The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-08-20
JUSTICE SYMBOL|zED
The Real Meaning of the Trades
Union Label.
IMPORTANCE UNDERVALUED
The Little Stamp Proclams That Fair
Dealing Obtains In Shops Where 1t
Is Used-It Implies a Step Forward
In the Fight For Industrial Freedom.

Dealing Obtains In Shops Where 1t
Is Used-lt Implies a Step Forward
In the Fight For Industrial Freedom.
The true significance of the union
label is possibly not thoroughly under
stood by the average union member
and sympathizer, to most of whom it
is simply trademark.
The magnificent Union Printers
home, erected and maintained by the
International Typographical union,
brings TO mind the splendid charity
union men display toward their fell
low workers Here the old veterans
of the craft find a refuge in the days
when they can no longer earn Il living
Here are being worked out the latest
and most scientific methods for the
treatment of tuberculosis.
The work of the Union Printers
home has been of immense benefit not
alone to the printers, but to the whole
labor movement.
1t mas shown what can be done by
earnest cooperation, and yet in all its
wonderful usefulness it is not so po-
tent q force for the betterment Of man
kind as is the plain, unassuming union
label when it is given the support that
it is entitled to by union men and
their friends.
1t is a human characteristic to re
ioice in doing little acts of kindness to
others. Perhaps no other thing in life
81 IL .
ton in having done something to bene-
fit another, and even the small cour
teses of life which cost nothing bring
us as much pleasure as large matters.
We do the kind and generous things
because we are taught and observe
that it is wise to do so, and if the
same spirit was shown toward the use
and demand for the union label the
result would be a much greater power
for good.
No decent man or woman would
knowingly employ a child to do work
which would cause disease or deform-
ity, and yet unconsciously the moral
and physical destruction Of child life
is encouraged by people who purchase
articles totally ignorant or Indifferent
as to the details of manufacture, never
inquiring whether it is produced by
child labor or made in sweatshops
There can be no doubt that if the true
knowledge of bad conditions could be
known these people would be Mortified
and repentant. Inasmuch as they can
not of themselves learn these things
it is the duty of trades unionists to let
them know the truth.
1t is the good fortune of the printing
trades not to be so afflicted with
sWeatshop impositions as are other
manufacturers. but this is solely due
to the earnest, loyal sacrifices for prin-
ciple made by our predecessors who
were pioneers in the fight for indus
trial freedom Notwithstanding all
that bias been gained there are a great
many evil conditions to wipe out for
the average employer yields reluctant
Iy to the demand for improvement.
Even as reward is given publicly for
valor, we bestow upon the employer
who is fair without fault our emblem
of good and justice. We show our ap-
probation by calling the attention of
the business world to firm which is
entitled to consideration from every
honest man.
Therefore, fellow workers, we urge
upon you to carefully weigh the i'm
portance of the union label, consider
that every producer of label article
is an ideal employer, realize that the
demand for this stamp is an act of
pure altruism, appreciate that its use
makes men receive good wages, re-
spectful treatment and provides com
Union Label Bulletin.