 |  | |
 |
|  |
 |  | |
| | |
|
| |
| | |
|
|
Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2002
Union labor in New Jersey keeps vigilant watch on the entrance of
"runaway shops." According to the State Federation of Labor, of 250
factories that moved to the State in 1936 approximately 200 were "fugitives" from trade union activities. Most of these shops were in the needle
trades; a few manufactured cosmetics, hats or textiles. They have invaded
Essex, Passaic, Union, Hudson, Morris and Monmouth Counties. In 1937
a runaway umbrella shop from New York was established at Boonton;
union organizers signed up a majority of the underpaid girls, and a strike
was called. The manufacturer moved to Pennsylvania, and again was
harried by the union. He returned to Boonton, and finally went back to
New York. There are many other instances of sweatshop operators being
pursued across State lines.
Not so progressive as the labor legislation of New York, Massachusetts
or Wisconsin, New Jersey laws protective and favorable to labor have
slowly increased since the impetus given 25 years ago by Woodrow Wilson. In 1932 the Consumers' League of New Jersey established a labor
standards committee which unites the efforts for labor legislation of a
score of progressive organizations. In 1937 the State Federation of Labor
cooperated with the Consumers' League, the New Jersey League of Women
Voters and the New Jersey Federation of Women's Clubs to secure an
appropriation for the enforcement of the minimum wage statute and maximum hour law for women passed in 1933. A somewhat similar coalition
succeeded in 1935 in having the legislature ratify the Federal Child Labor
Amendment.
Progressive labor continues to struggle against the power of the Court
of Chancery to grant injunctions in labor disputes. An anti-injunction bill
was passed by the assembly in 1936 but was defeated in the senate. A
major factor in the defeat, it is alleged, was the withdrawal of the traditional Democratic support for the bill on the ground that its passage would
frighten industry from the State.
In common with other industrial States, New Jersey is faced with the
problem of regulating industrial home work. The State department of
labor licenses these operators, but it has not had sufficient funds to enforce
even the meager health restrictions. The latest census shows that 5,000
operators have been licensed but since each family works under a single
license, the total number of home workers may well be 15,000 or even
20,000. The median wage for this type of work is figured to be 9 cents
per hour and the average family income $2.60 weekly. Major home work
products are dolls' clothing, knitted goods, and powder puffs. The legislature has to date failed to pass the industrial home work bill sponsored by
the Consumers' League, which would drastically reduce health hazards and
raise wage levels to those paid for similar employment in factories.
Undoubtedly this menace to legitimate industry and to the preservation
of minimum wage standards accounts for a large number of New Jersey
workers who earn a sub-subsistence wage. According to a survey completed in 1937 by the minimum wage division of the State labor department, 34,000 women and children receive less than $5 weekly and 292,000
less than $17.
|
|
|
Return To |
|
|
