The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-12-01
THE UNION LABEL
THE OLIVE BRANCH HELD OUT TO
EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYED.

Faultless-It IL n Guarantee that
Labor I. Getting Fair Wages
and Working Shorter Hours Tn
der Good Conditions
The union label and it's great possible
influence as factor in the pending
solution of social problems is a new
proposition only to that portion of the
community not connected with work
ingmen's trade organization. For
seventeen years the union printer, hat
ter, ironmolder. shoemaker and build
ing trade wOrkmen have been familiar
with the Blue Label placed upon cigars
by the Union Cigarmakers as a token
Of clean shop surroundings and good
kages. During twelve years organized
workers have found hidden in their
hats the fraternal message to them
from factory of their brother halter
Six years of agitation by the Typogra-
phical union has secured recognition
from other craftsmen Of one channel
through which their money may flow
back to the pockets Of the well-paid
printers.
The organized workers know the
value Of this means of mutual assist
ance, and they know that its logical
development will commend it to the
large and growing class of consumers
outside of labor unions who are now
taking a friendly interest in the sub
ject. They therefore aim to enlist and
hold the cooperation of all classes in
extending this improved line of social
reform work, and they appeal to the
general public for support on these
grounds.
That, while primarily the extention
of the label makes the union strong.
it is this very strength that begins the
friendly conference between employer
and employed which averts the strike
and preserves the peace. The history
of our stronger trade unions prove
this!
That the label is the boycott's sub
stitute. 1t puts good will in place of
savagery. Instand of tearing down
| the bad mans trade it's builds the good
ones up. The fair employer, asked
| about his help, is pround to say: my
men and I are on good terms. See the
label on our work.
That a consolidation Of union label
interests, besides giving added power
to each affiliated union, has the ap-
of because all isr
harmony there; the label league has no
disputes; no quarrels between organi-
cations under this banner; no conflict
| ing grievances to waste the time and
patience Of the delegates; no sympa-
thetic strikes to threaten civic order.
That the label condemns the sweat
shop production for the benefit of the
worker and the sanitary world
l. That the label never tempts Chris
tan civilization to assist the factory
tyrant's soulless system, which is
crushing out the young life blood Of
our race. 1t would keep the child at
school, run the mill with adult labor
and enshrine the workman's home.
| That the label largely solves the con-
Wet labor problem, when the state
adopts the emblem as the mark by
which her people may readily distin-
guish public work done under just
conditions. Montana has just enacted
a law that requires the union label up
on official printing for all of the state
departments. A statute like this in
New York would have prevented the
prison competition which now menaces
| the joint interests of employer and
employed in the printing trade. Utica
n. Y, forbids the use in public works
of any iron nolding that does not bear
the holders union trademark Of fair
production. Thirty city councils
throughout the United States have
passed ordinances requiring the union
label upon public printing as a guaran-
tee to taxpayers that state laws call
ing for payment of prevailing" wages
and the employment of citizen labor
are not evaded or circumvented by
conniving politicians and contractors.
! TO sum up the entire community
should unite in promoting the union
label:
! Because it supercedes the strike the
lockout and the destructive boycott; it
is the outward manifestation of har-
mony between employer and workman.
binding both parties to maintain their
| friendly relations and the continued
| approval and patronage of a discrimi-
mating public.
| Because it condemns child labor and
humanizes factory life.
| Because it minimizes convict COM
petition with free and honest labor.
| Because it wipes out tenement and
sweatshop systems of production.
! Because it has ferreted out, exposed
and cleansed the unwholesome cellar
bakery.
! Because it shortens the workday and
| gives the toiler some time to read and
think and cultivate the social side Of
| lie
! Because it guarantees a living wage
| and rational conditions of employment.
Because it will some day free the
| white. slaves in on: northern mills,
| such as those who toll day and night
| and Sundays, too, in the Glen Falls
paper works, two phalanxes working
| e'cly hour in the twenty-four, one
force putting in eleven hours by the
day, the other thirteen hours by night
with no time off for meals, snatching
their lunch betimes while attending
the n1achines-all for a shilling an hour
and without extra pay for nights or
Sundays.
BECAUSE it warns all to S}1un tho har-