Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-27
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in Singapore continues and is delaying
shipping.
The trade unions in the Transvaai re-
port that 20 per cent of the skilled work
ers there are idle.
South Bend Gnd.) Central Labor
Union has voted to maintain a Sunday
reading room for members.
The Garment Workers Union is the
largest in the United States which is
composed chiefly of women.
The western railroads are willing to
raise the wages of their employees, but de-
cline to concede the eight-hour day.
The annual report of the new Zea-
land labor department shows that that
country absorbed thousands of new ar
rivals last year.
Japanese papers are urging their coun-
trymen to give VI going to San Francisco
and the Pacific coast and turn to South
America. Brazil gives greater facilities
to japanese than to other races. while
Chile holds out special inducements.
In comparing the pay of Maine women
teachers with the wage of cotton mill
operatives in the State it was found in
favor of the former; the $3.50 women
working in the cotton mills of Maine get
an average weekly wage of $685., while
the women school teachers get an aver
age weekly wage of $500.
An official of the American Federation
at Chicago announces that the policemen
of hat city are to be formed into a union.
the union taking the place of the benevo-
lent order which has been maintained in
the department for many years. The fire
men and school teachers of Chicago are
affiliated with the Federation.
Recent official returns to the American
Federation of Labor from ST. unions.
with an aggregate membership of 69.177,
showed but 8 of l per CEN out of employ
ment. In the preceding month 73S
unions, with a membership of 20. 700. re-
ported 80 per cent unemployed. Indi-
vidual reports of unions show universally
excellent conditions. The bill posters
report trade good, and prospects bright
for the coming year, with no strikes or
Iockouts.'
That women are taking a more promi-
nent part in trade union affairs than for
merly is shown by the election of Miss
Rose Pfanstill a few days ago on the
executive board of Cigarmakers' Union
No. IA. the largest local in Chicago. Miss
Pfanstill has been a member of the union
for FIVE years and she is the first woman
to be elected to a responsible position in
the organization. She is credited with
being one of the fastest cigarmakers in
the city and is an enthusiastic union
worker. For eight hours each day she
makes cigars in the factory of Peter
O'Brien, at Lincoln and Fulton streets.
and attends meetings in connection with
the union almost every night. She is
an accomplished musician and is popu-
lar with the other members of the union.
who say she has more executive ability
than most of the men in the organization.
The International Cigarmakers' Union
has 100000 in the treasury. The mem
bers pay the highest dues of any union in
the country.
Stratford (Kan.) entire City Council
and Mayor were recently threatened with
Imprisonment by the State labor commits
sioner because they refused to comply
with the eight-hour law.
The Union Laborers' Protective So
ciety of New South Wales is being block
ed on legal technical points by the Com
monwealth Portland Company from hav-
ing its claims for better conditions
brought before the arbitration court.
Although the officials of the Philadel-
phia and Reading railroad had granted a
wage increase and certain conditions ask
ed for by other employees, the men COM
prising the unions of engineers, conduc-
tors and trainmen insisted upon having
the agreement made regularly in writing
between the company and the officers of
the unions. An ultimatum was delivered
to General Superintendent Dice threat
ening a general strike if the company re-
fused to sign such an agreement. Later
it was officially given out that the Read
ing would not sign any papers. The wage
increase recently granted was 10 per
cent.
At a meeting of 1000 men employed at
the Homestake mine. Deadwood. S. D.,
which is owned by W. r. Hearst estate, a
demand was made for recognition of the
union. If a strike were called there it
would be expected TO extend to all other
mines in the Black Hills region. This is
said to be the only section in the West
where miners work nine hours a day and
get less than union wages. A serious
clash was feared and State troops are
held in readiness.
A metal trades confederation has been
recently formed in England of the men
who work in the metal trades. from iron
plate work to silversuiths. 1t starts out
with q membership Of about 100000.