The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-07-24
The Cherry Tree
Where We Hdtchet Out
The Truth
9 THE 5-DAY WEEK
Q BECAUSE OF THE UNION
BUT NO CONTRACT
WITH THE APP.

There an item in the news that is
of considerable Importance to the fam
lilies of a great many retail clerks
throughout the United States.
A. & p. has granted five-day
week. And this is announced in dis
play advertisements in daily papers.
These do not, however, appear IN la
Dor papers. This is to be regretted.
But there is something else to be
regretted.
The A. & p. ads do not say that the
five-day week has been accorded in
agreement with the Retail Clerks
Union,
However, we do know that if there
were no union there would be no five
day week. There are a great many
other things that would not be, were
it not for this union and for the Meat
Cutters Unions and the Bakery
Workers Union and the Teamsters'
Union.
However, even though we regret
that the announcement does not say
that the fve-day week is by agree
ment with the union, we must not for
get that thousands of A. & P. clerks
are union members, working under
union agreement and that the Meat
Cutters enjoy union agreements in a
great many A. & P. areas, as do the
Bakery Workers and the Teamsters.
An interesting case history could
be written, showing the progress of a
great merchandising company and
the progress Of a great group of
unions.
The fve-day week is no longer
startling innovation.
1t has existed for years in some in
dustries, as have vacations with pay.
But the break into the retail mer-
chandising field is new enough to be
worthy Of comment. 1t is good.
One thing we do know about such
advances. Once gained they are al
most never lost.
In this field the union have done a
magnificent job.
The progressiveness of the Anal
gamated Meat Cutters and Butcher
Worllmen, in the defense proclama-
tion of policy, this week presented to
the President of the United States, is
a milestone mark in trade union ad-
vance. 1t will not be lost on employ
ers, either those who still resist stub
bornly, or those who are willing to
march along with labor to better
world.
The A. & p, announcing its five
day week, could well offer congratu-
lations to the Meat Cutters and prom
Use cooperation toward defense effec-
tiveness. With it's increasingly intel
hgent and modernized policies, the A.
& p. should find itself wholly in ac-
cord with that magnificent labor proc
lamation.
Such merchandising organizations
as A. & P. have found themselves sub
jected to many unjust attacks.
Politicians have tried to punish
them out of existence with taxes.
Smaller merchants have sought to
show that the great chain organiza-
tions are enemies of the community,
sapping its money.
The chains have their answers and
they know how to make them. And
in the whole process they have found
the way to many a progressive step,
one more of which now is announced.
Many and interesting and important
things are happening in these critical
times. Men are tossed about like
chips upon ocean waves.
And so it seems good to pause and
contemplate this step taken by per-
haps the biggest Of all firms in the
food retailing business. 1t isn't char
ity; it is good business. But it's the
kind of good business that spells busi-
neSS with GOOD sensn-CNW