New-York tribune., 1874-11-21
woRKINGwoMEN's PROTECTIVE UNION.

WORKINGWOMEN'S PROTECTIVE ONioN.
CHECK UPON THE INJUSTICE OF EMPLOYERS.
Adfferent kind of relief, but no less important
Is furnished by the Working women's Protective O2'o"
at No. 80 Beeckerst. Tais ORGANIZATION hsd Its orgS
ten years ago, and it, single object was TO protect ths
sewing and trades women from the injustice OF lne.i
employers It's orginators chad Ions had occasion "
notice that large class Of who gave employ Ho".
to would take advantage OF them ia fsat'er'" "
business when short OF funds or on account trifn> ~
understanding or dissatisfaction with them. II"
amount OF money which honestly earned. and OF
which they were deprived, was believed to be very
large and yet there was way In which the 80 op
pressed women could obtain satisfaction. Unable TO
bring suits they could only submit and even II able TO
carry their complaints into court the small anouas OF
their dues naturally dssuaded them from having re-
the law This society deternined that 80 Tar
as possible, such cases. however small the amounts
involved. should be brought to lig1 the delinquents
compelled TO do justice and the women restored
to their rights At first the object OF the
union was poorly understood. aud was not
widely known. But success has gradually
brought it into recognition, and has enabled 10 durng
the past few years to perform large ana necessary
respect and sefsupport. It's benefits are not extended
to young women at service ascook', cnambermads &C.
since they have homes. but they reGch al cdss.s OF
VINO do work away from their homes: Ieachers.
seamstresses washer women. and women Of all trades
heard. Tho complaints are filed in book kept Tor
the purpose Investigation Is made 10 estaDsn INC
III
founded the agans, whom the Injustice Is alleged Is
informed by the society tbat civil acton VIII Dc
s ~ av or % acnes 10 nav anv attention 10 the
notice. the is taken to court without delay whether
the claim collected or not 1t costs the applicant
no hing Since the organization was completed 3i6s
complaints bave been made. o. these only sna mum
iourtLs Of ali that have been prosecuted BY
the society have resulted Satisfactorily 10
the plaintiff, I'm many the case not having been
allowed by the defendant TO go to iiai Inc largest
amount for which any suit has been brought was sos
.lIou "a vary n r "A
lar. The number OF complaints has incr ased IN a
marked degree since the panc OF last year o. e M T
ready been collected this year up 10 me hdie Oh tne
present month and tie number OF aSs
number during the same months In 1873. The numOer
sa snce 0 i hs @ OH n raard d the book Of
plants as fair index 10 the state OF general trade
The harder pushed employers be the more tempta-
ton there is to stoop to petty meanness, - -,
single case Will illustrate tue character OF
baf n9 dozen 'Hdi German women called at the Office
each with a complaint against the same man. They had
their employer, had met with slight misfortune.
refused TO them Toe union Informed nun at once
that would be brought, wheroupon no paid all OUT
two The biii OF OF these only IS
cents and the woman feared 1t too small 10 nave
anything further done about IT, Du she remarked una.
1t was great deal to her." Further inquiry ecited
the fact that sue had nine children that WIN me care
Of them she unable TO earn nuch and tnat her nus
bana's wages were only IS per week. Lisnty-sla
taken to court aud the 50 cents were pad % the
poor mother. In this way are women protected
In connection with this work the same classes OF
women are furnished with employment. large walt
aud another with library OF several thousand
volumes open to the applicants, where tney are
allowed spend much Tune as they cnoJse untll they
obtain work In 1873 there were llSi5 applications.
some of which simply for Information and advice
Employment provided for 247 persons. 80 far IN
have about 10000 applatioDs. aud 1872
persons have been set at WORK TAe Union - non-,ec-
tariau In all It's work, tue present AMI former ohcers
nearly all TeIgiOus denominations. Judge
DAILY President during five successive years. The
OF officers Is follows: President, Samnet
Wnlets Treasurer Moses Beach; Secretary and Att"r-
ney John H. Parsons. Mrs. VI. W. Fergcr nas the
ageIneut OF the office.