Montana labor news., 1948-05-27

1895 the Broom and Whisk Makers
added Il Union Label to the Union
Label gallery. In 1895 the Horse
Shoers. Laundry Workers and the
Tobacco Workers quickly added their
respective symbols to the label roll.
In 1896 the Hotel and Restaurant
Workers came into the Union Label
fold. The Union Bar Shop card, the
Musicians. the Machinists and the
Metal Polishers followed in 1897. Then
came the Neat Cutters and Butchers
and the Stovemounters came in 1898.
The new century 1900, the Ladies
Garment Workers adopted a label.
1902 welcomed the Steam Engineers.
tho Painters, the Pressmen, the Cloth
Hat and Cap Makers. Theatrical Stage
Employees. the Glove Workers and
the Paper Makers. In 1903 the Tex
tile workers. in 1901 the Glass Bottle
Blowers were added. The Photo En-
erayers chose a label in 1908. BY
1909 the Meat Cutters, the Plate Print
ers and Die Stampers and by 1910 the
Electrical Workers and the United
Wall Paper Crafts had adopted labels
and become affiliated with the Union
Label Trades Department. The Team
lsters and Chauffers adopted a button
in 1918.
| am mentioning the various trades
and the dates Of the birth of their
labels in order to give some idea of
the extent and significance of the
Union Label movement.
Billions Of dollars worth of goods
are bought annually by organized
labor.
If union workers would patronize
only Union Shops, buy only goods
which bear the Union Label, a ire
mendous force in favor OF Trade I'M
ionism would soon spring up.
In connection with Union Label
buying. tho ladicg Of the family are a
very important factor. Recently a
large advertising concern stated that
eighty-five per ZEN OF all purchases
for an average home are made
by the lady of the house. This is
surely true with the workers wife.
1t is time that all wives of organized
labor were enrolled in the cause of
Union Made Goods and Union Serv-
ices. Not only the wives but all the
friends of Trade Unionists should be
educated and encouraged to buy the
products OF union firms. Teach them
to demand the Union Label, shop
Card and Button.
The pay rolls of ell workers will
increase in Just the degree that they
buy Union Made goods. Every dollar
spent for union made goods and union
services means higher wages, shorter
hours and better working conditions.
1t is not only necessary to buy
Union goods, but always to ask for the
Union Label.
The dealers will soou carry the
word to the manufacturers and the
manufacturers will be anxious to fall
into line if the demand is great
enough and it can be made great
enough il every member Of the Labor
Unionist family will help those who
help them.
II self-preservation is the first law
of man. let us then buy under the
Union Label from a purely selfish
standpoint.
Aside from the selfish standpoint
there is the humanitarian standpoint.
IN industries that are %unionized there
is no child labor. no sweatshop con
ditions and no unfair conditions for
either men OF m 1t is the great
est guarantee of sanitary conditions.
The great reforms which the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor advocates
can be more easily accomplished by
greater organization and Union Label
buying.
In closing allow me to summarize
the advantages OF buying under the
Union Label.
Think, talk. and push Union Label
products; make the Union Label as
important as the price Of the article.
When you ask for the Union Label
YOU can be sure the article is Amer
lean Made. under healthful, sanitary
conditions, by workmen that are re-
ceiving a wage that allows him to live
in accord with the American standard
OF living.