time of his suspension, and in addition the regular initiation fee of the local union.55 A member may be suspended either by the local or the general council for working against the interests of the organization, or for violating his obligations to the union. In cases of this kind a member can be reinstated only by a twothirds vote of the members of the local present at any regular meeting or by a vote of the general council, together with the payment of such a fine as may be imposed upon him.56 57 The local union grants a transference card to members desiring to move from one locality to another. A member desiring a clearance card may apply to the financial secretary of his local union, and if he is clear on the books of the union, the card will be granted to him upon the payment of at least one month's dues in advance and ten cents for the card. Upon receiving a clearance card, the member is required to sign his name on the back of the card, and this, together with his membership book, entitles him to admission to any local within the jurisdiction of the Amalgamated Union.57 Members receiving clearance cards, are required to deposit them with the nearest local before the expiration of the time for which the card was granted, provided there is a local within a reasonable distance from the place of work.58 The local union admitting a member on a clearance card requires him to sign his name in the presence of the vicepresident, and if this signature is identical with that on the back of the card, the member is admitted to the union, and must abide by the working rules of this local.59 But in case a member does not deposit his clearance card with a local before the expiration of the time for which it was granted, he may have it renewed by applying to the financial secretary of the local granting the card. 53 Ibid., Sect. 77. Ibid., Sect. 78. ST Ibid., Sect. 80. member is indebted The general secretary holds the local union, Cf. Constitution, M. W. W. I. U. 1890. Art. XI. Sect. 1. M. W. W. I. U. 1890. Ibid., Sect. 82. 5 Ibid., Sect. 81. Ibid., Sect. 81, 85. 40 Ibid., Sect. 81. granting the clearance card, responsible for the per capita tax of the member until the card has expired.61 62 64 If a member desires to withdraw from the trade, he can obtain a withdrawal card from his local, provided he is clear on the books of the union, and by the payment of ten cents for the card. If he desires to remain as an honorary member, entitled to the death and disability benefits of the union, he can have his name enrolled upon the books of the general office for that purpose.63 Should a member holding a withdrawal card return to the trade within a year from the time the card was granted, he is entitled to re-admission without the payment of any initiation fee, and after six months, he occupies the same position for benefits, as when the card was granted. Should a member become an employer, a withdrawal card may be granted to him on the same terms as are provided for other members, and is readmitted on the same terms if he again resumes the trade as a journeyman."5 This provision does not apply to stockholders in union co-operative shops, unless such stockholders take an active part in the management of the shop or factory. The holders of withdrawal cards are not entitled to any of the benefits of the union, and should any person holding a card violate the constitution, or antagonize the principles of trade unionism, his card may be revoked by the Amalgamated Union." The largest percentage of the employees in the wood working trades are foreigners. Cabinet work, as has been shown, has been in the hands of German workmen since the middle of last century. It is estimated that 50% of the cabinet makers of the country at the present time are German, 25% native and the remaining 25% of all other nationalities. The machine wood workers are also mostly foreigners. There is a large number of Swedes and Norwegians in the furniture factories and they are regarded by the employers as among the most highly skilled Ibid., Sect. 86. 2 Ibid., Sect. 87. Ibid., Sect. 88. Ibid., Sect. 89. Cf. Const. M. W. W. I. U. 1890. Art. VIII, Section 1-3. Ibid., Sect. 90. "Ibid., Sect. 91, 92. and reliable workmen. In Chicago the percentage of German, Bohemians and Poles is high and they are ranked by the employers in this order in regard to skill and efficiency. In Michigan, and particularly in Grand Rapids the employees are largely Hollanders and the union has had great difficulty in maintaining locals among these workmen. It has not met with the same difficulty among other nationalties. In Chicago the union has followed the practice of organizing the workmen along race lines and as a consequence there are a number of strictly Polish, Bo hemian and German locals. The form of the organization and many of its policies may be traced to the influence of the early German Unions and particularly to those in the cabinet making trades. CHAPTER IV THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION: ITS STRUCTURE There is no feature of trade union experience more vital to the existence and strength of the union, or of more interest to the student of social questions, than the methods by which union policies are framed, and the way in which the laws and regulations governing a trade are enacted. In fact, the study of trade union methods and government throws considerable light upon the policy of the state in dealing with almost identical problems. However, there is one important distinction between the government of a union and the government of a state. Trade union government is more readily adapted to changed conditions, and is, therefore, more revolutionary, in the strict sense of that term. The legislators of a state are bound by constitutional provisions, either written or in the form of precedents that are quite as effective-which the minority adhere to with great tenacity, and which are capable of amendment only with the greatest difficulty. The framers of union policies also find a check in constitutional limitations, but in the case of most unions, there are ample provisions for amending the constitution to conform to the needs of the organization. There are regularly a large number of constitutional changes made in these unions, which enable the union to change its policy completely within a short period of time,--whenever, in the opinion of the majority, a change of its problems calls for an alteration of its constitutional provisions. Thus, the constitutions of trade unions are much more elastic and flexible than the constitution of any state, and hence much more sensitive to a change in the sentiment of the membership of the union on any question affecting its interests. The difference between union government and state government is not confined to the enactment of laws, but is to be found also in the administration of these laws. The executive officers of a state rely in last resort upon the force of the militia for the enforcement of the laws. Union officials have no such power upon which to rely. It is probably true that there have been instances when force has been used for this purpose, but such cases are not normal. There is no regularly organized forceupon which union officials may rely for the enforcement of union regulations. In fact, such an institution would be impossible in. our present organization of society, as the union would then come into conflict with the authority which properly belongs to the state. Consequently, union officials are dependent upon the will of the membership for the acceptance and enforcement of a policy to a much greater degree than state officials, so that when a given policy no longer satisfies the membership, it can and must be changed. THE LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM The laws of the organizations treated in this thesis, may be classified into two groups,-the general laws, or those that apply to the organization as a whole, and the local laws, those that apply to the local unions only. The general laws were enacted in one of two ways, either by a representative convention or by a referendum submitted by the general executive council. The general convention was held at stated intervals, and was composed of delegates from the locals on the basis of membership.1 This basis of representation, though it underwent slight changes and differed somewhat in the different organizations, was essentially the same for all three unions. In the Amalga 1 The Furniture Workers' Union held its convention biennially, the Machine Wood Workers' annually, but after the amalgamation the conventions were held triennially, which necessitated an extension of the referendum. 2 The Furniture Workers changed the basis of representation at the eighth convention to one delegate for a membership of 100 and less; two between 100 and 200; three between 200 and 300 and one additional delegate for each additional 300 members. Cf. Proceedings of 8th Convention, p. 67. Cf. also Const. of F. W. U. 1876; also Const. of 1883, Art. 3. The basis of representation adopted by the Machine Wood Workers was one delegate for a membership |