The wageworker., 1910-03-19
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ieved. is gaining more rapidly in
than tho United Brother
hood OF Carpenters and Joiners of
America. At the present time the Or
yanization has $4,000 members IN
good standing and more than seventy
thousand members who are between
three and six months behind in their |
dues. This does not exclude them
from membership in the organization, |
however, but they are not entitled to |
benefits unless their |
dues are paid up. President William
D. Huber says that at the rate the Or
ganization is growing at present he
expects the paid-up membership to
pass the 100000 mark by June 30, the
end of the calendar year. The organi-
zation is in good condition financially
and otherwise, according to the state
ments of it's officers. By far the larg-
est per cent. of the membership is en-
ployed. Demands have been made by
the workmen for higher wages IN
New York, Dallas, Memphis, Cincin-
natl. Columbus and other places, but
no serious difficulty is anticipated at
any point, although there may be
strikes, April 1, when the new wage
scale takes effect. In some OF the
smaller cities the men are demanding
that the number of hours be reduced
from ten to nine and in others from
nine to eight.
Philadelphia.-The Philadelphia &
Reading Railroad Company has issued
an order reducing the working hours
in some of it's departments because OF
the slowing up of business. The Off
,cial announcement of the company is
as follows: ION account of falling of
in volume of traffic and consequent
loss of revenue, the Philadelphia &
Reading Railway Company have is
sued orders reducing the hours of Ia
bor in all locomotive and car shops to
eight hours day, beginning on Mon
day, the 28th of February. This will
effect a reduction in shop expenses of
about Is per cent" The Reading en-
ploys many thousands Of men In these
shops who have been working on an
average of about ten hours day.
The reduction was not. looked for by
the men.
Cleveland, Owe are not con-
cerned in the cost of coal, freight
rates, or other railroad finances; what
we want is fair days wage for fair
days labor" said President Lee of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen
here, in reference to the statement of
representatives of the eastern rail-
roads that the increased cost of opera
ton prevented an increase of wages.
"Our men know they should receive
higher pay" he continued, land they
mean to get it. They are in dead
earnest. The railroads west Of Chi
cago pay higher wages, and there is
no reason why the eastern roads can
not 1t is probable that within thirty
days it will be demonstrated that the
roads should pay the increase asked
by our men,
London, Eng.-The year 1908 was
not a good year for English trade
unions, according to report issued
by the Registrar of Friendly Societies
+ The report says that the total mem.
bership of the 634 unions making re-
| turns was 1,971,23S, a decrease OF
1922; total income, $16,479,7O5, an in
crease of $1,799, ,230; total expenditure
| $18,622,4SO, an increase of $6,722,745
as compared with the figures for the
previous year. The amount of funds
at the end of the year was $3.50, 16O
or $15.1O member. During the veal
| 40 trade unions were registered, anC
| 40 dissolved or gave notice of ter
mination.
New York.-The first Italian Contra
Labor union was formed in this city
A call was issued by the delegates O
the Rockmen's and Excavators' union
the Italian Stone Masons' union ant
several other unions of Italians for :
meeting for the purpose. Thirt!
unions were asked to send delegates
Most of the delegates were elected il
anticipation of the call. All the unions
are affiliated with the American Fed
Grafton of Labor.
Edinburgh, Scotland.-In connection
with the movement for obtaining TO
boys apprenticeship to trades, AM
thus preventing their drifting into tn
casual ranks, the Stirling school boar
has decided to establish labor bu
reau for Juveniles. A register will b
kept of the boys about to leave schoo
and the trades they wish to follow, TO
the information of employers, and al
children, after leaving the school, u
to the age of 16, may also place thei
names on the register.
Denver, Col.-The Denver Cit
Tramway Company increased tn
wages of it's conductors and motor
men five cents an hour, the new seal
being from 25 to 80 cents.
San Francisco.-To eliminate tn
sweat shops and the Chinese factorie
from the city is the task that tn
members of the Garment Workers
union have set for themselves. In O.
der that all the union members {
their craft may have work. and ths
conditions may be improved in tn
shops, they are asking that the
friends look for the union label o
garments thew nurchaSe