A Paterson striker tells of the brutal working conditions in the dye house over which their struggle was waged.

‘A Paterson Dyer’s Story’ by Scully Bell from Solidarity. Vol. 4 No. 17. May 3, 1913.

The strike in Paterson is the same today as it was eight weeks ago. But we have taught the manufacturers and master dyers a great lesson; that we, the textile workers, no longer look down at our looms and dye boxes to let them rob us, and put their schemes into operation whereby they may be better able to profit. About one year ago there was amongst the dyers’ helpers a rumor of going on strike. On March 6, 1912, the dye houses had notices up to the effect that there would be an increase in wages of one dollar a week. In this way the talk of going on strike was abolished. Many of the workers appreciated the generosity of the employer, but there were amongst the wiser ones dissatisfaction and they considered it a great insult. They did not fail to see that the advance in wages was thrown at them as a robber would throw a bone to the barking dog, in order that he may be better able to carry out his crime.

Ever since the advance they resorted to all kinds of schemes in order that they may get their dollar and more back from the worker. They have taken boys from fifteen years of age from the dry rooms and from the wagons and have put them into the dye houses and have paid six, seven and eight dollars a week. When the slack season has come the boys have always had steady work, the men who had families to support were laid off. There are about ninety per cent of those dyers’ helpers who received the advance in wages who in the past year have not received a full pay. Some of their pays were from three to eighteen dollars for two weeks’ work. And some of them were laid off for two and three weeks at a time. But the master dyers did not stop at this, instead of putting two and three skeins to a handful they would put five and six, therefore doubling our work.

As everybody knows the dye house is the most dirty and unhealthy part of the silk industry. A man who works in the dye house must wear clogs that weigh from three to five pounds apiece. These he must drag on his feet all day in order to protect himself from the water, which is always about three inches high in some places. In one of the dye houses in Paterson in which I worked during the winter months the water would freeze on the floor during the night and in the morning we would have to put ashes on it in order not to slip. There were also icicles hanging from the ceiling. The sticks which the silk was on were also frozen together. Many of the men working at this place were compelled to wear sweaters and overcoats while working. Two of my fellow-workers were discharged because they refused to work while it was so cold.

The most dangerous things are when a man is working at a box where the liquor is at a boiling temperature. Then he is compelled to go from that to cold water. The shop is always filled with steam, and at times it is impossible to see the man whom you are working with.

In the summer it is at as bad: when the temperature is one hundred and ten degree above zero. You are likewise compelled to work in boiling liquor. This liquor you must taste from time to time in order to know if you have the right amount of acid. This is not very pleasant especially when you have a dark red or a navy. There is one quality of dye which they call Shumake dye. The handfuls here are very heavy. This liquor is very dangerous to the fingernails as it causes them to rot off, and compels men to stay home for weeks at a time. Others are affected by acids only not quite as bad.

Many of the men in order to get a job in the dye house pay twenty-fire and thirty-fire dollars to the dyers. These are generally learners who receive seven and eight dollars a week. In one case I know a dyer to have grafted ninety dollars in one week. In case the learners ruin silk it is covered up by the dyers and nothing is said to them.

Against these conditions we are striking.

We demand an eight hour day.

We demand $12 minimum wage for dyers’ helpers. We will stick till we win.

The most widely read of I.W.W. newspapers, Solidarity was published by the Industrial Workers of the World from 1909 until 1917. First produced in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and born during the McKees Rocks strike, Solidarity later moved to Cleveland, Ohio until 1917 then spent its last months in Chicago. With a circulation of around 12,000 and a readership many times that, Solidarity was instrumental in defining the Wobbly world-view at the height of their influence in the working class. It was edited over its life by A.M. Stirton, H.A. Goff, Ben H. Williams, Ralph Chaplin who also provided much of the paper’s color, and others. Like nearly all the left press it fell victim to federal repression in 1917.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/solidarity-iww/1913/v04n17-w173-may-03-1913-solidarity.pdf