to table the ques-
ton. This was carried not because
the workers we're in favor of the
low wages, but simply because it
was late and they took it for granted
they are voting for adjournment.
But this question is not settled as
the Joint Council and General
Executive Board thanks. The stitch
ers will not work for the N. r. A.
minimum wage, they will fight and
struggle in the shops for better
prices, regardless of whether the
Joint Council wants it or not. You
cannot force down the throat wage
cuts and expect to build union.