the national trade unions ("professional alliances")-on the basis of one representative for each 50,000 members. The Council must meet once a month. It works in direct association with the Soviet government, being coordinated with the PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF LABOR as far as conditions of labor are concerned, and with the SUPREME COUNCIL OF PUBLIC ECONOMY on the side of industrial production, distribution, and consumption. It seems to have an effective share in the framing of labor legislation, and collaborates with the national trade unions in organization and propaganda work. It is supported by a monthly per capita tax on all trade unionists.

All-Russian Insurance Centre. See SOCIAL INSURANCE IN RUSSIA.

Allen-Flood Case. See EXCLUSION POLICY OF TRADE

UNIONISM.

Allgemeine Arbeiter-Union (General Workers' Union). The central organization of communist workers in Germany. It acts in close cooperation with the Communist Labor Party, formed in April, 1920; and bitterly opposes the "free" or SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC UNIONS. The constituent units of the General Workers' Union are mainly works organizations. Its membership is said to be about

10,000.

Allgemeiner Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (General German Trade Union Federation). Until 1919 the central national organization of the ZENTRALVERBÄNDE or national SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC UNIONS in Germany was termed the Generalkommission der Gewerkschaften-a standing committee the members of which were elected by delegates of the national unions who met every three years as a Trade Union Congress. The Commission was financed by an annual contribution of about four cents from each member of each affiliated union, and it reported at least once every three months to a Council consisting of one member from each of the Zentralverbände. Its duties were to carry on the work of general trade union agitation, and to issue statistics concerning the trade union world generally. From its office in Berlin it published a weekly paper, prepared material relating to social legislation for the use of labor representatives in political bodies, and performed various other functions of importance in the trade union movement. A trade union school in Berlin, similar in kind to RUSKIN COLLEGE but supported and managed entirely by trade unionists, was under

its control. At its 1919 session, the German Trade Union Congress resolved to bind the national unions more closely and effectually together by creating a national federation, styled the Allgemeiner Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund-popularly known as the A. D. G. B. The main general objects of this organization are: (1) Furthering trade union propaganda by the collection and utilization of sociopolitical material and trade union statistics, and by the issue of pamphlets; (2) fostering the protection of the working classes by the retention of counsel in legal cases and by managing the election of socio-political representatives of the workers; (3) the arrangement of courses in trade unionism, the delimitation of spheres of organization and agitation of the unions, the management of exceptional conflicts, and the furthering of international relations with the unions of other countries. In general the functions of the old Generalkommission will be continued by a directorate of fifteen members, of whom seven are salaried officials; this directorate is assisted by an advisory council composed of one representative of each affiliated national union-usually the president. Every third year the directorate must convene a Trade Union Congress. The method of election of delegates to the Congress is left to each affiliated union, the number they are allowed to send being one delegate for every 10,000 members. The Congress elects an Executive (Vorstand) of fifteen members, which reports to a Council (Ausschus) consisting of one representative from the executive of each affiliated union, which meets as occasion requires but not less often than half-yearly. Special congresses may be convened, if necessary, on resolution of the advisory council or on motion of at least one-half of the adhering unions. If a union is unable to continue with its own means a wage movement commenced by it the Federation shall, after approval by the directorate, grant strike benefits to that union. The funds required for this aid are to be had by assessments against all the affiliated unions. Some fifty-two national unions, with a total membership of about eight and a half million workers, are now federated in this organization. (See ARBEITERSEKRETARIAT; GEWERKSCHAFTHÄUSER; ANGEstellten.)

Alliance of Labor. See NEW ZEALAND LABOR MOVEMENT.

Allied Printing Trades Councils. Delegate bodies representative of various separately-organized printing trade workers (typesetters, pressmen, stereotypers and electrotypers, book-binders, and photo-engravers), set up in localities where there are local branches of at least two of the national unions involved. Such a

council is composed of three workers from each local union of the different trades, and is governed by officers of its own election. One of its principal purposes is to administer the allied printing trades label placed on printing jointly produced by the unions which are members of the council. All local branches of the national organizations involved must withdraw their individual labels as soon as an allied council is formed. Appeals from the decisions of the local councils in regard to the label and other matters are heard by a national joint conference board, composed of representatives of the national unions in the printing trades which are party to the agreement. (See TRADES COUNCIL-AMERICAN; PRINTING TRADES INTERNATIONAL JOINT Conference COUNCIL.)

Allied Printing Trades Label. See ALLIED PRINTING TRADES COUNCILS.

Allied Trades Council. See TRADES COUNCIL-AMERICAN.

Allocation of Work. The distribution among the workers in a given group of particular pieces of work or working places. "The question is of some importance in many PIECE-WORK trades, and there is much complaint among the miners and others that favoritism in assigning working places and jobs is used as a covert method of VICTIMIZATION." (See CLICKING SYSTEM.)

Amalgamation. In trade union terminology, the merging of two or more unions into one integral body, with a single constitution, set of officers, plan of action, etc. Such bodies are commonly known as "amalgamated societies," "amalgamated associations," etc. Amalgamation may be merely a fusion of two or more rival organizations following the same craft or occupation, in which case the resulting "amalgamated society" still remains a CRAFT UNION. Or it may be a fusion of two or more craft unions in different occupations of the same industry, the result being an INDUSTRIAL UNION. Amalgamation has been most highly developed in the German trade union movement, where it has done much to solve the problem of JURISDICTION and to minimize other evils of SECTIONALISM, while immensely strengthening the bargaining power and fighting resources of German labor. The process of amalgamation is hindered by many difficulties-legal, financial, official, and psychological. Nevertheless, the movement toward amalgamation has made tremendous progress of late in the trade union world, and is likely to be one of the most marked developments of the future. Amalgamation should be carefully differentiated from FEDERATION and AFFILIATION, the

latter being merely forms of common association rather than of fusion or merging. (See MALS; COMPOUND CRAFT UNION; TRADE UNION AMALGAMATION ACT.)

American Association for Labor Legislation. See INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR LABOR LEGISLATION; LABOR LEGISLATION; LABOR PRESS.

American Federation of Labor. This, the leading labor body of America, came into existence in 1881, under the name of "Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions." It was reorganized and given its present title in 1886. The main constituent units of the A. F. of L. (as it is commonly called) are well over a hundred NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL UNIONS, mainly of the craft type, which retain almost complete autonomy within the Federation. In addition to these, a considerable number of local bodies known as FEDERAL LABOR UNIONS and LOCAL TRADE UNIONS are directly affiliated with the A. F. of L. The membership of the above-named groups represents the constituent membership of the Federation. It is perhaps the chief purpose of the Federation to further the organization of new units in these groups; and also to promote the sub-federation of the existing units into CITY CENTRALS, STATE FEDERATIONS OF LABOR, and so-called national Departments, all of which (though constituting a dual membership) are separately represented in the Federation's annual convention. The other main objects of the Federation are: (1) To further mutual assistance and cooperation between its affiliated units and sub-federations; (2) "to secure legislation in the interest of the working people, and influence public opinion, by peaceful and legal methods, in favor of organized labor"; (3) "to aid and encourage the sale of UNION LABEL goods"; and (4) “to aid and encourage the LABOR PRESS of America." The Federation maintains headquarters in Washington, D. C., and holds an annual convention. This convention is a legislative body, with practically sovereign powers. Voting on ordinary questions is decided by a show of hands, but in case of a roll call each delegate is entitled to cast one vote for every hundred members or major fraction thereof whom he represents. The permanent officers of the Federation are a president, eight vice-presidents, a secretary, and a treasurer. These eleven officers form the executive council, or governing body of the Federation. The executive council carries out the convention's orders, and issues statements on labor questions from time to time. It initiates many of the measures brought before the convention; it watches and initiates national and

state labor legislation, organizes federal labor unions and local trade unions, reports BOYCOTTS for endorsement, unifies organizations, sends out speakers, grants and revokes charters at the order of the convention, and performs various other functions. The Federation's revenues are derived from CHARTER FEES, MEMBERSHIP DUES from affiliated bodies, and a PER CAPITA TAX laid upon every unionist belonging to an affiliated body. The Federation maintains a defence fund contributed by the federal and local labor unions, which is used in paying strike benefits to the members of these bodies. The total membership of all unions affiliated with the Federation is now about four millions. One of the two main principles upon which the Federation has been built up is that of craft as opposed to industrial organization, although a considerable measure of the latter exists among its affiliated units. The other main principle is that of non-political activities, although in this case also the Federation has been forced to a considerable degree of compromise. In general, the Federation is decidedly representative of the conservative elements in American trade unionism. "The basis of the Federation is that principle of alliance, and union for certain purposes, of independent minor republics, upon which the union of the American states proceeded. Each trade is independently organized, not, it is conceived, by virtue of any authority emanating from the head of the whole, but by its own independent power. Each trade organization retains its sovereign control of its internal affairs, and only joins with the others in a federal organization for the consideration of common interests and the promotion of the common good." The Federation now includes a considerable majority of the organized workers of America. The strongest of the RAILWAY BROTHERHOODS -the engineers, the firemen, the conductors, and the trainmenremain outside of it, and so do a few other important organizations. (See LABOR FORWARD MOVEMENT; BUSINESS UNIONISM; CLASS UNIONISM; PURE AND SIMPLE UNIONISM; REGULAR UNIONISM; ORGANIZER; FEDERATION; COLOR LINE IN TRADE UNIONISM; SUCCESSIVE STRIKE; BUCK STOVE AND RANGE CASE; INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS; PORTO RICAN FREE FEDERATION OF WORKERS.)

American Labor Union. See INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE

WORLD.

American Plan. A term often used by employers in designation of what they call the "OPEN SHOP principle," it being contended that the discrimination against non-union workers involved in the