The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-04-22
Plate Engravers.
Postoffice Clerks.

tions have been affiliated there has
not been a strike Of the members who
work for the government. Why? Be-
cause the employees Of the government,
to bring about change in their con-
ditions, must do 1t by securing the
enactment Of new legislation or more
liberal administration; hence, the
statement Is a bugaboo and used for
the sole purpose of alarming the rail-
way postal clerks to the extent that
they will not join a union that will
be Of benefit to them.
Statement No. 4.
The Postoffice department is op-
posed to the clerks forming g. union
with a charter from the American
Federation Of Labor.
There Is no foundation for this
statement. The Postoffice department
has never issued an order that the
railway postal clerks, or any other
employees of the government should
not organize and become a part Of
the American Federation Of Labor. II
the statement was true, the post
office clerks would not have been per-
mitted to form a national organization
affiliated to the American Federation
Of Labor. The government Of the
United Staten recognizes the right of
all wage workers to organize to Sc
cure improved conditions and bene-
fist for themselves. The fact that
President Roosevelt issued an order
that employees Of the government
should not petition senators and re-
representatives. to aid in enacting legis-
lation that affected Themselves and
that such order has been reaffirmed
by President Taft, does not mean
that the employees have not the right
to organize. 1t simply means that
the employees of the government must
not bring to bear Their personal in
fluence upon the senators and repres-
cntatives to secure favorable legisla-
ton. The order of the president
employees until such time as the or
der is rescinded or law enacted
granting to government employees the
same rights enjoyed by other citizens,
the right to petition congress for the
enactment Of laws that will remedy
the conditions complained. about. If
it Is claimed that the railway postal
clerks are debarred from securing i'm
proved conditions by their own con-
certed action, it can be readily seen
that the prohibition would be more
effective in an isolated body than iif
the r. P. c.. had a national organiza-
ton affiliated with all organized la
Dor of our country to the American
Federation of Labor.
Statement No.3.
1fyou become member of a union
holding a charter from the federation.
it will cost you $4,000, or more, per
year, and you will not be able to Sc
cure any benefits.
Statement No. 3 is untrue. If you
Join a local union of railway postal
clerks, the dues will be 50 cents per
member per month. The dues COL
lected will remain in the hands of the
treasurer Of the local union. Out Of
the amount collected there will be
paid to the federation 10 cents per
member per month. the local union
retaining 40 cents per member per
month for the purpose Of paying run
ming expenses, and such sick or death
benefits as they may decide to pay to
its members. Hence, the amount the
| federation will receive from each
| member will be $1.20 per year during
| the time the local unions are affiliated
| direct. When a national Organization
is formed, then tibet local unions will
| pay their stated per capita tax, not
| to the federation, but to their national
! office, for the purpose of paying the
! expenses of permanent officer or Of
ficers, for the transaction of such
business as the constitution and by
; laws may require them to do. The
national will then pay to the Amer
lean Federation of Labor one-half
! cent per membership Of the organiza-
ton, or cents per year for each
| member.
I believe this information should
| reach all railway postal clerks, so
! they will not be misled by the idle and
what their duties and obligations will
be when they become part of the fed
Grafton, which is composed of 1870 in
ternatfonal organizations, 80 state
bodies, 600 city central bodies and
about 800 local unions, with a total
membership today Of over 1,735.000
| members.
! Each railway postal clerk should as
s1st in forming a local union in his
vincinity, if there is not one already
Ill existence. There is nothing re-
quired Of railway post clerk who
Join a union that will in any way in
| terfere with him faithfully perform
ing all the duties required by the Post.
office department; and the utilization
of your union to the federation will
place the officers of the federation in
a position to urge the enactment OF
legislation by congress that will be
! beneficial to you.
Remember that there are thousands
of government employees following
different crafts and callings, now or.
ganized and who have been organized
for years, and every one of them have
good reasons as to be satisfied with
their membership in an organization
affiliated to the American Federation
! of Labor. Why? Because through
united. instead of individual, effort
they have been able to secure condi.
tions that have not only been a bene.
Ia