The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-09-15
POSTAL CLERKS JOIN
BIC LABOR MOVEMENT
First Union of Government
Employees Affiliated With
the A. F. of Labor. ;,
New Organization Is Being
Establi lished Firmly on
Trade Union Lines. ::

Chicago, ILL.,, Sept. 13.-Representa-
tfves Of the postoffice clerks in six Of
the principal cities Of the West met In
Chicago this week and formed ma
tional union under the auspices Of the
American Federation Of Labor. The
organization, which will be known as
the National Federation of Postonice
Clerks, Is the first national labor union
In America to be composed exclusively
OF government employees.
The following officers were elected:
President, E. B. Goltra, Chicago: vice
president, J. J. Fields, Louisville; secre-
tary, J. F. Pfeifrer. Milwaukee; treas
urer, John F. House, Nashville, national
organizer. H. J. Caveny San Francisco
Delegates attended the convention
from Chicago, Milwaukee, Louisville
Nashville, Salt Lake City and San
Francisco. The postoffice clerks in St.
Louis, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and
several other cities are ready to join
the movement as soon as the organiza-
tion Is fairly started. All of the
branches that sent delegates to the
convention are now chartered by the
American Federation Of Labor as local
unions, and the movement to start the
national has the approval of Samuel
Gompers and his colleagues on the
executive council of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor.
J. D. Pierce, organizer or the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, attended the
convention and encouraged the clerks
to organize. He said that no class OF
employees In the country, requiring an
equal degree of intelligence, was as
poorly paid or had to work as long
hours as the postoffice clerks, who are
popularity supposed to enjoy an eight
hour day.
Formal application for a national
charter from the American Federation
Of Labor was forwarded to Washing
ton, and the new organization is based
strictly on trade union lines. The
leaders in the movement believe that
within the next six months at least
twenty locals will be formed. all work
ing in accord with the regular labor
movement. K
The order issued by President Roose-
velt three years ago, in which he pro-
hibited government employees from
.petitioning congress or asking for any.
Ts1s Hon ehalf except
through the nIar heads o sdepartS
ments, Is largely esbonsible for tho
organization formed. President Roose-5
Welt on several occasions has expressed
the. opinion that government employees
have a right to Join labor unions, and
In his last annual message he encour-.
aged organization among them.
Only Hope In Union.
At the same time the order prohib-
iting them from attempting to influ-
ence legislation has been allowed to
stand, and the postoffice clerks believe
that the only way they can adjust the.
grievances that they assert exist Is by,
becoming part of the labor move
ment and by having the American Fed.
eration> of Labor stand sponsor for the
remedial legislation desired
The leaders at the convention de-
c1ared that on account Of the nature
of their employment the cannot hope
to better their conditions through the
strike, the usual weapon Of the union.
They asserted that as the strike is i'm
practicable for them, and as they can
not appeal to congress directly, nothing
is left for them to do but to have or
ganized labor throughout the country
assist them In getting their demands.
The first aim of the new organiza-.
tion is to make the eight-hour law
apply to all departments in the post
offices throughout the country
The work of issuing, charters to local
branches will begin as soon as the
charter for the national is procured
from the American Federation.
The new organization will start out
with ahonf 000 Yoor,ohorc hrt hn
leaders expect to have three times that
number within a few months
The next convention will be held in
Indianapolis on the first Monday in
September next year.