The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
BY CHARLES DICK.

number OF the strongest labor or
| ganizations in. the United States are
making provision to pay modest super
annuatIon benefits TO their members,
and that number will undoubtedly be
increased as the advantages Of such a
plan become more apparent from prac-
tical experience.
The International Association of Ma
chinists, with headquarters IN this city,
has established a approximation fund.
computed from June /, 1903. Ten years
service thereafter will entitle a member
to a superannuation benefit of 500 on
reaching the age Of sixty-five years, and
after twenty years service to the pay
ment of 1900 on attaining the age of
sixty-eight years. A fund is now being
collected to insure these payments.
which will not be payable until 1913 and
1923, respectively.
The Pattern Makers League of North
America has adopted a approximation
benefit which will become operative IN
1890. Members sixty years old, after
twenty-five years membership. will be
paid S12 a month. and members sixty
five years old, after thirty years MEM
bership, will be paid a superannuation
benefit OF SIS month.
Plumbers Establish Fund.
The United Association Of Journeymen
Plumbers, Gashtters. Steamftters. and
steamftters' Helpers OF the United
States and Canada has adopted a super
annuation benefit to members not less
than forty-five years old. the amount be-
Iing governed by the length Of member
ship in the association. To those OF the
highest class membership Of thirty years
and over, $500 will be paid: to the sec
ond class membership, of twenty-five
years and under thirty years, 500; to the
third class membership, Of twenty years
and under twenty-five years, 800. To be
entitled to this superannuation benefit
a member must be totally incapacitated
by old age or infirmity from following
his trade This benefit is not yet opera
tive.
The Amalgamated Association of Street
and Electric Railway Employees OF
America is accommodating funds for the
purpose Of carrying out the provisions
of a approximation pension system, not
yet in operation. It is proposed to pay
small pensions to employees who bave
reached the age of sixt1Shve years or
more and are prevented because of age
from following their occupation. For
members in continuous good standing
between seven and ten years the bene-
it will be 81 a. week. For members
whose service has DSen between ten ana
fifteen years, $50 q week: between ff-
teen and twenty years, 81 per week; for
service twenty-five years and more, s.
per week.
System I'm Operation.
The international Typographical Union
began the payment of old-age pensions
in August, 1908. At the beginning "a per
week was paid any member Of the union
upon reaching the age OF sixty years
who has been in continuous good stand
ing in the union twenty years and finds
1t impossible to secure sustaining en-
ployment. Subsequently, effective Janu- |
airy l. 1872, the pension was increased to |
$. The German-American Topographic, |
composed of printers of the German Ian
guage. and q part of the International |
Union. pays an old-age |
pension OF s. per week. in addition to |
that paid by the International Typo |
graphical Union.
These workingmenis funds show what /
can be done by organization and the CO.
QQerattop Of those engaged n -ths same