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.
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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.
