Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1921-12-16
UNIONS MUST
HOLD TOGETHER,
SAYS A. HI. BURKE

Allen II. Burke of Salt Lake City,
an international representative Of the
street car mems union, who has been
in the Twin Cities for several daya In
the interest aof the local union, waa q
visftor at the meeting of the Twin
City Federation of Labor Wednesday
night, and addressed the delegates
on the subject of loyalty To the union
movement.
The trouble with the labor move
ment today, said MIR. Burke, is that
they are losing sight of the primary
objects of the trade union movement.
Too many members view unionis,l as
vehicle through which to secure in
creases in wages only, and when the
union no longer does that, but is busy
retaining what has already been Sc
cured, they lose interest and become
lukewarm members. They lose sight
entirely Of the fact that the union has
secured for workers in every trade
ALL the benefits enjoyed--shorter
hours, improved conditions--every-
thing, even the free public schools,
and that without the unions condi-
fifty years ago.
TOT the SiTetl Isii ilfiiB Aiit SptAhti
said, the union had done much. IL
has secured the S-hour day in many
cities, the 9-hour in a majority of
the cities. II has secured enclosed
yestibules on cars. He reclted his own
experience in this connection, and said
that many cold winter day he had
stood at his post on the front end of
an old Stevens model car, exposed to
the elements, and benumbed from cold.
The union has secured better pay for
the members, stools TO sit upon and
rest the weary feet, the air brake on
ears, and the union has been instrn-
mental in the recent past in keeping
TO a great extent the pay secured
during and Immediately following the
war. Without the union, he said, re-
ductions of from 20 to 40 per cent
would have been imposed upon the
men in every city in the United States
and he recited several instances TO
prove this. In cities where the union
had been disbanded, the average cut
has been almost three times as great
as where the union had held intast.
The trade union movement has
been the emancipation of labor, said
Mr.. Burke. Organization is going
to be more essential during the next
two years than it has at any time IN
the history of the union movement. In
his travels throughout all sections of
the county, Mr.. Burke has had OPP
portunity to keep in touch with the
trend of the times, and he believes
great offensive against all labor Is
about due. Therefore, he said, it be-
hooves us to take care of our organ
izations.
He says the employers union is
organized more solidly than are the
unions Of the worker. There are no
slackers there, none falling out, all
paying dues. And If lahors oppon-
ents are triumphant, there is no one
to blame but labor, and If labor sees
70 it that their unions are kept intact
there will be no question but that la
| Dor will hold its own. The only way
to combat antagonism is with organ
ization.
Mr.. Burke asked the delegates tc
support the street car mems label
the monthly button--and to insist
that the motorman or conductor with
whom you ride has a button paid al
to date. This he said, was just as es-
sential as demanding the label upon
cigars or any other article of common
ruse.