The I.L.G.W.U. had one of the most robust and successful cultures of social unionism. Here, their classes at ‘Unity Centers’ across the city of New York are up and running.

‘Bulletin of the Educational Department’ from Justice (I.L.G.W.U.). Vol. 1 No. 42. November 1, 1919.

The registration and attendance in the various Unity Centres is very encouraging. The students in the classes represent all the Locals of the International in this city, from Local 1 to Local 90.

The Educational Department was fortunate enough to secure the best teachers for the students and was very careful in selecting the teachers. As soon as the classes are completed, the students will elect three members forming a Students’ Council which will constitute the Executive Committee of every Centre. This Council will meet once a week with the teachers, and Educational Director, Dr. Friedland, and will discuss the courses and make suggestions regarding them.

The course of four talks on Modern Drama to be given by Miss Ellen A. Kennan was postponed until after Election because many of the pupils are taking part in the campaign. Miss Kenan’s course will start on Thursday, November 13th, 7:45 P.M. in the East Side Unity Centre, Public School 63, Fourth Street and First Avenue, Manhattan, and on Friday, November 14th, 7.45 P.M. in the Brownsville Unity Centre, Public School 84, Stone and Glenmore Avenues, Brooklyn.

Mr. Frank Tannenbaum will start his course of four talks on the Problems of the Labor Movement, on Tuesday, November 11th, 7.45 P.M. in the East Side Unity Centre, Public School 63, Fourth Street and First Avenue, Manhattan, and on Thursday, November 13th, 7.45 P.M. in the Brownsville Unity Centre, Public School 84, Stone and Glenmore Avenues, Brooklyn.

In the Bronx Unity Centre, Public School 54, Freeman, Street and Intervale Avenue, Mr. Sim Dombrow will give a course of lectures on Current Labor Problems, beginning Friday, November 14th, 7.45 P.M. and Mrs. Ruth Hurwitz will give an analysis of three plays, starting Tuesday, November 11th, 7.45 P.M. These three plays, dealing with the Labor Problem are: Hauptman’s The Weavers, Galsworthy’s. Strife, and a play by George B. Shaw, which will be announced later.

There will be classes in Gymnasium in the Brownsville Unity Centre, Public School 84, Stone and Glenmore Avenues, Brooklyn, on Thursday evenings, and in the Bronx Unity Centre, Public School 54, Freeman Street and Intervale Avenues, on Saturdays between 2 P.M. and 5 P.M. Lectures on Health will be announced later.

Synopses of all lectures will be distributed among the students at every lecture.

Embroidery Workers’ Union. Local 66, arranged a lecture course through the Educational Department.

The Educational Department is busy preparing a schedule for the active members and officers. The Schedule will be announced soon.

As announced before, Dr. Olgin will accompany the students to the theatre and Miss Mildred. Rider will accompany them to the opera and later the plays and operas will be discussed in class.

The Waistmakers’ Unity Centre at P.S. No. 40, 320 W. 20th Street opened Monday evening, October 27th. English classes are already in operation under the direction of Mr. Davidoff, who teaches advanced English. Miss Rose Curry teaches elementary English, and Mr. Birn intermediate. Both these teachers were in charge of similar classes last year, and will be glad to welcome their former pupils.

The course in gymnastics and recreation will start Thursday, October 30th, at 6.30. It will be conducted by Mrs. Lucy Retting, and has been put at this hour that all may attend without interference with other courses. Lectures on Drama, Music, Health, Literature and Problems of the Labor Movement, will begin the week following election.

There is already a demand for a Unity Chorus and for a class in dramatic reading. If those who are interested will see Mrs. Ret ting for particulars and will register, there will be a class arranged as soon as a sufficient number have given their names. Registration can be made for these and all other classes any evening at the Unity Centre or at any of the offices of the Union.

Lucy Retting, Educational Supervisor, will be in her office at 16 West 21st Street every day between 12 and 1 o’clock and will be glad to see her old and new friends and give any information desired.

The Cloak Finishers’ Union, Local 69 and the Waistmakers Union, Local 15 of Philadelphia organized a Joint Educational Committee and they are co-operating in carrying on the educational work. A First-class professional concert to celebrate the opening of the educational activities of the Cloak Finishers’ Union was arranged for Saturday evening, November 8th. Miss Estelle Schriner, soprano, of New York will sing and Miss Fannia M. Cohn, Vice President of the International and Secretary of the Educational Committee will speak on The Need of Labor Education within the Trade Unions.

The weekly newspaper of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, Justice began in 1909 would sometimes be published in Yiddish, Spanish, Italian, and English, ran until 1995. As one of the most important unions in U.S. labor history, the paper is important. But as the I.L.G.W.U. also had a large left wing membership, and sometimes leadership, with nearly all the Socialist and Communist formations represented, the newspaper, especially in its earlier years, is also an important left paper with editors often coming straight from the ranks radical organizations. Given that the union had a large female membership, and was multi-lingual and multi-racial, the paper also addressed concerns not often raised in other parts of the labor movement, particularly in the American Federation of Labor.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/justice/1919/v01n42-nov-01-1919-justice.pdf