The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-11-15
UNITY OF TRADES.
Benefits That Come From De-
partment Organization.
THE METAL UNIONS PROSPER.

Since the Various Crafts In the Metal
Industries Joined Forces a Marked
Advance Has Been Made In Wages
and Shorter Workday.
Albert j. Berries, secretary-treasurer
of the metal trades department Of the
American Federation Of Labor writes
as follows in the American Federation
list:
The longing for better conditions, the
cry for human rights and the growth of
the labor movement 20 on undated
and with determination which be-
speaks victory. There is no wavering,
no letting up in this movement Of ours,
because its mission is so broad, so
noble and so just that it inspires all
those who think right with its great
ness and its contributions to the gen
eral well being of the workers. Its
wonderful achievements and accom-
plishments stand as monuments on
which is inscribed, by my work l
shall be judged"
Some one has said: This age and
the American people do not want me-
dieval shams They want light, day
light. electric Hoht-yes, and sunlight.
They want realities, they want char
| aCter. they want learning, they want
good Judgment, they want indepand-
| enee. ana they want these free from
barbaric and aristocraHc subterfuge.
The American labor movement,
marching under the banner of the
American Federation Of Labor, has for
years portrayed not only the wants
| but the needs Of the people more forci-
bly, than any other institution in this
country 1t has been the advance
/ guard Of progressive thought and the
| protector of the rights, the wants and
| the needs Of all the people without re-
serve. 1t has Kept march with the
| times. taking advantage Of every op-
| portunity that would even in small
degree quicken the step of the march
| and bring the goal nearer. 1t has not
! Jagged back nor has it loitered, but it
| has exercised good Judgment in mark
| ing out the way and the policies to
make progress faster.
An organization of the crafts that
were closely related and whose envi-
| ronments were such that they agreed
| to act Jointly where our interests were
at stake was ordained to speed the
| settlement OF disputes or differences.
In other words. il was felt that to
some extent these closely related or
! ganizatinns should be centralized No
one today would want to place him
self so far out of line with progressive
| thought as to condemn this form of
organization unless he be "a reaction
ary." Progress is being made. and a
general development for good is no
ticeable in all quarters.
Eight hour laws have been passed,
and eight hour amendments have been
inserted in various appropriation bills
to such an extent as to convince the
most bitter opponents to legislation of
this character that they could no long
er prevent the passage of a general
eight hour law. With these amend
ments applying to certain ships au-
thOrized in the several naval acts and
with careful watching by the metal
trades to see that the law is enforced
we have been able to get encourage
ment from certain large shipbuilding
concerns through the influence of this
! legislation along the line of placing
their entire plants on an eight hour
day basis withiu the very near future.
So at last the real charm, the real
goal, the real dream, Of the member
ship of the metal trades is to be real
lied. 1t can he seen in the not far
distance, for day by day we bring it
closer, day by day a greater interest
is being displayed in one another
through this closer association of our
metal trades unions. When this equal
division of the day comes, when we
shall sleep eight hours, work eight
hours and recreate eight hours, we
can say that this closer association of
the trades FASTENED it on. The mem
bership of our affiliated organizations
is increasing, and improved conditions
have been established in many local.
ties. A tendency to work and to act
together is generally manifesting it
self, which is convincing evidence that
the policies, the character of organiza-
ton decided on by the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, are of the kind AIDE
quate to meet the wonderful and rapid
changes in the industrial field Of to-
day.