Joins Black Labor Group Jewish Labor Committee Backs Strike Against Clothing Maker Accused of Anti-u

The Jewish Labor Committee Joined with a Black labor group here today in support of a strike by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union against the Farah Manufacturing Company, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of men’s slacks and sportswear. A joint statement issued by Albert Atcovits, chairman of the JLC, and James H. Jones, president of the Negro Trade Union Leadership, urged a boycott of Farah products until its employes “are treated with dignity and receive decent wages and working conditions.”

Farah operates plants in Texas and New Mexico employing thousands of workers, a majority of whom are Mexican-Americans. According to the joint statement the firm has fired employes engaged in lawful union activities; has refused to comply with a National Labor Relations Board recommendation to reinstate 19 workers illegally dismissed from the El Paso plant; and has refused to bargain with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers after the union won an election at one plant unit.”

The statement accused Farah of attempting “to break the spirit and determination of the union pickets through intimidation.” It charged further that despite orderly picketing, union members have been arrested at their homes in the middle of the night and hold on $400 bail whereas bail for similar charges unrelated to the union dispute was set at $25.