The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-02-08
NEW UNION FORMED

1t isn't quite true that every
body Is organized but the farmers
One bunch has overlooked them.
selves until last Saturday when the
Furnace Feeders Union was or
ganized in Blackfoot. There are
several furnaces in town and the fell
lows who fire them have to expose
themselves to the fresh air every
morning before daylight, and 1t was
thought best to form union and
elect officers to look after the mem
bers, making provision, II possible to
have them receive part pay during
the warm weather when employers
cutting down expenses might FORGET
them.
The charter members of the union
were C. ]. Wright, who fires the fur
mace in the Hopkins building, Byrd
Trego, who fires the furnaces at
Sagehurst and The Republican build
ing, and Edward Neider, who bears
the same responsibilities at the
Standrod Bank building. Mr.. Wright
was elected president, Byrd Trego
secretary and Mr.. Neider treasurer.
It speaks we'll for the popularity of
these gentlemen that each of them
was elected by reclamation and by
unanimous vote Of all three present.
The first rule adopted was that
every furnace feeder belonging to the
union should be allowed twenty min
utes extra pay every morning for
putting on his overalls whether he
needs them or not.
Rule number two was that every
member in good standing shall carry
a card, and that every man carrying
a card shall have furnished to him
one helper, or tender, whose salary
shall be paid by the employer and
when the bill for such service is o.
KID by the man he works under, 1t
shall be lien against the building in
which the furnace is situated.
Rule number three provides that
no tender must shovel any coal ex-
cept when he Is alone or with some
body, and it shall be the duty of the
tender to fire up in the mornings
without disturbing the slumbers of
his chief; 1t shall be his further duty
to bank the fire in the evening after
first seeing to 1t that his chief has
two tickets to the picture show, and
the cost of such tickets shall be a
valid charge against the owner of
the building to be paid in such man
ner and at such times as the salary
of the tender is paid.
Rule number four provides that
when man has to be on duty for
two or more minutes at both morn
ing and evening, he shall draw pay
for the intervening hours at stand
ard plumbers wages, and II he has
to return and do something to the
furnace at any time between sunrise
and sunset, the rate Of pay for the
day shall be time and a half. This
does not include the work of remov-
ing the ashes from the pan, and
when that is done it shall be added
to the bill as special item at pulmb-
ers' wages, and no charge shall be
made for less than one hour for such
service, or in other words, if he
empties it at all he shall charge for
at least one hour.
Rule number five requires that the .
employer shall pay the membership
fees and the monthly dues of the
members and the salary of walking ,
delegate whose duty it shall be to
keep in touch with all members and
to report on sources of dissatisfac-
ton, to the secretary, his reports to ,
be made orally when nobody but I I
members in good standing are :
present
The next meeting will be held on :
evening at which time the
walking delegate is to be selected :
from among the applicants who :
know the least possible about a fur
mace. 1t is the desire of the organ
izers to make furnace firing a job of \
the first magnitude and at the same
time to provide against the danger of
being overrun by apprentices. /