A large plant of the Branning Manufacturing Company resumed operations Wednesday after having been idle for several days, caused by a strike of many of its employees. Mr. A.T. Baker, President of the corporation, arrived in Ahoskie Tuesday evening.
The walkout of the employees was occasioned by failure of the Branning Company to pay off regularly, it is understood. Owing to the lull in the lumber market for the past few months, the local concern had arranged with its employees to furnish them with subsistence through some of the local merchants. Occasionally, the company paid its employees cash; but the striking employees were not satisfied with an indefinite continuance of this policy, hence the walkout.
The Branning Company employs a greater number of laborers than all other local enterprises, and its permanent closing could have thrown out of work many skilled and unskilled laborers.
According to those familiar with the conditions, it has taken rather heroic efforts for the large plant here to continue in operation, while many other mills have closed down; and the system of taking care of its employees heretofore adopted with practically the only solution to the continuance of operations. The company has large holdings of real estate and equipment in this and neighboring counties, and is entirely solvent; only being prevented from making full cash settlements to its employees on account of the lumber market and the financial stringency.
Immediately upon his arrival here, Mr. Baker, The President, paid off the striking employees, all of whom have returned to work. No further trouble is anticipated.
From the front page of The Hertford County Herald, Ahoskie, N.C., Sept. 9, 1921
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