United labor bulletin., 1913-09-27


fairly estimated for the current year
at 100000, according to the article
With regard to the large majority of
wage earners, says the article. who
remain thus apparently untouched by
organization and representing % per
cent of the whole. organization Is
chiefly lacking in the case OF unskilled
labor Farm labor and the class OF
worker described generally in the
census and other official returns as
"laborers," that is men without tech
nical instruction of any kind, alone
comprise about one-fourth of the total
male wage earners, and these are
practically unorganized Feminine
workers also are little organized in
| Canada.
Indianapolis. = Some interesting
facts relating to labor and its organ
izations in Canada are set forth in
the annual special report by the de-
partment of labor of the Dominion, as
reprinted in the official journal OF the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners. 1t shows a union member
ship at the end Of 1912 of 160,120. 1t
shows further that international IN
ions in North America number las and
80 have affiliated locals in Canada.
! OF the latter 50 are affiliated with the
American Federation of labor. The
| Canadian membership of this fedora y
ton is about $4,000. The number OF
local branches in Canada Is 1855, an
increase of 107 locals over the tig-
ures reported for 1911.
New York-The Neckwear Work
ers' union, which had general strike
several years ago, decided to make a
| general demand on all the employers
for doing away with the employment
in the trade sf contractors or mid
dlemen The members of the union
want to work only in the factories OF
the manufacturers, and not In the
small shops of the contractors. About
1000 girls and 1000 men are affected
by the demand. The main center of
this trade for the United States is
New York.
Wilkesbarre, Pa.-Eight hundred
miners at the Franklin colliery of the
Lehigh Valley Coal company, who
went on strike as a result OF dis
pute over the purchase of powder,
decided at a meeting to return to
work. The matter under dispute will
| be given to the conciliation board for
a decision The strike Of 200 at the
Lehigh & Wilkesbarre Coal company
was also settled, the men who re-
fused to join the union agreeing to
the demands of their fellow-workmen.
Washington-Offici of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor expressed
doubt regarding an opinion rendered
by Attorney General McReynolds re.
Gently to the effect that the eight-hour
law does not apply to post-road i'm
provements for which the government
may appropriate money. The specific
instance which the labor men intend
to investigate is the work being done
under an appropriation Of $500,O00
made by congress to be used under the
supervision of several states.
Vienna, Austria.-A settlement has
been arrived at in respect TO the
wage movement in the Austrian build
ing Industry which has lasted six
months, and in which 10000 workers
were involved. The new contracts
cover a period of three years and pro-
vide for substantial increases in
wages. The nine-hour day was at
tanned in Vienna, and in the other
parts of the land shortening of the
working time and other Improvements
were effected.
Springfield, Ill.-The United Mine
Workers advanced to the striking
miners in various parts of the coun-
try $4,000 from the one-million dol
lar fund now in the treasury in tL>
state. OF this sum 100000 goes to
the Western Federation of Miners for
the aid of the copper miners. The re-
naming $4,000 is for the use of the
international officers in organizing in
Colorado and other fields where eff
forts are being made to unionize the
miners.
indianapolis. - The United Mine
Workers has reached the highest
point it has yet attained in its paid
up membership. Announcement is
made that the paid-up membership
of the organization August 81 was
400, ,15S, and it further Is stated that
there was a gain in membership dur
ing the last Is months of more than
| 100,0
Kansas City-The Brotherhood OF
/ Locomotive Firemen and Engnemen
and the Brotherhood of Lomocotive
Engineers have arrived at an agree
ment whereby 1t is proposed to work
in harmony on all roads where the
wage scales and conditions are a
subject of controversy
London, England.-In the brick-mak-
ing trade in this country great
many girls are engaged. and they are
asking for an increase. They want
25 cents more a week to bring wages