Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-11
THE MENWHO LABOR

UNIONISM PROSPEROUS IN THIS CITY-WHY CASH REGISTER co IS BoYCoTTED-NEW
 UNION CARDS SOON TO
 BE ISSUED-C. T.. U.
 MEETS MONDAY
 EVENING.
 The past year has oeen very prosperous one for trade in this city, The number of unions nave been considerably increased, the memoef- 1 bership list has been very largely ln- creased and the finances of the va rious organizations have been augment ed with neat sums. And the unions have enjoyed this prosperity nctWlth- l standing the supposed hard blow which they received by the falure of the machinists strike. Though many people thought that the failure of the above strike had q deterrlng effect upon the local unions, yet 1t IS a fact that it effected The other un- ions in little or no manner whatsoever. The unions have continued their on l ward march. and unionism is now stronger ill Waterbury than it ever l was The failure of the machinlstS to gain the nine hour workday was offset with the success of the carpen- ters and joiners unions and the bricklayers' and masons' unions in securing an eight-hour day with. no reduction ill pay There are now P unions in this city. During the past .I year six unions have been organized: Journeymen Barbers, Master Bakers, Bartenders, Tinsmiths and Metal Workers and the Clerks association. Each of these unions has now very good membership and are making rap- i'd progress.
 One of the most prosperous of the local unions is the Carpenters and Joiners' union. It begins the year of 1902 with a membership list of 300 whereas one year ago it had 173 mem- bers. On May l, the number of mem bers was 225. Success has marked it's efforts during the past year and now it's organization is most perfect. So per feet in fact that it is said there is but few non-union carpenters and joiners in this city. On May 1, 225 carpenters and joinerS went out on a strike for an eight-hour day and $2.25 as the wages for q days work. The strike continued for seven days when a com promise was effected with the con- tractors and builders. The men should work nine hours a day until Septem- Der l, when the eight-hour day would go into effect and the pay would re- main the same. Thus the members of the local union won signal victory. Notwithstanding the cries of the ca lamity hoWlers that this new condition of affairs would injure the building business, one of the officers of the local union states that trade was never So brisk during the winter; that nearly every member of the union had steady employment.
 4 well known union man was asked to-day what was the purpose of the vote indorsing the boycott of the Ma tional cash register, which was passed at the meeting of the Buffers and Pol ishers' union on Thursday night. Ii has been a well known fact that the National cash register was under boy colt by the labor unions and many peo , pie are wondering why the vote was passed at this time. The local union ist stated that circulars have been rs gently sent broadcast throughout tht
 
 . the National cash register had been de
 clared off. The circular was signed b, t some former union men, The strike i. 2 still on, So it is said, and If it was oth erwise the local unon would have ar g official notice to the effect from the na : tional headquarters. The vote was ac t cordingly passed so that the peopl, g would not be deceived with the circu k lars. The committee which was ap ;. pointed by the Buffers ana Polishers - union to call on various merchants ant
 urge them not to purchase Nationa f cash registers have met with no littI 1 success. Through their efforts a mum . Der of sales of those registers hay, ! been prevented.
 The Master Barbers' union held = meeting on Thursday night. Only rou
 tlne business was transacted. Oyin;
 10 the small attendance the election c ofhcers was postponed for two weeks The local barbers, as well as the kss T bers all over the state, are greatly in T. terested in the suit brought by Attoi Y ney Sanford E. Martin of New Have, n against William Froelicil a tonsoril A artist of New Haven, formerly of thi city. Attorney Martin asks S5.OOO q 'f damages because he contracted. as h if alleges. the skin disease known as ba, 1T ber's itch in his shop. \ number Q n the local barberS are confident that tn y Elm city lawyer will lose his suit. g New union cards will soon be dis if played in union shops. X new card e It heater and more attractive desig d than the present one has been adopte e by the International Federation c n Journeymen Barbers. inc local ba1 l. pers will receive their 'ards in abou , two weeks.
 g The Central Labor union will hol n meeting ii the rooms of tho Buffer, - and Polishers' union on Monday nigh |, The annual election of officers wi li' take place.
 The Tinsmiths' and Metal Worker : union will receive it's charter some da 5, next week.