The San Francisco call., 1896-05-09
AMONG THE LABOR UNIONS
Trades Council to Again Protest
Against the Funding
Bill.
The American Federation of Labor
Takes a Slap at the Politi-
cal Alliance.

Several interesting matters were con-
sidered last evening at q meeting of the
San Francisco Labor Council. letter was
received from Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor,
which read:
We desire to inform you and your organiza-
ton that the dues of the central Ia Dor unions
and of the State Federation have been reduced
to $40 each per year, payable quarterly, IN
stead OF $25, as formerly; and II such bodies
have representation in the annual conyen-
tion OF the American Federation of Labor an
additional $40 each shall be paid. This law
takes effect May l, and we would request that
all dues owed up to that date be promptly
paid, so that there will be no confusion. We
hope by this reduction we Will be able to
bring together larger number oil central
bodies and thus add to the power OF or
ganized labor throughout the country.
1t was decided to pay the annual dues
soto the American Federation of Labor.
In another letter from Gompers it was
stated that at the New York convention OF
the American Federation of Labor it was
voted to make special efforts to organize
the 5ourneymen BARRIERS throughout the
country, and the writer asked that CO.
operative efforts be made in the same di-
rection in San Francisco.
Chairman Burns stated that it would be
out of the question in this City with the
present BARRIERS unions, IN which nearly
all of the bosses were members, which was
prohibited in the National federation laws.
In another letter from the same source it
was stated: 1--WE congratulate you on so
successfully meeting the attempt to sup
plant your body and destroy the labor
movement OF your City" This was slap
at the Trades and Labor Alliance, which
attempted to affiliate with the council and
draw organized labor into politics.
Reports from the unions show that iron
work is dull. Only about half of the
Theatrical Employees Union members are
at work.
The delegate from the Typographical
Union reported that in consequence OF the
large number of typesetting machines the
number OF unemployed printers Is increas-
ing. The printers will soon start an even
ing newspaper in the interest of labor.
The Sailors Union delegate reported
trade temporarily dull, as the ship-owners
were waiting for a raise in freights.
delegate Hober called attention to the
TACT that wholesale hardware house was
about TO get large catalogue of tin
wares, ana propose TO get the work done
! oy the Pacific Press. a non-union printing
once In Oakland. 1t was decided to appoint
acommlttee from the council and a commit
zee from the Typographical Union to ask
| Ihe hrm 10 give the work to union flrm
). Flanagan of Anaconda, q member o1
the Montana Trade and Labor Council
was introduced, and expressed great sur.
prise that there were not more delegate:
present. He said that in Montana the
Worklng-card was success in all trades
Even storeclerks belonged to unions ano
were compelled to have their union cards
Journeymen maintained the best of wages
ana trades-unionism was q success. Ii
several instances the unions have haC
hard lights, but all were successful, as al
the men stood together.
The secretary was instructed to draw VI
suitable resolutions protesting against th,
at the next meeting for Endorsement b,
the council. The resolution, the secon,
from the Council. will be forwarded to tn
Pacific Coast representatives at Washing
| ton.