Dressmakers’ Strike Ends Due to Lehman’s Mediation

The strike of the New York dr#s makers which had been going on for more than a week was officially ended on Wednesday when representatives of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, the manufactures, contractors and jobbers met at City Hall and signed an agreement to maintain peace in the industry for the next two years. The settlement of the strike was accomplished through the mediation of Lieutenant-Governor Lehman. Both the Lieutenant-Governor and Acting Mayor McKee acted as witnesses when the agreement was signed at city Hall.

As a result of the settlement about 22,000 workers were expected to return to work within the next few days. The agreement which is considered a victory for the workers will virtually do away with the sweatshop and will result in the formation of an impartial commission which will henceforth settle disputes which may arise in the dress industry. This commission will be appointed by Governor Roosevelt and will be composed of representatives of the unions, of the three employers’ associations and of three other disinterested persons. The commission will be appointed for a period of three months, but if it is successful, it will be made into a permanent body.

Besides the abolition of sweat shops and the formation of the impartial committee, the settlement also gives the workers a 40-hour 5-day week. No increase in wages was asked, that matter having by agreement been postponed for a year.

Two thousand cutters and sample men went back to work Wednesday after their agreement had been ratified. It is expected that the full 22,000 will be back at work by Monday. An additional 10,000 will still be out, pending the settlement of their differences with independent shops not members of either of the three employers’ associations.