The evening world., 1888-06-30
ONE and ALL.
An Association Of Furniture Porters,
Packers and Drivers
Their Rebellion Against Long
Hours OF Labor.
BY
WILLIAM MAC NAIR.

In the course of the past thirty three years,
to my knowledge, the employees in the fur
niture, carpet and bedding trades have been
organized ON four different occasions under
the leadership OF the statesmen of those trades,
and each time the movement has become q
fat failure, through the desire Of the sales
men to pose as autocrats and to override the
interests of the porters, packers and drivers,
who composed the working element of their
organizations.
A NEW DEPARTURE.
Having watched the rise and fall of these
- councils" &C., n few of the men who saw
the necessity for organization came together
In the early part of 1886, and, after weeks of
preparation, formed on April 25 of that year
what 10 now known as the One and ALI Asso-
citation.
Years Of experience having taught them
that open organizations were valueless. they
were organized under the noble order Of the
Knights of Labor. At that time there were
only sixteen members, but to-day, after two
years Of patient %toiling, they can show a
membership roll which now reaches nearly
two hundred.
SOME OF THEIR GRIEVANCES.
Our object IN organizing was for the pur-
pose of protecting our members from the
unjust treatment we were and are even now
receiving, not only at the hands Of our en-
ployers. but at the hands of the statesmen,
who, through their desire to- place them
selves high in the estimation of the employ
ers, promise purchasers that they. Will. deliver
large bills a. goods on q . same day they sell
them. 1t will readily be seen that by the
time the furniture ID got out, fitted up and
ready, for delivery, and tie carpets cut and
| sewed, the day is we'll advanced. Is IL to be
wondered at that the driver gets to the house
Of a purchaser at midnight, or often arouses
him from his SAUNDERS?
You may think this an exceptional case.
but we can give instances that have happened
day after day for weeks at q time, where the
p~orters, packers and drivers all worked from
sixteen to twenty hours o day, and that for
an average salary of $40 a week. Over time
is not paid for.
UNITED ACTION.
Now for the remedy. In the spring of 1887
certain members OF our organization were
approached by a committee from the sales
mems organization and were requested to act
in conjunction with them In their endeayor
to close certain stores at Q o'clock in the
evening. They admitted that they could de
nothing alone, and assured us they would not
forget 1t II we assisted them. We did assist
them.
Our delegates to the Executive Board of
Salespeople, connected with p. A.. 40,
brought the matter to the attention of that
body, and they appointed n committee who
waited upon the different storeR, and, after
explaining their errand and where they came
from, made a complete success of the move
ment. But what was the consequence The
promises made in early spring were forgotten
before the beginning of summer.
AN UPHILL FIGHT.
The stores closed nominally at the stated
time-6 O'Clock. The statesmen went home,
but the porter and packer had plenty of
work to do after that time. to say nothing of
the poor driver, who considered he was get
ting through early if he got homo at 10
o'clock.
1t was now our turn to appeal to the sales
men, but We were politely told that they
could not help us and that we must fight our
own battle. We have ZONE to the conclusion
that we will, and ] have every reason to be-
lieve we will make O greater success of II
than they did, for the reason that our princi.
pie is not to fight the battles of individuals OF
classes, but for all mankind.
AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC.
In conclusion we would ask the purchasing
|, public and all organized labor, In the name
Of humanity, to act in conjunction with us In
bcttering the condition of the porters, pack,
ers and drivers of the furniture, carpet and
bedding trades by shortening the hours Of
labor. This can he done by refusing to re-
ceive any goods delivered after @ o'clock p. M
If this plan of campaign Is carried out, Il
will compel the employers to hire moro helr
to get their goods delivered, thereby serving
two good purposes, allowing the Employer
to go home earlier, and giving some Of the
idle mon q chance to earn an honest Twins
and keen their families from starving,