The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-31
WILL THEY SECEDE +?
Local Carpenters Are
Tired Of Their
Organization.
SAY THEY GET NO BENEFITS.
National Brotherhood Al
legged to Be Neglecting
Eastern Field.
SAY THEY GET NO BENEFITS.

Secession from the United Brother.
hood of Carpenters and Joiners OF
America, the parent body, will be dis.
cussed at the meeting of the Carpen-
ters' and Joiners' union tomorrow even
ing.
The local union has a membership Of
about 800, and as there are nearly 1906
carpenters in the city, it is evident that
the principal objects of the national or
ganizat1on 'the shortening of the
hours of labor, the advancement OF
wages, and extended membership in the
local unions" has not been effective in
this city.
For several months the local unior
has been clamoring for organizers from
the national organization. Two have
been promised, but they have not ar
rived. The Lynn Carpenters union got
lax, refused to pay dues, was suspended
and now has on foot a movement tc
organize New England unions into 8
body independent of the United Bro
tharhood of Carpenters and Joiners OF
America
The work of the national organiza-
ton has been centered in the west and
middle states, and New England has
been allowed nothing to assist in in.
creasing membership. 1t is believed by
the members of the local union that The
principal work of the national organiza-
ton should be to keep organizers ii
the field, forming new unions, and
building up weak ones. Had this beer
done, local carpenters say that the IS
unions in Massachusetts would not
have dwindled to 16 struggling unions
There are only 20 cities in the United
States and Canada where carpenters
work ten hours day. One hundred and
FIVE unions have the eight hour day
and 424 work nine hours a day. The
major portion of the money paid into
the national treasury is spent for death
and disability benefits. A small amount
is expended for organizing purposes.
The local union has succeeded in es.
tablishing a nine hour working day
but the members have not the time tc
hustle for members. President p B
Keefe, in conversation with The Spy
man, said: I'VE have discussed similar
action several times, but nothing has
been done We are not going to with.
draw from the national organization
unless we are fully assured that we viii
be benefited by such action.
There Is no reason why our loca
union should not embrace a majority OF
the members OF the craft IN this city
AS it is, we have a membership of less
than one-third of the number of work
men. The sick and death benefits have
always been paid regularly by the ma.
tional organization but we have paid
hundreds of dollars into the treasury
that we have not received benefit from
in any way.
THE local union is in good standing
with the national organization, but i!
we continue in the same rut our loca,
union cannot be made stronger. Tues
day night we will go over the ground
exhaustively, and the sentiment of the
members will determine our future
policy
P. J. Mcclure. general secretary
treasurer of the United Brotherhood If
Carpenters and Joiners of America, has
been quoted in Philadelphia as saying
that the proposed New England or.
ganization will not amount to much
According to local members of the
craft, unless something is done towards
Strengthening the local union, it's use
fulness as labor organization will be
narrowed down to a sick and death
benefit society.