THE STORY OF THE PAINTERS UNION
Silverstein, Louis
The Story of the Painters Union II.—Consolidation (1901-1908) By Louis Silverstein (/ Paperhanger,) tea. foamfed off BoiAmoro at /M7-/ /ft toeeW fajs/aJbtT. ferawi,,o/ /Veto yet*. It —smthm...
...On April 7 the delegation arrives^to...
...The Brotherhood waited for an opening wedge...
...Louis Southwestern Railway thirty rangers Estate police) on the condition that the road paid their salaries...
...the carpenters, supported the Independents...
...Leather Weetecse;Wilhelm...
...gave their support to the Amalgamated Painters...
...The latter had...
...The duties and functions of our organisations will be somewhat narrowly circumscribed In future...
...But this attempt at republication was met by the cona flscatlon of the paper...
...The trade federations, whose membership (according to the law, 10 per cent of the workers employed in the respective Industry), and funds are not sufficiently large to render them autonomous, are- admin latere d with the assistance of mixed advisory committees of the same, trade as the federation concerned...
...In place of the old district organizations, i. e„ the Workers' Committees and Secretariats, small committee* of representative men, are appointed by the National Executive—where possible by arrangement with the local sections...
...It is very noticeable and enlightening, however, that" as ths strength of ths left wing in the labor unions has deereaaed, the heat of our utterances concerning the iniquitoua practices of tha labor officialdom' has Increased until our general approach and criticiam can be deaeribed aa a eort of venomoua futility...
...Builders had to' bribe them In order that contracts might be fulfilled on time without the interruption of sudden strikes...
...In 1907 its ranks broken, - its membership diminished, it submitted to its fate...
...Obviously, sufficient appropriations for police officers who And their chief usefulness in industrial disputes will be the...
...These ten men were to conduct the affairs of both bodies Jointly for a period of one year...
...Their most serious defect, however, arose from their very localism...
...As ws go to press we are reliably Informed that Local 454 has withdrawn its charges...
...Last January the administration made a feeble attempt to correct the inadequacies in the election system of tbe union...
...The object of tba 0sk ference waa to aUairglhnn th* Jiaab Union movement to tha Balks no ubk to bring * the separate countries bxto closer unity...
...of , twenty-five dollars and, minimum, du*^ -O* fifty cents per month were to be common to both bodies...
...On tbe face of It, this Is a great-humanitarian achievement...
...Thereupon, the council, by unanimous vote, had him reinstated...
...Food Workers: aad Stall...
...big .metal works at Rlva, nsetr MHaa...
...He and bis ilk bad long ago demolished any line* that might have existed between what was ethical and what was not...
...the Brotherhood was admitted to the Board of Delegates on condition that its members did not work for less than the four dollars and four fifty per day that tbe Amalgamated waa demanding...
...This is done by paying the salaries of these tackles and quartering them on the' company's premises...
...Consequently, William F. Dunne, who has been one of the most unscrupulous ot the archoffenders, has explained the new tactics In three articles in the sheet In question under the general title, "What the Daily Worker Is—What It Must Become...
...a blow at company cops It has been customary for capitalist interests, especially in out of the way places, such as mining regions, to enlist uniformed officers of the law In breaking strikes...
...Then someone discovered that the printed daily proceedings which had been furnished delegates did not contain any record of the change...
...izatibns in . Yugoslavia...
...The brotherhood could offer material help in times of crisis, desirable benefit arrangements and traveling cards...
...Under the heading, "Tbe Free Trade Union House Must Be Built Up Again," a circular has been published which contains a report of a significant meeting recently held by the National Executive of the Italian Trade Union Center...
...During the ebopcraf ts' strike of 1132 the Governor lent the St...
...Sofia...
...That was tbe day of the labor boss, Sam Parks, the Brlndell of his time...
...We shall be interested In seeing how the NEP (New Editorial Policy) will differ from plain progressive trade unionism...
...Early in 1802 It was Joined by the painters of Philadelphia and Washington, D. C This enabled those within Its fold to find work elsewhere if they ao desired, to the detriment of those affiliated with the brotherhood At the same time, the Amalgamated had a death benefit of 8100 for members In good standing six months, an accident benefit of 810 for thirteen weeks, and a strike benefit of 81 a day for three weeks...
...Its militancy will, hereafter, be couched in decent temperate terms...
...You are reported tea having stated ' that tho United SAatea Steel Corporation ia ten'" years spent SPJuaVSdS in neat dent prevention, work and that the money saving resulting therefrom had bean...
...So tbe matter Is closed...
...rrnsllant' and Saasenbach, secretary, and bfN various leader* of the Yugo-Blav toMbj* union movement, aa well as by ran?1 re sen ta, Uvea of the International Tnajge Secretariats, Simon...
...began to recede from their formerly adamant position...
...The beneficiary interests •' of the New Yorkers were protected by permitting them to count their years of membership In the Alliance (or Amalgamated) In (he calculation of the benefits due them, provided they had Joined the Amalgamated or the unions that had gone into its composition before the age of 'fifty...
...Naturally, confronted by so chaotic a national organisation, those painters throughout the country who felt the need for unionization and had no aesire to take sides in the internal quarrel of the Brotherhood, banded themselves into local Independent unions...
...1st General Vice-President and now General President, spent three months in New York transcribing the names of the recruits into the historic "Hedrick Book,"'now at hendquarlers at Lafayette, Indiana...
...Otherwise, It wpuM suffer prestige and its members economic opportunities...
...The labor bosses,'petty and bfg, considered the union treasuries their own...
...A striker engaged in peaceful picketing was klUed by one of these officers...
...It was, therefore, comparatively simple to convince independent unions that their best Interests lay with the B. of P. D. A P. If they were still refractory, pressure could be brought to bear through the city central bodies of the American Federation of Labor- Contractors who would not deal .with the A. F. of L. Painters would find It difficult to hire the services of any workmen at all...
...The agitation now is at its height...
...The unusual thing occurred of having both suggestions defeated by an overwhelming majority...
...Galli...
...THE FAMILY ALLOWANCE FOR TEACHERS Little by little Professor Paul H. Douglas' propaganda for the family wage is beginning to bear fruit in this country...
...Grebe* and Can» choslovakto...
...these discussions wflT Ssfj to bring about fusion...
...It became known that county police in the New Jersey textile strike were boarded and their compensation advanced by one of the mills on the pretext that the sheriff had not ready cash on hand...
...It —smthm beferf FJKoU who im+Ucmm Isrtisntn kmnm...
...Starting with six hundred, the number j-ose to seven thousand within one year, and at the time of the Great Split in 1894 had reached twenty thousand...
...The recurrent movement for consolidation of the painters' unions of the metropolis will make up a portion of our story of tho New York organization In another installment of this series...
...The brotherhood was practically non-existent in this Important center of work Not only did the Amalgamated monopolize aS the painting In New Tork City to the total exclusion of the A. F. of L organization, bat It even went further, and safe-guarded th* interests of Its members by expanding into outlying territory...
...Of course, the objection to the family wage In the case of private enterprise, that It places the benevolent employer at a disadvantage In competition, does not hold good for public servants- Teachera cant argue with reason for ths innovation.'Police, men...
...The absence of persistent organization work, moreover, permitted these to entrench themselves) in their localities and defy the jurisdictional claims 'of the Brotherhood...
...Fourteen propositions will be submitted to a referendum vote in July...
...Local governments and private employers have been introducing tbe system...
...It is pointed out that the governments ot France, Germany, Csecfao- Slovakia, Netherlands, Switzerland...
...and win not, take cover behind a mask, to create about Itself an atmosphere of lasting auntplclon...
...In the years immediately following the total adherents of both sides dropped to less than half that number...
...In building our new house w* must take into account the conditions Imposed by the tows...
...Dissension rent the union, and no effective organization work could go on...
...Boss" Richard Carvlll was appointed .umpire to decide some questions in dispute between the Amalgamated and tbe Brotherhood...
...to those "saved...
...A*f' attempt by the Independents _ {Ctoomuniste) ta eojpxnlzs a vintotoeeuntordsmonstrmturns-s>a iasTalaMeVnato entirely failed- Tbe...
...In 1906 the National Alliance of Painters was organized to fight the Brotherhood on a wider basis...
...Company Cops Expensive The Field of Labor THE . International Association of Machinists la bant upon -avoiding the scandals that accompanied their election for senoral officers last summer...
...The same pefl pose was served by meetings boktS Saasenbach In Sabotlca and NovtoJt In Sabotlca the Independents <^asb> munlets) endeavored to make it 4...
...For tbe present, it is sufficient to know that on April IS, 189?, such an amalgamation, involving 2,200 members, took place...
...Not only were they weak with respect to financial resources 'in a struggle with employers, bat their members did not enjoy satisfactory beneficiary systems, if at all...
...As hopes of a reconciliation increased, gains in membership came quickly, so that at the time of the reunion in 1901 .there were almost twenty-nine thousand members...
...Philadelphia and Washington, D. C. the' other forts of the Amalgamated had capitulated earlier...
...It is my opinion, formed after some experience in the labor , movement,' and careful consideration a* the matter, that the socalled labor fakers are...
...Tijg ¦doubtedly...
...and Italy all pay their employes, in addition to the basic salary, extra allowances for each child in the family...
...Certainly, the subsidence of malicious attacks by Communists will make it easier for non-Communist, forward-looking unionists to resume independent activity without losing caste with their fellow members...
...the Italian workers feel about the trade union situation are found in the election ot members of the sick and death benefit fund In the...
...Ho doelded In -favor of the latter...
...It am* orim with, the death •/ Elliott, at 1900, that ft aw finally Po^bUto arrange a reeonc.hat.an —th the aid of the American Folate** of Labor...
...In the year 1902 sn opportunity appeared...
...At the last General Assembly of the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers...
...Nevertheless, the fact remains that the delegates were careless in not checking up on such an important mattsr in the first place...
...It is directing Its attention to isolated workers...
...Rumors of illegality of the increaaed tax spread until Local 454 of New Tork requested a referendum vote for its repeal...
...Small Organization* At a Dioadoantaga Once the division among the painters was healed, most of these local unions were induced to Join the national body...
...At the end of the year the members of the National Alliance were to become members of the ' Brotherhood...
...Johnston Immediately suspended him until an apology and retraction were forthcoming...
...It could not stem the tide...
...F. ot L. painters in New' York—and for that matter in Philadelphia—had tbe support of the unions affiliated with, the American Federation ot Labor...
...John F. Anderson, the candidate of the progressives for president, was defeated by William H. Johnston, holding office by less than lrOOO votes out of a total of 35,000 cast...
...Commercial...
...Arthur O. Wharton, former president of the Railway Employees Department of the A. F. of L. and former member of the Railway Labor Board, was appointed to take office July 1. Simultaneously the movement to improve the election machinery har gained_ ground...
...where all the ' flttBl known aa regular untoa atoaf^Kj elected aad'not a single Tiirtof gB a si at...
...People will agree or disagree with the proposal, but at least they will not be able to be indifferent...
...hjH preliminary discussions te Belgraeav attended by representatives of nay L F. T. U., Mertens...
...workers who are organised locally again - to mixed organizations or trade groups...
...If ens looks ovsr n fits of the Daily Worker covering sny length sf time, he will be struck by the constant repetition of such' words as "labor faker," "fink," "traitor," "torroriem," "tools of ths bosses," "whits guard," "counterrevolutionist," "fascist," "black treachery," "degenerates," "scoundrels," "crooks," "betraysl...
...In Important matters tba executive calls In Comrades BentivogUo...
...8)14,SOanjja...
...We all remember how assiduous these officers were In clubbing the strikers...
...The national mixed trade federation are for the moment left standing as separate organizations...
...and national trad* or Industrial unions which have lost their independence...
...and flowers...
...In which it is boasted that since .ths Inauguration of tbe Safety, Sanitation and Welfare Campaign In 1808 the number ot serious accidents per 100 men employed bad been reduced by 60.22 percent, or 46,8(3...
...Oma|ntona^sja United Front" wer* bald back by thi| ¦toward* of tbe regular unions...
...Machinists Act in End faulty Election Counts...
...Clerical and Teebntoel Employees, and their affiliated scxaa...
...therefore, initiated...
...Finally, a high Initiation fee provided a wall that outsiders could not scale...
...Steei vTrust's husnanlAaajSblemt- >^' u. *1»S» Small Italian Unions Resist Fascist Chains...
...It is a reasonable demand and one that la bound to become stare Important in the years to come...
...v- , . j.-: - WHILE the Elliott and McKlnney factions were wrangling for supremacy of the Brotherhood of Painters...
...The object ot this new federation Is to facilitate the recruitment of all the supporters of the Italian Trade Union Center...
...held at Montreal, refuge of conventions, the per capita tax was raised from 60 to 60 cents by unanimous vote...
...The Story of the Big Steal...
...On May 26, 27 and 28 was held the...
...But notlee that* the figures are given on a percentage basts aad reference to only made...
...The membership of the union had at first grown with more than gratifying lapidltv...
...Then, the Machinists will be enabled to turn their energies from internal quarrels to the organisation .of the automobile mechanics and the recovery of lost territory...
...Georpe F. Hedrick...
...A struggle against the Amalgamated Painters was...
...r Such 'to th...
...Fight on Amalgamated Bmgin* The brotherhood realised that It had to capture the -stronghold of New York...
...Then let un claim oar legal right...
...Beginning with the Decoration Day week-end it ceases to fling epithets of abuse at trade union officials with whom It disagrees...
...This scheme worked out so well that in 1908 the Alliance merged with the A. F. ot L. organisation...
...That 1d Why /Secretary ot Labor James J. Davis, in a* letter congratulatory to the Honorable Elbert H: Gary, can well state: What especially - ptqaeee me «a your reported statement that the Unites) State* Steel Corporation has found that accident prevention and safety Work really paya from a dollar'and-cents point of view...
...The representatives of tbe L.^ T. U. had already been aia1|xaaed ffE the frontier by leaders of the...
...Decorators and Paperhangers little attention could be paid to constructive work...
...damaged very little by such abuss, but that H actually, aids them in that it...
...How Amalgamation Wat Brought About It Is in such nn atmosphere thst the Brotherhood .officials had to make headway...
...Balkan Labor Confers Labor Doing Abroad since : ta* ' oaactoaoat • by the TnactotOaaeiahienf of ttaty of thai tow ranking the black shirt unions, headed by an ex-Anarchist, - the only' legal representatives of the workers in dealing with their employers or the State, the real trade unions era having a bard time trying to accoxunedato themselves to their difficult position, wtdid walttaa* for the'day of reckoning with Mussolini and hla dictatorship...
...Defections in the -ranks of tbe Amalgamated occurred...
...For instance, calculations show that had accidents continued at the 1S0S rata, the Corporation, under various State compensation laws, . weald have paid to • itiaas . who wevM^haye ecu* to>rse) or to their amount spent in see venting accidents The Steel Corporation ia not an eleemosynary * institutionAil its activities far the good of the worker, apart from considers - tiene of humanity, hove been amply justified by pis'" bufineee jrooeonaj thoy paid eventually...
...Imperceptibly the Board of Delegates, notably the "credentials committee...
...Galblatl...
...the steel trusts HUMANITARIANISM The explosion on June 14 at the Gary plants of the United States Steel Corporation, resulting, according to the first dispatcher,, in the death of ton and the injury, of sixty workers, cams, ^^^ot^^OU:tm anniversary report of the company...
...A. little arithmetic showav that 31.000 have been killed since 1806, or 1,600 a year, and 80.000 disabled since- 1*12...
...l The employers began secret negotiations with the Brotherhood...
...The men who direct the policy of the Corporation have never loot sight of the fact that ths nest object of any company if to make money for ite Stockholders...
...Those are labor's dividends...
...Seventeen thousand dollars additional were raised among the the employers...
...GALA CONVENTIONS Union convention*, like those of other organization's, are ao apt to over-emphasize their recreational features that something is bound to happen sooner or later.to drive home the necessity for greater attention to detail...
...plenary session of the central committee of the Workers' (Communist) Party...
...At present wa have the possibility ot existing as da fboto trade unions...
...The railroad appealed on the ground that it was not liable, since the ranger was a public official, discharging public functions...
...Meanwhile, evidence (¦as been produced to show that the fault lay with the printers at Montreal, who had made an Incomplete transcript of the notes -of the Official Report...
...The Amalgamated Painters, while not losing the strike, had to content themselves with a partial victory...
...next demand made by corporations and their lawyers...
...Late in May, Johnston tendered his resignation as president because of ill health—he had been Inactive since tost fall...
...Two years later the number had more than doubled...
...and among other tbtjgW It wa* decided thkt attempts to iiiibjato, unity on the baste of the rasolutkeaL and policy of the Amsterdam Ixdaw national be favorably regarded...
...or 6,000 annually...
...I Tb* conference at BoSa wxs aisa-atf tended by Edo JTlrnman of the Trans* port Worker* International ana* b< representative* of the trad* rralsej movements in Bulgaria...
...The Amalgamated had struck for an increase in wagea and a half holiday on Saturday...
...Having discussed the new foundations of the trade anion movement, the circular goes on aa follows : "The free trad* union movement by Its very nature cannot develop in dark boles and corners, it cannot live la the dark...
...8k Yugoslav national center, continue m maintain their separate existence...
...Tata to snfajfl tba fact'that so far ft has been fM possible ta reconstitute tba real siBJJB ear men'a union ha Milan...
...In a resolution describing the situation created by the new laws, the new,, structure of the movement Is set forth...
...In addition, the acquisition of two or three thousand dues-payers was worth striving to attain...
...After an there were disadvantages in small organizations, autonomous in their vicinities...
...The National Executive, whose former authority has been supplemented by the new arrangements, consists of General Secretary Buozxt and Secretaries Carlo Azimontl and Battiata Jfaglioni...
...Whichever are chosen will guarantee affective checks oh cheating, so that 'the next general election will be free from corruption...
...It needs light and...
...With a view to setting up a connecting link ' between its scattered forces the Italian national center recently began' to publish th* Battaglte Slndlcali again, which had been suppressed along with other trade union and party papers...
...Fortunately, they were not hampered by such fears as Elliott had entertained, that the New Yorkers would wrest control of the Brotherhood from him, were they to affiliate...
...In the East there had arisen the Amalgamated Association of Painters and Decorators of New York and Vicinity...
...The organisation ia to give moral and financial support to the members, who have to pay a total subscription of 28 lire (16 lire for women and young persons under 18...
...A tendency in this direction has been apparent in recent months...
...This was similar to a provision 'in the constitution of the Brotherhood...
...The representatives of the American Federation of Labor cooperated In making these arrangements...
...firemen and other city and -state employes can follow suit...
...On December 20...
...Members of tbe National Alliance working out of town must apply to tbe Conference Board for a Brotherhood working card...
...Now comes a decision from the highest court of Texas, which, if made universal, would undermine this sort of practice...
...1902...
...After speeches of waleanto ' a great procession was formed Nf* wended its way through tba city...
...But unlike the situation in other cities, the non-A...
...On the advice of counsel, Charles A. Burnell and Morris Hillqult, the Administration refused the request as being unconstitutional...
...In order to bold the weaker units in Iln* a mixed trade union federation ban been formed for all those trades whose, membership bj small, and who are therefore not strong enough to be Independent...
...The A. F. of L. building craft unions, particularly...
...to which 1J800 vote* wero'efl tor .the regular unionists and osdylbfJ for th* stock shirts...
...Bo****' AUianem Fail* to Stem T'tda After that the Brotherhood made some headway...
...An agreement was signed on March 1 which set "up a Conference Board consisting of five representatives from each organisation...
...New Statesman," London...
...Recently, for example...
...Their members were hampered in seeking work elsewhere since unions in other cities would not recognize membership cards of other...
...Reina, Bensl and VlottO., Recent proofs of hew...
...SBS a similar election hF am ployee of the Milan street bar'ad pany...
...The Court ot Civil Appeals ot Texas ruled otherwise...
...To convince the' unmarried Woman teachers of its necessity will be the most difficult obstacle to be hurdled...
...Then, in February at a reconciliation meeting, a "treaty of peace" was signed Whereby Anderson withdrew his appeal from the decision of the executive council in suspending him...
...in which he Charged wholesale fraud...
...It certainly Indicates that It will resort to new methods...
...expected that Big Business will permit itself to be deprived of the benefits of governmental machinery so easily...
...Anderson Issued a circular under the caption...
...their representatives on the famous Board of Delegates, who tyrannized the building contractors...
...There was to be mutual recognition of business agents and working cards...
...iwi stkan anaan ss / TSJW- °f ^mtmSMH**** - * *» «*e«eW (o more the JtoaaWe-a » fa*?c'J'!?la?a- Trxl "IT*,fa TMc.K^T9' *• 111...
...and the number of disabling eoctyents since 1813 by 80.07 percent, or 322.408...
...oxsi^ axeartor* of Baltimore and the other at Lafayette...
...In addition to those committees of representative men there, are also advisory committees, chosen ' by - the sections or groups'concerned...
...A common wage scale and uniform working conditions were agreed upon...
...IST^A**,5*"«^**J&***~lr*r*aa&azfaftoofectiome...
...efeVr-awJK the booh- WWlmVt "TO?EBi°%rJ£i...
...Poland, Norway, Sweden, jhtomarhy ffs*nfjjj Jugo-Slavia...
...garian Trade Union movement.' 'bx ¦ Sofia the foreign fraternal dekaanxav' were greeted at the station by a baaa^ gathering of workers carrying baaaebr...
...The' Brotherhood had consolidated Its position...
...Nevertheless, the rank and file,* though somewhat disgruntled with the-mysterious stoppages, waa generally satisfied with the wages they were receiving...
...The defiant could thus be brought to terms...
...It aesms to me an unpardonable thing that we should waata * so much mere vigor in trying to put en end te tbs poor man's betting than in trying to put an end to hie poverty...
...The two thousand and half dollars he had at his disposal were Insufficient...
...we shall have to confine ourselves to positive critical research, trade union education, and -technical and moral assistance...
...In 1901 the two factum had mar fnt reunited contention...
...Two propositions, one making slight reforms, and the other substituting the less democratic method of elections at the regular convention, were submitted to , a referendum vote...
...organizations...
...The "entertainment committee" browboat out-spoken opponents into silence...
...While it is no...
...The Teachers' Union of New Tork City has now taken the matter under advisement and referred the question to tbe coming annual convention of the American Federation ot Teachers...
...All the Conference reato lutlona which were supported by ejW L F. T. U. delegation were ¦ftiieaM unanimously...
...A Jury awarded damages to the family ot the -deceased, to be paid by the company...
...He says in part...
...How altruistic U S. Steel Is can be Judged from the following brazen confession, extracted from the above-mentioned report: These expenditures for labor have not been, aa might appear, at tho expense of etoohhslJois...
...n .several trades there are various unions whkuvj although they accept the point of vkffg of the I. F. T. U. and belong to...
...Most important of all the building trades' organizations with their iron grip on the trade, then as now...
...The Milwaukee and Cleveland lodges have taken the lead...
...Ihe meeting decided to change the editorial policy of the Daily Worker...
...NOW IT CAN BE TOLD Congratulations to tho Daily Worker...
...One organization, however, proved a stumbling block to the brotherhood...
...CONFERENCE IN SOFIA AIDS BALKAN UNIONS Great impetus waa lent te the waSp of building up a strong, united ttsaaa union movement in the Baaaab eeaaV tries by the Balkan Conference hehp In Sofia April 9 and It under the* auspices of the International Fedsta>' tlon of Trad* Union...
...gives them' a chaac* .toUhift the issus, i. a., te tblk about our abuse of them rather than the concrete demands we put forward...
...The President, J.' C. Bahlhorn, came Bast and immediately sized up the situationThere was but one thing to be done: buy the admission ot the Brother.hood's locals Into the Board of Delegates...
...The present officials were able to push forward aggressively without any qualms whatsoever but the Amalgamated Painters in their provincialism and cock-sureness rejected all proposals for consolidation, no matter how liberal...
...possible to carry on a weU-aixasJasL meeting, but did not succeed...
...Within three days the' Broherhood had signed a secret agreement to work for three and a quarter and three fifty a day...
...An initiation fee...
...TnguaBelgJ Rouroania, Hungary...
...It may not...
...i • Tb* Conference - waa precede...
Vol. 3 • June 1926 • No. 23
