Year: 1870

by receivil g into their employ more than th'
compliment of apprentices permitted by th'
laws Of said union, in which they were sue
cessful, the union having appealed to tht
National Union for aid in behalf Of the met
affected, and having expended nearly al
their funds / deemed it just and right they
should receive the same. therefore called
for special tax of eight cents per each
member of the National Union.


The smount being required, 37s 81
Received thus faI, ~ o;
Balance necessary to settle the claims. 2s4 0;


And l hope the unions that have not paid
their quota will do SO as soon as convenient,
and enable the National Union to settle the
accounts on said claims.


June lst, No. /, of Ohio, the difficulty
originating on tn part of the employers at
tempting to red ice the wages, but am
happy to inform you that their efforts were
unsuccessful, ending in a complete victory
for the Union.


July 3rd, No. 1, Of Pennsylvania, in
augurated a strike for a reduction of the
hours of labor an Saturdays, the result of
which | have not been informed. This union
inaugurated the strike without conforming to
the National Constitution, and after having
commenced the struggle sent me their bill of
grievances, requesting me to submit the
same to the unions, for the purpose of grant
ing them the authority to strike. This in
formed them | could not do as they bad not
complied with the laws Of the National
Union, but if the officers of No. /, jointly
with the other unions located in the city of
Philadelphia, would request me officially to
call for voluntary contributions, that | would
cheerfully do SO and render them all the aid
in my power. The proposition was not ac.
cepted, they claiming that the bill Of griev-
ances and application for the authority to
strike not being accepted was illegal on my
part, and not in accordance with the National
Constitution. It's legality, however, | will
submit to the present Convention.


August End, the employers of Newark,
New Jersey, resolved upon reducing the
wages Of their employees from 81. so to "a
per day. The union at first resolved to re-
sist the same, but after week of fruitless
efforts in consequence Of the dullness Of
trade and continued influx Of men from
other places, they were compelled to submit
and return to work at the reduced rate.


Dec. 23rd, No Is, Of New York, sent
me bill Of grievances existing between an
employer of their jurisdiction and two of the
members Of said union-an attempt on the
part Of the employers to reduce the wages
from So to S4 per day. The union proposed
to the employer to compromise the difficulty,
by working on three-quarter or even half
time without reduction this proposition
the employer rejected, insisting upon the re-
duction. Finding all efforts 10 effect CON-
promise fruitless, Dec. 81, No. Is, re-
quested me to ask the aid Of the National
Union in behalf of the men, believing that
contributions are far preferable to
special taxation, and is more generally res-
ponded to on the part Of the members Of the
therefore, Immediately, is
sued a circular requesting the support of tba
National Union voluntarily in behe-: Of
the union, and have not the least doubt but
that the National Union will tender its un-
divided support, for the success Of a sister
union in its unsought for difficulty.


Dec. %, No. 5, of New Jersey, in
formed me that a firm of their jurisdiction
had resolved upon reducing the wages Of
their employees, and, in consequence, the
men quit work. The union wished to know
if the men were entitled to aid from the
national union. informed them that, in
my opinion, they we're but as the national
union would soon convene, | hoped the
union would sustain their men, and through
their delegate present the difficulty to the
convention.


Dec. 80, | received a communication from
No. 3, notifying me to collect the tax for
said union. l do not consider that they
have sent me a bill of grievance or re-
quest to call on the national union for aid
in their behalf, but only a notification to
collect the tax, again requested them to
let the question remain until the session of
the national union.


There is no doubt in my mind but the
members Of any subordinate union, striking
against any action on the part of their en-
ployers to reduce the wages, increasing the
hours of labor, employing a greater num-
Der of apprentices than the laws of their
unions permit, or for any cause by which
the laws of the union may be brought into
contempt, should be, and is, entitled, by
the terms of the charter, to the support of
the national union. Yet / think in many
cases, under such circumstances, the local
union Of which these men are members are
in a condition 10, and should sustain
them to a successful issue of the difficulty
without appealing to the National Union
for tax and | think there should be some
mode provided by both the charter aod laws
of the national union that all subordinate
unions be required to sustain their members
in such case (provided the union is in a
condition, financially, to do so), and there
should be some plan adopted BY which the
financial condition Of the union making the
application for aid could be ascertained, for
unless there is some provision in reference
to such circumstances, there will be re-
peated calls (and especially at this season Of
the year, for aid, and if the national union
does not establish permanent fund to meet
those emergencies it will be necessary either
to request voluntary contributions or levy a
special tax, and in my opinion there is
nothing SO injurious to the success of any
organization as a continual taxation, and
should be carefully guarded against.


SPECIAL TAX.


The unions seem seem somewhat reluctant
to conform to the requirements Of the con.
stitution in reference to this question. You
are are aware that our worthy ex-President
on the 18th Of December, 1868, called fol
special tax Of so cents per member, in
order to meet the liabilities of the conspiracy
cases of Unions II, of New York, and 8
of New Jersey. Thus far but nineteer
unions have paid their quota on this tax, al
follows:


No. g. Of Pennsylvabis, <2S g