The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-10-05
.CIGARMAKERS' UNION
HOLDS CONVENTION.
President Perkins Report Shows
Remarkable Work Of Great
Trade Union. u

r. IT. =. s.. - =
BALTIMORE. Oct 3.-The Inter-
national Cfgarmakers' union opened
it's first convention In 16 years in
this city last week. President Per-
kins' report dealt with every phase
Of the organization and incorporated
many historical events.
President Perkins said: ''The first
organization Of sigarmakers, accord
ing to, available history was in Gin
cinnati in 1845, and it is claimed that
some sort Of an. organization has beeu
In continual existence In that city.
timore, where an organization was
effected In 1851. =
The first recorded strike was in
that city. At that time Baltimore
was one Of the centers Of the cigar
industry. As result of the strike
the industry moved northward and
quickened in New York. and other
points in the Eastern states. One Of
the first big strikes was against the
Introduction Of molds. Low wages and
no benefits and no funds was the pre-
vailing rule until 1879. Under the
rule of low dues and no benefits the
membership fluctuated and was large
ly governed by trade conditions"
The report shows that in 1859 there
were $500 members, with a. continu-
Gus decrease in membership until 1877
when the entire membership only
numbered LOIS. A revival took place
in 1879, which showed $50 members.
From 1879 to 1881 the membership
increased to 12,400 members, and
then maintained a steady: increase
each year until 1904. when the men,
bership reached 1886.
The real, progress Of the interna-
ttonal union started with the inaug-
uration of the system Of high dues
and a chain of benefits in 1879. For
June, 1912, the number of members
reported on the monthly financial re-
ports reaches a total of 1852.
1t must be remembered in consid-
ering this report that the organized
cigarmakers have been compelled to
combat one of the most gigantic cor
porations in the entire world, the To-
baceo trust, which employs in it's
cigar factories women. and children,
which has. tendency to continually
force the price of labor in cigar fac
tories to- the lowest minimum.
Notwithstanding this fact, however,
the cigarmakers have been able to
secure accessions to the International
Cigarmakers' union, with a CORE
spending increase in wages and bet
terment of working conditions
The International Cigarmakers'
union is comprised Of 4ss local unions
the largest number Of local unions
ever affiliated in the history Of the
organization. or the 365 applications
for increase in wages approved since
the last report, Sept. 1, 1901, involv-
ing 33,171 members, 32,140 Of whom
wer entitled, to benefits, also 1910
| nonunionists, a fraction over Sc per
| cent or -314 difficulties were success
ful. -. ..% -: 49,.
OF the total number Of strike ap-
pl1cations approved since Sept. /,
1901, 1910 in number, involving
6o,61o members, a fraction over sc
per cent, were successful. -
In addition to the foregoing may
be added that of the strikes approved,
Y per cent were compromised and
In almost every instance with con-
cessions that were favorable to the
union an members thereof, which
| brings the percentage Of successful
strikes to 74h.
| The total amount of money paid
out in strikes during the period just
referred to was $610,478.47. or an
average per year Of .$55, 49S.04. The
grand total of benefits, Including
strike, sick, death and total disability,
out of work, etc., amounted to in the
last 80 years and two. months, $10,-
I22S,S42.71.
r. In 1885 tho report shows that the
average length of lives Of the men,
bers was 81 years, while in 1911 the
average was so years and one month.
This shows an, increase in the average
length. Of the lives of members Of rs
vars. eight months and ten days
since 1888, OF a period Of % years.
In the financial statement for the
year ended June 80, 1912, it is shown
that the average membership in thai
period was 81, 039, with an expenditure
Of S. lilo cents per member per year
for all expenses in the conduct of the
international union. -.
In conclusion, President Perkins
makes this observation: "Impatien,
though We and others may be for a
more rapid advancement. the facts
seem to be that we cannot, with any
degree of permanency, go beyond the
ready comprehension, acquiescence
and cooperation Of the more deliber.
ately moving mass. I believe it would
be a. mistake to supplant trade, au-
tonomy by forced industriaHsn. !.
"A closer unity of purpose, with
the ultimate unity: of action in view
should be always be encouraged in
each industry. The same principle
should be the rule and policy to be
applied In the American Federation
| ~ Ia ,0p~ <.rioo~