Spokane County, Washington - Chapter 27: Trades Unions and Labor Organizations, 1900

The Trade's Council was organized by the federation of the Typographical L^nion, the Bricklayers, the Knights of Labor, the Carpenters, the Stone Masons and the Plasterers' unions at a meeting held on November i, 1889.

Since that time the council has met weekly ever since. It has affiliated with it all unions of the city save four, and these four are among those that make up the Building Trades Council. Each organization affiliated is allowed four delegates. It is a conservative body and represents the cream of unionism in Spokane, and is the voice of organized labor taken collectively. Consequently through its affiliated unions it represents over eighteen hundred men. A. Johnson, president; G. H. Miers, secretary; F. A. Foss, treasurer.

The Building Laborers' Uiiion. - The year 1889 was a most important one to organized labor, and from that year many of our best and strongest labor unions date their organization.

The first meeting of the Building Laborers' Union was held on the first Saturday in ]\Iarch, in 1889. Officers were elected and an organization perfected with a membership of twentyfive. It increased rapidly in strength, influence and membership. Its first scale of wages was two dollars and a half for a day of nine hours.

They applied for a charter from the Building Laborers' International L'nion and became affiliate<l in October, 1889, with a membership of three hundred. In the year 1890 their scale of wages was increased.

Their present scale of wages is thirty-five cents per hour for a day of eight hours. The union is one of the most conservative in action. They are particularly fortunate in being free from strikes, etc. E. S. Potts, president ; \Vm. Ausbach, vice-president ; E. S. Smith, secretary ; John Olson, treasurer.

The Plasterers organized eleven years ago and are working under an international charter. They now have a membership of fifty and have succeeded in establishing a wage scale of five dollars per day of eight hours. They are a live, energetic lot of fellows, and their trade is well organized and but few non-union members of the craft are available in the city, all of whom are unskilled mechanics, and even they do not number but about four. The Plasterers are affiliated with the Building Trades Council.

The Building Trades Council was organized in the spring of 1899 in order to closer affiliate the building trades of the city. The following unions are represented in it : The carpenters, plumbers, building laborers, plasterers, painters and paperhangers, shinglers and lathers. All of the building trades with the exception of the bricklayers and masons and teamsters, which, especially the former two, refuse to affiiliate on account of a difference of view as to its advisability and the way it should be organized. The painters, plumbers and building laborers' unions are also affiliated with the Trades Council. I. M. Deni])sey president; James Bannon, vice-president; E. Phair, recording secretary ; George Rowl, treasurer; X. A. Meservey. financial secretary.

The Barbers' Union lias been organized by the organization committee of the Trades Council. It has a membership of forty and has taken out a charter of the International. It is organized on conservative lines and does not attempt to control hours or wages, but simply to unionize the shops in the town. The benefit of such a course is readily seen, even by the most casual observer. Ground once gained can be held and by slow progress the unionizing of the barber shops is accomplished without strikes, boycotts or loss of work. The barbers ask the moral support of organized labor in that they talk to their barber regarding the union card and that they give the union card support and hearty encouragement.

The first attempt to organize the barbers was in 1890, when an organization was partially perfected, but for various reasons became disrupted. In the fall again the trade was organized, but on account (.'f lack of support it soon disbanded. In 1892 a third effort was made to organize the craft, but it soon followed the fate of its predecessors. Things then drifted along in an indifferent fashion until 1897, when another organization was established, which showed considerable vigor and energy, though it soon slid down the established route to oblivion laid out by the former organizations. In the spring of 1899 an organization was formed for the purpose of securing legislation in the shape of a barbers' license law. In June, 1899, an organization was perfected on conservative lines under a charter of the Journeymen's International Union of America. This organization now inckules nearly all, if not all, of the shops in llie city, there being only two or three shops that have not complied with the requirements of the union.

The Printers' Union. - Away back in 1886, August 19th, to be accurate, the printers of Spokane Falls decided to organize a local branch of the International Typographical Union. It was not brought to a successful conclusion without some misgivings on the part of the boys, for in those days the country was new, the town had not yet taken on metropolitan airs, and organized labor in Spokane Falls was somewhat of a myth. However, the cliarter in due time came from headquarters and it now adorns the union hall, with Geo. A. Epperson, R. B. Dawson, D. W. C. Britt, Harry Howe, H. Robinson, Henry W. Greenberg, F. A. Graves and James M. Edwards as charter members. H. A. Bronson, president; L. \V. Perkins, vice-president; W. J. Honey, secretary-treasurer ; A. W. Swenson, recording secretary; W. L. Wright, sergeant-at-arms ; Arthur Brock, reading clerk; L. W. Perkins, H. C. Root, Charles Lamphere, Percy Campbell, W. S. Leslie, executive committee. There is also a Pressmen's Union and Assistant Pressmen and Press Feeders' Union.

The Bricklayers. - The Bricklayers' Union, No. I, of Spokane, was organized in the summer of 1889. In December, 1889, the local union applied for a charter from the Bricklayers and Masons International Union of America, becoming No. 3, of Washington.. Two unions, one at Tacoma and one at Seattle, had previously been installed. The installation took place the ist of January, 1890, and was performed by Thomas R. Lawlor, lately deceased, then the nearest deputy of the International Union.

The following officers were then installed as the first officers of the union under the new charter: W. S. Wraight, president; J. J. Sees, vice-president; William Ryan, recording secretary ; Dan Steele, financial secretary ; William Drysdale, treasurer ; James Ryan, George Laslett and Thomas Lawlor as board of trustees.

The membership of the union was about two hundred. The history ever since its organization is the brightest that any union could wish for, the relations between the union and the contractors having been the most friendly. No difficulties have been encountered, hence no strike has been suffered.

The success of tlie bricklayers is due in a great measure to the conservatism of action and the cool judgment and clear-headed actions of its members. In many ways it is the strongest organization in Spokane, as there is more cohesion and unity among the members and no factional or personal divisions among tiie members. F. A. Foss, president; Thomas Gillard, vice-president ; Herman Schueneman, recordmg secretary; John Skillnum. Imancia' secretary; ^^'m. Archer, treasurer; G. Peterson, doorkeeper.

The Carpenters' Union. - The Carpenters' Unitm, Xo. 98, is one of the strongest and most prosperous unions in the city. It has a membership of over three hundred, and less than five of them are unemployetl. Xinetyfive per cent, of the carpenters of the city belong to the union, including all the skilled mechanics. Leailing members of the Carpenters' Union say that owing to the Ijuilding boom of the last few years their members average over nine months" employment per annum. Thus, owing to the fair standard of wages paid, in spite of the high prices of commodities, carpenters are able to make a comfortable living for themselves and families. They work eight hours per day, tlie same as the other members of the building trades. The minimum wages paid is forty cents per hour. Ernest Phair, president; Robert Graliam, vice-president; A. Smart, secretary; X. A. Meservey, treasurer.

The Retail Clerks' Association is one of the less aggressive unions of Spokane. It has no wage scale and directs its whole efforts to keep the present closing hours, that work so beneficially for the best interests of not only the clerks, but the merchants as well. Charles Haugh, president; W. C. Drury, \ice-president; H. C. Burnett, secretary; \\'alter Schultz, treasurer.

The Plumbers' Union is one of the strongest in Spokane. It has a membership of fortytwo and the members are all employed regularly. The scale of wages is four dollars per day of eight hours. George Witherspoon, president; J. O. Xeff, vice-president; H. Chisiiohn, secretary ; W'm. Strum, treasurer. Meets e\ery first and third Wednesdays of the month.

The Teamsters and Team Ozi'ners ot Spokane were organized this spring by the organization committee of the Trades Council to wliich body the)' are affiliated. They have aljout three hundred members. Their princi- \>:i\ achievement was to raise the scale of wages from three dollars to four dollars, which, considering the high. ])rice of horse feed and of living is a very conservative wage scale for nme hours' work. Although a comparative new union they have been to a degree successful in harmonizing the conflicting interests of the trade. The wages of teamsters are two dollars per day. C. T. Thompson, president ; A. Hannnond \ice-president ; E. Hardy, secretary ; A. Oglestrom, treasurer.

Tlie Cigannalcers' Union. - The Cigarmakers organized their union (Local No. 325) on the 2 1st day of February, 1896, under the International. It consisted at first of a small but aggressive band of workers who carried on a persistent agitation until now they have a strong organization that Spokane can well be proud of, controlling the bulk of the trade in the city. President, E. C. Miller; vice-president, H. J. Cunningham; corresponding and financial secretary, F. J. Heister; recording secretary, Bernaril Cunningham; treasurer, C. W. Schneider.

The Lathers and Shiiiglers are two unions afiiliated with the Building Trades Council that, though young, are well organized, and have full control of their trade in the city. They have a large membership and strongly organized on the most conservative lines.

The Electrical Workers are a steady lot of mechanics, and whom organized labor give credit for the faithfulness with which they apply their union principles. They are a young, vigorous and hospitable class. They are well organized, get fair wages and prac-

Thr Flour Workers' Union, No. i, of Spokane, was organized in the early part of May, 1899, by the organization committee of the Trades Council.

Brcz^'crs and Malstcrs' Union. - Frank Diliman, president: Sebastian Seibracht, vice-president; John Pissinger, recording and corresponding secretary ; John Bauer, financial secretary.

Cooks and Waiters' Union. No. 71. - Charles J. Dalby, president; Fred Frazier, vicepresident : Wm. Gleason. recording secretary : Joseph Farrell, financial secretary; F. Langeloh, treasurer.

Journeyman Stone Cutters' Association. - Organized 1889. P. Donnelan, president ; Wm. Stein, vice-president; Wm. Hawthorne, secretary-treasurer.

Journeymen Tailors' Protective Union, Local No. 106. - Organized May, 1889. C. W. Curry, president; A. Cedercrans, financial secretary; A. C. Malcolm, corresponding secretary; B. M. Setters, treasurer.

Operative Plasterers' hiternational Association. - Geo. W. Dickenhoof, president; Peter O. Settenberg, vice-president ; T. W. Lee, secretary ; Victor Goody, treasurer.

Business Men's Organisation. - The articles of incorporation of the Business Men's Benevolent and Protective Association were filed with the county auditor. The association is incorporated without capital stock, and its purpose is declared to be "the mutual protection and benefit of its members." The officers for the incorporation were elected at a meeting: March i t,. and are as follows : Nelson Martin, president; W. S. Norman, vice-president; H. Bertonneau. secretary; J. H. Wilmot, S. J. Holland. William Watson, J. A. Reubens. Thomas Guinean, T. H. Tollefsen, J. J. Malone, trustees.

Grocers' Association. - Organized about two years ago, and has a membership of forty. John Anderson, president ; J. W. Vogan. vicepresident: W. J. Burchett, second vice-president; William Hall, secretary, and C. Anderson, treasurer.