New-York tribune., 1919-02-18
Nation Wide Drive
To- Unionize Steel
Workers Is Begun
"a Organizations Affiliated
With American Federation
Having 100000 Mem
bers Behind Movement
Nelc York Tribune
labor Bureau

Labor Bureau
A countrywide campaign to unionize
steel workers is being conducted by
twenty-four unions affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor whose
membership totals more than 1900,
900, according to the Illinois State
Federation of Labor news letter.
'Profting from the bitter expert
ence of twenty years Struggles says
the letter. "the present movement,
from its inception. has proceeded upon
the realization that it is folly for any
craft organization, however strong or
skilled, to attempt to organize single
handed in the iron and steel industry.
To do so would be to court sure de-
feat.
"The only way offering prospect
Of success is for all the unions involved
to unite their resources in q great
drive for organization. and to stick
Loyalty together till the big Job is done.
The movement must be as wide as the
industry. Hence all those organizations
with Jurisdictions OYER workers en-
ployed in the irone and steel industry
have been enlisted in this campaign.
They are as follows:
international brotherhood of Black
smiths; Brotherhood OF Boilermakers
and Iron Shipbuilders of America;
United Brick and Clay Workers;
Bricklaycrs'. Plasterers' and Masons'
International Union of America; Inter
national Association of Bridge and
Structural Iron Workers; Coopers' In
ternational Union Of North Americas:
international Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers. international brotherhood
Of Foundry Employees; Amalgamated
Association of Iron, Steel and Tin
" orkers, international Association Of
Machnists; Metal Polishers' Union Of
North America: international Union of
Nine, Mill and Smelter Workers;
United Mine Workers Of America:
international Moulders' Union Of North
America; Pattern Makers League of
North America; United Association of
Plumbers and Steam Filters; Quarry
Workers. international Union OF North
America; international Railway Car
men of America; international Sea
mems Union OF America; Amalga-
mated Sheet Metal Workers Interna-
tional Alliance; international Broth
erhood of Stationary Fremen; Inter
national Union Of Steam and Operating
of Steam Shovel and Drcdgemcn;
switchmen's Union of North America.
"These twcnty-four international
unions have membership of more than
100000. They cover the iron and
steel industry in all its branches, from
the men who dig the coal and iron ore
through all the wonderful complexities
of the industry, to the men who load
out the finished products at the plants.
Within their ranks places are provided
for all Of the more than 100000 iron
and steel workers. regardless of their
color, sex, or occupation. There Is not
u man, woman or child in the whole
industry but who can affiliate with
some one or another of the cooperating
unions.
"The cutting edge of this gigantic
labor combination and the body de-
signed to outline and to carry out the
policies Of the organization is the Ma
tional Committee for Organizing Iron
and Steel Workers. Organized in Chi
cage, August l, 1918, this committee
consists of one representative officer
from each affiliated international union.
It's officers are Samuel Gompers, chair
man; John Fitzpatrick, acting chair
man; William Il. Foster secretary
treasurer.
"Not unnaturally such a widespread
and comprehensive movement as this IS
accomplishing substantial results. AL
ready the great plants Of the United
States Steel Corporation and indcpcn-
dcnt concerns AT Gary, IOlict, SOuth
Chicago and Indiana Harbor have been
thoroughly organized. Likewise grow
ing and vigorous unions have been cs
tablishcd in Youngstown, Buffalo,
Cleveland, Lorain, Pittsburgh, Moncs-
sen, Johnstown, Homestead Butler,
Wheeling, Rellaire, Pueblo, Milwaukee,
Pullman etc. In addition. movements
more or less independent from that Of
The national committee have resulted
in farrcaching organization in Beth
lehem, Stcelton, Coatcsvillc, Sparrows
Point, etc.
AS things now stand, there is hardly
an important steel centre in America
that the unions have not at least par
tally organized. In dozens Of plants
whore for years not trace Of union
ism existed the work Of organization
now openly proceeds. Beyond all qucs-
tion, the industry is being steadily or
ganzed. And this viii continue The
opposition Of the companies, the win
ter weather, the influenza ban the
growing unemployment due to the end
Of the war. and all other obstacles,
are all unable to stop it, IL must and
..,.if ho ffctr