The garment workers union was freed from Communist influence, as the shortest strike in the history of the industry was officially ended Tuesday afternoon when an agreement between the employers and workers for a three year period was signed by the principal factors involved.
The ceremonies took place in the Governor’s Room at City Hall. Lieutenant Governor Herbert H. Lehman and Mayor Walker affixed their signatures to the documents as witnesses.
The workers union has now completely recovered from the Communist adventure of the 1926 strike, according to a statement issued by Benjamin Schlessinger, President of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. He pointed out that during the referendum held among the strikers on Monday afternoon on the question as to whether or not the strike is to be ended on the terms offered, 16,094 workers voted in favor of the peace settlement with 358 voting against. Two hundred and sixty-five blank ballots were passed. At the close of the strike of 1926, the Communist leadership of the strike refused to take a referendum vote, Mr. Schlessinger pointed out.
Energetic action to reorganize the union under right wing leadership followed. According to figures made public by the International, an amount of $200,000 representing one day’s pay was voted by the shop chairmen in behalf of 19,000 returning strikers for the support of 11,000 workers still on strike in an effort to “crush the non union sweat shops.” Ten thousand dollars were collected by the International in one day as dues from the returning workers taking out union cards, Isidore Nagler, Joint Board Manager, announced.
Five thousand workers from nonunion shops, including former Communists, registered with the International. Three hundred thousand dollars have been pledged by various sources in support of the strike according to David Dubinsky, Acting President of the Union.
At the City Hall ceremonies there were present, besides the Mayor and the Lieutenant Governor, Benjamin Schlessinger for the International, I. Grossman, President of the Industrial Council, Morris H. Haft, President of the American Ladies Garment Association and Joseph Schwartz, President of the American Cloak and Suit Manufacturers Association, who delivered addresses. All factors will have to cooperate to carry out the agreement so that the evils of the sub standard and sweat shops may be ended, Lieutenant Governor Lehman stated, urging the creation of strong unions and strong employers association. He urged the union leaders to help build up the employers associations so that the manufacturers or merchants who play fair, (Continued on Page 4)
Mayor Walker stated that he was opposed to the sweat shop system and would do whatever he can to end their existence.
On Monday, a large picket demonstration was held by the workers in the Garment Center. About two thousand needle workers participated in a march which progressed in an orderly manner with cheering and singing. No disturbances occurred.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
