#shoe workers

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"REFUSES TO NEGOTIATE WITH STRIKE LEADERS," Toronto Star. July 13, 1934. Page 6. ---- Shoe Factory Head Claims Workers' Union Takes Orders From Moscow ---- Brampton, July 13. - His refusal to negotiate with any deputation including organizers of the Shoe and Leather Workers' Industrial Union of Canada, and willingness to talk with striking employees of the Williams Shoe Co. individually or collectively, was declared yesterday in a statement of Harry L. McMurchy, president and manager of the company. Negotiations are still deadlocked.

Mr. McMurchy quoted from a pamphlet, said to have been issued by direction of W. H. Price, when attorney general, charging that the Workers' Unity League, which, according to Mr. McMurchy, is affiliated with the union, takes orders direct from Moscow and has as its ultimate aim world revolution.

Regarding statements issued by the strikers that employees of the finishing department were paid $4.88 to $7.88 a week, Mr. McMurchy declared that these employees were boys.

"In operating a factory in a community the size of Brampton," said Mr. McMurchy, "a manufacturer is faced with the alternative of either bringing in skilled help or training local help. It is our policy to take in boys as apprentices and teach them the trade, thereby making them useful citizens, and at the same time giving employment to local people."

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"TANNERY WORKERS REQUEST INCREASE," Kitchener Record. April 30, 1934. Page 1. ---- Shoe And Leather Workers Union Asks Langs To Answer By 10 A.M. Tuesday ---- A list of demands calling for recognition of the shop committee and the Shoe and Leather Workers' Industrial Union, as well as for a wage increase of 15 per cent for all employees, was presented to the Lang Tanning Company, Francis street, by the Shoe and Leather Workers' Industrial Union today. The company is given until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning to reply.

The following are the demands set forth in the letter which is signed on behalf of the workers by A. Crosby, acting organizer of the union:

"A flat increase of 15% to all employees. The following classification of youth employees has been adopted with the following mini-mum for each section if the 15% does not bring them up to the fol-lowing rates: junior employees to receive a minimum of 35 cents per hour; senior employees to receive a minimum of 42 1½ cents per hour: professionals to receive a minimum of 55 cents per hour, with a guarantee of 10 per cent above mini-mum to all piece workers.

"44 hours shall constitute a week's work with time and one quarter for work done over 44 hours.

"Recognition of shop committee and union."

I. Minster, representing the Furniture and Woodworkers' Industrial Union, as well as the Workers' Unity League, told The Record that if there is no reply to the letter by the prescribed hour tomorrow, "there is a possibility of a walkout." In that event, about 150 men would be affected, he said.

Up to press time today, the company had not decided what action it would take. "We are not decided as yet upon a course of action," Reinhold Lang said. "In the mean-time, we are still running."

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"La grève continue dans la chaussure," La Presse. August 10, 1943. Page 8. ---- Les 400 ouvriers de l'industrie de la chaussure qui ont déclaré la grève hier matin en vue d'obtenir des vacances payées sont encore inactifs, aujourd'hui. Ces grévistes sont employés dans les ateliers de la Fix Shoe Company, de la LaSalle Slippers Co. et de la Dominion Shoe. Un représentant de la compagnie nous affirme, toutefois, qu'il n'y a pas de grève à la Dominion Shoe.

L'agent d'affaires du Syndicat des cordonniers, E. Ernest Saint-Amand, a déclaré avoir eu des entretiens dans la journée, avec deux des compagnies où les employés sont en grève. On n'a pas toutefois, conclu d'entente. Les pourparlers continuent aujourd'hui.

L'agent d'affaires précise, d'autre part, que la réception d'une lettre de l'Association des manufacturiers de chaussures, vendredi dernier, a empêché les membres de déclarer in grève générale hier matin, L'Association a accepté de donner des vacances payées.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Assemblée de potestation des cordonniers contre la compagnie Bata. ce soir.” L’Illustration Nouvelle. July 20, 1939. Page 05. --- Une grande assemblée publique de protestation des membres des organisations ouvrières de la chaussure: Syndicat des travailleurs en chaussure et le local 249 de la B. J. S.W.U., de Montréal, aura lieu, ce soir, à la salle du marché Saint-Jacques, à 8 heures. La. question relative à la compagnie Bata, qui demande de faire venir au Canada une de ses manufactures et ses ouvriers experts, prétend-elle, sera discutée. Cette venue au pays de la manufacture Bata. n'a pas manqué de causer un vif émoi dans les milieux des travailleurs en chaussure et de vives protestations furent faites au gouvernement fédéral contre la suspension des règlements de l'immigration pour permettre à la Bata de venir au pays. Les cordonniers de Montréal, n'ayant reçu aucune réponse aux demandes de renseignements et sur les Intentions du gouvernement, ont convoqué la grande assemblée conjointe. de ce soir. Des orateurs bien renseignés adresseront la parole. Les cordonniers appartenant aux organismes ouvriers: union internationale et syndicats catholiques et généralement tous les ouvriers organisés, sont cordialement invités à cette assemblée.