History Threads — Sunshine Dress Company
By: Maury Thompson
Tags: 1936, Manufacturing, Glens Falls, History, Labor

This is the latest in an occasional series of posts about history of the garment industry in Warren, Washington and Essex counties.

There was a celebration in downtown Glens Falls on July 24, 1936 when lady garment workers ended a three-day strike in which the Sunshine Dress Co. relented, at least temporarily, from an attempt to break the union.

“Immediately after the meeting of strikers, the women staged an automobile parade through city streets, boasting by banners and with cheers and shouts that they had won the strike,” The Post-Star reported.

But the jubilation was short lived.

Later in 1936 the company closed its Glens Falls factory and moved the work to Portland, Maine. In 1941, the operation was moved again to Hoboken, N.J.

Sunshine Dress Co., also know as Sunshine Manufacturing Co., was among a series of garment manufacturers that operated at 36 Elm St., the downtown Glens Falls building most recently known as the incubator building.

The long-vacant building is set to be renovated as part of the Glens Falls Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

The plant in 1936 employed about 150 women, about 100 of which were members of Local 178 of the International Lady Garment Workers union.

More than 100 workers walked out on July 21 when they came to work after a traditional seasonal shut down and were informed that the work week would be adjusted from 35 to 40 hours a week, that the union would no longer be recognized, and that the factory would be an open shop.

“The workers immediately marched to the Labor Temple where they agreed to strike,” The Post-Star reported. The vote was unanimous.

Management said the company had to transfer work to another plant the previous season because the job could not be completed locally with a 35-hour work week.

Management said that workers would earn more with a 40-hour work week because they were paid based on piece work.

Union leaders said, but management denied, that management also demanded a reduction in piece work rates. Rates ranged from 47 to 55 cents per dress.

Four male fabric cutters joined the picket line on July 22, but the men returned to work on July 23.

“Only a handful of foreladies and department heads were on hand at 8 o’clock (July 22)when Morris Maiman, manager of the plant, rang the bell which under normal conditions would send about 150 dress workers to their duties.”

Company President Harold L. Sanger set a July 27 deadline for employees to return to work.

“We are fully determined to operate this plant as a non-union shop,” he said.

A Post-Star editorial called for “a tolerant and mediatory attitude,” suggesting both sides had much to lose if the dispute continued.

“They should temper their attitudes with the spirit of cooperation, to the end that some good for both sides will be the issue of the crisis, rather than misery all the way around.”

On the morning of July 24 workers continued the picket line, even as mediator Harry W. Wander met with management and union negotiators.

“Pickets in shifts of 25 patrolled the street in front of the plant … unmindful of the rain which fell, but they were called in yesterday afternoon when word was received that Sanger and Wander were in conference and had reached a tentative accord.”

Sources: The Post-Star July 22, 23, 24, 25, 1936; June 3, 1970

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.