National Affairs: Easy Does It

"The Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America . . . looks upon industrial warfare as a relic of uncivilized industrial practices. . . ."

With 400,000 U.S. workers idle because of strikes, such sophisticated detachment seemed almost naive. But U.S. clothing manufacturers, who last week faced the hard bargainers of Sidney Hillman's wise old union of needleworkers, saw nothing starry-eyed in the union's demands. Reason: through years of patient dickering, smart Sidney Hillman has in many respects become co-manager of all the shops where his union supplies the labor; the union has sometimes bailed management out of its difficulties.

Thus at a time when management seemed determined to yield mighty few inches in any industry, Amalgamated had got its usual ell. For his 150,000 overcoat and suitmen, President Hillman reported a 20% to 31% pay raise amounting to $60 million (with no hike in clothing prices); and including six paid holidays and continuation of insurance benefits at the employer's expense. For his 45,000 shirtmakers, he announced a 20% raise with like trimmings.

Already in the bag were 20% raises for Amalgamated's 15,000 glove and neckwear workers, its 15,000 retail salesmen and journeymen tailors, and 25,000 laundry workers. Never, in all the negotiations, had it been necessary to dig up the unfortunate "relic." (Thirty-one-year-old Amalgamated has not had a general strike or lockout since 1921.) But the results were there.