The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-02-22
LABOR ORGANIZATION
TRULY DEMOCRATIC.
Free . Association of Economic
Equals. Admitting Men and
Women on Same Basis. !
That Sturdy Pioneer the Interna-
tional Typographical Union Of
North America. -.,

Inc local unions Of the international
Typographical Union are about to
nominate candidates for the: various
International Offices. Nominations are
made at the regular February meet
ings OF the local unions. The election
will take place on the third Wednes-
day in May. Inasmuch as the Typo
graphical Union is the Oldest and best
conducted trade union on the, North
American continent, some information
as to its methods Of SELF government
will be of particular interest at this
time. .
Labor Union. Democratic.
Many. persons outside the ranks Of
organized labo~ are unfamiliar with
the democracy that prevails in almost
all trade unions. As democratic
body the International Typographical
Union Of North America is the pioneer,
and stands pre-eminent as such in the
organized labor movement
Cardinal Principles. -.
The Typographical Union is a free
association of economic equals, men
and women, for be it known women
are. admitted to membership. in this
organization upon the same basis as
are men, one of the cardinal principles
of the union being equal pay for men
and women for equal services per-
formed. The International Union is
composed of unions scattered through
out the United States and Canada, and
it's jurisdiction extends from Alaska to
the Philippines Each local union ad-
ministers its local affairs in confor-
nifty with International rules and reg
ulations, said rules and regulations be-
ing developed by the combined local
unions and administered by central
body known as the Executive Council
in the interest of all the locals. This
Executive Council is composed Of GER
tain of the International officers, who
are elected by the referendum for
terms of two years.
=. Initiative and Referendum.
When, more than so years ago, rep
resentatives from. the unions scattered
throughout the United States met and
organized a national body, which de-
veloped into. the present international
organization, the initiative' and REFER
so that up to about ten years ago the
annual convention, composed Of dele
gates from the affiliated unions elect
ed all OF the International officers and
formulated the rules and regulations
This has now been changed. While
the annual delegate convention is re-
tanned, all Of the International officers
! are nominated AMI elected by the ref
| erendum, legislation is Initiated and all
constitutional laws ana amendments
| must be submitted 20 the referendum.
! The officers II all local unions are
elected by the local referendum In
fact, th,. way in Which these men and
women, associated in q voluntary or
ganization for the collective. benefit,
govern themselves is one Of the great
est expositions OF democracy extant.
| Government BY ChapeIs.
| Mot only does each local union gov
ern itself. but each union shop is or
ganized into chapel, the members
elect a chairman and secretary and
such other officers as they may deem
necessary, depending upon the size of
the chapel. The chapel formulates
and adopts rules for the government of
it's members. and it is the duty Of the
chapel officers to see that all union
and chapel laws are lived up to. These
chapels are not only for the benefit
of the members, but are a protection
to the employers, as the members are
as jealous III seeing that the office
rules are observed as they are to see
that the union laws are lived up to-.
| Strike q Last Resort.
All members of a union have a voice
in the discussion Of all matters before
the union, but only those who have
been members in good standing for six
months have a vote ON certain cues
lions, such as for instance, amending
the constitution, changes in the wage
scale Or to declare a strike The strike
is the weapon OF last resort in this
union, and is only appealed to after
all others means to adjust difficulties
have failed. A proposition to declare
strike must receive fourths
vote Of six months members in good
standing, and in order that the mem
bers may be entitled to international
benefits must conform to certain in
ternational laws and be sactioned by
the Executive Council.
KING ALFONSO NOT