Distributive Office and Processing Workers' Union Arbitration, 1952
Collection Number: 5124
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Distributive Office and Processing Workers' Union Arbitration, 1952
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5124
Abstract:
Proceedings of arbitration hearing between District 65, Distributive, Processing and
Office Workers Union, and Gimbel Brothers.
Creator:
Distributive, Processing, and Office Workers of America
Quanitities:
0.33 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
On May 27, 1952, upon request from District 65, Distributive, Processing and Office
Workers Union, The American Arbitration Association appointed David L. Cole to arbitrate
the wage dispute between Distrlc 65 and Gimbel Brothers. The hearings began in New
York City on July 17, 1952.
The issues in the dispute are concerned with wages (minima, progression, automatics)
classifications, and changes in vacations and holidays. From February 1, 1952, when
the contract came up for negotiation, until May, when Mr. Cole was called in, no agreement
could be reached on the issues. Throughout this period, however, the employees remained
at work.
The union maintains that the wages paid at Gimbels are far below the wages paid at
comparable department stores, and that these wages are insufficient in terms of the
present cost of living. Basically, the union is concerned with cutting down the wage
differential which exists between Gimbels and the other large department stores in
the city, by attempting to force Gimbels participate in industry-wide bargaining.
The union is seeking a wage increase commensurate with increases in other department
stores. The company claims that its financial condition prohibits a wage increase
at the present time. The company also claims that it is impossible to make wage adjustments
comparable to other stores; there are too many factors which must be taken into consideration
- there is no simple relationship between the various stores.
On May 27, 1952, upon request from District 65, Distributive, Processing and Office
Workers Union, the American Arbitration Association appointed David L. Cole to arbitrate
the wage dispute between District 65 and Gimbel Brothers. The hearings began in New
York City on July 17, 1952.
The issues in the dispute are concerned with wages (minima, progression, automatics)
classifications, and changes in vacations and holidays. From February 1, 1952, when
the contract came up for negotiation, until May, when Mr. Cole was called in, no agreement
could be reached on the issues. Throughout this period, however, the employees remained
at work. The union maintained that the wages paid at Gimbels were far below the wages
paid at comparable department stores, and that these wages were insufficient in terms
of the present cost of living. The union was concerned with cutting down the wage
differential which existed between Gimbels and the other large department stores in
the city, by attempting to force Gimbels to participate in industry- wide bargaining.
The union sought a wage increase commensurate with increases in other department stores.
The company claimed that its financial condition prohibited a wage increase at that
time. The company also claimed that it was impossible to make wage adjustments comparable
to other stores; there were too many factors which must be taken into consideration
- there was no simple relationship between the various stores.
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INFORMATION FOR USERS
Distributive Office and Processing Workers' Union Arbitration #5124. Kheel Center
for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections: /3012: Alice Cook Papers /4212: Kheel Center Current Documents Correspondence 5012: Saul Wallen Papers 5131: Sidney A. Wolff Arbitration Files 5206-PR: Local 1199 President Leon Davis Records 5305: Benjamin H. Wolf Papers 5477: Benjamin Wolf Papers 5538: James C. Hill Arbitration Files 5539: Benjamin H. Wolf Additional Arbitration Files 5548: I. Robert Feinberg Arbitration Records 5588: David L. Cole Papers 5619/004: ACTWU President Jacob Sheinkman Files 5619/007: ACTWU Organizing Department Files 5619/018: ACTWU Secretary-Treasurer's Office Files 5619/023: ACTWU Social Services Department Files 5619/036: ACTWU President's Office Murray Finley Files 5637: Sidney A. Wolff Additional Arbitration Files 5712: Burton B. Turkus Arbitration Files 5733: Peter Seitz Arbitration Files 5736: Barbara Wertheimer Additional Files 5780/014 P: ILGWU Local 22, Charles S. Zimmerman Photographs 5780/143: ILGWU James Parrot Papers 5780/203: ILGWU Jay Mazur Papers 5787 mf: New York State Labor Documentation Project on Microfilm 5917 P: Joint Board, Fur, Leather & Machine Workers Union Additional Photographs 5933 P: Local 1199 Photograph Files 5940: International Workers Order Case Files 5961: John W. McConnell Additional Arbitration Files 5981 P: ACTWU Labor Unity Photograph Files 6030: Archival Collective Bargaining Agreements File 6034: Rare Pamphlet Collection 6046: Archives Union File (AUF) 6091: Marcia Greenbaum Papers 6092 MB: Labor Action Coalition Memorabilia
Names:
Cole, David L. (David Lawrence), 1902-1978
Distributive, Processing, and Office Workers of America
Distributive, Processing, and Office Workers of America. District 65
Gimbel Brothers
Subjects:
Department stores -- Employees -- New York (State) -- New York
Wages -- Clerks (Retail trade) -- New York (State) -- New York
Department stores -- Employees -- Labor unions -- New York (State) -- New York
Collective bargaining -- Clerks (Retail trade) -- New York (State) -- New York
CONTAINER LIST
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
Box 1 | Folder 1 |
American Arbitration Association, Between District 65 and Gimbel Brothers
|
1952 |