ist Issue, October

Reporter Gets

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

New Angles on
Clothing Buys

By IWA ROVING REPORTER

M* trade union education

was given a very necessary

broadening when George Droneck, the local genius of
the Amalgamated Clothing Workers gave me a thorough
course in how to get value for my money when I buy

clothes, either for work, or to strut

social moments.

I started on a tour of explora-
tion, which, originally, was in-
tended to cover'the top skills in
the garment trade, for the BCIW,
but I wound up with some tip-
top ideas about cutting costs on
my, own drapes.

Me, the Prize Sucker

I appreciated this, because I
have always been a victim of my
ignorance of clothing. Not even
my female relatives could
straighten.me out. Whenever I
entered a gents’ clothing estab-
lishment, I was the world’s big-
gest sucker, because I never had
a clue about what I should buy.
A smart operator could -really
take me,

George Droneck ushered me be-
hind the scenes, in two busy
clothing factories. The Aero
Garment Co. Ltd. fabricates work
clothes, mackinaw cruisers, boys’
clothing, etc, and Lounge Fa-
shion Clothes Ltd. tailors men’s
suits for dress wear.

I was given visible proof that
the trade unionists who work
behind this label are just as in-
terested as I am, that I should
get the best in design, quality,
and appearance, when I buy a
pair of overalls or a suit.

To keep the cost down on work
clothes such as overalls, the work
in the Aero plant is done on a
mass production basis. It is really
fascinating to see the girls, who
predominate in this plant, fashion
these garments with amazing
speed and dexterity. They are,
of course, aided by batteries of
Semi-automatic machines.

. Notable Progress

In days gone by, this work was
done in sweat shops, under the
most deplorable and dangerous
conditions. Now, in the Aero Gar-
ment plant, unionized conditions
assure the workers of comfort-
able, sanitary, and healthy sur-
roundings, Wages and other con-
ditions are far above those known
in the bad old days.

Quality Wins

Here is an example, of the fact
that union shop conditions are
an asset to the firm, as well as
the employees. I was told that
the Aero brand, and brands
which rely on Aero manufacture,
are topping the market in British

Columbia and Alberta. The gar-
ments made by skilled workers
win on the basis of both price
and quality.

Adoption of the same prin-
ciples accounts for the success of
Lounge Fashion Clothes Ltd.
Here we found more skilled jour-
neymen tailors of the sterner sex
who know the art of catering to
masculine vanity in dress.

Naturally, I asked more than
a few questions, to pick up the
angles. Could I get a “made to
measure” suit as cheaply as one
“off the rack”? Yes, I could do
so by buying directly from the
factory, which is permissible.

What would be the advantage?
I would be properly fitted, for at
the factory they have the skills
and the gadgets that guarantees
a real fit. Anyway, they wouldn’t
let me walk away with a suit,
until it was exactly right by fac-
tory standards,

Still more, if something de-
veloped that I didn’t like, I could
bring the suit back, and have it
put right, in a place where they
have the means to do a proper
job.

A couple of the boys recently
bought “made-to-measure” suits
in a local retail store, and
bragged of their deals. I found
out that the suits were actually
tailored in this near-by factory.
If they had gone to the factory,
they would have saved them-
selves, maybe ten bucks on each
suit, and been fitted more ex-
pertly.

At least, that is what I was
told, and its an angle worth lool
ing into, especially by the vis’
ing firemen. I found that quite
a few loggers store their good
clothes with this firm, so that
they are ready for wear when
they hit town. 3

And, if you want a suit that
looks like it was custom tailored,
that can be managed too, for a
few bucks extra—even with ny-
lon, “wear-ever” pockets,

So, don’t ever believe that the
trade union label, of the Amal-
gamated Clothing Workers is
just a “gimmick”. It is a real
guarantee that clothes bought
with the label, have the best of

workmanship, and yield real
value.

AERO BRAND

A UNION-MADE PRODUCT OF

Aero Garment Limited

Mansjasturerd of
For Men

Quality Garments
and Boys

VANCOUVER, B.C.

my stuff in my better |

ae

“THERE’S THE UNION LABEL,” says Manager J. L. Hinton, Fashion Lounge Clothes Ltd. (left),

to George Droneck (right), Business Agent, Amalgamated Clothing Workers (JTU), Local 178, as he
explains that the skill of the unionized workers inn the factory give the customer assurance of qual-

ity and design.

BILLY GRAHAM SAYS REUTHER’S
SPEECH BEST HE’S HEARD

TORONTO (CPA)—CIO Presi-
dent Walter Reuther came in for
praise for his oratorical ability
from an expert when he ad-
dressed a luncheon meeting here
recently.

Mr. Reuther fulfilled an en-
gagement to speak to a joint
meeting of the Empire and Cana-
dian Clubs during his trip- to
Toronto to address the 15th an-
nual convention of the Canadian

Congress of Labor. The luncheon
of the two clubs was opened with
a blessing pronounced by famed
evangelist Billy Graham, The
spell-bindng preacher was
among the guests who later
heard the CIO President make
one of his customarily brilliant
speeches.

Following the talk by the labor
leader, club members surged for-
ward to shake Walter Reuther’s

hand. Billy Graham managed to
get in his greeting before he was
swept away by. the crowd.
Thoughtfully turning to
George Burt, Canadian Director
of the UAW, who was close by,
Mr. Graham exclaimed in a sen-
tence punctuated by vigorous
hand-shaking; “You know Mr.
Burt, that was one of the best

speeches I have ever heard.”

UNION

MADE

Frankly, we don’t know where
the 1% is but we do know that

99% of the clothes and

men’s

furnishings sold at the HUB are
union-made. This includes every-

thing from socks to hats.

SUITS

*49°° to s7Q5°

Fall Top Coats
from $21

SOLD WITH FREE CREDIT
ON TERMS TO SUIT YOU

iro
EAST HASTINGS

Serving

Union Men

in B.C, for
over 50
years