WE MOURN THB7DEATH OF OUR MEMBERS AT THE TRIANGLE WAIST COMPANY ft a INCCI WHOM MUM ' _• iim ';.'• ', SHCHTfS Sf»S0«S. • 3HMTEI U«. • AND YIDDISH VOLUME II. No. 4. NEW YORK, APRIL, 1911 PRICE 2c. ARBITRATION IN THE CLOAK TRADE The First Session of the Board Gives an Opinion in the Matter of the Complaint of the Manufacturers Against the Unions Louis I). BRANDEIS 1. A Board of Sanitary Control tion fully justified the expectations sentatives of both sides to the Pro­ HAMILTON HOLT, Members o f composed of seven members, two of its drafters, and that its opera tocol, were at all times animated and the-Board of nominees of the manufacturers, tions have on the whole had a most by a sincere and earnest desire to MORRIS HILLQUIT, Arbitration. two nominees of the unions, and beneficial effect upon the relations adjust all grievances brought before three representatives of the public. of the employers and employees in them promptly and equitably, and JULIUS HENRY COHEN, Attorney The Board is authorized to inspect the cloak industry. as a matter of fact, they have suc­ for The Manufacturers. all shops and factories and to estab­ From the first report made by the ceeded in adjusting disputes in a MEYER LONDON, Attorney for The lish proper sanitary standards to Board of Sanitary Control and sub­ very large number of individual Unions. which the manufacturers agree to mitted in evidence upon this hear­ cases to the satisfaction of all par­ conform. ing, it appears that the said Boar11 ties concerned in such disputes. The On the 2nd day of September, 2. A Committee on Grievances, has during the short period of il- record before us shows that within 1910, the protracted strike in the consisting of four members, two existence inspected eight hundred the six months of the operation of cloak industry was terminated by a representing each side to the Pro­ and fifty-seven of such shops. 'I he the Protocol, no less than one hun­ peace pact signed by the representa­ tocol. This committee is, at least inspections were made by men of dred and nineteen cases were tives of the Association of Cloak potentially, by far the most vital in experience and ability, and were ac brought before the committee, and Manufacturers and those of the stniment operating under the Pro­ complished at an extraordinarily of this numlxT one hundred and labor unions. tocol. All complaints, grievances low expense. The Board of San­ seven have been adjusted, and only and misunderstandings arising be­ itary Control reports that its investi­ twelve were pending at the time of This instrument, styled the Pro­ the hearing In-fore this Board. The tocol, recites the desire of the con­ tween the one hundred and fifty gators have as a jule found no diffi­ culty whatever in gaining admission decisions in all cases were unani­ tracting parties "'to arrive at an cloak manufacturers organized in 1 the Association and their thousands to the shops, and that in most cases mous or nearly so, and tliere seem understanding with regard to the to have been no serious divisions future relations between the Manu­ of employees arc to be submitted m they have been actively assisted in the first instance to this committee, their investigations by both em­ between the representatives of em­ facturers and their employees," and ployers and employees in any case. contains numerous provisions for and if the committee is prompt in ployers and employees. Some tan­ operation, just in its decisions and gible results seem to have been ac­ But the Grievance Committee when the regulation of such relations and established by the Protocol, was of the conditions of work of the effective in the execution of its de­ complished already by the work of crees, it may contribute much the Sanitary Board, but the main largely an experiment. The \'TO-_ employees. Chief among such pro­ tocol was very meagre on the ques­ visions are those relating to sani­ towards the stability of the Proto­ value of that work so far has been col and the permanency of the ad­ the study and description of the tion of the jurisdiction of the com­ tary standards to be observed in the mittee, anil wholly failed to provide shops and factories, the limitation justment under its terms. general sanitary conditions of the shops in the cloak industry and the for proper rules of its procedure. upon hours of labor, the mainte­ 3 The Committee on Grievances The Grievance Committee thus had nance of a minimal wage scale in specific recommendations for im is essentially a board of mediation, provements. The work of that t<> evolve its own methods in the certain branches of the industry, and since it is composed of an equal light of its experience and the and the obligation of the employer committee, extensive and thorough number of members representing as it has been, is only in its begin­ exigencies of the situation as they to give preference to the members each side, occasions may arise in arose from time to time. A few • if the unions in hiring help. ning, and there is every reason to which the committee may be equally l>elieve that with the active aid of months after the organization of the The unique feature of the Pro­ divided, and thus fail of a decision. the employers and employees, it committee, it was found necessary tocol is the fact that it was ftot in­ To prevent such deadlocks and also will eventually succeed in establish to increase the number of its mem- tended as a temporary agreement, to provide for a tribunal to pass ing and maintaining high sanitar\ liers ami to adopt certain rules for but as a permanent treaty, designed upon disputed questions of interpre­ standards in all cloak maTTnfactur- the orderly hearing and disposition to avert violent contests between the tation of the provisions of the Pro­ ing shops of this City. of complaints. Finally it was^at- 'Manufacturers and workers for all tocol and the more general and im­ tempted to adopt a complete "and tunes. portant controversies between the The work of the Committee on comprehensive set of rules of pro­ parties to it, a Board of Arbitration cedure for the committee, and in To this end the Protocol at- Grievances on the other hand, has is created, consisting of one nominee not been as successful as that of trte that attempt certain differences of Hnipted to establish efficient agen- of the manufacturers, one nominee opinion developed between counsel les for the orderly adjustment of Sanitary Board. In this connection of the unions and one representa­ it must l>e stated that the fault for for both sides. ••II disputes which might arise be­ tive of the public. tween the employers and employees, the defective operation of the Com From the evidence submitted mittee does not lie with its mem The disputes between the parties without cessation of work or other to the Protocol now submitted to the •' rious business disturbances in the upon this hearing and the statement bers or with the spirit in which the of counsel for both sides, the Board proceedings were conducted. On Board of Arbitration, arise prin­ ti ade. cipally from the defective opera­ is convinced that the Protocol has the contrary, it appears that the The agencies so established are members of the committee, reprc tion of the Grievance Committee three in number: during the six months of its opera­ 2 THE LADIES' GARMENT WORKER and the failure to adopt proper standards and conditions inferior to way which it believes does justice rules of the Grievance Comim'tr? rules. The Manufacturers' Protec­ those provided by the Protocol. to both sides: the unions also urged a pro .,„' tive Association, which initiated the In addition to these formal dis­ to the effect that no chairman . a "The clerks shall hold office for Price Committee or Shop Ch.- ^1 hearing before our Board, thus putes, the Manufacturers' Associa­ ' • one year and until their successors : complains that the unions have re­ tion ask for a ruling from the are elected. Each clerk shall ap- should be discharged by In peatedly violated the provisions ol Board of Arbitration as to the ' point as many deputy clerks U shall ployer unless upon charges i,. be required for the expeditious before the Board of Grievance the Protocol tr> the effect that there proper construction of Section transaction of the business of the should be no cessation of work Fourteenth of the Protocol, which Board. Upon written request of any sustained by the latter. It .,JU pending the adjustment of any con­ deals with the maintenance of member of the Board of Grievances, claimed in behalf of this pro; .,,; troversy "between employers and the so-called "Preferential Union a Committee of two consisting of amendment, that it was nee. ,--, members of the Board or of clerks for the protection of,the Chan ., employees; that the employees have Shop." or deputy clerks, one representing MI in many cases discriminated against each side, shall visit any shop for of Price Committee and tin ;,,p such of their co-employees who The Board of Arbitration at its the purpose of ascertaining whether Chairman in view of the fact ti:at had been working during the strike ; recent sessions has only had time the provisions of the Protocol are such officials had been fre*|•;----•!-, being observed and report on the that a number of workers had re­ to deal with the most important ol disciplined by their employer, ,t„'| the subjects submitted to it, and conditions of such shop to the fused to work on piece work al­ Board." that it had become difficult to -.- though the prices for such work has disposed of the following mat­ cure men to act in such capacities had been adjusted and agreed upon ; ters and controversies submitted to The Board of Arbitration is 01 the it: This provision to be adopted as opinion that the disciplining of • n- that the unions had been lax in Section 4 of the Rules and Plan of enforcing compliance with the pro­ 1.