The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-01-21
BIG. FACTORY UNIONS :. =.
FIGHTING DISEASE
Labor Organizations Joir
Hands to Stamp Out the
White lague.
Awful Report of Death Rate
Among the Factory Work.
ers of Cities.


lions which make tuberculosis preva-
lent among their members. In Chicago
the cigarrmagers have Joined hands
with the garment-workers and JAM
itor's organizations, and the three in
turn have joined with the club women
in a war against the unsanitary condi-
tons that exist in their work shops.
The three organizations have accepted
an invitation extended to them by the
visiting nurses association to begin an
anti-consumptive crusade.
In an article in the Chicago Inter-
Ocean Luke Grant gives some inter-
esting figures and facts to show that
the labor unions can do much to
stamp out consumption from the fac
tories if they go about it in the proper
way. He gives figures that indicate
mortality is much lower in union
shops. Mr.. Grant says:
"An agitation is being started by
physicians and stadens Of sociology
among the labor unions Of the city to
secure the cooperation of their men,
bers in endeavoring to stamp out
tuberculosis. That much can be &C.
complished along these lines is simply
demonstrated by the vital statistics
, kept by the Cigarmakers' internal
tional Union, one Of the strongest and
best conducted labor organizations in
thew orld.
I'm general way every student OF
the labor question is ready to admit
| that the unions have done much to
procure better sanitary arrangements
| in workshops and factories, but to get
! at actual concrete facts we must take
an organization like that of the cigar
| makers, where results can be shown
correctly by figures.
AT the present time President
George w. Perkins of the Cigarmakers
International Union is preparing some
vital statistics that will prove ex-
tremely interesting when completed,
but if we take those completed up to
1900 they furnish one Of the strongest
arguments in favor OF labor unions
that can be produced. They also show
what the labor unions can accomplish
in stamping out tuberculosis if they
take the matter up in earnest, which
they will only do as a result of agita-
ton and education on the right lines.
'"The United States census reports
show that the workers in the cigar in
dustry stand the second highest on
| thel list in the number of deaths result
ing from pulmonary diseases. The
last ceusns report shows that of the
total death in the cigar industry 62 pei
cent. was due to pulmonary diseases
In the same year the vital states kept
by tha cigarmakers' union show thai
the death-rate among the organized
workers from the same cause was only
80 per cent. That was for the veal
1900.
1.-The figures tell a. more startling
story than appear at casual glance
for the reason that the government re-
ports, of course, include both organized
and unorganized workers. Out of thu
$4,000 cigarmagers in the countr!
something over one half belong to thu
union, or, in other words, $4,000 il
round numbers,
"As the death-rate among the or
ganized men is so much lower thar
that shown in the government reports
it, therefore, follows that the rate o
deaths from tuberculosis among tn
unorganized must be very much high
er, probably "A per cent.
ITO show that the figures furnishes
by the cigarrmakers can be relied upol
it may be necessary to explain jus
why they are kept. The cigarrmakers
union is one of the few labor organiza
tons in the country that have a com
mon fund, so that no benefits can b
paid from the local unions except il
conformity with the constitution, an
,ot ho 1o1 a
the general office.
1.-THE union pays a death benefit t
every member in good standing, be
sides paying partial benefits on tn
death of each cigarrmaker's wife O
mother, as the case may be, so tina
Vital statistics which are absolutel
| correct are kept not only of the cigar
makers themselves, but also of thei
| wives or mothers, if they are unma1
| ried. Before the benefits are paid
physician must fill out form givin
the cause Of death, so that it can rea6
| lily be seen the death-rate from tube1
| culosis is an easy matter to get at
'Since 1886 the cigarrmakers' unto
| has made en- eight-hour day, and whs
| effect that has had in reducing til
| death-rate from tuberculosis as we
| as INCREASING the average age-lengt
of life can be seen from the followin
|, figures:
I'm 1890, the first year in whic
vital statistics were compiled, tt
death-rate from tuberculosis was
per cent. of the total;. in 1895 this ha
been reduced to IS per cent, and
1900 it was further reduced to 80 pt
cent. The figures for the present yea
when they are completed will sho
a still more marked decrease and wi
be about "a per cent.
"While these figures are interestin
those pertaining to the average lengt
of life of the men and their wives an
mothers are even more so. In 1890 tn
average length of life of the wives an
mothers of cigarrmakers was 80 year
according to the records kept of benz
fits paid. In 1895 it. had increased I
1872, and in 1900 to As years. Durin
/ the same periods the average 1enpt