Bérmunkás, 1935. január-június (23. évfolyam, 824-849. szám)
1935-05-25 / 844. szám
8 oldal BÉRMUNKÁS 1935 május 25. Junior Column New York Building Strike How the solidarity of labor can bring economic benefits to the members of the working class was demonstrated in the past few months by the Building Service Employees International Union Local 32-B, an AFL affiliate. The building service workers, including elevator operators, porters, firemen, doormen, hallmen, janitors, starters, etc., have been exploited, particularly during the depression, by one of the most reactionary elements in society—the Real Estate owners. Naturally until the workers organized a union nothing could be done about it. The causes for the formation of the BSEIU Loc. 32-B can be gleaned from incidents like these: An elevator operator who was given his $45 a month apartment free in lieu of pay. A $30-a-month wage in 20 per cent of Harlem apartment houses. A block of Harlem apartment houses which paid janitors and elevator men $45 a month and then forced those employees to live on the premises at $20 a month. Tens of thousands of workers in swanky apartment houses along Riverside Drive, Central Park West, West End Ave. Broadway, Fifth Ave. etc., were making from $60— $70 a month for an average work week of 72—80 hours. There were thousands of men who did not get a day off during any week while many received only one day off in two weeks. It was no wonder then that the organization grew so rapidly much to the consternation of the Real Estate owners of New York. In October, 1933, the union elected new leaders who brought new organization. One year after that organization began, the leaders called for a show of strenght. On November 1 of last year the Building Service Exployees, 8.000 strong, struck in the Garment Center. More than 400 buildings were without elevator service in the area bounded by 14th Street and 41st Streets and Fifth Ave. and Ninth Ave. At least 50.000 people were inconvenienced. Thousands refused to walk up to their offices or place of employment, (try walking up 20—25 stories someday!) The whole commercial center of the city was tied up. Thousands of union men and women in the garment and furriers’ union refused to ride the elevators operated by scabs. This truly was great solidarity! How effective it was can readily be understood by the fact that in 48 hours the union had won the closed shop! Working hours in many buildings were reduced from 60 to 48 hours per week. Signed agreements resulted in an average weekly raise of $2. Now that the union had made a spearhead it was just a matter of time for the rest of the service workers to line up. They were intelligent enough to know that if the workers in the garment center I could make beneficial gains I that they could do the same. The union’s drive for membership resulted in an increase of about 43.000 within a month after the strike. New and bigger strikes were threatened. Conferences were held. The union demanded the closed shop and more pay for shorter hours of work. The demands of the union for a closed shop finally terminated the peace conference. As the arbitration conference failed, charges were made that big- time racketeers, remnants of Chicago’s old Capone gang, were muscling on the labor situation here and were preparing to shake down members for about $6.000.000 a year. Charges were also made that the gang-and-gun men were planning a campaign of terrorism behind the veil of the strike to insure, a steady income from intimidated owners. Such charges would have been made regardless of what organization had been successful in organizing the service workers. The idea was to keep the workers from joining a union. Lawrence B. Cummings, of the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations charged that the chief demand of Local 32-B was that owners employ only members of that union. “This demand,” Cummings said, “means that 200.000 non-union employees must join this particular union and contribute money to its support, or lose their livelihood. The owners could not acquiesce.” A strike was now imminent! Then the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations asked each owner to contribute $10 per employee to fight the union, the board estimated there were 200.000 workers employed which meant that the real estate interests would have a war fund of $2.000.000 against the union. William H. Class, chairman of the Board’s finance com- mitte was apponted as drive director. A letter sent by him to realty owners said in part that: “A strong organization must be maintained to supply the arbitrators with statistical information on operating maintenance costs and with advice on legal questions and in keeping contributors informed, not only of last-minute developments, but suggestions as to the best methods of procedure.” Member of the board were appealed to as property owners and “as citizens who do not want an uncontrolled and unrestrained minority to dictate to your employees and drive you into bankruptcy.” The union, it said, must “be held down to what is conceivably fair and just.” Chiefly, it was said, the money would go for central office expenses, publicity and advertising, an information bureau and expenses in connection with arrangements made with employment and protection agencies by which a res- ervior of personnel is to be maintained for a prompt supply for assignments to work within buildings.” The policy outlined on November 17 urged that owners contact employees and “convince them that the employers have their welfare at heart and are desirous of co-operating with them.” Contact men should be appointed to talk with employees individually and in groups. The original conference, it is suggested, “might be followed by a suggestion to the employees that they informally appoint a small committee to confer with the management from time to time in behalf of all the employees.” How kind and generous! The employees were to be informed they were free to decide whether they wished to join a union but were to be definitely “assured that they are not obliged to join any union to retain their jobs.” Where, by following the suggestions given, it was found that a majority of employees belong to the union, “the employers should not endeavor to push this program, but should immediately advise the board of the conditions.” It was estimated that the realty interests had an army of strikebreakers and “guards” •— 10.000 strong — “gorillas” as the workers called them — to step in in case the strike was called. The notorious P. L. Bergoff had a “good” supply of gorillas ready for action. Incidentally the state of New York helped to start P. L. Bergoff’s career. In 1907, 2.000 of the city’s garbage- cart drivers struck. Suffering sadly from faulty elimination, the city cast about for heln and took account of Bergoff. (To Be Continued.) NAGY MÁJUSI KIRÁNDULÁS NEW YORKBAN! A legnagyobb megelégedésünkre örömmel jelenthetjük, hogy az IWW összes csoportok és a Modern Színkör, az egész nyár tartamára egy állandó piknik és kiránduló helyiséget bérelt ki, ahol minden vasárnap egy-egy IWW csoport valamilyen mulatságot fog rendezni. A helyiség a közismert Edenwald erdő közelében van és úgyszintén, van egy nagy tánc dobogó kint a szabadban, gyönyörű árnyas fákkal körülvéve. Tehát nem kell rettegni többé attól, hogy utolér bennünket a zápor, mert az erdő kellős közepén is védve vagyunk. Az első KIRÁNDULÁS ÉS PIKNIK vasárnap május 26-án, lesz reggel 10 órától kezdve késő estig fog tartani és már kora délután ott lesz a Modern Hungarian zenekar teljes számban a tánc zenét szolgáltattak A beléti dij csekély 25 cent, tehát a legolcsóbb szórakozás egész New Yorkban Lesz gulyás, lacipecsenye és minden más jó! Figyelemmel olvassa az útirányt és május 26-án, vegye a Lexington Ave. Subwayt a 180-ik utcáig és ott szálljon át Westchester Railroad “White Plains Local” trainre és a Baychester Ave. szálljon le (evy állomással a Dyer Ave. előtt.) Közvetlenül, ahogy a Baychester állbmásnál kilép látni fogja a hatalmas^, “Camp of New York” cimü nagy táblát, melynek területén azonnal meglátja a piknik helyet. Úgyszintén vehető a 3rd Ave. “L.” a 133-ik utcáig, ahol szintén a Westchester Railroad “White Plains Local” train veendő és a Baychester Ave. állomáson kell leszállta. Ahogy kilép az állomásnál rögtön látni fogja a “CAMP OF NEW YORK” nagy táblát, melynek terültén azonnal meglátja a piknik helyet. Akik autón jönnek a Boston Post Road- on a Baychester állomásig és ott a “CAMP OF NEW YORK” táblánál befordulni a piknik helyére. Az IWW Brooklyn (N. Y.) olasz tagsága 158 Carrol St. helyiségében JUNIUS 8-án, TÁNCMULATSÁGOT rendez. Brooklyn legszebb lányai vesznek részt a táncban. Belépődíj előre váltva 25c., a pénztárnál 40 cent. OPEN FORUM Los Angeles Californiában az IWW rendezésében az IWW Hallban, 280 Lang Bldg. 212 S. Spring St. minden vasárnap este 8 órai kezdettel. Belépő dij NINCS. Kérdések. Hozzászólások. Olvasás után adja lapunkat szomszédjának
