War on the Sweatshop

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The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds. - Abraham Lincoln


Throughout this blog, I have written about the role of family and the Chicago Bohemian community. In Charles story, I emphasized the role of fraternity our immigrant family. There was at least one other kinship that one can't but help believe played a large role in their experience - the labor movement of the time. Although, I touched on this in an earlier post, I continue to find interesting information to share. (Ultimately, I will edit these better to discuss tailoring in one and the labor movement in another. In the meantime, I apologize if I am repetitive).

The Vokoun family fortunes were inextricably tied to the tailoring trade. The tailoring done by Frank,  Charles and their families in their homes, in service for retail tailor shops was not an easy profession. For one thing, business was seasonal with highest demand in the cold-weather months and lower demand in summer so that income was uneven throughout the year. Furthermore, a tailor working out of their homes were responsible for travel back and forth between the retail shop for customer fittings. The tailor was often paid a flat rate for the garment even if the customer demanded repeated fittings and alterations. The net result could be 15 hour days without overtime compensation or ability to control the price of the garment punctuated by long periods with meager income. As so much of the work was done by new immigrants in booming urban centers, the feeling of exploitation festered. It was an industry ripe for labor strife. 

By circumstance and not by intention, Frank and Charles operated what the Journeyman Tailor's Association would go to war against - namely a home-based sweatshop. This 1898 article is fascinating  declaration against the system by those who were exploited by it. 


Here is even more about the garment industry sweatshops. There was a much labor unrest in 1896 that served as a prelude to the 1910 general strike. More to come...

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