The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-12-10
WOMEN LAUO UNIONS
Leaders In Movement Tell Why
They Are Unionists.
STRENGTH IN ORGANIZATION.
Individually Workers Lack Power to
improve Their Condition - Better
rlent Can Be Attained Only Through
United EHert

From all over the world there gath
cred at the recent bteunIaI session OF
thp WomenS Trade Uuiou league at
Chicago leading lights iu the move
ment to improve the condition u wo-
men workers. That they believe To
their cause and have REASONS for that
belief can be understood FROM the
statements given below They were
prepared especially for the Workers
Wa -aziue by these leading officials Of
the league.
Miss Mary Macarthur. secretary OF
the W0mens Trade Union League OF
Great Britain and Ireland aud the only
woman member IF the executive coun-
Gil Of the independent Labor party OF
England. wrote.
Il became uuion worker by accident
at the age Of nineteen As q journalist
| attended 4 labor meeting in 4 country
town in Scotland to get material for
skit. At this meeting there were six
| members on the platform and Eve in
the hall. al jumping up and down and
arguing organization.
Il had gone there 10 make fun OF the
radicals. who held their meetings In a
miserable hole above fish shop. but
while there on my frivolous errand
| became converted and Joined the little
band.
My father was most angry, as be did
not approve Of the union. endeav-
| ored to make him see things in the
same light In which | did. but Il was
| impossible, and was finally compelled
/ to leave home. as the unpleasantness
| there was such ii was almost unbear-
able
| In order 20 fully understand the Ia
Dor situation gave up Journalism and
/ took i position as clerk in 4 London
store at salary Of $3.50 q week. This
was in 1893. when Lady Dixie, who
was one Of the founders Of the Wo-
mems Trade Cntou league. was arous-
ing so much enthusiasm through her
talks aud personal work.
Il beca NE acquainted with her and
she appointed NE secretary Of the or.
| ganizatiou. At that time II had 8
membership Of only 10000. At the
present time there are over 100000
mem bers.
Il love my work every portion OF It.
Often am called upon TO settle
strikes, which, say II without mean
ing 70 boast-I always do. IL is the
union first. last and always with me. 4"
Miss Louise La Rue. secretary OF the
San Francisco Mattresses union, con-
tributed the following:
Until the union came into existence
the life Of q waitress was not pleas
ant life to lead Long hours, little pay
and much Of this being con6scated
each week 10 pay for broken dishes
went far 70 make the waitress one OF
the most unhappy working girls in the
world.
When I was. II 1899 employed IN
& large ST. Louis restaurant l worked
one day from 1890 s. u. TO 5 2, N.
The next day l was on duty from
a ~. 10 . p. n, aud then from 5 ?. u.
to O'Clock that night. On Sunday
when other people were at church or
having s good time in the parks I was
on duty thirteen hours.
But the union has changed every
thing. II has secured FOR the girl the
eight hour working day and one day
10 the week Of, the day TO be ar,
ranged for by the proprietor and the
employee.
In San Francisco the mattresses eat
the same food as the guests OF the
hotels or cafes where they are EN-
ployed. BY paying Go cents 3 month
waitress has the services Of the
union physician during illness. and in
case Of death a hundred dollar benefit
= goes TO her family.
1t is for these reasons and many
Others that | say the union IS the
- greatest thing in the world for the
working girl. and no girl who ha:
, worked with IL behind her Will ever
:. willingly give up It's support and The
= feeling Of security and rest that Is
, hers In the knowledge that sister
hood Of sympathizers IS behind her
willing and ready TO light her indi
vldual battles with and fer her"
Miss Leouora O'Reil.y. vice presi
dent OF the Women's Trade UnioT
league Of New York snd supervisor
: Of the power operating department o,
: the Manhattan Trade School For Girls
Is unionist for these reasons:
: Il am a union woman because
> could not be anything else. l am
, Fenian. and | belong 10 family o
revolutionists. When l was eleve'
years old | was a shirtmsker an,
> learned much of the horrors OF factor
, life at that time
LAS grew older l became possesse
with the union idea. saw that III
less we girls did something we woul
he broken over the wheel OF constan
tortuous, III paid work
. Il saw that the cattle OF the prairie
, went IN herds: that the birds Away
fiocked together. Why should wome
work alone and suffer alone?
Il was making six shirts a da,
bending over a sewing machine. grow
ing thin and sallow and broken dow
In health because lacked prope
food. clothing and fresh air
And so, because l wanted to liv
and enjoy life at least to some extent
/ became an advocate OF the uniol
movement.
Il am a unionist because l insist OF
my right to live"
The Oldest Trades unienist.
Boston branch OF the Amalgamatet