The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-10-10
PEACE AT CELANESE
An Editorial

The settlement of the dispute between Local
1874 Textile Workers Union Of America and
the Celancse Corporation, after twelve-day
stoppage Of work. has been welcomed by all
elements of the community.
Reports are current that several community
groups are anxious that these annual stoppages
be avoided and that the disruption OF economic
life be made unnecessary.
Right in the first rank Of these groups are
those most vitality affected. the workers and
their union. Local 1874 Textile Workers Union
Of America.
II is upon these people that the heaviest
and most severe effects fall. The stop
ping of their first pay check brings the
hardship of providing the necessities of
life. II is not the business men, the
banks, the store-kecpers, the bookies, the
pool room operators, the landlords who
are scratching to make ends meet-it is
the average Celanese worker who lives
from week to week on his current in
come, with darn little reserve upon which
to draw and with very little credit upon
which he can lean.
This process of creating harmonious in
dustrial relationships is slow. tedious and
painful matter. In the local plant the manage
ment successfully resisted organization of the
successfully doing so in their Canadian plant
at Drummondville).
The healthy labor policies OF the New Deal
aided in large part in encouraging the workers
to take hand in their own destinies. In
1886 the Celanese workers were competenty
in an effective degree. Strike was
necessary to demonstrate the fact to the man
agement. For the first time in history the
Celanese plant was obliged to grant organized.
collective concessions to its employees Col
lective bargaining. in degree, replaced in
dustrial autocracy.
The management never reconciled itself to
the changed order. But meanwhile the dem
benefits OF unionsm played their
part in educating more and more of the work
ers that their salvation lay in building a strong
union.
The merchants, storekeepers and the
entire business interests directly profited
from the improved conditions which
Local 1874 alone established The larger
pay envelopes directly found their way
to their enrichment.
In 1887 another contract was negotiated
with more gradual improvement to benefit
the workers and the community in general
Following its expiry in the fall of 1888 the
Union made efforts to negotiate a new con
tract These efforts continued intermittcntly
until August. 1889. Failure Of the manage
ment to be realistic in bargaining collectively
led to a stoppage on August 4. 1889 which
lasted five weeks and ended in the signing
OF a new agreement.
During large part of this FIVE weeks OF
stoppage the arrangements unconciliatory and
unsocial attitude was revealed in the refusal
OF its management to even meet with repre-
of the United States Cancellation
Service. The attitude was changed by an
appeal of the mayors of all surrounding com
asking that both sides sit down and
settle the problems.
In September. 1889 the stoppage was ended
by the signing Of an agreement between union
and management. The workers had again
been obliged to suffer hardships before the
company would sign an agreement
Experience is the great teacher and Local
1874 started in July of this year to discuss
changes to be included in the agree
ment which was to expire on September 5th
last.