The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-04-14
A ROuSing
SHINGLE WEAVERS'
CONVENTION
(Headuuarters of the International
Shingle Weavers' Union OF Amer
lea, 202 Maynard BuildingO

Shingle Weavers' Union of Amer
lea, 2O2 Maynard Building)
Seattle, Wash, April g. 1916.
To the Officers and Members of Local
Unions-Greeting:
The convention, which adjourned
sine die last Wednesday noon, was
one of the argest, most enthusiastic,
constructive and successful in the
history of the organization. A new
international constitution and new
wage scale for District No. l were
adopted The constitution is now in
effect and the wage scale will become
effective May 1, 1916. The 1914 wage
scale was adopted, except with the
following changes: The knotsawyers'
day wage of $3.50 was increased to
S4.OO; the minimum wage for packers
was raised from Shc per M to &C;
packers shall receive one cent addi-
tional for mailing bands and one cent
additional for tallying. Thanksgiving
and election day are no longer termed
holidays by this organization.
The convention proceedings, new
constitution and new wage scale will
be printed and distributed among the
membership at the earliest possible
date. The new constitution follows
along the general lines of the timber
workers constitution now in the
hands OF the membership; only such
changes being made as were neces-
sary to conform with the requirements
of this organization. However, there
were several new departures taken,
to-wit Withholding power from the
international president to call strikes;
yesting in the international executive
board alone the power to call strikes;
making it illegal for local unions to
call strike for any cause till the in
ternational executive board has ap-
proved same; prohibiting the interna-
tional union from expending any of
its funds to finance illegal strikes.
All delegates reported good prog
ress in the reorganization campaigns
being prosecuted in their respective
jurisdictions, while this office is
daily in receipt of numerous reports
from various parts of the Pacific
Northwest indicating that keen inter-
est in organization affairs is being
shown everywhere.
Adequate shipping facilities are
now at the command of the shingle
mill companies. During the past ten
days many more orders for shingle
weavers have been received and filled
by writer. The demand for shingre
weavers is now so great that a certain
manufacturer of Ballard, Wash, was
Thursday compelled to appeal to this
office for part of a crew. This is sig
nificant from the fact that this COM
pany heretofore has been notoriously
opposed to this organization. A new
law of the international employment
office is that no shingle mill employe
shall be sent to a position without
first having paid up working card.
This law will be rigidly and impair
TALLY enforced under all circum-
stances.
The convention voted to publish our
official organ, "The Shingle Weaver"
Jointly with the Seattle Union Record,
the official organ of organized labor
of Seattle and vicinity, having at
present a weekly circulation Of more
than 5000, the largest of any labor
paper published on the Pacific Coast.
The last page of the Union Record will
be reserved for the publication of
i all articles of direct interest to the
members of this organization, such
as official notices, editorials, news
matter, local correspondence, etc.
Prior to the first issue new mailing
list must be formulated.
Begging your cooperation in the re-
building of our organization and an
ticipating its phenomenal growth,
beg to remain, with best wishes,
Fraternally yours,
VIM II. REID,