The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-09-12
union UPBUILD|NC
Purchasing Power of Labor
Should Be Utilized.
DEMAND THE UNION LABEL.
A Phase of Activity That Trade Union
ism Has Failed to Make the Best Use
OF How Organized Labor Can
Strengthen Its Position.

Of How Organized Labor Can
Strengthen Its Position.
There are numerous activities in
which unionism, union officers and I'M
ion members are engaged, says the
Shoe Workers Journal. They are prose
lyting for new members in their re-
spective trades, seeking better wages
or conditions, adjusting differences,
conducting strikes, resisting encroach-
ments and doing the routine work of
the movement. These are the the busy
ones who are often so busy in routine
matters that they overlook the main
issue. There is also the very large
percentage of drones in the trade I'M
ion movement who overlook the main
issue and every other issue.
And what is the main issue? What
line Of trade union activity should be
singled out from all the others and
counted as most important of all?
Clearly it is for all unionists of every
trade and calling to make full use Of
their purchasing power, so that not
single cent of their wages shall go to
support the nonunion wages and con-
ditions which exist where the employ
the workers should be equally insist
ent in demanding union label goods
as they are in demanding union wages
for their labor, for if they spend their
wages for nonunion products they are
tearing down as consumers the very
edifice of union wages and conditions
that they are seeking to build up as
producers.
To direct their purchasing power in
their own interest, in purchasing union
made goods, involves no sacrifice Of
any other trade union effort Trade
unionists may continue all their trade
union activities, but 1t simply means
that the main issue-the union label
issue-must never be neglected. what
ever else they may do. The preaching
the gospel of unionism among the I'M
organized and the solicitation of new
members may continue just the same.
supplemented, however, by the demand
Of united labor that the employees of
all industries shall organize
Instead of permitting employers to
coerce employees out of labor unions,
labor unions can, through demanding
union label goods and buying union
label goods and nothing else but union
label goods. coerce employers to per-
NIT or even to ask their employees to
join the labor unions, which comes
very near putting the boot on the other
foot.
Here is an argument that all trade
unionists will do well to consider. BY
concentrating their purchasing power
on the products of union labor eXclu-
sively they can strengthen their or
ganization in way to bring them the
help of forces at present antagonistic.
When you find the retail merchants
of the country spending enormous sums
every day in an effort to induce people
to patronize their establishments and
your common sense tells you it pays
them to do so, do you not realize what
valuable asset q conscious. purposed
use of your purchasing power would
be to organized labor?
What do you think would be the eff
feet of persistent and consistent de-
mand on the part of the would be pur-
chaser for union label products? Do you
not think the merchant who couldn't
supply the demand would soon find
means to do so or else go out of bus1-
ness? The pressure of the retailer on
the jobber and wholesaler, the jobber
and wholesaler on the manufacturer,
would soon result in more union fac
tories and shops with better wages,
better conditions and shorter hours.
The labor movement is going ahead,
but it could gain much faster if each
member will pledge his purchasing
power to the common cause, and that
is why a right use of our purchasing
power, or a concentration of all wage
earners in demanding union label
goods at all times and places may be
considered the main issue.