St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1948-03-26

since passage OF the Taft-Hal
Chief target Of the strikers are
the big Four" packers Of Swift,
Armour, Wilson and Cudahy, who
made $144,000,000 in profits last
year, an increase Of $50 per cent
over pre-war profits Of $26, 200, 900
in 1889. The average worker makes
$1.02 an hour, with lower rates in
the South and small communities.
They have asked a raise Of 29 cents
an hour, which would make a total
Of $1.31 or still eight cents short Of
the $1.39 which the U. s. bureau
says is minimum for a family of
three with one wage Garner.
Thus far, the best offer by the
packers Is a nine cent increase.
The union was willing to accept
this, call OF the strike and arbi-
trate for the difference but the
Big Four refused. The union had
also indicated it would settle for a
10 cent increase.
Key area in the strike action is
Chicago with its huge stockyards.
National union offices are also To-
Gated here. OF the $4,000 local
strikers, between 10000 and 10000
are Negroes who are taking mill
tant roles in the struggle. In the
first days Of the strike, which start
ed a week ago Monday at 1901
a. m, at least 80 per cent Of the
pickets were colored men and
women.
In line with prevailing CLIO
policy, Negroes occupy key union
positions. In Chicago, Peter Brown,
John R. Hackney and Oscar Will
son are field representatives work.
ing out of the national office. The
local union top strike strategy COM
mittee includes Sam Curry, Sam
Parks, Andrew Pitts, Jesse Barnes
and Henry Patterson, the first three
being presidents Of their locals.
Other Negro local presidents here
are William P. Harrison, Milton
Gilmore, Hughie Lee, William
Mathew and Beret King. Top Ne
gro national figure is Phil Weight
man, international vice president,
also of Chicago. Ralph Helstein, a
white attorney, former Minnesotan,
is national president. Other Ne
groes are in leading positions in
other areas. Largest local in the
union is that headed by Curry which
has 5000 members.
This is the second major pack
ing strike in which Negroes have
played leading roles. Two years
ago, shortly after the end of
World War ii, the workers stayed
out 10 days until President Tru-
man interviewed. They won a wage
increase of six cents per hour.
Truman has also entered the
present picture. He asked the union
to postpone strike action until April
and continue working at the same
rate when a board Of inquiry would
report to him. This was rejected
because the board has no authority
to force the packers to bargain with
the union. 1t can do no more than
recommend action. After the strike
started, Truman appointed board
which will report back to him by
April /.
Meanwhile the Negro and white
strikers, who are working closely
together, are preparing for "long,
hard fight" They have won the sup
port of many sections of the COM
munity. A Southside committee has
been formed composed mainly of
Negro leaders with Atty. Sidney
Jones, a leader in the Progressive
party, and Mrs. Matte Bryant of
the Big Brothers organization as
co-chairmen. The Back Of the
Yards Council headed by Saul Aim
sky, author of "Reveille for Radi-
calls" is solidly behind the strike as
is influential Catholic Bishop She'll.
In Chicago Mayor Kennedy has
been placed on the spot by the
strike. Elected to office last year
with union support, he is also a
member Of the board of Wilson and
Co. Kennedy has been on the re-
ceiving end Of protests made by
Herbert March, director Of District
Of the union, who has charged
there are more police than pick
q ." y.