The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-07-12


Justice and Benefits of the Union
Label Cause-some History of the
Labels Of Several Unions-How
the Label Was First Thought OF.
There is a symbol-agency-i labor
circles which by Its steady growth, its
great and we8lrecognfzed benefits, and
its present almost universal use by
trade unions, becAmes an indispensable
and invaluable rower in securing for
Ia Dor the recognition and recompense to
which it is entitled. I mean the
"Union Label"
The union label is entirely American
in it's origin and, American in it's use.
While trade unions exist in other coun.
tries and are especially powerful and
influential in Great Britain, it is only
in America that this unique sign of
skilled and sufficiently paid labor is in
recognized use. f.
The reasons for the adoption of the
union label are many and varied; but
it came about principally on account
of the great influx of immigration,
which brought to4{us horde of cheap
and unskilled lahorers, who by reason
Of their low standard Of life created a
competition which would, of necessity,
either have driven the American labor
er from the field or compelled him to.
seek protective measures.
1t was not theSimmigrant who came
to us to be one. among us, to share
our liberties, adept our customs and
laws and advancesand progress with us,
but the Chinese eoelie, sweat shop and
colonized classes, which represented
far too low standard Of living for our
citizens to adopt, who conpel1ed the:
union W'orkmen Of this country to take
a defensive stand.
The influx Of Chinese labor to the
state of California nearly thirty years
ago compelled the Cigarmakers' union
of that state in 1874 to create and adopt
union label. as a weapon of defense.
The original label was white and it
signified that the box to which it was
attached contained cigars made by
first-class workman under proper sani-
tary conditions, and by a. member Of
an organized union; as opposed to in
ferior, rat shop, coolie or filthy tene-
ment-house workmanship. Gradually
from union to unipn the label of the ci-
garmakers advanced. but it was ten
long years Of experiment and struggle
before the utility and force Of the label
idea commended itself to the unions OF
other crafts. j. H. i $S5= s5==,ssS5s...> sS. ~
The Hatters adopted 5aSl label in 1885:
the Iraaai Gl1Thes
United Garment Il Workers and Printers
adopted their labels Ia 1891. From that
time the union label:idea spread to the
Shoepnakers, Custom Tailors,, Brewers,
Horseshoers and other trades.
Thus it is that this ensign of labor,
which originated in a most practical
way. has become symbol Of sentl-
ment as well as of a practical and
living issue.
AS the union label progressed and
broadened in it's domain it deepened in
it's significance, until today it means
that the work on which it is placed is
done by skilled workmen under whole
some conditions. 1t insures the payment
of reasonable wages. 1t stands for
shorter hours of work. 1t indicates the
effort Of organizations constantly strl-
wing to secure and maintain these and
other important results.
The union label is above all a :weap-
on to defend the trade unions from
various kinds of antagonisms, whether
they aim to increase the hours Of labor
or decrease the price paid for it, and
whether emanating from the unfair
competition of the sweat shop or the
duress of powerful combinations OF
capital.
The union label has had it's misfor-
tunes. It has been naligned by the sus-
picious, and counterfeited by the jeal-
Gus and dishonest.
But as the storm adds. vigor and
sturdiness to the tree which survives
it, so have these trials added strength
and vigor to the union label. That
little seed which a few jealous cigar
makers planted on the Pacific slope
has grown to be a mighty tree.
If you, as union man. would succeed
in making the union label the power
full agent you would wish it to be, you
must not neglect in the smallest de-
tail the necessary work for that ac-
complishment.
Strive to inform those. as yet un-
aware of it's merits, of the wisdom, the
justice and the benefits of the union
sustaining the dignity of. honest labor.
0IlUW lncL tIfc JOSlCe VI giving ~ the
worker his worthy hire. Point out to
them the examples Of benefits and
comforts acoruing to their brothers, the
workingmen, wherever the union label
has become established.
In short, make it a factor in your
lives, not only for what is in it for
yourselves, but. for the good it will
bring to others-speak, write, organize,
rally round the flag, the symbol Of
your trade. Keep on rallying and do
not let your enthusiasm die out in the |
shouts that follow one triumphal suc~
cess. Keep Up the good work from day |
to day and from year to year.
It has been said that eternal vigilance
is the price Of liberty. Liberty was the
ideal Of the founders of the American
republic. The union label is one ideal
of combined American labor. Eternal
vigilance and alertness are the price Of
it's success In this sense what the poet
has written Of freedom may we'll be
said to you: X =
"oh, Labor, thou art not, as poets
dream, aH;~.
"A fair young girl with light and dell
So -