The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-04
INSURANCE BY UNIONS.
ciqarmakers Have comprehen-
sive Plan of Benefits.
THE RAILWAY BRoTHERHooDS

THE RAILWAY BR0THERHOODS
Four Principal Organizations Insure
Msrnbsrs At Cheaper Rates Than the
Old Line companiss-Averase Cost
Per $1,000.
Discussing trades union insurance in
the Typographical Journal, Don C. D.
Moore presents the following interest
ing data:
The Cigarmakers' union is one Of
the most interesting Of all the unions
for study in the working Of labor un-
ion insurance. The union has been In
existence since 1864 and began paying
sick and death benefits in 1881, twen-
ty-eight years ago. and out Of work
benefits in 1885. The membership of
the cigarmakers approximate that Of
the international Typographical union.
or upward Of $4,000. In addition to
the three forms Of insurance-sick.
death and disability and out Of work
the organization provides for strike
benefits and maintains a loaning fund
for travelling members. which amount
ed in 1905 to $5O.65O.
Applicants who are suffering irom
any chronic disease or who are more
than fifty years Of age receive No sick
benefits and not more than $50 death
benefits, but they pay only Is cents
weekly dues. or half the regular per
capita.
Out Of Work Benefit.-A member
who for two years has paid his dues
is entitled to receive during unemploy-
ment s. 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 latest available figures,
was $23.O11. or an average cost OF &C
cents per member per year.
Sick Benei1t.-A member who has
paid his dues for an entire year has
the right to receive 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
drunkenness or vice no benefit may
be drawn. The sick benefits paid in
1906 amounted to $162. oO5. or $500 per
capita.
Death Benef1t.-The death benefits
are graded according to length Of mem
bership. II the deceased has been a
member for Ave years $500 is paid, for
ten years $3.50 and fifteen years $3.50.
An interesting feature Of this part of
the system is that If a member be to-
tally disa bled. 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 $1s5.514. or $4.o8 per capita.
The organization has been contem-
plating the addition to the above Of an
old age pension feature. The union
had on hand at the close Of 1905 STA
sos. or about $40 per capita. which
would seem to insure financial sta
bility.
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 it
generally in the form Of a compulsory
minimum. with an optional addition.
The respective amounts in the four
principal brotherhoods are:
Compulsory Optional
minimum. addition.
Brotherhood OF Locono-
tive Engineers .......... 500 5000
Order of Railway Con-
0uctors .................. 1,OOO ZOO
Brotherhood o. Locomo-
tive Firemen ............ 1.S0o 1850
Of Railway
4ralnmen ............... 30 80
In this connection the cost Of insur-
ance to the members. compared with
the cost in private companies. should
be interesting to those who contend
that labor unions cannot furnish in.
surance as cheap as the companies
making 1t a business. Following are
the figures showing the charge levied
by the brotherhoods and the rate Of
the casualty companies for the same
class Of men at thirty-flve years, the
rates being $1,000 insurance:
Rate Of
Rate OF Casualty
union. company.
Engineers ................ $3.50 $3.50
............... 1900 21a
Ftremen ............... 1900 N.9
Trainmen ................ 1880 N.2
The average cost per $1,000 insurance
for the four unions Is $1595. while
the average in the old line companies
for the same occupation is $25.oS. or
an average difference Of $1OOS in IA