WORLD OF LABOR

Maoriland Worker, Volume 10, Issue 448, 8 October 1919, Page 3

WORLD OF LABOR

GROWTH OF UNIONISM

Figures from New South Wales

The report cf the Resist-a r of Trade Unions in the State of New South Wales for the year ended 1918 has been issued. It shows that the unions existent at the beginning of 1918 totalled 233. Seventeen new unions were registered, while the cancellation of registry or dissolution of 25 was effected. This left 225 unions at the end of the year. During t-ie li:--t. tm yrnrs there hs'.'i been a uci. ..am ot V_ lituoiiL. Tho average amount ot funds per member is 12/11. Financially, tho strongest unions aro. those connected with the printing aud boodbinding group, which possess assets amounting to £2/11/- per member. Then follows the building group with £I. per member. The building group possesses tho largest aggregate assets (£21,285), and next in order is the pastoral group with £20,783. These figures include, besides cash and freehold property, such assets as shares in Trades Halls and Labor papers. The largest individual union is the Australian Workers' Union, which has a membership of 32,031. Then follows the Railway and Tramway Association with 13,070 members: the Northern Colliery Employees, 8-125; United Laborers, 6200; aud the Amalgamated j Society of Engineers, 5048. The wealthiest unions, in respect to total a..iHLs, are. the Australian Workers' Union, £20,016; Amalgamated Society of Engineers, £9900; and the Printing Industry Employees, £9339. T_he following table, which shows the unions in groups, according to the trades or industries, enables a fairly accurate idea to be formed of the extent to which industrial organisation has proceeded in the ranks of the workers: — Union. Memb'rs. F'nds. £ Building _ 21,253 21,285 Clothing —- 8,737 8,257 Engineering and (Metal Working 22,080 17,635 Food, Drink, and Narcotics 17.3H9 9,396 *Land Transports .... 6,300 1,622 Mining and Smelting 16,013 10,414 Pastoral 33,817 20,783 Printing, Bookbinding, etc 4,456 12,261 Railways and Tramway • 29,093 15,662 Shipping and Sea Transport 18,945 9,226 Manufacturing ri.e.i. 17,090 5,224 Miscellaneous 36,997 17,965 ♦Exclusive of railways and tramways. Thus there are 232,279 unionists in New South Wales, with funds amounting to £149,783.