The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-02-16

TRADE AUTONOMY DOOMED.

The spirit Of the age is evidenced in
the action of the convention of the
United Mine Workers in taking into
their organization all those who are
employed in the mining industry-en-
gineers, firemen, blacksmiths, and
other crafts, who were formerly affili-
ated with other trade organizations.
Similar action by the Brewery Workers
within the past year was the cause of
much acrimonious discussion at the
Louisville convention of the A. F. Of
L., but the majority upheld the policy
of the brewers. This may result in
the disruption of weaker organizations,
national as we'll as local, but it is in
evitable that the process will go on
until all trades are organized by in
dustries, instead of by handicrafts.
Time was when each craft constituted
separate industry in itself, but the
concentration of capital has brought
with it a closer relationship between
trades, and it is little less than suicidal
for the workers in a great industry to
be divided into many different labor
organizations each with final jurisdic-
ton over it's own members.
How many times in recent years
have strikes been lost by the lack of
harmonious action of various trades or
ganizations, each of which was an in
tegral part of the industry affected?
While one trade was engaged in a
struggle for higher wages or better
conditions, another branch of organic
ed labor might be seen continuing at
work in the same shop and factory
with scabs imported to take the strik-
ers' places. They had made no demads
and consequently had no grievances,
but nevertheless they assisted the en-
ployers in comprising the defeat of
their fellow Workmen. Notably has
this been the case with railroad en-
ployes and in the building trades,
though the latter difficulty is some-
what obviated by the maintenance of
councils composed Of representatives
of the several crafts, acting in unison
present every effort to secure a close
alliance between the workers upon rail-
roads has been frustrated by an anti
quated and stiff necked pride of indie
pendence. or silly notions of superior
ity or aristocracy of labor.
The sympathetic strike, SO much con-
demned by capitalist circles, would be
a misnomer under progressive organ
ization of labor, for with unions of in
dustries instead of trades, all the work.
ers in every branch would be united
together by common ties, would have
greater sense Of solidarity, and the
force of their numbers and united &C.
ton would command greater respect
from the common opponent, organized
capital.
Not only in America is the impetus
to consolidation apparent. In England
too, the movement is going on, and
while the government reports show an
increase in the total membership Of
trades unions amounting to 152,2S7, the
number of unions decreased during the
same period, which decrease was caus-
ed by the amalgamation of isolated
crafts into compact declarations of in
dustries. Trade autonomy has seen its
best days, and the next few years will
more than likely be marked by grea,
concentration in the field of labor
uniOnism, and after the first effects OF
chagrin and the disappointed ambition
of leaders fade away, the fruits of the
new policy will be seen in more virile
and aggressive labor movement II
America.