Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1906 — LABOR NOTES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LABOR NOTES

A State Federation of Labor is being formed in Maryland. Farmers of Michigan are being organized into labor unions. Pasadena (Cal.) unionists contemplate the erection of a labor temple. Trades unionists of Galesburg, 111., are deeply interested in a labor temple project. Journeymen blacksmiths’ total membership Ts now -more than 7,500 and steadily growing. , / , Hebrew paperhangers of Boston, Mass., have formed an independent union of their own. A new organization of sheet metal workers has been established at Newport News, Va. ; The Wisconsin State Federation of Labor will mail literature to the farmers explaining unionism. Boston (Mass.) carriage and wagon workers lost their strike through lack of a sufficient defense fund. Chicago (Ill.) Federation of Musicians has appointed a committee.to obtain a location for a Musicians’ ffitub. Another great strike of miners has occurred in the South Wales coal fields against the employment of non-union men. Complaint has come to Gov. Folk to the effect that many children under 14 years of age are working in factories in St. Louis. Boot and Shoe Workers’ Union general officers have recommended that woman’s auxiliaries be formed by the various locals. The Industrial Workers of the World are now engaged in a bitter war with electricians’ and machinists’ unions of Chicago, Hl. The new lowa child labor law prohibits the employment of children unTTer 18 years of age in any occupation injurious to the health. The Cigarmakers’ International Union has paid $2,201,266.43 in sick and sl,514,525.99 in death benefits during the last 25 years. /Boston general truck drivers have reached an agreement with the Master Teamsters’ Association, which calls for a raise of $1 a week. In all probability a new political party will be launched in St. Paul, Minn., this fall as a result of a meeting of trades unionists held to discuss the matter. Prospects are now bright for the complete organization of the custom tailors in Boston, Mass., under the banner of the International Journeymen Tailors’ Union. There are 261 shoe factories in the United States which make union label shoes for boys and men. Twenty-three other factories manufacture women’s shoes. ... ‘ Labor Day this year marks the twentieth anniversary in Massachusetts and the Boston Central Labor Union is to make an especial effort to have every organization parade. Calgary (Canada) Trades and Labor Council has just acquired a site for a labor temple, which it is proposed to erect in the immediate future. It is proposed to erect a building to the value of $25,000. The success of trades unions in raising wages may be shown by tie following facts: In 1850 the average factory wages were $247 a year; in 1890, $446. Wages In cotton factories in 1830 were 44 cents a day; in 1873, $1.40. A voluntary wage increase of 10 per cent has been granted cotton-mill employes in Windham and New London counties, Connecticut. The action of the mill owners affects 20,000 persons. Mayor Fitzgerald of Boston, Mass., has assured the representatives of the Central Labor Union of that city that in the future all work done for the city under his administration would be under union conditions. Union waitresses at Seattle, Wash., have reduced their working hours in six years from twelve to ten, and have increased their wages. They maintain an employment agency and rest rooms for their members. English United Pattern Makers had a bad year, because of the Clyde strike, which cost the .organization more than $75,000. However, the union, with a membership of 6,031, has more than $225,000 in its treasury. It is estimated that 80,000 men are on strike in France, 75,000 of whom demand an eight-hour day. The majority include building operatives, carriage makers and jewelers, all of whom have large trade unions. This is exclusive of the miners, who are returning to their The Building Trades' Council of San Francisco, Cal., has done a manly action. All dues to be suspended, and men are to work as many hours as they please until San Francisco has arisen from the ashes. The current wages ase tp prevail, and no advance to be asked or taken. Colorado Springs, Colo., where the Union Printers' Home is situated, in the race for the proposed $175,000 jn>rnational home to be built by the Plumbers’, Gasfitters' and Steamfitters' Unions of the United States and Canada. The Chamber of Commerce is booming the movement. A bill has passed the Legislature of Massachusetts which licenses strike pickets. One picket is allowed for every twenty strikers. It is made lawful for such pickets to patrol the public streets in the vicinity of the place and Inform persons intending to go to work of the actual trouble existing. Basing their plea on humanitarian'reasons, 300 members of the Egg Inspectors’ Union of Chicago—men who see very little of daytime while they are at work —are asking for a reduction of their hours of labor from ten to nine. » 'db