Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-22
Heipino Each Other.

Most people who are not affiliated with
a labor organization of some sort,
think that they exist for but two
things. raising wages and striking.
That idea is altogether erroneous. The
constitution and bylaws of most la
Dor unions contain the practical appli-
cation Of ideas which could be used to
advantage in wider fields. They. uni
formly aim to improve the personnel
as we'll as the working and wage con-
ditions, they protect the weak and care
for those who have fallen in the strug-
gle.
Most labor unions have some form Of
insurance for the members which gives
them the maximum amount of benefit
and protection for minimum eXpendi-
ture. The great extent to which aid
is extended by workmen to each other
through that channel is shown in a
recent report of the federal depart
ment of commerce and labor.
The two kinds of benefits most fire.
quentIy found in operation are the
death benefit and the temporary-d isa-
bility benefit. The death benefit in the
greater number of the funds is design
ed to be an amount only sufficient to
pay funeral expenses. Some funds,
Inc, of
considerable sum. The temporary
disability benefit is intended to COM
pensate in part for the loss of wages
occasioned by sickness or accident.
The continuance of this benefit almost
always is limited to a definite period.
Frequently no benefit is paid for the
first few days OF disability due to
sickness. and in many funds a certain
length of membership is required be-
fore benefits are given.
a number of funds pay permanent
disability benefit, designed to provide
for a member who becomes totally
incapacitatcd, or who suffers The loss
of eyeSight or Of some part of this
body. The approximation benefit for
members incapacitated by age is not
developed as yet to any great extent,
but appears to be increasing in favor.
Quite a number of funds pay a benefit
on the death of the wife of member
or of some other dependent.
The report covers 81 national labor
organization benefit funds, all of which
pay death benefits. The amount of
the death benefit varies widely, ranging
from as low as SIS to as high as $4,000.
The amount occurring more often than
any other is 500. About one-half Of
the organizations pay varying amounts
according to class and length of men,
bership.
Nineteen of the organizations pay
temporary disability benefits. The
benefits are small, there being only
two instances in which they exceed IS
per week. One-fourth of the organi-
cations pay permanent disability ben
efits. usually varying according to the
nature of the disability.
Four national unions have superan-
nuation benefits in operation, and S
others have this benefit instituted but
not yet operative. Seven organizations
pay berefits on the death of members
wives. Other forms of benefits paid in |
, few instances are shipwreck, unem- |
ployment, and tool insurance.
The industrial benefit societies inves-
tigated are societies of workmen gen.
orally restricting their membership to |
I certain trade or industry, but not
making membership dependent on
in a labor union or en-
)loyment in any particular establish
nent The benefits conferred in these
societies do not differ materially from
hose of the other classes of funds de-
Cribed.