The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-01-19


Old and Has Affiliated With 1T the
Largest and Strongest Unions in
England.
On July 10, 1899, the General (British)
Federation of Trade Unions completed
| the first year since it undertook the re-
sponsibility of acting as a centre for
| it's affiliated unions, and thus become
a nucleus around which all the trade
| unions Of that country will, in all pro-
liability, ultimately rally for mutual
protection and the conquest Of indus
trial peace.
That the newly formed federation
will, ere many years, develop immense
strength there can be little doubt since
the only test of membership which it
imposes is that each organization ap-
plying for utilization must be a bona
fide trade union, and the advantage to
be derived from closer unity are too
obvious to be long neglected by any
considerable number of genuine trade
unionists. In the language Of it's man
agement committee, 1.-The federation
preserves the autonomy and distinctive
character of each trade union, and In
no way interferes with their internal
workings. Without violating the ira
ditions of any, it hopes to increase the
common interests of all. 1t believes
that the financial qualifications for
membership should be such as to ad-
NIT of every union in the country
(skilled or unskilled) joining. 1t hopes
to strengthen itself and the trade union
movement by first strengthening the
various unions. 1t will strive to pro-
mote peace, and believes that such
peace can be best obtained by organi-
cation. 1t recognizes the necessity of
every union for assistance at some per-
iod Of it's existence, and undertakes to
give such assistance. 1T believes that
a central authority, to systematic the
many questions affecting trade union
ism should be establish: and hopes to
fill that position, supply information.
and be a means Of communication be-
tween unions all over the world"
When the federation entered upon it's
| existence is was composed of "A unions
| with an aggregate membership Of 343.-
| 900. During the first year of of it's ex-
! istence II unions, with $1,000 members
| have been recruited, and 2 unions with
! 1880 members have been excluded.
THUS it appears that the federation on
it's first birthday consisted Of SO unions,
embracing 377,729 members. In pass
| ing, it may be remarked that these So
affiliated unions have 1880 subordinate
local unions, 109 officers who devote
| their whole time to the business of
| their respective unions. and that they
possessed combined reserve funds at
the commencement of the second year
amounting to IS, 1863, 495 Give million one
hundred and siXty-nine thousand four
hundred and ninety-f1ve dollars.) At
the close of it's first years existence
| the membership of the federation (377,-
! 1899 represented nearly one-fourth of
the known trade unionists of that
| country Q,644,591); yet the number OF
| unions affiliated was less than one
twentieth of the total number of unions
in the same territory. This fact shows
conclusively that the federation has al
ready enrolled a large portion Of the
strongest existing organizations.
Financial statements issued by the
| federation show a steady increase of
funds which, if something extremely
| untoWard does not happen, will soon
make that organization the mightiest
palladium that the workers have ever
had since the dawn of history. The
total income during the period stated
amounted to s112,S15, while the total
expenses, including all provisional ex-
penditures, did not exceed $3.50, thus
! leaving a balance of $109, ASS.
AS previously stated, two unions have
been excluded, viz, the United Associa-
ton of Carriers and the Amalgamated
| Society of Tailors. Remarking on this
latter unfortunate occurrence, the COM
mittee makes the following frank
statement: 1.-The circumstances sur
rounding this severance from the fed
grafton show that the need for GEN.
| trail authority amongst the trade unions
has been too long delayed. The Anal
| gamated Socitey Of Tailors have failed
| to meet their obligations from the very
simple, if unfortunate, reason that their
difficulties during the year have been
such as to necessitate their outstanding
their resources. We do not desire to
say anything calculated to increase
these difficulties; in justice to our
selves, however, we would point out the
evident necessity there is that this old
established union should be placed up
on Il more sound financial basis, i,
must be apparent that an organization
which is unable to meet the very small
responsibilities entailed by membership
of the federation can not hope to meet
the growing obligations is has incurred
to it's members"
Reviewing the years work as out.
lined above the committee states: 1--WE
are more than satisfied, believing tina
: the success of the federation does no.
depend upon the unions outsidet bu
upon the loyalty, moderations and toll
erance of those inside. The affiliatio,
of those outside we can leave to tn,
circumstances of a willing exposition o
our principles and policy wheneve7
they are desired. That no union il
: this or any other country can stan<
alone, we have had bitter experience of
and we believe that the method Cor, il
the past, want of methoD of rendering
each other assistance has been bad, un