A look at the tangled web of craft unions, as well as unorganized trades, in the New York printing industry, with an appeal for industrial unionism organized by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn’s father and fellow wobbly, Thomas.

‘Unionism In New York Printing Trades’ from Solidarity. Vol. 4 No. 29. July 26, 1913.

Printing trades unionism in New York city is not a thing of beauty, nor a joy forever. Compared to the solid front of the American Publishers’ Association, the Typothetae, and the Employers’ Association, it is a thing of tatters; of rips and tears and disunity. But, as in all modern movements, there are signs of an awakening; so while beauty or joy is lacking, there is at least hope for improvement, if not revolution.

The Newspaper Industry–Pressmen.

In the newspaper printing industry, there are signs of disintegration and demoralization. It is rumored that N.Y. Newspaper Web Pressmen’s Union No. 25 will withdraw from the International Pressmen’s Union. This organization has 1,400 members. The Franklin Pressmen’s Union No. 23, with 3,200 members, has already withdrawn from this body. It is confined to the commercial branches of typography. It is alleged that all the New York locals of the International Pressmen’s will have a mass meeting to consider withdrawal; and that International President Barry may call a counter mass meeting to break them up.

Much dissatisfaction exists against the Barry administration. He is alleged to have used funds intended for a home for aged and infirm pressmen for his own private ends. Others assert that the International Pressmen’s Union is in its present plight because of its defeats at Chicago, Denver and other western cities; defeats in which the Typographical Union, lead by President James Lynch, and the Stereotypers, led by International President James Freel, scabbed on the pressmen and helped to destroy them. Since then Barry has had a hard row to hoe. Charges and counter charges are made. And where before, division between the crafts brought on disaster, it is now believed that DIVISION WITHIN THE CRAFT MOST AFFECTED will improve matters. The logic bred of craft unionism is certainly a fearful product! It is hoped that I.W.W. influences will be permitted to prevail in the New York pressmen’s organizations and prevent complete demoralization.

German and English Types Wrangle.

Newspaper disunity is not found among the pressmen only. “Big Six” and “Typographia No. 7” are in each other’s hair also. Bix Six is taking in German compositors as members and filling German positions with them, against the protests of No. 7, which is a German organization exclusively; and has had a monopoly of the jobs on the German newspapers. Among these newspapers is “The New Yorker Staats Zeitung.” The chief owner of the “Staats” is Herman Ridder, one of the leading spirits, in the American Publishers’ Association; and a union fighter. Ridder is said to have approved the nomination of President James Lynch for the office of Labor Commissioner of New York Lynch could not get that job were Ridder, who is also a strong Murphy man in politics, to oppose it. Still all this may have nothing to do with the war between “Big Six” and “German 7.” One thing is evident, No. 7 is destined to be wiped out of existence.

Commercial Typography Unorganized.

Outside of the big newspaper and publication plants there is little organization in the job printing end of the typographical industry. One who has given much study to the state of organization in the printing crafts, has recently penned the following:

“By comparison and deduction we have figured out that about two-thirds of the printing shops in New York City are open shop and apparently doomed to remain so, as the A.F. of L. is inert and making no effort to organize them. It seems too much overpowered by its own strength and greatness, the officials being gorged to such an extent that they do not see the impending catastrophe which is bound to envelop them.

“Members are welcome to the A.F. of L., as it means so much per capita into their coffers, but they do nothing to provide situations for the new initiates. The relative proportion of vacancies in union shops to union men is such that there is always a small army of unemployed. Discontent is rife among them.

“Now, among those working in the open shops is a large foreign element, competent men who have not yet conquered the language, which handicap has enabled the bosses to exploit them, paying small wages, to the detriment of the English-speaking men. These foreigners understand the situation thoroughly and are willing to actively participate in rebellion that would benefit their English fellow workers and themselves; but they are unorganized.

“The stationery line, which is the trade of a majority of the printing shops, is greatly fallen, the following being an explanation of the cause: First, there is the middleman to be reckoned with, namely, the stationer. These stationery firm do nothing but clerical work, securing the orders from department stores, business offices, manufacturing firms and others, turning the work over to the printers, bookbinders, lithographers, etc., who do the actual labor.

“These stationers create competition, securing estimates from several shops and giving the jobs to the lowest bidder. They add a percentage profit for themselves which is far in excess of the actual work performed as compared with the wages paid to those who execute the orders. They reap large profits while the employes in the printing, bookbinding and lithographing plants get low wages. An increasing standardization of wages will either cause the stationers to become eliminated and the printers to get the orders direct from the consumers, or in self-defense, make the stationer raise his prices, either of which events being of small moment to the exploited. They must organize if they wish more wages and better conditions, and fight for both.” As all this speaks for itself no further comment is necessary. Now consider

The Book Binding Industry.

The book binders have, in New York city, three unions, one A.F. of L., the International, and two independent bodies; one, English-speaking, called “The National Brotherhood of Bookbinders”; the other, Jewish-speaking, called “The General Bookbinders’ Union.” Graft, high handed official actions and refusal, to organize open shops caused withdrawal of independents from the A.F. of L. Five large open shops were organized in this city with success, despite the International, which refused strike sanction, suspended locals involved and called counter strikes. Demands were on and wages increased to almost double that of previously organized shops.

The International has scuttled the Brotherhood ship when and wherever it could. In “Colliers,” the bookbinders fought the installation of the efficiency system, under the auspices of the Brotherhood. The manager called on the International and was told that it would stand for the efficiency system and old scale of wages. The Brotherhood notified the manager that they would quit work if any International men came in to work under the new system. Three International men were introduced the next day. A strike was declared by the Brotherhood. More International men came in and broke the strike. Today the stop-watch efficiency system is in full blast in Colliers. Thus ends the chapter on bookbinding unionism.

Lithographers To Try Amalgamation.

Finally we have the lithographers. They have two A.F. of L. unions, the Pressmen and the Feeders, and three independent unions, the poster artists, the commercial artists and the plate preparers. The two A.F. of L. unions are at loggerheads with each other; the feeder being an apprentice pressman looks, with envy on the pressmen’s job. He accordingly scabs it or A.F. of L. brethren at times.

All these unions are seeking to amalgamate. Just what Mr. here meant is not clear. Whether a new union will take the place of the five or whether the five unions will be federated is not evident. A national conference is to be held to decide just what form amalgamation shall take.

In the meantime, William Coakley, the national president of the Litho Feeders’ Union, has raised his voice (in print) to say something apropos the subject. Mr. Coakley is an able man; his ability is such that he can draw three salaries in three different positions at one and. the same time. He drew a salary as national president of the Litho Feeders’ Union, as advisory head of the Newspaper Mailers’ Union and as an official of the Brooklyn building department. This office was abolished and Coakley removed as incompetent; but that was pure spite, for Mr. Coakley is an able man, everything to the contrary notwithstanding. Consult the foregoing record once more and be convinced.

When last heard of Coakley was in Washington speaking against tariff reduction “in behalf of 40,000 lithographers.” Who paid his expenses? Ask “the 40,000 litho employes,” none of whom ever contributed to a collection for the purpose. Who sent him there? None of the “40,000 litho employes” voted to send him to Washington. Why should he go there to speak on a measure of interest to the employers only, without the knowledge of those for whom he alleged to speak?

But to get back to our story. Mr. Coakley says in print that he favors amalgamation, provided it preserves the interests of the litho feeders. Otherwise he will oppose it, as he has always opposed it on that same ground. So there we are., Litho amalgamation is “in the air”; but Mr. Coakley with his recognized triple-power abilities and outspoken advocacy of the interests of “40,000 litho employes” will bring it to the ground.

In all the litho unions there are 5,000 members. To talk “one big union” of all the 25,000 litho workers, is to exhibit a species of insanity. But then, let us see if the history of amalgamation in the litho industry will repeat itself. Until then patience will be sorely tried.

In all the foregoing, you have a picture of printing trades unionism in New York City. It is, to borrow a phrase from the poet Browning. “patchy and crappy.” Very much so; in fact, it is nothing but patches and scraps. But, there is much dissatisfaction all around. Better, more thorough and more complete industrial organization is demanded. And it will come. Already a group of printers, lithographers, bookbinders, and others are meeting under I.W.W. auspices. They intend to form an I.W.W. printing trades local. They meet every Thursday evening at the headquarters of the I.W.W. District Council, 2205 Third Avenue, N.Y. City. All printing trade employes are invited to join; or to send for information at above address, care of Thomas Flynn, organizer.

Pass this paper along; subscribe for it, too.

NEW YORKER.

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/v04n29-w185-jul-26-1913-solidarity.pdf