The San Francisco call., 1896-04-23
TRADES UNION MATTERS,
The Recent Agitation and Strikes
Productive of Good
Results.
Purposes and Aims Of the Fraternity
of Hotel and Restaurant
Employees.

The recent agitation in the Building
Trades Unions circles has about subsidized,
and from all accounts the disturbance has
proved benefit to the union working
men. Business Agents Schadt and McIvor
report that the City is steadily becoming
unionized under the card system. The
mixed jobs are gradually becoming fair,
and Notwithstanding that several unions
have raised their initiation fee many new
members are going on the rolls. Most of
these came from the unfair jobs. This, of
itself, is encouraging. Agent Mclvor
states that the unions have one difficulty
to overcome, and that is a NUM- Der of
workmen of all trades are coming to
San Francisco having learned that
the strike has been successful and that So
for eight hours work is the prevailing rate.
Even at the best there are so per cent more
workmen in this City than the trade war
rants. and at present the trade is at a very
low ebb. 1t will be several months be-
fore it is likely to liven up to anything like
briskness. For all this the union men are
holding together in commendable man
ner.
The Fraternity of Hotel and Restaurant
Employees is booming along in most en-
couraging manner since the division
caused oy the withdrawal OF a number of
cooks and walters, who formed union of
their own. The latter withdrew because
they objected 20 being in an organization
with dishwashers, porters or any but those
in their own lines. With the fraternity it
was different. With the latter body its
principles are set forth in little circular
which reads:
The objects of this union are to better the
condition and educate the cooks, walters,
kitchen-hands, porters, and all other persons
employed in and about hotels and restaurants.
The advantages incident to a membership in
union OF this description are only too evident
when compared with those who are not organ
lied and who fail TO assume a definite atti-
tude toward labor in the great struggle for an
existence. All engaged in the above work are
cordially invited to join us. There is an en-
ployment Office in connection with the union
for the benefit OF its members
The fraternity met Monday night at lis
Turk street and after considerable discus
sion it was unanimously decided to affli-
ate with the new Trade and Labor Alli-
ance, the union deeming it the wisest
course to connect itself with the alliance
instead of the Labor Council. The invi-
tation to participate in the parade and
exercises given by the Socialist Labor
Party at the Metropolitan Temple on the
evening of May day was accepted, several
walters volunteering to act as ushers at the
temple on that evening. Short speeches
were made by Henry Wanicke of the Cigar
makers Union, Theodore Lynch, the
unions delegate to the Central Trade and
Labor Alliance, 6. B. Benham of the Typo
graphical Union, Eugene Brown of the
Journeymen Butchers Union, Thomas
Beresford, B. Kriegor, J. II, Luchewitz,
Leon Brown and several others.
AT meeting of the United Garment
makers last evening the question of organ
izlng the women in the trade into branch
union was discussed. 1t was the opinion
OF the majority that there was no use OF
beginning aggressive movements until the
cooperation of the women was secured.
The tenor of the reports was that the
women as rule were in favor of becom-
ing unionized, realizing that the trade
would never improve without active con-
certed efforts oD the part of the employees.
Upon this showing it was decided to or
ganize woman's union, to be branch of
the mems union. as soon as possible.
business Agent Schadt of the Building
Trades Council yesterday received from
Philadelphia the charter for the French
and Italian Carpenters Union recently
organized by him when he was district
organizer. This body will at once go into
permanent organization.
Although the new Metal-roofers' Union
has only been organized two weeks it has
gathered in nearly all of the old organiza-
ton and Eow there are about ninety names
ON the roll. Twenty roofers were initiated
last evening. The union has secured its
old hall at 927 Mission street.
Delegate Zant of the Building Trades
Council addressed the granite-cutters last
evening upon the subject of affiliating
with the council. 1t is likely that the
union will send delegates to the council
If the National body, of which it is a part.
does not object.