.$800.00 800.00 $1,600.00

Total Old Age benefits paid..... The above schedule of payments of claims to beneficiaries of deceased members shows that there were 430 death benefit claims paid during the year, aggregating $189,793.

Death benefits averaged $441.37 as against $451 for the year 1913 and $445 for the year 1912. The average amount per death benefit was approximately 21⁄2 per cent less than for the year 1913. This difference is due to the constantly increasing membership, which extends the proportion of deaths of members of more newly acquired locals.

Seventy-one deaths of members non-beneficial were reported. These 71 members were non-beneficial by not having been members one year prior to death, as the Association pays death benefits only on those who have been members for one full year. This number added to the number upon which death benefits were paid shows the death list for the year within the ranks of the Association to be of 501 members as against 379 for the year 1913 and 296 reported for the year 1912. This is an increase of over 34 per cent. The increase of the year 1913 over the year 1912 was 28 per cent. The increased death list, however, is wholly explained by the increase in membership of the Association. The proportion is practically the same as for the previous year.

Of the 501 deaths reported, 52, or over 10 per cent, were resultant from fatal accidents attendant to the occupation. These 52 fatalities were divided, as 15 of the 71 first year members and 37 of those upon whom benefits were paid.

It will be observed that of the deaths of first year members 21 per cent were resultant from accidents in the occupation.

Of the 430 members upon whom death benefits were paid, 81⁄2 per cent of the deaths were resultant from accidents in the occupation.

In contemplating these comparative figures upon accidental deaths it must be borne in mind that the 430 members upon whom death benefits were paid were extended in membership through the 20 years of the Association, while the 21 per cent of the 71 non-beneficial members whose deaths resulted from accidents were within their first year of membership in the Association.

Of the 501 deaths reported, 99 were reported as of tuberculosis. Ninety-one of

these were beneficial and eight were of the first year of membership. Of the 71 deaths reported upon non-beneficial members cause for death was not given in the instance of 18. Among these 18 may have been cases of tuberculosis or even accidents. However that may be, tuberculosis was the cause of the deaths of over 20 per cent of those whose deaths occurred the causes of which were reported. Over 31 per cent of the deaths were occasioned by tuberculosis and accidents.

The Association paid in death benefits upon the deaths of members whose deaths resulted from accidents in the service, $12,250. This was an average of $330 per death. This item decreased from the payments made upon accidental deaths in the year 1913. During that year upon 38 claims in which death was resultant from accidents the Association paid $13,500, or an average of $382 per claim.

The low average in death benefits paid upon deaths resulting from accidents compared with $441, the average death benefit, shows that accidents resulting to beneficial members are among the newer members of the beneficial class.

During the year 1914 there were 15 disability benefits paid in the sum of $8,700 as against the payment of 8 disability claims in the sum of $4,200 during the year 1913.

Disability benefits for 1914 averaged $580 each as against $525 each for the year 1913 and $400 each for the year 1912.

It will be observed that during the year 1914, $8,700 was paid for disability benefits and $12,250 upon death benefits resultant from accidents in the occupation. This shows that as a result of accidents the Association paid in benefits $20,950 from the Death, Disability and Old Age Benefit Fund.

The year 1914 characterized itself in the history of the Association by the payment of the first old age benefits. There were two old age benefits paid in the sum of $1,600.

The total paid in benefits from the Death, Disability and Old Age Benefit Fund was $200,093 as against $138,200 during the year 1913 and $114,950 during the year 1912.

During the year 1914 there were paid 430 death claims, 15 disability claims and 2 old age benefit claims, making a total of 447 claims paid. The claims paid averaged $447.63.

During the year 1914 death, disability and old age benefits were paid to members of 92 locals as against 77 for the year 1913 and 69 for the year 1912.

The Death, Disability and Old Age Benefit Fund is maintained by the contribution of 26 cents per month per member. The amount paid in death, disability and old age benefits from the fund during the year 1914 represents 26c per month per capita of 64,133 members. This shows the Death, Disability and Old Age Benefit Fund to be continuing upon a substantial basis and demonstrates that the policy of wage earners insuring themselves to be carried to the

point of actual insurance would be an inexpensive proposition as compared with what regular life insurance companies charge for insurance. In other words, it shows that a labor organization could conduct an insurance feature at an appreciably low premium and place a substantial assurance to beneficiaries of members within the reach of every wage earner.

The members of the Amalgamated Association have just cause to congratulate themselves upon the beneficial feature of the Association.

Strikes and Lockouts.

Within the year 1914 there developed twelve strikes and lockouts. There continued into the year four strikes and lockouts that developed within the previous

year.

The sixteen locals involved in strikes and lockouts, together with the number of members involved in each local were as follows:

Div. No. 19, Colorado Springs, Col.Locked out April 14, 1914; 124 members involved.

Div. No. 173, Hazleton, Pa.-Strike declared Dec. 31, 1913; 42 members involved. Div. No. 242, Montpelier, Vt.-Strike declared Feb. 5, 1914; 28 members involved.

Div. No. 497, Pittsburg, Kan.-Strike declared July 7, 1914; 158 members involved. Div. No. 524, Oskaloosa, Ia.-Locked out Oct. 5, 1913; 36 members involved.

Div. No. 528, Tarentum, Pa.-Locked out Dec. 10, 1913; 61 members involved.

Div. No. 549, Northampton, Mass.-Strike declared Aug. 19, 1914; 72 members involved. Div. No. 572, Frostburg, Md.-Strike declared Aug. 19, 1914; 42 members involved. Div. No. 631, Cincinnati, O.-Strike declared Oct. 4, 1913; 23 members involved. Div. No. 648, Terre Haute, Ind.-Locked out March 14, 1914; 41 members involved. Div. No. 657, Monessen, Pa.-Locked out April 23, 1914; 34 members involved.

Div. No. 663, St. John, N. B.-Locked out July 22, 1914; 116 members involved.

Div. No. 668, Baltimore, Md.-Locked out Aug. 24, 1914; 101 members involved.

Div. No. 670, Vincennes, Ind.-Locked out Aug. 17, 1914; 286 members involved.

Div. No. 674, Fort Smith, Ark.-Locked out Oct. 5, 1914; 84 members involved.

Of the 16 strikes and lockouts, 10 were lockouts and six were strikes. There were 1,008 members involved. In 10 satisfactory settlements were reached. Six were lost.

In respect to the membership, favorable adjustments were made in the interest of 758 members. The causes of contests were lost to 250 members. This is, in effect, that to less than 25 per cent of the members involved, the cause was lost. To 75 per cent favorable adjustments resulted.

In respect to strikes and lockouts, of the six strikes, four were won and two were lost to the Association. Of the 10 Divisions involved in lockouts the companies were successful in four and unsuccessful in six. Lockouts were instances where managements of employing companies endeavored

to destroy the organization, or defeat the purpose of employes to organize by denying the privilege of membership in the Association to the employes or otherwise withholding the right of organization from them.

During the year $24,290 were paid in strike and lockout benefits from the Defense Fund. This was $1,200 in excess of the amount paid in strike and lockout benefits in the year 1913. It is equal to the maintenance of 93 members on strike or lockout fer a period of the entire year.

During the year 1914 there were lost to 1,008 men involved in strikes ad lockouts 6,579 weeks, or an average of approximately six and one-half weeks each. This is inclusive of time to extra men, who represent 15 per cent of the members on strike and locked out, which indicates that the actual time lost for which pay would have been received for services rendered was 5,592 weeks. Estimating the service at $15 per week equals a wage value of $83,880. Deducting $24,290 paid by the Assocation in strike and lockout benefits nets an aggregate loss in time of the value of $59,590. Fully one-half of this was made up to the members in appropriations from local unions and in response to appeals from the local Divisions involved. However, it is a mere item compared with the gains that obtained through increased wages resultant from the efforts of the local Associations. For instance, in the case of Baltimore, Md., alone, the aggregate annual increase that obtained to the Baltimore men was more than five times the aggregate loss to the entire membership of the Assocation involved in strikes and lockouts. The extensive loss in time was practically sustained by the members of but four locals, the extreme period falling upon the 36 members of the Oskaloosa local and the 42 members of the Hazelton local.

The strike and lockout record of 1914 compares most favorably with that of the year 1913. During the year 1914 there were 16 strikes and lockouts. During the year 1913 there were 26 strikes and lockouts.

In the year 1914 there were 1,008 members involved in strikes and lockouts. In the year 1913 there were 7,272 members involved in strikes and lockouts.

In the year 1914, $24,290 was paid in strike and lockout benefits. I nthe year 1913 there were paid $23,090 in strike and lockout benefits.

In the year 1914 there were 5,592 weeks of lost time in strikes and lockouts. In the year 1913 there were 17,346 weeks of lost time.

In the year 1914, as was the case in the year 1913, in a vast majority of instances strike and lockout contentions resulted from the position of employing managements to defeat the extension of the Association. Companies were successful in these lockout efforts only in cases where the movement to organize was apprehended before a material unit of organization had been effected among the employes. There is but one in