It may be true that some may be sincere in their opposition to the immigration legislation that the toilers have so long and so justly demanded, but that even their sincerety is based on ignorance there is positive proof, but yet the main strength and motive power of opposition comes from the labor exploiting interests that have exerted every manner of influence to insure an unlimited supply of workers whose standards of living will permit them to accept low wages. There is a strong and ever growing sentiment in favor of the legislation which President Wilson used his veto power to defeat. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 252 to 126, and the Senate by 50 to 7. In the House, the vote on passing the legislation over the veto of the President was 261 to 136. A change of four more votes would have secured the two-thirds majority to pass it over the President's veto. It was sure of passage in the Senate. The agitation for the passage of this legislation, so necessary for the economic protection of the workers, will continue. From several industrial centers there has recently come the information that industrial plants and mines and other establishments are working full time with the full complement of workers, and yet thousands are unemployed. What is the meaning of this? That there are in the United States more workers than can find work to do. This is the meaning of the unemployment problem that is an ever present menace to the welfare of the workers and an obstacle to the attainment of better conditions. The duty of our nation is to protect its own workers. This protection the workers have repeatedly asked in immigration restriction laws. We are convinced that the thinking citizens who have read the Burnett bill and have studied immigration and employment problems endorse Labor's position. Organized labor will continue to urge its demands upon the representatives of the people. The pamphlet recently published by the American Federation of Labor entitled The American Labor Movement, Its Makeup, Achievements and Aspirations, is a summary of the testimony of the President of the A. F. of L. before the United States Commission on Industrial Relations in New York City, May 21-23, 1914. It sets forth in a concise manner the aims, purposes and policies of the trade union movement and will be of value to all workers and students of the labor movement. Copies can be obtained at headquarters of the A. F. of L., Washington, D. C. Price, 5 cents. If you wish to understand the principles and policies of the American trade union movement read the official journal, the AMERICAN FEDERATIONIST. Subscribe now; price, $1 a year. That the labor power of a human being is not a commodity or article of commerce.-Enacted as a federal statute October 15, 1914. The trade union is the agency that has brought life and hope into the factory, the workshop, into the lives and homes of the workers. It has borne the brunt of the battle to secure the welfare of the workers. It is Labor's hope for the future. Educate, agitate, organize the yet unorganized. PRESIDENT GOMPERS' REPORT TO THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS PART II. (Continued from February issue.) National Economic Gains During 1913 HE report on the economic gains by the trade unions of the United States and Canada for the year, 1913, will demonstrate to the most ritical economic or political student that the organizations of labor in America did not allow their uccesses in the legislative field, which were so pronounced in the year 1913, to deflect them from taking advantage of every opportunity to improve the economic condition of their membership throughout the whole of the United States and Canada. Most of the economic successes herein recorded are the results of arrangements made by direct cegotiations between employers or their representaives, and accredited representatives of the trade unions. Wherein it has been reported that successes have been secured through the stoppages of work they are referred to as the results of strikes. I am deeply gratified in being able to report definitely and positively at this time that through the intelligent and persistent efforts of the trade unionists in America to establish and perfect the science of collective bargaining between organized employes and employers, many influential men of business and public affairs have at last reached the conclusion that not only are the trade unions of America essential to the welfare of the workers themselves, but that they are the most effective instrument for maintaining industrial peace. During 1913 many newspapers, magazines, and public men have commended the work of the American trade union movement and have urged the unorganized workers to cast their lot with the unions of their occupations. Asbestos Workers:-New unions, 7; membership increased during year, 400; number of strikes during year, 7; won, 5; pending, 2; number of persons benefited, 600, thereby obtaining an average gain of 20 cents per member per day, and in one city, Minneapolis, hours of labor reduced from 10 to 8 per day. Three new agreements secured without strike. Bakery and Confectionery Workers:-Net number of new unions, 21; gain in membership, 3,855; number of strikes, 12; won, 9; pending, 3; number of persons benefited, 165. A 10 per cent gain in wages secured as result of strikes, as well as reduction of hours from 1 to 2 per day. Without strike 120 local unions secured new contracts with employers, thereby obtaining an average of 10 per cent increase in wages and reductions of hours from 30 minutes to 1 hour per day, benefiting 15,000 members. No reduction in wages to members during year. Cost of strikes, $4,790; death benefits, $3,125; death benefits for members' wives, $975; sick benefits, $33,870; donations to other unions, $1,675. As result of the efforts of this organization, wages of bakers and confectionery workers have been increased from $8 to $20 per week; hours of labor have been reduced from 14 per day to 9 and 8 per day; the boarding-in system has been abolished and many improvements have been gained in sanitary conditions affecting the manufacture of foodstuffs, thereby conserving the health of the general public as well as of the bakers. Barbers:-Net number of new unions, 24; gain in membership, 3,000; won 7 strikes benefiting 1,815 members; 53 agreements secured without strike; cost of strikes, $8,268. Death benefits, $77,338; donations to other unions, $5,450. Blacksmiths:-Net number of new unions, 20 gain in membership, 1,500; 1,200 members benefited as result of 2 strikes, the eight-hour day was secured in one instance, and a union shop agreement in the other. Several agreements made or renewed with railroad companies providing for improvements in working rules and sanitary conditions in workshops. All attempts to reduce wages successfully resisted. Cost of strikes, $30,000. The blacksmith's organization has succeeded in reducing hours of labor from 10 to 9 per day in many workshops and in the city of Pittsburgh to 8 hours per day. Boilermakers:-Net number of new unions, 7; gain in membership, 1,220; cost of strikes during year, $62,745; death benefits, $6,000. As the result of organization wages have been increased, hours reduced and general shop conditions of boilermakers have materially improved. Bookbinders:-Gain in membership during year, 555. No reduction in wages during year. Cost of strikes, $9,400. Resistance to efforts on part of employers to establish the open shop has been the cause of most of the strikes and lockouts. Death benefits, $5,600. Boot and Shoe Workers:-Net number of new unions, 3; won 12 strikes; lost 1; pending, 1. Many persons benefited on account of strikes, who were not directly involved. Cost of strikes, $25,356. Many substantial benefits secured for members during year; new agreements written, old agreements renewed without strike. All attempts to reduce wages successfully resisted. The nine-hour day prevails generally. In some instances the fiftyhour week has been secured. Sick benefits, $77,787; disability benefits, $4,150; death benefits, $15,725; donations to other unions, $12,000. Brewery Workers:-Gain of 9,130 new members during year; 3 per cent of membership during year unemployed or sick. Won 17 strikes; compromised 6; lost, 2; pending, 7; 569 members involved. Cost of strikes, $2,886; twelve of these strikes were called to obtain contracts with employers, they resulted in the signing of contracts in eight cities for ten local unions. In 210 cities in behalf of 269 unions, 288 contracts were signed protecting the working conditions of 18,030 members. During the life of these contracts, 15,209 members will receive $3,123,105 increase in wages and 3,158 members will work 2,093,018 hours less than before. No reduction in wages permitted during 1913. Resistance to one attempt to reduce wages resulted in obtaining an increase in wages. As result of the efforts of the brewery workers' organization members employed indoors work 8 to 9 hours per day; those employed out-doors work 8 to 10 hours per day. Donations to other unions from international treasury, $1,500. Wages vary from $14 to $35 per week in different sections of the country. Brushmakers: Gain in membership, 20; number benefited on account of strike, 23; gain in wages, $1 per day; hours of labor reduced from 56 to 54 per week. Secured 12 new agreements without strike. As result of organization wages have been increased from 10 to 15 per cent for brushmakers and hours reduced from 60 to 54 per week. Carpenters:-Net number of new unions, 57; gain in membership, 2,300; won 8 strikes; compromised, 13; lost, 2; pending, 7. As result of strikes carpenters secured an average increase in wages of 5 cents per hour and reduced hours of labor in a few cases from 9 to 8 per day-most carpenters enjoy the eight-hour day. Secured without strike 125 agreements. There is a growing tendency on the part of local unions and district councils voluntarily to arbitrate their differences with their employers rather than to engage in strikes. In some cases the members have made concessions, in others the employers have made concessions, the result being all parties concerned are better satisfied and no stoppage of work occurs. The system of signing agreements running for a period of two and three years providing for an increase in wages each year is also steadily gaining favor. Cost of strikes, $57,000. Death benefits to members and members' wives, $343,000. Carriage and Wagon Workers:-Net number of new unions, 7; gain in membership, 300; number of members benefited on account of strikes, 800, resulting in an increase in wages of 50 cents per day per member, and hours of labor reduced 4 hours per week for 350 persons. Secured 26 agreements without strike. Cost of strikes, $2,000; death benefits, $1,500. As result of organizations, carriage and wagon workers have reduced hours from 54 to 50 per week and increased the wage-scale from 35 and 41 cents per hour to 42 and 67 cents per hour. Carvers, Wood:- Gain in membership during year, 107; gain in wages from $2 to $5 per week for 150 members through strike. Nine-hour day established in furniture shops in New York City with day work instead of piece work. Eight agreements secured without strike, 5 providing for an increase in wages, 1 in which the hours of labor were reduced from 60 to 54 per week and 2 prevented a proposed reduction of wages. Cost of strikes, $728; death benefits, $1,800. Cement Workers:-Net number of new unions, No reduction in wages permitted during year and increases in wages were secured in many localities without strike. Cigarmakers-Won 27 strikes; compromised, 2; lost, 3; pending, 16; number of people benefited 2,845. Secured 21 new agreements without strike All attempts to reduce wages were successfully resisted. Sick benefits, $196,853; death benefits, including members' wives, $280,555; unemployed benefits, $31,900; strike benefits, $8,877; tota benefits paid in 1913, $563,450; grand total of benefits paid in 34 years-existence of the organization $11,347,650. The cost per member to pay the death benefits in 1913 was $5.97 per capita; the cost per member to pay all benefits paid by the international union for 1913 was $11.14. The Cigarmakers' International Union was one of the first American trade unions to establish the eighthour day, which it did on May 1, 1886. As a result the physical, social and moral welfare of the persons following this trade has been greatly improved It is found by statistical data that the average length of life of the members of the cigarmakers' union has been increased over sixteen years in comparison with the length of life of those who followed the trade before the eight-hour workday was installed. Clerks, Retail:-During the year 80 new locals were chartered; gain in membership, 8,000. One strike which had lasted 17 months was satisfactorily adjusted. Cost of strike, $7,306. Death and sick benefits, $23,885. Cloth Hat and Cap Makers:-New unions, 3 gain in membership, 875; won 26 strikes; lost, 5, pending, 4; number of persons benefited, 473 Many agreements were secured without strike whereby the hours of labor were reduced from 56 to 50 per week. Strike benefits, $12 270) sick benefits, $3,414; donations to other unions, $5.89. Previous to 1902, the year this organization was es tablished, the number of hours of labor in the hat and cap trade were unlimited, the working people had to supply their own sewing machines, thread, and were charged for electric power. From 1902 to 1907 the hours of labor were reduced to 56 per week, and 8 holidays during the year were secured From 1907 to 1913 hours of labor were reduced from St per week to 50 per week; wages were gradually increased so that the members now receive 5 per cent more wages than before they were organized, and in addition free thread, free electric power, and free sewing machines without cost to the workers have been obtained. Commercial Telegraphers:-Number of new unions, 4. One strike settled benefiting 225 members. One agreement secured without strike, benefiting 125 members whereby their wages were increased 50 cents per week. Cost of strikes, $2,0%. The organization made substantial gains in the rules governing promotion and the recognition of the Several right of the telegraphers to belong to a trade union. As result of organization, 25 per cent more wages are paid to telegraphers than were paid previous to the organization of the commercial telegraphers. Compressed Air Workers:-Net number of new unions, 2; gain in membership, 386. agreements secured without strike with the following conditions-men working in compressed air up to 22 pounds per square inch receive $4.50 per day of 8 hours; from 22 to 50 pounds of air, $5.50 for 80 minutes, the change of pay being arranged at every 5 pounds after 22 pounds pressure with an increase of pay of 25 cents for each additional 5 pounds over 22 pounds. Coopers:-Won 7 strikes; compromised, 7; lost, 4; pending, 3; number of persons benefited, 550. Increases in wages gained at nearly all points where strikes have occurred. Secured 25 agreements without strike. All attempts to reduce wages successfully resisted. Cost of strikes, $13,978. Death benefits, $5,700. Increased membership for year, 176. As result of organization hours of labor for coopers have been reduced in many places from 10 to 8 hours per day, with an increase in wages averaging 50 per cent. Diamond Workers:-No strikes during year. Working hours (48 per week), and standard of wages reAsmain unchanged. Unemployment benefit, $682; sick benefit, $1,768; death benefit, $2,050. sistance rendered to non-union diamond workers in an attempt to organize, $600. The effect of the new The importation tariff law was not beneficial. of rough diamonds decreased and the number of idle members increased proportionately, 25 per cent of the membership being now unemployed. During the past five years the organization has paid for strikes benefits $11,040; for unemployment benefits, other than strikes or lockouts, $24,647; sick benefits, $7,272; traveling benefits, $1,894; death benefits, $6,150; total benefits paid during five years, $51,000. Cost per member per year for benefits paid by the international union, $6.80 per capita. Electrical Workers:-Net number of new unions, 45; gain in membership, 7,452; won 18 strikes; compromised, 6; lost, 2; pending, 2; number of persons benefited, 3,100, who secured an average gain of 40 cents per member per day. Secured 42 agreements without strike by which many improved conditions were obtained. All attempts to reduce wages successfully resisted. Death benefits, $12,000. Elevator Constructors:-Number of new unions, 11; gain in membership, 200. As result of organization hours of labor have been reduced from 60 to 44 per week and wages increased from an average of $14 to $27 per week. Firemen, Stationary:-Net number of new unions 23; gain in membership, 1,008; won 8 strikes; compromised, 2; pending, 1; firemen benefited, 204, whereby a 10 per cent increase in wages was secured and hours of labor reduced from 12 to 8 per day. Established a six day working-week instead of a seven day working-week for 1,500 members. Secured an eight-hour day instead of a twelve-hour day for 2,304 members without reduction in pay. Secured increases in pay ranging from 10 to 25 per cent for 4,026 firemen. Secured increases ranging from 3 to 71⁄2 per cent for 2,720 men. Five hundred agreements negotiated without strike. All attempts 193 to reduce wages successsfully resisted. Death bene- Foundry Employes:-Number of new unions, 2; Garment Workers, United (Men's Clothing): Net ments without strike. All attempts to reduce wages Garment Workers, Ladies:-Net number of new Cutters, coat pressers, sample Skirt pressers, sample skirt- Coat underpressers.. Skirt underpressers.. $24.00 per week. 22.00 19.00 18.00 " 17.00 Glass Bottle Blowers:-Net number of new unions, 7; won 2 strikes; number of persons benefited, 1,000. All working conditions arranged by direct negotiation in conference with employers. Glass bottle blowers formerly worked 2 shifts of 9 hours each within 24. They now work 3 shifts of 72 hours each and in some places 4 shifts of 6 hours each. Glass bottle blowers have always made high wages. They are still making a good living wage at Unemployment benefits, these reduced hours. $61,813; death benefits, $58,312; donations to other unions, $400. Glass Workers, Amalgamated:-Won 2 strikes wages 25 cents per member per day and reducing benefiting 150 members and resulting in increasing hours of labor 1 per day. Secured 7 working agreements without strike. All attempts to reduce wages successfully resisted. Before organization men in this trade worked 55 hours per week for wages which ranged from $12 to $18 per week. Since organization working hours have been reduced to 50 per week, and wages have been raised ranging from $17 to $24 per week. Strike benefits, $300; death benefits, $525; donations to other unions, $200. Glass Workers, Flint:-Number of new unions, 19; gain in membership, 1,024; won 6 strikes; pending, 2; number of persons benefited, 1,300. With the exception of these strikes all working conditions in the trade are arranged by direct negotiation in conference with manufacturers. Among improved conditions secured in trade during 1913 was the abolition of Sunday night work. Cost of strikes, $57,390. Glove Workers:-Number of new unions, 3; gain in membership; 70; secured 12 agreements during year without strike; 300 members benefited through strike. An attempt to reduce wages in one factory was successfully resisted. Granite Cutters:-Won 38 strikes benefiting 2,125 members. Wages were increased on an average of 25 cents per day for each man involved in these strikes. Strike benefits, $38,522; death benefits, $34,829; donations to other unions, $6,125. Working conditions of the trade vastly improved by persistent effort to discontinue the use of unhealthful tools and continual demands for more cleanly, sanitary workshops. Ha ters: During the past year sanitary conditions of a number of hat factories have been greatly improved. All attempts to reduce wages during year were successfully resisted. Death benefits, $65,000; donations to other unions, $6,300. Hodcarriers, Building Laborers, Etc.:-Net number of new unions, 38; gain in membership, 12,000; won 21 strikes; compromised, 2; pending, 1; benefited 5,000 persons by securing an average increase of 5 cents per hour per member. Secured an average increase of 10 per cent in wages for many members in various .ocalities without strike. No reduction in wages reported during year. Death benefits, $5,100; strike benefits, $3,000. Horseshoers:-Net number of new unions, 3; gain in membership, 400; won 3 strikes, benefiting 400 members, and secured an increase in wages ranging from 25 to 75 cents per day. Secured 20 agreements during year without strike and obtained an increase of wages in each instance. Strike benefits, $2,000. Before organization horseshoers obtained from $2.50 to $3 per day of 10 and 11 hours. Since organization horseshoers get from $4 to $4.50 per day of 9 hours; the Saturday half-holiday during summer months has been secured in a large number of cities. Hotel and Restaurant Employes:-Net number of new unions, 45; gain in membership, 7,500; won 31 strikes; compromised, 5; lost, 4; 1,100 persons benefited by securing an average increase in wages of 8 per cent in some cities and a 6-day working-week in other cities. Death benefits $68,662; sick benefits, $58,910; strike benefits, $14,570; donations to other unions, $16,235. As result of organization employes in hotels and restaurants have obtained shorter hours and less irksome conditions of labor, and receive more reasonable treatment from their employers. Iron and Steel Workers:-Net number of new unions, 6; gain in membership, 500; wages increased from 5 to 10 per cent for 1,500 members through strike. Renewed many agreements with employers by direct negotiation. Total membership greatly benefited by generally improved working conditions. Strike benefits, $8,000; death benefits, $5,100; death benefits, members' wives, $1,000; sick benefits, $10,515; donations to other unions, $500 Lace Operatives:-Gain in membership, 60; won 4 strikes benefiting 350 members. All attempts to reduce wages during year successfully resisted. Shop conditions have been generally improved. Death benefits, members and members' wives, $3,550; strike benefits, $1,770; donations to other unions, $350. Lathers:-Gain in membership during year, 1,200. Death benefits, $5,450; donations to other unions, $900. Before organization lathers worked 10 and 12 hours per day, 6 days per week, at an average wage of $2.50 per day. Since organization the eight-hour day has been secured with the Saturday half-holiday, and the wage-scale raised to a minimum of $4.50 and ranging as high as $7 per day in some localities. Laundry Workers:-Gain in membership, 200; secured 30 agreements during year without strike and gained slight improvement in wages and better working conditions. Several local organizations have secured an eight-hour day and other locals a nine-hour day as against an unlimited number of hours previous to organization. Wages in the organized laundries are 30 per cent better than those in the unorganized ones. Leather Workers:-Gain in membership, 816. Several new agreements made by direct negotiation. Strike benefits, $740; sick benefits, $2,055; death benefits, $975. Lithographers: No reduction in wages permitted during the past year. The forty-eight-hour week is being generally adopted. Death benefits, $5,300. Longshoremen:-Net number of new unions, 12; won 7 strikes, benefiting 2,200 members, securing an average of 4 per cent increase in wages. Secured seventy-five agreements with employers through arbitration. Machine Printers:-Won 29 strikes; lost 3; 430 members benefited by securing 33% cents per day increase in wages. As result of organization wages have been raised in some localities from $20 to $25 per week, and in others from $22 to $27 per week. Working rules and sanitary conditions of workshops have now reached a high standard through the efforts of the union. Strike benefits, $5,000; death benefits, $800. Machinists:-Net number of new unions, 92; gain in membership, 15,000; won 43 strikes; compromised, 7; pending, 46. Reduced hours and increased wages for members working in 480 contract or manufacturing shops in 71 different cities. Made new agreements and renewed old ones with 66 railroad systems benefiting members in 700 different localities in which railroad shops and round-houses are located. Reduced the number of working hours for 30,000 men engaged in the machinists' craft. and other metal trades. Increased wages for 61,000 machinists and other metal tradesmen to the grand total of $3,750,000 for the year. No reduction in wages permitted and no piecework or premium system established in union shops during the year. Cost of strikes, $245,000; death benefits, $54,500. Marble Workers: Gain in membership, 700; won 3 strikes benefiting 50 members and increasing |