Page:USBLS Bulletin 506; Handbook of American Trade-Unions (1929).djvu/56

44 relating to the common interest and welfare of the local unions in the district subject to a referendum vote of all affiliated locals. * * * They shall establish a uniform rate of wages, dues, and initiation fees. * * * and shall have power to frame all working or trade rules and to enforce the same." Affiliation of local unions to district councils compulsory.

3. Local unions: Local by-laws subject to approval of the general executive board. Locals, where no district council exists, control wage scales and working conditions.

4. Convention: Held quadrennially. General officers elected by general assembly. Amendments to constitution and revision of laws by convention and referendum.

Qualifications for membership. — "Any person to be admitted to membership In this brotherhood must have followed for three years one of the branches of our trade as enumerated in the constitution and be competent to command the minimum wages established by the local union or district council In which he applies for membership.

"The admission of contractors to membership or the refusal thereof shall be determined by the by-laws of the local union or the district council * * * but they must comply with the trade rules and working conditions of the locality In which the work is done, must pay the union scale, and hire only union men and not belong to any employers' or contractors' association."

Apprenticeship regulations. — "Any boy engaging to learn the trade of paint- ing, paper hanging, decorating or other allied trades enumerated In this constitution, must be under the age of 21 at the time of his registration (unless by dispensation), shall be required to serve a regular apprenticeship of three consecutive years and shall register with the local union or district council in the locality where he is employed. * * * An apprentice leaving (his employer) except for good reasons shall not be permitted to work under the Jurisdiction of any local union In our brotherhood, but shall be required to return to his employer and serve out his apprentiship.

"Apprentices in the last year of their service shall be initiated as apprentices and entitled to a seat in the union, but shall have no vote.

"Each local union and district council shall make regulations limiting the number of apprentices employed in each shop to one for such number of journeymen as may seem just."

Agreements. — Negotiated locally, by district councils where such exist, otherwise by local unions, generally with individual employers, and are subject to approval by the general executive board.

"There Is no stated policy regarding agreements, further than that they must specify that only members of the brotherhood be employed, and that the contractors pay the prevailing wages and observe the working conditions."

Benefits. — Strike; death (member and member's wife) ; total disability; injury (by some locals).

Official organ. — The Painter and Decorator.

Headquarters. — Painters and Decorators' Building, La Fayette, Ind.

Organization. — Conferences: California (State) ; Colorado (State) ; Connecticut (State) ; Connecticut Valley conference (headquarters, Westfield, Mass.) ; Eastern Conference of Sign, Scene, and Pictorial Painters (headquarters, New York City) ; eastern Pennsylvania district conference; Florida (State) ; Illinois (State) ; Indiana (State) ; Iowa (State) ; Kentucky (State) ; Massachusetts (State); Merrimac Valley Midwest conference of glass workers; Minnesota (State); National conference of Sign, Scene, and Pictorial Painters (headquarters, Chicago, 111.) ; New Jersey (State) ; New York (State) ; Ohio (State) ; Oklahoma (State) ; Pacific Coast Conference of Glass Workers; Pacific Coast Conference of Sign, Scene, and Pictorial Painters; Texas (State); Washington (State) ; western Pennsylvania tri-State conference (headquarters, New Castle, Pa.) ; Wisconsin (State) ; Worcester County (Mass.) conference. District councils: Alabama, Birmingham; California, Los Angeles, Santa Clara County, and San Francisco; Florida, Miami; Georgia, Atlanta; Illinois, Chicago, DuPage County, Mississippi Valley (Rock Island) ; Indiana, Indianapolis; Maryland, Baltimore; Massachusetts, North Shore (Gloucester, Beverly, etc.), Berkshire County; Boston and Natlck and vicinity; Michigan, Detroit; Minnesota, Twin City; Missouri, St. Louis and Kansas City; New Jersey, Bergen, and Passaic Counties, and Essex County; New York, Buffalo, Manhattan and Bronx, Rochester, Rockland County, Westchester County, Nassau