The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-10-30
Agitation for Insurance Feature.
II Union Membership Is Daily
Growing More Active ~ Some.
Comparisons. II. S.SZs

ASOW thai ANSuIduC0 OE8dulzallOue
within the ranks Of organized labor
are being actively suggested the fol-:
lowing facts and !: comparisons are
timely: 81 .EsT s :@ +.
The Cigarmakers' union la one OF
the most Interesting OF all the unions
for study In the working Of labor UNI.
lon insurance The union has been in
existence since 1864 and began paying
sick and death benefits in 1881, TWEEN
ty-eight years ago, and out of work
benefits in 1885. The membership Of
the cigarmakers approximates that Of
the international Typographical un-
Jon, or upward of 5000. In addi-
ton to the three forms Of insurance
sick. death and disability and out of
,work-the organization provides for
ing fund for travelling members;
which amounted In 1906 to $60,650.
Special Clause for Chronic Sick.
Applicants who are suffering from
any chronic disease or who are mora
than fifty years of age receive no sick
benefits, but they pay only Is cents
weekly dues, Or half the regular per
capita. 49,. -. ~. s'.' >
: A member who for two years has
paid his dues Is entitled to receive
during unemployment 81 weekly for
six weeks, After an intermission. Of
seven weeks he may again receive the
same sum for another six weeks, but
not more than $54 in any one year.
The amount paid out in 1906, the lat
est available figures, was $2s,011, or
an average cost Of 60 cents per men,
Der per year.
Sick Benefit Is Provided.
A member who has paid his dues
for an entire year has the right to re-
ceive IS weekly during his sickness,
but not to exceed thirteen weeks. No
benefits are paid the first week, and
If the sickness is caused by drunken
ness or vice no benefit may be drawn
The sick benefits. paid in 1906
amounted to $162,9o5, or $3.50 per
capita. ~.-< = =
The death benefits are graded ac-
cording to length of membership. If
the deceased has been a member for
five years 5000 Is paid, for ten years
$3.50 and fifteen years $3.50. An in
teresting feature of this part of the
system is that if member be totally
disabled, losing, say, his eyesight or
the use of both hands, he receives a
lump sum equal to the amount his
family would receive in case >of his
death. The cost of the cigarmakers'
death and disability benefits during
1906 was $185,514, or $4.08 per cap
tia. 49,.
Complete Old Age Pension.
The organization has been contem-
plating the addition to the above of
an old age pension feature. The un-
ion had on hand at the close OF 1906
$714,506, OF about SIC per capita,
which would seem to insure financial
stability. g . ~ 49,.
The railway brotherhoods are also
an interesting field. Of inquiry on the
subject of Insurance. Following as
they do very hazardous occupations,
the railway workers feel the need OF
death and Disability Insurance more
than other kinds, and they provide 1t
generally in the form Of a compul-
sorry minimum, with an optional: ad-
dftion. The respective amounts ia
the four principal brotherhoods are:
COMPULSORY Optional
49, -. minimum. Addition.
Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Engineers 1880 $4,000
Order Of Railway: ~-~,:> T.. -.
Conductors : -: 1000 ;, 1900
Brotherhood of Lo- ,. .::::'..
connective Fifemen. $500 r. 1900
Brotherhood OF Ra1f- = - +-:'7 =
way Trainmep -. 500 $50
In this connection the: cost Of In
surance : to the members, compared
with the cost IN private companies,
should be interesting to those: who
contend that labor unions cannot fur
ntsh Insurance as cheap as the COM
pantes making it business. 4 = :
Comparison Is Obvious. =
Following are the figures showing
the charge levied by the brotherhoods
and the rate Of the casualty com pam
les for the same class of men at
thirty-ftve years, the rates being ST.
900 Insurance.: = ~ -, :.
&c. Rate OF