The work itself used to begin on Shabbat on the sighting of the first three stars and ended Friday evening just before the lighting of the candles. There was a short intermission to quickly eat a meal, to go to evening prayers and a break late at night, for a few hours of sleep.

The apprentices – mainly those that came from outside looking for work – had severe problems dealing with the “voyle yingen” [“decent boys”] of Bedzin, who extorted “payment” out of the poor apprentices seeking work with local master craftsmen. The “shtarke” [“strong people”] also used to act as arbitrators in disputes between master craftsmen and the apprentice. Only with the rise of the socialist parties and the professional trade movement was the domination of the “strong” abolished.

Surprisingly, the first to be organized in Bedzin was the professional union for painters, coachmen and mercantile clerks. Later they also organized additional unions for the carpenters, mill workers (metal) and the “Poale Zion” and other associations. During the years 1905/6, the “Bund”, as an active party, was not yet operating in our city.

It is clear that the unions did not have the foresight and character that the professional unions have today. The leadership, as well as their activity, were chaotic; strikes took place sporadically; agreed salaries weren't adhered to because the Tsarist regime didn't tolerate free discussions – even in the completely professional field. Due to this, in later years, with the rising tide of reaction and the simultaneous banishment of the most important social activists, the unions quickly fell apart and up till 1915 there was no evidence of any kind that there a professional organization in Zaglembie.

To begin with, as the German occupation began, so did the professional movement in Zaglembie begin to rapidly take hold. As such, the Labor-Zionists were the first to begin to organize workers in the private sector, who in a short time numbered 300 members. This union did not exist for long, due to the fact that the type of members in those times were not yet prepared to value the interests of a professional union.

The same happened to the painters union, which for the most part consisted of young members. They initially had a difficult time establishing a professional union. At the time, the leather workers were the best organized. Almost 100% of this union's members fully upheld their organization's discipline. Since they were well organized they were able to win their demands. They exist up until the present day.

The carriers (porters) union had a completely different character and a different sense of collective organization. They did not interest themselves in social matters. They remained strong and amalgamated and active in the political organization with which they were connected.

Around the same time, the private men's and women's tailors also became organized. The first activity that the union undertook partly ended the organization itself. The demands, which they sought, met with an impasse on the part of the employers, who declared a lockout and the action was lost. A result of this breakdown was the establishment of the first cooperative of women's tailors, which soon became private, however, because of this the organization fell apart.

The previously mentioned organizations were, in spite of everything, a favorable and creative factor in the building of the professional party.

In 1917, the needle workers had reorganized under the influence of the “Bund”. Within two years of activity, the “Bund” in Bedzin managed to absorb almost all the workers associated with the clothing trade, as members. Apart from tailors, members of the needle workers were also milliners, fashion designers, furriers, girdle-makers, underwear seamstresses and so on. The organization had more than 350 members, amongst them, a certain number of non-Jews.

The Carriers [Porters] Union

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