Shoe Workers Picket Plant

Article taken from The Zanesville Signal, July 13, 1938

PORTSMOUTH-(AP)-Two hundred pickets surrounded the downtown plant of the Selby Shoe company today following a strike call by the United Shoe Workers union (CIO).

While police stood guard a few workers entered the huge plant when the 7 a.m. shift started, but there was no disturbance. A heavy fog shrouded hundreds of spectators who gathered at the scene in the early morning hours.

The union is demanding a closed shop and restoration of a ten per cent pay cut effected last May. The cut represented discontinuance of an increase which was granted the workers in 1937.

Company officials said following the Tuesday strike vote that a rumor was circulated "to the effect that if a majority voted for the strike, the 10 per cent pay cut would be restored immediately and there would be no strike."

"This rumor was, of course, without foundation. The majority of the season's business already has been sold based on present prices and it is not possible to restore the 10 per cent regardless of whether there is a strike."

George Duemler of St. Louis, union organizer, said the company "provoked the rank and file of workers to take action." He indicated there might be a lengthy strike unless "the company backs down some from its arbitrary stand."