Union in Cleveland

Nearly all of greater Cleveland's 4,500 schoolmen & marms belong to a local guild called the Cleveland Federation of Teachers. Few months ago some of them decided it was time to join up with a national movement toward making life pleasanter for pedagogs. Last February they swallowed their professional pride, took out charter No. 279 in the American Federation of Teachers, affiliate of the American Federation of Labor. Last week with 1,200 members the local felt strong enough to beard Cleveland's Board of Education with a petition. That brought up the question of whether the Board should recognize the union. With three "ayes," three silent and no "nays" the Board voted to recognize.

Typical of A. F. of T.'s aims was its Cleveland local's petition. It asked that : 1) the 1920 salary schedule be maintained as a standard;* 2) no teacher be paid less in 1935 than in 1934; 3) bond retirement costs be adjusted to make more money available for payrolls; 4) teachers get their share of any delinquent taxes collected.

Local No. 279 did not say what it would do if its wishes were not granted. No local of A. F. of T., which is 18 years old and has 35,000 members in 302 chapters, has ever struck. The late great Samuel Gompers excused them from that militant duty.

*Cleveland teachers forfeited their automatic salary increases of $120 to $150 a year in 1931-- 32, took a 15% salary cut in 1932-33, an additional 33% cut from September to December, 1933, when 22% of the last cut was restored.

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