St. Cloud Times from Saint Cloud, Minnesota • Page 33

Federation Arose From Need for Vigilance FOR A LOOK IN THE WINDOW or THE UNION CARD By ROBERT A. OLSON PrtkW Stat AFL-CIO Like all state federations, the Minnesota State Federation of Labor began because of the need lor a state central body to maintain a protective vigilance in the interest of the labor movement in the field of legislation. Originally, conventions were one-day affairs held on Sunday, primarily due to employer refusal to allow attendance during the week. Of necessity, the sessions were secret, because the delegates did not openly dare to admit they belonged to organized labor. Since 1896, ww-ever, no session of the Federation has been closed.

Conventions and elections were held every ix months. One of the important early pieces of legislation advanced by the Federation was the Workmen's Compensation Law. This till, which originated in the Federation convention, was introduced in the State Legislature in 1903. Not until ten years later, and only after persistent attempts did the bill finally become law. At that time it was hardly comparable to what we take for franted today, but the continuous efforts of the labor movement Picketing Right Goes to Court The right to freedom of speech is so universally accepted that it isn't necessary to go to court about it.

But when it is a matter of freedom of speech as it applies to peaceful picketing, the courts have to spell out this right time and again. One high court decision, once handed down, apparently isn't enough to set a precedent when it is in favor of Organized Labor. In two recent cases one before the U. S. Supreme Court, the other before the National Labor Relations Board the right of peaceful picketing as part of the freedom of speech was upheld.

Fair enough but this right should never have been challenged in the first place. Both the Supreme Court and the NLRB rulings echoed similar rulings that have been made time and again in the past that workers have a right to advise and inform the public that there are unfair employers who operate under substandard conditions. And how many more times will Labor unions have to go to court or appear before other official agencies to maintain that working people who happen to be union members have the same right of freedom of speech as anyone else? Well, this will continue to happen so long as the costs of such litigation are borne by the Labor unions instead of by the employers or organizations who keep challenging workers to prove that right, time and again. have made our Workmen's Compensation Act one of tfc. better ones in the country.

By no means does this Imply that there is no room for improvement. As our economy has expanded, benefits under the law have not kept pace with it, and only through our concerted action can the taw be made parallel to the times. For a-out twenty years, during the unfortunate split in the labor movement, our progress was somewhat slow. Energy that could have been used to some useful end was dissipated in controversy amongst ourselves. In 1956, this was ended by the merger of the two organizations, resulting in the present Minnesota AFL-CIO Federation of Labor.

The merged organization has unified activities to the point where we feel that we have more to offer than any state organization in the country. Our staff consists of three executive officers; a legal division headed by a most competent and experienced labor attorney; a public relations division headed by a full-time director who is well known to all our affiliate i as a devoted and tireless worker; a Committee on Political Education department with a full-time director well -ersed on political activities; and an organization division under the direction of Executive Vice President who has had years of experienc? directing organizational work, and who is assisted by two full- time organizers with long experience. We have ample office space where the work is carried on with the help of two very efficient secretaries and an fiscal agent. For several years we have fi nanced a Union-Industry exhibi tion building at the State Fair. all union members can well be proud.

A standing invitation is extended to everyone to visit this great monument to your efforts. Today the Federation is a smooth running operation providing full service at the nominal cost of eleven cents per member per month from all affiliated local unions. There remain, however, a few organizations that have not realized the benefits of affiliation with the Federation. To them, we cordially offer to explain the advantages. If you are a member of the Local union, and your organization is not affiliated, find out the reasons.

We think that you, like those before you, will then want to join with us in a solidly united labor This was a frame building in which the unions, together with their employers, displayed their products. We have outgrown this It Assures You of Quality Work Ooatz's Barber Shop Jim Opatz Simon Opatz Krieg's Barber Shop Rudy Krieg Nick Landsberger Broker's Barber Shop Robert Broker Delbert Broker. Grand Central Barber Shop Harry Hanson Bud Rohling Gene Klein Deluxe Barber Shop Fred Gossell Frank Geers Opatz Barber Shop John Opatz Rohling Barber Shop Ted Rohling St. Cloud Hotel Barber Shop Duke Wimmer Frank Zies Edwin Hoppe Joe's Barber Shop Joe Niedhart John Hertzing Franke's Barber Shop Gil Franke Martin Carlson Leo Shug Dan's Barber Shop Dan Dierkes Harold's Barber Shop Harold Skillrud Buster's Barber Shop Gus Erickson Tidd's Barber Shop Russ Tidd Long's Barber Shop Arron Long Ambourn's Barber Shop Fred Hartung building, and have this year completed a new, modern structure of steel and masonry to show the abilities of the various trades. The building is an outstanding example of the capabilities of working men and women of which Brotherhood Lodge 434 Set Up in '23 St.

Cloud lodge No. 434 of the Brotherhood of railway and steamship clerks, express and station employes had its beginning in an open meeting of Great Northern employes at the Labor Temple, St. Cloud, April 12, 1923. The purpose was to form a lodge composed exclusively of Great Northern railway employes. A total of 19 members attended this first meeting.

Of the original group which signed the application for a charter, several are still members. They are Louis Stark, John Blon-igan, Jacob Ganzer, Leo J. Kenning, Lawrence Fiscker and Martin Fuerstenberg. Present membership of the lodge is 203. Officers for- the current year are: Eugene Zell-oer, president; Richard Medeck, vice president; Albert C.

Brixius, recording secretary and financial secretary -treasurer; Donald Sauer, chaplain; Fred Hastreiter, sergeant at arms; Alfred Jori-sen, inner guard; Kermit Pfaff, outer guard. Hilary J. Ruff is chairman of the local protective committee and legislative representative. The board of trustee is composed of Marcellus G. Fritz, chairman, and Howard G.

Weber and Edwin O. Christen, members. The aims of the lodge at the local level are to facilitate the orderly carying out of contract terms on properties under its jurisdiction and to promote the interest of its members in participating in local and area developments and plans. The general aims of the lodge re pursued by cooperation with the parent international AFL-CIO organization. These aims and accomplishments cover a wide range from securing safe and sanitary working conditions, seniority, shorter work weeks, vacations with pay and sickness benefits to getting unemployment insurance, retirement benefits and wage adjustments.

At tfcs prtttnt, considerable Study is being given to the future effects of automation. Many of the above points have become Federal law under the Railroad Retirement Act and subsequent revisions and additions of employment have been secured with a minimum of work stoppage as a resuK of the negotiating procedures outlined in the Railway Labor act These benefits add up to, exclusive of the retired members, approximately $900,000 annually in payroll spent in the area. The piupose of the AFGE (American Federation of Government Employes) Representing St. Cloud Veterans Hospital Employ. "to do for all that which none can do for himself9 Lodge 330 ADDITIONAL MEMBERS Laddie Jimla Foley Spenser Frantzich Little Falls Joe Zylla John Woletska Frank Godozola BARBERS LOCAL 633 St.

Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park and Little Falls. ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA.