The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-12-17
SOME UNION FIGURES
Statistics Prove Worth of Or
ganization.
YEARLY REPORT GLEANlNes.
Immense Sums Dispensed by the Va
rious Trades In Death, Sick and
Travelling 6enefits-The Unemployed
Aided-lnerease of Membership.

reports of affiliate unions to the
American Federation Of Labor bear
conclusive evidence OF the value Of
union membership. We present a few
extracts chosen at ranGom:p
The American Federation of Labor
reports show the following benefits
paid to members during the past year:
Death benefits, $1,257,o44 %: death
benefits to members wives, S31 $3.50;
sick benefits, 1898, 54l.34; travelling
benefits, SOL ,O03.S6; tool insurance. So
S11.G3; unemployed benefits, $685.
2o4.31: total. $2.144.375.43
The Cfgarmallers' International un-
ion made the following showing to the
federation for the year 1908: Charters
issued, 8: surrendered, H. Gain in
membership 200. Number of strikes.
6S; final reports have been received in
but &c; won. %; compromised, 5; lost,
8; number of persons involved. 3,42G:
benefited. 1.O55; not benefited. 40.
Ihlrteen strikes were against reduc-
tons In wages: We're successful, /
compromised and 1 lost Death benc-
fets. $2O3,5 500: sick benefits. S173,-
5O1.G1; travelling benefits, $50, O63 Sc;
unemployed benefits, S6O,OOO AS a re-
suit of the Improvement in conditions
brought about by the union the death
rate from tuberculosis has been re-
duced 10 per cent
The Brotherhood OF Bookbinders re-
ported to the American Federation of
Labor: Charters issued. g. Strike for
the eight hour day throughout the
trade was inaugurated Oct. 1, 1907,
ana IL has been successful to the ex-
tent of 50 per cent; $50 members still
on strike to make the effort entirely
successful: cost Of strike, S165, sos. 90:
death benefits. $3.50.
The Walters union reported rs fol-
lows: Number Of charters issued, III:
surrendered, So. Number of strikes.
II; Won, 1G. Number Of persons in
volved. 1928; benefited, 1920; not
benefited. IS. In several cities the ten
hour day was secured for members
who had formerly worked on an aver
age Of twelve and one-half hours per
day. Gains in improvement in sani-
tary conditions Cost of strikes, S1O.-
5000 All proposed reductions in
wages successfully resisted except in
| one case. Death benefits. $26, $50; sick
benefits. $24 ,50S.4S; donations to other
unions. 2,3G7. ....-..
The PrcSsmen and Assistants report
ed: Charters issued. 80: surrendered,
IL. Gain in membership. $40. Number
Of strikes. 81; won, 5; compromised,
"a; number Of persons involved, 1,152
Fifty cents average gain in wages per
member per day. Eight hour day Sc
cured In ia cities in the past year
without strike. Attempts to reduce
wages successfully resisted.
international Typographical union
reported from June l, 1907. to May 81,
1908: Charters issued. 81: surrendered,
& IncrpcSos in,
new wage scales in So cities. Strike
benefits and special assistance to To-
calls, S5GI.1I5.91; death benefits, S3S,-
600; donations to other unions, S1.O75
In March, 1905, the eight hour day
prevailed in the jurisdiction Of only
20 unions. AS a result of the general
strike which was inaugurated in Au-
| gust. 1905. the eight hour day is now
in force in the jurisdiction of OG5 To-
calls.
The Stereotypers and Elcctrotypers
| reported: Charters issued. 5; Surrcn-
dered. .: gain in membership, 37S. In
| Cincinnati an effort has been pending
| since 1905 to establish the eight hour
! day for the electrotypers. and this
| year it went into general effect in that
! city. The electrOtyperS of New York
I city have been on strike for the eight
hour day. All members of this branch
now employed are working on this
basis.