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Story
February 1, 1932
The Daily Worker
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
What is this article about?
In Portland, Oregon, building workers face a proposed 25% wage cut by employers; A.F.L. urges 10% acceptance, rejected, pushing arbitration likely to 17.5-20% cut. Unemployed council backs strikers with picketing.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
A. F. of L. Attempts to Halt Strike of Building Workers
Bosses Announce Cut: Union Officials Call for Arbitration and Compromise.
Portland Unemployed Council Votes to Help Picket in Strike.
PORTLAND, Ore.--Yankee horse trading tactics are being used in Portland, Oregon, to force down wages in the building trades. First the Construction Employers' Association announced its intention of cutting the wages of all building trade workers 25 per cent. Then the local A. F. L. misleaders advised the workers to accept a 10 per cent cut. The workers fell for this trickery. Then, the bosses refused to accept the 10 per cent cut. Great deadlock. What, oh what, must be done.
The bosses and the A. F. of L. misleaders then put their leads together. Another great idea: Arbitrate. Appoint the misleaders as a committee to dicker with the bosses. There is where the matter now stands. Don't strike. Arbitrate. A mass meeting of the building trades was called. A well oiled machine was set in motion. No militant worker was given the floor. The misleaders, including a preacher, made impassioned pleas to the workers to be peaceful and docile--submit their differences to a board of conciliation. A strong movement is now afoot to get all the workers to accept the decision of the board of conciliation.
The bosses know that the cut will be at least 17 1/2 per cent. This is a "compromise" between the 25 per cent of the bosses and the 10 per cent of the workers. See how it works. The bosses announce 25 per cent. The wedge for a cut is given its first thrust by agreement from the workers to accept 10 per cent. The board, working for the bosses, will say either 17 1/2 or 20 per cent. Pretty slick, eh.
And to intimidate the workers into accepting the cut, the bosses have made the following statement: "The association asserted that because of the scarcity of work, union men were bootlegging their services at any wage procurable and that some employers were taking advantage of the situation."
In other words: Workers, don't dare strike. There are thousands ready to work for any wage we name and we intend to hire these scabs if you strike.
The Portland unemployed council has voted to back up the building trades workers 100 per cent and to help them picket. More than a thousand leaflets were passed out at the mass meeting.
Bosses Announce Cut: Union Officials Call for Arbitration and Compromise.
Portland Unemployed Council Votes to Help Picket in Strike.
PORTLAND, Ore.--Yankee horse trading tactics are being used in Portland, Oregon, to force down wages in the building trades. First the Construction Employers' Association announced its intention of cutting the wages of all building trade workers 25 per cent. Then the local A. F. L. misleaders advised the workers to accept a 10 per cent cut. The workers fell for this trickery. Then, the bosses refused to accept the 10 per cent cut. Great deadlock. What, oh what, must be done.
The bosses and the A. F. of L. misleaders then put their leads together. Another great idea: Arbitrate. Appoint the misleaders as a committee to dicker with the bosses. There is where the matter now stands. Don't strike. Arbitrate. A mass meeting of the building trades was called. A well oiled machine was set in motion. No militant worker was given the floor. The misleaders, including a preacher, made impassioned pleas to the workers to be peaceful and docile--submit their differences to a board of conciliation. A strong movement is now afoot to get all the workers to accept the decision of the board of conciliation.
The bosses know that the cut will be at least 17 1/2 per cent. This is a "compromise" between the 25 per cent of the bosses and the 10 per cent of the workers. See how it works. The bosses announce 25 per cent. The wedge for a cut is given its first thrust by agreement from the workers to accept 10 per cent. The board, working for the bosses, will say either 17 1/2 or 20 per cent. Pretty slick, eh.
And to intimidate the workers into accepting the cut, the bosses have made the following statement: "The association asserted that because of the scarcity of work, union men were bootlegging their services at any wage procurable and that some employers were taking advantage of the situation."
In other words: Workers, don't dare strike. There are thousands ready to work for any wage we name and we intend to hire these scabs if you strike.
The Portland unemployed council has voted to back up the building trades workers 100 per cent and to help them picket. More than a thousand leaflets were passed out at the mass meeting.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Deception Fraud
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Wage Cut
Building Trades
Strike
Afl
Arbitration
Portland Oregon
Unemployed Council
Picket
What entities or persons were involved?
A. F. Of L. Misleaders
Construction Employers' Association
Portland Unemployed Council
Where did it happen?
Portland, Ore.
Story Details
Key Persons
A. F. Of L. Misleaders
Construction Employers' Association
Portland Unemployed Council
Location
Portland, Ore.
Story Details
Construction Employers' Association announces 25% wage cut for building trade workers; A.F.L. leaders advise accepting 10%, but employers refuse, leading to arbitration likely resulting in 17.5-20% cut; unemployed council votes to support with picketing and leaflets.