The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-09
Movement on Foot to Effect a
Union of the Building
Trades.
A GENERAL MEETING PLACE.
Union Men to Withdraw From the
Association Because It Is Not
Congenial.

An important movement is on foot
among the unions of the builders trades.
1t is proposition which contsmplates the
com bination of all the building trades
unions of this City.
The scheme has taken no definite form
as yet, but is being discussed by some of
the unions and is being extended to others
for consideration as fast as their regular
meetings come around. The promoters
hope for Developments that will enable
them to effect the combine by the first of
the new year.
In the building trades are the carpen-
tiers with Jour unions and the following
with one each: Plasterers, painters,
plumbers, cornice- workers and hodcarriers.
the whole representing membership of
more than 1000 men.
1t is the intention if the scheme be sue
cessful to bring all these unions together
in one combination, each separate union
to operate under its own charter, but with
a common understanding that each union
as a member of the com bination must pro-
hibit its members from working on a build
ing unless every laborer employed on the
building is a union man. The combina-
ton will select its own walking delegates
to see that the regulations are enforced.
An effort will also be made to bring
the electricians, tile-setters and fathers,
and other unions into the combination,
while still further effort in the same line
will be an attempt to organize the bench
men, the machine wood-workers and stair
makers under the charter of the Brother
hood Of Carpenters and Joiners. All this
the building trades expect to accomplish
by next spring.
The movement further contemplates the
establishment of a building trades head
quarters, where all the craftsmen men
toned, and even others, may meet for tho
transaction of business in lodgerooms and
get acquainted with one another in the
general assembly -room. In the latter
room it is propo sed to have plenty of read
ing matter, pool-tables and card-tables and
such attractions as will keep the members
away from Objectionable places.
There are several reasons why the Turk
street Temple is not satisfactory to the
trades unions, the principal one being that
1t is recognized as one of the headquarters
of the Socialists. 1t is also the head
quarters of the Labor Bureau Association.
The members of the association are car
penters, painters, plumbers, number Of
professional men aud workmen who do
not belong to any union. Throughout the
whole organization the spirit of socialism
prevails. The membership is about 400,
and the members are entitled to all the
privileges of the premises upon the pay
ment of 25 cents month.
A short time ago move was made to
have the place turned into headquarters
for union men of the building trades, but
when the proposition was voted upon it
was defeated. The union men argued tina:
their union rules prohibit them from
working with non-union men, and the
association with men who are not
in sympathy with their principles is not
only uncongenial, but is exceedingly embar-
RAISING.
The trades union people have, therefore.
issued a call for meeting OF special COM
mittees from each union in the building
trades to devise means of establishing new
headquarters. The meeting will be held
next Thursday evening, when decision
is expected to be reached.