The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-28
THE RETAIL CLERKS.
SOMETHING OF THEIR AIMS AND
OBJECTS.
What They Have Accomplished and
the Outlook for the Future-An
Energetic Organization.

In April. 1892. twelve men met one
in this city, to form union, the pur-
pose of which was to shorten the hours
of labor. Before this date we used to
work from 1880 a. m. till 10 D. m; our
hours were supposed to be D. m, but
what with Strengthening stock. cover
ing up and cleaning out for next days
business, it was nearer 1870 than 8
o'clock before we got away.
These twelve men comprised only
clothing and shoe clerks. as the dry
goods people got much better hours
a. m. was their quitting time.
After appointing a committe on con-
Stitution and bylaws. the meeting adj
iourned for one week. The committee
worked hard and faithfully and by eX-
tending an invitation to other clerks in
our line of business at our second
meeting we had twenty-five members
present, who signed the roll. That was
the first inception of the Retail Clerks
National Protective association No. q.
After adopting the constitution and by
laws committee visited different mer-
chants for signatures. 1t took US three
months to complete the list and get all
the merchants to sign.
In July of the same year we became
Trades and have been connected with
the central body ever since. When
that body merged into the Board OF
Labor the clerks union was one of the
first to send delegates.
Nc. q furnished a secretary for the
central body two terms and a presiding
officer for one term. On important
committees-the most important ones
were the legislative. executive and Or
ganization-we have always had a
member OF our union on each Of these
committees.
The good we have accomplished is
untold. Not alone have we taught the
public to trade by daylight. but we
have had chance to get acquainted
with our own families; our employers
themselves have been UNNECESSARILY
bensfaJed by insisting upon reasonable
hours. While they do the same amount
of business in less hours they. too, have
a chance of cuAiyating family &C
QuaintanceS and have more leisure to
transact that business that all business
men do when all Is quiet around them,
their correspondence.
By joining the central organization
we have got into closer touch with our
fellow wOrkingmen and understand
better what he needs and are in a
better position to supply these wants
than ever before. and by judicious ad-
vice nave been able to so direct atten-
ton of our employers to such wants.
Where a man trades with a union clerk
he is sure of fair treatment. and no
Misrepresentation can be resorted to
because the clerk knows it will rebound
to his own discredit should he do so,
for he knows that the working man
who trades with him depends almost
entirely on his honesty, and he will not
betray the trust.
The depression in trade affects us as
it does all other organizations and
business in general.
We know by experience that when
work is plenty there are good times
ahead for all, and things begin to look
somewhat better and brighter days are
ahead All members of our union but
two are at work. and of these one Will
shortly be placed.
With the coming season and inn
proved times we hope once more to be-
come as of old. fifty to sixty members
strong. NO. 81.