Glens Falls in 1919 — Imperial Wall Paper strike

The Rev. John Lyon Caughey, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Glens Falls, mediated an end to a 10-day strike by unskilled laborers at Imperial Wall Paper Co. in Queensbury in November 1919.

“The company is to take back the employees without prejudice or discrimination, just as rapidly as possible to place them, with the exception of two men in the power department,” The Post-Star reported. “The striking employees, on their part, are to return to their work without any spirit of resentment or bitterness toward those who were not on strike and to render the best service to the company.”

About 200 of the company’s 250 unskilled workers had been on strike. Another 50 skilled and management employees also continued to work during the strike.

The company, which had vowed to replace striking workers, agreed to negotiate a new wage schedule.

Workers had organized a local of the Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers International Union six weeks before the strike.

Two weeks before the strike, George Tait, the company president, had refused to negotiate wages, and had attempted to entice employees to leave the union and join a company-backed union.

Tait alleged the strike was a demand that he recognize the Pulp, Sultphite and Paper Mill Workers International Union as the bargaining unit.

But John P. Burke, the union’s international president, said that pay was the key issue.

“The real issue involved in the strike is one of wages. There has been no request for recognition of the union, neither have I insisted upon the company meeting me in the conference if they objected to doing so,” said Burke, of Fort Edward. “I think, however, that the employees of this or any other company have the right to join a labor organization if they choose.”

The day of the strike, the company shut down its machines at noon, three hours before the anticipated walk out.

“It is evident from the small gathering you had Saturday night that many of those who had unwittingly joined this Sulphite and Paper Makers union are not in sympathy with this action,” Tait told workers.

“And so that you may have ample time to fully consider and weigh your action, we will close the mill now and give you the full afternoon to do so. … Just remember, therefore, you who do not return to your duties and positions tomorrow morning, that you cast the die — not us.”

The company operated some of its machines at the local mill during the strike and shifted some of its production to the company’s mills in other cities.

Imperial Wall Paper was the original manufacturer at the site of the former Ciba-Geigy plant on Lower Warren Street in Queensbury.

George Tait owned and lived in the mansion next to Crandall Park in Glens Falls.

Sources: The Post-Star, Nov. 18, 21, 25, 26, 29, 1919.

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