Al Ostrander, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Chauffeurs, Local 553, Brooklyn, announced Friday that, in accordance with the anti-Nazi boycott resolutions of the American Federation of Labor “and in consistency with principles of fair dealing,” the union had taken action against coal merchants who persisted in handling German-made coke. It is believed to be the first time a labor union has taken such a step.
The action took the form of revocation of trucking plates previously held by four firms. They are Raffe and Sons, 957 Lafayette avenue, Brooklyn; Kocancoal, 21 West street, Manhattan; Fleer and Fleer, Inc., Bond and First streets, Brooklyn; and the Banner Coal Corporation, 208 Broadway, Brooklyn.
Similar action will be instituted against Nelson Brothers Coal Company, 398 Hamilton avenue, Brooklyn, the announcement promised.
Ostrander pointed out in a joint statement issued by him and the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League that the revocations are important because they strike at a phase of Nazi trade directly related to the Stinnes interests, which are strongly supporting Adolf Hitler and are connected with munitions manufacture.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
