The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-04-28
LOOK FOR THE
UNION LABEL
(By T. J. Conboy, General Organizer,
l. I Il L IL \

(By T. j. Conboy, General Organizer,
American Federation of Labor.)
The union label. or union stamp,
is strictly American in origin. Many
Canadian trade unionists have util-
lied it. and British organizations are
following the plan. San, Francisco
was the birthplace of the label In
the year 1874. To the cigar makers
belongs the glory of first employing
this potent instrumentality of organ
lied labor. During the sand-lot agi-
tation for Chinese exclusion a firm
of cigar manufacturers took on
coolie labor. The unionists presented
an intelligent and determined resist
ance. Assured of public patronage,
the perplexity arose as to how the
purchaser could discriminate between
a union cigar manufactured under
sanitary conditions. and the sweat
shop, coolie-made, filthy product. The
solution came-all boxes must be
certified.
From this sprang the greatest
idea of the grandest institution on
earth-the label of the labor move
ment. From the foregoing it will be
noted that sanitation was the original
basis of the label. And while the
years have expanded the uses, aims,
purposes and aspirations of the
workingman' trade mark. the Ques-
ton of healthful condition still re-
mains one of the primal reasons for
its employment.
The late President Roosevelt. re-
ferring to filthy tenement workman
ship in New York City. once declared
in a speech in the assembly Of the
New York Legislature, of which he
was then a member: 81 have visited
these pest holes personally. and
assure you if smokers could see how
these cigars are made we should not
need any legislation against this
system"
Other unions, noting the success
of the label. have adopted trade
marks. The Hatters. Garment Work
ers, Printers. Iron Molders. Boot and
Shoe Workers. Painters. Carpenters
Bakers and many other crafts. Shop
cards based upon the same principle
have been adopted for display by
Butchers. BARRIERS and Restaurant
and Hotel Workers.
The aims and purposes of the
! uHlOil ldDSl VI SIlOp Sdlu dlS'
| The assurance that the work i.
done under sanitary conditions. The
assurance of reasonable wages ant
! steady employment. Reasonable
hours. No child labor. That womer
workers receive the same considera
ton as the men. Safety measure:
to reduce accidents to a minimum
, The assurance that the products arr
not prison made. The assurance tina
the products are superior in work
manship and quality to the unlabele'
articles.
! When purchasing goods see to i
! they bear the union label. By so do
ing you are promoting the true prin
ciples of unionism. and aiding you
fellow-workers in securing justice
When you purchase non-union mad
goods you are contributing to tn
:, support of the open shoppers. an
and aiding them in promoting unfai
working conditions. Every time yo
purchase goods made by non-unio
men and women. you place yourself
: on record as favoring condition
which mean longer hours of labo
and low wages. Make it point dun
5 ing the future to see that all article
purchased by you bear the unto
= label.
2 The aspiration of the label know
no bounds. Its ambition is to redeel
! world. Nothing in the whole reall
of unionized labor is capable of sue
' effective and continuous utility. Bu
S the battles of the label are wo
I without bloodshed. 1t is more pow
| erful than strikes and picketings
5 and is potent warning to tyrar
} nical employers. 1t is puissar
7 in the hands of women and childre
as the menacing declaration of labC
5 convention. 1t is the boycott with
| out publication. No Injunction ca
r reach it. no state constabulary c
strike-breaker dare touch it, no pc
= will revile it. no pulpit assail it.
1t aims to be the "schoolmaste
abroad" the schoolmaster at HON,
| teaching the women folks thei
, primal obligation to the grea
cause, while steadily winning ii
way to the hearts of the gener;
public. The union label aspires to b
the emblem of humanism. even as tn
cross is the symbol of Christianit!
The one speaks to us of the worl
beyond and fatherhood of God; tn
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