Prospects of additional employment loomed on the chicken slaughters’ horizon yesterday as various agencies moved efficiently and in concert to bring prompt relief to Jewish poultry slaughterers sorely tried by the depression, racketeering and a multitude of other unfavorable factors.
For the first time since Arthur Simon, confidential investigator for the Department of Health, submitted his report to Mayor LaGuardia on the situation in the Schochtim Union, Local 440, A. F. of L., a meeting was called yesterday in the office of Aldermanic President Bernard S. Deutsch, attended by the newly-elected officers of the union and a number of officials.
Although the major difficulties appeared to be far from ironed out, there was a general agreement on the urgent need of an immediate cleanup. Mr. Deutsch expressed the administration’s impatience with racketeering as brought out in Mr. Simon’s report and warned union officials that henceforth the city will keep a watchful eye over the matter, and while it is giving an opportunity to the organization to start with a clean slate, no “monkey business” will be tolerated, and “at the end of the summer we want another report,” he added.
RABBIS SCORED
Elimination of the “speed system,” which was said to be among the principal causes preventing re-employment, was thoroughly discussed, and prospects of improvement were enhanced when Leroy Peterson, poultry code supervisor, who attended with Arthur M. Loeb, his counsel, promised cooperation of his office.
Max Belkin, vice-president of Local 440 and a spokesman for the group, in referring to the “speed system,” laid the blame at the doorstep of the rabbis. “We do what they say,” he declared. “But they can’t agree themselves. We are ready to stop such practices tomorrow, if the rabbis say so.”
In regard to the removal of Charles Herbert, delegate of the union, which was recommended in Mr. Simon’s report, Mr. Simon re-minded union representatives that he had eighty-six affidavits on Herbert’s practices and also reviewed the huge sums of money which were paid out to Herbert by the union.
“How about it?” Mr. Deutsch asked.
“Can you give us somebody better than Herbert?” Belkin countered.
Further conferences were agreed on for this week.
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