Our People of the Century Philip Rudich: Union Official Shaped Peace,      Prosperity from Labor Strife

The Depression held Vineland's clothing factories and its workers in a near-death grip in 1931 when Philip Rudich arrived.

Fresh from treacherous reorganization of Baltimore's Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, Rudich found the local union chapter in shambles and the factories failing.

One-fifth of the local's 250 members were paying dues. The two union factories were disabled by debts while trying to compete for New York contracts against each other and the non-union shops. Even the national union leaders doubted the clothing industry and union in South Jersey had a chance at survival. Some said Rudich had really been sent to shut down the area's clothing industry, thus eliminating competition for New York's industry.

Rudich, who was nearly convinced but not ready to concede, ignored the traditional management-versus-labor lines to work with both sides. He reinstated discipline and authority among the union ranks.

In an unprecedented move, Rudich defended the contract manufacturer's right to make a profit. If employers weren't profitable and financially indpedent, the union workers would not survive.

Rudich was able to establish standard pricing for contracted work and brought an end to price-cutting bidding. And so he fought for both hard workers and management, playing a major role in saving South Jersey's clothing industry.

By 1952, area manufacturers were not only contracting for work, but were also noted for their own brands. The South Jersey Joint Board of the ACWA boasted 6,000 members in Vineland, Camden, Hammonton, Egg Harbor, Atlantic City, Woodbine, Wildwood, Salem, Glassboro and Landisville.