Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-31

No. sos, composed of the machinjsts
and helpers in the Silyis shops.
Very Few Strikes.
There have been few strikes in local
labor circles during the year just past,
and the strikes that have occurred have
been Of short duration lasting but two
or three days The lockout Of the car
+ penters was settled agreeably to both
( parties and the local carpenters have
/ gained the Saturday half holiday, to
be granted the entire year. Several
Organizations have secured either a
shorter working day or advances in
/ pay,
The organization committee Of the
federation has haf a busy year and
has organized unions in the follow
ing trades: Laundry workers, cement
! workers. glass workers broom max
ers, jitney bus drivers and the gar
ment workers in the Federation over
all factory at Davenport.
Have Business Agents,
, Many of the unions affiliated with
the Federation have found it neces-
sary TO maintain business agents to
attend to local affairs. The business
/ agents have offices in the Industrial
Home building. Among the unions
that have employed business agents
through the year are: Carpenters. ma
chinists, pattern makers, painters and
| pressmen. The bakery workers have
recently obtained an agent.
The bakers have one of the smallest
! unions in point of numbers, but they
are conducting a vigorous campaign
for new members and have secured
/ gratifying results. At present they are
waging a campaign for clean work
shops and are making an effort to edu-
cate the public to buy union-made
bread. In this endeavor they are Sc
curing the cooperation Of other organ
izations in the labor movement.
The painters have recently started
a series Of classes in the various
/ branches of work pertaining TO their
trade, The classes are held in the
| Industrial home and have met with an
unqualified success. The classes are
open to any one interested in the sub
/ ject. The lessons will cover all phases
of the work
Campaign for Home Goods.
The members of the cigar makers
union have been active in an attempt
to have more Of the union-made cigars
made in the tri-cities sold by Local
dealers. In conjunction with this they
have asked the members of all unions
affiliated with the Federation to buy
only union-made cigars that have been
made in one of the local factories
They state that If every member OF a
union connected with the Federation
would buy only cigars made in the TIT.
cities, the number OF union cigarmak
ers would he just double what It is
now. The membership Of the loca
| union has increased steadily all the
year and the officers look forward t
still larger increase next year.
The printers also have started {
n NhAL PH45h " nave Ahblt VI LIE plf1
/ ing used in the tri-cities done In shop.
located in one of the three cities. I
is claimed that thousands of dollars
worth of printing is being done in 9th
er cities, and that all of this worl
the local print shops are fully equipped
for and able to do During The las
year the printers have named a per
manent secretary, James A. Weed
The Offices of the secretary are located
/ n the rooms over the Myers Optica
/ company.
Il The members Of the Federation have
maintained the Union Cooperative
store, which is doing as large a bust
ness as can be expected.
Il Labor Review Plans Increase.
! The past year has been very poo