The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-12
Boss Union
Is Voted DOuUrl
In Shoe Plant
BY Shoe Worker Correspondent


LOWELL, Mass.-The Regional
Labor Board held an election in the
Chelmsford Shoe Company on Dec.
9Th, to decide whether the workers
in that shop wanted the United
Shoe and Leather Workers Uunion
or the Lowell Shoe Workers indie
pendent Company union to repres-
ent them in collective bargaining.
The contract between the US. 81 L.
WI. and the Chelmsford Shoe
Company expired Dec. /, and this
company has already signed con-
tract with the Independent which
has such rats as Bob Dempsey,
George Sheldon, Jimmy Martakos
and Charlie Georges as its self
elected officials.
The results of the election were
1853 votes cast for the us. g. L.W. u.
and SO for the Independent Union.
The Lowell shoe workers are really
militant and would show better re-
suits if they had the right kind of
leadership. The Joint Council mem
bers, while protesting to be "the
servants of the shoe workers." have
assumed an attitude of complete
dictatorship. Whenever militant ac-
ton is proposed, the Joint Council
rules it out on the grounds that
that's the way those Communists
do things"
The following example is a clear
illustration: 1t was decided to form
shoe workers Unemployment
Council in Lowell with all that the
name implies. At the time this was
brought out at the meetings of the
different locals, the shoe workers
unanimously endorsed the Workers
Social and Unemployment Insur-
ance Bill H.R. 1898. A committee
from each local was elected to act
on the Unemployment Council. OF
course the t"red scare" was brought
up by members of the Joint Coun-
Gil, but still the body elected their
committees unanimously.
In some mysterious manner the
name was found to be Unemployed
Relief Committee instead of I'm
employment Council. When this was
exposed the Joint Council brought
out the minutes of the meeting to
prove that the name had been mis-
represented by some people and
truly enough the minutes read I'm
employed Relief Committee. Isn't
it curious how names change some
times?
From what can be learned, it
seems that the Unemployed Relief
Committee will attempt to feed,
clothe and supply heat for over 1000
unemployed shoe workers by having
one tag day, dance, and through
whatever money can be collected
from few shoe workers who are at
present employed. No demands will
be placed before the mayor by the
committee, and there must be no
demonstrations for relief because
that is "Communishc." However, it
seems that the Mayor of Lowell will
give the FE.R.A. slips to limited
number of shoe workers who will
swear that they are paupers and re-
ceive no other relief. So ruled the
Joint Council.
Shoe workers of Lowell, wake up!
Demand concrete action from your
Unemployed Relief Committee and
Joint Councill Tell them to place
the following demands before the
Mayor and City Council Immediately
and follow it up with militant ac-
ton:
l. The immediate opening of a
cafeteria to feed the single unem-
ployed of Lowell.
2. Cash relief of at least SIS per
week for each unemployed married
couple plus 81 for each dependent
plus payment of electricity, fuel and
rent.
4 3. Endorsement by the Mayor and
the City Council Of the Workers
Unemployment and Social Insurance
Bill H.R. 1898